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Biomedical subjects

M Sanz

Publications and source records attributed to M Sanz.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

A telemedicine system for remote cooperative medical imaging diagnosis.

Telemedicine is changing the classical form of health care delivery, by providing efficient solutions to an increasing number of new situations: here we consider those which require some type of computer-supported cooperative work (CSCW) between health care professionals located in different clinical sites. This paper presents the design and development of a telemedicine system for remote computer-supported cooperative medical imaging diagnosis. The main and novel component of our system is a new CSCW distributed architecture, comprised by a collaborative toolkit to add audioconferencing, telepointing, window sharing, user's coordination and application synchronization facilities, either to existing or new medical imaging diagnosis applications. In comparison with existing CSCW products, mainly based on centralized architectures, our distributed toolkit is specially designed for telemedicine applications: to allow different levels of sharing between participants, to improve user feedback in highly interactive user interfaces, and to optimize the required communication bandwidth in order to implement a telemedicine CSCW application on almost any telecommunication network. This telemedicine CSCW system has been applied to build a cooperative medical imaging diagnosis application, in which two doctors, located in different hospitals, need to achieve a cooperative diagnosis on haemodynamic studies using cardiac angiography images. The design of the graphical user interface for this kind of telemedicine CSCW systems, a critical component which conforms any telemedicine application, is also addressed with a new methodological approach, to assure the system usability and final user acceptance. The telemedicine cardiac angiography pilot has been implemented, tested and evaluated within the Research Project 'FEST-Framework for European Services in Telemedicine' funded by EU AIM Programme.

Attitude to Computers↗

[Anesthesia for cesarean section in patients with mitral valve prolapse].

Mitral valve prolapse is the most frequent cardiac valvulopathy. Given its greater incidence in young women it is a factor which must be taken into account when performing cesarean section. Two patients with mitral valve prolapse in whom a cesarean section was carried out are presented: case 1, a 22-year-old woman, ASA II, 72 kg, with mitral valve prolapse associated with the Wolf-Parkinson-White syndrome and an episode of paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia. The cesarean section which was indicated because of the absence of fetal progression was performed under epidural anesthesia. Forty-five minutes after regional blockade a hypotensive episode was observed which remitted following the i.v. administration of 6 mg of methoxamine. No other complication was reported. The Apgar score of the neonate at one minute was 7; case 2, a 31 year-old woman, ASA II, 51 kg, diagnosed with mitral valve prolapse with no associated symptomatology. A cesarean section was performed in this patient because of pedal presentation under general anesthesia without complications. The Apgar score of the neonate at one minute was 8. The physiopathology of mitral valve prolapse as well as anesthesia management during cesarean section in this type of valvulopathy is reviewed.

Adult↗

Mandibular cementifying fibroma in relation to a large periodontal bone defect. Report of a case.

A cementifying fibroma associated with a large intraosseous periodontal defect is reported. This tumor was located in the lingual aspect of the first lower left molar. Therapy consisted on flap surgery, tumor excision, and placement of a bone autograft in order to fill the residual bone defect. Six months after the treatment, clinical and radiographic signs of periodontal regeneration were evidenced.

Adult↗

Treatment of newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL) by all transretinoic acid (ATRA) combined with chemotherapy: The European experience. European APL Group.

All transretinoic acid (ATRA) gives complete remission (CR) rates of 80 to 90% in newly diagnosed acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). However, it has two major drawbacks (1) a rapid rise in WBC in some patients, with potentially fatal ATRA syndrome (2) rapid relapse with maintenance therapy using ATRA alone or low dose chemotherapy. The French APL group therefore designed a treatment approach with ATRA followed by intensive chemotherapy. The latter was administered after CR achievement with ATRA, or was rapidly added to ATRA in case of rapid rise in leukocyte counts. This combined approach, in a pilot study and in a randomized trial, proved superior to intensive chemotherapy alone, by slightly increasing the CR rate but more importantly by reducing the relapse rate. These results were confirmed by the Chinese, Japanese and New York groups. Our group (and other European groups) are now testing in a new randomized trial the better timing of ATRA and chemotherapy administration (ATRA followed by chemotherapy or ATRA plus chemotherapy) and the role (after an intensive consolidation) of maintenance treatment with intermittent ATRA, continuous low dose chemotherapy or both.

Adult↗

The effect of a dentifrice containing chlorhexidine and zinc on plaque, gingivitis, calculus and tooth staining.

In this 6 months randomized, stratified double-blind parallel study, plaque, gingivitis, calculus formation and tooth staining were assessed in 208 participants. The participants either used a 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse and a gum care dentifrice (positive control) or a placebo rinse and the gum care dentifrice (control) or the placebo rinse and an experimental dentifrice containing 0.4% chlorhexidine and 0.34% Zn2+ (experimental group). After 6 months product use, all groups had less plaque, less gingivitis and all developed calculus and tooth staining. For the positive control group and for the experimental group, significant reductions in plaque and gingivitis (gingival index and number of bleeding sites) were seen compared with the control group. Significantly more calculus developed in the positive control group, while the experimental group was not different from the control group. Finally, tooth staining was significantly higher for the groups using chlorhexidine containing products compared with the control group. The experimental dentifrice users however did develop significantly less staining compared with the positive control. It is concluded that the experimental dentifrice will contribute to a significant improvement in oral hygiene with less staining compared with using a 0.12% chlorhexidine rinse.

Adolescent↗

Intravenous Fluosol in the treatment of acute myocardial infarction. Results of the Thrombolysis and Angioplasty in Myocardial Infarction 9 Trial. TAMI 9 Research Group.

BACKGROUND: This study was performed to determine the safety and potential efficacy of an intravenous perfluorochemical emulsion (Fluosol) as an adjunct reperfusion therapy aimed at preventing reperfusion injury for patients with acute myocardial infarction. METHODS AND RESULTS: Patients (430) were randomized in a prospective open-labeled study, 213 to receive Fluosol and 217 to receive no Fluosol, along with 100 mg of tissue-type plasminogen activator given over 3 hours. Major end points included global ejection fraction, regional wall motion analysis, infarct size as measured by tomographic thallium imaging, and a composite clinical outcome measure. Baseline patient and angiographic characteristics were similar in the two groups. No significant difference in global ejection fraction (52% without Fluosol, 51% with Fluosol) or regional wall motion (-2.4 SD/chord with Fluosol, -2.2 SD/chord without Fluosol) was demonstrated in patients receiving Fluosol versus those not receiving Fluosol, nor was there a significant difference in thallium infarct size. Although Fluosol-treated patients with anterior infarction had an insignificantly lower mean infarct size (18.7% of the left ventricle) compared with patients with anterior infarction not treated with Fluosol (21.2% of left ventricle), this trend was not evident in the median infarct size values (22% versus 17%), left ventricular ejection fraction values (46% without Fluosol, 47% with Fluosol), or regional wall motion (-2.5 SD/chord in both groups). Rates of death and stroke were no different in the two groups; however, patients who received Fluosol experienced less recurrent ischemia. Patients receiving intravenous Fluosol had more transient congestive heart failure and pulmonary edema, perhaps because of necessary fluid administration. There was no difference in hemorrhagic complications between the two study groups. CONCLUSIONS: When given with a thrombolytic agent, Fluosol was not associated with improvement in ventricular systolic function, reduction in thallium infarct size, or overall clinical outcome. Fluosol was, however, associated with a reduction in ischemic complications and with an increase in pulmonary edema and congestive heart failure.

Adolescent↗

Effectiveness of adjunctive irrigation in early periodontitis: multi-center evaluation.

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of daily water irrigation versus regular oral hygiene alone on gingival and periodontal health in periodontitis patients receiving supportive periodontal treatment. The study also sought to determine if there are enhanced benefits from using an antiplaque zinc sulfate rinse as an irrigant. One hundred fifty-five patients who have had periodontitis and had been treated either surgically or non-surgically completed the 6-month multi-center multi-national study. Patients with at least two 5 mm sites demonstrating bleeding on probing were assigned to 3 equal groups by balanced randomization. In all centers Group A (n = 57) performed regular oral hygiene only, and Group B (n = 58) irrigated with 500 ml water once daily after regular oral hygiene. Group C (n = 40) patients irrigated with a total of 500 ml once daily; following irrigation with 300 ml water, the patients then irrigated with an additional 200 ml with a zinc sulfate solution. The irrigants were diluted to provide the manufacturer's recommended daily dosage. The supragingival irrigation was performed with a commercially available oral irrigator. Bacterial measurements at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months were taken to determine the effect of irrigation on the target organisms and will be reported elsewhere. Gingival index: irrigation with water (Group B) was significantly better than normal oral hygiene (Group A) and irrigation with zinc sulfate (Group C) (P < 0.05) in reducing gingival inflammation. Bleeding on probing: significant reductions in bleeding on probing occurred for water (Group B) compared to normal oral hygiene (Group A) (P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adolescent↗

A telemedicine distributed system for cooperative medical diagnosis.

Telemedicine is changing the classical form of health care delivery, dramatically increasing the number of new applications in which some type of distributed synchronous cooperation between health care professionals is required. This paper presents the design and development of a telemedicine distributed system for cooperative medical diagnosis based on two new approaches: 1) a distributed layered architecture specially designed to add synchronous computer supported cooperative work features either to new or existing medical applications; 2) the definition of a methodological procedure to design graphical user interfaces for telemedicine cooperative working scenarios. The cooperative work is supported by a collaborative toolkit that provides telepointing, window sharing, coordination and synchronization. Finally, we have implemented and installed the telemedicine system in clinical practice between two hospitals, providing teleconferencing facilities for cooperative decision support in haemodynamics studies. This specific implementation and a preliminary evaluation were accomplished under the Research Project FEST "Framework for European Services in Telemedicine" funded by the EU AIM Programme.

Computer Communication Networks↗

Pneumatoceles and pneumothorax after Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia.

Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) is common in patients with AIDS. The usual chest X-ray pattern is a diffuse interstitial pulmonary infiltrate. Nevertheless, unusual roentgenographic forms can appear. A patient with PCP that resulted in pneumatoceles and a further pneumothorax is described.

AIDS-Related Opportunistic Infections↗

[Prognostic effect of beta 2-microglobulin in multiple myeloma].

BACKGROUND: The aim of the present study was to compare the prognostic influence of beta 2-microglobulin (B2M) corrected according to renal function versus the uncorrected form and relate these values with other characteristics of the disease in a series of patients with multiple myeloma (MM). METHODS: The serum levels of B2M were determined by the radioimmunoassay method (RIA) in 107 patients with newly diagnosed MM and the prognostic influence of B2M was statistically evaluated with univariant and multivariant analysis. RESULTS: The mean value of B2M obtained in patients with MM was 7.8 +/- 8.0 micrograms/ml, with a median of 5 micrograms/ml. Ninety percent of the patients studied presented serum values of B2M higher than the normal limit. The value of B2M corresponding to the median of the series (5 micrograms/ml) separated two groups of patients with different survival (48 vs 19 months) (p = 0.0001). Similarly, the most discriminative value of corrected B2M in agreement with creatinine (2.5 micrograms/ml) permitted the differentiation of two groups of patients although the differences in survival were less significant (36 vs 26 months, p = 0.03) demonstrating its lesser influence as a prognostic factor with respect to the uncorrected B2M. In contrast, a significant association was observed between high values of B2M and Bence Jones myeloma, clinical stage III, anemia, renal failure and intense involvement of the general state. Multivariant analysis demonstrated that B2M plays a greater prognostic role when used as a discrete rather than a continuous variable and that together with the degree of involvement of the general state, serum albumin and the proportion of plasma cells in the bone marrow, they make up the best set of variables for the prediction of prognosis in patients with MM. CONCLUSIONS: Beta 2-microglobulin is one of the most important independent prognostic factors in multiple myeloma with its prognostic value being greatest when used uncorrected according to the values of creatinine.

Bence Jones Protein↗

Consumption of alcohol, coffee, and tobacco, and gastric cancer in Spain.

A case-control study on gastric cancer was carried out between 1987 and 1989 in four regions of Spain. Three hundred and fifty-four cases of histologically confirmed adenocarcinoma were included (235 men and 119 women). For each case, a control was selected, matched by sex, age, and area of residence, from the same hospital as the case. No association was observed with smoking, nor with the consumption of coffee or tea. The usual consumption of alcohol was associated with gastric cancer in men (odds ratio = 1.54, 95 percent confidence interval = 1.03-2.31), but there was no dose-response relationship. No association was observed in women. All estimations were carried out taking into account the effect of the dietary factors associated with gastric cancer. In accordance with previous evidence, the association observed between gastric cancer and alcohol appears not to be causal.

Adult↗

Analysis of oral health information in the Spanish mass media.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate oral health information delivered by the Spanish mass media. The study was composed of two parts. In a quantitative study three media were selected: press, radio, and television. The study was carried out between December 1987 and March 1988, and the media with largest numbers and audience were selected. Information variables were: politics/economy-labor/culture-education/interviews-events-reports/sport s/ leisure/publicity/health/oral health/miscellaneous. The mass media studied dedicated a very small percentage of their space/time to health information, with a clear predominance of other themes such as publicity, politics, and sports (17/1). In relation to oral health, results were even more significant because the space/time dedicated to health in relation to oral health was 180/1 (P less than 0.01). Most of the oral health time was given via promotional or politico-professional issues (P less than 0.05). In a qualitative study all available information relating in any way with oral health was selected from a survey of all written news by the non-specialized Spanish press that appeared during 1 yr (Jan 1987-Jan 1988). Reports dedicated to education were only 170 (31.48%) of the total (540) oral health reports. From 170 reports dedicated to oral health, 33 (19.41%) presented some sort of error and 137 (80.59) had an adequate educative content. Caries was the topic more frequently covered, 77.06% of the data, in contrast to periodontal disease, dealt with by only 33.53%. The qualitative level of data using a Score Level Index (SLI) was 42.73% of the highest possible level. Implications for public health dentistry are discussed.

Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome↗

Therapy-related acute promyelocytic leukemia: a report on 16 cases.

PURPOSE: To analyze the type of prior tumor and treatment in therapy-related acute promyelocytic leukemia (tAPL) that occurs after chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy (RT), and the hematologic characteristics and outcome of tAPL. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Sixteen patients with tAPL who were gathered during a 10-year period (1982 to 1991) in seven hematologic centers were analyzed retrospectively. RESULTS: There were 13 women and three men. The median age was 46 years (range, 12 to 82). Prior tumor was breast carcinoma in 10 cases, another solid tumor in three cases, and lymphoma in three cases. Two patients had received RT alone, and 14 had received chemotherapy (with RT in 11 cases). Prior chemotherapeutic agents generally included a combination of cyclophosphamide (used for limited periods), fluorouracil (5-FU), vinca alkaloids, and doxorubicin, mitoxantrone, or etoposide (VP16). By contrast, alkylating agents other than cyclophosphamide had been used in only two patients. Median interval between onset of treatment for the prior tumor and diagnosis of APL was 25 months. No patient had a known preleukemic phase. Hematologic and cytogenetic characteristics of the cases of tAPL were identical to those of the usual de novo APL, which included the presence of t(15; 17) in nine of the 10 patients tested. Two patients had early death. Seven patients were treated with intensive chemotherapy, and six achieved complete remission (CR). Three of them subsequently relapsed. Seven patients were treated with all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA), and four achieved CR through the differentiation of blasts into mature granulocytes. None has relapsed so far. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that tAPL is not exceptional, and usually has several features in common with other types of therapy-related AML with specific karyotype (ie, t(8;21),t(9;11), inv(16)): solid tumor rather than hematologic malignancy as primary tumor, short interval of development, absence of known preleukemic phase, prior chemotherapy with a combination of several drugs that often included an agent that targets topoisomerase II (doxorubicin or mitoxantrone, but less often VP16). Hematologic characteristics and response to therapy (intensive chemotherapy or ATRA) in tAPL do not seem to differ from those of de novo APL.

Adolescent↗

Prognostic value of S-phase white blood cell count in B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia.

Eighty previously untreated patients with B-cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) were analyzed to study the proliferation rate of their peripheral blood (PB) leukocytes to determine its relationship with the extension of the disease and its value in discriminating among patients with similar tumor cell mass. The 80 B-CLL patients were distributed into two different groups according to the absolute count of PB S-phase leukocytes: a low proliferative group (less than 1 x 10(9)/I) of 48 patients and a high proliferative group (greater than or equal to 1 x 10(9)/I) of 32 patients. The high proliferative group displayed a higher incidence of splenomegaly (p less than 0.005), hepatomegaly (p less than 0.08), anemia (p less than 0.02) and thrombocytopenia (p less than 0.03) as well as a higher lymphocytic infiltration both in PB (p less than 0.0004) and in bone marrow (BM) (p less than 0.003). These patients also showed a higher incidence of a diffuse pattern of BM involvement (p less than 0.04), advanced clinical stages [stage III/IV (p less than 0.03) and group C (p less than 0.04)] and infections (p less than 0.0008) together with significantly lower IgG (p less than 0.03) and IgM (p less than 0.03) serum levels. Regarding the immunophenotype, there was a greater percentage of either CD19+ (p less than 0.06) and CD19+ CD5+ (p less than 0.05) B-cells, together with a greater reactivity for both the CD25 (p less than 0.04) and CD9 (p less than 0.08) antigens in the high proliferative group. According to the prognostic value of the PB S-phase leukocyte count it was seen that patients with low S-phase white blood cell (WBC) numbers displayed a significantly higher survival (p less than 0.03). In addition, multivariate analysis revealed that the S-phase WBC count, although partially related to other clinical and biological prognostic factors, displayed an important independent value in predicting early deaths in patients with B-CLL.

Aged↗

Occupation and gastric cancer in Spain.

The association between occupational exposure and stomach cancer was investigated in a multicenter case-referent study conducted in Spain on 354 histologically confirmed cases and 354 hospital referents, matched by age, gender, and residence. An increased risk of gastric cancer was found for coal mining workers [odds ratio (OR) 11.8], but the number of workers was small, and therefore the 95% confidence interval (95% CI) was wide (95% CI 1.36-103). An increased risk was observed for wood and furniture workers (OR 1.76), construction workers (OR 1.68), and glass and ceramic workers (OR 2.18), but none of these risks were statistically significant. According to an occupation-exposure linkage system an increased risk was found for occupations associated with exposure to silica and mineral dust (OR 1.80, 95% CI 0.90-3.59). All of the OR estimates were adjusted for the confounding factors socioprofessional status and dietary habits. The possibility of a causal association between stomach cancer and coal and mineral dust is supported by the results.

Adult↗