Biomedical subjects

R Claro

Publications and source records attributed to R Claro.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2004

A comparative study of the disc diffusion method with the broth microdilution and Etest methods for voriconazole susceptibility testing of Aspergillus spp.

OBJECTIVE: The activity of voriconazole against Aspergillus spp. (n = 77) was tested by the Etest, disc diffusion and the NCCLS M38-A methods. METHODS: Four Rhizomucor spp. isolates were included to study the suitability of the three susceptibility testing methods to detect isolates resistant to voriconazole. The disc diffusion method performed on Mueller-Hinton agar (Difco) supplemented with 2% glucose and Methylene Blue (0.5 mg/L) gave zone diameters with very clear border edges. RESULTS: The disc diffusion method showed excellent correlation with the Etest and the NCCLS methods. CONCLUSION: On the basis of our results, it appears that the disc diffusion test is a useful method for testing the activity of voriconazole against Aspergillus spp.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed2004

[Determination of hepatitis B virus genotype and detection of lamivudine-resistance mutations].

OBJECTIVES: To determine hepatitis B virus (HBV) genotypes in southern Seville (Spain) and investigate the development of lamivudine-resistance mutations by using a hybridization technique with specific probes and by comparing the results with those of the direct sequencing technique. To evaluate the temporal relationship between variations in the level of HBV-DNA and detection of mutant variants. To analyze the influence of several genotypes on the pattern of mutations developed and on values of viral load and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) after their development. PATIENTS AND METHOD: In 37 patients with chronic HBV infection, HBV genotype was determined using the LiPA technique. In 10 of these patients undergoing lamivudine treatment for a mean of 19.2 months, the development of lamivudine-resistant mutations was investigated. In these 10 patients, the LiPA technique was compared with direct sequencing. During lamivudine treatment, we determined HBV-DNA by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and ALT every 3-6 months. RESULTS: The most frequent genotypes were D (45.9%) and A (18.9%); 2 patients were genotype B while 18.9% had mixed genotypes. Sequencing showed identical results except in one mixed genotype. Mutations were found in 60% of the cases. The results of sequencing were in agreement, except in the detection of mixed populations composed of mutants and wild-type (WT). Patients with genotype A showed the pattern M204I+WT in the first 12 months and those with genotype D showed the pattern L180M+M204V with or without WT at 18 months. In 5/6 cases, an increase of > 1 log10 in HBV-DNA was observed 3-8 months before the mutation was detected by LiPA. In patients with genotype B, levels of HBV-DNA and ALT after the development of mutations was lower than basal levels and was also lower than those in patients with genotypes A and D. CONCLUSIONS: The LiPA technique for determination of HBV genotype and detection of lamivudine-resistance mutations shows excellent correlation with the most complex sequencing technique. Genotype D predominates in southern Seville. During lamivudine treatment, an increase in the level of HBV-DNA detected by PCR predicts the development of mutations before these are demonstrated by LiPA.

Adult↗

PubMed2003

Comparison of Etest with modified broth microdilution method for testing susceptibility of Aspergillus spp. to voriconazole.

We compared the Etest with a broth microdilution method, performed according to a modified National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards guideline (M38-A), for determining the in vitro susceptibility of 77 isolates of Aspergillus spp. (26 A. fumigatus, 21 A. flavus, 10 A. terreus, 9 A. niger, 5 A. nidulellus, 4 A. glaucus, and 2 A. flavipes isolates). Overall, there was 92.2% agreement between both methods when Etest MICs were read at 24 h and 83.1% agreement when both methods were read at 48 h. When Etest MICs were read at 24 h, the agreement was >90% for all species tested except for A. fumigatus (84.6%). When Etest MICs were read at 48 h, the agreement ranged from 50 to 100%. The poorest agreement was seen with A. glaucus (50%) and A. fumigatus (65%). Where a discrepancy was observed between Etest and the reference method, the Etest MIC was generally higher. The Etest appears to be a suitable alternative procedure for testing the susceptibility of Aspergillus spp. to voriconazole.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed2000

[Incidence of genitourinary infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis in a STD center calculated by direct antigen detection].

OBJECTIVE: Chlamydia trachomatis is one of the most common sexually transmitted agents which causes a wide spectrum of diseases including urethritis in men and endocervicitis in women. We analyzed patients with genitourinary C. trachomatis infections evaluating risk factors and the association with other sexually transmitted infections. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We processed 1,180 specimens from 913 patients (772 women and 141 men), attended at a Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) Center. The diagnostic of C. trachomatis infection was made by an enzyme-linked fluorescent immunoassay, Vidas Chlamydia test (bioMérieux). RESULTS: The incidence of C. trachomatis infection was 4.8% (57 cases) and was higher in women (70.1%) than in men (29.8%). The risk groups observed were: 26 prostitute, 7 contact with prostitute or risk partner, 5 homosexual, 5 promiscuous heterosexual and 14 without risk groups. Associated with this infection we observed other: 10 bacterial vaginosis, 8 Papillomavirus infection, 3 Trichomonas vaginalis infections, 2 Neisseria gonorrhoeae infections and 2 Candidiasis. The 53.4% of these patients didn't have any symptomatology at the consult moment. CONCLUSIONS: The control of patients with risk factors is important for the diagnostic of C. trachomatis and other sexually transmitted infections, because most of them were prostitutes and asymptomatic. Within men, homosexuality, contact with prostitute or risk partner were the practices with higher risk.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

PubMed1999

Diet and gastric cancer in Portugal--a multivariate model.

Diet and gastric cancer mortality in Portugal was studied using a multivariate ecological model. The factors investigated over 18 districts were the relationship between gastric cancer mortality (1994-96), dietary habits, and socio-economic factors (1980-81). Mortality geographical pattern was established using age-standardized mortality rates, per capita dietary consumption of foodstuffs and nutrients was obtained from the National Alimentary Survey (1980-81), and data on socio-economic factors from the 1981 National Census. Pearson correlation coefficients and simple and multiple linear regression models were used. The mortality geographical pattern resembled a north-south gradient, and dietary habits and socio-economic factors had great variability throughout the country. The highest negative correlation coefficients between dietary consumption and gastric cancer mortality were obtained for vegetables, fruit, vitamin A and carotene consumption, and the highest positive coefficients were for rice, wine and carbohydrate consumption. No significant correlations were obtained for socio-economic factors. In multiple regression analysis, vegetable and rice consumption could account for 79% of the gastric cancer mortality variability for males, and vegetable and meat consumption could account for 69% of this variability for females. Interestingly, meat consumption was found to be protective. A mean increase of 100 g/person/day in vegetable consumption would imply a mean predicted decrease of 10 (95% CI 6-14) and 5 (95% CI 3-7) gastric cancer deaths per 100,000 persons/year, for males and females respectively, in simple regression analysis. Such a decrease represents about one-third of the mean national gastric cancer mortality rate. Therefore, an increase in vegetable consumption is strongly recommended.

Animals↗