Global warming and ultraviolet radiation (UVR) affect marine organisms worldwide. However, we still lack knowledge about the consequences of these environmental changes to range-restricted macroalgae ...species, such as
Gelidium canariense
, a habitat-forming endemic of the Canary Islands. The aim of this study is to provide useful data for analyzing the conservation status of this endemic species. To do this, (1) we compared distributional data from 1987 with the data collected in 2008 and 2019 along the northern coast of Tenerife; (2) we assessed the variation in macroalgae assemblages dominated by
G. canariense
over the last decade on this same cost; and (3) we explored the correlation of these results with the actual trends of sea surface temperature (SST), air temperature at 2 m above the sea surface (T2m), UVR, and downward solar radiation (DSR). The results showed significant changes in the distribution of
G. canariense
in the last 30 years at Tenerife. More than 90% of its populations have declined. The endemic macroalgae have been replaced by the globally distributed species
Pterocladiella capillacea
at nearly all the sites studied. The cover of
G. canariense
and
Gelidium arbuscula
decreased significantly with increasing SST and T2m. Additionally,
G. canariense
is negatively related to the rise in UVR. These results highlight the vulnerability of both species of
Gelidium
to global warming and UVR, but especially of
G. canariense
. The drastic decline of this species reveals the need to upgrade its conservation status and implement protection measures to reduce the damage that predicted global change scenario may have to their relict populations.
Microremains entrapped in dental calculus are being used as a source of information to address a number of archeological questions. However, current laboratory procedures may affect the recovery of ...microremains and this issue has not been thoroughly investigated. This study involved the analysis of dental calculus from five Chalcolithic individuals from El Mirador cave (Sierra de Atapuerca, Spain) from a methodological perspective. Two sample processing protocols published in the archeological literature were used for this purpose, and results were compared to the El Mirador archaeobotanical record published elsewhere. Analyzed as a whole, the microremains found in the dental calculus samples are consistent with a population immersed in a farming economy, although they are not representative of the richness of the archaeobotanical record of the site. Furthermore, the two protocols delivered different results, in terms of the number of microremains identified, the time required for analysis, and associated contamination problems. This data indicates that the method selected may affect the results. We recommend further research using a larger sample set to fully understand how methodological factors affect the preservation and observation of microremains embedded in dental calculus. We also call for a discussion on the role of dental calculus in archeological research.
The fluctuations in Meloidogyne densities and fungal egg parasitism were determined from February 2015 to July 2016 in four vegetable production sites conducted under organic production and two sides ...conducted under integrated standards. At each site, the soil nematode densities at transplanting and at the end of the crops, the galling index, the number of eggs in roots, and the percentage of fungal egg parasitism were determined, and the fungal species were identified. In addition, two pot experiments were conducted with soil taken from each site in February 2015 and 2016 to assess the fungal egg parasitism comparing non-sterile and sterile soil from each site. In field conditions, the nematode population densities in the soil decreased along the crop rotations. The maximum number of eggs per plant was recorded in the spring–summer crops. Egg parasitism ranged from 11.2 to 55% in the organic sites and from 0.8 to 16.5% in the integrated production sites. Pochonia chlamydosporia was the only fungal species isolated in five of the six sites. In both pot experiments, the number of eggs per plant was lower in non-sterile than in sterile soils, except for the M10.45 site, where fungal egg parasites were not recovered. P. chlamydosporia was the only fungal species isolated, ranging between 11 and 74%. Therefore, P. chlamidosporia was the most prevalent fungal species related to Meloidogyne suppression.
The original version of this article, unfortunately, contained errors. The corresponding author failed to notice that there is a mistake in the fourth author last name. It says “Francisco Javier ...Aceituno Bocanera” when it should say “Francisco Javier Aceituno Bocanegra”, letter “G” is missing.
ObjectivePatients with Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a not uniform increased risk of serious infection. It is important to estimate the infection risk and balance the immunosuppression and ...infection risks in practice, but there is no evidence-based tool available to do it. SLESIS score, one score for prediction of severe infection, was previously developed by our group and validated in an external cohort.1 The original score incorporated up to 7 predictors and only a moderate performance of SLESIS score was observed, with AUC of 0.633. The objective of our study was to improve the SLESIS score both, as a predictor of infection and in terms of feasibility.MethodsWe used data from the prospective phase of RELESSER (RELESSER-PROS), the SLE register of the Spanish Society of Rheumatology. A multivariable logistic model was constructed taking into account the variables already forming the SLESIS score, plus all other potential predictors identified in a literature review. Performance was analyzed using the C statistic and the area under the ROC (AUROC). Internal validation was carried out using a 100-sample bootstrapping procedure. OR were transformed into score items, and the AUROC was used to determine performance.ResultsA total of 1459 patients who had completed 1 year of follow-up were included (mean age, 49 ± 13 years; 90% females). Twenty-five (1.7%) had experienced ≥1 severe infection. According to the adjusted multivariate model, severe infection could be predicted from 4 variables: age (years) ≥60, previous SLE-related hospitalization, previous severe infection, and glucocorticoid dose. A score was built from the best model (table 1). AUROC:0.861 (0.777–0.946). The cut-off chosen was ≥6, which exhibited an accuracy of 85.9% and a positive LR of 5.48.ConclusionsSLESIS-R is an accurate and feasible instrument for predicting infections in SLE patients. SLESIS-R could help to make informed decisions on the use of immunosuppressants and the implementation of preventive measures.AcknowledgementsFunding by GSK and Spanish Foundation of Rheumatology.Reference Tejera-Segura B, Rúa-Figueroa I, Pego-Reigosa JM, et al. Can we validate a clinical score to predict the risk of severe infection in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus? A longitudinal retrospective study in a British Cohort BMJ Open 2019,14;9(6):e028697.Abstract O17 Table 1SLESIS-R index calculator Predictor Score Age (years) ≥60 4 Previous SLE-related hospitalization 4 Previous serious infection 4 GC doses>5 mg and <10 mg≥10 mg and <30 mg≥30 mg 225 SLESIS-R: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Infection Score-Revised; SLE: systemic lupus erythematosus; GC: glucocorticoids
Abstract
Objectives
This article estimates the frequency of polyautoimmunity and associated factors in a large retrospective cohort of patients with SLE.
Methods
RELESSER (Spanish Society of ...Rheumatology Lupus Registry) is a nationwide multicentre, hospital-based registry of SLE patients. This is a cross-sectional study. The main variable was polyautoimmunity, which was defined as the co-occurrence of SLE and another autoimmune disease, such as autoimmune thyroiditis, RA, scleroderma, inflammatory myopathy and MCTD. We also recorded the presence of multiple autoimmune syndrome, secondary SS, secondary APS and a family history of autoimmune disease. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate possible risk factors for polyautoimmunity.
Results
Of the 3679 patients who fulfilled the criteria for SLE, 502 (13.6%) had polyautoimmunity. The most frequent types were autoimmune thyroiditis (7.9%), other systemic autoimmune diseases (6.2%), secondary SS (14.1%) and secondary APS (13.7%). Multiple autoimmune syndrome accounted for 10.2% of all cases of polyautoimmunity. A family history was recorded in 11.8%. According to the multivariate analysis, the factors associated with polyautoimmunity were female sex odds ratio (95% CI), 1.72 (1.07, 2.72), RP 1.63 (1.29, 2.05), interstitial lung disease 3.35 (1.84, 6.01), Jaccoud arthropathy 1.92 (1.40, 2.63), anti-Ro/SSA and/or anti-La/SSB autoantibodies 2.03 (1.55, 2.67), anti-RNP antibodies 1.48 (1.16, 1.90), MTX 1.67 (1.26, 2.18) and antimalarial drugs 0.50 (0.38, 0.67).
Conclusion
Patients with SLE frequently present polyautoimmunity. We observed clinical and analytical characteristics associated with polyautoimmunity. Our finding that antimalarial drugs protected against polyautoimmunity should be verified in future studies.
Resumen Introducción y objetivos: en el tratamiento dietético de los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica (ERC) existen muchas áreas de incertidumbre. El grupo de trabajo GARIN tiene como objetivo ...definir su posición en este campo. Material y métodos: revisión bibliográfica previa y reunión presencial en la que se discutieron y contestaron preguntas específicas sobre el tema. Resultados: la actuación terapéutica debe ser individualizada y atendiendo al grado de enfermedad renal que presente el paciente y a sus comorbilidades. En cuanto a la terapia médica nutricional, nuestro grupo propone tres niveles diferentes de actuación, en los que las recomendaciones de ingesta proteica, fibra, ácidos grasos o potasio son distintas. Además, sugerimos utilizar el concepto ratio fósforo/proteína en el ajuste de la dieta del paciente con ERC. Damos recomendaciones en cuanto al tratamiento en diabetes y en suplementación artificial. Conclusiones: estas recomendaciones aportan respuestas concretas sobre cuestiones comunes en la asistencia a pacientes con ERC.
The present study focuses on the two consecutive and markedly intense Saharan dust intrusion episodes that greatly affected southern Spain (Málaga) and, to a lesser extent, the Canary Islands ...(Tenerife), in March 2022. These two episodes were the result of atypical meteorological conditions in the region and resulted in record levels of aerosols in the air at the Málaga location. The activity levels of various natural and artificial radionuclides (7Be, 210Pb, 40K, 137Cs, 239Pu, 240Pu, 239+240Pu) and radioactive indicators (gross alpha and gross beta) were impacted by these events and the results are described herein. These episodes caused, for example, the activities of 137Cs in aerosol samples at the Málaga monitoring station to reach the highest concentrations ever recorded since high-volume aerosol monitoring started at this site in 2009. A link between the activity levels of 137Cs, 40K and gross alpha in the atmospheric aerosols and daily PM10 concentrations during the episodes is also reported. In addition, isotopic ratios are discussed in the context of the source and destination of the various anthropogenic radionuclides measured. The atmospheric residence time of aerosols during these episodes is also evaluated because it concerns how intrusions to the Canary Islands should be analysed. Finally, for the first time, the concentrations of 137Cs deposition by rainwater during a Saharan dust intrusion are reported and the deposition rate of these radionuclides during these episodes is discussed.
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•Two atypical and intense dust Saharan events affected Spain during March 2022.•These Saharan dust events caused increments of radionuclides in atmospheric aerosols.•Record concentrations of 137Cs were recorded during these events in Málaga.•PM10,137Cs, 40K and gross alpha concentrations correlated during these dust events.•Rainfall enhanced aerosols deposition to approximately 26–56 days of dry deposition.
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