Intensive Habitat Loss in South Spain: Arborescent Scrubs with <em>Ziziphus</em> (5220*)

The habitat arborescent matorral with Ziziphus (5220*) was included in the Habitats Directive of the European Commission. These plant formations represent the maximum potential vegetation in a very restrictive arid environment, since it encompasses endemic, tropical, or Maghrebian floristic elements, and from other areas of the ancient Thetis Sea. In fact, the version of this community with Gymnosporia senegalensis (Lam.) Loes. [=Maytenus senegalensis (Lam.) Exell] constitutes extraordinarily singular flora formations in the Iberian southeast. These are unique communities in Europe and ecologically extremely valuable and, however, have been included among the Europe’s most endangered habitats. The vast economic development experienced in South Spain based on the remarkable transformation of traditional farming patterns into a highly profitable agriculture that uses industrial production methods and the groundwater intensively (agriculture intensification and land-use change), in addition to urbanization without sustainable land planning, determines that European G. senegalensis populations are seriously threatened by severe habitat destruction and fragmentation

A decade of left atrial appendage closure: from procedural data to long-term clinical benefit

Introducción y objetivos: Conocer el beneficio clínico del cierre percutáneo de la orejuela izquierda (OI) en nuestro medio; en concreto, la reducción de eventos tromboembólicos y hemorrágicos, que permitiría un mejor posicionamiento de esta intervención. Métodos: Estudio retrospectivo que recoge la actividad del cierre de OI en un centro durante 9 años. Se registraron la tasa de éxito del dispositivo y del procedimiento, así como las tasas de eventos tromboembólicos y de hemorragia mayor. Resultados: Se evaluaron 260 procedimientos de cierre de OI en una población con fibrilación auricular no valvular y puntuación en las escalas CHA 2 DS 2 -VASc de 4,3 ± 1,6 y HAS-BLED de 3,7 ± 1,2. El éxito del procedimiento fue del 98,8%, y la tasa de eventos adversos graves en los primeros 7 días fue del 2,3%. Con un seguimiento medio de 2,5 ± 1,9 años y una población de 637,9 pacientes-año, la tasa de eventos tromboembólicos fue de 1,4 por 100 pacientes-año (75,5% de reducción del riesgo) y la de hemorragia mayor fue de 3,0 por 100 pacientes-año (58,5% de reducción del riesgo), ambas significativamente menores que las predichas. Las tasas de eventos por 100 pacientes-año en los pacientes con seguimiento muy largo (más de 4 años) mostraron tendencia a ser menores que en el resto de la población (0,7 frente a 2,0, con p = 0,17, para evento tromboembólico, y 1,7 frente a 4,0, con p = 0,09, para hemorragia mayor). Conclusiones: En nuestra población, el cierre de la OI mostró un elevado éxito del procedimiento y una baja tasa de eventos inmediatos. El cierre de la OI indujo una significativa reducción en la tasa prevista de eventos tromboembólicos y hemorrágicos, y dicha reducción se mantuvo a muy largo plazo.Introduction and objectives: A better positioning of left atrial appendage closure (LAAC) requires assessment of its clinical benefits to reduce thromboembolic and bleeding events in a real-word population. Methods: Single-center retrospective study of our consecutive LAAC activity for 9 years. Both the device success and procedural success were registered as well as the reduction of the expected rates of thromboembolic and major bleeding events. Results: A total of 260 LAAC procedures were performed in a population with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation with CHA2 DS 2 -VASc and HAS-BLED scores of 4.3 ± 1.6 and 3.7 ± 1.2, respectively. Procedural success was 98.8%, and the rate of serious adverse events within the first 7 days was 2.3%. At a median follow-up of 2.5 ± 1.9 years and an estimated population of 637.9 patients-year, the thromboembolic event rate was 1.4 per 100 patients-year (75.5% risk reduction) and the rate of major bleeding was 3.0 per 100 patients-year (58.5% risk reduction), which was significantly lower than anticipated. The thromboembolic and major bleeding events per 100 patients-year showed a lower tendency for patients with very long follow-up (over 4 years) compared to the remaining of the population (0.7 vs 2.0 with P = .17, and 1.7 vs 4.0 with P = .09, respectively)

Prosthetic rehabilitation of an edentulous cleft palate using a denture with a palatal obturator: a clinical report

A cleft palate is a genetic disorder that occurs when an oro-nasal communication is present between the palate and the base of the nose. During pregnancy, the maxillary is not completely merged, and the defect is only seen at birth. Possible causes are hormonal imbalances, nutritional deficiencies, infections, radiation during pregnancy, alcohol or cigarette consumption, the ingestion of other teratogenic substances by the mother, and heredity. The resulting defect requires corrective surgery. In the case of a cleft palate, surgery is postponed until after the first year of life to avoid disturbing the normal development of speech and the risk of aspiration of food, which causes infections such as otitis and pneumonia. Ear infections can harm the development of speech in cases where surgery is not possible or the defect has reappeared. This article describes the prosthetic rehabilitation of a edentulous patient: a woman of 53 years old with a cleft palate who was treated surgically. In a clinical examination, a residual palatal defect was identified. The prosthetic rehabilitation involved the emplacement of a complete adapted prosthesis, using a palatal obturator, with a view to sealing the defect and allowing the patient to acquire better speech quality, and improve her nutrition and well-being

Global and Regional IUCN Red List Assessments: 3

In this contribution, the conservation status assessment of four vascular plants are presented according to IUCN categories and criteria. It includes the assessment at global level of Crepis lacera Ten subsp. titani (Pamp.) Roma-Marzio, G.Astuti & Peruzzi and Anthyllis hermanniae L. subsp. sicula Brullo & Giusso and the regional assessment of Commicarpus plumbagineus (Cav.) Standl. (Spain and Europe) and Ambrosia maritima L. (Italy)

Contribución al conocimiento de los edafismos de las comarcas interiores de Andalucía Oriental (España)

In this paper we present 21 new records for 16 taxa of peculiar substrates in Eastern Andalusia; these evidences provide several new records for regional and provincial flora.Se presentan 21 citas de 16 taxones propios de substratos peculiares de Andalucía Oriental, estas citas aportan varias novedades florísticas regionales, provinciales y comarcales

Soft drink intake is associated with weight gain, regardless of physical activity levels: The health workers cohort study

Background: While soft drink intake is positively associated with weight gain, no previous study has investigated whether leisure-time physical activity modifies this association. We estimated the association between soft drink intake and body weight, and explored if this association differed by levels of leisure-time physical activity. Methods: We used data from the health workers cohort study, a prospective study of Mexican adults (20 to 85y old), including 1268 health workers and their families, who were assessed at baseline (2004-2006) and follow-up (2010-2012). We assessed soft drink intake (cola and flavored soda) using a validated food frequency questionnaire. We measured leisure-time physical activity using a self-report questionnaire, and categorized according to the 2010 World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations. Body weight was measured by trained personnel. The association between changes in soft drink intake and weight change, and if such association varied by levels of physical activity was estimated through fixed-effect models. Results: An increase in one serving per day of soft drink was associated with 0.10 kg (95% CI 0.00, 0.19) increase in weight per year. This association was not modified by leisure-time physical activity, as demonstrated by the magnitude of the coefficient of the interaction between soft drink, leisure-time physical activity, and time (-0.03 kg, 95% CI-0.27 to 0.21); people who complied with the WHO physical activity recommendations gained 0.36 kg/year per serving of soft drink, compared to 0.48 kg/year for people without sufficient physical activity. Conclusions: Soft drink intake was associated with weight gain. Leisure-time physical activity did not modify the association between soft drink intake and weight gain. This finding challenges the idea that leisure-time physical activity is sufficient to counterbalance weight gain associated to soft drink intake

Fold and fault activity in the Campo de Dalias from GNSS networks

IV Reunión Ibérica sobre Fallas Activas y Paleosismología, del 7 al 10 de septiembre de 2022 en Teruel.-- 3 pages, 1 figure, 1 table[EN] The Campo de Dalias GNSS network monitors since 2006 the active tectonic deformation of the most seismic area on the boundary of the Alboran Sea and the Betic Cordillera. The residual deformation rates determined with respect to Eurasia range from 1.7 to 3.0 mm/yr. The displacements are roughly homogenous towards WSW of the northern sites while the southern sites evidence irregular displacements towards the W and NW. This deformation pattern supports simultaneous NNWSSE shortening that develops ENE-WSW folds and ENE-WSW extension, accommodated by normal and oblique faults. Moreover, the GNSS results point to dextral kinematics of the main NW-SE Balanegra Fault, that was previously considered as a normal fault. These GNSS results thus reveal, for the first time, present-day interaction of the roll-back tectonics of the Rif-Gibraltar-Betics slab in the western part of the Gibraltar Arc with the indentation tectonics affecting the eastern and southern areas, providing new insights for seismic hazard studies in this region[ES] La red GNSS del Campo de Dalias monitoriza desde 2006 la deformación tectónica activa de la zona con mayor sismicidad del límite entre la Cordillera Bética y el Mar de Alborán. Las velocidades de deformación residuales calculadas con respecto a Eurasia oscilan entre 1,7 y 3,0 mm/año. Los desplazamientos son aproximadamente homogéneos hacia el OSO de las estaciones del norte, mientras que las estaciones del sur evidencian desplazamientos irregulares hacia el O y el NO. Este patrón de deformación indica el acortamiento NNO-SSE que desarrolla pliegues ENE-OSO simultáneo a la extensión ENEOSO, acomodada por fallas normales y oblicuas. Además, los resultados de la red GNSS indican un salto dextro de la falla de Balanegra, con orientación NO-SE, que había sido considerada anteriormente como una falla normal. Las redes GNSS revelan, por primera vez, la interacción actual de la tectónica de roll-back asociada a la subducción Rif-Gibraltar-Bética en la parte occidental del Arco de Gibraltar y la tectónica de indentación que afecta a las zonas oriental y meridional del Mar de Alborán. Además, proporciona nuevos datos para los estudios de peligrosidad sísmica en esta regiónJunta de Andalucía; FEDER: AGORA P18-RT-3275, PAPEL B-RNM-301-UGR18; Programa Operativo FEDER-Andalucía 2014–2020 1263446; Universidad de Jaén. CEACTEMA. POAIUJA 21/22, Junta de Andalucía. RNM-148, RNM-282, RNM-370; V.T.S. FPU (16/04038)Peer reviewe

Effectiveness and safety of first-generation protease inhibitors in clinical practice: Hepatitis C virus patients with advanced fibrosis

AIM: To evaluates the effectiveness and safety of the first generation, NS3/4A protease inhibitors (PIs) in clinical practice against chronic C virus, especially in patients with advanced fibrosis. METHODS: Prospective study and non-experimental analysis of a multicentre cohort of 38 Spanish hospitals that includes patients with chronic hepatitis C genotype 1, treatment-nai¨ve (TN) or treatment-experienced (TE), who underwent triple therapy with the first generation NS3/4A protease inhibitors, boceprevir (BOC) and telaprevir (TVR), in combination with pegylated interferon and ribavirin. The patients were treatment in routine practice settings. Data on the study population and on adverse clinical and virologic effects were compiled during the treatment period and during follow up. RESULTS: One thousand and fifty seven patients were included, 405 (38%) were treated with BOC and 652 (62%) with TVR. Of this total, 30% (n = 319) were TN and the remaining were TE: 28% (n = 298) relapsers, 12% (n = 123) partial responders (PR), 25% (n = 260) null-responders (NR) and for 5% (n = 57) with prior response unknown. The rate of sustained virologic response (SVR) by intention-to-treatment (ITT) was greater in those treated with TVR (65%) than in those treated with BOC (52%) (P < 0.0001), whereas by modified intention-to-treatment (mITT) no were found significant differences. By degree of fibrosis, 56% of patients were F4 and the highest SVR rates were recorded in the non-F4 patients, both TN and TE. In the analysis by groups, the TN patients treated with TVR by ITT showed a higher SVR (P = 0.005). However, by mITT there were no significant differences between BOC and TVR. In the multivariate analysis by mITT, the significant SVR factors were relapsers, IL28B CC and non-F4; the type of treatment (BOC or TVR) was not significant. The lowest SVR values were presented by the F4-NR patients, treated with BOC (46%) or with TVR (45%). 28% of the patients interrupted the treatment, mainly by non-viral response (51%): this outcome was more frequent in the TE than in the TN patients (57% vs 40%, P = 0.01). With respect to severe haematological disorders, neutropaenia was more likely to affect the patients treated with BOC (33% vs 20%, P = 0.0001), and thrombocytopaenia and anaemia, the F4 patients (P = 0.000, P = 0.025, respectively). CONCLUSION: In a real clinical practice setting with a high proportion of patients with advanced fibrosis, effectiveness of first-generation PIs was high except for NR patients, with similar SVR rates being achieved by BOC and TVR

Prevalence of metabolic syndrome in Murcia Region, a southern European Mediterranean area with low cardiovascular risk and high obesity

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metabolic syndrome (MS) is associated with subsequent appearance of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. As compared to other Spanish regions, Murcia (southern Spain) registers increased obesity as well as cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of MS and its components, awareness of obesity as a health risk and associated lifestyles.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A population-based, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2003, covering a sample of 1555 individuals 20 years and over. MS was defined according to the Revised National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III (R-ATPIII), International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Joint Interim Statement (JIS) criteria. Both low (94/80) and high (102/88) waist circumference (WC) thresholds were considered.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Prevalence of MS was 27.2% (95%CI: 25.2-29.2), 32.2% (95%CI: 30.1-34.3) and 33.2% (95%CI: 31.2-35.3) according to the R-ATPIII, IDF and JIS94/80 respectively. It increased with age until reaching 52.6% (R-ATPIII) or 60.3% (JIS94/80) among persons aged 70 years and over, and was higher in persons with little or no formal education (51.7% R-ATPIII, 57.3% JIS94/80). The most common risk factors were hypertension (46.6%) and central obesity (40.7% and 66.1% according to high and low WC cut-off points respectively). Although most persons were aware that obesity increased health risks, regular exercise was very unusual (13.0% centrally obese, 27.2% non-centrally obese). Adherence to dietary recommendations was similar among centrally obese and non-centrally obese subjects.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Prevalence of MS is high in our population, is comparable to that found in northern Europe and varies with the definition used. Adherence to preventive recommendations and to adequate weight promotion is very low. In the absence of a specific treatment for MS, integrated intervention based on a sustained increase in physical activity and changes in diet should be reinforced.</p