Large-scale atmospheric circulation enhances the Mediterranean East-West tree growth contrast at rear-edge deciduous forests

Overlaid to a general reduction of European beech and sessile oak tree growth over the recent decades in the Mediterranean Basin, tree-ring records from western Mediterranean populations display a stronger growth decrease than eastern populations. We investigate here to what extent the impact of sustained atmospheric circulation patterns in summertime can explain the observed spatial patterns of tree growth. We use Canonical Correlation Analysis, a statistical method that identifies the coupled patterns that are optimally correlated between two multivariate data sets. A general change in growth trends, shifting from a general increase during the period 1950\ue2\u80\u931981 to a decrease during the last three decades (1982\ue2\u80\u932012), can be attributed to increasing summer temperatures, which exert a dominant and negative influence on growth in both tree species across sites. However, summer precipitation has gained importance for growth, coinciding with the intensification of the geographical polarity in climate conditions across the Mediterranean Basin. This intensification during the last three decades can be traced back to a strengthening of the Summer North Atlantic Oscillation (SNAO), which imparts an east-west dipole to summer climate in this region. Under predicted persistent stronger SNAO in the future, western populations would face harsher summer conditions than central and eastern rear-edge populations, due to decreasing precipitation and increasing temperatures in the western Mediterranean Basin. These results evidence the determinant role that changes in the atmospheric circulation patterns may play in the persistence of rear-edge temperate deciduous forests in the near future

Clinical management of homocystinuria; case report and review of the literature

La homocistinuria es un error congénito del metabolismo de la metionina que conduce al acúmulo de metionina y de su principal metabolito, homocisteína, en plasma, orina y tejidos. El acúmulo de homocisteína posee toxicidad sobre los sistemas óseo (osteoporosis), ocular (luxación del cristalino), nervioso (convulsiones, alteraciones psiquiátricas) y vascular (accidentes cerebrovasculares, enfermedad cardiovascular). Presentamos 2 casos de homocistinuria en 2 pacientes hermanos y, a continuación, revisamos las estrategias terapéuticas disponiblesHomocystinuria is a congenital disorder of methyonine metabolism that leads to increased plasmatic, urinary and tissue deposits of methyonine and its main metabolite: homocysteine. Homocysteine deposits are toxic for the skeletal system (osteoporosis), the eyes (lens dislocation), central nervous system (seizures, psychiatric disorders) and also induce vascular damage (stroke and other cardiovascular events). This article reports two patients with homocystinuria in two siblings, followed by a concise review on the therapeutic strategies available for this disorde

ENFERMERÍA: ATENCIÓN Y CUIDADOS EN EL GOLPE DE CALOR.

The heatstroke is an medical emergency and the cause of multiorganic failure. It is characterize by an increase of the corporal temperature above 40ºC and nervious system alteration where predominates the encephalopathy and it is usual the coma. Usually, the task done with cool weather are realtively easy, but become harder if they are done with hot weather. The physiological adjust that improve the tolerance are called collectively heat acclimatization adjustment; the best acclimatization occurs the first week of exposition and it finish in ten days. Men, as mammal animals, to live, need to mantain the corporal temperature between 36,8ºC and 37ºC indepently of the ambient temperature. The alteration of the temperature origins changes in the organism, it can tolerate 10ºc of internal temperature and an increase of 5ºC, the failure of the thermal mechanisms can produce the death. The thermic charge that can support the organism is a constant that lies on very thin limits and should be always zero. The internal temperature, it´s in dynamic balance between the factors that add corporal heat and those which remove it. This balance is obtained by the integration of the mechanisms that remove heat by evaporation and change it´s rythm of production by the organism. If the increase exceeds the lost the internal temperature increases; with the cold, the lost usually exceeds the production and the internal temperature falls. The corporal temperature increase because of the add from the ambient caused by the solar radiaton and certain objects that are warmer than the body and the chemical reactions in the metabolism (60-70 cal./h), when the muscles active themselves, it´s heat production is very big; with cold the metabolism rythm can increase 3-5 times, during strong exercises the metabolism rythm can increase twenty times the base line. The heat is lost by physic mechanisms of irradiation, conduction, convection and skin evaporation and respiratory tract.El golpe de calor es una emergencia médica y causa tratable de fracaso multiorgánico. Se caracteriza por un incremento de la temperatura corporal central por encima de 40ºC. y alteraciones del sistema nervioso central donde predomina la encefalopatía y es típico el coma. Habitualmente las tareas que se realizan con el tiempo fresco son relativamente fáciles, pero éstas se vuelven muy difíciles si se tratan de hacer en un día caluroso. Los ajustes fisiológicos que mejoran la tolerancia del calor se denominan colectivamente de aclimatación al calor; la mayor aclimatación ocurre durante la primera semana de exposición y se complementa a los diez días. Los hombres, como animales homeotermos, para subsistir, tenemos que ser capaces de mantener nuestra temperatura corporal estable entre 36´8 y 37ºC., independientemente de la temperatura ambiente. La alteración de la temperatura origina profundos cambios en la economía del organismo. Puede tolerarse una temperatura interna de 10ºC. y con un aumento de sólo 5ºC. el fracaso de los mecanismos termorreguladores puede desencadenar la muerte. La carga térmica que debe soportar el organismo es una constante homeostática vital que se mueve en unos límites muy estrechos y que debe ser siempre cero. La temperatura interna está en equilibrio dinámico entre los factores que añaden calor corporal y los que lo substraen. Este equilibrio se mantiene mediante la integración de los mecanismos que derivan el calor a la periferia, regulan el enfriamiento por evaporación y varían su ritmo de producción por el organismo; si la ganancia excede a la pérdida, la temperatura interna aumenta; con el frío, la pérdida a menudo excede a la producción y la temperatura interna desciende. La temperatura corporal se incrementa debido a la absorción desde el ambiente a causa de la radiación solar y de determinados objetos que están más calientes que el propio cuerpo; también se incrementa por el calor producido en las reacciones del metabolismo, cuando los músculos se activan. El calor se pierde por los mecanismos físicos de irradiación, conducción, convección y la evaporación de la piel y las vías respiratorias

ENFERMERÍA: CANALIZACIONES PERIFÉRICAS, ATENCIÓN, CUIDADOS, MANTENIMIENTO Y COMPLICACIONES.

The channelling of the vein tract is one of the techniques realized by the infirmary personnel that has mayor incidence in the patients. In our Hospital with a number of unrgencies between 500-600, it is confirmed that this technic is te most efficacious. In the casuality Deparment, with a personnel of 78-80 nurses, there is a considerable number of personnel, moved from other services or from new incorporation to the personnel. Students of the third year realize practises in the service. The objective of our study is to make bibliographic revision and to revise the different cattegories of new catheters incorporated to the service, all this with our personal experience with the purpose of update our knowledge to realize a good practise in the vein channelling. At the same time, make some recommendations in the possible complications that may occur.La canalización de vías venosas es una de las técnicas realizadas por el personal de enfermería que mayor incidencia presenta sobre los pacientes. En nuestro hospital, con un número de urgencias diarias que oscila entre 500-600, se confirma que la técnica de más incidencia es la canalización venosa. En nuestro Servicio de urgencias, con una plantilla de 78 enfermeros/as, hay un número considerable de enfermeros/as de nueva incorporación en la plantilla fija, enfermeros/as desplazados de otros servicios. También estudiantes de tercer curso de enfermería que realizan sus prácticas en el Servicio. El objetivo de nuestro estudio constituye en hacer una revisión bibliográfica, revisar las distintas modalidades de nuevos catéteres incorporados al Servicio, todo ello acompañado de nuestra experiencia personal con la finalidad de actualizar nuestros conocimientos para la realización de una buena práctica en las canalizaciones venosas. Al mismo tiempo hacer una serie de recomendaciones en los cuidados de cada una de las posibles complicaciones que pueden presentarse

Intradermal and virosomal influenza vaccines for preventing influenza hospitalization in the elderly during the 2011–2012 influenza season: A comparative effectiveness study using the Valencia health care information system

AbstractBackgroundThe use of intradermal vaccination or virosomal vaccines could increase protection against influenza among the vulnerable population of older adults. Studies assessing the comparative effectiveness of these two influenza vaccine types in this age group are lacking.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study to estimate the comparative effectiveness of intradermal seasonal trivalent-influenza vaccine (TIV) delivered by a microneedle injection system and a virosomal-TIV intramuscularly delivered for prevention of influenza hospitalization in non-institutionalized adults aged ≥65 years. We obtained administrative data on immunization status and influenza hospitalization for the 2011–2012 influenza season, and used Cox regression models to assess comparative effectiveness. We estimated crude and adjusted (age, sex, comorbidity, pharmaceutical claims, recent pneumococcal vaccination and number of hospitalizations for all causes other than influenza between the previous and current influenza seasons) hazard ratios (HR).ResultsOverall, 164,021 vaccinated subjects were evaluated. There were 127 hospitalizations for influenza among 62,058 subjects, contributing 914,740 person-weeks at risk in the virosomal-TIV group, and 133 hospitalizations for influenza among 101,963 subjects, contributing 1,504,570 person-weeks at risk in the intradermal-TIV group. The crude HR of intradermal-TIV relative to virosomal-TIV was 0.64 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50–0.81), and the adjusted Cox estimated HR was 0.67 (95% CI: 0.52–0.85).ConclusionsDuring the 2011–2012 influenza season the risk of hospitalization for influenza was reduced by 33% in non-institutionalized elderly adults who were vaccinated with intradermal-TIV compared with virosomal-TIV

Insight of lichens as ideal models for astrobiological studies analyzed by Raman spectroscopy

Exposure experiments of different species to space conditions are essential because real space conditions with different radiation sources like ionizing radiation, UV-radiation, X-rays, gamma-ray from even galactic radiation, vacuum and space weathering by micro-dust cannot simultaneously be simulated in parallel even in our best simulation chambers on Earth. We need results from experiments under real space conditions to enable the development of appropriate predictions about the stability of organisms and their constituent organic parts. The extremophile lichen Circinaria gyrosa is one of the selected species within the BIOMEX (Biology and Mars Experiment) experiment and in this work we compare the previous Raman results obtained in this lichen [1] with the corresponding Raman results on the lichen Xanthoparmelia hueana. Both species have been exposed to space and simulated Mars-like conditions in planetary chambers and we have studied and identified possible degradation process in different layers and biomarkers. The analysis by Raman spectroscopy of simulated Space and Mars exposed samples confirm alterations and damages of the photobiont part of the lichen and changes related to the molecular structure of whewellite. The conclusions of this work will be important to understand what are the effects to consider when biological systems are exposed to space or Mars-like conditions and to expand our knowledge of how life survives in most extreme conditions that is a prerequisite in future planetary exploration projects.Acknowledgment Support for this work was provided by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness (MINECO), by the project BIOindicadores en MARTE y Espacio (BIOMARSS) (PID2019-109448RB-I00) and by INTA. References [1] M.R. Lopez Ramirez, L.G Sancho, J. P. de Vera, M. Baqué, U. Böttcher, E. Rabbow, J. Martínez-Frías, R. de la Torre Noetzel. Spectrochimica Acta, Part A. 261 (2021) 120046.Universidad de Málaga. Campus de Excelencia Internacional Andalucía Tec

The BIOMEX experiment on-board the International Space Station: limits of life and detection of biomarkers after exposure to space- and to Mars-like conditions

To explore the limits of terrestrial life in space, we have to understand the effects of the space environment on unprotected biological and chemical material, and on the degradation of organic molecules or biomarkers. The exposure platform EXPOSE-R2 on the ISS offer a suitable facility for the exposure of samples of the astrobiological model lichen Circinaria gyrosa, included in the BIOMEX experiment (Biology and Mars Experiment, ESA). During 18 months (2014-2016), the lichens lived in a latent state at space and at simulated Mars-like conditions, to study Mars’ habitability and resistance to space conditions. After the return of the samples in June 2016, initial analysis showed rapid recovery of photosystem II (PSII) activity in the samples exposed exclusively to space vacuum and to Mars-like atmosphere. In contrast, the samples directly exposed to solar UV radiation showed a slow and a lower recovery, in reference to their observed original activity. This tendency was corroborated with the complementary morphological/ultrastructural and biomolecular analyses. Complementary, the biogeochemical variations have been examined with Raman spectroscopy to assess the possible degradation of cell surfaces and pigments which were in contact with terrestrial rocks, and Martian analogue regolith. Identification of the biomarker whewellite (calcium oxalate) and other organic compounds and mineral products of the biological activity of Circinaria gyrosa were detected by Raman Laser. These findings contribute to answer questions on the habitability of Mars, the likelihood of the Lithopanspermia Hypothesis, the capability to detect biomolecules exposed to an extraterrestrial environment by life-detection instruments and will be of relevance for planetary protection issues

Oral chondroitin sulfate and prebiotics for the treatment of canine Inflammatory Bowel Disease: a randomized, controlled clinical trial

BACKGROUND Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic enteropathy of unknown etiology, although microbiome dysbiosis, genetic susceptibility, and dietary and/or environmental factors are hypothesized to be involved in its pathogenesis. Since some of the current therapies are associated with severe side effects, novel therapeutic modalities are needed. A new oral supplement for long-term management of canine IBD containing chondroitin sulfate (CS) and prebiotics (resistant starch, β-glucans and mannaoligosaccharides) was developed to target intestinal inflammation and oxidative stress, and restore normobiosis, without exhibiting any side effects. This double-blinded, randomized, placebo-controlled trial in dogs with IBD aims to evaluate the effects of 180 days administration of this supplement together with a hydrolyzed diet on clinical signs, intestinal histology, gut microbiota, and serum biomarkers of inflammation and oxidative stress. RESULTS Twenty-seven client-owned biopsy-confirmed IBD dogs were included in the study, switched to the same hydrolyzed diet and classified into one of two groups: supplement and placebo. Initially, there were no significant differences between groups (p > 0.05) for any of the studied parameters. Final data analysis (supplement: n = 9; placebo: n = 10) showed a significant decrease in canine IBD activity index (CIBDAI) score in both groups after treatment (p < 0.001). After treatment, a significant decrease (1.53-fold; p < 0.01) in histologic score was seen only in the supplement group. When groups were compared, the supplement group showed significantly higher serum cholesterol (p < 0.05) and paraoxonase-1 (PON1) levels after 60 days of treatment (p < 0.01), and the placebo group showed significantly reduced serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC) levels after 120 days (p < 0.05). No significant differences were found between groups at any time point for CIBDAI, WSAVA histologic score and fecal microbiota evaluated by PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). No side effects were reported in any group. CONCLUSIONS The combined administration of the supplement with hydrolyzed diet over 180 days was safe and induced improvements in selected serum biomarkers, possibly suggesting a reduction in disease activity. This study was likely underpowered, therefore larger studies are warranted in order to demonstrate a supplemental effect to dietary treatment of this supplement on intestinal histology and CIBDAI

Assessment of genetic diversity of zoonotic Brucella spp. recovered from livestock in Egypt using multiple locus VNTR analysis

Brucellosis is endemic in most parts of Egypt, where it is caused mainly by Brucella melitensis biovar 3, and affects cattle and small ruminants in spite of ongoing efforts devoted to its control. Knowledge of the predominant Brucella species/strains circulating in a region is a prerequisite of a brucellosis control strategy. For this reason a study aiming at the evaluation of the phenotypic and genetic heterogeneity of a panel of 17 Brucella spp. isolates recovered from domestic ruminants (cattle, buffalo, sheep, and goat) from four governorates during a period of five years (2002-2007) was carried out using microbiological tests and molecular biology techniques (PCR, MLVA-15, and sequencing). Thirteen strains were identified as B. melitensis biovar 3 while all phenotypic and genetic techniques classified the remaining isolates as B. abortus (n = 2) and B. suis biovar 1 (n = 2). MLVA-15 yielded a high discriminatory power (h = 0.801), indicating a high genetic diversity among the B. melitensis strains circulating among domestic ruminants in Egypt. This is the first report of the isolation of B. suis from cattle in Egypt which, coupled with the finding of B. abortus, suggests a potential role of livestock as reservoirs of several zoonotic Brucella species in the region