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Biomedical subjects

R Castro

Publications and source records attributed to R Castro.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Research notes on social order and subjectivity: individuals' experience of susto and fallen fontanelle in a rural community in central Mexico.

Disciplines such as sociology and anthropology have showed that the experience of illness, is above all, a social product, that is, that social factors of different kinds play a central role in shaping individuals' subjectivity. This paper refers to the case of Ocuituco, a rural town of central Mexico. The article presents some of the results achieved through an interpretive sociological study of individuals' subjective experience of traditional illnesses such as susto, soul-loss, and fallen fontanelle. The aim is to analyze how Ocuituco's inhabitants attach meaning to, interpret, and experience these illnesses. The main point being made is that the subjective experience of traditional illnesses is shaped both by the cultural background of individuals, and by the sociological features of the setting where these individuals live. Data are interpreted in connection both to structural factors (poverty, medicalization, and patriarchy), and to the main traits that characterize individuals' view of their world: a sense of uncertainty, a sense of the unexpected as being normal, a sense of being oppressed, a familiarity with a patriarchal order. It is shown that both susto and fallen fontanelle are belief systems which allow individuals to interpret their circumstances and attach meaning to their problematic everyday life.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed1998

AIDS-related illness trajectories in Mexico: findings from a qualitative study in two marginalized communities.

This paper describes findings from a recent study examining how people affected directly and indirectly by the HIV/AIDS epidemic cope with HIV-related illness in Mexico. One-hundred-and-thirteen in-depth interviews were conducted with key informants in two contrasting communities: Ciudad Netzahualcóyotl (an economically marginalized community) and the gay community in Mexico City (a sexually marginalized community). This paper describes the AIDS-related wellness/illness careers or trajectories followed by individuals in both communities, and identifies critical points for material and emotional intervention. This career comprises four stages: (1) life before infection; (2) life surrounding the discovery of seropositivity; (3) living as an HIV-positive person; and (4) facing death. Comparisons are drawn between the processes of adjustment and coping found in both communities. In Ciudad Netzahualcóyotl, wellness/illness careers are closely linked to prevailing poverty and oppression, as well as the sense of urgency in which local people live their lives. In the case of the gay community, wellness/illness careers are associated with the intolerance and social repression faced by homosexual men. The paper concludes by suggesting possible interventions to improve the lives of people with HIV/AIDS in Mexico today.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

Pre/postnatal dopamine D1 receptor stimulation induces a differential reduction of serotonin levels in hippocampus and superior colliculus of puber rats.

Previous data have shown that through dopamine D1 receptors serotonin and dopamine systems could be interdependent during development. In this study, we have analysed monoamine and metabolite levels in hippocampus, striatum and superior colliculus of puber male rats, which received 10 days of either prenatal or early postnatal D1 receptor stimulation with 0.03 mg/kg of the selective agonist SKF 38393. This substance induced a differential long-term and significant reduction in serotonin (5-HT) and/or 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid (5-HIAA) levels, but it was dependent on the developing brain region. Norepinephrine (NE) levels were also reduced in superior colliculus, but only after early postnatal treatments. These results suggest that an abnormal stimulation of dopamine D1 receptors during sensitive stages of ontogeny may alter the development of 5-HT fibers innervating hippocampus and superior colliculus.

2,3,4,5-Tetrahydro-7,8-dihydroxy-1-phenyl-1H-3-ben↗
PubMed1997

Therapy of post-renal transplantation hyperlipidaemia: comparative study with simvastatin and fish oil.

BACKGROUND: Recipients of renal transplantation (RT) exhibit disturbances of serum lipids and apoproteins that may contribute to their cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. In our renal transplant department the hypercholesterolaemia prevalence at the first and fifth year of RT is 70.0% and 81.2%, respectively. Lipid-lowering therapy has been utilized in many Transplant Units. The aim of our study was to evaluate post-RT hyperlipidaemia control with simvastatin or fish oil. METHODS: Forty-three RT patients (26 men and 17 women) with persistent hypercholesterolaemia and stable graft function which were resistant to a lipid-lowering diet (American Heart Association Step Two) were randomized into two groups and treated for 3 months with simvastatin (S) (10mg/day; n = 25) and fish oil (F) (6 g/day; n = 18). Total cholesterol (TC), LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL-cholesterol (HDL-C), lipoprotein a (Lp(a)), apolipoprotein A1 (Apo A1), and apolipoprotein B (Apo B) were monitored and at the study baseline they were similar between the two groups. RESULTS: No side effects were detected after 3 months of therapy. In group S, the concentrations of TC (271 +/- 46 mg% vs 228 +/- 49 mg%; P < 0.001), TG (180 +/- 78 vs 134 +/- 45; P < 0.01), LDL-C (177 +/- 40 vs 144 +/- 43; P < 0.01) and Apo B (96 +/- 18 vs 82 +/- 16; P < 0.001) were significantly reduced, and Apo A1 concentration had increased (135 +/- 24 vs 149 +/- 30; P < 0.01). In group F, the concentrations of TC (266 +/- 25 vs 240 +/- 31; P < 0.001), TG (203 +/- 105 vs 156 +/- 72; P = 0.02) and HDL-C (63 +/- 15 vs 53 +/- 12; P < 0.01) were significantly reduced. CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that low-dose simvastatin and fish oil are both effective and safe in correcting post-RT hyperlipidaemia. Further prospective studies with larger follow-up are needed to clarify whether this therapy has an impact on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in RT patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Synthesis of leptin in human placenta.

UNLABELLED: Gender-based differences in serum leptin levels have been reported in umbilical cord blood, and leptin has been detectedin human amniotic fluid. In order to understand if leptin may be directly synthesized by human placentae an analysis made up of several steps was performed. First at all RT-PCR analysis from placenta-derived RNA was used to detect human leptin mRNA. The leptin-like immunoradioactivity detected in placentae extracts was identical to human leptin according to the criteria of charge, immunorecognition, SDS-PAGE analysis and blotting, indicating that intact leptin was found and no variants in size, charge or immunoactivity were present in the placentae. Finally an immunohistochemical analysis showed the presence of leptin in the cytoplasm of syncytiotrophoblast cells but not in the core of villi. IN CONCLUSION: leptin is synthesized as a single molecular variant identical to human recombinant leptin in human placentae at delivery.

Base Sequence↗
PubMed1997

[Research on social support in health: current status and new challenges].

On the borderline between sociology and psychology, the concept of social support has made it possible to develop a whole research tradition aimed at explaining some of the differences existing in the distribution of mental and physical disease. The concept of social support itself, however, still presents some ambiguities which must be clarified. These problems are discussed and it is showed and shows that the topic can be enriched with the contribution of the social sciences. Different definitions of the concept itself, are briefly analysed and the complexity and multidimensional character of social support are highlighted. The association between social support and health is discussed. The differences and implications of the direct effect model and the buffering effect model are addressed, and the relevance of the construct of social support is enhanced. The need to study social support not only as a likely determinant of some forms of disease, but also as a dependent variable, is brought out. Some recent developments in the study of factors associated with the availability of social support are discussed. It is shown that social support is a product of certain social factors which can be clearly identified by sociological analysis. In order to illustrate this point, the structural determinants of a specific dimension of social support-attention-are discussed. The importance of structural variables like social class and gender in attempting to explain the differential distribution of certain forms of social support is emphasized. It is proposed, on the theoretical level, that the intersection between two related autonomous constructs-social class and social support-may better explain those aspects of these concepts that are of importance to observed heterogeneity in the distribution of mental and physical health. Different theoretical and methodological approaches to the understanding of the determinants of social support and its effect on health are suggested.

Humans↗
PubMed1997

Children's AIDS-related knowledge and attitudes: variations by grade, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and size of community.

Variations of AIDS-related beliefs by grade, race, gender, socioeconomic status, and size of the community were examined for a diverse group of elementary school children (n = 609). Consistent with prior research, beliefs about HIV transmission and willingness to interact with persons with AIDS increased across grades 1 to 5. Black children living in rural communities held most misconceptions about AIDS and, relative to white peers, black children were more reluctant to interact with persons with AIDS (PWA). Support for more negative attitudes toward PWA among boys was also found. Knowledge of transmission mediated grade and sex differences in willingness to interact, but not race differences. Implications of results for AIDS prevention programs are discussed, along with directions for future research.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1997

[Is surgery useful in kidney cancer with lymph node invasion?].

SUMMARY: lymph node involvement in renal cell carcinoma is factor of very poor prognosis. In a series of 55 node-positive patients, 33 (60%) had simultaneous renal vein or vena cava invasion and 32 (58.2%) had metastases. Gross lymph node involvement was found in 39 patients (70.9%). Patients without venous invasion or metastasis may have a prolonged survival. In this group, those with microscopic nodal involvement can be cured, as the 10 and 15-year the actuarial survival rate is 54.5% Formal lymphadenectomy might have played a role in these results. Surgery can be performed when vein invasion is present without metastasis, but the prognosis is generally poor. Survival does not seem to be influenced by surgery when metastasis is present, regardless of the vein status.

Actuarial Analysis↗
PubMed1997

[Treatment of erectile disorders with androgens: When? How?].

Erectile dysfunction associated to low circulating androgens is characterized by a low testosterone due to hypogonadism of hypothalamic-pituitary or testicular origin. Long term androgen administration is unacceptable unless biology has demonstrated hypogonadism with a low testosterone level not related to hyperpolactinemia. Intramuscular testosterone or transdermal dihydrotestosterone can be used with a similar clinical effect but a different biological impact regarding aromatase activity. Whatever may be the type of androgen supplementation, one should use low dosage with frequent administration in order to obtain stable and physiologic plasmatic values. On account of androgen impact on prostate and cardiovascular system, careful pretreatment screening should eliminate an occult prostate cancer and a vascular thrombosis risk in a complaining and informed patient. Clinical and biological parameters should be periodically followed throughout androgen therapy.

Algorithms↗
PubMed1997

[Anatomical and clinical effects of neoadjuvant hormonal treatment before radical prostatectomy].

Neoadjuvant endocrine treatment before radical prostatectomy is designed to reduce the positive margin rate and therefore the risk of recurrence. It usually consists of complete androgen blockade for 3 months, but no consensus has been reached concerning the type of blockade and the optimal duration. The main histological changes consist of glandular atrophy with pycnosis and vacuolization of tumour cells. These changes could reflect increased apoptosis. The residual tumour is usually small. PIN become rare, raising the problem of possible chemoprevention. The overall result is a markedly increased frequency of intracapsular tumours and a reduction of at least 50% of positive margins. However, some authors consider that this is simply due to a more detailed histological examination. The frequency of seminal vesicle and lymph node involvement does not appear to be modified. Endocrine therapy could act on the apoptosis-proliferation balance and also decrease the number of circulating cells. However, the intermediate results of randomized studies are contradictory. As improvement in overall survival remains the main objective, only a longer follow-up will be able to clearly determine the value or uselessness of neoadjuvant endocrine treatment before radical prostatectomy.

Androgen Antagonists↗
PubMed1997

[Hepatitis A virus infection in children in Argentina: a pilot study].

UNLABELLED: The severity and/or the prognostic of infections with the hepatitis A virus (HAV) is related to the age at which the infection occurs. Since transmission of the virus occurs by the fecal-oral route, the prevalence and age-relate incidence of infection is determined by the adequacy of sanitation hygienic measures and the socio economic level of exposed populations. Thus, the disease is having an increasing impact in developing countries with improving sanitary standards whereas inhabitants of industrialized countries are particularly at risk while visiting under-developed countries. We have established a cooperative group for the serologic study of children range between six months to ten years old, without sintomatology of acute hepatitis. The patients live in Buenos Aires, San Justo, Trelew, Rosario and Tucumán cities. We studied 3699 children. The specific Ab-antiHAV IgG were measured by enzyme immunoassay with commercial available kits (Organon and-or Abbott). The variable of study were age, sex and water quality. RESULTS: 45.19% were of San Justo, 26.15% of Rosario, 13% of Buenos Aires, 8.37% of Trelew and 7.29% of Tucumán. We observed the highest of possibility percentage (%POS) in Tucumán (81.4%), followed by San Justo (57.8%), Rosario (46.5%), Trelew (41.99%) and Buenos Aires (29.4%). In all the cities the lowest %POS was found in children under three years old. Between three and six years old the results were variable and an increase in %POS was observed related to the growth. The global %POS was 51.56%. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms Argentina as a high endemic country for HAV infection. A global vaccination program is the only strategy that has the potential to prevent recurrent epidemics of hepatitis A and its erradication.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1997

[Proposal of a new standard for the nutritional assessment of pregnant women].

BACKGROUND: There is evidence to suggest that the criteria for nutritional assessment of pregnant women, used by the Chilean Ministry of Health, overestimates nutritional disturbances. AIM: To propose a new reference table to assess the nutritional status of pregnant women, based on body mass index. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The table was theoretically defined using criteria for normality proposed by FAO and the weight increase during pregnancy that is associated with a lower maternal and fetal morbidity and mortality. In 665 pregnant women, weight, height, mid arm circumference and skinfolds were measured using standard techniques. Body mass index, arm fat and muscle area and percentage of body fat were calculated. Body composition for each nutritional category, derived from the body mass index or "Rosso-Mardones classification", was analyzed. RESULTS: According to the new table, under weight women had lower percentage of body fat and mid arm circumference and overweight women had higher weight, skinfold thickness and percentage of body fat than the homologous groups defined according to Rosso-Mardones tables. CONCLUSIONS: The proposed reference table may be useful to correct distortions generated by the current norms for nutritional assessment of pregnant women, proposed by the Chilean Ministry of Health. It has to be validated, analyzing its sensitivity, specificity and predictive value to predict fetal and maternal variables.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Cancer in banana plantation workers in Costa Rica.

BACKGROUND: Costa Rica has population and disease registries with potential value for epidemiological research. Pesticides have been intensively used on banana plantations, for example dibromochloropropane (DBCP). This study was planned to examine the quality of the cancer and civil registries and the feasibility of record linkages, and to explore cancer patterns among a highly exposed group. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was carried out. Workers on the payrolls of banana companies, as reported to the Social Security System at any time between 1972 and 1979, were followed up in the cancer registry between 1981 and 1992: 29 565 men and 4892 women for 407 468 person-years. The observed cases of cancer were compared to the expected values, derived from the national incidence rates. RESULTS: We identified 368 cancer cases, 292 among men (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] = 76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 67-84) and 76 among women (SIR = 116, 95% CI: 90-142). Among men increased SIR were observed for melanoma (SIR = 197, 95% CI: 94-362) and penile cancer (SIR = 149, 95% CI: 55-324); among women for cervix cancer (SIR = 182, 95% CI: 122-241) and leukaemia (SIR = 274, 95% CI: 86-639). Risk estimates for lung cancer were evaluated among male workers with the longest time of employment. CONCLUSIONS: Follow-up was difficult due to deficient identification variables in the cancer registry and to easier identification of the living compared to the decreased in the civil registry at the end of the observation period. The various systematic errors in this study are likely to produce an underestimation of the relative risk estimates. This study contributes to improvements of the registries and increases the potential for cancer epidemiology in Costa Rica and other developing countries.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

Assessing children's conceptions of AIDS.

Assessed intuitive theories of AIDS transmission through clinical method interviews in a cross-sectional design for a sample of 205 1st; 195 3rd; and 208 5th-grade students, balanced by sex and race (black/white). Analyses of relationships between the types of theories children held and their responses to closed-end questions about transmission and willingness to interact with a person with AIDS supported the validity of the interview method. Grade differences were noted for knowledge of high-risk routes, rejection of misconceptions, and cohesiveness and complexity of children's theories. Theories also differed by race and verbal abilities. Implications for most appropriate ways to assess children's understanding of illnesses and directions for future research are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1996

Breast-feeding and the nutritional status of nursing children in Chile.

The work reported here sought to describe the feeding patterns of Chilean children up to 18 months old and their relation to nutritional status. To this end, a survey was conducted in 1993 of 9330 Chilean children under 18 months old who were receiving care through the National Health Service System-which provides care for 75% of all children under age 6. The children, whose mothers or caretakers were interviewed, constituted 94% of a sample selected at random from 102 of the 320 urban health clinics located throughout the country. The interview served to identify the type of feeding (exclusive breast-feeding, breast-feeding plus bottle-feeding, breast-feeding plus solid food, exclusive bottle-feeding, or bottle-feeding plus solid food) and to determine the nutritional status of the participants in terms of standards used by the United States National Center for Health Statistics and the World Health Organization. Children were deemed at risk of malnutrition if they had z scores on the weight-for-age distribution between 1.0 and 2.0 standard deviations below the US/WHO standard and as actually malnourished if they had z scores of over 2.0 standard deviations below the standard. The survey found exclusive breast-feeding prevalences of 86.5%, 66.7%, and 25.3% among infants 1, 3, and 6 months old. Some 12.1% of the participants were found to have a weight-for-age deficiency, 30.7% exhibited a height-for-age deficiency, and 35.7% were found to be over-weight. The prevalence of weight-for-age and height-for-age deficiencies were found to be considerably higher among bottle-fed children than among breast-fed children. In general, the results demonstrated the benefits of exclusive breast-feeding through the first 6 months of life, the need to complement exclusive breast-feeding with solid food after that time, and the superior nutritional status of breast-fed children within the age groups studied.

Age Factors↗