O campo de dunas de Tatón: Seleção do vento ao largo da Diagonal Arida de Sudamerica, Puna Argentina

Fiambalá is a tectonic valley emplaced in the southern Puna region, Catamarca Province, Argentina. At the Western side of the valley, “bajadas” and tuff deposits are interfingered. Westerly winds cause an eastward sand transport, either by saltation or deflation. Sand is therefore accumulated eastwards, attached to the Fiambalá Range. This sand ramp located close to the Tatón village was surveyed in terms of its morphology and sand composition. The central section of the valley is occupied by the Abaucán River, which runs across the dune field. Three oases developed at these aggradation plains: Palo Blanco, Medanitos and Fiambalá. These localities however have been threatened by desertification processes in the last years. Three profiles were described along the aggradation plain of this valley. The transversal and longitudinal dunes of Tatón are composed of fine sand with 12-28% of volcanic ash, deposited within the last 5500 years. Grain-size selection was caused by aeolian transport processes. Dune ramps developed in areas dominated by sand transport while loess-sized material is deflated outside the valleyO vale de Fiambalá é tectônico e localizado na região da Puna, Província de Catamarca, Argentina. Ao oeste deste vale, “bajadas” e depósitos de tufos são interdigitados. Ventos do oeste produzem um transporte de areia, tanto por saltação quanto por deflação. A areia se acumula ao leste do vale, anexo a Serra de Fiambalá. Esta rampa de areia, localizada perto da vila de Tatón, foi descrita segundo morfologia e composição das areias. A seção central do vale é ocupada pelo rio Abaucán, que atravessa o campo de dunas. Três oásis se desenvolveram nesta planície: Palo Blanco, Medanitos e Fiambalá, hoje ameaçados por processos de desertificação. Três perfis foram descritos ao longo da planície de agradação deste vale. As dunas transversais e longitudinais de Tatón são compostas de areia fina com 12-28% de cinza vulcânica, depositada nos últimos 5500 anos. A seleção sedimentar é produzida pelo transporte eólico. As dunas foram desenvolvidas nas áreas dominadas por areia; o loess foi deflacionado fora do vale.Fil: Isla, Federico Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Isla, Manuel Fermín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo. Centro de Investigaciones Geológicas; ArgentinaFil: Bertola, German Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Bedmar, José Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Cortizo, Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Maenza, Reinaldo Agustín. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

Cambios morfodinámicos de las playas condicionadas por la fluctuación holocena del nivel del mar: Playas mesomareales del Norte de la Patagonia

Beach morphodynamics are stated as depending on wave climate, tidal range and grain size. Sediment availability is a conditioning factor biased to inheritance factors. Seven natural beaches from Northern Patagonia: 4 from Southern Buenos Aires and 3 from Eastern Rio Negro Province were surveyed during several years. La Chiquita Beach is characterised by an abundance of fine sand supplied by the Colorado River delta. Pocitos Beach is rather stable although it is changing due to colonisation by the invasive reef-building oyster Crassostrea virginica. Faro Segunda Barranca is an open-ocean beach, very affected by extratropical storms coming from the SE. The beach of Villa Siete de Marzo has a very active dynamics affected by the embankments of the Negro River outlet, and episodic storms. The beach of Balneario El Cóndor is very wide with an intense strong longshore drift from west to east. The beach in front of the San Matías Lighthouse (Villarino Peninsula) is controlled by an abrasion platform close to the low-tide limit. Las Grutas beach is also controlled by an abrasion platform but the sand abundance is related to the ebb-tidal delta of the San Antonio Gulf. Open-ocean beaches in Buenos Aires province are very affected by a drift towards the north delivered by South Atlantic waves. On the other hand, Rio Negro beaches are affected by the strong westerly winds blowing alongshore.La morfodinámica de playas fue enunciada como dependiendo del clima de olas, el rango de mareas y el tamaño de grano. La disponibilidad de sedimento es un factor condicionante heredado. Siete playas naturales del norte de Patagonia: 4 de la Provincia de Buenos Aires y 3 de Río Negro fueron relevadas durante 7 años. La playa de La Chiquita se caracteriza por la abundancia de arena fina aportada por el delta del Río Colorado. La Playa Pocitos es relativamente estable aunque está cambiando debido a la colonización por la ostra formadora de arrecifes Crassostrea virginica. Faro Segunda Barranca es una playa abierta muy afectada por tormentas extratropicales del SE. La playa de la Villa Siete de Marzo tiene una dinámica activa afectada por los embancamientos de la desembocadura del Río Negro y tormentas episódicas. La playa del Balneario El Cóndor es muy ancha con una caudalosa deriva litoral de oeste a este. La playa frente al Faro San Matías (Península Villarino) está controlada por una plataforma de abrasión cercana al límite de la bajamar. La playa Las Grutas está también controlada por una plataforma de abrasión aunque la abundancia de arena está relacionada al delta de reflujo de la Bahía de San Antonio. Las playas abiertas de la Provincia de Buenos Aires son muy afectadas por una deriva litoral hacia el norte inducida por olas del Atlántico Sur. Por el contrario, las playas de Río Negro son afectadas por fuertes vientos del oeste que fluyen paralelos a la costa.Fil: Isla, Federico Ignacio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Bertola, German Ricardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Fernández, Juan Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Bedmar, José Manuel. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentina. Secretaría de Industria y Minería. Servicio Geológico Minero Argentino; ArgentinaFil: Toffani, Mauricio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Patagonia Norte. Instituto de Investigación en Paleobiología y Geología; ArgentinaFil: Garzo, Pedro Andrés. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; Argentin

Study on the academic future of second-generation immigrants in Setúbal and Faro (Portugal).

[ES] : La investigación se centra en los estudiantes luso-africanos de educación secundaria que cursan estudios en dos de las ciudades portuguesas con mayor número de inmigrantes (Setúbal y Faro). Especialmente porque, según los últimos datos ofrecidos en Portugal por el Instituto Nacional de Estadística, en un futuro próximo estos jóvenes constituirán la mayoría de la población escolar en muchos centros del país y, al mismo tiempo, una gran parte de ellos contribuirá a elevar las ya altas tasas de abandono y fracaso escolar. Con la intención de facilitar la inclusión socioeducativa de estos alumnos, pretendemos determinar sus expectativas en relación a su trayectoria escolar, teniendo en cuenta aspectos sociales, familiares, económicos, educativos y escolares. Tras realizar el pertinente estudio documental, llevamos a cabo una recolección de datos basada en la observación in situ y un cuestionario vertebrado en siete grandes grupos de escalas: características de sus padres, trayectoria escolar, autoestima, motivación para continuar estudiando, expectativas sobre el futuro profesional, caracterización y evaluación del contexto escolar, y las expectativas al terminar la secundaria. De esta manera, relacionamos variables relativas a su situación sociofamiliar, su trayectoria escolar y su integración social con sus perspectivas de futuro. Tras la interpretación y análisis de los datos extraídos, entre otras conclusiones, afirmamos que el factor más influyente en las expectativas que tienen los alumnos luso-africanos que finalizan sus estudios de educación secundaria, es el interés de sus padres respecto a la formación de los niños. [EN] The research focuses on the Luso-African secondary school pupils studying in two of the Portuguese cities with the largest number of immigrants (Setúbal and Faro). Especially this cities, according to the latest data offered in Portugal by the National Institute of Statistics, in the near future these young people constitute the majority of the school population in many schools in the country and at the same time, a large portion of them will help to raise and high rates of dropout and failure. In order to facilitate the social inclusion of these students wanted to determine their expectations of their school career, taking into account social, family, economic, educational and school aspects. After a relevant documentary study, we conducted a data collection based on the in situ observation and a vertebrate of questionnaire scales in seven groups: characteristics of their parents, school career, self-esteem, motivation to continue studying, expectations about the future professional, characterization and evaluation of the school context, and expectations after high school. Thus, variables relate concerning their social and family situation, your school career and social integration with their future prospects. Following the interpretation and analysis of the extracted data, among other findings, we argue that the most influential in the expectations of the Luso- African students who complete their secondary education factor is the interest of parents in the education of children In order to facilitate the inclusion of socio students involved in migration processes, we aim to determine their expectations about their school. Especially because, according to latest data provided by the National Institute of Statistics in Portugal, in the near future these young people constitute the majority of the school population in many centers in that country and at the same time, much of it will help raise the actual high dropout and failure rates. Through our research we gather information from all the Luso-African secondary schools in two cities with the largest number of Portuguese immigrants (Setúbal and Faro). Data collection was performed using a questionnaire developed, aimed at the students of Portuguese-speaking Africa and was divided into seven major groups of scales: characteristics of parents, school career, selfmotivation to continue studying, professional expectations about the future, characterization and evaluation of the school setting, and characterization of expectations after secondary school. The extracted data includes social, familial, economic, educational and school children of immigrants, called second-generation immigrants or Luso-Africans. Thus, we find relations between their prospects and their social and family situation variables that influence school and their school and their social integration. After interpretation and analysis of extracted data, we conclude that the most influential factor in expectations, with the Luso-African students who complete their secondary school studies, is the interest of the parents regarding the formation of the children

Bacterial Communities in the Rhizosphere of Amilaceous Maize (Zea mays L.) as Assessed by Pyrosequencing

Maize (Zea mays L.) is the staple diet of the native peasants in the Quechua region of the Peruvian Andes who continue growing it in small plots called chacras following ancestral traditions. The abundance and structure of bacterial communities associated with the roots of amilaceous maize has not been studied in Andean chacras. Accordingly, the main objective of this study was to describe the rhizospheric bacterial diversity of amilaceous maize grown either in the presence or the absence of bur clover cultivated in soils from the Quechua maize belt. Three 16S rRNA gene libraries, one corresponding to sequences of bacteria from bulk soil of a chacra maintained under fallow conditions, the second from the rhizosphere of maize-cultivated soils, and the third prepared from rhizospheric soil of maize cultivated in intercropping with bur clover were examined using pyrosequencing tags spanning the V4 and V5 hypervariable regions of the gene. A total of 26031 sequences were found that grouped into 5955 distinct operational taxonomic units which distributed in 309 genera. The numbers of OTUs in the libraries from the maize-cultivated soils were significantly higher than those found in the libraries from bulk soil. One hundred ninety seven genera were found in the bulk soil library and 234 and 203 were in those from the maize and maize/bur clover-cultivated soils. Sixteen out of the 309 genera had a relative abundance higher than 0.5% and the were (in decreasing order of abundance) Gp4, Gp6, Flavobacterium, Subdivision3 genera incertae sedis of the Verrucomicrobia phylum, Gemmatimonas, Dechloromonas, Ohtaekwangia, Rhodoferax, Gaiella, Opitutus, Gp7, Spartobacteria genera incertae sedis, Terrimonas, Gp5, Steroidobacter and Parcubacteria genera incertae sedis. Genera Gp4 and Gp6 of the Acidobacteria, Gemmatimonas and Rhodoferax were the most abundant in bulk soil, whereas Flavobacterium, Dechloromonas and Ohtaekwangia were the main genera in the rhizosphere of maize intercropped with bur clover, and Gp4, Subdivision3 genera incertae sedis of phylum Verrucomicrobia, Gp6 and Rhodoferax were the main genera in the rhizosphere of maize plants. Taken together, our results suggest that bur clover produces specific changes in rhizospheric bacterial diversity of amilaceous maize plants.Peer reviewe

Determinación de residuos de imazapir en suelos de Argentina mediante cromatografía líquida de alta resolución y espectrometría de masas

La extracción y cuantificación de residuos de herbicidas en el suelo resultan de gran importancia para monitorear su presencia y minimizar el riesgo de contaminación asociado al uso de los mismos. Los objetivos de este trabajo fueron a) evaluar la eficiencia de distintos extractantes en la detección y cuantificación de residuos de imazapir en suelos de Argentina y b) determinar el efecto de la concentración del herbicida y de las características edafológicas en el porcentaje de recuperación de la metodología. Para desarrollar el primer objetivo, se seleccionaron siete extractantes (KCl (0.1 M pH 7), NaOH (0.5 M), KCl (0.1 M pH 14), KOH (0.1 M), CH3OH/H20 (80:20), NaOH/CH3OH (80:20; 0.5 M) e NaOH/CH3CN (80:20; 0.5 M)), determinándose el porcentaje de recuperación con cada uno de ellos. Posteriormente, una vez seleccionado el extractante óptimo, para el segundo objetivo, se analizaron cuatro suelos de Argentina (Tres Arroyos, Balcarce, Anguil y Cerro Azul) y cuatro concentraciones de imazapir (5, 25, 50 y 100 μg/kg). El ensayo se estableció bajo un diseño completamente aleatorizado en arreglo factorial. Las determinaciones se llevaron a cabo mediante cromatografía líquida de alta resolución acoplada a espectrometría de masas. Los resultados indicaron que el porcentaje de recuperación varió significativamente en función de la disolución empleada para la extracción. La disolución de cloruro de potasio (0.1 M, pH 7) resultó superior a los demás extractantes, alcanzando una recuperación de 95 %. Se detectó efecto de interacción (p < 0.05) entre los suelos y las concentraciones evaluadas. En líneas generales, los valores de recuperación en los suelos estudiados resultaron inferiores cuando se aplicaron bajas concentraciones del herbicida. La metodología propuesta resultó adecuada para la determinación y cuantificación de imazapir en distintos suelos y en un amplio rango de concentraciones.Extraction and quantification of herbicide residues from soil are important to make monitoring studies and to minimize the pollution risk. The objectives of this research were: to evaluate the efficacy of different solvents for the extraction and quantification of imazapyr residues from Argentine soils and to determine the concentration effect andsoil properties influences on herbicide recovery. Extraction solutions including 0.1M pH 7 potassium chloride (KCl), 0.5 M sodium hydroxide (NaOH), 0.1M pH 14 potassium chloride (KCl), 0.1 M potassium hydroxide (KOH), methanol/water (CH3OH/H20 80:20), 0.5 M sodium hydroxide/methanol(NaOH/CH3OH 80:20), and 0.5 M sodium hydroxide/acetonitrile (NaOH/CH3CN 80:20) to extract imazapyr from soil were investigated. Percentage recovery with each solution extraction was obtained. Then four argentine soils (Tres Arroyos, Balcarce, Anguil and Cerro Azul) and four imazapyr concentrations (5, 25, 50 and 100 μg/kg) were selected to evaluate the chosen method. Treatments were arranged in a completely randomized factorial design. The herbicide residues were determined and quantified by ultra performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. The recovery obtained showed significant differences between the extraction solutions. The best recovery (95%) was obtained using 0.1 M pH 7 potassium chloride. Interaction effect between soils and concentration was detected. The lowest recovery from soils was found using low imazapyr concentrations. Results have shown that the proposed methodology was suitable to detect and quantify imazapyr residues in different soils and in a wide range of concentrations.Fil: Gianelli, Valeria Rosana. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Zelaya, Manuel José. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; ArgentinaFil: Bedmar, Francisco. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata; ArgentinaFil: Costa, Jose Luis. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Balcarce; Argentin

Decapod crustaceans from the Lower Cretaceous of Spain, with an account of new occurrences in Barremian-Aptian strata of the Maestrazgo Basin

Decapod crustaceans are rare in Early Cretaceous invertebrate assemblages from the Iberian Peninsula; however, current knowledge does allow differences in taxonomic composition between different basins and subbasins to be recognised. In order to understand the distribution of Barremian–Aptian decapod crustaceans of Iberia better, seven new localities in the Galve subbasin (Maestrazgo Basin, north-east Spain) have been sampled. Seven taxa are here described, including the anomurans Cretacocalcinus fortis sp. nov. and Viapagurus gen. nov. (type species: Pagurus avellanedai Vía, 1951), one indeterminate axiidean, the astacidean Hoploparia sp., plus the brachyurans Ariecornibus sp., Pithonoton lluismariaorum Ossó, van Bakel, Ferratges-Kwekel and Moreno-Bedmar, 2018 and Palaeodromites pimientai sp. nov. Assemblages are characterised by low abundance, being found in formations that represent depositional settings ranging from shallow-marine platforms to deeper marine bottoms. Some taxa, such as V. avellanedai and P. lluismariaorum, are also known from other subbasins of the Maestrazgo Basin but, in general, most appear endemic, suggesting that regional changes in facies distribution may potentially have affected differences in taxonomic composition

Itinerarios culturales, técnicas de información, habilidades de comunicación y desarrollo de la competencia comunicativa en inglés y español. Una experiencia piloto en la Universidad de Jaén

[SPA]En esta comunicación se describe el proyecto “La utilidad de las habilidades de comunicación, las tecnologías de la información y comunicación así como de los itinerarios culturales para la difusión del patrimonio” financiado por la V Convocatoria de Proyectos Interdepartamentales por Titulaciones del Plan de Innovación Docente, Curso 2008-2010 de la Universidad de Jaén. El objetivo principal ha sido difundir el conocimiento de la cultura y riqueza del patrimonio cultural de Jaén a través de guías turísticas o itinerarios turísticos (redactados y expuestos oralmente tanto en español como en inglés para desarrollar la competencia comunicativa del alumnado en ambas), posteriormente difundidos de forma audiovisual recurriendo al empleo de las TIC. [ENG]In this paper we describe the project entitled ““La utilidad de las habilidades de comunicación, las tecnologías de la información y comunicación así como de los itinerarios culturales para la difusión del patrimonio” funded by the 5th Convocatoria de Proyectos Interdepartamentales por Titulaciones del Plan de Innovación Docente, Curso 2008-2010 de la Universidad de Jaén. The main objective of this project was to disseminate the knowledge of the culture and of the cultural heritage of the province of Jaén by means of tourist guides (written and orally exposed by students in Spanish and English to develop their communicative competence) by means of the design and publication of a multimedia CD.Campus Mare Nostrum, Universidad Politécnica de Cartagena, Universidad de Murcia, Región de Murci

Association between serum copper levels and risk of cardiovascular disease: a nested case-control study in the PREDIMED trial

Background and aim: Certain trace elements have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum copper (SeCu) levels and the risk of a first event of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a population of older adults with high cardiovascular risk. Methods and results: We conducted a case-control study nested within the PREDIMED trial. During a median follow-up of 4.8 years, a total of 207 incident cases diagnosed with CVD were matched for sex, age, and intervention group with 436 controls. Personal interviews, reviews of medical records, and validated questionnaires were used to assess known CVD risk factors. Biological serum samples were collected annually. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis was used to determine SeCu levels. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using multivariate conditional logistic regression models. All participants had SeCu levels within the reference values, 750 mg/L to 1450 mg/L. Among men, but not among women, the mean SeCu concentration was higher in cases 1014.1 mg/L than in controls 959.3 mg/L; (p Z 0.004). In men, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for CVD was 2.36 (95% CI 1.07e5.20 for the comparison of the highest vs. the lowest quartile; p for trend Z 0.02), in women, it was 0.43 (95% CI 0.11 e1.70; p for trend Z 0.165). Conclusion: In older Spanish men with high cardiovascular risk, a significant association was observed between high SeCu levels, but still within the reference values, and an increased risk of a first event of CVD. Our findings suggest a sex difference in CVD risk and SeCu levels. To confirm this relationship and to analyze the differences observed between men and women, further studies are needed.Funding for open access charge: Universidad de Málaga / CBUA. This research was funded by the official funding agency for biomedical research of the Spanish government, Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), through grants provided to research networks specifically developed for the trial (RTIC G03/140; RTIC RD 06/0045 “PREDIMED”), and JR14/00008, and through Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y Nutrición (CIBERobn), and by grants from Centro Nacional de Investigaciones Cardiovasculares (CNIC06/2007), the Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria–Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (Proyecto de Investigación (PI04-2239, PI05/2584, CP06/00100, PI07/0240, PI07/1138, PI07/0954, PI 07/0473, PI10/01407, PI10/02658, PI11/01647, P11/02505 and PI13/00462), the Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (Recursos y teconologia agroalimentarias (AGL)-2009-13906-C02 and AGL2010-22319-C03 and AGL2013-49083C3-1-R), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad-Fondos FEDER-Instituto de Salud Carlos III (UNGR15-CE-3380), the Fundación Mapfre 2010, the Consejería de Salud de la Junta de Andalucía (PI0105/2007), the Public Health Division of the Department of Health of the Autonomous Government of Catalonia, the Generalitat Valenciana (Generalitat Valenciana Ayuda Complementatia GVACOMP) 06109, GVACOMP2010-181, GVACOMP2011-151), Conselleria de Sanitat y AP; Atención Primaria (CS) 2010-AP-111, and CS2011-AP-042), Regional Government of Navarra (P27/2011), and Centre Català de la Nutrició de l'Institut d'Estudis Catalans. Hojiblanca and Patrimonio Communal Olivarero donated extra-virgin olive oil; the California Walnut Commission donated walnuts; Borges donated almonds; La Morella Nuts donated hazelnuts

Serum Selenium and Incident Cardiovascular Disease in the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea (PREDIMED) Trial: Nested Case-Control Study

Background: Selenium is an essential trace mineral with potential interest for cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention owing to its antioxidant properties. Epidemiological data on selenium status and CVD remain inconsistent. The objective of this study was to ascertain whether low serum selenium (SSe) concentrations are related to an increased risk of a first CVD event in a population at high cardiovascular risk. Methods: We undertook a case-control study nested within the PREvencion con DIeta MEDiterranea (PREDIMED) trial. A total of 207 participants diagnosed with CVD (myocardial infarction, stroke, or cardiovascular death) during the follow-up period (2003-2010) were matched by sex, age, and intervention group to 436 controls by incidence density sampling. Median time between serum sample collection and subsequent CVD event occurrence was 0.94 years. SSe levels were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis. Covariates were assessed through validated questionnaires, in-person interviews, and medical record reviews. Conditional logistic regression was used to calculate multivariable-adjusted odds ratios (ORs). Results: Among women, the mean SSe concentration was lower in cases than in controls (98.5 mu g/L vs. 103.8 mu g/L; p = 0.016). In controls, SSe levels were directly associated with percentage of total energy intake from proteins and fish intake (p for linear trend < 0.001 and 0.049, respectively), whereas SSe concentrations were inversely associated with age, body mass index, and percentage of total energy intake from carbohydrates (p for linear trend < 0.001, 0.008 and 0.016 respectively). In the total group, we observed an inverse dose-response gradient between SSe levels and risk of CVD in the fully-adjusted model (highest vs. lowest quartile: OR = 0.47, 95% CI: 0.27-0.81; ptrend = 0.003). Conclusions: Among elderly individuals at high cardiovascular risk, high SSe concentrations within population reference values are associated with lower first CVD incidence

Association between serum copper levels and risk of cardiovascular disease: A nested case-control study in the PREDIMED trial

Background and aim: Certain trace elements have been associated with increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between serum copper (S-Cu) levels and the risk of a first event of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in a population of older adults with high cardiovascular risk. Methods and results: We conducted a case-control study nested within the PREDIMED trial. During a median follow-up of 4.8 years, a total of 207 incident cases diagnosed with CVD were matched for sex, age, and intervention group with 436 controls. Personal interviews, reviews of medical records, and validated questionnaires were used to assess known CVD risk factors. Biological serum samples were collected annually. Inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analysis was used to determine S-Cu levels. Adjusted odds ratios were calculated using multivariate conditional logistic regression models. All participants had S-Cu levels within the reference values, 750 μg/L to 1450 μg/L. Among men, but not among women, the mean S-Cu concentration was higher in cases 1014.1 μg/L than in controls 959.3 μg/L; (p = 0.004). In men, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio for CVD was 2.36 (95% CI 1.07-5.20 for the comparison of the highest vs. the lowest quartile; p for trend = 0.02), in women, it was 0.43 (95% CI 0.11-1.70; p for trend = 0.165). Conclusion: In older Spanish men with high cardiovascular risk, a significant association was observed between high S-Cu levels, but still within the reference values, and an increased risk of a first event of CVD. Our findings suggest a sex difference in CVD risk and S-Cu levels. To confirm this relationship and to analyze the differences observed between men and women, further studies are needed