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Biomedical subjects

S Pita

Publications and source records attributed to S Pita.

31 records · Page 2Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

[Community acquired pneumonia requiring admission to hospital. Etiology and follow-up of 366 cases].

UNLABELLED: An eighteen-month prospective study designed to determine the incidence, etiology and prognosis of community acquired pneumonia (CAP) in adults requiring admission to hospital. METHODS: We studied 366 patients admitted to hospital after being diagnosed of CAP at the Emergency Room of a General Hospital. Standard laboratory methods were used for culture from blood and sputum, and serology tests for Legionella pneumophila. Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Chlamydia psittaci and Coxiella burnetti. Patients were evaluated until complete recovery, paying special attention to prognostic factors predictive of death. RESULTS: An etiological diagnosis was established in 99 patients (27.6%). Legionella pneumophila was the most common pathogen accounting for 30 cases (8.2%), followed by Streptococcus pneumoniae with 26 cases. 26 patients died (mortality rate of 7%); factors predictive of death included pre-existing disease, tachypnea and elevated blood urea nitrogen level. CONCLUSIONS: CAP represented 4.4% of admissions. Legionella pneumophila was the most frequently identified pathogen. If tachypnea and/or uremia are noted on admission, there is an increase in the risk of death.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1995

Long term effects of ritodrine on blood pressure and heart rate of adolescents exposed during the prenatal stage.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the long term cardiovascular effects in adolescents exposed to ritodrine during prenatal stage. STUDY DESIGN: Twenty-seven ritodrine-exposed subjects and 19 controls, of both sexes, clinically healthy, and born at normal term, were evaluated for systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) and heart rate (HR) each during 48 hours, with a Colin Ambulatory monitor. Data analysis were performed by individual Cosinor method, and non-parametric Mann Whitney's test and Lamotte procedures. RESULTS: Adolescents who were exposed to ritodrine showed losses in the HR rhythm and rising middle pulse values. Although SBP and DBP rhythm remains constant, the increase of maximum and minimum values for SBP as well as a rise of maximal rates of DBP suggest a possible hypertensive effect mediated by beta mimetic exposure. CONCLUSION: This study suggests a hypertensive effect mediated by beta mimetic exposure.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1994

Nutritional factors and gastric cancer in Spain.

A case-control study on diet and gastric cancer, carried out in selected areas of four regions of Spain (Aragon, Castile, Catalonia, and Galicia) in 1988 and 1989, included 354 cases of histologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma and 354 controls matched by age, sex, and area of residence. Cases and controls were selected from 15 hospitals, representing most of the hospital facilities in the study areas. Usual diet was estimated by means of a dietary history questionnaire administered by interview. An increased risk of gastric cancer was observed for high consumption of exogenous nitrosamines (odds ratio = 2.1 for the highest quartile of consumption versus the lowest; p for linear trend = 0.007), nitrites, fat, and cholesterol. However, in a multivariate regression model, the effect of fat and cholesterol disappeared. An inverse association with the risk for gastric cancer was seen for high intake of fiber, vitamin C, folate, carotene, and nitrates. High consumption of vitamin C seemed to neutralize the increased risk related to simultaneous consumption of nitrosamines. For histologic type, the authors found no meaningful differences in the effect of most of the nutrients between intestinal and diffuse cancers. Their findings are consistent with previously reported results about the protective effect of fruit and vegetables and the increased risk associated with foods that are important sources of nitrites and preformed nitrosamines.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1992

Prevention of nosocomial infection in critically ill patients by selective decontamination of the digestive tract. A randomized, double blind, placebo-controlled study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of a method of Selective Decontamination of the Digestive Tract (SDD) on colonization, nosocomial infection (NI), bacterial resistance, mortality and economic costs. DESIGN: Randomized, double blind, placebo controlled study. SETTING: Polyvalent intensive care unit (ICU) of a tertiary care hospital with 27 beds. PATIENTS: 101 patients with > 3 days of mechanical ventilation and > 5 days of stay, without infection at the start of the study. 47 belonged to the Treated Group (TG) and 54 to the Placebo Group (PG). INTERVENTIONS: The TG was given Cefotaxime i.v. (6 g/day) for the first four days and an association of Polymyxin E, Tobramycin and Amphotericin B at the oropharyngeal and gastrointestinal level throughout the whole stay. RESULTS: In the TG, colonization by gram-negative agents at oropharyngeal, tracheal and gastrointestinal level fell significantly. There was a significant drop in the overall, respiratory and urinary NI (26% vs 63%, p < 0.001; 15% vs 46%, p < 0.001; 9% vs 31%, p < 0.01). The overall mortality and NI related mortality was less in the TG (21% vs 44%, p < 0.05; 2% vs 20%, p < 0.01). The economic costs, mechanical ventilation time and length of stay were similar. The percentage of bacterial isolations resistant to Cefotaxime and Tobramycin was greater in the TG (38% vs 15% and 38% vs 9%, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: colonization by gram-negative bacilli, NI and the mortality related to it can be modified by SDD. Continuous bacteriological surveillance is necessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1991

Dietary factors and stomach cancer in Spain: a multi-centre case-control study.

A multi-centre case-control study of diet and gastric cancer was carried out in 4 regions of Spain (Aragon, Castile, Catalonia and Galicia). We selected 354 cases of pathologically confirmed gastric adenocarcinoma from 15 hospitals, representative of nearly all those in the study areas. A control for each case, matched by age, sex and area of residence, was selected from the same hospital as the case. Habitual diet was investigated by the dietary history method, and past diet by means of a frequency questionnaire. The results regarding consumption of food items are presented here. With respect to habitual diet, an increase in risk was associated with consumption of preserved fish, cold cuts and oleaginous fruits. A high intake of cooked green vegetables, fresh noncitrus fruit and dried fruit showed an inverse association with the risk of gastric cancer. Simultaneous intake of 2 groups of food which increase or decrease the risk of cancer strengthens the respective individual effect. The intake of protective food items seems to neutralize the effects of food items which increase risk. With reference to past diet, a possible protective effect was observed for daily consumption of fresh fruit and green vegetables.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1991

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↗
PubMed1988

Role of sigmoidoscopy in screening for colorectal cancer: a critical review.

The use of sigmoidoscopy as a screening method for colorectal cancer is controversial. Evidence regarding its efficacy is reviewed critically, with special attention given to potential biases in screening studies. The vast majority of studies are uncontrolled and without follow-up information and thus shed little light on the actual benefits of sigmoidoscopy. Two uncontrolled studies with follow-up and one randomized trial suggest a colorectal cancer mortality reduction because of the use of sigmoidoscopy, but all three studies have major shortcomings. The authors conclude that the currently available data are insufficient to establish a national recommendation for screening with sigmoidoscopy. To establish such a recommendation, a properly conducted randomized trial with colorectal cancer mortality as an outcome is needed.

Clinical Trials as Topic↗