Biomedical subjects

R Vaz

Publications and source records attributed to R Vaz.

11 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed1992

HM-PAO spect in head trauma.

Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) after intravenous administration of Technetium-99m hexamethylpropylene-amine oxime (Tc-99m HM-PAO) makes possible the evaluation of cerebral perfusion. We have been assessing the diagnostic accuracy of SPECT in some groups of head trauma patients: the preliminary results of this study are presented. Fourteen patients have been selected, all of them showing some kind of focal neurological deficit; the Computed Tomography (CT) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) were normal, or showed lesions that could not be responsible for the neurological deficits. In all of the patients Tc-99m HM-PAO SPECT has been performed, showing changes in cerebral perfusion in areas correlated with the abnormalities elicited on clinical examination. These results show that Tc-99m HM-PAO SPECT is a better technique than CT or NMR in demonstrating the organic basis of some neurological deficits observed after head trauma.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1992

Undergraduate education in rural primary health care: evaluation of a first-year field attachment programme.

In an effort to evaluate the first part of the rural field attachment programme at the University of Zimbabwe Medical School, a self-assessment questionnaire was administered to the first-year students. Assessment criteria were derived from the stated aims of the school's new undergraduate medical curriculum. The results indicate that students view the programme as relevant and of value of their training as future doctors, even though they were dissatisfied with aspects of the programme. There was some evidence that more emphasis should be placed on the limitations on what doctors can do to solve the health problems of rural Zimbabweans. Contrary to previous opinions of some individuals, students whose homes are in rural areas benefited from the programme and found it of value. Better orientation and selection of supervisors would benefit the programme. Recommendations for field attachment programmes are made based on the findings.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1992

[Coronary transluminal angioplasty after the use of thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction].

PURPOSE: To present the Cardiology Institute of Rio Grande do Sul experience with percutaneous coronary angioplasty (PTCA), after thrombolytic therapy in acute myocardial infarction (AMI). METHODS: Fifty-three patients with transmural AMI in whom early successful intravenous streptokinase recanalization was followed by PTCA. The mean age was 50 years, male patients were more frequent, the predominant area of infarct was anterior wall and more frequently the "culprit" coronary was the left anterior descendent. The main indication of PTCA was uniarterial lesion with less than 20 mm of length. RESULTS: The success comes out in 44 patients (81.5%). Ten patients (18.5%) were considered unsuccessful and were referred to emergency bypass graft surgery. The in-hospital AMI rate after PTCA was 5.5%. In the follow-up the reestenoses rate was 11% and reocclusion was 3.7%. New PTCA was necessary in 3 patients (5.5%) and in one, by-pass graft (1.8%). CONCLUSIONS: PTCA is an important and secure modality of complementary therapy after thrombolytic therapy with low morbidity and mortality.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

[Unstable angina: comparison of the effects of diltiazem and propranolol].

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of diltiazem and propranolol in patients with unstable angina. METHODS: Fifty-six patients with unstable angina, mean age of 55.4 +/- 8.5, 41 men and 15 women, were evaluated in a randomized, double-blind study of two groups of patients treated with diltiazem or propranolol at total daily doses of 180 mg and 120 mg respectively during the first 48 hours. After that the total daily doses was adjusted to 240 mg and 160 mg, respectively, until the 7th day. The first 48 hours, four times daily, clinical evaluation, CKMB data, ECG were obtained and two times daily until 7th day. A coronary arteriography was done on study entry. RESULTS: A significative reduction of angina crisis number, duration, intensity and the number of sublingual nitrates doses were observed equally in both groups. The SAP, DAP, HR and RR did not show statistical differences between groups. Individual groups analysis showed significative reductions of SAP, DAP and HR in propranolol group. The CKMB data, ECG alterations and coronary arteriography characteristics were similar. CONCLUSION: Both drugs were effective for the unstable angina treatment.

Angina, Unstable↗

PubMed1991

Traumatic interhemispheric subdural haematomas.

According to reports in the literature traumatic interhemispheric subdural haematomas (I.S.H.) are supposed to present acutely or subacutely with contralateral monoparesis of a lower extremity or hemiparesis or in bilateral haematomas even with paraparesis, and to need early operative evacuation. In our series of 5 cases none of them followed this "classical" clinical picture, and three of them recovered without operation. We conclude that the indication for operative evacuation depends on the clinical course and that in patients with spontaneously improving symptomatology non-surgical management under close supervision may be the better solution. Also the C.T. finding of open convexity cisterns may be possible indication for conservative management.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1990

Spinal cord hemangioblastoma with subarachnoid hemorrhage.

A case of subarachnoid hemorrhage caused by a cervical hemangioblastoma is presented. The clinical picture was indistinguishable from that of a subarachnoid hemorrhage from an intracranial lesion. The diagnosis was established by angiography and water-soluble contrast myelography followed by cervical computed tomographic scan. At surgery, the tumor was completely removed, and no neurological deficit was observed after the operation.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

Porencephalic cyst in pycnodysostosis.

We describe a case of pycnodysostosis with porencephaly and suggest an explanation for the porencephaly by a mechanism of imbalance between brain growth and its vascular supply and a normal but unopposed cerebrospinal fluid pressure.

Adult↗

PubMed1986

A pilot study on levels of organochlorine compounds in human milk in Nigeria.

Concentrations of some persistent organochlorine compounds (OCC) in human milk samples from Nigeria are determined. Apart from the commonly detected insecticide residues in Nigerian environment (DDT-complex, HCH-isomers and HCB), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) were also found in four out of the thirty-five samples analysed; the values varied from 0.32-0.62 mg/kg milk fat. In general, concentrations of the insecticides were low. p,p'-DDD was not detected in appreciable and quantifiable levels.

Adult↗

PubMed1985

PCB levels in breast milk: data from the UNEP/WHO pilot project on biological monitoring and some other recent studies.

The levels of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in human milk provide an index of exposure of the mother to these compounds and enable the intake by the breast-fed child to be estimated. For valid comparisons between different studies, concentrations should be expressed on a milk fat basis. In a recently completed UNEP/WHO pilot project on monitoring of organochlorine compounds in human milk in ten countries, great emphasis was placed on analytical quality assurance. To obtain comparable data, a common procedure, that of Sawyer, was adopted for quantitation of PCBs, using Aroclor 1260 as standard. In addition, certain criteria (e.g., age and parity) were established for selection of the mothers to be sampled. In contrast to the situation with p,p'-DDT and p,p'-DDE, the levels of PCBs in human milk fat were higher in the European countries and Japan than in China, India and Mexico. In fact, PCBs were not detected in human milk in the latter three countries. Although PCBs were detected in some samples in the USA, the median level was below the limit of detection of the method used there (1 mg/kg fat). The median PCB levels reported from Belgium, Israel, Japan and Yugoslavia were 0.81, 0.45, 0.35 and 0.63 mg/kg fat, respectively. Higher median levels were reported from Sweden and the Federal Republic of Germany (0.97 and 2.1 mg/kg fat, respectively). The German samples were not analyzed by the Sawyer method.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1965

[Tuberculosis].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Nursing↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Calcaneal spurs in a black African population.

The radiological incidence of calcaneal spurs in a black African population was studied. Our findings show that spur incidence increased with age and was greater in females than in males. These results, the first from a large, exclusively African population, are similar to those from previous studies of individuals from other continents.

Adolescent↗