Publications by authors named "Ricardo I Villarreal"

Article Synopsis
  • RhD-negative blood products are in short supply, prompting interest in using RhD-positive blood for emergency transfusions, particularly for pediatric cases.
  • A survey involving 378 parents revealed that most were open to the idea of using RhD-positive blood for their RhD-negative daughters in life-threatening scenarios, especially with a low risk of harm.
  • The findings suggest a need for more discussions and guidelines regarding emergency use of RhD-positive blood for females whose RhD type is unknown.
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Background: Traumatic brain injury (TBI) affects civilian and military populations with high morbidity and mortality rates and devastating sequelae. As the US military shifts its operational paradigm to prepare for future large-scale combat operations, the need for prolonged casualty care is expected to intensify. Identifying efficacious prehospital TBI management strategies is therefore vital.

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Bacterial infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and the rise of antibiotic resistance necessitates development of alternative treatments. Pathogen adhesins that bind to host cells initiate disease pathogenesis and represent potential therapeutic targets. We have shown previously that the BspC adhesin in Group B Streptococcus (GBS), the leading cause of bacterial neonatal meningitis, interacts with host vimentin to promote attachment to brain endothelium and disease development.

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