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Biomedical subjects

R García

Publications and source records attributed to R García.

At least 127 records · Page 7Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Diabetes education in the elderly: a 5-year follow-up of an interactive approach.

A continuing interactive educational model was established for elderly patients with diabetes mellitus. The effects were studied in 148 diabetic patients aged > or = 60 years who participated in 60 monthly scheduled interactive meetings over a 5-year period. The meetings were performed as group discussions, cultural activities, dining out, and the like. Empowering patients with skills, perceptions and feelings to cope with diabetes and metabolic control was emphasized, rather than clinical aspects. Comparison between pre-programme and 5 years later demonstrates a significant increase (P, 0.001) of knowledge and skills to deal with treatment requirements, and a reduction in body weight and antidiabetic medication (daily doses of insulin and oral compounds; P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). HbA1c levels improved significantly (P < 0.02). There were less diabetes related conditions requiring emergency services and hospital admission.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Immune complexes from HIV-1+ patients contain infectious virus able to infect normal lymphocytes.

It has been suggested that circulating immune complexes containing HIV-1 could be involved in enhancement of the infection through Fc receptors. To test this hypothesis, immune complexes precipitated from the sera of 25 HIV-1-seropositive individuals, at different stages of the disease, were assayed for the presence of infectious virus. When added to phytohemagglutinin-activated peripheral blood lymphocytes, seven of 25 complexes were able to sustain a productive infection. This was demonstrated by release of HIV-p24 antigens in the supernatant of activated but not resting peripheral blood lymphocytes after several days of culture. Moreover, peripheral blood lymphocytes cultured with complexes from HIV-1+ patients but not from control subject, contained integrated HIV-1 provirus in their DNA. These results demonstrated the presence of infectious virus in immune complexes from HIV-1+ patients.

Antigen-Antibody Complex↗
PubMed1996

Vascular and cardiac overexpression of endothelin-1 gene in one-kidney, one clip Goldblatt hypertensive rats but only in the late phase of two-kidney one clip Goldblatt hypertension.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a model of experimental hypertension that exhibits severe hypertrophy of small blood vessels but in which deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA) and salt are absent: the one-kidney, one clip model of Goldblatt renovascular hypertension, which is non-renin-dependent, and compare it with the renin-dependent two-kidney, one clip Goldblatt hypertensive rat, in which additionally vascular hypertrophy is less severe. METHODS: Endothelin-1 gene expression in blood vessels and in the heart was examined by Northern blot analysis. RESULTS: After 2 or 4 weeks of application of the silver clip to unilaterally nephrectomized rats, the aorta and mesenteric arteries exhibited a significant increase in the intensity of the 2.3 kb band corresponding to hybridization with endothelin-1 messenger RNA (mRNA) in comparison with results obtained in control unilaterally nephrectomized rats. No increase was noted in the blood vessels of the two-kidney, one clip hypertensive rat at 2 or 4 weeks, but significant increases were found at 8 weeks in aorta, but not in mesenteric arteries. Cardiac abundance of endothelin-1 mRNA was also increased in ventricles and in the left atria of one-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats, but only in the late phase (at 8 weeks) in two-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats. CONCLUSION: Because one-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats presented severe vascular hypertrophy whereas two-kidney, one clip hypertensive rats only did so in the late phase of hypertension, these results lend further support to there being a relationship between vascular hypertrophy and endothelin-1 vascular overexpression in experimental models of hypertension. They also demonstrate that enhancement of the expression of endothelin-1 gene in blood vessels and in the heart of hypertensive rats may occur in the absence of exposure to DOCA and salt, and that endothelin-1 gene overexpression in experimental hypertension occurs early in non-renin-dependent, volume-expanded models such as the one-kidney, one clip or the DOCA-salt hypertensive rat, but only in the progressively non-renin-dependent late phase of the initially renin-dependent volume-contracted two-kidney, one clip hypertensive rat.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

[Hemodynamic response to intubation with Macintosh and McCoy blades].

INTRODUCTION: The McCoy laryngoscope incorporates a modification of the Macintosh blade designed to facilitate laryngoscopy and difficult intubation. One end is articulated to allow better viewing of the larynx. Use of this blade reduces pressure placed on tissues in the supraglottic area during laryngoscopy. OBJECTIVE: We designed this study to compare the hemodynamic repercussions of laryngoscopy and tracheal intubation (LTI) performed with either a Macintosh or the McCoy blade. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Sixty ASA I-II patients scheduled for elective surgery requiring LTI were randomly assigned to 2 groups of 30 patients each. In both groups anesthetic induction was achieved with 0.04 mg.kg-1 midazolam, 0.002 mg.kg-1 fentanyl, 2 mg.kg-1 propofol and 0.1 mg.kg-1 vecuronium. In group 1 LTI laryngoscopy and intubation were performed using the Macintosh size 3 blade and in group 2 the McCoy size 3 blade was used. Systolic and diastolic arterial pressures and heart rate were recorded in each patient before anesthetic induction (baseline), 1 minute after induction and 5 minutes after start of LTI. RESULTS: We found no significant differences between the 2 groups at any of the recording times. CONCLUSION: The data obtained do not allow us to assert that there is any difference in hemodynamic response to LTI associated to type of blade used.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1996

[Analysis of the block design test in a geriatric sample group].

We have carried out a study to determine the normal values of the 'block design test' in a sample group of 58 healthy elderly persons, a test which is usually used in the clinical evaluation of constructive apraxia. We therefore describe a grading scale which has not been previously published, in order to check the possible usefulness of this drawing as a rapid test of cognitive evaluation. A study was made of the possible interaction of the test with sample parameters, age, sex, educational level and also the inter-examiner reliability. We have observed a significant interaction between the variables of sex and educational level. Also the inter-examiner reliability is not very good. In view of our results, we consider that the 'block design test' is not very useful in the evaluation of constructive praxis in healthy elderly persons, and therefore it does not seem to us to be a good test for the rapid evaluation of cognitive function in this group.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

[Analysis of patients with acute pancreatitis (AP), (1984-1994) decade. Comparison with a past series].

Between 1984-1994 records of 190 patients with acute pancreatitis (AP) were reviewed. Diagnosis was confirmed by surgery in 141, by necropsy 1 (75%), and for the remaining patients, by CT and clinical evaluation. Female 122 were female (64%), male 68 (36%), mean age 41 years (range 7-82 years). The etiologic factors were gallstones in 129 (68%) with 4 deaths (3%), alcoholic in 26 (14%) with 5 (19%) deaths, idiopathic in 24 (13%) and miscellaneous 11 (5%), the last 2 without mortality. The overall mortality was 5% (9/190). Surgical treatment was indicated in 141 (74%) and endoscopic treatment in 2 (1%), 47 patients (25%) received only medical treatment. One-hundred and fifty-four patients (81%) were mild forms with a Ranson mean score 2.2 without mortality. In this group, emergency surgery was indicated in 7 (6%), early in 3 (3%), late in 1 (0.9%) and elective in 99 (90%). In the severe group were 36 patients (19%) with a mean Ranson score of 4.2. Nine patients died (25%), 31 were surgically treated, by emergency surgery in 17 (47%), 1 (3%) early surgery and 13 (36%) late surgery. The mortality rate of this group was compared with previous series of the same hospital (1975-1984 series). The 1984-1994 group showed a significant overall mortality decrease 4.7% vs 12.7% (p = 0.0047); 3.1% vs 11.2% (p = 0.0087) for the gallstones group; without mortality in the idiopathic and miscellaneous form compared with 18.7% and 20% respectively of the previous series; no mortality was observed in the mild AP compared with 5% of the previous series. The mortality in the severe form was 25% vs 40.8% (1975-1984 group). We consider that the decreased mortality could be attributed to the improvement in the diagnosis, early recognition of the severe forms, systemic supportive care in the severe forms, the use of antibiotics with wide spectrum and deeper penetration in the pancreas and specially in the change of the surgical timing. Although, in the first period the option was the early pancreatic surgery, in the second this was indicated only in particular cases.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

[Lead poisoning: clinical picture, diagnosis and related environmental factors].

BACKGROUND: The predisposing environmental factors and clinical picture of lead poisoning, are not well known. AIM: To describe the clinical picture, diagnosis and treatment of lead poisoning in individuals under industry exposure. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Twenty of 38 workers of a printing press were studied. Their medical and labor histories were recorded. Lead in air in the working area and the dose received by the workers was measured. RESULTS: The environmental lead in the linotype room was 25% over the accepted values. Twelve of the 20 workers were poisoned and three were highly exposed. Poisoned workers were working in areas with high environmental lead concentrations, were in direct contact with the metal, had plasma lead concentrations over 70 micrograms/dl and an average exposure time of over 17 years. Their clinical picture was not specific and related to plasma and environmental lead concentrations, length of exposure and type of contact. CONCLUSIONS: Lead poisoning must be suspected among workers exposed to high environmental concentrations and its treatment consists in withdrawing poisoned subjects from polluted areas.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Concanavalin A- and wheat germ agglutinin-conjugated lectins as a tool for the identification of multiple N-glycosylation sites in heterologous protein expressed in yeast.

We report here a methodology that allows the identification of glycosylation sites by a combination of protein enzymatic digestion, glycopeptide separation on a reverse-phase HPLC column, and further recognition in a dot-blot system using concanavalin A-horseradish peroxidase. Wheat germ agglutinin-horseradish peroxidase is used as the recognition system for peptides generated after proteolytic digestion of endoglycosidase H deglycosylated protein. Glycosylation sites were confirmed by automatic Edman degradation and fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry. This methodology was applied to a model glycoprotein, alpha-amylase from Bacillus licheniformis, which is unglycosylated in its natural host and appears highly glycosylated when expressed in the methylotrophic yeast Pichia pastoris.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed1995

Vectors for the genetic manipulation of African swine fever virus.

Plasmid vectors designed to facilitate the genetic manipulation of African swine fever virus (ASFV) are described. Our results demonstrate that the beta-glucuronidase enzyme (GUS) can be used to follow gene expression in ASFV-infected cells. Infectious plaques formed by ASFV expressing GUS are visually detectable, thus providing a simple and highly sensitive method for the selection of ASFV recombinants. These and previous results have allowed us to construct two chimeric gene cassettes that constitute the basic tools for the generation of vectors to carry out the deletion of multiple target sequences from the ASFV genome. These cassettes, formed by: (a) a virus promoter; (b) the coding sequence of a reporter gene, either Lac Z or gusA; and (c) a strong signal for the 3' end formation of ASFV mRNAs, can be easily isolated by endonuclease restriction from their corresponding plasmid vectors. A general insertion/coexpression plasmid vector, pEPV2, has also been constructed. pEPV2 facilitates the insertion of foreign genes, together with the Lac Z reporter, into the thymidine kinase locus of ASFV. The functionality of pEPV2 has been tested by generating a recombinant ASFV expressing the luciferase gene. The vectors presented in this report constitute the first reported set of tools for the genetic manipulation of ASFV.

African Swine Fever Virus↗
PubMed1995

Sensitizing properties of new N-(2-arylalkyl) propionamides in drug-sensitive and multidrug-resistant tumor cells.

The propionamides 5 and 6 have been synthesized and tested for stimulation of antitumor drug activity. 5 and 6b increase vincristine cytotoxicity in drug-sensitive murine tumor cells; 5 also increases the toxicity in multidrug resistant cells. Dissimilar trends in sensitive and resistant cells have been observed for the stimulating activity of several propionamides of this family and structurally related verapamil with their molar refractivity, suggesting different size requirements for the sensitizers in sensitive and resistant cells.

Amides↗