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Biomedical subjects

J Mateu

Publications and source records attributed to J Mateu.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Monitoring of antimicrobial therapy by an integrated computer program.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the impact of the setting-up of a computer program designed by the Hospital Pharmacy Department as a tool that provides information for the antimicrobial therapy monitoring. To assess its influence on pharmaceutical costs. MATERIAL AND METHOD: The computer application for the follow-up of antimicrobial treatments integrates information from the Pharmacy Department and the Microbiology Laboratory and selects all patients to whom some controlled antibiotic has been prescribed. The pharmacist reviews all the controlled antibiotic treatments, suggests any change to the physician if needed and quantifies the economic impact of the accepted interventions. RESULTS: On average, 12.5% of controlled antibiotic treatments warranted a pharmaceutical intervention, and 92% of them were accepted. The most frequent interventions related to prescriptions were change of dosage and administration route and related to the disease were in respiratory and urinary tract infections. From the economic point of view, the accepted interventions represented a saving of 12,087,029 pesetas (83,359 $)/year, on average. CONCLUSION: The applied computer program resulted a useful tool for a clinical pharmacist to reach more correct antibiotical therapeutics and better cost-effectiveness relation. It also helped to achieve favorable clinical outcomes.

Anti-Bacterial Agents

[Ornidazole in the treatment of liver dysfunction associated to long-term parenteral nutrition].

AIM: to reduction the TPN-related hepatic toxicity with an anaerobicidal therapy (ornidazole in our case). PATIENT: a 24-year-old male surgically treated for intestinal occlusion. He had been treated with abdominal radiotherapy for rabdomyosarcoma of embryonic urogenital sinus when he was five months old. It was found a great abdominal radiotherapy sequelae and occluded and perforated small-bowel loop that was resected. Postoperative time developed pelvic abscess and reoperation was performed. Severe intraabdominal inflammatory-adhesive process was noticed which included all the intestinal loops with multiple perforations. Attempts to release this situation was unsuccessful and several anastomoses, with some loop exclusions and a diverting loop jejunostomy were performed. In postoperative period he developed an enterocutaneous fistula and TPN was initiated. Higher and higher hepatic marker values were detected suggesting a progressive hepatotoxicity. METHODS: anaerobicidal agent (ornidazole) and cyclic total parenteral nutrition as a therapy design were prescribed. RESULTS: there were satisfactory showing a reduction in hepatic marker values (72.5% fall in alanine aminotransferase). CONCLUSIONS: bearing in mind that some theories suggest that total parenteral nutrition may cause atrophic changes in the gut mucosa so giving rise to bacterial translocation, this anaerobicidal treatment designed could be assumed effective for attenuating TPN-related liver damage.

Adult

Treatment of extravasation from parenteral nutrition solution.

OBJECTIVE: To report two cases of parenteral nutrition extravasation and their treatment in adult patients. CASE SUMMARIES: Case 1: A 23-year old white woman was admitted to our hospital diagnosed with a gastrointestinal infection by Salmonella paratyphi sv. B. The treatment included peripheral parenteral nutrition (osmolarity 652 mOsm/L). After 4 days an extravasation of parenteral nutrition was detected in the left antecubital fossa. The affected area soon became inflamed. Chondroitinsulfatase 150 turbidity-reducing units (TRUs), diluted in 3 mL of NaCl 0.9% and administered in six subcutaneous applications around the area, was prescribed. The treatment was successful. The patient was discharged several days later with no sequelae of the extravasation. Case 2: A 33-year-old white woman was admitted to the intensive care unit after surgery for a necrohemorrhagic pancreatitis. The treatment included parenteral nutrition via a central catheter (osmolarity 2130 mOsm/L). Two days later the patient presented a parenteral nutrition subcutaneous extravasation in her left hemithorax around the catheter access site. Chondroitinsulfatase 200 TRUs, diluted in 2 mL of NaCl 0.9% and administered in eight subcutaneous applications around the area, was prescribed. No sequelae of the incident remained. The patient was discharged home 2 months later. DISCUSSION: Parenteral nutrition solution can cause tissue harm after extravasation. Both patients presented an intense inflammatory reaction after the accident. Three treatments have been used in extravasation of parenteral nutrition, but in our patients hyaluronidase was the only applicable treatment. As this enzyme is not commercially available in Spain, chondroitinsulfatase, an enzyme very similar to hyaluronidase, was used. CONCLUSIONS: Chondroitinsulfatase was useful in treating extravasation of parenteral nutrition in two adult patients.

Adult

Methods of Assessing and Achieving Normality Applied to Environmental Data

/ It has been recognized for a long time that data transformation methods capable of achieving normality of distributions could have a crucial role in statistical analysis, especially towards an efficient application of techniques such as analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis. Normality is a basic assumption in many of the statistical methods used in the environmental sciences and is very often neglected. In this paper several techniques to test normality of distributions are proposed and analyzed. Confidence intervals and nonparametric tests are used and discussed. Basic and Box-Cox transformations are the suggested methods to achieve normal variables. Finally, we develop an application related to environmental data with atmospheric parameters and SO2 and particle concentrations. Results show that the analyzed transformations work well and are very useful to achieve normal distributions.KEY WORDS: Normal distribution; Kurtosis; Skewness; Confidence intervals; Box-Cox transformations; Nonparametric tests

Journal Article

Treatment of extravasation of both doxorubicin and vincristine administration in a Y-site infusion.

OBJECTIVE: To describe a patient treated with vincristine, doxorubicin, and dexamethasone who experienced extravasation of both doxorubicin and vincristine during a Y-site infusion. CASE SUMMARY: A 74-year-old white woman was diagnosed with multiple myeloma IgA kappa in stage IIA. One year after a complete remission she relapsed. Her treatment included daily doxorubicin 16 mg in 500 mL of dextrose 5% and vincristine 0.4 mg in 500 mL of dextrose 5% administered in a Y-site continuous infusion into a peripheral vein of her left forearm. Extravasation occurred during administration of these drugs. Immediately, chondroitinsulfatase, a mucopolysaccharidase similar to hyaluronidase, was administered subcutaneously around the extravasation area and repeated 24 hours later. Furthermore, dimethyl sulfoxide 90% v/v was applied topically on the area four times daily for 2 weeks. All inflammatory signs resolved and no necrosis developed. DISCUSSION: Ths is the first report of an extravasation of two cytotoxic drugs. Doxorubicin and vincristine have different antidotes and opposite physical treatments for their extravasation. The antidotes dimethyl sulfoxide and chondroitinsulfatase have different mechanisms of action, but both cause uptake of the cytotoxic agent from the tissue and are likely to be administered together. No warming or cooling was performed. CONCLUSIONS: Topical dimethyl sulfoxide four times daily for 14 days plus subcutaneous chondroitinsulfatase in one or two applications effectively treated an extravasation of both doxorubicin and vincristine in our patient.

Administration, Topical

Ifosfamide extravasation.

OBJECTIVE: To report a case in which a local reaction is attributed to an ifosfamide extravasation. Previously, extravasated ifosfamide has been considered a nonirritant. CASE SUMMARY: A 54-year-old woman with a non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in stage IV B developed a local reaction in her right arm after an ifosfamide extravasation. No pressure was prescribed, no bandaging was applied on the affected area, and the limb was elevated to the heart level. In addition, chondroitinsulfatase 150 turbidity-reducing units was administered subcutaneously around the area. This procedure was repeated 12 hours later, resulting in a satisfactory decrease in the inflammatory signs and pain. DISCUSSION: The local reaction in the patient's arm cannot be attributed to the hypertonicity of the infusing solution or to the vehicle of the infusate. The antidote used was chondroitinsulfatase, an enzyme similar to hyaluronidase. It enhances the systemic uptake of the drug from the tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Extravasated ifosfamide is a potential irritant. General measures applied after its extravasation can be potentiated strongly by local subcutaneous administration of chondroitinsulfatase or hyaluronidase, repeated if necessary.

Chondroitinsulfatases

[Notes apropos of cartilage grafts in secondary rhinoplasties according to Sheen's technique. Apropos of an analysis of 67 cases].

Between 1989 and 1992, eighty-one rhinoplasties included the addition of free autologous cartilage grafts, sixty-seven of which were secondary procedures. The aesthetic and respiratory results were assessed with at least one year of follow-up post-op for fifty four cases representing the true material of the study. This paper illustrates the advantages of septal cartilage graft versus conchal grafts, particularly for restitution of the dorsum of the nose. No "open rhinoplasty" procedure was necessary in this series. The authors conclude that "Sheen's" procedure using multiple isolated pockets in such cases is reliable if its basic rules are strictly applied and if one accepts that septal cartilage grafts must be preferred as far as possible.

Cartilage

[Histological typing of the breast by multifocal biopsies].

The current concept of high risk mastopathy was revolutionised by the work of Dupont and Page (1985), who demonstrated the importance of proliferative mastopathies in the assessment of the risk, particularly when they are associated with epidemiological factors. Based on these data, the Montpellier breast pathology study and research group (GERPAMM) developed on original method designed to define the precise histological profile of women considered to be at risk of breast cancer, despite the absence of any focal mammographic signs. This typing, consisting of a rigorous surgical protocol strictly complying with Page's histological definitions, was performed in women presenting a certain risk defined by clinical, cytological and radiological criteria (density and disseminated microcalcifications). This paper presents a preliminary review of 6 years' experience in 162 cases. The preliminary results confirm than many cases of atypical hyperplasia are not associated with a focal mammographic abnormality. However, in the absence of focal signs, certain types of disseminated microcalcifications with a morphological appearance suggestive of an intraductal origin, are significantly associated with high-risk histological signs. Histological typing is therefore useful to predict the cancer risk, to dedramatise cases without significant hyperplasia and to propose an adapted and justified approach to cases with a high histological risk.

Adult

[Covering of ischial pressure sores using a fasciocutaneous flap from the posterior surface of thigh (modified Griffith method) after mattressing with the biceps femoris. Apropos of 11 cases].

The ischial region is the commonest site for pressure sores in paraplegics capable of sitting. The choice of treatment must be guided by two imperatives: the need for a thick tissue cover (mattressing) and perfect trophicity, the risk of recurrence which always remains possible. The association of a modified Griffith fasciocutaneous flap from the posterior surface of the thigh and a hamstring muscle flap (preferably biceps femoris) providing mattressing of the ischial region, appears to satisfy these imperatives. The other repair procedures are discussed in order to ensure the best management of the paraplegic patient's cutaneous capital, due to the continual risk of a new pressure sore or a recurrence of the ischial pressure sore.

Adult

[Breast hypertrophy and dorsolumbar spine. Prognostic influences of lumbar lordosis: preliminary results].

In a prospective study, the influence of a mammary hypertrophy on some clinical and radiological parameters of the lumbar and dorsal spine had been studied in 14 women comparatively to 14 control women, before and after a reduction surgery. Clinically, the frequency of the lumbar pain was identical in the two groups of patients before surgical treatment but a significant decrease of the frequency and the intensity of the lumbar pain was found after the surgery in the mammary hypertrophic group (p less than 0.01). Some radiological parameters of lordosis and the dorsal kyphosis were significantly higher in mammary hypertrophic patients than in control patients. After surgery, an increase of parameters of lordosis was observed associated with a significant decrease of the dorsal kyphosis (p less than 0.05). Nevertheless, by use of a radiological classification of the lumbar lordosis with the Ferguson's indice, two main groups of lordosis had been distinguished. The intensity of the lumbar pain and the dorsal kyphosis were significantly higher in patients with a low indice than in those with an high indice. More, the dorsal kyphosis has decreased only in patients with a low anterior lumbar indice. In conclusion, a mammary hypertrophy must be searched in women with a lumbar pain and an surgical treatment may be proposed.

Adult

Chest wall reconstruction after full thickness resection: an experience with 22 patients.

The authors present their experience of chest wall reconstruction after full thickness resection in 22 patients. The patients are from a series of 80 patients treated by chest wall resection from 1967 to 1989. Whether performed on breasts still in place, for recurrent disease, or for radiation-induced lesions (which are often associated), the defect created by complete resection of the chest wall layers causes difficulties. Large cutaneous flaps, often including the opposite breast were used at the beginning of the series. Then came omentum associated to Mersilene mesh and myocutaneous flaps. The results, in terms of comfort and local control are acceptable, even though surgery is only palliative for cancer patients. We feel that full thickness chest wall resection is the only effective treatment for some primary and recurrent malignant tumors and for extensive thoracic radionecroses. Such procedures are designed to improve the patient's quality of life even if they do not actually prolong survival. The goals guiding the reconstruction programme are: (1) the restoration of a stable parietal rigidity; and (2) the reconstruction of long lasting superficial layers.

Adult