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"Arena, Angela"
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Marta! big & small
In this story that incorporates Spanish words, Marta explores the world of opposites and animals.
Book
Can the reversible regional wall motion abnormalities on stress gated Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT predict a future cardiac event?
Myocardial stunning has recently been demonstrated by use of stress gated technetium 99m sestamibi single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) myocardial perfusion scintigraphy. However, its prognostic value is less well determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the prognostic value of reversible regional wall motion abnormalities (RWMAs).
We studied 303 consecutive subjects with known or suspected coronary artery disease who underwent 2-day stress-rest gated Tc-99m sestamibi SPECT and were followed up for 19 ± 16 months. Clinical and test-derived variables were evaluated to predict cardiac death, nonfatal myocardial infarction (MI), unstable angina, and early or late coronary revascularization. Reversible RWMAs were identified in 102 patients. On Cox analysis, the presence, site, degree, and extent of reversible RWMAs did not identify an adverse outcome, except in patients without prior MI. After adjustment for prescan data, the strongest predictors of hard events and all cardiac events were poststress RWMAs and the amount of ischemia. The addition of poststress RWMAs to the combined model of prescan and perfusion data yielded incremental prognostic value.
Poststress RWMAs and ischemia by perfusion were the most powerful predictive parameters of cardiac events. However, myocardial stunning should always be considered, particularly in patients without prior MI and in the referral of patients for early revascularization.
Journal Article
Chapter 48 - Probiotics in Invasive Candidiasis
Fungi are an increasingly frequent etiology of infections in immunocompromised host and in critically ill patients causing substantial morbidity and mortality. Recent epidemiological studies have shown that approximately 15% of healthcare-associated infections are caused by fungi.
Candida species are the most frequent nosocomial fungal pathogens. It is known that any modification of the microflora status can facilitate the proliferation of endogenous fungi and predispose it to mucosal colonization and pathogens overgrowth which, according to the importance of the immune deficiency, can provoke diseases ranging from benign localized mucocutaneous infections to sometimes lethal systemic invasions.
Probiotics have been shown to exert a positive influence on the host by altering microbial balance and by modulating the immune response. Both in vitro and in vivo data support a beneficial effect of some probiotic in contrasting Candida overgrowth and infection.
Book Chapter
Physical–chemical properties of particles in hailstones from central Argentina
This study presents a novel analysis of two hailstones collected in central Argentina to provide insights into the size distribution, composition, and potential sources of non-soluble particles within hailstones. Using this new method, non-soluble particles are trapped beneath a thin layer of polyvinyl resin and analyzed with confocal laser and scanning electron microscopy combined with energy-dispersive spectroscopy, preserving their in situ location and physical characteristics. The study characterized these particles' distribution, shape, and size and identified their elemental composition, which is used to interpret possible source regions. Particles ranged in diameter from our detection limit from 1 to 256 µm, with the largest particles consistently found in the hailstone embryos. Agglomerated mineral and organic particles dominated the elemental composition in both the embryo and outer layers, with the largest agglomerated particle (256 µm) being an organic-rich particle in the embryo of the larger hailstone. The composition and size distribution varied between the two hailstones: one contained agglomerated salt particles (up to 150 µm) in its embryo, traced to a nearby salt lake, while the other contained copper chloride and zinc chloride particles (up to 78 µm) primarily in its outer layers, potentially associated with agrochemicals commonly used for pest control and fertilizer in Argentina. Various local and regional land-use types, including shrublands, mixed vegetation, croplands, and urban areas, were linked to specific types of particles. Therefore, this study highlights the regional influence of various land-use types on hail formation and growth, pointing to the potential impacts of natural and anthropogenic factors on hailstone composition and revealing how particle characteristics vary between the embryo and outer layers of hailstones.
Journal Article
Antioxidant Properties of Pulp, Peel and Seeds of Phlegrean Mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco) at Different Stages of Fruit Ripening
In this work, we assess the potential of waste products of Phlegrean mandarin (Citrus reticulata Blanco), namely seeds and peel, to be reutilized as a source of bioactive compounds beneficial for the human diet. Starting from the evidence that the by-products of this specific cultivar are the most powerful sources of antioxidants compared to pulp, we have investigated if and how the bioactive compounds in peel and seeds may be affected by fruit ripening. Three stages of fruit ripening have been considered in our study: unripe fruits = UF, semi-ripe fruits = SRF, ripe fruits = RF. The overall results indicated that RF showed the highest concentration of antioxidants. Among fruit components, peel was the richest in total antioxidant capacity, total polyphenol content, total flavonoids, total chlorophylls and carotenoids, while seeds exhibited the highest concentration of total condensed tannins and ascorbic acid. The liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) assay indicates the occurrence, in peel extracts, of 28 phenolic compounds, mainly flavonoids (FLs); in seeds, 34 derivatives were present in the first stage (UF), which diminish to 24 during the ripening process. Our data indicated that the content of phytochemicals in citrus strongly varies among the fruit components and depends on the ripening stage. The higher antioxidant activity of peel and seeds, especially in RF, encourage a potential use of by-products of this specific citrus cultivar for industrial or pharmacological applications. However, to maximize the occurrence of desired bioactive compounds, it is important also to consider the ripening stage at which fruits must be collected.
Journal Article
Exploring non-soluble particles in hailstones through innovative confocal laser and scanning electron microscopy techniques
This paper introduces an innovative microscopy analysis methodology to preserve in situ non-soluble particles within hailstones using a protective porous plastic coating, overcoming previous limitations related to melting the hailstone sample. The method is composed of two techniques: trapping non-soluble particles beneath a plastic coat using the adapted sublimation technique and then analyzing the particles individually with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) and scanning electron microscopy with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (SEM–EDS). CLSM provides insights into physical attributes like particle size and surface topography, enhancing our understanding of ice nucleation. SEM–EDS complement CLSM by offering detailed information on individual particle elemental chemistry, enabling classification based on composition. Strategies to reduce background noise from glass substrates during EDS spectral analysis are proposed. By combining powerful, high-resolution microscopy techniques, this methodology provides valuable data on hailstone composition and properties. This information can give insights into hail developmental processes by enhancing our understanding of the role of atmospheric particles.
Journal Article
O-GlcNAcylation enhances CPS1 catalytic efficiency for ammonia and promotes ureagenesis
Life-threatening hyperammonemia occurs in both inherited and acquired liver diseases affecting ureagenesis, the main pathway for detoxification of neurotoxic ammonia in mammals. Protein O-GlcNAcylation is a reversible and nutrient-sensitive post-translational modification using as substrate UDP-GlcNAc, the end-product of hexosamine biosynthesis pathway. Here we show that increased liver UDP-GlcNAc during hyperammonemia increases protein O-GlcNAcylation and enhances ureagenesis. Mechanistically, O-GlcNAcylation on specific threonine residues increased the catalytic efficiency for ammonia of carbamoyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1), the rate-limiting enzyme in ureagenesis. Pharmacological inhibition of O-GlcNAcase, the enzyme removing O-GlcNAc from proteins, resulted in clinically relevant reductions of systemic ammonia in both genetic (hypomorphic mouse model of propionic acidemia) and acquired (thioacetamide-induced acute liver failure) mouse models of liver diseases. In conclusion, by fine-tuned control of ammonia entry into ureagenesis, hepatic O-GlcNAcylation of CPS1 increases ammonia detoxification and is a novel target for therapy of hyperammonemia in both genetic and acquired diseases.
Hyperammonemia occurs in liver diseases affecting ureagenesis, and is life-threatening. Here, the authors show that liver UDP-GlcNAc is increased during hyperammonemia, leading to O-GlcNAcylation of the rate-limiting ureagenesis enzyme CPS1, that enhanced ureagenesis and ammonia detoxification. They also showed that pharmacological increase of protein O-GlcNAcylation reduces hyperammonemia in mouse models of liver disease.
Journal Article