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Biomedical subjects

A Cosme

Publications and source records attributed to A Cosme.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

[Liver alterations due to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency in adults. Study of 5 patients and analysis of the cases reported in the Spanish literature].

BACKGROUND: To determine the epidemiological characteristics of liver disease secondary to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency and associated processes in the Spanish population. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed the medical records of adults with liver abnormalities due to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency diagnosed between 1981 and 2001 in the Hospital Donosti in San Sebastian (Spain) as well as the cases published in the literature before 1999. Diagnosis was based on clinical and biochemical data, imaging tests and/or liver biopsy and/or necroscopy together with serum values of alpha-1-antitrypsin and phenotyping. RESULTS: Fifty cases of liver disease secondary to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency (45 from the literature and 5 from our hospital) were included. There were 34 men and 16 women aged between 18 and 77 years. Fifteen (30%) had relatives with alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency. Hepatitis and/or neonatal cholestasis were confirmed in 4 and alcoholism was confirmed in 17. Of the series, 8 (16%) had portal fibrosis and 29 (58%) had cirrhosis. Cirrhosis was mainly macro-micronodular and was decompensated in 48% of the cases. Of the patients with cirrhosis, 12 were ZZ homozygotes and 12 were heterozygotes, mainly MZ and SZ. The most frequent associated process was respiratory disease (emphysema and/or chronic bronchitis) in 25 of the 50 cases (50%). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of cirrhosis in alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency is low, approximately 2.2/100,000 for ZZ homozygotes. Age at diagnosis of cirrhosis or fibrosis was more than 50 years. The male-to-female ratio was 2 to 1. In one-third of the patients alcohol could have been a coadjuvant or aggravating factor in the liver disease. No differences were found between homo- and heterozygote phenotypes in patients with cirrhosis. The most frequently associated processes were respiratory diseases due to alpha-1-antitrypsin deficiency.

Adolescent↗

Influence of Helicobacter pylori infection and eradication on blood lipids and fibrinogen.

BACKGROUND: An association between Helicobacter pylori infection and heart disease has been suggested. A potential mechanism may be inflammation-induced atherogenic changes of lipoproteins, but epidemiological studies have provided conflicting results. METHODS: In a prospective multicentre study, 830 patients submitted for endoscopy and H. pylori testing were evaluated. Of the 686 H. pylori-positive patients, 487 received and 199 did not receive eradication treatment. Serum lipids and plasma fibrinogen were measured at baseline in all patients and 3 months later in those initially positive for H. pylori. RESULTS: H. pylori had no influence on baseline lipid or fibrinogen levels. Increases in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol were observed in 368 patients who received eradication treatment and in 193 untreated patients: 0.06 mmol/L (P=0.000) and 0.07 mmol/L (P=0.009), respectively. Similar minor increases in total cholesterol and triglycerides occurred in both groups. Lipid changes were related to symptom relief and a reduction in smoking. Eradication therapy was associated with a minor decrease in plasma fibrinogen irrespective of the resolution of infection. CONCLUSIONS: H. pylori has no influence on blood lipids or fibrinogen. Both the eradication of infection and symptomatic treatment without eradication are associated with minor lipid changes related to symptom relief and lifestyle modifications. Thus, the inflammatory changes associated with H. pylori are unlikely to affect lipoprotein or fibrinogen metabolism.

Adult↗

Sonographic findings in brucellar hepatic abscess.

Brucellar hepatic abscesses are rare; to our knowledge, only 41 cases have been described in the literature. We report the case of a 29-year-old Spanish woman who was hospitalized because of fever, weakness, and weight loss. Abdominal sonography showed a hypoechoic lesion with central calcification. Brucella spp. were not isolated from an aspirate of the liver or blood cultures. The diagnosis was based on the association of characteristic sonographic features (central calcification and peripheral necrotic areas) and positive Brucella agglutination tests. The patient improved rapidly with antibiotic treatment.

Adult↗

[Fasciola hepatica. study of a series of 37 patients].

BACKGROUND: To analyze the clinical, bacteriologic, diagnostic and therapeutic features of patients with Fasciola hepatica (FH) in our hospital. PATIENTS AND METHOD: We reviewed all the patients with a diagnosis of fascioliasis from 1975 to 1999 in the Aranzazu Hospital in San Sebastián (Guipúzcoa, Spain). Diagnosis was made by direct vision of adult parasites during surgery and/or the presence of ova in stool examinations and/or positive serologic tests in patients with symptoms consistent with parasitosis. RESULTS: Thirty-seven patients were included (23 men and 14 women), aged 19 to 71 years. Ingestion of watercress was confirmed in 27. Seven cases occurred as part of familiar outbreaks. Thirty-two were in the liver invasive stage and in 5 the biliary tree was invaded. The most common features were eosinophilia (91.8%), malaise and weight loss (75.6%), elevated alkaline phosphatase (74.2%), and abdominal pain (72.9%). Adult worms in the biliary ducts were observed in 3 patients and ova in feces were observed in 6. In 13 of 27 patients indirect hemagglutination test was ( 1/1,280. Data significant to confirmation of liver involvement were provided by laparoscopy in 12 of 13 patients and by imaging techniques in 13 of 31 patients. Four patients had cholelithiasis and of these, 2 also showed adult parasites in the common bile duct. Three patients underwent surgery. Therapy with dehydroemetine and/or bithionol was followed by complete remission in 30 patients, although 6 required repeat treatment cycles. The remaining 4 patients were cured by praziquantel. CONCLUSIONS: Most of the patients in these series reported consumption of watercress and all patients showed the symptoms typical of parasite disease. Imaging techniques proved to be of great utility in confirming the diagnosis of hepato-biliary disease. In most of the patients therapy with dehydroemetine and/or bithionol (in one or several cycles) was followed by complete remission.

Adult↗

[Peutz-Jeghers syndrome associated with multiple epithelial tumors].

The association between Peutz-Jeghers syndrome and multiple epithelial neoplasias is infrequent. Tumors of the gastrointestinal tract, genitals and breast are common in this syndrome and tumors of the kidney and biliary tract are exceptional. We present the case of a 68-year-old woman with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome who presented with right kidney carcinoma and numerous small, bilateral tumors of the sex cords with annular tubules of the ovary. Right nephrectomy, double annexectomy and total hysterectomy were performed. The patient died two years later following the development of rectal carcinoma diagnosed by sigmoidoscopy and biopsy and an episode of obstructive jaundice compatible with cholangiocarcinoma.

Aged↗

[Krukenberg tumor secondary to gastric carcinoma in a woman in her eighth month of pregnancy].

The association of gastric cancer and pregnancy is rare. The cases reported by non-Japanese authors are unusual. Tumors tend to be in advanced stage when diagnosed since the symptoms of gastric cancer are easily presumed to be secondary to those of normal pregnancy. We report the case of a 43-year-old female with gastric carcinoma presenting as a Krukenberg's tumor in the eighth month of gestation. A healthy child was born and after delivery, partial gastrectomy was performed and adjuvant chemotherapy was administered. The patient died 12 months after diagnosis.

Adult↗

Decrease in human fascioliasis in Gipuzkoa (Spain).

From 1981 to 2000 sixty-one cases of human fascioliasis were detected in the province of Gipuzkoa (Spain), most of them during the period of parenchymal invasion. Four family outbreaks were recorded. Thirty, 15, 13 and three cases were detected during the four consecutive 5-year periods. The decrease in this infection over the years is probably related to the change in eating habits.

Adult↗

[Comparative study of the eradication of Helicobacter pylori: ranitidine bismuth citrate versus omeprazole plus two antibiotics for seven days].

AIMS: To compare the efficacy of ranitidine bismuth citrate (RB) combined with two antibiotics during seven days in comparison with OCA-7 for treatment of Helicobacter pylori. METHODS: In a randomized clinical trial 200, consecutive patients infected by Helicobacter pylori were studied prospectively. One of two regimens was given for 7 days; OCA-7 (omeprazole 20 mg b.i.d., amoxycillin 1 gr b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d.) or RBCA (RB 400 b.i.d., amoxicillin 1 gr b.i.d., clarithromycin 500 mg b.i.d.). Eradication was defined as a negative breath test one month after therapy. RESULTS: 112 male and 88 female with a mean age of 48 years (range 18-82). 100 patients were randomized to OCA-7 and 100 patients to RBCA-7. Overall 186 patients completed the treatment. Intention to-treat eradication was in the group OCA-7 of 72% and 73% in group RBCA-7. Per-protocol eradication was in the group OCA-7 of 78% and 77% in group RBCA-7 (p = 0.3). Five patients in the group OCA-7 and nine in the group RBCA-7, had side effects, three of these patients did not complete therapy by diarrhea. CONCLUSIONS: RB with two antibiotics is as effective and safe as OCA-7 for the eradication of Helicobacter pylori.

Adult↗

Pyogenic liver abscesses of bacterial origin. A study of 45 cases.

OBJECTIVE: to determine the clinical, microbiological, diagnostic and therapeutic characteristics of pyogenic liver abscesses of bacterial origin. METHODS: retrospective analysis of pyogenic liver abscesses diagnosed at the Aránzazu Hospital in San Sebastián (northern Spain) between 1989 and 1998. RESULTS: we studied 45 patients with pyogenic liver abscesses of bacterial origin (30 men, 15 women, mean age 61 years 11 months). The site of the liver abscess was biliary in 28.9% of the patients, portal in 11.1%, and unknown in 33.3%. Elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate (95.5%), leukocytosis (86.7%) and fever (82.2%) were the most frequent clinical and laboratory findings. The abscesses were solitary in 55. 5% of the patients. Echography was diagnostic in 68.4% of patients, and computed tomography was diagnostic in 100%. Cultures of pus from the abscess and blood were positive in 77.1% and 50% respectively. Of the abscesses diagnosed as being of bacterial origin, 44.4% involved multiple organisms. Escherichia coli and Streptococcus milleri were the germs isolated most frequently. Percutaneous drainage was done in 22 patients (48.9%), with satisfactory results in 18. Overall mortality related with abscesses was 15.5%. CONCLUSIONS: the clinical presentation of pyogenic liver abscess did not vary during the study period. Computed tomography is fundamental for diagnosis and treatment. Percutaneous drainage associated with early antibiotic therapy is the treatment of choice.

Adult↗

[Spontaneous bacteremia due to Salmonella hadar in liver cirrhosis with transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt].

Bacteriemia is a frequent infection in patients with hepatic cirrhosis, which is associated with a high mortality. Spontaneous bacteriemia is generally caused by gramnegative bacilli. We present an episode of Salmonella hadar's spontaneous bacteriemia in a patient with cirrhosis of the liver and transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt. The role of the prosthesis in the pathogenesis of bacteriemia in hepatic cirrhosis is discussed.

Bacteremia↗

[Bleeding of the upper digestive tract due to gastric metastasis of squamous lung carcinoma].

Bronchogenic lung carcinoma, melanoma and breast cancer are the neoplasms which have most frequently been reported to metastasize to the stomach. These lesions are usually located on the fundus and on the upper part of the gastric body. They are usually asymptomatic with the diagnosis being made at necropsy. We present a patient who developed gastrointestinal bleeding as the first symptom of squamous lung cancer secondary to a gastric metastasis.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗