Publications by authors named "Ana Mendez"

Visits to hospital emergency departments by patients with multimorbidity, complex chronic conditions, and frailty are becoming an increasing challenge. A territorial strategy has been developed, based on automated preselection lists, a nurse case manager with specialized experience, and a multi-level territorial referral consensus. The feasibility of this approach has been demonstrated, with 368 alerts detected, 85% of which were well-selected.

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Introduction: A comprehensive assessment of congestion, including circulating biomarkers, is recommended in patients with acute heart failure. The circulating biomarkers natriuretic peptides (NPs) and carbohydrate antigen-125 (CA125) could be useful for congestion assessment in ambulatory chronic heart failure (CHF), but there is only limited information about their applicability in this context. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the association of plasma CA125 and NP levels with clinical and ultrasound congestion parameters in CHF.

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Background: Albuminuria could potentially emerge as a novel marker of congestion in acute heart failure. However, the current evidence linking albuminuria and congestion in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF) remains somewhat scarce. This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of albuminuria in a cohort of patients with CHF, identify the independent factors associated with albuminuria and analyse the correlation with different congestion parameters.

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The Sr/Ca and Sr/Sr ratios are used as natural indicators (geomarkers) in fish to reveal migratory patterns, due to significant relationships between these ratios measured in the water and in the fish calcified structures (otoliths, bones). The aim of this study was to assess the potential use of the Limnoperna fortunei shell as a proxy for monitoring the spatial and temporal variability of Sr/Ca and Sr/Sr in water. These ratios were compared in water samples and bivalve shells proceeding from eight sites of four hydrogeological regions of the La Plata Basin (Argentina and Uruguay), collected in two hydrological periods (winter and summer) in order to depict the pattern of geographical and temporal variability and to evaluate the relationship between both matrices.

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Areca nut (AN) is a carcinogen; its chewing cessation is, therefore, of worldwide interest. However, cessation biomarkers are lacking. We sought to establish arecoline in chewers' buccal cells (BCs) as a biomarker for AN dose.

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The innate immune system, a cornerstone for organismal resilience against environmental and microbial insults, is highly conserved across the evolutionary spectrum, underpinning its pivotal role in maintaining homeostasis and ensuring survival. This review explores the evolutionary parallels between mammalian and insect innate immune systems, illuminating how investigations into these disparate immune landscapes have been reciprocally enlightening. We further delve into how advancements in mammalian immunology have enriched our understanding of insect immune responses, highlighting the intertwined evolutionary narratives and the shared molecular lexicon of immunity across these organisms.

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Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the United States and is linked to several cancers. In Guam, the HPV vaccination rate falls short of the National Healthy People 2030 goal. Only half of eligible Guam teens have received the HPV vaccination series.

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Vineyard pruning waste (VP) can be converted into a useful char using pyrolysis as part of a valorization strategy. This study analyzed the effect of temperature (300 and 600 °C) and residence time (1 and 3 h) on an ample number of properties of VP derived biochars, including potential negative environmental impacts. The results showed a clear influence of temperature on biochar's properties and a weaker effect of residence time.

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Background: Areca nut and betel quid (ANBQ) chewing is a widespread carcinogenic habit. The BENIT (ClinicalTrials-NCT02942745) is the first known randomized trial designed for ANBQ chewers.

Methods: We compared the intensive behavioral treatment intervention condition (IC) with the control condition (CC) in the BENIT and included a 5-stage early stopping rule.

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Purpose Of The Work: Although sex-specific differences in heart failure (HF) or kidney disease (KD) have been analyzed separately, the predominant cardiorenal phenotype by sex has not been described. This study aims to explore the sex-related differences in cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) in a contemporary cohort of outpatients with HF.

Findings: An analysis of the Cardiorenal Spanish registry (CARDIOREN) was performed.

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Introduction And Objectives: Patients with combined heart failure (HF) and chronic kidney disease (CKD) have been underrepresented in clinical trials. The prevalence of CKD in these patients and their clinical profile require constant evaluation. This study aimed to analyze the prevalence of CKD, its clinical profile, and patterns of use of evidence-based medical therapies in HF across CKD stages in a contemporary cohort of ambulatory patients with HF.

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The Organization for Professionals in Regulatory Affairs (TOPRA) celebrated its 2022 Annual Symposium, which took place in Vienna, Austria, from October 17 to 19, 2022, to discuss most relevant current issues and debate the future of healthcare regulatory affairs for medicinal products, medical devices/in vitro diagnostics (IVDs) and veterinary medicines.

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The relative success of platinum (Pt)-based chemotherapy comes at the cost of severe adverse side effects and is associated with a high risk of pro-oncogenic activation in the tumor microenvironment. Here, we report the synthesis of C-POC, a novel Pt(IV) cell-penetrating peptide conjugate showing a reduced impact against nonmalignant cells. In vitro and in vivo evaluation using patient-derived tumor organoids and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry indicates that C-POC maintains robust anticancer efficacy while displaying diminished accumulation in healthy organs and reduced adverse toxicity compared to the standard Pt-based therapy.

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The short and long isoforms of FAIM (FAIM-S and FAIM-L) hold important functions in the central nervous system, and their expression levels are specifically enriched in the retina. We previously described that knockout (KO) mice present structural and molecular alterations in the retina compatible with a neurodegenerative phenotype. Here, we aimed to study KO retinal functions and molecular mechanisms leading to its alterations.

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A substantial proportion of cancer patients do not benefit from platinum-based chemotherapy (CT) due to the emergence of drug resistance. Here, we apply elemental imaging to the mapping of CT biodistribution after therapy in residual colorectal cancer and achieve a comprehensive analysis of the genetic program induced by oxaliplatin-based CT in the tumor microenvironment. We show that oxaliplatin is largely retained by cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) long time after the treatment ceased.

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Purpose: We examine the impacts of dosing strategies of plasmids on bacterial communities in the murine gut by measuring the quantity of plasmids in mouse feces.

Methods: We fed mice carrier bacteria, , that contain plasmids with both a reporter gene and an antibiotic resistant gene. We varied the quantity of the plasmid-carrying bacteria and the length of time the mice consumed the bacteria.

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Cardiorenal syndrome (CRS) is a complex disease in which the heart and kidneys are simultaneously affected, and subsequently, the malfunction of one organ promotes the deterioration of the other. Heart failure (HF) with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) is the most common form of HF. The pathophysiology of CRS is not well known and several mechanisms have been proposed.

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(1) Background: Cyanobacteria produce a wide range of secondary metabolites, including tumor-promoting hepatotoxins. We recently reported evidence of an independent association between oral cyanobacteria and hepatocellular carcinoma in a U.S.

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Background: Pneumonia is a frequent manifestation of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) in hospitalized children.

Methods: The study involved 80 hospitals in the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) Spanish Pediatric National Cohort. Participants were children <18 years, hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 community-acquired pneumonia (CAP).

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Three-dimensional (3D) engineered cardiovascular tissues have shown great promise to replace damaged structures. Specifically, tissue engineering vascular grafts (TEVG) have the potential to replace biological and synthetic grafts. We aimed to design an in-vitro patient-specific patch based on a hybrid 3D print combined with vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) differentiation.

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Background: The electronic Personal Health Record (ePHR) is a health information system that registers health data on newly arriving migrants and was implemented in eight European countries (Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia). This is a cross-sectional study aimed to describe the health problems and health status of all migrants attended at health clinics as part of the health assessment programme established in the reception centres (2016-2019).

Methods: Data were collected on demographics, clinical and laboratory findings and diagnostics performed, including medical records.

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Background: The effect of renin-angiotensin system (RAS) blockade either by angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors (ACEis) or angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) susceptibility, mortality and severity is inadequately described. We examined the association between RAS blockade and COVID-19 diagnosis and prognosis in a large population-based cohort of patients with hypertension (HTN).

Methods: This is a cohort study using regional health records.

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Article Synopsis
  • Management of newborns with vein of Galen aneurysmal malformation (VGAM) presents significant challenges for healthcare professionals, particularly neonatologists and cardiologists.
  • A study of four fetuses with VGAM showed abnormal hemodynamic profiles, including increased cardiothoracic ratios and significantly altered blood flow patterns, leading to neonatal cardiac failure and pulmonary hypertension.
  • The article emphasizes the importance of understanding VGAM's pathophysiology and promotes early post-natal treatment for pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure to improve outcomes.
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Splenomegaly can be due to several mechanisms but is almost always a sign of a systemic condition. Patient habits, travel, and medical conditions can increase risk of splenomegaly and suggest etiology. Symptoms can suggest infectious, malignant, hepatic, or hematologic causes.

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