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Biomedical subjects

P Rojo

Publications and source records attributed to P Rojo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Effectiveness of antiretroviral therapy in HIV-1 infected children. A cross-sectional study].

INTRODUCTION: There are few cross-sectional studies describing the current situation of HIV-1-infected children. Such studies would be useful to determine patients' clinical and immunologic and virologic status, currently prescribed therapies and their associated toxicity. OBJECTIVES: To perform a descriptive analysis of the clinical, immunological and virological status of HIV-1-infected children followed-up in the pediatric unit of a tertiary hospital and describe the current antiretroviral therapies used to treat them. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed. Data were collected from all HIV-1-infected children followed-up until January 2002 in a large pediatric referral hospital (Hospital 12 de Octubre in Madrid). Clinical evaluation and laboratory investigations were scheduled to be performed every 3 months. The most recent CD4 and plasma viral loads were evaluated. Viral loads were considered undetectable when there were less than 300 copies/ml at the last evaluation. RESULTS: Sixty-six HIV-1-infected children who were followed-up to January 2002 were analyzed. All the children acquired the infection through vertical transmission except one, in whom the mode of transmission was unknown. The median age was 111 months (18-216). Twenty children were category C. The median CD4 cell count was 953 cells/mm3 (276-3137), 28 % +/- 8 (12.42). One child was receiving no therapy, four were on combination therapy with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTI) and 61 were receiving highly active anti-retroviral therapy (HAART). Twenty-seven children (44 %) were receiving the first HAART regimen, 23 the second, and 11 had already been switched more than twice. Overall, 37 of the 61 patients receiving HAART had an undetectable plasma viral load. CONCLUSIONS: Most children in our study had gone through several antiretroviral regimens, although not all children were being treated with HAART. Fifty-six percent of the patients with HAART had an undetectable plasma viral load. However, new complications associated with this therapy have begun to appear.

Adolescent↗

19. Correlation between FDG PET data and EEG dipole modeling.

Purpose: FDG-PET images and EEG dipole modelling were used to localization of interictal epileptogenic foci. A multimodality approach with the analysis of FDG-PET images, EEG dipoles and anatomical images (MRI) were applied to patients with drug-resistant epilepsy.Methods: Source location was determined using Brain Electromagnetic Source Analysis (BESA) program. The dipole location provided by BESA was then transformed into PET co-ordinates using the patient's MRI previously registered with the PET image. As a difference with other methods, no external markers are necessary.Results: The study group includes ten drug-resistant epileptic patients. FDG hypometabolism was found in all patients. Abnormalities in glucose uptake were always ipsilateral to the EEG dipole. However, quantitative analysis of FDG-PET within hypometabolic areas showed no significant correlation between decrease glucose uptake and location of EEG-dipole source. The comparison of the results using both methods shows that the dipole location matches the FDG-PET hypometabolic area for all the patients. Combining the spatial localization on FDG-PET with the temporal accuracy of EEG dipole source aids in the exact localization of the epileptogenic focus.Conclusion: As a conclusion, the results show that projection of EEG dipole data onto FDG-PET may play a key role in the indication of surgery for the treatment of drug-resistant epileptic patients, provided it is simple and easy to perform.

Journal Article↗

Frontotemporal fasciocutaneous island flap for facial aesthetic subunit reconstruction.

The frontotemporal fasciocutaneous island flap is a useful source of tissue for correcting aesthetic units of the face. The quality of the tissue may be enhanced, and a successful color and texture match may be achieved. This flap is based on the temporal vessel system and its own fascia. Its provides excellent venous drainage and its pedicle length and arc of rotation may be increased. The donor scar is hidden under the hair-bearing area. The frontotemporal fasciocutaneous island flap was used in patients with inferior eyelid defects, for cheek reconstruction, for providing coverage of superior and inferior lip defects, for restoring the normal anatomy of columellar defects, and for reestablishing the contour of menton defects. The frontotemporal fasciocutaneous island flap was employed successfully in 9 patients at the Hospital Gea Gonzalez. The wide treatment possibilities for the reconstruction of aesthetic units in the face with the frontotemporal fasciocutaneous island flap are illustrated.

Adolescent↗

[Pleural effusion due to Listeria monocytogenes. A case report and review of the literature].

The infection caused by Listeria monocytogenes is a relatively common condition in immunosuppressed patients. The most frequent presentation in adults are sepsis and meningitis. Pleural fluid infection due to this pathogen is a rare finding in the literature. Most cases are found in immunosuppressed patients, particularly in those with haematologic malignancies. We report one case of pleural fluid infection due to Listeria monocytogenes in a patient with hepatic cirrhosis (the third case in the literature). We also review the seventeen cases previously reported and describe the clinical manifestations, its immunosuppression states relationship, the treatment of choice and the mortality.

Aged↗

Three different techniques for mandibular reconstruction after hemimandibulectomy.

Mandibular reconstruction is a condition in which both bone defect and function must be restored. A wide range of approaches--from grafts to distant bone flaps--have been used for correcting bony defects. However, adequate mastication has been restored in only a few cases. In this article the results of three different techniques for mandibular reconstruction after hemimandibulectomy were studied. Sixteen patients underwent a second mandibular reconstruction after hemimandibulectomy and were monitored at least 1 year. Three different techniques were used: (1) full-thickness galeoparietal bone flap (eight patients), (2) free iliac crest graft (three patients), and (3) free fibular grafts (five patients). Occlusion on the nonoperated side and the possibility and function of osseointegrated denture in the vascularized bone transfer were evaluated. The full-thickness galeoparietal flap and free iliac crest bone flap appeared to be good options. However, only acceptable or poor occlusion could be achieved on the normal side. The fibular free flap demonstrated good results and good occlusion. Nonetheless, dental implantation was difficult because a prosthesis for reaching the normal height of the mandible was necessary.

Adolescent↗

[Infectious endocarditis: prognostic factors of mortality in 131 cases].

BACKGROUND: Global hospital mortality for infective endocarditis ranges from 13 to 40%. AIM: To compare clinical, microbiological, echocardiographic factors and complications between patients that died during an episode of infective endocarditis and those who survived. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We followed during their hospital stay, 129 patients, aged 14 to 74 years old, who had 131 episodes of infective endocarditis. Clinical assessment, echocardiography and microbiological study was done to all patients. Surgical indications were those derived from complications. RESULTS: Thirty three patients died during hospital stay (25.2%). There were no differences between survivors and deceased patients in the lapse between onset of symptoms and hospital admission, presence of fever, dyspnea or heart murmurs. Skin and mucosal septic manifestations occurred with higher frequency in deceased patients (57.1 and 24.3% respectively). Blood cultures were positive in 55% in survivors and 48% in those who died. The most frequent infecting organisms were staphilococci and streptococci. Vegetations were found with greater frequency in aortic position in both groups of patients. Deceased patients had a higher frequency of cardiac failure (84 and 65% respectively) and embolic episodes (77 and 46% respectively) than survivors. Antimicrobial treatment was successful in 94% of survivors and 15% of those who died. Forty percent of survivors and 54% of deceased patients were subjected to surgical procedures. CONCLUSIONS: The most important predictor of hospital mortality in this series of patients with infective endocarditis was antimicrobial treatment failure.

Adolescent↗

Congenital facial palsy and crossed facial nerve grafts: age and outcome.

Crossed facial nerve grafts for treating unilateral permanent facial palsy in association with hemifacial microsomia were studied in 18 patients, ages ranging from 2 months to 10 years. Patients were divided into groups according to the age at the time of indication of surgery. It is concluded that crossed nerve grafting for facial palsy associated with hemifacial microsomia appears to be an adequate procedure especially when the surgery is indicated soon after birth.

Child↗

Overexpression of basal c-fos and c-jun but not of ras oncogenes after Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus infection of glial cells.

Constitutive expression of the cellular proto-oncogenes c-fos and c-jun, and in a lesser extent ras, was demonstrated in the glioma cell line C-6 by flow cytometry analysis using specific mono and polyclonal antibodies. Basal expression of the products of the early response genes c-fos and c-jun were increased 66 and 50% when Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV) infected these cells. No increase in ras transcription could be demonstrated after infection. This activation follows a kinetic reaching maximum values after 60 min and was proportional to the multiplicity of infection used. The described effect was completely abrogated by rabbit antibodies to TMEV but was not altered by normal rabbit serum. Furthermore, an intact infectious virion is needed to detect this effect. Fetal calf serum and lipopolysaccharide stimulation slightly increases c-fos and c-jun expression following a slower kinetics. Cytokine treatment (IL-1 alpha, IL-6, IFN-gamma and TNF alpha), did not induce oncogene over-expression. Therefore, this stimulation seems to be linked to the TMEV infectious process.

Animals↗

Recovery of facial palsy after crossed facial nerve grafts.

Crossed facial nerve grafts for treating congenital or acquired permanent facial palsy were studied in 23 patients, ages ranging from 2 months to 38 years. Patients were divided into groups according to time after onset of paralysis. It is concluded that although crossed facial nerve grafts offered the possibility of reinnervation after facial palsy, the degree of recovery was critically dependent upon the time after onset of the facial palsy before the reinnervation procedure.

Adolescent↗

Aesthetic treatment of Romberg's disease: experience with 35 cases.

Our experience with dermis-fat free flaps and conventional reconstructive procedures for 35 patients with Romberg's disease over a 7-year period is presented. The groin flap was used for increasing volume in 33 cases, the scapular flap in 3 cases, and 2 were treated with the latissimus dorsi free flap. To achieve better contour, secondary procedures such as defatting of the flap, pedicled temporal fascial flaps, cartilage and bone grafts, orthognathic surgery, and other conventional aesthetic procedures were performed in 32 patients. Excellent results were achieved in 9 mildly deformed patients, in 12 out of 16 moderately, and in 3 out of 10 severely affected patients. Four moderate and 5 severe cases were classified as good results. Poor results were achieved in 2 severe cases.

Adolescent↗

[Diagnosis of anaerobic infection of the pleural fluid using gas-liquid chromatography].

BACKGROUND: An assessment of the efficacy of the detection of volatile and non-volatile fatty acids that are produced by microorganisms aimed at the possible diagnosis of pleural empyema. METHODS: 106 pleural fluids were examined by gas-liquid chromatography in contrast to conventional aerobic and anaerobic cultures. The sample previously prepared (1 microliter) was injected in an Hewlett-Packard 5890 chromatograph, that was equipped with a fused silica capillary column and a flame ionization detector. RESULTS: Growth of aerobic or anaerobic microorganisms was obtained in 13 (12.3%) of the samples, and volatile or non-volatile fatty acids were detected in all of them (sensitivity = 1). No growth was obtained in the 93 samples, but volatile or non-volatile fatty acids were detected in 64 (68.8%) of them (specificity = 0.31). A positive predictive value of 0.17 and a negative predictive value of 1 were obtained. Growth of anaerobic microorganisms was obtained in 9 samples (8.5%) and volatile fatty acids were detected in all of them (sensitivity = 1). Anaerobic microorganisms did not grow in 97 samples, however volatile fatty acids were detected in 2 (2.1%) of them. A positive predictive value of 0.82 and a negative of 1 were obtained. CONCLUSIONS: Referring to pleural fluid samples, the detection of volatile and non-volatile fatty acids by gas-liquid chromatography is a highly sensitive method, that may be used to quickly reject negative samples in about 30 mins. Furthermore, when anaerobic microorganisms exist, the high specificity of gas-liquid chromatography will make it possible to confirm their presence in the sample, mainly if there is a clinical suspect of anaerobic infection. Thus, the utilization of this sensitive method may also change the therapeutic behaviour.

Bacteria, Aerobic↗

[Chronic granulomatous disease and pulmonary nocardiosis].

A 19-years-old male was admitted for left bilobar pneumonia. All microbiologic studies in blood and in several samples obtained by bronchoscopy were negative. The patient worsened progressively despite antibiotherapy of a wide spectrum. A fine needle transparietal puncture was performed. The cultures of the sample were positive for Nocardia asteroides, a positive catalase germ. Immunologic studies initiated after this time showed negative tetrazolium nitroblue test, the results of which led to the diagnosis of chronic granulomatous disease. This disease is very infrequent and the polymorphonuclear leukocytes are genetically incapable of producing peroxides whose absence impedes lysis of the positive phagocytic catalase germs with which a histologic reaction is produced in the form of granulomas from which the name of the disease is derived.

Adult↗

[Analysis of data from a database of patients submitted to cardiac catheterization].

77 variables with data from clinical, non invasive and invasive findings in 591 adult patients submitted to cardiac catheterization and/or coronary arteriography from 1988 to 1991 were analyzed. 51% had coronary arteriography for suspected coronary artery disease: 15% had no or insignificant disease and 8% had main left disease. Among 92 patients with valvular heart disease, coronary angiography ruled out coronary disease in 80%. In this group, 3 vessel disease was found only in patients older than 62 years of age and main left disease was rare. The etiology of valve disease was rheumatic in 72%. Congenital heart disease was the indication for invasive study in 8% of patients, atrial septal defect being the most common entity.

Adult↗