Mujer de 45 años con lesiones digitales pruriginosas

Dermatitis herpetiformis is an uncommon autoimmune cutaneous eruption revealing gluten sensitivity. Affected patients typically develop intensely pruritic inflammatory papules and vesicles on the forearms, knees, scalp or buttocks. The vast majority of patients with dermatitis herpetiformis also associate a gluten-sensitive enteropathy (celiac disease), which is usually minimally symptomatic or asymptomatic. This clinical report shows an atypical presentation of dermatitis herpetiformis, given that the primary cutaneous manifestation of our patient was a combination of painful purpuric macules, papules and petechiae on various unusual locations (fingertips and thumbs).La dermatitis herpetiforme es una erupción cutánea autoinmune infrecuente que pone de manifiesto una sensibilidad al gluten. Los pacientes desarrollan típicamente unas pápulas y vesículas inflamatorias intensamente pruriginosas en los antebrazos, las rodillas, el cuero cabelludo o los glúteos. La inmensa mayoría de los pacientes con dermatitis herpetiforme también asocia una enteropatía sensible al gluten (enfermedad celíaca), que normalmente es oligosintomática o asintomática. Este caso clínico es una presentación atípica de dermatitis herpetiforme, dado que la primera manifestación cutánea de nuestra paciente fue una combinación de máculas purpúricas, pápulas y petequias dolorosas localizadas en regiones inusuales: los pulpejos de los dedos

Hemogram as marker of in-hospital mortality in COVID-19.

The clinical impact of COVID-19 disease calls for the identification of routine variables to identify patients at increased risk of death. Current understanding of moderate-to-severe COVID-19 pathophysiology points toward an underlying cytokine release driving a hyperinflammatory and procoagulant state. In this scenario, white blood cells and platelets play a direct role as effectors of such inflammation and thrombotic response. We investigate whether hemogram-derived ratios such as neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio and the systemic immune-inflammation index may help to identify patients at risk of fatal outcomes. Activated platelets and neutrophils may be playing a decisive role during the thromboinflammatory phase of COVID-19 so, in addition, we introduce and validate a novel marker, the neutrophil-to-platelet ratio (NPR). Two thousand and eighty-eight hospitalized patients with COVID-19 admitted at any of the hospitals of HM Hospitales group in Spain, from March 1 to June 10, 2020, were categorized according to the primary outcome of in-hospital death. Baseline values, as well as the rate of increase of the four ratios analyzed were significantly higher at hospital admission in patients who died than in those who were discharged (p<0.0001). In multivariable logistic regression models, NLR (OR 1.05; 95% CI 1.02 to 1.08, p=0.00035) and NPR (OR 1.23; 95% CI 1.12 to 1.36, p<0.0001) were significantly and independently associated with in-hospital mortality. According to our results, hemogram-derived ratios obtained at hospital admission, as well as the rate of change during hospitalization, may easily detect, primarily using NLR and the novel NPR, patients with COVID-19 at high risk of in-hospital mortality.pre-print300 K

Assessing wastewater-based epidemiology for the prediction of SARS-CoV-2 incidence in Catalonia

While wastewater-based epidemiology has proven a useful tool for epidemiological surveillance during the COVID-19 pandemic, few quantitative models comparing virus concentrations in wastewater samples and cumulative incidence have been established. In this work, a simple mathematical model relating virus concentration and cumulative incidence for full contagion waves was developed. The model was then used for short-term forecasting and compared to a local linear model. Both scenarios were tested using a dataset composed of samples from 32 wastewater treatment plants and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) incidence data covering the corresponding geographical areas during a 7-month period, including two contagion waves. A population-averaged dataset was also developed to model and predict the incidence over the full geography. Overall, the mathematical model based on wastewater data showed a good correlation with cumulative cases and allowed us to anticipate SARS-CoV-2 incidence in one week, which is of special relevance in situations where the epidemiological monitoring system cannot be fully implemented.The authors want to thank the Catalan Institute for Water Research (Institut Català de Recerca de l’Aigua, ICRA) and the Open Data initiative of the Generalitat de Catalunya for publishing the SARS-CoV-2 concentration and incidence data as open access information. The authors also want to acknowledge the funding of the INNO- 4COV-19 (European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Programme under Grant Agreement No 101016203) project City Sentinel V-Sense.Peer ReviewedObjectius de Desenvolupament Sostenible::3 - Salut i BenestarPostprint (published version

Carotid ultrasound is useful for the cardiovascular risk stratification in patients with hidradenitis suppurativa

INTRODUCTION: Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory cutaneous disease which has been associated with an increased risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) outcomes. Adequate stratification of the CV risk is an issue of major importance in patients with HS. To analyze the usefulness of carotid ultrasound (US) assessment for the CV disease risk stratification compared with a traditional score, the Framingham risk score (FRS), in a series of patients with HS. METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 60 patients with HS without history of CV events, diabetes mellitus or chronic kidney disease. Information on CV risk factors was collected and the FRS was calculated. Thus, the patients were classified into low, intermediate and high-CV disease risk categories based on FRS. Carotid US was performed in all participants, and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques was considered as a marker of high CV risk. RESULTS: HS patients had a mean age of 45.1±10.2 years, and 55% were female. The median FRS was 5.7 (IQR: 3.1-14.7). Twenty-four (40%) of the patients were classified into the low risk group, 28 (46.7%) in the intermediate risk group, and 8 (13.3%) into the FRS-high risk category. Noteworthy, carotid US revealed that about one-third of the patients (17/52; 32.6%) in the FRS-based low and intermediate risk categories had carotid plaques, and, therefore, they were reclassified into a high-risk category. CONCLUSION: CV risk in HS patients may be underestimated by using the FRS. Carotid US may be useful to improve the CV risk stratification of patients with HS.This study was funded through an unrestricted grant provided by AbbVie to MGL. AbbVie has not played any role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish or preparation of the manuscript

Institutional Variation, Balance of Power and Agenda Control: Evidence from the Argentine Subnational Legislatures

This research investigates how patterns of legislative competition (i.e. partisan fragmentation and the majority/plurality party) are likely to affect the effect of rules and practices that govern the legislative process. These different patterns of legislative competition, I argue, will have an impact on the agenda-setting prerogatives of majority, plurality and minority parties; determining which bill initiatives are given consideration by the plenary floor and will win final approval in a state legislature. That is, my research will show how the gatekeeping prerogatives of majority, plurality, and minority parties; affect the relative success of individual legislators and the type of state's legislation being approved. The data to test these hypotheses come from a promising yet unexplored source: the local legislatures of Argentina's provinces over a twenty five year period, 1984-2009. My research will not only contribute to the literature on comparative legislatures but also to the knowledge of subnational legislative success in federal countries. I expect my research to show that changes in the partisan environment within local legislatures shapes the selection and use of gatekeeping prerogatives by majority parties e.g. distribution of authority posts and committee assignments. To explore the ability of the majority, plurality, and minority parties to set the legislative agenda, I distinguish rates of introduction and success by type of party, legislative bloc, and year (1983 to 2009). I expect variation in the partisan make-up of the legislation reaching the floor to provide critical information on the use of gatekeeping institutions by majority, plurality, and majority parties. The findings generated in this project will contribute to the discipline by furthering our understanding of subnational legislative politics in federal polities. Moreover, this project will disentangle institutional and contextual determinants of legislative success, which are critical to understand the organization of local legislatures. The data collected for this project will prove a valuable contribution to future scholars interested in furthering comparative legislative studies. Such research should also prove valuable to assess the performance of legislative bodies and improve the levels of transparency and accountability in emerging democracies.Political Science, Department o

Does Women’s Presence Change Legislative Behavior? Evidence from Argentina, 1983–2007 Cambia la conducta legislativa con una mayor presencia femenina? Evidencia del Congreso argentino, 1983-2007

In scores of countries, the adoption of gender quotas has boosted the numbers of women elected to national legislatures. How does the growing presence of women affect legislative behavior regarding women’s rights? Using an original dataset of all the bills submitted to the Argentine Congress between 1983 and 2007, we analyze the relationship between women’s presence in Congress and the introduction and approval of bills related to women’s rights. Our dataset allows us to compare three periods with varying levels of women’s presence in both legislative chambers (the first without quotas, the second with a quota in one chamber, and the third with full quota implementation in both chambers). Our results confirm the necessity of distinguishing between the process of legislative behavior and its outcome. We show that many more women’s rights bills were introduced when women held a greater share of seats in both chambers. However, the approval rates of these bills actually declined. Despite their greater presence, women continue to be marginalized in the legislature and to suffer reduced political efficacy.En un número importante de países, la adopción de las cuotas de género ha incrementado el número de mujeres electas en las legislaturas nacionales. Cómo afecta la creciente presencia de mujeres en el Congreso el comportamiento legislativo respecto de los derechos de la mujer? Mediante el uso de una base de datos de todos los proyectos ingresados al Congreso argentino entre 1983 y 2007, el presente trabajo analiza la relación entre la presencia de las mujeres en el congreso y la introducción y aprobación de proyectos legislativos relacionados con los derechos de la mujer. Nuestra base de datos nos permite comparar tres períodos donde la delegación femenina varió considerablemente en ambas cámaras (uno sin cuotas, otro con cuota solo en la cámara de Diputados y un tercero con plena implementación de las cuotas en ambos cuerpos). Los resultados confirman la importancia de distinguir la actividad legislativa como proceso y como producto, al demostrar que aunque la cantidad de proyectos presentados acerca de los derechos de la mujer aumentó a medida que se incrementó la presencia de las mujeres en ambas cámaras, la tasa de aprobación de dichos proyectos disminuyó. Por consiguiente, pese a su mayor presencia en el Congreso, las mujeres continúan siendo marginadas en el proceso legislativo y su eficacia política termina siendo reducida

[Aerial photography from NTS Map Sheet 072E08 - Thelma Creek, Alberta, 06-25-1962] : [Flightline YC534-Photo 060]

072E08 - Thelma Creek, AlbertaThis content is in the public domain in Canada and can be used without permission

Does Women’s Presence Change Legislative Behavior? Evidence from Argentina, 1983–2007

In scores of countries, the adoption of gender quotas has boosted the numbers of women elected to national legislatures. How does the growing presence of women affect legislative behavior regarding women’s rights? Using an original dataset of all the bills submitted to the Argentine Congress between 1983 and 2007, we analyze the relationship between women’s presence in Congress and the introduction and approval of bills related to women’s rights. Our dataset allows us to compare three periods with varying levels of women’s presence in both legislative chambers (the first without quotas, the second with a quota in one chamber, and the third with full quota implementation in both chambers). Our results confirm the necessity of distinguishing between the process of legislative behavior and its outcome. We show that many more women’s rights bills were introduced when women held a greater share of seats in both chambers. However, the approval rates of these bills actually declined. Despite their greater presence, women continue to be marginalized in the legislature and to suffer reduced political efficacy.En un número importante de países, la adopción de las cuotas de género ha incrementado el número de mujeres electas en las legislaturas nacionales. Cómo afecta la creciente presencia de mujeres en el Congreso el comportamiento legislativo respecto de los derechos de la mujer? Mediante el uso de una base de datos de todos los proyectos ingresados al Congreso argentino entre 1983 y 2007, el presente trabajo analiza la relación entre la presencia de las mujeres en el congreso y la introducción y aprobación de proyectos legislativos relacionados con los derechos de la mujer. Nuestra base de datos nos permite comparar tres períodos donde la delegación femenina varió considerablemente en ambas cámaras (uno sin cuotas, otro con cuota solo en la cámara de Diputados y un tercero con plena implementación de las cuotas en ambos cuerpos). Los resultados confirman la importancia de distinguir la actividad legislativa como proceso y como producto, al demostrar que aunque la cantidad de proyectos presentados acerca de los derechos de la mujer aumentó a medida que se incrementó la presencia de las mujeres en ambas cámaras, la tasa de aprobación de dichos proyectos disminuyó. Por consiguiente, pese a su mayor presencia en el Congreso, las mujeres continúan siendo marginadas en el proceso legislativo y su eficacia política termina siendo reducida

Europea Party Run: el aprendizaje basado en proyectos llevado a la vida real

El presente trabajo se establece en el marco de la Teoría del Aprendizaje Experimental, y tiene su base en la implantación de un proyecto colaborativo. Concretamente, el aprendizaje basado en proyectos en este caso se erige en torno a la organización de una carrera con fines lúdicos dentro del campus universitario de la Universidad Europea de Madrid. En este contexto, los alumnos han tenido que realizar una previa investigación de mercado, un análisis de recursos, un estudio de la jurisprudencia correspondiente en esta materia y han establecido una planificación inicial y una definición de las acciones a llevar a cabo en caso de posibles contingencias. Utilizando la metodología de focus group para desarrollar un análisis cualitativo, se conoce que los alumnos han valorado altamente esta actividad y consideran que contribuyó al desarrollo de competencias transversales. La actividad ha sido llevada a la práctica con éxito, demostrando la interdisciplinaridad de las habilidades de los alumnos y permitiéndoles a ellos contar con una experiencia real de cómo trabajarán en un futuro con colegas de distintas profesiones.SIN FINANCIACIÓNNo data 2014UE

La transformación de la cadena de suministro de la industria de cacao y su relación con los derechos humanos

El capítulo revisa los cambios en la cadena de suministro en la industria del cacao. Para ello, se evalúa la situación de los pequeños productores de cacao en África y América Latina, el contexto socioeconómico de los principales países productores y la responsabilidad de cada agente dentro de la cadena de suministro. El artículo revisa como los cambios en la concienciación social de los países demandantes de los productos derivados del cacao, el papel de las mayores empresas manufactures del sector y los esfuerzos encaminados al comercio justo de esta materia prima.Proyecto Nuevas formas de protección a los Derechos en entornos empresariales globalizados (DER2015-68299-C2-1-P)No data 2019UE