Luis Mariano Vidal (1842-1922) rudist taxa revisited

The revision of the 323 register numbers of rudist bivalves in the Vidal Collection, kept at the Museu de Geologia de Barcelona (MCNB), allowed the identification and re-figuration of thirty-three holotype or syntype specimens corresponding to twenty species established by Vidal. Among them, thirteen are considered as valid species, four resulted to be synonymous with other senior species, and three (one not figured) do not display enough characters to be properly identified. The four syntypes of Hippurites castroi, currently attributed to genus Hippuritella, have not been localised, nor the other two specimens subsequently figured by the author. Similarly, three of the four syntypes of Hippurites maestrei, type species of Hippuritella, have not been localised. Contrarily, the specimens described as Sphaerulites posae but not figured, were localised. On the other hand, twelve specimens, syntypes or figured as new species by other authors (Matheron and Douvillé), have also been identified and are re-figured; most of them are part of the specimens that were sectioned for study and then returned to Vidal. In addition, other seventeen specimens figured by Douvillé have been identified and are documented; most of them also being part of a sectioned specimen

Spatial patterns of Fasciola hepatica and Calicophoron daubneyi infections in ruminants in Ireland and modelling of C. daubneyi infection

peer-reviewedBackground Fasciola hepatica has always represented a threat to Irish livestock because the Irish climate is highly suitable for the main local intermediate host of the parasite, the snail Galba truncatula. The recent clinical emergence of infections due to Calicophoron daubneyi has raised the question of whether the two parasites, which share a niche during part of their life-cycles, interact in some way. Here, we used geographical information systems (GIS) to analyse the distribution of both parasites in cattle and sheep. We also developed the first predictive model of paramphistomosis in Ireland. Results Our results indicated that, in cattle, liver fluke infection is less common than rumen fluke infection and does not exhibit the same seasonal fluctuations. Overall, we found that cattle had a higher likelihood of being infected with rumen fluke than sheep (OR = 3.134, P < 0.01). In addition, infection with one parasite increased the odds of infection with the other in both host species. Rumen fluke in cattle showed the highest spatial density of infection. Environmental variables such as soil drainage, land cover and habitat appeared to be the most important risk factors for C. daubneyi infection, followed by rainfall and vegetation. Overall the risk of infection with this parasite was predicted to be higher in the west of the country. Conclusions This study shows differences between the infection rates and spatial patterns of bovine and ovine infections with F. hepatica and C. daubneyi in Ireland. Whether the reasons for this are due to susceptibility, exposure and/or management factors is yet to be determined. Furthermore, the rumen fluke model indicates distinct risk factors and predicted distribution to those of F. hepatica, suggesting potential biological differences between both parasite species.This work was supported by the European Union Horizon 2020 programme (PARAGONE: vaccines for animal parasites. H2020-EU.3.2. SOCIETAL CHALLENGES, under grant agreement No 635408), who provided funding for training and software access used in the analysis. The Department of Agriculture Food and the Marine - Research Stimulus Fund though the Flukeless Research Project (under project no 13/S/405), provided data employed in the modelling process

Auscultation of velcro crackles is associated with usual interstitial pneumonia

Auscultation of Velcro crackles has been proposed as a key finding in physical lung examination in patients with interstitial lung diseases (ILDs), especially in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, no studies have been carried out to assess the association of Velcro crackles with other clinical variables. We evaluated a cohort of 132 patients, prospectively and consecutively included in our ILD diagnostic program at a tertiary referral center. All patients were auscultated during the physical examination. The patients were divided into 2 groups: "presence" or "nonpresence" of bilateral Velcro crackles. Of all patients assessed, 83 (63%) presented Velcro crackles in the respiratory auscultation. Patients with Velcro crackles usually had more frequently cough and dyspnea at the moment of diagnosis. Forced vital capacity (P = 0.002) and lung diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide (P = 0.04) was lower in these patients. The ILD-GAP index was higher in the group with Velcro crackles (P = 0.01). All patients with usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) in high-resolution computed tomography and all patients with final IPF diagnosis presented Velcro crackles. In multivariate analysis, the presence of Velcro crackles was independently associated with an UIP pattern. In patients suspected of having ILD, the auscultation of Velcro crackles was associated with UIP, a possibility which must be taken into consideration in early ILD detection in primary care

Impact of a systematic evaluation of connective tissue disease on diagnosis approach in patients with interstitial lung diseases

To date, there is no clear agreement regarding which is the best method to detect a connective tissue disease (CTD) during the initial diagnosis of interstitial lung diseases (ILD). The aim of our study was to explore the impact of a systematic diagnostic strategy to detect CTD-associated ILD (CTD-ILD) in clinical practice, and to clarify the significance of interstitial pneumonia with autoimmune features (IPAF) diagnosis in ILD patients. Consecutive patients evaluated in an ILD Diagnostic Program were divided in 3 groups: IPAF, CTD-ILD, and other ILD forms. Clinical characteristics, exhaustive serologic testing, high resolution computed tomography (HRCT) images, lung biopsy specimens, and follow-up were prospectively collected and analyzed. Among 139 patients with ILD, CTD was present in 21 (15.1%), 24 (17.3%) fulfilled IPAF criteria, and 94 (67.6%) were classified as other ILD forms. Specific systemic autoimmune symptoms such as Raynaud phenomenon (19%), inflammatory arthropathy (66.7%), and skin manifestations (38.1%) were more frequent in CTD-ILD patients than in the other groups (all P< .001). Among autoantibodies, antinuclear antibody was the most frequently found in IPAF (42%), and CTD-ILD (40%) (P= .04). Nonspecific interstitial pneumonia, detected by HRCT scan, was the most frequently seen pattern in patients with IPAF (63.5%), or CTD-ILD (57.1%) (P< .001). In multivariate analysis, a suggestive radiological pattern by HRCT scan (odds ratio [OR] 15.1, 95% confidence interval [CI] 4.7-48.3, P< .001) was the strongest independent predictor of CTD-ILD or IPAF, followed by the presence of clinical features (OR 14.6, 95% CI 4.3-49.5, P< .001), and serological features (OR 12.4, 95% CI 3.5-44.0, P< .001). This systematic diagnostic strategy was useful in discriminating an underlying CTD in patients with ILD. The defined criteria for IPAF are fulfilled by a considerable proportion of patients referred for ILD

Key Learning Outcomes for Clinical Pharmacology and Therapeutics Education in Europe: A Modified Delphi Study.

Harmonizing clinical pharmacology and therapeutics (CPT) education in Europe is necessary to ensure that the prescribing competency of future doctors is of a uniform high standard. As there are currently no uniform requirements, our aim was to achieve consensus on key learning outcomes for undergraduate CPT education in Europe. We used a modified Delphi method consisting of three questionnaire rounds and a panel meeting. A total of 129 experts from 27 European countries were asked to rate 307 learning outcomes. In all, 92 experts (71%) completed all three questionnaire rounds, and 33 experts (26%) attended the meeting. 232 learning outcomes from the original list, 15 newly suggested and 5 rephrased outcomes were included. These 252 learning outcomes should be included in undergraduate CPT curricula to ensure that European graduates are able to prescribe safely and effectively. We provide a blueprint of a European core curriculum describing when and how the learning outcomes might be acquired

Revisión de la fauna de rudistas de les collades de basturs (Lleida, pirineos centro-meridionales)

La localidad surpirenaica de les Collades de Basturs presenta afloramientos extensos y bien expuestos de rocas Santonienses que muestran una sucesión de margas neríticas y calizas someras, localmente con calcarenitas arenosas y que terminan con margas de profundidad. Los cambios laterales de facies son evidentes. Los requiénidos, monopleuridos, caprotínidos, radiolítidos, hippurítidos y plagioptychidos son abundantes en esta sucesión, pero se han notado importantes diferencias en la composición de las asociaciones de rudistas, incluso en la morfología de una sola especie, entre las diferentes facies. Los radiolítidos, hippurítidos y plagioptychidos son los rudistas más abundantes y diversificados en la localidad, además de tener los caracteres morfológicos más complejos. Por esta razón, ellos merecían un profundo tratamiento de paleontología sistemática que incluyera una exhaustiva descripción de todas las características de su concha, su variabilidad intraespecífica y su revisión taxonómica. Las siguientes especies han resultado bien caracterizadas: Radiolites angeiodes Lamarck, R. squamosus d´Orbigny, R. vallispetrosae Astre, Biradiolites acuticostatus (d´Orbigny), B. angulosissimus Toucas, B. beaussetensis Toucas, B. canaliculatus d´Orbigny, B. carezi Toucas, Bournonia excavata (d´Orbigny), Praeradiolites plicatus (Lajard, Négrel y Toulouzan), P. toucasi (d´Orbigny), y Sphaerulites caderensis (Toucas) entre los radiolítidos, Hippurites matheroni Douvillé, H. microstylus Douvillé, H. praecessor Douvillé, H. socialis Douvillé, H. sublaevis Matheron, Hippuritella maestrei (Vidal), H. toucasi (d´Orbigny), Vaccinites beaussetensis Toucas, V. galloprovincialis (Matheron), V. giganteus major Toucas, y V. zurcheri (Douvillé) entre los hippurítidos, y Plagioptychus aguilloni (d´Orbigny) y P. toucasi Matheron entre los plagioptychidos. Como consecuencia de este estudio sistemático, la taxonomía de los rudistas del Santoniense inferior pirenaico ha sido fuertemente simplificada y aclarada. El registro y el análisis posterior de las apariciones de las especies de rudistas, y también las diferencias morfológicas en la concha de una misma especie en facies diferentes contribuye a entender la relación entre los parámetros paleoambientales y la composición faunística de las bioconstrucciones de rudistas en el Cretácico superior.The south Pyrenean locality Collades de Basturs provides extensive and well exposed outcrops of Santonian rocks displaying a succession of shelf marls and shallow-water limestones, with sandy calcarenites locally, and ending with deep-water marls. Lateral changes of facies are evident. Requienid, monopleurid, caprotinid, radiolitid, hippuritid and plagioptychid rudists are abundant there, but important differences are noticed on the composition of the rudist associations, and even the morphology of single species, among the different facies. Radiolitids, hippuritids and plagioptychids are the most abundant and diverse rudists in the locality, besides having the more complex morphological characters. For that reason, they deserved a deep systematic palaeontology treatment including an exhaustive description of all their shell characters and their intraspecific variability, and their taxonomic revision. The following species resulted well characterized: Radiolites angeiodes Lamarck, R. squamosus d´Orbigny, R. vallispetrosae Astre, Biradiolites acuticostatus (d´Orbigny), B. angulosissimus Toucas, B. beaussetensis Toucas, B. canaliculatus d´Orbigny, B. carezi Toucas, Bournonia excavata (d´Orbigny), Praeradiolites plicatus (Lajard, Négrel y Toulouzan), P. toucasi (d´Orbigny), and Sphaerulites caderensis (Toucas) among the radiolitids, Hippurites matheroni Douvillé, H. microstylus Douvillé, H. praecessor Douvillé, H. socialis Douvillé, H. sublaevis Matheron, Hippuritella maestrei (Vidal), H. toucasi (d´Orbigny), Vaccinites beaussetensis Toucas, V. galloprovincialis (Matheron), V. giganteus major Toucas, and V. zurcheri (Douvillé) among the hippuritids, and Plagioptychus aguilloni (d´Orbigny) and P. toucasi Matheron among the plagiopychids. As a consequence of this systematic study, the taxonomy of the lower Santonian Pyrenean rudists became highly simplified and clarified. The record and subsequent analysis of the rudist species occurrences, and also of the different shell morphologies of the same species, in the different facies contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the palaeoenvironmental parameters and the faunal composition in the Late Cretaceous rudist bioconstructions

Revisión de la fauna de rudistas de les collades de basturs (Lleida, pirineos centro-meridionales)

La localidad surpirenaica de les Collades de Basturs presenta afloramientos extensos y bien expuestos de rocas Santonienses que muestran una sucesión de margas neríticas y calizas someras, localmente con calcarenitas arenosas y que terminan con margas de profundidad. Los cambios laterales de facies son evidentes. Los requiénidos, monopleuridos, caprotínidos, radiolítidos, hippurítidos y plagioptychidos son abundantes en esta sucesión, pero se han notado importantes diferencias en la composición de las asociaciones de rudistas, incluso en la morfología de una sola especie, entre las diferentes facies. Los radiolítidos, hippurítidos y plagioptychidos son los rudistas más abundantes y diversificados en la localidad, además de tener los caracteres morfológicos más complejos. Por esta razón, ellos merecían un profundo tratamiento de paleontología sistemática que incluyera una exhaustiva descripción de todas las características de su concha, su variabilidad intraespecífica y su revisión taxonómica. Las siguientes especies han resultado bien caracterizadas: Radiolites angeiodes Lamarck, R. squamosus d'Orbigny, R. vallispetrosae Astre, Biradiolites acuticostatus (d'Orbigny), B. angulosissimus Toucas, B. beaussetensis Toucas, B. canaliculatus d'Orbigny, B. carezi Toucas, Bournonia excavata (d'Orbigny), Praeradiolites plicatus (Lajard, Négrel y Toulouzan), P. toucasi (d'Orbigny), y Sphaerulites caderensis (Toucas) entre los radiolítidos, Hippurites matheroni Douvillé, H. microstylus Douvillé, H. praecessor Douvillé, H. socialis Douvillé, H. sublaevis Matheron, Hippuritella maestrei (Vidal), H. toucasi (d'Orbigny), Vaccinites beaussetensis Toucas, V. galloprovincialis (Matheron), V. giganteus major Toucas, y V. zurcheri (Douvillé) entre los hippurítidos, y Plagioptychus aguilloni (d'Orbigny) y P. toucasi Matheron entre los plagioptychidos. Como consecuencia de este estudio sistemático, la taxonomía de los rudistas del Santoniense inferior pirenaico ha sido fuertemente simplificada y aclarada. El registro y el análisis posterior de las apariciones de las especies de rudistas, y también las diferencias morfológicas en la concha de una misma especie en facies diferentes contribuye a entender la relación entre los parámetros paleoambientales y la composición faunística de las bioconstrucciones de rudistas en el Cretácico superior.The south Pyrenean locality Collades de Basturs provides extensive and well exposed outcrops of Santonian rocks displaying a succession of shelf marls and shallow-water limestones, with sandy calcarenites locally, and ending with deep-water marls. Lateral changes of facies are evident. Requienid, monopleurid, caprotinid, radiolitid, hippuritid and plagioptychid rudists are abundant there, but important differences are noticed on the composition of the rudist associations, and even the morphology of single species, among the different facies. Radiolitids, hippuritids and plagioptychids are the most abundant and diverse rudists in the locality, besides having the more complex morphological characters. For that reason, they deserved a deep systematic palaeontology treatment including an exhaustive description of all their shell characters and their intraspecific variability, and their taxonomic revision. The following species resulted well characterized: Radiolites angeiodes Lamarck, R. squamosus d'Orbigny, R. vallispetrosae Astre, Biradiolites acuticostatus (d'Orbigny), B. angulosissimus Toucas, B. beaussetensis Toucas, B. canaliculatus d'Orbigny, B. carezi Toucas, Bournonia excavata (d'Orbigny), Praeradiolites plicatus (Lajard, Négrel y Toulouzan), P. toucasi (d'Orbigny), and Sphaerulites caderensis (Toucas) among the radiolitids, Hippurites matheroni Douvillé, H. microstylus Douvillé, H. praecessor Douvillé, H. socialis Douvillé, H. sublaevis Matheron, Hippuritella maestrei (Vidal), H. toucasi (d'Orbigny), Vaccinites beaussetensis Toucas, V. galloprovincialis (Matheron), V. giganteus major Toucas, and V. zurcheri (Douvillé) among the hippuritids, and Plagioptychus aguilloni (d'Orbigny) and P. toucasi Matheron among the plagiopychids. As a consequence of this systematic study, the taxonomy of the lower Santonian Pyrenean rudists became highly simplified and clarified. The record and subsequent analysis of the rudist species occurrences, and also of the different shell morphologies of the same species, in the different facies contributes to the understanding of the relationship between the palaeoenvironmental parameters and the faunal composition in the Late Cretaceous rudist bioconstructions