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Biomedical subjects

S Pascual

Publications and source records attributed to S Pascual.

50 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1996

Marine parasites as biological tags of cephalopod hosts.

The use of marine parasites as non-intrusive natural tags of their hosts was first broadly applied in fisheries science in the 1940s. Both micro- and macroparasites have been used to assess the status of current stocks of several commercially exploited species of marine animals. Here, Santiago Pascual and Eric Hochberg offer a brief comment on marine parasite tags as a stock assessment methodology, with special reference to cephalopod hosts.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1996

[Cholestatic hepatitis and anemia induced by ticlopidine].

A new case of acute cholestatic hepatitis in a 70-years-old woman treated with ticlopidine following stroke occurred 2 months previously is presented. The patient also presented anemia which became more severe during admission, but which was resolved following withdrawal of the drug with no involvement of the other 2 series. This is the first case reported with isolated anemia related to ticlopidine.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1996

[The clinical significance of the magnitude of esophageal dilatation in idiopathic achalasia].

The relationship between the diameter of the esophageal body and the clinical profile of the disease and response to treatment was analyzed in 151 patients with idiopathic achalasia by pneumatic dilation of the cardias. Of the 151 patients, 46 presented an esophageal diameter < or = 3 cm (group I), 78 a diameter > 3 cm up to a maximum of 5 cm (group II) and 27 presented a diameter > 5 cm (group III). The result of pneumatic dilatation of the cardias under endoscopic control was analyzed in 117 patients with a minimum follow up of one year after the last dilatation session. Of all the clinical parameters studied, significant statistical differences were only found in group III in respect to the time of symptom evolution and the presence of regurgitation. Manometric data in basal pressure of the esophageal body and in contraction wave width were lower in groups I and III, respectively. The remaining variables were similar in the three groups although group III showed a trend to older age and the frequency of pulmonary complications with lesser thoracic pain and registry of a strict pattern. Endoscopic pneumatic dilation carried out in all the cases was effective in 83% of the patients and was similar in the three study groups. The rate of complications (perforation) was also similar. The therapeutic efficacy of pneumatic dilatation was accompanied by a significant reduction in esophageal diameter. It was concluded that the increase in esophageal diameter in idiopathic achalasia is associated with chronological, clinical and functional parameters which suggest greater disease evolution but do not determine significant changes in the therapeutic response to endoscopic pneumatic dilatation.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

[Sigmoid stenosis as a complication of severe acute pancreatitis].

We report a case of severe acute pancreatitis, of biliary etiology, complicated with a pancreatic pseudocyst and colonic stenosis localized in the sigmoid, that we interpret as secondary to the lesion produced by pancreatic enzymes spread. The treatment was surgical. Possible colonic complications in the context of an acute pancreatitis and their possible etiopathogenic mechanisms are commented. The incidence of these complications is rare and much more so the stenosis localized in the sigmoid colon.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed1995

[Is there a relationship between cholelithiasis and colorectal cancer?].

PROBLEM: The pathogenesis of colorectal cancer must be perceived as a complex interaction between the genetic make-up of the individual and the environment. Recent publications stress the association between colorectal carcinoma and cholelithiasis. OBJECTIVE: A retrospective study was set up to compare the presence of cholelithiasis/cholecystectomy in patients with colorectal carcinoma vs gastric carcinoma. PATIENTS: In 481 patients with colorectal carcinoma, and in another group of 126 patients with gastric carcinoma, the incidence of prior cholelithiasis/cholecystectomy was investigated. RESULTS: In the colorectal carcinoma cases a personal history the cholelithiasis was observed more often than cholecystectomy, 88 vs 8 (P < 0.001) patients, and cholelithiasis was more commonly observed in cases of right-sided colonic cancer, than in cancer of the left colon and rectum. In the group with gastric carcinoma the cholelithiasis incidence was 5.6 percent. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that a relationship was found more often between colorectal cancer and cholelithiasis, that with cholecystectomy.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Sigmoid diverticular pathology. Apropos of a homogeneous series of 82 cases].

The authors report a retrospective series of 82 cases of sigmoid diverticulosis which revealed the following points: surgery is rarely performed on "cold" disease but for acute or chronic complications, diverticular disease is very often present for a very long time and the doctor or the patient has refused operation for various reasons, whenever possible, infection must be eradicated as first line treatment and continuity must be restored under protection of a right transverse colostomy which is closed 4 to 6 weeks later. The authors prefer this approach to Hartmann's operation, in which the restoration of colonic continuity appears to be more delicate and which tends to prevent the surgeon from performing a sufficiently low inferior section, the source of poor long-term results. There was no postoperative mortality in this series, which may be due to the special environment in which surgery was performed. It is preferable to operate patients with "cold" diverticulosis before the development of complications, which allows simpler one-stage surgery requiring a shorter and therefore less expansive hospital stay.

Adult↗
PubMed1985

[Cystadenoma and cystadenocarcinoma of the pancreas. Apropos of 7 new cases].

Cystadenomas and cystadenocarcinomas of the pancreas are tumours which remain poorly known because of their relative rarity. They are seen essentially in women aged between 40 and 60 and involve the left half of the pancreas more often than the right. The symptomatology remains latent for a fairly long time, which explains the fact that they are most often discovered only at the stage of a palpable tumour. Recent methods of investigation--echotomography and computed tomography--are of very great value in preoperative diagnosis. It is extremely important to draw the distinction within the group of benign cystadenomas between microcystic forms and macrocystic forms or mucinous cystadenomas, the latter having a definite potential for malignant change, possibly explaining the link with certain cystadenocarcinomas. As a result, excision surgery is always preferable, when possible, to bypass surgery, at least in caudal or corporeo-caudal lesions, since excision surgery is usually easy. For cephalic lesions, if excision surgery seems difficult, it may be conceivable, using modern techniques of investigation, to adopt a conservative attitude when there are no features suggestive of potential malignant change.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Microchip vagal pacing reduces food intake and body mass.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Morbid obesity is an increasing problem worldwide. In many patients pharmacotherapy is ineffective and these cases are treated by surgery. Different types of gastroplasty and gastric bypasses have been described. However, all of these ablative surgical methods are irreversible and often replace obesity by other disorders. Neuromodulation of vagal activity is a method of inducing significant changes in stomach motility. We developed a pre-programmed microchip able to pace vagal afferent activity by changing current parameters. The aim of our study was to evaluate long-term effects of vagal neuromodulation on food intake and body mass in rabbits. METHODOLOGY: Twenty-seven healthy male adult New Zealand white rabbits were included into the study and divided into three groups: A, B and C, 9 animals each. Microchips were implanted by laparotomy access. Anesthesia was obtained by continuous intravenous infusion of propofol. Microchips were fixed in the preperitoneal pocket and two electrodes were positioned on the posterior vagus in group A by forward, and in group B by backward pacing. Control group C was sham operated by laparotomy and only vagal nerves preparation was performed. The following parameters were estimated: daily solid food and liquids intake, amount of feces, body mass and heart rate. RESULTS: Within four weeks after operation body mass in group B had decreased up to 12% (P = 0.029), whereas in group A and C changed to -3% and +2%, respectively. An 87% solid food intake was observed in group A, 60% in group B (P < 0.01), and 143% in group C, compared to preoperative period. No significant differences were observed between groups A, B and C for liquids intake. Total feces weight changes corresponded to solid food intake. Heart rate decreased intraoperatively to 78% and 74% in groups A and B, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Microchip mediated functional gastroplasty significantly reduces food intake and body mass. Obtained results encourage using similar treatment in morbid obesity human patients. However, further studies are required.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Control of respiratory monitoring in the critical patient].

This study of the safety of patients undergoing mechanical ventilation was undertaken to ensure correct ventilation and to find quality-control elements for patients and nursing staff. Differences in mode programming and ventilation parameters and their registry at the change of nursing shifts, and correct programming of the sensitivity and minimum minute volume alarms and maximum airway pressure alarms were examined. In a two-month period, 8 cross-sectional studies were made of G1 prevalence in each of three nursing shifts. The status of the alarms and sensitivity were recorded when incorrect, as well as whether the ventilation mode and parameters coincided with the change of nursing shift. An analysis was made of: FiO2, PEEP, respiratory rate, minute volume, tidal volume, support pressure level, and control pressure level depending on the ventilation mode. Corrective measures were applied for a month. The effectiveness of these measures was evaluated by making 8 new G2 cross-sectional studies of the same type. Two hundred forty-eight G1 and 250 G2 recordings were made. The G2 studies revealed a generalized reduction in errors for all parameters. We concluded that the corrective measures were effective so these indicators were included in the monitoring of risk areas in the unit quality control program.

Critical Care↗