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Biomedical subjects

M Sainz

Publications and source records attributed to M Sainz.

10 recordsLinked to original sources

[Neurological follow-up of newborn infants at risk for cerebral palsy].

BACKGROUND: Traditional neurological examination of newborns at risk for cerebral palsy (CP) is based on periodic assessment of normal milestones so that the diagnosis of CP can be very late. A complementary neuromotor evaluation based on two motor series has been proposed in order to make possible an early affirmation of integrity of motor paths. POPULATION AND METHODS: Eight hundred and seventy three infants including 371 preterms had been admitted to a neonatal intensive care unit from 1990 to 1992. Then, they were examined as outpatients by a multidisciplinary team. They were especially tested for lateral support on right and left superior limbs, alternately, and for lateral abduction reaction of each hip. RESULTS: Absence of manifestations of CP was noted in 87% of infants with a corrected age of 4 months; a correct prediction of future normal walking was made for all babies. Both tests could not be correctly performed by those babies who lately developed manifestations of CP. CONCLUSIONS: These two simple tests appear to be accurate to early predict normality.

Cerebral Palsy

[Complementary neuromotor examination of infants at risk for sequelae.Why? How?].

In many cases the traditional neurological examination of high risk newborns for neurological problems secondary to perinatal difficulties does not identify easily the absence or the presence of cerebral palsy before walking. To help the neuromoteur follow up in these children, the authors suggest a complementary neuromotor examination that is successful only in normal infants. This examination is done in front of a mirror in the presence of the parents in order to increase the attention of the child, whose participation is necessary for a successful examination. Two motor responses are evaluated: the lateral support on, alternately, right and left superior limbs, and the lateral abduction reaction of the hip of each limb. When normal these two motor responses allow an early affirmation of integrity of motor paths if the examination is performed under carefully controlled conditions.

Cerebral Palsy

Relationship between immune complex and total hemolytic complement in endolymphatic hydrops.

Recently there has been considerable investigation into the relationship of the immune system and immune disorder to Meniere's disease. Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody and complement are both present in endolymphatic fluid and it is possible that endolymphatic hydrops is due to immune complex. The authors' results show that patients with endolymphatic hydrops had elevated levels of circulating immune complex (CIC) of IgG (24.80 micrograms/mL). The levels of functional complement activity (CH50) were significantly lower in patients (249.7 HU) than in controls. Circulating levels of CIC and CH50 were positively correlated. Immunoglobulin G, immunoglobulin M (IgM), and subpopulation of B lymphocytes were elevated, but there was no alteration in subpopulations of T-helper, T-suppressor, and natural killer (NK) cells in peripheral blood.

Adult

Changes in immunologic response in tonsillectomized children. I. Immunosuppression in recurrent tonsillitis.

The possible immunoregulatory role of the tonsils was studied by determining immunoglobulins IgG, A, M, E and factors C'3, C'4 and PFB of the complement system before and after tonsillectomy. The synthesis in vitro of IgG and IgM by lymphocytes stimulated with pokeweed mitogen was also measured. There were statistically significant differences between pre and post-operative levels of serum IgG, IgA and IgM, which decreased after surgery. Practically no change in the mean values of IgE and no significant differences in the levels of serum C'3, C'4, and PFB, were found. The in-vitro synthesis of both immunoglobulins (IgG, IgM) by lymphocytes increased significantly after tonsillectomy. Our results suggest that not only does tonsillectomy have no counterproductive effect on the immune system, but that, on the contrary, it seems to improve the immune response, since it appears to unblock the suppression to which the immune system was subject.

Child

Changes in immunological response in tonsillectomized children. II. Decreased cellular response.

The immunological cellular response was studied in 22 children aged between 5 and 10 years. One week before and one month after tonsillectomy, the mitogenic response to phytohaemagglutinin (PHA), concanavalin (ConA) and pokeweed mitogen (PWM) was tested. Our results showed statistically significant decreases in stimulation index (SI) to PHA, ConA and PWM after tonsillectomy. This suggests that the tonsils may influence the cellular immune status in children. The higher level of preoperative activity in children with recurrent tonsillitis could be understood as the result of stimulation of lymphocytes by bacteria.

Child

[Cochleovestibular manifestations in hypothyroidism].

An study of cochleo-vestibular disturbances in different kinds of hypothyroidism is carried out. The majority of the patients suffered from sensorineural deafness of the flat type, lacking Recruitment. The evoked potentials of the brainstem were normal, where as myogenic ones showed a decrease in their amplitude. Evident central disturbances appeared on vestibular examination and a saccadic pursuit was frequently observed in the tracking test. The topography of the lesions is discussed.

Acoustic Impedance Tests

Binaural voltage summation of brainstem auditory evoked potentials: an adjunct to the diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis.

Brainstem auditory evoked potential (BAEP) amplitude is modified according to whether or not the stimulus is applied monaurally or binaurally. In normal subjects, wave V amplitude increases by an average of 68.7% upon changing stimulation from monaural to binaural. From earlier studies there is evidence that brainstem potential amplitude is reduced in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) but none to suggest that binaural stimulation results in increased amplitude. This study evaluated the extent of binaural summation of BAEPs in patients with MS. In a large majority of patients with MS who have no hearing deficit, BAEPs showed no increase in wave V amplitude on binaural stimulation. This finding is in contrast to the normal group and thus has diagnostic importance. Measurements of binaural summation therefore might usefully be applied to the clinical assessment of disease progression, or lack of it, in individual patients.

Acoustic Stimulation

Effect of interaural intensity differences on binaural summation of brainstem auditory-evoked potentials.

With binaural stimulation the two specific parameters that can modify the neural responses substantially are the intensity differences and the time of arrival of the stimulus at the two ears; these events on electrophysiological evidence, being mediated at the superior olivary complex and at the inferior colliculus, the origins of Waves III and V respectively. Comparison of the brainstem auditory-evoked potentials to monaural stimulation with that due to binaural stimulation reveals a significant increase only in the amplitude of Wave V. The amount of increase is reduced from 68.7% with equal intensities at the two ears to 44% with a 10-dB interaural intensity difference. With a 20-dB interaural intensity difference the amplitude of Wave V reverts to that due to monaural stimulation. The 68.7% greater amplitude for Wave V was not due to effective increase in loudness sensation on binaural stimulation (which is equivalent to a monaural increase in intensity of 3 dB) but to binaural summation. In contrast to Wave V, Wave III decreased in amplitude below that resulting from monaural stimulation with intensity differences of 10 and 20 dB at the two ears. This supports the suggestion of inhibitory processes at that level of the brainstem. As only Wave V shows binaural summation the region of inferior colliculus is suggested as the site for the occurrence of this phenomenon. Binaural interaction can also be demonstrated within a limited range with intensity differences at the two ears.

Brain Stem

Brainstem and middle latency auditory evoked responses in rabbits with halothane anaesthesia.

The effects of different concentrations of halothane (0.5, 1 and 1.5%) in brainstem and middle latency auditory evoked responses were studied in 14 adult rabbits. The animals were firstly curarized, tracheostomized and ventilated mechanically. Various recording were made under these conditions for control purposes. During the experiment, arterial pressure, temperature, arterial concentrations of O2, CO2 and pH were monitored. Halothane produce an increase in latency a decrease in amplitude and at higher concentrations even abolished the later waves of middle latency auditory evoked responses. Brainstem potentials are stable, but slight changes in latency were observed at high concentrations (1.5%). Modifications of these potentials as a result of the different concentrations of this anaesthetic in relation with the recordings obtained in the animals curarized without anaesthesia are discussed and the results compared with previous reports in humans.

Animals