Archivos de investigacion medica最新文献

Our knowledge about temporal relationships between reproductive processes and defined changes in the plasmatic concentrations of 17 beta-estradiol, Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), Luteinizing hormone (LH) and progesterone (P) is still incomplete. Is known that in periovulatory phase the chance of fertilization increases to its maximum. The results obtained using different concentration of P have shown that at high concentration a fast liberation or/and exposure of the BANA-hydrolytic (B-H) activity is present. However, with low concentrations of P the enzymatic activity keeps a relation with the exposure time. In similar experimental conditions and using 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone it has been no change in the B-H activity. The results obtained in the present study suggest that the P possibly acts upon the sperm stimulating its hydrolytic activity, allowing its penetration through the zona pellucida of the ovum.

Probes pRepHind, Rep20, p242B1-1, pPF-14, clone 26 and 34 were compared for their applicability to detect P. falciparum in field conditions. Ninety four clinical samples from patients living in the malaria endemic area of Tumaco (Pacific Coast) plus 88 from Villavicencio (Eastern Plains) were tested in "dotblot" hybridization experiments. Probes Rep20, p242B1-1, pRepHind and pPF-14 detected up to 17 pg of purified P. falciparum DNA, while clone 26 and clone 34 detected up to 425 pg DNA. Probes pPF-14, P242B1-1, pRepHind and Rep 20 exhibited comparable detection levels of parasites in infected blood samples. Sensitivity declined from 69-94% in subjects with parasitemias higher than 10.000 par./ul to 15-42% in subjects with parasitemias lower than 100 par./ul. pPF-14 and p24B1-1 showed the highest sensitivity, while clone 26 and 34 presented significantly lower sensitivities. All probes were shown to be highly specific. Detection levels are dependent on specimen treatment. Treatment consisting of serum removal, Triton X-100 lysis, Proteinase K digestion, Phenol and Chloroform extractions followed by Ethanol precipitation yielded 100% sensitivity for specimens with parasite density higher than 1,000 par./l.

The results with the use of this device in patients who develop Low Cardiac Output Syndrome after cardiac surgery with extracorporeal circulation are analyzed. Special emphasis is given to the development of the opportune indication of this procedure, on the basis of a comparison of the results of the first few years to the most recent ones. Finally, the advantages of the prophylactic use of the Intraaortic Balloon Pump are commented.

A prospective study to determine if subcutaneous edema interferes with insulin absorption was performed. Forty-six patients entered the study. Three groups were formed. Twenty patients with generalized edema (Group 1), ten of them with non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Twenty patients without edema (Group II). 10 of them with NIDDM; and six patients with mild edema (Group III). The disappearance of I125-insulin was measured throughout 360 minutes. The rate of absorption in group I was significantly lower and delayed than in group II. The amount of insulin absorbed at 360 minutes was 3 to 4 fold lower in group I than in group II (p 0.001). Group III had intermediate values. The peak of plasma I125-insulin level was 3 to 4 fold lower in group I than group II. The impairment of insulin absorption in subjects with edema was more evident in those with NIDDM. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that subcutaneous edema impairs insulin absorption. Insulin absorption from subcutaneous tissue varies due to several conditions, resulting in a difficult glycemic control. Previous studies have shown that insulin absorption is affected by several factors as the site of injection, room and skin temperature, physical exercise, the thickness of adipose tissue, local massage, and local degradation of insulin. Edema due to chronic complications such as nephropathy and cardiopathy often occurs in long-standing diabetic subjects. However, the effects of edema of the skin and subcutaneous tissue on insulin absorption has not been previously examined. The aim of this study was to assess if edema affects the absorption of insulin.

Specific or non-specific noxious agents induce several disorders in body systems. In the following series some of those agents are associated with disturbances in the pituitary-testis-axis. Testicular responses which represent an adaptive mechanism to the stress may be associated with various syndromes of unexplained infertility.

In vitro studies have suggested that leukotrienes are involved in acute allergic bronchoconstriction, though this has not been definitively corroborated yet in in vivo studies. On the other hand, edema production during antigenic challenge could be an additional factor favouring such bronchoconstriction. In the present work we quantified immunoreactive leukotriene C4 (iLTC4) concentrations in bronchoalveolar lavages during allergic bronchoconstriction induced by 1 mg/kg i.v. ovalbumin (OA) in immunized guinea pigs, as well as water content in guinea pig lung fragments obtained before and during this bronchoconstriction. We found that basal concentrations of iLTC4 (median 1.06 ng/ml) were not significantly modified at 2, 5 and 10 min (median 1.10, 0.29 and 1.37 ng/ml, respectively) of the bronchoconstrictor response. Water content in lung fragments did not change among non-immunized guinea pigs, immunized ones and at 15 min of bronchoconstriction (mean +/- SEM 79.32% +/- 0.18, 79.10% +/- 0.31 and 79.13% +/- 0.40%, respectively). In addition, isoproterenol (20 micrograms/kg, i.v.) rapidly reverted about 70% of the bronchoconstriction induced by a higher antigenic dose (OA, 3.1 mg/kg i.v.); residual obstruction was not associated with increased water content in lung fragments (78.13% +/- 0.43). These results suggest that in this model, acute allergic bronchoconstriction is not due to an increased iLTC4 release or to edema production, and that airway smooth muscle contraction is the main component of this response.

Serum glucose, serum immunoreactive insulin and sedimentation rate (ESR) were measured in eighteen male patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and seven male healthy controls. The findings were correlated with the presence or absence of inflammatory activity of the disease. Fourteen patients had active AS with ESR of 47.0 +/- 27.7 mm; they had increased insulin levels measured as area under curve (AUC) of a glucose tolerance test 107.4 +/- 44.1 cm2 vs controls 40.8 +/- 12.6 cm2 (p less than 0.03). In 4 patients with clinically inactive AS and with ESR of 17.0 +/- 4.0 mm the insulin levels as the AUC were 83.2 +/- 38.0 cm2 vs controls (p = ns). In the whole group there was a direct correlation between ESR and serum immunoreactive insulin levels (r = 0.47 p less than 0.05). Our study suggests that AS may be associated with hyperinsulinism, whose role in the physiopathogenesis of the disease remains unknown.

The morphology of testicular descent in the Sprague-Dawley rat from day 14 of gestation to newborn was studied; the purpose was to analyse the anatomy and related observations made with light and scanning microscopy. Adult female rats were mated during estrus. The presence of spermatozoa in vaginal smears was taken to indicate day 0 of gestation. Animals were kept in a controlled 12-hour light-darkness cycle; food and water were provided ad libitum. At day 14 genital ducts are similar in both sexes. At day 15 and 16 the gubernaculum testis is seen as a mesenchymal cord that extends from mesonephros to the pelvic floor. At day 17 near the enlarged caudal end of gubernaculum, evagination of the abdominal cavity begins forming the peritoneo-vaginal process. The testis ligament as well as the gubernaculum testis attaching to the epididymis at different locations have no direct relation between themselves as such. During day 18, testis rotates on its own longitudinal axis in a ventral-lateral direction. This movement twists the testis ligament, the epididymis and deferent duct lengthen and these structures are lined up in the direction of the peritoneo-vaginal process. The testis is generally situated in the newborn, on or near the internal ring. The gubernaculum testis is attached to the epididymis but does not exercise traction on the testis. The epididymis is a factor in this descending process.