Veronica Mujica - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Veronica Mujica

Revista Medica De Chile, Jul 1, 2007

Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has several traditional risk factors (RF), and some of t... more Background: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) has several traditional risk factors (RF), and some of them are potentially modifiable. Aim: To determine the prevalence of most common risk factors in adult population in Talca in Central Chile. Subjects and methods: We studied 1007 subjects aged 18 to 74 years (66% women), living in Talca, selected by a probability sampling. They answered a questionnaire and anthropometry, blood pressure, lipid profile and blood glucose were measured. Results: Thirty seven percent of subjects smoked, 70.1% had a body mass index over 25 kg/m 2 and 41% had an abnormally high circumference. High blood pressure was found in 37% (36% of these subjects were unaware of this condition), 44.5% had hypercholesterolemia, 21.5% had low HDL cholesterol, 40.1% had hypertriglyceridemia and 26.3% had high blood glucose levels. Conclusions: There

Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, Nov 1, 2007

Twenty to forty percent of type-2 diabetic patients (DM2) present nephropathy. Genetic polymorphi... more Twenty to forty percent of type-2 diabetic patients (DM2) present nephropathy. Genetic polymorphism of Apolipoprotein E (Apo E) has been proposed as a risk factor in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the relationship between Apo E polymorphism and presence of nephropathy in DM2 patients. We studied 85 DM2 patients with a similar nutritional state, environmental and socioeconomic condition and more than 10 years of evolution. They were grouped in DM2 patients with kidney complications (n=56) and without kidney complications (n=29; control group). Apo E genotype was determined by restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis. A plasmatic biochemical characterization was performed on all the subjects studied. The 85 DM2 patients had arterial hypertension in treatment. The nephropathy diabetic group showed differences (p&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;0.001) in BMI, systolic blood pressure, glycemia, cholesterol (total, HDL and LDL), HbA1c and creatinine. The e4 allelic frequency was 8% in the nephropathy group versus 25.9% in the control group. Apo e3 allele and E3/3 genotype frequency were higher and E3/4 genotype was lower in the nephropathy group than in controls. These groups also showed differences in total, HDL and LDL cholesterol. DM2 patients without nephropathy presented a higher frequency of e4 allele. These results could suggest a protective role of e4 allele in the development and progression of diabetic nephropathy.

Journal of Food and Nutrition Research, 2016

Introduction: Oxidative stress is one of the most important mechanisms in the emergence of type 2... more Introduction: Oxidative stress is one of the most important mechanisms in the emergence of type 2 diabetes. It would therefore be important to increase the antioxidant potential to prevent the deleterious effects of oxidative stress. Methods: MTT assay was performed to assess cell viability in the murine β TC-6 beta cell line. TBARs (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances) and GSH (glutathione) were measured and apoptosis were assessed by flow cytometry. Results: Exposure to 150 µM of H2O2 and 100 µM of tert-butyl hydroperoxide (t-BOOH) significantly reduced cell viability. When cells were simultaneously incubated with propolis extract (PE) and oxidants, cell viability relative to control was maintained. Exposure of cells to oxidants increased TBARs levels and reduced GSH concentration, a condition that was reversed when incubated with PE. A significant increase in apoptotic cells was seen when exposed to oxidants, however simultaneous incubation with PE reduced the number of apopt...

Journal of Functional Foods, 2021

Abstract There is a growing interest in the use of functional foods. Studies indicate the contrib... more Abstract There is a growing interest in the use of functional foods. Studies indicate the contribution of β-glucans to glycemic control, but few have evaluated integrally the effect of this soluble dietary fiber on appetite-regulating hormones and microbiota in type-2 diabetes (T2D). We analyzed the effect of enriching a normal diet with oat β-glucan in thirty-seven T2D subjects. For 12 weeks, subjects consumed daily oat β-glucan or microcrystalline cellulose as control (5 g/day). We determined fasting glucose, C-peptide, insulin, HOMA, HbA1c, lipid profile, ghrelin, leptin, GLP-1, PYY, caloric intake, and intestinal microbiota. HbA1c decreased in the β-glucan group. Insulin, C-peptide and HOMA, Lactobacillus spp, and Butyrate-producing bacteria decreased in the β-glucan group (p

Revista médica de Chile, 2015

Second Consensus of the Chilean Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes about insulin resistance In... more Second Consensus of the Chilean Society of Endocrinology and Diabetes about insulin resistance Insulin resistance is a prevalent condition commonly associated with unhealthy lifestyles. It affects several metabolic pathways, increasing risk of abnormalities at different organ levels. Thus, diverse medical specialties should be involved in its diagnosis and treatment. With the purpose of unifying criteria about this condition, a scientific-based consensus was elaborated. A questionnaire including the most important topics such as cardio-metabolic risk, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease and polycystic ovary syndrome, was designed and sent to national experts. When no agreement among them was achieved, the Delphi methodology was applied. The main conclusions reached are that clinical findings are critical for the diagnosis of insulin resistance, not being necessary blood testing. Acquisition of a healthy lifestyle is the most important therapeutic tool. Insulin-sensitizing drugs should be prescribed to individuals at high risk of disease according to clinically validated outcomes. There are specific recommendations for pregnant women, children, adolescents and older people.

Journal of diabetes research, Sep 12, 2019

Objective. Diabetic foot wounds are a relevant diabetes complication and a major health problem. ... more Objective. Diabetic foot wounds are a relevant diabetes complication and a major health problem. It has been described that propolis has health benefits due to its anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and support in the healing process. The current study assessed the effect of propolis as an adjuvant in the healing of human diabetic foot ulcers. This was evaluated in a randomized placebo-controlled study of subjects receiving care in the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre from the Regional Hospital of Talca, Chile. Research Design and Methods. Randomized subjects received ambulatory healing treatment for diabetes foot wounds with propolis spray (3%), which was applied to cover the entire wound surface each time it was dressed from week 0 until cicatrization or 8 weeks as a maximum. Two serum samples were taken (day 0 and end of the study) for cytokine and oxidative stress analyses. Also, macro-and microscopy were analyzed in the process of wound healing. Results. The study comprised 31 subjects with type 2 diabetes in treatment for diabetic foot wounds in the Diagnostic and Treatment Centre from the Regional Hospital of Talca. Propolis promotes a reduction of the wound's area by an average of 4 cm 2 , related to an increase in the connective tissue deposit compared to the control. Also, propolis increased the glutathione (GSH) and GSH/glutathione disulfide (GSSG) ratio (p < 0 02), depleted tumor necrosis factor-(TNF-) α, and increased interleukin-(IL-) 10 levels. Topical propolis did not modify the biochemical parameters in the serum of the studied subjects. Conclusions. The topical use of propolis turned out to be an interesting therapeutic strategy as an adjuvant in the care of diabetes foot wounds due to its ability to improve and promote healing based on its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant profile. This trial is registered with NCT03649243.

Authors' original file for figure 1

Authors' original file for figure 2

Revista Española de Cardiología (English Edition), 2006

Cardiovascular disease is the principle cause of death worldwide. Such disease can be prevented b... more Cardiovascular disease is the principle cause of death worldwide. Such disease can be prevented by controlling cardiovascular risk factors. The study involved 783 students aged between 18 and 26 years from the University of Talca (Region VII, Maule, Chile), which corresponds to 14.9% of all students. Their demographic characteristics, familial cardiovascular disease history, weight, height, arterial pressure, and waist diameter were recorded, and their lipid and blood glucose levels were measured. Overall, 12.8% of students had some degree of arterial hypertension, which was more severe in men than in women (P&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;.0001). In addition, 45.5% of the men and 24.3% of the women were overweight or obese. Some 39.8% of students admitted being smokers and 91.5% did not participate in any significant physical activity. Hypercholesterolemia (&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;or=200 mg/dL) was present in 20.2% of students and around 1.0% had the metabolic syndrome. The prevalence of the main cardiovascular risk factors was found to be high in the study population. It may be necessary to carry out regular publicity campaigns that focus on improving lifestyle to decrease the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors in young people in whom morbidity and mortality is still low.

Revista Española de Cardiología, 2006

Introducción y objetivos. Las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) son la primera causa de muerte ... more Introducción y objetivos. Las enfermedades cardiovasculares (ECV) son la primera causa de muerte en el mundo. Dichas enfermedades se pueden prevenir mediante el control de los factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Métodos. Se estudió a 783 alumnos entre 18 a 26 años de edad de la Universidad de Talca (VII Región del Maule, Chile), lo que equivale al 14,9% del alumnado. Se registraron sus datos demográficos, los antecedentes familiares de enfermedad cardiovascular, el peso, la talla, la presión arterial y el diámetro de cintura, y se determinaron su perfil lipídico y su glucemia. Resultados. El 12,8% de los alumnos presentó algún grado de hipertensión arterial, que fue mayor en varones que en mujeres (p < 0,0001). El 45,5% de los varones y el 24,3% de las mujeres presentaron sobrepeso u obesidad. El 39,8% de los estudiantes se reconoció fumador y el 91,5% no realizaba ninguna actividad física significativa. El 20,2% del alumnado presentó una colesterolemia de 200 mg/dl y alrededor del 1% de los alumnos presentó síndrome metabólico. Conclusiones. En la población estudiada se encontró una alta prevalencia de los principales factores de riesgo cardiovascular. Parece necesario establecer campañas focalizadas y periódicas que tengan como objetivo mejorar los estilos de vida (disminuir la prevalencia de factores de riesgo cardiovascular) en jóvenes que aún no expresan morbimortalidad.

Revista médica de Chile, 2002

La Diabetes Mellitus (DM) es una enfermedad metabólica de naturaleza crónica, no transmisible y d... more La Diabetes Mellitus (DM) es una enfermedad metabólica de naturaleza crónica, no transmisible y de etiología multifactorial, producida por defectos en la secreción y acción de la insulina. Entre 90 y 95% de los sujetos afectados por esta patología presentan una Diabetes Mellitus ...

<b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Evaluation of metabolic syndrome in adu... more <b>Copyright information:</b>Taken from "Evaluation of metabolic syndrome in adults of Talca city, Chile"http://www.nutritionj.com/content/7/1/14Nutrition Journal 2008;7():14-14.Published online 15 May 2008PMCID:PMC2397433.

Objective-: Insulin resistance (IR) is an important risk factor for type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2... more Objective-: Insulin resistance (IR) is an important risk factor for type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM2) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Metabolic Syndrome (MS) is a clustering of metabolic alterations associated to IR; however, there is no international consensus for defining its diagnosis. Our objective was to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of MS identified by the ATP III and IDF criteria in adults from Talca city. Research and methods-: We studied 1007 individuals, aged 18–74, and residents from Talca. MS subjects were defined according to ATP III (three altered factors) and IDF criteria (patients with waist circumference>80/90 cm (W/M) and two others altered factors). Results-: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome according to the IDF and ATP III criteria was 36.4 % and 29.5%, respectively after adjustment for age and sex. The agreement for both criteria was 89%. The prevalence in men was higher than in women for both MS definitions, although not significant. MS prob...

Journal of the American Society of Hypertension, 2010

Diabetes & Metabolic Syndrome: Clinical Research & Reviews, 2010

AimsThe metabolic syndrome (MS) creates a pro-inflammatory state. Some cytokines increase their l... more AimsThe metabolic syndrome (MS) creates a pro-inflammatory state. Some cytokines increase their levels in patients with MS, among them tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha). On the other hand, MS is associated with a pro-thrombotic state in which increased levels of fibrinogen and plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) have been described.We tested the hypothesis that an intervention based on physical activity in

Nitric Oxide, 2011

The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of pathophysiological alterations that includes the pres... more The metabolic syndrome (MS) is a cluster of pathophysiological alterations that includes the presence of hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, and abdominal obesity. MS is associated with increased risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Endothelial dysfunction with impaired nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability has been implicated in insulin resistance and hypertension. NO is synthesized by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) using l-arginine as substrate. Asymmetric dimethyl arginine (ADMA) is a major and potent endogenous NOS inhibitor, associated with cardiovascular and renal diseases. We tested the hypothesis that plasmatic ADMA levels are increased in patients with MS. We studied 85 adult individuals from Talca, Chile, separated in two groups, 48 individuals with MS (according to modified ATP III criteria), and 37 individuals without MS as controls. ADMA levels were significantly increased in the MS group (mean±standard deviation 0.71±0.38 vs. 0.48±0.28μmol/L, p=0.0009). Furthermore, the levels of ADMA were modestly but significantly correlated with waist circumference (p=0.01) but not with the other components of MS (blood pressure, glycemia, triglycerides and high density lipoprotein cholesterol HDL-c). These results suggest a possible link between increased ADMA levels and the MS.

This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Li... more This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License

Evidence-based complementary and alternative medicine : eCAM, 2017

Although there is evidence of the benefits of propolis on human health, the vast majority of stud... more Although there is evidence of the benefits of propolis on human health, the vast majority of studies have been conducted using animal models. The present study includes the chemical characterization and clinical evaluation of the effects of the oral administration of propolis solution on the oxidative status and modulation of lipids in a human population in Talca, Chile. Chemical characterization of propolis, total phenol, flavonoids, and total antioxidant capacity were determined by ORAC. Identification of phenols and flavonoids in propolis was assessed by HPLC-DAD. A double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial was conducted. Subjects provided informed consent form and the Bioethics Committee of the Universidad de Talca approved protocol. Eligible subjects (n = 67) were randomized in two groups: propolis (n = 35) and placebo (n = 32). All subjects were evaluated at 0 (baseline), 45, and 90 days. In the propolis group, we observed that increases in HDL-c went from 53.9 ± 11.9 to...

Revista médica de Chile, 2017

Effectiveness of a structured educative program in Chilean diabetic patients Background: Structur... more Effectiveness of a structured educative program in Chilean diabetic patients Background: Structured educative programs have demonstrated their usefulness as a strategy to improve metabolic control in diabetic patients. Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of a structured educative program for Chilean diabetic patients. Material and Methods: A randomized clinical trial in diabetic patients with glycosylated hemoglobin over 7.5%. One hundred fifteen patients were studied, 59 patients participated in the structured educative program (experimental group) and 56 patients received no structured education (control group). Patients were followed for 12 months. Results: Between baseline and 12 months of follow-up, glycosylated hemoglobin changed from 10.05 to 9.11% in experimental patients and from 9.86 to 9.25% in controls. No significant differences between experimental and control groups in other clinical and metabolic parameters were observed. In the experimental group, glycosylated hemoglobin reductions differed among the different educators who carried out the program. Conclusions: A structured educative program resulted in a 35% greater reduction in glycosylated hemoglobin levels, compared with a control group. Metabolic control improvement differed between the educators who carried out the program.

Rev Med Chile, 2007

Fundamento: Determinar os fatores de risco cardiovascular é essencial para a prevenção primária e... more Fundamento: Determinar os fatores de risco cardiovascular é essencial para a prevenção primária e secundária das doenças do aparelho circulatório. Objetivo: Obter a prevalência de fatores de risco cardiovascular em uma população de industriários no Brasil. Métodos: Estudo transversal em uma coorte com entrevista sociodemográfica para identificação de fatores de risco cardiovascular, medidas antropométricas e de pressão arterial e coleta de sangue capilar para dosagem de glicose, colesterol e triglicérides em funcionários de ambos os sexos de indústria alimentícia. Resultados: Avaliaram-se 1.047 funcionários, sendo 913 (87%) do sexo masculino, com idade média de 36 ± 8 anos. A freqüência de sedentarismo foi de 83% e de sobrepeso de 63%. Hipertensão arterial foi identificada em 28% dos indivíduos e 45% estavam na faixa de pré-hipertensão. Alteração de glicose capilar foi detectada em 49% dos participantes, colesterol elevado em 7% e triglicérides em 11% da população. Os valores de índice de massa corpórea não se associaram à renda, mas houve relação inversa com nível de escolaridade. Conclusão: Sobrepeso e sedentarismo são os principais fatores de risco cardiovascular em população de industriários.