Biomedical subjects

Jose R Rodriguez

Publications and source records attributed to Jose R Rodriguez.

8 recordsLinked to original sources

PubMed2006

Differences in beta-glucan levels in culture supernatants of a variety of fungi.

(1-->3)-beta-d-glucan is a well known cell wall constituent of fungal isolates that can be detected by assays in vivo and in vitro. Previous studies have shown that different fungal isolates may show different levels of reactivity with an assay for beta glucan. In this study we evaluated the in vitro reactivity of 127 clinical fungal isolates belonging to 40 different genera, with the Glucatell assay. The majority of the fungal isolates released high levels of beta glucan. Beta glucan test reactivity appears to be species-specific and this may reflect the beta glucan content of the organism.

Culture Media↗

PubMed2006

Correlation between microdilution, E-test, and disk diffusion methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of posaconazole against Candida spp.

Agar-based antifungal susceptibility testing is an attractive alternative to the microdilution method. We examined the correlation between the microdilution, E-test, and disk diffusion methods for posaconazole against Candida spp. A total of 270 bloodstream isolates of Candida spp. with a broad range of posaconazole MICs were tested using the CLSI M27-A2 method for microdilution, as well as the M-44A method and E-test methods for agar-based testing on Mueller-Hinton agar supplemented with 2% glucose and 0.5 microg of methylene blue. MICs and inhibitory zone diameters at the prominent growth reduction endpoint were recorded at 24 and 48 h. The Candida isolates included Candida albicans (n = 124), C. parapsilosis (n = 44), C. tropicalis (n = 41), C. glabrata (n = 36), C. krusei (n = 20), C. lusitaniae (n = 3), and C. dubliniensis (n = 2). The overall concordance (i.e., the percentage of isolates within two dilutions) between the E-test and microdilution was 64.8% at 24 h and 82.6% at 48 h. When we considered an arbitrary breakpoint of < or = 1 microg/ml, the agreement between the E-test and microdilution methods was 87.8% at 24 h and 93.0% at 48 h. The correlation of MICs with disk diffusion zone diameters was better for the E-test than the microdilution method. Zone correlation for diameters produced by the disks of two manufacturers was high, with a Pearson test value of 0.941 at 24 h. The E-test and microdilution MICs show good concordance and interpretative agreement. The disk diffusion zone diameters are highly reproducible and correlate well with both the E-test and the microdilution method, making agar-based methods a viable alternative to microdilution for posaconazole susceptibility testing.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed2004

In vitro activity of anidulafungin against selected clinically important mold isolates.

In this study, we evaluated the in vitro activity of anidulafungin against selected mold isolates. Anidulafungin showed promising activity against Bipolaris spicifera, Exophiala jeanselmei, Fonsecaea pedrosoi, Madurella mycetomatis, Penicillium marneffei, Phialophora verrucosa, Pseudallescheria boydii, Sporothrix schenckii, and Wangiella dermatitidis.

Amphotericin B↗

PubMed2004

Pharmacokinetics of intravenous itraconazole in stable hemodialysis patients.

The pharmacokinetics of intravenous itraconazole (ITC) was studied in dialysis patients. Dialysis had no effect on the half-life and clearance of ITC or OH-ITC. However, dialysis allowed the clearance of hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CD). The area under the concentration-time curve from time zero to infinity (AUC(0- infinity)) for HP-beta-CD administered before dialysis was lower than the AUC(0- infinity) when it was administered after dialysis (P < 0.01). Administration of ITC intravenously just prior to hemodialysis appears to produce adequate systemic exposures of ITC and OH-ITC while allowing dialysis clearance of HP-beta-CD. Studies of multiple administrations are warranted.

2-Hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin↗

PubMed2003

Correlation between E-test, disk diffusion, and microdilution methods for antifungal susceptibility testing of fluconazole and voriconazole.

The activities of fluconazole and voriconazole against isolates of Candida spp. (n = 400) were tested by the E-test, disk diffusion, and the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) M27-A2 broth microdilution-based reference methods. More than 96% of isolates found to be susceptible to fluconazole by the reference method were identified as susceptible by the agar-based methods. Lesser degrees of correlation with the reference method were seen for isolates identified as resistant by the agar-based methods. Interpretive categories are not available for voriconazole, but results qualitatively similar to those for fluconazole were seen. The agar-based E-test and disk diffusion methods are reliable alternatives to the NCCLS M27-A2 reference microdilution method for isolates that test susceptible to fluconazole.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed2003

Utility of oxygen saturation and heart rate spectral analysis obtained from pulse oximetric recordings in the diagnosis of sleep apnea syndrome.

OBJECTIVES: We prospectively evaluate the spectral characteristics of nocturnal arterial oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) and heart rate variability obtained from pulse oximetric recording as a diagnostic test for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). SUBJECTS AND MEASUREMENTS: Three hundred referred outpatients with symptoms compatible with the diagnosis of OSA were studied using nocturnal pulse oximetric recording performed simultaneously with polysomnography. Power spectral analysis of SaO(2) and heart rate data were analyzed using fast Fourier transformation of a Hamming-windowed signal. DESIGN AND RESULTS: Recording test results were classified as abnormal (suspicion of OSA) if the periodogram showed a peak in the period 30 to 70 s in either of the signals. A normal test result was defined as the absence of this peak in the periodogram in both signals. Two independent observers performed a single-blind evaluation. The total area of the periodogram (STOT), the ratio of the area enclosed in the periodogram within the period 30 to 70 s (S(30-70)), the ratio of the area enclosed in the periodogram within the period 30 to 70 s with respect to the total area of the periodogram (S), and the peak amplitude of the periodogram in the period 30 to 70 s (PA) were measured in both signals. The presence of a peak in the periodogram in either of the signals has a sensitivity of 94%, a specificity of 82%, a positive predictive value of 87%, and a negative predictive value of 92% with respect to the OSA diagnosis. The patients in the OSA group had higher values for STOT, S(30-70), S, and PA than the group without OSA. CONCLUSIONS: SaO(2) and heart rate spectral analysis obtained by nocturnal pulse oximetry as well as the identification of a peak within 30 to 70 s in either signal could be useful as a diagnostic technique for patient with OSA.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

In vitro activities of investigational triazoles against Fusarium species: effects of inoculum size and incubation time on broth microdilution susceptibility test results.

We studied the effects of inoculum size and incubation time on the susceptibility testing results for various antifungal agents against 22 Fusarium isolates by the NCCLS microdilution method. Increased inoculum size and extended incubation time resulted in elevated MICs. Posaconazole and voriconazole exhibited promising antifungal activities.

Antifungal Agents↗

PubMed2002

In vitro antifungal susceptibilities of Trichosporon species.

The in vitro activities of amphotericin B, itraconazole, fluconazole, voriconazole, posaconazole, and ravuconazole against 39 isolates of Trichosporon spp. were determined by the NCCLS M27-A microdilution method. The azoles tested appeared to be more potent than amphotericin B. Low minimal fungicidal concentration/MIC ratios were observed for voriconazole, posaconazole, and ravuconazole, suggesting fungicidal activity.

Amphotericin B↗