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Biomedical subjects

J Martí

Publications and source records attributed to J Martí.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2001

[Protein-calorie malnutrition and lymphocytopenia as predictors of hospital infection in the elderly].

BACKGROUND: Clinical and epidemiological studies have established that malnutritionis a risk factor for infection in patients being submitted to surgery. To date no study has been carried out to establish the association between the nutritional condition and the incidence of hospital-acquired infections in patients in the medical area. We study the incidence of hospital-acquired infections in the elderly in an attempt to determine the rate of this infection and its association with protein-calorie malnutrition. Another aim of this study has been to determine the predictive value of the parameters used to evaluate the patient's state of nutrition and immunity. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We included 240 patients over 64 years old, 118 males and 122 females, admitted to the medical area of a general hospital. The nutritional and immunity condition of the patients was evaluated through determinations of weight, height, body mass index, hypoalbuminemia and total lymphocyte count. The psichophisical degree of dependence was evaluated through of Norton scale. The details on the hospital infections came from a clinical and microbiological follow-up of patients, in accordance with the criteria of the Centers for Disease Control of Atlanta. RESULTS: The frequency of protein-calorie malnutrition was 12.5% and the accumulated incidence of hospital-acquired infections was 19.6%. Functional incapacity of the elderly prior to hospitalization (odds ratio,4.70; 95% CI: 1.1-19.0) as well as the presence of certain extrinsicrisk factors (odds ratio, 2.35; 95% CI: 1.1-5.1) were, in addition to hypoalbuminemia (odds ratio, 3.60; 95% CI: 1.3-10.2) and lymphocytopenia(odds ratio, 2.67; 95% CI: 1.3-5.7), the independent variables that showed the most significant association with the incidence of hospital-acquired infections. CONCLUSIONS: The nutritional parameters associated with the immune system determinedgreater risk of hospital-acquired infections among elderly patients admitted to the medical area of a hospital. The initial evaluation of elderly patients hospitalitzed in accordance whit the psychophysical degree of dependence based on the Norton scale is useful to evaluate those patients who were at greater risk for hospital infections.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Strategies for increasing women participation in community breast cancer screening.

BACKGROUND: Strategies for reducing breast cancer mortality in western countries have focused on screening, at least for women aged 50 to 69 years. One of the requirements of any community screening program is to achieve a high participation rate, which is related to methods of invitation. Therefore, it was decided to systematically review the scientific evidence on the different strategies aimed at improving women's participation in breast cancer screening programs and activities. OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of different strategies for increasing the participation rate of women invited to community (population-based) breast cancer screening activities or mammography programs. SEARCH STRATEGY: MEDLINE (1966-2000), CENTRAL (2000), and EMBASE (1998-1999) searches for 1966 to 1999 were supplemented by reports and letters to the European Screening Breast Cancer Programs (Euref Network). SELECTION CRITERIA: Both published and unpublished trials were eligible for inclusion, provided the women had been invited to a community breast screening activity or program and had been randomised to an intervention group or a control group with no active intervention. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS: We identified 151 articles, which were reviewed independently by two people. The discrepancies were resolved by a third reviewer in order to reach consensus. Thirty-four studies were excluded because they lacked a control group; 58 of the other 117 articles were considered as opportunistic and not community-based; 59 articles, which reported 70 community-based randomised controlled trials or clinical controlled trials, were accepted. In 24 of these, the control group had not been exposed to any active intervention, but 8 of the 24 had to be excluded because the denominator for estimating attendance was unknown. At the end, 16 studies constituted the material for this review, although two studies were further excluded because their groups were not comparable at baseline. Data from all but one study were based on or converted to an intention-to-treat analysis. Attendance in response to the mammogram invitation was the main outcome measure. MAIN RESULTS: The evidence favoured five active strategies for inviting women into community breast cancer screening services: letter of invitation (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.43 to 1.92), mailed educational material (OR 2.81, 95% CI 1.96 to 4.02), letter of invitation plus phone call (OR 2.53, 95% CI 2.02 to 3.18), phone call (OR 1.94, 95% CI 1.70 to 2.23), and training activities plus direct reminders for the women (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.72 to 3.50). Home visits did not prove to be effective (OR 1.06, 95 % CI 0.80 to 1.40) and letters of invitation to multiple examinations plus educational material favoured the control group (OR 0.62, 95 % CI 0.32 to 1.20). REVIEWER'S CONCLUSIONS: Most active recruitment strategies for breast cancer screening programs examined in this review were more effective than no intervention. Combinations of effective interventions can have an important effect. Some costly strategies, as a home visit and a letter of invitation to multiple screening examinations plus educational material, were not effective. Further reviews comparing the effective interventions and studies that include cost-effectiveness, women's satisfaction and equity issues are needed.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2001

Evidence that the loss of Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei neurons in homozygous weaver is not related to neurogenetic patterns.

To determine whether the neurogenetic patterns of Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei neurons were normal in weaver homozygotes and whether the degeneration of those neuronal types was linked to their time of origin, [3H] thymidine autoradiography was applied on sections of homozygous weaver mice and normal controls on postnatal day 90. The experimental animals were the offspring of pregnant dams injected with [3H] thymidine on embryonic days 11-12, 12-13, 13-14 and 14-15. The results show that the onset of neurogenesis, its pattern of peaks and valleys, and its total span were similar between wild type and homozygous weaver in the cerebellar areas analyzed, indicating that the loss of Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei neurons is not related to neurogenetic patterns. In weaver homozygotes, the loss of Purkinje cells and deep cerebellar nuclei neurons followed a lateral to medial gradient of increasing severity. Thus, the vermis and the fastigial nucleus, which are medially located, presented the most important neuron loss, whereas in the lateral hemisphere and the dentate nucleus, neuron loss was spared.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

The weaver gene has no effect on the generation patterns of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons.

To determine if the weaver gene has action on late-generated neurons in midbrain areas on postnatal day (P) 8 [(3)H] thymidine autoradiography and tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry were combined in the same tissue section in homozygous weaver mice and normal controls. The experimental animals were the offspring of pregnant dams injected with [3H] thymidine on embryonic days (E)11-12, E12-13, E13-14 and E14-15. Both the span of neurogenesis and the neurogenetic timetables of dopaminergic neurons were similar between wild-type and homozygous weavers in all midbrain areas analyzed. No loss of late-generated dopaminergic neurons was observed. The cytoarchitecture of the midbrain dopaminergic cell groups were also the same in both experimental groups indicating that cell migration, settling, and cytodifferentiation proceeds normally in spite of the presence of the weaver gene.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

The weaver gene continues to target late-generated dopaminergic neurons in midbrain areas at P90.

To determine if lethal action of the weaver gene is more intense in late-generated dopaminergic neurons in midbrain areas on postnatal day (P) 90 [3H] thymidine autoradiography and tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry were combined in the same tissue section in homozygous weaver mice and normal controls. The experimental animals were the offspring of pregnant dams injected with [3H] thymidine on embryonic days (E) 11-12, E12-13, E13-14 and E14-15. Neurogenetic timetables of dopaminergic neurons were different between wild type and homozygous weavers in all midbrain areas analyzed. A substantial number of late-generated neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and in the ventral tegmental area are missing at P90, in these dopaminergic areas the loss is greater than at P20 indicating that neuronal loss is progressive. The greatest loss is in the substantia nigra pars compacta, confirming the report of Bayer et al. [Exp. Brain Res. 105 (1995) 200] at P20, while in the retrorubral field and the interfascicular nucleus late-generated neuron loss was less severe. These results furnish more evidence that dopaminergic neuron loss in homozygous weaver midbrain is a phenomenon linked to development.

Aging↗
PubMed2000

Synthesis and pharmacological evaluation of new 4-2-(7-heterocyclemethoxynaftalen-2-ylmethoxy)ethylbenzoic acids as LTD(4)-antagonists.

A group of new 4-[2-(7-heterocyclemethoxynaftalen-2-ylmethoxy)ethyl]benzoic acids have been synthesized and pharmacologically evaluated as LTD(4)-antagonists. Thiazole derivatives, especially 4-[2-[7-(4-cyclobutylthiazole-2-ylmethoxyl)naphthalen- 2-ylmetho-xy]et hyl]benzoic acid, present considerable activity and improved pharmacokinetic profiles in comparison with our quinoline containing lead molecule confirming the interest of our compounds as potentially oral antiasthmatics and that the 4-alkylthiazole system can be considered as bioisosteric of the quinoline ring at least in our series of compounds.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Spectrophotometric methods for determining meloxicam in pharmaceuticals using batch and flow-injection procedures.

Two sensitive and fast spectrophotometric methods using batch and flow-injection procedures for the determination of meloxicam (MX) are proposed. The methods are based on the formation of a green complex between this drug and Fe(III) [2MX/Fe(III)] in a methanolic medium. The calibration graphs resulting from measuring the absorbance at 570 nm are linear over the ranges 2.0-200 and 5.00-250 mg l(-1) with detection limits of 0.47 and 0.72 mg l(-1), respectively. Furthermore, a flow-injection spectrophotometric method involving measurement of the absorbance of the drug at 362 nm in 0.1 M NaOH is presented. The calibration graph is linear over the range 0.5-20 mg l(-1) with a detection limit of 0.04 mg l(-1). The methods are applied to the routine analysis of MX in pharmaceuticals.

Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal↗
PubMed2000

[Orf nodule].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

[Correlations between brain SPECT and neuropsychology assessments in mild and moderate stages of Alzheimer's disease].

UNLABELLED: Thirty-four patients with a probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD) (mild AD = 16; moderate AD = 18) and 12 matched controls were evaluated using semiquantitative SPECT-99mTc-HMPAO and neuropsychological tests (CERAD). RESULTS: Both temporal hypoperfusion (p < 0.01) and memory tests (p < 0.001) made it possible to differentiate the controls from mild AD patients. In these patients, significant correlations (p < 0.05) were also found between: 1) delayed recall test/temporal hypoperfusion, 2) learning memory test/temporoparietal and frontal hypoperfusion and 3) visual constructive praxis/posterior temporal hypoperfusion. In contrast to mild AD, moderate AD patients showed higher temporal (p < 0.01) parietal and frontal (p < 0.05) hypoperfusion along with worsening of praxis (p < 0.001) and memory tests (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: SPECT imaging and neuropsychology evaluation can distinguish controls from AD patients with mild an moderate grades of dementia, showing a strong correlation from the early stages of AD.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Systematic reviews on infectious diseases. The Cochrane Collaboration].

BACKGROUND: Theoretically, doctors update their knowledge from the scientific literature, and bibliographic databases have made it possible to overcome many of the limitations with this information, but not all of them. When faced with a therapeutic issue, the practice of evidence based medicine requires the efficient access to information derived from controlled clinical trials (CCT). Reviews of the scientific literature are of increasing importance. The Cochrane Collaboration is dedicated to preparing, maintaining and disseminating updated, systematic reviews of CCTs of health care interventions, which are published in the Cochrane Library. OBJECTIVE: To describe the Cochrane Collaboration and to locate, with the greatest exhaustiveness possible, CCTs published in the journals "Enfermedades Infecciosas y Microbiología Clínica", describe their characteristics and include them in a global database of clinical trials maintained by the Cochrane Collaboration. METHODS: The CCTs were identified by systematic manual searches of all issues of the journal. A descriptive analysis of the CCTs located was made. RESULTS: A total of 24 CCTs were published in 15 years (1.6 per year), 10 were original articles and 14 were communications at congresses. All were done in Spain and the majority were done in hospitals. The most frequently researched question was antibiotic prophylaxis and all evaluated pharmaceutical interventions. The majority of the CCTs published had important information missing (phase of study, randomization, blinding, etc.). CONCLUSIONS: The identification of CCTs is a prerequisite for the development of systematic reviews. There were few clinical trials published in the 15 years of publication of this journal, and the most common characteristic is, clearly, the absence of basic data. The most common is a lack of on the phase of the clinical trial, the follow-up period, and funding sources. The idea of what experimental clinical investigation in infectious diseases is in our country needs to include the identification of CCTs published in other Spanish and international journals.

Bibliometrics↗
PubMed1999

[The identification and description of clinical trials published in Spanish journals of general and internal medicine during the period of 1971-1995].

BACKGROUND: When faced with a therapeutic issue, the practice of evidence-based medicine requires efficient access to information derived from controlled clinical trials. The objectives of the study were to locate, with the greatest possible exhaustivity, all controlled clinical trials published in Spanish journals of general medicine, between 1971 and 1995 (25 years), to characterize them, and to incorporate them into the worldwide database of clinical trials maintained by the Cochrane Collaboration. METHODS: The controlled clinical trials have been identified by a systematic, manual review of all the Spanish journals of general and internal medicine. The results obtained have been compared with an exclusive electronic search in MEDLINE. A descriptive analysis of the characteristics of the localized controlled clinical trials was done. RESULTS: 68 journals of general and internal medicine have been identified, only 6 being indexed in MEDLINE. A search carried out exclusively using MEDLINE would imply the loss of one third of all controlled clinical trials. About 16 controlled clinical trials per year have been published in Spain in the area of general and internal medicine, most of them with important missing information. CONCLUSIONS: The limitations of searching only in MEDLINE have been shown once again. There are few controlled clinical trials published in Spain in the area of general and internal medicine, and in order to improve their quality and their diffusion is recommended that authors and editors adhered to the international consensus initiatives that are under way.

Bibliometrics↗
PubMed1998

Balloon dilatation in the treatment of ureteral stenosis in kidney transplant recipients.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the usefulness of balloon percutaneous dilatation as a starting treatment technique of ureteral stenosis in kidney transplant recipients. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 472 kidney transplants have been performed at our center between August 1981 and January 1997. The coexistence of high creatinine values and urinary tract dilatation in the postoperative period, after discarding concomitant causes, was managed with a percutaneous nephrostomy. Once renal function had recovered, antegrade pyelography was performed to confirm ureteral stenosis and to determine its location. The dilatations are performed by means of 5-french balloon-fitted angioplasty catheters. RESULTS: Thirty patients were diagnosed with ureteral stenosis during follow-up, i.e. an incidence of 6.3%. Transluminal balloon dilatation was made as a first therapeutic option in 18 cases. No immediate complications were observed following dilatation. Disappearance of the stenosis as well as maintenance of the improvement in creatinine levels were verified in 39% of cases (7 patients). CONCLUSIONS: Ureteral stenosis in kidney transplant recipients should be included as part of the differential diagnosis when there is a deterioration in renal function. Balloon dilatation is the technique chosen as initial treatment of juxtavesical ureteral stenosis because of its good reproducibility and its low morbidity.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia. Experience in a second level hospital].

Bronchiolitis obliterans organizing pneumonia is a disease characterized by the presence of granulation tissue within small airways and areas of organizing pneumonia. Over the last three years two patients were studied. Its clinical spectrum, radiological presentations and spirometric findings are discussed. Response to treatment with steroids was favorable.

Aged↗