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T Ortega

Publications and source records attributed to T Ortega.

17 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2004

Influence of erectile dysfunction on health related quality of life of male kidney transplant patients.

The objective of the present study was to investigate if a psychological adaptation capacity exists in kidney transplant bearers, even with ageing, in relation to erectile dysfunction (ED). We studied ED using IIEF-5 and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) using the SF-36 Health Survey, in a large sample of male renal transplant patients (n=242), searching for the influence of ED on HRQoL. Patients included 199 patients (82%); the median age was 52 y (43-62); 106 patients (54.9%) presented ED. These patients were divided into four groups according to median age. SF-36 scores were worse for ED vs non-ED patients in the first three age groups, but not in age group 4. SF-36 Mental Component Summary was similar for patients with ED and without ED in all age groups. We confirm the hypothesis that a psychological adaptation occurs in renal transplant patients in all age groups, when suffering ED.

Adaptation, Psychological↗
PubMed2003

Factors associated with erectile dysfunction in male kidney transplant recipients.

A transversal study was carried out in order to evaluate the prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED) in adult kidney transplant patients of our region (N=243), and to investigate the sociodemographic, analytic, and clinical factors associated with it. To evaluate ED, the Spanish five items version of the International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) was employed. Sociodemographic, analytic, and clinical data, including 12 cardiovascular risk factors, were also collected. A total of 199 patients (82%) were included. The median age was 52 y (43-62 y); 106 patients (54.9%) presented with ED. Variables associated with ED were: higher age; longer time on dialysis prior to transplantation; higher comorbidity; presence of diabetes mellitus; had undergone prostatic surgery or peripheric artheriopathy; lower diastolic pressure; and some anti hypertensive drugs. Logistic Regression Model performed step by step showed (R(2)=0.52) that factors independently associated with ED were: age, time on dialysis previous to transplant, and peripheric artheriopathy.

Adult↗
PubMed2003

[Introduction].

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Congresses as Topic↗
PubMed2001

Biochemical basis for the hypercoagulable state seen in Cushing syndrome; discussion 1006-7.

HYPOTHESIS: Cushing syndrome (CS) is associated with a hypercoagulable state that results in a 4-fold increase in the incidence of pulmonary embolism, deep venous thrombosis, and a 4-fold mortality rate compared with the general population. The incidence of CS in humans is approximately 2 to 5 per million per year, whereas in dogs it is much higher. The clinical complications of CS in humans are also manifested in dogs. We used a dog model of CS to better define the biochemical basis for the hypercoagulable state seen in the disease. DESIGN: A consecutive sample of dogs with CS and a cohort of healthy control dogs identified at a "well-dog check" were enrolled. All dogs underwent blood assays to identify the levels of procoagulant factors, natural antithrombotics, and the degree of ongoing activation of the coagulation cascade. SETTING: University veterinary medical teaching hospital. RESULTS: A total of 86 dogs were enrolled, 56 with CS and 30 control dogs. Levels of procoagulation factors II, V, VII, IX, X, XII, and fibrinogen were significantly increased in dogs with CS (P<.05). The natural antithrombotic antithrombin was significantly decreased in dogs with CS (P<.02). Thrombin-antithrombin complexes, a marker of subclinical thrombosis, were significantly increased in dogs with CS (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The hypercoagulable state of CS is demonstrated by an increase in thrombin-antithrombin complexes. This hypercoagulable state may be caused in part by (1) an elevation of procoagulant factors, and (2) a decrease in antithrombin. Because of the similar clinical and biochemical changes between dogs with CS and humans, this canine model may be a useful tool for the future study of the hypercoagulable state in CS.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Vasodilatory effect in rat aorta of eriodictyol obtained from Satureja obovata.

The vasodilator effect of eriodictyol (5,7,3',4'-tetrahydroxyflavanone), isolated previously from the medicinal plant Satureja obovata Lag., was studied in rat thoracic aorta rings. Eriodictyol relaxed in a concentration-dependent manner the noradrenaline (10(-6) M) and KCl (80 mM) induced contractions. The relaxant effect was more potent in noradrenaline precontracted preparations (IC50 = 6.11 +/- 0.2 x 10(-5) M) than in those precontracted with KCl (IC50 = 2.96 +/- 0.1 x 10(-4) M). Eriodictyol produced weakly concentration-dependent inhibition of the phasic component induced by KCl and noradrenaline while the inhibition of the tonic phase of these contractions was more pronounced. These effects were endothelium independent. In addition, eriodictyol (10(-5) and 5 x 10(-5) M) inhibited CaCl2 cumulative concentration response curves. Eriodictyol weakly inhibited the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and its contribution to the relaxant effect seems to be slight. We have also observed the relaxant effect of eriodictyol on phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA) (10(-7) M) induced contractions both in normal calcium (IC50 = 4.69 +/- 0.3 x 10(-5) M) and calcium-free medium (IC50 = 3.74 +/- 0.4 x 10(-5) M). Finally we studied the effects on protein kinase C (PKC) activity. This flavonoid did not show any activity. These results suggest that the vasodilator effect of eriodictyol in rat thoracic aorta could be partially related to the inhibition of calcium influx or other enzymatic protein subsequent to activation of PKC related to the activation of contractile proteins like myosin light chain kinase (MLCK).

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Antiinflammatory and antioxidant activity of plants used in traditional medicine in Ecuador.

Ethanolic extracts from 15 plant species, representing eight different families, used in traditional medicine in Ecuador were evaluated for antiinflammatory and antioxidant activities. Conyza floribunda, Eupatorium articulatum, Bonafousia longituba, Bonafousia sananho, Tagetes pusilla and Piper lenticellosum extracts showed a significant antiinflammatory activity in vivo in the carrageenan-induced paw oedema model in mice. The extracts were also tested in vitro for their ability to inhibit lipid peroxidation and to scavenge superoxide and hydroxyl radicals. E. articulatum extract possesses both activities. Baccharis trinervis, E. articulatum and Phytolacca rivinoides extracts were active as antioxidants.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Modulation of angiotensin-converting enzyme by nitric oxide.

1. The aim of the present study was to determine the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) activity. 2. A biochemical study was performed in order to analyse the effect of the NO-donors, SIN-1 and diethylamine/NO (DEA/NO), and of an aqueous solution of nitric oxide on the ACE activity in plasma from 3-month old male Sprague-Dawley rats and on ACE purified from rabbit lung. SIN-1 significantly inhibited the activity of both enzymes in a concentration-dependent way between 1 and 100 microM. DEA/NO inhibited the activity of purified ACE from 0.1 microM to 10 microM and plasma ACE, with a lower potency, between 1 and 100 microM. An aqueous solution of NO (100 and 150 microM) also inhibited significantly the activity of both enzymes. Lineweaver-Burk plots indicated an apparent competitive inhibition of Hip-His-Leu hydrolysis by NO-donors. 3. Modulation of ACE activity by NO was also assessed in the rat carotid artery by comparing contractions elicited by angiotensin I (AI) and AII. Concentration-response curves to both peptides were performed in arteries with endothelium in the presence of the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor, ODQ (10 microM), and the inhibitor of NO formation, L-NAME (0.1 mM). NO, which is still released from endothelium in the presence of 10 microM ODQ, elicited a significant inhibition of AI contractions at low concentrations (1 and 5 nM). In the absence of endothelium, 1 microM SIN-1 plus 10 microM ODQ, as well as 10 microM DEA/NO plus 10 microM ODQ induced a significant inhibition on AI-induced contractions at 1 and 5 nM and at 1-100 nM, respectively. 4. In conclusion, we demonstrated that (i) NO and NO-releasing compounds inhibit ACE activity in a concentration-dependent and competitive way and that (ii) NO release from endothelium physiologically reduces conversion of AI to AII.

Angiotensin I↗
PubMed1996

Isolation of vasodilatory active flavonoids from the traditional remedy Satureja obovata.

In the course of screening natural products for smooth muscle relaxant properties, the effects of constituents of Satureja obovata var. obovata (Lamiaceae) on vascular reactivity experiments were studied. Bioassay-guided fractionation led to pure vasodilator compounds, identified by spectroscopic methods as the flavonoids: naringenin, eriodictyol, and luteolin. The relaxant effects induced by different extracts and fractions obtained on KCl (80 mM) and noradrenaline (NA) (10(-6) M) induced contractions on isolated rat aorta were selected as bioassay procedures. The sustained contraction induced by NA (10(-6) M) and K+ (80 mM) were relaxed by luteoline (98.7 +/- 0.7%; 40.30 +/- 2.4%), naringenin (12.41 +/- 1.8%; 3.05 +/- 0.3%), and eriodictyol (67.48 +/- 3.3%; 17.93 +/- 2.1%) each at the dose of 5 x 10(-5)M, respectively.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Inhibitory effects of Cistus populifolius on contractile responses in the isolated rat duodenum.

The medicinal plant Cistus populifolius L., shows an important dose-dependent spasmolytic activity. The ability of the Cistus extract to inhibit both acetylcholine (ACh) (3.4 x 10(-8)-6.8 x 10(-5) M) and CaCl2 (2 x 10(-4)-1.28 x 10(-2) M)-induced contractions and the relaxing effect on K+ (75 mM)-induced contractions may indicate a non-specific receptor antagonist. However, this action may be related to the influx of extracellular Ca2+. These antispasmodic effects are partly consistent with the use of C. populifolius in folk medicine for certain gastrointestinal disorders.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1976

Enhanced mononuclear phagocytic activity during Trypanosoma cruzi infection in mice.

It has been shown that Trypanosoma cruzi-infected mice develop a nonspecific resistance to challenge with an unrelated microorganism, namely, Listeria monocytogenes. This increased resistance to Listeria was observed on the 4th day of trypanosoma infection and persisted for at least 25 days. It was associated with an increased mononuclear phagocytic activity, as revealed by carbon clearance experiments. The possibility that macrophages of the infected host become activated by a process which appears to depend upon some form of specific interaction between the immune lymphoid cells and the infecting organisms, as has been demonstrated with other infectious agents, is discussed.

Animals↗