Patients undergoing long-term hemodialysis are at high risk of acquiring hepatitis B yet tend to have poor rates of response to hepatitis B vaccine. The effect of recombinant human gamma-interferon ...(2 million units/m2) on the response to a recombinant hepatitis B vaccine was evaluated in a prospective, randomized controlled trial in 81 hemodialysis patients. A similar proportion of both groups of vaccinees ultimately developed antibody to HBsAg including 81% of the 41 recipients of vaccine alone (group I) and 89% of the 40 recipients of vaccine with gamma-interferon (group II). However, the antibody to HBsAg response occurred earlier in recipients of vaccine with gamma-interferon, so that at 4 mo 63% of group I and 88% of group II had antibody to HBsAg (p less than 0.025). Furthermore, titers of antibody to HBsAg tended to be higher in the vaccinees given interferon; the final geometric mean titers were 232 IU/L in group I and 330 IU/L in group II (p = not significant). Retrospective testing for antibody to hepatitis C virus revealed that 21 (26%) hemodialysis patients were seropositive at entry into this trial, but the presence of antibody to hepatitis C virus did not appear to affect the response rate to the hepatitis B vaccine. These results suggest that the effects of gamma-interferon as an adjuvant in increasing the response rate to hepatitis B vaccination deserve further evaluation perhaps most appropriately in persons who have not responded to an initial course of vaccine.
To assess the impact of using data from the National Death Index (NDI) of Spain to estimate breast cancer survival rates among residents of Girona and Zaragoza diagnosed in 1995-1999.
This was an ...observational, longitudinal epidemiologic study, using two population-based cancer registries. Data collected were of female residents of Girona or Zaragoza who had been diagnosed with breast cancer in 1995-1999. Observed and relative 5-year survival rates were estimated, first using the information available from the Girona and Zaragoza cancer registries, and then with the inclusion of NDI data. The 5-year relative survival rate and corresponding 95% Confidence Intervals were estimated using the Hakulinen method. The Kaplan-Maier method and Log Rank test were used to compare survival curves.
No statistically significant difference in survival curves was observed in Girona for the data obtained before and after cross-matching with the NDI. However, there was a significant difference in Zaragoza. A comparison of the relative survival rates of each of the two registries before NDI cross-matching showed differences of 3.9% (5-year) and 16.1% (10-year) between the two, whereas after the cross-match, the difference was only 0.5% (5-year) and 1.2% (10-year).
In Spain it is imperative that there be systematic use of NDI data to supplement cancer registries, so that comparisons of relative survival rates between registries can be improved.
Celotno besedilo
Dostopno za:
DOBA, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
The aim of the present study was to assess the anthropometric variables and the reference values of body composition in the adult population of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, due to the lack of ...epidemiological studies on this matter in Spain.
We studied 234 normal subjects, 134 males, mean age 41.4 years, and 134 females, mean age 40.7 years, selected from the census of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat and representative of its population in sex and age. We determined anthropometric characteristics, body weight, height, body mass index, waist-hip ratio and body composition parameters: total body water, free fat mass, fat mass and body fat by bioelectrical impedance analyzer.
Twenty-four males and 33 females were obese, and out of them 2 males and 4 women presented morbid obesity. The body mass index was higher either in males (p = 0.017) or in females (p = 0. 0001) in the last decades in relation to first decade, and in women was as consequence of higher fat mass (p = 0.0001). The waist-hip ratio was 0.93 (0.08) in male and 0.79 (0.07) in female, and it was high in males in the last decades.
The present study points out the high prevalence of obesity in our city and the anthropometric characteristics and reference values of body composition in the normal population of L'Hospitalet de Llobregat, remarking the high body mass index in the last decades, especially in women due to an increase of fat mass. The waist-hip ratio was high in males in the last decades.
BackgroundPatients who have recurrent hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection after liver transplantation (LT) have substantial rates of morbidity and mortality. Evaluation of experience with new drug ...regimens is critical.PurposeThe aim was to describe the effectiveness and safety of second generation direct acting antivirals (DAAs) in patients with HCV recurrence after the LT regimen became critical.Material and methodsDescriptive, retrospective, non-interventional study. Inclusion criteria: all HCV monoinfected patients with LT who started treatment with DAAs before April 2015.The following variables were collected from the digital medical record: demographics, fibrosis degree, clinical data (decompensated cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma), response to previous HCV treatment, viral genotype, viral load and analytical data (at baseline and at the end of treatment), and adverse events (AEs).Primary effectiveness endpoint was sustained virologic response 12 weeks after the end of treatment (SVR12). Secondary endpoint was end of treatment virologic response (EOTVR) and normalisation of serum transaminases at the end of treatment.Safety was evaluated by laboratory abnormalities and AEs.Results22 patients were included: 21 (95.4%) were male; average age was 60 (SD 7.4) years.There were 18 (81.8%) cirrhotic patients, 11 (61.1%) of these were decompensated and 5 (22.7%) had hepatocellular carcinoma. 9 (40.9%) patients were treatment naïve, 9 (40.9%) had failed prior therapy with peginterferon/ribavirin and 4 (18.2%) had failed protease inhibitor. Distribution of virus genotypes were: 1a=3 (13.6%); 1b=17 (77.3%); 1 unknown=1 (2.3%); and 3=1 (2.3%). The prescribed DDAs were: sofosbovir+daclatasvir=10 (45.4%), sofosbuvir+simeprevir=7 (31.8%), sofosbuvir=3 (13.6%) and daclatasvir+simeprevir=2 (9.1%). Ribavirin was present in 14 (63.6%) patients’ treatment. Treatment duration was 12 weeks in 10 (45.4%) patients and 24 weeks in 12 (54.5%). SVR12 was achieved in 16 (80.0%) patients (data available in 90.9%). EOTVR was achieved in 100% of patients (data available in 90.9%) and 77.8% of patients had normalised serum transaminases at the end of treatment (data available in 81.8%). Most frequent AEs were: asthenia 10 (45.4%), pruritus 8 (36.4%), confusion 6 (23.3%), dry skin 5 (22.7%), insomnia 5 (22.7%), headache 5 (22.7%), reduced appetite 5 (22.7%) and ribavirin associated anaemia 4 (66.7%).ConclusionOur data showed that DAAs are effective, inducing a high SVR12 and improving hepatic function in this special population. Despite the incidence of AEs, there were no treatment discontinuations due to AEs. Most were acceptable and consistent with the disease status.References and/or AcknowledgementsViruses 2015;7:5155-68No conflict of interest.
A subchronic toxicity study was performed by exposing organisms to two surfactants in a continuous flow-through system for 120 h, followed by a depuration phase of 48 h. The bivalve mollusc ...Ruditapes philippinarum, widely distributed in intertidal zones and of high commercial value, was used. The main anionic and non-ionic surfactants employed were linear alkylbenzene sulphonate (LAS) and nonylphenol ethoxylate (NPEO2.8), respectively. The organisms were exposed to three environmental levels (µg L–1), and the concentrations of C11-LAS measured in the tissues were 2.4, 6.7 and 12.8 µg g–1 for the low, intermediate and high exposure levels, while those of NPEO2.8 were 13.4, 14.8 and 31.7 µg g–1, respectively. The responses used as "end point" of subcellular toxicity were the enzymatic activity of catalase (CAT), acid phosphatase (AcP) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP). No significant differences were observed in CAT activity at the end of the exposure phase; however, at the end of the depuration phase there was an increase in CAT activity in the organisms exposed to the low concentration of C11-LAS (P < 0.05) and a significant decrease in the individuals exposed to the high concentration of NPEO2.8, which is related to the largest accumulation of the compound inside the organism. The organisms exposed to the intermediate and high concentrations (P < 0.05) of C11-LAS showed inhibition for AcP and activation for ALP at the end of the experiment (day 7). In the organisms exposed to the high concentration of NPEO2.8 there was an increase in the specific activity at the end of the depuration stage.
To quantify and analyze the information available internationally on Spanish scientific productivity in anesthesiology from 1983 through 1995.
Publications by Spanish authors indexed in three ...electronic databases: the Spanish Indice Médico (SIM), MedLine, and Embase (belonging to Excerpta Médica).
A bibliometric study of productivity as reflected by entries in the 3 databases, quantifying documents in circulation, change over time in circulating documents, overlap, and article's characteristics.
During the period studied, a total of 2608 papers by Spanish anesthesiologists were indexed in the 3 databases (SIM 79%, Medline 54%, Excerpta Médica 29.5%). Annual growth was 16.7%, with a period of 10.2 years until duplication.
Growth is exponential in anesthesiology, as in other disciplines, and the distribution satisfies Price's law. The 3 databases are the major collectors of the papers of Spanish anesthesiologists. The SIM and MedLine are the main indexers of Spanish-authored articles in the literature. Excerpta presents the largest growth on the compilation of articles. The inclusion of the three databases is essential in bibliographic searches and bibliometric studies on Spanish anesthesiology.
GH secretion status in myotonic dystrophy Gómez-Sáez, J M; Fernández-Real, J M; Navarro, M A ...
Psychoneuroendocrinology,
1993, Letnik:
18, Številka:
3
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Frequent endocrine alterations and abnormal growth hormone (GH) secretion have been reported in myotonic dystrophy (MD). To evaluate GH secretion status in MD, GH response to 100 micrograms of growth ...hormone releasing hormone (GHRH) with or without pyridostigmine pretreatment and its relation with insulin-induced hypoglycemia was investigated in MD patients and compared with normal controls. The mean peak plasma GH response to GHRH was 27.8 +/- 19.2 micrograms/l normal subjects and 11.4 +/- 8.7 micrograms/l in MD patients. In five of seven patients GH reached a mean peak of 12.6 +/- 4.2 micrograms/l after insulin-induced hypoglycemia, compared with 5 +/- 2.8 micrograms/l after GHRH. Conversely, in two patients GH reached a peak of 16.1 and 32 micrograms/l after GHRH, and only 2.5 and 5.3, respectively, after hypoglycemia. Pretreatment with pyridostigmine in nine patients tested potentiated GHRH-induced GH release with a peak of 17.6 +/- 12.5 micrograms/l, compared with 10.05 +/- 6.7 micrograms/l after GHRH alone; IGF-I levels were normal in all patients.
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