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Biomedical subjects

M Haro

Publications and source records attributed to M Haro.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

First detection and genotyping of human-associated microsporidia in pigeons from urban parks.

Microsporidia are ubiquitous opportunistic parasites in nature infecting all animal phyla, and the zoonotic potential of this parasitosis is under discussion. Fecal samples from 124 pigeons from seven parks of Murcia (Spain) were analyzed. Thirty-six of them (29.0%) showed structures compatible with microsporidia spores by staining methods. The DNA isolated from 26 fecal samples (20.9%) of microsporidia-positive pigeons was amplified with specific primers for the four most frequent human microsporidia. Twelve pigeons were positive for only Enterocytozoon bieneusi (9.7%), 5 for Encephalitozoon intestinalis (4%), and one for Encephalitozoon hellem (0.8%). Coinfections were detected in eight additional pigeons: E. bieneusi and E. hellem were detected in six animals (4.8%); E. bieneusi was associated with E. intestinalis in one case (0.8%); and E. hellem and E. intestinalis coexisted in one pigeon. No positive samples for Encephalitozoon cuniculi were detected. The internally transcribed spacer genotype could be completed for one E. hellem-positive pigeon; the result was identical to the genotype A1 previously characterized in an E. hellem Spanish strain of human origin. To our knowledge, this is the first time that human-related microsporidia have been identified in urban park pigeons. Moreover, we can conclude that there is no barrier to microsporidia transmission between park pigeons and humans for E. intestinalis and E. hellem. This study is of environmental and sanitary interest, because children and elderly people constitute the main visitors of parks and they are populations at risk for microsporidiosis. It should also contribute to the better design of appropriate prophylactic measures for populations at risk for opportunistic infections.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

[Trends in the prevalence of tuberculosis among six-year-olds in Albacete (Spain)].

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the prevalence and evolution of tuberculous infection among 6-year-olds in Albacete and its relation to socioeconomic status of the family. METHOD: A tuberculin test (2UT RT-23 Tween 80) was given to 6-year-old school children in and around Albacete in 1992 and 1999. We calculated the prevalence of tuberculosis and the relation to family socioeconomic level as assessed by the parents' level of education of the area of residence. RESULTS: The tuberculin test was given to 2,783 children, 1,532 in 1992 (8% bacille-Calmette-Guerin-vaccinated) and 1,251 in 1999. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among non-vaccinated children was 0.78% in 1992 (3.37% among vaccinated children, p = 0.012) and 0.72% in 1999. No significant differences between the two screenings were found except for the vaccinated and non-vaccinated children. The annual decline was 1.1% and the annual decrease in risk of tuberculosis infection was 0.12%. No significant differences related to level of parental education or area of residence were detected. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among 6-year-old school children in Albacete is low, although there is a very slight non-significant downward trend, which may be biased by the inclusion of bacille-Calmette-Guerin-vaccinated children. No differences related to family socioeconomic level were found.

Age Factors↗
PubMed2002

[Usefulness of computerized tomography and bronchoscopy in patients with hemoptysis. Analysis of 482 cases].

OBJECTIVE: We have examined the computed chest tomography (CT) and bronchoscopy utility in diagnosis and accurately identifying the sites of pulmonary bleeding in patients with hemoptysis. METHODS: We prospectively reviewed the etiology and the site of bleeding of 482 patients with hemoptysis who had undergone bronchoscopy and CT when we suspected a carcinoma, bronchiectasis or the type of bleeding. We analyzed the age, sex, history of tobacco, bleeding, chest radiography, chest computed tomography and bronchoscopy. RESULTS: 62 years (DS 13.6), 84.4% males, 80% smokers and a volume of bleeding of 42.5 ml/day (DS 89) for 15 days (DS 25). Lung cancer was identified in 43%, bronchiectasis in 20%, chronic obstructive lung disease in 14%, pneumonia 8% and an unknown etiology in only 3%. Bronchoscopy located the site of bleeding in 77% and CT in 83%. When we examine only the lung carcinomas, the chest radiography was normal in 11% and the bronchoscopy was diagnostic in 87%, including 6 cases with a normal CT. Simultaneously chest CT or radiography and bronchoscopy detected all the lung cancers. When the chest radiography was inespecific (32%), CT was diagnostic in 43% and bronchoscopy in 14% (p < 0.001) or localized the site of bleeding in 52% with the CT or 23% with the bronchoscopy (< 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We concluded that bronchoscopy and CT were useful and complementary in etiologic diagnosis and to localize the site of bleeding in patients with hemoptysis. The bronchoscopy was preferable in patients with a lung cancer and the CT when we studied all the etiologies or the patients without a lung cancer, especially when the radiography was normal. When we simultaneously used a CT or a radiography and the bronchoscopy, all the lung cancers were detected.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Tracheobronchomegaly: an exceptional predisposing factor for pulmonary aspergillomas and massive hemoptysis].

Mounier-Kuhn syndrome--or tracheobronchomegaly--is a rare congenital disorder characterized by significant dilation of the trachea and main bronchi. It is accompanied by ineffective cough and is often complicated by recurrent lung infections and bronchiectasis. Clinical presentation varies widely, ranging from forms with scarce involvement of functional capacity to others that progress to respiratory failure that can prove fatal. We report an exceptional case of massive hemoptysis secondary to the presence of pulmonary aspergillomas and bilateral bronchiectasis in which bronchial arteriography with embolization and surgical resection were insufficient for resolving the complications.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2000

[Usefulness of carcinoembryonic antigen and other markers in patients with hemoptysis].

OBJECTIVE: We have examined the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and other tumor markers (immunoglobulins, CA 19.9, LDH, alpha-fetoprotein and alpha-1-antitrypsin) with the purpose of recognize their utility in patients with hemoptysis and patients older than 45 years with a positive smoking history and hemoptysis. METHODS: We measured, analyzed and compared these markers in 336 patients with a known etiology of hemoptysis divided in group I (malignant etiology) with 101 cases (30.1%) and II (nonmalignant) with 235 cases (69.9%) (p < 0.001). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The values of CEA, LDH and CA 19.9 were increased in group I, without differences when we compared immunoglobulins (G, A and M), alpha-fetoprotein and alpha-1-antitrypsin in both groups. CEA and LDH were increased significantly according to the disease extent in nonsmall cell lung carcinoma. Smokers had an increased CEA only in group II. Plasma values of CEA higher than 5 ng/mL meant that the likelihood of bronchial carcinoma was high. Our markers proved to be more specific and with a high positive or negative predictive values than sensitives. These results would suggest that they are not of great help for early diagnosis of lung cancer, however an increase of CEA, LDH and CA 19.9 plasma concentrations could suggest with high probability a bronchial carcinoma, improving their diagnostic sensibility when we used them in combination.

Aged↗
PubMed1999

[Impact of gender and influence of tobacco on the etiology of patients with hemoptysis].

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the importance of the sex and the influence of tobacco on the etiology of patients with hemoptysis. METHODS: We analyzed and compared the etiology of 394 consecutive patients with hemoptysis, divided in two groups: I (males) and II (females), and stratified in relation to tobacco. RESULTS: 305 males (77.4%) and 89 females (p < 0.0001). Lung cancer was more frequent in both groups (26.9%), especially squamous cell carcinoma, but nonmalignant etiologies were more common when we considered all globally (73.1%), including chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD) (14.9%) or bronchiectasis (20.4%) as the more frequent diseases, and 14.2% of unknown etiology (5.2% if we excluded bronchitis or lung infections). Lung tuberculosis was decreased (1.5%) in relation to a increased frequency of its sequelaes or residual lesions (10%). The initial increased frequency of lung cancers or COPD in males and bronchiectasis or heart diseases in females disappeared after the stratification and elimination of the tobacco effect. CONCLUSIONS: Hemoptysis was more frequent in males and nonmalignant etiologies were more common in both groups, with similar rates as in previous literature and a low number of cases with a unknown etiology associated to a protocolized study and the increased use of diagnostic procedures. In our study, the etiology of patients with hemoptysis was sex independent, to show that the susceptibility to tobacco illness was similar in both sexes.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1998

Massive haemoptysis complicating exogenous lipid pneumonia.

Exogenous lipid pneumonia is an uncommon condition resulting from the aspiration or inhalation of fat or oil material. The prognosis in this entity is usually good and complications are rare. We report an unusual case of chronic lipid pneumonia complicated with massive haemoptysis who responded to steroid therapy after arterial embolization.

Aged↗
PubMed1997

[Analysis of 90 cases of pleural tuberculosis in relation to adenosine deaminase levels].

BACKGROUND: To analyze the adenosine deaminase (ADA) pleural levels and the possibility of a typical pattern of tuberculous pleuritis (TP) in relation to these values. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We analyzed 90 consecutive cases of TP dividend into two groups on the basis of the pleural ADA measurements: group 1 (less than 43 U/I) and group 2 (equal or higher than 43 U/I). We compared: age, sex, tuberculous risk factors, clinic onset and duration, PPD, chest roentgenogram, biochemical (LDH, glucose and proteins) and cytological examination of the pleural fluid, microbiologic studies on sputum, pleural fluid and biopsies, histologic findings of the biopsies, evolution and sequelae after the treatment. RESULTS: 36 patients in the group 1 (40%) and 54 in the group 2 (60%) (p = 0.01). All the parameters were similar in both groups excluding LDH pleural levels, that were higher in group 2. In 20 cases of the group 1, we obtained a second analysis of pleural ADA and we observed in 11 cases (55%) an ADA value above 43 U/I. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that ADA pleural level is increased in the majority of our patients with a low initial sensibility of 60%, that can increase with a second determination (72%). ADA activity below 43 U/I cannot exclude the tuberculous aetiology of an effusion and can persist negative in other analyses. The results suggest a response of different chronology without any relation to initial ADA pleural level.

Adenosine Deaminase↗
PubMed1997

[Comparative study of acute and chronic forms of pleural tuberculosis].

To analyze whether a characteristic pattern distinguishes acute forms (symptoms starting no more than one week earlier) and subacute or chronic forms (symptoms lasting more than one week) of pleural tuberculosis (PT) in our practice. Retrospective analysis of 102 cases of PT diagnosed between 1986 and 1992, comparing the findings of case histories, imaging, pleural biochemistry and cytology, microbiology of sputum, pleural biopsy and fluid, anatomy and pathology studies of the biopsy specimens, course of disease, response to treatment and sequelae after one year and a half. Thirty-two patients (31.4%) had acute PT and 70 (68.6%) had chronic forms. LDH levels and the percentage of pleural nuclear polymorphism were higher in acute cases, while the concurrence of systemic involvement and lymphocytic predominance was more often seen in chronic cases. Other data analyzed were similar in both groups. No specific clinical or X-ray profiles or differences in course of disease and response to treatment distinguishes between acute and chronic forms of PT after 7 days. Only LDH levels and cytology results differentiated acute forms and, occasionally, such cases were indistinguishable from pneumonia-like effusion.

Acute Disease↗