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Biomedical subjects

J Catalan

Publications and source records attributed to J Catalan.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

Neurophysiological evaluation of zidovudine in asymptomatic HIV-1 infection: a longitudinal placebo-controlled study.

The effect of early antiretroviral medication with zidovudine on neurophysiological functions was evaluated in subjects with asymptomatic HIV-1 infection. Patients were recruited participants of a larger double-blind randomised placebo-controlled treatment trial with zidovudine (Concorde). The main outcome measures included: quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG), auditory event-related potentials (AEP) and pattern-reversal visual evoked potentials (PRVEP), as well as standard clinical, virological and immunological markers. No significant impairment and no difference between treatment groups was found in visual P100 latency and auditory long-latency P3 responses which is in agreement with the absence of neurological and neuropsychological impairment over the study period. Significant treatment effects were revealed by quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG). While the placebo group showed a significant increase in delta and theta slow frequency QEEG activity over the study period, slow wave amplitude remained unchanged in the zidovudine group after a mean follow-up period of 28 months. In summary, the data provide evidence for a low level neuropathological process in asymptomatic HIV-1 infection which can be effectively suppressed by antiretroviral medication.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Sister-chromatid exchanges in cattle: breed, sex and BrdU dose effects.

The spontaneous incidence of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) was investigated in a group of cattle, composed of 21 animals of both sexes and from two different breeds (Fleckvieh and Pirenaica). Peripheral lymphocytes of these animals were cultured in three different bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) concentrations: 5, 15 and 30 micrograms/ml. The work was carried out following a randomized block design. Among the analyzed sources of variability, group, breed and BrdU dose factors had significant effects on the SCE frequency. No differences between sexes were found. Comparisons of the BdrU doses showed that the 5 micrograms/ml dose differed from both the 15 and 30 micrograms/ml doses, whereas the 15 and 30 micrograms/ml doses did not differ from each other. The results indicate that the breed of cattle as well as the BrdU dose chosen for the analysis must be considered when the SCE test is used for the biomonitoring of environmental mutagens.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed1995

Suicidal behaviour and HIV infection--is there a link?

The association between suicidal behaviour and HIV infection has been the subject of much attention in recent years. In this paper we review the evidence about the prevalence of suicide, suicidal ideation and deliberate self-harm in individuals with HIV infection. Finally we discuss the significance of the findings, in particular some of the methodological problems encountered in this field.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Psychological distress among gay men supporting a lover or partner with AIDS: a pilot study.

To date, there has been little research to examine how much psychological distress is caused to people providing care and support to a lover or partner with AIDS. This study aimed to determine the level of psychological distress experienced by a sample of gay men providing care and support to a lover or partner with AIDS. It was conducted as a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. A control group was not enlisted, thus the study was descriptive in nature. The experimental hypothesis proposed that providing care and support would result in a high level of psychological distress. Thirty-eight gay men, some of whom themselves were infected with HIV, who were the primary carer of a lover or partner with an AIDS diagnosis were assessed using a self-report questionnaire. The 28-item General Health Questionnaire was used as a measure of global psychological distress. In addition, Martin's (1988) Traumatic Stress Response Scale was used as a measure of psychological distress arising specifically from AIDS. The sample reported high levels of global and AIDS-specific psychological distress. The levels of distress reported were of such a degree to indicate that the majority of the sample were probably suffering from significant psychiatric problems. The results strongly suggest that providing care and support to a lover or partner with AIDS may have an adverse affect on the carer's own psychological health: however, because of the design of the study it is impossible to state this conclusively.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Testing patients for HIV before surgery: the views of doctors performing surgery.

The aim of this study was to investigate the attitudes of doctors performing surgery to the HIV antibody testing of surgical patients. Fifty of eighty (62.5%) doctors performing surgery who are working in two London teaching hospitals returned completed anonymous postal questionnaires. Sixty-six per cent of the sample would like some form of compulsory testing of pre-operative patients, although most of them feel that this is only necessary for patients considered to be in 'high-risk groups'. Eighty-four per cent believe that this would ensure their safety from infection during surgery. Forty-eight per cent agreed with testing patients without their consent. Results suggest that most of the doctors performing surgery in this study agree with compulsory HIV antibody testing of pre-operative patients in the belief that this would protect them from infection during surgery. The problems associated with compulsory testing and relying on such testing in order to protect doctors from infection during surgery are discussed.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1995

Acceptance of zidovudine (AZT) in early HIV disease: the role of health beliefs.

The object of this paper is to explore the health beliefs associated with taking AZT in asymptomatic HIV seropositive individuals. Twenty-eight asymptomatic gay men receiving out-patient care completed self-report questionnaires. Information was gathered on demography, general state of health, health locus of control and health beliefs about AZT therapy. Analyses revealed that 'acceptors' and 'decliners' of early (controversial) medical intervention in HIV disease hold distinctly different beliefs regarding their own health and its relation to treatment. An awareness of the fact that a patient's view of themselves is likely to accord with any action or treatment decision they may have taken, could help to promote a better understanding of why treatment behaviours may or may not appear to be in harmony with the doctors own views and any current medical advice being offered.

Adult↗
PubMed1995

Long-term zidovudine reduces neurocognitive deficits in HIV-1 infection.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the efficacy of zidovudine (ZDV) in preventing decline of neurocognitive functions in HIV-1 infection. DESIGN: Retrospective evaluation of subjects enrolled in a natural history study. Two analyses were made to evaluate the effect of (1) current ZDV, irrespective of length of treatment and (2) long-term ZDV treatment for at least 1 year. SETTING: Subjects were recruited from HIV out-patient clinics. PATIENTS: HIV-1-seropositive subjects were assigned to one of three groups according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classification: asymptomatic infection (n = 60), symptomatic infection but without AIDS (n = 51), and AIDS (n = 32). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Standardized neuropsychological and neurophysiological measures [electroencephalogram (EEG) and long-latency evoked potentials]. RESULTS: Long-term ZDV use was associated with improved cognitive performance in subjects with early symptomatic HIV-1 infection and AIDS, compared to subjects in the same clinical stage but without previous ZDV treatment. This was corroborated by neurophysiological evidence of reduced slow-wave EEG amplitude in the ZDV-treated subjects. The advantage of ZDV treatment was evident despite lower immune status in most treated subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The findings in this natural history study indicate that long-term ZDV treatment may be an effective prophylactic to reduce neurocognitive deficits in symptomatic HIV-1 infection, thereby lowering the risk for developing HIV-1-associated dementia.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗
PubMed1995

Highly active microbial communities in the ice and snow cover of high mountain lakes.

An exploratory study carried out in Pyrenean and Alpine lakes shows that a rich, active microbial community lives in the slush layers of the winter cover of such lakes in spite of the low temperature and the seasonal occurrence of the habitat. Bacteria were very diverse in morphology, with filaments reaching up to 100 (mu)m long; flagellates, both autotrophic (chrysophytes, cryptophytes, dinoflagellates, and volvocales) and heterotrophic, and ciliates were abundant, reaching biovolume values up to 2.7 x 10(sup6) (mu)m(sup3) ml(sup-1). Species composition was very variable, with dominance depending on date and depth. Although many species were typical of lake plankton communities, some were restricted to the slush, for instance the predatory ciliates Dileptus sp. and Lacrymaria sp., and others were restricted to the surface pools, such as the snow algae Chlamydomonas nivalis. Microbial biomasses and usually bacterial and algal activities were greater in the slush layers than in the lake water. Photosynthesis rate in the upper cover layers reached values up to 0.5 (mu)g of C liter(sup-1) h(sup-1), and high bacterial activities up to 226 pmol of leucine incorporated liter(sup-1) h(sup-1) and 25 pmol of thymidine incorporated liter(sup-1) h(sup-1) were measured. For most species, lake water flooding the ice and snow cover could provide an inoculum. Differential growth depending on the environmental conditions (nutrients, organic matter, light) of a particular slush layer could provide dominance of different groups or species. However, there was no obvious colonizing mechanism for those species not appearing either in plankton or in communities on top of the snowpack.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1995

Psychological interventions in infection with the human immunodeficiency virus.

BACKGROUND: Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is associated with substantial psychiatric morbidity. This paper summarises the main forms of psychological intervention currently used, and reviews research evidence for their efficacy. METHOD: Publications on the mental health aspects of HIV infection and psychological interventions were identified through the main HIV journals and general psychiatric and psychological periodicals, with the assistance of AIDS Abstracts. RESULTS: Publications concerned psychological interventions at the time of HIV testing, interventions for infected people at different stages of disease, and risk-reduction interventions. While many publications were identified describing uncontrolled investigations, only a few studies had involved systematic evaluative research. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need for systematic evaluation of psychological interventions for HIV infection, in terms of both efficacy and cost.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1994

Induction of micronuclei in peripheral blood and bone marrow erythrocytes of rats and mice exposed to 1,3-butadiene by inhalation.

Female CB6F1 mice and male Wistar rats were exposed to different concentrations of 1,3-butadiene (1,3-BD) by inhalation. Micronucleus tests using both peripheral blood erythrocytes and femoral marrow cells of these animals were performed. Cells were stained either using conventional acridine orange (AO) staining or supravitally using AO-coated slides. Dose-dependent increases in the frequency of micronuclei (MN) were observed both in blood and in bone marrow cells in mice. 1,3-BD did not, however, increase the frequency of MN in either blood or bone marrow cells of rats at any of the tested concentrations.

Administration, Inhalation↗
PubMed1994

Heterosexuals and HIV disease: a controlled investigation into the psychosocial factors associated with psychiatric morbidity.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the prevalence of current and past psychiatric morbidity among HIV seropositive and HIV seronegative heterosexual men and women and to identify the psychosocial factors associated with psychiatric morbidity. Twenty-four asymptomatic HIV seropositive and twenty-six HIV seronegative heterosexuals were included in the study. Outcome measures included socio-demographic data, psychiatric history, current psychological status (Zung Self-Report Anxiety Scale, Zung Self-Report Depression Scale, Symptom Check List 90-R), Social Supports and Locus of Control Scales, and information on changes in work, social, and sexual life after HIV testing. There were no significant differences between HIV seropositive heterosexuals and HIV seronegative controls on any of the outcome measures. Levels of psychiatric morbidity were generally low and similar to those expected in a general out-patient medical population. Multiple regression analyses showed that degree of social support was the only significant factor associated with psychiatric morbidity. The implications of the findings are discussed.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

Who chooses to have the HIV antibody test in the antenatal clinic?

With the increase in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) seroprevalence amongst antenatal clinic attenders, and given that current medical opinion considers it desirable that a woman is aware of her serostatus, it has been recommended that the HIV test is offered to all women in the antenatal clinic and that its uptake is monitored. This paper reports on the uptake rate during the 12 months to February 1990 at a central London hospital, which was 17%, and the characteristics of the women who agreed to be tested for HIV. Using information collected by the midwife on an interactive computer during the 'booking' interview, it was found that women who were single and not in a stable relationship (p < 0.001) and those who described themselves as Mediterranean (p < 0.01) were more likely to accept the test. Caucasian women (p < 0.05) and married women (p < 0.05) were less likely to accept the test. Accepters did not differ from decliners in any other variable examined. Possible reasons for these differences are discussed.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1994

A longitudinal study of the neuropsychiatric consequences of HIV-1 infection in gay men. I. Neuropsychological performance and neurological status at baseline and at 12-month follow-up.

The aim of this study was to determine whether HIV infection is associated with neurological or neuropsychological impairment in the asymptomatic and early symptomatic stages of disease. Subjects included 61 gay men (41 HIV-, 20 HIV+) who were assessed at the time of requesting their first HIV test and again 12 months later. The assessments at baseline were conducted double-blind to HIV serostatus. Measures included a neuropsychological battery, neurological examination and full psychiatric assessment. There were no differences between the asymptomatic HIV+ and HIV- groups at baseline or at follow-up in terms of mean scores on neuropsychological tests. Mean scores were within the normal range for all neuropsychological tests for both groups. Multiple regression analysis was used to predict each individual's performance at follow-up on the basis of their baseline performance, psychiatric state, neurological history and drug use for each of the neuropsychological tests. HIV+ subjects were more likely than control subjects to perform at a significantly lower level at follow-up on one or more tests than predicted on the basis of their baseline performance.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗
PubMed1994

A longitudinal study of the neuropsychiatric consequences of HIV-1 infection in gay men. II. Psychological and health status at baseline and at 12-month follow-up.

The aim of this study was to determine whether HIV infection is associated with increased psychosocial distress in the asymptomatic and early symptomatic stages of disease and to determine the factors associated with reporting health symptoms. Subjects included 61 gay men (41 HIV--, 20 HIV+) who were assessed at the time of requesting their first HIV test and again 12 months later. Measures included a detailed standardized psychiatric interview (Present State Examination, PSE), a range of psychosocial self-report measures and a physical symptom checklist. There were no differences between the HIV+ and HIV-- groups in terms of self-reported symptoms. Multiple regression analysis showed that the symptom reporting was not associated with clinical or immunological markers of disease progression but was associated with measures of psychosocial distress. Although both groups showed elevated levels of psychosocial distress at the time of HIV testing, there were no differences between serostatus groups at follow-up. Multiple regression analysis indicated that the best predictors of PSE scores at follow-up were baseline PSE score and a history of psychiatric illness. Early HIV disease is not associated with increased psychosocial distress and symptom reporting is more closely related to psychological measures than to clinical or immunological markers of disease.

AIDS Dementia Complex↗