Publications by authors named "O E Muniz"

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD) are the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Western societies. Statins are the first-choice therapy for dislipidemias and are considered the cornerstone of ASCVD. Statin-associated muscle symptoms are the main reason for dropout of this treatment.

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Article Synopsis
  • The research aimed to investigate whether microRNAs (miRNAs) could serve as biomarkers for predicting atherosclerotic plaque progression and cardiovascular events in patients with familial hypercholesterolaemia (FH).
  • A study compared miRNA levels in FH patients who experienced cardiovascular events over 8 years to those who did not, identifying 10 significant miRNAs, with miR-133a showing the strongest association with increased risk.
  • Findings indicated that higher levels of miR-133a correlated with a nearly fourfold increased risk of cardiovascular events, suggesting its potential as a predictive biomarker in FH patients.
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Signaling pathways can regulate biological responses by the transcriptional regulation of target genes. In yeast, multiple signaling pathways control filamentous growth, a morphogenetic response that occurs in many species including fungal pathogens. Here, we examine the role of signaling pathways that control filamentous growth in regulating adhesion-dependent surface responses, including mat formation and colony patterning.

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Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal co-dominant genetic disorder characterized by elevated low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels and increased risk for premature cardiovascular disease. Here, we examined FH pathophysiology in skin fibroblasts derived from FH patients harboring heterozygous mutations in the LDL-receptor. Fibroblasts from FH patients showed a reduced LDL-uptake associated with increased intracellular cholesterol levels and coenzyme Q (CoQ) deficiency, suggesting dysregulation of the mevalonate pathway.

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Objective: To create a tool to evaluate the efficiency of the clinical management of hypertensive patients in Primary Care.

Material And Methods: A web-based questionnaire was designed for Primary Care centres to self-evaluate the management of hypertension in five specific areas: information systems, diagnostic and analytical tests, organisational aspects, use of resources, and continuous training programmes for patients and healthcare professionals. A committee of experts previously defined these questions and their ideal responses or "control", based on the scientific literature or, if there were no published references, by consensus of the committee.

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