Publications by authors named "Maria Cruz"

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive, malignant, and drug-resistant brain tumor. There are no effective treatment options for GBM, which usually leads to relapses that cause patients to die a few months later. Ferroptosis, a newly discovered mechanism of regulated cell death, has been identified as a tumor suppressor in solid tumors and represents an alternative to apoptosis resistance.

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Objective: The primary objective of this study was to assess if uterine adenomyosis impacts live birth rate per euploid embryo transfer. The secondary objectives included addressing obstetric and perinatal outcomes in the study group.

Methods: This was a multicenter and retrospective cohort study in which 228 patients diagnosed with adenomyosis undergoing single euploid embryo transfer between 2016 and June 2023 were included and matched on 1:1 ratio to control patients without ultrasonographic diagnostic criteria for adenomyosis.

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  • Asthma is a prevalent noncommunicable disease associated with significant mortality, particularly in low- and middle-income countries like the Philippines, where short-acting beta-agonists (SABAs) are often overused, leading to health risks.
  • The review highlights the need for improved asthma management strategies, including the use of inhaled corticosteroid-formoterol combinations, patient education on inhaler use, and adherence to medication to prevent severe outcomes.
  • Recommendations for better asthma care involve enhancing access to essential medications, implementing treatment algorithms, and developing multidisciplinary team approaches for primary care providers to improve patient outcomes.
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  • The research focused on discovering new drugs that can modify osteoarthritis (OA) by boosting type II collagen production in chondrocytes using a novel, less destructive method.
  • Primary human chondrocytes were engineered to express a reporter gene and cultured in 3D models to screen a library of natural compounds over three weeks.
  • Aromoline, a bisbenzylisoquinoline alkaloid, showed promise in enhancing type II collagen expression, with dopamine receptor D4 (DRD4) identified as a potential target for future OA treatments.
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Current therapies for Alzheimer's disease (AD) do not delay its progression, therefore, novel disease-modifying strategies are urgently needed. Recently, an increasing number of compounds from natural origin with protective properties against AD have been identified. Mixtures or extracts obtained from natural products containing several bioactive compounds have multifunctional properties and have drawn the attention because multiple AD pathways can be simultaneously modulated.

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Background/objectives: Nasal vaccines are a promising strategy for enhancing mucosal immune responses and preventing diseases at mucosal sites by stimulating the secretion of secretory IgA, which is crucial for early pathogen neutralization. However, designing effective nasal vaccines is challenging due to the complex immunological mechanisms in the nasal mucosa, which must balance protection and tolerance against constant exposure to inhaled pathogens. The nasal route also presents unique formulation and delivery hurdles, such as the mucous layer hindering antigen penetration and immune cell access.

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Background: Following the conclusion of a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial of the Systems Analysis and Improvement Approach (SAIA) to optimize the prevention of mother-to-child HIV transmission cascade in Manica Province, Mozambique, we conducted a natural experiment to test the sustainability of the delivery model with limited financial inputs.

Methods: District nurse supervisors were encouraged to continue to facilitate SAIA cycles in subordinate health facilities and provided phone credit and tablet access to upload implementation data. No additional resources (eg, funds for transport, refreshments, or supplies) were provided.

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The pursuit of cosmetic ingredients with proven efficacy and safety that meet consumer needs drives the advancement of new products. Ascorbic acid (AA) is utilized in cosmetic products, predominantly for its potent antioxidant properties. Nonetheless, its instability compromises its efficacy.

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  • * The research involved extracting pollen allergens from various local plants, and conducting SPT on patients at a university clinic, with subsequent blood tests for a more precise allergen profile.
  • * Out of 165 patients tested, 129 had positive reactions to the pollen extracts, with weeds identified as the most common sensitizers, indicating a significant allergic response among the population.
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Introduction: This large multicenter study aimed to evaluate clinical outcomes using three follitropin alfa preparations within a progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) protocol, while identifying contributing factors to cycle success.

Methods: A retrospective, anonymized cohort analysis was conducted on donor-recipient cycles from 12 clinics during 2019 to 2021. 7389 oocyte donors underwent ovarian stimulation (OS) with three follitropin alfa preparations (Ovaleap [n=3231], Bemfola [n=3542], Gonal-F [n=616]) were included.

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  • Excessive sun exposure can lead to various skin issues like sunburn, dryness, and wrinkles, making aftersun products important for recovery.
  • This study analyzed 84 aftersun products from 41 brands in Portugal to identify effective natural and synthetic ingredients that help reduce sun damage.
  • The research highlights the popularity of compounds from terrestrial and marine sources, assesses their mechanisms of action, and emphasizes the need for both in vitro and in vivo research to validate their efficacy in addressing skin photodamage.
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A comprehensive understanding of sports biomechanics is essential for optimizing athletic performance. Recent advancements in sensor technology, particularly inertial sensors, have transformed the landscape of sports performance analysis. These sensors offer profound insights into the kinematic and kinetic aspects of sports, with a particular impact on water-based sports such as rowing and canoeing.

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Evaluating citrus rootstocks is of paramount importance in determining their suitability for a certain region and promoting resilience in orchards by increasing the genetic pool, thereby potentially contributing to a more strategic establishment of new plantings. This long-term field study (2000-2013) aimed to evaluate different rootstocks for 'Swatow' mandarin grown at two locations (Paranavaí and Londrina) in the Brazilian subtropics. Nine rootstocks were evaluated, including 'Rangpur' lime, 'Swingle' citrumelo, 'Volkamer' lemon, 'Caipira DAC' sweet orange, 'Cleopatra' and 'Sunki' mandarins, 'Trifoliate' orange, 'Carrizo', and 'Fepagro C-13' citranges.

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Background: Respiratory allergies are one of the most common allergic diseases that affect Filipinos. Grass pollen accounts for the majority of the outdoor allergens triggering these respiratory allergies. Cross-reactivity among the Philippine grass pollen grains has not been extensively studied.

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  • - A 12-month-old boy developed a skin rash 15 days after getting several vaccines, including MMR, pneumococcal, and meningococcal.
  • - The skin condition was diagnosed as Wells syndrome, a rare allergic reaction.
  • - Patch testing revealed a positive response to gelatin, a common stabilizer found in the MMR vaccine but not in the others.
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Bipolar disorder (BD) is a neuropsychiatric illness characterized by recurrent episodes of mania and depression, leading to profound cognitive and functional impairments, psychiatric and metabolic comorbidities, and substantial healthcare costs. Due to its complex nature and absence of specific biomarkers, BD presents significant daily challenges for clinicians. Therefore, advancing our understanding of BD pathophysiology is essential to identify novel diagnostic biomarkers and potential therapeutic targets.

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The infusion of , an endemic Portuguese plant, is traditionally used to treat various infections and disorders. This study aimed to assess its chemical profile by HPLC-DAD-ESI-MS and validate its anti-inflammatory potential. In addition, the antioxidant capacity and effects on wound healing, lipogenesis, melanogenesis, and cellular senescence, all processes in which a dysregulated inflammatory response plays a pivotal role, were unveiled.

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  • Several clinical trials confirm that dupilumab is effective and safe for treating atopic dermatitis (AD), but there’s limited information on its long-term real-world outcomes.
  • A retrospective study of 312 adult patients in Portugal found a 30-month drug survival rate of 82%, with 12.5% discontinuing treatment mainly due to treatment failure or adverse effects.
  • Significant improvements were observed in skin severity (EASI score), itchiness (NRS), and quality of life (DLQI), showcasing the drug's effectiveness over the follow-up period.
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Objective: To determine the relationship between scores on the Westside Test Anxiety Scale (WTAS) and nurse certification rates.

Background: Nurse certification is associated with improved outcomes. Understanding intrinsic factors associated with low certification rates including test anxiety could help nurse leaders improve certification rates.

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In heavily urbanized world saturated with environmental pollutants, road traffic noise stands out as a significant factor contributing to widespread public health issues. It contributes in the development of a diverse range of non-communicable diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, metabolic dysregulation, cognitive impairment, and neurodegenerative disorders. Although the exact mechanisms behind these non-auditory health effects remain unclear, the noise reaction model centres on the stress response to noise.

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Cancer immunology offers a new alternative to traditional cancer treatments, such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. One notable alternative is the development of personalized vaccines based on cancer neoantigens. Moreover, Transformers are considered a revolutionary development in artificial intelligence with a significant impact on natural language processing (NLP) tasks and have been utilized in proteomics studies in recent years.

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The Institute for Trauma-Informed Systems Change (ITISC) facilitated a 2-day, 12-hr trauma-informed workshop, delivered virtually, using the Training for Change curriculum. The workshop took place in Portuguese in September 2021 with a group of Angolan leaders (N = 51) and in May 2022, in English, with neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) workers from the United States (N = 73). Surveys were administered before (Time [T] 0) and after the workshop (T1) and consisted of demographic questions and the Survey for Trauma-Informed Systems Change (STISC), which assesses system-wide knowledge and attitudes about trauma-informed systems change and the intersection of culture, safety, and acceptance in the workplace.

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Current treatment options for Alzheimer's disease (AD) focus on symptom relief rather than halting disease progression. In this context, targeting histone deacetylation emerges as a promising therapeutic alternative. Dysregulation of histone deacetylase (HDAC) activity is present in AD, contributing to cognitive decline.

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