Publications by authors named "Lenin J Ramirez-Cando"

Salmonellosis, a zoonotic gastrointestinal disease, presents a significant global health burden with a high incidence rate. Transmission primarily occurs through the consumption of contaminated poultry products, although water and contact with asymptomatic animals are also vectors. The disease's pervasiveness has prompted international health organizations to advocate for robust prevention and control strategies.

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The organophosphate insecticide chlorpyrifos (CPF), an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor, has raised serious concerns about human safety. Apart from inducing synaptic acetylcholine accumulation, CPF could also act at nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, like the α7-isoform (α7-nAChR), which could potentially be harmful to developing brains. Our aims were to use molecular docking to assess the binding interactions between CPF and α7-nAChR through, to test the neurocytotoxic and oxidative effects of very low concentrations of CPF on SH-SY5Y cells, and to hypothesize about the potential mediation of α7-nAChR.

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Acetamiprid (ACE) and Imidacloprid (IMI) are widely-used neonicotinoid insecticides (NNIs) with functional activity at human acetylcholine nicotinic receptors and, therefore, with putative toxic effects. The objective of this study was the evaluation of the interactions between NNIs and α7-nAChR, as this receptor keeps intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) to an optimum for an adequate neuronal functioning. Possible interactions between NNIs and the cryo-EM structure of the human α-7 nAChR were identified by molecular docking.

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Neonicotinoids are effective insecticides with specificity for invertebrate nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Neonicotinoids are chemically stable and tend to remain in the environment for long so concerns about their neurotoxicity in humans do nothing but increase. Herein, we evaluated the chronic toxic effects of acetamiprid- and imidacloprid-based insecticides over the differentiation of human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells, which were exposed to these insecticides at a concentration range similar to that applied to crop fields (0.

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The search for biotic compounds beyond planet Earth is among the highest priorities in space discovery. We sought to detect organic molecules in various earth soil samples collected from environments with extreme climatic conditions comparable to extraterrestrial environments using HPLC, spectrophotometry (UV, IR), GC/MS and vertical gel electrophoresis analyses systems. The applied methods in the study were compared using a self-developed software tool that was designed to evaluate the viability of instrument selection for organics detection in any given exploratory mission.

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Soil management has great potential to affect soil respiration. In this study, we investigated the effects of organic versus conventional soil management on soil respiration.  We measured the main soil physical-chemical properties from conventional and organic managed soil in Ecuador.

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Strains of antibiotic-resistant bacteria have become more and more prevalent. This has attracted the attention of health agencies worldwide, leading to an urgent search for mechanisms to put a stop to this phenomenon. This study focuses on estimating the probability of a person in Ecuador (at potential risk) contracting an infection due to ampicillin-resistant through the consumption of contaminated water, for which a residence area of people was considered in urban or rural areas.

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Several studies suggest that Iron Oxide nanoparticles may arrive to central nervous system independently of the route of administration. Actually, evidences indicate that the presence iron oxide nanoparticles into nervous system are linked to several neurodegenerative diseases. In this regard, our goal was to assess in vitro PolyVinylPirrolidone coated Iron Oxide nanoparticles, diameter of 20 nm, neuro-toxicity and their mechanism of action, which was fixed over the human neuronal cell line SH-SY5Y.

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Since magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles (IONP) as magnetite (Fe O NPs) have potential applications in life sciences, industrial fields and biomedical care, the risks for occupational, general population and patients rises correspondingly. Excessive IONP accumulation in central nervous system (CNS) cells can lead to a disruption of normal iron metabolism/homeostasis, which is a characteristic hallmark resembling that of several neurodegenerative disorders. Fe O NPs- versus Fe O bulk-induced toxic effects have been assessed in two human CNS cells namely astrocytes (D384) and neurons (SH-SY5Y) after short-term exposure (4-24-48 h) to 1-100 μg ml , and long-term exposure to lower concentrations.

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