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Biomedical subjects

J Matías-Guiu

Publications and source records attributed to J Matías-Guiu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

[Clinical features of migraine according to the questionnaire 'Alcoi-92' in the Comtat area].

INTRODUCTION: Headache is one of the commonest reasons for consultation and it might be useful to know its characteristics in order to determine which patients may need medical attention. OBJECTIVES: To carry out a randomized transverse study in a rural population using the validated questionnaire 'Alcoi-92', and to determine the clinical characteristics of the headaches detected. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A door to door survey was done by randomized selection of 790 persons aged over 18 and living in the Comarca del Comtat. A validated self-questionnaire was sent and this was followed by an interview with a doctor. RESULTS: Five hundred and forty-eight persons were interviewed. The standard prevalence of migraine is 19.6% with a sex incidence of 1:2.4 and an average age of 46.1 years. The average age of onset was 20.64 years. There were family histories of cerebrovascular accidents in 26.4% and of migraine in 57.1%. There were no differences in the use of toxic substances, of socio-economic status or of marital status. The commonest pre-existing pathology was arterial hypertension. The number of episodes of headache was one to seven per year in 50% of those with migraine, with an average duration of 4-24 hours, predominantly bilateral presentation and pulsatile in character with moderate repercussion in everyday activities. The commonest associated symptoms were photophobia and sonophobia. There were prodromal symptoms in 36.9%, most commonly confusion and photopsy. CONCLUSION: The questionnaire 'Alcoi-92' has been shown to be a useful tool for definition of the clinical characteristics of migraine.

Adolescent↗
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[Entacapone: is it useful as complimentary treatment with levodopa?].

Entacapone (Comtan) is a potent, selective inhibitor of peripheral catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) with therapeutic potential as an adjuvant to levodopa therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease. Entacapone decreases peripheral conversion of levodopa to 3-O-methyldopa increasing central extracellular levodopa and consequently striatal dopamine concentrations. At doses of 200 mg 2 to 10 times daily coadministered with levodopa/carbidopa or levodopa/benserazide entacapone may increase the duration of clinical response both after the first single dose and after repeated dosing in patients with end-of-dose fluctuations. At this dosage, it has a time to peak-plasma concentration of 1.2 hours and an elimination half life of 3.4 hours. In two multicentric, long-term (approximately 6 month), randomized and placebo-controlled studies, the duration of 'on' time was increased and the duration of 'off time' was decreased in patients who received adjunctive entacapone therapy. Moreover, patients randomized to entacapone reduced their levodopa requirements. In these and other phase III studies, entacapone was generally well tolerated, with few reported adverse events, mainly dyskinesias and gastrointestinal disorders. The dyskinesias were generally well controlled by decreasing the mean daily levodopa dose. Entacapone appears as a clinically significant and beneficial adjunct to levodopa therapy in Parkinson's disease patients with end-of-dose fluctuations.

Antiparkinson Agents↗
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[A descriptive study of migraine in a rural population of Area del Comtat].

INTRODUCTION: Headache is one of the commonest causes of consultation in neurology. There are many studies of the prevalence of migraine showing considerable variation in the results obtained. OBJECTIVES: To find the prevalence of migraine, with and without an aura, by means of a randomized transverse study carried out in a previously selected rural population, using the validated questionnaire 'Alcoi-92'. To find the overall prevalence of migraine, specifically regarding age and sex and adjusted for the European population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A door-to-door study was made by random selection of 790 persons aged over 18, in three towns in the comarca del Comtat, Alacant, Spain. A self-questionnaire was sent to all persons studies and subsequently they were seen by a medical interviewer. RESULTS: We interviewed 548 persons (overall response rate 78%). The average age was 52.5 +/- 19.3 years. Sex distribution of the population interviewed showed a predominance of females (52.9%) as compared to males (47.1%). According to the type of headache: other types of headache 62.32%, persons with no previous history of headache 20.07%, amplified migraine 16.6%, typical migraine 12.6%, cluster type migraine 0.18%. CONCLUSIONS: The overall prevalence of amplified migraine was 16.6%. According to diagnostic groups the frequency of migraine with aura was 2.9%, migraine without aura 9.7% and typical migraine 12.6%. A predominance of women was seen in all types of migraine. The frequency of migraine, adjusted for the European population was 19.6%. Prevalence during the past year, as a measure of activity of the disorder was 15.7%.

Catchment Area, Health↗
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[Are statins indicated in the prevention of cerebral infarct?].

INTRODUCTION: Some studies of ischemic cardiopathy have shown that when pravastatin is used for the prevention of strokes, these are reduced. Whilst we await suitable clinical trials, we discuss the possible role played by these drugs in this subgroup of patients. DEVELOPMENT: A panel of experts from different specialties assess the data published on dislipemias in the epidemiology of strokes, the possible effect of statins in the prevention of cerebral infarcts in patients with atheromatous stenosis of the carotid artery and their mode of action. CONCLUSIONS: Pravastatin is indicated in all patients with ictus of atheromatous origin as primary prevention of ischemic cardiopathy, in patients with strokes and hypercholesterolemia, and in patients with symptomatic or asymptomatic carotid stenosis while we wait for more specific clinical trials.

Anticholesteremic Agents↗
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[Hyperuricemia as a risk factor for cerebrovascular accident: a case-control study].

INTRODUCTION: Although several collateral studies have been made of the relationship between hyperuricemia and cerebral vascular accidents (CVA), no definite conclusion has been reached. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the possible relationship between hyperuricemia and CVA. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We studied the cases and controls paired for age, sex and hospital. They included patients with CVA (125) and controls (250 ophthalmological patients). Both groups contained 50.4% men and 49.6% women with an average age of 70 +/- 11 years. Data regarding vascular risk factors, a known personal history of hyperuricemia were recorded and serum uric acid levels determined in both groups. The relative risks were calculated using the Odds Ratio (OR) with a confidence interval of 95% (CI 95) and a conditional logistic regression study made. RESULTS: A statistically significant relationship was found between CVA and: arterial hypertension (OR: 6.32; CI 95: 3.43, 11.65); smoking (OR: 3.79; CI 95: 1.36, 10.58); alcoholism (OR: 2.54; CI 95: 1.11, 5.41); ischemic cardiopathy (OR: 2.37; CI 95: 1.2, 4.70) and previous CVA (OR: 5.93; CI 95: 3.17, 11.09). No relation was found with: a history of hyperuricemia (OR: 1.53; CI 95: 0.63, 3.73), serum uric acid levels (OR: 0.86, CI 95: 0.36, 2.00 when the uricemia was between 5 and 5.99 mg/dl and OR: 0.46, CI 95: 0.21, 1.02, when the uricemia was over 6 mg/dl). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that hyperuricemia is not an independent risk factor for CVA.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction in multiple sclerosis not caused solely by brain stem lesions].

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis (MS) can cause alterations in autonomic cardiovascular functioning. Some authors attribute these anomalies detected in MS patients to brain stem lesions, due to the fact that important autonomic nuclei are located in this region of the brain. Other studies, however, have been unable to prove such a relation. AIMS. The purpose of this study was to analyse whether these alterations had an exclusive relation with the brain stem lesions that usually appear in the course of this disease. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We compared the spectral analysis of the heart rate variability (SAHRV) in the frequency domain between a group of 34 patients with MS and another group of 14 patients with isolated brain stem lesions (IBSL) of a non inflammatory origin, which were measured using a 24 hour Holter recording. RESULTS: Heart rate, very low rates, low rates and the low rate/high rate quotient are significantly higher in the MS group than in the IBSL group, even when the former present brain stem lesions. Results in the high rate component, however, depend on the presence of brain stem lesions in the MS group. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that autonomic cardiovascular dysfunction in MS is only related with brain stem lesions, although we obtained results that confirm the importance of this area in cardiovascular innervation.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[A control and case study of multiple sclerosis in the Alicante and Villajoyosa areas].

INTRODUCTION: Three studies have been carried out in the area of Alcoy (Spain) which show an association between contact with dogs and multiple sclerosis. We present a control and case study conducted in a different geographical area, the area of Alicante. AIMS. To examine environmental factors linked with multiple sclerosis in the health care district of Alicante, and to compare findings with those from the health care district of Alcoy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A study of cases and controls was conducted with 47 patients, each of which was paired with four controls according to gender, age and place of residence. All the cases fulfilled criteria of defined multiple sclerosis. The controls were obtained from the Emergency and Casualty Services at different hospitals in the area. Each of the environmental factors studied was stratified by genders. RESULTS: A total of 47 patients and 188 controls were analysed. A statistically significant association was found between the disease and smoking, a low educational level, a social level 2 on the classification developed by Koch Henriksen, having had measles before the age of 15 and contact with dogs. The fact of being the third, or later, child in a family and a family history of cephalea were more frequent among controls than among cases. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple sclerosis in the Alicante area is related with contact with dogs, smoking, a low educational level, a high social level and measles before the age of 15. Since an association between contact with dogs and multiple sclerosis has been shown repeatedly in other previous studies conducted in the town of Alcoy, we are now in a position to state that this factor is indeed linked with the appearance of multiple sclerosis.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The epidemiology of multiples sclerosis in Alcoi. Analytical data].

INTRODUCTION: The epidemiology of multiple sclerosis (ME) in the Alcoi area has been studied by our groups for many years. When studying the factors linked to ME in this area initially we observed that migration, contact with dogs and the textile industry were associated with the disorder. A later study, in which the migration factor was controlled, still showed a significant association with contact with dogs and the textile industry. OBJECTIVE: To make an analytical study avoiding the possible confusing effect of contact with the textile industry, since this may be associated with other factors. We also compared the results of previous studies. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We made a case control study in which each case was paired with four controls for age, sex and having worked or not worked in the textile industry. The cases fulfilled the criteria for diagnosis of ME. The control patients came from the Emergency and Trauma Departments of Alcoi hospital. RESULTS. We analyzed 37 patients and 148 controls. Significant values were obtained for smoking, low social class, chickenpox and measles infections when aged under 15 years, pneumonia when aged over 15 years and contact with dogs, sheep and dissolvents. CONCLUSIONS: Contact with dogs was associated with multiple sclerosis in all the studies carried out in the Alcoi area to date. This is therefore a risk factor for the disorder in the Alcoi population.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Etiological and prognostic factors in the late onset epilepsy].

The etiological and prognostic factors of epilepsy starting in adulthood have been studied globally and especially in the case of that group of patients whose epilepsy begins after the age of 60. However, a specific study of patients whose epilepsy has begun after the age of 40 has not been made so far. In this report the above-mentioned factors are analysed in patients who were examined consecutively in our center between May 1986 and December 1990, all of whom had had their first epileptic attack after the age of 40. During this period 85 patients [55 (74.07%) women: 30 (35.3%) men: average age: 65.41 +/- 13.23] fit in to this category. The starting age was 61.6 +/- 13.5. The most frequent causes of the epileptic attacks were cerebrovascular accident (41%) and alcoholism (16%). In 1% of cases, the cause of the attacks could not be identified. Antecedents such as chronic alcoholism and tobacco addiction, were more frequent among the men (30.9% against 3.3% p: 0.014 and 49.1% against 0% p: 0.0000, respectively). The most frequent etiology in the age group comprised of patients between 40 and 50 years of age was alcohol and drug consumption. In the group of patients aged between 70 and 80, the most frequent finding in computerised cranial tomography was encephalic infarction. The factor linked to an unsatisfactory development of the epileptic process was nonobservance of therapeutical recommendations registered clinically as well as by means of the calculation of plasmatic levels of antiepileptic medicaments (p: 0.0000). Consumption of alcohol was the factor linked in a significant manner to the nonobservance of therapeutical recommendations (p: 0.0128).

Age Factors↗
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[An approach to hospital costs of cerebrovascular accidents].

Taking into account that stroke is an important health problem, we have carried out this study in order to know the hospital cost of stroke in our Community. We have revised all the 210 patients admitted to the Neurological Division of the Hospital Virgen de los Lirios de Alcoy between the 1st October 1990 and the 30th September 1992. The population of the area during this period was 133,915 inhabitants. The number of days staying in the hospital, the number of CT and IMR performed, the number of days that each patient was rehabilitated and the cost generated by all the ambulance transfers, were recorded. The total cost was 80,472,883 pts [hospital-stay: 73,735,200 pts (91.6%); CT: 3,922,000 pts (4.9%); IRM: 550,000 pts (0.7%); transfers: 982,492 pts (1.2%); rehabilitation: 1,283,191 pts (1.6%)]. This means a cost of 383,205 pts/patient, 220,474 pts/day and 1.7 pts/inhabitant/day.

Cerebrovascular Disorders↗
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[Stroke units].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Brain↗
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[A comparative study of mortality and infectious complications in patients admitted to neurological and general wards].

We analyse the outcome of patients with cerebral infarction depending the admission in neurological department or in general wards. We find an improvement of the changes in Toronto, Mathew and Barthel scales and a reduction in the mortality in patients admitted in Neurological department. The improvement is related with a reduction in infectious complications observed in the Neurological ward. Our data suggest that the place of the patient admission in the hospital may influence the prognosis of stroke patients and should be consider in patients with cerebrovascular disease.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Descriptive epidemiology of transitory ischemic attack: a study in Muro d'Alcoi].

A door-to-door survey of transient ischemic attack was conducted in Muro de Alcoi using a randomized sample. We randomly choose 646 people of the 4.525 included in the census. The prevalence ratio found for TIA and stroke were 12.3 per 1,000 people (95% CI 3.9-20.7). The age-specific prevalence rates for male and for women were 12.4 per 1,000 (95% CI 0.3-24.5) and 12.3 per 1,000 (95% CI 0.4-24.2) respectively. The work suggests that methodology of ascertainment strongly influences in the obtained rates, and reinforces the data of our previous whole population work in the same area.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Descriptive epidemiology of risk factors in cerebrovascular disorders:a study in Muro d'Alcoi].

We evaluated cerebrovascular risk factors and the values of cholesterol and triglicerides in the survey in Muro d'Alcoi using a door-to-door randomised interview. We found 14.9% hypertensives, 5.5% persons with diabetes, 1.2% with heart diseases and 42.1 persons with tabaccoism into the 646 persons evaluated. The Serum Cholesterol levels were high and we observed that 62% of males and 63.8% of females had values higher than 200 mg/dl. Our study showed that 24.8% of males and 12% of females presented values of triglicerides higher than 150 mg/dl. The data of risk factors were comparable with the findings described in Beniarres, Lorcha and Planes, located in the same healthy area.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[The prevalence rate for cardiovascular diseases antecedents in patients with migraine].

Throughout the many studies carried out on patients suffering from migraine, we find that a series of diseases or abnormalities with cardiovascular etiologies may be associated with the risk of migraine. In some studies published so far there is a greater prevalence of distinct cardiovascular diseases among those patients suffering from migraine. The shortage of case-control studies which might otherwise definitely establish a relationship between migraine and other cardiovascular diseases leads us to cautiously interpret the meaning of these associations. We studied family and personal history of cardiovascular disease in a group of patients with migraine, and we carried out a case-control study to try to establish the greatest risk of suffering from these diseases by our patients. We found that family antecedents of migraine with the next of kin was a risk factor for getting migraine and that Raynaud's disease was associated with a greater risk of suffering with this pathology.

Adult↗