AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ
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AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ
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xaguilera@udd.cl
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Scopus Author ID
6603011009

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Dataset - Immunization and SARS-CoV-2 Antibody Seroprevalence in a Country with High Vaccination Coverage: Lessons from Chile

2022 , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ , GONZALEZ WIEDMAIER, CLAUDIA MARTA , APABLAZA SALINAS, MAURICIO IVÁN , RUBILAR RAMIREZ, PAOLA ANDREA , CORTES SALINAS, LINA JIMENA

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Estructura y Funcionamiento del Sistema de Salud Chileno. Serie de Salud Poblacional N°2

2019 , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ

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The Neglected Dimension of Global Security

2016 , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ

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Rare diseases in Chile: challenges and recommendations in universal health coverage context

2019 , Gonzalo Encina , CASTILLO LABORDE, CARLA CECILIA , LECAROS URZUA, JUAN ALBERTO , Karen Dubois-Camacho , CALDERON GIADROSIC, JUAN FRANCISCO , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ , KLEIN POSTERNACK, ANDRES DAVID , REPETTO LISBOA, MARIA GABRIELA

AbstractRare diseases (RDs) are a large number of diverse conditions with low individual prevalence, but collectively may affect up to 3.5–5.9% of the population. They have psychosocial and economic impact on patients and societies, and are a significant problem for healthcare systems, especially for countries with limited resources. In Chile, financial protection exists for 20 known RDs through different programs that cover diagnosis and treatments. Although beneficial for a number of conditions, most RD patients are left without a proper legal structure that guarantees a financial coverage, and in a vulnerable situation. In this review, we present and analyze the main challenges of the Chilean healthcare system and legislation on RDs, and other ambits of the RD ecosystem, including patient advocacy groups and research. Finally, we propose a set of policy recommendations that includes creating a patient registry, eliciting social preferences on health and financial coverage, improving access to clinical genetic services and therapies, promoting research on RDs and establishing a Latin-American cooperation network, all aimed at promoting equitable quality healthcare access for people living with RDs.

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Correction to Lancet Infect Dis 2020; published online March 27. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1473-3099(20)30249-8

2020 , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ

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Monitoring and Evaluating Progress towards Universal Health Coverage in Chile

2014 , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ , Carla Castillo-Laborde , Manuel Nájera-De Ferrari , Ciro Ibañez , DELGADO BECERRA, OROZIMBA IRIS

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SARS-CoV-2 infectivity and antigenic evasion: spotlight on isolated Omicron sub-lineages

2024 , Aldo Barrera , Constanza Martínez-Valdebenito , Jenniffer Angulo , Carlos Palma , HORMAZABAL CASTILLO, JUAN PATRICIO , VIAL COX, MARIA CECILIA , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ , Pablo Castillo-Torres , Catalina Pardo-Roa , María Elvira Balcells , Bruno Nervi , Nicole Le Corre , Marcela Ferrés

Since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in 2019, a diversity of viral genomic variants has emerged and spread globally due to increased transmissibility, pathogenicity, and immune evasion. By the first trimester of 2023 in Chile, as in most countries, BQ and XBB were the predominant circulating sub-lineages of Omicron. The molecular and antigenic characteristics of these variants have been mainly determined using non-authentic spike pseudoviruses, which is often described as a limitation. Additionally, few comparative studies using isolates from recent Omicron sub-lineages have been conducted. In this study, we isolated SARS-CoV-2 variants from clinical samples, including the ancestral B.1.1, Delta, Omicron BA.1, and sub-lineages of BA.2 and BA.5. We assessed their infectivity through cell culture infections and their antibody evasion using neutralization assays. We observed variations in viral plaque size, cell morphology, and cytotoxicity upon infection in Vero E6-TMPRSS2 cells for each variant compared to the ancestral B.1.1 virus. BA.2-derived sub-variants, such as XBB.1.5, showed attenuated viral replication, while BA.5-derived variants, such as BQ.1.1, exhibited replication rates similar to the ancestral SARS-CoV-2 virus. Similar trends were observed in intestinal Caco-2 cells, except for Delta. Antibody neutralization experiments using sera from individuals infected during the first COVID-19 wave (FWI) showed a consistent but moderate reduction in neutralization against Omicron sub-lineages. Interestingly, despite being less prevalent, BQ.1.1 showed a 6.1-fold greater escape from neutralization than XBB.1.5. Neutralization patterns were similar when tested against sera from individuals vaccinated with 3xBNT162b2 (PPP) or Coronavac-Coronavac-BNT162b2 (CCP) schedules. However, CCP sera showed 2.3-fold higher neutralization against XBB.1.5 than FWI and PPP sera. This study provides new insights into the differences between BA.2 and BA.5-derived variants, leading to their eventual outcompetition. Our analysis offers important evidence regarding the balance between infectivity and antigenic escape that drives the evolution of second-generation SARS-CoV-2 variants in the population.

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Compliance with the smoking ban in enclosed, semiopen and open areas of workplaces and public places in Chile

2020 , PERUGA URREA, ARMANDO , Xaviera Molina , DELGADO BECERRA, OROZIMBA IRIS , MATUTE WILLEMSEM, MARIA ISABEL , OLEA NORMANDIN, ANDREA MARIA , HIRMAS ADAUY, MACARENA SOLEDAD , GONZALEZ WIEDMAIER, CLAUDIA MARTA , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ

ObjectiveTo assess the national level of compliance with the Chilean comprehensive smoke-free legislation by observing healthcare facilities, education centres, government offices, hospitality venues and private workplaces, by type of area within workplaces and public places: enclosed, semiopen and open.MethodologyIn this cross-sectional observational study, we studied a national representative sample of 3253 venues obtained through a two-stage cluster sampling design. First, 57 municipalities were randomly selected, proportionally to the total number of venues of interest. Second, within each selected municipality, a maximum of 12 venues of each sector was selected systematically from a list of existing sites. We determined the non-compliance level by estimating the percentage of the visited venues where smoking was observed or suspected in banned areas of the premises.ResultsSmoking or suspicion thereof was not observed in any enclosed area of any establishment. However, smoking violations were observed in semiopen areas ranging from less than 0.5% of schools and healthcare centres to around 10% of hospitality venues or 23.0% of higher education centres. Smoking violations were also observed in outdoor areas of 6.7% and 1.6% of the health centres and schools, respectively.DiscussionThe stark contrast in compliance with the smoking ban between the enclosed areas and the semiopen areas may be a consequence of the complex definition of semiopen areas in the regulations. The study also reflects the need to improve the overall enforcement of the smoke-free law, particularly in universities and hospitality venues.

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The story behind Chile's rapid rollout of COVID-19 vaccination

2021 , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ , Adrian P. Mundt , ARAOS BRALIC, RAFAEL IGNACIO , WEITZEL, THOMAS

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THE BASIC REPRODUCTION NUMBER R-0 AND EFFECTIVENESS OF REACTIVE INTERVENTIONS DURING DENGUE EPIDEMICS: THE 2002 DENGUE OUTBREAK IN EASTER ISLAND, CHILE

2013 , J. M. Hyman , H. Nesse , AGUILERA SANHUEZA, XIMENA PAZ , OLEA NORMANDIN, ANDREA MARIA , R. Fuentes , Gerardo Chowell

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