HTLV-1 infection in solid organ transplant donors and recipients in Spain

HTLV-1 infection is a neglected disease, despite infecting 10-15 million people worldwide and severe illnesses develop in 10% of carriers lifelong. Acknowledging a greater risk for developing HTLV-1 associated illnesses due to immunosuppression, screening is being widely considered in the transplantation setting. Herein, we report the experience with universal HTLV testing of donors and recipients of solid organ transplants in a survey conducted in Spain. All hospitals belonging to the Spanish HTLV network were invited to participate in the study. Briefly, HTLV antibody screening was performed retrospectively in all specimens collected from solid organ donors and recipients attended since the year 2008. A total of 5751 individuals were tested for HTLV antibodies at 8 sites. Donors represented 2312 (42.2%), of whom 17 (0.3%) were living kidney donors. The remaining 3439 (59.8%) were recipients. Spaniards represented nearly 80%. Overall, 9 individuals (0.16%) were initially reactive for HTLV antibodies. Six were donors and 3 were recipients. Using confirmatory tests, HTLV-1 could be confirmed in only two donors, one Spaniard and another from Colombia. Both kidneys of the Spaniard were inadvertently transplanted. Subacute myelopathy developed within 1 year in one recipient. The second recipient seroconverted for HTLV-1 but the kidney had to be removed soon due to rejection. Immunosuppression was stopped and 3 years later the patient remains in dialysis but otherwise asymptomatic. The rate of HTLV-1 is low but not negligible in donors/recipients of solid organ transplants in Spain. Universal HTLV screening should be recommended in all donor and recipients of solid organ transplantation in Spain. Evidence is overwhelming for very high virus transmission and increased risk along with the rapid development of subacute myelopathy

Preliminary Characterization of Wild Grapevine Populations (<i>Vitis vinifera</i> ssp. <i>sylvestris</i>) Grown Along the Danube River

The individuals belonging to three different groups of wild grapevines populations Vitis vinifera L. ssp. sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi harvested along, or near the Danube River, were described by means of usual ampelographic methods. The twenty standardized descriptors used for morphological analysis revealed obvious differentiation among analyzed populations. Out of 65 individuals, a half produced flowers with separate sex and a high proportion of them were males (70%). Pollen measurements on light microscope provided information on differences in pollen size among inside wild grapevine populations of V. sylvestris with the polar length varying between 15.3 and 23 μm and the equatorial length between 15.5 and 24.4μm. The in vitro regenerative potential from meristematic tissue tested with each phenotype showed that the moment of differentiation, the aspect of proliferative structures and the rate of multiplication varied inside these wild grapevine populations, without any correlation with the location of harvesting. Our results provided valuable information about these Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris populations, possible to be used as starting plant material for research in general and further breeding of cultivars and grapevine rootstocks

Traditional medicinal uses of the Eurasian wild grapevine in the Iberian Peninsula

The Iberian Peninsula constitutes the Western limit of the dioecious Eurasian wild grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris). At present, it is a threatened plant, due to human impacts. This liana has had different uses in this territory from the Paleolithic until the end of the last century, including several medicinal applications, inherited from the classical Greek culture. In order to retrieve the available written information, we carried out an exhaustive bibliographic search of the pharmacopoeia linked to this Vitaceae, from the 16th century to the present day. Current references on chemical composition of different parts of grapevine and their medicinal uses were also covered. In parallel, we conducted research in several archives and made inquiries to historians, anthropologists, and sanitary personnel. We also interviewed elderly people from rural areas of Spain and Portugal where some relic populations of wild grapevine are still conserved. Among the written and oral medicinal uses compiled, the main ones are: the use of the grapevine bleeding water to alleviate eczema and skin eruptions and to combat conjunctivitis and keratitis; the use of must from unripe berries (agua de agraz in Spanish) as liver tonic and to treat digestive diseases; the leaves were used to reduce edema, as antihemorrhoidal, and for menopausal disorders; and finally, the vinegar was used to clean and disinfect wounds both on humans and animals. This paper highlights the tremendous erosion of the traditional knowledge about this relevant plant genetic resource.La Península Ibérica constituye el límite occidental de la euroasiática y dioica vid silvestre (Vitis vinifera L. subsp. sylvestris). Actualmente la vid silvestre se encuentra amenazada debido al impacto humano. Esta liana tuvo diferentes usos en la península desde el Paleolítico hasta finales del siglo pasado. Entre ellos, como herencia de la cultura griega clásica, aparecen diferentes usos médicos. Para recuperar la información escrita existente, hemos llevado a cabo una búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva sobre la farmacopea vinculada a esta Vitaceae, desde el siglo XVI hasta el presente. Incluimos también referencias sobre la composición química de diferentes partes de la vid y sus usos medicinales. Paralelamente, hemos investigado en los archivos de diferentes localidades y realizado consultas a historiadores, antropólogos y personal sanitario. Asimismo, hemos realizado entrevistas a ancianos de diferentes regiones de España y Portugal donde todavía se conservan algunas poblaciones relictas de vid silvestre. Entre la información escrita y oral de los usos medicinales recopilados, mencionaremos el uso del “agua de lloro” de la vid para aliviar eczemas y erupciones cutáneas; para combatir la conjuntivitis y la queratitis; el mosto o “agua de agraz”, como tónico para el hígado y para tratar afecciones digestivas; las hojas para reducir el edema, como antihemorroidales y para trastornos de la menopausia; y por último, el vinagre para limpiar y desinfectar heridas de personas y animales. Este trabajo destaca la tremenda erosión del conocimiento tradicional sobre este recurso fitogenético tan relevante

An inventory of the relic eurasian wild grapevine populational nuclei in huelva province (andalusia, Spain)

6 páginas.- 2 figuras.- 3 tablas.- 28 referenciasThis paper is focused on 21 relic wild grapevine populations within Huelva province (SW Europe, Spain) prospected between 2015-2017. Position of each popu lation along river-bank forests, types of flower of this dioecious subspecies and morphology of the pollen grains were described. Analyses of five microvinifications were carried out, which indicate that the color intensity of the wines is between 14.6 and 17.6 and the pH between 3.26-3.27, which are suitable values for red wines under Mediterranean climatology. A list of the accompanying vegetation and the cultivated varieties in the "Condado de Huelva" Registered Appellation Origin Mark were also included. Moreover, the genetic diversity of 23 vines was characterized using 25 nuclear SSR loci, the results showed a slightly higher diversity than the one found in Iberian cultivars. However, the observed heterozygosity was significantly lower than the expected one for wild populations in the Huelva province. The inbreeding depression in these wild grape populations is suggested by the positive F values. Therefore, the conservation of this unique germplasm collection should be part of the process of maintaining the genetic diversity in this gene pool, especially, taking into account that no particular legal figure of preservation exists in Spain. © The author(s).Peer reviewe

Cervical dissection diagnoses increase following endovascular treatments

Objectives: The detection of cervical arterial dissection (CAD) has been rising in recent years owing to advanced imaging techniques. The aim of this study was to explore whether wide implementation of endovascular treatment for ischemic stroke has an impact on the diagnosis of CAD. Methods: We included all patients with CAD diagnosed at two university hospitals in Seville, Spain from January 2015 to December 2017. We collected clinical variables and information on imaging techniques used for the diagnosis. Implementation of 24 hour/365 day mechanical thrombectomy began in Seville on 15 August 2016. We compared diagnosis rates of CAD performed before and after this date. Results: We identified 41 patients with CAD. We found 13 patients diagnosed before (1.1% of all ischemic strokes) and 28 (2.2%) after implementation of neurointerventional therapy. In 17 patients, diagnosis was made in the acute phase. Dissection was not suspected according to computed tomography angiography in 11 patients owing to small dissections (n = 2) or total occlusion (n = 9). Conclusions: CAD diagnoses have been rising in recent years, essentially owing to continuous improvement in imaging techniques. Rapid access to arteriography for thrombectomy is increasing the diagnoses of CAD, even in patients with a low suspicion of dissection

Characterization of Vitis vinifera L. subspecies sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi in the Ebro river Basin (Spain)

A wild grapevine population of 76 vines of Vitis vinifera L. subspecies sylvestris (Gmelin) Hegi was found along the Iregua river valley (Northeastern Spain), located in the Ibérica mountain-range. The characterization of this phytogenetic resource was based on an ampelographic description of the male and female individuals and an evaluation of their sanitary state. This shows that the imported North American downy and powdery mildews are the main pathogens, but no symptoms caused by phylloxera on roots were found. Different degrees of infestation caused by Eryophid mites, Colomerus vitis and Calipitrimerus vitis, were also registered on leaves. On the other hand, the red wines obtained show an alcoholic degree situated between 8.5 and 10.8, pH around 3.5 and a high intensity of colour, between 10.2 and, 11.3. The vinegar had only 3.5° of acetic acid. Its phenolic composition is similar to those reported from red and Sherry vinegars produced from cultivars. The genetic analysis based on 18 samples, using 16 nuclear microsatellites, shows a low genetic diversity (He = 0.45). This might be due to inbreeding caused by mating among siblings in this isolated population. The genetic comparison with the allowed cultivars of this Guarantee of Origin showed two distinct gene pools. So it indicated that there is no genetic contribution of these native vines to current instead of actual local varieties. It is necessary to preserve this phytogenetic resource to be used in breeding programs and to restore its destructed habitats by human different impacts.Peer Reviewe

Multiple Origins of Cultivated Grapevine (Vitis vinifera L. ssp. Sativa) Based on Chloroplast DNA Polymorphisms

The domestication of the Eurasian grape (Vitis vinifera ssp. sativa) from its wild ancestor (Vitis vinifera ssp. sylvestris) has long been claimed to have occurred in Transcaucasia where its greatest genetic diversity is found and where very early archaeological evidence, including grape pips and artefacts of a 'wine culture', have been excavated. Whether from Transcaucasia or the nearby Taurus or Zagros Mountains, it is hypothesized that this wine culture spread southwards and eventually westwards around the Mediterranean basin, together with the transplantation of cultivated grape cuttings. However, the existence of morphological differentiation between cultivars from eastern and western ends of the modern distribution of the Eurasian grape suggests the existence of different genetic contribution from local sylvestris populations or multilocal selection and domestication of sylvestris genotypes. To tackle this issue, we analysed chlorotype variation and distribution in 1201 samples of sylvestris and sativa genotypes from the whole area of the species' distribution and studied their genetic relationships. The results suggest the existence of at least two important origins for the cultivated germplasm, one in the Near East and another in the western Mediterranean region, the latter of which gave rise to many of the current Western European cultivars. Indeed, over 70% of the Iberian Peninsula cultivars display chlorotypes that are only compatible with their having derived from western sylvestris populations.Comunidad Autónoma de Madrid 07G/0045/2000Centro Nacional de Biotecnología RF02-010-C3-1State Planning Organization 2001-K-120–2