Search PubMed⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

A Agudo

Publications and source records attributed to A Agudo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

A European validation study of smoking and environmental tobacco smoke exposure in nonsmoking lung cancer cases and controls.

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to validate, in a case-control study, the reporting by lung cancer cases and controls of their own lifetime smoking habits and of the smoking habit of the spouse. METHODS: In a multicenter (Sweden, Spain, Italy) case-control study of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and lung cancer, subjects were screened by repeated probing to exclude regular smokers of one cigarette/day or more for one year or more, and to quantify any occasional smoking. We then performed a short validation interview with next-of-kin in three centers. RESULTS: Only five of 408 index subjects who had never smoked regularly (1.7 percent) were reported by next-of-kin to be former regular smokers. These subjects had a cumulative lifetime consumption of cigarettes below 1.1 pack years. Among 351 subjects with quantitative smoking information from both sources who reported ever smoking 400 cigarettes or less (the definition of never-smoker used in the multicenter ETS study), nine subjects (2.6 percent) had smoked more than this amount occasionally according to next-of-kin. Misclassification was not higher for cases than controls. Relative risks for lung cancer associated with indicators of ETS exposure were not substantially altered by excluding the nine possibly misclassified subjects. The reports from 223 pairs of index subjects and next-of kin regarding the cumulative amount smoked by the spouse agreed quite well (Spearman's rank correlation 0.75 for reported smokers, 0.92 for all subjects). Only one index subject failed to report a spouse who had smoked regularly (99 percent sensitivity). CONCLUSIONS: Smoking status and exposure to spousal ETS as reported by lung cancer cases and controls agreed strongly with reports by next-of-kin. Overall, our results suggest that bias from smoker misclassification is likely to be insignificant, and they contribute to the evidence linking exposure to ETS with an increased risk of lung cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Intake of specific carotenoids and flavonoids and the risk of lung cancer in women in Barcelona, Spain.

Newly available data of a case-control study of lung cancer in women in Spain were analyzed to assess the relationship with the intake of specific carotenoids (alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, lutein, and lycopene) and flavonoids (quercetin, kaempferol, myricetin, and luteolin). The study included 103 cases and 206 hospital controls, matched by age and residence. Usual food intake was estimated through a food-frequency questionnaire. With adjustment for smoking habit and vitamin E, vitamin C, and total flavonoid intake, no association was found for the intake of alpha-carotene, beta-carotene, or lutein. The odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for women in the highest tertile of lycopene intake with respect to the lowest was 0.56 (0.26-1.24), with p for trend = 0.15. A nonsignificant association was observed for the highest vs. lowest tertile intake of kaempferol (odds ratio = 0.51, 95% confidence interval = 0.22-1.17), with p for trend = 0.10, after adjustment for smoking and vitamin E, vitamin C, and total carotenoid intake. No protective effect was observed for quercetin or luteolin or for total flavonoid intake.

Carotenoids↗
PubMed1997

Rat liver ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase-I as an in vitro target of the acetaminophen metabolite N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine.

N-acetyl-p-benzoquinoneimine (NAPQI) is the metabolite responsible for acetaminophen hepatotoxicity. ADP-ribose pyrophosphatase-I (ADPRibase-I; EC 3.6.1.13) hydrolyzes protein-glycating ADP-ribose. The results show NAPQI-dependent alterations of ADPRibase-I leading to strong inhibition: a fast Km increase produced by low concentrations, and a time-dependent Vmax decrease by higher NAPQI concentrations. Both effects were prevented by thiols, but not reverted by them, nor by gel filtration of NAPQI-treated enzyme. Liver ADPRibase-I can be a target of NAPQI-dependent arylation. The inhibition or inactivation of the enzyme would contribute to increasing the free ADP-ribose concentration and nonenzymatic ADP-ribosylation, which is coherent with results linking free ADP-ribose-producing pathways to acetaminophen toxicity.

Acetaminophen↗
PubMed1997

Vegetable and fruit intake and the risk of lung cancer in women in Barcelona, Spain.

A case-control study on women was carried out in Barcelona, Spain, to investigate the relationship of lung cancer with the intake of vegetables, fruits and some foods of animal origin. The study included 103 cases and 206 controls matched by age and residence. Diet intake was assessed by means of a food frequency questionnaire. A reduction in risk, adjusted for smoking habit, was found for the intake of yellow/orange vegetables (mainly carrots) and tomatoes. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the highest versus lowest tertile of intake were 0.37 (0.19-0.74) for yellow/orange vegetables and 0.45 (0.22-0.91) for tomatoes; both had a significant inverse trend. A tendency to a reduction in risk of lung cancer with increased intake was observed for all vegetables, leafy green vegetables, dark green vegetables and cruciferous, but these associations did not reach statistical significance. No association with lung cancer was found for the intake of fruits or foods of animal origin rich in retinol. Similar patterns were observed for women who never smoked and when the analysis was restricted to adenocarcinoma.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1995

Prognostic factors of pneumonia requiring admission to the intensive care unit.

All patients with severe pneumonias (community-acquired and nosocomial) who required treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) were included in a 3-year prospective study. Predictive factors for a fatal outcome were analyzed in 127 patients. An etiologic diagnosis was made in 70 (55.1%) patients. Culture of sputum or tracheobronchial secretions were used only as criteria for microbiologic diagnosis of Legionella pneumophila. The pathogens most frequently identified were L pneumophila, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Viruses were not detected as causative agents. A total of 54 patients died (mortality rate, 42.5%). The univariate analysis showed the following factors associated with mortality: advanced age (> or = 70 years); presence of septic shock, requirement of mechanical ventilation, and Simplified Acute Physiology Score [SAPS] index > 12 at the time of admission to the ICU or when symptoms appeared in patients already admitted to the ICU; development of any complication during ICU hospitalization; and P aeruginosa as the etiologic agent of the pneumonia. When all variables were introduced by a stepwise method, the final model included advanced age (> or = 70 years), SAPS index > 12, presence of septic shock, requirement of mechanical ventilation, bilateral pulmonary involvement, and P aeruginosa as the etiologic agent of pneumonia as prognostic factors associated with a fatal outcome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Lung cancer and cigarette smoking in women: a case-control study in Barcelona (Spain).

A case-control study on lung cancer and the habit of cigarette smoking was carried out in Barcelona (Spain). Cases were 103 women newly diagnosed with primary lung cancer in 10 hospitals from the study area. Histologic confirmation was given in 101 cases, of which 53 were adenocarcinoma, 19 squamous-cell carcinoma, 9 small-cell carcinoma and 20 other types. Two controls per case were selected, matched by age, residence and hospital. Compared with the never-smokers, the odds ratios (OR), with corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI), were 1.61 (0.4 to 6.9) for ex-smokers and 3.61 (1.6 to 8.3) for current smokers. The risk of lung cancer showed a good dose-response relationship with duration of the habit, average number of cigarettes smoked daily and cumulative cigarette consumption. The risk of lung cancer increased by 62% for each 10 pack-years. Depth of inhalation also showed a remarkable effect, independently of the intensity of the habit. Although mortality and incidence rates of lung cancer among women in Spain are lower than in other developed countries, the risk of lung cancer is that which would be expected according to the pattern of the smoking habit in Spanish women.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Exercise-induced airways narrowing and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke in schoolchildren.

A case-control study of exercise-induced airways narrowing (EIAN) and exposure to environmental tobacco smoke has been carried out in Mataró, Spain. This study followed a prevalence study on EIAN performed on a random sample of 2,056 schoolchildren aged 9-14 years. Cases were 136 children having a decrease in postexercise peak expiratory flow rate equal to or greater than 15%; two controls per case, matched by sex, age, and classroom, were selected among children with a negative EIAN test. A complete history of environmental tobacco smoke exposure was collected from the parents by means of a questionnaire. Exposure from the mother was associated with EIAN in children (odds ratio = 2.23, 95% confidence interval 1.06-4.69) compared with those never exposed. Regarding the duration, intensity, and cumulative exposure, there is an overall tendency for the more heavily exposed to be at greater risk. Other sources of environmental tobacco smoke exposure at home showed no effect on EIAN in children. The results of our study do not seem to be confounded by antecedents of parental asthma or a previous diagnosis of asthma in children, and they suggest that environmental tobacco smoke exposure could play a role as a determinant of the occurrence of EIAN in children.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Nutritional factors and gastric cancer in Spain.

A case-control study on diet and gastric cancer, carried out in selected areas of four regions of Spain (Aragon, Castile, Catalonia, and Galicia) in 1988 and 1989, included 354 cases of histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma and 354 controls matched by age, sex, and area of residence. Cases and controls were selected from 15 hospitals, representing most of the hospital facilities in the study areas. Usual diet was estimated by means of a dietary history questionnaire administered by interview. An increased risk of gastric cancer was observed for high consumption of exogenous nitrosamines (odds ratio = 2.1 for the highest quartile of consumption versus the lowest; p for linear trend = 0.007), nitrites, fat, and cholesterol. However, in a multivariate regression model, the effect of fat and cholesterol disappeared. An inverse association with the risk for gastric cancer was seen for high intake of fiber, vitamin C, folate, carotene, and nitrates. High consumption of vitamin C seemed to neutralize the increased risk related to simultaneous consumption of nitrosamines. For histologic type, the authors found no meaningful differences in the effect of most of the nutrients between intestinal and diffuse cancers. Their findings are consistent with previously reported results about the protective effect of fruit and vegetables and the increased risk associated with foods that are important sources of nitrites and preformed nitrosamines.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1993

Prevalence of exercise-induced airway narrowing in schoolchildren from a Mediterranean town.

A cross-sectional study was carried out on a random sample of 2,216 schoolchildren 9 to 14 yr of age to determine the prevalence of exercise-induced airway narrowing (EIAN) in a Mediterranean town (Mataró). A complementary case-control study measured the association between EIAN and respiratory symptoms. A free-running test was performed during school time. Peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) was measured at rest and at 2, 5, 10, and 15 min after exercise. A total of 136 of 2,056 satisfactory runs showed a decrease of PEFR equal to or higher than 15% at each of these times after exercise. Five more children developed wheezing during running and were considered to have EIAN. Prevalence of EIAN was 6.9% (95% CI = 5.9 to 7.9). Prevalence decreased progressively with age. No sex difference was found. In the case-control study a questionnaire of respiratory symptoms was applied to the mothers of hyperresponsive children, as well as to two matched control subjects for each case. Questionnaire analysis showed a strong association between EIAN and respiratory symptoms or rhinitis. Association with bronchitis before 2 yr of age and parental asthma was less but significant.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Consistency of the histologic diagnosis of Lauren's classification of gastric cancer].

BACKGROUND: Lauren's classification of gastric cancer is usually followed in epidemiological studies thus requiring evaluation of its reproducibility. This classification defines 2 principal histological types: intestinal and diffuse with different proportions in high and low risk areas possibly being associated to different causal factors. METHODS: The concordance diagnosis in an aleatory sample of 81 gastric carcinomas stratified according to the participation of 14 hospitals in an epidemiological study of 354 cases and 354 controls was analyzed. The initial diagnosis carried out was compared by more than 20 pathologists with the reclassification diagnosis by consensus of 2 pathologists by the proportion of agreement or concordance observed in the kappa index. Keeping the final reclassification by consensus as a reference, sensitivity, specificity and predictive values were also calculated. RESULTS: The proportion of concordance observed was of 78% for the intestinal and 90% for the diffuse with a kappa index of 0.55 and 0.74, respectively. Sensitivity for the intestinal type was of 88% and for the diffuse 81% with specificity being of 67% in the intestinal and 93% in the diffuse. CONCLUSIONS: Subjectivity in the interpretation of certain parameters necessary for histological diagnosis may be reduced by the elaboration of protocols in which the principal histological criteria to follow are detailed. Nonetheless, the distinction made between the two principal types, intestinal and diffuse, is valid enough to be used in multicenter epidemiological studies and in comparative studies.

Case-Control Studies↗
PubMed1992

Consumption of alcohol, coffee, and tobacco, and gastric cancer in Spain.

A case-control study on gastric cancer was carried out between 1987 and 1989 in four regions of Spain. Three hundred and fifty-four cases of histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma were included (235 men and 119 women). For each case, a control was selected, matched by sex, age, and area of residence, from the same hospital as the case. No association was observed with smoking, nor with the consumption of coffee or tea. The usual consumption of alcohol was associated with gastric cancer in men (odds ratio = 1.54, 95 percent confidence interval = 1.03-2.31), but there was no dose-response relationship. No association was observed in women. All estimations were carried out taking into account the effect of the dietary factors associated with gastric cancer. In accordance with previous evidence, the association observed between gastric cancer and alcohol appears not to be causal.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Diet and bladder cancer in Spain: a multi-centre case-control study.

A multi-centre case-control study on bladder cancer and diet was carried out in 5 regions of Spain. We report results on 432 male cases and 792 matched controls. Usual dietary habits were investigated by means of an interview-based dietary history questionnaire. Bladder-cancer cases were selected from the registers of 12 hospitals located in the study areas. Each case was matched by sex, age and area of residence to 2 controls, one identified in the same hospital and one drawn from population lists. Descriptive analyses indicated that the average dietary pattern was typical of Mediterranean populations: a high P/S ratio, high intake of fish, fruits and vegetables and moderate or low intake of meat and dairy products. Relative risks for specific foods and nutrients were adjusted for tobacco smoking and energy intake. Subjects in the highest quarter of intake of saturated fat had a significantly increased risk of bladder cancer (RR for highest quarter = 2.25; 95% CI = 1.42 to 3.55). Moderate increases in risk for high intake of mono-unsaturated fats and calcium, and a slight decrease for iron were also found, but these disappeared after adjustment for saturated fat. Intake of vitamin E was related to slightly reduced risk (RR for highest quarter = 0.72; 95% CI = 0.48 to 1.09) which was not modified by adjustment for fat. No association was found with intake of retinol or carotene. These results, along with those of previous studies, suggest that saturated fat intake may influence the occurrence of bladder cancer.

Calcium↗
PubMed1991

[Prospective study of community-acquired pneumonias seen in a general hospital. Diagnostic errors].

BACKGROUND: The patients with community acquired pneumonias seen in an emergency service of a basic general hospital during one year were evaluated to assess their etiological, clinical and radiological features, and also to investigate the initial and final diagnosis of the disease, its evolution and the parameters associated with each microbiological type. METHODS: A medical team investigated daily the clinical records. For etiologic diagnosis, blood cultures, serological studies, urine counterimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE) and, in individualized patients, pleural fluid culture, bronchoaspirate and bronchoalveolar lavage were performed. The discordance between the initial clinical and radiological diagnosis and the microbiological results, and also the initial and final diagnostic errors were analyzed. RESULTS: 311 cases of pneumonia (150 adults and 161 children) were diagnosed. 95 (30%) had microbiological confirmation. Streptococcus pneumoniae was the most commonly isolated organism. Serologic studies were the diagnostic method with the highest yield. Complications developed in 28% of the patients and the mortality rate was 2%. There was a relationship between mortality and a high respiratory rate on admission. The initial-final diagnostic discrepancy was 43% in atypical pneumonias and 40% in bacterial pneumonias. CONCLUSIONS: Clinical parameters permitting the differentiation between atypical and bacterial pneumonia were not found. The initial diagnostic error was 12%, consisting of false positives in all instances, and the final diagnostic error included 15% false positives and 10% false negatives. Underlying diseases have a influence on the evolution of pneumonia. The mean respiratory rate on admission should be measured as a prognostic indicator. In the present study, urine CIE was a poorly sensitive method.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Tobacco prevention in hospitals: long-term follow-up of a smoking control programme.

This paper presents the results of a smoking control programme carried out in Sant Jaume i Santa Magdalena Hospital in Mataró (Barcelona, Spain) involving the entire hospital staff. The general objectives of the programme were: (1) to reduce tobacco consumption among hospital staff and (2) to create an awareness of their exemplary role as health professionals. In order to achieve these aims, different activities were carried out: lectures on the consequences of smoking; restrictions on smoking in hospital areas; and smoking cessation help for those who wished to give up smoking. To measure the effectiveness of the intervention, a survey of smoking habits and attitudes among the hospital staff was conducted before the start of the programme in 1986 and repeated two and a half years later in 1989. The population studied in both surveys (n = 298 and n = 304) was similar by sex, age, and professional status. Regarding tobacco consumption there was the same proportion of never smokers, while the percentage of current smokers was reduced by 11 between the two surveys (51 to 40%), and the ex-smokers group showed an increase (16 to 23%). These differences were significant. There was also a remarkable change in attitudes among the health professionals, especially with regard to their disposition to give advice to stop smoking. The results show a reduction of the prevalence of smoking among the hospital staff and a positive change in their attitudes towards smoking.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Occupation and gastric cancer in Spain.

The association between occupational exposure and stomach cancer was investigated in a multicenter case-referent study conducted in Spain on 354 histologically confirmed cases and 354 hospital referents, matched by age, gender, and residence. An increased risk of gastric cancer was found for coal mining workers [odds ratio (OR) 11.8], but the number of workers was small, and therefore the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was wide (95% CI 1.36-103). An increased risk was observed for wood and furniture workers (OR 1.76), construction workers (OR 1.68), and glass and ceramic workers (OR 2.18), but none of these risks were statistically significant. According to an occupation-exposure linkage system an increased risk was found for occupations associated with exposure to silica and mineral dust (OR 1.80, 95% CI 0.90-3.59). All of the OR estimates were adjusted for the confounding factors socioprofessional status and dietary habits. The possibility of a causal association between stomach cancer and coal and mineral dust is supported by the results.

Adult↗
PubMed1990

Dietary habits in Spain: an approximation.

The dietary pattern of a population sample of males selected as a control group for a case-control study on bladder cancer carried out in four different regions of Spain is presented. Out of 807 population controls initially selected, 530 were interviewed, 465 males and 65 females. The method of selection of the study subjects and the diet assessment method are described. Our results confirm the Mediterranean pattern of the Spanish diet, with an important consumption of fresh fish, fruits and vegetables, and the use of vegetable oils, specially olive oil, for cooking and seasoning, accompanied with a high polyunsaturated/saturated ratio (0.7). The consumption of butter, cheese and other dairy products, on the other hand, is very low. Estimated total caloric intake is relatively low if compared with international figures, although questionnaire base assessment may seriously underestimate caloric intake, as it is the absolute amount of intake of lipids and carbohydrates. In relative terms, however, lipids provide the highest percentage of calories.

Adult↗