Publications by authors named "Maria Vera"

Introduction: The development of a hepatitis E virus (HEV) vaccine is critical, with ORF2 capsid protein as the main target. We previously demonstrated that oral coadministration of recombinant ORF2 with immunomodulatory bacterium-like-particles (IBLP) induces a specific immune response in mice, particularly using IBLP derived from IBL027 (IBLP027), which was effective in eliciting a local humoral response. IBLP are non-live bacteria with adjuvant and carrier properties, serving as a platform for exposing proteins or antigens fused to LysM (lysine motif) domains, protein modules that bind to cell wall polysaccharides like peptidoglycan.

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Liver transplantation (LT) is a cost-effective therapy for advanced liver disease. Although LT significantly improves long-term survival, it requires strict control of immunosuppressants and their potential complications. Several available immunosuppressive drugs include glucocorticoids, calcineurin inhibitors, mycophenolate, mTOR inhibitors, and anti-CD25 antibodies.

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Proteostasis is maintained through regulated protein synthesis and degradation and chaperone-assisted protein folding. However, this is challenging in neuronal projections because of their polarized morphology and constant synaptic proteome remodeling. Using high-resolution fluorescence microscopy, we discover that hippocampal and spinal cord motor neurons of mouse and human origin localize a subset of chaperone mRNAs to their dendrites and use microtubule-based transport to increase this asymmetric localization following proteotoxic stress.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the toxicity of lanthanum, yttrium, and cerium oxides on the soil organism Enchytraeus crypticus, focusing on survival, reproduction, avoidance behavior, and DNA integrity.
  • The research finds that the bulk forms of LaO have more significant effects than their nanoparticle counterparts, while YO nanoparticles are more toxic overall, impacting reproduction and causing DNA damage at lower concentrations.
  • Results indicate that the toxicity of rare earth element oxides varies based on the type of element, concentration, exposure duration, and form, underscoring the need for careful risk assessment for soil ecosystems affected by these substances.
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Purpose: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC) is the gold standard for the treatment of gallbladder (GB) disease in small animals. The aims of this study were to investigate and compare the effect of different types of dissectors during LC in rabbits; electrothermal bipolar vessel sealing device (EBVS-LigaSure) and standard electrosurgical dissection (bipolar Maryland) for dissection of the GB in LC, correlating liver function tests (LFTs) in pre and postoperative periods (days 0, 3, 7, 15); macroscopic checking 15 days after surgery through necropsy; histopathological, bacteriological through bacterial growth by culture and intraoperative complications.

Methods: Twenty rabbits were used, group (n = 10) using EBVS for GB dissection and cystic duct seal (GLL), and group (n = 10) using bipolar dissecting forceps and EVBS for cystic duct seal (GLE).

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The South American fruit fly (Wiedmann) has a vast range extending from northern Mexico, through Central America, to South America where it is an extremely polyphagous pest of wild and cultivated fruits. It is a complex of cryptic species currently composed of eight recognised morphotypes: "Mexican", "Venezuelan", "Andean", "Peruvian", "Ecuadorian", and the three Brazilian morphotypes "Brazilian-1", "Brazilian-2", and "Brazilian-3". Molecular markers that can identify the member species of the complex are crucial for the implementation of effective pest control measures, such as the sterile insect technique.

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Animal development is dictated by the selective and timely decay of mRNAs in developmental transitions, but the impact of mRNA decapping scaffold proteins in development is unclear. This study unveils the roles and interactions of the DCAP-2 decapping scaffolds EDC-3 and EDC-4 in the embryonic development of C. elegans.

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Objective: The objective of the present study is to describe the sociodemographic and behavioral characteristics of a group of transgender women and travestis (TGW) with a history of incarceration and the institutional and social context of this experience in Brazil.

Methods: The analyzed data were derived from the TransOdara Study, a cross-sectional study conducted in five Brazilian capitals from December 2019 to July 2021. Participants were recruited using the Respondent-Driven Sampling (RDS) technique, in which, after an initial formative and exploratory stage, the first participants were identified; in turn, these participants recruited up to six other transgender women and travestis for the research.

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While cytostatic chemotherapy targeting DNA is known to induce genotoxicity, leading to cell cycle arrest and cytokine secretion, the impact of these drugs on fibroblast-epithelial cancer cell communication and metabolism remains understudied. Our research focused on human breast fibroblast RMF-621 exposed to nonlethal concentrations of cisplatin and doxorubicin, revealing reduced proliferation, diminished basal and maximal mitochondrial respirations, heightened mitochondrial ROS and lactate production, and elevated MCT4 protein levels. Interestingly, RMF-621 cells enhanced glucose uptake, promoting lactate export.

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The detrimental impacts of plastic nanoparticles (PNPs) are a worldwide concern, although knowledge is still limited, in particular for soil mesofauna. This study investigates the biochemical impact of 44 nm polystyrene PNPs on three soil models- (Oligochaeta), (Collembola) and (Isopoda). Exposure durations of 3, 7 and 14 days (d) were implemented at two concentrations (1.

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Article Synopsis
  • * This study analyzed the expression of two specific HSPs, HSPA1A and HSPA8, in cultured motor neurons with ALS-linked variants (TDP-43, FUS, SOD1), finding poor induction of HSPA1A and lowered levels of HSPA8, which hampers protective chaperoning.
  • * Treatments with histone deacetylase inhibitors proved more effective than the HSP coinducer arimoclomol in boosting HSP expression and ensuring neuronal health,
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Introduction: Risk factors for developing pancreatitis due to thiopurines in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are not clearly identified. Our aim was to evaluate the predictive pharmacogenetic risk of pancreatitis in IBD patients treated with thiopurines.

Methods: We conducted an observational pharmacogenetic study of acute pancreatitis events in a cohort study of IBD patients treated with thiopurines from the prospectively maintained ENEIDA registry biobank of GETECCU.

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In the fast-evolving landscape of nanotechnology, the widespread applications of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have undoubtedly revolutionized various industries, ranging from healthcare and electronics to agriculture and environmental remediation [...

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Interaction of nanoplastics (NPls) with other environmental contaminants could affect their uptake by the organisms and their toxicity. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the polystyrene NPls (44 nm) interaction with the antidepressant amitriptyline (AMI) and its toxicity to Danio rerio embryos. A similar toxicological profile for NPls + AMI exposure was found for most of the evaluated endpoints, comparing with AMI single exposure, showing that the presence of NPls did not modulate the AMI toxicity.

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The increasing use of molybdenum disulfide (MoS) nanoparticles (NPs) raises concerns regarding their accumulation in soil ecosystems, with limited studies on their impact on soil organisms. Study aim: To unravel the effects of MoS nanosheets (two-dimensional (2D) MoS NPs) and bulk MoS (156, 313, 625, 1250, 2500 mg/kg) on and . The organisms' survival and avoidance behavior remained unaffected by both forms, while reproduction and DNA integrity were impacted.

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Purpose: The aim of this randomized study was to compare the complications and perioperative outcome of three different techniques of laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC). Changes in the liver function test after LC techniques were investigated. Also, we compared the degree of postoperative adhesions and histopathological changes of the liver bed.

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Despite the growing concern over nanoplastics' (NPls) environmental impacts, their long-term effects on terrestrial organisms remain poorly understood. The main aim of this study was to assess how NPls exposure impacts both the parental (F1) and subsequent generations (F2 and F3) of the soil-dwelling species . After a standard exposure (28 days), we conducted a multigenerational study along three generations (84 days), applying polystyrene nanoparticles (PS NPs; diameter of 44 nm) as representatives of NPls.

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Neurons are challenged to maintain proteostasis in neuronal projections, particularly with the physiological stress at synapses to support intercellular communication underlying important functions such as memory and movement control. Proteostasis is maintained through regulated protein synthesis and degradation and chaperone-assisted protein folding. Using high-resolution fluorescent microscopy, we discovered that neurons localize a subset of chaperone mRNAs to their dendrites, particularly more proximal regions, and increase this asymmetric localization following proteotoxic stress through microtubule-based transport from the soma.

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In aquatic environments, nanoplastics (NPls) can adsorb pharmaceuticals. However, throughout the scientific community, there is scarce knowledge about the interactive effects of the mixture nanoplastics (NPls) with pharmaceuticals to aquatic organisms. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate if the pharmaceutical diphenhydramine (DPH) toxicological effects alters when in presence of polystyrene NPls (PSNPls).

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The health crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has negatively influenced the work of health staff, especially nurses. Stressors that affect nurses have been intensified and new stressors have also emerged, threatening their well-being and job performance. The main objective of this study is to analyze the role of nurses´ personal resources in the relationship between job stressors and job performance during the COVID-19.

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Mitochondrial Complex I plays a crucial role in the proliferation, chemoresistance, and metastasis of breast cancer (BC) cells. This highlights it as an attractive target for anti-cancer drugs. Using submitochondrial particles, we identified FRV-1, an -carbonyl quinone, which inhibits NADH:duroquinone activity in D-active conformation and reduces the 3ADP state respiration dependent on Complex I, causing mitochondrial depolarization, ATP drop, increased superoxide levels, and metabolic remodeling towards glycolysis in BC cells.

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Cell functionality relies on the existing pool of proteins and their folding into functional conformations. This is achieved through the regulation of protein synthesis, which requires error-free mRNAs and ribosomes. Ribosomes are quality control hubs for mRNAs and proteins.

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Peri-implantitis can cause marginal bone remodeling around implants. The aim is to develop an automatic image processing approach based on two artificial intelligence (AI) techniques in intraoral (periapical and bitewing) radiographs to assist dentists in determining bone loss. The first is a deep learning (DL) object-detector (YOLOv3) to roughly identify (no exact localization is required) two objects: prosthesis (crown) and implant (screw).

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From the venom of the snake, an endemic species from Peru, we recently have described toxins that inhibited platelet aggregation and cancer cell migration. In this work, we characterize a novel P-III class snake venom metalloproteinase, called pictolysin-III (Pic-III). It is a 62 kDa proteinase that hydrolyzes dimethyl casein, azocasein, gelatin, fibrinogen, and fibrin.

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Freshwater blue spaces (FBS), such as ponds, are key elements of the urban landscape and are under strong anthropogenic pressure. Land-use types and diversity may exert a negative or positive impact on FBS' water quality depending on their nature and arrangement. The information available in this respect is remarkably scarcer for water bodies in the Global South than for the north.

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