Papers by Óscar García-algar
Adicciones, 2016
This study presents the case of a 4-year-old healthy child admitted to the paediatric ward for su... more This study presents the case of a 4-year-old healthy child admitted to the paediatric ward for suspected accidental intoxication due to ingestion of narcoleptic drugs (methylphenidate, sertraline and quetiapine), taken on a regular basis by his 8-year-old brother affected by Asperger syndrome. Intoxication can be objectively assessed by measurements of drugs and metabolites in biological matrices with short-term (blood and urine) or long-term (hair) detection windows. At the hospital, the child's blood and urine were analysed by immunoassay (confirmed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry), and sertraline and quetiapine and their metabolites were identified. The suspicion that the mother administered drugs chronically prompted the analysis of six, consecutive 2-cm segments of the child's hair, using ultra-high performance liquid chromatographytandem mass spectrometry, thereby accounting for ingestion over the previous 12 months. Quetiapine was found in the first four segments with a mean concentration of 1.00 ng/mg ± 0.94 ng/mg hair while sertraline and its metabolite, desmethyl-sertraline, were found in all segments with a mean concentration of 2.65 ± 0.94 ng/mg and 1.50 ± 0.94 ng/mg hair, respectively. Hair analyses were negative for methylphenidate and its metabolite (ritalinic acid). Biological matrices testing for psychoactive drugs disclosed both acute and chronic intoxication with quetiapine and sertraline administered by the mother.
Drug and Alcohol Dependence, 2015
This study aimed to test the effectiveness of single-session motivational intervention to stop et... more This study aimed to test the effectiveness of single-session motivational intervention to stop ethanol use during pregnancy using segmental hair analysis of ethyl glucuronide to objectively verify drinking behavior before and after intervention. 168 pregnant women attending Hospital del Mar (Barcelona, Spain) for antenatal visit were included in the study and randomly assigned to one of two conditions: single-session motivational intervention (MI; N=83) or single-session educational control condition (ECC; N=85). Ethyl glucuronide was measured in maternal hair divided into three segments of 3cm each corresponding to the three different gestation trimesters by a validated liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry method. Concentrations of EtG<7pg/mg, between 7 and 30pg/mg and ≥30pg/mg in each segment were used to assess total abstinence, repetitive moderate drinking and chronic excessive consumption in the previous three months. About a third of pregnant women self-reporting no ethanol consumption during gestation showed hair EtG values corresponding to ethanol drinking. Single-session MI helped in decreasing alcohol consumption during pregnancy as assessed by lower hair EtG concentrations in 2nd and 3rd trimesters. However, it did not significantly increase complete abstinence in pregnant women who previously showed hair EtG compatible with ethanol consumption. Pregnant women did not correctly self reported ethanol consumption during gestation, while hair EtG was essential to correctly identify drinking patterns. Single-session MI was not enough to stop ethanol use during pregnancy. Interventions at any visit during pregnancy are strongly recommended.
Archives of Disease in Childhood-fetal and Neonatal Edition, 2005
The betel nut is commonly used as a drug by Asian populations. A high prevalence of adverse pregn... more The betel nut is commonly used as a drug by Asian populations. A high prevalence of adverse pregnancy outcomes has been reported in women who chewed betel quid during gestation. The hypothesis that chronic exposure of the fetus to arecoline (the principal alkaloid of the areca nut) is the cause was investigated in a clinical observational study on six newborns
Forensic Science International, 2014
Revista Española de Cardiología (English Edition), 2008
The cost-effectiveness of neonatal electrocardiographic (ECG) screening has been questioned. The ... more The cost-effectiveness of neonatal electrocardiographic (ECG) screening has been questioned. The objective of this study was to establish normal values for the QT interval in newborns of different ethnic origin. Between 2005 and 2006, ECGs were obtained during the first 48 h of life from 1305 full-term newborns at the Hospital del Mar in Barcelona, Spain. The mean corrected QT interval (QTc) was 417.79 (28.47) ms. A QTc longer than 440 ms was observed in 240 newborns (18.33%). The frequency of a pathologic QTc in Spanish newborns was 17.9%, compared with 27.7% in those of Maghreb or Near Eastern origin (P=.016), and 28.2% in those of Indian or Pakistani origin (P=.033). The QTc may vary for genetic reasons. A routine neonatal ECG is advisable only in ethnic groups in which the QTc is lengthened, to help counter the greater risk of sudden death in these infants.
Revista Española de Cardiología, 2008
Journal of Chromatography B, 2006
A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) metho... more A rapid, sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) method for the determination of baicalein, baicalin, oroxylin A and wogonin, Scutellaria baicalensis active components in rat plasma was developed. After liquid-liquid extraction with 2-(3,4-dimethoxy-phenyl)-5,7-dihydroxy-chromen-4-one as internal standard, baicalein, baicalin, oroxylin A and wogonin were eluted from an Atlantis C(18) column within 7 min with isocratic mobile phase consisting of methanol and 0.1% formic acid (60:40, v/v). The analytes were detected using an electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry in the multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode. The standard curves were linear (r=1.000) over the concentration ranges of 5-500 ng/ml for baicalein, wogonin and oroxylin A and 5-5000 ng/ml for baicalin. The coefficients of variation and relative errors of baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A and baicalin for intra- and inter-assay at three or four quality control (QC) levels were 0.8-6.1% and -4.0 to 5.8%, respectively. The lower limits of quantification for baicalein, wogonin, oroxylin A and baicalin were 5ng/ml using 50 microl of plasma sample. This method was successfully applied to the pharmacokinetic study of baicalein, baicalin, wogonin and oroxylin A after an intravenous administration of Scutellariae radix extract to male Sprague-Dawley rats.
International Journal of Epidemiology, 2004
Archivos de Bronconeumología, 2008
El consumo de tabaco durante el embarazo expone al feto a los posibles efectos nocivos de los com... more El consumo de tabaco durante el embarazo expone al feto a los posibles efectos nocivos de los componentes del humo del tabaco, que pueden afectar a los resultados perinatales y a la salud del recién nacido 1,2 . Los datos epidemiológicos muestran una gran variación geográfica del consumo materno de tabaco durante el embarazo. En algunos países, como EE.UU. e Italia, la prevalencia del consumo de tabaco durante el embarazo ha disminuido sustancialmente durante los últimos años, pero en muchos otros las cifras siguen siendo elevadas (un 34% en España), sin que se disponga de muchos datos específicos referidos a la gestación 1,3-8 .
Anales de Pediatría, 2004
Anales de Pediatría, 2011
El crecimiento es un proceso continuo que se inicia con la fecundación y termina al final de la a... more El crecimiento es un proceso continuo que se inicia con la fecundación y termina al final de la adolescencia. El feto experimenta de forma conjunta el crecimiento y el desarrollo, y no lo hace de una forma uniforme ni paralela. La facilidad o la dificultad en uno de estos procesos no implican la alteración positiva o negativa en el otro.
Anales de Pediatría, 2008
Ésta es una de las preguntas que muchos pediatras e infectólogos se hacen con frecuencia en los ú... more Ésta es una de las preguntas que muchos pediatras e infectólogos se hacen con frecuencia en los últimos años, sin que pueda darse una respuesta real y objetiva a partir de la evidencia disponible. Pero la cuestión no es sencilla, ya que el agente etiológico más frecuente del empiema paraneumónico, Streptococcus pneumoniae, ha experimentado una serie de cambios que han añadido nuevos interrogantes. Las resistencias, la variabilidad epidemiológica, los cambios en la virulencia, la inmunización no sistemática de la población con la vacuna conjugada heptavalente y el desplazamiento de serotipos son factores que complican la pregunta y "sus respuestas".
Anales de Pediatría, 2003
La circuncisión es una de las intervenciones quirúrgicas que con más frecuencia se practica a los... more La circuncisión es una de las intervenciones quirúrgicas que con más frecuencia se practica a los niños. Con la intensificación del fenómeno social de la inmigración en nuestro entorno, los profesionales de la salud han de saber interpretar las nuevas demandas sanitarias. Entre ellas, destaca la circuncisión ritual. Además, en los últimos años se han publicado algunas evidencias científicas que demuestran sus potenciales beneficios médicos. El objetivo de este artículo es identificar cuáles son las indicaciones terapéuticas de la circuncisión, aclarar los orígenes de los motivos religiosos y culturales y, por último, conocer la evidencia existente hasta el momento sobre los posibles beneficios de la circuncisión.
Clinical Chemistry, 2010
We studied the excretion profile of methylphenidate (MPH) and its metabolite ritalinic acid (RA) ... more We studied the excretion profile of methylphenidate (MPH) and its metabolite ritalinic acid (RA) in oral fluid and plasma, the oral fluid-to-plasma (OF/P) drug ratio, and the variations of oral fluid pH after drug administration. We analyzed oral fluid and plasma samples, obtained from 8 healthy volunteers after ingestion of a single dose of 20 mg fast-release or extended-release MPH, for MPH and RA by LC-MS. We estimated the apparent pharmacokinetic parameters of MPH in plasma and oral fluid and calculated the OF/P ratio for each time interval. MPH and RA were detected in oral fluid. Whereas parent drug concentrations in oral fluid were an order of magnitude higher than those in plasma, the opposite was observed for RA. Oral fluid concentrations of MPH ranged between 0.5 and 466.7 microg/L and peaked at 0.5 h after administration of the fast-release formulation; they ranged between 0.7 and 89.5 microg/L and peaked at 2 h after administration of the extended-release formulation. Both formulations presented bimodal time-course curves for the OF/P ratio, ranging between 1.8 and 242.1 for the fast-release formulation and between 2.6 and 27.0 for extended-release. Oral fluid pH did not appear to be modified by the administration of the drug, and its influence on OF/P ratio did not affect the correlation of MPH between the 2 body fluids. The results obtained support the measurement of MPH in oral fluid as an alternative to plasma if the extended-release formulation is used.
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 2007
... 12. Wood DM, Monaghan J, Streete P, et al. Fatality after deliberate ingestion of sustained-r... more ... 12. Wood DM, Monaghan J, Streete P, et al. Fatality after deliberate ingestion of sustained-release ibuprofen: a case report. Crit Care. 2006:10:R44. ...
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 2008
Wolters Kluwer Health may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed to maint... more Wolters Kluwer Health may email you for journal alerts and information, but is committed to maintaining your privacy and will not share your personal information without your express consent. For more information, please refer to our Privacy Policy. ... Skip Navigation Links Home > ...
Therapeutic Drug Monitoring, 2005
Accidental ingestion of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) was detected in an infa... more Accidental ingestion of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) was detected in an infant admitted at the Pediatric Emergency Department by drug testing in urine. Concentrations of MDMA and its principal metabolite 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) in the infant's hydrolyzed urine were 11.7 mg/L and 34.4 mg/L, respectively. Apparent febrile convulsions and cardiovascular side effects resolved within 1 day after treatment with benzodiazepines. Chronic exposure to cocaine was evidenced by segmental hair analysis. Continuous maternal denial of the presence of any drug in the household made diagnosis of accidental ingestion of MDMA and chronic exposure to cocaine problematic. Periodic clinical and laboratory follow-ups were requested to check eventual long-term effects of exposure to illicit drugs and discontinuation of the child from exposure to dangerous environments.
Journal of Epidemiology & Community Health, 2015
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Papers by Óscar García-algar