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Montserrat Batlle

Publications and source records attributed to Montserrat Batlle.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Increased expression of the renin-angiotensin system and mast cell density but not of angiotensin-converting enzyme II in late stages of human heart failure.

BACKGROUND: The activation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) contributes to the progression of left ventricular dysfunction. A novel human homologue of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE), named ACE2, has been described but its role in human heart failure (HF) has not been elucidated. Besides, there is controversy as to whether the major angiotensin II-forming-activity in heart is ACE or chymase released from mast cells. Furthermore, long-term blockade of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis has been shown to increase ACE activity. To assess the locally activated vasoactive mediators that may contribute to the ventricular deterioration process, we sought to simultaneously analyze their expression in failing hearts. METHODS: We analyzed left ventricular biopsies from 30 patients with heart failure undergoing heart transplantation and 12 organ donors. The mRNA levels of ACE, ACE2, chymase and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction and mast cell density was assessed by immunohistochemistry. The mRNA levels of the atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) were also quantified as controls. RESULTS: There was higher ACE and chymase mRNA expression and mast cell density in failing than in control myocardium and no changes in ACE2 expression were detected. eNOS mRNA levels were lower in failing hearts. Both ANP and BNP expression were higher in pathological than in control samples. CONCLUSIONS: These data document a decompensation of vasoactive systems that may contribute to the progressive impairment of the myocardial function in HF. On the other hand, ACE2 mRNA expression is not altered in human end-stage HF.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Neurologic complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Study of 14 patients].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The frequency and cause of neurologic complications (NC) following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) have changed over time. We have analyzed the NC in 185 consecutive patients who underwent HSCT in a period of 5 years in a single HSCT Unit. PATIENTS AND METHOD: 185 consecutive patients underwent HSCT (44 allogeneic) between February 2000 and March 2005 to treat hematologic malignancies. Most frequent diagnoses were multiple myeloma (41 patients) and acute myeloblastic leukemia (n = 35). Demographic and clinical data, HSCT characteristics and procedure-related events with special attention to neurological findings were recorded. Imaging studies (magnetic resonance imaging and/or computerized tomography scan), cerebro-spinal fluid analyses and microbiological studies were performed in all patients developing NC. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 27 months, 14 patients (7.5%) developed NC, 6 of them after an allogeneic HSCT. The most common conditioning regimen in these patients was BEAM (5/14); 6 patients submitted to allogenic-HSCT received methotrexate and cyclosporin as graft-versus-host disease prophylaxis, and intrathecal prophylaxis of relapse was administered to 3 patients. The median time to the appearance of a NC was 13 days from HSCT (range: -4 to + 135 days). Seizures (8 cases) and encephalopathy (n = 2) were the most frequent clinical manifestations. In 12 cases the cause of the NC was related to drugs, there was one case of viral encephalitis and in the remaining case was caused by hemorrhage. Two patients died, one due to thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura attributed to cyclosporin and the other due to viral encephalitis. CONCLUSIONS: In our series drug toxicity was the main cause of NC (particularly seizures) following HSCT. Our results contrast with previous studies in which infections, especially of fungal origin, were the main cause of NC. These changes over time should be taken into account during diagnostic procedures.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Usefulness of tumor markers CA 125 and CA 15.3 at diagnosis and during follow-up in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: study of 200 patients.

CA 125 and CA 15.3 serum levels were measured at diagnosis, after treatment and at the time of recurrence in 200 consecutive patients (114 males, median age 56 years) with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) to explore its usefulness in the evaluation of response to treatment and survival in patients with NHL compared to lactate dehydrogense (LDH) and beta2-microglobulin (beta2-M). Their association with the clinical - biologic parameters at diagnosis, response to treatment, event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) was analysed. Eighty-six patients (43%) had elevated CA 125 levels and 35 (17.5%) had elevated CA 15.3 levels at diagnosis. CA 125 was associated with advanced stage, lung, pleural or gastrointestinal tract involvement and CA 15.3 was correlated with advanced stage, bone involvement, aggressive histology and bulky disease. LDH had the highest predictive value for failure to achieve complete remission (P = 0.001). A shorter OS was associated with increased LDH (P < 0.0001), beta2-M (P = 0.013) and CA 125 (P = 0.025) whereas CA 15.3 was associated with a shorter EFS (P = 0.027). When elevated at diagnosis, CA 125 and CA 15.3 should be monitored during follow-up of patients with NHL.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

[Management of low-risk febrile patients with neutropenia].

For years the classical approach to febrile episodes in patients with chemotherapy-induced neutropenia consisted of hospital admission and intravenous administration of broad-spectrum antibiotics. However, since the end of the 1980s, it has been known that not all episodes of neutropenia carry the same risk of developing complications. These low risk febrile patients with neutropenia, that is, those without a clear focus of infection, without criteria for severe sepsis, and with an expected duration of neutropenia of less than 7-10 days, could benefit from outpatient oral antibiotic therapy or, failing this, from intravenous administration through a perfusion pump in the home. The present study analyzes the current situation of the new treatment modalities that aim to improve patients' quality of life and to optimize healthcare resources and costs.

Ambulatory Care↗
PubMed2004

Feasibility and results of autologous stem cell transplantation in de novo acute myeloid leukemia in patients over 60 years old. Results of the CETLAM AML-99 protocol.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The benefits of high-dose cytarabine, anthracyclines and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation in the treatment of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) are greater in younger rather than in older patients. We assessed the proportion of patients over 60 years with de novo AML who qualified for intensive therapy and determined the feasibility and results of autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) in first complete remission (CR). DESIGN AND METHODS: Induction therapy included idarubicin, cytarabine and etoposide. Patients who achieved CR received one cycle of mitoxantrone and cytarabine and ASCT as consolidation therapies. RESULTS: Over a 4-year period, 258 patients were registered of whom 135 (52%) were enrolled for intensive treatment. The CR rate was 61%, advanced age (p=0.033) and unfavorable cytogenetics (p=0.015) emerged as independent negative prognostic factors for CR. The 2-year overall survival (OS) was 23 % (CI 14%-30%) and was poorer in patients with unfavorable cytogenetics (p=0.035), age over 70 years (p=0.019) or leukocytosis (p=0.006). Only 27% of the potential candidates underwent ASCT. The probability of 2-year leukemia-free survival after consolidation was 39% (CI 6%-71%) for these patients and 22% (CI 6% - 39%) for candidate patients not undergoing ASCT (p=0.07). INTERPRETATION AND CONCLUSIONS: Over 25% of the patients 60 to 70 years with de novo AML benefit from standard intensive treatment. In these patients, ASCT has a tolerable toxicity and may have a positive impact on leukemia-free survival.

Acute Disease↗
PubMed2003

[Reasons for not carrying out stem cell transplantation in patients referred to a transplant unit].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Although indications of stem cell transplantation (SCT) are increasing, a transplant may not be performed in all planned cases for several reasons. Our objective was to investigate the reasons for which SCT was not performed in patients referred to a transplant unit. PATIENTS AND METHOD: Pretransplant data of 129 patients consecutively referred to a transplant unit between December 1999 and November 2002 were collected. Frequency and causes of non transplantation were analyzed. Transplanted and non transplanted patient's characteristics were compared. RESULTS: In 119 out of 129 patients, an autologous SCT was indicated and in 10 of them an allogeneic SCT was planned. Mean (SD) age was 46 (14) years (range, 13-69) and 69 (53.5%) were males. One hundred eighteen patients had malignant hematological diseases and 11 had solid tumours. Sixty-one patients showed complete response and 68 had a partial response. At the time of the analysis, 93 SCT had been performed in 90 (69.8%) patients. Autologous SCT was performed in 81 patients (two SCT in one patient) and allogeneic SCT in 10 (two in one patient). Two (1.5%) patients were still awaiting SCT. An SCT was not performed in 37 (28.7%) patients. Causes of non transplantation included: in 12 (32.5%) cases, relapse and/or progression at the time the SCT had been planned; in 12 (32.5%), delay or change in the therapeutic decision; in 9 (24%), poor mobilization; and in 4 (11%), patient's refusal. When delay in SCT was excluded from the analysis, the frequency of no transplant was 19.4%. In 21 (57%) patients of the non-SCT group, peripheral stem cells were previously collected by apheresis. Both groups (SCT and non-SCT) were comparable regarding patients' and disease characteristics except for a more advanced age in the non-SCT group (51 [12] vs 44 [14] years, p<0.005) and status of the disease at the pretransplant visit. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of not performing an SCT in patients referred to a SCT unit was considerable. Relapses and disease progression and poor mobilization were the main causes for it. Delay was also a relatively common cause.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2003

Krh1p and Krh2p act downstream of the Gpa2p G(alpha) subunit to negatively regulate haploid invasive growth.

The yeast G(alpha) subunit Gpa2p and its coupled receptor Gpr1p function in a signaling pathway that is required for the transition to pseudohyphal and invasive growth. A two-hybrid screen using a constitutively active allele of GPA2 identified the KRH1 gene as encoding a potential binding partner of Gpa2p. Strains containing deletions of KRH1 and its homolog KRH2 were hyper-invasive and displayed a high level of expression of FLO11, a gene involved in pseudohyphal and invasive growth. Therefore, KRH1 and KRH2 encode negative regulators of the invasive growth pathway. Cells containing krh1Delta krh2Delta mutations also displayed increased sensitivity to heat shock and decreased sporulation efficiency, indicating that Krh1p and Krh2p regulate multiple processes controlled by the cAMP/PKA pathway. The krh1Delta krh2Delta mutations suppressed the effect of a gpa2Delta mutation on FLO11 expression and eliminated the effect of a constitutively active GPA2 allele on induction of FLO11 and heat shock sensitivity, suggesting that Krh1p and Krh2p act downstream of Gpa2p. The Sch9p kinase was not required for the signal generated by deletion of KRH1 and KRH2; however, the cAMP-dependent kinase Tpk2p was required for generation of this signal. These results support a model in which activation of Gpa2p relieves the inhibition exerted by Krh1p and Krh2p on components of the cAMP/PKA signaling pathway.

Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing↗
PubMed2003

Hepatosplenic T-gammadelta lymphoma in a patient with Crohn's disease treated with azathioprine.

Hepatosplenic gammadelta T-cell lymphoma (HS-gammadeltaTCL) is an uncommon type of peripheral T-cell lymphoma, which has been associated in some cases with immunosuppression, mainly after solid organ transplants. We describe a case of HSgammadeltaTCL with a leukaemic course in a patient with Crohn's disease who had received azathioprine during the previous 5.5 years. Sinusoidal infiltration by atypical lymphocytes was observed in the liver, spleen and bone marrow and the typical cytogenetic abnormalities (isochromosome 7 and trisomy 8) were found. The patient did not respond to intensive chemotherapy. This case shows the importance of ruling out HSgammadeltaTCL in patients with hepatosplenomegaly, B-symptoms and any immunosuppressive condition.

Adrenal Cortex Hormones↗
PubMed2002

Favorable impact of virological response to highly active antiretroviral therapy on survival in patients with AIDS-related lymphoma.

We have retrospectively studied the influence of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on the outcome of AIDS-related lymphomas (ARL) as well as the possible influence of the virological response to HAART on complete response (CR) rate and survival in our series of ARL treated with CHOP. Two groups of patients were studied: (1) 44 patients who did not take HAART when the lymphoma was diagnosed, and (2) 26 patients treated with HAART concomitantly and after chemotherapy. There were 4 (9%) women in group 1 versus 11 (42%) in group 2 (P = 0.01), and serum lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) level was lower in group 2. The response rate to CHOP was higher in group 2 patients (15 out of 23, 65%) than in those of group 1 (16 out of 44, 36%) (P = 0.025). The factors associated with improvement of CR in the multivariate analysis were the administration of HAART (P = 0.004) and International Prognostic Index (IPI) score < or = 2 (P = 0.006). Among group 2 patients, those with a virological response to HAART and with IPI score < or = 2 had better response rate to chemotherapy (odds ratios 9.3 and 11.8, respectively). The median (95% CI) overall survival (OS) for group 1 patients was 7 (3-11) months, whereas it has not been reached for group 2 (P = 0.002). The only parameters influencing OS in the multivariate analysis were HAART (0.003), as a protective factor and IPI score > 2 (P = 0.015) with negative influence. Among patients treated with HAART, those with virological response had higher OS probability (P = 0.004), whereas those with IPI score > 2 had an unfavorable prognosis (P = 0.014). The only variable with statistical significance for disease free survival (DFS) in the univariate and multivariate analyses was HAART (P = 0.0168 and P = 0.028, respectively). We conclude that HAART is an independent prognostic factor for CR attainment, OS and DFS in patients with ARL treated with CHOP. Those patients with virological response to HAART had a better survival.

Adult↗