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Biomedical subjects

J Tor

Publications and source records attributed to J Tor.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1991

[Kaposi's sarcoma with primary pulmonary involvement in a parenteral drug addict with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome].

Pulmonary Kaposi's sarcoma (KS) was diagnosed by pulmonary biopsy in a heterosexual parenteral drug abuser (PDA). The patient had previously been diagnosed of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia and pulmonary tuberculosis. Thoracic computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral nodular lesions which were less apparent in conventional radiological study and which increased in size in spite of correct therapy. As cutaneous lesions suggesting KS subsequently appeared, the possibility of pulmonary KS was considered and confirmed by open biopsy. The rarity of a primarily pulmonary presentation of KS in a PDA, the difficulty in diagnosis owing to concomitant infective diseases and the diagnostic value of thoracic CT for the diagnosis of pulmonary KS are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1991

[Immunoglobulin A and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 infection in parenteral drug abuse addicts].

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the usefulness of serum immunoglobulin A (IgA) as a prognostic marker of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) in parenteral drug abusers (PDA). METHODS: The serum IgA levels and HIV-1 antibodies were assessed in 374 PDAs admitted for infective diseases or for treatment of addiction. RESULTS: The prevalence of HIV infection was 70%; the frequency of serum IgA above the upper normal limit (440 mg/dl) was 8% in seronegative and 4% in seropositive subjects (NS). The IgA levels in the 274 seropositive subjects, classified for infective stages, were significantly higher in those fulfilling the criteria for acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS related complex (group IV) than in asymptomatic subjects (group II) or in those with generalized lymphadenopathy (group III) (p less than 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Serum IgA levels in PDAs with HIV infection may be a useful marker of progression to AIDS.

AIDS-Related Complex↗
PubMed1990

Sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus and its relation with hepatitis B virus and HIV.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the extent of transmission of hepatitis C virus in sexual partners of intravenous drug misusers and to examine the relation between the prevalences of HIV, hepatitis B virus, and hepatitis C virus infections in homosexual men and intravenous drug misusers and their sexual partners. DESIGN: Serum samples collected between 1984 and 1988 were tested for hepatitis B virus markers and antibodies against hepatitis C virus by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and for HIV antibody by enzyme immune analysis and western blotting. SETTING: Large referral university hospital with an external AIDS clinic in the metropolitan area of Barcelona, Spain. SUBJECTS: 243 Intravenous drug misusers, 143 of their regular heterosexual partners, and 105 homosexual men. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Prevalences of hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV infections. RESULTS: In all, 178 of the 243 (73%) intravenous drug misusers, 16 out of 143 (11%) of their partners, and 17 of the 105 (16%) homosexual men had antibodies against hepatitis C virus. The presence of hepatitis C virus infection was unrelated to sex, age, the presence of HIV or hepatitis B virus infections, or the Centers for Disease Control stage of HIV. In sexual partners of intravenous drug misusers there were strong correlations between the presence of hepatitis C virus infection and that of HIV (p = 0.001) and hepatitis B virus (p = 0.013) infections. CONCLUSIONS: Intravenous drug misusers have a high risk of acquiring hepatitis C virus, hepatitis B virus, and HIV infections, but the presence of hepatitis C virus infection seems to be unrelated to the presence of the other two viruses. Homosexual men have a high prevalence of HIV and hepatitis B virus infections with a low prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection, the presence of which is not related to that of the other two infections. Conversely, heterosexual partners of intravenous drug misusers have low prevalences of the three virus infections, but the presence of hepatitis C virus infection correlates significantly with the presence of HIV and hepatitis B infections. The rate of sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus seems to be low, even in partners of people known to be seropositive for this virus.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1990

[The evaluation of heterosexual transmission of the human immunodeficiency virus by nucleic acid amplification technics].

Heterosexual couples of individuals infected by HIV represent a group of high risk of virus infection. We have investigated the presence of fragments of the HIV genome with a new nucleic acid amplification technique (PCR or polymerase chain reaction) in lymphocytes from 33 seronegative couples with anti-HIV antibodies, most of which were heroin addicts. 12 of the 33 couples (36%) had positive PCR for a gag HIV amplimer in the absence of antibodies. 4 of them (12%) also showed reactivity for sequences from an env amplimer. A control group of 7 patients with AIDS and 4 seropositive couples showed reactivity to gag and env in all. It is concluded that silent HIV infection may frequently develop in heterosexual couples of infected individuals.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1990

HTLV-I in Spain.

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Aged↗
PubMed1990

[HTLV-I in patients from Barcelona with connective tissue diseases, neurologic demyelinating diseases and lymphoproliferative syndromes].

The presence of antibodies against HTLV-I was investigated with ELISA and Western blot techniques in 76 patients with lymphoproliferative syndromes (n = 53), idiopathic subacute myelopathies (n = 4), chronic T-lymphocytosis (n = 3) and collagen vascular diseases (n = 16) diagnosed in the Barcelona area. 9 HIV seropositive patients were included: 7 with lymphoma, 1 with chronic T-lymphocytosis and 1 with polymyositis. Although 3 samples were repeatedly positive with ELISA, none was confirmed with Western blot. These results suggest that in our country, contrasting with areas where HTLV-I infection is endemic, acute and chronic lymphoproliferative diseases, collagen vascular diseases and demyelinating neurologic diseases are not associated with HTLV-I infection. The development of lymphoma in patients seropositive for HIV also could not be related with HTLV-I infection.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Primary infection caused by human immunodeficiency virus: clinical and serologic aspects of 7 cases].

We report 7 individuals in whom HIV seroconversion developed, in 6 associated with symptoms and in one without any symptom at all. The most florid and sustained symptoms appeared in the oldest patients: a female and her heterosexual partner, who was a promiscuous male with recent seroconversion. A heroin abuser had oral muguet, and another had esophageal candidiasis. Rash was absent in all cases. Antigenemia was demonstrated in 6 of the 7 patients. In one case, a third generation ELISA was more sensitive than Western blot for the identification of seroconversion.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

[Comparative effectiveness of alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (clonidine-guanfacine) in the hospital detoxification of opiate addicts].

The usefulness of two alpha-2 adrenergic agonists (clonidine and guanfacine) and their comparative effectiveness were evaluated regarding the control of the opiates abstinence syndrome and the secondary effects, including development of cardiovascular abnormalities, in 88 parenteral heroin abusers admitted to two hospital units for the treatment of addiction. The patients were treated in a random, double blind fashion, with clonidine or guanfacine. In the study dosages, both drugs proved to be useful to control the abstinence syndrome. Nearly 70% of those treated with any of the two agonists were able to complete the treatment. When both drugs were compared, a higher degree of restlessness (p less than 0.01) was found among those treated with clonidine, although there were no differences in any other evaluated parameters to compare the degree of abstinence in each drug. The most commonly found side effects were orthostatism, lassitude, mental torpor and oral xerosis. These were independent of the drug used. There were no differences between both drugs regarding heart rate or blood pressure, although both parameters were significantly modified with the doses used in the study.

Adolescent↗