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Biomedical subjects

R Gálvez

Publications and source records attributed to R Gálvez.

18 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Evaluation of a spray of permethrin and pyriproxyfen for the protection of dogs against Phlebotomus perniciosus.

Dogs are the main domestic reservoir of Leishmania infantum in the Old World (Leishmania chagasi in the New World) a parasite responsible for many cases of human visceral leishmaniasis in both endemic and non-endemic regions. One strategy for the control of leishmaniasis would be to prevent dogs from being bitten by sandflies, the vector of leishmaniasis. This study was designed to assess the efficacy of spraying a combination of permethrin and pyriproxyfen on to dogs artificially exposed to sandflies. Two groups of four male dogs, one of them treated and the other left untreated as controls, were exposed for one hour to 100 female sandflies seven days before the treatment, on the day of treatment and seven, 14, 21, and 28 days later. After each exposure, sandflies were collected, counted and scored. The prevention of sandfly bite was calculated by measuring the number of fed sandflies (dead and alive) after treatment. In this experimental assay, the repellent effect of the treatment against sandfly bites after 21 days was 71.4 per cent, but the insecticidal effect was only 7.2 per cent.

Administration, Cutaneous↗
PubMed2006

Levels of HSP70 in HIV(+) patients in different viroimmunological states.

The aim of the study was to establish an association between the viroimmunological status of HIV positive patients and their levels of the 70-kD heat shock protein (Hsp70). The longitudinal retrospective case study involved 61 patients at the University Hospital in Granada (Spain) from 1999 to 2002. Twenty-five patients were viroimmunologically stable, while the other 36 patients had suffered virological failure. A minimum of three blood samples were taken at intervals of at least 3 months for the patients who were stable virologically and immunologically, whereas four samples were taken for the virological failure group: two previous to the onset of virological failure, a third corresponding to the time of virological failure, and a fourth at least 3 months after remission of virological failure. Blood samples were also obtained from 20 healthy control subjects; Hsp70 levels in all were determined by enzyme immunoassay. The mean concentration of Hsp70 was 145.4 ng/ml in the HIV-infected patients as opposed to 72.1 ng/ml in the controls. While the viroimmunologically stable group showed levels similar to those of the controls (66.5 ng/ml), the mean value of Hsp70 in the virological failure group was nearly four times as high (249.1 ng/ml), yet this difference was not statistically significant. The patients treated with reverse transcriptase inhibitors were found to have significantly higher levels of Hsp70 than the other subjects. The transformed variable Hsp70/CD4(+) presents less variability than the Hsp70 value itself, giving a higher degree of statistical significance, and may be considered a useful parameter for diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic management of HIV positive patients.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Double-blind parallel comparison of multiple doses of ketorolac, ketoprofen and placebo administered orally to patients with postoperative dental pain.

Ketorolac 10 and 20 mg, ketoprofen 50 mg and placebo were compared in a multiple-dose, double-blind, randomized analgesic study that included 150 patients with pain after impacted third molar removal. Patients evaluated their study medication over a 48 h period. Bivariate and multivariate analysis revealed statistically significant differences between the different medications studied, evaluated by the consumption of rescue medication (50.4-80.4% of the placebo group required rescue versus 17.0-47.6% of the ketoprofen, 5.7-31.9% of the ketorolac 10 mg and 1.8-22.5% of the ketorolac 20 mg groups), the pain relief experienced by the patient (P<0.05), and the overall efficacy of the medication (P<0.05). The efficacy of ketorolac 10 mg did not differ from that of ketorolac 20 mg, and both were more efficacious than ketoprofen 50 mg, which in turn was more efficacious than the placebo. One-third of the placebo group did not require rescue medication. The factors with the greatest influence on the use of rescue medication were the analgesic taken by the patient and the presence or not of postoperative inflammation.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed2001

Ruthenium and ruthenium dioxide-modified graphite-ethylene/ propylene/diene and graphite-teflon composite electrodes as amperometric flow detectors. Application to the determination of methionine.

The flow injection amperometric performance of solid composite graphite electrodes with ethylene/propylene/diene (EPD) or Teflon as binding agents, and with Ru or RuO2 particles as electrocatalytic modifiers has been compared. Both, Ru and RuO2 modified electrodes exhibited electrocatalytic properties on the methionine oxidation process in alkaline media. The electrodes composition and the hydrodynamic and chemical variables were optimized. Graphite-EPD (GEPD) electrodes showed a better analytical performance than graphite-Teflon (GPTFE) electrodes. Furthermore, a better sensitivity, repeatability and reproducibility was observed for RuO2-GEPD electrodes when compared with Ru-GEPD electrodes. At an applied potential of +0.50 V, a detection limit for methionine of 4.8x10(-5) mol L(-1), similar to those reported in the literature for other RuO2-modified electrodes, was obtained. The analytical applicability of RuO2-GEPD electrodes was demonstrated by determining methionine in a complex pharmaceutical formulation.

Electrochemistry↗
PubMed2000

Oil-in-water emulsions as suitable working media for the direct polarographic determination of aziprotryne and desmetryne from its organic extracts in water samples.

The electroanalytical behavior of the reduction of the herbicides aziprotryne (2-azido-4-isopropylamino-6-methylthio-1,3,5-triazine) and desmetryne (4-isopropylamino-6-methylamino-2-methylthio-1,3,5-triazine) in oil-in-water emulsions is reported. This medium allows the differential pulse polarographic determination of these s-triazines directly from their sample extracts in an appropriate organic solvent. Sodium pentanesulfonate was chosen as the most suitable surfactant to be used as emulsifying agent, whereas ethyl acetate was selected as the organic solvent to form the emulsions. The peak current was maximum in a 0.3 mol L(-1) HClO4 medium of the continuous aqueous phase for aziprotryne, and at pH 3.0 for desmetryne, and the potential became more negative as the pH increased for both herbicides. The limiting current is diffusion controlled and the electrode process is irreversible. Four electrons are involved in the overall electrochemical reduction process as determined by controlled potential coulometry, whereas the alpha n(a) values suggested that two electrons are involved in the rate-determining step. Using differential pulse polarography, aziprotryne and desmetryne can be determined in the emulsified medium over the concentration ranges 1.0 x 10(-7)-1.0 x 10(-4) mol L(-1), with limits of detection of 4.5 x 10(-8) mol L(-1) and 6.6 x 10(-8) mol L(-1), respectively. The method was applied to the determination of aziprotryne and desmetryne in spiked irrigation water. At concentration levels of 6.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) aziprotryne and 4.0 x 10(-7) mol L(-1) desmetryne, recoveries of 94 +/- 3% and 94 +/- 4%, respectively, were obtained after preconcentration on Sep-Pack C18 cartridges. Finally, partial least-squares regression (PLSR) has been used for treatment of the polarographic data obtained from mixtures of aziprotryne, desmetryne and simazine in oil-in-water emulsions. The size of the calibration set was of 29 samples by ninety two current measurements at different potentials. Prediction of the herbicides concentration within the range 1.0 x 10(-6)-1.0 x 10(-5) mol L(-1) was possible.

Calibration↗
PubMed1996

Long tracheobronchial and esophageal rupture after blunt chest trauma: injury by airway bursting.

Tracheobronchial rupture can be associated with blunt thoracic trauma. An important factor in the physiopathology of these lesions is reflex closure of the glottis, which can be related to closed chest trauma. We report a case of nonpenetrating thoracic trauma that caused a long membranous tracheal rupture from the subcricoid area to the main carina, extending to both main bronchi. In addition, a complex esophageal rupture occurred due to the great energy liberated by the airway rupture acting as a real tracheal burst. Both lesions were diagnosed by flexible bronchoscopy. The postoperative period was without serious complications.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Efficacy and tolerance of oral dipyrone versus oral morphine for cancer pain.

In a double-blind, randomised and parallel clinical trial, two oral doses of dipyrone (1 and 2 g) administered every 8 h were compared with 10 mg of oral morphine given every 4 h for the relief of chronic cancer pain. A total of 121 patients with cancer pain without gastric involvement participated in a 7-day treatment course and were allocated to receive either dipyrone 1 g (n = 41), dipyrone 2 g (n = 38) or morphine (n = 42). Drug efficacy was analysed according to the degree of pain relief using a 100-mm visual analogue scale, and the number of patients who decided to increase the dose of the analgesic drug on day 4. The analgesic effect of dipyrone, 2 g every 8 h, was similar to that of morphine. The efficacy of both schedules was significantly greater than that of dipyrone, 1 g every 8 h. Dipyrone at either 1 or 2 g doses tended to be better tolerated than morphine, although the differences were not statistically significant.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Influence of socioeconomic and health care development on infant and perinatal mortality in Spain 1975-86.

STUDY OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to analyse the influence of social, economic, and health development on infant and perinatal mortality in Spain between 1975 and 1986, and to identify possible changes in these relationships over time. DESIGN: Study of the association between mortality and a range of variables. SETTING: 50 Spanish provinces. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Mean infant and perinatal mortality were estimated for two periods--1975-8 and 1983-6. Social, economic, and health care indicators were collected as independent variables for these two periods. The rates of variation between periods were estimated for each variable. Multiple linear regression models were used to define the association between infant and perinatal mortality and their respective rate of variation with the former indicators. Mean familial income was the main predictive factor for infant and perinatal mortality in the first period but in the second period health care indicators were more relevant. CONCLUSIONS: The reduction in Spanish infant and perinatal mortality over the period can be attributed mainly to the improvement in prenatal and neonatal health care in Spain in recent years, while economic factors seem less important.

Birth Rate↗
PubMed1991

Infant, neonatal, postneonatal and perinatal mortality in Spain, 1975-1984. Interregional and interannual differences.

The national infant, neonatal, postneonatal and perinatal mortality in Spain does not reflect the differences which exist among regions. The aim of the present study is to demonstrate and to quantify these differences, as well as their annual trends. We have also attempted to define groups of regions presenting similar rates. The results of the study confirmed a decrease in all mortality rates during the analyzed period. Regions were grouped according to their rates. Differences between the top and the bottom groups (with the lowest and the highest rates, respectively) resulted in statistical significance. However, the differences between these and the middle groups were not sharply defined. In addition, a clear geographic aggregation was evidenced in both top and bottom groups. These differences are mainly due to economic and sanitary factors.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1991

[Adhesiveness in Neisseria meningitidis. A virulence factor?].

The role of adhesivity as a factor of virulence in cases of N. meningitidis has not yet been established. Unlike other bacteria in which the presence of adhesivity reflects an enhanced virulence, a high capacity of adherence is associated with a low virulence and invasive capacity in cases of meningococcus. In order to gain more insight into the knowledge of this phenomenon we have studied the adhesivity of 109 strains of N. meningitidis to human pharyngeal epithelial cells. Twenty nine out of the 109 strains were isolated from blood or spinal fluid of patients with meningococcal infection (meningitis or septicemia), whereas the remaining 80 strains were obtained from pharyngeal smears of healthy carriers. The adhesivity was measured as the number of meningococci adhered to 50 epithelial cells according to Craven's scale. Strains of healthy carriers showed a greater adhesivity than that of patients (p less than 0.001). The relevance of the pharyngeal area in the evaluation of the adhesive capacity is in accordance with the hypothesis that meningococcal adhesivity decreases when the microorganism crosses the pharyngeal epithelium. The results would support the concept that the virulence of N. meningitidis is related to its adhesiveness.

Bacterial Adhesion↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Possible recall bias in a case-control study of congenital hip dysplasia].

PURPOSE: To ascertain the presence of recall or report bias in a case-control study on congenital dysplasia of the hip (CDH). METHODS: A hospital case-control study was performed. Those cases and controls with other malformations or from mothers with clinical problems were discarded. 97 cases of dysplasia, and 164 controls were collected. Mother's life style was assessed. Odds ratios (OR) (crude and multiple-factor adjusted by logistic regression analysis) and their 95% confidence intervals were estimated. Risk factors were analyzed stratifying by the results of Ortolani-Barlow maneuver, since women were interviewed after knowing these results. RESULTS: Mothers of newborns with a positive Ortolani-Barlow maneuver yielded a higher OR for positive family history than those of babies with a negative one (2.27 versus 1.38). Overall smoking and alcohol consumption, and number of health exams during pregnancy yielded a negative association with CDH. In these cases closer-to-the-null ORs were obtained in newborns with positive Ortolani-Barlow. CONCLUSIONS: The presence of a report or recall bias is suggested as one of the possibilities for explaining the results.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Venlafaxine extended release for the treatment of chronic pain. A series of 50 cases].

INTRODUCTION: The objective of this study is to investigate analgesic effectiveness and safety of venlafaxine extended release in chronic pain of any etiology. METHODS: Six month, observational, open study, carried out in two pain units. Initially, a daily dose of 75 mg of venlafaxine extended release was administered, increasing it to 150 mg, following clinical criteria. Treatment response was measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), rest and mobilization, Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HAD) and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) and an adverse event sheet to record adverse events occurring during the study. RESULTS: The study was carried out in a 50 patient sample with a mean age of 57.1 +/- 1.8 years, with chronic pain. A total of 85-90 % of the patients was maintained with a daily dose of 75 mg of venlafaxine extended release. This produced a gradual reduction of the VAS scores at rest (significant reduction of 5.2 +/- 1.1 to 2.7 +/- 1.5 points; (p<0.0005) and mobilization (significant reduction of 5.5 +/- 0.8 to 3.1 +- 1.6 points; p<0.0005). Pain relief increased progressively. Regarding physical activity measured by the ECOG scale, there was a reduction of the percentage of patients and increase of outpatients. Tolerability to venlafaxine was "excellent", "very good" or "good" for 72% of the patients. CONCLUSIONS: Extended release venlafaxine can be an effective and well-tolerated treatment in patients with chronic pain of any etiology, although it must be investigated in depth.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Prevalence of dental caries in a coastal zone of Granada].

In the present study, the problem of caries and its actual state in a seaside region of Granada is analyzed. 1.001 aged 5 to 15 scholars from three towns--Motril, Itrabo and Molvizar--were studied. In the descriptive survey, the prevalence of the illness by CO, CAOD, CAOS and CAOM epidemiologic indexes is registered, and also its distribution by place, age and sex. A general 1.45 CO, global 1.22 CAOD, 1.36 total CAOS and 0.94 CAOM were estimated. The relation of sweets taken out of the eating time, buccodental hygiene degree and fluorization drinking water levels with caries are studied in the analitic part. Straight connection was observed of sweets consuming to the total of caries (in both temporary and permanent teeth). A significant clear correlation was also observed between the levels of fluor and the prevalence of caries in temporary teeth, which was higher than in permanent teeth.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Pathologic intrathyroidal parathyroid glands.

BACKGROUND: Parathyroid glands originate from the third and fourth branchial pouches and migrate caudally to their final positions. Aberrations during migration result in anomalous locations. Intrathyroidal location is not common. METHODS: We reviewed cervical explorations performed from 1974 to 1993 in hyperparathyroidism patients. RESULTS: We found pathological intrathyroidal glands in six patients. Three patients had adenomas (left superior, left inferior and right inferior glands). The hyperplastic glands were left inferior in one patient and right inferior in the remaining two. Intraoperative diagnosis was made in three cases in which palpation of the thyroid gland showed a nodule that was suspected to be the parathyroid missing gland. In three patients it was a finding in thyroidectomy or hemithyroidectomy specimens, two of them with associated thyroid nodular disease. CONCLUSIONS: Ipsilateral thyroidotomy on the side of a palpable thyroid mass or blind hemithyroidectomy are justified if a presumably pathological intrathyroidal gland is suspected, when all other sites in the neck have been excluded.

Adenoma↗