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Biomedical subjects

M Delgado Rodríguez

Publications and source records attributed to M Delgado Rodríguez.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Epidemiology of brucellosis in the Granada province (I). Occupational risks].

BACKGROUND: Brucellosis is a health problem in the Granada province. The major aim of the present study was to evaluate the professional risk to acquire brucellosis in Granada. METHODS: An epidemiologic study where the cases of brucellosis were found by active search was carried out. The study period was the year 1984. The patients (overall 804) were investigated in their residence area with a questionnaire where the major risk factors were considered. RESULTS: The disease was more common in males than in females (RR = 3); it had a significant tendency to increase with decreasing sizes of the urban nucleus (chi MH = 16.9, p less than 0.0001); and it had a significant relationship with the proportion of peasants and cattle workers in the region (r = 0.66, p less than 0.05). The professional group with the highest risk were veterinaries, in whom the disease was 31 times more common than in the rest of the population. CONCLUSIONS: Emphasis is made, in addition to other points, on the need to increase health education in the groups of more affected professionals.

Adolescent

Effect of penicillin and chloramphenicol on the growth and endotoxin release by N. meningitidis.

The action of two antibiotics, penicillin and chloramphenicol, on bacterial growth and endotoxin liberation was studied in 18 strains of Neissevia meningitidis isolated from blood and CSF of patients with meningococcal infections. The antibiotics were administered both separately and in combined form in doses equivalent to 1 MIC and 100 MIC. Penicillin was found to produce a faster and more intense bactericidal effect than chloramphenicol during the first hour, whereas at 12 h these differences were not significant. This could explain the initial worsening observed in some infected patients when large doses of penicillin are administered. An increased liberation of endotoxin after adding penicillin was observed in six of the strains studied, whereas the remaining 12 did not show significant increases. The six strains (belonging to serogroup B) were known to have an enhanced capacity for spontaneous endotoxin liberation.

Chloramphenicol

[The hospital stay as a modifier of the effect of other risk factors for hospital infection].

It has been suggested that the risk of hospital infection differs according to the moment of hospital stay. Through a retrospective cohort of 843 surgery patients the effect of several factors on nosocomial infection risk is studied as a function of the duration of the hospital stay. It was observed that the studied variables (operation, type of surgery, age and severity of underlying disease) had a predisposing effect on the appearance of infection in short stays (less than 14 days), being the effect greater in longer stays. It is concluded that hospital stay can act as a modifier of the effect of several factors on the risk of hospital infection.

Cross Infection

[Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus in the Spanish population (II). A meta-analysis of the time and geographic trends].

The aim of this research was to study the prevalence of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) among the Spanish population. Due to the lack of available data we have applied meta-analysis techniques. We analyzed 67 original publications on this field appeared between 1985 and 1989. The prevalence of the illness has progressively increased among the risk groups (ADVP, homosexuals, prostitutes, heterosexual transmission) but not in hemophilic patients. The geographical distribution showed statistically significant differences being Barcelona as the province with the area of highest prevalence of the infection in ADVP and homosexuals.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

[Infection by the human immunodeficiency virus among the Spanish population (I). Qualitative meta-analysis].

A meta-analysis of the original papers on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) published in Spain was performed to better know the characteristics of HIV infection in Spain. Between 1985 and 1989, 67 investigations fulfilled the inclusion criteria. They were evaluated by means of a quantified questionnaire. The mean quality of the investigations was 44.65 +/- 1.5%. A bias in the selection was highly probable in 80% of the studies, whereas a bias in information and in confusion was less frequent (35.8% and 77.6%, respectively). The investigations of more quality were those carried out recently at the University in collaboration with other Institutions and with participation of sanitary personnel published in microbiologic journals.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Prevalence of dental caries in school children of the province of Granada (Spain).

A sample of 3,347 students between 5 and 14 years of age was selected from the entire student population in the province of Granada (Spain) to study the prevalence of dental caries and several risk factors for the disease. Decay was ascertained in the study population by means of the following indices: df, DMF, and DMFS. Risk factors considered were the level of oral hygiene, number of between-meal sugar-containing food, and flouride concentration in drinking water. The indices mentioned showed a clear relationship to the age of the participants in the study. The level of oral hygiene did not show a clear association with dental caries measured through the df and DMF indices. Curiously, a higher correlation was noted between the disease in deciduous teeth and fluoride concentration than between the disease in permanent teeth and the latter factor.

Adolescent

[Life style and level of health education in housewives from a neighborhood of Granada].

In the present study some aspects of the health education level and life style of the housewives of a district of Granada were evaluated. The sample was randomly selected between the dwellings in that area. The participation rate was 60%. The survey was carried out by personal and direct interview by a female interviewer. The mean educational level was lower than high school in 97.5%. Mean age was 47 years. 13.3% of them were smokers, and 21.7% drank alcohol regularly. Only 44.1% of those in child bearing age used some contraceptive method; intrauterine devices were not used by anyone of them. Maternal lactation showed an increasing trend with age, but without statistical significance. 28.3% of women were unaware of the services of early diagnosis of genital cancer, and a similar rate ignored the preventive self-examination of the breast. The major conclusions of the study were that the educational level is directly related with the performance of beneficial health habits, and that the activities directed to health education should be promoted in the target population.

Adult

[Epidemiologic aspects of leprosy in the province of Jaen].

Jaen is the province with the greatest number of patients with lepra. This study analyzes the prevalence of the disease in Jaen during 1984 and 1985. At that time, all the patients known to the health and consume provincial delegation of Jaén were studied. The 305 patients included received a protocol aimed to study the different risk factors (age, clinical form, the people living together, socioeconomic standing, ethnic, etc ...). The disease shows to have a highly significant and special predilection in gypsies and it is located in a significant geographical area in the province. Lepra did not show a rural distribution, however it prevails in middle size urban nuclei. Although all patients belonged to a low social class, the disease did not show to exhibit any association among the ecology and the income per inhabitant.

Adolescent

[Prevalence of mental subnormality recorded in the province of Jaen].

It is done a cross-sectional study of the prevalence of mental retardation in the province of Jaén (Spain), based on the cumulated cases reported to the Institute of Social Services of the Social Security (INSERSO) until January 1, 1984. The main objective of this research is to know the prevalence of mental retardation in our province, and to analize its relationship with some sociodemographic variables. The prevalence obtained has been 4.09%, being a 59.27% of the prevalence due to endogenous/unexplained etiology. Mild subnormality constitutes a 8.4% of cases, being closely related with the size of the locality (municipio). Prevalence of mental subnormality showed a significative linear association with the size of the locality (r = -0.904, p less than 0.05), and with the population growth (r = -0.929, p less than 0.01). This relationship was not observed neither with the level of per capita income nor the altitude of the locality. A multiple regression analysis is made for every etiology of mental retardation and several social and geographic variables. We conclude that the figures for mental retardation in our province show a direct relationship with local development parameters.

Cross-Sectional Studies

[The use of incidence density in assessing the risk factors for nosocomial infection].

Several authors have suggested that incidence density should be used in studying nosocomial infection. We assess several risk factors for hospital infection by two ratios, the incidence density ratio (IDR) and the relative risk (RR), in an historical cohort of 843 patients. The variables analyzed were: operation, its length, type of surgical wound, severity of underlying disease, and age. The IDR figures were always lower than those yielded by the RR. For example, the IDR for operated patients was 2.78, whereas RR yielded a figure of 6.46, or the IDR for patients greater than 60 years old was 0.96, whereas the RR achieved a significant value of 1.67. This suggests that the use of IDR to analyze risk factors for nosocomial infection improves comparability of results obtained in different hospital settings. Also, it may allow a more exact quantification of an effect. These facts influence implementation of nosocomial infection control measures.

Age Factors

[Oral contraceptives and breast cancer: analysis of the statistical power of the association].

The power of the association between oral contraceptives and breast cancer was analysed in all the papers published up to date. Seventy-seven publications (from 44 studies) were collected and graded as to quality using meta-analytical methods. Power achieved a figure of greater than or equal to 0.8 in a 10.8% of the associations studied. It showed a significant relationship with the existence of a significant relative risk of the oral contraceptives for breast cancer. The relationship with the sample size of a study was not linear. Power did not show any significant relationship to other variables related to the design of a study (apart from matching, being the power higher in unmatched studies), or to the biases detected, although studies considered as unbiased yielded a higher power. Logistic regression analysis included as predictors of a power greater than or equal to 0.80 the existence of a significant relative risk and the lack of biases in a research.

Analysis of Variance

[Meta-analysis in epidemiology (1): the general characteristics].

In the present work the general characteristics, aims and applications of meta-analysis in public health are described. The general rules and the relevant steps for the development of this type of studies are considered. These points are illustrated with a number of real examples and the advantages and limitations of the different methodological options are commented.

Epidemiologic Methods

[Meta-analysis in epidemiology (2): quantitative methods].

The main goal of this paper is to offer an introduction to the quantitative methods of meta-analysis used in epidemiology/public health, emphasizing on the most widespread used. We give also a brief reference of the methods to recognize publication bias. The limitations and advantages of the methods commented on are discussed.

Bias

[Oral contraceptives and cancer of the cervix uteri. Analysis of the strength of the association].

The power of the association between oral contraceptives and cervical cancer was analysed in all the papers published up to date. Fifty-three publications (from 48 studies) wer collected and graded as to quality using meta-analytical methods. Power achieved a figure of greater than or equal to 0.8 in a 24% of the associations studied. It showed a significant relationship with the existence of a significant relative risk of the oral contraceptives for cervical cancer, with the quotient between sample sizes of reference and index groups, and with the sample size of a study, although the relationship was not linear to these two latter variables. Power did not show any significant relationship to other variables related to the design of a study, or to the biases detected. Logistic regression analysis included as predictors of a power greater than or equal to 0,80 the existence of a significant relative risk and the use of adjusted relative risk.

Carcinoma