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Biomedical subjects

C Carbonell

Publications and source records attributed to C Carbonell.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Microepidemics of tuberculosis; apropos of 2 school outbreaks in the area 15 of the Valencia community].

Schools are settings with high concentrations of young people with little exposure to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and greater risk of developing disease when infection occurs as the result of sporadic localized outbreaks. We studied two outbreaks in two elementary schools (A and B) after two cases of bacilliferous pulmonary tuberculosis were detected in teachers in 1990 and 1994. Contacts were trace din school A by the primary care physician and in school B by the pneumologist and public health authorities. Contacts were classified as belonging to the risk group (RG) or the low risk group (LRG). The RG was composed of 187 contacts in school A and 59 in school B. Individuals in the LRG numbered 429 and 116 respectively. Mantoux positives numbered 108 in the RG and 45 in the LRG in school A (p < 0.001). In school B 50 RG individuals and 29 LRG individuals were positive (p < 0.001). The proportion of Mantoux positives was greater in the RG of school B than in the RG of school A (p < 0.01), probably owing to longer time of evolution of disease and possible laryngeal involvement in the index case. Likewise, tuberculin positives were fewer in the LRG of school A than in the LRG of school B (p < 0.001), owing to the small size of the LRG in school A. Thirteen cases of tuberculosis were seen in school A, six of which called for drug prophylaxis after contacts were traced. The nature of the index case and the conditions of exposure are both important in such outbreaks, demonstrating the need to act appropriately to trace contacts, preferably under the supervision of a pneumologists.

Adolescent

Once-a-month administration of intravenous pentamidine to patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus as prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

We reviewed the charts of 52 patients infected with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) who received at least three consecutive doses of intravenous pentamidine as prophylaxis for Pneumocystis carinii infections. Pentamidine isethionate was administered intravenously over 60-90 minutes once a month, at a dosage of 4 mg/kg, in 250 mL of 5% dextrose in water. During 387 months of administration of primary prophylaxis to 37 patients, no cases of P. carinii pneumonia were observed. During 200 months of administration of secondary prophylaxis to 15 patients, only one case of P. carinii pneumonia was diagnosed (6.0 cases per 100 patient-years). Side effects associated with the intravenous pentamidine were mild and did not necessitate withdrawal of the drug. Once-a-month administration of intravenous pentamidine is a valid alternative as prophylaxis for P. carinii pneumonia for patients who are intolerant of sulfonamides.

Adult

Risk stratification for dissemination of tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients.

The location of tuberculosis (TB) early in the course of HIV-induced immunosuppression was located, and an attempt was made to determine the correlation between the degree of immune suppression and prognostic variables to stratify the risk for dissemination of TB in HIV-infected patients. Clinical and laboratory characteristics were reviewed in 73 HIV-infected patients with TB admitted between 1984 and 1990. The presence of Mycobacterium tuberculosis was investigated in different clinical samples to verify the diagnostic yield of different sources. TB was extrapulmonary in 46.6 per cent of patients in whom it was their first opportunistic infection, and in 46.7 per cent of patients with previously diagnosed AIDS (p = NS). TB was frequently associated with other opportunistic infections, particularly oesophageal candidiasis (p = 0.006). Patients with localized extrapulmonary or disseminated TB presented more often with cytopenias, hypoalbuminaemia and oral thrush. The existence of extrapulmonary TB or another opportunistic coinfection allowed AIDS to be diagnosed in the same admission in 30 patients and a mean of 8.4 months later in another eight. Extrapulmonary TB was found to be as common in early HIV infection as in patients with established AIDS. Haematological derangements were common in these patients, and cytopenias, hypoalbuminaemia and oral thrush were useful predictors of TB dissemination. The location of TB and its dissemination were not significantly linked to a more advanced CDC stage of HIV infection or a more profound fall in CD4 count.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Obstructive uropathy following aortofemoral graft surgery.

Fifty patients who had undergone aorto-bifemoral bypass with a bifurcated Dacron graft for aortoiliac arteriosclerotic obliteration were examined with real-time sectorial ultrasound to screen for the presence of hydronephrosis. Hydronephrosis was detected in only 1 case. The low incidence of this complication in our cases may be due to the fact that all our patients were explored at least 1 year after surgery. Some may have developed hydronephrosis early, but this may have resolved spontaneously during the first year after the operation, thus remaining undiagnosed. Pathogenic mechanisms suggested for the development of hydronephrosis and therapeutic approaches are discussed. We conclude that pre- and postoperative ultrasound examination and follow-up beyond 1 year postoperatively seem to be fully justified in all patients who undergo aortoiliac or aortofemoral reconstructive surgery.

Aorta, Abdominal

[Respiratory distress and multiple organ failure after intravesical instillation of BCG].

A case of probable hypersensitivity reaction with multi-organic failure, following bladder installation of BCG, in a male with a diagnosis of bladder carcinoma is presented. The patient developed respiratory, renal and liver failure as well as leukocytosis, thrombopenia and an increase in muscular enzymes. It was resolved with hemodynamic support. The rare complication, occasionally described in medical literature and its probable pathogenic mechanisms are discussed.

Administration, Intravesical

A new technical approach for retrograde administration of cardioplegic solutions.

Myocardial protection via the coronary sinus is now currently used by several groups. Although it has generally provided satisfactory results, some of its problems are still not completely resolved. We present a new technique of cardioplegia delivery through the coronary sinus with a Pezzer catheter inserted into it and secured in place by a purse string suture. We believe that this method is safer and more reliable than others.

Cardiac Catheterization

Hemodynamic changes from spinal cord stimulation for vascular pain.

The hemodynamic changes induced by spinal cord stimulation (SCS) have been studied in a group of 20 patients with peripheral vascular pain. The surgical technique consisted of the introduction of 1 or 2 electrodes in the subarachnoid space up to the level of the painful area, for mono or bipolar SCS. Several techniques have been used for evaluation of hemodynamic changes induced by SCS. Peripheral blood flow speed was measured by means of ultrasound Doppler, showing a raised maximum speed during stimulation, and a tendency of the pulse wave to return to normal. Thermography showed a marked increase of temperature in the painful area. Preoperatively, plethysmography showed an absence of the typical flow waveform, whilst postoperative recordings showed a small wave of progressively increasing amplitude. Scintigraphy with 201TI showed an increase in muscular blood flow in previously hypovascularized areas. The mechanism of action of SCS on peripheral blood flow and vascular pain is discussed.

Blood Flow Velocity

Effect of perinatal antisteroid treatment on territorial marking behavior in the mongolian gerbil.

Sex differences have been observed in the perinatal sexual differentiation of the neural substrate which regulates territorial marking behavior in the Mongolian gerbil. The present study examines the relative contribution of prenatal and postnatal steroid environment to sexual differentiation in the male and androgenized female using territorial marking behavior as an endpoint. Selective suppression of steroid effects in the pre- and postnatal period was accomplished with the antiandrogen flutamide or the antiestrogen MER-25. Treatment was given prenatally (for 5 days before expected parturition), on the day of birth, and postnatally (to day 10) or prenatally and on the day of birth only. Animals without postnatal antisteroid treatment were intact or were gonadectomized on day 2 and given testosterone propionate (TP) treatment on day 7. (It has previously been shown that day 7 is beyond the period of maximum steroid responsiveness in the male but not in the androgenized female.) MER-25, flutamide, or day-2 ovariectomy had no effect on adult marking behavior responsiveness in females given TP on day 7. All groups marked at normal male frequencies. The presence of flutamide prenatally and on the day of birth in day-2 castrates given TP on day 7 yielded adults with marking responsiveness equivalent to day-7 TP-treated females. In contrast, males given day-7 TP without prenatal and birthday flutamide showed significantly lower marking frequencies, suggesting that the presence of androgen prenatally and on the day of birth rendered day-2 castrates less responsive to TP given on day 7.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Androgens