[Hypothyroid coma probably related to amiodarone therapy: apropos of a case].
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Aged↗
Biomedical subjects
S Ruiz
Publications and source records attributed to S Ruiz.
Neonatal capsaicin treatment impairs functional properties of primary olfactory afferents in the rat.
Long-lasting influences of neonatal capsaicin treatment on functional properties of the olfactory nerve were studied in 30-day-old rats by determining excitability thresholds of nerve fibres by means of orthodromic field potentials elicited in the main olfactory bulb, as well as by analyzing the pattern of the low-frequency component of the bulbar electroencephalogram. In addition, body, brain and olfactory bulbar weights were measured. Neonatal capsaicin resulted in reduced excitability of primary olfactory afferents and reduced wave amplitude of the bulbar electroencephalogram. Capsaicin treated animals had reduced body, brain and bulbar weights, the latter being the most affected. The result indicates that capsaicin given early in life leads to altered transmission properties of olfactory nerve fibres at later age, suggesting that olfactory afferents are sensitive to the neurotoxic action of capsaicin as occurs in other chemosensory afferent systems.
Animals↗
Nucleosomal organization of chromatin in sperm nuclei of the bivalve mollusc Aulacomya ater.
The sperm nuclei of Aulacomya ater, family Mitylidae, contain three proteins (X, Aa5 and Aa6) which are specific to this cell type coexisting with a set of five somatic-type histones. Information about the chromatin structure resulting from this kind of association is scarce. Therefore, we have probed the structure of this sperm chromatin through digestion with micrococcal nuclease in combination with salt fractionation. The data obtained have allowed us to propose a nucleosomal arrangement for this chromatin. However, two types of nucleosomes would be present in agreement with their protein components.
Animals↗
The fine structure of lamellate cells in the brain of amphioxus (Branchiostoma lanceolatum, Cephalochordata).
The lamellate cells of amphioxus have round nuclei, and cytoplasm with many mitochondria and a large amount of glycogen. Each of these cells projects a highly modified, branched cilium into the central canal, where it characteristically forms lamellar structures. Primary branches and secondary lamellae often contain accessory microtubules that are not derived from the axonema. The functional and evolutionary significance of this cell type is discussed in relation to the ciliary photoreceptors found in other chordates.
Animals↗
Renal transplantation in patients with classical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome.
Eighteen records from children with renal transplants (RT) and classical haemolytic-uraemic syndrome (HUS) were reviewed. The mean oliguric period was 17.9 +/- 7.5 days; the interval between acute phase and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) was 9.3 +/- 5.2 years. HUS was the most frequent cause of renal transplantation (23.4%). There were no significant differences between patients with HUS and controls (children with RT but without HUS), regarding renal function, frequency of rejections, renal survival (HUS 65%, controls 57%) or patient survival (94.4% and 96.6%, respectively) after 9 years. None had clinical or histopathological evidence of HUS recurrence in the allograft. Of all children with living-related donors (LRD), renal survival after 3 years was longer for those who received cyclosporin A (CSA) (HUS and controls 86%) than for those who did not receive it (HUS 50%, controls 53%). Classical HUS is a frequent cause of ESRD in Argentina. The duration of the acute oliguric period is a good predictor of the likelihood of progression to chronicity. In the classical form of HUS there is no recurrence in the allograft. CSA and LRD can be used without risk in renal transplantation of children with classical HUS.
Child↗
Yohimbine early in life alters functional properties of interhemispheric connections of rat visual cortex.
It has been shown that noradrenaline (NA) is an important regulator of normal regressive processes occurring during synaptogenesis such as cell death, axonal pruning and synaptic elimination. The present study was designed to investigate whether enhanced NA release induced by chronic yohimbine administration early in life may alter in the rat the normal pattern of functional interhemispheric connections of the visual cortex. Yohimbine administration to rats between days 5 and 16 of postnatal life (2.5 mg/kg, IP, daily) resulted in changes in the pattern of transcallosal responses evoked in the visual cortex, characterized by a reduction in the peak-to-peak amplitude as well as a reduction of the extent of projecting fields of maximal activity, when examined at 30-35 days following termination of the drug treatment regimen. The results indicate that yohimbine treatment early in life induces functional alterations in the interhemispheric connectivity of the visual areas, probably by disrupting the normal trophic role of NA during synaptogenesis.
Animals↗
Evidence of hypothalamic-pituitary thyroid abnormalities in children with end-stage renal disease.
Patients with end-stage renal disease may have abnormalities of growth and of gonadal and thyroid hormones, so we attempted to determine the mechanisms that may be involved in the altered thyroid function. We evaluated serum thyroid hormone levels, their changes immediately after hemodialysis, the serum thyrotropin (thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) response to thyrotropin releasing hormone, and the circadian pattern of serum TSH in nine children with end-stage renal disease who were between 7 1/2 years and 17 years 1 month of age. Seven patients had been receiving hemodialysis for a median of 3.3 years; the other two were receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis. Four patients had low serum total thyroxine (T4) values, and all nine had low free T4 values. Mean concentrations of total T4, free T4, and total triiodothyronine (T3), which were significantly less than normal before hemodialysis, returned to normal levels immediately after dialysis. Postdialysis thyroid hormone increases did not correlate with the decrease in weight or the increase in hematocrit observed immediately after dialysis. All but one patient had basal TSH levels within the normal range. Three patients had a deficient TSH response to thyrotropin releasing hormone, and the TSH response was prolonged in all of them. The mean (+/- SD) nocturnal TSH surge was 50 +/- 68%. Five of the eight patients studied had a nocturnal TSH surge below the normal range (95% confidence limits 47% to 300%). Serum free T4 values correlated with the TSH nocturnal surge (r, 0.73; p less than 0.05). Our findings support the hypothesis that some patients with end-stage renal disease have central hypothyroidism.
Adolescent↗
Estimation of doses to patients from "complex" conventional X-ray examinations.
A numerical method has been developed to estimate the organ doses and effective dose-equivalent for patients undergoing three "complex" examinations (barium meal, barium enema and intravenous urography). The separation of radiological procedures into a set of standard numerical views is based on the use of Monte Carlo conversion factors and measurements within a Remab phantom. The radiation doses measured in a phantom for such examinations have been compared with the predictions of the "numerical" method. Dosimetric measurements with thermoluminescent dosemeters attached to the patient's skin along with measurements of the dose-area product during the examination have enabled us to derive organ doses and to estimate the effective dose-equivalent. Mean frequency weighted values of dose-area product, energy imparted to the patient, doses to a set of organs and effective dose-equivalent in the area of Madrid are reported. Comparisons of the results with those from similar surveys in other countries have been made.
Barium Sulfate↗
Meningococcal serogroup B vaccine protection trial and follow-up studies in Chile. The Chilean National Committee for Meningococcal Disease.
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Adolescent↗
[Continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD): an alternative for the treatment of children with terminal chronic renal insufficiency in Argentina].
Twenty three children aged 0.4 to 15 years, (x 7.5 years) with end-stage renal disease were treated with continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) over 46 months. The mean time of treatment for the group was 13 months (range 1.0 to 31 months). Sixty five percent of the patients had readmission after catheter placement; 53% were for peritonitis. Nine out of 23 patients (39%), presented 20 episodes of peritonitis, an incidence of one episode per 15 patient months. Gram positive organisms were culture in 60% of these episodes. A total of 26 peritoneal catheters were placed in 23 patients. Of the five catheters that required replacement, three were for peritonitis. Seven out of 23 patients had nephrotic syndrome when admitted to CAPD, four of which develop peritonitis. Although no difference was seen between nephrotic and non nephrotic patients in relation to CAPD initiation and peritonitis development, nephrotic patients without peritonitis and non nephrotic had significantly higher initial growth index for height and iron binding capacity than those with nephrotic syndrome and peritonitis (-1.71 +/- 0.90 vs -2.29 +/- 0.27, P less than 0.05, and 265 +/- 50.5 vs 175 +/- 5.0 mg/dL, P less than 0.0005, respectively). No difference in mean plasma gamma globulin concentration was seen between patients with and without peritonitis. In 14 patients followed for a period greater than to 6 months, the delta growth index for weight and height and was: -0.13 +/- 0.31 and -0.31 +/- 0.46, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Adolescent↗
Asymmetry of interhemispheric responses evoked in the prefrontal cortex of the rat.
Interhemispheric responses of anesthetized rats were evoked in the prefrontal cortex of both cerebral hemispheres by electric stimulation of the homologous contralateral cortical region. Fatigability of interhemispheric responses to repetitive stimulation was lower in the right prefrontal cortex. Besides, responses recorded in the right hemisphere exhibited greater amplitude increments to double-shock stimulation. No significant differences in rheobase, chronaxie, and threshold current were observed when comparing responsiveness of both prefrontal cortices to single stimuli. Results suggest that brain lateralization in the rat could depend, in part, on synaptic functional asymmetries of the prefrontal cortex.
Animals↗
Serotype-specific outbreak of group B meningococcal disease in Iquique, Chile.
From 1979 to August 1987, there have been 178 cases of meningococcal disease in Iquique, Chile, a city of about 140,000. The attack rate for the last 5 years has been in excess of 20/100,000 per year, more than 20 times greater than for the country overall. The mortality rate was 6%. The disease occurred in patients with ages from 4 months to 60 years, but 89% of cases were in patients less than 21 years. The largest number of cases were in the age group 5-9 years (n = 54), but the highest incidence occurred in children less than 1 year of age (72.8/100,000 per year). The male/female ratio was 1.2. Cases occurred all year round with little seasonal variation. Of the 178 cases, 173 were biologically confirmed. Serogroup analysis of strains from 135 patients revealed A = 1, B = 124, C = 10. Forty-four group B strains from 1985-7 were serotyped: 15:P1.3 = 36, 15:NT = 4, 4:P1.3 = 2, NT:NT = 2. Ten of 11 of the outbreak strains tested were sulfadiazine-resistant. This is the first recognized outbreak caused by a Gp B:15 strain in South America. It shares many of the characteristics of outbreaks caused by closely related strains in Europe, such as a predilection for older children and adolescents, sulfadiazine-resistance, and sustained high attack rates. The Iquique strain (B:15:P1.3) belongs to the same genetic clone (ET-5 complex) as the Norway (B:15:P1.16) and the Cuban (B:4:P1.15) strains.
Adolescent↗
[Guidelines for the prevention of nosocomial pneumonia].
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Cross Infection↗
The orientation of horizontal cell dendrites in the superior colliculus of the hamster: an analysis based on three-dimensional reconstruction of intracellularly injected neurons.
We have employed intracellular injection of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) and 3-dimensional, computer-assisted reconstruction to delineate the organization of the dendrites of horizontal cells in the superficial laminae (the stratum griseum superficiale-SGS, and stratum opticum-SO) of the hamster's superior colliculus. Fifteen well-filled cells were analyzed. The dendrites of these cells were generally parallel to the frontal plane. An average of 74.8 +/- 13.0% of the total dendritic arbor of the recovered horizontal cells was located within 30 degrees of this plane. The long axis of horizontal cell dendritic trees deviated an average (mean +/- s.d.) of 21.7 +/- 13.2 degrees from the frontal plane and the average extent of the dendritic tree in this plane was 637 +/- 216 microns. This differed significantly from the average dendritic extent in the rostrocaudal axis (358 +/- 146 microns, p less than 0.001). In some cases, portions of the dendritic arbors of horizontal cells appeared to be oriented along lines of isoelevation or isoazimuth of the visual field representation in the superficial laminae. For other cells, there was no clear relationship between dendritic orientation and the visual field map.
Animals↗
Effect of clonidine early in life on brain morphofunctional deficits induced by neonatal malnutrition in the rat.
A great body of evidence indicates that malnutrition early in life induces central noradrenergic hyperactivity (CNH). On the other hand, it is known that noradrenaline (NA) is an important regulator of the regressive processes occurring during synaptogenesis such as cell death, axonal pruning and synaptic elimination. This leads to the hypothesis that some of the morphofunctional modifications induced by malnutrition on the brain could be due, at least in part, to an increase of NA activity during the period of accelerated brain growth. This study evaluates whether early reduction of CNH by the alpha-2 presynaptic adrenoreceptor agonist clonidine, prevents long-term morphofunctional deficits induced by protein-energy malnutrition in the rat. Results of experiments performed on 45 day-old malnourished animals that received clonidine during the suckling period, show that the pharmacological treatment prevented: (i) deficits in both NA levels and NA release in the visual cortex; (ii) deficit in brain weight but not in body weight; and (iii) reduction of the normal brain interhemispheric asymmetry of visual cortical evoked potentials. It is suggested that administration of clonidine early in life prevents brain morphofunctional deficits by malnutrition, by restoring the normal tropic role of NA during synaptogenesis.
Animals↗
Acute normovolemic hemodilution in aesthetic plastic surgery.
Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is indicated and useful in all procedures of plastic surgery in which great blood loss is expected. Here we present the advantages of ANH such as avoidance of incompatibility reaction, no risk of disease transmission, better microperfusion, economic and psychological advantages, and saving blood.
Adult↗
Whole bowel irrigation: experience in pediatric patients.
Whole bowel irrigation (WBI) was used in 50 children aged 16 months to 14 years in preparation for surgery (n = 30) and colonoscopy (n = 20). The patients were divided into three groups according to age: group A, 12 to 36 months; group B, 3 to 6 years; and group C, 6 to 14 years. A hydroelectrolytic solution (Na 150 mEq/L, K 30 mEq/L, Cl 130 mEq/L, HCO3 50 mEq/L) was administered to all the groups at a variable rate established according to tolerance, weight, and age. Neomycin (1 g) and erythromycin (50 mg/kg) were administered in the last liter of the solution of the patients being prepared for colorectal surgery. Vital signs (heartbeat, arterial tension, and central venous pressure) and blood parameters (Na, K, HCO3, pH, and Hct) were assessed before and after irrigation and remained stable in all the groups. The rate of administration of the solution was best tolerated in each group as follows: group A, 75 mL/kg/h; group B, 60 mL/kg/h; and group C, 45 mL/kg/h. Colonic preparation was satisfactory in 49 of the 50 cases. Postoperative infectious complications were reduced to 3.3%. WBI in pediatric patients is a fast, simple, and well-tolerated method that gets a colon in excellent condition for surgery and colonoscopy exploration and considerably decreases the number of postoperative complications.
Adolescent↗
Early malnutrition and changes in the induced release of noradrenaline in the prefrontal cortex of adult rats.
The influence of early protein-energy malnutrition on the induced release of noradrenaline in the rat prefrontal cortex was studied: (i) by evaluating in vivo the release of the neurotransmitter as revealed by changes in the ability of pyramidal cells to integrate transient transmembrane currents generated by discrete packets of noradrenaline released by repetitive electrical stimulation of the locus coeruleus; and (ii) by measuring in vitro the potassium-induced release of 3H-noradrenaline in slices obtained from the brain frontal pole. Both electrophysiological and neurochemical data show that, in malnourished rats, weak stimulation produces an increased release, whereas strong stimulation results in a decreased release of the neurotransmitter. The results provide direct evidence that malnutrition alters the release of noradrenaline at the cortical level. Since the prefrontal cortex is involved in cognitive processing, the present results could provide functional evidence linking nutritional and behavioral deficits.
Age Factors↗