Publications by authors named "Hilda J Rodriguez"

Aims: Acute myocardial infarction (MI) causes inflammation, collagen deposition, and reparative fibrosis in response to myocyte death and, subsequently, a pathological myocardial remodelling process characterized by excessive interstitial fibrosis, driving heart failure (HF). Nonetheless, how or when to limit excessive fibrosis for therapeutic purposes remains uncertain. Galectin-3, a major mediator of organ fibrosis, promotes cardiac fibrosis and remodelling.

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Implantation of bone marrow-derived cells (BMCs) into mouse hearts post-myocardial infarction (MI) limits cardiac functional decline. However, clinical trials of post-MI BMC therapy have yielded conflicting results. While most laboratory experiments use healthy BMC donor mice, clinical trials use post-MI autologous BMCs.

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Article Synopsis
  • Treatment with bone marrow cells (BMCs) improves heart function after myocardial infarction (MI) in rodents, but this success isn't seen in clinical trials with older patients.
  • Reduced levels of B lymphocytes in BMCs from aged and post-MI donors contribute to their diminished therapeutic effect.
  • Introducing B cells into the treatment improved cardiac outcomes, indicating their crucial role in enhancing BMC therapy for MI.
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Background: Despite public awareness that tobacco secondhand smoke (SHS) is harmful, many people still assume that marijuana SHS is benign. Debates about whether smoke-free laws should include marijuana are becoming increasingly widespread as marijuana is legalized and the cannabis industry grows. Lack of evidence for marijuana SHS causing acute cardiovascular harm is frequently mistaken for evidence that it is harmless, despite chemical and physical similarity between marijuana and tobacco smoke.

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