Publications by authors named "Mera A"

Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated the malignancy risk linked to ixekizumab in patients with rheumatological conditions through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and long-term extension studies (LTEs).
  • Meta-analyses indicated a low overall risk of malignancy, with Peto odds ratios showing varied results when compared to placebo and another drug, adalimumab.
  • The research concluded that while ixekizumab generally poses a low risk for malignancy, certain conditions, like nonmelanoma skin cancer, may be exceptions for patients with psoriatic arthritis and axial spondyloarthritis.
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Concerns about the increasing consumption of medicines have been raised due to their contribution to waste pollution and environmental impacts. However, limited research addresses the profile and disposal practices of household medicines, particularly in Latin America. Therefore, this study analyzes the consumption, waste, and disposal of medicines within households in the commune of La Serena, Chile.

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Background: People with HIV have a substantially higher risk of anal cancer than the general population. We aimed to identify risk factors associated with the development of anal cancer among people with HIV to implement more effective and targeted screening strategies.

Methods: We conducted a multicentre retrospective cohort study in 16 hospitals across Catalonia and the Balearic Islands, Spain, between Jan 1, 1998, and Dec 31, 2022.

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Aims: Over 50% of breast cancer cases are "Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) low breast cancer (BC)", characterized by HER2 immunohistochemistry (IHC) scores of 1+ or 2+ alongside no amplification on fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) testing. The development of new anti-HER2 antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) for treating HER2-low breast cancers illustrates the importance of accurately assessing HER2 status, particularly HER2-low breast cancer. In this study we evaluated the performance of a deep-learning (DL) model for the assessment of HER2, including an assessment of the causes of discordances of HER2-Null between a pathologist and the DL model.

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Adipokines are a heterogeneous group of signalling molecules secreted prevalently by adipose tissue. Initially considered as regulators of energy metabolism and appetite, adipokines have been recognized for their substantial involvement in musculoskeletal disorders, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and many others. Understanding the role of adipokines in rheumatic inflammatory and autoimmune diseases, as well as in other musculoskeletal diseases such as intervertebral disc degeneration, is crucial for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

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Article Synopsis
  • * Most cases were mild, with 40% involving PWH; only those with very low CD4+T-cell counts (<200 cells/μL) showed an increased risk of complications, hospitalization, and more severe symptoms.
  • * The study highlighted the strong link between mpox and high rates of HIV/STIs, emphasized the importance of screening, and showed that a smallpox vaccine approach effectively reduced mpox incidence in both groups.
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Objective: To describe a method to calculate the total intra-articular volume (inter-osseous space) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) determined by cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). This could be used as a marker of tissue proliferation and different degrees of soft tissue hyperplasia in juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) patients.

Materials And Methods: Axial single-slice CBCT images of cross-sections of the TMJs of 11 JIA patients and 11 controls were employed.

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Introduction: People living with HIV who are lost to follow-up have a greater risk of health deterioration, mortality, and community transmission.

Objective: Our aim was to analyse both how rates of loss to follow-up (LTFU) changed between 2006 and 2020 and how the COVID-19 pandemic affected these rates in the PISCIS cohort study of Catalonia and the Balearic Islands.

Methods: We analysed socio-demographic and clinical characteristics of LTFU yearly and with adjusted odds ratios to assess the impact of these determinants on LTFU in 2020 (the year of COVID-19).

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Adipose tissue malfunction leads to altered adipokine secretion which might consequently contribute to an array of metabolic diseases spectrum including obesity, diabetes mellitus, and cardiovascular disorders. Asprosin is a novel diabetogenic adipokine classified as a caudamin hormone protein. This adipokine is released from white adipose tissue during fasting and elicits glucogenic and orexigenic effects.

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Introduction: Tumor collision is the cohesion in a time of 2 tumors in the same space or organ but of different cell lineage.

Presentation Of Case: 72-year-old patient with a history of black stools, involuntary weight loss and moderate protein-calorie malnutrition, asthenia, and adynamia; with endoscopic studies with the finding of esophageal candidiasis that leads to taking a rapid test for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) which is positive; CT (computerized axial tomography) of the abdomen is performed, showing thickening of the cecum and distal ileum, as well as striation of fat in the same area, findings related to a primary neoformative process, for which it is decided to carry out a right hemicolectomy laparoscopically with pathology that reports ulcerated moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma that invades up to the muscle layer, associated with lymphoid proliferation with immunohistochemical findings consistent with lymphoplasmablastic lymphoma, this is probably linked to his diagnosis of HIV, configuring the diagnosis of tumor collision; extension studies with no findings of metastatic neoplastic disease.

Discussion: Tumor collision is a rare entity, which implies failure in the genomic control and replication sites of different cell lines, which, due to their lineage, have different regulatory processes, all this occurring at the same time in the same tissue.

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Background: The invasion of Ukraine by Russia in February 2022 has resulted in destruction of healthcare infrastructure and triggered the largest wave of internally displaced populations and refugees since World War Two. Conflicts in transitioned countries such as Ukraine create new non-communicable disease (NCD) challenges, especially for cancer care for refugees and humanitarian assistance in host countries. In the early days, rapid attempts were made to model possible impacts.

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Wnt-1 inducible signaling pathway protein 2 (WISP-2/CCN5) is a recently identified adipokine that has been described as an important mediator of canonical Wnt activation in adipogenic precursor cells. In osteoarthritis (OA), the most common form of arthritis, chondrocytes exhibit aberrant and increased production of pro-inflammatory mediators and matrix degrading enzymes such as IL-1β and MMP-13. Although recent evidence suggests a role for Wnt signaling in OA physiopathology, little is known about the involvement of WISP-2 in cartilage degradation.

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Article Synopsis
  • The original publication presents a comprehensive analysis of the topic at hand.
  • It highlights key findings and insights that contribute to the existing body of knowledge.
  • The work aims to encourage further research and discussion among scholars in the field.
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Recently, bismuth oxyiodide (BiOI) is an attractive semiconductor to use in heterogeneous photocatalysis processes. Unfortunately, BiOI individually shows limited photocatalytic efficiency, instability, and a quick recombination of electron/holes. Considering the practical application of this semiconductor, some studies show that synthetic zeolites provide good support for this photocatalyst.

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The present study reports on the synthesis of Cu-bismuth oxide (CuBiO)-based nanorods by using a simple co-precipitation method for the photocatalytic degradation of caffeic acid (CA). The incorporation of Cu metal ions during the synthesis of CuBiO nanorods might be advantageous to avoid the aggregation and control the leach out of metal ions. The calculated bandgap values of ~ 1.

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Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered the gold standard to reliably diagnose inflammation in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA). However, even MRI imaging is dependent on the familiarity of the radiologist with the normal appearance of the TMJ; therefore, new approaches are needed. Our purpose here is to improve imaging quality of cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) as a tool to help in the diagnosis of JIA in the TMJ.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study evaluated cancer patients receiving systemic anti-cancer treatment (SACT) at Guy's Cancer Centre during the COVID-19 pandemic to guide future clinical practices.
  • A total of 2120 patients received SACT in 2020, a 13% decrease compared to 2449 in 2019, with notable changes in treatment types and stages, including an increase in stage IV cases.
  • Despite the pandemic's challenges, the findings indicate that SACT continued effectively with a low SARS-CoV2 infection rate of 2%, suggesting minimal impact on patient mortality for those with solid tumors.
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In ferromagnetic semiconductors, the coupling of magnetic ordering with semiconductor character accelerates the quantum computing. The structural stability, Curie temperature (T), spin polarization, half magnetic ferromagnetism and transport properties of ZnXSe (X = Ti, V, Cr) chalcogenides for spintronic and thermoelectric applications are studied here by density functional theory (DFT). The highest value of T is perceived for ZnCrSe.

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Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) is commonly associated with a high blood transfusion requirement. Jehovah's Witness patients present a particular challenge. The impossibility of transfusing blood cells and starting anticoagulation treatment are common contraindications for this supportive measure.

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Fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) are polymers of fructose with a prebiotic activity because of their production and fermentation by bacteria that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract and are widely used in the industry and new functional foods. stands out as an important homofermentative microorganism related to FOS production, and its potential applications in the industry are undeniable. In this study, we report the production and characterization of a sucrose-6-phosphate hydrolase from belonging to the GH32 family.

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Background: Malnutrition and sarcopenia are a growing concern in community-dwelling older adults. Hospitalization increases the risk of malnutrition and leads to a decline in functional and nutritional status at discharge. Persistent malnutrition after hospital discharge may worsen posthospital outcomes, including readmissions.

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Invasive lobular breast cancer (ILC) accounts for 10-15% of breast cancers and has distinct characteristics compared with the more common invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Studies have shown that ILC may be less sensitive to chemotherapy than IDC, with lower rates of complete pathological response after neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, but it is not clear how this affects long-term survival. Patients at Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust between 1975 and 2016 diagnosed with ER+ IDC or ER+ ILC were eligible for inclusion.

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The present investigation informs a descriptive study of 1-(4-Hydroxyphenyl) -3-phenylprop-2-en-1-one compound, by using density functional theory at B3LYP method with 6-311G** basis set. The oxygen atoms and π-system revealed a high chemical reactivity for the title compound as electron donor spots and active sites for an electrophilic attack. Quantum chemical parameters such as hardness (η), softness (S), electronegativity (χ), and electrophilicity (ω) were yielded as descriptors for the molecule's chemical behavior.

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