Publications by authors named "Vazquez V"

Mental health problems during childhood are associated with lowered educational attainment in adulthood. However, it is not clear if these associations hold when controlling for unobserved features of the family environment and if they depend on the socioeconomic status (SES) of parents. We use the Panel Study of Income Dynamics (PSID) Child Development and Transition into Adulthood Supplements (CDS; TAS) to examine these questions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Combination immune checkpoint blockade targeting PD-1 and CTLA-4 shows lower efficacy in acral lentiginous melanoma (ALM) compared to cutaneous melanoma (CM), with an objective response rate of only 18.3%.
  • In a study of 109 patients, most had advanced cancer (stage IV), with median progression-free survival of 4.2 months and overall survival of 17 months.
  • Significant treatment-related adverse events were common, indicating similar toxicity levels, but specific demographic factors like Asian ethnicity were linked to worse overall survival, highlighting the need for new treatment strategies for ALM.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Lysosome positioning is essential for their functions and is influenced by amino acids, which can affect cell behavior, especially in cancer cells.
  • In an analysis of 15 different amino acids, 10 were found to move lysosomes toward the cell edge, particularly aromatic amino acids, through specific transport mechanisms.
  • The study also revealed that while some amino acids promoted lysosome movement, they didn’t activate the mTOR signaling pathway unless combined with others, and this effect was lessened in breast cancer cells when lysosomes couldn’t reach the cell periphery.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare and aggressive skin cancer with low survival rates, primarily treated through surgery and radiation, as highlighted by the Brazilian Society of Surgical Oncology's guidelines on its management.
  • - The consensus emphasizes the importance of comprehensive staging, including imaging techniques like PET or CT scans, and recommends that all potential MCC cases be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team, including discussions in tumor boards to prevent treatment delays.
  • - For early-stage patients (clinical stage I or II), local excision and sentinel lymph node biopsy are advised, while those with positive lymph nodes should receive radiation therapy, and advanced cases should consider participation in clinical trials for treatment options.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • Regulatory T lymphocytes help regulate the immune system and are involved in eliminating abnormal cells, particularly in the context of tumors.
  • The study investigated how specific genetic variants (c.587T>G, c.*188A>G, c.*215C>T, and c.*922C>T) impact the clinical characteristics and survival of patients with cutaneous melanoma (CM).
  • Results showed that certain genotypes significantly increased the risk of tumor progression and mortality, while the identified variants can be considered independent prognostic factors for CM patients.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Elevated neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is associated with diminished immunotherapy response in metastatic melanoma. Although NLR assessment in peripheral blood is established, tissue dynamics remain insufficiently explored. This study aimed to evaluate tissue NLR (tNLR)'s predictive potential through immunohistochemistry in immunotherapy-treated melanoma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

This article explores HIV awareness and prevention in a Latinx seasonal farmworker community of south Miami-Dade County in the USA. The study took place as part of a larger community assessment that aimed to determine community needs and resources related to substance abuse, violence and HIV in the Latinx seasonal farmworker communities of south Miami-Dade County, with a particular focus on fathers' and their male sons' relationships. The study collected data on HIV knowledge and prevention, healthcare-seeking behaviours, cultural norms, and communication barriers about HIV prevention between fathers and sons.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Chilaiditi sign is defined as the interposition of the colon or small intestine between the liver and the right diaphragm in the absence of symptoms. Chilaiditi syndrome refers to the condition where the Chilaiditi sign is associated with symptoms including abdominal pain. In this series, we present the cases of two pre-pubescent patients with these rare conditions.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Radiosurgery for multiple brain metastases has been more reported recently without using whole-brain radiotherapy. Nevertheless, the sparsity of the data still claims more information about toxicity and survival and their association with both dosimetric and geometric aspects of this treatment.

Aim: To assess the toxicity and survival outcome of radiosurgery in patients with multiple (four or more lesions) brain metastases.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Molecular classification of medulloblastoma is critical for the treatment of this brain tumor. Array-based DNA methylation profiling has emerged as a powerful approach for brain tumor classification. However, this technology is currently not widely available.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Background: Asthma is a chronic airway disease that affects 339 million people worldwide. It is a heterogeneous disease with different risks, including in family environments, where intimate partner violence occurs.

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the possible association between psychosocial factors and asthma control in adults exposed to intimate partner violence.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The full utilization of the main components in the lignocellulosic biomass is the major goal from a biorefinery point of view, giving not only environmental benefits but also making the process economically viable. In this sense the solid residue obtained in bioethanol production after steam explosion pretreatment, enzymatic hydrolysis, and fermentation of the lignocellulosic biomass, was studied for further valorization. Two different residues were analyzed, one generated by the production of cellulosic ethanol from an energy crop such as switchgrass () and the other, from wood ().

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Trichobezoars are an accumulation of undigested hair in the gastrointestinal system. They are a rare finding and are more likely in young females. Diagnosis is largely dependent on history taking and imaging, and treatment involves the removal and psychiatric evaluation.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) agents are prominent immunotherapies for the treatment of advanced melanoma. However, they fail to promote any durable clinical benefit in a large cohort of patients. This study assessed clinical and molecular predictors of ICB response and survival in advanced melanoma.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The syndemic theoretical framework has been used in health disparities research to explain several co-occurring epidemics, particularly in populations facing disparate health conditions. A prominent example of this is seen in Singer's Substance Abuse, Violence and HIV/AIDS (SAVA) syndemic theory. However, even though numerous studies support some of the theoretical underpinnings of the SAVA syndemic, the empirical applications of the theory remain methodologically underdeveloped.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Previous research conducted among Latino/a immigrants has shown the underlying effect that exposure to stress after immigrating to the U.S. (i.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Purpose: Central nervous system high-grade neuroepithelial tumor with MN1 alteration (CNS-HGNET-MN1) is a rare entity defined by its DNA methylation pattern and pathologically considered to be high-grade with mixed patterns, stromal hyalinization, and with astrocytic differentiation. Our aim was to present six pediatric cases to contribute to the characterization of this group of tumors.

Material And Methods: Six female patients aged 4 to 12 years with CNS tumors with MN1 alteration identified using genome-wide methylation arrays and/or RT-PCR were included.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The rise in oil prices, global warming, and the depletion of nonrenewable resources have led researchers to study sustainable alternatives to increasing energy demand. The autocatalysis from castor oil and castor lipases to produce biodiesel can be an excellent alternative to reduce the production costs and avoid the drawbacks of chemical transesterification. This study aimed to evaluate the catalytic activity of castor bean lipase extract (CBLE) on three vegetable oils hydrolysis, to obtain and enhance biodiesel yield by an autocatalysis from castor oil and CBLE.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Hispanic emerging adults are often exposed to ethnic discrimination, yet little is known about coping resources that may mitigate the effects of ethnic discrimination on psychological stress in this rapidly growing population. As such, this study aims to examine (1) the associations of ethnic discrimination, distress tolerance, and optimism with psychological stress and (2) the moderating effects of distress tolerance and optimism on the association between ethnic discrimination and psychological stress. Data were drawn from a cross-sectional study of 200 Hispanic adults ages 18-25, recruited from two urban counties in Arizona and Florida.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Objective: To assess the characteristics, self-reported tobacco use, knowledge, and perceptions about smoking cessation among cancer care providers (CCPs), as well as perceived barriers to inform interventions that can potentially improve quitting rates and the prognosis of cancer patients in Latin America.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 996 CCPs in six cancer institutions located in Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Mexico, and Peru. An online survey consisting of 28 close-ended questions adapted from the 2012 International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer survey and the Global Adult Tobacco Survey was administered.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

Medulloblastoma has a reduced incidence in Down syndrome (DS). This protective characteristic has not been clarified yet. Here, we report the second case of SHH medulloblastoma and DS documented in the literature.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

The coccolithophore Emiliania huxleyi shows a variety of responses to ocean acidification (OA) and to high-CO concentrations, but there is still controversy on differentiating between these two factors when using different strains and culture methods. A heavily calcified type A strain isolated from the Norwegian Sea was selected and batch cultured in order to understand whether acclimation to OA was mediated mainly by CO or H, and how it impacted cell growth performance, calcification, and physiological stress management. Emiliania huxleyi responded differently to each acidification method.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF

In the past decade, recent Latinx immigrants (RLIs) from South and Central America have arrived in the United States seeking asylum from countries affected by war, political upheaval, and high crime and poverty rates. The premigration stress and trauma they experience are further compounded by postimmigration stress due to discrimination, lack of access to health care, and financial instability. Evidence suggests RLIs who experience such stress and trauma have an increased risk of developing depressive symptoms.

View Article and Find Full Text PDF
Article Synopsis
  • - Recent sociopolitical changes in Latin America have spurred a rise in Latinx immigrants to the US, with many arriving under forced migration circumstances, but their health impacts related to drug use are not well understood.
  • - This study focused on prescription drug and cannabis use among recent Latinx immigrants (RLIs) before and shortly after their arrival, utilizing data from a larger research effort on drinking and driving behaviors.
  • - Key findings indicated that while overall drug use decreased post-immigration, factors like education level and experiences of forced migration were linked to drug use patterns, highlighting a need for better mental health and substance use support services for RLIs.
View Article and Find Full Text PDF