Publications by authors named "Parra A"

Electrolyzed acidic water (EAW) contains hypochlorous acid as its active compound, which is a potent antimicrobial. It was encapsulated in polymeric coatings and applied to the surface of eggs. The antimicrobial activity and the ability to extend the shelf life of eggs at ambient temperature for 45 days were evaluated, by physical, microbiological, and sensory analyses.

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Cardiotoxicity remains a major challenge in drug development, accounting for 45% of medication withdrawals due to cardiac ischemia and arrhythmogenicity. To overcome the limitations of traditional multielectrode array (MEA)-based cardiotoxicity assays, we developed a Nafion-coated NanoMEA platform with decoupled reference electrodes, offering enhanced sensitivity for electrophysiological measurements. The 'Decoupled' configuration significantly reduced polarization resistance (Rp) from 12.

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Mangrove forests thrive along global tropical coasts, acting as a barrier that protects coastlines against storm surges and as nurseries for an entire food web. They are also known for their high carbon sequestration rates and soil carbon stocks. We introduce a new global mangrove canopy height map generated from TanDEM-X spaceborne elevation measurements collected during the 2011-2013 period with a 12-meter spatial resolution and an accuracy of 2.

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Background: Botulinum toxin (BTX) is globally the most common aesthetic procedure. Its usage has expanded beyond facial treatments to therapeutic areas, including managing scars and postsurgical deformities. Breast cancer survivors often face significant deformities and asymmetry during recovery.

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Background: Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are essential for cell-to-cell communication because they transport functionally active molecules, including proteins, RNA, and lipids, from secretory cells to nearby or distant target cells. Seminal plasma contains a large number of EVs (sEVs) that are phenotypically heterogeneous. The aim of the present study was to identify the RNA species contained in two subsets of porcine sEVs of different sizes, namely small sEVs (S-sEVs) and large sEVs (L-sEVs).

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A small population of stem cells in the developing Drosophila central nervous system generates the large number of different cell types that make up the adult brain. To achieve this, these neural stem cells (neuroblasts, NBs) divide asymmetrically to produce non-identical daughter cells. The balance between stem cell self-renewal and neural differentiation is regulated by various cellular machinery, including transcription factors, chromatin remodelers, and RNA-binding proteins.

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This study investigates the potential of thermoresponsive hydrogels as innovative substrates for future in vitro diagnostic (IVD) applications using AVAC technology, developed and patented by the Mecwins biomedical company. In order to convert the hydrogel in a substrate compatible with AVAC technology, the following prerequisites were established: (1) the hydrogel layer needs to be permeable to gold nanoparticles (AuNPs), and (2) the optical properties of the hydrogel should not interfere with the detection of AuNPs with AVAC technology. These two key aspects are evaluated in this work.

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Article Synopsis
  • Plasmonic biosensors are gaining popularity in scientific and medical fields due to their ability to detect biomolecular and chemical interactions with high sensitivity and precision.
  • One of the ongoing challenges is accurately detecting low molecular weight substances, like free cholesterol, which is crucial for diagnostic tools but difficult due to its size and properties.
  • The study introduces a new approach using a cholesterol-binding peptide along with plasmonic optical readout that achieves a very low detection limit and operates effectively in a specific concentration range, potentially enhancing cholesterol measurement methods.
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The disputes between spiritualists and physicians occurred in the context of hygienism and the degeneration theory, where spiritualists were considered agents requiring health care by alienists and psychiatrists. French psychiatry defended this interpretation to isolate and treat "spiritual delirium," which came to have considerable importance in the debates between spiritism and psychiatry. Specifically, pathologization and psychologization became strategies to deal with the disruptive experience of mediumship and the sense of threat from spiritualism.

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We identified an AMOTL1 variant in a patient that adds evidence supporting the clinical and molecular overlap between AMOTL1-related disorders and other syndromes affecting craniofacial, cardiac, and hepatic development. As more cases are identified, we propose naming this entity as AMOTL1-associated multiple congenital anomalies or craniofaciocardiohepatic syndrome (CFCHS).

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This systematic review examined research studies on extracellular vesicles (EVs) of the male reproductive tract in livestock species to summarize the research topics and methodologies used, key findings, and future directions. PubMed and Scopus were searched for time ranges up to 1 September 2024, and 1383 articles were identified. The application of screening and eligibility criteria resulted in the selection of 79 articles focusing on male reproductive EVs in livestock.

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Background: Baby-Friendly Hospitals (BFH) in the United States (U.S.) are associated with higher breastfeeding initiation rates.

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Morphea, or localized scleroderma, is a chronic inflammatory condition that unequivocally affects the dermis and subcutaneous connective tissue. It undeniably causes significant disfigurement in approximately half of patients, profoundly impacting their self-esteem. The available treatment options include corticosteroids (taken orally or administered subcutaneously), phototherapy, CO fractional laser treatment, and biologically mediated medications.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study aimed to assess whether short-term treatment with lamotrigine can enhance cognitive functioning in adolescents with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1).
  • A double-blind, randomized clinical trial involved 31 participants aged 12 to 17 taking 200 mg of lamotrigine for 26 weeks, measuring outcomes like performance IQ and various cognitive skills.
  • Results indicated that lamotrigine did not significantly affect overall cognitive performance or most secondary outcomes, with only a slight trend towards improved visual sustained attention noted in the treatment group.
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  • The 22q11.2 region is prone to genetic changes that can lead to several disorders, such as 22q11.2 microdeletion syndrome and Emanuel Syndrome.
  • This study examines mortality rates, average age at death, and risk factors in 223 confirmed patients with 22q11.2 rearrangements, revealing that 21 (9.4%) of them died, predominantly in early childhood.
  • Key findings show that 71.42% of deaths were due to cardiac causes, with a median age of death of 3 months and 18 days, contributing valuable data on mortality associated with these genetic disorders.
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  • Calciphylaxis is a rare but serious condition affecting patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), leading to poor outcomes due to calcium and phosphorus buildup in blood vessels and soft tissues.
  • Diagnosis can be made through skin biopsies or imaging techniques like X-ray and bone scintigraphy, emphasizing the significance of these methods.
  • This report discusses a case of a 30-year-old woman with calciphylaxis, pointing out the effectiveness of bone scintigraphy for diagnosis and the crucial role of organ transplant for adequate treatment.
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Previous studies have identified racial-ethnic disparities in modifiable risk factors for cancers. However, the impact of US nativity on these risks is understudied. Hence, we assessed the association between US nativity and length of time in the US on modifiable cancer risk factors.

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Non-immune hydrops fetalis (NIHF) is a rare entity characterized by excessive accumulation of fluid within the fetal extravascular compartments and body cavities. Here we present two intrauterine fetal demises with NIHF presenting with oligohydramnios, cystic hygroma, pleural effusion, and generalized hydrops with predominance of subcutaneous edema. The fetuses also presented with ascites, severe and precocious IUGR and skeletal anomalies.

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Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome (SGBS) is a rare congenital overgrowth condition characterized by macrosomia, macroglossia, coarse facial features, and development delays. It is caused by pathogenic variants in the GPC3 gene on chromosome Xq26.2.

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Objectives: To evaluate and synthesize research findings on adverse birth outcomes and maternal morbidity among Afro-Latinas and their infants.

Methods: A systematic review was conducted within PubMed, Web of Science, and SCOPUS databases. Four thousand five hundred twenty-six published peer-reviewed articles from 1970 to 2023 that reported outcomes related to maternal morbidity and/or birth outcomes were screened.

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Overgrowth syndromes (OGS) comprise a heterogeneous group of disorders whose main characteristic is that the weight, height or the head circumference are above the 97th centile or 2-3 standard deviations above the mean for age, gender, and ethnic group. Several copy-number variants (CNVs) have been associated with the development of OGS, such as the 5q35 microdeletion or the duplication of the 15q26.1-qter, among many others.

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Patients diagnosed with obesity are prescribed opioid medications at a higher rate than the general population; however, it is not known if eating a high fat diet might impact individual sensitivity to these medications. To explore the hypothesis that eating a high fat diet increases sensitivity of rats to the effects of morphine, 24 female Sprague-Dawley rats ( = 8/diet) ate either a standard (low fat) laboratory chow (17% kcal from fat), a high fat/low carbohydrate (ketogenic) chow (90.5% kcal from fat), or a traditional high fat/high carbohydrate chow (60% kcal from fat).

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