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Biomedical subjects

M Díaz

Publications and source records attributed to M Díaz.

At least 181 records · Page 10Linked to original sources
PubMedDate not supplied

Tolerance and short-term effect of a cluster schedule with pollen-extracts quantified in mass-units.

We performed a prospective, multicenter study to assess the tolerance and possible short-term effects of allergen vaccines administered according to a cluster schedule in the months immediately preceding the onset of the pollen season. The study was carried out in eight centers and included 191 patients (children and adults) with allergic respiratory disease due to sensitization to olive tree and/or grass pollen. Of these, 34 patients acted as controls and the remaining patients received immunotherapy administered in the initiation phase according to a cluster schedule of eight doses injected on four visits. After 3 months of treatment, significant differences were found between the two groups in medication consumption (antihistamines in drops and oral formulations: p = 0.045 and p = 0.001, respectively; short-acting beta2-agonist treatments: p = 0.004) and respiratory symptoms (wheezing and coughing: p = 0.035 and 0.014, respectively). The cytokine profile (interleukin [IL]-4, 5, 10 and 2, interferon [IFN-gamma], and tumor necrosis factor [TNF-alpha]) was determined before the start of treatment and at the end of follow-up (4-5 months). Levels of IL-4, 5 and 10 (Th2 profile) decreased while those of IL-2, IFN-gamma, and TNF-alpha (Th1 profile) decreased. These differences were more marked in the active group than in the control group but were not statistically significant. No severe adverse effects were recorded. This study shows that the schedule tested had an acceptable tolerance profile and produced significant changes in symptom and medication scores after a few months of treatment. A double-blind, placebo-controlled study is needed to confirm these results.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Clinical significance of pepsinogen C tumor expression in patients with stage D2 prostate carcinoma.

Pepsinogen C is an aspartyl protease mainly involved in the digestion of proteins in the stomach, and an androgen-inducible protein in breast cancer cells. The aims of this study were to evaluate the expression and clinical significance of this enzyme in the primary tumors of prostate cancer patients with bone metastasis who were scheduled to receive antiandrogenic therapy. This study was prospectively performed in 28 stage D2 prostate cancer patients who, after diagnosis, received maximum androgen blockade. Pepsinogen C tumor expression was analyzed in samples (24 from needle biopsy cylinders and four from transurethral resection specimens) from primary tumors using an immunohistochemical assay. Twelve prostate carcinomas (42.8%) were positive for pepsinogen C. Pepsinogen C was a significant prognostic factor to predict a longer overall survival in the patients of our study (p<0.01). Pepsinogen C can be a new prognostic factor and a useful biological marker of androgen dependency in prostate cancer.

Aged↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Dry powdered formoterol, twice a day versus aerosolized salbutamol, four times a day, in patients with stable asthma].

MATERIAL AND METHODS: The objective of this multicenter, open randomized study was to compare the effect of inhaled formoterol (dry powder with ISF system) 12 mcg twice daily versus salbutamol (200 mg qid) in patients with bronchial asthma. A total of 160 patients were evaluated with such diagnosis in four specialized centers; the main variable was the maximal respiratory flow (MEF) assessed prior to drug administration (morning and afternoon). In addition to this, vital capacity (VC), forced respiratory volume over one second (FEV-1), and other safety variables were also determined. RESULTS: With regard to MEF the administration of formoterol showed better results (P < 0.05) ever since the first month of treatment. The frequency of adverse events was similar between treatment groups; the formoterol group had fewer nightly wake up periods. CONCLUSIONS: That formoterol is a safe, efficacious and long-acting Beta 2 agonist which can be administered twice daily.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Knowledge, opinions, and practices regarding Aedes aegypti].

The active participation of the community is indispensable for reducing Aedes aegypti mosquito populations so causes leading to their growth, actions taken, effects on the health and the people in charge of controlling such mosquitoes are all dealt with in this paper. 210 persons were interviewed from June 25 to 27, 1997. The causes of the growth of the mosquito population were: excessive garbage (59%), dirty waters (58%), open water reservoirs (50%) and lack of fumigation (21%). 40% of interviewed people did not know that these vectors can breed even in clean waters. They mentioned some effects on the health due to the mosquito bites. 51% said that mosquitoes should be jointly controlled by the State and the community but 35% believed that the State should be the sole responsible for this task. These opinions may determine that steps are not properly taken to avoid proliferation of vector and that the activities of the anti-vector program are not really understood since they do not meet the expectations.

Adult↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Lower respiratory infections caused by beta hemolytic group A Streptococcus].

Three patients with beta-hemolytic group A streptococcal pneumonia were described. We emphasize the opportunistic pathogenic ability of the microorganism in the lower respiratory tract, and we describe the possible pathogenic mechanisms as well as the more frequent symptoms and complications.

Adolescent↗
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[Blood cholesterol and triglycerides in adolescents during sexual development].

Cholesterol and triglyceride Serum concentrations were studied in 152 normal adolescents (53 males and 99 females) at an adolescent's health center at Valparaíso, Chile. Total cholesterol serum levels ranged from 120 mg/dl (10th percentile) throughout 220 mg.dl (90th percentile) and 20.4% of values for blood cholesterol were above 200 mg/dl. Triglyceride serum concentrations ranged from 57 mg/dl (10th percentile) throughout 161 mg/dl (90th percentile) and 11.9% of samples triglyceride levels above 150 mg/dl. There was only a slight tendency of association between breast stages 4 and 5 according to Tanner and high cholesterol serum levels. There were positive relationships between cholesterol serum levels and body mass index (p < 0.001) and also with family history of coronary heart disease (p < 0.02).

Adolescent↗
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[Exposure to risk factors of Chilean children according to life status of the community of residence].

An instrument based in ten family health and well being indicators is presented to classify 334 counties in Chile. The Factors' or Vectors' Analysis (included in the S.A.S. packages of computational programs) has been used to assess the main associations among the indicators. In this case two vectors or factors represent 66% of the total variance. The results can be presented in three complementary ways. The first is "Z" score of each of the two factors that were built using either socio-economical or bio-medical variables; i.e. factor "SEC" (Socio-economical) and factor "BIO" (Bio-medical). These results can be represented in graphical coordinates. The second way is Suma Scale, which is built by adding the product of each of the ten regression coefficients--representing the association between the variables in the 334 counties--multiplied by the specific value of each variable in each county. It is postulated that the ranking obtained by this scale indicates the growing vulnerability of the counties. This scale does not include the measure of the amount of population at risk in each country. The third way is Percentage Scale. This scale considers the amount of children affected.

Child↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Seroepidemiological study of human hydatidosis, by means of an indirect hemagglutination test in Rio Negro County, X Region, Chile, 1989-1990].

Rio Negro Country (40 degrees 48'-40 degrees 50' South lat.; 73 degrees 12'-73 degrees 13' West long.), is located in the province of Osorno, South of Chile. It has a population of 18,031 inhabitants, with 39% in rural areas. The basic economic activity is cattle raising (cows, pigs). According to reports, prevalence of human hydatidosis in 1988 was 11.1 per 100,000. In order to contribute to a better knowledge of human hydatidosis in Rio Negro County, an indirect hemagglutination test (IHAT) was performed to 509 randomized persons. Five (1.0%) individuals resulted positive.

Adolescent↗
PubMedDate not supplied

[Distribution of birth weight for each gestational age in Chile].

Distribution of birth weight for gestational age was studied in 97.75% of all live births from Chile, 1986. Parity effect on median birth weight was assessed using specific statistical techniques and permitted to determine two parity categories. Differences in mean birth weight values according to sex and parity groups confirmed the former results allowing to present birth weight for gestational age distributions in four groups. Percentile distributions of birth weight for gestational age values were smoothed and showed an excess of premature births in the 90th and 95th percentiles in all groups. Values of the 50th and 10th percentiles were higher than the Denver standard but lower than recent local clinical studies. Availability of these data permits to study the combined effect of birth weight and gestational age on neonatal mortality and to estimate desirable intrauterine growth.

Birth Weight↗