Publications by authors named "Daniel Varela"

Article Synopsis
  • There has been a global increase in Harmful Algae Blooms (HABs) over recent decades, linked to environmental exploitation, enhanced monitoring, and rising maritime transport.
  • HAB species, such as those causing paralytic shellfish poisoning and producing yessotoxins, pose serious public health and socioeconomic risks.
  • Recent observations in the Biobio region suggest a northward movement of these HABs into more open waters, with studies indicating that factors like deep-water turbulence and the presence of toxic resting cysts could trigger harmful events in the environment.
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In late summer and early autumn 2022, an intense bloom of Protoceratium reticulatum-the main yessotoxin (YTX) producer along Chilean coasts and a major threat to artisanal fisheries, the aquaculture industry, and environmental health-was recorded in the Patagonian fjord system. The high YTX levels (>3.75 mg kg) resulted in the first ban of shellfish collection in Chile.

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  • Conduction system pacing (CSP) is being explored as a new option compared to cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), especially with the use of implantable cardiac defibrillator (ICD) leads.
  • A study implanted a specific ICD lead in a swine model to test the effectiveness of a "single-lead" CRT-D setup.
  • The results showed that CSP was successfully achieved, indicating potential for fewer leads while maintaining essential functions such as defibrillation and atrial sensing, warranting further investigation.
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Background: Identification of patients at risk for atrial fibrillation (AF) after typical atrial flutter (tAFL) ablation is important to guide monitoring and treatment.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to create and validate a risk score to predict AF after tAFL ablation METHODS: We identified patients who underwent tAFL ablation with no AF history between 2017 and 2022 and randomly allocated to derivation and validation cohorts. We collected clinical variables and measured conduction parameters in sinus rhythm on an electrophysiology recording system (CardioLab, GE Healthcare).

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Background: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is a rare, aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoproliferative neoplasm. Surgery is traditionally limited to biopsy due to past studies, but recent strong evidence continues to challenge this status quo in selected patients. Here, the authors characterize a case to illustrate the potential role of surgery and foster research on integrative medical management approaches for this disease.

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Glucose transporters (GLUTs) are responsible for transporting hexose molecules across cellular membranes. In adipocytes, insulin stimulates glucose uptake by redistributing GLUT4 to the plasma membrane. In unstimulated adipose-like mouse cell lines, GLUT4 is known to be retained intracellularly by binding to TUG protein, while upon insulin stimulation, GLUT4 dissociates from TUG.

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In this paper we discuss the advantages and problems of two alternatives for ab initio protein structure prediction. On one hand, recent approaches based on deep learning, which have significantly improved prediction results for a wide variety of proteins, are discussed. On the other hand, methods based on protein conformational energy minimization and with different search strategies are analyzed.

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Dinoflagellates of the genus Alexandrium cause Harmful Algal Blooms (HABs) in coastal waters worldwide, damaging marine environments, aquaculture, and human health. They synthesize potent neurotoxic alkaloids known as PSTs (i.e.

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Background: Oral sotalol is a class III antiarrhythmic commonly used for the maintenance of sinus rhythm in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Recently, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the use of IV sotalol loading, based primarily on modeling data for the infusion. We aimed to describe a protocol and experience with IV sotalol loading for elective treatment of adult patients with AF and atrial flutter (AFL).

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Harmful algal blooms, in particular recurrent blooms of the dinoflagellate , associated with paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP), frequently limit commercial shellfish harvests, resulting in serious socio-economic consequences. Although the PSP-inducing species that threaten the most vulnerable commercial species of shellfish are very patchy and spatially heterogeneous in their distribution, the spatial and temporal scales of their effects have largely been ignored in monitoring programs and by researchers. In this study, we examined the spatial and temporal dynamics of PSP toxicity in the clam () in two fishing grounds in southern Chile (Ovalada Island and Low Bay).

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Protein complex formation is encoded by specific interactions at the atomic scale, but the computational cost of modeling proteins at this level often requires use of simplified energy models and limited conformational flexibility. In particular, use of all-atom energy functions and backbone and side-chain flexibility results in rugged energy landscapes that are difficult to explore. In this study, we develop a protein-protein docking algorithm, EvoDOCK, that combines the strength of a differential evolution algorithm for efficient exploration of the global search space with the benefits of a local optimization method to refine detailed atomic interactions.

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Introduction: There exists variability in the administration of in-patient sotalol therapy for symptomatic atrial fibrillation (AF). The impact of this variability on patient in-hospital and 30-day posthospitalization costs and outcomes is not known. Also, the cost impact of intravenous sotalol, which can accelerate drug loading to therapeutic levels, is unknown.

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The bloom-forming toxic dinoflagellate was first detected in southern Chile (39.5-55° S) 50 years ago and is responsible for most of the area's cases of paralytic shellfish poisoning (PSP). Given the complex life history of , which includes benthic sexual cysts, in this study, we examined the potential link between latitude, toxicity, and sexual compatibility.

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The Scientific Department of Neuroimmunology of the Brazilian Academy of Neurology (DCNI/ABN) and Brazilian Committee for Treatment and Research in Multiple Sclerosis and Neuroimmunological Diseases (BCTRIMS) provide recommendations in this document for vaccination of the population with demyelinating diseases of the central nervous system (CNS) against infections in general and against the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which causes COVID-19. We emphasize the seriousness of the current situation in view of the spread of COVID-19 in our country. Therefore, reference guides on vaccination for clinicians, patients, and public health authorities are particularly important to prevent some infectious diseases.

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AF has been consistently associated with multiple forms of dementia, including idiopathic dementia. Outcomes after catheter ablation for AF are favourable and patients experience a better quality of life, arrhythmia-free survival, and lower rates of hospitalisation compared to patients treated with antiarrhythmic drugs. Catheter ablation is consistently associated with lower rates of stroke compared to AF management without ablation in large national and healthcare system databases.

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Article Synopsis
  • A standardized approach was adopted by the Brazilian Committee for Treatment and Research in MS to assess multiple sclerosis (MS) prevalence in five representative cities across Brazil, aiming for better comparability.
  • In Passo Fundo, on July 1, 2015, researchers identified 52 MS patients, resulting in a point-prevalence rate of 26.4/100,000 people, with a significant majority being female and mostly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting MS.
  • The findings indicate that Passo Fundo has one of the highest MS prevalence rates reported in Brazil, and further studies in other cities using the same methodology are planned.
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Article Synopsis
  • * A retrospective analysis of 544 patients’ ablation procedures over a decade revealed that patients undergoing atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia ablation had a significantly higher incidence of CTI-dependent flutter (4.97%) than those receiving other ablation types (0%).
  • * The findings suggest a strong association between atrioventricular nodal reentry tachycardia ablation and the development of atrial
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The search for efficacious treatment of neurodegenerative and progressive neuroinflammatory diseases continues, as current therapies are unable to halt or reverse disease progression. PACAP represents one potential therapeutic that provides neuroprotection effects on neurons, and also modulates inflammatory responses and circulation within the brain. However, PACAP is a relatively long peptide hormone that is not trivial to synthesize.

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Despite the development of new therapies for the treatment of femoropopliteal disease, nitinol stents remain a mainstay of therapy following balloon angioplasty. Consequently, femoropopliteal in-stent restenosis (FP-ISR) remains an important clinical problem. Interventions used to treat de novo lesions of the femoropopliteal segment have been used to treat ISR lesions, with disappointing outcomes.

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Unlabelled: Treatment options for multiple sclerosis (MS) have changed over the last few years, bringing about a new category of drugs with more efficient profiles. However, these drugs have come with a whole new profile of potential adverse events that neurologists have to learn well and quickly. One of the most feared complications of these MS treatments is progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy caused by the reactivation of the John Cunningham virus (JCV).

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Multiple sclerosis (MS) management presently aims to reach a state of no (or minimal) evidence of disease activity. The development and commercialization of new drugs has led to a renewed interest in family planning, since patients with MS may face a future with reduced (or no) disease-related neurological disability. The advice of neurologists is often sought by patients who want to have children and need to know more about disease control at conception and during pregnancy and the puerperium.

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