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J Gené

Publications and source records attributed to J Gené.

28 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1997

Acremonium species: new emerging fungal opportunists--in vitro antifungal susceptibilities and review.

We provide an overview of opportunistic fungal infections caused by Acremonium (Cephalosporium) species and discuss the classification of these species as well as the diagnosis and treatment of acremonium infections. We used a microdilution broth method to compare in vitro susceptibilities and minimum inhibitory concentrations and minimum fungicidal concentrations of amphotericin B, miconazole, itraconazole, 5-fluorocytosine, fluconazole, and ketoconazole for 33 clinical and environmental isolates of Acremonium. In general, the isolates tested displayed little susceptibility to the antifungals tested. Fluconazole and 5-fluorocytosine were ineffective in all cases. The efficacy of the remaining drugs was dependent on the strain. Amphotericin B showed the best results.

Acremonium↗
PubMed1997

In-vitro antifungal susceptibility of clinical and environmental Fusarium spp. strains.

The MICs of amphotericin B, miconazole, ketoconazole, flucytosine, itraconazole and fluconazole for 19 isolates of Fusarium oxysporum, 16 Fusarium solani, seven Fusarium verticilliodes, four Fusarium proliferatum, four Fusarium dimerum, three Fusarium equiseti, and one each of the following species: Fusarium graminearum, Fusarium chlamydosporum, Fusarium semitectum, Fusarium avenaceum and Fusarium subglutinans were determined by a broth microdilution method. Thirty-eight of these isolates were of clinical origin and 20 from environmental sources. In general, Fusarium spp. strains showed resistance to all the antifungals tested. However, the most active agent was amphotericin B. Fluconazole and flucytosine were not active against any of the isolates tested. A correlation study of in-vitro testing with in-vivo outcome of amphotericin B of the cases of disseminated fusarium infections published is reported.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1996

Molecular characterization, relatedness and antifungal susceptibility of the basidiomycetous Hormographiella species and Coprinus cinereus from clinical and environmental sources.

Hormographiella-like strains, isolated from different natural substrates and producing sclerotia and occasionally basidiomata of Coprinus cinereus, were compared morphologically and using molecular techniques with clinical strains of Hormographiella aspergillata and H. verticillata. Analysis of restriction fragment length polymorphisms of ribosomal and mitochondrial-like DNA confirmed interspecific differences between H. aspergillata and H. verticillata, supporting the morphological data, and helped demonstrate that H. aspergillata is the anamorph of C. cinereus. The latter was confirmed also by crossing tests. The analysis of the mtDNA restriction profiles revealed intraspecific variability in C. cinereus, which allowed differentiation of clinical and environmental strains. Due to the implication of C. cinereus and Hormographiella in human opportunistic infections, the antifungal susceptibility test is included. Results show that all strains were susceptible to miconazole, itraconazole and ketoconazole but not to flucytosine and fluconazol. Susceptibility against amphotericin B was variable; while H. verticillata was susceptible, four out of seven C. cinereus strains tested were resistant.

Antifungal Agents↗
PubMed1995

Opportunistic fusarial infections in humans.

Fusarium species are common hyaline soil saprophytes and plant pathogens which have frequently been reported as etiologic agents of opportunistic infections in humans. These infections have usually been limited to superficial mycoses, but recently the number of infections of deep tissues and disseminated infections has greatly increased, especially in patients with an underlying immunosuppressive condition. The characteristic signs of these infections are disseminated skin nodules, fungemia and multiorgan involvement. Frequently, myalgia is also present. Skin involvement occurred in over 80% of cases of disseminated infections. These lesions are significant because they are readily accessible for biopsy and culture, thus permitting an early diagnosis. The therapy and outcome are dependent on the degree of invasion of the organisms and the status of the host. Identification of the pathogen to genus level is not difficult, but identification to species level requires a greater degree of expertise. Up to now, 15 species of Fusarium have been reported to cause infections in humans and animals. Few patients with disseminated fusarial infections have survived, even after receiving an adequate dosage of amphotericin B, the only antifungal agent that has some effect against these fungi. In vitro susceptibility to amphotericin B is a poor predictor of the clinical outcome of invasive fungal infections. Recovery of the phagocytic mechanisms in the form of rising neutrophil counts appears to be mandatory for clinical resolution. The resolution of neutropenia may be aided by the use of exogenous growth factors. Outside the USA, the majority of cases of disseminated fusarial infection have been reported from Mediterranean or tropical countries.

Fusarium↗
PubMed1995

Cutaneous phaeohyphomycosis caused by Alternaria longipes in an immunosuppressed patient.

Alternaria longipes was reported as the agent of a cutaneous infection in a patient with a neoplastic disease. The fungus has not been reported previously as causing disease in humans. It was distinguished by its rather small conidia with smooth or slightly verruculose walls and a pale brown beak which rarely extended into a secondary conidiophore. In vitro inhibitory activities of amphotericin B, ketoconazole, itraconazole, and miconazole were shown.

Alternaria↗
PubMed1992

Do knowledge and attitudes about influenza and its immunization affect the likelihood of obtaining immunization?

A telephone survey was conducted on 190 patients in Barcelona, Spain, at high-risk for influenza to evaluate the relationship between their knowledge and attitudes toward influenza and influenza immunization and whether they received the immunization. A discriminant function correlates (r = 0.86) with the immunization behavior and predicts the behavior before flu immunization in 84% of cases if we know the previous immunization behavior and adequately classifies the behavior in 82% if we don't know it (r = 0.75). Modifiable factors that predict immunization are self-identification as high-risk, belief that the immunization will not cause discomfort, intention to be immunized, and physician assigned. Those not immunized had a prevalent feeling that the shot is not effective, that they are not susceptible to the illness, and that the health center does not offer satisfactory organization to provide immunization. Furthermore, they felt that they had received controversial information through the mass media. We therefore believe that health education activities regarding influenza immunization should be specifically directed to increasing awareness of those who belong to a high-risk group, as well as to emphasizing susceptibility to the illness and the innocuousness of the immunization.

Aged↗
PubMed1989

[Compliance of antibiotic treatment in primary health care. Value of the personalized prescription].

A controlled clinical study was carried out in order to evaluate the efficacy of a personalized prescription as a measure to improve the fulfillment of a short course antibiotic treatment. 180 patients completed the study (96 in the active group and 88 in the control group) finding no differences in selected variables between the two groups. Evaluation of treatment fulfillment was performed with an interview and counting the pills, finding with this method that 57.94% of the patients fulfilled the treatment. Except for a higher incidence of adverse side effects in the control group (p less than 0.05) no other significant differences were found between the two groups. The interview showed a 37% sensibility and a 97% specificity, which was specially usefull in the detection of nonfulfillers. The correlation coefficient between both groups was 0.66 (p less than 0.001). Our results suggest that the personalized prescription does not improve the patient compliance achieved by a good verbal information in the short course antibiotic treatment.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Health and utilization of health services in the elderly, according to the level of living arrangements].

OBJECTIVE: To assess the association between living arrangements (living alone, with company or in a nursing home) and the health status and the use of health and social services among the population over seventy with the purpose to help establishing health policies for the elderly. METHODS: A cross sectional survey was performed, interviewing a random sample of 110 institutionalised and 290 community elderly of Castelldefels. Subjects and carers answered the following questionnaires: health status self-perception (SF-36), level of autonomy (test de Barthel), anxiety and depression levels (HAD), cognitive deficit (Short Portable Mental Status Questionnaire), availability and use of housing facilities an social and health resources. RESULTS: 77.2% of the institutionalised, and 92% of those coming from the community answered the questionnaire. 60 lived alone, 208 accompanied and 85 in nursing homes. The 67% were women and those living alone (77 +/- 4.8 years), or with company (78.3 +/- 6.4 years) where younger than the institutionalised ones (83.1 +/- 6.9 years) (p < 0.01). Housing facilities was similar in the three groups, although those living in the community had a higher level of use. The proportion of handicapped grew progressively from those living alone, with company or in institutions (13.3%; 19.6%. 86.7%; p < 0.01), as well as the cognitive deficit (7.8%; 15.3%; 20.8%, p < 0.01). Every group had similar health status, only those living with the family experienced higher scores in the emotional role or social function (SF-36). Non institutionalised population received support from relatives, friends and primary care services. Those institutionalised received health care in a more intensive and selective way, and benefited from formal cares. CONCLUSIONS: Nursing homes host the population with highest level of cognitive deficit and dependence. The need of increasing formal care in the community, in special to people living alone, and of reorienting health services towards elderly care has been identified.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Fusarium infections. Criteria for the identification of the responsible species.

The incidence of human infections by Fusarium is increasing in contemporary medicine. Since the recognition of the species involved in such processes is generally difficult for non-specialists, we include here the main criteria that should be used in the identification of the responsible species. The most frequent species are F. verticillioides, F. oxysporum and F. solani, which are illustrated. The differences between Fusarium and Acremonium and Cylindrocarpon, two close genera, are discussed. The latter two are also illustrated. The main morphological characteristics of Fusarium such as sporodochium, conidiophore, conidiogenous cell, phialide, locus, macroconidia, mesoconidia, microconidia and chlamydospores are defined and illustrated. A key to the identification of Fusarium species isolated from human lesions is also included.

Animals↗