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Biomedical subjects

J Tárrega

Publications and source records attributed to J Tárrega.

4 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Nasal resistance and continuous positive airway pressure treatment for sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the relation between nasal resistance and tolerance and compliance with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (SAHS). MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred twenty-five patients with a mean apnea/hypopnea index (AHI) of 53 21 were assessed for nasal resistance by active anterior rhinometry before starting CPAP treatment. Airflow (cm3/s) at 150 Pa was measured at each nostril. Tolerance for and compliance with CPAP was assessed at 2 weeks, 6 months and one year after start of treatment. RESULTS: The mean CPAP prescribed was 9 2 cmH2O. Rhinometry findings were considered pathological for 70 patients (56%). We observed no correlation between nasal flow and the CPAP established (r = 0.018). The treatment compliance objective in the first year was 5 1.5 hours/day. The most common nasal side effects during this period were runny nose, itching and sneezing (24%), oronasal dryness (21%) and subjective nasal obstruction (6%). There were no significant differences in tolerance of or compliance with CPAP treatment between patients with normal or abnormal rhinometry. CONCLUSIONS: Nasal resistance assessed by anterior rhinometry is unrelated to optimum CPAP and does not affect either tolerance or compliance among patients with SAHS.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

[The prognostic factors of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with chronic pneumopathy].

OBJECTIVES: a) To determine in patients with chronic respiratory disease the risk factors for death due to semi-invasive and invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (SIPA), and b) to describe the clinical features of SIPA in such patients. METHOD: Twenty-one patients with chronic respiratory disease were enrolled (9 with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 2 asthmatics and 3 with bronchiectasis, 5 with post-tubercular sequelae and 2 mixed cases). A diagnosis of SIPA was established in our hospital when, in a patient with a clinical picture consistent with such a diagnosis, the fungus was isolated in bronchial secretions or parenchymal pulmonary specimens were obtained during autopsy. RESULTS: The most common symptoms were dyspnea (81%), cough (67%) and expectoration (62%) increasing over the levels usual for patients with chronic respiratory disease. Hemoptysis was present in only 14%. Eight patients (38%) died as a result of SIPA. A comparison of those surviving and non-surviving patients revealed that the latter had significantly higher LDH levels and white cell counts, and significantly lower total plasma protein and platelet counts. CONCLUSIONS: a) Low protein levels and high LDH levels and white cell counts with thrombopenia are indicators of poor prognosis in chronic respiratory disease patients with SIPA, and b) such patients do not usually present signs or symptoms that lead to a suspicion of SIPA given that such signs are typical of failing compensatory mechanisms in the disease itself.

Aged↗
PubMed1998

[Thyroid function and difficult to manage asthma].

Hyperthyroidism can cause asthma to worsen, such that analysis of thyroid function has been recommended when the course of asthma is unfavorable. The aim of this study was to determine whether systematic analysis of thyroid function is useful for all patients with difficult-to-manage asthma. For prospective study, we enrolled 48 asthmatics whose condition had deteriorated due to no known cause. All patients were studied as follows: a) all were assessed for thyrotropin (TSH) levels and, if alterations were detected, we ordered analysis of free thyroxin (FT4), and b) case histories were taken to rule out the existence of active thyroid disease. Nine patients (19%) were suspected of thyroid disease. TSH levels were abnormal in only 5 (10%) patients in this group (low in four and high in one). Hyperthyroidism was confirmed in only 3 patients (6%) after high FT4 levels were detected. Although the frequency of hyperthyroidism in the sample studied is higher than that described for the general population, the systematic investigation of thyroid dysfunction in all patients with difficult-to-manage asthma does not appear justified given that disease could be demonstrated in only some of those who were clinically suspected of thyroid disease.

Adult↗