Publications by authors named "Mula R"

Objective: The authors aimed to compare cross-sectional versus longitudinal models for prediction of small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates among pregnancies with high risk of early pre-eclampsia (PE).

Methods: A prospective longitudinal study was performed in Hospital Universitari Dexeus, Barcelona. The study population included 390 pregnancies with a high risk of early PE according to the first trimester algorithm.

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High-quality, ultrathin 2D- MoS2 layers with large area were grown on SiO2/Si substrates by using chemical vapor deposition (CVD) at elevated temperatures. The growth precursors (MoO3 and S) were placed separately inside the double zone furnace to control the growth parameters individually for better flexibility in the growth process. In this study, it was found that the shape and edge structure of the evolved MoS2 flakes were significantly influenced by the chemical potential of the Mo and S precursor concentration.

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Background: Strategies to improve prenatal detection of small-for-gestational age (SGA) neonates are necessary because its association with poorer perinatal outcome. This study evaluated, in pregnancies with first trimester high risk of early preeclampsia, the performance of a third trimester screening for SGA combining biophysical and biochemical markers.

Methods: This is a prospective longitudinal study on 378 singleton pregnancies identified at high risk of early preeclampsia according to a first trimester multiparametric algorithm with the cutoff corresponding to 15% false positive rate.

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To evaluate different strategies for the prediction of late preeclampsia. A retrospective study was undertaken. A predictive model including maternal parameters (maternal age, maternal BMI, maternal history of preeclampsia or intrauterine growth restriction (PE/IUGR) or maternal chronic disease, and maternal arterial pressure) and mean pulsatility index (PI) of uterine Doppler was created.

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Autoimmune vasculitis is an endothelial inflammatory disease that results from the deposition of immune-complexes (ICs) in blood vessels. The interaction between Fcgamma receptors (FcγRs) expressed on inflammatory cells with ICs is known to cause blood vessel damage. Hence, blocking the interaction of ICs and inflammatory cells is essential to prevent the IC-mediated blood vessel damage.

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First trimester screening for fetal aneuploidies has made the implementation of diagnostic techniques essential. Chorionic villus sampling (CVS) is the method of choice for obtaining chorionic villi for molecular and cytogenetic analysis in the first trimester. Two techniques have been developed, a transcervical and a transabdominal.

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Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the role of nuchal translucency (NT) in the prediction of unbalanced translocation in offspring of couples in which one of the parents is a balanced translocation carrier.

Material And Methods: From January 1996 to December 2012, fetal NT was measured before chorionic villus sampling in 86 pregnancies referred because of parental balanced translocation.

Results: No significant differences in pregnancy characteristics and in NT expressed in millimetres or in multiples of the median (MoMs) were observed between the 41 fetuses with a normal karyotype [1.

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Objective: To assess fetal cardiac function in first-trimester trisomy-21 fetuses as compared with fetuses with other aneuploidies, euploid fetuses with cardiac defects or isolated increased nuchal translucency (NT) and controls.

Methods: During a 2.5-year period, NT, ductus venosus (DV) blood flow, diastolic filling time, early filling time, tricuspid flow, tricuspid and mitral valve E/A velocity ratios, left ventricle shortening fraction, left myocardial performance index and fetal heart rate were assessed in fetuses with a crown-rump length between 45 and 84 mm undergoing chorionic villus sampling at our center.

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Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM), a multisystem disease with both biochemical and anatomical/structural consequences, is a major health concern worldwide. Pancreatic islet transplantation provides a promising treatment for T1DM. However, the limited availability of islet tissue or new sources of insulin producing cells (IPCs) that are responsive to glucose hinder this promising approach.

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Objective: To assess the feasibility of nasal bone (NB), ductus venosus (DV) and tricuspid flow (TF) at the 11-13 weeks' scan, calculate likelihood ratios for each of the markers and evaluate their efficacy in expanded and contingent screening strategies for Down syndrome.

Material And Methods: NB, DV and TF were assessed in 11,261 singleton fetuses undergoing first trimester combined screening. For each marker, Down syndrome detection rate (DR), false positive rate (FPR), positive, negative and isolated likelihood ratios (PLR, NLR and iLR) were calculated.

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Objective: To explore the association between fetal cerebroplacental ratio (CPR) and frontal brain perfusion at third trimester with neonatal neurobehavioral performance in normally grown fetuses.

Methods: CPR and frontal brain perfusion measured by fractional moving blood volume (FMBV) were assessed in 258 consecutive healthy fetuses at routine third trimester scan (32-35.6 weeks).

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Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) enhances prostate cancer (CaP) growth and metastasis in vivo. PTHrP also increases cell survival and migration, and upregulates pro-invasive integrin α6β4 expression. We used the human CaP cell lines C4-2 and PC-3 as model systems to study the mechanisms via which PTHrP regulates α6β4 levels.

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Objective: We sought to evaluate the effectiveness of an integrated first-trimester screening test to predict preeclampsia (PE).

Study Design: A prospective cohort of singleton pregnancies underwent routine first-trimester screening from 2009 through 2011 (n = 5759). A logistic regression-based predictive model for early- and late-onset PE was constructed based on: maternal characteristics; levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A and free β-human chorionic gonadotropin at 8-12 weeks; and blood pressure and uterine artery Doppler at 11.

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Objective: To assess the predictive value of fetal nuchal translucency (NT) measurement in the prenatal diagnosis of single-gene disorders.

Methods: From January 1996 to December 2006, fetal NT was prospectively measured before chorionic villi sampling in 169 pregnancies at high risk for a single-gene disorder at 11 to 13 weeks of pregnancy.

Results: No differences were found between the 63 affected and 116 nonaffected fetuses in pregnancy demographic characteristics, in mean NT measurements, expressed either in millimetres [1.

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Objective: To assess the perinatal and pediatric outcomes up to 2 years of age in singleton karyotypically normal fetuses with increased nuchal translucency (NT) above the 99(th) percentile.

Methods: Singleton fetuses with NT above the 99(th) percentile and normal karyotype scanned in our center from 2002 to 2006 were included. Work-up included first- and second-trimester anomaly scan, first- and second-trimester fetal echocardiography, and in selected cases infection screening and genetic testing.

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Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) increases the growth and osteolytic potential of prostate cancer cells, making it important to control PTHrP expression. PTHrP expression is suppressed by 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1,25D). The aim of this study was to identify the pathways via which 1,25D exerts these effects.

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Objectives: To evaluate the risk of progression to cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) grade 2 or 3 in women with positive human papillomavirus (HPV) testing and low-grade (low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions), borderline (atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance), or no cervical lesions, and to determine the accuracy of initial colposcopy to predict progression.

Methods: Women with HPV infection and low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions, atypical squamous cells, or normal cytology were recruited and grouped according to cytologic or histologic diagnosis. Exclusion criteria were histologic CIN 2 or 3, previous cervical cancer and HPV infection, cervical disease, or treatment for CIN 2 or 3 in the past 3 years.

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Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is expressed by human colon cancer tissue and cell lines. Rac1 GTPase enhances colon cancer cell migration and invasion. Here we report a positive correlation between PTHrP expression and Rac1 activity in LoVo (human colon cancer) cells.

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Objectives: To evaluate the predictive capacity of umbilical, cerebral and uterine artery Doppler in women admitted for preeclampsia (PE).

Methods: 190 consecutive singleton pregnancies admitted with PE were included. Umbilical, cerebral and uterine artery Dopplers were performed.

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Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is expressed by human prostatic tissues and cancer cell lines. PTHrP enhances tumor cell growth and metastasis in vivo and up-regulates proinvasive integrin alpha6beta4 expression in vitro. Hallmarks of malignant tumor cells include resistance to apoptosis and anchorage-independent cell growth.

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Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) increases the growth and metastatic potential of prostate cancer cells, making it important to control PTHrP expression in these cells. 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25(OH)(2)D(3)] suppresses PTHrP expression and exerts an anti-proliferative effect in prostate carcinoma cells. We used the human prostate cancer cell line C4-2 as a model system to ask whether down-regulation of PTHrP expression by 1,25(OH)(2)D(3) plays a role in the anti-proliferative effects of 1,25(OH)(2)D(3).

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Parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) has been localized in human colon cancer tissue and cell lines. We have previously shown that PTHrP increases colon cancer cell proliferation, extracellular matrix adhesion, and cell-surface integrin alpha6beta4 expression. Since cancer cell migration, invasion, and survival are crucial components of metastasis, and colon cancer has a high metastatic potential, in this study we used the human colon cancer cell line LoVo as a model system to study the effects of PTHrP on these parameters.

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