Publications by authors named "Maria P Gonzalez"

The presence of pharmaceuticals in the aquatic environment is increasing due to their growing use for human health. Although most studies are based on short exposures to these contaminants, the present study has emerged from the need to study pharmaceuticals in aquatic organisms over a long-term exposure to understand any multi-generational chronic effects and alterations regarding habitat selection. Therefore, this study shows: (1) the ability of Daphnia magna to colonize environments contaminated with caffeine, ibuprofen and fluoxetine, and (2) the effect of these pharmaceuticals on reproduction and habitat selection (under two scenarios: with and without food) after a long-term exposure period of three generations.

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Habitat discontinuity of aquatic environments is a serious problem that might hamper the different activities performed by organisms. When combined with contamination, the consequences for the population's dynamics might be exacerbated, particularly regarding foraging activity. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the combined effects of habitat discontinuity and contamination on the foraging behavior by zebrafish (Danio rerio) and on their ability to explore heterogeneous landscapes.

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Despite the existing connectivity and heterogeneity of aquatic habitats, the concept of interconnected landscapes has been frequently overlooked in ecotoxicological risk assessment studies. In this study, a novel mesocosm system, the HeMHAS (Heterogeneous Multi-Habitat Assay System), was constructed with the potential to assess structural and functional changes in a community resulting from exposure to contaminants, while also considering the complex ecological scenarios. Fish (Sparus aurata), shrimp (Palaemon varians) and three species of marine microalgae (Isochrysis galbana, Nannochloropsis gaditana and Tetraselmis chuii) were used as test organisms.

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Patients are reluctant to use telemedicine health services, compared to its substitute in-person visits. One reason is that telemedicine can be accurately evaluated and compared to its substitute only after the product has been adopted and experienced. As such, an intervention that increases the probability of a first experience can have lasting effects.

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Article Synopsis
  • Aquatic organisms like Daphnia magna rely on chemical cues in their environment for survival, and this study assessed their ability to avoid fipronil-contaminated areas after a short exposure to the insecticide.
  • The HeMHAS system was used to evaluate the daphnids' swimming behavior and habitat preference, showing they favored less contaminated areas despite experiencing decreased swimming ability due to fipronil exposure.
  • The research highlights the need for non-forced exposure methodologies in ecological studies, aiming to better understand the impact of contaminants on habitat selection and overall ecosystem health.
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Metallurgical industries are a continuous source of air pollution due to the amount of settleable particulate matter (SePM) they release. This SePM is a complex mixture formed by metallic nanoparticles and metals, which reach terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems and can be a significant source of contamination. The aim of this study was to evaluate the adverse effects of SePM at different levels of biological organization in order to estimate its ecological impacts on aquatic ecosystems.

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Systemic candidiasis are high mortality infections caused by yeasts of the genus Candida, affecting patients with numerous risk factors. Nowadays, candidemia produced by "non-albicans" species has increased considerably. Timely diagnosis and subsequent treatment substantially improve patients' survival.

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Eating a nutritionally balanced breakfast can be a challenge when following a gluten-free diet (GFD). We assessed the ingredients and nutrient composition of 364 gluten-free breakfast products (GFPs) and 348 gluten-containing counterparts (GCCs), and we analysed the nutritional quality of breakfast in a group of Spanish children and adolescents with celiac disease (CD) ( = 70), as compared to controls ( = 67). Food intakes were estimated using three 24 h dietary records.

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Gluten-free products (GFP) are a good choice for the replacement of cereals when following a gluten-free diet due to celiac disease (CD). However, commercial GFP are made with highly refined flours and may contain more fat, sugar, and salt, and less fiber and micronutrients than gluten-containing analogues, thus challenging the nutritional adequacy of the diet. The aim of this study is to assess the contribution of GFP to the diets of children and adolescents with CD.

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Telemedicine can expand access to health care at relatively low cost. Historically, however, demand for telemedicine has remained low. Using administrative records and a difference-in-differences methodology, we estimate the change in demand for telemedicine experienced after the onset of the COVID-19 epidemic and the imposition of mobility restrictions.

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Hypercalcemia associated with malignant tumors is a rare entity in pediatrics (0.5-1.3 % of pediatric cancers).

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Article Synopsis
  • A comprehensive database of 629 gluten-free cereal products in Spain was created, revealing that the majority are made primarily from rice and corn flour, with 90% containing added rice starch.
  • Common fats include sunflower oil, and only 24.5% of products claim "no added sugar," although 56% contain sucrose.
  • Nutritional analysis indicates many products are high in calories, fats, sugars, and salt, with a modest reformulation towards better fat and salt content but limited use of alternative flours.
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Background: Information about the role of auditory input and motor control is limited.

Objectives: Assessment the relationship between auditory and vestibular information with specific motor and cognitive functions.

Methods: Posturography in 17 Pre-lingual Cochlear Implant Adolescents, (PCIA) age 14.

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Background: Chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) plays a role in neuronal survival/cell repair and also contributes to the progression of cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) binds to CXCR4. In this study, we have investigated whether CXCR4 blockade by AMD3100 (a CXCR4 antagonist, member of bicyclam family) may affect neuronal survival in the absence of insult.

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Silicon (Si) is a trace element that has been considered to be an environmental contaminant for many years, although different studies have recently reported it is an essential element for living cells. The present study tested the ability of different concentrations of Si G57™ to induce neuroprotection or neurotoxicity over 24 h in the SH-SY5Y human neuroblastoma cell line. Cell viability, cellular proliferation, LDH release, ROS, antioxidant capacity, TBARS, caspase-3, -8 and -9, DNA fragmentation, and TNF-α levels were evaluated.

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Background: Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is a toxic agent that induces oxidative stress and cell death. Silicon (Si) is a biological element involved in limiting aluminium (Al) absorption with possible preventive effects in Alzheimer's disease. However, Si has not yet been associated with other neuroprotective mechanisms.

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Management of intrathoracic anastomotic leakage after esophagectomy by means of endoscopic stent insertion has gained wide acceptance as an alternative to surgical reintervention. Between January 2004 and March 2013 all patients who underwent esophagectomy at a German high-volume center for esophageal surgery were included in this retrospective study. The study comprises 356 patients.

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Background: The discovery that nitric oxide (NO) functions as a signalling molecule in the nervous system has radically changed the concept of neuronal communication. NO induces the release of amino acid neurotransmitters but the underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated.

Findings: The aim of this work was to study the effect of NO on amino acid neurotransmitter release (Asp, Glu, Gly and GABA) in cortical neurons as well as the mechanism underlying the release of these neurotransmitters.

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In the present work, we have studied whether cell death could be induced in cortical neurons from rats subjected to different period of O2 deprivation and low glucose (ODLG). This "in vitro" model is designed to emulate the penumbra area under ischemia. In these conditions, cortical neurons displayed loss of mitochondrial respiratory ability however, nor necrosis neither apoptosis occurred despite ROS production.

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The pharmacological analysis of racemic chromenotacrines (CT) 1-7, bearing the 11-amino-12-aryl-8,9,10,12-tetrahydro-7H-chromeno[2,3-b]quinolin-3-ol ring skeleton, in a series of experiments targeted to explore their potential use for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), is reported. The toxicological evaluation showed that among all these chromenotacrines, CT6 is much less hepatotoxic than tacrine in a range of concentrations from 1 to 300 μM, measured as cell viability in HepG2 cells. Moreover, CT6 did not significantly increase lactate dehydrogenase, aspartate transaminase, and alanine transaminase release in HepG2 cells.

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Introduction: Brain ischemia and reperfusion produce alterations in the microenvironment of the parenchyma, including ATP depletion, ionic homeostasis alterations, inflammation, release of multiple cytokines and abnormal release of neurotransmitters. As a consequence, the induction of proliferation and migration of neural stem cells towards the peri-infarct region occurs.

Development: The success of new neurorestorative treatments for damaged brain implies the need to know, with greater accuracy, the mechanisms in charge of regulating adult neurogenesis, both under physiological and pathological conditions.

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The action of (Z)-N-(2-bromo-5-hydroxy-4-methoxybenzylidene)-2-methylpropan-2-amine oxide (RP6) on rat cortical neurons in culture, under oxygen-glucose-deprivation conditions, is reported. Cortical neurons in culture were treated during 1 h with OGD. After, they were placed under normal conditions during 24 h (reperfusion) in absence and presence of RP6.

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The synthesis, pharmacological analysis and molecular modeling of the readily available racemic tacrine analogs 21-30, bearing the 7-aryl-9,10,11,12-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[7,8]chromeno[2,3-b]quinolin-8-amine heterocyclic ring system (II), prepared by Friedländer reaction of 2-amino-4-aryl-4H-benzo[h]chromene-3-carbonitriles (11-20) with cyclohexanone, are described in this paper. Molecules 21-30 are potent and selective inhibitors of hAChE, in the low micromolar range, one of the most potent inhibitors, 4-(8-amino-9,10,11,12-tetrahydro-7H-benzo[7,8]chromeno[2,3-b]quinolin-7-yl)-2-methoxyphenol (25), showing a IC(50) (hAChE) = 0.33 ± 0.

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We report the synthesis, theoretical calculations, the antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective properties, and the ability to cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB) of (Z)-α-aryl and heteroaryl-N-alkyl nitrones as potential agents for stroke treatment. The majority of nitrones compete with DMSO for hydroxyl radicals, and most of them are potent lipoxygenase inhibitors. Cell viability-related (MTT assay) studies clearly showed that nitrones 1-3 and 10 give rise to significant neuroprotection.

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The main purpose of this study was to explore the dimensionality of the borderline personality disorder in nonclinical young adults by means of the Borderline Personality Questionnaire (BPQ; Poreh et al., 2006). We also studied the phenotypic expression of the borderline personality traits as a function of participants' gender and age, and the relationship between BPQ subscales and measures of depressive symptoms, anxiety, stress, hallucinatory predisposition, and paranoid ideation.

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