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Biomedical subjects

E Figueredo

Publications and source records attributed to E Figueredo.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed2000

[Impact factor of the Revista Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación for 1997 and 1998].

OBJECTIVES: Revista Española de Anestesiología y Reanimación (REDAR) is not listed in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR) of the Institute for Scientific Information (ISI) and therefore REDAR's impact factor (IF) is unknown. This study aimed to calculate REDAR's IF and immediacy index for the years 1997 and 1998 as well as the IF that the journal would have had if it were considered an ISI source journal. The study also aimed to analyze self-citations and how they would affect the IF if REDAR were considered a source journal. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We calculated the IF and immediacy indexes using ISI methodology, by manually counting the references to REDAR articles published in 1997 and 1998 and singling out self-citations. RESULTS: The IF was 0.014 for 1997 and 0.054 for 1998. If REDAR had been considered a source journal in 1997 the IFs would have been 0.437 for 1997 and 0.419 for 1998. The immediacy indexes were 0.37 for 1997 and 0.30 for 1998. The mean number of references per article for the two-year period under study was 19.04 with differences depending mainly on type of article. The highest numbers of self-citations and the highest proportions of the same were found in letters to the editor and authors' replies. The 30 author-plus-journal self citations accounted for 9.3% of all self-citations (n = 322). CONCLUSION: The IF of REDAR is far lower than those of other European journals. If REDAR were accepted as a source journal, it would benefit from its self-citations. Improving REDAR's if would result in greater international recognition of our scientific level.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed1999

Laryngo-pharyngeal complaints after use of the laryngeal mask airway.

PURPOSE: To compare the incidence of dysphagia, dysphonia and sore throat following anesthesia, using the laryngeal mask airway (LMA), among patients receiving intermittent positive-pressure ventilation (IPPV) and those breathing spontaneously (SV) and with two different concentrations of nitrous oxide (N2O) in oxygen. METHODS: In a prospective trial, 120 patients (ASA I-III, 16-70 yr, > 60 kg) undergoing minor peripheral surgery were randomised into four groups with respect to type of ventilation and N2O concentration (50% or 66%) received. Cuff pressure measurements were monitored continuously. Twenty-four hours after surgery, patients were questioned for sore throat, dysphagia and dysphonia. RESULTS: At 30 min post-LMA insertion, increases in cuff pressure were 35.2+/-17.1 mmHg (22.8%) vs 50.1+/-16.3 mmHg (32.7%) in patients breathing 50 and 66% N2O, respectively (P < 0.01). There were no differences in cuff pressure increment between patients in the SV and IPPV groups. Cuff pressure values at the end of surgery depended on the duration of surgery and on the concentrations of N2O. The overall incidence of postoperative discomfort at 24 hr was dysphagia 11%, dysphonia 11% and sore throat 28.8%. Only two patients reported sore throat as more than mild. There was no relationship between cuff pressure and laryngo-pharyngeal complaints. The incidence of dysphonia in the groups receiving IPPV was higher than that in the groups with spontaneous ventilation (17.2 vs 5%, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Post-operative discomfort is related to the type of ventilation but not to variation in LMA cuff pressure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Pollen allergy in peach-allergic patients: sensitization and cross-reactivity to taxonomically unrelated pollens.

BACKGROUND: Fruit allergy has been attributed to cross-reactive IgE to pollens and has been associated with a particular pollen sensitization. OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to evaluate sensitization to several taxonomically unrelated pollens in peach- and pollen-allergic patients and to study cross-reactivity between them. METHODS: One hundred sixty-five patients were evaluated: 70 peach- allergic patients together with 95 pollen-allergic patients (control group). Pollen skin tests in duplicate were performed to 5 grasses, 8 trees, and 7 weeds. Cross-reactivity between peach and taxonomically diverse pollens was determined by radioallergosorbent inhibition and Western blot inhibition tests. Experiments were also carried out after preadsorption of the sera with purified natural profilin. RESULTS: The skin test results revealed that peach-allergic patients frequently reacted to most pollens-grasses, weeds, and trees-even when some of these are not found in our geographic area. There was a statistically significant increase in sensitization frequency to most trees and weeds, with a statistically higher occurrence of asthma (odds ratio 2.98, 95% confidence interval 1.46-6.09). Inhibition test results provided evidence that taxonomically unrelated grasses, weeds, and trees produced various and substantial degrees of inhibition in specific IgE to peach and that the peach extract elicited strong inhibitions to those pollens. Profilin was found to be a relevant cross-reactive antigen in these patients. CONCLUSION: The results of this study provide evidence that peach allergy is linked to sensitization to several taxonomically unrelated pollens. This is attributable to the ubiquitous nature of the IgE binding determinants-such as profilins-between peach and taxonomically unrelated pollens.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Prevention or treatment of postoperative vomiting using ondansetron? A mathematical assessment.

STUDY OBJECTIVES: To assess the effectiveness of ondansetron versus placebo when used as prophylaxis of postoperative vomiting compared to its use for the treatment of established postoperative vomiting. DATA SOURCES: All prospectively randomized controlled trials, identified using the MEDLINE database and which had been included in two previously published meta-analyses. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: The effectiveness of ondansetron (1, 4, and 8 mg) used for prevention (28 studies) or treatment (two studies) of postoperative vomiting was compared using odds ratios and number needed to treat (NNT) scores. NNT values were extrapolated to a similar incidence of vomiting in the placebo groups. The effectiveness equivalence between both meta-analyses was compared by assessing the degree of coincidence between the respective 95% confidence intervals (CI). The 1-mg dose was superior in treatment than in prophylaxis, odds ratios (95% CI): 2.73 (1.81-4.11) versus 1.34 (1.04-1.74), respectively (p < 0.05), although this difference did not reach statistical significance when the NNT values were compared. For the 4-mg dose, a near congruence was observed in the odds ratios; 3.34 (2.22-5.03) versus 2.61 (2.24-3.05) as well as in the NNT values: 3.90 (2.97-5.78) versus 3.40 (2.93-4.07). For the 8-mg dose, there were equivalent NNT values: 4.10 (3.08-6.23) versus 4.08 (3.28-5.43), and with respect to the odds ratios: 3.18 (2.11-4.81) versus 2.42 (1.95-2.99). The differences were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: For the usual doses recommended for postoperative emesis, there was equivalent effectiveness of ondansetron whether administered as prophylaxis or as a treatment of established vomiting.

Antiemetics↗
PubMed1999

Beer-induced anaphylaxis: identification of allergens.

BACKGROUND: We report on a 21-year-old atopic woman who developed urticaria, angioedema of the face, and wheezy dyspnea shortly after drinking beer and after eating a corn-made snack. METHODS: Skin prick tests and specific IgE determinations to beer ingredients and cereal extracts were performed. Immunoblotting inhibition assays were carried out to investigate possible common allergens shared by barley and malt with corn. RESULTS: Skin prick tests and specific IgE measurements with beer, barley, malt, wheat, corn, rye, rice, and oat flour were positive. Ten pollen-allergic patients showed negative skin tests to beer. Double-blind, placebo-controlled, oral challenge tests with sodium metabisulfite and wheat flour were negative. Immunoblotting demonstrated several IgE-binding bands at 31-56 kDa in malt and barley extracts, and a major band at 38 kDa in the beer extract. Immunoblot inhibition assays showed that malt extract was able to inhibit most of the IgE-binding bands in wheat and corn extracts, whereas corn did not produce significant inhibition to barley and malt extracts. CONCLUSIONS: This patient developed type I hypersensitivity to barley/malt and corn. Although she also showed IgE reactivity to wheat and other cereals, no symptoms were elicited upon ingestion of these cereals, probably indicating latent sensitization to them.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1999

Prophylactic ondansetron for postoperative emesis. Meta-analysis of its effectiveness in patients with previous history of postoperative nausea and vomiting.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare, by means of meta-analysis, the postoperative antiemetic efficacy of ondansetron in patients with and without antecedents of postoperative nausea and vomiting. METHODS: MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for randomised placebo-controlled trials which evaluated the antiemetic effectiveness of 4 mg and 8 mg intravenous doses of prophylactic ondansetron in adult patients. A further selection was with respect to those studies which noted the patient's previous history of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PH-PONV) and, for the meta-analysis, the patients were divided into two sub-groups: those with (PH-PONV +) and those without a previous history of postoperative nausea and vomiting (PH-PONV -). Absence of vomiting was used as the index of effectiveness. RESULTS: Twenty-one trials involving 3984 patients (2446 in ondansetron groups and 1538 in placebo groups; 1163 PH-PONV(+) patients and 2821 PH-PONV(-) patients) met the selection criteria. The effectiveness of the 4 mg dose of ondansetron was: OR (95% CI)=2.40 (1.77-3.26) vs. 2.71 (2.23-3.30) for the patients of PH-PONV(+) and PH-PONV(-) sub-groups, respectively. For the 8 mg dose, the effectiveness of ondansetron was: PH-PONV(+)=4.21 (2.66-6.66) and PH-PONV(-)=2.61 (1.81-3.59). For neither of the doses evaluated was there any significant statistical difference between the sub-groups. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of ondansetron in the prevention of postoperative vomiting is not affected by the patients' PH-PONV.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

Prophylactic ondansetron for post-operative emesis: meta-analysis of its effectiveness in patients with and without a previous history of motion sickness.

The post-operative anti-emetic efficacy of 4 and 8 mg of ondansetron in adult patients with and without a previous history of motion sickness (PHMS) was assessed by meta-analysis. MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized placebo-controlled trials evaluating the anti-emetic effectiveness of ondansetron in a 24-h period. In the 49 studies found, a further selection was with respect to those studies that noted the patient's previous history of motion sickness. Twelve trials involving 2122 patients; 446 previous history of motion sickness(+) patients and 1676 previous history of motion sickness(-) patients met the selection criteria. The dose of 4 mg ondansetron was 71.5% more effective in previous history of motion sickness(+) than in previous history of motion sickness(-) patients. For the 8 mg dose, the odds ratios (95% CI) were: previous history of motion sickness(+) = 3.11 (1.40-6.93) and previous history of motion sickness(-) = 2.08 (1.35-3.21). The calculated number needed to treat was also more favourable in previous history of motion sickness(+) patients for both doses of ondansetron, demonstrating a higher effectiveness in this subgroup of patients.

Antiemetics↗
PubMed1999

[Scientific publications from the Spanish anesthesiology departments in 1989-1998. Authorship of the articles].

OBJECTIVES: To quantify the scientific publication of Spanish anesthesiologists and analyse article authorship. METHOD: Bibliometric study. On MEDLINE we identified articles from Spanish anesthesiology departments published between 1989 and 1998. An entry for each article was created to record name, number and order of authors, journal source and length of article. The data base also noted where the article was published (Spain or abroad). Several bibliographic indices were calculated (authors per article, pages per article, articles per year, and more). The number of articles published by Spanish anesthesiologists was compared to the number published around the world. RESULTS: We analyzed 604 articles from 12 Spanish journals and 176 from 40 foreign journals. The numbers of authors per article in Spanish publications during the first and last three-year periods were 4.86 and 5.28, respectively (p < 0.05). The numbers of authors per article published abroad for the same periods were 5.73 and 5.01, respectively. The number of pages published in international journals in the last three-year period was four-fold greater than in the first. CONCLUSIONS: The bibliographic indices that reflect publication by Spanish anesthesiologists internationally is evolving positively. Data from Spanish journals allow us to deduce the existence of a certain degree of unjustified addition of authors. A quantitative-qualitative method for rating curriculum vitae is proposed in order to reduce that tendency.

Anesthesiology↗
PubMed1998

A method for quantitation of food biologic activity: results with peach allergen extracts.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to develop a quantitative skin test assay for measurement of the biologic activity of food allergen extracts, as well as to report the results obtained with a peach extract labeled in food biological units (FBUs). METHODS: We prepared a biologically quantified peach extract. The biologic activity was measured in FBUs by assigning 100 FBU/ml to the biologic activity of the extract that elicited a wheal area with a geometric mean equal to that produced by the prick-prick method by using the food itself in a population of 30 patients allergic to food. We evaluated 265 patients, including 70 patients allergic to peach and 195 control subjects (100 nonatopic subjects and 95 subjects allergic to pollen). The biologically quantified peach extract was used during the study and was compared with four commercial peach extracts, which were labeled in weight per volume. RESULTS: The sensitivity of the nonstandardized commercial peach extracts varied from 4.3% to 74%, with biologic activity being very low in all of them. The sensitivity of the biologically quantified peach extract was 100%, with a 100% concordance between the prick-prick and the skin prick test results. CONCLUSION: These data demonstrate that if peach allergen preparations were biologically standardized in FBUs, the quality of these food extracts used for diagnosis would be improved.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Peach allergy pattern: experience in 70 patients.

We report the clinical characteristics of peach allergy encountered in a population of peach-allergic patients. We evaluated 165 patients. The 70 peach-allergic patients were diagnosed through clinical history, the skin prick-prick test, and open oral challenge and rub tests to peach. As a pollinic control group, 95 pollen-allergic patients were also evaluated. Some 49% of the patients were male and 51% female. The mean age was 20 +/- 8 years. Oral allergy syndrome (86%) was the most common symptom, followed by contact urticaria (61%) and systemic symptoms (26%). Some 67% of the patients were allergic to peach pulp and 36% reported symptoms related to canned peach. Canned peach and pulp symptoms were statistically associated (P < 0.01), and symptoms to canned peach were more frequently reported by patients with systemic symptoms (P < 0.05). On evaluation of the peach-allergic patients' characteristics, three risk factors--allergy to peach pulp, allergy to canned peach, and peach allergy in non-pollen-allergic patients--were found, indicating development of systemic symptoms on eating peach. Most of the peach-allergic patients (81%) also had pollen allergy, which was linked to a higher prevalence of asthma (73%) than in the pollen-allergic patients of the control group (48%); this difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Finally, two groups were clearly defined by the seriousness of the peach allergy--the non-pollen-allergic patients were more predisposed to the occurrence of systemic symptoms (> 50%), and the pollen-allergic patients to asthma (> 70%).

Adolescent↗