Catàleg i valoració de les plantes aquàtiques de l’estany de Sils (La Selva, Catalunya)

Since the beginning of the eighteenth century, botanists in the southwest of Europe have recognized Estany de Sils (La Selva, Catalonia) as having a unique plant population, especially with regard to aquatic plants. Despite the lake being definitively drained in 1851, there is still today a fairly diverse aquatic flora in the remaining marshes and seasonal ponds. In this work, we present the catalogue of the flora of the aquatic plants in this Mediterranean wetland, compiled from field trips and from consultation of various herbaria and botanical works. Thus, according to our data, in the last 300 years, 37 aquatic plants have populated the lake, 12 of which are currently thought to have become locally extinct (although the presence of three of them is in doubt). The plants that have disappeared include Trapa natans, Marsilea quadrifolia, Najas minor and Rorippa amphibia. In addition, using the catalogue of flora, and following the criteria proposed by researchers of the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid, we have carried out a botanical evaluation of Estany de Sils as a wetland area (IH index). Its botanical value has been found to be very high (an IH of 7.0 in 1850 compared to an IH of 6.9 in 2014) and the lake can still be considered a wetland of European importance nowadays. It must be noted, that the 30.6% and the 19.4% of the vascular aquatic plants existing in Catalan Countries and Spain, respectively, have been observed in the study area.Desde el siglo XVIII, los botánicos del suroeste de Europa han reconocido el Estany de Sils (La Selva, Cataluña) por su flora singular, especialmente por sus plantas acuáticas. La laguna fue desecada definitivamente en 1851, pero en la actualidad, en los canales de riego y en las balsas temporales todavía mantiene una flora acuática diversa. En este trabajo, hemos realizado el catálogo florístico de las plantas acuáticas de este humedal mediterráneo, a partir de visitas de campo y de la consulta de varios herbarios y obras de botánica. Así, conforme a nuestros datos, en los últimos 300 años han habitado en la laguna 37 plantas acuáticas, 12 de las cuales las consideramos actualmente desparecidas (aunque la presencia de tres de ellas es dudosa). Entre los vegetales desaparecidos, cabe destacar Trapa natans, Marsilea quadrifolia, Najas minor y Rorippa amphibia. Por otra parte, a partir del catálogo florístico, y según los criterios propuestos por los investigadores del Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid, hemos realizado la valoración botánica del Estany de Sils como humedal (índice IH). Su valor botánico ha resultado muy elevado (1850, IH igual a 7,0; 2014, IH igual a 6,9) y todavía se puede considerar un humedal de importancia europea. Cabe destacar que el 30,6% y el 19,4% de las plantas acuáticas vasculares presentes en los Països Catalans y en el Estado Español, respectivamente, han sido observadas en la zona de estudio. [ca] Des de principis del segle XVIII, els botànics del sud-oest d’Europa han reconegut l’estany de Sils (la Selva, Catalunya) pel seu poblament vegetal singular, especialment pel que fa a les plantes aquàtiques. Malgrat ser dessecat definitivament al 1851, als canals de desguàs i a les basses temporals encara conserva una flora aquàtica prou diversa. En el present treball, hem elaborat el catàleg florístic de les plantes aquàtiques d’aquest aiguamoll, a partir de sortides de camp i de la consulta de diversos herbaris i obres de botànica. Segons les nostres dades, en els darrers 300 anys han poblat l’estany 37 plantes aquàtiques, 12 de les quals les considerem actualment desaparegudes (tot i que la presència de tres d’elles és dubtosa). Entre els vegetals desapareguts, cal destacar Trapa natans, Marsilea quadrifolia, Najas minor i Rorippa amphibia. D’altra banda, a partir del catàleg florístic, i segons el criteris proposats pels investigadors del Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid, hem realitzat la valoració botànica de l’estany de Sils com a zona humida (índex IH). El seu valor botànic ha resultat molt elevat (1850, IH igual a 7,0; 2014, IH igual a 6,9) i avui dia encara es pot considerar una zona humida d’importància europea. Cal tenir en compte que el 30,6% i el 19,4% de les plantes aquàtiques vasculars presents als Països Catalans i a l’Estat espanyol, respectivament, han estat observades a l’àrea d’estudi

Demografia i conservació de Simethis mattiazzi (Liliaceae), espècie d’interès per a la flora vascular de Catalunya

We provide new chorological, demographic, phenological, phytosociological, ecological and environmental management data of Simethis mattiazzi in Catalonia, a threatened vascular plant in the Mediterranean region. We have located 27 stands in the region of la Selva which counting give us an estimation of 176,052 individuals (22 stands). The area of occupancy is 43,594 m2 which are distributed in 10 UTM squares of 1 km per side. Simethis is a characteristic species of Lavandulo stoechadis-Ericetum scopariae association and can be found in three different habitats (32k Erica scoparia heaths, 45b Quercus suber forests with undergrowth of acidophilous scrub and 45i Mixed forest of Q. suber and Pinus spp.), clearly preferring the 32k. However, it produces more flowers per individual in environments that are less favourable (45b and 45i). By all appearances, the predominant distribution factor in Europe and Africa is climate, which always has to be Atlantic or Submediterranean with oceanic trend. Likewise, we give conservation proposals and confirm the current IUCN status “endangered” (EN) of Simethis in Catalonia.Aportamos nuevos datos corológicos, demográficos, fenológicos, fitosociológicos, ecológicos y de gestión ambiental sobre Simethis mattiazzi en Cataluña, una planta vascular amenazada en la región mediterránea. En la comarca de la Selva hemos localizado 27 rodales, cuyos recuentos nos dan una estimación de 176.052 individuos (22 rodales). El área de ocupación es de 43.594 m2 y se distribuyen en 10 cuadrados UTM de 1 km de lado. Simethis es una especie característica de la asociación Lavandulo stoechadis-Ericetum scopariae y se puede encontrar presente en tres hábitats diferentes (32k Brezales de Erica scoparia, 45b Bosques de Quercus suber con sotobosque de matorral acidófilo y 45i Bosques mixtos de Q. suber y Pinus spp.), prefiriendo claramente el 32k. Aun así, produce más flores por individuo en los ambientes que le son menos favorables (45b y 45i). Por lo que parece, el factor predominante de su distribución en Europa y África es el clima, el cual siempre tiene que ser atlántico o submediterráneo con tendencia oceánica. Asimismo, damos propuestas para su conservación y confirmamos el estatus actual UICN de «En Peligro» (EN) de Simethis en Cataluña. [ca] Aportem noves dades corològiques, demogràfiques, fenològiques, fitosociològiques, ecològiques i de gestió ambiental sobre Simethis mattiazzi a Catalunya, una planta vascular amenaçada a la regió mediterrània. A la comarca de la Selva hem localitzat 27 rodals, els recomptes dels quals ens donen una estimació de 176.052 individus (22 rodals). L’àrea d’ocupació és de 43.594 m2 i es distribueix en 10 quadrats UTM d’1 km de costat. Simethis és una espècie característica de l’associació Lavandulo stoechadis-Ericetum scopariae i es pot trobar present en tres hàbitats distints (32k Bruguerars d’Erica scoparia, 45b Boscos de Quercus suber amb sotabosc de brolla acidòfila i 45i Boscos mixtos de Q. suber i Pinus spp.), tenint una clara preferència pel 32k. Malgrat això, produeix més flors per individu en els ambients que li resulten menys favorables (45b i 45i). D’altra banda, pel que sembla, el factor predominant de la seva distribució a Europa i Àfrica és el clima, el qual sempre ha de ser atlàntic o submediterrani de tendència oceànica. Així mateix, donem propostes de conservació i confirmem l’estatus actual UICN de «En Perill» (EN) de Simethis a Catalunya

The INTERPRET Decision-Support System version 3.0 for evaluation of Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy data from human brain tumours and other abnormal brain masses.

Background Proton Magnetic Resonance (MR) Spectroscopy (MRS) is a widely available technique for those clinical centres equipped with MR scanners. Unlike the rest of MR-based techniques, MRS yields not images but spectra of metabolites in the tissues. In pathological situations, the MRS profile changes and this has been particularly described for brain tumours. However, radiologists are frequently not familiar to the interpretation of MRS data and for this reason, the usefulness of decision-support systems (DSS) in MRS data analysis has been explored. Results This work presents the INTERPRET DSS version 3.0, analysing the improvements made from its first release in 2002. Version 3.0 is aimed to be a program that 1st, can be easily used with any new case from any MR scanner manufacturer and 2nd, improves the initial analysis capabilities of the first version. The main improvements are an embedded database, user accounts, more diagnostic discrimination capabilities and the possibility to analyse data acquired under additional data acquisition conditions. Other improvements include a customisable graphical user interface (GUI). Most diagnostic problems included have been addressed through a pattern-recognition based approach, in which classifiers based on linear discriminant analysis (LDA) were trained and tested. Conclusions The INTERPRET DSS 3.0 allows radiologists, medical physicists, biochemists or, generally speaking, any person with a minimum knowledge of what an MR spectrum is, to enter their own SV raw data, acquired at 1.5 T, and to analyse them. The system is expected to help in the categorisation of MR Spectra from abnormal brain masses

Improved O2-assisted styrene synthesis by double-function purification of SWCNT catalyst

The catalytic performance of SWCNT was notably improved in the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene (EB) to styrene (ST) upon a double-function purification in one step of the raw SWCNT. This consists of lowering the MeOx concentration and generating surface C=O groups after processing it in nitric acid at controlled conditions, while preserving the structure. The textural improvement was ascribed to the cutting of the tubes/bundles by oxidation and to MeOx removal itself (dilution effect). Both EB conversion and ST selectivity increased with a parallel lowering of the undesired COx selectivity. The conversion was interpreted by the enhancement of the intrinsic properties (i.e., more surface ketonic groups) but also to the higher load of SWCNT in the bed upon purification; both factors contribute to a higher number of active sites (C=O) in the bed for styrene formation. The most purified catalyst underperformed in conversion once the purification altered the SWCNT structure notably. Thus, preserving the structure is an important condition to achieve high conversion and yield. The better selectivity was explained in two ways; more styrene-forming sites (C=O) or less COx-forming sites (uncoated MeOx) in the bed, or both. The styrene yield per catalyst volume was improved by an average of ca. 240 % in comparison to the non-purified SWCNT. Deactivation is critical in maximizing the purification effect on the intrinsic and volumetric yields. In practical terms, the purification method proved to enhance the reaction; the selectivity towards the unwanted COx was significantly lowered with a gain towards styrene, achieving comparable selectivity values as in the conventional process, but operated at much lower temperature

Differences between individuals with schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder and healthy controls in social cognition and mindfulness skills: A controlled study

The study of social cognition (SC) has emerged as a key domain of mental health, supporting the notion that poorer performance in SC tasks is linked to psychopathology, although most studies have primarily addressed only schizophrenia (SZ). Some recent studies have also shown deficits of SC in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) patients; however, little is known about how individuals with OCD may differ on SC performance from individuals with SZ. Moreover, initial research in this field suggests that mindfulness skills may be related to SC abilities such as theory of mind (ToM), emotion processing and empathy. Given the potential benefits of mindfulness for treating OCD and SZ, further efforts are needed to understand the association between mindfulness and SC in these populations. The main objective of this study was to compare samples of patients with SZ and OCD to healthy controls (HCs) on several social cognition (SC) domains and mindfulness measures. In total, 30 outpatients diagnosed with SZ, 31 outpatients diagnosed with OCD and 30 healthy controls were assessed in emotion recognition (the Eyes Test), ToM (the Hinting Task), attributional style (the Ambiguous Intentions and Hostility Questionnaire), empathy (the Interpersonal Reactivity Index) and dispositional mindfulness (the MAAS and the FFMQ). Both clinical groups showed poorer performance in emotion recognition and ToM than the HCs. The OCD and SZ patients did not significantly differ in impairment in SC, but the OCD group had higher scores in attributional style (intentionality and anger bias). With regard to mindfulness, the results found lower levels of acting with awareness for the HCs than for either clinical group and higher non-reactivity to inner experience for the HCs than for the individuals with OCD; the results also yielded significant correlations between SC and mindfulness. In conclusion, these findings revealed that SC abilities were impaired in the SZ and OCD groups compared to the HC group, suggesting a similar disrupted pattern in both clinical groups. Aspects of dispositional mindfulness were differentially associated with SC, which may suggest their potential role in novel transdiagnostic interventions

Frequency and clinical impact of CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B gene deletions as assessed by in-depth genetic analyses in adult T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

© The Author(s).Recurrent deletions of the CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B genes encoded at chromosome 9p21 have been described in both pediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but their prognostic value remains controversial, with limited data on adult T-ALL. Here, we investigated the presence of homozygous and heterozygous deletions of the CDKN2A/ARF and CDKN2B genes in 64 adult T-ALL patients enrolled in two consecutive trials from the Spanish PETHEMA group. Alterations in CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B were detected in 35/64 patients (55%). Most of them consisted of 9p21 losses involving homozygous deletions of the CDKNA/ARF gene (26/64), as confirmed by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH). Deletions involving the CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B locus correlated with a higher frequency of cortical T cell phenotype and a better clearance of minimal residual disease (MRD) after induction therapy. Moreover, the combination of an altered copy-number-value (CNV) involving the CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B gene locus and undetectable MRD (≤ 0.01%) values allowed the identification of a subset of T-ALL with better overall survival in the absence of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.This project was supported by the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, AECC (project ref.: GC16173697BIGA), by CERCA Program/Generalitat de Catalunya, the Catalan Government: 2014-SGR225 (GRE), Obra Social “La Caixa” and by Celgene Spain. E. Genescà is the recipient of agrant from the Spanish Health Ministry (ISCIII, CA12/00468) and an unrestricted grant from Gilead.A. Gonzalez-Perez is supported by a Ramon y Cajal fellowship (RYC-2013-14554) of the Educational Ministry (Madrid, Spain). This work was also partially supported by FEDER funds from the ISCIII (PT13/0010/0026, CIBERONC (CB16/12/00284 and CB16/12/00400), Madrid, Spain)

Frequency and clinical impact of CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B gene deletions as assessed by in-depth genetic analyses in adult T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Altres ajuts: This project was supported by the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer, AECC (project ref.: GC16173697BIGA), Obra Social "La Caixa" and by Celgene Spain. A. Gonzalez-Perez is supported by a Ramon y Cajal fellowship (RYC-2013-14554) of the Educational Ministry (Madrid, Spain). This work was also partially supported by FEDER funds from CIBERONC (CB16/12/00284 and CB16/12/00400), Madrid, Spain).Recurrent deletions of the CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B genes encoded at chromosome 9p21 have been described in both pediatric and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), but their prognostic value remains controversial, with limited data on adult T-ALL. Here, we investigated the presence of homozygous and heterozygous deletions of the CDKN2A/ARF and CDKN2B genes in 64 adult T-ALL patients enrolled in two consecutive trials from the Spanish PETHEMA group. Alterations in CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B were detected in 35/64 patients (55%). Most of them consisted of 9p21 losses involving homozygous deletions of the CDKNA/ARF gene (26/64), as confirmed by single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) arrays and interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization (iFISH). Deletions involving the CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B locus correlated with a higher frequency of cortical T cell phenotype and a better clearance of minimal residual disease (MRD) after induction therapy. Moreover, the combination of an altered copy-number-value (CNV) involving the CDKN2A/ARF/CDKN2B gene locus and undetectable MRD (≤ 0.01%) values allowed the identification of a subset of T-ALL with better overall survival in the absence of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Detection of kinase domain mutations in BCR::ABL1 leukemia by ultra-deep sequencing of genomic DNA

The screening of the BCR::ABL1 kinase domain (KD) mutation has become a routine analysis in case of warning/failure for chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) Philadelphia (Ph)-positive patients. In this study, we present a novel DNA-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) methodology for KD ABL1 mutation detection and monitoring with a 1.0E−4 sensitivity. This approach was validated with a well-stablished RNA-based nested NGS method. The correlation of both techniques for the quantification of ABL1 mutations was high (Pearson r = 0.858, p < 0.001), offering DNA-DeepNGS a sensitivity of 92% and specificity of 82%. The clinical impact was studied in a cohort of 129 patients (n = 67 for CML and n = 62 for B-ALL patients). A total of 162 samples (n = 86 CML and n = 76 B-ALL) were studied. Of them, 27 out of 86 harbored mutations (6 in warning and 21 in failure) for CML, and 13 out of 76 (2 diagnostic and 11 relapse samples) did in B-ALL patients. In addition, in four cases were detected mutation despite BCR::ABL1 < 1%. In conclusion, we were able to detect KD ABL1 mutations with a 1.0E−4 sensitivity by NGS using DNA as starting material even in patients with low levels of disease.Tis project was funded in part by CRIS CANCER FOUNDATION

Systemic ALCL Treated in Routine Clinical Practice : Outcomes Following First-Line Chemotherapy from a Multicentre Cohort

INTRODUCTION: Brentuximab vedotin (BV)-CHP is the new standard regimen for first-line treatment of systemic anaplastic large cell lymphoma (sALCL). We undertook a retrospective analysis of consecutive patients diagnosed with sALCL, treated in routine practice, to serve as a benchmark analysis for comparison BV-CHP efficacy in routine practice. METHODS: Patients aged 16 years or older with sALCL treated in seven UK and Australian centres and from 14 additional centres from the UK Haematological Malignancy Research Network database (n = 214). Treatment allocation was clinician choice and included best supportive care (BSC). Main outcomes were time to treatment failure (TTF) and overall survival (OS). Multivariable analysis for predictors of both TTF and OS was also undertaken. RESULTS: The median age 52 years (range 16-93), 18% ECOG ≥ 3 and 40% of cases were ALK positive. CHOP (cyclophosphamide, adriamycin, vincristine, prednisolone) was employed in 152 (71%) of patients and CHOEP (CHOP + etoposide) in 4% of patients. For CHOP-treated patients overall response rate (ORR) was 65% and complete response (CR) 47%. Only 9% of patients underwent autologous stem cell transplant (ASCT). With 57 months median follow-up, 4-year TTF and OS were 41.2% (95% CI 33.1-49.1) and 58.9% (95% CI 50.3-66.5) respectively. Multivariable analysis showed ALK+ status was independently associated with superior TTF (HR 0.36, 95% CI 0.21-0.63) but not OS (0.44, 95% CI 0.18-1.07). DISCUSSION: We present a retrospective analysis with mature follow-up of one of the largest multicentre populations of sALCL available, comparable to similar large retrospective studies. ALK status remains a strong predictor of outcomes. CONCLUSION: These data serve as a robust benchmark for BV-CHP as the new standard of care for sALCL. Similar real-world evidence with BV-CHP will be desirable to confirm the findings of ECHELON-2