Publications by authors named "Gomez Beatriz"

Objectives: Diagnosis of HIV-associated histoplasmosis remains challenging. Our objective was to compare the performances of (1→3)-β-D-Glucan (BDG) and aspergillus galactomannan (GM) antigen for the diagnosis of HIV-associated histoplasmosis.

Methods: We performed a diagnostic accuracy study using frozen primary serum specimens issued from consecutive hospitalized people living with HIV (PLWH) and blindly tested for BDG and GM using Fungitell and PlateliaAspergillus, respectively.

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: Cognitive impairment, marked by a decline in memory and attention, is frequently underdiagnosed, complicating effective management. Cardiovascular risk factors (CVR) and anticholinergic burden (ACB) are significant contributors to dementia risk, with ACB often stemming from medications prescribed for neuropsychiatric disorders. This study evaluates cognitive profiles through three brief cognitive tests, analyzing the impact of CVR and ACB presence.

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  • The study investigates the immune response differences in patients with recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) compared to healthy women, highlighting reduced neutrophil function and altered immune cell activation.
  • Researchers analyzed vaginal tissue for immune-related gene expression and serum levels of key proteins, finding significant changes in cytokine profiles and lower levels of the immune protein mannose-binding lectin (MBL) in RVVC patients.
  • Results suggest that these immune alterations may contribute to the inflammatory responses observed in RVVC, indicating an imbalance in both innate and adaptive immunity against Candida infections.
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  • - Surgeries for abdominal wall sarcomas often involve extensive resections that create complex defects, but using both porcine dermal xenografts and composite meshes can help with repair while reducing complications.
  • - A study involving 19 patients (average age 53.2 years) identified various types of sarcomas and demonstrated that surgical resections and reconstructions using these materials can be effective.
  • - After an average follow-up of 38 months, complications occurred in about 31.5% of patients, including wound issues and one death, but overall, the technique showed promising medium-term results.
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There are few studies exploring intake diagnostic characteristics as predictors of change in integrative naturalistic settings. The aim of this study is to explore baseline variables at the intake process and establish the predictive value of the individual trajectories of the patients. We recruited 259 patients undergoing an integrative psychotherapy network of psychotherapists from Buenos Aires, Argentina.

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Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in both men and women. It represents a public health problem that must be addressed through the early detection of specific biomarkers and effective treatment. To address this critical issue, it is imperative to implement effective methodologies for specific biomarker detection of lung cancer in real clinical samples.

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The second international meeting on endemic mycoses of the Americas (IMEMA) and the first international symposium on implantation mycoses (ISIM) took place in Santiago del Estero, Argentina, on September 25-27, 2023. The conference provided a platform for researchers, clinicians, and experts to discuss the latest developments in the field of endemic and implantation mycoses. Topics included epidemiology, diagnostic advances, treatment strategies, and the impact of environmental factors on the spread of these fungal diseases.

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The pharmacokinetics and tolerability of cannabinoids and their metabolites were determined in eight horses after enteral administration of a commercial CBD/CBDA-rich hemp oil product. Each horse was administered 2 mg/kg or 8 mg/kg CBD/CBDA or no treatment in a randomized cross-over design. Serial serum samples collected over 48 h were analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry.

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This article memorializes Héctor Fernández-Álvarez (1944-2023). Héctor was an exceptional mentor, therapist, supervisor, professor, researcher, author, and leader, as well as a beloved brother, partner, father, and grandfather. The consummate renaissance person who embraced all manners of cultural expressions through an intentional wanderlust, he sought to understand all forms of human suffering and to alleviate senseless ones.

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  • Recurrent vulvovaginal candidiasis (RVVC) is often overlooked, and this study aims to explore how certain immune cells respond in Colombian women diagnosed with this condition compared to healthy women.* -
  • The research involved 66 women, revealing that C. albicans was the predominant Candida species with some resistance to common antifungals; RVVC patients had more neutrophils but these cells showed reduced fungicidal activity.* -
  • Findings indicate that RVVC in these Colombian patients is primarily associated with a family history of the condition, and the immune response may be impaired, highlighting a need for better understanding and treatment strategies.*
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Ecological momentary assessment (EMA) allows measuring intra-individual processes moment by moment, identifying and modeling, in a naturalistic way, individual levels and changes in different psychological processes. However, active EMA requires a high degree of adherence, as it implies a significant burden for patients. Moreover, there is still no consensus on standardized procedures for implementation.

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Immune dysfunction in patients with MM affects both the innate and adaptive immune system. Molecules involved in the immune response pathways are essential to determine the ability of cancer cells to escape from the immune system surveillance. However, few data are available concerning the role of immune checkpoint molecules in predicting the myeloma control and immunological scape as mechanism of disease progression.

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Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) caused by species are an emerging threat globally, given that patients at-risk and antifungal resistance are increasing. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have shown good therapeutic capacity against different multidrug-resistant (MDR) microorganisms. This study evaluated the activity of the synthetic peptide, PNR20, against ATCC 10231 and a MDR Colombian clinical isolate of .

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  • The therapeutic alliance (TA) is crucial for successful psychotherapy, but there's limited research on its impact in child therapy.
  • A study with 77 children in psychotherapy analyzed how therapists' characteristics, including experience and intervention style, affect children's TA.
  • Results showed that therapists' TA significantly influences children's TA, highlighting the need for proper training in spontaneous intervention techniques for effective child therapy.
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Candidiasis is an opportunistic infection affecting immunosuppressed and hospitalized patients, with mortality rates approaching 40% in Colombia. The growing pharmacological resistance of species and the emergence of multidrug-resistant are major public health problems. Therefore, different antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are being investigated as therapeutic alternatives to control candidiasis effectively and safely.

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Background: The National Cancer Registry of Panama (NCRP) was established in 1974. In 1984, histological confirmation became mandatory. The now pathology-based registry has evolved and has been a population-based cancer registry (PBCR) since 2012 with cancer-specific Web-based reporting software.

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Histoplasmosis is a fungal infection caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus This infection causes significant morbidity and mortality in people living with HIV/AIDS, especially in countries with limited resources. Currently used diagnostic tests rely on culture and serology but with some limitations. No molecular assays are commercially available and the results from different reports have been variable.

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  • - The study focuses on determining how the time between completing neoadjuvant therapy (NAT) and undergoing total mesorectal excision (TME) affects outcomes in patients with extraperitoneal locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC), hypothesizing that longer intervals might increase pathologic complete response (pCR) rates without raising surgical risks.
  • - Researchers analyzed data from 1,506 LARC patients across six centers, categorizing them into groups based on whether the interval between NAT and surgery was short (≤8 weeks), intermediate (>8 and ≤12 weeks), or long (>12 weeks), with a median follow-up of 33 months.
  • - Results showed that the overall pCR rate was 17.
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Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) are involved in an evolution to a new model of university called . This model implies not only adopting new technologies but also developing an organizational strategic transformation which includes information, processes, human aspects, and more. Because an organization's digital maturity correlates with the scope of its digital transformation efforts, this study aims to identify digital transformation initiatives (DTI) taken by HEIs, defining the new processes and technologies used to implement them.

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Histoplasmosis, caused by the thermally dimorphic fungus spp., is a disease with a broad clinical spectrum, presenting from asymptomatic/flu-like symptoms to progressive disseminated disease in people with immunosuppression. In recent years, the concept of histoplasmosis as a disease restricted to the American continent has changed, as now histoplasmosis is reported in many regions around the world.

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Buruli ulcer (BU) is a neglected tropical disease caused by Mycobacterium ulcerans. Early diagnosis is crucial to prevent morbidity. In November 2012, a field laboratory fully equipped for the rapid on-site quantitative PCR (qPCR) diagnosis of M.

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Context: Since 2013, the World Health Organization has recommended integrated control strategies for neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) with skin manifestations. We evaluated the implementation of an integrated approach to the early detection and rapid treatment of skin NTDs based on mobile clinics in the Ouémé and Plateau areas of Benin.

Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was performed in Ouémé and Plateau in Benin from 2018 to 2020.

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Introduction: The message of palliative care can be promoted using creative thinking and gamification. It can be an innovative strategy to promote changes in behaviour, promote thinking, and work on skills such as empathy.

Aim: Design, test and evaluate a gamified social intervention to enhance palliative care awareness among young university students from non-health background.

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