Publications by authors named "Pacheco K"

Background: Despite the utility of the beryllium lymphocyte proliferation test (BeLPT), distinguishing sarcoidosis, a disease of unknown etiology, from chronic beryllium disease (CBD), has long posed a diagnostic challenge. It is unclear if beryllium-exposed sarcoidosis cases (Be-exp-Sarc) are clinically distinct from CBD, or are misdiagnosed cases of CBD.

Methods: We performed a case-case study of 40 beryllium-exposed individuals diagnosed with Be-exp-Sarc compared to 40 frequency-matched CBD cases.

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Background: With the rapid evolution of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models (LLMs) such as ChatGPT-4 (OpenAI), there is an increasing interest in their potential to assist in scholarly tasks, including conducting literature reviews. However, the efficacy of AI-generated reviews compared with traditional human-led approaches remains underexplored.

Objective: This study aims to compare the quality of literature reviews conducted by the ChatGPT-4 model with those conducted by human researchers, focusing on the relational dynamics between physicians and patients.

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Purpose: Adolescent and young adult patients occupy a clinically transitional space between pediatric and adult care. Youth with chronic conditions and special healthcare needs may have trouble accessing and receiving appropriate care in this transition, which may lead to patient safety issues and medicolegal risks for physicians. The objectives of this article were to explore patient safety issues and identify medicolegal risks for physicians.

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Article Synopsis
  • - Allergic contact dermatitis is a skin condition marked by red, swollen, and scaly areas, often caused by specific immune responses to low-molecular-weight allergens like metals and preservatives.
  • - Biomedical devices containing these allergens can trigger sensitization and inflammatory responses, leading to internal symptoms such as swelling and pain, which may extend to localized or systemic dermatitis.
  • - This review focuses on reactions to orthopedic implants, the most common type of internal metal devices, and discusses diagnostic methods, interpretations, and treatment strategies for related immune reactions in various medical appliances.
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Objectives: This study aimed to assess the acceptability, value, and perceived barriers of using electronic risk calculators for predicting and communicating the risk of death in community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: One focus group and eight interviews were conducted with 16 participants with experience caring for patients or family members at end of life. A prototype mortality risk tool was used to anchor discussions.

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Introduction: Few studies have examined the association of loneliness and cognitive functioning in the US. We used two common measures of loneliness and examined their association in a large sample of US Black, Latino, and White adults (ages ≥ 50).

Methods: We analyzed Wave 3 of the National Social Life, Health, and Aging Project ( = 2,757).

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The occupational history is often neglected in the routine evaluation of new patients with asthma, chronic rhinitis, or dermatologic complaints. Such omissions are inadvertent because work-related conditions are often not prioritized. There also may be lack of awareness of the scope of respiratory or cutaneous allergens capable of inducing occupational asthma (OA) or work-related contact dermatitis.

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Introduction: Health professionals who effectively communicate and coordinate their work increase patient safety and quality of care. Therefore, an interprofessional education (IPE) program may be a valuable addition to the curriculum of health science courses. This study aims to verify how IPE has been implemented in undergraduate dental program curricula.

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Objective: There is little known about the medico-legal risk for infectious disease specialists in Canada. The objective of this study was to identify the causes of these medico-legal risks with the goal of improving patient safety and outcomes.

Methods: A 10-year retrospective analysis of Canadian Medical Protective Association (CMPA) closed medico-legal cases from 2012 to 2021 was performed.

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An efficient neutrophil response is critical for fighting bacterial infections, which remain a significant global health concern; therefore, modulating neutrophil function could be an effective therapeutic approach. While we have a general understanding of how neutrophils respond to bacteria, how neutrophil function differs in response to diverse bacterial infections remains unclear. Here, we use a microfluidic infection-on-a-chip device to investigate the neutrophil response to four bacterial species: , , , and We find enhanced neutrophil extravasation to , a limited overall response to , and identify IL-6 as universally important for neutrophil extravasation.

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This paper presents the results of formative research conducted from January to June 2020 in the Department of Atlántico, Caribbean region of Colombia, whose findings were used as inputs to design the national strategy for comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) outside school - - including its curriculum. This is within the framework of the multi-country project coordinated by UNFPA and WHO aimed at generating evidence on the role of facilitators in the delivery of CSE in non-school contexts. The research was carried out in four municipalities in northern Colombia, in rural and marginal urban contexts with conditions of vulnerability for the adolescent population, including a strong presence of migrant populations from Venezuela.

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In the present study, chitosan and chitosan/turmeric-based membranes were produced, characterized and applied in in vivo experiments showing the applicability for skin wound repair. Chitosan 1 % (w/v), chitosan + glycerol 30 % (w/w) and chitosan + glycerol 30 % + turmeric 1.5 % (w/w) membranes were produced through the casting technique.

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Background: A hallmark of unregulated drug markets is their unpredictability and constant evolution with newly introduced substances. People who use drugs and the public health workforce are often unaware of the appearance of new drugs on the unregulated market and their type, safe dosage, and potential adverse effects. This increases risks to people who use drugs, including the risk of unknown consumption and unintentional drug poisoning.

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Background: The purpose of this study was to compare the impact of intravitreal dexamethasone (DEX) implant during a 12-month period in nondiabetic and diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy (DR) as a treatment for refractory pseudophakic cystoid macular edema (PCME) following prior treatment with topical nepafenac 0.1% and prednisolone 1%.

Methods: Forty-two consecutive medical records of patients diagnosed with PCME after uneventful cataract surgery were included.

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Article Synopsis
  • This study investigates the genetic factors contributing to sarcoidosis susceptibility by examining novel alleles and the role of HLA (human leukocyte antigen) alleles in both European and African American populations.* -
  • A genome-wide analysis of 1335 sarcoidosis cases and 1264 controls from European descent, along with findings from an African American cohort, identified 49 significant SNPs (single nucleotide polymorphisms) linked to the disease.* -
  • The research highlights the importance of specific HLA alleles in the disease's development, noting significant associations between these genetic elements and sarcoidosis, reinforcing the idea that HLA class II genes play a critical role in the disease's pathogenesis.*
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Protein nanostructures can be used in food applications to improve the techno-functional properties of a food formulation. This study aims to find the best conditions for the production and conformational change of α-lactalbumin nanostructured aggregates. The criteria to determine the best operating conditions to produce α-lactalbumin nanostructured aggregates were intensification of foaming and emulsification, techno-functional proprieties, cytotoxic, and antibacterial activity of nanostructures compared with native α-lactalbumin.

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Epidemiologic evidence supports a positive association between ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption and body mass index. This has led to recommendations to avoid UPFs despite very limited evidence establishing causality. Many mechanisms have been proposed, and this review critically aimed to evaluate selected possibilities for specificity, clarity, and consistency related to food choice (i.

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Curcumin, a natural dye found in the rhizome, commonly called turmeric, is used as a photosensitizer in acrylamide-based photopolymers for holographic data storage. We studied the absorbance of photopolymer films that show two absorption bands due to curcumin, acrylamide monomer (AA), and the crosslinking agent N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (MBA). Analysis of the real-time diffraction efficiency of these films shows a maximum of 16% for the sample with the highest curcumin concentration.

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While the cannabis industry is one of the fastest growing job markets in the United States and globally, relatively little is known about the occupational hazards that cannabis production workers face. Based on the closely related hemp industry and preliminary studies from recreational cannabis grow facilities, there is concern for significant respiratory exposures to bioaerosols containing microbial and plant allergens, chemicals such as pesticides, volatile organic compounds, and other irritant gases. Components of the cannabis plant have also recently been identified as allergenic and capable of inducing an immunoglobulin E-mediated response.

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  • Sarcoidosis patients show higher levels of IgM and IgG autoantibodies compared to healthy controls, indicating a potential role of humoral immunity in the disease.
  • The study involved analyzing serum samples from different cohorts with sarcoidosis, separating those with only lung issues (pulmonary-only) and those with additional organ involvement (extra-pulmonary).
  • Specific organs like bone, spleen, and ear, nose, and throat showed notably higher IgM antibody levels, suggesting a need for further research on the relationship between specific organs and autoantibodies in sarcoidosis.
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  • In 2018, Canada legalized non-medical cannabis, allowing home cultivation, prompting a study on the demographics and use patterns of home growers before and after this legalization.
  • Data from the National Cannabis Survey (2018-2019) indicated that post-legalization, the characteristics of home growers remained largely the same; most were older males with some form of relationship status living in Atlantic provinces, who frequently consumed cannabis.
  • The study found a correlation between home cultivation and workplace cannabis use but no direct link to driving after cannabis use, highlighting potential areas for future research on education and policy interventions for home growers.
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(1) Background: Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndrome (RCVS) encompasses a clinical and radiological diagnosis characterized by recurrent thunderclap headache, with or without focal deficits due to multifocal arterial vasoconstriction and dilation. RCVS can be correlated to pregnancy and exposure to certain drugs. Currently, the data on prevalence of RCVS in the postpartum period is lacking.

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Aim: To assess the prevalence and associated factors with use of dental implants among older adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed with home dwelling older adults from the cities Cruz Alta and Veranópolis, Brazil. The main outcome was obtained by a clinical oral examination, considering those with at least one dental implant.

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