Biomedical subjects
Publications and source records attributed to V Climent.
A modification of Gildenberg's technique for brain tumor biopsy is described. Marking the light beam of the gantry on the scalp with a pencil, when the lesion appears on the screen, no ScoutView is necessary. With radiopaque marks on the drawn lines, the levels of the slice are transferred to a lateral conventional X-ray, for calculation of the 'Z' coordinate. 'X' and 'Y' coordinates are determined on the CT scanner.
In the present study, we analyzed the components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) and its arrangement at the level of the papillary muscles in the adult rat heart using light and transmission and scanning electron microscopy techniques. Our results reveal that after a single dose (6 mg/kg) of dexorubicin to cause a significant decrease and disorganization of the endomysium and perimysium in the first week after injection, affecting the endomysial struts and perimysial strands. Degenerating myocytes and alterations of the coiled perimysial fibers were characteristic 4 weeks after treatment. After 8 weeks, ultrastructural alterations at the level of the plasma membrane of the myocytes and adjacent collagen network were present in the tip of the papillary muscles. These alterations may be responsible for the inefficiency of the valvular apparatus as an initial factor implicated in doxorubicin-induced congestive heart failure. Experimental hypertension, produced by constriction of the abdominal aorta, induced hypertrophy of the left ventricle, with increased perimysium and endomysium of the ECM at the level of the papillary muscles 4 weeks after aortic banding. Interstitial and perivascular fibrosis were observed 8 weeks after surgical treatment, and macrophages around the degenerating myocytes were characteristic 16 weeks after treatment. These alterations of the ECM network have been correlated with their possible implication in ventricular biomechanical properties.
OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the changes in fibrinolytic activation markers before starting anticoagulation, at 1 and 6 months following the introduction of anticoagulant therapy. DESIGN AND METHODS: Tissue plasminogen activator (t-PA), its endothelial inhibitor (PAI-1), plasmin:antiplasmin complexes (PAPc), modified antithrombin III (ATM), D dimer (D-D) and fibrinogen (FIB) were measured in 36 patients with chronic atrial fibrillation. Fifteen of them had rheumatic mitral stenosis and 21 had nonrheumatic atrial fibrillation. Basal levels were compared with a sex- and age-matched healthy control group. RESULTS: At baseline, patients with atrial fibrillation showed significantly higher plasma levels of PAI-1, ATM, D-D and FIB levels (p < 0.05) than controls, and no differences in t-PA and PAPc concentrations. Levels of t-PA, PAI-1, ATM and D-D decreased significantly under anticoagulant therapy, whereas FIB levels were not significantly modified. PAPc levels were significantly increased at 6 months in the rheumatic group but did not differ significantly in the nonrheumatic group. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with chronic atrial fibrillation show a hypercoagulant state and a relatively low fibrinolytic function. After 6 months of anticoagulant therapy, an improvement in fibrinolytic function markers was detected.
The object of this work was to see the possible side effects that a long-term intraperitoneal (IP) fat infusion would have. We used 56 female Wistar rats weighing 250 g, divided into a control group (CG) of eight and three groups of 16 in each one. These three groups were administered a 20% Intralipid infusion in a daily amount of 4 g/kg over 5, 10, and 15 days, respectively (groups I, II, and III) intraperitoneally. Twenty-four hr after the last infusion the animals were anesthetized and after having drawn 3 ml of blood, 5% glutaraldehyde (GTH) was instilled in situ and optical and electron microscopic specimens were taken of the lung, liver, right diaphragm, and parietal peritoneum. The results show a decrease in triglyceride (TG) rate 24 hr after the last infusion in each group, but blood glucose, cholesterol, bilirubin, glucose oxidase test (GOT), glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT), nor other serum parameters varied. No alterations were noticed in the lung or liver under optical or electron microscopes in the groups than had under gone treatment, except for an increase in circulating macrophages with fat in the lung. In the diaphragm we observed hyperplasia in the serous layer of the peritoneum and an increase in fat in the lymphatic channels of the right diaphragm. The possibility of using IP infusions in order to study parenteral nutrition solutions was put forward as well as their possible clinical use in alternative nutrition techniques on both a short-term and long-term basis.
INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) usually presents in young adults and is uncommon in children, especially when less than 10 years of age. Diagnosis is difficult in this age group, and we consider that Poser's diagnostic criteria should be used. CLINICAL CASE: A five year old girl presented with multiple symptoms and signs including headache, vomiting and a pyramidal syndrome. Initially there was spontaneous improvement. However, subsequently progressive worsening of the pyramidal syndrome occurred with marked cerebellar and general deterioration. On cerebral MR there were areas of increased resonance in the medulla, cerebellum, pons, periventricular white substance and basal ganglia. Acute disseminated encephalomyelitis was diagnosed (ADEM) and treatment started with corticosteroids. There was a satisfactory response and complete recovery after a few days. Eight months later she presented with right optic neuritis (ON). There was alteration of visual and somatosensory evoked potentials, signs of diffuse cerebral damage on the EEG, oligoclonal bands (OB) of IgG in the cerebrospinal fluid and new areas of increased resonance on MR. A third episode occurred 22 months after the first, with cerebellar symptoms and more areas of demyelination on MR. CONCLUSIONS: As a consequence of the low incidence of MS in the first ten years of life, the characteristic features at this age are less well defined than in adults. With reference to this case we review the differential diagnosis with ADEM since it may be very difficult or impossible to distinguish these conditions in the early stages of the illness.
A total of 18 adult dogs were kept on peritoneal nutrition (PeN) for 30 days via peritoneal catheter. Eleven dogs were put on peritoneal nutrition immediately, receiving a caloric rate of 45 kcal/kg per day, half of which was supplied by glucose and the other half by 20% intralipid, along with 0.5 g/kg per day of protein, as well as ions, trace elements, and vitamins. Two-thirds of the glucose was administered separately. Seven other animals underwent an 80% resection of the small intestine and were kept on special oral nutrition for 6 weeks. After this time, peritoneal nutrition was applied with the same caloric rate as in the previous group but with a protein dose of 1 g/kg per day and administration of the nutrients every 6 hours. We found two cases of peritonitis in the group without intestinal resection, whereas no infectious outbreaks occurred in the group subjected to intestinal resection. This group showed an exacerbated nutritional state, with a consequently greater loss of weight and albumin and a negative nitrogen balance. The peritoneal membrane showed signs of cellular hyperplasia and hypertrophy following peritoneal nutrition. These phenomena disappeared 1 month after PeN was terminated.