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Biomedical subjects

P Rodriguez

Publications and source records attributed to P Rodriguez.

87 records · Page 5Linked to original sources
PubMed1985

Effects of dipropylacetate on the glycine cleavage enzyme system and glycine levels. A possible experimental approach to non-ketotic hyperglycinemia.

The effect of chronic administration of the anticonvulsive drug di-n-propylacetate (DPA) on the glycine cleavage enzyme system was studied. Glycine concentrations were monitored in blood, liver, brain and spinal cord of 10-day-old rats. DPA treatment decreases glycine cleavage activity by approximately 50% in liver, and 35% in brain. The decreased cleavage activity correlates with an increase of glycine levels in blood, liver and brain. Failure to cleave glycine characterizes a metabolic disorder known as non-ketotic hyperglycinemia, which is associated with elevated concentrations of glycine in biological fluids. The inhibitory effect of DPA may provide an experimental approach to study the biochemical and pathogenic mechanisms of non-ketotic hyperglycemia.

Age Factors↗
PubMedDate not supplied

ROC analysis of diagnostic performance utilizing serum antiproteases in cancer patients.

Assessment of the accuracy of diagnostic procedures is made independent of diagnostic criteria by means of a receiver-operating-characteristics (ROC) curve. We performed ROC analysis for the major serum antiproteases: alpha-1-antitrypsin (A1AT) and alpha-2-macroglobulin (A2M), in 99 cancer patients compared with 71 normal individuals. A1AT and A2M were significantly higher in cancer patients (p less than 0.0005). By comparing true positive and false positive rates for different serum levels, ROC analysis showed that serum A1AT quantification seems more useful in clinical practice than serum A2M.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical supervision for nurse teachers: the pertinent issues.

The emergence of clinical supervision in nursing is viewed with both enthusiasm and reservation. Professional growth of the nurse practitioner is envisaged through adopting this support framework, although concerns exist particularly in relation to the role of management in monitoring performance and standards. Most authors have attempted to reassure nurses by stressing the positive elements. Potential benefits include the development of self-learning and clinical skills through reflection using a supervisor. It is anticipated that the supervisee will retain ultimate control of the process. Implementation of clinical supervision in nurse education is being considered. The need for a formal method of support has not been identified by teachers. It is debatable whether a format similar to that for clinical practice would be appropriate when the role of the nurse teacher focuses mainly on academic rather than clinical issues. Supervision in nurse education may be accepted or rejected, but a decision cannot be reached until role and cost issues have been adequately addressed.

Faculty, Nursing↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Plasmatic fibronectin in malignancies.

Plasmatic fibronectin has been studied in tumor patients on the basis of the role that unspecific opsonin may play in tumor growth and spreading. Alterations in fibronectin levels might be used as a biological marker and our purpose has been to evaluate the significance of this test in the biological diagnosis of cancer. When comparing the levels found in the control group (22.86 +/- 1.40 mg/dl) and in tumor patients (23.80 +/- 1.90 mg/dl), we observed no difference in the overall group. However, in relation to the localization of tumors, a significant increase was found in breast cancer (31.83 +/- 3.83 mg/dl) and a significant decrease in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (9.56 +/- 1.68 mg/dl). These results suggest that plasmatic fibronectin could be useful as a biomarker in some types of tumors. Our conclusion was confirmed by analysis of ROC curves related to every one of the studied tumors.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Tuberculous meningitis among adults with and without HIV infection. Experience in an urban public hospital.

BACKGROUND: Tuberculous meningitis remains a frequently diagnosed entity in urban US hospitals, with the incidence increasing as a consequence of infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). OBJECTIVE: To describe the occurrence, characteristics, and therapeutic responses of tuberculous meningitis among adult patients of an urban public hospital, with special attention to the effects of HIV infection. DESIGN: Retrospective clinical review of all cases identified among adults over a 12-year interval, collecting demographic and clinical variables. SETTING: A 550-bed urban teaching hospital. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Nine-month outcome stratified by survival. RESULTS: Among 31 adult patients identified as having definite or probable tuberculous meningitis, a majority (n = 20 [65%]) were infected with HIV. Cumulative rates of occurrence per 100 000 persons over the 12 years of the study were estimated at 1.72 for those without HIV infection and 400 for those with HIV infection. The most common symptoms at presentation were fever (83% [24/ 29]) and abnormal mental status (71% [20/28]). One or more abnormalities were present in the cerebrospinal fluid of 97% (30/31) of subjects, and 74% (23/31) had cerebrospinal fluid cultures positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Neuroimaging of 28 patients revealed 1 or more abnormalities in 82% (n = 23). Among 30 patients with available outcome data at 9 months, 43% (n = 13) had died, 40% (n = 12) had survived without sequelae, and 17% (n = 5) had survived with morbidity. HIV infection had no discernible effect on findings. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculous meningitis remains relatively common among indigent urban nonwhite populations. While HIV infection has contributed to the increased incidence of tuberculous meningitis, it has not significantly altered the presenting clinical, laboratory, or radiographic findings or the response to therapy of this disease. Parameters associated in a multivariate regression analysis with mortality at 9 months were black race and the absence of corticosteroid use.

Adult↗