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Biomedical subjects

J A Alvarez-Fernández

Publications and source records attributed to J A Alvarez-Fernández.

5 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

[Clinical relevance of patent foramen ovale and right-to-left shunt].

A frequent finding in healthy individuals, patent foramen ovale (PFO) with right-to-left shunt (RLSh), is an embrionary residue that has been linked with cryptogenic stroke and peripheral ischemia. Pulmonary hypertension and entities like decompression illness, migraine with aura or plathypnea-orthodeoxia have been found to have a higher prevalence of PFO with RLSh. Some dementias and unexplained syncopes could also have some relationship. Paradoxical embolism, thrombosis of the foramen channel or the atrial structures with subsequent embolism, transient arrhythmias, prothrombotic states and vasoactive substances passage have been proposed as physiopathologic mechanisms involved. Contrast-enhanced transesophageal echocardiography is the standard reference diagnostic procedure but contrast-enhanced transcranial Doppler is a good non-invasive alternative diagnostic tool that is highly sensitive and specific.

Heart Septal Defects, Atrial↗
PubMed1998

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis due to an ultrasonic humidifier.

We describe a woman with hypersensitivity pneumonitis that was related to using a home ultrasonic humidifier. A micronodular infiltrate was seen in her chest radiograph. The inhalation challenge test was performed with the humidifier, and she exhibited a positive response. The cultures of the humidifier water grew Candida albicans, Rhodotorula spp., and Aspergillus spp. The test for precipitating antibodies against the humidifier water gave a positive response, and specific IgG, IgM, and IgA antibodies against extracts of A. fumigatus, C. albicans, and Rhodotorula spp. were demonstrated in the patient's serum by ELISA. A strong, dose-dependent inhibition of Rhodotorula IgG-ELISA by humidifier water was observed, suggesting that Rhodotorula might be the cause of hypersensitivity pneumonitis in this patient.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Early defibrillation in the community: breaking barriers to save lives].

It is considered that in Spain, every year, we have more than 24,500 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests. Around 85% of these are secondary to ventricular fibrillation, with possibility of reversion in more than 90% if defibrillation is performed in the first minute of arrhythmia. However, if we delay this defibrillation, survival possibilities disappear in a few minutes. Clinical advances in last decades have not achieved satisfactory results in the treatment of cardiac arrest as survival rates at hospital discharge do not exceed 7%. Aware of this situation, the International Scientific Societies are recommending decreasing time to defibrillation, advising, at best, a time less than five minutes between the 112-call (emergency) and adequate electric discharge. Development of automated defibrillators in Emergency Medical Systems and their use by < > of < > emergency services (police, fire fighters, etc) contribute to reach this objective. Because of this, Emergency Medical Systems are modifying their assistance strategies, to implement the early defibrillation as < >. Literature showed the effective value of automated defibrillators in the public areas but their efficiency level is less than that reached with the Emergency Services. Efficiency depends on multiple factors such as type of installation, accessibility level to emergency medical services or incidence rate of sudden cardiac arrest. Thus, their introduction should be preceded by a cost-effectiveness study. Effectiveness of automated defibrillators at home, where up to 80% of cardiac arrest are produced, has still not been evaluated. Nevertheless, in the USA, its marketing with this indication has been authorized.

Adult↗