Recent case studies showing substantial declines of insect abundances have raised alarm, but how widespread such patterns are remains unclear. We compiled data from 166 long-term surveys of insect ...assemblages across 1676 sites to investigate trends in insect abundances over time. Overall, we found considerable variation in trends even among adjacent sites but an average decline of terrestrial insect abundance by ~9% per decade and an increase of freshwater insect abundance by ~11% per decade. Both patterns were largely driven by strong trends in North America and some European regions. We found some associations with potential drivers (e.g., land-use drivers), and trends in protected areas tended to be weaker. Our findings provide a more nuanced view of spatiotemporal patterns of insect abundance trends than previously suggested.
Suicide is a relevant leading cause of death among patients affected by schizophrenia. Even if suicidal ideation may be present in different stages of disease, some differences have been described ...between the risk of suicide in patients experiencing first episode of psychosis and those with long-term schizophrenia. It is particularly higher during the first year of illness and reaches a steady decline over the following years. Suicidal ideation and attempts may also be common among subjects with subthreshold psychotic experiences. Factors associated with the risk of suicide in the early phase of schizophrenia are previous suicidal attempts and social aspects: the lack of social support and stable relationships, social drift after the first episode, and social impairment. Also, several psychotic symptoms (suspiciousness, paranoid delusions, mental disintegration and agitation, negative symptoms, depression and hopelessness, and command hallucinations) and substance abuse are associated with higher risk of suicide. It has been described that perfectionism and good levels of insight among individuals who have recently developed psychotic symptoms are significantly associated with higher numbers of suicidal attempts. Moreover, recent evidences show that prefrontal cortex-based circuit dysfunction may be related to suicide in the early stage of schizophrenia. This narrative review summarizes available evidences on suicide in the early stage of schizophrenia and deals with issues to be further studied and discussed.
Patients affected by psychotic disorders are more likely to develop high rates of co-morbidities, such as obesity, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemias, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, myocardial ...infarction, stroke etc., in the long-term. These morbidities have a significant impact on the life-expectancy of these patients. Patients with chronic psychoses show a 2-3-fold increased risk of death mostly from cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. Although there may be an independent link, between schizophrenia and metabolic conditions the cardio-metabolic risk is mostly related to an unhealthy lifestyle and the usage of antipsychotic agents (especially Second Generation Antipsychotics or atypical) even when these remain effective treatments in the management of major psychoses. Recently, many international organizations have developed screening and monitoring guidelines for the control of modifiable risk factors in order to reduce the rate of co-morbidity and mortality among patients affected by schizophrenia. This paper is a review of current knowledge about the metabolic issues of patients affected by schizophrenia and describes clinical characteristics and medical management strategies for such conditions.
The gut microbiota is the set of microorganisms that colonize the gastrointestinal tract of living creatures, establishing a bidirectional symbiotic relationship that is essential for maintaining ...homeostasis, for their growth and digestive processes. Growing evidence supports its involvement in the intercommunication system between the gut and the brain, so that it is called the gut-brain-microbiota axis. It is involved in the regulation of the functions of the Central Nervous System (CNS), behavior, mood and anxiety and, therefore, its implication in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders. In this paper, we focused on the possible correlations between the gut microbiota and Bipolar Disorder (BD), in order to determine its role in the pathogenesis and in the clinical management of BD. Current literature supports a possible relationship between the compositional alterations of the intestinal microbiota and BD. Moreover, due to its impact on psychopharmacological treatment absorption, by acting on the composition of the microbiota beneficial effects can be obtained on BD symptoms. Finally, we discussed the potential of correcting gut microbiota alteration as a novel augmentation strategy in BD. Future studies are necessary to better clarify the relevance of gut microbiota alterations as state and disease biomarkers of BD.
La educación superior es una opción estratégica que ha asumido relevancia creciente entre los jóvenes españoles para evitar la precariedad provocada por la crisis y para prepararse mejor a la hora de ...buscar un empleo de calidad. De esta forma, se ha consolidado un segmento de jóvenes altamente formados que acudieron a los estudios post-obligatorios para encontrar trabajos acorde con su titulación. Sin embargo, una vez acabados los estudios, la situación ocupacional de los universitarios no mejora automáticamente y tampoco según sus expectativas de partida, porque la coyuntura económica negativa está perjudicando su integración social. Se asiste, pues, a una correspondencia incompleta e inadecuada entre la cualificación formal de los jóvenes y su colocación laboral. La devaluación de los títulos educativos y su limitada orientación a las exigencias prácticas del mercado de trabajo no favorece la estabilidad y tampoco la promoción de carreras ordenadas y coherentes. Por otra parte, el mismo mercado de trabajo expulsa a los jóvenes que tienen un nivel de estudio bajo y posiciona los que disponen de una preparación académica en empleos que necesitan una formación inferior. Además, el sistema productivo español no es plenamente receptivo para una mano de obra muy cualificada: el crecimiento económico se ha estancado, el sector público de servicios ha comenzado una profunda reestructuración a partir del adelgazamiento y del desmantelamiento de sus plantillas, y la inversión en innovación y en sectores avanzados es netamente inferior a la que se registra en los demás países europeos.Los jóvenes titulados superiores en nuestro país viven el presente con mucha inestabilidad y con poca seguridad para el futuro. Cada vez más, están conscientes de que la formación se extiende a lo largo de toda la vida, pero que no necesariamente les permitirá integrarse en la sociedad como quisieran. Las transiciones formativas, laborales y residenciales, siguen siendo etapas centrales en sus proyectos biográficos, pero han cambiado las expectativas sobre sus desenlaces y posibilidades de éxito, y en consecuencia han cambiado también las formas de vivirlas y justificarlas. Sus padres son los primeros responsables de su bienestar e influyen de manera decisiva en su proceso de emancipación en función de los recursos disponibles para amortiguar las presiones del contexto externo. Más allá de los estremecedores datos estadísticos que destacan la envergadura de la crisis actual para los jóvenes, las tensiones que este colectivo de jóvenes titulados superiores viven y manifiestan aún no han sido exploradas en profundidad. Con este propósito, consideramos oportuno investigar cómo la inestabilidad de sus trabajos y de sus carreras profesionales después de haber acabado con éxito los estudios superiores llegan a ser objeto de gran preocupación para ellos.En este artículo presentamos el análisis de veinte entrevistas semi-estructuradas realizadas a jóvenes con nivel de estudio superior (título universitario de grado o de licenciatura), en paro o con trabajos flexibles y temporales, con salarios brutos que rondan los 1.000 euros mensuales, residentes en la ciudad de Madrid y en el área metropolitana más próxima a la capital. En el momento de la entrevista todos los participantes viven en casa con al menos unos de sus progenitores.Gracias a sus testimonios queremos atender a criterios de “análisis estratégico del discurso”, orientado por las experiencias de emancipación de entrevistados que comparten unas características concretas. Además, consideramos oportuno profundizar en los relatos del colectivo de jóvenes titulados superiores que generalmente no se consideran vulnerables ni al margen del mercado de trabajo y que, a pesar de ello, ahora se encuentra bajo la presión de la incertidumbre estructural que está atravesando el país. Con esta contribución evidenciamos que tampoco los titulados superiores se quedan a salvo de la crisis, ya que ellos mismos pueden ver frustrada su inserción laboral y estabilización profesional, de consecuencia, su posibilidad de realizar el propio proyecto de emancipación rentabilizando lo estudios que han cursado como quisieran.
En el artículo exploramos la experiencia del crowdsourcing, como actividad laboral y colaborativa novedosa dentro de redes altamente especializadas de productores, distribuidores y consumidores. Esta ...forma de entender, organizar y plasmar el trabajo a través de plataformas colaborativas está todavía poco estudiada: en particular, queda pendiente conocer bien cómo se articulan entre sí la dimensión instrumental-económica de este tipo de trabajo y su dimensión expresivaidentitaria, teniendo en cuenta la participación voluntaria de los actores involucrados (empresas y profesionales, además de potenciales clientes). Abordamos ambos aspectos desde una perspectiva relacional para entender lo que el crowdsourcing ofrece en términos de construcción de valor, de gestión del conocimiento experto y de fomento de nuevos sujetos colectivos.
Acute or intense exercise can result in metabolic imbalances, muscle injuries, or reveal hidden disorders. Laboratory medicine in sports is playing an increasingly crucial role in monitoring ...athletes' health conditions. In this study, we designed an integrated approach to explore the causes of a deep venous thrombosis event in an elite basketball player. Since the complete blood count revealed a marked platelet count (838 × 10
µL), and thrombophilia screening tests did not reveal any significant alteration, we evaluated the thrombin generation, which highlights a state of hypercoagulability. First-level haemostasis exams showed only a slight prolongation of the activated Partial Thromboplastin Time (aPTT). Thus, screening tests for von Willebrand Disease showed a reduction in vWF parameters. Therefore, we directed our hypothesis towards a diagnosis of acquired von Willebrand disease secondary to Essential Thrombocythemia (ET). To confirm this hypothesis and highlight the molecular mechanism underlying the observed phenotype, molecular tests were performed to evaluate the presence of the most common mutations associated with ET, revealing a 52-bp deletion in the coding region of
exon 9. This case report highlights the importance of an integrated approach to monitoring the athletes' health status to personalise training and treatments, thus avoiding the appearance of diseases and injuries that, if underestimated, can undermine the athlete's life.
Pregnancy is characterized by significant immunological changes and a cytokine profile, as well as vitamin deficiencies that can cause problems for the correct development of a fetus. Defensins are ...small antimicrobial peptides that are part of the innate immune system and are involved in several biological activities. Following that, this study aims to compare the levels of various cytokines and to investigate the role of defensins between pregnant women with confirmed COVID-19 infection and pregnant women without any defined risk factor. TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-2 and IL-10, β-defensins, have been evaluated by gene expression in our population. At the same time, by
IL-6, IL-8, defensin alpha 1, defensin beta 1 and defensin beta 4 have been measured. The data obtained show that mothers affected by COVID-19 have an increase in pro-inflammatory factors (TNF-α, TGF-β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8) compared to controls; this increase could generate a sort of "protection of the fetus" from virus attacks. Contemporarily, we have an increase in the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and an increase in AMPs, which highlights how the mother's body is responding to the viral attack. These results allow us to hypothesize a mechanism of "trafficking" of antimicrobial peptides from the mother to the fetus that would help the fetus to protect itself from the infection in progress.
Resumen: La precariedad que caracteriza al empleo doméstico en España no es nueva, sin embargo, la emergencia sanitaria provocada por el covid-19 la ha agudizado. La situación migratoria de gran ...parte de las empleadas, así como la informalidad que prevalece en este nicho laboral, se han distinguido como elementos de mayor vulnerabilidad para este colectivo en el contexto de la pandemia. En este texto analizamos el impacto del covid-19 sobre el empleo de hogar y los cuidados en el contexto español, en concreto recuperamos la experiencia de trabajadoras domésticas de la ciudad de Zaragoza (España), resaltando sus dificultades laborales, sociales y sanitarias, así como las estrategias empleadas para enfrentar las consecuencias de la pandemia.
Abstract: The precariousness that characterizes domestic employment in Spain is not new; however, the health emergency caused by covid-19 has exacerbated it. The migratory situation of a large number of female employees, as well as the informality that prevails in this labor niche, have been identified as elements of greater vulnerability for this group in the context of the pandemic. In this text, we analyze the impact of covid-19 on domestic employment and care in the Spanish context, specifically we recover the experience of domestic workers in the city of Zaragoza (Spain), highlighting their labor, social and health difficulties, as well as the strategies used to face the consequences of the pandemic.
InsectChange van Klink, Roel; Bowler, Diana E.; Comay, Orr ...
Ecology,
June 2021, Letnik:
102, Številka:
6
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Insects are the most ubiquitous and diverse group of eukaryotic organisms on Earth, forming a crucial link in terrestrial and freshwater food webs. They have recently become the subject of headlines ...because of observations of dramatic declines in some places. Although there are hundreds of long‐term insect monitoring programs, a global database for long‐term data on insect assemblages has so far remained unavailable. In order to facilitate synthetic analyses of insect abundance changes, we compiled a database of long‐term (≥10 yr) studies of assemblages of insects (many also including arachnids) in the terrestrial and freshwater realms. We searched the scientific literature and public repositories for data on insect and arachnid monitoring using standardized protocols over a time span of 10 yr or longer, with at least two sampling events. We focused on studies that presented or allowed calculation of total community abundance or biomass. We extracted data from tables, figures, and appendices, and, for data sets that provided raw data, we standardized trapping effort over space and time when necessary. For each site, we extracted provenance details (such as country, state, and continent) as well as information on protection status, land use, and climatic details from publicly available GIS sources. In all, the database contains 1,668 plot‐level time series sourced from 165 studies with samples collected between 1925 and 2018. Sixteen data sets provided here were previously unpublished. Studies were separated into those collected in the terrestrial realm (103 studies with a total of 1,053 plots) and those collected in the freshwater realm (62 studies with 615 plots). Most studies were from Europe (48%) and North America (29%), with 34% of the plots located in protected areas. The median monitoring time span was 19 yr, with 12 sampling years. The number of individuals was reported in 129 studies, the total biomass was reported in 13 studies, and both abundance and biomass were reported in 23 studies. This data set is published under a CC‐BY license, requiring attribution of the data source. Please cite this paper if the data are used in publications, and respect the licenses of the original sources when using (part of) their data as detailed in Metadata S1: Table 1.
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