A wider view of assessments of ecosystem services in coastal areas : the perspective of social-ecological complexity

This research was carried out under the framework of POLICLIMA project (CSO2016-76842-C2-1-R). The first author was supported by a PhD grant (FI-2017) from the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris. The second author was supported by Ramón y Cajal contract (RYC-2013-13392) from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad.Through complex interactions and feedback processes between coastal ecological and social components at different temporal and spatial scales, coastal environments coproduce a range of ecosystem services (ES) and benefit different social groups. In these highly populated areas, multiple actors, interests, and activities coexist, leading to intensified conflicts between stakeholders. The research presented here aims to understand how coastal social-ecological complexity is studied within coastal ES literature. A systematic review of the literature consisting of 199 manuscripts was performed using the PRISMA method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The results show that coastal ES research has been focused on understanding ecological processes for ES provision and value. Hence, coastal ES studies fall short of considering the social components and social-ecological interactions of coastal systems: ES flows, demand, coproduction, power relations, institutions and governance, temporal and spatial scales, value pluralism, uncertainty, and human well-being multidimensions and distribution. The partial integration of social-ecological complexity within coastal ES research limits coastal ES management because nonlinear interactions among social and ecological components are not well understood, particularly stakeholders' relations, their roles, and the links to ES. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates the gaps identified during the review. The framework places coproduction and power relations as the core factors of assessments of coastal ES, as means to understand complex, nonlinear social-ecological interactions and feedback processes. Hence, it also provides necessary tools to address normative issues of coastal management such as control, access, trade-offs, and benefits

Neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin is a biomarker of acute-on-chronic liver failure and prognosis in cirrhosis

BACKGROUND & AIMS: Acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF) is a syndrome that occurs in cirrhosis characterized by organ failure(s) and high mortality rate. There are no biomarkers of ACLF. The LCN2 gene and its product, neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL), are upregulated in experimental models of liver injury and cultured hepatocytes as a result of injury by toxins or proinflammatory cytokines, particularly Interleukin-6. The aim of this study was to investigate whether NGAL could be a biomarker of ACLF and whether LCN2 gene may be upregulated in the liver in ACLF. METHODS: We analyzed urine and plasma NGAL levels in 716 patients hospitalized for complications of cirrhosis, 148 with ACLF. LCN2 expression was assessed in liver biopsies from 29 additional patients with decompensated cirrhosis with and without ACLF. RESULTS: Urine NGAL was markedly increased in ACLF vs. no ACLF patients (108(35-400) vs. 29(12-73)μg/g creatinine; p<0.001) and was an independent predictive factor of ACLF; the independent association persisted after adjustment for kidney function or exclusion of variables present in ACLF definition. Urine NGAL was also an independent predictive factor of 28day transplant-free mortality together with MELD score and leukocyte count (AUROC 0.88(0.83-0.92)). Urine NGAL improved significantly the accuracy of MELD in predicting prognosis. The LCN2 gene was markedly upregulated in the liver of patients with ACLF. Gene expression correlated directly with serum bilirubin and INR (r=0.79; p<0.001 and r=0.67; p<0.001), MELD (r=0.68; p<0.001) and Interleukin-6 (r=0.65; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: NGAL is a biomarker of ACLF and prognosis and correlates with liver failure and systemic inflammation. There is remarkable overexpression of LCN2 gene in the liver in ACLF syndrome. LAY SUMMARY: Urine NGAL is a biomarker of acute-on-chronic liver failure (ACLF). NGAL is a protein that may be expressed in several tissues in response to injury. The protein is filtered by the kidneys due to its small size and can be measured in the urine. Ariza, Graupera and colleagues found in a series of 716 patients with cirrhosis that urine NGAL was markedly increased in patients with ACLF and correlated with prognosis. Moreover, gene coding NGAL was markedly overexpressed in the liver tissue in ACLF

Management of multidrug resistant Gram-negative bacilli infections in solid organ transplant recipients: SET/GESITRA-SEIMC/REIPI recommendations

Solid organ transplant (SOT) recipients are especially at risk of developing infections by multidrug resistant (MDR) Gram-negative bacilli (GNB), as they are frequently exposed to antibiotics and the healthcare setting, and are regulary subject to invasive procedures. Nevertheless, no recommendations concerning prevention and treatment are available. A panel of experts revised the available evidence; this document summarizes their recommendations: (1) it is important to characterize the isolate´s phenotypic and genotypic resistance profile; (2) overall, donor colonization should not constitute a contraindication to transplantation, although active infected kidney and lung grafts should be avoided; (3) recipient colonization is associated with an increased risk of infection, but is not a contraindication to transplantation; (4) different surgical prophylaxis regimens are not recommended for patients colonized with carbapenem-resistant GNB; (5) timely detection of carriers, contact isolation precautions, hand hygiene compliance and antibiotic control policies are important preventive measures; (6) there is not sufficient data to recommend intestinal decolonization; (7) colonized lung transplant recipients could benefit from prophylactic inhaled antibiotics, specially for Pseudomonas aeruginosa; (8) colonized SOT recipients should receive an empirical treatment which includes active antibiotics, and directed therapy should be adjusted according to susceptibility study results and the severity of the infection.J.T.S. holds a research contract from the Fundación para la Formación e Investigación de los Profesionales de la Salud de Extremadura (FundeSalud), Instituto de Salud Carlos III. M.F.R. holds a clinical research contract “Juan Rodés” (JR14/00036) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, Instituto de Salud Carlos III

7th Drug hypersensitivity meeting: part two

No abstract availabl

A wider view of assessments of ecosystem services in coastal areas : the perspective of social-ecological complexity

This research was carried out under the framework of POLICLIMA project (CSO2016-76842-C2-1-R). The first author was supported by a PhD grant (FI-2017) from the Agència de Gestió d'Ajuts Universitaris. The second author was supported by Ramón y Cajal contract (RYC-2013-13392) from the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad.Through complex interactions and feedback processes between coastal ecological and social components at different temporal and spatial scales, coastal environments coproduce a range of ecosystem services (ES) and benefit different social groups. In these highly populated areas, multiple actors, interests, and activities coexist, leading to intensified conflicts between stakeholders. The research presented here aims to understand how coastal social-ecological complexity is studied within coastal ES literature. A systematic review of the literature consisting of 199 manuscripts was performed using the PRISMA method (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). The results show that coastal ES research has been focused on understanding ecological processes for ES provision and value. Hence, coastal ES studies fall short of considering the social components and social-ecological interactions of coastal systems: ES flows, demand, coproduction, power relations, institutions and governance, temporal and spatial scales, value pluralism, uncertainty, and human well-being multidimensions and distribution. The partial integration of social-ecological complexity within coastal ES research limits coastal ES management because nonlinear interactions among social and ecological components are not well understood, particularly stakeholders' relations, their roles, and the links to ES. Finally, we propose a conceptual framework that integrates the gaps identified during the review. The framework places coproduction and power relations as the core factors of assessments of coastal ES, as means to understand complex, nonlinear social-ecological interactions and feedback processes. Hence, it also provides necessary tools to address normative issues of coastal management such as control, access, trade-offs, and benefits

Prognosis impact of diabetes in elderly women and men with non-ST elevation acute coronary syndrome

Few studies have addressed to date the interaction between sex and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the prognosis of elderly patients with non-ST-segment elevation acute coronary syndrome (NSTEACS). Our aim was to address the role of DM in the prognosis of non-selected elderly patients with NSTEACS according to sex. A retrospective analysis from 11 Spanish NSTEACS registries was conducted, including patients aged ≥70 years. The primary end point was one-year all-cause mortality. A total of 7211 patients were included, 2,770 (38.4%) were women, and 39.9% had DM. Compared with the men, the women were older (79.95 ± 5.75 vs. 78.45 ± 5.43 years, p < 0.001) and more often had a history of hypertension (77% vs. 83.1%, p < 0.01). Anemia and chronic kidney disease were both more common in women. On the other hand, they less frequently had a prior history of arteriosclerotic cardiovascular disease or comorbidities such as peripheral artery disease and chronic pulmonary disease. Women showed a worse clinical profile on admission, though an invasive approach and in-hospital revascularization were both more often performed in men (p < 0.001). At a one-year follow-up, 1090 patients (15%) had died, without a difference between sexes. Male sex was an independent predictor of mortality (HR = 1.15, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.32, p = 0.035), and there was a significant interaction between sex and DM (p = 0.002). DM was strongly associated with mortality in women (HR: 1.45, 95% CI = 1.18-1.78; p < 0.001), but not in men (HR: 0.98, 95% CI = 0.84-1.14; p = 0.787). In conclusion, DM is associated with mortality in older women with NSTEACS, but not in men

Effects of Albumin on Survival after a Hepatic Encephalopathy Episode: Randomized Double-Blind Trial and Meta-Analysis

No therapies have been proven to increase survival after a hepatic encephalopathy (HE) episode. We hypothesize that two doses of albumin could improve 90-day survival rates after a HE episode. Methods: (1) A randomized double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (BETA) was conducted in 12 hospitals. The effect of albumin (1.5 g/kg at baseline and 1 g/kg on day 3) on 90-day survival rates after a HE episode grade II or higher was evaluated. (2) A meta-analysis of individual patient's data for survival including two clinical trials (BETA and ALFAE) was performed. Results: In total, 82 patients were included. Albumin failed to increase the 90-day transplant-free survival (91.9% vs. 80.5%, p = 0.3). A competing risk analysis was performed, observing a 90-day cumulative incidence of death of 9% in the albumin group vs. 20% in the placebo (p = 0.1). The meta-analysis showed a benefit in the albumin group, with a lower rate of clinical events (death or liver transplant) than patients in the placebo (HR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.21-0.82), when analyzed by a competing risk analysis (90-days mortality rate of 11% in the albumin group vs. 30% in the placebo, p = 0.02). Conclusions: Repeated doses of albumin might be beneficial for patient's survival as an add-on therapy after an HE episode, but an adequately powered trial is needed

VA-ECMO support in patients with refractory cardiogenic shock. A 6-year multicenter registry

Introducción y objetivos Los datos respecto a la utilización del oxigenador extracorpóreo de membrana venoarterial (ECMO-VA) en adultos con shock cardiogénico (SC) son escasos. El objetivo del presente estudio fue describir los datos de un registro multicéntrico español, y analizar qué factores tuvieron un impacto en la mortalidad intrahospitalaria. Métodos Registro retrospectivo multicéntrico español de pacientes en situación de SC profundo que recibieron soporte circulatorio con ECMO-VA. Resultados Desde enero de 2012 hasta octubre de 2018, se asistieron 233 pacientes con ECMO-VA. La edad media fue 56,3 ± 12,18 años y 50 eran mujeres (21,5%). Recibieron el alta hospitalaria 109 pacientes (46,8%). Las complicaciones más frecuentes observadas fueron: insuficiencia renal aguda en 131 (59,0%), hemorragia en 70 (31,7%), hipoxemia en 86 (36,9%) e infección en 99 (43,4%). Los predictores independientes de mortalidad intrahospitalaria fueron lactato al implante (OR = 1,05; IC95%, 1,05-1,19), edad (OR = 2,19; IC95%, 1,05-4,58) y canulación intraparada cardiaca (OR = 1,04; IC95%, 1,01-1,06). Un total de 45 pacientes tenían edad > 60 años y lactato al implante > 8 mmol/l, su mortalidad intrahospitalaria fue de 77,8% y llegó al 91,7% en 12 de ellos en los que la canulación fue intraparada cardiaca. Conclusiones La terapia con ECMO-VA es factible en pacientes con SC profundo. La selección adecuada parece fundamental para evitar la futilidad del implante en pacientes con escasas posibilidades de éxito.Introduction and objectives The data regarding the use of venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) in adults in with cardiogenic shock (CS) are scarce. The aim of this study was to describe the data of a Spanish multicenter registry, and to analyze which factors had an impact on in-hospital mortality. Methods Retrospective Spanish multicenter registry of patients with deep CS treated with VA-ECMO circulatory support. Results From January 2012 to October 2018, 233 patients were treated with VA-ECMO. Mean age was 56.3 ± 12.18 years and 50 were female (21.5%). A total of 109 patients were successfully discharged (46.8%). The most frequent complications were acute kidney injury in 131 (59.0%), hypoxemia in 86 (36.9%) major bleeding in 70 (31.7%), and infection in 99 (43.4%). The independent in-hospital mortality risk factors were lactate before implant (OR, 1.05; 95%CI, 1.05-1.19), age (OR, 2.19; 95%CI, 1.05-4.58), and cannulation during cardiac arrest (OR, 1.04; 95%CI, 1.01-1.06). A total of 45 patients > 60 years with lactate before implant > 8 mmol/l had an in-hospital mortality rate of 77.8%, in-hospital mortality and reached 91.7% in 12 of them with cannulation during cardiac arrest. Conclusions VA-ECMO therapy for patients with deep cardiogenic shock is feasibly. Appropriate selection seems critical in order to avoid the futility of using ECMO in those patients with low survival chances.Sin financiaciónNo data JCR 20200.114 SJR (2020) Q4, 316/349 Cardiology and Cardiovascular MedicineNo data IDR 2020UE