Negative responses of highland pines to anthropogenic activities in inland Spain: a palaeoecological perspective

Palaeoecological evidence indicates that highland pines were dominant in extensive areas of the mountains of Central and Northern Iberia during the first half of the Holocene. However, following several millennia of anthropogenic pressure, their natural ranges are now severely reduced. Although pines have been frequently viewed as first-stage successional species responding positively to human disturbance, some recent palaeobotanical work has proposed fire disturbance and human deforestation as the main drivers of this vegetation turnover. To assess the strength of the evidence for this hypothesis and to identify other possible explanations for this scenario, we review the available information on past vegetation change in the mountains of northern inland Iberia. We have chosen data from several sites that offer good chronological control, including palynological records with microscopic charcoal data and sites with plant macro- and megafossil occurrence. We conclude that although the available long-term data are still fragmentary and that new methods are needed for a better understanding of the ecological history of Iberia, fire events and human activities (probably modulated by climate) have triggered the pine demise at different locations and different temporal scales. In addition, all palaeoxylological, palynological and charcoal results obtained so far are fully compatible with a rapid human-induced ecological change that could have caused a range contraction of highland pines in western Iberia

Informe de resultados de la campaña `Maurit-0911'. Estudio de los ecosistemas de la plataforma y margen contiental de Mauritania

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Revue des plantes hôtes de Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) pour une meilleure gestion de ses populations en Afrique de l'Ouest

International audienceTuta absoluta (Meyrick) is an invasive pest species originating from South America of great importance for Solanaceae crops. It is currently present in most African countries and was reported in Senegal in 2012, where it is responsible for significant damage on tomato. Because of the significant role of alternative host-plants in the maintenance, dynamics and management of T. absoluta populations, a review of the literature was undertaken to inventory host-plants of the species. Seventy (70) bibliographical references of various types and sources were then consulted. They allowed us to identify sixty-eight (68) botanical species distributed in 11 families, namely Solanaceae (66,17%), Fabaceae (7,35%), Chenopodiaceae (5,88%), Amaranthaceae (4,41%), Malvaceae (2,94%), Asteraceae (2,94%), Convolvulaceae (2,94%), Cucurbitaceae (2,94%), Euphorbiaceae (1,47%), Poaceae (1,47%) et Geraniaceae (1,47%). The vernacular names of some species are given in French, Pulaar, Wolof and/or Serer to allow a better dissemination of information to local producers.Tuta absoluta (Meyrick) est une espèce invasive originaire d'Amérique du Sud et de grande importance pour les cultures de Solanacées. Elle est actuellement présente dans la plupart des pays d'Afrique et a été signalée au Sénégal en 2012, où elle est responsable de dégâts importants sur la tomate. En raison du rôle primordial des plantes hôtes alternatives sur le maintien, la dynamique et la gestion des populations de T. absoluta, une étude bibliographique a été entreprise pour recenser les plantes hôtes de l'espèce. Ainsi soixante-dix (70) références bibliographiques de nature et de sources variées ont été consultées. Elles ont permis de recenser soixante-huit (68) espèces botaniques réparties dans 11 familles, à savoir Solanaceae (66,17%), Fabaceae (7,35%), Chenopodiaceae (5,88%), Amaranthaceae (4,41%), Malvaceae (2,94%), Asteraceae (2,94%), Convolvulaceae (2 ,94%), Cucurbitaceae (2,94%), Euphorbiaceae (1,47%), Poaceae (1,47%) et Geraniaceae (1,47%). Les noms vernaculaires de certaines plantes ont été donnés en Français, Pulaar, Wolof et/ou Sérère pour permettre une meilleure diffusion de l'information vers les producteurs locaux

A experiência de cuidar da mulher alcoolista na família

Este estudo tem como objetivo investigar as práticas de cuidados desenvolvidas pela família à mulher alcoolista e conhecer a percepção desta em relação aos cuidados que recebe. Trata-se de um estudo de caso, desenvolvido com uma abordagem qualitativa, cujos dados foram coletados através de entrevistas semi-estruturadas, realizadas em 2008, no domicílio de uma família de classe média, residente em um município no extremo sul do Brasil e, posteriormente, submetidos à análise de conteúdo. Os resultados mostram que os cuidados desenvolvidos pela família são centrados nas necessidades de alimentação, higiene, sono, repouso, encaminhamento aos serviços especializados para a desintoxicação e que a mulher alcoolista interpreta esses esforços como sendo ações de controle sobre sua vida e punição pela sua condição de dependência. Destaca-se que a maneira da família cuidar modifica-se no mesmo compasso em que o alcoolismo evolui

Outcomes of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in T-cell Prolymphocytic Leukemia: A Contemporary Analysis from the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research.

BACKGROUND T-cell prolymphocytic leukemia (T-PLL) is a rare, aggressive malignancy with limited treatment options and poor long-term survival. Previous studies of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (alloHCT) for T-PLL are limited by small numbers, and descriptions of patient and transplant characteristics and outcomes after alloHCT are sparse. OBJECTIVE To describe outcomes of alloHCT in T-PLL and identify predictors of post-transplant relapse and survival. STUDY DESIGN We conducted an analysis of data using the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research (CIBMTR) database on 266 patients with T-PLL who underwent alloHCT during 2008-2018. RESULTS The 4-year rates of overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), relapse, and treatment-related mortality (TRM) were 30.0% (95% CI, 23.8-36.5%), 25.7% (95% CI, 20-32%), 41.9% (95% CI, 35.5-48.4%), and 32.4% (95% CI, 26.4-38.6%), respectively. In multivariable analyses, three variables were associated with inferior OS: myeloablative conditioning (MAC) (hazard ratio [HR] 2.18, p<0.0001); age older than 60 years (HR 1.61, p=0.0053); and suboptimal performance status defined by Karnofsky Performance Status (KPS) <90 (HR 1.53, p=0.0073). MAC also was associated with increased TRM (HR 3.31, p<0.0001), increased cumulative incidence of grade 2-4 acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) (HR 2.94, p=0.0011) and an inferior disease-free survival (HR 1.86, p=0.0004). Conditioning intensity was not associated with relapse; however stable disease/progression correlated with increased risk of relapse (HR 2.13, p=0.0072). Both in vivo T cell depletion (TCD) as part of conditioning and KPS <90 were associated with worse TRM and inferior DFS. Total Body Irradiation was not found to have any significant effect on OS, DFS or TRM. CONCLUSION Our data showed that reduced-intensity conditioning without in vivo T-cell depletion (that is, without ATG or alemtuzumab) prior to alloHCT was associated with long-term disease-free survival in patients with T-PLL who were 60 or younger or who had KPS >90 or had chemo-sensitive disease

Respiratory support in patients with severe COVID-19 in the International Severe Acute Respiratory and Emerging Infection (ISARIC) COVID-19 study: a prospective, multinational, observational study

Background: Up to 30% of hospitalised patients with COVID-19 require advanced respiratory support, including high-flow nasal cannulas (HFNC), non-invasive mechanical ventilation (NIV), or invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). We aimed to describe the clinical characteristics, outcomes and risk factors for failing non-invasive respiratory support in patients treated with severe COVID-19 during the first two years of the pandemic in high-income countries (HICs) and low middle-income countries (LMICs). Methods: This is a multinational, multicentre, prospective cohort study embedded in the ISARIC-WHO COVID-19 Clinical Characterisation Protocol. Patients with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection who required hospital admission were recruited prospectively. Patients treated with HFNC, NIV, or IMV within the first 24 h of hospital admission were included in this study. Descriptive statistics, random forest, and logistic regression analyses were used to describe clinical characteristics and compare clinical outcomes among patients treated with the different types of advanced respiratory support. Results: A total of 66,565 patients were included in this study. Overall, 82.6% of patients were treated in HIC, and 40.6% were admitted to the hospital during the first pandemic wave. During the first 24 h after hospital admission, patients in HICs were more frequently treated with HFNC (48.0%), followed by NIV (38.6%) and IMV (13.4%). In contrast, patients admitted in lower- and middle-income countries (LMICs) were less frequently treated with HFNC (16.1%) and the majority received IMV (59.1%). The failure rate of non-invasive respiratory support (i.e. HFNC or NIV) was 15.5%, of which 71.2% were from HIC and 28.8% from LMIC. The variables most strongly associated with non-invasive ventilation failure, defined as progression to IMV, were high leukocyte counts at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 5.86 [4.83-7.10]), treatment in an LMIC (OR [95%CI]; 2.04 [1.97-2.11]), and tachypnoea at hospital admission (OR [95%CI]; 1.16 [1.14-1.18]). Patients who failed HFNC/NIV had a higher 28-day fatality ratio (OR [95%CI]; 1.27 [1.25-1.30]). Conclusions: In the present international cohort, the most frequently used advanced respiratory support was the HFNC. However, IMV was used more often in LMIC. Higher leucocyte count, tachypnoea, and treatment in LMIC were risk factors for HFNC/NIV failure. HFNC/NIV failure was related to worse clinical outcomes, such as 28-day mortality. Trial registration This is a prospective observational study; therefore, no health care interventions were applied to participants, and trial registration is not applicable

Association of Country Income Level With the Characteristics and Outcomes of Critically Ill Patients Hospitalized With Acute Kidney Injury and COVID-19

Introduction: Acute kidney injury (AKI) has been identified as one of the most common and significant problems in hospitalized patients with COVID-19. However, studies examining the relationship between COVID-19 and AKI in low- and low-middle income countries (LLMIC) are lacking. Given that AKI is known to carry a higher mortality rate in these countries, it is important to understand differences in this population. Methods: This prospective, observational study examines the AKI incidence and characteristics of 32,210 patients with COVID-19 from 49 countries across all income levels who were admitted to an intensive care unit during their hospital stay. Results: Among patients with COVID-19 admitted to the intensive care unit, AKI incidence was highest in patients in LLMIC, followed by patients in upper-middle income countries (UMIC) and high-income countries (HIC) (53%, 38%, and 30%, respectively), whereas dialysis rates were lowest among patients with AKI from LLMIC and highest among those from HIC (27% vs. 45%). Patients with AKI in LLMIC had the largest proportion of community-acquired AKI (CA-AKI) and highest rate of in-hospital death (79% vs. 54% in HIC and 66% in UMIC). The association between AKI, being from LLMIC and in-hospital death persisted even after adjusting for disease severity. Conclusions: AKI is a particularly devastating complication of COVID-19 among patients from poorer nations where the gaps in accessibility and quality of healthcare delivery have a major impact on patient outcomes