Publications by authors named "Paola Zuluaga"

Alcohol-related cirrhosis (AC) is a condition that impacts in immunity. We analyzed changes over time in CD4subsets in AC-patients. We included patients with alcohol use disorder admitted at least twice for treatment.

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Background: Effective screening for alcohol-associated liver disease is relevant in the context of chronic, excessive alcohol consumption. Patients with alcohol-associated liver disease are often not diagnosed until their liver disease is decompensated. We analyzed the prevalence and associations of Fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4) values suggestive of advanced liver fibrosis in patients referred for their first treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD).

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Background: With the aim of improving treatment retention in patients with the onset of alcohol-related liver disease (ArLD), we designed a blended intervention (brief motivational intervention + 'serious game' (SG)). We present the participatory design methodology and outcomes and the usability assessment of the intervention.

Methods: (1) The design of the SG was based on the outcomes of two 3-h co-creation sessions with 37 participants (healthcare and technology professionals, patients, and patients' relatives).

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Background: Vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for liver disease, insulin resistance, and beta cell dysfunction. Individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) have many comorbidities, with a heavy burden of liver disease and metabolic complications, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Objective: We aimed to analyze the prevalence and associations of vitamin D deficiency in patients admitted for in-hospital treatment of AUD.

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Alcohol-associated liver disease is currently the leading cause of liver transplantation and liver deaths both in Europe and the United States. Efficacious treatments exist for alcohol use disorder, but they are seldomly prescribed for patients who need them. Besides, the presence of liver cirrhosis can complicate pharmacological treatment choices.

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Substance use is a common health problem, and substance use disorder, which is its most severe presentation, is associated with multiple medical consequences and a negative impact on individual and on population health. Substance use disorder needs to be addressed as any chronic medical condition; therefore, it has to be detected at the early stages and has to be properly treated to prevent drug-related harm. Internists should be able to recognize and treat intoxication and abstinence.

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Cape gooseberry (Physalis peruviana) is Colombia's second most exported fruit, with a market worth 37.8 million USD in 2021. Fusarium oxysporum f sp.

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We report the complete genome assembly of A40, a bacterium with biocontrol and plant growth-promoting properties, obtained from Colombia.

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T cells, natural killer (NK) and NKT cells have opposing actions in the development of alcohol-associated liver fibrosis. We aimed to evaluate the phenotype of NK cells, NKT cells and activated T cells in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) according to the presence of advanced liver fibrosis (ALF). Totally, 79 patients (51-years, 71% males) were admitted to treatment of AUD.

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Background: Fungal plasma biomarkers have not been studied in patients with unhealthy alcohol use and no apparent end-stage liver disease.

Methods: We examined the prevalence of fungal plasma biomarkers, assessed by the presence of anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA; IgA and IgM), and its disease correlates in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD). We performed logistic regression analyses to detect the association between clinical and laboratory characteristics and the presence of fungal plasma biomarkers.

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Introduction: Hypomagnesemia (hypoMg) has not yet been extensively studied in alcohol use disorder (AUD) . We hypothesize that chronic, excessive alcohol consumption favors oxidative stress and pro-inflammatory alterations that may be exacerbated by hypoMg. The objective of this study was to analyze the prevalence and associations of hypoMg in AUD.

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Natural killer (NK) cells play a therapeutic role in liver fibrosis (LF). We aimed to analyze NK cells in heavy drinkers without cirrhosis or decompensated liver disease and establish correlations with other related subpopulations. Data on sociodemographic characteristics, alcohol consumption, laboratory parameters, and immunophenotyping of NK (CD16/CD56), T (CD3), B (CD19), NKT (CD16/CD56/CD3), and cytotoxic (CD3CD8) cells were collected.

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Background: The association between markers of inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10), monocyte activation (sCD163 and sCD14), and microbial translocation (lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS binding protein) and liver fibrosis in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) and no overt liver disease is not well established.

Methods: We studied patients admitted for treatment of AUD at two hospitals in Barcelona. Advanced liver fibrosis (ALF) was defined as FIB-4 > 3.

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Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection and unhealthy alcohol use are major drivers of the burden of liver disease worldwide and commonly co-occur. Assessment of underlying liver damage is a cornerstone of the clinical care of patients with chronic HCV infection and/or unhealthy alcohol use because many of them are diagnosed at advanced stages of disease. Early diagnosis of liver disease before decompensated liver cirrhosis becomes established is essential for treatment with direct acting antivirals and/or abstinence from alcohol consumption, which are the main therapeutic approaches for clinical management.

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Banana, the main export fruit for Colombia, is threatened by Fusarium wilt (FWB), caused by f. sp. (), tropical race 4 (TR4).

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Cocaine Use Disorder (CUD) has been associated with multiple complications and premature death. The purpose of the present study was to analyze the relationship between baseline medical comorbidity and long-term medical outcomes (i.e.

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Background: Identifying new sources of disease resistance and the corresponding underlying resistance mechanisms remains very challenging, particularly in Monocots. Moreover, the modification of most disease resistance pathways made so far is detrimental to tolerance to abiotic stresses such as drought. This is largely due to negative cross-talks between disease resistance and abiotic stress tolerance signaling pathways.

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Background: The effect of concomitant cocaine and cannabis use on monocyte activation and inflammation in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) is unknown.

Methods: To analyze the impact of cocaine and cannabis use on levels of markers of monocyte activation (sCD163 and sCD14) and systemic inflammation (interleukin-6 [IL-6]) in AUD patients admitted for hospital treatment between 2013 and 2018. Clinical and laboratory parameters were obtained upon admission.

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Objectives: There are sex differences in the pattern of alcohol consumption and in the complications of alcohol use disorder (AUD). We aimed to identify sex-specific differences in the factors associated with alcohol withdrawal syndrome (AWS) among patients that requested a first treatment for AUD.

Methods: We enrolled 313 patients (75% men) with a Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) AUD diagnosis that started treatment between 2014 and 2016.

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Background: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is associated with changes in cellular immunity. The objective of the present study was to analyze the contribution of AUD to the differentiation of T cells and associations with advanced liver fibrosis (ALF).

Methods: This cross-sectional study included patients admitted for treatment of AUD between 2013 and 2016.

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: Reduced drinking has been debated as a treatment goal for heavy drinking alcohol-dependent patients, in whom treatment based on abstinence is not always an option. Nalmefene was the first drug approved by the European Medicines Agency (2013) with the indication of reduced drinking in high drinking risk level alcohol-dependent patients. Six years after its introduction in Europe, data from clinical experience can be compared with those from preclinical studies and pivotal registration studies to evaluate what nalmefene has added to the treatment of AUD.

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Background: Monocyte activation and inflammation are prominent features of alcohol-related liver disease; however, they have not been thoroughly assessed in patients with alcohol use disorder (AUD) without overt liver disease. This study aimed to analyze associations among clinical and laboratory variables and markers of monocyte activation (CD163 and sCD14), and inflammation (interleukin [IL]-6) among AUD patients.

Methods: We analyzed the aforementioned associations in the highest quartile in 289 patients (77.

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Background: Alcohol or other drug (AOD) intoxication in minors is a public health challenge. We characterized underage patients admitted to an emergency department (ED) with acute, recreational AOD intoxication.

Methods: We conducted a 5-year (2012 to 2016) analysis of minors admitted to the only hospital-based pediatric ED in an urban area.

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