Biomedical subjects

Julio Ancochea

Publications and source records attributed to Julio Ancochea.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

[Efficiency of the home intravenous antibiotics treatment in cystic fibrosis].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The objective of our study was to determine the costs saving with the implementing of a home intravenous antibiotic treatment (HIVAT) program for patients with cystic fibrosis and to compare it with the conventional system (inpatient). PATIENTS AND METHOD: Consecutive patients in an adults cystic fibrosis unit were selected who received some days of HIVAT, between January 2002 and December 2004. For the analysis of costs saving of the HIVAT, we used the difference between the total costs of the avoided stay days and the costs generated by the domiciliary therapy (drugs, expendable equipment) and by the ambulatory medicine unit in case the patients were not hospitalized. All patients received a therapy with an intravenous antibiotic for a minimum of 14 days. All these data were provided by the accounting service of the hospital with the aid management Clinical Financier Program (GECLIF). RESULTS: 22 patients with cystic fibrosis needed 85 intravenous antibiotics treatments during the 3 years of the study, of which: 43 cycles were completely domiciliary, 14 inpatient and 28 were combined (hospital and home). The 71 cycles of HIVAT originated 909 days at home, with an average (standard deviation) of 12.80 (4.18) days and 43 treatments in ambulatory medicine unit. The home antibiotic treatments that originated greater cost (3,964.34 Euro) was meropenem (1 g/6 h) i.v. with linezolid (600 mg/12 h) via oral combination during 14 days, and in second place the association of ceftazidime, tobramycine and linezolid, whose cost in cycle of 14 days was of 2464.84 Euro. The average saving cost in the 3 years of study was of 2,647.29 Euro by each cycle of HIVAT and global 197,689.78 Euro. CONCLUSIONS: HIVAT obtained important sanitary costs saving and this was greater every year, not due to the increase of days at home, but due to the rising cost per day of hospital stays every new year.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

[Protocol for prevention and treatment of osteoporosis in patients with cystic fibrosis].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Reduction of bone mineral density (BMD) is a complication of cystic fibrosis (CF) which is observed in parallel to the increment of life expectancy in these patients. The aim of this study was to analyze the evolution of BMD following the application of a protocol for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We performed a multidisciplinary prospective study in 21 adult patients with CF with a mean age of 24.3 (r: 19-44) years. We evaluated BMD results depending on the treatment schedule, and the annual relative change of BMD percentage was correlated with changes observed in respiratory function, corporal mass index (CMI), Brasfield radiologic score and Shwachman clinical score for a 3 years follow up period. Three regimens of treatment were applied: general measurements, supplementation of calcium and vitamin D, and 10 daily mg of alendronate plus calcium and vitamin D supplements. RESULTS: Basal assessment showed that 14.2% of CF patients had a marked diminution of bone mass with respect to an age and sex matched control population, with a Z score of < -2 DE in lumbar vertebral and/or total femur. Another 38% showed a lessening of Z score between -1 and -2.5 DE. We observed a progressive annual reduction of BMD in all the anatomic areas analyzed: -0.52% (1.87) in lumbar spine, -1.17% (1.91) in total femur and -2.16% (2.65) in neck femur. The hip BMD annual decrement was related to that observed in FEV1. Only patients treated with alendronate did not suffer progressive BMD lose. Treatment with a combination of calcium, vitamin D and alendronate was more efficient in hip BMD than calcium plus vitamin D alone (p < 0.05). Also, this combination was better than no treatment at hip and femoral neck levels (p < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Our work confirms that Spanish young adults patients with CF show low control matched BMD, and that it even worsens at follow-up. This decrement is not adequately halted with preventive treatment with supplements of calcium and vitamin D, and only patients treated with alendronate show increments of their BMD.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Dendritic cell-specific intercellular adhesion molecule 3-grabbing nonintegrin mediates binding and internalization of Aspergillus fumigatus conidia by dendritic cells and macrophages.

Aspergillus fumigatus is responsible for a large percentage of nosocomial opportunistic fungal infections in immunocompromised hosts, especially during cytotoxic chemotherapy and after bone marrow transplantation, and is currently a major direct cause of death in leukemia patients. Dendritic cell-specific ICAM-3-grabbing nonintegrin (DC-SIGN) is a type II C-type lectin that functions as an adhesion receptor and is used by viral and bacterial pathogens to gain access to human DC. We report that DC-SIGN specifically interacts with clinical isolates of A. fumigatus. DC-SIGN-dependent binding of A. fumigatus conidia can be demonstrated with stable transfectants and monocyte-derived DC and is inhibited by anti-DC-SIGN Abs. Binding and internalization of A. fumigatus conidia correlates with DC-SIGN cell surface expression levels and is abolished in the presence of A. fumigatus-derived cell wall galactomannans. The clinical relevance of this interaction is emphasized by the presence of DC-SIGN in lung DC and alveolar macrophages, and further illustrated by the DC-SIGN-dependent attachment of A. fumigatus conidia to the cell membrane of IL-4-treated monocyte-derived macrophages. Our results suggest the involvement of DC-SIGN in the initial stages of pulmonary infection as well as in fungal spreading during invasive aspergillosis.

Antigens, CD↗

PubMed2004

[A study of bone mineral density in adult patients with cystic fibrosis].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Due to recent medical advances, patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) can expect longer survival rates and, as a result, face previously unreported complications such as osteoporosis. Our goal was to determine the mineral bone density in young adult patients with CF attended in the adult CF Unit, and correlate these findings with other clinical variables of interest in this patient population. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We carried out a transversal study from 1999 to 2002 of 34 patients with CF (19 males and 15 females. Mean age 23 years). Upon enrollment in the study, patient gender and age were recorded along with Schwachman and Brasfield scores, pulmonary function test results (spirometry) and sputum analysis, phosphorus and calcium balance, vitamin D intake, and dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) findings of the spinal column (L2-L4) and femur. RESULTS: 54.5% of all study patients were found to have an abnormal mineral bone density. Fifteen patients met criteria for osteopenia and 3 for osteoporosis. Age, treatment with inhaled corticosteroids, and pulmonary function test results correlated with bone density. CONCLUSIONS: DEXA scans should be performed in young adults with CF at least once during the course of their illness on the basis of the high prevalence of mineral bone density abnormalities in this population.

Absorptiometry, Photon↗

PubMed2004

[Home intravenous antibiotic treatments in cystic fibrosis units of Madrid].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: A descriptive study of the home intravenous antibiotic treatment (HIVAT) course in cystic fibrosis (CF) units of Madrid in an 18 month period. Different patient features were recorded, antibiotherapy, intravenous access, complications and their resolutions. We accessed the improvement of the pulmonary function, forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) at the end of the treatment. PATIENTS AND METHOD: For an 18 months period (January 2002-June 2003) the patients with CF who received HIVAT and fulfilled the previously fixed criteria were included. The next clinic variables were collected: age, sex, bacterial colonization of respiratory tree, pancreatic function and pulmonary function in steady phase, before and after HIAT. RESULTS: 56 patients, 31 male and 25 female, were given 90 courses of HIAT (34 patients received only one course). Mean age was 20.06 (8.07) years. 57.1% of the patients were colonized by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The most frequently used antibiotics were ceftazidime and tobramycin. Courses of treatment lasted a mean of 4.08 (5.09) days inpatient and 11.89 (4.96) at home. In 87.7% of the course were used the intravenous cannulae, Port-a-cath in 6.7% and Venocath in 7.8%. The intravenous access was replaced, in the 64.4% of the cases, by the nurse of the CF Unit, in the 21.4% in the emergency room of the nearest hospital and in 11.9% in primary care center. Three occasions skin reactions were reported. The parameters of pulmonary function improved significatively after HIVAT. CONCLUSIONS: The HIVAT is a therapeutic option that, following predetermined inclusion criteria, has a low complication rate and improves pulmonary function.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2004

Report on the incidence of interstitial lung diseases in Spain.

BACKGROUND AND AIM OF THE WORK: Almost no epidemiological data are available on a worldwide basis on the prevalence, incidence or relative frequency of interstitial lung diseases (ILD). We report the results of a registration of ILD by 23 centers of pulmonary medicine in Spain over one year (from October 2000 to September 2001). METHODS: A standardized questionnaire was sent to the centers, together with guidelines for classification and diagnostic evaluation. This questionnaire included questions about the explorations performed to establish the diagnosis. RESULTS: A total of 511 cases were registered. The mean age of the patients was 61 +/- 0.7 (x +/- SEM) yrs. The male to female ratio was 1.2:1. The estimated incidence of ILD was 7.6 per 100,000/year. The most frequent disease was idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (38.6%), followed in decreasing order by sarcoidosis (14.9%), cryptogenic organizing pneumonia (10.4%), ILD associated with collagen vascular diseases (9.9%) and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (6.6%). In 5.1% of cases ILD was unclassified. HRCT scan was performed in 91.9% of cases, bronchoalveolar lavage in 67.9%, transbronchial lung biopsy in 59.9%, and surgical lung biopsy in 22.7%. CONCLUSIONS: This registration provides interesting information on the occurrence of ILD in Spain and on the procedures used to establish the diagnosis.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

[Clinical characteristics of the fatal and near-fatal asthma in Alternaria alternata sensitized patients].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Some studies have pointed to Alternaria alternata as a trigger of fatal and near-fatal asthma (NFA) crises. The objective of this study was to determine the clinical characteristics of fatal and NFA crisis in patients sensitized to Alternaria. PATIENTS AND METHOD: One hundred ninety four patients with fatal or NFA attacks were enrolled in a multicenter (33 Spanish hospitals), prospective study. We gathered the characteristics and clinical course of the crises. We performed the following tests: spirometry, prick-test to common allergens, and specific IgE to Alternaria when patients were in stable condition. The sensitization test to Alternaria was performed when the prick-test and/or specific IgE levels were positive. RESULTS: Twenty (10%) patients were sensitized to Alternaria. When compared to non-sensitized patients, Alternaria sensitized patients were significantly younger, 35 (15) vs 50 (21) years old (p<0.001); their hospital admission length was shorter, 6.5 (5.5) against 9 (7) days (p=0.039); they had a higher number of deaths or severe neurological sequelae, 15 vs 3% (p=0.026); they had a higher sensitization frequency to the remaining allergens, 68 against 22% (p=0.003); and they exhibited a fewer bronchodilation response upon inhaled salbutamol, 6 vs 10% (p=0.013). CONCLUSIONS: The clinical characteristics of Alternaria sensitised, fatal-and NFA-patients, seem to identify a particular phenotype. Specific avoidance strategies could be useful to prevent fatal and NFA attacks.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2003

Transforming growth factor-beta1 gene polymorphisms are associated with disease progression in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1) is a cytokine that plays a key role in the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. There have been reports on the presence of two genetic polymorphisms in the DNA sequence encoding the leader sequence of the TGF-beta1 protein, located in codons 10 and 25. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms in codons 10 and 25 and the susceptibility to idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and the progression of the disease. Compared with healthy control subjects (n = 140), patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (n = 128) showed no significant deviations in genotype or allele frequencies. One hundred and ten patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis were followed up for 30.3 +/- 25 months. The presence of a proline allele at codon 10 was independently associated with a significant increase in alveolar arterial oxygen tension difference during follow-up, after controlling for the effect of treatment (coefficient = 0.59; 95% confidence intervals, 0.23 to 0.96; p = 0.002). These findings suggest that (1) TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms in codons 10 and 25 do not predispose to the development of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis; and (2) TGF-beta1 gene polymorphisms may affect disease progression in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis.

Adult↗