Late Quaternary vegetation and coastal environmental changes at Ilha do Cardoso mangrove, southeastern Brazil

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)A 190 cm mangrove sediment core from the Ilha do Cardoso State Park, State of Sao Paulo, southeastern Brazil was analyzed for pollen, diatoms as well as carbon and nitrogen isotopes. The goal was to determine the dynamics of the coastal terrestrial/aquatic ecosystems, vegetation history and climate change in this region of the Brazilian Atlantic rainforest, during the Late Pleistocene and Holocene. The values for total organic carbon-TOC (from similar to 3 up to 40%), C/N ratios (from similar to 10 up to 130), and delta N-15 (similar to 0 to >8) are associated with well preserved aquatic and terrestrial organic matter and possibly influenced by nitrogen cycling (e.g., denitriflcation) that caused N-15 enrichment between >40,000 cal yr B.P. and similar to 23,000 cal yr B.P. Depleted delta C-13 values (similar to -28.0 parts per thousand) are also observed and indicate the predominance of C-3 plants. During this time interval, the pollen analysis reveals the presence of the genera Ilex. Alchomea, Weinmannia, Myrsine, Symplocos, Drimys and Podocarpus on a site currently occupied by mangrove vegetation. These data suggest that in the past prevailed a colder and more humid climate than today, with a low relative sea-level. From similar to 23,000 cal yr B.P. to similar to 2200 cal yr B.P. a sedimentary hiatus likely occurred, related to an erosive event associated to the post glacial sea-level rise. Since at least similar to 2200 cal yr B.P., sediments are marked by relatively low C/N ratios (from 2 to 27), exhibit more enriched delta C-13 (from similar to-26.0 parts per thousand to -24.0 parts per thousand) and delta N-15 (up to similar to 7) values and are characterized by the presence of marine diatoms. This indicates the return of the marine coastal line to its current position, and consequently the development of mangrove. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.3635768Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)FAPESP [04/00978-1, 04/15531-2

Enrichment of Rare Variants in Loeys-Dietz Syndrome Genes in Spontaneous Coronary Artery Dissection but Not in Severe Fibromuscular Dysplasia

rare variants in the known LDS genes impinge on SCAD risk, implying a pathophysiological role for dysregulated transforming growth factor \u3b2 signaling and, hence, opening new avenues for SCAD research and future prevention and therapy. Although validation in other SCAD cohorts is warranted, our results advocate for routine molecular diagnostic screening of LDS genes in patients with SCAD, even in those without connective tissue disease manifestations. We showed that pathogenic FLNA and LOX variants are occasionally found in SCAD\ub1FMD cases and revealed the presence of pathogenic COL3A1 variants in both patients with SCAD\ub1FMD and patients with FMD only

The interest of the Spanish network of investigators in back pain for rehabilitation physician

Background: The Spanish Back Pain Research Network (REIDE) brings together teams of researchers and clinicians who are interested in nonspecific neck and back pain (BP). Its objective is to improve the efficacy, safety, effectiveness, and efficiency of the clinical management of BP. Method: The Network welcomes clinicians and researchers interested in BP. The only requirement to become a member of REIDE is to take part in one of its research projects, and any member can propose a new one. The Network supports those projects that are of interest to two or more groups by assuming their administration and management, which allows the researchers to focus on their task. Its working method ensures methodological quality, a multidisciplinary approach, and the clinical relevance of those projects that are carried out. Results: 179 researchers from 11 areas in Spain are involved in REIDE, including experts in all of the relevant fields of BP research. Most Spanish studies on BP that have been published in international scientific journals come from the teams involved in REIDE, and it currently has 13 ongoing research projects. Conclusions: The Network can help to enhance research among rehabilitation specialists who are interested in BP, and can contribute to the development of research projects which are of interest to the specialty. © 2005 Sociedad Española de Rehabilitación y Medicina Física (SERMEF) y Elsevier España, S.L

The European/International Fibromuscular Dysplasia Registry and Initiative (FEIRI)-clinical phenotypes and their predictors based on a cohort of 1000 patients

AIMS: Since December 2015, the European/International Fibromuscular Dysplasia (FMD) Registry enrolled 1022 patients from 22 countries. We present their characteristics according to disease subtype, age and gender, as well as predictors of widespread disease, aneurysms and dissections.METHODS AND RESULTS: All patients diagnosed with FMD (string-of-beads or focal stenosis in at least one vascular bed) based on CTA, MRA and/or catheter-based angiography were eligible.Patients were predominantly women (82%) and Caucasians (88%). Age at diagnosis was 46\ub116 years (12% 6565yo), 86% were hypertensive, 72% had multifocal and 57% multivessel FMD. Compared to patients with multifocal FMD, patients with focal FMD were younger, more often men, had less often multivessel FMD but more revascularizations. Compared to women with FMD, men were younger, had more often focal FMD and arterial dissections. Compared to younger patients with FMD, patients 6565yo had more often multifocal FMD, lower eGFR and more atherosclerotic lesions. Independent predictors of multivessel FMD were age at FMD diagnosis, stroke, multifocal subtype, presence of aneurysm or dissection and family history of FMD. Predictors of aneurysms were multivessel and multifocal FMD. Predictors of dissections were age at FMD diagnosis, male gender, stroke and multivessel FMD.CONCLUSIONS: The European/International FMD Registry allowed large-scale characterization of distinct profiles of patients with FMD and, more importantly, identification of a unique set of independent predictors of widespread disease, aneurysms and dissections, paving the way for targeted screening, management and follow-up of FMD.TRANSLATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) is nowadays considered as a systemic arterial disease, warranting brain-to-pelvis vascular imaging in all patients. However, most current evidence is derived from a limited number of expert centres. Furthermore, one size may not fit all. Based on analysis of the first thousand patients enrolled in the European/International FMD registry (46 centres; 22 countries) we characterized distinct patient profiles according to FMD subtype, age and gender and identified predictors of widespread disease, aneurysms and dissections, paving the way for individualized management and follow-up. Further studies will allow refining patient characterization according to ethnicity, genetic profile and imaging biomarkers