Cr(VI) sorption/desorption on untreated and mussel-shell-treated soil materials: fractionation and effects of pH and chromium concentration

We used batch-type experiments to study Cr(VI) sorption/desorption on granitic material, forest soil, pyritic material, mussel shell, and on forest soil and granitic material amended with 12 t ha−1 (1.2 kg m −2) shell, considering the effects of varying Cr(VI) concentration and pH. Sequential extractions were carried out to fractionate adsorbed Cr(VI) and to determine the stability of Cr(VI) retention. The pyritic material had the highest Cr(VI) retention capacity, whereas the granitic material showed the lowest retention potential. When high Cr concentrations were added, some saturation of the adsorbent surfaces became apparent, but Cr release remained low. The highest Cr retention was achieved at a very acid pH value, with release progressively increasing as a function of increasing pH. The amendment with 12 t ha−1 mussel shell did not cause marked changes in Cr(VI) retention. Sorption data were satisfactory adjusted to the Freundlich model. Regarding Cr(VI) fractionation, the soluble fraction (weakly bound) was dominant in mussel shell and in the unamended and amended granitic material, whereas more stable fractions dominated in the pyritic material (residual fraction) and in the forest soil (oxidizable fraction). In conclusion, the pyritic material presented the highest Cr(VI) retention capacity, while the retention was low and weak on the granitic material; mussel shell was not characterized by a marked Cr(VI) retention potential, and it did not cause remarkable increase in Cr(VI) retention when used to amend the granitic material or the forest soil.This study was funded by the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Government of Spain), grant numbers CGL2012-36805-C02-01-02S

Enmienda de un suelo de mina con subproductos : efecto sobre la biomasa microbiana determinada mediante el uso de los ácidos grasos de los fosfolípidos

In the present work, the effect of two by-products (pine bark and crushed mussel shell) on microbial biomass and community structure was studied in a soil from a mine tailing located in a copper mine. In a laboratory experiment, different doses (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) of pine bark, crushed mussel shell or mixtures of both by-products were added to the soil. The amended soil samples were incubated for one year at 60% of water holding capacity, and then 33 phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted from these samples and quantified. The PLFAs concentrations were used for different microbial biomass estimations: total biomass, bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, gram-positive (G+) biomass and gram-negative (G-) biomass. The addition of crushed mussel had no significant effects on the total soil microbial biomass, either bacterial of fungal biomass. However, the addition of pine bark increased the total microbial biomass in the soil (up to 40%), mainly due to increases in the fungal biomass (it increased 1600%). No synergistic effects were observed when the soil was amended with both, pine bark and crushed mussel shell. The main community structure changes were due to the addition of pine bark to the soil, and were also due to modifications in fungal communities. Our results suggest that the microbial biomass was mainly limited in the mine soil by low organic matter concentrations, and therefore, practices increasing the amount of soil organic matter should be priorities for soil reclamation.En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto de dos subproductos (corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada) sobre la biomasa y estructura microbiana de un suelo procedente de una escombrera localizada en una mina de cobre. En un experimento realizado en laboratorio fueron añadidas al suelo diferentes dosis (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) de corteza de pino, concha de mejillón triturada y mezclas de ambos subproductos. Las muestras de suelo enmendado fueron incubadas durante un año al 60% de la capacidad de campo, y posteriormente 33 ácidos grasos de los fosfolípidos (PLFAs) fueron extraídos de estas muestras y cuantificados. La concentración de PLFAs fue utilizada para realizar distintas estimaciones de la biomasa microbiana: biomasa total, biomasa bacteriana, biomasa fúngica, biomasa de bacterias gram + y biomasa de bacterias gram -. La adición de concha de mejillón triturada no tuvo efectos significativos sobre la biomasa total ni sobre la biomasa bacteriana o fúngica. Sin embargo, la adición de corteza de pino al suelo incrementó la biomasa total del suelo (hasta un 40%), debido mayormente al incremento de la biomasa fúngica (se incrementó un 1600%). Tampoco se observaron efectos sinérgicos cuando el suelo fue enmendado con una mezcla de corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada. Los mayores cambios en la estructura de las comunidades microbianas fueron debidos a la adición de corteza de pino al suelo, y fueron además debidas a cambios en las comunidades fúngicas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la biomasa microbiana del suelo de mina está mayormente limitada por la concentración de materia orgánica y, por tanto, deben ser priorizadas prácticas de manejo que contribuyan a incrementarla para la rehabilitación de este tipo de suelos.Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito de dois subprodutos (casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada) na biomassa e estrutura microbiana de um solo procedente de uma escombreira localizada numa mina de cobre. Numa experiência de laboratório, doses diferentes (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 e 192 Mg ha-1) de casca de pinheiro, concha de mexilhão triturada e misturas de ambos os subprodutos foram adicionados ao solo. Amostras de solo corrigido com os resíduos foram incubadas durante um ano a 60% da sua capacidade de retenção de água, e subsequentemente, 33 ácidos gordos dos fosfolípidos (PLFAs) foram extraídos a partir destas amostras e quantificados. A concentração de PLFAs foi usada para estimar vários tipos de biomassa microbiana: biomassa total, biomassa bacteriana, biomassa fúngica, biomassa de bactérias gram positivas e biomassa de bactérias gram negativas. A adição de concha de mexilhão triturada não teve nenhum efeito significativo na biomassa total ou na biomassa bacteriana ou fúngica. Porém, a adição de casca de pinheiro aumentou a biomassa microbiana do solo (até 40%), principalmente devido ao aumento da biomassa fúngica (a qual aumentou de 1600%). Não foi observado nenhum efeito de sinergismo quando o solo foi corrigido com uma mistura de casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada. As maiores alterações na estrutura das comunidades microbianas foram produzidas pela adição de casca de pinheiro ao solo, as quais resultaram em alterações nas comunidades fúngicas. Os resultados sugerem que a biomassa microbiana do solo de mina é, maioritariamente limitada pela concentração de matéria orgânica. Assim, práticas que contribuam para o seu aumento devem ser prioritárias para a reabilitação deste tipo de solos

Aplicación da tecnoloxía LiDAR na análise do medio físico

[GA] Impártense os coñecementos básicos necesarios para o estudo do medio físico, a través do tratamento dos datos capturados polo sensor activo LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) aerotransportado, xa que este sensor permite a captura de datos xeográficos dunha forma áxil e precisa, mentres que o tratamento dos seus datos permite a xeración de modelos que describen o terreo e os obxectos situados enriba del. Así na actualidade, a tecnoloxía LiDAR revelouse como a máis efectiva para a produción de Modelos Xeográficos de alta resolución e calidade

Correção de um solo de mina com subprodutos: efeito sobre a biomassa microbiana determinada através da utilização de ácidos gordos dos fosfolípidos

In the present work, the effect of two by-products (pine bark and crushed mussel shell) on microbial biomass and community structure was studied in a soil from a mine tailing located in a copper mine. In a laboratory experiment, different doses (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) of pine bark, crushed mussel shell or mixtures of both by-products were added to the soil. The amended soil samples were incubated for one year at 60% of water holding capacity, and then 33 phospholipid fatty acids (PLFAs) were extracted from these samples and quantified. The PLFAs concentrations were used for different microbial biomass estimations: total biomass, bacterial biomass, fungal biomass, gram-positive (G+) biomass and gram-negative (G-) biomass. The addition of crushed mussel had no significant effects on the total soil microbial biomass, either bacterial of fungal biomass. However, the addition of pine bark increased the total microbial biomass in the soil (up to 40%), mainly due to increases in the fungal biomass (it increased 1600%). No synergistic effects were observed when the soil was amended with both, pine bark and crushed mussel shell. The main community structure changes were due to the addition of pine bark to the soil, and were also due to modifications in fungal communities. Our results suggest that the microbial biomass was mainly limited in the mine soil by low organic matter concentrations, and therefore, practices increasing the amount of soil organic matter should be priorities for soil reclamation.En el presente trabajo se estudió el efecto de dos subproductos (corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada) sobre la biomasa y estructura microbiana de un suelo procedente de una escombrera localizada en una mina de cobre. En un experimento realizado en laboratorio fueron añadidas al suelo diferentes dosis (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 and 192 Mg ha-1) de corteza de pino, concha de mejillón triturada y mezclas de ambos subproductos. Las muestras de suelo enmendado fueron incubadas durante un año al 60% de la capacidad de campo, y posteriormente 33 ácidos grasos de los fosfolípidos (PLFAs) fueron extraídos de estas muestras y cuantificados. La concentración de PLFAs fue utilizada para realizar distintas estimaciones de la biomasa microbiana: biomasa total, biomasa bacteriana, biomasa fúngica, biomasa de bacterias gram + y biomasa de bacterias gram -. La adición de concha de mejillón triturada no tuvo efectos significativos sobre la biomasa total ni sobre la biomasa bacteriana o fúngica. Sin embargo, la adición de corteza de pino al suelo incrementó la biomasa total del suelo (hasta un 40%), debido mayormente al incremento de la biomasa fúngica (se incrementó un 1600%). Tampoco se observaron efectos sinérgicos cuando el suelo fue enmendado con una mezcla de corteza de pino y concha de mejillón triturada. Los mayores cambios en la estructura de las comunidades microbianas fueron debidos a la adición de corteza de pino al suelo, y fueron además debidas a cambios en las comunidades fúngicas. Nuestros resultados sugieren que la biomasa microbiana del suelo de mina está mayormente limitada por la concentración de materia orgánica y, por tanto, deben ser priorizadas prácticas de manejo que contribuyan a incrementarla para la rehabilitación de este tipo de suelos.Neste trabalho foi estudado o efeito de dois subprodutos (casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada) na biomassa e estrutura microbiana de um solo procedente de uma escombreira localizada numa mina de cobre. Numa experiência de laboratório, doses diferentes (0, 12, 24, 48, 96 e 192 Mg ha-1) de casca de pinheiro, concha de mexilhão triturada e misturas de ambos os subprodutos foram adicionados ao solo. Amostras de solo corrigido com os resíduos foram incubadas durante um ano a 60% da sua capacidade de retenção de água, e subsequentemente, 33 ácidos gordos dos fosfolípidos (PLFAs) foram extraídos a partir destas amostras e quantificados. A concentração de PLFAs foi usada para estimar vários tipos de biomassa microbiana: biomassa total, biomassa bacteriana, biomassa fúngica, biomassa de bactérias gram positivas e biomassa de bactérias gram negativas. A adição de concha de mexilhão triturada não teve nenhum efeito significativo na biomassa total ou na biomassa bacteriana ou fúngica. Porém, a adição de casca de pinheiro aumentou a biomassa microbiana do solo (até 40%), principalmente devido ao aumento da biomassa fúngica (a qual aumentou de 1600%). Não foi observado nenhum efeito de sinergismo quando o solo foi corrigido com uma mistura de casca de pinheiro e concha de mexilhão triturada. As maiores alterações na estrutura das comunidades microbianas foram produzidas pela adição de casca de pinheiro ao solo, as quais resultaram em alterações nas comunidades fúngicas. Os resultados sugerem que a biomassa microbiana do solo de mina é, maioritariamente limitada pela concentração de matéria orgânica. Assim, práticas que contribuam para o seu aumento devem ser prioritárias para a reabilitação deste tipo de solos.S

Metais pesados em solos de pastagem da A Pastoriza (NO Espanha) tratados com chorume de vaca e adubos NPK

In Galicia (NW Spain), pasturelands cover a broad extension and are mainly used to feed cattle. Farms are managed in an intensive manner, using cattle slurry and inorganic fertilizers to increase pasture production, but also increasing risks of heavy metal pollution. In this work we studied the influence of fertilization practices on total concentrations and in-depth distribution of heavy metals and related elements (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb and Zn) in two forest soils (SN1, SN2) and five pastureland soils (P1-P5) fertilized with cattle slurry and NPK, in a broadly exploded farmland area (A Pastoriza, Lugo). Soils SN2 and P4 were developed over slate, whereas soils SN1, P1, P2, P3 and P5 evolved on Candana quartzite. Forest soils presented acid pH (4.58-4.68), high Al saturation (75-90%), and low available P concentration (4.78-11.96 mg kg-1), whereas those parameters exhibited better scores in the pastureland soils, due to previous amendment and fertilization practices, thus giving pH 5.17-7.02, Al saturation 0.58-59.24%, and available P 5.24-42.07 mg kg-1. Regarding heavy metals, soil depth did not affect significantly to total concentrations, contrary to that happening with parent material, with higher As, Cu, Fe, and Ni concentrations found in soils over slate (possibly due to the presence of pyritic materials). In most cases, heavy metal total concentrations were lower than that considered as reference background levels for soils developed over each of the parent materials, and were always lower than that considered phyto-toxic. In this study, natural soils usually presented heavy metal total contents similar or even higher than that of the fertilized soils (unless Zn in the P4 pastureland), thus indicating that the spread doses of fertilizers did not influence significantly their concentration levels.En Galicia las praderas ocupan una gran extensión, siendo utilizadas principalmente para la alimentación del ganado vacuno destinado tanto a la producción de leche como de carne. Las granjas se manejan de manera intensiva, utilizando fertilizantes inorgánicos y purín de vacuno para aumentar la producción de pastos. Esta práctica puede aumentar el contenido de metales pesados en el suelo. En este trabajo se estudian las concentraciones totales y la distribución en profundidad de metales pesados y elementos afines (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb y Zn) en dos suelos forestales (SN1, SN2) y en cinco praderas (P1-P5) fertilizadas con purín de vacuno y NPK en una zona con una gran vocación ganadera (A Pastoriza, Lugo). Se pretende conocer el grado de influencia de la fertilización sobre los niveles de estos elementos. Los suelos elegidos se desarrollaron a partir de pizarras (SN2, P4) y de cuarcitas de la Serie de Cándana (SN1, P1, P2, P3, P5). Los suelos forestales presentaron pH ácido (4,58-4,68), elevada saturación del complejo de cambio por Al (75-90%) y baja concentración de P disponible (4,78-11,96 mg kg-1); estos parámetros mejoran en los suelos de pradera como consecuencia de las enmiendas y fertilizantes aplicados, presentando un pH entre 5,17 y 7,02, una saturación de Al que varía entre 0,58-59,24% y P disponible entre 5,24 y 42,07 mg kg-1. En relación con los metales pesados, la profundidad de la muestra no afecta de modo significativo a su concentración total, pero sí el material de partida, presentando concentraciones más elevadas de Fe, As, Cu y Ni los suelos desarrollados sobre pizarras, posiblemente debido a la presencia de materiales piríticos. En la mayoría de los casos, los metales pesados estudiados presentan concentraciones totales inferiores a las establecidas como genéricas para suelos desarrollados sobre los respectivos materiales geológicos, y siempre son menores que los límites considerados fitotóxicos. La fertilización aplicada no parece tener una influencia significativa sobre los contenidos totales de estos elementos, con la excepción del Zn en la pradera P4, ya que los suelos naturales en muchos casos presentan valores similares e incluso superiores a los obtenidos en las parcelas fertilizadas.As pastagens ocupam uma grande área na região da Galicia (NO Espanha) destnando-se sobretudo à alimentação de bovinos para produção de leite e carne. As explorações são geridas de forma intensiva, aplicando-se adubos minerais e chorumes com o objetivo de aumentar a produção de pastos. Contudo, esta prática pode aumentar o teor de metais pesados no solo. Neste trabalho, a concentração total e a distribuição em profundidade de metais pesados e elementos associados (As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Pb e Zn) foram estudados em dois solos florestais (SN1, SN2) em cinco talhões (P1-P5) adubados com NPK e chorume de bovino, numa área com uma grande vocação para pecuária (A Pastoriza, Lugo). Teve-se por objetivo principal determinar o grau de influência da fertilização nos teores destes elementos. Os solos selecionados foram desenvolvidos a partir de ardósias (SN2, P4) e quartzitos da Série de Candana (SN1, P1, P2, P3, P5). Os solos florestais apresentavam pH ácido (4,58-4,68), alta saturação de Al (75-90%) no complexo de troca de e baixa concentração de P disponível (4,78-11,96 mg kg-1); estes parâmetros melhoram em solos de pastagem, como resultado da calagem e fertilizantes aplicados, apresentando um pH entre 5,17 e 7,02; saturação por Al variando de 0,58 a 59,24% e P disponível entre 5,24 e 42,07 mg kg-1. Em relação aos metais pesados, a profundidade da amostra não afetou significativamente a sua concentração total, contrariamente ao que se verificou com o material parental, que apresentou as concentrações mais elevadas de Fe, As, Cu e Ni nos solos desenvolvidos a partir de ardósias possivelmente devido à presença de materiais piríticos. Na maioria dos casos, os metais pesados estudados apresentaram concentrações totais inferiores aos valores geralmente considerados como referência para solos desenvolvidos a partir dos respetivos materiais parentais, sendo sempre inferiores aos valores limite considerados fitotóxicos. Neste estudo, os solos naturais apresentaram valores de metais pesados semelhantes ou mesmo superiores aos dos solos fertilizados (exceto para o Zn na pastagem P4), o que indica que as doses aplicadas de fertilizantes não influenciaram de forma significativa os seus níveis de concentração.This work was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (Grant Reference: CGL2012-36805-C02-01)S

Enfermedad arterial periférica en pacientes trasplantados renales: validez del cuestionario de Edimburgo para el diagnóstico de enfermedad

[Resumen] Objetivos: Determinar en pacientes trasplantados renales la prevalencia de enfermedad arterial periférica y la validez de las manifestaciones clínicas de claudicación intermitente para su diagnóstico. Material y métodos: Ámbito y período: Servicio de Nefrología del Complejo Hospitalario Universitario A Coruña, 2013-2017. Criterios inclusión: pacientes trasplantados renales con injerto funcionante que consientan participar en el estudio. Justificación del tamaño muestral: n=371 pacientes (seguridad= 95% y precisión= ± 4,25%). Mediciones: edad, edad al trasplante, sexo, dislipemia, índice de masa corporal, tabaquismo, diabetes, signo de Godet, edema perimaleolar, índice tobillo-brazo y cuestionario Edimburgo. El riesgo cardiovascular se midió mediante los scores Framingham-Wilson, Regicor, SCORE y Dorica. Resultados: La edad media al trasplante fue de 47,86 ± 12,62 años, 65,5% hombres. El 8,7% de los pacientes presentan un índice tobillo-brazo <0,90. El 16,2% de los pacientes manifiestan claudicación intermitente según el cuestionario Edimburgo. La concordancia entre ambas pruebas diagnósticas es débil (índice de Kappa=0,34). El cuestionario de Edimburgo mostró sensibilidad del 59,38% para predecir índice tobillo-brazo <0,90 y especificidad del 88,10%. Las variables asociadas a la presencia de arteriopatía son la edad al trasplante (OR=1,07) y el tabaquismo (OR=6,17), encontrándose la dislipemia en el límite de la significación estadística. Conclusiones: Una décima parte de los pacientes presentan arteriopatía periférica. La concordancia entre el cuestionario Edimburgo y el índice tobillo-brazo es débil. Por lo que debería usarse el índice tobillo-brazo como método diagnóstico. Las manifestaciones clínicas infraestiman la prevalencia de arteriopatía. La edad, el tabaquismo y la dislipemia incrementan su riesgo. Los pacientes con arteriopatía presentan riesgo cardiovascular más elevado.[Abstract] Objectives: To assess the prevalence of peripheral artery disease in kidney transplant patients and the validity of intermittent claudication for its diagnosis. Methods: Setting and period: Nephrology Department of the University Hospital A. Coruña, 2013-2017. Inclusion criteria: transplant patients with functioning grafts who gave their consent to participate in the study. Sample size rationale: n=371 patients (confidence interval= 95%; precision= ± 4.25%). Measurements: age, age at the time of transplant, sex, dyslipemia, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, sign of Godet, perimalleolar edema, ankle-brachial index and the Edinburgh Questionnaire. Cardiovascular risk was measured with these scores: Framingham-Wilson, Regicore, SCORE and Dorica. Results: The mean age at the time of transplant was 47.86±12.62; 65.5% of patients were men and 8.7% of them had an ankle-brachial index of <0.90. When answering the Edinburgh Questionnaire, 16.2% of subjects reported suffering from intermittent claudication. Concordance between these two diagnostic tests is poor (kappa index= 0.34). The Edinburgh Questionnaire showed a sensitivity of 59.38% in predicting the ankle-brachial index (<0.90) and specificity (88.10%). The variables associated with the presence of artery disease are age at the time of transplant (OR=1.07) and smoking (OR=6.17), dyslipidemia being at the limit of statistical significance. Conclusions: A tenth part of the patients have peripheral artery disease. Concordance between the Edinburgh Questionnaire and the ankle-brachial index is poor; therefore, the latter should be used as diagnostic method. Clinical signs and symptoms underestimate the prevalence of artery disease. Age, smoking and dyslipidemia increase the risk of this disease. Artery disease patients have a higher cardiovascular risk

Inflammation in multiple sclerosis induces a specific reactive astrocyte state driving non-cell-autonomous neuronal damage

An in‐depth understanding of the neurodegenerative component of multiple sclerosis (MS) is crucial for the design of therapeutic approaches that may stop disease progression. Astrocytes have emerged as key contributors to the pathogenesis of MS. 1 However, the mechanisms underlying the regulation of maladaptive astrocytic responses remain unknown. In this report, we show that a high inflammatory activity in MS patients at disease onset induces a specific reactive astrocyte state that triggers synaptopathy and contributes to neuronal damage in vitro and ex vivo suggesting potential mechanisms that may ultimately lead to neurodegeneration. To investigate whether astrocytes are essential contributors to neuronal damage in MS, we cultured purified astrocytes with cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples from MS patients with high inflammatory activity at disease onset (MS‐High, Table S1). Then, we examined the effect of astrocytic secretomes on neurons (Figure 1A). Astrocytes became reactive upon high inflammatory CSF exposure (Figure 1B) and induced morphological alterations typically observed in neurodegenerative disorders, such as a less complex dendritic tree due to decreased arborisation (Figure 1C, D). Moreover, these abnormalities were accompanied with synaptic plasticity impairment (Figure 1E, F). Considering that a high lesion load at disease onset has been associated with an increased risk of neurological disability development, 2 we assessed whether the non‐cell‐autonomous effect on neuronal plasticity could be influenced by the degree of inflammatory activity of MS patients (Figure 2A and Table S1). Interestingly, we observed a direct correlation between the degree of inflammatory exposure and the extent of both astrocyte‐mediated synaptopathy (Figure 2B, C) and dendrite arborisation impairment

Planck 2015 results. XVI. Isotropy and statistics of the CMB

Cosmology (including clusters of galaxies).-- et al.We test the statistical isotropy and Gaussianity of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropies using observations made by the Planck satellite. Our results are based mainly on the full Planck mission for temperature, but also include some polarization measurements. In particular, we consider the CMB anisotropy maps derived from the multi-frequency Planck data by several component-separation methods. For the temperature anisotropies, we find excellent agreement between results based on these sky maps over both a very large fraction of the sky and a broad range of angular scales, establishing that potential foreground residuals do not affect our studies. Tests of skewness, kurtosis, multi-normality, N-point functions, and Minkowski functionals indicate consistency with Gaussianity, while a power deficit at large angular scales is manifested in several ways, for example low map variance. The results of a peak statistics analysis are consistent with the expectations of a Gaussian random field. The “Cold Spot” is detected with several methods, including map kurtosis, peak statistics, and mean temperature profile. We thoroughly probe the large-scale dipolar power asymmetry, detecting it with several independent tests, and address the subject of a posteriori correction. Tests of directionality suggest the presence of angular clustering from large to small scales, but at a significance that is dependent on the details of the approach. We perform the first examination of polarization data, finding the morphology of stacked peaks to be consistent with the expectations of statistically isotropic simulations. Where they overlap, these results are consistent with the Planck 2013 analysis based on the nominal mission data and provide our most thorough view of the statistics of the CMB fluctuations to date.The Planck Collaboration acknowledges the support of: ESA; CNES and CNRS/INSU-IN2P3-INP (France); ASI, CNR, and INAF (Italy); NASA and DoE (USA); STFC and UKSA (UK); CSIC, MINECO, JA, and RES (Spain); Tekes, AoF, and CSC (Finland); DLR and MPG (Germany); CSA (Canada); DTU Space (Denmark); SER/SSO (Switzerland); RCN (Norway); SFI (Ireland); FCT/MCTES (Portugal); ERC and PRACE (EU).Peer Reviewe

Preclinical evaluation of PHH-1V vaccine candidate against SARS-CoV-2 in non-human primates

SARS-CoV-2 emerged in December 2019 and quickly spread worldwide, continuously striking with an unpredictable evolution. Despite the success in vaccine production and mass vaccination programs, the situation is not still completely controlled, and therefore accessible second-generation vaccines are required to mitigate the pandemic. We previously developed an adjuvanted vaccine candidate coded PHH-1V, based on a heterodimer fusion protein comprising the RBD domain of two SARS-CoV-2 variants. Here, we report data on the efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity of PHH-1V in cynomolgus macaques. PHH-1V prime-boost vaccination induces high levels of RBD-specific IgG binding and neutralizing antibodies against several SARS-CoV-2 variants, as well as a balanced Th1/Th2 cellular immune response. Remarkably, PHH-1V vaccination prevents SARS-CoV-2 replication in the lower respiratory tract and significantly reduces viral load in the upper respiratory tract after an experimental infection. These results highlight the potential use of the PHH-1V vaccine in humans, currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials.Anna Moya and Mireia Muntada for the ELISA analysis; Clara Panosa and Ester Puigvert for her assistance in the production of the vaccine antigen; Glòria Pujol and Eduard Fossas for their assistance in review of the manuscript; and Adrián Lázaro-Frías from Evidenze Health España S.L. for providing medical writing support during the preparation of this paper funded by Hipra Scientific, S.L.U. This project was partially funded by the Centre for the Development of Industrial Technology (CDTI, IDI20210115), a public organization answering to the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Percepción de los usuarios de la farmacia comunitaria sobre la COVID-19 al final de la alarma y comparación con la situación al inicio

Objetivos: evaluar la percepción de los usuarios de las farmacias sobre la repercusión de la COVID-19 en su salud al final del confinamiento y comparar los resultados con los obtenidos al inicio. Material y métodos: estudio observacional transversal aleatorizado, en farmacias de Pontevedra y Ourense, del 10 al 25 de junio de 2020. Sujetos: ≥18 años que acuden en demanda de medicamentos y/o material de protección. Procedimiento: el usuario cumplimentaba un cuestionario anónimo, depositándolo en una bandeja desinfectada diariamente. Resultados: 839 encuestas. 492 (58,6 %) mujeres, edad media 54,6 (DE=17,4) años. 144 (17,2 %) viven solos. 771 (91,9 %) creen que la COVID-19 es más peligrosa que la gripe, 233 (27,7 %) desconocen estar en algún grupo de riesgo. 137 (16,4 %) dicen sentirse mal/muy mal con el aislamiento. Aspectos más afectados: familiar 429 (51,1 %) y emocional 377 (44,9 %). La afectación de los aspectos físico 210 (25,0 %) y laboral 183 (21,8 %) mejoraron significativamente en fase final. En 2020/21 piensan vacunarse de la gripe 376 (44,4 %), en 2019/20 lo hicieron 243 (34,4 %). 541 (64,5 %) se vacunarán frente a la COVID-19 cuando exista vacuna. Aumentan los que se vacunarán, aunque no esté financiada: 511 (60,9 %) / 280 (39,7 %). Conclusiones: no ha variado significativamente la percepción sobre la peligrosidad de la COVID-19 y la repercusión en su salud. Los aspectos del bienestar más afectados siguen siendo el familiar y el emocional. Aumenta el número de los que se sintieron mal/muy mal con el confinamiento y el de mayores afectados por la soledad. Aumenta la intención de vacunarse del SARS-CoV-2, aunque no sea financiada