A large percentage of the Spanish population under 30 years of age is not protected against hepatitis A.

A seroepidemiological study was conducted to assess the seroprevalence of hepatitis A (HAV) antibodies in the Spanish general population in 1992-93. A total of 2744 subjects (1337 men and 1437 women) in the 5-59 years age range were stratified by gender and age (5-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 years). The presence of total anti-HAV antibodies was investigated using a commercial enzyme immunoassay.

Whole cell lysate enzyme immunoassays vs. recombinant glycoprotein G2-based immunoassays for HSV-2 seroprevalence studies.

Seroepidemiology studies of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infections have been difficult to carry out because antibodies to HSV type 1 (HSV-1) show an extensive cross-reactivity with HSV-2 antigens. Many kits available currently are not entirely type specific for serodiagnosis of HSV-2 infections and therefore do not allow reliable discrimination of past exposure to these closely related alphaherpes viruses. Attempts to develop type-specific antigens have focused on the envelope glycoproteins, particularly glycoprotein G (gG).

Influence of comorbidity and severity on the clinical outcome of bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia treated with beta-lactam monotherapy.

The influence of the severity of pneumonia and comorbidity factors, as predictors of clinical outcome, was assessed in patients with microbiologically documented pneumococcal bacteremic pneumonia treated with penicillin or third generation cephalosporin monotherapy in a 5-year retrospective study. Among 288 patients admitted to three Spanish hospitals with bacteremic pneumococcal pneumonia, 65 (23%) were included. Twenty-four were treated with penicillins and 41 with a third-generation cephalosporin.

Is sexual transmission an important pattern for herpes simplex type 2 virus seroconversion in the Spanish general population?

Herpes simplex type 2 (HSV-2) seroprevalence within a community is determined by sexual and perinatal transmission from mother to baby, the two main sources of virus shedding. A seroepidemiological study of HSV-2 was undertaken on a representative sample (n = 3974) of the Spanish population to assess indirectly the relative relevance of these two transmission routes. The sample comprised 1922 men and 2052 women in the age range 5-59 years, stratified by sex and age (5-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, and 50-59 years).

Effect of eprosartan and losartan on uric acid metabolism in patients with essential hypertension.

Objective: The influence of angiotensin II AT-1 receptor antagonists on uric acid metabolism, and the potential differences among them with regard to this effect, remains to be precisely established. This study was designed to compare the effects of losartan and eprosartan on uric acid metabolism in patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension.

Design: Randomized, double-blind, parallel-group study in hypertensive patients.

Performance of research ethics committees in Spain. A prospective study of 100 applications for clinical trial protocols on medicines.

Objectives: To review the characteristics and performance of research ethics committees in Spain in the evaluation of multicentre clinical trial drug protocols.

Design: A prospective study of 100 applications.

Setting: Forty-one committees reviewing clinical trial protocols, involving 50 hospitals in 25 cities.

[Validation of the Spanish version of the Liebowitz social anxiety scale, social anxiety and distress scale and Sheehan disability inventory for the evaluation of social phobia].

Background: Social phobia is an anxiety disorder of increasing interest in clinical psychiatric practice and research. The questionnaires most widely used in the psychometric evaluation of these patients are: Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale (LSAS), Social Anxiety and Distress Scale (SADS) and Sheehan Disability Inventory (SDI). The objective of this study was to evaluate the validity and reproducibility of the Spanish versions.

Prevalence of hepatitis A in an institution for the mentally retarded in an intermediate endemicity area: influence of age length of institutionalization.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of antibodies against hepatitis A (anti-HAV) in a population of institutionalized mentally retarded persons compared with that of institutionalized non-mentally retarded persons in an area with moderate endemicity of HAV infection.

Methods: The study population was a group of mentally retarded persons aged between 10 and 30 years, institutionalized in one residence in Madrid, Spain. A group of non-mentally retarded subjects in the same age range was chosen as controls.

A placebo-controlled study of interaction between nabumetone and acenocoumarol.

Aims: The use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients treated with oral anticoagulants is generally discouraged due to the risk of interactions that could increase the risk of bleeding complications. Available data suggest the NSAID, nabumetone, does not produce such an interaction. We investigated whether nabumetone would interact with acenocoumarol, an oral anticoagulant widely used in some European countries.

Low prevalence of diphtheria immunity in the Spanish population: results of a cross-sectional study.

A seroepidemiological study was conducted on a representative sample (n = 3944) of the Spanish population to assess the immune status to diphtheria. A total of 1907 men and 2037 women in the 5-59 years age range were stratified by sex and age (5-12, 13-19, 20-29, 30-39, 40-49, 50-59 years). Concentrations of toxin antibodies were measured using a commercial ELISA kit.

Prevalence of antibodies against varicella zoster, herpes simplex (types 1 and 2), hepatitis B and hepatitis A viruses among Spanish adolescents.

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to assess the seroprevalence of antibodies against varicella zoster (VZV), herpes simplex type 1 (HSV-1) and type 2 (HSV-2), hepatitis B (HBV) and hepatitis A (HAV) viruses in adolescents (14-17 years of age) in Madrid, Spain. At the study visit, demographic data and blood samples were obtained. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used to assess the presence of anti-VZV, anti-HSV-1, anti-HSV-2, anti-HBc and anti-HAV antibodies.

Assessment of the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of a quadrivalent diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis and hepatitis B (DTPa-HBV) vaccine administered in a single injection with Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate vaccine, to infants at 2, 4 and 6 months of age.

This double-blind, randomised study was performed to assess the immunogenicity and reactogenicity of three lots of a quadrivalent diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis-hepatitis B vaccine (DTPa-HBV) co-administered with three lots of Haemophilus influenzae type b conjugate (Hib) vaccine in one injection, as a primary vaccination course in healthy infants at 2, 4 and 6 months of age. 269 infants (8-11 weeks of age) were randomly allocated to three groups to receive DTPa-HBV/Hib vaccines, concomitantly with oral polio vaccine. Blood samples for antibody determinations were taken before vaccination and 1 month after the third dose in 262 subjects.

Validation of a harmonized Spanish version of the IPSS: evidence of equivalence with the original American scale. International Prostate Symptom Score.

Objectives: To validate the use in Spain of a linguistically harmonized Spanish version of the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS Sp), and to compare it with the original American scale (IPSS Am).

Methods: Validity and reliability were studied in 59 patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) (age >50 years) and 68 control subjects without BPH (age 18 to 49 years). Construct validity was assessed by correlating IPSS Sp scores with the EuroQol-5D (EQ-5D), the Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), and item 8 (quality of life) of the IPSS.

In vitro activities of co-amoxiclav at concentrations achieved in human serum against the resistant subpopulation of heteroresistant Staphylococcus aureus: a controlled study with vancomycin.

The effects of concentrations that simulated those in human serum after a single intravenous dose of amoxicillin (2 g), amoxicillin-clavulanic acid (2,000 and 200 mg, respectively), or vancomycin (500 mg), on the viability and beta-lactamase activity of two isogenic (beta-lactamase and non-beta-lactamase producer) heteroresistant Staphylococcus aureus strains were studied in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model. A reduction of > or = 97% of the initial inoculum was obtained with vancomycin and amoxicillin-clavulanic acid against both strains, with respect to the total bacterial population and the oxacillin-resistant subpopulation. The same pattern was observed with amoxicillin and the beta-lactamase-negative strain.

[Efficiency of investigators in recruitment of patients for clinical trials: apropos of a multinational study].

Background: Performance and efficiency in patient selection are essential for conducting clinical trials. Data on these are presented from a multinational trial.

Patients And Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in asthma, with a screening phase followed after randomization by a treatment period, was selected.

Hepatitis B component does not interfere with the immune response to diphtheria, tetanus and whole-cell Bordetella pertussis components of a quadrivalent (DTPw-HB) vaccine: a controlled trial in healthy infants.

The aim of this single-blind, parallel trial was to assess whether the hepatitis B (HB) component of a DTPw-HB vaccine interferes with the immune response to the other three components when administered at 3, 5 and 7 months of age. One hundred and six infants were randomized to receive three doses of DTPw or DTPw-HB vaccines. Seroprotection (or seroresponse) rates and geometric mean titers (GMT) of antibodies were assessed 3-6 weeks after the third dose.

In vitro assessment of the effect of clavulanic acid at concentrations achieved in human serum on the bactericidal activity of amoxicillin at physiological concentrations against Staphylococcus aureus: implications for dosage regimens.

The effects on Staphylococcus aureus viability and beta-lactamase activity of concentrations that simulated those in human serum after a combined dose of 875 mg of amoxicillin and 125 mg of clavulanic acid were studied in an in vitro pharmacodynamic model. Six hours of preexposure to concentrations of the amoxicillin-clavulanic acid combination that were higher than the amoxicillin-clavulanic acid MIC led to a reduction of the initial inoculum of >90% and to a significant decrease of beta-lactamase activity versus those of the control even from 6 h, when concentrations were subinhibitory. The postantibiotic effect and post-beta-lactamase inhibitor effect contributed to these results.

Suspicion of quinolone active metabolite following discrepancy between predicted and experimental urine bactericidal activities.

The prediction of urine antibacterial activity from pharmacological and microbiological parameters was assessed by using experimental urine levels and urine bactericidal titers determined up to 72 h after a 400-mg single dose of two quinolones in a phase I study. The area under the bactericidal curve (AUBC) was accurately predicted for norfloxacin but significantly (P < 0.001) underestimated for rufloxacin (actual value was four times higher than the predicted value against Escherichia coli and two times higher against Staphylococcus aureus).

Detection of antibodies against hepatitis A in blood spots dried on filter paper. Is this a reliable method for epidemiological studies?

Diluted dried blood drops on filter paper were compared with serum samples as a specimen source for qualitative anti-HAV antibody determination by ELISA. A total of 298 serum samples and dried blood drops were collected from a population of healthy adolescents (15.3 +/- 1.