Maria Dolores Mauricio

University of Valencia | UV · Department of Physiology

Levamisole, a veterinary anthelmintic drug, is one of the most widely used and dangerous cocaine adulterants. Like cocaine, levamisole acutely blocks noradrenaline reuptake but with much less potency, although its vascular effects are not well known. In this study, we evaluated the vascular effects of levamisole and cocaine in rabbit aortic rings u...

Background and aims Underlying mechanisms associated with vascular dysfunction in metabolic syndrome (MetS) remain unclear and can even vary from one vascular bed to another. Methods In this study, MetS was induced by a high-fat, high-sucrose diet, and after 28 weeks, aorta and renal arteries were removed and used for isometric recording of tensio...

El material multimedia apoya tanto al profesorado como al alumnado en el proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje obteniendo buenos resultados. El sistema educativo actual utiliza un mecanismo mecánico y rígido en el cual la docencia está fragmentada e inconexa por asignaturas. Nuestro trabajo pretende abordar una nueva propuesta educativa en la que se elabor...

The use of smartphones, despite being mainly social, has begun to be implemented in the university environment as a tool for working in class and for communication between students regarding teaching material. However, before creating teaching methodologies that use these devices, it is important to know the opinion that the students have of them....

Aspirin has been used as anti-inflammatory and anti-aggregate for decades but the precise mechanism(s) of action after the presence of the toxic peptide Aβ1-42 in cultured astrocytes remains poorly resolved. Here we use low-doses of aspirin (10-7 M) in astrocytes in primary culture in presence or absence of Aβ1-42 toxic peptide. We noted an increas...

Objectives: Ranolazine improves vascular function in animal models. We evaluate the effects of ranolazine on vascular function and adrenergic response in human saphenous vein. Methods: Rings from 53 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting were mounted in organ baths. Concentration-response curves to ranolazine were constructed in rin...

El objetivo general del presente trabajo es utilizar la gamificación como herramienta docente para conseguir una mayor implicación del alumnado en las tutorías y aumentar la motivación frente al conocimiento de la asignatura de Fisiopatología en el Grado de Farmacia.No todos los grupos de estudiantes son iguales, y además el profesorado tiene sus p...

Atherosclerosis is a chronic vascular inflammatory disease associated to oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction. Oxidation of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol is one of the key factors for the development of atherosclerosis. Nonoxidized LDL have a low affinity for macrophages, so they are not themselves a risk factor. However, loweri...

El material multimedia usado como medio didáctico en el aula puede ayudar al proceso enseñanza-aprendizaje del alumnado. Además le sirve de apoyo al profesor en su labor de trasmitir la información desde otro punto de vista más llamativo y entretenido. Esto provocaría una ampliación y enriquecimiento en la experiencia del receptor para asimilar el...

Key points: Some of the beneficial effects of exercise in preventing vascular related diseases are mediated by the enhancement of endothelial function where the role of nitric oxide (NO) is well documented, although the relevance of calcium activated potassium channels is not fully understood. The impact of oxidative stress induced by training on...

Resumen El objetivo de este trabajo es analizar la opinión y perspectiva que tiene el alumnado ante la metodología de trabajar en grupos tutorizados. Esta metodología adoptada en el proceso de enseñanza-aprendizaje es importante para el desarrollo de competencias. La capacidad de trabajo en equipo y la capacidad para comunicarse son competencias tr...

Resumen El uso de materiales multimedia puede favorecer el proceso de aprendizaje. En este estudio se analizan las calificaciones obtenidas en una actividad grupal con y sin ayuda de un material multimedia elaborado por los profesores de la asignatura. Las calificaciones se obtienen con una rúbrica adecuada para evaluar la actividad de grupo y mues...

Aim: To evaluate the effects of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the nonsurgical treatment of chronic periodontitis. Materials and methods: A randomized, single-blind, controlled, parallel-group clinical trial was performed. Sixty patients were enrolled: 20 healthy controls and 40 patients with periodontitis. The 40 patients were randomized for sca...

Aims.Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum CECT 7765 improves metabolic and immunological altered functions in high fat fed mice, however little is known about the effects of potential probiotics on vascular reactivity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of a potential probiotic strain, Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum CECT 77...

AIM To evaluate the effects of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) in renal arteries from portal hypertensive and cirrhotic rats. METHODS Rat renal arteries from Sham (n = 15), pre-hepatic portal hypertension (PPVL; n = 15) and bile duct ligation and excision-induced cirrhosis (BDL; n = 15) were precontracted with norepinephrine, and additional con...

Las rúbricas de evaluación son guías de puntuación que bien elaboradas ofrecen al profesorado unas ventajas a la hora de calificar. En nuestra experiencia hemos diseñado una rúbrica para evaluar trabajos en grupo y hemos analizado las calificaciones obtenidas, desglosadas por apartados y comparándolas con el peso otorgado a cada apartado dentro de...

El objetivo fundamental del presente trabajo es describir la experiencia desarrollada en docencia universitaria usando la gamificación como herramienta docente. El término de gamificación se utiliza para referirnos a la aplicación de mecánicas de juego en ámbitos que normalmente no son lúdicos.Nuestra hipótesis de trabajo se basa en que el juego pu...

Habitualmente cuando se plantea una actividad en grupo los alumnos tienden a dividir de forma desigual las tareas, reúnen lo realizado individualmente y lo entregan. De esta manera, el aprendizaje se fragmenta y no se consigue el objetivo deseado: trabajar cooperativamente. Nuestra experiencia consistió en proponer a los estudiantes que trabajasen...

El presente trabajo analiza el uso de la gamificacion en la ensenanza universitaria. La gamificacion es el termino utilizado para referirnos a la aplicacion de mecanicas de juego en ambitos que normalmente no son ludicos. Nuestra hipotesis de trabajo se basa en que el juego puede ser una herramienta que favorezca el asentamiento e interiorizacion d...

Alzheimer´s disease (AD), a neurodegenerative illness involving synaptic dysfunction with extracellular accumulation of Aβ1-42 toxic peptide, glial activation, inflammatory response and oxidative stress, can lead to neuronal death. Endogenous cannabinoid system is implicated in physiological and physiopathological events in central nervous system (...

One of the earliest neuropathological events in Alzheimer's disease is accumulation of astrocytes at sites of Aβ1-42 depositions. Our results indicate that Aβ1-42 toxic peptide increases lipid peroxidation, apoptosis and cell death in neurons but not in astrocytes in primary culture. Aβ1-42-induced deleterious neuronal effects are not present when...

Purpose: Physical activity is able to reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. These effects may be mediated in a number of ways including an enhancement of endothelial function. We investigated the effects of physical training on plasma levels of nitric oxide (NO) and vascular responses induced by sympathetic stimulation and acetylcholine. M...

Aims: In the present study we investigated the intervention of nitric oxide and prostacyclin in the responses to vasopressin of isolated thyroid arteries obtained from multi-organ donors. Main methods: Paired artery rings from glandular branches of the superior thyroid artery, one normal and the other deendothelised, were mounted in organ baths...

Sugammadex, a γ-cyclodextrin that encapsulates selectively steroidal neuromuscular blocking agents, such as rocuronium or vecuronium, has changed the face of clinical neuromuscular pharmacology. Sugammadex allows a rapid reversal of muscle paralysis. Sugammadex appears to be safe and well tolerated. Its blood-brain barrier penetration is poor (< 3%...

Background and aim: Increased basal release of nitric oxide (NO) in the splanchnic circulation contributes to elevated plasma levels of NO observed in decompensated cirrhosis. We evaluated in rat mesenteric arteries whether the differences in basal release of NO, revealed by asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA)- and N(G) -nitro-L-arginine methyl est...

Morbid obesity is a chronic multifunctional disease characterized by an accumulation of fat. Epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is associated with cardiovascular and metabolic disorders. Endothelial dysfunction, as defined by an imbalance between relaxing and contractile endothelial factors, plays a central role in the pathogenesis of...

The aim of this study was to analyze whether tyrosine phosphorylation in tumoral arteries may modulate their vascular response. To do this, mesenteric arteries supplying blood flow to colorectal tumors or to normal intestine were obtained during surgery and prepared for isometric tension recording in an organ bath. Increasing tyrosine phosphorylati...

We studied the role of K(+) channels and Na(+),K(+)-ATPase in the presynaptic inhibitory effects of prostaglandin E(1) (PGE(1)) and PGE(2) on the adrenergic responses of human vas deferens. Furthermore, we determined the effects of increasing extracellular K(+) concentrations ([K(+)](o)) and inhibition of Na(+),K(+)-ATPase on neurogenic and norepin...

The present study was designed to evaluate the role of K(+) channels in the adrenergic responses of human vas deferens as well as the intervention of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca(2+) channels on modulation of adrenergic responses by K(+) channel inhibitors. Ring segments of the epididymal part of the vas deferens were taken from 32 elective vasecto...

Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) has been presented recently as a pro-inflammatory agent in the airway epithelium since S1P levels are increased in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid of human asthmatics. However, the effects of S1P over the alveolar epithelium and neutrophil interactions are poorly understood. Here, we show that S1P increased interleukin 8...

Previous studies have shown that asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) and nitric oxide (NO) play a prominent role in liver dysfunction. The objective of this study was to determine whether plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO are altered in patients with chronic hepatitis C. Plasma levels of ADMA, SDMA and NO (nitrite...

The present experiments were designed to evaluate differences in the effects of cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and COX-2 inhibition on contractile responses of human gastroepiploic artery and saphenous vein elicited by vasopressin. Laboratory investigation. University laboratory. Rings of human gastroepiploic artery were obtained from 32 patients undergoin...

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the intervention of COX-1- and COX-2-derived prostaglandins in the responses of human gastroepiploic artery to sympathetic stimulation and norepinephrine. Rings of human gastroepiploic artery were obtained from 45 patients (26 men and 19 women) undergoing gastrectomy. The rings were suspended in organ ba...

We studied the participation of K(+) channels on the adrenergic responses in human saphenous veins as well as the intervention of dihydropyridine-sensitive Ca(2+) channels on modulation of adrenergic responses by K(+) channels blockade. Saphenous vein rings were obtained from 40 patients undergoing coronary artery bypass surgery. The vein rings wer...

We recently reported that endothelium-dependent relaxation is impaired in forearm veins from patients with chronic renal failure. However, assessment of responses to norepinephrine remains controversial. We examined the contractile response to norepinephrine in forearm veins from patients on chronic hemodialysis and the role of nitric oxide (NO), p...

We measured cyclic GMP formation and relaxation response to sildenafil given either alone or in combination with sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in pulmonary arteries obtained from 13 multi-organ donors. Sildenafil (10(-9)-10(-4) M) caused concentration-dependent relaxations and amplified the relaxation induced by SNP. Relaxation was unaffected by endot...

In patients with cirrhosis, nitric oxide (NO), asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), and possibly symmetric dimethylarginine (SDMA) have been linked to the severity of the disease. We investigated whether plasma levels of dimethylarginines and NO are elevated in patients with hepatorenal syndrome (HRS), compared with patients with cirrhosis without r...

We studied the intervention of nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in mediating responses to acetylcholine in thyroid arteries from euthyroid and methimazole-treated (MT) patients. Branches of the superior thyroid artery were obtained from 19 euthyroid patients and 17 MT patients (euthyroid at the t...