Publications by authors named "Ramirez R"

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) pathogenesis involves significant contributions from genetic and environmental factors. Loss-of-function single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the protein tyrosine phosphatase non-receptor type 2 () gene increase IBD risk and are associated with altered microbiome population dynamics in IBD. Expansion of intestinal pathobionts, such as adherent-invasive (AIEC), is strongly implicated in IBD pathogenesis as AIEC increases pro-inflammatory cytokine production and alters tight junction protein regulation - suggesting a potential mechanism of pathogen-induced barrier dysfunction and inflammation.

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Here, we present the draft genome sequences of two strains, HF117_J1_D and USDA818B3_A, isolated in Pomona, California, from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of backyard and commercial broiler chickens, respectively. The draft genomes of both strains appear to represent novel species.

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Here, we announce the draft genome sequences of two strains, C8-1-8 and C2-6-12, isolated from the cecal contents of commercial broiler chickens (in Athens, GA). These strains may represent potentially novel species within the genus , and these draft genomes allow further investigation into potential probiotics for poultry.

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Article Synopsis
  • The study investigates the effects of a CXCR4 inhibitor (BL-8040) in combination with PD-1 therapy (pembrolizumab) and chemotherapy on metastatic pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), aiming to improve treatment outcomes for this challenging cancer type.
  • In the first cohort (37 patients), the combined treatment showed a disease control rate of 34.5% with a median overall survival of 3.3 months, while a subgroup receiving it as second-line therapy had a notable median overall survival of 7.5 months.
  • The second cohort (22 patients) exhibited improved response rates, with an objective response rate of 32% and a disease
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Background: The changes in the volatile profile of a pumpkin (Cucurbita moschata, Duch.) purée processed by high pressure thermal (HPT) processing at different pressure and initial temperature intensities (300, 600, 900 MPa and 60, 80 °C, respectively) was evaluated. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) technique was used for the extraction and concentration of volatile compounds and the analysis was performed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).

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Background & Aims: Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is a chronic liver disease characterized by hepatic lipid accumulation, inflammation, and progressive fibrosis. Acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) catalyzes the rate-limiting step of de novo lipogenesis and regulates fatty acid β-oxidation in hepatocytes. ACC inhibition reduces hepatic fat content and markers of liver injury in patients with NASH; however, the effect of ACC inhibition on liver fibrosis has not been reported.

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This commentary outlines the steps taken by the New Orleans Louisiana Neuroendocrine Tumor Specialists to minimize the risk of patient exposure to SARS‐CoV‐2 but to continue to provide safe, high‐quality care during the COVID‐19 pandemic.

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Vascular calcification (VC), an unpredictable pathophysiological process and critical event in patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), is the leading cause of morbi-mortality and disability in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients worldwide. Currently, no diagnostic method is available for identifying patients at risk of VC development; the pathology is detected when the process is irreversible. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) from endothelial cells might promote VC.

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To find potentially habitable exoplanets, space missions employ the habitable zone (HZ), which is the region around a star (or multiple stars) where standing bodies of water could exist on the surface of a rocky planet. Follow-up atmospheric characterization could yield biosignatures signifying life. Although most iterations of the HZ are agnostic regarding the nature of such life, a recent study argues that a complex life HZ would be considerably smaller than that used in classical definitions.

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Oxidative stress is exacerbated in hemodialysis patients by several factors, including the uremic environment and the use of dialysis fluids (DFs) Since magnesium (Mg) plays a key role in modulating immune function and in reducing oxidative stress, we aimed to evaluate whether increasing the Mg concentration in different DFs could protect against oxidative stress in immunocompetent cells in vitro. Effect of ADF (acetate 3 mM), CDF (citrate 1 mM), and ACDF (citrate 0.8 mM + acetate 0.

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Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), especially those involving a systemic inflammatory process such as atherosclerosis, remain the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). CKD is a systemic condition affecting approximately 10% of the general population. The prevalence of CKD has increased over the past decades because of the aging of the population worldwide.

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A theoretical study of the effect of the substituent Z on the gas phase acidity of substituted benzoic acids ZCHCOOH in terms of density functional theory descriptors (chemical potential, softness and Fukui function) is presented. The calculated gas phase Δ° values obtained were close to the experimental ones reported in the literature. The good relationship between the Δ° values and the electronegativity of ZCHCOOH and its fragments, suggested a better importance of the inductive than polarizability contributions.

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Background And Aims: GS-9688 (selgantolimod) is an oral selective small molecule agonist of toll-like receptor 8 in clinical development for the treatment of chronic hepatitis B. In this study, we evaluated the antiviral efficacy of GS-9688 in woodchucks chronically infected with woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV), a hepadnavirus closely related to hepatitis B virus.

Approach And Results: WHV-infected woodchucks received eight weekly oral doses of vehicle, 1 mg/kg GS-9688, or 3 mg/kg GS-9688.

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Power generation with thermoelectric devices in internal combustion engines is an alternative to recover some of the energy loss with the exhausts. This data article supports a study that assesses the potentialities of energy recovery with thermoelectric generators in diesel engines and its influence on gaseous emissions. To this end, a set of experiments was developed with a thermoelectric generator and a waffle heat exchanger.

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The objective of this study was to compare the effect of linseed and canola expeller on average daily weight gain (ADG), concentrate intakes, incidence of diarrhea, serum haptoglobin, interleukin (IL)-1, and resolvin-E1 in female Holstein calves from birth to weaning. A sample size of 20 calves per group was calculated and were randomly allocated at the time of birth. Linseed group (LIN) was fed a starter with linseed expeller, while canola group (CAN) received a similar concentrate, but with canola expeller.

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Introduction And Aim: Patients undergoing exercise echocardiography with no evidence of myocardial ischemia are considered a low-risk group; however, this group is likely heterogeneous in terms of short-term adverse events and subsequent cardiac testing. We hypothesized that unsupervised cluster modeling using clinical and stress characteristics can detect heterogeneity in cardiovascular risk and need for subsequent cardiac testing among these patients.

Methods: We retrospectively studied 445 patients who had exercise echocardiography results negative for myocardial ischemia.

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Aims: High premature ventricular contractions (PVCs) burden does not always predict the development of PVC-cardiomyopathy (CM). We sought to evaluate post-extrasystolic potentiation (PESP) of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) to predict the severity of PVC-CM in an animal model.

Methods And Results: Right ventricular apical bigeminal PVCs were introduced for 12 weeks in 11 canines to induce PVC-CM.

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Here, we present the draft genome sequences of two strains, An7 and USDA918EY, isolated from goose feces (Bend, OR, USA) and chicken ceca (Pomona, CA, USA), respectively. These data may assist with analyses of microorganisms associated with free-ranging and commercial avian species.

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Background: Protein glycation by Maillard reaction is commonly used to improve the functional and bioactive properties of food proteins. It is also known that this glycation method can be accelerated by heat without the need for chemical reagents that could be harmful to health. In this study, glycoconjugates were obtained from a mixture of connective tissue proteins (CTP) from jumbo squid (Dosidicus gigas) and two different sugars, dextran (DEX; 10 kDa) and glucose (GLU), using protein-to-carbohydrate ratios of 1:2 and 1:3, in solution at 50 °C for 6 h.

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Primary somatosensory cortex (S1) is involved in pain processing and thus its suppression using neuromodulatory techniques such as continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) might be a potential pain management strategy in patients with neuropathic pain. cTBS over S1 is known to elevate pain threshold in young adults. However, the time course of this after-effect is unknown.

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Capecitabine and temozolomide (CAPTEM) have shown promising results in the treatment of neuroendocrine neoplasms (NEN). The aim of this study was to evaluate the outcome and role for CAPTEM in malignant neuroendocrine neoplasms. Data were obtained from NEN patients who received at least one cycle of CAPTEM between November 2010 and June 2018.

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Aging is one of the hottest topics in biomedical research. Advances in research and medicine have helped to preserve human health, leading to an extension of life expectancy. However, the extension of life is an irreversible process that is accompanied by the development of aging-related conditions such as weakness, slower metabolism, and stiffness of vessels.

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Background: Malnutrition in critically ill patients is common in neonates and children, including those that receive extracorporeal life support (ECLS). We hypothesize that nutritional adequacy is highly variable, overall nutritional adequacy is poor, and enteral nutrition is underutilized in this population.

Materials And Methods: A retrospective study of neonates and children (age<18 y) receiving ECLS at 5 centers from 2012 to 2014 was performed.

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