Publications by authors named "Lopez-Martinez R"

Background: Memory responses to the antigens that an individual encounters throughout life may vary with the intensity and duration of antigen contacts or even with changes in immune status over time. This work aims to characterise specific responses to latent CMV, seasonal influenza and novel SARS-CoV-2 infections in immunocompetent individuals over 60 years of age. Specific cellular and humoral responses were identified by IFN-γ and granzyme B release by ELISpot and antibody level measurement.

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The heightened inflammatory response observed in COVID-19 patients suggests that omega-3 fatty acids (O3FA) may confer anti-inflammatory benefits. This randomized, double-blind, single-center clinical trial aimed to evaluate the effect of O3FA supplementation in parenteral nutrition (PN) on inflammatory markers in COVID-19 patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 69 patients were randomized into three groups: one received standard lipid emulsion, and two received O3FA (Omegaven) at doses of 0.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The text discusses the need to identify specific subgroups of sepsis patients who might benefit from targeted treatments, known as rescue therapies, even while all patients receive standard care.
  • - It highlights the classification of sepsis into various phenotypes, which are based on differing immune responses, such as hyperinflammatory or immunosuppressive states, suggesting that each may require tailored therapies for better outcomes.
  • - The concept of precision medicine is emphasized, aiming to customize treatments according to the unique characteristics and mechanisms of sepsis in individual patients, focusing on developing targeted interventions.
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Expansion of CD4CD28 T-lymphocytes is common in chronic heart failure (CHF) patients. Its ability to produce high levels of proinflammatory cytokines is probably the key role of these cells in CHF. IL-10 is a candidate for limiting CD4CD28 T-lymphocyte responses, whereas tumour necrosis factor (TNF) is the cytokine most closely involved in the loss of CD28 expression.

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  • Streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STTS) is a severe medical emergency characterized by rapid symptom onset and high risks of morbidity and mortality, highlighting the need for quick recognition and intervention.
  • A study observed 13 patients at Vall d'Hebron University Hospital with invasive infections, primarily community-acquired pneumonia and skin infections, all receiving immediate antibiotic treatment and various organ support therapies.
  • The research identified three patient phenotypes (hyperinflammatory, low perfusion, hypogammaglobulinemic) that could help tailor personalized treatments, stressing the importance of combining rapid antibiotics and strategic source control to improve survival outcomes.
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Plant acclimation to changing environmental conditions involves the interaction of different signalling molecules, including reactive oxygen species and hormones. Redox regulation exerted by thioredoxin (TRX) and glutaredoxin (GRX), two oxidoreductases, is emerging as a specific point of control mediating signal transduction pathways associated with plant growth and stress response. Phytohormones are messengers that coordinate plant cell activities to regulate growth, defence, and productivity, although their cross-talk with components of the redox system is less known.

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  • Abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB) is common and can be influenced by obesity and overweight, prompting a study on this relationship.
  • The study analyzed 292 women aged 18 to 45 with irregular bleeding patterns, excluding those with certain medical conditions and pregnancies.
  • Findings showed no significant association between body mass index (BMI) or tri-ponderal mass index (TMI) and the presence of acute or chronic AUB in overweight and obese groups.
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IgG3 would play an important role in the immune adaptive response against SARS-CoV-2, and low plasma levels might increase the risk of COVID-19 severity and mortality. The IgG3 hinge sequence has a variable repeat of a 15 amino acid exon with common 4-repeats (M) and 3-repeats (S). This length IGHG3 polymorphism might affect the IgG3 effector functions.

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Objectives: Describe the use and findings of cardiopulmonary imaging-chest X-ray (cX-ray), echocardiography (cEcho), chest CT (cCT), lung ultrasound (LUS), and/or cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI)-in COVID-19 hospitalizations in Latin America (LATAM).

Background: There is a lack of information on the images used and their findings during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic in LATAM.

Methods: Multicenter, prospective, observational study of COVID-19 inpatients, conducted from March to December 2020, from 12 high-complexity centers, in nine LATAM countries.

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Unlabelled: Liver transplantation is the major treatment for end-stage liver disease. Postoperative care is a great challenge to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients. In this sense, management in the liver ICU allows hemodynamic management, coagulation monitoring, renal support, electrolyte disturbances, respiratory support and early weaning from mechanical ventilation and evaluation of the liver graft.

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Introduction: The association between preeclampsia and coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is under study. Previous publications have hypothesized the existence of shared risk factors for both conditions or a deficient trophoblastic invasion as possible explanations for this association. The primary aim of this study was to examine baseline risk factors measured in the first-trimester combined screening for preeclampsia in pregnant women with COVID-19 compared with the general population.

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Polymorphisms of Fcγ receptors have been associated with variable responses to infections. We determined the association of functional polymorphisms rs1801274 in the FCGR2A and rs396991 in the FCGR3A with COVID-19 severity. This study involved 453 patients with severe COVID-19, in which the FCGR2A rs1801274 G-allele (131-Arg) was significantly associated with death (p = 0.

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Liver disease is frequently asymptomatic, challenging early identification in the primary care setting. The fibrosis 4 (FIB4) index is a liver fibrosis biomarker that is a potential alternative to liver biopsy for diagnosing and managing liver disease. This study aimed to calculate the FIB4 index for screening individuals at high risk of liver disease at the community level.

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High levels of inflammation play an important role in chronic heart failure (CHF). Patients with CHF have elevated levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines circulating systemically, mainly TNF and IL-6. However, there are almost no studies that relate these levels to the functional status of patients in CHF, much less to their CMV serostatus.

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Understanding how older people respond to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is critical if we are to confront the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and establish effective vaccination strategies. Immunosenescence reduces the ability to respond to neoantigens and may compromise the life of infected individuals. Here, we analyzed the immunological memory to SARS-CoV-2 in 102 recovered patients aged over 60 years several months after the infection had been resolved.

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Elevated plasma bilirubin levels are a frequent clinical finding. It can be secondary to alterations in any stage of its metabolism: (a) excess bilirubin production (i.e.

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Expanded CD4+CD28 T lymphocytes are found in the tissues and peripheral blood of patients with many autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA). These highly differentiated cells present potent inflammatory activity and capability to induce tissue destruction, which has been suggested to predispose to the development of more aggressive disease. In fact, preferential migration to inflammatory sites has been proposed to be a contributing factor in the progression of autoimmune and cardiovascular diseases frequently found in these patients.

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This year, a respiratory virus caused an emergency pandemic alert in health services around the world, showing the need for biotechnological approaches to fight these diseases. The influenza virus is one of the main viral agents that generate pandemic outbreaks. Currently, the majority of co-circulating influenza A virus (IAV) strains are adamantine- and oseltamivir-resistant strains, and the challenge is to find new antivirals for more efficient treatments.

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Objectives: The strain the SARS-COV-2 pandemic is putting on hospitals requires that predictive values are identified for a rapid triage and management of patients at a higher risk of developing severe COVID-19. We developed and validated a prognostic model of COVID-19 severity.

Methods: A descriptive, comparative study of patients with positive vs.

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It's been almost a century since immunologists started using adjuvants as tools to develop more effective vaccines. Despite the rising number of adjuvanted vaccines in the last decades, we still lack knowledge of the adjuvants' effects on antibody response. This study was aimed to test the effect of immunizing mice with the human Inactivated Influenza vaccine (IIV), either alone or combined with different widely used adjuvants on the specific antibody response induced.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study focused on HBeAg-negative chronic infection (CI) patients, which have been less studied due to low levels of the virus (viremia) in their blood.* -
  • Researchers analyzed the genetic diversity and mutations in a specific region of the HBx protein among different groups, including CI patients and those with more severe liver conditions.* -
  • Findings revealed that CI patients displayed higher mutation frequency and viral diversity, along with a distinct pattern of mutations that correlate with reduced HBV DNA release, helping to explain their low viremia levels.*
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Cryopreserved arterial allografts have remained an option in patients requiring distal revascularization or associated with vascular infection, in the absence of a valid autogenous saphenous vein. The objective of this study is to describe the different clinical, anatomopathological, and immunological findings related to vascular transplant rejection. In a prospective trial, 35 patients who underwent cryopreserved allogeneic arterial bypass were studied, including demographics and conduit patency.

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Background: Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) remains largely underdiagnosed despite recommendations of healthcare institutions and programmes designed to increase awareness. The objective was to analyse the trends in AATD diagnosis during the last 5 years in a Spanish AATD reference laboratory.

Methods: This was a retrospective revision of all alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT) determinations undertaken in our laboratory from 2015 to 2019.

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Objective: Analysis of longitudinal data can provide neonatologists with tools that can help predict clinical deterioration and improve outcomes. The aim of this study is to analyze continuous monitoring data in newborns, using vital signs to develop predictive models for intensive care admission and time to discharge.

Study Design: We conducted a retrospective cohort study, including term and preterm newborns with respiratory distress patients admitted to the neonatal ward.

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