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Biomedical subjects

M Ortiz

Publications and source records attributed to M Ortiz.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Sensitization to Anisakis simplex s.l. in a healthy population.

The main objective of this study was to determine the degree of sensitization to Anisakis simplex s.l. in healthy population. Using the determination of specific IgE, we studied the seroprevalence against A. simplex s.l. in blood donors selected at random in the region of Antequera (Southern Spain). We detected 22.1%. The immunoblotting technique revealed a band of approximately 60 kDa in the serum of individuals who also exhibited high values of specific IgE against A. simplex s.l. This band would be useful for diagnosis.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) type distribution and HPV type 16 E6 variants in two Spanish population groups with different levels of HPV infection risk.

The aim of this study is to determine oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) types and HPV type 16 (HPV16) variant distribution in two Spanish population groups, commercial sex workers and imprisoned women (CSW/IPW) and the general population. A multicenter cross-sectional study of 1,889 women from five clinical settings in two Spanish cities was conducted from May to November 2004. Oncogenic HPV infection was tested by an Hybrid Capture II (HC2) test, and positive samples were genotyped by direct sequencing using three different primer sets in L1 (MY09/11 and GP5+/GP6+) and E6/E7. HPV16 variants were identified by sequencing the E6, E2, and L1 regions. Four hundred twenty-five samples were positive for the HC2 test, 31.5% from CSW/IPW and 10.7% from the general population. HPV16 was the most frequent type. Distinct profiles of oncogenic HPV type prevalence were observed across the two populations. In order of decreasing frequency, HPV types 16, 31, 58, 66, 56, and 18 were most frequent in CSW/IPW women, and types 16, 31, 52, 68, 51, and 53 were most frequent in the general population. We analyzed HPV16 intratype variants, and a large majority (78.7%) belonged to the European lineage. AA variants were detected in 16.0% of cases. African variants belonging to classes Af1 (4.0%) and Af2 (1.3%) were detected. Different HPV types and HPV16 intratype variants are involved in oncogenic HPV infections in our population. These results suggest that HPV type distribution differs in CSW/IPW women and in the general population, although further analysis is necessary.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2006

Higher prevalence of human papillomavirus infection in migrant women from Latin America in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate prevalence and determinants of high risk (HR) human papillomavirus (HPV) by country of origin in women attending a family planning centre (FPC) in Alicante, Spain. METHODS: Cross sectional study of all women attending a FPC from May 2003 to January 2004. An ad hoc questionnaire was designed and data were collected prospectively. HR HPV infection was determined through the Digene HPV test, Hybrid Capture II, and positive samples for PCR were directly sequenced. Data were analysed through multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: HR HPV prevalence in 1011 women was 10% (95% CI: 8.2 to 12). Compared to Spaniards (prevalence 8.2%) HR HPV prevalence in Colombians was 27.5% (OR: 4.24 95% CI: 2.03 to 8.86), 23.1% in Ecuadoreans (OR: 3.35 95% CI: 1.30 to 8.63), and 22.73% in women from other Latin American countries (OR: 3.29 95% CI: 1.17 to 9.19). Women with more than three lifetime sexual partners had an increased risk of HR HPV infection (OR 3.21 95% CI: 2.02 to 5.10). The higher risk of HR HPV infection was maintained in Latin American women in multivariate analyses that adjusted for age, number of lifetime sexual partners, and reason for consultation. The commonest HPV types in women with normal cervical smears were HPV-18 (20%), HPV-16 (14%) and HPV-33 (11%). CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence of HR HPV is more than three times higher in Latin Americans than in Spaniards. Latin American women's HPV prevalence resembles more that of their countries of origin. It is essential that health service providers identify these women as a priority group in current cervical screening programmes.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Treatment of hirudin overdosage in a dialysis patient with heparin-induced thrombocytopenia with mixed hemodialysis and hemofiltration treatment.

We report a patient who developed type II heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) and accidentally received a recombinant hirudin (r-hirudin) overdosage. Treatment with hemodialysis (HD) using high-flux polysulfone dialyzer and hemofiltration was performed. Length of treatment was adjusted, monitoring activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) to 1.5-2.5 times the mean of the normal range. She developed deep venous thrombosis and occlusion of vascular access. Only after cessation of heparin lock catheter, platelet count began to increase. After one year of treatment with acenocoumarol and additional low-dose r-hirudin, neither bleeding nor thrombotic episodes have been reported.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

[Telemedicine and follow up of peritoneal dialysis patients].

UNLABELLED: Mean-term experience in the use of Telemedicine in Peritoneal Dialisis (PD) patients is limited as well as its cost-benefit. The main objective of this work is to evaluate Telemedicine utility in mean-long term control of stable PD patients, analyzing if the televisit (TV) could substitute 50% of the programed inhospital consults (HC) the time spent in both visit modalities, the quality of patient-personel contact as well as how image and sound have been perceived. Visit resolution was analyzed taking into account the need of HC after a TV; We also have studied if it would be possible to retrain patients in the dialisis technique with telemedicine, and we have checked the patient perceived quality and calculate the real and social costs. METHODS: during 18 months, the system has been implanted to 19 patients with 7 +/- 4 follow up (range 3-17). A Falcon videoconference kit at patient's place was used, connected to the home television set. In the hospital there was a computer with a videoconference card, webcam and software meeting point which permits the control of patient's camera from the hospital. Both are connected by a 3RDSI line system. A monthly programmed HC or TV has been made. If more controls had been required, they have been made by TV Time spent was recorded on each TV and patients and staff questionary were inquired. RESULTS: (a) PATIENTS: mean age 44 +/- 8 years, 13 (68%) male. 12 (63%) had elemental educational level and 7 (37%) mean-superior. 17 (89%) were actively working. The PD technique was: CAPD 6 (32%) and APD13 (68%). (b) Televisits: 103 TV have been made. 22 +/- 9 minutes were spent on each TV less than in the HC, 33 +/- 8 minutes (p < 0.01). There were technical problems related with lines in 21 TV, but only in 4 the connection was not possible. 92 TV (89%) were made on time, 99 (96%) had a good image quality and 96 (93%) had a correct sound. 100% of patients perceived TV as close to HC. In 90 TV (87%) medical treatment was modified. Only in 4 cases (3.9%) patients needed an hospital visit. According to patient's valuation, TV replaced correctly to HC in 97 instances (94%) and in 97 (97%) in staff opinion. In all cases (100%) catheter exit site could be evaluated as well as edema presence. Retraining was possible in all cases. There was a save in nurse's time and patient's time and also, a save in physical hospital space. Initial investment apart, the daily cost increment was scarce (1.5 Euro) taking into account that there is a save in time for patients and personnel, save in physical space in hospital and in sanitary transport. CONCLUSION: Telemedicine is useful from the clinical point of view in the mean-term for stable patients in PD. Daily cost increment is scarce and there is a save in time for patients and personnel, save in physical space in hospital and in sanitary transport.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Stereotactic radiosurgery in the intracranial benign neoplasms and malignant tumors of the brain].

Stereotactic Radiosurgery has proven to be during the last years the therapy of choice in more and more patients with benign and malignant brain tumors. The potential advantages comparatively to surgery and conventional radiotherapy made this technique a very important tool in the therapeutic armamentarium of neurooncology. This series presents the experience of treating more than 100 intracranial lesions with linear accelerator-based radiosurgery at Hospital de Santa Maria in Lisbon with special emphasis on the indications and results. It also provides a review of the concepts and procedures of this modality as well as a general overview of the main published results in series of patients with brain tumors treated with stereotactic radiosurgery.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

The effect of locoregional recurrence on survival and distant metastasis after conservative treatment for invasive breast carcinoma.

AIMS: Patients with invasive breast cancer submitted to conservative treatment must be followed for a long period of time to study locoregional control. In this study, we analysed the outcome and relationships between locoregional recurrence (LRR), distant metastases and survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 15-year study, including 470 women with early breast cancer, stage I and II, who underwent breast conservative treatment. Tumour size, nodal status, age, menopausal status, histological grade and LRR were analysed for their ability to predict overall survival, disease-specific survival and distant disease-free survival. RESULTS: With a median follow-up time of 6.6 years (3 months to 19.1 years), there were 19 LRR at their first site of recurrence and 53 distant metastases. Tumour size greater than 2 cm, positive lymph nodes and histological grade III were significantly related to lower overall and distant metastases-free survival. On multivariate analysis, nodal status, histological grade III and LRR (coded as a time-dependent variable) were significantly related to overall, specific and distant metastases-free survival, whereas tumour size had only a borderline effect on specific and distant disease-free survival. Landmark analysis showed that women who presented an LRR within 2 years after surgery had significantly lower distant disease-free survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 8.39; 95% CI 2.56-27.47; P < 0.001), specific survival (HR: 8.19; 95% CI 2.45-27.41; P < 0.001) and overall survival (HR: 6.02; 95% CI 2.25-16.11; P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: LRR seems to be a significant predictor of distant metastases and survival, and patients who sustain early LRR tend to display a more aggressive clinical course.

Breast Neoplasms↗
PubMed2005

Pilot-scale production and liquid formulation of Rhodotorula minuta, a potential biocontrol agent of mango anthracnose.

AIMS: To develop a pilot-plant fermentation process for the production of the yeast Rhodotorula minuta, to be used as a biocontrol agent of mango anthracnose, using a low-cost culture medium. To develop a stable liquid formulation that preserve high viability of the yeast stored at 4 degrees C. METHODS AND RESULTS: Keeping constant the volumetric power input, a fermentation process was scaled-up from shake flasks to a 100 l bioreactor. Preharvest applications of the yeast resulted in postharvest anthracnose severity equal or lower than that observed with a chemical fungicide. Glycerol was added to the formulation as water activity reducer and xanthan gum as a viscosity-enhancing agent. Yeast initial concentration of 10(10) CFU ml(-1) resulted in 4-5 orders of magnitude decrease after 1 month of storage at 4 degrees C, whereas when it was formulated at 10(9) CFU ml(-1), the decrease was of two orders of magnitude in 6 months. CONCLUSIONS: The fermentation process was successfully scaled-up using a low-cost culture medium. Postharvest anthracnose severity could be considerably reduced using this yeast. Formulating the yeast at 10(9) CFU ml(-1) and adding glycerol (20%) and xanthan (5 g l(-1)) avoided both contamination and yeast sedimentation and it was able to preserve up to 10(7) CFU ml(-1) after 6 months at 4 degrees C. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The yeast R. minuta is reported as a novel antagonistic micro-organism against the pathogen Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. Pilot plant production of this yeast allowed us to conduct field tests in commercial orchards during three harvest seasons. Yeast suspensions applied to mango trees reduced the fruit anthracnose severity in levels similar or better than chemical fungicides.

Biomass↗
PubMed2005

Influence of age and geographical origin in the prevalence of high risk human papillomavirus in migrant female sex workers in Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To estimate the prevalence and risk factors of high risk human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in migrant female sex workers (FSW) according to age and geographical origin. METHODS: Cross sectional study of migrant FSW attending a sexually transmitted infection (STI) clinic in Madrid during 2002. Information on sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive and sexual health, smoking, time in commercial sex work, history of STIs, HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, syphilis, and genitourinary infections was collected. High risk HPV Infection was determined through the Digene HPV Test, Hybrid Capture II. Data were analysed through multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: 734 women were studied. Overall HPV prevalence was 39%; 61% in eastern Europeans, 42% in Ecuadorians, 39% in Colombians, 29% in sub-Saharan Africans, and 24% in Caribbeans (p = 0.057). HPV prevalence showed a decreasing trend by age; 49% under 20 years, 35% in 21-25 years,14% over 36 years% (p<0.005). In multivariate analyses, area of origin (p = 0.07), hormonal contraception in women not using condoms (OR 19.45 95% CI: 2.45 to 154.27), smoking, age, and an interaction between these last two variables (p = 0.039) had statistically significant associations with HPV prevalence. STI prevalence was 11% and was not related to age or geographical origin. CONCLUSIONS: High risk HPV prevalence in migrant FSW is elevated and related to age, area of origin, and use of oral contraceptives in women not using condoms. These data support the role of acquired immunity in the epidemiology of HPV infection and identifies migrant FSW as a priority group for sexual health promotion.

Adolescent↗
PubMed2005

Geographical characterization of the triatomine infestations in north-central Guatemala.

In an entomological study in 2002, the degree of domestic and peridomestic infestation with triatomine bugs and the geographical distribution of such infestations were investigated in north-central Guatemala. The survey team searched for triatomines in houses constructed with mud walls or thatched roofs, in villages suspected of being infested. The level of infestation observed was lower than that seen in the same area and in eastern Guatemala, in a preliminary survey, 3 years earlier. Most of the infestations detected were of Triatoma dimidiata but even this species was found in <7% of the houses investigated. Infestations with Rhodnius prolixus or other potential vectors of Trypanosoma cruzi were much rarer. The generally low levels of infestation make the elimination of R. prolixus and the reduction of the domestic population of Tri. dimidiata feasible in the study area. The southern part of the study area had higher levels of domestic infestation and colonization than the north, and peridomestic infestation was highest in the south-west. Given such geographical variation in the pattern of infestation, it would seem wise to stratify the study region into areas of high, moderate and low-risk of human-triatomine contact, so that appropriate vector-control strategies can be targeted at the worst-affected areas. Regular entomological surveillance, ideally with community participation, is recommended. Analysis of the relationship between the geographical patterns of infestation and factors such as vegetation, altitude and vector migration would be useful.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Tubulointerstitial nephritis associated with treatment with selective Cox-2 inhibitors, celecoxib and rofecoxib].

The nephrotoxic effect of nonselective nonsteroidal anti-inflamatory drugs (NSAIDS) has been widely described. The main benefit of the Cox-2 inhibitors in relation to the NSAIDS is the production of a very similar analgesic effect, but with fewer gastrointestinal side effects. However, their effects on renal function are little known as yet and their long-term safety is still pending definition. The use of selective Cox-2 inhibitors as anti-inflamatory analgesic is becoming more and more common in our environment. We report two cases of tubulointersticial nephritis confirmed by renal biopsy, associated with administration of the two Cox-2 inhibitors currently available on the market, celecoxib and rofecoxib. In both cases, we were talking about elderly women, with deterioration of the general condition and acute renal failure. In the former case, renal biopsy showed an acute tubulo-intersticial nephritis (TIN) so highly "variegated" in its histologic expression. In the second case, was associated with strong indications of chronicity. Treatment with steroid was initiated in both patients and improvement of renal function was observed.

Aged↗
PubMed2003

Effect of indenter-radius size on Au(001) nanoindentation.

We address the question of whether results obtained for small indenters scale to indenter sizes in the experimental range. The quasicontinuum method is used in order to extend the computational cell size to 2x2x1 micro m(3), nominally containing of order 2.5x10(11) atoms, and in order to permit consideration of indenter radii in the range 70-700 A. The dislocation structures for the large indenter are found to be less sharp and to extend over a larger region than for the small indenter. In addition, the large-indenter force-displacement curve differs from that corresponding to the small indenter in one important respect, namely, the absence of force drops during indentation, despite profuse dislocation activity. Based on these observations, we conclude that the indenter force is not a reliable indicator of the onset of dislocation activity and plastic deformation for indenter sizes in the experimental range.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2003

Alcoholism in 274 patients with panic disorder in Spain, one of the main producers of wine worldwide.

BACKGROUND: Though panic disorder (PD) and alcoholism have been found in epidemiologic studies to often co-occur, the influence of cultural factors on the order of onset of the disorders has not been frequently addressed. METHODS: A sample of 274 patients with PD was assessed and compared according to the presence of alcohol use disorder (AUD) (alcohol abuse or dependence), employing several clinical scales. RESULTS: A total of 26 subjects were diagnosed from AUD. In 73.1% of patients, onset of alcohol use was previous to PD onset. PD subjects with AUD were found to have an earlier age at PD onset. They were more likely to be males, to have a family history of alcoholism, to abuse other drugs and to experience a more severe PD (more attacks in the last month, higher scores in anticipatory anxiety). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with PD and alcoholism may represent a distinct clinical subgroup. Our finding of an uncommon order of onset for both disorders may reflect cultural influences. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: (i)The study of panic disorder patients with comorbid alcoholism may help to better characterize this subgroup of patients. (ii) Patterns of alcohol use and the order of onset of both disorders may be influenced by cultural factors, with important practical implications. (iii) Patients with panic disorder and alcoholism may represent a distinct clinical subgroup, with an earlier age at panic disorder onset and greater clinical severity of anxiety. LIMITATIONS: (i) Our results refer to a clinical sample, which may not be representative of the general population. (ii) Alcoholic patients with a history of other drug abuse or dependence were not excluded. (iii) Owing to the small sample size, patients with alcohol dependence and with alcohol abuse were not separated.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

A new algorithm for rhythm discrimination in cardioverter defibrillators based on the initial voltage changes of the ventricular electrogram.

AIMS: Ventricular activation onset is faster in supraventricular beats than in ventricular rhythms. The aim of this study was to evaluate a criterion to differentiate supraventricular (SVT) from ventricular tachycardia (VT) based on the analysis of the initial voltage changes in ICD-stored morphology electrograms. METHODS: Far field ICD-stored EGMs were obtained from 68 VT and 38 SVT episodes in 16 patients. The first EGM peak was detected, three consecutive time epochs were defined within the preceding 80 ms window and the voltage changes with respect to a sinus template were analysed during each time period and combined into a single parameter for rhythm discrimination. RESULTS: The algorithm was tested in an independent validation group of 442 VT and 97 SVT spontaneous episodes obtained from 22 patients with a dual chamber ICD. The area under the receiver-operator characteristics (ROC) curve indicated that the arrhythmia separability with this method was 0.95 (tolerance interval: 0.85-0.99) and 0.98 (0.87-0.99) for the control and validation groups respectively. A specificity of 0.91 was obtained at 95% sensitivity in the validation group. CONCLUSION: The analysis of voltage changes during the initial ventricular activation process is feasible using the far field stored electrograms of an ICD system and yields a high sensitivity and specificity for arrhythmia discrimination.

Algorithms↗
PubMed2002

Cell growth in a pinned soap froth.

Experimental kinetic data on soap froth cell growth in a random array of fixed pinning centers is reported. The scaling of our two-dimensional data is analyzed and compared with pinning-free growth. The obtained data agree fairly well with a proposed cell growth law. We also discuss the relationship between the pin concentration and the final cell size.

Journal Article↗