Jordi Cami

• Pompeu Fabra University

Background: Mounting evidence links poor sleep quality with a higher risk of late-life dementia. However, the structural and cognitive correlates of insomnia are still not well understood. The study aims were to characterize the cognitive performance and brain structural pattern of cognitively unimpaired adults at increased risk for Alzheimer's di...

Background White matter hyperintensities (WMH) of presumed vascular origin have been associated with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aims to describe the patterns of WMH associated with dementia risk estimates and individual risk factors in a cohort of middle-aged/late middle-aged individuals (mean 58 (interquartile range...

Introduction The preclinical phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is optimal for identifying early pathophysiological events and developing prevention programs, which are shared aims of the ALFA project, including the ALFA registry and parent cohort and the nested ALFA+ cohort study. Methods The ALFA parent cohort baseline visit included full cogniti...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is among the most significant health care burdens. Disappointing results from clinical trials in late-stage AD persons combined with hopeful results from trials in persons with early-stage suggest that research in the preclinical stage of AD is necessary to define an optimal therapeutic success window. We review the justifi...

Background: The Memory Binding Test (MBT) is a novel test based on the learning of two lists of words, developed to detect early memory impairment suggestive of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Objective: To present and provide reference data of the Spanish MBT in a midlife population of mainly first-degree descendants of AD patients. Methods: 472 cogniti...

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3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, ecstasy) is a popular psychostimulant, frequently associated with multiple administrations over a short period of time. Repeated administration of MDMA in experimental settings induces tolerance and metabolic inhibition. The aim is to determine the acute pharmacological effects and pharmacokinetics resulting...

The abundance of macro-level studies on scientific production in the field of biomedicine in Spain only serves to highlight the scarcity of micro-level studies reporting on the activity of research groups-the basic units of the science and technology system. This lack of information may well be explained by the ambiguity inherent in the "research g...

It is often claimed that hospitals that are leaders in biomedical research provide higher health care quality, or vice versa. Although several studies have shown a relationship between teaching status and quality of care, none has analysed the association between research output and hospital outcomes. Our aim was to determine whether there is a rel...

In recognition of the global problem posed by Alzheimer's disease and other dementias, an international think-tank meeting was convened by Biocat, the Pasqual Maragall Foundation, and the Lou Ruvo Brain Institute in February 2009. The meeting initiated the planning of a European Union-North American collaborative research enterprise to expedite the...

En este estudio se define el área de Salud pública y epidemiología partiendo de términos del tesauro MeSH y adicionalmente se analiza la procuddión de los grupos integrantes del Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red en Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBER ESP).

The peer review paradigm in our system of professional self-regulation is a complementary evaluation procedure – and as imperfect as – bibliometrics. The application of peer review depends on the journal's aims and circumstances and its results should always be contextualized, especially given the current cult of considering the journal of publicat...

The peer review paradigm in our system of professional self-regulation is a complementary evaluation procedure - and as imperfect as - bibliometrics. The application of peer review depends on the journal's aims and circumstances and its results should always be contextualized, especially given the current cult of considering the journal of publicat...

The study presents the bibliometric analysis of the Spanish scientific output in biomedicine during 1996-2004. This is the last edition of a series of bibliometric studies aimed to characterize the Spanish scientific performance in biomedicine. The analysis was restricted to citable documents for which simple and composite bibliometric indicators w...

Background and objective The study presents the bibliometric analysis of the Spanish scientific output in biomedicine during 1996-2004. This is the last edition of a series of bibliometric studies aimed to characterize the Spanish scientific performance in biomedicine. Material and method The analysis was restricted to citable documents for which...

ObjetivesThis article sets out the main aspects analysed in a Workshop on research into drug-dependency for the National Plan on Drugs held in the ‘Delegación del Gobierno’ in Madrid on March 1st, 2006 and organised by the Spanish Society of Drug Addiction.Methods The following papers were presented: The RTA Network. A collaborative research model,...

The efficacy of clonidine, methadone, and guanfacine in rapid detoxification of heroin inpatients was assessed in a randomized controlled clinical trial. Signs and symptoms of abstinence and of side effects were analysed in 90 heroin addicts successfully completing a 12–day inpatient trial, all patients fit DSM-III criteria for opioid dependence, t...

Following a period of twenty years during which the necessary scientific infrastructure for a major European facility was set up and a five-year construction period, the Parc de Recerca Biomèdica de Barcelona (PRBB, Barcelona Biomedical Research Park) was inaugurated in May 2006. The PRBB, with an outstanding critical mass, prominent research staff...

(CYP)isoform 2D6 [2]. HHMA is further metabolised to 4-hydroxy, 3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA) bycatechol- O-methyltransferase (COMT). HMMA in-duces vasopressin secretion to a higher extent thanMDMA and has been postulated to contribute to hyp-onatraemia observed in some MDMA acute intoxica-tions [4]. The CYP2D6 gene is highly polymorphic andmany...

The present study is a 1994-2002 update of the Spanish biomedical bibliometric map that follows other reports already published in Medicina Clinica concerning the previous periods 1986-1989 and 1990-1993. The results are restricted to citable documents, items that were classified in 70 categories according to 1996 JCR. Bibliometric analysis was bas...

Background and objective The present study is a 1994-2002 update of the Spanish biomedical bibliometric map that follows other reports already published in Medicina Clínica concerning the previous periods 1986-1989 and 1990-1993. Material and method The results are restricted to citable documents, items that were classified in 70 categories accord...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is increasingly used by young people for its euphoric and empathic effects. MDMA presents non-linear pharmacokinetics, probably by inhibition of cytochrome P450 isoform 2D6. Users are known to often take more than one dose per session. This practice could have serious implications for the toxicity...

MDMA (3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine, ecstasy) is a widely misused psychostimulant drug abused among large segments of the young population. Pharmacologically it displays effects related to amphetamine-type drugs and a set of distinctive effects (closeness to others, facilitation to interpersonal relationship, and empathy) that have been named b...

Se construye y valida un instrumento para medir los efectos subjetivos producidos por la 3,4-metilenodioximentanfetamina (MDMA). Tras la construcción de un banco de ítems, posteriores reducciones y un análisis factorial, se obtuvo un cuestionario de 36 ítems al que se le denominó VESSPA (Valoración de Efectos Subjetivos de Sustancia con Potencial d...

The objective of this study was to construct an instrument capable of measuring the subjective effects produced by 3.4-methyilenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). After the construction of a bank of items, subsequent reductions and a factorial analysis, a 36-item questionnaire was obtained with a five-point Likert response. This questionnaire was called...

Objective: to compile and analyse knowledge about the pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics of MDMA from controlled clinical trials in humans. Methods: the typical design of the trials was masked (double blind), randomized, cross-over, and controlled with placebo and/or an active drug. Results: MDMA increases the heart rate, arterial blood pressure...

A gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) method was used for the simultaneous quantitation of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and the 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), 4-hydroxy-3-methoxymethamphetamine (HMMA), and 4-hydroxy-3-methoxyamphetamine (HMA) metabolites in plasma and urine samples after the administration of 100 mg MDMA...

The efficacy of methadone maintenance in opioid addiction was assessed in terms of programme retention rate and reduction of illicit opioid use by means of a meta-analysis of randomised, controlled and double blind clinical trials. The results were compared with interventions using buprenorphine and levo-acetylmethadol (LAAM). Trials were identifie...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) is frequently consumed in association with alcohol. The effect of this combination in humans has not been previously investigated. Nine male healthy volunteers received single oral doses of 100 mg of MDMA plus 0.8 g/kg ethanol, 100 mg of MDMA, 0.8 g/kg of ethanol, and placebo in a double blind, double dummy,...

Low, medium, and high doses of flunitrazepam were tested in three independent randomized, double-blind, balanced cross-over, placebo-controlled trials to study the influence of rate of onset of effects and dose administered on its acute effects. Three groups of 12 healthy male volunteers received six oral doses of placebo or flunitrazepam in slow a...

MDMA (3,4‐methylenedioxymethamphetamine) use can cause neurochemical, behavioral and endocrine alterations, similar to those produced by exposure to acute stress, suggesting its potential as a “chemical stressor.” It is known that stressful stimuli can produce a depression of immune function and an alteration in immune cells distribution. In vitro...

MDMA given at recreational doses (range tested 50 to 150 mg) to healthy volunteers, produced mydriasis and marked increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, and pupillary diameter. MDMA induced changes on oral temperature. The time course of this observation was biphasic, as a slight decrease at 1 h and a slight increase at 2 a...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") is a recreational drug of increasing use among youth because of its apparent entactogenic properties, such as euphoria, friendliness, closeness, and empathy. However, experimental studies have shown MDMA to be neurotoxic. Data on pharmacologic actions of MDMA in humans are limited. The authors con...

3,4-Methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, commonly called ecstasy) is a synthetic compound increasingly popular as a recreational drug. Little is known about its pharmacology, including its metabolism and pharmacokinetics, in humans in controlled settings. A clinical trial was designed for the evaluation of MDMA pharmacological effects and pharmacok...

We developed a fast and sensitive method for identification and quantification of plasma concentrations of amphetamine using gas chromatography with mass spectrometry detection (GC-MS). Amphetamine-d8 served as internal standard. The method involves a single extraction procedure and an easy treatment of the samples that allowed no losses during the...

Peer review is a basic component of the scientific process, but its performance has seldom been evaluated systematically. To determine whether pre-approval characteristics of research projects predicted the performance of projects, we conducted a retrospective cohort study of all 2744 single-centre research projects financed by the Spanish Health R...

The cardiovascular and neuroendocrine effects and pharmacokinetics of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA, "ecstasy") were assessed in a double-blind, randomized, crossover, and controlled (placebo and amphetamine) clinical trial. Eight men with experience in the recreational use of MDMA participated in four 10-h experimental sessions with a 1-...

This report examines the validity of the Spanish version of the 49-item short form of the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) for measuring subjective effects after the use of sedatives, stimulants, and opioids. Data from four clinical trials in which this questionnaire was used have been analyzed. The Spanish ARCI short form was found to be...

A gas chromatographic method with nitrogen–phosphorus detection involving a solid–liquid extraction phase was developed and validated for the simultaneous quantification of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) and 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA) in plasma. A modification of this method was validated for the analysis of MDMA, MDA, 4-hydroxy-...

Abuse liability and acute subjective and psychomotor effects of flunitrazepam were assessed in ten methadone-maintained males with history of benzodiazepine and alcohol use, who voluntarily participated in a double-blind, controlled, cross-over, randomized clinical trial. There were six experimental sessions in which a single oral dose of flunitraz...

The simultaneous administration of cocaine and alcohol implies a pharmacological interaction at pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic levels. The latter involves an alteration of cocaine kinetics and metabolism, as well as the biosynthesis of newly active metabolites, such as cocaethylene. Cocaethylene is metabolized along the same pathways as cocain...

In 1993 a first study on the scientific production of Spain in 1986-1989 on Biomedicine and Health Sciences, through the Science Citation Index (SCI) was published. The analysis attained the level of centres, with special emphasis in those related to the Health Care System. This paper analyses the period 1990-1993, offers a wider coverage including...

The effects of 100 mg of intranasal cocaine in acute alcohol intoxication (0.8 g/kg) were evaluated in eight experienced and nondependent healthy volunteers in a double-blind double-dummy, controlled, randomized, crossover clinical study. The combination of alcohol and cocaine produced greater increases in HR, rate-pressure product and pleasurable-...

MEDICINA CLINICA has been indexed in the Science Citation Index (SCI) database since 1992, listed in the category Medicine, General & Internal, and its impact factor in 1993 was 0.909. Two years as source journal in the SCI database provide enough information to assess its contribution to the international scientific scenario. Publications of Spani...

Flunitrazepam is an hypnotic benzodiazepine marketed in different European countries. Epidemiological studies have shown that it is frequently abused by opioid addicts. In a survey, "liking" scores for flunitrazepam in methadone maintenance patients were higher than ratings for other benzodiazepines. A double-blind, placebo controlled, crossover cl...

1. Phase I clinical trials are usually carried out in healthy volunteers. In addition to economic gain, factors that may influence willingness to participate include scientific interest, curiosity and choice for risky activities. 2. We assessed the relationship between personality variables and volunteering for clinical pharmacology research. Two p...

Cocaethylene is an active metabolite produced when cocaine is consumed jointly with ethanol. The development of analytical techniques for determining cocaethylene and other cocaine metabolites is highly relevant for pharmacokinetic and toxicology studies of the cocaine and alcohol interaction in humans. The gas chromagraphy/mass spectrometry (GC/MS...

Production in Spanish biomedical main-stream science in the years 1986–1989 was studied. A series of bibliometric and socioeconomic indicators were applied to determine the geographical distribution, the institutions involved and the most active centres per speciality using their scientific output, their impact and their basic-clinical type of rese...

The literature on assessment of abuse liability of opioid drugs in humans was reviewed, and meta-analysis (a statistical method designed to combine results of different studies) was performed to study a dose-effect relationship for some variables commonly used for the evaluation of the subjective and physiological effects of morphine. Thirty-five s...

In a randomized double-blind study, the clinical efficacy of methadone vs. methadone and guanfacine was assessed in terms of evolution of opioid withdrawal symptoms during inpatient detoxification. A total of 144 patients were included and randomly allocated to three different treatment groups: methadone alone, and two combined treatment schedules...

The Spanish version of the 49-item short form of the Addiction Research Center Inventory (ARCI) was assessed in simulated drug conditions. After the translation process was completed, the questionnaire was administered to forty-five adult polydrug abusers who were residing in a general hospital. Subjects answered the questionnaire on four occasions...

In clinical or forensic practice there are few studies assessing which risk factors are associated with heroin overdoses. A series of 76 consecutive non-fatal heroin overdoses were compared to 22 consecutive subjects who self-injected heroin within 1 h before admission to the emergency room. Whereas blood levels of alcohol and IgE and urinary cocai...

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the agonist and antagonist properties of pentazocine, an opioid mixed agonist-antagonist analgesic, in relation to prototypic opioid agonist and antagonist drugs in opioid-dependent human subjects. Pentazocine (45 and 60 mg), naloxone (0.1 and 0.2 mg), morphine (20, 40 and 60 mg) and saline placebo were adm...

The opioid agonist and antagonist properties of tramadol were assessed in 6 male opioid-dependent volunteers enrolled in a methadone maintenance programme. Subjects participated in 3 experimental sessions in which the effects of intramuscular tramadol 100 and 300 mg and placebo were evaluated. Tramadol neither produced morphine-like effects nor pre...

There is no detailed information on the scientific production in biomedicine from the perspective of the centers which make up the National Health Care System. Nor has any analysis on productivity by specialties compared with that of other countries of the European Community (EC) been carried out. The methodology used and the global results of a st...