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Biomedical subjects

L Hidalgo

Publications and source records attributed to L Hidalgo.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Menopausal symptoms and associated risk factors among postmenopausal women screened for the metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Although the frequency of menopausal symptoms may vary according to the studied population, in general severe intensity has been related to lower quality of life. OBJECTIVE: To assess the frequency of menopausal symptoms and involved risk factors in an Ecuadorian postmenopausal population. METHODS: Postmenopausal women that participated in a metabolic syndrome screening program were interviewed with the Menopause-specific quality of life questionnaire (MENQOL) in order to determine the most frequently presenting menopausal symptoms and correlate these symptoms with socio-demographic data and the main results of the screening program. RESULTS: Three hundred and twenty-five postmenopausal women (n = 325) were surveyed with the MENQOL. Mean age of participants was 55.9 +/- 8.1 years (median: 54 years). The most frequently presenting symptoms were: hot flushes (53.3%), sweating (49.2%), poor memory (80.6%), feeling depressed (67.4%), aching in muscles and joints (84%), drying of their skin (85.5%), avoiding intimacy (76.2%) and change in their sexual desire (76.5%). Multivariate analysis determined that abdominal obesity was a significant risk factor for presenting hot flushes, depression and muscle and joint pain. High triglyceride levels were associated to higher rates of sweating and depression. While women with basal hyperglycemia were associated to dry skin and changes in sexual desire in a higher proportion, those who were older and with more years of menopause onset were related less frequently to vasomotor symptoms. Older age was also significantly associated in a higher rate to dry skin. CONCLUSION: In this postmenopausal Ecuadorian population, the frequency of menopausal symptoms, as assessed with the MENQOL, was found to be relatively similar to other Latin and non-Latin American populations and associated to age, hormonal status and related metabolic conditions.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The influence of hepatitis C virus-human immunodeficiency virus co-infection on the appearance of liver enzyme elevation in people on high activity antiretroviral treatment.

BACKGROUND: Liver enzyme elevation (LEE) as a consequence of HAART is a problem among patients with HIV-HCV co-infection. METHODS: In this retrospective study, 145 patients with HIV who were on HAART and who developed LEE grades 3 and 4 of the World Health Organization (WHO) were followed up. Basal ALT, alcohol consumption, and HCV and HBV co-infection were recorded. Comparisons were made between patients with and without HCV co-infection. RESULTS: Three patients without co-infection presented LEE grade 3 versus 38 with co-infection (104 episodes). An increase in basal ALT (RR: 1.01) and HCV co-infection (RR: 6.6) were the variables associated with LEE grade 3. The number of days that HAART had to be withdrawn due to LEE was 58.15 and 4.85 in subjects with and without co-infection, respectively (p=0.024). CONCLUSION: Patients with HCV-HIV co-infection have more episodes of LEE and must go longer without HAART than people without co-infection.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

The effect of malarial infection on maternal-fetal outcome in Ecuador.

OBJECTIVE: To describe maternal and fetal outcome among pregnancies complicated with malarial infection. METHODS: Charts of pregnancies complicated with malarial infection were reviewed. Parasital etiology and maternal/fetal data was analyzed. RESULTS: During the year 2001, at the Enrique C. Sotomayor Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Guayaquil-Ecuador, 80 pregnancies complicated with malarial infection were admitted for treatment. This rendered an incidence of 2.1 per 1,000 live births (80/37,579). Mean maternal age was 25.2 +/- 6.7 years and the 19-29 age group was the most frequently affected (50%). On admittance, fever, chills, jaundice and anemia was present in 97.5%, 78.8%, 38.8% and 60% respectively. Falciparum was the most frequently presenting species (56.3%). Patients admitted at < 20 weeks gestation (n = 17) had a 76.5% and 82.4% abortion and adverse fetal outcome rate respectively. Among those admitted at 20-36 weeks (n = 55) the rates for preterm birth, intrauterine fetal death, low birthweight (LBW) and small-for-gestational age (SGA) were 34.5%, 11%, 40.8% and 48.9% respectively. Among patients admitted > 36 weeks, 87.5% (7/8) ended in a live term delivery. Adolescents presented a higher rate of anemia and SGA neonates. The overall (n = 80) abortion, preterm delivery and intrauterine fetal demise rates were 16.3%, 25% and 8.8% respectively. Chloroquine effectively treated 98.8% of cases and there was one maternal death due to falciparum infection. CONCLUSIONS: In this Ecuadorian population, malarial infection complicating gestation was associated to adverse maternal-fetal outcome, which was more evident among teenagers and pregnancies presenting malaria at an earlier gestational age.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

International conference on the healthy effect of virgin olive oil.

1. Ageing represents a great concern in developed countries because the number of people involved and the pathologies related with it, like atherosclerosis, morbus Parkinson, Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, cognitive decline, diabetes and cancer. 2. Epidemiological studies suggest that a Mediterranean diet (which is rich in virgin olive oil) decreases the risk of cardiovascular disease. 3. The Mediterranean diet, rich in virgin olive oil, improves the major risk factors for cardiovascular disease, such as the lipoprotein profile, blood pressure, glucose metabolism and antithrombotic profile. Endothelial function, inflammation and oxidative stress are also positively modulated. Some of these effects are attributed to minor components of virgin olive oil. Therefore, the definition of the Mediterranean diet should include virgin olive oil. 4. Different observational studies conducted in humans have shown that the intake of monounsaturated fat may be protective against age-related cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. 5. Microconstituents from virgin olive oil are bioavailable in humans and have shown antioxidant properties and capacity to improve endothelial function. Furthermore they are also able to modify the haemostasis, showing antithrombotic properties. 6. In countries where the populations fulfilled a typical Mediterranean diet, such as Spain, Greece and Italy, where virgin olive oil is the principal source of fat, cancer incidence rates are lower than in northern European countries. 7. The protective effect of virgin olive oil can be most important in the first decades of life, which suggests that the dietetic benefit of virgin olive oil intake should be initiated before puberty, and maintained through life. 8. The more recent studies consistently support that the Mediterranean diet, based in virgin olive oil, is compatible with a healthier ageing and increased longevity. However, despite the significant advances of the recent years, the final proof about the specific mechanisms and contributing role of the different components of virgin olive oil to its beneficial effects requires further investigations.

Aging↗
PubMed2004

Factors associated with inadequate prenatal care in Ecuadorian women.

BACKGROUND: Although inadequate prenatal care has been associated with adverse perinatal outcomes, reports on the factors associated with poor prenatal care in developing Latin American countries are scarce. OBJECTIVE: To determine factors associated with inadequate prenatal care among women from low socioeconomic circumstances. METHOD: Women delivered after a pregnancy duration of more than 20 weeks at the Enrique C. Sotomayor Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Guayaquil, Ecuador, were surveyed. The questionnaire collected sociodemographic data and reasons for having inadequate prenatal care. Adequacy of prenatal care was measured with the Kessner index and correlated to the sociodemographic data. RESULTS: During the study period, 1016 pregnant women were surveyed. Among them, there were adolescents (23.7%), primigravidas (30.8%), and women with a high-risk pregnancy (29.3%). According to the Kessner index, prenatal care was considered adequate or inadequate in 24.5% and 75.5% of cases, respectively. Knowledge regarding the importance of adequate prenatal care and the effects of poor prenatal care was lower among women who had received inadequate prenatal care. The women that were considered to have had adequate prenatal care had at least one visit, and they were more often cared for by a specialist than women who considered having inadequate prenatal care. The three most important reasons associated to inadequate prenatal care in this series (n=767), were economic difficulties having to care for a small child, and transportation difficulties. Logistic regression analysis determined that women with undesired pregnancies who resided in rural areas and were para 5 or higher had an increased risk of inadequate prenatal care. On the other hand, an adverse outcome to a prior pregnancy (abortion, intrauterine fetal demise, or ectopic pregnancy) decreased this risk. Marital status and educational level were confounding factors. CONCLUSIONS: Although prenatal care at our institution is free, adequacy was thought to be low. The main factors associated with poor prenatal care were mostly conditions related to poverty.

Confounding Factors, Epidemiologic↗
PubMed2002

Effect of cholecystokinin-A receptor blockade on postprandial insulinaemia and gastric emptying in humans.

Our aim was determine the relationship between cholecystokinin (CCK)-A receptor blockade, glucose levels, insulin secretion and gastric emptying in humans, and to assess the effect of CCK-A blockade on pancreatic polypeptide secretion. After a 12-h fast, six healthy volunteers were given [99mTc]iminodiacetic acid monosodium salt (IDA) intravenously (5 mCi). One hour later they were offered a 577 kcal liquid meal containing [99mTc]diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid (DTPA) (2 mCi) and glucose (105 g). Scintigraphic gastric and gallbladder activity, and plasma glucose, insulin and pancreatic polypeptide responses were monitored. In a second experiment, a continuous intravenous infusion of loxiglumide (7.5 mg kg h(-1)) was started 60 min before and continued until 120 min after test meal ingestion to block the CCK-A receptors. Gallbladder emptying was blocked by loxiglumide. Loxiglumide accelerated gastric emptying, increased insulin secretion without alteration of glucose profiles, and abolished all phases of the postprandial pancreatic polypeptide response. Blockade of peripheral CCK-A receptors accelerates gastric emptying of liquids with an increase in postprandial insulin levels. The lack of changes in glycaemia suggests that alternative homeostatic mechanisms also control postprandial glucose levels. Inhibition of pancreatic polypeptide release may reflect an independent effect of loxiglumide on vagal control involved in pancreatic polypeptide release.

Adult↗
PubMed1996

[Molecular changes in adenocarcinoma of the small intestine associated with Peutz-Jeghers syndrome].

The presence of molecular alterations in the c-K-ras and p53 genes in a small bowel adenocarcinoma arising in a case of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome is reported. The absence of mutations at codon 12 and 13 of the c-K-ras gene in the hamartoma and carcinoma indicates that this oncogene does not contribute to its development. On the other hand, p53 protein overexpression was detected in a small proportion (5-10%) of adenocarcinoma cells. Our findings suggest that p53 inactivation occur in late stages of tumour progression.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1994

[Changes in the cellular proliferation of the healthy mucosa in patients with colorectal cancer].

AIM: To analyze differences in the proliferative pattern of normal mucosa between patients with colorectal cancer and healthy subjects. PATIENTS AND METHODS: By using flow cytometry we examined the proliferative pattern (Proliferative Index and S-Phase) in samples of normal mucosa from 34 patients operated on for colorectal cancer at our hospital and from 14 healthy subjects as a control group. RESULTS: All examined samples were diploid. The Proliferative Index and S-Phase in the Cancer Group were significantly higher than in the Control Group (16.7 +/- 5.9 vs 11.4 +/- 4, p < 0.003, and 11.9 +/- 3.9 us 6.6 +/- 3 p < 0.0004). CONCLUSIONS: These findings provide evidence for an altered proliferative pattern in the healthy colonic mucosa of patients with colorectal cancer.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

Post-transplant renal artery stenosis: a possible immunological phenomenon.

A retrospective review of 110 consecutive kidney transplants performed during 4 years revealed the development of renal artery stenosis in 9 patients (8.18%). A comparison of this group with a control group similar in patient age and interval elapsed since transplantation revealed no significant differences in donor and recipient ages, degree of HLA compatibility or serum creatinine levels. However, there was a significant difference in the number of acute rejection episodes. In our series only male patients were affected. A sizable proportion of the patients (50%) had no detectable murmur over the graft area despite high blood pressure and increased creatinine levels. The absence of surgical injury during extraction and implantation of the grafts, together with the anatomical site of the stenosis and correlation with the degree of immunological intolerance suggest an immunological factor as the underlying cause in post-transplant renal artery stenosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Primary bladder adenocarcinoma: retrospective study of 11 cases and general review].

Eleven cases of primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder are described herein. Eight had a glandular pattern, 1 was papillary and 2 were comprised of signet ring cells (one had areas of colloid carcinoma). One of the cases, originating from the urachus, also showed colloid areas and a glandular pattern. Forty-five percent of the cases were moderately differentiated and the remaining 55% were poorly differentiated. In all cases the tumor had areas of adenocarcinoma in more than 2/3 of its extent. All but two cases revealed muscle layer infiltration at the time of diagnosis. Two patients were submitted to radical cystectomy, lymphadenectomy and Wallace II cutaneous ureteroileostomy, 1 patient underwent partial cystectomy and lymphadenectomy, and 6 were submitted to transurethral resection. Excision of the urachal tumor was by en bloc partial cystectomy. The 5-year survival of patients with infiltrating tumors, excluding the urachal tumor, was 33%, 67% died within the first year of follow-up. The only evaluable case of superficial adenocarcinoma is alive and tumor-free at 94 months. Primary adenocarcinoma of the bladder is an aggressive tumor. Although it may be superficial at the time of diagnosis, it soon develops into an infiltrating tumor if untreated. Treatment and survival depend on tumor stage. Superficial or minimally infiltrating tumors warrant treatment by deep transurethral resection up to the pericystium.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1990

[The indications for benzodiazepines in the treatment of insomnia].

We interviewed 219 patients with a questionnaire to evaluate the prevalence of insomnia, and to assess whether benzodiazepine therapy was correctly indicated. Insomnia was present in 86 patients (39%), being initial in more than one half. Thirty-two of the patients with insomnia were receiving benzodiazepines (37%), 24 of whom (75%) had been treated for more than one year. The drug was incorrectly indicated in 18 (56%), in most cases because it was inappropriate for the type of the patient's insomnia. In six of these patients (33%), incorrect indication was related with self-medication. The benzodiazepine was incorrectly indicated in all the patients with diurnal oversedation. We emphasize the frequency of incorrect indications of these drugs, and we insist on the need that general practitioners have of a better knowledge of the pharmacokinetics of each drug, which is the basis for a correct indication.

Adult↗