78 research outputs found
Pinus halepensis afforestations and ecosystem restoration under semiarid conditions
En la segunda mitad del siglo XX se llevaron a cabo extensas repoblaciones en el SE de la Península Ibérica utilizando casi exclusivamente el pino carrasco (Pinus halepensis). El objetivo de las mismas era recuperar una cierta cubierta arbórea, desaparecida como consecuencia de diferentes usos y perturbaciones. Pese a su magnitud y a la sensibilidad de estas zonas a la desertificación, hasta la fecha no disponemos de una revisión exhaustiva de las consecuencias de estas repoblaciones y una evaluación objetiva del éxito conseguido en la restauración de estos ecosistemas. Esta revisión sería muy útil para poder desarrollar una gestión adaptativa de estos ecosistemas, y con ello optimizar los recursos asignados a su restauración. En este trabajo hemos recopilado información propia y bibliográfica sobre estas cuestiones, tratando de extraer conclusiones y de identificar cuestiones aún no solucionadas.Aleppo pine (Pinus halepensis) has been extensively used for the afforestation in SE Spain during the second half of the XXth century. The main objectives of these plantations were to increase plant protective cover and to regulate hydrological cycles. Despite the magnitude of these interventions and the sensitivity of this area to desertification, the ecological consequences of these plantations and the degree of success in restoring ecosystem integrity has not been fully evaluated. An integrated study could be very helpful to develop an adaptive management of these areas, and to optimise resources allocation. Here we review available information on the effect of P. halepensis afforestations under semiarid conditions, and identify the main lacks of knowledge.Esta revisión ha sido posible gracias a la financiación recibida a través del proyecto FANCB (Ministerio de Ciencia y Tecnología y FEDER; REN2001-0424-C02-02 / GLO)
Unique clinico-biological, genetic and prognostic features of adult early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Altres ajuts: this project was supported by the Asociación Española Contra el Cáncer (project ref: GC16173697BIGA), [...], and Obra Social "La Caixa"
A precision medicine test predicts clinical response after idarubicin and cytarabine induction therapy in AML patients
Complete remission (CR) after induction therapy is the first treatment goal in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients and has prognostic impact. Our purpose is to determine the correlation between the observed CR/CRi rate after idarubicin (IDA) and cytarabine (CYT) 3 + 7 induction and the leukemic chemosensitivity measured by an ex vivo test of drug activity. Bone marrow samples from adult patients with newly diagnosed AML were included in this study. Whole bone marrow samples were incubated for 48 h in well plates containing IDA, CYT, or their combination. Pharmacological response parameters were estimated using population pharmacodynamic models. Patients attaining a CR/CRi with up to two induction cycles of 3 + 7 were classified as responders and the remaining as resistant. A total of 123 patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were evaluable for correlation analyses. The strongest clinical predictors were the area under the curve of the concentration response curves of CYT and IDA. The overall accuracy achieved using MaxSpSe criteria to define positivity was 81%, predicting better responder (93%) than non-responder patients (60%). The ex vivo test provides better yet similar information than cytogenetics, but can be provided before treatment representing a valuable in-time addition. After validation in an external cohort, this novel ex vivo test could be useful to select AML patients for 3 + 7 regimen vs. alternative schedules
Construction of yellow fever virus subgenomic replicons by yeast-based homologous recombination cloning technique
HTLV-1 infection in solid organ transplant donors and recipients in Spain
Background: HTLV-1 infection is a neglected disease, despite infecting 10–15 million people worldwide and
severe illnesses develop in 10% of carriers lifelong. Acknowledging a greater risk for developing HTLV-1
associated illnesses due to immunosuppression, screening is being widely considered in the transplantation
setting. Herein, we report the experience with universal HTLV testing of donors and recipients of solid organ
transplants in a survey conducted in Spain.
Methods: All hospitals belonging to the Spanish HTLV network were invited to participate in the study. Briefly, HTLV
antibody screening was performed retrospectively in all specimens collected from solid organ donors and recipients
attended since the year 2008.
Results: A total of 5751 individuals were tested for HTLV antibodies at 8 sites. Donors represented 2312
(42.2%), of whom 17 (0.3%) were living kidney donors. The remaining 3439 (59.8%) were recipients. Spaniards
represented nearly 80%.
Overall, 9 individuals (0.16%) were initially reactive for HTLV antibodies. Six were donors and 3 were recipients.
Using confirmatory tests, HTLV-1 could be confirmed in only two donors, one Spaniard and another from
Colombia. Both kidneys of the Spaniard were inadvertently transplanted. Subacute myelopathy developed
within 1 year in one recipient. The second recipient seroconverted for HTLV-1 but the kidney had to be
removed soon due to rejection. Immunosuppression was stopped and 3 years later the patient remains in
dialysis but otherwise asymptomatic.
Conclusion: The rate of HTLV-1 is low but not negligible in donors/recipients of solid organ transplants in
Spain. Universal HTLV screening should be recommended in all donor and recipients of solid organ
transplantation in Spain. Evidence is overwhelming for very high virus transmission and increased risk along
with the rapid development of subacute myelopath
Rapid subacute myelopathy following kidney transplantation from HTLV-1 donors: role of immunosuppresors and failure of antiretrovirals
Two kidney transplant recipients from a single donor became infected with HTLV-1 (human T-lymphotropic virus type 1) in Spain. One developed myelopathy 8 months following surgery despite early prescription of antiretroviral therapy. The allograft was removed from the second recipient at month 8 due to rejection and immunosuppressors discontinued. To date, 3 years later, this patient remains infected but asymptomatic. HTLV-1 infection was recognized retrospectively in the donor, a native Spaniard who had sex partners from endemic regions. Our findings call for a reappraisal of screening policies on donor-recipient organ transplantation. Based on the high risk of disease development and the large flux of persons from HTLV-1 endemic regions, pre-transplant HTLV-1 testing should be mandatory in Spain
Twenty-three unsolved problems in hydrology (UPH) – a community perspective
This paper is the outcome of a community initiative to identify major unsolved scientific problems in hydrology motivated by a need for stronger harmonisation of research efforts. The procedure involved a public consultation through on-line media, followed by two workshops through which a large number of potential science questions were collated, prioritised, and synthesised. In spite of the diversity of the participants (230 scientists in total), the process revealed much about community priorities and the state of our science: a preference for continuity in research questions rather than radical departures or redirections from past and current work. Questions remain focussed on process-based understanding of hydrological variability and causality at all space and time scales.
Increased attention to environmental change drives a new emphasis on understanding how change propagates across interfaces within the hydrological system and across disciplinary boundaries. In particular, the expansion of the human footprint raises a new set of questions related to human interactions with nature and water cycle feedbacks in the context of complex water management problems. We hope that this reflection and synthesis of the 23 unsolved problems in hydrology will help guide research efforts for some years to come
Registro Español de Trasplante Cardiaco. XXXI Informe Oficial de la Asociación de Insuficiencia Cardiaca de la Sociedad Española de Cardiología
Introducción y objetivos
Se presentan las características clínicas y los resultados de los trasplantes cardiacos realizados en España con la actualización correspondiente a 2019.
Métodos
Se describen las características clínicas y los resultados de los trasplantes cardiacos realizados en 2019, así como las tendencias de estos en el periodo 2010-2018.
Resultados
En 2019 se realizaron 300 trasplantes (8.794 desde 1984; 2.745 entre 2010 y 2019). Respecto a años previos, los cambios más llamativos son el descenso hasta el 38% de los trasplantes realizados en código urgente, y la consolidación en el cambio de asistencia circulatoria pretrasplante, con la práctica desaparición del balón de contrapulsación (0, 7%), la estabilización del uso del oxigenador extracorpóreo de membrana (9, 6%) y el aumento de los dispositivos de asistencia ventricular (29%). La supervivencia en el trienio 2016-2018 es similar a la del trienio 2013-2015 (p = 0, 34), y ambas mejores que la del trienio 2010-2012 (p = 0, 002 y p = 0, 01 respectivamente).
Conclusiones
Se mantienen estables tanto la actividad del trasplante cardiaco en España como los resultados en supervivencia en los últimos 2 trienios. Hay una tendencia a realizar menos trasplantes urgentes, la mayoría con dispositivos de asistencia ventricular.
Introduction and objectives: The present report describes the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants in Spain and updates the data to 2019.
Methods: We describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of heart transplants performed in Spain in 2019, as well as trends in this procedure from 2010 to 2018.
Results: In 2019, 300 transplants were performed (8794 since 1984; 2745 between 2010 and 2019). Compared with previous years, the most notable findings were the decreasing rate of urgent transplants (38%), and the consolidation of the type of circulatory support prior to transplant, with an almost complete disappearance of counterpulsation balloon (0.7%), stabilization in the use of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (9.6%), and an increase in the use of ventricular assist devices (29.0%). Survival from 2016 to 2018 was similar to that from 2013 to 2015 (P = .34). Survival in both these periods was better than that from 2010 to 2012 (P = .002 and P = .01, respectively).
Conclusions: Heart transplant activity has remained stable during the last few years, as have outcomes (in terms of survival). There has been a trend to a lower rate of urgent transplants and to a higher use of ventricular assist devices prior to transplant
Construction and characterisation of a complete reverse genetics system of dengue virus type 3
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