Publications by authors named "Luis M Roman-Pintos"

Introduction: Protein-energy wasting (PEW) is highly prevalent among patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD), and it has been proposed that oxidative stress (OS) may contribute to its pathogenesis. This study was an attempt to determine the association between the presence of PEW and OS levels in PD patients.

Methods: This analytical cross-sectional study involved 62 clinically stable PD patients aged ≥ 18 years, between September 2017 and July 2018.

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Peripheral Neuropathy (PN) can significantly impair quality of life, but often remains undiagnosed due to limited clinic time, lack of specialist expertise and lack of patient awareness. There are several validated questionnaires for diagnosing PN, but the time taken to administer them in busy primary care clinics limits their utilization. A new, simpler questionnaire was developed following an advisory board meeting in Southeast Asia and was further refined and translated to Portuguese and Spanish following a second advisory board meeting in Latin America.

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Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic systemic disease with a complex etiology, characterized by insulin resistance and mitochondrial dysfunction in various cell tissues. To explore this relationship, we conducted a secondary analysis of complete mtDNA sequences from 1261 T2D patients and 1105 control individuals. Our findings revealed significant associations between certain single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and T2D.

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Breast cancer has an important incidence in the worldwide female population. Although alterations in the mitochondrial genome probably play an important role in carcinogenesis, the actual evidence is ambiguous and inconclusive. Our purpose was to explore differences in mitochondrial sequences of cases with breast cancer compared with control samples from different origins.

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Introduction: Nutritional risk is highly prevalent in patients with COVID-19. Relevant data on nutritional assessment in the critically ill population are scarce. This study was conducted to evaluate the modified Nutrition Risk in the Critically Ill (mNUTRIC)-Score as a mortality risk factor in mechanically ventilated patients with COVID-19.

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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a progressive disease induced by a sustained state of chronic hyperglycemia that can lead to several complications targeting highly metabolic cells. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a multifactorial microvascular complication of DM, with high prevalence, which can ultimately lead to visual impairment. The genesis of DR involves a complex variety of pathways such as oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, neurodegeneration, angiogenesis, lipid peroxidation, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, each possessing potential therapeutic biomarkers.

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Oxidative stress induces nerve damage in type 2 diabetes mellitus and leads to diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) and can affect the DNA and antioxidant status. Statins have pleiotropic, protective effects on the peripheral nerves of patients with diabetes. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of ezetimibe/simvastatin and rosuvastatin on DNA damage in patients with DPN.

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Diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN) is defined as peripheral nerve dysfunction. There are three main alterations involved in the pathologic changes of DPN: inflammation, oxidative stress, and mitochondrial dysfunction. Inflammation induces activation of nuclear factor kappa B, activator protein 1, and mitogen-activated protein kinases.

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In heart failure patients the consumption of (-)-epicatechin ((-)-Epi)-rich cocoa can restore skeletal muscle (SkM) mitochondrial structure and decrease biomarkers of oxidative stress. However, nothing is known about its effects on exercise capacity and underlying mechanisms in normal, sedentary subjects. Twenty normal, sedentary subjects (∼50 years old) were randomized to placebo or dark chocolate (DC) groups and consumed 20 g of the products for 3 months.

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Objective To evaluate the effect of ubiquinone (Coenzyme Q10) and combined antioxidant therapy (CAT) on oxidative stress markers in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) under clinical management. Study design In a randomized, double-blind, phase IIa, placebo-controlled, clinical trial, three study groups were formed and administered medications as follows: Group 1, Coenzyme Q10; Group 2, CAT; and Group 3, placebo. Methods Serum levels of the products of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nitrites/nitrates, as markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress, were measured.

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Objective: To evaluate the effects of ezetimibe/simvastatin (EZE/SIMV) and rosuvastatin (ROSUV) on oxidative stress (OS) markers in patients with diabetic polyneuropathy (DPN).

Methods: We performed a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III clinical trial in adult patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) and DPN, as evaluated by composite scores and nerve conduction studies (NCS). Seventy-four subjects with T2DM were allocated 1 : 1 : 1 to placebo, EZE/SIMV 10/20 mg, or ROSUV 20 mg for 16 weeks.

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Objectives: To evaluate the effect of ubiquinone and combined antioxidant therapy on mitochondrial function in non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) in a randomized, double-blind, phase IIa, placebo-controlled, clinical trial. Three groups of 20 patients were formed: Group 1, ubiquinone; Group 2, combined therapy; and Group 3, placebo (one daily dose for 6 months).

Methods: Fluidity of the submitochondrial membrane in platelets was determined by examining intensity of fluorescence between the monomer (Im) and excimer (Ie).

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Postcholecystectomy bile duct injuries (BDI) produce hepatic cholestasis and cause infection of the biliary tract. The biliary cells participate in secreting cytokines and in expression of immune response receptors. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) conduct signalling and activate the innate and adaptive inflammatory response.

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Background: Severe acute pancreatitis (SAP) is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Objective: To evaluate whether necrosectomy, alone or combined with vacuum-assisted closure (VAC), has any additional beneficial effects on mitochondrial function and/or oxidative stress markers in SAP.

Methods: Patients with SAP, APACHE II score > 8, and inadequate response to management in an intensive care unit were included in a prospective observational study.

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Background: Diabetic neuropathy affects 50%-66% of patients with diabetes mellitus. Oxidative stress generates nerve dysfunction by causing segmental demyelinization and axonal degeneration. Antioxidants are considered to be the only etiologic management for diabetic polyneuropathy, and statins such as rosuvastatin increase nitric oxide bioavailability and reduce lipid peroxidation.

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Introduction: Diabetic polyneuropathy aetiology is based on oxidative stress generation due to production of reactive oxygen species. Ubiquinone is reduced to ubiquinol and redistributed into lipoproteins, possibly to protect them from oxidation.

Aims: To evaluate the impact of oral ubiquinone in diabetic polyneuropathy, and the role of lipid peroxidation (LPO) and nerve growth factor (NGF-β).

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