Effects of international trade of food and feed and human diet shifts on food security and environmental safety: integrating scales

4 p.*International trade of food and feed (expressed as protein content) has increased eightfold during the last 50 years. Nowadays a small number of countries are feeding the rest of the world. Population growth but also a change to higher animal-protein diets are important drivers of the observed changes. *The increasing disconnection between crops (land) and livestock is producing a decrease in nutrient use efficiency at the global scale and a rise in pollution issues. *In Spain, a transition from the so-called Mediterranean diet to a diet with very high share of animal protein that is similar to North American and North European diets, that are much unhealthier, is the main driver of a dramatic increase in the nitrogen (N) pollution. The huge production of animal products is fuelled by feed imports that today equal national crop production. *Despite Spain produces commodities for export, the net balance of N2O emissions of the agricultural system in 2009 indicated that the emissions associated to the production of imported food and feed are higher. A large part of the net N2O emissions associated with imported agricultural commodities is coming from non-Annex B countries and therefore substantial emission leakage is occurring. *Making the most sustainable use of crop by-products is not necessarily incentivised by policies on agricultural commodity markets, which may have a remarkable and undesired effect on the carbon footprint of livestock products (e.g. milk). *Localization of vegetal and animal production, the reduction of food waste, as well as control of diet, are key factors for world food security and environmental safety. *Less intensive farming could be viable if nutrient losses along the food chain are sharply decreased and human diet shifts are also occurring. Linking appropriately policies that deal with food, agriculture, waste, health, climate change, biodiversity and energy are needed to effectively reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions globally

A vast range of opportunities for feeding the world in 2050: trade-off between diet, N contamination and international trade

International audienceThrough a detailed analysis of the FAO database, we have constructed a generalized representation of the nitrogen transfers characterizing the current agro-food system (GRAFS) of 12 macro-regions of the world in terms of functional relationships between crop farming, livestock breeding and human nutrition. Based on this model, and maintaining the current cropland areas and the performance of cropping and livestock systems in each region, we have assessed the possibilities of meeting the protein requirements of the estimated world population in 2050, according to various combinations of three critical drivers namely human diet (total amount of protein consumed and share of animal protein in this total), regional livestock production and crop fertilization intensity, in each region. The results show that feeding the projected 2050 world population would generally imply higher levels of inter-regional trade and of environmental nitrogen contamination than the current levels, but that the scenarios with less recourse to inter-regional trade generally produce less N losses to the environment. If an equitable human diet (in terms of protein consumption) is to be established globally (the same in all regions of the world), the fraction of animal protein should not exceed 40% of a total ingestion of 4 kgN capita(-1) yr(-1), or 25% of a total consumption of 5 kgN capita(-1) yr(-1). Our results show that slightly improving the agronomical performance in the most deficient regions (namely Maghreb, the Middle East, sub-Saharan Africa, and India) would make it possible not only to meet the global protein requirements with much less international trade (hence more food sovereignty), but also to reduce N environmental contamination the most efficiently

Cochlear Implantation in Patients with Neurofibromatosis Type 2 and Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma in the Only Hearing Ear

Cochlear implants are a new surgical option in the hearing rehabilitation of patients with neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2) and patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS) in the only hearing ear. Auditory brainstem implant (ABI) has been the standard surgical treatment for these patients. We performed a literature review of patients with NF2 and patients with VS in the only hearing ear. Cochlear implantation (CI) provided some auditory benefit in all patients. Preservation of cochlear nerve integrity is crucial after VS resection. Results ranged from environmental sound awareness to excellent benefit with telephone use. Promontory stimulation is recommended although not crucial. MRI can be performed safely in cochlear implanted patients

50 year trends in nitrogen use efficiency of world cropping systems: the relationship between yield and nitrogen input to cropland

International audienceNitrogen (N) is crucial for crop productivity. However, nowadays more than half of the N added to cropland is lost to the environment, wasting the resource, producing threats to air, water, soil and biodiversity, and generating greenhouse gas emissions. Based on FAO data, we have reconstructed the trajectory followed, in the past 50 years, by 124 countries in terms of crop yield and total nitrogen inputs to cropland (manure, synthetic fertilizer, symbiotic fixation and atmospheric deposition). During the last five decades, the response of agricultural systems to increased nitrogen fertilization has evolved differently in the different world countries. While some countries have improved their agro-environmental performances, in others the increased fertilization has produced low agronomical benefits and higher environmental losses. Our data also suggest that, in general, those countries using a higher proportion of N inputs from symbiotic N fixation rather than from synthetic fertilizer have a better N use efficiency

Reducing nitrogen footprints of consumer-level food loss and protein overconsumption in Japan, considering gender and age differences

The agro-food system perturbs the nitrogen (N) cycle through its N loads to the environment. The present study focused on food-related consumer-level N loads in Japan from 1961–2015, with a particular focus on food loss and protein overconsumption. Gender and age differences were also analyzed. Consumer-level food loss was negligible until the 1970s, when it began to slowly increase, accounting for an average of 13.2% of the annual net supply during 2011–2015. Japanese people have consumed more protein than the World Health Organization’s recommended intake since 1961. Protein overconsumption increased until the mid-1990s, when it began to decrease, but it still accounted for an average of 32.3% of total annual protein consumption during 2011–2015. The national mean of food N footprints (total release of reactive N into the environment related to individual food consumption) in the same period was 18.3 kg N capita ^–1 yr ^–1 , of which food loss accounted for 4% and protein overconsumption for 37%. The food N footprint of each sex/age class varied from 16.0–21.6 kg N capita ^–1 yr ^–1 , males had a larger footprint in each age class. Seven scenarios to reduce the N footprints were evaluated; a scenario that included halving protein overconsumption, livestock meat consumption, and food loss was estimated to reduce the food N footprint by 31%. Thus, there is room for reducing consumer-induced N loads to the environment. Campaigns aimed at boosting healthy and environmentally friendly diets should consider the diverse consumption patterns of different sex and age classes

Fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone secondary to ear surgery: A case report

Introduction: In this report, we describe the clinical course, diagnostic features and management of a patient with fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone 7 years after middle ear surgery on the same side. Case presentation: A 16-year-old Caucasian girl presented to our hospital with a growing bone lesion in the roof of the left temporal bone. She had undergone a previous tympanoplasty at 7 years of age because of a cholesteatoma. At the time of that first surgery, no radiological or histological signs indicated a bone disorder. A computed tomographic scan of the temporal bone showed a lesion with rarefaction areas and lytic images inside that affected the roof of the cavity to the tegmen tympani without alterations in the inner ear. A surgical revision of the ear cavity was performed by resecting the lesion and regularizing the cavity. The histopathologic study confirmed fibrous dysplasia. The patient progressed satisfactorily after surgery with no evidence of recurrence. Conclusion: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of fibrous dysplasia of the temporal bone secondary to ear surger

Crop production and nitrogen use in European cropland and grassland 1961–2019

This paper presents EuropeAgriDB v1.0, a dataset of crop production and nitrogen (N) flows in European cropland 1961–2019. The dataset covers 26 present-day countries, detailing the cropland N harvests in 17 crop categories as well as cropland N inputs in synthetic fertilizers, manure, symbiotic fixation, and atmospheric deposition. The study builds on established methods but goes beyond previous research by combining data from FAOSTAT, Eurostat, and a range of national data sources. The result is a detailed, complete, and consistent dataset, intended as a basis for further analyses of past and present agricultural production patterns, as well as construction of scenarios for the future

Bases genéticas, moleculares y bioquímicas del envejecimiento auditivo ¿Qué nos enseñan los modelos experimentales

Age-related hearing loss (ARHL) affects one in three people older than 65 years and is the most prevalent sensorineural deficit. This type of hearing loss precedes and accelerates the onset of cognitive impairment and is associated with an increased risk for neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia and Alzheimer disease. The onset and progression of ARHL is influenced by genetic factors, which are still poorly understood, and environmental factors, which in particular include exposure to excessive noise and ototoxic substances. At present, no effective drug treatments are available for ARHL prevention or treatment, and therefore research in this field is a priority. In the research field, animal models offer a crucial tool for i) identifying new genes associated with ARHL, ii) understanding the cellular and molecular basis of auditory ageing and iii) defining new therapeutic targets and evaluating candidate treatments.La presbiacusia afecta a una de cada tres personas mayores de 65 años y constituye el déficit neurosensorial más prevalente. Antecede a la aparición de la fragilidad cognitiva, la acelera y se asocia con un mayor riesgo de padecer enfermedades neurodegenerativas como la demencia o el Alzheimer. La aparición y evolución de la presbiacusia están influidas por factores genéticos, todavía poco conocidos, y ambientales, entre los que destacan la exposición a ruido excesivo o a sustancias ototóxicas. En la actualidad no disponemos de tratamientos farmacológicos eficaces para prevenir o tratar la presbiacusia, por lo que la investigación en este campo es prioritaria. En este contexto, los modelos animales son una herramienta esencial para: a) identificar nuevos genes de presbiacusia, b) comprender las bases celulares y moleculares del envejecimiento auditivo, y c) definir nuevas dianas terapéuticas y evaluar posibles tratamientos

China’s pig relocation in balance

In 2015, the Chinese government banned livestock production in some regions (called non-livestock production regions, NLPRs) to control surface water pollution near vulnerable water bodies. In total, 90,000 NLPRs had been established by 2017, covering a land area of 0.82 million km2 and shutting down 0.26 million pig farms1. As a consequence, the number of slaughtered pigs decreased by 46 million head yr–1 between 2014 and 2017. The NLPRs policy is globally unprecedented in terms of the geographical area and number of farms affected, as well as its implementation speed. The NLPRs policy has reduced pork self-sufficiency in some provinces by up to 40% (ref. 2). However, it is unclear which farms and regions may take over the market share

The Molecular Biology of Vestibular Schwannomas and Its Association with Hearing Loss: A Review

Hearing loss is the most common symptom in patients with vestibular schwannoma (VS). In the past, compressive mechanisms caused by the tumoral mass and its growth have been regarded as the most likely causes of the hearing loss associated with VS. Interestingly, new evidence proposes molecular mechanisms as an explanation for such hearing loss. Among the molecular mechanisms proposed are methylation of TP73, negative expression of cyclin D1, expression of B7-H1, increased expression of the platelet-derived growth factor A, underexpression of PEX5L, RAD54B, and PSMAL, and overexpression of CEA. Many molecular mechanisms are involved in vestibular schwannoma development; we review some of these mechanisms with special emphasis on hearing loss associated with vestibular schwannoma