PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

C Jiménez

Publications and source records attributed to C Jiménez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Successful heart transplantation in patients with inherited myopathies associated with end-stage cardiomyopathy.

UNLABELLED: Inherited myopathies in patients with secondary end-stage cardiomyopathies have always been considered a relative contraindication for cardiac transplantation. High operative risk related to muscle impairment and potential graft involvement secondary to the underlying myopathy have been the two main reasons implicated in the poor prognosis. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome in patients who underwent cardiac transplantation in our hospital due to end-stage cardiomyopathy secondary to inherited myopathies. METHODS: Among 311 patients who underwent heart transplantation in our hospital, five (2%) had end-stage cardiomyopathies related to inherited myopathies. Four patients had muscular dystrophy (three Becker's muscular dystrophy and one hips-dystrophy) and the fifth desminopathy. In one patient cardiomyopathy was the initial manifestation of the disease. Mean age at the time of transplantation was 38.6 years (range from 24 to 55). The mean follow-up after transplantation was 57.4 months (range from 13 to 128). The intraoperative and postoperative course of these individuals did not show higher complication rates than other patients. All recipients experienced successful rehabilitation; no evidence of graft dysfunction has been detected during follow-up. All of them are alive with a good performance status. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, patients who underwent heart transplantation due to end-stage cardiomyopathy secondary to inherited myopathy with only a mild degree of muscle impairment did not display higher postoperative nor long-term complications compared to other recipients.

Adolescent↗

Changes in the incidence and severity of recurrent hepatitis C after liver transplantation over 1990-1999.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Changes in immunosuppression and other factors may have changed the severity of recurrent hepatitis C during recent years. This study sought to establish the changes in incidence and severity of recurrent hepatitis C, and its association with the changes in acute rejection and induction immunosuppressive therapy between 1990 and 1999. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 213 liver transplants in HCV-infected recipients, 129 grafts were selected for this study: all grafts with severe recurrent hepatitis C (fibrosis 3-4 in Scheuer's score or fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis), and those grafts without severe recurrence with at least 2 years of follow up. Grafts were divided in 5 groups depending on the year of transplantation to compare recurrent hepatitis C-related variables, AR incidence and induction immunosuppression. RESULTS: Hepatitis-free survival decreased in recent years (p=0.015). The incidence of fibrosing cholestatic hepatitis was higher among 1996-1997 and the 1998-1999 periods (p=0.019). Survival free of severe hepatitis at 1 year follow up was 95% in 1990-1991 and 80% in 1998-1999; however, in the long-term the survival was similar between groups (p=0.933). HCV-related graft survival at 5 years was 93.5% in the 1990-95 period and 82.5% in 1996-99 (p=0.068). Neither AR nor any regimen of induction immunosuppression was associated with changes in the occurrence of recurrent hepatitis C related survival. CONCLUSIONS: Severity of recurrent hepatitis C and HCV-related graft loss after liver transplantation were higher in the second half of the 1990s; however, there was no association with AR or induction immunosuppression.

Disease-Free Survival↗

Kaposi's visceral sarcoma in liver transplant recipients.

We report three cases of Kaposi's sarcoma after orthotopic liver transplantation performed for cirrhosis related to hepatitis C virus (one case), ethanol (one case), or both (one case). All patients displayed disease within the first year after liver transplantation, and only in one case was the diagnosis obtained before the patient died. All three patients were on tacrolimus-steroid therapy, and in one case mycophenolate mofetil was added to treat acute persistent rejection.

Adult↗

Upper aerodigestive tract and lung tumors after liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze the incidence, clinical characteristics, treatment, and outcome of upper aerodigestive (UAD) and lung de novo tumors after ortothopic liver transplantation (OLT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between April 1986 and June 2002, we performed 851 OLT in 753 patients. We excluded pediatric, partial, and hepatorenal transplants and recipients who died within 2 months after OLT. Thus, we analyzed the incidence and outcome of these tumors in 605 patients after OLT. RESULTS: We found 21 (3.5%) tumors in 20 (3.3%) recipients: 14 were UAD tumors (three in floor of the mouth, two in tonsil, one in tongue, one in pharynx, three in larynx, and four in esophagus) and seven were lung tumors. Nineteen patients were men and one was a woman, with a mean age at transplantation of 47.7+/-8.6 years. Mean time from OLT to tumor diagnosis was 61.7+/-35.1 years. As risk factors, 70% were heavy smokers, 75% were heavy drinkers, and 70% developed acute rejection. The incidence of these tumors was significantly higher in transplanted patients for alcoholic cirrhosis compared to the nonalcoholic cirrhosis (8.1% vs 0.8%; P<.0001). After surgical excision in 65% of patients, 1-, 2-, and 3-year patient survival were 47.6%, 37.0%, and 19.7%, respectively. CONCLUSION: There is a significantly higher incidence of these tumors in male heavy drinkers and/or smokers who underwent OLT for alcoholic cirrhosis; in spite of aggressive surgical treatment, the prognosis is poor.

Adult↗

Preliminary experience with living donor liver transplantation in adults and children.

INTRODUCTION: Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is becoming a widespread technique with good results. Its use may sharply decrease waiting list mortality. However, donor safety is of primary concern. The aim of this work was the preliminary evaluation of the LDLT program initiated in our institution in 1995. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among 875 liver transplants (LT) performed from 1986 12 are LDLT in nine adults (50.0+/-10.0 years) and three children (1.9+/-1.1 years). All donors were relatives: son/daughter (six), brother (three), and father/mother (three). RESULTS: Donor right lobe graft weight was 758.3+/-137.4 g; left liver 525.3+/-97.1 g; and left lobe 293.3+/-30.5 g, with a graft weight/recipient weight ratio of 0.91+/-0.21 (0.64-1.36) in adults. Complications in five donors (42%) included biliary fistula in the first three cases, two pleural effusions and one intra-abdominal collection. Mean hospital stay was 16.9+/-15.2 days (median 12). Recipient indications for adults were: four HCV cirrhosis (+ alcoholic in one), one HBV cirrhosis, one cryptogenic, one alcoholic, one PBC, and one retransplant due to cholangiopathy. In children, the etiologies were two biliary atresia and one liver fibrosis. The first case was the only mortality (8.3%). Two patients were retransplanted (16.6%) due to arterial thrombosis (AT) and graft dysfunction. Actuarial survival at 1 year was 91.7%+/-8.0% for patients and 83.3%+/-10.8% for grafts. Complications in the recipients included AT (two), Acinetobacter sepsis, jaundice and upper digestive hemorrhage (due to a "small-for-size" graft), biliary fistula after T-tube removal, volvulus around the T tube, and intra-abdominal collection. CONCLUSIONS: Our experience suggests that good results can be achieved with LDLT. Standardization of the technique will allow refinement of the operation and decrease waiting list mortality. However, donor safety remains a fearful threat.

Adult↗

Liver transplantation and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt.

OBJECTIVE: Describe the results of liver transplantation after installing Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunt (TIPS) and compare them with those of a control group in a comparative, longitudinal, retrospective study. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between April 1986 and October 2002, we performed 875 liver transplantations. Between January 1996 and October 2002, 26 transplantations were performed on TIPS carriers. This group was compared with a control cohort of 50 randomly selected patients who underwent transplantation in this period (non-TIPS carriers). Both groups were homogeneous with no significant differences between age, sex United Network for Organ Sharing (UNOS) score, Child stage, or etiology. RESULTS: Actuarial survival rates at 1 and 3 years: TIPS group 96.15% and 89.29% versus control cohort 87.8% and 81%, respectively. In 73.9%, the TIPS was clearly effective; in 88.9%, a postoperative Doppler revealed normal flow. There were no statistically significant differences compared with time on the waiting list for transplant, duration of the operation, ischemia times, intraoperative consumption of hemoderivates, vascular or nonvascular postoperative complications, duration of stay in the intensive care unit, hospital stay, or retransplantation rate. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience, TIPS insertion does not affect either the intraoperative or postoperative evolution and is not associated with an increased time on the liver transplant waiting list.

Actuarial Analysis↗

Factors influencing the collection of peripheral blood stem cells in patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia and non-myeloid malignancies.

Factors influencing the collection of autologous peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were studied in 182 mobilization procedures performed on 145 consecutive patients with acute myeloblastic leukemia (AML; n=67) and with various non-myeloid malignancies (NMM; n=78). PBSC were collected following mobilization with chemotherapy, treatment with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) or chemotherapy plus G-CSF. Fewer colony-forming unit granulocyte-macrophages (CFU-GMs) were collected from patients with AML than from patients with NMM (P<0.0001), although there were no differences in the numbers of CD34+ cells collected between both groups. Multiple regression analysis showed that chemotherapy alone was predictive of a low CD34+ yield in patients with NMM (regression coefficient (RC)=-2.1; P=0.003). In addition, the interactions "diagnosis mutliple myeloma (MM)xmobilization with chemotherapy" (RC=2.9; P=0.004) and "diagnosis MMxmobilization with chemotherapy plus G-CSF" (RC=2.1; P=0.04) also remained in the model, both showing a favorable influence. In AML, mobilization with chemotherapy plus G-CSF was associated with higher CD34+ yields (P=0.003). In this subgroup of patients, multiple regression analysis identified the number of cycles of previous chemotherapy (< or =2 cycles; RC=1.3; P=0.03) and peripheral blood counts (WBC > or =1.5 x 10(9)/l and monocytes >20%; RC=0.8; P=0.02) as the factors most predictive of CD34+ cell yield. These findings emphasize the need to optimize harvesting technique to enhance safety and minimize morbidity and costs of this valuable procedure.

Acute Disease↗

Validation of qualitative chromatographic methods: strategy in antidoping control laboratories.

An experimental approach for the validation of chromatographic qualitative methods and its application in an antidoping control laboratory is described. The proposed strategy for validation of qualitative methods consists of the verification of selectivity/specificity, limit of detection (LOD), extraction recovery and repeatability (intra-assay precision). A one-day assay protocol, based on the analysis of five blank samples obtained from different sources and four replicates of control samples at two different concentrations of the analytes, has been defined to evaluate the validation parameters. The following evaluation criteria have been applied: absence of interfering substances at the retention time of the analytes in the blank samples to check the selectivity/specificity of the method, the LOD recommended by international sports authorities has to be attained, and for repeatability, the relative standard deviation should be <25% for the low concentration control sample and <15% for the high concentration control sample. Qualitative screening procedures are able to detect a great number of analytes so that extraction and analysis conditions are always a compromise for the different analytes. For this reason, no minimum acceptance criteria have been defined for data of extraction recoveries. The proposed protocol has been used for the validation of the screening and confirmation qualitative methods included in the scope of the accreditation of an antidoping control laboratory according to ISO quality standards.

Chromatography, Liquid↗

Microstructural study of aerosol-gel derived hydroxyapatite coatings.

Highly porous aerosol-gel derived hydroxyapatite (HAP) coatings have been prepared from calcium nitrate and phosphoric acid based sols. Precursor solutions were prepared by filtering the suspension formed during the ultrasonic slurring of the reactants mixture. The coatings deposited on Si wafers were studied after sintering at different temperatures by using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, energy disperse microanalysis and scanning electron microscopy. The composition, structure and morphology of the coatings sintered at 650 degrees C were found to fit highly porous HAP. That is considered of great relevance since the deposition parameters are compatible with the processing of bioactive coatings on load bearing metallic substrates.

Aerosols↗

Early infections in adult patients undergoing unrelated donor cord blood transplantation.

Early transplant-related mortality after cord blood transplantation from unrelated donors (UD-CBT) is close to 50%, mainly due to infectious complications. We have studied the incidence and characteristics of early infections (before day 100) in a series of 27 adult patients (median age 30 years, range 16-46) undergoing UD-CBT at a single institution. All 27 patients experienced at least one infectious episode and 18 (66%) suffered a severe infection. Bacteremia occurred in 55% of patients (13 with Gram-positive and 11 with Gram-negative microorganisms). Eleven of 19 CMV-seropositive patients (58%) developed CMV antigenemia and one patient had CMV disease. Fungal infections were documented in three patients (11%), comprising invasive fungal infections in two cases and a localized esophagitis in one. Ten patients (37%) died before day 100 after transplantation. Infection was considered the primary cause of death in four patients (sepsis by Acinetobacter spp. bacteremia in three cases) and contributed to death in another four. The most striking findings in this series were the high incidence of, and mortality due to multiresistant Acinetobacter spp. and the low incidence of and lack of mortality due to CMV disease. This report confirms that infection is a major complication in adults undergoing UD-CBT.

Acinetobacter Infections↗

Infectious complications in patients undergoing unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation: experience from a single institution.

OBJECTIVE: To analyze the incidence and characteristics of documented infections in patients with hematologic malignancies undergoing unrelated donor bone marrow transplantation (UD-BMT). METHODS: We studied the occurrence of infections in 22 patients with hematologic malignancies or severe aplastic anemia who underwent UD-BMT from April 1990 to December 2000. The median age was 26 years (range 13-46). Acyclovir-ganciclovir, co-trimoxazole, fluconazole-nystatin and ciprofloxacin were administered for anti-infectious prophylaxis. RESULTS: We registered 61 infectious episodes. During the early post-transplant period, there were eight clinically documented infections (CDIs), four cases of fever of unknown origin (FUO), seven cases of bacteremia, two cases of cytomegalovirus (CMV) antigenemia, and one case of CMV disease. In the intermediate period (days 30-100 after BMT), there were nine cases of CMV antigenemia, three bacterial infections, two fungal infections, one case of disseminated toxoplasmosis, and one case of FUO. In the late period (day 100 and later), we documented 13 viral infections, eight bacterial infections, one CDI, and one case of invasive aspergillosis. Infections contributed to death in 10 of 17 patients. Citrobacter bacteremia and sepsis of unknown origin were the main causes of infectious mortality in the early period. Infection was the main cause of death in six of seven patients in the late period. CONCLUSION: A high incidence of life-threatening infections and infection-related mortality was observed. A high rate of CMV infection in the early period, and death caused by multiresistant Gram-negative microorganisms in the late period, were the main findings in this series.

Adolescent↗

[Acute renal failure caused by cholesterol embolism in kidney transplantation from cadaver donor. Is the prognosis more favorable than in native kidneys?].

We present the case of a 47 years old women with a third cadaveric kidney transplant. After surgery, she had effective diuresis reaching a serum creatinine of 2.2 mgs% at 19 postoperative day. In the nest few days, the patient was oliguric with worsening of renal function. The ultrasound examination excluded urinary obstruction. With the suspicion of acute rejection, a renal biopsy was performed. The histopathological record disclosed cholesterol emboli with a widespread multifocal ischemic infarct and eosinophilic tubulointerstitial nephritis. The renal function deteriorated in the seven next days and peritoneal dialysis was carmedow. She then recovered diuresis with improvement of renal function, reaching at discharge a serum creatinine of 1.8 mgs%. The renal function remains stable after 3 years. We analysed the etiopathogenic factors of this disease and the possible beneficial effects of immunosuppresive drugs in better prognosis compared with the same entity in native kidneys.

Acute Kidney Injury↗

[Use of icodextrin for diurnal exchange in patients undergoing automatic peritoneal dialysis. Comparison with glucose solutions].

Icodextrin (IC) is an osmotic agent that produces sustained ultrafiltration (UF) during long dwell time periods in peritoneal dialysis patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of 7.5% IC for the diurnal exchange in automated peritoneal dialysis (APD) patients and to compare them with that of 2.27% glucose solutions. Seventeen patients treated on APD during 13.9 +/- 12.7 months were included. The study was divided into three eight weeks phases. During the baseline period patients used 2.27% glucose for the daytime, second, IC 7.5% was prescribed for the day-exchange, and finally 2.27% glucose solution was used for the last eight weeks. Daytime UF increased in all patients during IC use (-53 +/- 22 to 270 +/- 304 ml/day, p < 0.01). Patients with higher peritoneal permeability capacity obtained more benefits. Daytime urea KT/V and weekly creatinine clearance (WCC) augmented significantly during IC use, but the increase of weekly urea KT/V and WCC was not significant (2.18 +/- 0.45 to 2.26 +/- 0.41 and 62.7 +/- 18 to 66.6 +/- 15 l/week/1.73 m2; respectively). On IC, nightly glucose load significantly decreased (289 +/- 82 to 266 +/- 94 g, p < 0.05), returning to previous value after withdrawal. Plasma osmolality did not change, although plasma sodium levels decreased during IC use (140 +/- 3 to 136 +/- 2, p < 0.001). Serum amylase levels significantly declined during IC use (279 +/- 151 to 29 +/- 9 U/l), returning to previous values after transfer to glucose. Peritoneal function transport parameters and peritoneal protein losses did not change. IC metabolite plasma levels increased during the use of this solution, returning to previous values after withdrawal. In conclusion, IC dialysate is an excellent alternative to glucose dialysate for the day-exchange in APD patients. Daytime UF increased in all patients, but those with higher peritoneal permeability capacity obtained more benefits. The decrease of the glucose peritoneal load overnight and the reduction for more than 50% of exposure time of the peritoneal membrane to glucose solutions, probably make IC solution a more biocompatible fluid.

Adult↗

Standardized, unrelated donor cord blood transplantation in adults with hematologic malignancies.

The potential role of unrelated donor cord blood transplantation (UD-CBT) in adults remains unclear. This study reports the results of UD-CBT in 22 adults with hematologic malignancies following conditioning with thiotepa, busulfan, cyclophosphamide, and antithymocyte globulin in 21, with thiotepa, fludarabine, and antithymocyte globulin in 1, and graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis with cyclosporine and prednisone. Median age was 29 years (range, 18-46 years), and median weight was 69.5 kg (range, 41-85 kg). HLA match was 6 of 6 in 1 case, 5 of 6 in 13 cases, and 4 of 6 in 8 cases. Median number of nucleated cells infused was 1.71 x 10(7)/kg (range, 1.01 x 10(7)/kg to 4.96 x 10(7)/kg). All 20 patients surviving more than 30 days had myeloid engraftment, and only 1, who received the lowest cell dose, developed secondary graft failure. Median time to reach an absolute neutrophil count of at least 0.5 x 10(9)/L was 22 days (range, 13-52 days). Median time to platelets numbered at least 20 x 10(9)/L was 69 days (range, 49-153 days). Seven patients (32%) developed acute GVHD above grade II, and 9 of 10 patients at risk developed chronic GVHD, which became extensive in 4 patients. Twelve patients remained alive and disease-free 3 to 45 months after transplantation. Disease-free survival (DFS) at 1 year was 53%. Age strongly influenced DFS (P =.01). For patients aged 30 years or younger, the DFS at 1 year was 73%. These preliminary results suggest that UD-CBT should be considered a reasonable alternative in young adults with hematologic malignancy and no appropriate bone marrow donor.

Adult↗

Synthesis of cytotoxic 6E-hydroximino-4-ene steroids: structure/activity studies.

In an effort to determine the pharmaceutical utility and the structural requirements for activity against various tumor cell lines, several 6E-hydroximino-4-ene steroids with different side chains and degrees of unsaturation on ring A were synthesized in our laboratory. Evaluation of the synthesized compounds for cytotoxicity against P-388, A-549, HT-29, and MEL-28 tumor cells revealed that some important structural features are required for activity. The presence of a cholesterol-type side chain, which appears to play a major role in determining the biological activity, the existence of a ketone functionality at C-3, and an elevated degree of oxidation on ring A all result in higher bioactivity than other structural motifs.

Animals↗