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Biomedical subjects

J Mallolas

Publications and source records attributed to J Mallolas.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Targets of cytoprotection in acute ischemic stroke: present and future.

Although the management of stroke has improved remarkably over the last decade due mainly to the advent of thrombolysis, most neuroprotective agents, although successful in animal studies, have failed in humans. Our increasing knowledge concerning the ischemic cascade is leading to a considerable development of pharmacological tools suggesting that each step of this cascade might be a target for cytoprotection. Glutamate has long been recognized to play key roles in the pathophysiology of ischemia. However, although some trials are still ongoing, the results from several completed trials with drugs interfering with the glutamatergic pathway have been disappointing. Regarding the inhibition of glutamate release as a possible target for cytoprotection, it might be afforded either by decreasing glutamate efflux or by increasing glutamate uptake. In this context, it has been shown that glutamate transport is the primary and only mechanism for maintaining extracellular glutamate concentrations below excitotoxic levels. This transport is executed by the five high-affinity, sodium-dependent plasma membrane glutamate transporters. Among them, the transporter EAAT2 is responsible for up to 90% of all glutamate transport. We will discuss the effect of different neuroprotective tools (membrane stabilizers or endogenous neuroprotection) affecting glutamate efflux and/or expression of EAAT2. We will also describe the finding of a novel polymorphism in the EAAT2 promoter region which could be responsible for differences in both gene function and regulation under pathological conditions such as cerebral ischemia, and which might well account for the failure of glutamate antagonists in the clinical practice. These results may possess important therapeutic implications in the management of patients at risk of ischemic events, since it has been demonstrated that those patients with progressing stroke have higher plasma concentrations of glutamate which remain elevated up to 24 h when compared to the levels in patients without neurological deterioration.

Animals↗

Intrathoracic fat in HIV-infected patients.

BACKGROUND: The impact of HIV infection or antiretroviral therapy on the intrathoracic fat compartment is unknown. METHODS: Consecutive clinically stable HIV-infected adult patients, irrespective of exposure to antiretroviral therapy, and non-HIV-infected healthy volunteers, both without clinical evidence of body fat changes consistent with lipodystrophy and adjusted for age, gender and body mass index, were recruited for this study. Thoracic and abdominal fat was assessed by computed tomography and compared between patients and controls. RESULTS: There were nine women (33%) and 18 men (67%) in each group. Nineteen patients (70%) had been taking antiretrovirals for a median of 8 months (interquartile range: 6-11). Among the HIV-infected patients, intrathoracic fat (median; interquartile range) did not differ significantly between treated (6.7 cm(2); 4.5-8.3 cm(2)) and untreated (6.9 cm(2); 5.7-10.9 cm(2)) individuals (P=0.288). However, intrathoracic fat content (median; interquartile range) was higher in HIV-infected patients (6.8 cm(2); 5.6-10.5 cm(2)) than in controls (5.6 cm(2); 3.9-6.7 cm(2)) (P=0.025). Intrathoracic fat was positively correlated with intra-abdominal fat both in patients (rho=0.6, P=0.002) and in controls (rho=0.7, P=0.004). CONCLUSION: In HIV-infected adults without clinical evidence of lipodystrophy, intrathoracic fat content was higher than in healthy persons and positively correlated with intra-abdominal fat content.

Abdomen↗

Once-daily antiretroviral therapy: Spanish Consensus Statement.

BACKGROUND: Administration of antiretroviral therapy (ART) once daily is creating extraordinary interest among the members of the scientific community and also among those who receive the therapy. However, in clinical practice, some doubts remain about its use. OBJECTIVES: This document examines the characteristics and possibilities of treatment administered once daily. METHODS: Consensus of 248 Spanish experts in the field. RESULTS: Once-daily dosing is considered an added value which could favour adherence and, therefore, efficacy, as well as the quality of life of certain patients, however, the objective of adequate adherence in the long term is often difficult to achieve regardless of the treatment used. In theory, any patient can receive once-daily therapy, although some patients could particularly benefit from it, e.g. those with unfavourable social or personal circumstances, including drug users, patients whose treatment must be supervised, patients receiving multiple medications, or those who need rescue therapy after multiple treatment failures. At present, it is possible to design once-daily ART using some of the combinations of drugs considered as first-choice in national and international recommendations for antiretroviral therapy, but the options are still limited. The marketing of new drugs with this characteristic could allow us to increase the number and types of patient who can benefit from once-daily regimens, including those patients who need rescue therapy. CONCLUSIONS: Once-daily ART is a good alternative to regimens administered several times each day when a potent combination of active drugs is available.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Mitochondrial DNA depletion in liver tissue of patients infected with hepatitis C virus: contributing effect of HIV infection?

OBJECTIVES: It has been suggested that chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection depletes mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the liver. Because decreased mtDNA levels were also found in humans infected with HIV, we investigated whether HIV may have aggravated hepatic mtDNA depletion in individuals with HCV infection. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, liver biopsies were performed in a total of 40 individuals prior to any antiviral therapy. The individuals were recruited from the Hospital Clinic, Barcelona and the HIV Centre, Dusseldorf. Seventeen patients were negative for HIV and HCV and were biopsied for liver enzyme elevation of unknown cause (controls), 14 individuals had chronic HCV but no HIV infection, and nine subjects were coinfected with both viruses. mtDNA and liver histology were centrally assessed. RESULTS: The groups did not differ with respect to age, gender, liver function tests and HCV viral load, where applicable. mtDNA levels were decreased by 19% in the HCV-monoinfected group (P=0.03) and by 27% in the HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects (P=0.02) compared to controls. The mtDNA content, however, did not differ between individuals with HCV monoinfection and HCV/HIV coinfection (P=0.75). The degrees of liver fibrosis, inflammatory activity or steatosis did not correlate with mtDNA content. CONCLUSIONS: Liver mtDNA content is reduced in both HCV-monoinfected and HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Under the limitations of our study, we could demonstrate only a slight trend towards more pronounced mtDNA depletion in HIV/HCV-coinfected subjects.

Adult↗

Consensus conference on chronic viral hepatitis and HIV infection: updated Spanish recommendations.

Chronic hepatitis B and C represent a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients worldwide. New treatment options against both hepatitis B (HBV) and C (HCV) viruses have prompted us to update previous recommendations for the management of coinfected individuals. Fifteen topics (nine related to HCV, five to HBV and one to both viruses) were selected for this purpose. A panel of Spanish experts in the field was invited to review these areas and propose specific recommendations, which were scored according to the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA) grading system. These guidelines represent a comprehensive and updated overview on the management of hepatitis B and C in HIV-infected patients.

Anti-HIV Agents↗

Cryptic chromosomal rearrangement screening in 30 patients with mental retardation and dysmorphic features.

Mental retardation affects 1-3% of the general population, and the genetic causes in many cases are unknown. Cytogenetically undetected chromosomal imbalances have been indicated as an explanation. Nowadays, due to the development of molecular cytogenetic techniques, it is possible to identify cryptic rearrangements involving the ends of chromosomes. We report a screening using chromosome-specific telomere fluorescence in-situ hybridization (FISH) probes, in a group of 30 patients with a well-characterized phenotype including mental retardation, dysmorphic features, and a normal karyotype. Among them, two subtelomeric rearrangements have been detected and characterized. One of them is a de novo deletion of 1p36, which has been previously described as a new contiguous gene syndrome. The second is an unbalanced product of a cryptic translocation involving chromosomes 1 and 13, which results in a partial 1q trisomy and partial 13q monosomy. These findings highlight, the importance of searching for cryptic subtelomeric rearrangements in non-syndromic mentally retarded patients.

Adolescent↗

Comparison of metabolic abnormalities 48 weeks after switching from highly active antiretroviral therapy containing a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor to Trizivir versus continued highly active antiretroviral therapy.

Forty patients participating in the TRIZAL study were treated with a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor (NNRTI)-containing regimen before being randomly assigned either to continue their baseline therapy or to switch to a triple nucleoside regimen. No difference was observed in treatment efficacy between the two groups, and total cholesterol was observed to improve significantly in the switch group. Switch maintenance may be an appropriate strategy in patients treated with an NNRTI.

Antiretroviral Therapy, Highly Active↗

Clinical course and prognostic factors of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy in patients treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy.

We analyzed survival rates, neurologic function, and prognostic factors for 118 consecutive patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in 11 hospitals throughout Spain. Seventy-five patients (63.6%) remained alive for a median of 114 weeks (2.2 years) after diagnosis of PML. Neurologic function of the survivors was categorized as cure or improvement in 33, stabilization or worsening in 40, and unknown in 2. The baseline CD4+ cell count was the only variable found with prognostic significance. The odds ratio of death was 2.71 (95% confidence interval, 1.19-6.15) for patients with CD4+ cell counts of <100 cells/microL, compared with patients who had CD4+ cell counts of > or =100 cells/microL. One-third of patients with PML died despite receipt of HAART; neurologic function improved in approximately one-half of the survivors. A CD4+ cell count of <100 cells/microL was associated with higher mortality.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

TRIZAL study: switching from successful HAART to Trizivir (abacavir-lamivudine-zidovudine combination tablet): 48 weeks efficacy, safety and adherence results.

OBJECTIVE: To assess the antiviral efficacy, safety, and adherence in subjects who switched to Trizivir following long-term HIV-1 RNA suppression. STUDY DESIGN: A randomized, open-label, multicentre, 48-week comparative study in subjects who have received two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus a protease inhibitor or an nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor or three nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors for at least 6 months, with a history of undetectable plasma HIV-1 RNA since initiation of therapy and plasma viral load of < 50 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL at screening. METHODS: Subjects were randomized 1:1 to continue their current treatment or to switch to a simplified treatment with Trizivir administered twice daily. Assessments included plasma HIV-1 RNA, lymphocyte counts, clinical laboratory evaluations, adverse events, and adherence to treatment (obtained via subject self-report). Treatment failure was defined as a plasma viral load of >/= 400 HIV-1 RNA copies/mL on two consecutive occasions or premature discontinuation of randomized treatment. RESULTS: At week 48, the proportion of treatment failures in Trizivir arm (23/106, 22%) was noninferior to that observed in continued arm (23/103, 22%) with a treatment difference stratified by prior ART of 1.2%[-10.1; 12.5]. Incidence of adverse events was similar in both treatment groups. The incidence of possible hypersensitivity reaction in the Trizivir trade mark arm was 10%. Significant reductions in cholesterol and triglyceride plasma levels were observed in the Trizivir arm (P < 0.001 and P = 0.006, respectively). CONCLUSION: Switching to Trizivir offers a potent and simplified regimen with equivalent efficacy and significant improvement in lipid abnormalities compared to continued triple therapy.

Adult↗

Incidence of fragile X in 5,000 consecutive newborn males.

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the commonest cause of inherited mental retardation in males. Even though this affirmation is repeated in virtually all papers referring to FXS, the precise frequency of this syndrome in the general population is unknown. We present a general population screening analyzing an anonymous series of 5,000 consecutive newborn males from the neonatal screening program of the population of Catalonia in Spain. The aim of the study is to determine the incidence of FXS via a simple and economical methodology based on the nonamplification of the fragment containing the CGG repeats of the FRAXA locus in the samples carrying alleles over 52 repeats. From the initial 5,000 samples, 4,920 were in the normal range, 15 gave rise to bands with more than 52 repeats (11 corresponded to intermediate alleles and four premutated alleles). After further studies, two samples were considered to be carriers of full mutations. According to these results, the incidence of FXS affected newborn males is 1 in 2,466, and 1 in 1,233 males is a carrier of the premutation. We can deduce that 1 in 8,333 is an affected female with clinical manifestations and 1 in 411 will be a premutation carrier woman. Upon reviewing the literature, there seems to be variability in the frequencies found by the different groups. Therefore, given that our study is limited to the Catalan population in Spain, these results should be taken as valid for the Catalan region and should only be extrapolated to other populations with caution.

Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1↗

Pilot study for the neonatal screening of fragile X syndrome.

Fragile X syndrome (SFX) is the commonest form of inherited mental retardation. Due to the highly variable phenotype clinical diagnosis is complicated. In nearly all cases, the disorder is caused by expansion of a CGG-repeat in the 5'-untranslated region of the FMR1 (fragile X mental retardation-1) gene. We have evaluated the feasibility, efficiency and costs of two methodologies in order to develop a simple test to screen large populations: PCR and fragile X mental retardation-1 protein (FMRP) immunodetection. We studied 100 newborn males using PCR and immunodetection (26.91 Euro). All but one amplified the CGG repeat of the FMR1 gene within the normal size range. The sample that failed to amplify showed only 28% of FMRP expression by immunodetection study; both results indicated an affected male. A further 100 males were studied only by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) (7.8 Euro); all of them amplified within the normal size range. Both methodologies, PCR and immunodetection, are feasible for screening large populations, PCR being the most suitable, economical and less time-consuming. However, it is advisable to keep slides for immunodetection when PCR fails or the external control shows no amplification. Early detection of SFX-affected individuals would represent a great benefit for their maximum social integration, due to appropriate treatment and early stimulation and would permit a cascade screening in their pedigree.

Fragile X Messenger Ribonucleoprotein 1↗

Determination of efavirenz in human plasma by high-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection.

Efavirenz is a non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitor for the treatment of the HIV infection. A simple, high-performance liquid chromatographic method has been developed and validated for the quantitative determination of efavirenz in human plasma. The method involved solid-phase extraction of the drug and the internal standard (L-737,354) from 300 microl of human plasma. The analysis was via UV detection at 250 nm using a reversed-phase C8 analytical column and a isocratic mobile phase consisting of phosphate buffer (pH 5.75)-acetonitrile that resolved the drug and internal standard from endogenous matrix components and potential coadministered drugs. Within- and between-day precisions were less than 8.6% for all quality control samples. The lower limit of quantification was 0.1 microg/ml. Recovery of efavirenz from human plasma was greater than 83%. This validated assay is being used in pharmacokinetic studies with efavirenz.

Alkynes↗

Lymphoid tissue viral burden and duration of viral suppression in plasma.

OBJECTIVES: To assess virological response in lymphoid tissue and its impact on the durability of response in plasma in HIV-1-infected persons who achieved sustained suppression of plasma viraemia with different antiretroviral regimens. METHODS: Consecutive patients on first-line antiretroviral therapy were included if they had a plasma HIV-1 RNA viraemia < 20 copies/ml within the last 6 months and tonsillar tissue accessible for biopsy. First-line therapy contained two nucleoside analogues: alone (2NRTI group, n = 3); plus a HIV-1 protease inhibitor (PI group, n = 11) or plus nevirapine (NVP group; n = 16). Patients were followed until virus was detectable in plasma, they changed therapy or were lost to follow-up. RESULTS: Tonsillar HIV-1 RNA could be detected (> 100 copies/mg) in 10 patients: one in the PI group (9%), six (38%) in the NVP group and in all three patients in the 2NRTI group. Primary resistance mutations could be detected in only 2 of these 10 patients. After a median of 9 months after the biopsies, viral suppression in plasma had failed in 6 of these 10 patients whereas failure had only occurred in 1 out of 20 with initially undetectable viral load in lymphoid tissue (P = 0.01; log rank test). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with sustained viral suppression in plasma, triple therapy including a HIV-1 protease inhibitor was more potent than triple therapy containing nevirapine or dual therapy with nucleoside analogues to reduce viral burden in lymphoid tissue. A worse response in lymphoid tissue could not be explained by local selection of resistance and was associated with a less durable virological response in plasma.

Adult↗

Preliminary data of a prospective study on neuropsychiatric side effects after initiation of efavirenz.

OBJECTIVE: To assess baseline variables able to predict neuropsychiatric side effects (NPSEs) associated with the initiation of an efavirenz (EFV)-containing regimen in HIV-1-infected patients. DESIGN: Open-label, prospective, observational study. METHODS: Consecutive HIV-1-infected outpatients in whom EFV was prescribed underwent a psychiatric interview. At baseline and at 2, 4, and 12 weeks, patients completed the Symptoms Check List-90-Revised (SCL-90-R), the Medical Outcome Study for HIV-positive patients (MOS-HIV), and a standardized questionnaire concerning potential NPSEs. RESULTS: Preliminary data showed that discontinuation of EFV because of NPSEs occurred in 4 of 31 patients (13%). Patients who completed the follow-up showed a decrease in SCL-90-R total score (p =.004) and in several subscales such as Interpersonal Sensitivity (p =.009), Depression (p =.001), and Anxiety (p =.040), whereas no changes in MOS-HIV were observed. Having fewer years of education (p =.006), having fewer baseline central nervous symptoms (p =.000), reporting better baseline physical status (p =.013), and having higher baseline scores in the Heath Transition subscale of the MOS-HIV (p =.000) and in the Somatization subscale of the SCL-90-R (p =.002) were associated with more NPSEs. CONCLUSION: Patients maintained on EFV showed a decrease in psychologic distress related to self-image, depression, and anxiety, without any effect on quality of life. Patients with a lower level of education, those who feel physically and psychologically better at baseline than in the past, and those who suffer from more distress as a result of physical complaints may be at greater risk of reporting more NPSEs after EFV initiation.

Adult↗

Hepatotoxicity in HIV-1-infected patients receiving nevirapine-containing antiretroviral therapy.

OBJECTIVES: To assess the incidence and risk factors for hepatotoxicity associated with nevirapine. DESIGN: A prospective cohort study in a teaching and referral hospital involving all consecutive patients who were prescribed a nevirapine-containing antiretroviral regimen between September 1997 and May 2000. METHOD: Cutaneous and hepatic adverse reactions and clinical hepatitis were assessed. Blood analysis including plasma HIV-1 RNA CD4 cell counts, liver chemistry tests, and serology for hepatitis B and C viruses. Hepatotoxicity was defined as an increase of at least threefold in serum alanine aminotransferase or aspartate aminotransferase levels compared with baseline values. RESULTS: Of a total of 610 patients, 82 (13.4%) were antiretroviral naive when commencing nevirapine, and 46.2 and 8.9% were coinfected with hepatitis C and B viruses, respectively. Median duration of exposure to nevirapine was 8.7 months (interquartile range 3.4--14.3). Hepatotoxicity developed in 76 (12.5%), an incidence of 13.1/100 person-years. Kaplan--Meier estimated incidence of hepatotoxicity at 3, 6 and 12 months was 3.7, 9.7 and 20.1%, respectively. In seven (1.1%) patients, hepatotoxicity was associated with clinical hepatitis, which was reversible upon discontinuation of therapy. Multivariate analysis identified the duration of prior exposure to antiretroviral drugs, hepatitis C virus, and higher baseline levels of alanine aminotransferase as independent risk factors for hepatotoxicity. CONCLUSIONS: Hepatotoxicity but not clinical hepatitis was common in HIV-1-infected patients receiving nevirapine-containing regimens and the incidence steadily increased over time. Prolonged exposure to any antiretroviral therapy, coinfection with hepatitis C virus and abnormal baseline levels of alanine aminotransferase identified patients at a higher risk.

Adult↗

Simultaneous determination of the HIV-protease inhibitors indinavir, amprenavir, ritonavir, saquinavir and nelfinavir in human plasma by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.

A rapid, simple and sensitive high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay has been developed for the simultaneous quantification of the HIV-protease inhibitors indinavir, amprenavir, ritonavir, saquinavir and nelfinavir in human plasma. The method involved the solid-phase extraction of the five drugs and the internal standard (I.S., verapamil) from 400 microl of human plasma. The HPLC analysis used a reversed-phase C18 analytical column and a mobile phase consisting of a gradient with 15 mM phosphate buffer (pH 5.75)-acetonitrile and UV monitoring. The method was linear over the therapeutic concentration range for the five HIV-protease inhibitors. The accuracy of the method ranged from 98.2 to 106.7% and the precision values ranged from 1.4 to 8.1% for intra-day precision and from 3.1 to 6.4% for the inter-day values.

Carbamates↗

Risk of lipodystrophy in HIV-1-infected patients treated with protease inhibitors: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Risk factors for lipodystrophy in patients infected with HIV-1 treated with highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) containing HIV-1 protease inhibitors are poorly understood. We aimed to identify the risk factors for lipodystrophy in antiretroviral-naive HIV-1-infected adults on HAART. METHODS: Moderate or severe body-fat changes were clinically assessed and categorised as subcutaneous lipoatrophy, central obesity, or both, in all consecutive antiretroviral-naïve HIV-1-infected adults who began HAART with two nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors plus at least one protease inhibitor from October, 1996, to September, 1999. A person-years analysis was used to calculate the incidence of types of lipodystrophy, and Cox proportional hazards models were used to describe the univariate and multivariate factors associated with progression to any lipodystrophy. FINDINGS: After a median follow-up of 18 months, 85 (17%) of the 494 patients developed some type of lipodystrophy. The incidences of any lipodystrophy, lipodystrophy with subcutaneous lipoatrophy, and lipodystrophy with central obesity were 11.7 (95% CI 9.2-14.2), 9.2 (7.0-11.4), and 7.7 (5.7-9.7) per 100 patient-years. An increased risk for any lipodystrophy was found among women as compared with men (relative hazard 1.87 [1.07-3.28]), heterosexuals (2.86 [1.50-5.48]), and homosexuals (2.17 [1.07-4.42]) as compared with intravenous drug users, with increasing age (1.33 per 10 years older [1.08-1.62]), and with the duration of exposure to antiretroviral therapy (1.57 per 6 months extra [1.30-1.88]) but not with any individual antiretroviral agent. The factors associated with an increased risk for lipodystrophy with subcutaneous lipoatrophy or lipodystrophy with central obesity were very similar to those associated with any lipodystrophy. The duration of indinavir use may represent an additional contribution for the development of lipodystrophy with central obesity (1.26 per 6 months extra [0.99-1.60]); p=0.064). INTERPRETATION: Risk factors associated with development of any lipodystrophy, lipodystrophy with subcutaneous lipoatrophy, and tipodystrophy with central obesity in patients infected with HIV-1 who were receiving HAART containing protease inhibitors are multifactorial and overlapping, and cannot be exclusively ascribed to the duration of exposure to an particular antiretroviral agent.

Adult↗

Large de novo deletion in chromosome 12 affecting the PAH, IGF1, ASCL1, and TRA1 genes.

Phenylketonuria is one of the most common genetic diseases in humans, affecting 1 in 10,000 whites. Deletions are generally uncommon in genes in which no long highly homologous segments are present, and in phenylalanine hydroxylase (PAH) deficiency they represent only 5% of cases. We present the case of a girl affected by classical phenylketonuria who has been screened for mutations in the PAH gene. During the molecular study a large de novo deletion has detected in 12qter, including PAH, and the genes for insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1), human achaete-scute homolog 1 (ASCL1), and tumor rejection antigen (TRA1). The patient showed phenylketonuria, short stature, and pathological electro-oculography results in both eyes, with high affectation of the relative electrogenesis of the photoreceptor-pigment epithelium complex. She had previously been misdiagnosed as homozygous for the IVS8nt-7A-G mutation, instead of heterozygous for a mutation and a de novo deletion. As a result incorrect genetic counseling had been given. The deletion of the PAH, IGF1, and ASCL1 genes could explain the patient's phenotype corresponding to a contiguous gene syndrome. We stress the relevance of polymorphic marker haplotype analysis and the importance of family study in genetic recessive diseases, such as phenylketonuria, to avoid incorrect diagnosis and genetic counseling.

Antigens, Neoplasm↗