Evolution of the pollution in the Piedras River Natural Site (Gulf of Cadiz, southern Spain) during the Holocene

© 2016, Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. The Piedras River marshland and El Rompido spit bar is a Natural Site in close proximity to two of the most polluted rivers in the world: the Tinto and Odiel Rivers. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of contamination of this Natural Site using a variety of pollution indices. At this site the Holocene infilling sequence is recorded and applied to a study of the pollution history and the possible impacts of human activity. The depositional history of the Piedras River estuary during the Holocene recorded open marine conditions at ca. 6500 calBP when sea-level was at its Holocene maximum. To study the pollution of the estuary during the Holocene, catchment background geochemistry was established using samples that pre-date human activity (agriculture and mining). Additionally, the sedimentary environment was reconstructed throughout the Holocene; comparison of pollution levels is interpreted to be more reliable if the sedimentary environment has remained similar throughout the depositional record. Results show that, despite being located nearby very polluted estuaries, the Piedras River marshland contains unpolluted sediments mainly because of the small catchment area relative to that of neighbouring more polluted rivers, and thus has not been affected by human activity such as mining

Prognostic relevance of glomerular filtration rate estimation obtained through different equations in hospitalized elderly patients.

The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) is a predictor of important outcomes and its reduction has been associated with the risk of all-cause mortality in both general population and elderly patients. However while reduced renal function is common in older people, the best method for estimating GFR remains unclear, especially in an acute care setting. Most studies analyzing the accuracy of eGFR in the elderly were carried out in different heterogeneous settings. In this study, we compare the prognostic value of different formulas estimating GFR in predicting the risk of in-hospital morbidity and mortality within 3 months from discharge in elderly hospitalized patients. Data were extracted from "Registro Politerapia Società Italiana di Medicina Interna (REPOSI)". Patients with available creatinine values at hospital admission were selected and eGFR was calculated according to the different formulas: Cockcroft-Gault, Modification of Diet in Renal Disease equation, Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration, Berlin Initiative Study and Full Age Spectrum. 4621 patients were included in the analysis. Among these, 4.2% and 14.2% died during hospitalization and within 3 months from discharge, respectively. eGFR > 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 at admission was associated with a very low risk of mortality during the hospital stay and within 90 days from discharge, while an eGFR < 60 ml/min/1.73 m2 was associated with unfavorable outcomes, although with a poor level of accuracy (AUC 0.60-0.66). No difference in predictive power between different equations was found. Physicians should be aware of the prognostic role of eGFR in a comprehensive assessment of elderly in-patients

Appropriateness of antiplatelet therapy for primary and secondary cardio- and cerebrovascular prevention in acutely hospitalized older people

Aims: Antiplatelet therapy is recommended for the secondary prevention of cardio- and cerebrovascular disease, but for primary prevention it is advised only in patients at very high risk. With this background, this study aims to assess the appropriateness of antiplatelet therapy in acutely hospitalized older people according to their risk profile. Methods: Data were obtained from the REPOSI register held in Italian and Spanish internal medicine and geriatric wards in 2012 and 2014. Hospitalized patients aged 6565 assessable at discharge were selected. Appropriateness of the antiplatelet therapy was evaluated according to their primary or secondary cardiovascular prevention profiles. Results: Of 2535 enrolled patients, 2199 were assessable at discharge. Overall 959 (43.6%, 95% CI 41.5\u201345.7) were prescribed an antiplatelet drug, aspirin being the most frequently chosen. Among patients prescribed for primary prevention, just over half were inappropriately prescribed (52.1%), being mainly overprescribed (155/209 patients, 74.2%). On the other hand, there was also a high rate of inappropriate underprescription in the context of secondary prevention (222/726 patients, 30.6%, 95% CI 27.3\u201334.0%). Conclusions: This study carried out in acutely hospitalized older people shows a high degree of inappropriate prescription among patients prescribed with antiplatelets for primary prevention, mainly due to overprescription. Further, a large proportion of patients who had had overt cardio- or cerebrovascular disease were underprescribed, in spite of the established benefits of antiplatelet drugs in the context of secondary prevention