Publications by authors named "Rio L"

This prospective case-control study explored the association between urinary magnesium levels and acute urinary retention (AUR) in individuals presenting to the emergency department. Forty-six participants, comprising 23 cases and 23 age- and sex-matched controls, underwent urine analysis for magnesium, calcium, and creatinine concentrations. The exclusion criteria mitigated potential confounding factors.

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  • - The study evaluated the safety and effectiveness of PuraStat, a topical hemostatic agent, for treating active gastrointestinal bleeding and preventing bleeding in patients undergoing endoscopic procedures.
  • - Data from 401 patients across ten Italian centers showed PuraStat achieved hemostasis in nearly all cases of active bleeding (98.9%) and had a low follow-up bleeding rate (3.9%) for preventive uses.
  • - No adverse events related to PuraStat were reported, indicating it is a safe option that could be used for broader applications than currently recommended.
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  • Strategies to enhance natural killer (NK) cell responses against cancer include using tumor-targeting antibodies, NK cell engagers, and adopting NK cells from healthy donors.
  • KIR2DS2, an activating receptor on NK cells, is linked to better cancer outcomes in healthy individuals, but its optimal use in therapy is uncertain.
  • Research found that KIR2DS2+ NK cells from cancer patients respond better to antibodies than KIR2DS2- cells, but the effectiveness of KIR2DS2+ NK cells from healthy donors decreases after expansion needed for therapeutic use.
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In ovine populations, the enzootic nature of () is attributed to its capacity to establish persistent intracellular infections, which necessitate a cellular immune response mediated by interferon-gamma (IFN-) for effective resolution. In both natural hosts and murine models, interleukin-10 (IL-10) has been demonstrated to modulate the cellular immune response crucial for the eradication of . During gestation, it has also been shown to play a role in preventing inflammatory damage to gestational tissues and foetal loss through the downregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines.

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Cat cafés have gained significant popularity worldwide, offering a unique interface between humans and cats. The present study aims to assess the prevalence of potentially zoonotic endoparasites and dermatophytes from cats living in cat cafés situated in the Bangkok metropolitan area in 2017-2018. Cat fecal samples were subjected to microscopic examination employing centrifugal flotation and centrifugal sedimentation techniques.

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Background: Primary Health Care (PHC) plays a crucial role in managing the COVID-19 pandemic, with only 8% of cases requiring hospitalization. However, PHC COVID-19 data often goes unnoticed on European government dashboards and in media discussions. This project aims to examine official information on PHC patient care during the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe, with specific objectives: (1) Describe PHC's clinical pathways for acute COVID-19 cases, including long-term care facilities, (2) Describe PHC COVID-19 pandemic indicators, (3) Develop COVID-19 PHC activity indicators, (4) Explain PHC's role in vaccination strategies, and (5) Create a PHC contingency plan for future pandemics.

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The Eurasian otter Lutra lutra is a territorial semi-aquatic carnivore usually found at low densities in rivers, coastal areas, and wetlands. Its diet is based on prey associated with aquatic environments. Mediterranean rivers are highly seasonal, and suffer reduced flow during the summer, resulting in isolated river sections (pools) that sometimes can be left with a minimal amount of water, leading to concentrations of food for otters.

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  • The 2023 monkeypox epidemic originated from a specific lineage of the monkeypox virus traced back to Nigeria in 1971, with a subclade IIb showing higher person-to-person transmission rates due to genomic changes.
  • Researchers used advanced techniques to analyze the genome of the monkeypox virus from the current epidemic, highlighting significant variations in low-complexity regions (LCRs) that are often overlooked.
  • The study found that variations in LCRs may influence the expression and function of key poxvirus genes, suggesting that future genome studies should focus on these regions to better understand differences in the virus's behavior.
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Background: Most patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia progress after treatment or retreatment with targeted therapy or chemoimmunotherapy and have limited subsequent treatment options. Response levels to the single-agent venetoclax in the relapsed setting is unknown. We aimed to assess venetoclax activity in patients with or without previous B-cell receptor-associated kinase inhibitor (BCRi) treatment.

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Background: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the majority of patients received ambulatory treatment, highlighting the importance of primary health care (PHC). However, there is limited knowledge regarding PHC workload in Europe during this period. The utilization of COVID-19 PHC indicators could facilitate the efficient monitoring and coordination of the pandemic response.

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Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of osteoporosis and fragility fractures in patients with liver cirrhosis (LC) and determine the associated risk factors, evaluating the usefulness of FRAX as a screening method to identify patients at a higher risk of fracture.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study. Demographic, clinical, and analytical data were collected in a randomized sample of LC patients attending the Hepatology Department of a university hospital.

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Layer specific computations in the brain rely on neuronal processes establishing synaptic connections with specific partners in distinct laminae. In the lobula plate neuropile, the axons of the four subtypes of T4 and T5 visual motion direction-selective neurons segregate into four layers, based on their directional preference, and form synapses with distinct subsets of postsynaptic neurons. Four bi-stratified inhibitory lobula plate intrinsic cells exhibit a consistent synaptic pattern, receiving excitatory T4/T5 inputs in one layer, and conveying inhibitory signals to an adjacent layer.

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Additive manufacturing (AM) constitutes the new paradigm in materials processing and its use on metals and alloys opens new unforeseen possibilities, but is facing several challenges regarding the design of the microstructure, which is particularly awkward in the case of functional materials, like shape memory alloys (SMA), as they require a robust microstructure to withstand the constraints appearing during their shape change. In the present work, the attention is focused on the AM of the important Fe-Mn-Si-based SMA family, which is attracting a great technological interest in many industrial sectors. Initially, an overview on the design concepts of this SMA family is offered, with special emphasis to the problems arising during AM.

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  • Benign biliary strictures (BBS) are problems that can happen in the bile ducts due to different conditions in the pancreas or bile system.
  • There are many signs and symptoms that can appear depending on where the strictures are and what causes them.
  • Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography is a main treatment option, but if it doesn't work, doctors might consider other options like surgery or other procedures.
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Background And Aim: Primary health care (PHC) supported long-term care facilities (LTCFs) in attending COVID-19 patients. The aim of this study is to describe the role of PHC in LTCFs in Europe during the early phase of the pandemic.

Methods: Retrospective descriptive study from 30 European countries using data from September 2020 collected with an ad hoc semi-structured questionnaire.

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Theories of embodied cognition postulate that perceptual, sensorimotor, and affective properties of concepts support language learning and processing. In this paper, we argue that language acquisition, as well as processing, is situated in addition to being embodied. In particular, first, it is the situated nature of initial language development that affords for the developing system to become embodied.

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Estimation of changes in abundances and densities is essential for the research, management, and conservation of animal populations. Recently, technological advances have facilitated the surveillance of animal populations through the adoption of passive sensors, such as camera traps (CT). Several methods, including the random encounter model (REM), have been developed for estimating densities of unmarked populations but require additional information.

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This narrative review provides an overview of the application of endoscopic ultrasound-guided biliary drainage (EUS-BD), including EUS-guided gallbladder drainage (EUS-GBD), for the treatment of malignant biliary obstruction. EUS-BD has demonstrated excellent technical and clinical success rates, with lower rates of adverse events when compared with percutaneous trans-hepatic biliary drainage (PTBD). EUS-BD is currently the preferred alternative technique for biliary drainage (BD) in patients with distal malignant biliary obstruction (DMBO) after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP).

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The first-in-class inhibitor of exportin-1 (XPO1) selinexor is currently under clinical investigation in combination with the BTK inhibitor ibrutinib for patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL) or non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Selinexor induces apoptosis of tumour cells through nuclear retention of tumour suppressor proteins and has also recently been described to modulate natural killer (NK) cell and T cell cytotoxicity against lymphoma cells. Here, we demonstrate that XPO1 inhibition enhances NK cell effector function against primary CLL cells via downregulation of HLA-E and upregulation of TRAIL death receptors DR4 and DR5.

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The lionfish is an exotic invasive fish native to the Indo-Pacific, which is established in the western Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. Lionfish can affect native fishes and invertebrates through direct predation or competition for food. The present review aims to analyze the most relevant characteristics of the biology and ecology of lionfish as an invasive alien species, with an emphasis on Cuba.

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The effects of global change in marine ecosystems are expected to lower pH from the current 8.1-7.5-7.

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