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Biomedical subjects

J D Pedreira

Publications and source records attributed to J D Pedreira.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[GB virus C: lack of association with transaminases levels, CD4 and HIV viral load in aids patients].

OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of GBV-C-RNA in sera of HIV-infected patients and determine whether differences in immunological condition and hepatic disease exist between GBV-C positive and negative patients. METHODS: The presence of GBV-C-RNA was determined in sera of 222 HIV-positive patients by semi-automated RT-PCR. A comparison of GBV-C-RNA positive and negative patients was made by studying a series of clinical and analytical parameters. This same comparison was made in particular between those coinfected with HCV and GBV-C and those who only presented GBV-C. RESULTS: Prevalence of GBV-C-RNA was 28.8%. The most frequent hepatotropic virus was HCV, appearing in 71.6% of cases. Coinfection with HCV and HGV was present in 17% and 8.6% only had GBV-C. Patients positive for GBV-C-RNA showed clinical and analytical characteristics similar to those found in GBV-C-RNA negative patients. Among the HCV-GBV-C coinfected and those presenting HGV as the only virus it was observed that the coinfected group presented alterations in transaminases and predominance of parenteral transmission as a risk factor for HIV, whereas the GBV-C group presented normal transaminases and predominance of sexual transmission. No differences were perceived in mean CD4 and HIV-RNA values in both groups. CONCLUSIONS: Being positive for GBV-C in HIV-positive patients does not influence the presence of hepatic disease that in these patients is frequently accompanied by coinfection with other hepatotropic viruses. Moreover, it does not seem to influence the viremia of the HIV nor the CD4 cell counts.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2002

Interferon-alpha plus ribavirin for 12 months increases the sustained response rates in chronic hepatitis C relapsers.

BACKGROUND: The effectiveness and tolerability of combination therapy for 12 months have not been evaluated sufficiently in chronic hepatitis C relapsers to interferon. AIMS: To evaluate the sustained response to interferon plus ribavirin for 12 months in chronic hepatitis C relapsers. METHODS: We included 55 chronic hepatitis C relapsers in a 12-month treatment protocol with interferon (3 MU thrice weekly) plus ribavirin (1-1.2 g/day). The effectiveness was evaluated using serum aminotransferase and hepatitis C virus RNA levels, alanine aminotransferase normalization and viraemia clearance after 12 months, defining the end-of-treatment response, and 6 months after completion of therapy, defining the sustained response. Adverse effects were recorded. RESULTS: End-of-treatment response and sustained response were achieved in 47 (85%) and 37 (67%) patients, respectively; there were 10 (21%) relapsers after combination therapy. Predictive factors of sustained response included the genotype (non-1 95% vs. 1 48%; P < 0.001), lower viraemia (503 917 +/- 553 230 vs. 901 393 +/- 548 267 copies/mL; P < 0.005), higher alanine aminotransferase levels (137 +/- 75 vs. 103 +/- 41 IU/L; P < 0.05) and a lower gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase/alanine aminotransferase ratio (0.30 +/- 0.23 vs. 0.49 +/- 0.39; P < 0.05). Tolerance to therapy was good, with no withdrawals. CONCLUSIONS: Interferon plus ribavirin treatment for 12 months in chronic hepatitis C relapsers yields high sustained response rates and is well tolerated. The sustained response is related to a non-1 genotype, lower baseline viraemia, higher alanine aminotransferase level and a lower gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase/alanine aminotransferase ratio.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

[Community acquired pneumonia requiring admission to hospital. Etiology and follow-up of 366 cases].

UNLABELLED: An eighteen-month prospective study designed to determine the incidence, etiology and prognosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults requiring admission to hospital. METHODS: We studied 366 patients admitted to hospital after being diagnosed of CAP at the Emergency Room of a General Hospital. Standard laboratory methods were used for culture from blood and sputum, and serology tests for Legionella pneumophila. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci and Coxiella burnetti. Patients were evaluated until complete recovery, paying special attention to prognostic factors predictive of death. RESULTS: An etiological diagnosis was established in 99 patients (27.6%). Legionella pneumophila was the most common pathogen accounting for 30 cases (8.2%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae with 26 cases. 26 patients died (mortality rate of 7%); factors predictive of death included pre-existing disease, tachypnea and elevated blood urea nitrogen level. CONCLUSIONS: CAP represented 4.4% of admissions. Legionella pneumophila was the most frequently identified pathogen. If tachypnea and/or uremia are noted on admission, there is an increase in the risk of death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1992

[Immunoglobulins, beta-2 microglobulin and lymphocyte subpopulations in patients addicted to parenteral drugs (IVDA)].

Disorders in serum immunoglobulins, beta-2 microglobulin and lymphocyte subpopulations in parenterally drug-addict patients (PDAP) are analyzed. The study is divided in three parts. In the first one, a group of 33 HIV-negative PDAP without intercurrent diseases is compared with a control group of healthy non-addict persons. In the second part, the differences between a group of 58 HIV-negative PDAP and a group of 95 HIV-positive PDAP are studied. In the third part, the differences between the group of HIV-negative PDAP without associated procedures and a subgroup of HIV-positive patients including 31 asymptomatic carriers in phase II, are studied. No statistically significant differences were detected between the control group and the HIV-negative PDAP group. The HIV-positive PDAP group showed lymphocytes CD3, CD4 and a CD4/CD3 ratio statistically lower than the HIV-negative group, as well as a significant increase of the immunoglobulin IgG and beta-2 microglobulin. The same results were obtained when the subgroup of HIV-positive patients in phase II was compared with the group of HIV-negative PDAP without intercurrent diseases. According to these results, we conclude that the immunological disorders detected in PDAP patients seem to be more related with the infection by the human immunodeficiency virus and with other associated infections than with the drug-addiction itself.

Adult↗