Publications by authors named "Ana Diaz"

Article Synopsis
  • A systematic review was conducted to explore the issue of misdiagnosis in dementia, particularly focusing on rarer subtypes that may struggle more with accurate diagnosis compared to common types like Alzheimer's.
  • The review included 20 studies and identified four main themes: factors contributing to misdiagnosis, challenges in the diagnostic process, economic implications, and personal experiences of individuals facing delayed diagnoses.
  • There is a critical need for further research on the emotional and monetary effects of dementia misdiagnosis on patients, caregivers, and the healthcare system to improve clinical practices.
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Block copolymers are recognized as a valuable platform for creating nanostructured materials. Morphologies formed by block copolymer self-assembly can be transferred into a wide range of inorganic materials, enabling applications including energy storage and metamaterials. However, imaging of the underlying, often complex, nanostructures in large volumes has remained a challenge, limiting progress in materials development.

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Background: Preterm birth contributes to adverse mental health outcomes of parents dealing with a premature neonate. The main objective of this study is to determine whether music therapy (MT) songwriting during the infants' stay in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) is superior to standard care in reducing the risk of postpartum depression in high-risk parents of preterm children throughout the hospital treatment. The secondary objectives include assessment of effectiveness of MT in other aspects of mental health (anxiety level, perceived stress, mental wellbeing, coping, resilience).

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The Remote Assessment of Disease and Relapse – Alzheimer’s Disease (RADAR-AD) consortium evaluated remote measurement technologies (RMTs) for assessing functional status in AD. The consortium engaged with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) to obtain feedback on identification of meaningful functional domains, selection of RMTs and clinical study design to assess the feasibility of using RMTs in AD clinical studies. We summarized the feedback and the lessons learned to guide future projects.

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Advances in science, medicine and engineering rely on breakthroughs in imaging, particularly for obtaining multiscale, three-dimensional information from functional systems such as integrated circuits or mammalian brains. Achieving this goal often requires combining electron- and photon-based approaches. Whereas electron microscopy provides nanometre resolution through serial, destructive imaging of surface layers, ptychographic X-ray computed tomography offers non-destructive imaging and has recently achieved resolutions down to seven nanometres for a small volume.

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Several risk factors were associated with mortality in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in intensive care units (ICU). We assessed the effect of risk factors related to the characteristics and clinical history of the population, laboratory test results, drug management, and type of ventilation on the probability of survival/discharge from the ICU. A retrospective cohort multicentric study of adults with COVID-19 admitted to the ICU between March 2020 and December 2021.

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Structural colors arise from selective light interaction with (nano)structures, which give them advantages over pigmented colors such as resistance to fading and possibility to be fabricated out of traditional low-cost and non-toxic materials. Since the color arises from the photonic (nano)structures, different structural features can impact their photonic response and thus, their color. Therefore, the detailed characterization of their structural features is crucial for further improvement of structural colors.

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Following myocardial infarction (MI), adverse remodeling depends on the proper formation of fibrotic scars, composed of type I and III collagen. Our objective was to pinpoint the participation of previously unreported collagens in post-infarction cardiac fibrosis. Gene (qRT-PCR) and protein (immunohistochemistry followed by morphometric analysis) expression of fibrillar (types II and XI) and non-fibrillar (types VIII and XII) collagens were determined in RNA-sequencing data from 92 mice undergoing myocardial ischemia; mice submitted to permanent (non-reperfused MI, n = 8) or transient (reperfused MI, n = 8) coronary occlusion; and eight autopsies from chronic MI patients.

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Article Synopsis
  • Social activities are crucial for cognitive health in aging, but measuring engagement in these activities is challenging due to a lack of clear definitions.
  • The authors draw on their experiences from various studies, including the FINGER study, to discuss how social activities can be better integrated into dementia prevention efforts, emphasizing both qualitative participant experiences and the role of digital tools.
  • The paper advocates for future research to better define and measure social activities, encourage participation beyond structured interventions, and design digital technologies that support social engagement for older adults.
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Infectious diseases have consistently served as pivotal influences on numerous civilizations, inducing morbidity, mortality, and consequently redirecting the course of history. Their impact extends far beyond the acute phase, characterized by the majority of symptom presentations, to a multitude of adverse events and sequelae that follow viral, parasitic, fungal, or bacterial infections. In this context, myriad sequelae related to various infectious diseases have been identified, spanning short to long-term durations.

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The rising demand for plant-based meat analogues as alternatives to animal products has sparked interest in understanding the complex interplay between their structural and mechanical properties. The ability to manipulate the processing parameters and protein blend composition offers fundamental insights into the texturization process and holds economic and sustainable implications for the food industry. Consequently, the correlation between mechanical and structural properties in meat analogues is crucial for achieving consumer satisfaction and successful market penetration, providing comprehensive insights into the textural properties of meat analogues and their potential to mimic traditional animal produce.

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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality among hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HCT) recipients. In Brazil, its occurrence in HCT recipients remains undetermined. We now report on HCV prevalence in HCT recipients and its clinical consequences.

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Background: Advance care planning has been defined in an international consensus paper, supported by the European Association for Palliative Care. There are concerns that this definition may not apply to dementia. Moreover, it is not informed by input from people with dementia.

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is considered a species of relevance to agribusiness, having been declared a pest with indirect damage because of its negative effects on several crops such as soybeans, chickpeas, and corn in central and northern Argentina. The objective of this work was to analyze the growth pattern of a population born under laboratory conditions, to explore population aspects such as survival and mortality, to estimate the age and size at gonadal maturity and first reproduction, and to contribute to the knowledge of the reproductive biology of this gastropod. From the clutches obtained, the basic biologic parameters were calculated and the individuals hatched under laboratory conditions counted and measured every two weeks.

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Background: Maintenance monotherapy with ritonavir-boosted darunavir has yielded variable outcomes and is not recommended. Trial samples offer valuable opportunities for detailed studies. We analysed samples from a 48 week trial in Cameroon to obtain a detailed characterization of drug resistance.

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Recovery of the collagen structure following Achilles tendon rupture is poor, resulting in a high risk for re-ruptures. The loading environment during healing affects the mechanical properties of the tendon, but the relation between loading regime and healing outcome remains unclear. This is partially due to our limited understanding regarding the effects of loading on the micro- and nanostructure of the healing tissue.

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Article Synopsis
  • A novel microreactor platform enables extremely fast reagent mixing in under 300 microseconds, allowing for detailed studies of the synthesis of ultra-small gold nanoparticles (NPs).
  • By pairing the microreactor with advanced characterization techniques, researchers can investigate reaction pathways and phase transitions more effectively without the limitations of traditional methods.
  • The study reveals the kinetics of gold nanoparticle formation from Au(III) precursors and identifies the presence of prenucleation clusters and a temporary Au(I) phase, proposing different reaction pathways that bypass classical mechanisms in NP formation.
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The cerebellum is responsible for complex motor functions, like maintaining balance and stance, coordination of voluntary movements, motor learning, and cognitive tasks. During aging, most of these functions deteriorate, which results in falls and accidents. The aim of this work was to elucidate the effect of a standardized pomegranate extract during four months of supplementation in elderly mice to prevent frailty and improve the oxidative state.

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