Publications by authors named "Javier Parra"

is a Chilean native small lichen shrub growing in the Antarctica region. In this study, the metabolite fingerprinting and the antioxidant and enzyme inhibitory potential from this species and its four major isolated compounds were investigated for the first time. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled to quadrupole-Orbitrap mass spectrometry analysis (UHPLC-Q-Orbitrap-MS), several metabolites were identified including specific compounds as chemotaxonomical markers, while major metabolites were quantified in this species.

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Ebstein anomaly is a congenital disease frequently associated with atrial septal defects, which can generate a right-to-left shunt, leading to systemic desaturation and right ventricular failure. We describe the case of a 68-year-old man with central cyanosis due to Ebstein anomaly and a patent foramen ovale. An atrial septal occluder was initially implanted after having performed prolonged test occlusion of the interatrial communication.

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We report a case of a 79-year-old female presenting with hematemesis and melena 9 years after ventral hernioplasty with mesh. After initial normal endoscopy and colonoscopy, video capsule endoscopy revealed a metallic wire mesh perforating the jejunum. Abdominal computed tomography did not identify a perforation although metallic mesh was visualized close to the small bowel.

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Bioconjugate preparation is a fundamental step for antibody generation and immunoassay development to small chemical compounds. For analytical targets holding in their structure an aryl halogen atom, cross-coupling reactions may be a simple and efficient way to obtain functionalized derivatives; thus offering great potential to elicit robust and selective immune responses after being coupled to immunogenic carrier proteins. However, substitution of the halogen atom by an aliphatic chain might eventually compromise the affinity and specificity of the resulting antibodies.

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Background: Although the results of hip arthrodesis compare favorably with those of total hip arthroplasty (THA) in younger patients, long-term consequences such as osteoarthritis of the neighboring joints may necessitate conversion of the arthrodesis to THA.

Questions/purposes: The purpose of the present study is to assess mid-term clinical outcome and self-perceived improvement in patients who underwent conversion at our department. Secondary aims were incidence of complications and association between patient characteristics and characteristics of the fusions with the outcome of the procedure.

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Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are nanomaterials with interesting emerging applications. Their properties make CNTs excellent candidates for use as new nanovehicles in drug delivery, immunization and diagnostics. In the current study, we assessed the immune-response-amplifying properties of CNTs to haptens by using azoxystrobin, the first developed strobilurin fungicide, as a model analyte.

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Azoxystrobin is a modern strobilurin fungicide used around the world to combat prime diseases affecting highly valuable crops. Accordingly, residues of this chemical are frequently found in food, even though mostly under maximum tolerated levels. We herein describe the development of an indirect competitive immunoassay for the determination of azoxystrobin residues.

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The use of agrochemicals for crop protection may result in the presence of toxic residues in soils and aquatic environments, besides in foodstuffs. Most often just the parent compound is included in the definition of pesticide residue, even though chemicals resulting from biotransformation and degradation routes might also be of toxicological relevance. Azoxystrobin is a broad-spectrum systemic fungicide widely used worldwide to combat pathogenic fungi affecting plants.

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The relevance of the linker tethering site in haptens was investigated for antibody generation and immunoassay development. Three derivatives of the strobilurin fungicide picoxystrobin were synthesized with the same functionalized spacer arm located at three different positions. Protein conjugates of those haptens were employed as immunogens, and novel polyclonal antibodies were produced and characterized.

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Melanosis coli is a benign pigment deposition in the colonic mucosa that can be seen at the time of colonoscopy especially in patients with history of laxative use. In conditions in which the endoscopic findings influence therapeutic decisions, melanosis coli can lead to overestimation of disease aggressiveness and unnecessary therapy. We describe a case in which the finding of melanosis coli affected the treatment of a patient with mild ulcerative colitis exacerbation.

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This paper describes the original synthesis of a functionalized derivative of the fungicide picoxystrobin and the generation of the first reported monoclonal antibodies against this strobilurin pesticide. The synthetic hapten was prepared by total synthesis from commercial chemicals and incorporating the spacer arm through a carbon-carbon single bond. Also, to obtain the immunogen, an uncommon hapten activation strategy based on N,N'-disuccinimidyl carbonate was employed, affording high activation yields and clean and reproducible coupling results.

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Background: The role of endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) to evaluate treatment response postneoadjuvant therapy for restaging esophageal cancer prior to surgical resection is uncertain. Accuracy of EUS is lower but potential to predict response to chemoradiation indicates that EUS may be helpful prior to surgery.

Objective: To determine staging accuracy of EUS after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, predictors of tumor response, and survival in locally advanced esophageal cancer.

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Introduction And Objectives: Patients with aortic valve disease and a dilated ascending aorta are usually treated with a composite graft comprising a valve and conduit. We review here the results of treatment with an aortic root homograft as a valid alternative.

Patients And Method: Twenty-two consecutive patients with a mean age of 64.

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Dyslipidemic conditions and their cardiovascular related complications are common. Effective primary and secondary prevention strategies include therapies to lower LDL and total cholesterol and to increase HDL. Further, it seems that there is a need for therapeutic reduction in triglycerides as it emerges as an independent risk factor for CVD.

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Background And Objectives: Cardiac troponin I is a highly sensitive and specific myocardial injury marker. We have analyzed the use of cardiac troponin I values in the diagnosis of coronary artery disease, in previously healthy patients who developed chest pain with inconclusive analytical and ECG diagnostic findings.

Patients, Material And Methods: A one year cross-sectional consecutive study was conducted, in a total of 37 patients with no previously known heart disease who were admitted to the coronary unit for suspected anginal chest pain with normal cardiac enzymes and ECG.

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