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Biomedical subjects

A Domínguez

Publications and source records attributed to A Domínguez.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2005

An outbreak of food poisoning due to a genogroup I norovirus.

Norovirus infection is associated with approximately 90% of epidemic non-bacterial acute gastroenteritis. The objective of this study is to describe an outbreak of norovirus genogroup I gastroenteritis which affected workers in a hospital and was attributed to food prepared by an infected food handler. Forty cases were detected, of whom 80% were interviewed. The index case was the cook employed in the hospital cafeteria. The following symptoms were observed: abdominal pain in 90.6%, vomiting in 71.9%, diarrhoea in 71.9%, general indisposition in 62.5%, headaches in 53.1% and fever in 32.4% of cases. The initial symptoms were abdominal pain in 37% and vomiting in 28%. Of the 14 samples analysed by RT-PCR, 12 (86%) were positive for a genogroup I norovirus. After sequencing the strain was identified as genotype Desert Shield. Many of the foodstuffs consumed were made by hand, favouring transmission from the index case to the cafeteria users.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

A foodborne outbreak of Salmonella infection due to overproduction of egg-containing foods for a festival.

A large outbreak of gastroenteritis occurred in Catalonia in June 2002 with 1435 cases and 117 hospitalizations. Consumption of a hard pastry with vanilla cream was strongly associated with illness. Stool samples from cases and food-handlers were analysed. The premises of the food manufacturer were inspected and food samples were taken for microbiological analysis. Salmonella serotype Enteriditis was isolated from 154 cases, three food-handlers and nine food samples. Outbreak-associated strains showed a coincident phage type, antibiotype and pulse-field gel electrophoresis pattern. Inadequate handling of foods containing eggs occurred because the establishment exceeded its safe food production capacity to meet demand for the pastry, which was consumed on the day of a traditional festival. Excessive production of foods for holidays or special events represents a potential public health threat.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Endovascular treatment of carotid and pulmonary aneurysms in Behçet's disease].

Arterial aneurysm formation is a rare manifestation in Behçet's disease (BD). Aneurysm rupture is the main cause of death among BD patients. In recent years, endovascular treatment has been proposed as an effective and less invasive procedure compared with classical surgical treatment. We report the case of a 29-year-old man with BD who had two syncopes precipitated by pressure on a left cervical mass and hemoptysis. Cerebral magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed acute infarction of left basal ganglia. Other examinations demonstrated carotid and pulmonary aneurysms that were treated by endovascular methods. The patient received treatment with corticosteroids and immunosuppressive therapy. First of all, the pulmonary aneurysm was treated by means of coil embolization. After anticoagulant therapy was initiated, a covered stent was placed to exclude the carotid aneurysm at the level of extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA), with no immediate complications. After twenty-seven months of follow-up the patient remains asymptomatic. Endovascular treatment may be a definite therapeutic option for extracranial carotid aneurysms in BD, although longer term follow-up studies are needed.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Monitoring coal-tar pitch composition changes during air-blowing by gas chromatography.

A series of air-blown coal-tar pitches was studied by GC and GC-MS in order to achieve a deeper understanding of the behaviour of the different pitch components during air-blowing. Compounds present in the parent pitch were identified and quantified and then compared to those present in the air-blown pitches. The compounds observed were identical before and after the treatments, but the concentration of each compound changed with the treatment to a different extent depending on its molecular structure and consequently its reactivity to oxygen. The most reactive compounds were those with a mehylene-bridge in a five member ring, followed by those with a methyl group in their structure.

Air↗
PubMed2004

[Dilatation of the papilla of Vater in the treatment of choledocholithiasis in selected patients].

OBJECTIVE: To prospectively analyze the results obtained with papillary balloon dilatation (PBD) in the treatment of common bile duct stones in patients at risk of complications if endoscopic sphincterotomy (ES) were performed. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Thirty-three patients were included between January 2001 and June 2003 (mean age 76.2 years). The criteria for PBD were: choledocholithiasis < or =10 mm in patients with peripapillary diverticula, hemostatic alterations, Billroth-II, and preservation of Oddi's sphincter. In 79% of the patients sedation was performed by an anesthetist. PBD was performed with a balloon catheter dilator with a diameter of 8 or 10 mm for 2 minutes. The efficacy and duration of the procedure as well as complications at 30 days and patient satisfaction were evaluated. RESULTS: Stone extraction was achieved in all patients (100%). The mean duration of the procedure was 26 minutes. Two patients (6%) presented mild pancreatitis. Serum amylase was elevated in 16 patients (48%): > or =3 times (post-PBD hyperamylasemia) in 11 (33%). The procedure caused no discomfort in 25/26 (96%) of the patients sedated by an anesthetist vs 2/5 patients (49%) who underwent endoscopic sedation. CONCLUSIONS: PBD is an effective and simple therapeutic option in the treatment of small common bile duct stones (< or =10 mm) and in patients at high risk. The duration of endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is not prolonged. Complications are infrequent (6%) and mild. Post-PBD hyperamylasemia is frequent and generally without clinical importance. Sedation by an anesthetist improves patient satisfaction.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Quantification of intra- and extra-cellular thermophilic lipase/esterase production by Thermus sp.

Four Thermus strains produced lipolytic activity when grown in liquid medium for 30 h at 70 degrees C. The highest total lipase/esterase activity (57 U l(-1)) was in Thermus aquaticus YT-1, followed by Thermus thermophilus HB27 and HB8 (33 and 25 U l(-1), respectively), and finally by Thermus sp. (16 U l(-1)). Extra-cellular activity was detected in T. aquaticus YT-1 and T. thermophilus HB27 (33 and 17 U l(-1)). All enzymes were stable at 80 degrees C over 30 min, and their activity towards fatty acid esters increased as substrate chain-length diminished (i.e. hydrolysis rate was up to 6-fold higher on p-nitrophenyl caproate than on laurate).

Biotechnology↗
PubMed2004

Characteristics of tuberculosis patients with positive sputum smear in Catalonia, Spain.

BACKGROUND: Patients with positive sputum smears are those with the capacity to spread infection. The objective of this study was to describe the incidence of tuberculosis in Catalonia (an autonomous community in the northeast of Spain which includes Barcelona) and to determine risk factors associated to patients with positive sputum smear test. METHODS: New cases of tuberculosis detected by active surveillance between May 1996 and April 1997 were studied. The study was analysed as a coincident cases and controls study. The rate of incidence was calculated per 100,000 persons-year. The association of the dependent variable--case of tuberculosis with positive sputum smear--with the remainder of independent variables was determined by odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). RESULTS: A total of 2508 cases of tuberculosis were detected. The rate of incidence was 41.4 per 100,000 persons-year. Of these 19.4% (487/2508) were coinfected with HIV and 35.6% (893/2508) presented a positive sputum smear, which implies a rate of 14.7 per 100,000 persons-year. In an adjusted multivariate analysis, cases with positive smears were positively associated with the 15-24 (OR=1.9; 95% CI: 1.4-2.4), 25-34 (OR=2.1; 95% CI: 1.7-2.7) and 35-44 years (OR=1.7; 95% CI: 1.3-2.2) age compared with persons 45 years old and above; with males (OR=1.8; 95% CI: 1.5-2.2) and consumers of alcohol (OR=2.1; 95% CI: 1.7-2.7) and negatively with those under 15 years of age (OR=0.1; 95% CI: 0.1-0.2) and coinfection with HIV (OR=0.5; 95% CI: 0.3-0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Measures to control tuberculosis transmission (prompt diagnosis, study of contacts and directly observed treatments) should be reinforced for male adults with excessive consumption of alcohol.

Humans↗
PubMed2004

Determinants of patient delay among tuberculosis cases in Spain.

BACKGROUND: Patient delay was investigated in a cohort of TB patients identified from May 1996 until April 1997 in 13 Autonomous Regions in Spain. The study covered almost 67% of the total Spanish population. METHODS: Data were collected from clinical records. Using unconditional logistic regression with two different cut-off points to define 'patient delay' (the median and 75th percentile), the association between patient delay and different factors was estimated. RESULTS: A total of 7,037 cases were included. Median and 75th percentile delays were 22 and 57 days respectively. Factors associated with patient delay greater than the median (p<0.05) were: non-respiratory symptoms of TB and age over 14 years, although the effect of age was not linear. Furthermore, an interaction was observed between intravenous drug user (IDU) and HIV status, in that, whereas patient delay was greater in IDUs than in non-IDUs among cases whose HIV status was either negative or unknown, among HIV-positive patients no such IDU-related differences were in evidence. Factors associated with extreme patient delay (greater than the 75th percentile) were essentially the same, but the above-described interaction disappeared, with IDU status showing no direct effect. In addition, likelihood of extreme patient delay increased in the case of alcoholism and female gender and decreased in the case of chronic renal failure, corticoid treatment, prison inmates and residents of old age homes. CONCLUSION: Although there is a universally enjoyed right to health care in Spain, some groups of TB patients could nevertheless be experiencing problems in seeking medical attention.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2004

Clinical and genetic features of human prion diseases in Catalonia: 1993-2002.

We describe the clinical and genetic characteristics of the 85 definite or probable human prion diseases cases died between January 1993 and December 2002 in Catalonia (an autonomous community of Spain, 6 million population). Seventy-three (86%) cases were sporadic Creutzfeld-Jakob diseases (sCJD) (49 definite, 24 probable), with a median age at onset of 66 years. The clinical presentation was dementia in 29 cases, ataxia in 14 and visual symptoms in five. The median survival was 3 months. The 14-3-3 assay was positive in 93% cases, 62% presented periodic sharp wave complexes (PSWC) in EEG but only 18% the typical signs on MRI. Forty-eight sCJD were studied for codon 129 PRNP polymorphism: 69% were methionine/methionine (M/M), 14.5% valine/valine (V/V) and 16.5% M/V. Six out of seven V/V cases did not present PSWC and in two survival was longer than 20 months. Eleven cases (13%) were genetic: five familial fatal insomnia and six familial CJD (fCJD). Up to four (67%) fCJD lacked family history of disease, two presented seizures early at onset and one neurosensorial deafness. The only iatrogenic case was related to a dura mater graft. No case of variant CJD was registered. The study confirms in our population the consistent pattern reported worldwide on human prion diseases. Atypical features were seen more frequently in sporadic 129 V/V CJD and fCJD cases.

14-3-3 Proteins↗
PubMed2003

Gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric study of the oil fractions produced by microwave-assisted pyrolysis of different sewage sludges.

The pyrolysis of sewage sludge was studied in a microwave oven using graphite as microwave absorber. The pyrolysis temperature ranged from 800 to 1000 degrees C depending on the type of sewage sludge. A conventional electrical furnace was also employed in order to compare the results obtained with both methods. The pyrolysis oils were trapped in a series of condensers and their characteristics such as elemental analysis and calorific value were determined and compared with those of the initial sludge. The oil composition was analyzed by GC-MS. The oils from the microwave oven had n-alkanes and 1-alkenes, aromatic compounds, ranging from benzene derivatives to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), nitrogenated compounds, long chain aliphatic carboxylic acids, ketones and esters and also monoterpenes and steroids. The oil from the electric oven was composed basically of PAHs such as naphthalene, acenapthylene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, benzo[a]anthracene, benzofluoranthenes, benzopyrenes, indenepyrene, benzo[ghi]perylene, and anthanthrene. In contrast, these compounds were not produced in the case of microwave-assisted pyrolysis.

Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry↗
PubMed2003

Impact of mass vaccination with polysaccharide conjugate vaccine against serogroup C meningococcal disease in Spain.

During the fourth quarter of 1997, a vaccination campaign using the meningococcal C polysaccharide vaccine was carried out in 14 autonomous regions of Spain. The remaining three regions did not participate. In the last quarter of the year 2000, a mass vaccination campaign using the meningococcal C conjugated vaccine was carried out in all regions. In the year 2001 the incidence decreased in all regions, although the decrease was greater in regions that did not vaccinate in 1997. In contrast, case fatality rates did not decrease. During 2001, the incidence rate of meningococcal C disease was still lower (0.32 per 100000 persons-year) in the regions that vaccinated in 1997 with the polysaccharide vaccine than in those that did not (0.64 per 100000 persons-year).

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Dramatic decline of serogroup C meningococcal disease in Catalonia (Spain) after a mass vaccination campaign with meningococcal C conjugated vaccine.

In the last quarter of the year 2000, the meningococcal C conjugated vaccine was incorporated into the routine vaccination schedule in Catalonia (at 2, 4 and 6 months). In addition a vaccination campaign was carried out in children <6 years of age, with a coverage of 96.2%. The effectiveness of the vaccination in this age group during 2001 and the first 28 weeks of 2002 was 100% (94.27-100%). A vaccination campaign has been carried out in 6-19-year olds during 2001 and 2002, with a coverage rate of 23.5% in the year 2001. In this age group a reduction in disease incidence was seen in the 2000-2001 season, but not in the following one.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Interactions between irradiance and nutrient availability during astaxanthin accumulation and degradation in Haematococcus pluvialis.

Fully synchronised germination of Haematococcus pluvialis astaxanthin-replete aplanospores was induced by transfer to nitrogen-sufficient conditions under either high or low light intensities, and growth, pigment content and nitrogen consumption were monitored during the cell cycle. No germination of the aplanospores was achieved in the absence of nitrate, even when cells were transferred at low light intensities. On the other hand, cell density and chlorophyll concentration increased dramatically and astaxanthin concentration decreased in N-sufficient cultures due to the germination of 100% of the aplanospores, as demonstrated by flow cytometry. No significant effect of light intensity was observed on the degradation of astaxanthin during germination. In germinated cultures, nitrogen was depleted more rapidly under high light conditions, which resulted in earlier entry into the aplanospore stage and accumulation of astaxanthin. Germination of aplanospores accompanied by astaxanthin degradation could also be obtained in the dark in nutrient-sufficient conditions although at a much lower efficiency. The results demonstrate that nutrient availability is the main factor controlling the transition between red and green stages of H. pluvialis, with astaxanthin being accumulated only when cell division has ceased. High light levels accelerate the process by increasing the rate of nutrient depletion and providing more energy for astaxanthin synthesis.

Chlorophyll↗
PubMed2003

Meningococcal disease in catalonia 1 year after mass vaccination campaign with meningococcal group C polysaccharide vaccine.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of meningococcal disease in Catalonia (Spain) after vaccination with the polysaccharide vaccine. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Cases were collected by the Statutory Diseases Reporting System. RESULTS: 176 cases were reported, an overall incidence of 2.9/100,000 persons/year. 60% of cases occurred during winter and spring. The case fatality rate was 6.3%. The highest age incidence was in children under 2 years of age (48/100,000 persons/year). Comparison of the cases detected by the Statutory Diseases Reporting System with those obtained by the Microbiological Reporting System shows that meningococcal disease surveillance in Catalonia was relatively complete (95.7%), with a positive predictive value of 66.3%. 115 cases (65%) were culture-confirmed with a rate of 1.9/100,000 persons/year. 86 (75%) cases were due to Neisseria meningitidis serogroup B and 21 to serogroup C (18%). CONCLUSION: Although infections due to serogroup C have decreased after mass vaccination with the polysaccharide vaccine, it is likely that the number of infections will decrease further with the conjugate meningococcal group C vaccine.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

A novel application of solid state culture: production of lipases by Yarrowia lipolytica.

An extracellular lipase was produced in solid state cultures of Yarrowia lipolytica CECT 1240 using nylon sponge and several food and agroindustrial wastes (barley bran and triturated nut) as, respectively, inert support and support substrate. The highest activity was obtained with triturated nut (23 kU l(-1)) followed by sunflower oil-soaked barley bran (21 kU l(-1)). The activities were 5 fold greater those obtained in the control cultures with just inert support.

Bioreactors↗
PubMed2002

[HIV prevalence among homosexual and bisexual men in Spain, 1992-2000].

BACKGROUND: Our purpose was to describe the time trend in HIV seroprevalence among homo/ bisexual men. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: We analyzed 9,383 homo/ bisexual men who had a first voluntary test for HIV in 10 Spanish clinics from 1992 to 2000. RESULTS: HIV prevalence decreased from 20.3% in 1992 to 8.4% in 2000. In the multivariate analysis this decline appeared independently associated with the testing year and the birth cohort. CONCLUSIONS: New generations of voluntarily tested homo/bisexual men are less infected by HIV, but it is yet necessary to intensify the prevention programs.

Adolescent↗