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Biomedical subjects

F Ortega

Publications and source records attributed to F Ortega.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2003

[Ca2+]i changes in guinea pig tracheal smooth muscle cells in culture: effects of Na+ and ouabain.

The objective of this work was to confirm that the contractile effects of ouabain and Na(+)-free solutions in guinea pig tracheal rings are associated with increments in the cytosolic free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in cultured tracheal smooth muscle (TSM) cells. Cultured cells were alpha-actin positive. Histamine (50 microM) and Na(+)-free solution elicited a transient increase in [Ca2+]i, while the responses to thapsigargin (1 microM) and ouabain (1 mM) were long lasting. However, carbachol (10, 200, and 500 mM) and high K(+)-solution produced no effect on [Ca2+]i, suggesting that cultured guinea pig TSM cells display a phenotype change but maintain some of the tracheal rings physiological properties. The transient rise in [Ca2+]i in response to the absence of extracellular Na+ and the effect of ouabain may indicate the participation of the Na(+)/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) in the regulation of [Ca2+]i.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

[Introduction].

Explore the source record for details and available documents.

Congresses as Topic↗
PubMed2002

[Changes in health-related quality of life in the first year of kidney transplantation].

OBJECTIVE: To study the changes in the health related quality of life (HRQOL) during the first year following renal transplant (RT), comparing azathioprine vs mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) in triple immunosuppressant therapy with prednisone and cyclosporine. METHODS: Prospective, open and random study with 26 patients who received a primary cadaveric renal transplant consecutively. Analysis of clinical variables: delayed graft function (DGF), acute rejection (AR), infections and comorbidity; analytical: haemogram, albumin and serum creatinine, hepatic function, cyclosporin levels; instruments for assessing the HRQOL: Psychological General Well-being Index (PGWBI) and Euroqol-5d (EQ-5d) health questionnaire, which includes a self-assessment scale of the state of health, Visual Analogical Scale (VAS). Controlled collection of data upon discharge following renal transplant, and subsequently 1, 3, 6, and 12 months following the first questionnaire. RESULTS: There were no differences between patients on azathioprine or MMF, except that AR occurred less frequently with MMF (7% vs 42%, p = 0.065). Global AR: 23%, cytomegalovirus infection/illness: 81%/8%, readmissions: 42%. There was an improvement in HRQOL measured by the progressive increase in the scores on the PGWBI, EQ-5d and VAS during the first three months following RT. By the sixth month, in comparison to the third, a decrease in the score was observed (PGWBI, p = 0.011). Later the HRQOL improved, but without reaching the maximum scores achieved. CONCLUSIONS: Patients on MMF showed less frequent incidence of AR. The HRQOL decreases during the third and the sixth month, but with less intensity in patients on MMF, probably related to the lower rate of AR, and excluding the over 60s.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

[Endoscopic fenestration as a treatment for asymmetrical hydrocephalus due to obstruction of the foramen of Monro].

Unilateral dilatation of the lateral ventricle is a rare condition. The most common causes are tumors of the lateral ventricles or in the area of the third ventricle, acute or chronic inflammatory gliosis, cysticercosis or congenital atresia of the foramen of Monro. We report a case of asymmetrical dilatation of the lateral ventricle in an adult patient presenting with a raised intracranial pressure syndrome caused by narrowing of the foramen of Monro which was occluded by a thin membrane. The patient underwent successful endoscopic fenestration of the Foramen of Monro.

Adult↗
PubMed2001

Increased conventional chemotherapy does not improve survival in multiple myeloma: long-term results of two PETHEMA trials including 914 patients.

BACKGROUND: Melphalan and prednisone (MP) has been the standard treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) for the last 30 years. Combination chemotherapy at conventional doses has not shown a significant prolongation of survival when compared to MP. There are few data comparing conventional chemotherapy at standard doses with conventional treatment at higher doses. We present the long-term outcome of 914 patients from two randomized trials comparing three different dose intensity regimens. METHODS: From 1 January, 1985 to 31 December, 1989, 487 patients were randomized between MP (melphalan 9 mg/m(2) p.o. and prednisone 60 mg/m(2) days 1-4) and alternating VCMP (vincristine 1 mg i.v. on day 1, cyclophosphamide 500 mg/m(2) i.v. on day 1, melphalan 6 mg/m(2) p.o. on days 1-4, and prednisone 60 mg/m(2) on days 1-4) and VBAP (vincristine 1 mg i.v. on day 1, BCNU and doxorubicin 30 mg/m(2) i.v. each on day 1, and prednisone 60 mg/m(2) on days 1-4). From 1 January, 1990 to 31 May, 1994, 427 patients were randomized between VCMP/VBAP at the above detailed doses (VCMP/VBAP 'SD') and the same regimen increasing the doses of cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin from 500 to 1200 mg/m(2) and from 30 to 50 mg/m(2), respectively (VCMP/VBAP 'HD'). RESULTS: Increasing dose intensity produced a significantly higher partial response rate (31% vs 45% vs 51% for MP, VCMP/VBAP 'SD', and VCMP/VBAP 'HD', respectively; P < 0.01). However, a significantly early death rate was observed in the HD arm (7.7, 7.5 and 12.1% for MP, VCMP/VBAP 'SD', and VCMP/VBAP 'HD', respectively; P = 0.05). Median duration of response (20 vs 18 vs 19 months for MP, VCMP/VBAP 'SD', and VCMP/VBAP 'HD', respectively; P = NS) and median survival (25 vs 31 vs 29 months for MP, VCMP/VBAP 'SD', and VCMP/VBAP 'HD', respectively; P = NS) were similar in the three groups. MP produced a higher degree of thrombocytopenia than combination chemotherapy at standard (P = 0.002) or high dose (P = 0.01), this leading to a significantly higher dose reduction in the MP arm (P < 0.001 and P = 0.003 for VCMP/VBAP 'SD' and VCMP/VBAP 'HD', respectively). CONCLUSION: In these trials the response rate significantly correlated with the regimen intensity. However, no significant differences in response duration and survival were found. This highlights the limited role of conventional chemotherapy in MM and the need for further trials, aimed at determining the impact of new treatment approaches such as high-dose therapy/autotransplantation.

Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols↗
PubMed2001

Is the loss of health-related quality of life during renal replacement therapy lower in elderly patients than in younger patients?

BACKGROUND: Previous studies have reported that elderly (aged 65 years or over) end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients have poorer health-related quality of life (HRQOL) than both younger patients and healthy subjects of the same age. The aim of present study was to evaluate the effect of ESRD and its treatment on the HRQOL, and to determine the effects of age and gender. METHODS: A cross-sectional multicentric study was carried out with 485 haemodialysis and renal-transplant patients, using the SF-36 Health Survey to evaluate their HRQOL. SF-36 scores were standardized by age and gender using Spanish normative data. Karnofsky scale score (KS), socio-demographic, and clinical data were also collected. RESULTS: In renal-replacement therapy (RRT), chronic haemodialysis, and renal-transplant patients, SF-36 standardized scores of elderly patients were higher than in younger patients. Therefore the reduction in HRQOL of elderly patients, in relationship with that of the general population of the same age and gender, was lower than in younger patients. In the case of renal-transplant patients, standardized scores in elderly patients were higher than in the general population for all parameters. CONCLUSIONS: Using standardized scores, elderly patients on renal replacement therapy (haemodialysis and kidney transplant) had relatively better HRQOL than younger patients, and in the case of transplant patients, they had even better HRQOL than in the general population of the same age and gender.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Quantitative characterization of homo- and heteroassociations of muscle phosphofructokinase with aldolase.

Dissociation of purified phosphofructokinase accompanied with inactivation was analyzed in the absence and presence of aldolase and the data were compared with those obtained with muscle extract. The kinetics of the decrease in enzymatic activity was highly dependent on the dilution factor in both cases, but the inactivation appeared to be biphasic only with extract. The inactivation of the phosphofructokinase was impeded by addition of excess of aldolase. Time courses of kinase inactivation were fitted by alternative kinetic models to characterize the multiple equilibria of several homo- and hetero-oligomers of phosphofructokinase. The combination of modeling data obtained with purified and extract systems suggests that aldolase binds to an intermediate dimer of phosphofructokinase and within this heterocomplex the kinase is completely active. The intermediate dimer is stabilized by association with microtubules and the kinase activity decreased due to dilution can be recovered by addition of excess aldolase. In extract, the phosphofructokinase is of sigmoidal character (Hill coefficient of 2.3); the addition of excess exogenous aldolase to phosphofructokinase resulted in heterocomplex formation displaying Michaelian kinetics. The possible physiological relevance of heterocomplex formation of phosphofructokinase in muscle extract is discussed.

Allosteric Regulation↗
PubMed2000

Synthesis and structure of isomeric palladium(II)-pyrazole chelate complexes with and without an N-H group as hydrogen bond donor.

Four new ligands containing a pyrazole ring and either a phosphine or thioether were prepared and converted to their cis-dichloropalladium(II) complexes. Two of the ligands are especially notable for the attachment of a side chain at pyrazole carbon, rather than at nitrogen. The new metal complexes include dichloro[3-(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrazole]palladium(II) (1-PdCl2) and dichloro[3-(methylthiomethyl)pyrazole]palladium(II) (2-PdCl2), which both feature an N-H group as a potential proton or hydrogen bond donor. For comparison, isomeric complexes lacking an NH group were prepared: dichloro[1-(diphenylphosphinomethyl)pyrazole]palladium(II) (3-PdCl2) and dichloro[1-(methylthiomethyl)pyrazole]palladium(II) (4-PdCl2). As determined by X-ray crystallography, all four complexes were found to have slightly distorted square planar geometry. Complexes 1-PdCl2 and 2-PdCl2, which contain an NH group, exhibit both intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonding, whereas isomers 3-PdCl2 and 4-PdCl2 do not. Single-crystal X-ray structure determinations on the following compounds are reported: 1-PdCl2, space group P1, a = 8.4488(9) A, b = 8.9175(13) A, c = 12.731(2) A, Z = 2, V = 871.8(2) A3; 2-PdCl2, space group Pbca, a = 10.8827(10) A, b = 11.7721(7) A, c = 14.874(2) A, Z = 8, V = 1905.6 A3; 3-PdCl2, space group P2(1)/c, a = 20.520(2) A, b = 12.549(2) A, c = 13.9784(13) A, Z = 8, V = 3401.1(6) A3; 4-PdCl2, space group Pbca, a = 10.6545(10) A, b = 12.0205(11) A, c = 14.6474(14) A, Z = 8, V = 1875.9(3) A3.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2000

Subcellular ontogeny of brain pyroglutamyl peptidase I.

The present work studies pyroglutamyl-peptidase I activity in several subcellular fractions of the developing brain. In the synaptosomal fraction, soluble pGlu-peptidase I activity is low until postnatal Day 9 (with a peak at postnatal Day 2) and the activity increases at postnatal Day 15. In later stages there are not significant changes of synaptosomal pGlu-peptidase I activity. However, in the cytosolic fraction the activity is high from ED22 until postnatal Day 9, and afterwards decreases. The changes in the particulate fractions are generally less drastic.

2-Naphthylamine↗
PubMed2000

Health related quality of life (HRQOL) of kidney transplanted patients: variables that influence it.

UNLABELLED: The incidence and prevalence of patients on renal replacement therapy (RRT) who receive a renal transplant are continuously increasing in Spain. At the moment, they are the main group of end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients in our region (60% of total RRT patients). The aim of the present study was to assess the health related quality of life (HRQOL) of kidney transplanted patients of our region, and to identify socio-demographic and clinical variables that influence it. The intention was also to compare the HRQOL of these patients with that of chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients and of the general population. METHODS: Two hundred and ten kidney transplanted patients and 170 HD patients were evaluated using the Karnofsky performance scale (KPS), sickness impact profile (SIP), and SF-36 Health Survey (SF-36). Socio-demographic and clinical data, including a comorbidity index (CI), were also collected. To compare our patients with the general population we used SF-36 mean scores from an aleatory sample taken from our region. RESULTS: Transplant patients had lower mean scores on SIP dimensions and higher scores on SF-36 dimensions than chronic HD patients. In transplant patients, we found significant differences on SIP and SF-36 scores in gender, educational level, haematocrite and haemoglobin, CI, time since transplantation, and KPS. CONCLUSIONS: The HRQOL of transplant patients is clearly better than that of chronic HD patients and similar to that of the general population. Differences in the HRQOL within transplant patients did not appear to be as a result of patient's age, but rather it would appear to be a consequence of gender, analytic figures, CI, KPS score, time with transplant, and educational level.

Adult↗
PubMed2000

Blood lead and hemoglobin levels in Andean children with chronic lead intoxication.

This study investigated blood lead (PbB) and hemoglobin (HbB) levels in 88 children (42 females and 46 males; ages: 2-15 years; mean age: 7.2) with chronic Pb exposure, living in a highly Pb-contaminated Andean village at above 2800 meters. The mean PbB level for 88 venous blood samples was 43.2 microg/dl (SD: 25.1; range: 6.2 - 128.2 microg/dl) measured by ICP-MS, and 42.0 microg/dl (SD: 26.0; range: 5.0 - 130.0 microg/dl) by GFAAS analysis. The mean PbB level for the 42 females was 41.0 microg/dl and for 46 males, 45.0 microg/dl. Multiple regression analysis showed a significant gender by age interaction (R2 = 0.099; F = 4.173, p = 0.044), indicating a relationship between age and PbB level for males, but not for females. Simple regression analysis showed a statistically significant positive correlation between PbB levels and age for males (r = 0.416, p = 0.004), but not for females (r = -0.042, p = .793). The measured mean HbB level for the 88 children was 12.6 g/dl (12.5 g/dl for females and 12.8 g/dl for males) and lower than expected for children living in the Ecuadorian Andes. The mean altitude-corrected HbB level was 10.9 g/dl (10.8 g/dl for females and 11.1 g/dl for males). A significant inverse correlation between PbB and HbB levels was observed for the group of 88 children (r = -0.292, p = 0.006). Multiple regression analyses indicated no significant age and gender interaction (R2 = 0.014; F = 0.025, p = 0.876) for HbB levels. In conclusion, the results of this investigation indicate that the children in this Pb-contaminated, high altitude study area had chronic elevated PbB levels, which increased with age for males, and probable Pb-induced anemia.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2000

[Role of the positron emission tomography (PET) in suspected tumor recurrence when there is increased serum tumor markers].

PURPOSE: Evaluate the usefulness of Positron Emission Tomography with 18F-Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG-PET) to detect lesions when tumor recurrences are suspected due to the progressive increase of tumor markers and the study of their extension with negative or non-conclusive morphostructural diagnostic techniques. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Whole body FDG-PET was per-formed in 72 patients with different cancer diseases, 23 of whom had breast, 18 colorectal, 15 thyroid, 6 lung, 3 ovarian cancer and 7 had other types of cancers. Tumoral recurrence was suspected in all of the cases due to the progressive marker increase and negative or non-conclusive conventional studies. RESULTS: FDG-PET detected lesions in 85% patients, 33% of which were confirmed by the end of the study. In 40% of all cases, therapeutics measures were applied, 14% of which consisted in surgery with intention to cure. Sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were 96.4%, 75.6% and 93.9% respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Whole body FDG-PET is an accurate procedure in diagnosis of recurrent tumoral disease in patients with rising tumoral marker levels and with negative conventional morphostructural extension studies, and can make it possible to change the therapeutic approach in some cases.

Biomarkers, Tumor↗
PubMed1999

An abnormal CD34+ myeloid/CD34+ lymphoid ratio at the end of chemotherapy predicts relapse in patients with acute myeloid leukemia.

During conventional follow-up of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), the emergence of cytopenias is considered to be a sign of impending relapse, and it represents an example of how leukemic hematopoiesis affects normal hemopoietic differentiation. In the present study, we have explored the possible value of the analysis of the distribution of CD34+ myeloid and CD34+ lymphoid progenitor cells in follow-up complete remission bone marrow samples from de novo AML patients as a prognostic parameter for predicting relapse. A total of 213 bone marrow samples from 36 AML patients in morphological complete remission, obtained at the end of induction, consolidation, and intensification therapy and every six months thereafter were analyzed. The normal CD34+ myeloid/CD34+ lymphoid ratio ranged between 2.4 and 8.9. In contrast, in most AML cases an abnormally high ratio (> or =10) was observed at the end of induction and consolidation therapy: 96% and 75% of cases, respectively. On the other hand, at the end of intensification, 70% of the patients displayed a normal CD34+ ratio. Patients with a myeloid/lymphoid CD34+ ratio higher than 10 at the end of intensification showed a significantly lower overall survival (median survival of 19 months versus median not reached, P = 0.05), as well as a lower disease-free survival (median of 7 months versus 30 months, P = 0.0001). Regarding sequential studies, 67% of the relapses were preceded by the re-appearance of an abnormal CD34 ratio, whereas relapse was not predicted in four patient with leukemia classified as M3 undergoing maintenance therapy. From the remaining 18 patients who are still in continuous complete remission, all except 3 cases (17%) displayed a normal CD34 myeloid/lymphoid ratio. In summary, the present study shows that the persistence at the end of chemotherapy of an abnormally high (> or =10) ratio between CD34+ myeloid and CD34+ lymphoid progenitors in the bone marrow of AML patients is associated with high risk of relapse and a shorter overall survival.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Lead in plasma and whole blood from lead-exposed children.

In 31 children exposed to lead and 13 considerably less exposed children ("unexposed"), the plasma (Pb-P) concentrations ranged from 0.46 to 18.4 (median, 2.4) and from 0.14 to 0.38 (median, 0.21) microg/L, respectively. Corresponding whole-blood concentrations (Pb-B) were 99-920 (median, 370) and 39-120 (median, 66) microg/L, respectively. The relation between Pb-B and Pb-P was nonlinear; when Pb-P rose, the Pb-B increased relatively less. There was a close association between Pb-B and log Pb-P (r=0.95; P=0.0001). When these data were compared to previous data on adults, there was no major difference between children and adults in the Pb-B/Pb-P relation. Free erythrocyte protoporphyrins in blood were associated with Pb-P (r=0.75; P=0.0001) and Pb-B (r=0.90; P=0.0001). Also, there was an association between blood-hemoglobin concentration and Pb-P in both exposed (r=-0.67; P=0.0001) and unexposed (r=-0.67; P=0.01) children; the corresponding figures for Pb-B were r=-0.42; P=0.02, and r=-0.80; P=0.001, respectively. Thus, at least with regard to toxicity on hematopoiesis at high lead levels, Pb-P may be a more relevant indicator of exposure and risk than Pb-B. Because the curved Pb-B/Pb-P relation indicates a saturation of binding sites for lead in red cells, exposure and risk at high lead levels may easily be underestimated from Pb-B data.

Adolescent↗