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Biomedical subjects

T Muñoz

Publications and source records attributed to T Muñoz.

12 recordsLinked to original sources

[Monitoring pain: recommendations of the Analgesia and Sedation Work Group of SEMICYUC].

In critically ill patients, pain is frequently underestimated and so insufficiently managed. Psychological, haemodynamic and neuroendocrine responses, secondary to untreated pain, could produce morbidity and even increases in patient mortality. All members of the intensive care team must have abilities to assess and to manage pain. The evaluation of pain in the critically ill patient is very difficult but extremely important. Self-reported pain is the starting point for treatment. The pain scores recommended are, VAS (visual analogue scale) and NRS (numeric rating scale) in communicative patients and Campbell scale in uncommunicative patients. Adequate and regular patient assessment leads to improved pain control. Scores higher than 3 points should not be permitted. A pain-free Intensive Care Unit should be a quality standard healthcare aim.

Analgesics↗

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase from cherimoya fruit: properties, kinetics and effects of high CO(2).

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC, EC 4.1.1.31) regulatory properties were studied in non-photosynthetic (mesocarp) and photosynthetic (peel) tissues from cherimoya (Annona cherimola Mill.) fruit stored in air, in order to gain a better understanding of in vivo enzyme regulation. Analyses were also performed with fruit treated with 20% CO(2)-20% O(2) to define the role of PEPC as part of an adaptive mechanism to high external carbon dioxide levels. The results revealed that the special kinetic characteristics of the enzyme from mesocarp--high V(max) and low sensibility to L-malate inhibition - are related to the active acid metabolism of these fruits and point to a high rate of reassimilation of respired CO(2) into keto-acids. With respect to fruit stored in air, PEPC in crude extracts from CO(2)-treated cherimoyas gave a similar V(max) (1.12+/-0.03 microkat x mg(-1) protein), a lower apparent K(m) (68+/-9 microM for PEP) and a higher I(50) of L-malate (5.95+/-0.3 mM). These kinetic values showed the increase in the affinity of this enzyme toward one of its substrate, PEP, by elevated external CO(2) concentrations. The lower K(m) value and lower sensitivity to L-malate are consistent with higher in vivo carboxylation reaction efficiency in CO(2)-treated cherimoyas, while pointing to an additional enzyme regulation system via CO(2).

Annonaceae↗

Plasma arginine vasopressin response to oral, gastric, and intravenous water load in patients with cirrhosis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Hepatic osmoreceptors are sensitive to changes in portal blood osmolality and cause variations in plasma antidiuretic hormone and water diuresis, which prevent major systemic osmotic changes. Insensitivity of hepatic osmoreceptors might contribute to maintaining increased plasma levels of antidiuretic hormone and negative free water clearance after oral hydration in some cirrhotic patients. METHODS: We measured free water clearance and plasma arginine vasopressin levels in basal conditions and after oral, intravenous, and intragastric water overload in control subjects (group I) and patients with cirrhosis (some with a positive [group II] and some a negative [group III] free water clearance). RESULTS: In groups I and II, no significant differences in plasma arginine vasopressin levels were found regardless of the route used for hydration. In group III, plasma levels were significantly higher between 0 and 75 minutes after intragastric hydration than after oral or intravenous hydration. No significant changes in plasma osmolality were detected between minute 0 and 20 after the end of oral or intragastric hydration, although plasma arginine vasopressin decreased significantly only 5 minutes after the oral hydration. Group III patients showed evidence of autonomic neuropathy. However, this dysfunction was unrelated to the insensitivity to gastric hydration. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatic osmoreceptors seem to be disturbed in some cirrhotic patients, although this dysfunction may be compensated for by normally functioning oropharyngeal and hypothalamic osmoreceptors.

Administration, Oral↗

Randomized trial of doxycycline versus josamycin for Mediterranean spotted fever.

We undertook a randomized clinical trial comparing therapeutic efficacy of the 1-day doxycycline regimen with the 5-day josamycin regimen for Mediterranean spotted fever. All 59 patients recovered uneventfully, and results did not significantly differ between the two schedules. One-day doxycycline therapy is an effective, easy, and inexpensive treatment. Josamycin is a useful therapeutic alternative that may be particularly convenient for pregnant women and patients with a history of allergy to tetracyclines.

Adolescent↗

Purification and characterization of an allergen of mustard seed.

A protein allergen has been isolated from mustard seed extracts by gel filtration. In RAST-inhibition experiments the allergen inhibited more than 60% of the binding of mustard-specific IgE from a pool of seven patients' sera. The allergenic activity was also demonstrated by histamine release from whole blood from two sensitive patients. The allergen had an isoelectric point close to 10.5 and an apparent molecular weight of 14,000. It was stable in alkaline and acid solutions and showed resistance to heating and to degradation by proteolytic enzymes.

Allergens↗

Body fat in pregnant rats at mid- and late-gestation.

Carcass fat content was estimated in fed 12- and 19-day pregnant rats and fed and 48 hour starved virgin females following both specific gravity determination and direct gravimetry of extracted lipids. No change in body fat accumulation was found in 12-day pregnant rats whereas in 19-day pregnant animals it increased significantly. A significant correlation was also found when the percentage of carcass fat was plotted against specific gravity considering values from all subjects. Results indicate that in spite of reported maternal anabolic changes in the rat at midgestation fat accumulation occurs later in pregnancy when the mother has the highest food intake, which makes available sufficient substrates to support both fetal growth and body lipidic deposition.

Animals↗

Contact urticaria and rhinitis from latex surgical gloves.

Latex used in the manufacture of surgical gloves should be included in a list of allergens. It is found in the tree Hevea braziliensis. For approximately the last year, minutes after using surgical gloves, a female doctor had severe pruritus followed by a rash and angio-oedema of the contact areas. During the last 4 months, on opening the glove-bag, she experienced severe rhinitis and respiratory distress. The symptoms ceased in 1 h. Standard patch tests and with substances used in the manufacture of rubber were negative. Prick tests with glove and natural latex were strongly positive. The presence of specific IgE against natural latex was demonstrated by means of a histamine release assay as well as by immunoenzymatic methods. The antigen seems to have a MW higher than 30,000 d and is trypsin-sensitive. These facts suggest that the allergen could be a protein present in the "crude natural latex".

Adult↗

[The "health history" of patients or groups as a method of recording data].

This paper describes the "health history", a method for obtaining data on patients, families and groups developed by the Nursing Department of Valle University, in Cali, Colombia. According to the authors, the method can be used by all health professionals and serve as a basis for nurse training. It discusses the obstacles that have arisen with the application of different concepts in nursing instruction and the difficulties that are sometimes caused when the nurse is insufficiently trained. It also dwells on the need for coordination between teaching and service institutions. The paper gives the sequence of steps to be followed in compiling the health history, as follows: collection of the information, statement of the problems, diagnosis, the plan to be followed, and progress and observation of the patient. Specimen health histories, one for an individual and family and the other for a group, are included to illustrate the theoretical aspects. To promote the use of the health history by the entire health team it is recommended that collective learning exercises be conducted to help define the roles of its different members.

Colombia↗

[Neonatal herpetic encephalitis. Current concepts concerning a case].

We describe a newborn patient with herpes simplex infection localized to the central nervous system. The diagnosis was suspected on clinical grounds and it was corroborated by tissue culture isolation of the virus and by herpes simplex glycoprotein B DNA detection by PCR in cerebrospinal fluid. We describe the clinical manifestations of this patient and we present some considerations regarding pathogenesis, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of this viral infection in the newborn period.

Acyclovir↗