Publications by authors named "Vela A"

Objective: Idiopathic central precocious puberty (CPP) precipitates epiphyseal fusion of growth plates in long bones, leading to reduced adult stature. Gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogues (GnRHa) are the treatment of choice for idiopathic CPP, but their benefit on height gain is unclear. We aimed to elucidate the effects of GnRHa treatment on adult height in girls with idiopathic CPP.

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Until quite recently, Conceptual DFT (CDFT) was mainly based on the energy functional, [,], where the number of electrons and the external potential are state variables. One of the strengths of CDFT, however, is the ease with which additional and/or different state variables can be incorporated. Here, the incorporation of new variables-namely temperature and external fields-is discussed, outlining the motivation for these extensions, sketching their theoretical/computational context, and presenting some elucidative examples.

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Chemical systems displaying directional motions are relevant to the operation of artificial molecular machines. Herein we present the functioning of a molecule capable of transporting a cyclic species in a preferential direction. Our system is based on a linear, non-symmetric, positively charged molecule.

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Objectives: Latinos living in the US are disproportionately impacted by Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). To develop culturally-informed interventions, a first step is engaging with key stakeholders. The present study aimed to explore perspectives on brain health and aging among middle-aged Latinos living in Chicago, IL.

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Objective: To update the incidence rate (IR) and trends of type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in children aged 0-14 years from 2003 to 2022, in Biscay, Spain.

Subjects And Method: We used the capture-recapture method: primary cases were prospectively extracted from the hospital registry and a secondary independent data source was obtained from diabetes associations and a public health database. The IRs standardized by age and sex were calculated using the direct method, assuming an equal distribution in each age/sex group.

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Unlabelled: The impact of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Enterobacterales (3GCR-E) rectal colonization in the development of subsequent infection after surgery is controversial. In particular, there is a lack of data in the context of hepato-pancreato-biliary (HPB) surgery. The objective of this study was to assess the prevalence of 3GCR-E intestinal carriage among patients undergoing elective HPB resection surgery and its impact on the incidence and etiology of surgical site infections (SSIs).

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Our study aims to collect data to understand ideological and extreme bias in text articles shared across various online communities, particularly focusing on the language used in subreddits associated with extremism and targeted violence. Initially, we gathered data from related online communities, specifically the r/Liberal and r/Conservative communities on Reddit, utilizing the Reddit Pushshift API to collect URLs shared within these subreddits. Our aim was to gather news, opinion, and feature articles, resulting in a corpus of 226,010 articles.

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Background: Pencil Beam Scanning proton therapy has many advantages from a therapeutic point of view, but raises technical constraints in terms of treatment verification. The treatment relies on a large number of planned pencil beams (PB) (up to thousands), whose delivery is divided in several low-intensity pulses delivered a high frequency (1 kHz in this study).

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a three-dimensional quality assurance system allowing to verify all the PBs' characteristics (position, energy, intensity in terms of delivered monitor unit-MU) of patient treatment plans on a pulse-by-pulse or a PB-by-PB basis.

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Ultrasonic (USC) treatments have been applied to starches, flours and grains to modify their physicochemical properties and improve their industrial applicability. The extent of the modification caused by USC treatment depends on the treatment conditions and the natural characteristics of the treated matter. Cavitation leads to structural damage and fragmentation and partial depolymerization of starch components.

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Background And Purpose: As no guidelines for pencil beam scanning (PBS) proton therapy (PT) of paediatric posterior fossa (PF) tumours exist to date, this study investigated planning techniques across European PT centres, with special considerations for brainstem and spinal cord sparing.

Materials And Methods: A survey and a treatment planning comparison were initiated across nineteen European PBS-PT centres treating paediatric patients. The survey assessed all aspects of the treatment chain, including but not limited to delineations, dose constraints and treatment planning.

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The psychological safety of health care workers is an important but often overlooked aspect of the rising rates of burnout and workforce shortages. In addition, mental health conditions are prevalent among health care workers, but the associated stigma is a significant barrier to accessing adequate care. More efforts are therefore needed to foster health care work environments that are safe and supportive of self-care.

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The influence of metal ions on the structure of amyloid- (Aβ) protofibril models was studied through molecular dynamics to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying metal-induced Aβ aggregation relevant in Alzheimer's disease (AD). The models included 36-, 48-, and 188-mers of the Aβ sequence and two disease-modifying variants. Primary structural effects were observed at the N-terminal domain, as it became susceptible to the presence of cations.

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It is unknown whether racial disparities in access to heart transplantation (HT) are amplified when coupled with substance use. We examined patients evaluated for HT over 8 years at an urban transplant center. We evaluated substance use and race/ethnicity as independent and interactive predictors of HT and left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation.

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Purpose: Our purpose was to evaluate the measurement properties of patient-reported outcome (PRO) measures used in the ongoing RadComp pragmatic randomized clinical trial (PRCT).

Methods And Materials: The deidentified and blinded data set included 774 English-speaking female participants who completed their 6-month posttreatment assessment. Eleven PRO measures were evaluated, including the Trial Outcome Index from the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Breast (FACT-B), Satisfaction with Breast Cosmetic Outcomes, the BREAST-Q, and selected Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) measures.

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Background: Mindfulness-based interventions (MBIs) are well-positioned to address health disparities among racial-ethnic minority communities, given their focus on stress reduction and potential for greater accessibility and acceptability than conventional mental health treatments. Yet, there are currently no peer-reviewed studies of MBIs in an Arab, Middle Eastern, or North African (MENA) American sample. Addressing this gap in the literature is critical for advancing integrative health equity, given the high burden of stress and high prevalence of stress-related health conditions among Arab/MENA Americans.

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Article Synopsis
  • The medial temporal lobe (MTL) cortex, essential for memory and vulnerable to diseases like Alzheimer's, consists of various subregions with distinct functions and structures.
  • This study compares the cytoarchitectonic definitions of specific areas within the MTL cortex provided by four different neuroanatomists to assess overlapping and differing delineations among them.
  • Findings revealed more consensus on the entorhinal cortex and Brodmann area 35, while there was less agreement on Brodmann area 36 and the parahippocampal cortex, particularly in transitional zones where defining features are not as clear.
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The increasing use of hempseed in food products highlights the need for a comprehensive database for scientific research and industrial applications. In food development, information about the techno-functional properties of raw materials plays a crucial role in determining the suitability of each product for specific applications. Thus, this study aims to characterise three hempseed varieties (, and ), comparing their physicochemical and nutritional compositions.

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Objectives: Latinos in the USA are 1.5 times more likely to develop Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) than non-Latino Whites. This systematic review aims to summarize current understanding of the perceptions, knowledge, beliefs, and attitudes about ADRD and brain health of Latinos to inform public health efforts addressing disparities.

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The aim of this study was to investigate the possible genotypic differences between commensal isolates from apparently healthy animals (AHA) at the time of entry to feedlots and those from BRD-affected animals (BRD-AA). A total of 20 batches of beef calves in seven feedlots were followed-up during the fattening period. was isolated from 28.

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This work aims to generate the data needed to set epidemiological cut-off values for minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and disc-diffusion zone measurements of Vibrio anguillarum. A total of 261 unique isolates were tested, applying standard methods specifying incubation at 28°C for 24-28 h. Aggregated MIC distributions for a total of 247 isolates were determined in 9 laboratories for 11 agents.

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