Publications by authors named "Ortega K"

Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess how MMR complex protein expression affects disease-free survival in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) patients who were treated non-surgically.
  • Data from 85 cases were analyzed, focusing on clinical-pathological information and immunohistochemical markers (MSH2, MSH6, PMS2, MLH1, and p16) to identify correlations with patient outcomes.
  • Results showed that loss of MSH2 in p16- tumors led to shorter disease-free survival, while in p16+ tumors, loss of MSH2 was linked to longer survival, indicating that imbalances in MMR proteins play a crucial role in treatment resistance and patient prognosis.
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Objective: This systematic review aimed to verify if individuals with thalassemia present changes in radiomorphometric indices and fractal analysis that can be accessed using panoramic radiographs.

Material And Methods: Observational studies that evaluated cortical and trabecular bone patterns in dental routine radiographs were selected from six bibliographic databases. Risk of bias was analyzed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Checklists.

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Objective: The objective of this study was to identify the association between tooth extraction and occurrence of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) and to assess delayed soft tissue healing of extraction sockets in patients with cirrhosis.

Study Design: One hundred nineteen participants awaiting liver transplantation who required tooth extraction were included. Seven days before the surgery, the patients underwent panoramic radiography and laboratory examinations.

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Background: Torquetenovirus (TTV) is a small DNA virus constituting the human virome. High levels of TTV-DNA have been shown to be associated with immunosuppression and inflammatory chronic disorders.

Aim: To assess the possible association between the salivary viral load of TTV-DNA in patients hospitalised due to COVID-19 and disease severity.

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Treatment-seeking behavior (TSB) in relation to dengue infection is a critical aspect of public health, and understanding the factors that influence it is crucial for effective disease management. This research delves into key determinants of dengue TSB by examining the perceptions and behaviors of individuals in Costa Rica, in relation to the Health Belief Model (HBM). This study utilized naturalistic inquiry and incorporated a qualitative research design involving nine students organized into four teams, with at least one student on each team with high Spanish fluency.

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Aims: The objective of this study was to identify the presence of human herpesvirus (HHV) in the plasma and saliva of hepatic-cirrhosis patients and correlate it with clinical data and laboratory tests. This is a pilot, observational, and cross-sectional study.

Methods And Results: Specimens of plasma and saliva from 72 cirrhotic individuals were analyzed by means of polymerase chain reaction.

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Article Synopsis
  • - The study examines oral lesions in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients from Latin America, highlighting their varied characteristics and challenges in diagnosis, especially when lesions appear alone.
  • - In a sample of 70 SLE patients, the majority were white females with an average age of 38.4 years, and the most common oral lesions were ulcers, erosions, and white lesions, often found in the hard/soft palate.
  • - Findings suggest that unusual oral changes may signal underlying systemic issues, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach and regular oral exams to identify and treat these lesions effectively.
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Objective: To identify radiographic findings suggestive of drug-induced osteonecrosis and evaluate radiomorphometric patterns indicative of changes in bone mineral density in individuals transplanted for liver disorders using bisphosphonates.

Study Design: The study group included panoramic x-rays of liver transplant patients who are being monitored and who present a clinical status of osteoporosis and use bisphosphonates. The control group was made up of liver transplant patients who did not have osteoporosis.

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Immunosuppressed patients can present with opportunistic infections resulting from an intrinsic systemic disease, which easily evolves into more aggressive and less common conditions. This work reports a clinical case of a female patient with histoplasmosis lesions in the nasal and oral mucosa, including pulmonary, hematological, and hepatic impairment, which led to the diagnosis of HIV seropositivity. In the presence of severe immunosuppression, morbidity is increased due to deep fungal infections and their unusual clinical characteristics can make diagnosis difficult.

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Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is characterized by an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Their plasma-derived exosomes deliver immunomodulatory molecules and cargo that correlate significantly with clinical parameters. This study aims to assess the exosomal profile as a potential tool for early detection of relapse and long-term outcomes in OSCC patients undergoing conventional therapy.

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Objective: This work measures the intra-operative bleeding in end-stage renal disease patients and assesses whether laboratory coagulation tests and nitrogenous compounds are related to a higher bleeding risk.

Methods: Laboratory tests were performed on the day of surgery and some patients with thrombocytopenia and values above the normal levels of international normalised ratio (INR), thrombin time (TT) and activated partial thromboplastin time (aPTT) were identified.

Results: Haemostatic time ranged from 2 to 35 min (mean of 8.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to investigate the presence and amounts of Torque teno virus (TTV) in plasma and saliva of cirrhotic patients, focusing on its relationship with immune function.
  • Blood and saliva samples were collected from 72 cirrhotic patients, with testing showing that TTV was found more often in saliva (93%) than in plasma (39%).
  • No correlations were found between TTV viral load and clinical characteristics of the patients, indicating that TTV levels may not directly link to the severity of liver disease.
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Cobalt iron containing layered double hydroxides (LDHs) and spinels are promising catalysts for the electrochemical oxygen evolution reaction (OER). Towards development of better performing catalysts, the precise tuning of mesostructural features such as pore size is desirable, but often hard to achieve. Herein, a computer-controlled microemulsion-assisted co-precipitation (MACP) method at constant pH is established and compared to conventional co-precipitation.

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Though recent developments in the management of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic have resulted in significant progress, its continued persistence demands continued consideration both of larger scale public health factors as well as individual patient management. We present a case that provides a broad perspective across several issues within both categories, of a morbidly obese 34-year-old unvaccinated female presenting with respiratory distress secondary to COVID-19 pneumonia, managed through remdesivir therapy. Though this case presents an example of successful management, it nonetheless emphasizes the demand for a renewed focus on vaccine hesitancy and obesity as public health issues, particularly within the context of the pandemic.

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Background: Food insecurity is a complex public health problem affecting many individuals in the United States. Digital health interventions that promote behavior change and provide access to affordable and healthy food may help to alleviate food insecurity.

Objective: The aim of this study was to characterize food-insecure users of Foodsmart, a telehealth and nutrition platform with meal planning, food ordering, nutrition education, budgeting, and grocery discount features, and to evaluate changes in diet and food insecurity.

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Aims: To assess the presence of alterations suggestive of reduced bone mineral density (BMD) by using mandibular cortical index (MCI) in panoramic radiographs of cirrhotic individuals and to evaluate their relationship with other characteristics of hepatic cirrhosis (HC).

Methods And Results: This is an observational case-control study assessing the medical records of 165 cirrhotic patients matched by sex and age with healthy individuals. MELD (model of end stage liver disease) score, etiology, complications, comorbidities, and serum levels of vitamin D were collected.

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Spectroscopic methods enabling real-time monitoring of dynamic surface processes are a prerequisite for identifying how a catalyst triggers a chemical reaction. We present an photoluminescence spectroscopy approach for probing the thermocatalytic 2-propanol oxidation over mesostructured CoO nanowires. Under oxidative conditions, a distinct blue emission at ∼420 nm is detected that increases with temperature up to 280 °C, with an intermediate maximum at 150 °C.

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Background: COVID-19 is a disease affecting various human organs and systems, in which the virus seeks to interact with angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 receptors. These receptors are present in the oral cavity, but the direct relationship between such an interaction and possible oral manifestations of COVID-19 is still unclear.

Aim: The present study evaluated oral manifestations in a cohort of COVID-19 patients during the period of hospitalisation.

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Objectives: Serum increase of nitrogenous compounds (NC) in cirrhotic patients has been associated with the development of hepatic encephalopathy (HE). However, the relation between NC in saliva and HE is unclear. The objective of this study is to measure the levels of nitric oxide and urea in the blood and saliva in 38 cirrhotic patients and correlate them with clinical characteristics and presence and grades of HE.

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Employees at healthcare organizations are experiencing more stress than ever given the current COVID-19 pandemic. Different types of stress are affecting diverse organizational outcomes, including the employees' voluntary turnover. This is the case of cognitive stress, a type of stress that affects how individuals process information, which can influence employees' turnover intentions.

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Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a rare genetic disorder in which patients progressive muscle deterioration and low life expectancy. Since DMD has no cure, treatment slows the deterioration process using corticosteroids and other medications, including oral bisphosphonates (BP). These drugs can lead to toxicities in both soft and hard tissues.

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