The systemic inflammome of severe obesity before and after bariatric surgery

INTRODUCTION: Obesity is associated with low-grade systemic inflammation. The 'inflammome' is a network layout of the inflammatory pattern. The systemic inflammome of obesity has not been described as yet. We hypothesized that it can be significantly worsened by smoking and other comorbidities frequently associated with obesity, and ameliorated by bariatric surgery (BS). Besides, whether or not these changes are mirrored in the lungs is unknown, but obesity is often associated with pulmonary inflammation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. OBJECTIVES: We sought to: (1) describe the systemic inflammome of morbid obesity; (2) investigate the effects of sex, smoking, sleep apnea syndrome, metabolic syndrome and BS upon this systemic inflammome; and, (3) determine their interplay with pulmonary inflammation. METHODS: We studied 129 morbidly obese patients (96 females; age 46 ± 12 years; body mass index [BMI], 46 ± 6 kg/m2) before and one year after BS, and 20 healthy, never-smokers, (43 ± 7 years), with normal BMI and spirometry. RESULTS: Before BS, compared with controls, all obese subjects displayed a strong and coordinated (inflammome) systemic inflammatory response (adiponectin, C-reactive protein, interleukin (IL)-8, IL-10, leptin, soluble tumor necrosis factor-receptor 1(sTNF-R1), and 8-isoprostane). This inflammome was not modified by sex, smoking, or coexistence of obstructive sleep apnea and/or metabolic syndrome. By contrast, it was significantly ameliorated, albeit not completely abolished, after BS. Finally, obese subjects had evidence of pulmonary inflammation (exhaled condensate) that also decreased after BS. CONCLUSIONS: The systemic inflammome of morbid obesity is independent of sex, smoking status and/or comorbidities, it is significantly reduced by BS and mirrored in the lungs

Palynostratigraphical review of the K–Pg boundary from the Ibero-Armorican Island: New data from the Maastrichtian dinosaur outcrop Veracruz 1 (Pyrenees, NE Iberian Peninsula)

The palynostratigraphy of the K-Pg boundary interval in SW Europe has been a subject of ongoing debate, despite numerous palynological studies in the region. To address this, we review previous publications and conduct analysis of new deposits to establish a palynostratigraphical chart. A total of 40 palynological studies within the Normapolles palynological province were reexamined to elucidate key taxa restricted to the Cretaceous (K-taxa), to the Maastrichtian-Danian interval (KPg-taxa) and those restricted to the Paleogene (Pg-taxa). Eventually, we propose 18 key taxa to differentiate a Maastrichtian from a Danian palynological assemblage within the Normapolles Province. Afterward, a palynostratigraphical analysis was carried out in Veracruz 1 (Aragonese Pyrenees), one of the more modern dinosaurbearing sites of Europe. The palynological assemblage corresponded to an upper Maastrichtian age and was composed by pteridophyte spores, gymnosperms, angiosperms, dinoflagellate cysts, algae, and fungal spores. It was predominated by angiosperm pollen (Liliaceae, post-Normapolles, and triporate pollen). The plant communities in Veracruz 1 seem to be characterized by plants from an open coastal forest prevailed by Liliaceae flowering herbs and Juglandaceae/Myricaceae dicotyledonous trees and shrubs thriving in temperate-warm paleoclimate. The Gondwanan botanical influence was also supported by the presence of Bacumorphomonocolpites sp., as this taxon was previously recorded in other upper Maastrichtian deposits from Europe.Agencia Estatal de Investigación | Ref. PID2021-122612OB-I00Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED431C-2019/28Xunta de Galicia | Ref. ED481A-2020/175Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México | Ref. UNAM-DGAPA 2023–2024Swedish Research Council | Ref. VR 2022-03920Universidade de Vigo/CISU

Public Policies, Diversity and National Cinemas in the Spanish context: Catalonia, Basque Country and Galicia

The 2005 Unesco Diversity Convention was an inflexion point regarding protection and promotion of the diversity of cultural expressions. In the current global context, developing cultural policies and measures to nurture such creativity becomes key issue. Moreover, in the case of small communities in a minority situation where the cultural and language situation cannot produce the means to sustain autonomously, it is crucial to drive national supporting mechanisms to reduce the brutal imbalance in flows and transnational culture exchanges, and guarantee its survival. As part of the cultural production, the audiovisual sector is of double importance; besides its positive impact on the economic sphere it plays a core role in the social construction. In fact, they are both mutually reinforcing aspects. Cinema in particular, it should not be well considered only for a local giving; it is also beneficial in terms of brining commonly held values, particular circumstances and knowledge all over the world. Films do contribute to reflect the global cultural diversity. This paper aims to explain how public cultural bodies currently interpret and translate national cultural policy into film schemes in the Spanish context. Particularly, it will look into how Catalan, Basque and Galician institutions set out to plan, develop, implement and evaluate their film policies in order to establish a national film industry with their cultural and identity specificities (nation and language)

Recent Advances and Potential Multi-Omics Approaches in the Early Phases of Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Inflammatory bowel disease leads to debilitating gastrointestinal symptoms and reduced quality of life, resulting in a significant burden on healthcare utilization and costs. Despite substantial advancements in diagnosis and treatment, there may still be considerable delays in diagnosing some patients. To reduce disease progression before the full disease spectrum appears and improve prognostic outcomes, several strategies have concentrated on early intervention and prevention. Recent evidence shows that initial immune response changes and endoscopic lesions may exist for years before diagnosis, implying the existence of a preclinical phase of inflammatory bowel disease comparable to findings in other immune-mediated disorders. In this review, we highlight the most relevant findings regarding preclinical inflammatory bowel disease and the prospective role of novel omics techniques in this field

COVID-19 and inflammatory bowel disease: questions arising from patient care and follow-up during the initial phase of the pandemic (February-April 2020)

COVID-19 is a disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), which was described in China in late 2019. There are currently more than three million diagnosed cases, constituting a pandemic which has caused a worldwide crisis. The devastating effects of this infection are due to its highly contagious nature and although mild forms predominate, in absolute values, the rates for severe forms and mortality are very high. The information on the characteristics of the infection in inflammatory bowel disease is of special interest, as these patients have higher attendance at health centres, which may increase their risk of infection. Furthermore, the treatments used to control the inflammatory activity may modify the disease course of COVID-19. The Spanish Working Group on Crohn's Disease and Ulcerative Colitis and the Spanish Nurses Working Group on Inflammatory Bowel Disease have prepared this document as a practical response to some common questions about the treatment of these patients

Flora coralinal no geniculada de la región macaronésica: evidencias moleculares de su singularidad y relaciones biogeográficas con la flora europea

XIX Simposio de Botánica Criptogámica, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 24-28 de junio de 2013.Después de las primeras contribuciones a la flora coralinal de la región macaronésica por parte de Lamarck (1815), Montagne (1840) y Viera (1868-1869), han sido unos pocos ficólogos los que han aportado nuevas especies para los diferentes archipiélagos que componen esta región (Foslie 1905, 1906, May 1912, Lemoine 1929). Aparte del componente endémico de su flora, otras especies citadas presentan una distribución mucho más amplia. En la flora coralinal de Canarias, Afonso-­Carrillo et al (1984) distinguieron cuatro grupos biogeográficos, dos de los cuales contienen especies citadas en las costas europeas mientras que otros dos corresponden a especies pantropicales y especies cosmopolitas, respectivamente. La contribución de especies europeas y tropicales también se hizo patente en un análisis global de las algas coralinas geniculadas presentes en esta región (Rosas-­Alquicira et al. 2011). Athanasiadis & Neto (2010) citaron Mesophyllum expansum para Azores e Islas Canarias, una especie característica del coralígeno mediterráneo. Los fondos de maërl fueron estudiados por Cabioch (1974) y Afonso-­Carrillo et al. (1982) en Madeira y Canarias. Las algas coralinas no geniculadas presentan una alta plasticidad fenotípica que conlleva tanto una variación extrema dentro de un mismo taxón como convergencias entre taxones filogenéticamente distantes (Steneck 1986) que lo convierte en un grupo taxonómicamente muy complejo. El reciente empleo de la taxonomía molecular en estas algas ha puesto de manifiesto la inestabilidad de ciertos caracteres morfológicos tradicionales y la existencia de especies crípticas (Bailey & Chapman 1998, Harvey et al. 2002, Vidal et al. 2003, Broom et al. 2008, Bittner et al. 2010, Le Gall et al. 2010, Hind & Saunders 2013). Desde 2011, se está llevando a cabo un estudio acerca de la diversidad de las algas coralinas no geniculadas de la costas europeas mediante el empleo de DNA barcoding. Para este proyecto, se han recogido unos 1500 especímenes en 128 localidades de la costas atlántica y mediterránea, desde el intermareal hasta 94 m de profundidad, incluyendo fondos de maërl y coralígeno. Adicionalmente, se han incluido diversas colecciones procedentes de Canarias y Madeira, así como algunos especímenes preservados en el herbario AZB de Azores. En el presente trabajo analizamos las relaciones biogeográficas entre ambas áreas de estudio basados en nuestras secuencias y en las existentes en las bases de datos BOLD y Genbank. Los resultados obtenidos aportan un mayor conocimiento de la flora coralinal macaronésica y sus particularidades florísticas

Clinical experience with integrase inhibitors in HIV-2-infected individuals in Spain.

Background: HIV-2 is a neglected virus despite estimates of 1–2 million people being infected worldwide. The virus is naturally resistant to some antiretrovirals used to treat HIV-1 and therapeutic options are limited for patients with HIV-2. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, we analysed all HIV-2-infected individuals treated with inte- grase strand transfer inhibitors (INSTIs) recorded in the Spanish HIV-2 cohort. Demographics, treatment modal- ities, laboratory values, quantitative HIV-2 RNA and CD4 counts as well as drug resistance were analysed. Results: From a total of 354 HIV-2-infected patients recruited by the Spanish HIV-2 cohort as of December 2017, INSTIs had been given to 44, in 18 as first-line therapy and in 26 after failing other antiretroviral regimens. After a median follow-up of 13 months of INSTI-based therapy, undetectable viraemia for HIV-2 was achieved in 89% of treatment-naive and in 65.4% of treatment-experienced patients. In parallel, CD4 gains were 82 and 126cells/mm3, respectively. Treatment failure occurred in 15 patients, 2 being treatment-naive and 13 treatment-experienced. INSTI resistance changes were recognized in 12 patients: N155H (5), Q148H/R (3), Y143C/G (3) and R263K (1). Conclusions: Combinations based on INSTIs are effective and safe treatment options for HIV-2-infected individ- uals. However, resistance mutations to INSTIs are selected frequently in failing patients, reducing the already limited treatment options

Planck Intermediate Results II: Comparison of Sunyaev-Zeldovich measurements from Planck and from the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager for 11 galaxy clusters

A comparison is presented of Sunyaev-Zeldovich measurements for 11 galaxy clusters as obtained by Planck and by the ground-based interferometer, the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager. Assuming a universal spherically-symmetric Generalised Navarro, Frenk & White (GNFW) model for the cluster gas pressure profile, we jointly constrain the integrated Compton-Y parameter (Y_500) and the scale radius (theta_500) of each cluster. Our resulting constraints in the Y_500-theta_500 2D parameter space derived from the two instruments overlap significantly for eight of the clusters, although, overall, there is a tendency for AMI to find the Sunyaev-Zeldovich signal to be smaller in angular size and fainter than Planck. Significant discrepancies exist for the three remaining clusters in the sample, namely A1413, A1914, and the newly-discovered Planck cluster PLCKESZ G139.59+24.18. The robustness of the analysis of both the Planck and AMI data is demonstrated through the use of detailed simulations, which also discount confusion from residual point (radio) sources and from diffuse astrophysical foregrounds as possible explanations for the discrepancies found. For a subset of our cluster sample, we have investigated the dependence of our results on the assumed pressure profile by repeating the analysis adopting the best-fitting GNFW profile shape which best matches X-ray observations. Adopting the best-fitting profile shape from the X-ray data does not, in general, resolve the discrepancies found in this subset of five clusters. Though based on a small sample, our results suggest that the adopted GNFW model may not be sufficiently flexible to describe clusters universally.Comment: update to metadata author list onl

Relationship between damage and mortality in juvenile-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: Cluster analyses in a large cohort from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry (RELESSER)

Objectives: To identify patterns (clusters) of damage manifestation within a large cohort of juvenile SLE (jSLE) patients and evaluate their possible association with mortality. Methods: This is a multicentre, descriptive, cross-sectional study of a cohort of 345 jSLE patients from the Spanish Society of Rheumatology Lupus Registry. Organ damage was ascertained using the Systemic Lupus International Collaborating Clinics Damage Index. Using cluster analysis, groups of patients with similar patterns of damage manifestation were identified and compared. Results: Mean age (years) ± S.D. at diagnosis was 14.2 ± 2.89; 88.7% were female and 93.4% were Caucasian. Mean SLICC/ACR DI ± S.D. was 1.27 ± 1.63. A total of 12 (3.5%) patients died. Three damage clusters were identified: Cluster 1 (72.7% of patients) presented a lower number of individuals with damage (22.3% vs. 100% in Clusters 2 and 3, P < 0.001); Cluster 2 (14.5% of patients) was characterized by renal damage in 60% of patients, significantly more than Clusters 1 and 3 (P < 0.001), in addition to increased more ocular, cardiovascular and gonadal damage; Cluster 3 (12.7%) was the only group with musculoskeletal damage (100%), significantly higher than in Clusters 1 and 2 (P < 0.001). The overall mortality rate in Cluster 2 was 2.2 times higher than that in Cluster 3 and 5 times higher than that in Cluster 1 (P < 0.017 for both comparisons). Conclusions: In a large cohort of jSLE patients, renal and musculoskeletal damage manifestations were the two dominant forms of damage by which patients were sorted into clinically meaningful clusters. We found two clusters of jSLE with important clinical damage that were associated with higher rates of mortality, especially for the cluster of patients with predominant renal damage. Physicians should be particularly vigilant to the early prevention of damage in this subset of jSLE patients with kidney involvement