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Biomedical subjects

A Segura

Publications and source records attributed to A Segura.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources

[Evaluation of the demand for tests for the detection of anti-human immunodeficiency virus antibodies in Catalonia].

BACKGROUND: Most programs for the control of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) contemplate the registry of cases as the principal source of information. Despite the fact that these data have permitted important epidemiologic and clinical aspects of the disease to become known epidemiologic surveillance systems should be developed based on the detection of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). METHODS: The prevalence and the epidemiologic profile of patients who underwent an anti-HIV test were studied in 17 hospitals in Catalonia in 1989. In addition, a questionnaire concerning demographic and epidemiologic variables was completed by all the patients in whom an ELISA test had been carried out during 4 periods of 15 days. RESULTS: During this period 33,012 serologic tests were performed in 17 centers with a global prevalence of positive results of 20.7% (IC 95% = 20.2%-21.1%). The greatest number of positive serologies corresponded to the collective of intravenous drug users (IVDU), consisting of 68% of all the positive tests with a prevalence of infection of 76.4%. Prevalence was considered as constant throughout the year despite the differences between the prevalence observed in some periods. CONCLUSIONS: The fact that the collective of intravenous drug users is most prevalent among the patient with positive results in the serologic detection of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) confirms that this is the principal group of transmission in Catalonia. This type of study may provide information on the rate of infection by HIV complementing other surveillance methods of the epidemic. However, the basic function of these tests stems from the study of the demand and use of detection tests.

Adolescent↗

[Wegener's granulomatosis: a report of 6 patients].

The clinical and analytical manifestations and the evaluation of 6 patients diagnosed with Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) in the Germans Trias i Pujol Hospital between 1986-1990 are described. The most frequent clinical manifestation found were general and respiratory symptoms. Three patients presented an alteration in renal function and urinary sedimentation. Antibodies against the cytoplasm of the neutrophils (ANCA) detected by indirect immunofluorescence (IIF) were positive in 4 patients. All the patients underwent initial complete remission with immunodepressor treatment and one presented relapse of the disease at 19 months of diagnosis. Complications were: opportunistic infections obliging discontinuation of treatment in one patient, distal necrosis of the fingers requiring amputation in another patient and massive atelectasis of the right lung requiring pneumonectomy in a third patient.

Adolescent↗

The effect of polymerization shrinkage during veneer placement.

This study evaluated the relationship of polymerization shrinkage during composite resin veneer placement to direction of the polymerization light source. Fifty maxillary permanent incisors were obtained and divided into five groups of ten. Groups I and II had preparations placed in enamel. Groups III, IV, and V had preparations placed in dentin. In groups I and III, an unfilled bonding resin was placed and polymerized from the facial aspect, followed by placement and polymerization of a hybrid composite resin. Groups II and IV were initially polymerized from the lingual direction. In group V, the unfilled resin and hybrid composite resin were polymerized simultaneously from the facial aspect. Statistical analysis indicated that there was significantly less axial microgap formation during lingual polymerization when the preparation remained in dentin, but demonstrated that there was no statistically significant difference when the preparation remained in enamel.

Analysis of Variance↗

Osteoblastoma response to chemotherapy.

An 8-year-old boy had an osteoblastoma of the body of C2. After attempted excision, the tumor recurred rapidly and massively. The tumor shrank progressively after treatment with high-dose methotrexate, doxorubicin, and cisplatin. The patient has stopped treatment and been stable for 33 months. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice for osteoblastoma. Chemotherapy may be useful in selected patients with a recurrent, aggressive tumor or in patients with surgically inaccessible disease.

Bone Neoplasms↗

Trends and survival for AIDS patients presenting with indicative neurologic diseases.

Nervous system involvement in patients with AIDS is frequent either due to direct infection by the HIV-1 or to opportunistic infections or neoplasms. In the present study we evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of patients in whom the first AIDS manifestation was an indicative neurologic disease (IND) and the influence of such a presenting form in the patients' survival. Out of 1250 reported cases, 252 (20.2%) presented with one of the INDs, according with the CDC AIDS definition criteria. Neither sex nor age differences were found between patients presenting with and without an IND. IVDUs were more likely to present with an IND than homosexual/bisexual men (p = 0.024). Cerebral toxoplasmosis (CT) was the only IND with a significant proportional increase over time. Although some of the IND have a specific treatment, as a whole patients presenting with an IND lived shorter than those presenting with any of the other indicative disorders (p less than 0.0001). The incidence of IND is greater than elsewhere, mainly because of CT. The increment of CT may be in part due to the introduction of the new AIDS definition criteria.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗

Acid-abrasive enamel reduction for tooth color correction.

The purpose of this article is to present an acid-abrasion ("enamel microabrasion") technique which can eliminate superficial enamel discoloration. The technique provides a conservative alternative for some patients who might otherwise have received porcelain or composite resin veneer restorations.

Adult↗

The effect of tuberculosis as a new AIDS definition criterion in epidemiological surveillance data from a south European area.

In this article, we evaluate the effect of the 1987 revised CDC AIDS definition on the AIDS epidemiological surveillance in Catalonia. From data collected in our population-based registry, we observed a 1.3- and a 1.6-fold increase in AIDS prevalence and incidence rates, respectively. In our setting, the new criteria appear to affect case ascertainment in male intravenous drug abusers, with extrapulmonary tuberculosis being the disease that accounts for the major increase in the identified cases. An additional effect of this case revision has been on the median survival time of AIDS patients, which will probably increase due to the use of the new definition criteria.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗