Publications by authors named "SANTIAGO F"

Although cellular senescence has been recognized as a hallmark of aging, it is challenging to detect senescence cells (SnCs) due to their high level of heterogeneity at the molecular level. Machine learning (ML) is likely an ideal approach to address this challenge because of its ability to recognize complex patterns that cannot be characterized by one or a few features, from high-dimensional data. To test this, we evaluated the performance of four ML algorithms including support vector machines (SVM), random forest (RF), decision tree (DT), and Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogy (SIMCA), in distinguishing SnCs from controls based on bulk RNA sequencing data.

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  • - The study evaluated the Aberdeen Varicose Vein Questionnaire (AVVQ), comparing paper and tablet versions to see how they scored chronic venous disease, how long they took to complete, and user-friendliness.
  • - In testing with 88 patients, the tablet version was preferred for its ease of use and took less time to complete (4 minutes) compared to the paper version (9.5 minutes), with a significant difference in completion times (p<0.001).
  • - Both versions produced similar AVVQ scores (p=0.431), suggesting that while the tablet saves time, both formats are equally effective in measuring the disease.
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Blood coagulation is a vital physiological process involving a complex network of biochemical reactions, which converge to form a blood clot that repairs vascular injury. This process unfolds in three phases: initiation, amplification, and propagation, ultimately leading to thrombin formation. Coagulation begins when tissue factor (TF) is exposed on an injured vessel's wall.

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  • - Brazil’s gas stations operate with attendants filling fuel, exposing them to harmful substances known as BTEX, which can lead to serious health issues, including bone marrow degeneration and weakened immune systems.
  • - This systematic review analyzed 1,086 articles on biomonitoring gas station workers, identifying 13 key studies that showcase advanced monitoring technologies like immunophenotyping and molecular cytogenetics, along with a focus on the health impacts of benzene exposure.
  • - The review concludes that gas station workers are at risk and need ongoing health monitoring due to potential early signs of benzene-related toxicity, but there is no established standard for measuring health indicators effectively.
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Senescence is a cell fate driven by different types of stress that results in exit from the cell cycle and expression of an inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Here, we demonstrate that stable overexpression of miR-96-5p was sufficient to induce cellular senescence in the absence of genotoxic stress, inducing expression of certain markers of early senescence including SASP factors while repressing markers of deep senescence including LINE-1 and type 1 interferons. Stable miR-96-5p overexpression led to genome-wide changes in heterochromatin followed by epigenetic activation of p16, p21, and SASP expression, induction of a marker of DNA damage, and induction of a transcriptional signature similar to other senescent lung and endothelial cell types.

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  • The widespread and unprescribed use of macrolide antibiotics during the Covid-19 pandemic in Brazil was driven by a lack of scientific knowledge among the population.
  • Samples of Staphylococcus bacteria were collected from hospital environments to study resistance genes linked to these antibiotics, particularly in urinary tract infections.
  • The research examined the broader implications of antibiotic misuse on community health, the environment, and connections between physiological and immunological factors, emphasizing the importance of a One Health approach.
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We utilize inverse design and grayscale optical lithography to create a flat lens with a diameter and focal length of 50 mm, operating in the mid-wavelength infrared (MWIR) band. This lens demonstrates an extended depth of focus (DOF ≥±100m), a field of view (FOV ≥20°), and an angular resolution of 300rad. We characterize the lens's performance and use it as the primary optic in a hybrid refractive-diffractive telescope, which increases the angular resolution to 160rad.

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Prion variants are self-perpetuating conformers of a single protein that assemble into amyloid fibers and confer unique phenotypic states. Multiple prion variants can arise, particularly in response to changing environments, and interact within an organism. These interactions are often competitive, with one variant establishing phenotypic dominance over the others.

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When a low-energy trauma induces an acute vertebral fracture (VF) with clinical symptoms, a definitive diagnosis of osteoporotic vertebral fracture (OVF) can be made. Beyond that, a "gold" radiographic standard to distinguish osteoporotic from non-osteoporotic VFs does not exist. Fracture-shaped vertebral deformity (FSVD) is defined as a deformity radiographically indistinguishable from vertebral fracture according to the best of the reading radiologist's knowledge.

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Purpose: To determine and compare the serum levels of complement Factor H (FH), monomeric C-Reactive Protein (mCRP) and pentameric C-Reactive protein (pCRP) in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to correlate them with clinical, structural and functional parameters.

Methods: Cross-sectional observational study. One hundred thirty-nine individuals (88 patients and 51 healthy controls) from two referral centers were included and classified into three groups: early or intermediate AMD (n=33), advanced AMD (n=55), and age and sex matched healthy controls (n=51).

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Calling males of release volatile compounds to attract conspecific males to form leks and females to mate. Male volatiles from Mexican and Brazilian populations of . have been previously identified.

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The Brazilian Society of Angiology and Vascular Surgery has set up a committee to provide new evidence-based recommendations for patient care associated with chronic venous insufficiency. Topics were divided in five groups: 1. Classification, 2.

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  • * A systematic review of studies on veno-active drugs (VADs) revealed that only specific treatments like micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF), aminaphthone, and low-dose diosmin showed statistically significant improvements in HRQoL compared to placebo.
  • * The research included data from various sources, highlighting a discrepancy between patient and physician perceptions regarding the impact of CVD, where physicians often underestimate the emotional and physical toll on patients.
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  • The study compared the effectiveness and complications of two treatments for foot varicose veins: endovenous laser ablation (EVLA) and ambulatory phlebectomy, involving 171 patients over several years.
  • Patients were evaluated using the CEAP classification for disease severity, and their outcomes were assessed through clinical scores and quality of life questionnaires before and after treatment.
  • Both treatments had similar outcomes, with dysesthesia (nerve pain) being the most common complication, though EVLA had a notably lower rate of transient induration compared to phlebectomy.
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The taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages is a policy that has been adopted in many countries worldwide, including Latin American, to reduce sugar consumption. However, little is known about how taxation on these products may affect their demand. The present study aims to estimate the price elasticity of demand for sugar-sweetened beverages in Brazil.

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Trichomonas vaginalis is a human infective parasite responsible for trichomoniasis-the most common, non-viral, sexually transmitted infection worldwide. T. vaginalis resides exclusively in the urogenital tract of both men and women.

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Objective: To comparatively evaluate performances of tablet-based versus paper-based Venous Insufficiency Epidemiologic and Economic Study-Quality of Life/Symptom (VEINES-QOL/Sym) questionnaire.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated 78 consecutive patients who completed tablet-based and paper-based VEINES-QOL/Sym questionnaires and compared their scores, completion time, data entry time, and ease of use. We used Student's t-test and Wilcoxon test for quantitative variables, Bland-Altman test and kappa coefficient for agreement between questionnaires and patients, respectively.

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Chronic venous disease (CVD) has a negative impact on patients' quality of life (QoL). This was demonstrated in the recent Patient Journey on CVD study, which examined QoL in patients with early- and advanced-stage CVD (Clinical, Etiological, Anatomical and Pathophysiological classification C0 to C4), and the gaps between the way in which physicians and patients viewed the impact of CVD on QoL. The study was conducted in five countries (Brazil, China, Czech Republic, Italy and Russia) and included 100 patients with CVD and 60 CVD specialists.

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Optics in the mid-wave-infra-red (MWIR) band are generally heavy, thick and expensive. Here, we demonstrate multi-level diffractive lenses; one designed using inverse design and another using the conventional propagation phase (the Fresnel zone plate or FZP) with diameter = 25 mm and focal length = 25 mm operating at =4m. We fabricated the lenses by optical lithography and compared their performance.

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Published scientific evidence demonstrate the current spread of healthcare misinformation in the most popular social networks and unofficial communication channels. Up to 40% of the medical websites were identified reporting inappropriate information, moreover being shared more than 450,000 times in a 5-year-time frame. The phenomenon is particularly spread in infective diseases medicine, oncology and cardiovascular medicine.

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With the aim of obtaining a map which is useful as a diagnostic tool and therapeutical orientation, complementing the written report of duplex ultrasound venous study, Latin-American Scientific Societies of Phlebology, Vascular Surgery and Vascular Imaging were invited to participate, through their regional representatives, to the First Consensus of Superficial and Perforating Venous Mapping. A consensus process using a modified Delphi method was carried out. An International Working Group was formed, which developed a Prototype of the Venous Mapping that worked as a starting point for consensus, and was presented in a first virtual meeting of 54 experts (societies' representatives) when the methodology was explained.

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Australia experienced widespread COVID-19 outbreaks from infection with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant between June 2021 and February 2022. A 17-nucleotide frameshift-inducing deletion in ORF7a rapidly became represented at the consensus level (Delta-ORF7a) in most Australian outbreak cases. Studies from early in the COVID-19 pandemic suggest that frameshift-inducing deletions in ORF7a do not persist for long in the population; therefore, Delta-ORF7a genomes should have disappeared early in the Australian outbreak.

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Dengue fever is considered a major public health problem in tropical and subtropical regions. Our study analyzed the effect of BaltPLA a phospholipase A from Bothrops alternatus snake venom, on the viability of cells infected with Dengue virus. In presence of BaltPLA, the viability of infected cells increased significantly in virucidal, post-treatment, and adsorption assays.

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