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C Arnau

Publications and source records attributed to C Arnau.

10 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Improvement in diastolic function in hypertensive patients with left ventricular hypertrophy with inhibitors of the angiotensin converting enzyme].

An open and multicentric study was conducted with 66 patients with mild to severe diastolic arterial hypertension and echocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy, the evolution of diastolic function, by means of doppler transmitral flow echocardiography, under treatment with ramipril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, at a dose of 2.5 and 5 mg/day, or combined with a diuretic, after three and six months of treatment. Despite not obtaining the tensional control in all patients, a decrease in the mass, both in absolute values and mass index, was obtained. This decrease was observed both in male and female patients from the first three months, which went on until the sixth month, thus suggesting an independent action of the hemodynamic load decrease for the obtention of this effect. There was also a change in the ventricular geometry with a displacement of patients from concentric enlargement to normal, remodelling and eccentric enlargement. The diastolic function improved both for the early and for the late maximal filling velocity, relationship between both, and deceleration time, although the time during which this improvement occurred was different for each parameter, thus indicating the different influence of the dynamic and structural factors on these parameters. No correlation was found between the improvement in diastolic function and hypertrophy regression. We can conclude that ramipril is useful for the control of the left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic function, irrespective of arterial tension values.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

von Willebrand factor contained in factor VIII concentrates of different purities supports platelet adhesion in blood samples from a heterogeneous group of patients with von Willebrand disease.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Plasma derived FVIII-VWF concentrates in which the VWF structure is reasonably maintained are recommended as substitutive therapy in VWD. Our aim was to assess platelet deposition and binding to subendothelial structures of VWF present in FVIII concentrates. DESIGN AND METHODS: Cryoprecipitate (CRY), intermediate-purity (IPC), or high-purity (HPC) FVIII concentrates were added in vitro to citrated blood samples from 11 patients affected by different subtypes of VWD, with the aim of normalizing VWF levels. Measurements of VWF:Ag, ristocetin cofactor (RiCof) activities, FVIII coagulant activity (FVIII:C), and platelet interaction with subendothelium under flow conditions (Baumgartner's perfusion method, computer-assisted morphometry, shear rate 1000 s-1, 10 min, 37 degrees C) were determined. Binding of VWF to the luminal surface of the perfused vessels was assessed by immunofluorescence microscopy. Paired t-test statistics were performed. RESULTS: Addition of FVIII-VWF preparations raised VWF:Ag from baseline (BSL) values of 0.3 (SD 0.2) to averages of 1.4 (SD 0.5, p < 0.001), 1.2 (SD 0.6, p < 0.001), and 0.4 (SD 0.3) IU mL-1 after CRY, IPC, and HPC, respectively. A positive labeling for VWF was observed by immunofluorescence in vessels perfused with blood containing any of the concentrates. Platelet adhesion of 13.2 (SD 7.6), 22.4 (SD 10.8), 24.8 (SD 7.8, p < 0.03), or 22.5 (SD 4.8)% was measured in BSL, CRY, IPC, or HPC tests, respectively. INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Our observations support the hypothesis above the mechanisms involved in the beneficial effects of commercial concentrates in von Willebrand disease: the VWF in these concentrates has functional capacity to bind to subendothelium and to support platelet adhesion.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Nosocomial pneumonia: comparative multicentre trial between monotherapy with cefotaxime and treatment with antibiotic combinations.

In a multicentre clinical trial involving 32 hospitals, 588 adult patients diagnosed with nosocomial pneumonia and not receiving mechanical ventilation were treated randomly with monotherapy with cefotaxime or the antibiotic combination routinely used in each particular hospital. Both groups of patients were similar regarding demographic data, concurrent diseases, additional therapies and causative organism. Protocol violations were recorded in 40 patients, and these patients were excluded from the evaluation of treatment efficacy. The cure rate was 79% in the cefotaxime group and 71% in the group receiving antibiotic combinations; this difference is statistically significant (p = 0.03, Fisher's two-tailed test). In the patients receiving combinations of cephalosporins having activity predominantly against gram-positive organisms plus aminoglycosides, the cure rate obtained was very low. The frequency of serious adverse reactions was significantly higher in the group treated with antibiotic combinations. It is concluded that monotherapy with cefotaxime is the regimen that offers better results for the empirical treatment of nosocomial pneumonia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1989

Antibiotic prophylaxis with cefotaxime in gastroduodenal and biliary surgery.

In a multicenter prospective, randomized study, the efficacy of a single preoperative dose of 1 g of cefotaxime for avoiding wound infections was compared with four 2-g doses of cefoxitin. In the study, 1,451 patients with infection risk factors who underwent gastroduodenal or biliary surgery were included, of whom 722 received cefotaxime and 729 cefoxitin. The characteristics of both groups were comparable. The frequency of wound infections in the cefotaxime group was 3.3 percent and in the cefoxitin group, 7.6 percent. The difference was statistically significant. The lowest rate of wound infection (0.63 percent) was achieved when cefotaxime was administered during the last hour before surgery. In both groups, the frequency of infections was directly related to the duration of operation. Hospital stay was, on average, 3 days longer in patients with wound infections. After cost-benefit analysis, we have concluded that cefotaxime treatment results in substantial reduction of costs derived from antibiotic prophylaxis.

Biliary Tract Surgical Procedures↗
PubMed1988

An assessment of single doses of 8 mg sustained-release molsidomine using serial exercise tests.

The effectiveness and duration of the anti-anginal action of two sustained-release preparations, molsidomine (8 mg) and isosorbide dinitrate (20 mg), were assessed by means of serial exercise tests in 12 patients with angina of effort. The tests, which were limited by the symptoms, were carried out on three consecutive days using the Bruce protocol. Each patient was tested four times each day: the first test was performed before treatment and the others were carried out 1, 4 and 8 h after administration of the drug or placebo. One hour after administration of molsidomine, the appearance of signs of ischaemia in the ECG were considerably delayed and they were reduced in magnitude. Furthermore, the length of time during which the patients were free of angina increased. After 4 h both drugs significantly delayed the onset of angina and depression of the ST segment by 1 mm. The conclusion is that at the doses used both drugs prolong the length of time in which there is no angina, but that they have no significant effect at 8 h.

Aged↗
PubMed1982

Clobazam: single or divided doses?

The results of treatment of neurotic disorders with single or divided daily doses of the anxiolytic drug clobazam have been compared. The trial was performed in two groups, each of 57 patients, paired according to age, sex, diagnosis, severity of initial disorder, and total daily dose. The 114 subjects formed a random subgroup from a total of 1369 patients taking part in a postmarketing surveillance trial of clobazam. In view of the changes in the overall severity of the symptoms, in "persistent anxiety" and "anxiety crises", in "sleep disorders", the global clinical impression and the tolerance, it is concluded that clobazam is a useful drug in the treatment of anxiety, and that single or divided daily dosage schedules produce similar results.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Ofloxacin versus trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole in the treatment of patients with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Study of Ofloxacin in Lower Respiratory Tract Infections Research Group.

An open-label, randomized, comparative, parallel-group study of ofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was performed in 162 outpatients diagnosed with acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Ofloxacin 400 mg once daily was administered orally; the dose could be increased to 400 mg twice daily if patients had not improved after 72 hours of treatment. The other treatment group received trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole 960 mg twice daily orally. The duration of treatment was 10 to 14 days for both treatment groups. Successful clinical response (defined as cure or major improvement in symptoms) was achieved in 65 (80.2%) patients in the ofloxacin group and in 42 (51.9%) patients in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group; the differences between groups were statistically significant. Bacteriologic success (classified as eradication or presumptive eradication of the causative pathogen) was achieved in 27 (50.0%) patients in the ofloxacin group and in 16 (29.1%) patients in the trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole group; these differences between groups were also statistically significant. Reinfection occurred in 18 (33.3%) and 4 (7.3%) patients treated with ofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, respectively. No serious adverse events were reported.

Adult↗