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Biomedical subjects

J Roig

Publications and source records attributed to J Roig.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis: infrequent form of aspergillosis].

BACKGROUND: Chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis (CNPA) is a chronic pulmonary infection caused by the genus Aspergillus, which usually involves moderately immunosuppressed patients. METHOD: We describe 3 patients with a toxic syndrome that had lasted several weeks or months, with lung infiltrates in the chest X-ray and the CT scan. Mycobacterium tuberculosis could not be isolated from different respiratory smears (sputum, bronchoaspiration, Barlett catheter and pulmonary punction in the third case). Moreover, there was no response to anaerobic treatment. RESULTS: All 3 patients were moderately immunosuppressed (2 men were COPD and the woman was an asthmatic patient). One of the men was being treated for a nocardiosis. In all three cases, A. fumigatus was isolated from de different respiratory smears. CONCLUSIONS: To diagnose a CPNA, a high degree of clinical suspicion is needed. The differential diagnose should be done with pulmonary tuberculosis and anaerobic infections. The presence of a member of the genus Aspergillus in the tracheobronchial secretions of a patient should not be systematically considered a saprofit, specially when other microorganisms can not be isolated.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Clinical features and ultrastructure of primary ciliary dyskinesia and Young syndrome].

A study was conducted of the clinical manifestations and ultrastructure in a series of seven patients with repeated pulmonary infections and infertility (3 cases with primary ciliary dyskinesia [PCD] and 4 with the young syndrome [YS]). Clinical and functional respiratory changes were more marked among cases of PCD. The seminogram showed azoospermia in cases with YS and hypospermia with marked hypomotility in cases with PCD. A nasal mucosa biopsy specimen was obtained from all patients to perform a transmission electron microscopy (EM) investigation. Patients with YS did not have pathognomonic ultrastructural changes, whereas patients with PCD had a large number of ciliary abnormalities (23.3% +/- 1.5%); 14% +/- 7% of them corresponded to nonspecific ciliary changes and the remaining abnormalities to congenital ciliary changes (ciliary disorientation in three cases, defective radial spokes in one case and microtubule transposition in one case). EM is a useful technique which is recommended for the differential diagnosis in this group of patients.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

[The development of verbal communication in aphasic patients treated by neuropsychological therapy].

OBJECTIVE: Based on the theories dealing with reorganization of the functional system, which are usually the basis of the treatment of aphasology, this paper has as its objective to analyse the evolution of the ability to communicate in a series of 43 right-handed persons with aphasia due to a cerebro-vascular accident of the left hemisphere, who attended sessions of neuropsychological treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The patients were grouped according to the type of aphasia initially diagnosed: global (G), Broca (B), conduction (C), anomia (A), transcortical motor (MT) and Wernicke (W). The output before and after treatment was evaluated using a scale from 0-6 points to grade the capacity of communication (comprehension-expression). In each group the 't' test was done to compare the average scores, initially and finally, both of comprehension and of expression. RESULTS: The results showed that group A had the most favourable course both of comprehension and of expression. Of the patients with a predominantly expression disorder, the best recovery was seen in groups C and MT. In group B verbal expression followed a very varied course. Those of G and W improved significantly, but great difficulty in communication persisted. Comparing expression in these two groups, those of W showed significantly more improvement than those of G, who showed very little improvement.

Aged↗
PubMed1996

Evaluation of the use of three different devices for nocturnal oxygen therapy in COPD patients.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether transtracheal catheter and reservoir nasal cannula contribute to maintaining adequate oxygen saturation during sleep, and to calculate the oxygen saving they allow compared to nasal prongs. DESIGN: A prospective study in which patients were randomly assigned to either nasal prongs or oxymizer device prior to transtracheal oxygen delivery. Arterial oxygen saturation was then monitored by a finger pulse oximeter during 8 h of sleep. SETTING: Pulmonary ward of 'The Hospital Universitari Germans Trias i Pujol, Badalona (Barcelona/Spain)'. PATIENTS: Fourteen stable hypoxemic (PaO2 50 +/- 6.9 mm Hg; PaCO2 51.5 +/- 9.3 mm Hg) COPD patients (FVC 44 +/- 19%; FEV1 26.5 +/- 11.5%; FEV1/FVC 44.9 +/- 9.7%) already receiving oxygen therapy at home. MEASUREMENTS: Pulmonary function test was performed. The lowest flow required to obtain an SaO2 at or above 88% for over 95% of the sleep time was determined for each type of oxygen delivery. Patients were not switched to the next type of oxygen delivery device until 3 reliable pulse oximetries had been obtained. The percentage of oxygen savings was calculated. Awake PaO2 was measured in patients using nasal prongs and transtracheal catheter while continuing to inspire oxygen at the same flow rate as when asleep. RESULTS: As expected, no differences were found in SaO2 measurements for the three types of oxygen delivery. Oxygen savings were 48.65% for the oxymizer device and 52.87% for the transtracheal catheter. Awake PaO2 was significantly higher (p < 0.04) in patients with nasal prongs than in those with transtracheal catheter at the flow rate required when asleep. CONCLUSIONS: The oxymizer device and transtracheal oxygen delivery benefit hypoxemic COPD patients reducing oxygen use during sleep by around 50%. Higher PaO2 levels were necessary to prevent nocturnal SaO2 decreases in patients with nasal prongs than in patients with transtracheal oxygen delivery. Oxygen-conserving devices are reliable and advisable methods for nocturnal oxygenation.

Aged↗
PubMed1995

[Transtracheal catheter and liquid oxygen: 5 years of experience].

We studied clinical tolerance, complications, change in pulmonary function test results, arterial gasometrics, hemoglobin (Hb), 6 minute stress tests (6 wt) and subjective perception of dyspnea assessed on a visual analog scale (VAS) in a group of 18 patients (17 with obstructive disease and one with restrictive disease). These patients had previously been enrolled in a home oxygen therapy (HOT) program to deliver continuous oxygen therapy through nasal prongs, and had accepted portable oxygen therapy delivered by transtracheal catheter (TTC) from 1988 until 1993. Tolerance was good, there were no lethal complications of TTC, and excellent compliance with the prescribed HOT was achieved. Lung function test results worsened, while Hb and PaO2 improved and significant oxygen savings (50%) were achieved. The 6 wt test results had not worsened at the end of the first year but did so significantly at the end of the third year, in spite of a relative preservation of lung function. Dyspnea assessed on a VAS was not seen to worsen. We conclude that tolerance of the method was good and that no relevant complications occurred. HOT by TTC did not prevent worsening of bronchial obstruction. Oxygenation of patients was better, as shown by the decrease in Hb and the improvement in PaO2 at the end of the first year of monitoring. Changes in 6 wt showed that in order to achieve greater benefit from HOT by TTC, patients should follow a pulmonary rehabilitation program.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Casein kinase 2 and protein substrates are released from rat liver cells nuclei by DNase or RNase digestion.

Casein kinase 2 was released from rat liver cells nuclei by digestion with DNase I plus RNase A. This treatment also released three major substrates of 50, 40-42, and 37 kDa. Casein kinase 2 and substrates were also extracted by DNase or RNase separately. However, in DNase extracts only the 37 kDa protein was phosphorylated by casein kinase 2, whereas in RNase extracts all three substrates were phosphorylated. When the DNase extracts were subsequently treated with RNase the 40-42 substrates were then phosphorylated, indicating that their interaction with RNA prevents their phosphorylation by casein kinase 2. The ratio of B: alpha subunits of casein kinase 2 present in the nuclease extracts was higher than that of the purified enzyme, which is assumed to be 1:1. A further analysis by sucrose gradient centrifugation revealed that under physiological salt conditions casein kinase 2 from nuclease extracts formed large aggregates (higher than 300 kDa) which were disrupted at 400 mM KCl. At the latter KCl concentration CK-2 activity was localized at a position corresponding to a M(r) of 230-250 kDa, which is still higher than the typical tetrameric form of the enzyme.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

A randomized trial comparing preoperative chemotherapy plus surgery with surgery alone in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of surgery for patients with non-small-cell lung cancer is limited, although recent studies suggest that preoperative chemotherapy may improve survival. We conducted a randomized trial to examine the possible benefit of preoperative chemotherapy and surgery for the treatment of patients with non-small-cell lung cancer. METHODS: We studied 60 patients (59 men and 1 woman) with stage IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer. The patients were randomly assigned to receive either surgery alone or three courses of chemotherapy (6 mg of mitomycin per square meter of body-surface area, 3 g of ifosfamide per square meter, and 50 mg of cisplatin per square meter) given intravenously at three-week intervals and followed by surgery. All patients received mediastinal radiation after surgery. The resected tumors were evaluated by means of K-ras oncogene analysis and flow cytometry. RESULTS: The median period of survival was 26 months in the patients treated with chemotherapy plus surgery, as compared with 8 months in the patients treated with surgery alone (P < 0.001); the median period of disease-free survival was 20 months in the former group, as compared with 5 months in the latter (P < 0.001). The rate of recurrence was 56 percent in the group treated with chemotherapy plus surgery and 74 percent in the group treated with surgery alone. The prevalence of mutated K-ras oncogenes was 15 percent among the patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy and 42 percent among those treated with surgery alone (P = 0.05). Most of the patients treated with chemotherapy plus surgery had tumors that consisted of diploid cells, whereas the patients treated with surgery alone had tumors with aneuploid cells. CONCLUSIONS: Preoperative chemotherapy increases the median survival in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Bronchial stump aspergillosis four years after lobectomy.

Bronchial stump aspergillosis (BSA) is an unusual entity. We report a case presenting hemoptysis four years after right upper lobe resection because of lung cancer. Simple removal of the silk suture is most likely the treatment of choice. No additional local or systemic antifungal therapy is needed.

Adult↗
PubMed1993

Treatment of Legionnaires' disease. Current recommendations.

Legionnaires' disease is a relatively common cause of community-acquired pneumonia and of some outbreaks of hospital-acquired pneumonia. Moreover, Legionella pneumophila is frequently involved in the aetiology of the subset of pneumonias that is characterised by severe clinical course and high mortality. No sure clinical, radiographical or analytical features are useful in differentiating Legionella infection from other aetiologies of pneumonia. On the basis of these data, a rational initial therapeutic approach to community-acquired pneumonia, as well as to nosocomial pneumonia in certain circumstances, has to include an antimicrobial agent that is clinically effective against Legionella spp. Clinical studies have provided evidence that erythromycin is the first-line treatment. An intravenous dosage of 1g every 6 hours as initial therapy will be effective in most cases. Parenteral treatment may be switched to oral administration only after clinical response is observed. In vitro susceptibilities and preliminary experimental and clinical results suggest that clarithromycin will most likely become the preferred treatment once an intravenous preparation is available worldwide. However, orally administered clarithromycin at the dosage of 500 mg every 12 hours may be recommended in those developing countries in which health systems cannot afford the costs of intravenous therapy. In the case of clinically severe illness or in seriously immunosuppressed hosts with confirmed legionellosis, a combined therapeutic approach is warranted. Rifampicin 600 mg every 12 hours intravenously or orally has to be added to the usual dosage of erythromycin. Other alternative therapies, but with less distinct clinical efficacy, that can be combined with erythromycin are doxycycline 100 mg every 12 hours intravenously or orally, and intravenous ciprofloxacin 200 mg every 6 hours.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1992

Pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis: report of a case and review of the literature.

We describe a case of pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis in a 60-year-old woman with a 1-year history of progressive exertional dyspnea. Four years before admission a diagnosis of breast cancer was made, and she underwent mastectomy plus radiation therapy and treatment with oral antiestrogens. The chest X-ray showed bilateral interstitial infiltrates. Pulmonary function studies revealed a severe restrictive pattern. Abundant red blood cells were found in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. On the basis of open lung biopsy, interstitial fibrosis was diagnosed. Cardiac catheterization revealed pulmonary hypertension. Steroids were prescribed, but the patient's condition continued to deteriorate and she died approximately 3 years after presentation. The identification of proliferating and invasive capillaries, which are unique to pulmonary capillary hemangiomatosis, led to the correct diagnosis at autopsy.

Biopsy↗
PubMed1992

Acute eosinophilic pneumonia due to toxocariasis with bronchoalveolar lavage findings.

A previously healthy young man presented with breathlessness, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates on the chest x-ray film, and a high degree of peripheral blood eosinophilia. Analysis of bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid showed 64 percent eosinophils. A diagnosis of toxocariasis was eventually reached on the basis of a positive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Toxocara canis. The routine performance of the ELISA test for Toxocara in the diagnostic approach to pulmonary infiltration with eosinophilia could reveal an undetermined, sometimes unsuspected, number of cases of adult toxocariasis with pulmonary involvement. A high degree of eosinophilia in the differential cell count of BAL fluid may eventually prove to be a useful clue in favor of such a diagnosis.

Acute Disease↗