Publications by authors named "Andres Leon"

Background: SARS-CoV-2 and COVID-19 are still active in the population. Some patients remained PCR-positive for more than 4 weeks, called "persistently PCR-positive". Recent evidence suggests a link between the gut microbiota and susceptibility to COVID-19, although no studies have explored persistent PCR conditions.

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Common variable immunodeficiency (CVID) is the most prevalent primary immunodeficiency, marked by hypogammaglobulinemia, poor antibody responses, and increased infection susceptibility. The COVID-19 pandemic provided a unique opportunity to study the effects of prolonged viral infections on the immune responses of CVID patients. Here we use single-cell RNA-seq and spectral flow cytometry of peripheral blood samples before, during, and after SARS-CoV-2 infection showing that COVID-19 CVID patients display a persistent type I interferon signature at convalescence across immune compartments.

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  • The text discusses a common parasite affecting honey bees, highlighting its significance in research.* -
  • Two specific strains of the parasite, named C2 and C3, have their draft genome sequences reported, measuring approximately 27.15 Mbp and 26.94 Mbp.* -
  • These genome sequences, obtained using the Illumina MiSeq platform, will aid in future studies related to comparative and functional genomics.*
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  • The study focused on creating a new test to detect specific autoantibodies in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) using RNA immunoprecipitation and massive parallel sequencing techniques.
  • Researchers analyzed serum samples from 307 SSc patients, with 57 undergoing detailed testing that identified 30,966 RNA molecules, ultimately narrowing down to 197 significant molecules linked to SSc-related autoantibodies.
  • The new assay demonstrated high sensitivity and specificity in detecting autoantibodies, revealing not only known targets but also potential new ones associated with different clinical aspects of SSc.
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  • The study investigates how non-genetic factors, especially epigenetics like DNA methylation, contribute to the development of Systemic Sclerosis (SSc).
  • By analyzing DNA methylation data from 179 SSc patients and 241 healthy individuals, researchers identified 525 differentially methylated positions related to immune pathways, particularly those involving leukocyte adhesion.
  • The findings suggest that changes in DNA methylation impact gene expression and highlight the role of myeloid cells and specific transcription factors, opening up new avenues for potential clinical applications in treating SSc.
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  • This study focuses on understanding how the types of yeast in wine fermentation relate to the flavors and quality of wines produced, highlighting the impact of both environmental factors and farming practices.
  • Researchers examined yeast communities in grape musts from various regions and found that the initial yeast composition greatly influences fermentation processes and the resulting wine profiles, rather than just the fermentation conditions applied.
  • The study also identified specific gene expressions in different yeast species that contribute to flavor development, suggesting that leveraging diverse yeast functionalities can help produce higher-quality wines tailored to specific preferences.
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  • Scientists studied how exercise affects tumors in mice with a type of aggressive cancer found in kids called neuroblastoma.
  • They put 14 male mice into two groups: one group exercised a lot for 5 weeks, and the other group did nothing.
  • The results showed that exercise changed many proteins in the tumors, helping us understand how working out might fight cancer better, especially by affecting energy use and how the body controls tumor growth.
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Airway complications following lung transplantation remain an important cause of morbidity and mortality. We aimed to identify the incidence, risk factors and outcomes associated with clinically significant airway ischemia (CSAI) in our center. We reviewed 217 lung transplants (386 airway anastomoses) performed at our institution between February 2016 and December 2020.

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Background: Giant cell arteritis (GCA) is an immune-mediated large-vessels vasculitis with complex etiology. Although the pathogenic mechanisms remain poorly understood, a central role for CD4 T cells has been demonstrated. In this context, understanding the transcriptome dysregulation in GCA CD4 T cells will yield new insights into its pathogenesis.

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Continuing education in hematology is a key for stimulating the development around the world and improving patient outcomes. However, access to training and education is not equally distributed worldwide, and disparities in hematology exist for under-represented groups such as trainees living in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). To identify and review the different educational and career development opportunities offered by hematology-focused international academic societies directed at healthcare professionals in this field.

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The prevalence of obesity increases alarmingly every year mostly due to external factors such as high-fat and high-refined sugar intake associated with a sedentary lifestyle. It triggers metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance, hyperlipemia, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the beneficial effects of a combined intervention with caloric restriction, nutraceutical intake, and a mixed training protocol on oxidative stress, inflammation, and gut dysbiosis derived from the development of obesity in a C57BL6/J mouse experimental model of diet-induced obesity (4.

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Our study explores the pressing issue of micro- and nanoplastics (MNPs) inhalation and their subsequent penetration into the brain, highlighting a significant environmental health concern. We demonstrate that MNPs can indeed penetrate murine brain, warranting further investigation into their neurotoxic effects in humans. We then proceed to test the impact of MNPs at environmentally relevant concentrations, with focusing on variations in size and shape.

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Microorganisms are important due to their widespread presence and multifaceted roles across various domains of life, ecology, and industries. In humans, they underlie the proper functioning of multiple systems crucial to well-being, including immunological and metabolic functions. Emerging research addressing the presence and roles of microorganisms within human reproduction is increasingly relevant.

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Extracellular vesicles (EVs) provide a minimally invasive liquid biopsy source of tumor-specific markers for patients who have already undergone prostatectomies. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated enrichment of the cancer-type solute carrier organic anion transporter family 1B3 () and the ATP Binding Cassette Subfamily Member C () in castration-resistant cell lines (CRPC). However, their expression in EVs has yet to be explored.

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Immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs) comprise a complex group of pathologies with diverse etiologies and clinical manifestations. In particular, omics technologies have remodeled our understanding of a set of IMIDs such as systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (SARDs), generating vast amounts of data on the genome, epigenome, transcriptome, proteome and metabolome of immune cells and SARDs patients. However, the integration of omics data to advance our knowledge of these diseases is challenging, requiring advanced bioinformatic tools.

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Background: Proficiency testing (PT) is a tool for ensuring the validity of results of testing laboratories and is essential when laboratories are working with assays authorised for emergency use or implementing novel techniques for detecting emerging pathogens.

Methods: In collaboration with the National Health Institute of Colombia and with international support, we developed a qualitative PT for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). A proficiency test item (PTI) based on reference material (research grade) produced by the National Institute of Standards and Technologies (NIST) was prepared and characterised using three positive samples with varying concentrations of SARS-CoV-2 ribonucleic acid (RNA) and two negative (control) samples.

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In COVID-19, hyperinflammatory and dysregulated immune responses contribute to severity. Patients with pre-existing autoimmune conditions can therefore be at increased risk of severe COVID-19 and/or associated sequelae, yet SARS-CoV-2 infection in this group has been little studied. Here, we performed single-cell analysis of peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients with three major autoimmune diseases (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriasis, or multiple sclerosis) during SARS-CoV-2 infection.

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  • * Using various experimental methods, researchers discovered that the absence of cortistatin leads to increased permeability and breakdown of tight junctions in brain endothelium, indicating weakened protective functions.
  • * Molecular analysis revealed that cortistatin-deficient cells exhibited dysregulated genetic programming, affecting essential processes like tissue repair and inflammation regulation in both healthy and injured states.
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Background And Objective: Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent forms of cancer in men worldwide. Traditional screening strategies such as serum PSA levels, which are not necessarily cancer-specific, or digital rectal exams, which are often inconclusive, are still the screening methods used for the disease. Some studies have focused on identifying biomarkers of the disease but none have been reported for diagnosis in routine clinical practice and few studies have provided tools to assist the pathologist in the decision-making process when analyzing prostate tissue.

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Purpose Of Eview: The aim of this review is to discuss the presentation, diagnosis, and management of polyneuropathy (PN) in selected infections. Overall, most infection related PNs are an indirect consequence of immune activation rather than a direct result of peripheral nerve infection,  Schwann cell infection, or toxin production, though note this review will describe infections that cause PN through all these mechanisms. Rather than dividing them by each infectious agent separately, we have grouped the infectious neuropathies according to their presenting phenotype, to serve as a guide to clinicians.

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Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is an effective therapy for acute leukemia (AL). Relapse represents the main cause of mortality. Isolated extramedullary relapse (iEMR) is atypical and has been related to better outcomes.

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Many metabolites are generated in one step of a biochemical pathway and consumed in a subsequent step. Such metabolic intermediates are often reactive molecules which, if allowed to freely diffuse in the intracellular milieu, could lead to undesirable side reactions and even become toxic to the cell. Therefore, metabolic intermediates are often protected as protein-bound species and directly transferred between enzyme active sites in multi-functional enzymes, multi-enzyme complexes, and metabolons.

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  • * Between 2009 and 2016, global HSCT use for AML rose significantly, particularly in resource-limited regions, with an overall 54.9% increase, although access remains heavily skewed towards high-resource areas.
  • * Utilization rates vary widely by region, with younger patients (<70 years) experiencing even more disparities; AMR-N showed the highest rates of HSCT, while AFR/EMR and AMR-S lagged far behind.
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