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Biomedical subjects

A Blanco Quirós

Publications and source records attributed to A Blanco Quirós.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

BCG immunization at birth and atopic diseases in a homogeneous population of Spanish schoolchildren.

BACKGROUND: The role of immunization with bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) in the prevalence of asthma, hay fever and atopic dermatitis is not definitely established and seems to be influenced by ethnic background. The aim of this study was to analyze the relationship between this immunization and the prevalence of those diseases in a homogeneous population of Spanish schoolchildren. METHODS: The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core and environmental questionnaires were used in four different centers of the Spanish North Atlantic coast. Bilbao, San Sebastián and Asturias have a universal BCG immunization policy during the first days of life, whereas La Coruña discontinued this practice in 1989. Except for this center, immunization coverage was above 90%. A random sample of schools of Asturias or all schools in the city district (rest of centers) with children 6 and 7 years old was surveyed. RESULTS: The participation rate was above 70%. After excluding those children born outside Spain, the numbers were 6,762 immunized and 2,828 nonimmunized. After adjusting for gender, age, smoking habits of the father and mother, truck traffic near the household, older and younger siblings and having a cat or a dog during the first year of the child's life, the adjusted ORs of the BCG-immunized children suffering from asthma, hay fever and atopic dermatitis were respectively 0.87 (95% CI 0.76-1.00), 0.87 (0.75-1.01) and 0.89 (0.76-1.05). CONCLUSIONS: BCG immunization offers a weak but significant protection against asthma and hay fever in Spanish schoolchildren.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2005

[Risk factors for atopic dermatitis and familial prevalence in Spain (ELIHO study)].

INTRODUCTION: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a cutaneous disease of unknown etiology. It shows a clear genetic predisposition with probable environmental modulation. This study evaluated risk factors associated with diagnosis and flares of AD in Spanish children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We performed an observational, multicenter, retrospective case-control study that included 4243 children aged less than 14 years old with AD and 978 controls matched for age and sex. Family history of disease and environmental variables were collected in both groups and clinical history of AD was recorded in the case group. RESULTS: Significant risk factors for AD were: a family history of the disease and concomitant cutaneous infections. The prevalence of AD in first degree relatives was 39 % and that in second degree relatives was 19 % (higher in maternal than paternal lines). The mean age of children with AD was 4.2 (SD 3.4) years and the mean age at diagnosis was 1.5 (SD 2.2) years, with a mean of 2.9 (SD 2.6) flares during the previous year. Cold weather (Cantabrian and Continental Iberian Peninsula areas) was related to a greater number of flares. Children with AD had a greater number of concomitant cutaneous diseases and infections than children in the control group. CONCLUSIONS: AD is mainly a genetic disease, with climatic factors involved in severity modulation, and with important immunological alterations. In contrast, this study found no domestic environmental factors that were associated with disease onset.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

[Meningococcal sepsis in pediatrics. Parameters associated with poor outcome].

BACKGROUND: Mortality due to meningococcal sepsis continues to be extremely high. Patients with a poor prognosis require aggressive therapy and should be identified early. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and biological factors associated with poor outcome. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Seventy-one children aged 2 months to 13 years with meningococcal sepsis were studied. Inclusion criteria were meningococcus isolation in cultures or characteristic clinical features with purpuric exanthema. METHODS: A correlational descriptive study was performed. In all patients we evaluated the Pediatric Risk of Mortality (PRISM), the Glasgow Scale for Meningococcal Sepsis (GSMS), polymorphonuclear (PMN) count and prolactin (PRL), leptin (LPT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. RESULTS: Fourteen children (19.7 %) died. Death was associated with multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) (p = 0.0001), high GSMS and PRISM scores (p = 0.0001) and to a lesser extent with shock (p = 0.01). In patients who died, the determinations showing greatest alteration at admission were PRL levels (p = 0.0009) and PMN count (p = 0.0005). CRP levels were not associated with differences in mortality but were high in patients with shock (p = 0.008). Children with high body weight percentiles were at greater risk of death and showed higher levels of PRL, PCT (p = 0.006) and LPT (p = 0.006), without differences in GSMS or PRISM scores. Age did not influence mortality or PRL levels but did influence GMSM and PRISM scores and PMN and CRP levels. These differences disappeared after the age of 2-3 years. In patients with MODS or shock, the only differences found were reduced PMN count (p = 0.0001) and elevated PRL levels (p = 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: In meningococcal sepsis, death is more frequent in children with high body weight percentiles. Moreover, these children present elevated PRL and LPT levels, although whether these variables act independently remains to be elucidated.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Stabilization of asthma prevalence among adolescents and increase among schoolchildren (ISAAC phases I and III) in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Most studies show a steep increase in asthma prevalence in the last decades, although few studies had applied the same methodology. Recent reports point out the possibility that the epidemic has come to an end. We have studied the prevalence of asthma in a very large sample of children, repeating the study eight years apart. METHODS: Repeated cross-sectional studies using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol in a sample of Spanish schoolchildren 6-7 (parent-reported) and 13-14 (self-reported) years old in 1994-95 (phase I) and 2002-2003 (phase III). The number of participants was 42 417 in phase I and 42 813 in phase III. The participation rate was over 87% (13-14 years) and 70% (6-7 years). RESULTS: The prevalence of wheezing in the previous year in children aged 13-14 years was 9.0 and 9.3% for boys and 9.6 and 9.2% for girls for phases I and III, respectively. Children 6-7 years of age showed a substantial increase in wheezing in the previous year (7.0 and 10.7% for boys and 5.3 and 8.2% for girls). Other symptoms and severity indexes followed the same patterns. CONCLUSIONS: In the last 8 years, the prevalence of asthma has not changed in 13-14-year-old Spanish children but has increased substantially in 6-7-year olds.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

[Neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis].

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the efficiency of the method of neonatal screening for cystic fibrosis (CF) used in Castille and Leon (Spain), which is carried out with blood from Guthrie spots. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 36,086 newborns were studied from January 1999 to June 2001. Immunoreactive trypsinogen (IRT) was quantified in all samples and genetic study covering 87.5 % of mutations in the CFTR gene was carried out when IRT levels were > 60 ng/mL. The sweat test was performed in all children in whom at least one mutation was detected. RESULTS: IRT values of > 60 ng/mL were found in 285 children (0.79 %). Of these, eight children (2.8 %) were diagnosed with CF and a further 11 children (3.9 %) with a negative sweat test were found to have one mutation and were thus classified as healthy carriers. To date, no false negatives have been detected. CONCLUSIONS: The two-stage screening method fulfills the required criteria. Its sensitivity is 98.5 % and the basic model can be used in other regions although genetic screening should be optimized by pilot programs to identify the local spectrum of CFTR mutations.

Cystic Fibrosis↗
PubMed2001

[Procalcitonin. A new marker for bacterial infection].

Procalcitonin is a polypeptide present in the plasma of healthy subjects in minimal levels (< 0.5 ng/ml). Serum procalcitonin is markedly increased a few hours after the administration of endotoxin to human volunteers and in invasive bacterial infection (sepsis, septic shock, meningitis). Procalcitonin is moderately increased in local bacterial infection (pneumonia pyelonephritis) and is unchanged in viral infections or bacterial colonization. Procalcitonin is increased in serious bacterial infections in neonates, children and adults and is currently the best diagnostic marker of severe bacterial infection, being better than leukocyte, interleukin or C-reactive protein counts. C-reactive protein levels can be normal in severe sepsis and some viral infections. We studied 54 children with sepsis in whom plasma procalcitonin levels showed a positive correlation with the vasoactive drugs necessary to maintain cardiovascular activity. The semiquantitative procalcitonin test is simple and easy to use at the bedside at any time and in any hospital as no instruments are required. Within 30 minutes, the test identifies the type of infection and whether antibiotics are indicated.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Effectiveness of a clinical test in the preselection of children with suspected fragile X syndrome].

BACKGROUND: Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most frequent hereditary cause of mental retardation. It can be diagnosed by molecular genetic techniques, but clinical suspicion is made less likely by it variable expression. OBJECTIVE: To assess the effectiveness of a six-item checklist in the preselection of children who are candidates for FXS genetic study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 70 male patients aged between 2 and 10 years with mental retardation of unknown cause. In all patients a checklist with six clinical criteria (mental retardation, history of familial mental retardation, long face, large ears, autistic-like behaviour, and attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity) measured from 0-2 points was applied and molecular genetic studies using polymerase chain reaction and Southern-blot were performed. RESULTS: In 14 of the 70 children (20%) molecular study confirmed full mutation (200 CGG repeats). A score of six points in the test had the greatest discriminatory power and was reached by 14 patients (100%) with mutation, but only by 2of 56patients (3.5%) without mutation. The most accurate diagnostic model was the association of mental retardation, attention deficit disorder with hyperactivity, large ears and a history of familial mental retardation followed by long face and autistic-like behaviour. CONCLUSIONS: The six-item checklist improved the preselection of children with suspicion of FXS, which was later confirmed by molecular genetic techniques.

Child↗
PubMed2001

[The tumor necrosis factor system and leptin in coeliac disease].

OBJECTIVE: Patients with coeliac disease (CD) present anorexia and malnutrition. Leptin is a significant anorexigenic factor, with a close relationship to the body mass index. The aims of this study were to asses serum leptin levels in CD and their possible influence on appetite, as well as to compare and relate leptin with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) activity, which has similar functions. METHODS: Leptin and TNF receptor-1 (TNFr-1) were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Sixty-five serum samples from patients with CD (28 boys and 37 girls) were analyzed. In all patients, small bowel biopsy and anti-endomysium determination were performed simultaneously. Twenty-nine patients presented active CD and 36 were in remission. RESULTS: Leptin concentrations were reduced in active CD (p = 0.002). In patients in remission, leptin was related to the body mass index (p = 0.001), but this correlation was not found during the active phase of the disease. Contrary to normal differences between sexes, in active CD leptin levels were similar in boys and girls. TNFr-1 was found in all serum samples and levels were statistically higher in patients with active CD (p = 0.0003), suggesting that the TNF system is activated in this disease. CONCLUSIONS: Leptin concentrations were reduced in active CD, but we did not find the usual positive correlation with body mass index and higher concentrations in girls. These results suggest that leptin does not contribute to anorexia and failure to thrive in patients with CD; in contrast, the TNF system might be involved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Clinical manifestations, diagnosis and treatment of Haemophilus influenzae infection].

Haemophilus influenzae is a small, nonmotile, non-spore-forming bacterium, and a strict parasite of humans found principally in the upper respiratory tract. The production of capsule is of major significance to clinicians since it is an important virulence factor. We described six antigenically distinct capsular types, designated a-f. Spread from one individual to another occurs by airborne droplets or by direct contagion with secretions. Haemophilus influenzae produces at least two factors that inhibit the ciliary activity of human epithelial cells in vitro. One of this has been shown to be lipopolysaccharide and the other factor is of low molecular weight, most likely a heat-stable glycopeptide. Type b strains are distinguished by the production of capsular polysaccharide composed of repeating units of ribosyl-ribitol phosphate, account for greater than 95 percent of systemic infections in children. Two contrasting patterns of Haemophilus influenzae disease can be identified. The first and the most serious in its consequences is invasive infection such as meningitis, septic arthritis, epiglottitis, and cellulitis in which bacteremia is a prominent feature; these infections are usually caused by type b strains and occur in young children. The second category includes less serious but numerically more common infections, that occur as a result of contiguous spread of Haemophilus influenzae within the respiratory tract; e.g. otitis media, sinusitis. These latter infections are usually, but not invariably, caused by unencapsulated strains. A provisional diagnosis of meningitis, epiglottitis, facial cellulitis, or septic arthritis will usually be prompted by the history and clinical findings. Confirmation requires microbiologic studies. Cultures of blood, CSF and other normally sterile fluids are diagnostic and therefore under the appropriate circumstances mandatory. Whenever feasible, specimens obtained for culture should also the gram-strained. Detection of capsular antigen in serum, CSF or concentrated urine using immunoelectrophoresis, latex agglutination or enzyme linked immunosorbent assay may be diagnosed and can be found in up to 90 percent of culture proved cases of meningitis. Without treatment, infection due to Haemophilus influenzae can be rapidly fatal, particularly by meningitis and epiglottitis. There is currently a trend to use certain parenteral third generation cephalosporins as initial therapy when lifethreatening Haemophilus influenzae infection is known or suspected in children beyond the neonatal period, commonly used agents included cefotaxime or ceftriaxone. Antibiotic therapy is only one facet of the management of the child with Haemophilus influenzae infection, and critical attention must also be given to supportive therapy. In the ambulatory setting, ampicillin or amoxicillin for 10 days is often satisfactory for the less severe Haemophilus influenzae infections. Cephalosporins are often chosen for treatment of adults, with pneumonia when Haemophilus influenzae is documented.

Haemophilus Infections↗
PubMed1999

Different serum interleukin-12 and sCD30 levels in food- and pollen-sensitized children.

It has been proposed that a down-regulation of interleukin (IL)-12 and interferon (IFN)-gamma might be related to susceptibility to allergy in early life. The aim of this study was to assess serum IL-12 levels in food-sensitized and pollen-sensitized children and to compare these with another activation marker, sCD30. Twenty children with pollen allergy and 22 food-sensitized children were included. The diagnosis of immunoglobulin (Ig)-E-mediated allergy, suggested by clinical symptoms, was based on skin-prick tests, serum IgE antibodies and total IgE levels. Samples from 24 non-allergic children were used as controls. IL-12 and sCD30 levels were measured by ELISA. It was found that pollen-sensitized patients had normal IL-12 and higher sCD30 levels than controls (114 vs. 63 U/ml, p = 0.028), but, surprisingly, food-sensitized infants showed normal sCD30 and increased serum IL-12 levels (323 vs. 118 pg/ml, p = 0.0001). No differences were found in patients suffering from asthma or allergic dermatitis. Levels of sCD30 and IL-12 determined in May showed a strong correlation with those obtained in November. Interleukin-12 and IgE levels had an inverse correlation (r = -0.494, p = 0.0001) whereas no correlation was found between sCD30 and IgE. Age had a strong negative influence on IL-12 levels in allergic (Z = 4.834, p < 0.0005) and in normal children (Z = 3.00, p < 0.002); by contrast, sCD30 levels were not significantly age-dependent. When IL-12 levels from the food-allergy group were compared with those from normal controls younger than 4 years of age, the difference remained significant (p = 0.001), ruling out an age-bias. The conclusions made in this study were that serum IL-12 and sCD30 showed different behaviors in children with food or pollen allergy. We found IL-12 and sCD30 levels in pollen-allergic patients that agree with the classical T-helper (Th) 1/Th2 paradigm of allergy. In contrast, serum IL-12 levels were increased in food-sensitized children, suggesting a different immunologic pathogenesis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Lupus anticoagulant in children. Report of 4 cases].

OBJECTIVE: We present four cases of lupus anticoagulant (AL) in children. In addition, as a result of the lack of literature published on the subject in our country. We also evaluate the epidemiological, clinical and prognostic characteristics of AL in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The diagnostic criteria established by the "Subcommittee for the Standardization of Lupus Anticoagulant" were followed. RESULTS: Over a ten-year period (1988-1998), 46 cases of children with TTPA prolongation were documented. Nine children showed circulating anticoagulant, 4 of which were lupus type anticoagulants. The age of the patients ranged from 4 to 13 and there was a prevalence of males (3/4). Half of the children had a family history of bleeding dyscrasia and it was these who showed hemorrhage or thrombotic symptoms. The case that started with ecchymosis and hemorrhaging showed prothrombin prolongation due to factor II deficit. In 3 of the 4 children, AL was linked to acute respiratory infections and was transitory. The other coincided with two thrombotic episodes of the lower extremities in a healthy child. Positive anticardiolipin antibodies were detected in two patients, both showing repeated AL episodes, one with thrombosis and the other always asymptomatic. CONCLUSIONS: Diagnosis of AL in children is difficult and has probably been underestimated. Although it is usually transitory, it can appear in repeated episodes. Its early detection is important as it can be linked to both prothrombin deficit, as well as significant symptoms of hemorrhaging.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

[Long-term development of children with Schönlein-Henoch purpura associated with anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies].

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the frequency of antineutrophil cytoplamic antibodies (ANCA) in Schönlein-Henoch purpura (SHP) and its long-term significance. PATIENTS AND METHODS: IgG and IgA classes of ANCA were studied by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) and IgG-ANCA against myeloperoxidase (MPO) and against proteinase-3 (PR-3) were determined by ELISA in 50 children with SHP. Eight (16%) of the patients had renal involvement during the acute phase, but none had a permanent nephropathy after a 7-17 year follow-up. RESULTS: Positive IgG ANCA were found in 5 (10%) of the cases and only one of these children also had IgA ANCA. The ELISA against MPO and P-3 was negative in all patients. None of the 5 patients with ANCA showed nephropathy during the acute phase nor relapses or permanent nephropathy. CONCLUSIONS: A minority of children with SHP are positive for ANCA and, in the absence of nephropathy, this is not associated with a bad long-term prognosis.

Acute Disease↗