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Biomedical subjects

J Soto

Publications and source records attributed to J Soto.

At least 109 records · Page 6Linked to original sources
PubMed1995

[Amiodarone absorption and elimination after oral and intravenous administration in healthy individuals].

We studied amiodarone absorption and disposal in eight male healthy subjects aged 21 +/- 1 years old and weighting 69.8 +/- 7.1 kg. An intravenous dose of 5 mg/kg and an oral dose of 600 mg of amiodarone were administered. Amiodarone concentrations were measured by HPLC and calculations were performed using a compartment model independent pharmacokinetic analysis program. After oral administration a Cmax of 1.17 +/- 0.3 mg/ml was achieved at 3.25 +/- 0.46 h (tmax). Absolute bioavailability ranged from 50.4 to 87.8% (68.6 +/- 12.6%). Compared to previous reports, the variability of this parameter is similar and the mean value is one of the highest informed. After intravenous administration, Amiodarone had a half life of 7.53 +/- 0.96 h, a total body clearance of 4.25 +/- 0.73 ml/kg/min and a distribution volume of 2.99 +/- 0.71 l/kg. Except the later figure, which is in the inferior range, all other parameters are within previously reported values. It is concluded that amiodarone absorption and disposal values found in Chilean subjects are similar to those reported abroad.

Administration, Oral↗
PubMed1994

Hearing loss.

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Hearing Disorders↗
PubMed1994

[The quality of clinical trials published in Spain: an evaluation by an analysis of 3 journals during the 1985-1991 period].

BACKGROUND: The evaluation by readers of a published clinical trial requires that the methodology used in its design and realization be specified in detail. In the present study the quality of clinical trials published in Spain during 1985-1991 has been appraised. METHODS: This is a revision of all clinical studies published from 1985 to 1991 in the following Spanish medical journals: Medicina Clínica, Revista Clínica Española and Revista Española de Enfermedades Digestivas; the studies were assessed by three persons through the use of a questionnaire (checklist) which contained 15 evaluation sections relative to the methodology used in carrying out a study. RESULTS: Only an average of 5.5 (+/- 2.8) aspects of the 15 evaluated aspects were considered adequate in the total of clinical trials. Three of the aspects evaluated: "objective of the study", "end point" and "criteria for assessment of outcome" were considered adequate in more than 75% of the cases. Aspects relative to "loss to follow-up", "statistical methods", "analysis of the results", "collection of adverse events", and "approval by an ethical committee" accounted for most methodological defects, being the percentage of studies with correct information below 20%. As to the remaining sections considered, they were found adequate in an intermediate to low percentage (near 30%). There were no differences in quality among the three journals. A slight increase in quality was observed during the last years. CONCLUSIONS: Major methodological deficiencies appear in the clinical studies published in Spain during the last seven years. The recently approved regulations on clinical trials plus the use of checklists by investigators and journal editors, where detailed ethic and methodological aspects are appraised, can contribute to an increase in quality.

Chi-Square Distribution↗
PubMed1994

Natural radioactivity in Spanish soils.

The program of studies and surveys of natural radiation and radioactivity in Spain organized by our research group at the end of the 1980s included a 4-y national survey to determine the concentrations of natural radionuclides in soil. Results obtained from measurements of soil samples collected nationwide at > 900 sampling sites are reported and discussed in this paper. Correlations between absorbed dose rates in air calculated from natural radionuclide concentrations in soil and terrestrial gamma dose rates measured experimentally outdoors are shown for the different autonomous regions of Spain. Assessment is also made of the dose to the Spanish population from outdoor exposure to terrestrial gamma rays.

Background Radiation↗
PubMed1994

Diltiazem treatment impairs theophylline elimination in patients with bronchospastic airway disease.

On the basis of reports that diltiazem may bind to the hepatic microsomal enzymes and inhibits the metabolism of some co-administered drugs, and to determine the effects of diltiazem on theophylline pharmacokinetics in patients with bronchospastic airway disease, we have investigated the effect of a 180-mg daily dose of oral diltiazem during 5 days on theophylline clearance in eight patients with that disease. Theophylline half-life increased 24%, from 5.7 +/- 1 to 7.5 +/- 1.8 h (p < 0.05), and total body theophylline clearance showed a decrease of 22%, from 87.3 +/- 20 to 68.3 +/- 18.6 ml/min (p < 0.05) after diltiazem therapy. The apparent volume of distribution was unchanged. This reduction in theophylline clearance is likely produced by inhibition of its metabolism by diltiazem. A clinically important drug interaction may occur with theophylline when diltiazem therapy is given concurrently in patients with bronchospastic airway disease.

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of caffeine following oral drug administration: correlation with salivary and plasma concentrations.

Twelve hospitalized adult patients received 300 mg of oral caffeine 1 h before a diagnostic lumbar puncture. Caffeine concentrations were determined simultaneously in saliva, plasma, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Mean caffeine concentrations in plasma, saliva, and CSF were 5.9 +/- 2.1, 4.4 +/- 1.5, and 2.9 +/- 1.1 micrograms/ml, respectively, with coefficients of correlation plasma-saliva, saliva-CSF, and plasma-CSF of 0.89, 0.79, and 0.77, respectively, all statistically significant (p < 0.001).

Aged↗
PubMed1994

Drug utilisation studies as tools in health economics.

Drug utilisation and many pharmacoeconomic studies use pharmacoepidemiological methods characterised by the study of drugs from a socioeconomic perspective. Drug utilisation studies may be defined as studies of the marketing, distribution, prescription and use of drugs in a society, with special emphasis on the resulting medical, social and economic consequences. Pharmacoeconomic studies are used to measure drug efficiency, through comparison of the costs and effects of alternative therapies. Drug utilisation studies can provide highly valuable information, at a reasonable price, on the costs and effects (harmful and beneficial) of drugs. Such studies make available much useful information including indirect data on morbidity, the pharmaceutical component of the treatment cost of an illness, therapeutic compliance, the incidence of adverse reactions, the effectiveness of drug consumption and the choice of comparators. This information can be of great use in the subsequent elaboration of pharmacoeconomic studies, or in the selection of problematic areas in which these studies may be applied. Pharmacoeconomic studies, in turn, can be used to discover the economic repercussions of inappropriate prescribing and to quantify the cost effectiveness of various therapeutic interventions. The use of drug utilisation studies in conjunction with pharmacoeconomic analysis can result in more cost effective utilisation of medicines and a better utilisation of pharmacoeconomic methods, both of which contribute to a more rational use of drugs.

Costs and Cost Analysis↗
PubMed1994

Successful treatment of Colombian cutaneous leishmaniasis with four injections of pentamidine.

We previously found that 2 mg of pentamidine isethionate/kg, administered every other day in seven injections, was 95% curative for Colombian cutaneous leishmaniasis. However, 17% of the patients had to prematurely terminate therapy due to drug toxicity and another 30% had mild-to-moderate toxic clinical reactions. In this report, we show that the same daily dose of drug, 2 mg/kg, but administered in only four every-other-day injections, resulted in an 84% cure rate in 38 patients. Twenty-one patients (55%) experienced side effects, three of which were moderate to severe. A higher daily dose of drug, 3 mg/kg, administered in four every-other-day injections, resulted in a 96% cure rate in 51 evaluable patients. Thirty-six of the treated patients (64%) experienced side effects, five of which were moderate to severe. Although hypotension and hypoglycemia were looked for in all patients, only one patient experienced hypoglycemia and it had normalized by follow-up. We propose that the regimen of 3 mg of pentamidine/kg every other day in four injections is optimal for Colombian cutaneous leishmaniasis and competitive with standard Glucantime therapy, in terms of cure rate, toxicity, length of time the patient has to be under medical supervision, and cost of drug plus medical attention. We suggest that such a short course of injectable agent be studied for the treatment of patients with cutaneous leishmaniasis from other endemic areas.

Adult↗
PubMed1994

[Phenytoin hypersensitivity syndrome].

Diphenylhydantoine is a drug frequently used in the treatment of epilepsia. In rare occasions, it produces a mulsisystemic manifestation characterized by fever, lymphadenopathy, hepatitis, eosinophilia and desquamative cutaneous eruption, which typically develops within 4-8 weeks after the beginning of the treatment. Mortality rates may reach up to 40% in patients with severe hepatic affection, although the response to steroid therapy is usually frequent. We present the case of a patient which developed a syndrome of hypersensibility to diphenylhydantoine with mononucleosic manifestations, icteric hepatitis and exfoliative dermatitis, who completely recovered a few days after his hospitalization.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

[Rupture of aneurysm of anomalous hepatic artery (right unfolding)].

Un uncommon case of aneurysm located in an aberrant hepatic artery is described. It was the cause of massive hemoperitoneum. It was treated by ligation and excision without post-operative complications. In spite of the complex vascular malformation, there was no hepatic insufficiency. We have not been able to find a similar case in the literature.

Aneurysm, Ruptured↗
PubMed1993

Seroprevalence of and risk factors for HIV-1 infection in injection drug users in Montreal and Toronto: a collaborative study.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of antibodies to HIV-1 and risk factors for HIV-1 infection among injection drug users. DESIGN: Questionnaire survey. A venous blood sample was taken for HIV-1 antibody testing. SETTING: Montreal and Toronto. PARTICIPANTS: A total of 810 subjects who had used injection drugs in the previous 6 months recruited mainly from treatment centres and from the street in Montreal (425 subjects) and from treatment centres in Toronto (385 subjects) between September 1988 and September 1990. The overall participation rate was 82%. OUTCOME MEASURES: HIV-1 seropositivity, sociodemographic and behavioural risk factors for HIV-1 infection. RESULTS: The overall seroprevalence rate of HIV-1 infection was 4.8% (95% confidence limits [CL] 3.5 and 6.5). In Montreal the rate was 8.2% (95% CL 6.0 and 11.2), and in Toronto 1.0% (95% CL 0.4 and 2.6) (p < 0.001). Seropositive subjects were significantly older (p = 0.041) and were more likely to have a history of imprisonment (p = 0.006) than seronegative subjects. In univariate analysis seropositivity was associated with the following behaviours: more frequent cocaine use (p < 0.001), injecting drugs in "shooting galleries" (p = 0.002), sharing equipment with a person known to be HIV-1 seropositive (p = 0.006), "booting" fresh blood (p = 0.004), homosexual or bisexual orientation (p = 0.006), engaging in prostitution (p < 0.001) and, for men, number of male sexual partners in the previous 6 months (p = 0.007). In multivariate analysis the determinants of HIV-1 seropositivity were Montreal as the city of recruitment (odds ratio [OR] 6.7, 95% CL 2.32 and 19.42), engaging in prostitution (OR 2.13, 95% CL 1.01 and 4.75), a history of imprisonment (OR 3.51, 95% CL 1.33 and 9.29) and sharing equipment with a person known to be HIV-1 seropositive (OR 4.43, 95% CL 1.43 and 13.74). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings show that HIV-1 is circulating among injection drug users in Montreal and Toronto and that both drug use and sexual behaviours are implicated in the transmission of infection in the populations studied. Adapted preventive programs should be developed to prevent further spread of HIV-1 infection in this population.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗