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Biomedical subjects

M Montes

Publications and source records attributed to M Montes.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2005

[Clinical characteristics of children hospitalized for influenza virus infection].

BACKGROUND: The clinical manifestations of influenza virus are fairly nonspecific and are similar to those of other viral infections, respiratory processes due to other causes and even septic disease in neonates. Few studies have been performed of the clinical characteristics of influenza virus infection in hospitalized children. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of children hospitalized for influenza virus infection in four consecutive epidemic waves (2000-2004). MATERIAL AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children hospitalized for influenza A and B virus infection confirmed by cell culture and polymerase chain reaction. Age, sex, symptoms on admission, complementary investigations, diagnosis and outcome were evaluated. RESULTS: Eighty-four children were hospitalized, of which 74 had influenza virus type AH3, five had influenza virus type AH1 and five had influenza B virus. A total of 42.8 % were aged less than 6 months. The main symptoms were fever (75 patients), cough (56 patients) and ENT involvement (53 patients). The most frequent causes of admission were febrile syndrome (75 patients), bronchiolitis (19 patients), pneumonia (13 patients) and bronchitis (8 patients). In 21 patients viral or bacterial coinfection was found, the most frequent of which was respiratory syncytial virus (10 patients). Few differences were found among age groups except for pneumonia and prolonged fever (more frequent in children older than 6 months) and lymphocytosis (in children younger than 6 months). The greatest number of complementary investigations in younger children was performed for acute febrile syndrome in neonates aged less than 6 months. Risk factors for hospitalization were found in only three children, all of whom were older than 6 months. Outcome was favorable in all children. CONCLUSIONS: Influenza virus infection in hospitalized children is most frequent in previously healthy neonates with fever and nonspecific signs and symptoms that are similar to those of other infectious processes. Specific microbiological diagnostic techniques are required for an early diagnosis. Healthy infants aged less than 24 months are most at risk for hospitalization for influenza virus infection.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Dissemination of emm28 erythromycin-, clindamycin- and bacitracin-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes in Spain.

Reported here is an unusual cluster of non-invasive infections caused by an emm28 Streptococcus pyogenes strain resistant to bacitracin, erythromycin and clindamycin detected in Santander, Spain. Since one of the characteristics of group A streptococci is their almost uniform susceptibility to bacitracin, this finding was unusual, and a search for bacitracin-resistant Streptococcus pyogenes strains was conducted in two other distant cities of Spain (Madrid and San Sebastián) where their presence was confirmed. These strains were frequently associated with erythromycin- and clindamycin-resistance, and most of them belonged to a unique emm28 T28, ST52 clone.

Bacitracin↗
PubMed2004

Bioaccumulation of cadmium, chromium and copper by Convolvulus arvensis L.: impact on plant growth and uptake of nutritional elements.

The remediation of heavy metal-contaminated sites using plants presents a promising alternative to current methodologies. In this study, the potential accumulation of Convolvulus arvensis L. for Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Cu(II) was determined using an agar-based medium. The shoots of C. arvensis plants exposed to 20 mgl(-1) of these heavy metals, demonstrated capability to accumulate more than 3800 mg of Cr, 1500 mg of Cd, and 560 mg of Cu per kg of dry tissue. The outcome of this study and the field data previously reported corroborate that C. arvensis is a suitable candidate for the phytoremediation of Cd(II), Cr(VI), and Cu(II) contaminated soils. Furthermore, the concentration of Cr determined in the dry leaf tissue (2100 mgkg(-1)) indicates that C. arvensis could be considered as a potential Cr-hyperaccumulator plant species.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2004

Pharmacokinetics of a new Autogel formulation of the somatostatin analogue lanreotide after a single subcutaneous dose in healthy volunteers.

The pharmacokinetics/tolerability of lanreotide Autogel have been evaluated. Healthy volunteers (n = 24) first received immediate-release lanreotide as a single subcutaneous (s.c.) injection. After two days, 40 or 60 mg lanreotide Autogel was injected subcutaneously. Blood was sampled at various intervals for 56 days. Systemic/local adverse events and changes in biological profile/vital signs were recorded. Lanreotide Autogel produced a prolonged-release pharmacokinetic profile: mean area under the serum concentration-time curve from time 0 to infinity (AUC) was 53.73 +/- 8.99 and 79.48 +/- 13.06 ng mL(-1) day for 40 and 60 mg, respectively, mean peak serum concentration (C(max)) was 4.38 +/- 2.91 and 5.71 +/- 3.52 ng mL(-1), respectively, median time to reach C (minimum-maximum) was 0.50 (0.083-18.0) and 0.38 (0.083-9.01) days, respectively, mean apparent elimination half-life was 21.63 +/- 9.42 and 22.01 +/- 9.87 days, respectively, and relative bioavailability was 0.93 +/- 0.12 and 0.82 +/- 0.15, respectively. Thus, lanreotide Autogel exhibited linear pharmacokinetics for the doses studied. Pharmacokinetic profiles were similar in both genders, apart from statistically significant differences in C(max) and C(max)/AUC. The Autogel formulation of lanreotide was well tolerated, with systemic adverse events being mild/moderate. Erythema and a painless subcutaneous induration were the most common local adverse events. Lanreotide Autogel provided a prolonged dosing interval and good tolerability for treating acromegaly and carcinoid syndrome.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Vibrio lentus associated with diseased wild octopus (Octopus vulgaris).

Studies were undertaken to identify the bacteria involved in a disease of wild octopus (Octopus vulgaris). Signs of the disease include round hard lesions in the arms or head mantle, leading, in advanced cases, to the loss of skin and the exposure of the muscle beneath. Bacterial strains isolated from sterile organs have been evaluated taxonomically and by experimental infections. Different phenotypes and ribotypes of Vibrio lentus were identified. Experimental infection by bath challenge demonstrated that V. lentus was able to reproduce the skin lesions, colonize the internal organs and induce mortality in healthy octopuses. V. lentus was re-isolated from the skin lesions and gill heart of dead octopuses, as confirmed by numerical taxonomy analysis. No effects were produced in sea bream or turbot by intraperitoneal injection of the bacterial isolate.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Relationship between CDC cross-match in liver recipients and antibody screening by flow cytometry.

Several authors have shown that anti-donor antibodies before liver transplantation are associated with decreased graft survival. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between anti-donor antibodies detected by the CDC technique or by FlowPRA, and acute or chronic rejection as well as graft survival. Furthermore, we sought to determine whether anti-donor antibodies, detected by the CDC technique, correlated with those discovered by cytometric screening. The acute rejection incidence among patients with complement-dependent cytotoxicity positive CDC cross-match was similar to that for patients with a negative cross-match. None of the patients with a positive cross-match developed chronic rejection. Allograft survival was significantly lower among recipients with a positive T-lymphocyte cross-match. Indeed, the majority of recipients with positive CDC cross-matches displayed graft failures before first posttransplant year. The results of a positive FlowPRA determination were concordant with a positive CDC cross-match in 85.71% of cases. Our data demonstrate that pretransplant FlowPRA correlates with the final CDC cross-match results. This finding suggests that in the future prospective pretransplant antibody screening with FlowPRA or CDC techniques may be useful to identify high-risk recipients.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

Hospitalization for respiratory syncytial virus in the paediatric population in Spain.

The aim of this population-based retrospective study was to determine the incidence of hospitalization for community-acquired, laboratory-confirmed respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in an unselected paediatric population from southern Europe. The study was performed in an area with 15,700 children aged less than 5 years attended by a single hospital. The presence of RSV in nasopharyngeal aspirates from children with acute respiratory infection treated in the hospital was investigated in four seasons (July 1996-June 2000). A total of 390 episodes of hospitalization for RSV infection were detected and 83.3% of the children were aged less than 1 year old. The annual hospitalization rate was 37/1000 for infants aged less than 6 months and 25/1000 for those aged less than 1 year. During the study period, 2.5% of the infants younger than 1 year and approximately 5% of those younger than 3 months were hospitalized for RSV infection. The mean length of hospital stay was 5.9 days. Seven per cent of the patients required admission to the intensive care unit and more than half of these children were aged less than 1 month. In Spain, community-acquired RSV infection is a highly frequent cause of hospitalization in young children, especially in those aged less than 1 year. Prevention of RSV infection, through the development of vaccines and/or other strategies, should be a public health priority.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2003

Characterization of Vibrio strains isolated from turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) culture by phenotypic analysis, ribotyping and 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison.

AIM: The aim of the present study was to clarify the taxonomic status of Vibrio strains isolated from an aquaculture system and to compare the results of the identifications made by phenotypic and molecular methods. METHODS AND RESULTS: Fifty-one Vibrio strains isolated from a turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) aquaculture system were characterized by ribotyping and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The strains had been identified phenotypically in a previous numerical taxonomy analysis as Vibrio anguillarum, V. mediterranei, V. splendidus, V. aestuarianus, V. ordalii, V. fischeri and V. scophthalmi. Cluster analysis of ribotype patterns showed that the strains were separated into two main groups: V. splendidus-V. lentus and V. scophthalmi groups. The use of 16S rRNA gene sequence allowed differentiation among V. splendidus biovar I and V. lentus strains. CONCLUSIONS: The molecular methods identified strains of V. splendidus biovar I, V. lentus and V. scophthalmi, showing discrepancies with phenotypic characterization. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The molecular methods, as 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, are necessary for the identification of phenotypically close species to avoid mis-identifications. Interestingly, this is the first report of V. lentus strains associated to turbot culture.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Mumps outbreak in vaccinated children in Gipuzkoa (Basque Country), Spain.

A mumps outbreak occurred in a group of vaccinated children aged 3-4 years in San Sebastián (Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, Spain) in 2000 during the same period as a revaccination campaign against measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) was performed. The clinical cases were confirmed by viral culture, detection of viral RNA and/or specific IgM. Eighty-eight percent of the children had been vaccinated with the Rubini strain and the remainder with the Jeryl-Lynn strain. The attack rate was 47.9% (35 cases in 73 school-attending children of this age). The outbreak was caused by an H genotype strain of mumps virus which was circulating at the same time as a D genotype strain that caused sporadic cases. By sequencing the small hydrophobic (SH) gene, the strains of the clinical cases were identified as wild-type mumps virus with heterologous genotypes in comparison to the vaccine strains used in our area.

Child, Preschool↗
PubMed2001

Pre-infarction angina elicits greater myocardial viability on reperfusion after myocardial infarction: a dobutamine stress echocardiographic study.

OBJECTIVES: We sought to evaluate myocardial viability (inotropic reserve) after myocardial infarction (MI) and its relationship with the presence of unstable pre-infarction angina (PIA). BACKGROUND: Several studies have suggested that PIA can limit infarct size, but it is not known whether PIA can elicit myocardial viability after an acute MI, with left ventricular function improvement. METHODS: Before discharge from the hospital, 91 patients with a reperfused MI (either fibrinolysis or primary coronary angioplasty) had low-dose dobutamine echocardiography performed to assess the myocardial inotropic reserve of the infarct-related area. RESULTS: Twenty-nine patients (31.9%) had PIA in the 24-h period before the onset of MI. Nine patients were treated with primary coronary angioplasty: five (8.1%) in the group with PIA and four (13.8%) in the group without PIA. There were no other significant differences in the baseline characteristics of the patients. There were more viable segments in patients with PIA (44.9% vs. 30.7%, p = 0.007), and the number of patients with significant viability was higher in the PIA group (73.9% vs. 46.3%, p = 0.026). This occurred despite a similar number of segments with segmental wall abnormalities at baseline in both groups (46.1% vs. 46.9%, p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: The presence of previous unstable PIA induces greater myocardial viability of the infarct-related area upon reperfusion and, as such, could have considerable therapeutic and clinical implications.

Aged↗
PubMed2001

Bitoric laser in situ keratomileusis for the correction of simple myopic and mixed astigmatism.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of bitoric laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) for the correction of simple myopic and mixed astigmatism. DESIGN: Retrospective, single-center, and noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: Eighty-six eyes of 56 patients were analyzed for this study. Six-month and 1-year follow-up data were available on 86 eyes and 72 eyes, respectively. Eyes were divided in two groups according to the type of astigmatism: myopic astigmatism with low sphere (< -2 diopters) and mixed astigmatism. The range of astigmatism was 1.25 to 7.5 diopters. INTERVENTION: LASIK was performed using the Automated Corneal Shaper (ACS) microkeratome (Bausch & Lomb, Claremont, CA) to create a cornea flap using the 130- or 160-micron thickness plate. A bitoric mid-stromal ablation was performed using the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser (Nidek Company, Gamagori, Japan). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected visual acuity, manifest refraction, and best spectacle-corrected visual acuity were the parameters measured preoperatively and at months 1, 3, 6, and 12. RESULTS: At the last visit, an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/20 or better was achieved in 77% and 68% of the myopic and mixed astigmatism groups, respectively. Ninety-two percent of all eyes had a mean spherical equivalent within +/- 0.50 diopter of emmetropia. A mean decrease in the vectorial magnitude of the astigmatism of 94% and 91% was achieved for those eyes with myopic and mixed astigmatism, respectively. There was no loss of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. In two eyes, the axis of the positive cylinder was misaligned. CONCLUSION: Bitoric LASIK is an effective procedure to correct myopic and mixed astigmatism. Eighty-five percent of the eyes achieved an uncorrected visual acuity of 20/25 or better and had a final cylinder of 0.5 diopter or less. It is a safe operation, because no eyes lost any lines of best spectacle-corrected visual acuity. Longer follow-up may be needed to assess these results.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Stability after laser in situ keratomileusis in moderately and extremely myopic eyes.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the stability, mechanism, and degree of regression following laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) in cases with moderate to extreme myopia after 2 years of follow-up. SETTING: Single-center clinical trial. METHODS: Fifty-two eyes of 38 patients were enrolled in the study. One year follow-up was available for 47 eyes of 35 patients and 2 year follow-up for 39 eyes of 27 patients. Eyes were divided into 2 groups based on the level of preoperative myopia: Group 1, moderate to high myopia > or =15.0 diopters (D) (range -7.0 to -15.0 D, n = 24); Group 2, extreme myopia >15.0 D (range -15.3 to -25.8 D, n = 15). Laser in situ keratomileusis was performed using the Chiron Automated Corneal Shaper(R) microkeratome and the Summit OmniMed excimer laser. Manifest spherical equivalent, mean central keratometry, and central corneal thickness (CCT) were measured preoperatively and 12 and 24 months postoperatively. RESULTS: Group 1 exhibited a mild myopic shift (mean -0.07 +/- 0.28 D; P >.2) and a mild increase in keratometry (mean 0.05 +/- 0.46 D; P >.6), with an accompanying increase in CCT (mean 7.5 +/- 12.2 microm; (P =.006) at 24 months. Group 2 displayed a significant myopic shift (mean -0.7 +/- 0.7 D; P =.001) and a significant increase in keratometry (mean 0.4 +/- 0.5 D; P =.01), with a mild increase in CCT (mean 2.4 +/- 9.7 microm; P =.35) at 24 months. Corneal ectasia was evident in 1 eye in the extreme myopia group. CONCLUSION: The refractive effect of myopic LASIK up to -15.0 D remained reasonably stable during the second postoperative year. Significant regression of the refractive effect occurred in eyes with higher levels of myopia (>15.0 D), with the risk of progressive ectasia. Extreme caution is recommended when myopic LASIK is performed in eyes with higher levels of myopia.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

High proportion of pharyngeal carriers of commensal streptococci resistant to erythromycin in Spanish adults.

The presence of erythromycin-resistant (ErR) commensal streptococci in the throat of 110 healthy subjects and 87 patients with pharyngitis was investigated. The resistance determinants were studied by PCR using the primers for mef and erm genes, followed by hybridization and sequencing analysis. Overall, 94.4% of the subjects carried one or more ErR strains in their pharynx. A total of 253 ErR strains was studied: 127 (50.2%) showed constitutive or inducible resistance to clindamycin (MLS(B) phenotype) and 126 (49.8%) were susceptible to clindamycin (M phenotype). In 50 subjects (25.4%) both phenotypes were detected. The ermB gene was predominant among the MLS(B) phenotype strains (97.6%). The mefA (mefA/mefE) gene was detected in 100% of the strains with the M phenotype. One Streptococcus oralis strain bearing the MLS(B) phenotype carried both mefA and ermB genes. The mefA gene from clinical isolates of Streptococcus mitis and S. oralis was transferred by conjugation to an erythromycin-susceptible Streptococcus pneumoniae strain.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2001

Management of far advanced otosclerosis in the era of cochlear implantation.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate issues pertaining to cochlear implantation in patients with far advanced cochlear otosclerosis. STUDY DESIGN: Prospective cohort. SETTING: Tertiary care referral center. PATIENTS: Eight adult patients (18 years of age or older) referred for management of profound hearing loss, the cause of which was determined to be otosclerosis. INTERVENTION: Cochlear implantation with multichannel cochlear implant device. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Benefit from cochlear implant as measured by CID sentence scores, incidence and management of facial nerve stimulation, and technical issues pertaining to cochlear implantation in this patient population. RESULTS: All patients demonstrated significant improvement in auditory function as measured by performance on CID sentence scores and ability to engage in telephone conversation. Facial nerve stimulation was present in two of eight patients and was managed with deactivation of the stimulating electrodes. Ossification in the basal turn of the cochlea, detected on preoperative computed tomography, necessitated placement of the electrode into the scala vestibuli in two patients and use of a thinner electrode (Nucleus 24) in a third patient. CONCLUSION: Patients with profound hearing loss secondary to otosclerosis derive excellent benefits from cochlear implantation. Surgical implantation may be complicated by ossification of the cochlea, which can be detected on preoperative computed tomography. Electrode activation may be complicated by facial nerve stimulation, which can be addressed with programming strategies.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

Identification of residues of CXCR4 critical for human immunodeficiency virus coreceptor and chemokine receptor activities.

CXCR4 is a G-coupled receptor for the stromal cell-derived factor (SDF-1) chemokine, and a CD4-associated human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) coreceptor. These functions were studied in a panel of CXCR4 mutants bearing deletions in the NH(2)-terminal extracellular domain (NT) or substitutions in the NT, the extracellular loops (ECL), or the transmembrane domains (TMs). The coreceptor activity of CXCR4 was markedly impaired by mutations of two Tyr residues in NT (Y7A/Y12A) or at a single Asp residue in ECL2 (D193A), ECL3 (D262A), or TMII (D97N). These acidic residues could engage electrostatical interactions with basic residues of the HIV-1 envelope protein gp120, known to contribute to the selectivity for CXCR4. The ability of CXCR4 mutants to bind SDF-1 and mediate cell signal was consistent with the two-site model of chemokine-receptor interaction. Site I involved in SDF-1 binding but not signaling was located in NT with particular importance of Glu(14) and/or Glu(15) and Tyr(21). Residues required for both SDF-1 binding and signaling, and thus probably part of site II, were identified in ECL2 (Asp(187)), TMII (Asp(97)), and TMVII (Glu(288)). The first residues () of NT also seem required for SDF-1 binding and signaling. A deletion in the third intracellular loop abolished signaling, probably by disrupting the coupling with G proteins. The identification of CXCR4 residues involved in the interaction with both SDF-1 and HIV-1 may account for the signaling activity of gp120 and has implications for the development of antiviral compounds.

Amino Acid Sequence↗
PubMed2000

Hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis with the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy, safety, and predictability of hyperopic laser in situ keratomileusis (H-LASIK) using modified software. DESIGN: Retrospective, noncomparative case series. PARTICIPANTS: The first 72 consecutive eyes of 44 patients with up to +5.00 diopters (D) hyperopia. INTERVENTION: Hyperopic LASIK using the Automatic Corneal Shaper (ACS; Chiron Vision, Claremont, CA) and the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser (Nidek, Tokyo, Japan). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Uncorrected visual acuity, manifest spherical equivalent (MSE), best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and complications were studied. RESULTS: At 6 months, in the low hyperopia group (<3.00 D), mean MSE was +0.30 +/- 0.71 D, with 88.9% eyes within 1 D of emmetropia compared with +1.09 +/- 0.92 D and 51.8% within 1 D of emmetropia in the moderate hyperopia group (> or =3.00 D; P = 0.003). Uncorrected visual acuity was 20/40 or better in 43 of 45 eyes (95.6%) and in 21 of 27 (77.8%) eyes in the low and moderate hyperopia groups, respectively. Only one eye (1.4%) from the moderate hyperopia group lost two lines of BCVA. Eighteen eyes (25%) required retreatment to correct residual hyperopia, 9 eyes (20.0%) in the low hyperopia group and 9 eyes (33.3%) in the moderate hyperopia group. Retreatments resulted in an MSE of +0.02 +/- 0.45 D and +0.04 +/- 0.73 D in the low and moderate hyperopia groups, respectively. No flap-related complications were seen. CONCLUSIONS: Hyperopic LASIK with the ACS and the Nidek EC-5000 excimer laser using our modified software is a safe, effective, and predictable procedure for low hyperopia. Results are satisfactory up to moderate hyperopia. Significant regression can occur for low and moderate hyperopia. Retreatment can be performed safely and effectively to improve the visual and refractive results.

Adult↗