Publications by authors named "Lopez Alarcon"

The neuroplasticity of adolescents could make them responsive to interventions affecting brain maturation such as yoga and mindfulness. We aimed to determine their efficacy and safety for the management of children and adolescents with obesity. A systematic search using MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PsycInfo was performed up to March 2024.

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Using theoretical and experimental tools we investigated the recognition of AAPH (2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride), a well-known water-soluble azo-compound employed as a source of peroxyl radicals, by cucurbit[6]uril (CB[6]), and cucurbit[8]uril (CB[8]). Density functional theory calculations and isothermal titration calorimetry experiments demonstrated that AAPH was not included in the cavity of CB[6], however, an exclusion complex was generated. Inclusion of AAPH in the CB[8] cavity was favored, forming stable inclusion complexes at 1 : 1 and 2 : 1 stoichiometries; AAPH@CB[8] and 2AAPH@CB[8], respectively.

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Objective: To address the current practice of liberating patients from invasive mechanical ventilation in pediatric intensive care units, with a focus on the use of standardized protocols, criteria, parameters, and indications for noninvasive respiratory support postextubation.

Methods: Electronic research was carried out from November 2021 to May 2022 in Ibero-American pediatric intensive care units. Physicians and respiratory therapists participated, with a single representative for each pediatric intensive care unit included.

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Context: An inclusion complex between 2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine) dihydrochloride (AAPH), a widely employed azocompound, and cucurbit[7]util (CB[7]), has shown an increased yield of radicals derived from the homolytic cleavage of the azo bond. Aimed to get insights about the formation of complexes and their effect on the yield of radicals production, complexes of CB[7] with seven azocompounds were studied by computational methods. Molecular electrostatic surfaces and structural analysis showed that the inclusion of symmetrical azocompounds inside of CB[7] depends mainly on the charge density and position of the functional groups at the main chain of the azoderivative.

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Background: Infertility increases stress and affects life quality. Mindfulness reduces stress and improves life quality, but its role in infertility remains unclear.

Objective: To evaluate the effect of mindfulness on stress and quality of life of women with infertility.

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Introduction: Globally, up to 76.6% of the population may be affected by vitamin D (VD) deficiency, which has been linked to increased morbidity and mortality from COVID-19. This underscores the importance of further research into VD supplementation, particularly for health care workers, who are at higher risk due to indoor work environments and dietary challenges associated with shift schedules.

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The oxidative phase of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) involving the enzymes glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL), and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH), is critical to NADPH generation within cells, with these enzymes catalyzing the conversion of glucose-6-phosphate (G6P) into ribulose-5-phosphate (Ribu5-P). We have previously studied peroxyl radical (ROO) mediated oxidative inactivation of E. coli G6PDH, 6PGL, and 6PGDH.

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The ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) assay is commonly employed for determining the antioxidant capacity of bioactive peptides. To gain insights into the meaning of this index for peptides containing a single Trp, we studied the consumption of this residue and fluorescein (FLH, the probe of ORAC method), induced by radicals generated by AAPH (2,2'-Azo-bis(2-amidinopropane) dihydrochloride) thermolysis. ORAC values were rationalized from kinetics and computational calculations of bond dissociation energies (BDE) of the N-H bond (indole ring of Trp).

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The pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) is a key metabolic pathway. The oxidative phase of this process involves three reactions catalyzed by glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), 6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) enzymes. The first and third steps (catalyzed by G6PDH and 6PGDH, respectively) are responsible for generating reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate (NAPDH), a key cofactor for maintaining the reducing power of cells and detoxification of both endogenous and exogenous oxidants and electrophiles.

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Dengue fever is a viral disease transmitted by the Aedes aegypti mosquitoes. In Argentina, dengue fever is an epidemic disease; most cases are reported during the hot months. Until epidemiological week (EW) 20/2023, 106 672 cases were reported across 18 of the 24 provinces of Argentina.

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Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is often accompanied with metabolic disturbances attributed to androgen excess and obesity, but the contribution of each has not been defined, and the occurrence of metabolic disturbances is usually not investigated. Ninety-nine women with PCOS and forty-one without PCOS were evaluated. The clinical biomarkers of alterations related to glucose (glucose, insulin, and clamp-derived glucose disposal - ), liver (aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase), and endothelium (arginine, asymmetric dymethylarginine, carotid intima-media thickness, and flow-mediated dilation) metabolism were measured; participants were categorized into four groups according to their obesity (OB) and hyperandrogenemia (HA) status as follows: Healthy (no-HA, lean), HA (HA, lean), OB (no-HA, OB), and HAOB (HA, OB).

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Background: N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (LCPUFA-ω3), particularly docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) might have beneficial effects on lean mass and fat mass synthesis.

Objective: To investigate the effect of LCPUFA-ω3 supplementation on body composition changes in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) at remission and three months (3 mo) after supplementation.

Methods: This randomized controlled trial enrolled 72 children (3-13 y) with newly diagnosed ALL (placebo group [500 mg sunflower oil]: 36 patients; LCPUFA-ω3 group [225 mg DHA, 45 mg EPA]: 36 patients).

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Introduction: Increased triglycerides (TGs) are a major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, hypertriglyceridemia is commonly associated with a reduction of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and an increase in atherogenic small-dense low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels. Studies provide support that polyunsaturated omega-3 fatty acids (ω3-LCPUFAs) are cardioprotective and have antithrombotic and anti-inflammatory effects.

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6-phosphogluconolactonase (6PGL) catalyzes the second reaction of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP) converting 6-phosphogluconolactone to 6-phosphogluconate. The PPP is critical to the generation of NADPH and metabolic intermediates, but some of its components are susceptible to oxidative inactivation. Previous studies have characterized damage to the first (glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase) and third (6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase) enzymes of the pathway, but no data are available for 6PGL.

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Dispensing is the most requested and important service within the tasks performed by the pharmacist, in his day-to-day work, in the community pharmacy. The aim of dispensing is to guarantee the patient's access to the medicine in an adequate and controlled manner. During that process, the community pharmacist has the obligation, as a healthcare professional, to actively participate in a committed manner in the detection of possible medication or medication-related errors.

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Pediatric obesity is a pathological process explained by genetic susceptibility, inappropriate diet, sedentary life patterns, and other environmental factors. It is related with psychological disturbances and chronic diseases in childhood or later in adulthood. Obesity prevention must start early in life and requires lifestyle multicomponent intervention (diet, physical activity and behavior), include children, family, and community, and offered in the primary health care service by the healthcare staff (physicians, nurses, dietists, and psychologists).

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Escherichia coli glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) and 6-phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (6PGDH) are key enzymes of the pentose phosphate pathway, responsible for the NADPH production in cells. We investigated modification of both enzymes mediated by peroxyl radicals (ROO) to determine their respective susceptibilities to and mechanisms of oxidation. G6PDH and 6PGDH were incubated with AAPH (2,2'-azobis(2-methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride), which was employed as ROO source.

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Protein modification occurs in biological milieus that are characterized by high concentrations of (macro)molecules (i.e. heterogeneous and packed environments).

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Introduction: Postintensive care syndrome (PICS) is the physical, cognitive or psychiatric deterioration that appears after a critical illness and persists beyond hospital admission. The objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of PICS in the patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) admitted to the intensive care unit of the Consorcio Hospital General Universitario de Valencia.

Patients: They benefited from a standardized assessment, addressing health-related quality of life (EuroQol-5D-3L), a physical status (6 MWT, "test up and go" and hand dynamometer), a nutritional assessment (MUST and the Global Subjective Assessment), cognitive impairment (MoCA), mental health disorders (HADS and Davidson Trauma Scale) and pain (visual analogue scale and DN4).

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The mechanisms underlying the inactivation of Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) induced by peroxyl radicals (ROO) and peroxynitrite (ONOO), were explored. G6PDH was incubated with AAPH (2,2' -azobis(2-methylpropionamidine)dihydrochloride), used as ROO source, and ONOO. Enzymatic activity was assessed by NADPH generation, while oxidative modifications were analyzed by gel electrophoresis and liquid chromatography (LC) with fluorescence and mass detection.

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Background: Some studies suggested that adequate levels of vitamin D (VD) decrease the risk of severe COVID-19. Information about the effectiveness of VD supplementation in children is scarce.

Objective: To assess the efficacy and safety of VD supplementation compared to the standard of care in hospitalized children with COVID-19.

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Background: Associations between vitamin D (VD) deficiency and the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection have been documented in cross-sectional population studies. Intervention studies in patients with moderate to severe COVID-19 have failed to consistently document a beneficial effect.

Objective: To determine the efficacy and safety of VD-supplementation in the prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infection in highly exposed individuals.

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