Biomedical Publications FROM PR

CONCLUSIONS: The quantitative analysis of these biomarkers, along with the subsequent sensitive and specific clinical classification, highlights their potential application in SIL early detection and CC prevention, particularly in LMICs.

Background: Intraoral scanners have become increasingly popular for final dental prostheses due to their precision, efficiency, and patient-friendly approach. However, their use for capturing final impressions of highly esthetic and thin restorations, such as ceramic veneers, presents unique challenges. Veneer preparations differ significantly from traditional full-coverage crowns, with their smaller and more delicate margins often located at or below the gingival level. This complexity may lead...

The widespread presence of pesticides-especially malathion-in aquatic environments presents a major obstacle to conventional remediation strategies, while the ongoing global energy crisis underscores the urgency of developing renewable energy sources such as hydrogen. In this context, photocatalytic water splitting emerges as a promising approach, though its practical application remains limited by poor charge carrier dynamics and insufficient visible-light utilization. Herein, we report the...

Porphyria comprises a group of rare inherited or acquired disorders characterized by defects in the heme biosynthetic pathway, resulting in the accumulation of porphyrins or their precursors. This study presents three cases of porphyria in Puerto Rico, including erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) and porphyria cutanea tarda (PCT). Genetic testing revealed a heterozygous mutation in the FECH gene in the EPP case and an HFE gene mutation in a PCT case with hereditary hemochromatosis. A previously...

Although opioid use disorder (OUD) in pregnancy has increased significantly in the last years, there are still significant gaps in scientific data and in access to evidence-based treatments. OUD in pregnancy is associated with negative health outcomes in the pregnant person, the fetus, and the newborn. To prevent these consequences, it is imperative to identify OUD and provide treatment as soon as possible in the pregnancy. Effective treatments, such as medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD),...

To develop evidence-based treatment guidelines for non-systemic polyarticular-juvenile idiopathic arthritis (poly-JIA) in Latin America, endorsed by the Pan-American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR), a panel of paediatric rheumatologists from Latin America formulated clinically relevant questions regarding polyarthritis treatment, using the Population, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (PICO) format. Following the Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and...

Developing chloride ion-resistant trifunctional catalysts is imperative and of great significance for application in renewable energy-driven seawater splitting systems (S-WSS). However, there is currently a lack of unified descriptors for the rational design of catalysts that possess both high corrosion resistance and excellent catalytic activity. Herein, the magnetic moment is proposed as the descriptor through second-coordination-shell anion engineering of CoN₄ moieties (named as CoN(4)-X, X =...

CONCLUSION: Real-world data from EMPOWER showed marked HAE attack rate reduction up to 36 months after initiating lanadelumab in patients newly treated with lanadelumab and maintenance of low attack rates in patients established on lanadelumab. No new safety signals were identified.

Tree architecture is an important component of forest community dynamics - taller trees with larger crowns often outcompete their neighbors, but they are generally at higher risk of wind-induced damage. Yet, we know little about wind impacts on tree architecture in natural forest settings, especially in complex tropical forests. Here, we use airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) and 30 yr of forest inventory data in Puerto Rico to ask whether and how chronic winds alter tree architecture....

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Ulcerative colitis (UC) is the most prevalent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in the USA. Current treatments present clinical limitations, underscoring the need for innovative therapeutics that promote an anti-inflammatory immune response. This study evaluates the anti-inflammatory potential of Fh15, a recombinant Fasciola hepatica fatty acid binding protein, in a DSS-induced UC mouse model. Our results demonstrated that Fh15 treatment significantly ameliorated the severity of colitis by...

Clinically, reliably restoring meaningful peripheral sensory and motor nerve function across peripheral nerve gaps is limited. Thus, although autografts are the clinical "gold standard" repair technique for bridging nerve gaps, even under relatively good conditions, <50% of patients recover meaningful function. Due to this low recovery rate, many patients are not even provided repair surgery and, consequently, suffer permanent loss of function. This paper examines intrinsic and extrinsic changes...

Anion exchange membrane water electrolysis (AEMWE) is an emerging technology for the low-cost production of hydrogen. However, the efficiency and durability of AEMWE devices is currently insufficient to compete with other low-temperature electrolysis technologies. The porous transport layer (PTL) is a critical cell component that remains relatively unoptimized for AEMWE. In this study, we demonstrate that device performance is significantly affected by the morphology and composition of the PTL....

Dengue is the most common mosquito-borne viral disease in humans. Although many dengue virus (DENV) infections are asymptomatic or produce only mild illness, DENV can occasionally cause severe and fatal disease. In this study, we compared the severity of primary and secondary DENV-1 infections among patients enrolled in a prospective, hospital-based, acute febrile illnesses surveillance system in Puerto Rico (2012-2014). Serum samples collected <7 days after symptom onset were tested for...

CONCLUSIONS: During the first 18 months of pediatric IM availability, we observed increasing referrals and repeated utilization of services. Future work will investigate longitudinal trends in IM service utilization and the symptom-related impact of IM within a comprehensive cancer center.

Supramolecular hacky sacks (SHS) are a distinct class of self-assembled colloidal particles derived from guanosine (G) derivatives, engineered to support a wide range of cellular and therapeutic functions. In this study, we examine how variations in G-derivative composition influence SHS cellular uptake, intracellular trafficking, and functional efficacy. Confocal microscopy and flow cytometry reveal that uptake is highly dependent on particle composition, indicating selective engagement with...

The cave ecosystems host microbial communities adapted to extreme environments. This study utilized 16S rDNA to investigate the prokaryotic diversity across seven caves in Puerto Rico's northern limestone karst belt. Microbial profiling revealed distinct subterranean communities, enhancing our understanding of cave microbiology and potential applications in environmental conservation and microbial research.

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Dermatomyositis (DM) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) are chronic rheumatic diseases that can affect multiple organ systems. Both conditions share several similarities, including pathogenic mechanisms, clinical manifestations, and pharmacological treatments. However, the coexistence of DM and SLE is rarely encountered in clinical practice. Here, we present the case of a 42-year-old woman who developed DM, characterized by proximal muscle weakness in the upper and lower extremities,...

Background Patients with Hermansky-Pudlak syndrome (HPS) typically present with a triad comprising tyrosinase-positive oculocutaneous albinism, a tendency to bleed easily, and ceroid accumulation in multiple tissues. Ocular findings in patients with HPS include poor vision, refractive errors, photophobia, periodic alternating nystagmus, iris transillumination, foveal hypoplasia, and albinotic mid-peripheral retina. Among these, foveal hypoplasia and reduced foveal thickness are key structural...