Publications by authors named "Laura Lopez-Gonzalez"

Mood disorders include a set of psychiatric manifestations of increasing prevalence in our society, being mainly represented by major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD). The etiopathogenesis of mood disorders is extremely complex, with a wide spectrum of biological, psychological, and sociocultural factors being responsible for their appearance and development. In this sense, immune system dysfunction represents a key mechanism in the onset and pathophysiology of mood disorders, worsening mainly the central nervous system (neuroinflammation) and the periphery of the body (systemic inflammation).

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  • - Penile cancer is a rare type of tumor, more frequently seen in low- and middle-income countries, with major risk factors being age, ethnicity, smoking, hygiene, and HPV infection.
  • - Early detection can lead to high cure rates (up to 80%), but late diagnosis significantly lowers survival chances, especially when the cancer has spread.
  • - The study assesses various biomarkers related to cell growth, inflammation, and other processes in penile squamous cell carcinoma, suggesting that the degree of cell differentiation affects these biomarkers' expression, which may help in predicting disease outcomes.
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  • Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) includes chronic conditions like ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn's disease (CD), driven by genetic and environmental factors that provoke an immune response against gut bacteria, leading to intestinal inflammation.
  • Current IBD treatments can be invasive and have significant side effects, highlighting the need for alternative approaches that focus on reducing inflammation and restoring gut health.
  • Polyphenols, natural compounds found in plants, show promise in preclinical studies for their antioxidant and immune-modulating effects; however, more human research is needed to address their effectiveness and integration into dietary habits.
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Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is an extremely lethal tumor with increasing incidence, presenting numerous clinical challenges. The histopathological examination of novel, unexplored biomarkers offers a promising avenue for research, with significant translational potential for improving patient outcomes. In this study, we evaluated the prognostic significance of ferroptosis markers (TFRC, ALOX-5, ACSL-4, and GPX-4), circadian clock regulators (CLOCK, BMAL1, PER1, PER2), and KLOTHO in a retrospective cohort of 41 patients deceased by PDAC.

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The PD-1/PD-L1 axis is a complex signaling pathway that has an important role in the immune system cells. Programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) acts as an immune checkpoint on the T lymphocytes, B lymphocytes, natural killer (NK), macrophages, dendritic cells (DCs), monocytes, and myeloid cells. Its ligand, the programmed cell death 1 ligand (PD-L1), is expressed in the surface of the antigen-presenting cells (APCs).

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  • Bone defects arise from a variety of factors like trauma, infections, tumors, and aging, leading to conditions such as fractures and osteoporosis, necessitating new research strategies beyond traditional autografts.
  • Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has emerged as a promising method for engineering and transplanting bone tissue, using a combination of biological materials and living cells arranged layer by layer.
  • Despite its potential, 3D bioprinting of bone tissues faces challenges, particularly in creating a functional vascular network, which is crucial for improving tissue viability, and this review aims to summarize the current methods, techniques, and biomaterials involved.
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The connection between physical activity and cognitive function has become a focus of attention in educational research in recent years. Regular exercise has been shown to have significant positive effects on physical health, but it also appears to have a significant impact on cognitive function and academic performance. Of all the exercise modalities, resistance training has drawn interest for its ability to improve cerebral abilities in addition to physical well-being.

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Chronic venous disease (CVD) comprises a spectrum of morphofunctional disorders affecting the venous system, affecting approximately 1 in 3 women during gestation. Emerging evidence highlights diverse maternofetal implications stemming from CVD, particularly impacting the placenta. While systemic inflammation has been associated with pregnancy-related CVD, preliminary findings suggest a potential link between this condition and exacerbated inflammation in the placental tissue.

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Preeclampsia, a serious and potentially life-threatening medical complication occurring during pregnancy, is characterized by hypertension and often accompanied by proteinuria and multiorgan dysfunction. It is classified into two subtypes based on the timing of diagnosis: early-onset (EO-PE) and late-onset preeclampsia (LO-PE). Despite being less severe and exhibiting distinct pathophysiological characteristics, LO-PE is more prevalent than EO-PE, although both conditions have a significant impact on placental health.

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Pancreatic cancer is a type of gastrointestinal tumor with a growing incidence and mortality worldwide. Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) constitutes 90% of cases, and late-stage diagnosis is common, leading to a 5-year survival rate of less than 10% in high-income countries. The use of biomarkers has different proven translational applications, facilitating early diagnosis, accurate prognosis and identification of potential therapeutic targets.

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Doctrinal texts on architectural heritage conservation emphasize the importance of fully understanding the structural and material characteristics and utilizing information systems. Photogrammetry allows for the generation of detailed, geo-referenced Digital Elevation Models of architectural elements at a low cost, while GIS software enables the addition of layers of material characteristic data to these models, creating different property maps that can be combined through map algebra. This paper presents the results of the mechanical characterization of materials and salt-related decay forms of the polygonal apse of the 13th-century monastery of Santa María de Bonaval (Guadalajara, Spain), which is primarily affected by salt crystallization.

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Autophagy plays a critical role in maintaining cellular homeostasis and responding to various stress conditions by the degradation of intracellular components. In this narrative review, we provide a comprehensive overview of autophagy's cellular and molecular basis, biological significance, pharmacological modulation, and its relevance in lifestyle medicine. We delve into the intricate molecular mechanisms that govern autophagy, including macroautophagy, microautophagy and chaperone-mediated autophagy.

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Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is a type of death that occurs suddenly and without any apparent explanation, affecting infants between 28 days of life and up to a year. Recognition of this entity includes performing an autopsy to determine if there is another explanation for the event and performing both an external and internal examination of the different tissues to search for possible histopathological findings. Despite the relative success of awareness campaigns and the implementation of prevention measures, SIDS still represents one of the leading causes of death among infants worldwide.

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  • * Vascular calcification is particularly harmful, linked to serious health issues such as heart attacks, strokes, and other diseases, with a complex interaction between various cell types and signaling pathways.
  • * The review discusses the key players in vascular calcification, including molecular pathways and potential treatment options, aiming to provide a thorough understanding of the topic.
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Vascular diseases pose major health challenges, and understanding their underlying molecular mechanisms is essential to advance therapeutic interventions. Cellular senescence, a hallmark of aging, is a cellular state characterized by cell-cycle arrest, a senescence-associated secretory phenotype macromolecular damage, and metabolic dysregulation. Vascular senescence has been demonstrated to play a key role in different vascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis, peripheral arterial disease, hypertension, stroke, diabetes, chronic venous disease, and venous ulcers.

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Preeclampsia (PE) is a serious hypertensive disorder affecting 4-5% of pregnancies globally, leading to maternal and perinatal morbidity and mortality and reducing life expectancy in surviving women post-gestation. Late-onset PE (LO-PE) is a clinical type of PE diagnosed after 34 weeks of gestation, being less severe than the early-onset PE (EO-PE) variant, although both entities have a notable impact on the placenta. Despite the fact that most studies have focused on EO-PE, LO-PE does not deserve less attention since its prevalence is much higher and little is known about the role of the placenta in this pathology.

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Breast cancer is a prevalent malignancy in the present day, particularly affecting women as one of the most common forms of cancer. A significant portion of patients initially present with localized disease, for which curative treatments are pursued. Conversely, another substantial segment is diagnosed with metastatic disease, which has a worse prognosis.

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It is estimated that approximately one in three women develop chronic venous disease (CVD) during pregnancy, a broad spectrum of morphofunctional disorders affecting the venous system in different regions of the body, including the lower limbs. A growing body of evidence supports the diverse maternofetal consequences derived from this condition, with the placenta being an organ particularly affected. Among other consequences, having CVD during pregnancy has been associated with systemic inflammation and altered cytokines and chemokine profiles in the maternal and fetal serum related to this condition.

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  • Pancreatic cancer, particularly pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), is a deadly cancer often diagnosed late, making treatment and prognosis challenging.* -
  • The study explored the prognostic value of RANK and RANKL proteins in relation to survival outcomes of 41 pancreatic cancer patients over 60 months.* -
  • It found that higher levels of RANK and RANKL are linked to poorer survival rates, suggesting potential targets for further research on treatment options.*
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Objective: Our objective is the description of the technique of vagus nerve stimulation in carotid triangle in order to monitor the recurrent laryngeal nerve (RLN) during thyroid and parathyroid surgery.

Methods: We stimulated the vagus nerve in the carotid triangle during 150 thyroid or parathyroid surgeries using a monopolar electromyography electrode inserted under the mastoid process towards the jugular foramen as a cathode, and using another subdermal electrode in the mastoid as an anode. Another complementary method of vagus stimulation was achieved with a pair of subdermal electrodes, placing the cathode at the mandibular angle and the anode at the mastoid.

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Oxidative stress is a major cellular event that occurs in the placenta, fulfilling critical physiological roles in non-pathological pregnancies. However, exacerbated oxidative stress is a pivotal feature of different obstetric complications, like pre-eclampsia, fetal growth restriction, and other diseases. Compelling evidence supports the relevant role of diet during pregnancy, with pleiotropic consequences for maternal well-being.

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  • Bone and cartilage tissues support the body, protect organs, and contribute to blood cell formation, but they have limited ability to regenerate on their own, leading to issues like fractures and arthritis.
  • The development of tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (TERM) is crucial, particularly through advanced hydrogels that mimic natural extracellular matrix, offering benefits like biocompatibility and customization for patient-specific treatments.
  • Despite their potential, challenges remain with hydrogels, including their mechanical strength and cell viability, prompting a need for further research and innovation in their application for tissue repair.
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Chronic venous disease (CVD) is a complex and common vascular disorder characterized by increased blood pressure and morpho-functional changes in the venous system like varicose veins. Pregnancy is one of the main risk factors for suffering from this condition. Despite the consequences of CVD during pregnancy remains to be fully understood, compelling evidence support that this condition represents an important stress for the mother and the fetus, leading to significant histopathological changes in the placenta.

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