Reproduction of Patella depressa Pennant, 1777 on the central Portuguese coast

The reproductive cycle and the sex ratio of the limpet Patella depressa Pennant, 1777 were studied on two rocky shores of the central coast of the Portugal, over a period of one year. The gonads were examined and their stage of development was assessed. The gonads of P. depressa were found to develop mainly from September/October to December, and between February and April. The spawning peaks occurred in January and between May and August. From June to August the gonads seem to go into a resting phase. In P. depressa the sex proportions seem to be approximately equal, suggesting the absence of sex reversal in these limpets. High wind speed under optimum conditions of air temperatures appears to induce spawning in this species.Estudiamos el ciclo reproductor y la proporción de sexos de la lapa Patella depressa Pennant, 1777 en dos litorales rocosos de la costa central de Portugal. Examinamos las gónadas y valoramos su fase de desarrollo. Encontramos gónadas de P. depressa desarrollándose principalmente desde septiembre/octubre hasta diciembre y entre febrero y abril. Los picos de puesta aparecieron en enero y entre mayo y agosto. Las gónadas parecen permanecer en una fase de reposo desde junio hasta agosto. En P. depressa la proporción de sexos parece ser aproximadamente uno, lo que sugiere la ausencia de inversión sexual en estas lapas. Bajo condiciones óptimas de temperatura del aire, la alta velocidad del viento parece inducir la puesta en esta especie.Instituto Español de Oceanografí

Disease activity score-driven therapy versus routine care in patients with recent-onset active rheumatoid arthritis: data from the GUEPARD trial and ESPOIR cohort

International audienceOBJECTIVES: To compare the efficacy of disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28ESR)-driven therapy with anti-tumour necrosis factor (patients from the GUEPARD trial) and routine care in patients with recent-onset rheumatoid arthritis (patients of the ESPOIR cohort). RESULTS: After matching GUEPARD and ESPOIR patients on the basis of a propensity score and a 1:2 ratio, at baseline all patients had comparable demographic characteristics, rheumatoid factor, anticyclic citrullinated peptide antibody positivity and clinical disease activity parameters: erythrocyte sedimentation rate, C-reactive protein, mean DAS (6.26±0.87), Sharp/van der Heijde radiographic score (SHS), health assessment questionnaire (HAQ). Disease duration was longer in GUEPARD patients (5.6±4.6 vs 3.5±2.0 months, p<0.001). After 1 year, the percentage of patients in remission with an HAQ (<0.5) and an absence of radiological progression was higher in the tight control group (32.3% vs 10.2%, p=0.011) as well as the percentage of patients in low DAS with an HAQ (<0.5) and an absence of radiological progression (36.1% vs 18.9%, p=0.045). However, there was no difference in the decrease in DAS, nor in the percentage of EULAR (good and moderate), ACR20, ACR50 and ACR70 responses. More patients in the tight control group had an HAQ below 0.5 (70.2% vs 45.2%, p=0.005). Overall, pain, patient and physician assessment and fatigue decreased more in the tight control group. The mean SHS progression was similar in the two groups as was the percentage of patients without progression. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with recent onset active rheumatoid arthritis, a tight control of disease activity allows more patients to achieve remission without disability and radiographic progression

Prevalence of comorbidities in rheumatoid arthritis and evaluation of their monitoring: results of an international, cross-sectional study (COMORA)

Background: Patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are at increased risk of developing comorbid conditions.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Objectives: To evaluate the prevalence of comorbidities and compare their management in RA patients from different countries worldwide.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Methods Study design: international, cross-sectional. Patients: consecutive RA patients. Data collected: demographics, disease characteristics (activity, severity, treatment), comorbidities (cardiovascular, infections, cancer, gastrointestinal, pulmonary, osteoporosis and psychiatric disorders).&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Results: Of 4586 patients recruited in 17 participating countries, 3920 were analysed (age, 56±13 years; disease duration, 10±9 years (mean±SD); female gender, 82%; DAS28 (Disease Activity Score using 28 joints)–erythrocyte sedimentation rate, 3.7±1.6 (mean±SD); Health Assessment Questionnaire, 1.0±0.7 (mean±SD); past or current methotrexate use, 89%; past or current use of biological agents, 39%. The most frequently associated diseases (past or current) were: depression, 15%; asthma, 6.6%; cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke), 6%; solid malignancies (excluding basal cell carcinoma), 4.5%; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, 3.5%. High intercountry variability was observed for both the prevalence of comorbidities and the proportion of subjects complying with recommendations for preventing and managing comorbidities. The systematic evaluation of comorbidities in this study detected abnormalities in vital signs, such as elevated blood pressure in 11.2%, and identified conditions that manifest as laboratory test abnormalities, such as hyperglycaemia in 3.3% and hyperlipidaemia in 8.3%.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt; Conclusions: Among RA patients, there is a high prevalence of comorbidities and their risk factors. In this multinational sample, variability among countries was wide, not only in prevalence but also in compliance with recommendations for preventing and managing these comorbidities. Systematic measurement of vital signs and laboratory testing detects otherwise unrecognised comorbid conditions.&lt;p&gt;&lt;/p&gt

Ancient mitochondrial DNA provides high-resolution time scale of the peopling of the Americas

The exact timing, route, and process of the initial peopling of the Americas remains uncertain despite much research. Archaeological evidence indicates the presence of humans as far as southern Chile by 14.6 thousand years ago (ka), shortly after the Pleistocene ice sheets blocking access from eastern Beringia began to retreat. Genetic estimates of the timing and route of entry have been constrained by the lack of suitable calibration points and low genetic diversity of Native Americans. We sequenced 92 whole mitochondrial genomes from pre-Columbian South American skeletons dating from 8.6 to 0.5 ka, allowing a detailed, temporally calibrated reconstruction of the peopling of the Americas in a Bayesian coalescent analysis. The data suggest that a small population entered the Americas via a coastal route around 16.0 ka, following previous isolation in eastern Beringia for ~2.4 to 9 thousand years after separation from eastern Siberian populations. Following a rapid movement throughout the Americas, limited gene flow in South America resulted in a marked phylogeographic structure of populations, which persisted through time. All of the ancient mitochondrial lineages detected in this study were absent from modern data sets, suggesting a high extinction rate. To investigate this further, we applied a novel principal components multiple logistic regression test to Bayesian serial coalescent simulations. The analysis supported a scenario in which European colonization caused a substantial loss of pre-Columbian lineages.Bastien Llamas, Lars Fehren-Schmitz, Guido Valverde, Julien Soubrier, Swapan Mallick, Nadin Rohland, Susanne Nordenfelt, Cristina Valdiosera, Stephen M. Richards, Adam Rohrlach, Maria Inés Barreto Romero, Isabel Flores Espinoza, Elsa Tomasto Cagigao, Lucía Watson Jiménez, Krzysztof Makowski, Ilán Santiago Leboreiro Reyna, Josefina Mansilla Lory, Julio Alejandro Ballivián Torrez, Mario A. Rivera, Richard L. Burger, Maria Constanza Ceruti, Johan Reinhard, R. Spencer Wells, Gustavo Politis, Calogero M. Santoro, Vivien G. Standen, Colin Smith, David Reich, Simon Y. W. Ho, Alan Cooper and Wolfgang Haa

Genetic counselling and testing in pulmonary arterial hypertension: a consensus statement on behalf of the International Consortium for Genetic Studies in PAH

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare disease that can be caused by (likely) pathogenic germline genomic variants. In addition to the most prevalent disease gene, BMPR2 (bone morphogenetic protein receptor 2), several genes, some belonging to distinct functional classes, are also now known to predispose to the development of PAH. As a consequence, specialist and non-specialist clinicians and healthcare professionals are increasingly faced with a range of questions regarding the need for, approaches to and benefits/risks of genetic testing for PAH patients and/or related family members. We provide a consensus-based approach to recommendations for genetic counselling and assessment of current best practice for disease gene testing. We provide a framework and the type of information to be provided to patients and relatives through the process of genetic counselling, and describe the presently known disease causal genes to be analysed. Benefits of including molecular genetic testing within the management protocol of patients with PAH include the identification of individuals misclassified by other diagnostic approaches, the optimisation of phenotypic characterisation for aggregation of outcome data, including in clinical trials, and importantly through cascade screening, the detection of healthy causal variant carriers, to whom regular assessment should be offered

Response to Biologic Drugs in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Antidrug Antibodies

Importance: There are conflicting data on the association of antidrug antibodies with response to biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Objective: To analyze the association of antidrug antibodies with response to treatment for RA. Design, Setting, and Participants: This cohort study analyzed data from the ABI-RA (Anti-Biopharmaceutical Immunization: Prediction and Analysis of Clinical Relevance to Minimize the Risk of Immunization in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients) multicentric, open, prospective study of patients with RA from 27 recruiting centers in 4 European countries (France, Italy, the Netherlands, and the UK). Eligible patients were 18 years or older, had RA diagnosis, and were initiating a new bDMARD. Recruitment spanned from March 3, 2014, to June 21, 2016. The study was completed in June 2018, and data were analyzed in June 2022. Exposures: Patients were treated with a new bDMARD: adalimumab, infliximab (grouped as anti-tumor necrosis factor [TNF] monoclonal antibodies [mAbs]), etanercept, tocilizumab, and rituximab according to the choice of the treating physician. Main Outcomes and Measures: The primary outcome was the association of antidrug antibody positivity with EULAR (European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology; formerly, European League Against Rheumatism) response to treatment at month 12 assessed through univariate logistic regression. The secondary end points were the EULAR response at month 6 and at visits from month 6 to months 15 to 18 using generalized estimating equation models. Detection of antidrug antibody serum levels was performed at months 1, 3, 6, 12, and 15 to 18 using electrochemiluminescence (Meso Scale Discovery) and drug concentration for anti-TNF mAbs, and etanercept in the serum was measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Of the 254 patients recruited, 230 (mean [SD] age, 54.3 [13.7] years; 177 females [77.0%]) were analyzed. At month 12, antidrug antibody positivity was 38.2% in patients who were treated with anti-TNF mAbs, 6.1% with etanercept, 50.0% with rituximab, and 20.0% with tocilizumab. There was an inverse association between antidrug antibody positivity (odds ratio [OR], 0.19; 95% CI, 0.09-0.38; P <.001) directed against all biologic drugs and EULAR response at month 12. Analyzing all the visits starting at month 6 using generalized estimating equation models confirmed the inverse association between antidrug antibody positivity and EULAR response (OR, 0.35; 95% CI, 0.18-0.65; P <.001). A similar association was found for tocilizumab alone (OR, 0.18; 95% CI, 0.04-0.83; P =.03). In the multivariable analysis, antidrug antibodies, body mass index, and rheumatoid factor were independently inversely associated with response to treatment. There was a significantly higher drug concentration of anti-TNF mAbs in patients with antidrug antibody-negative vs antidrug antibody-positive status (mean difference, -9.6 [95% CI, -12.4 to -6.9] mg/L; P < 001). Drug concentrations of etanercept (mean difference, 0.70 [95% CI, 0.2-1.2] mg/L; P =.005) and adalimumab (mean difference, 1.8 [95% CI, 0.4-3.2] mg/L; P =.01) were lower in nonresponders vs responders. Methotrexate comedication at baseline was inversely associated with antidrug antibodies (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.25-1.00; P =.05). Conclusions and Relevance: Results of this prospective cohort study suggest an association between antidrug antibodies and nonresponse to bDMARDs in patients with RA. Monitoring antidrug antibodies could be considered in the treatment of these patients, particularly nonresponders to biologic RA drugs

Stiffness is more than just duration and severity: A qualitative exploration in people with rheumatoid arthritis

Objective. Stiffness is internationally recognized as an important indicator of inflammatory activity in RA but is poorly understood and difficult to measure. The aim of this study was to explore the experience of stiffness from the patient perspective. Methods. Semi-structured interviews conducted with 16 RA patients were analysed independently by researchers and pat.ient partners using inductive thematic analysis. Results. Six themes were identified. Part of having RA identified stiffness as a normal consequence of RA, perceived as associated with disease-related aspects such as fluctuating disease activity, other RA symptoms and disease duration. Local and widespread highlighted stiffness occurring not only in joints, but also over the whole body, being more widespread during the morning or flare. Linked to behaviour and environment illustrated factors that influence stiffness, including movement, medications and weather. Highly variable captured the fluctuating nature of stiffness within and between patients and in relation to temporality, duration and intensity. Impacts on daily life emphasized the effect of stiffness on a range of domains, including physical function, quality of life, psychological well-being, activities of daily living and participation in work and leisure activities. Requires self-management detailed self-management strategies targeting both the symptom and its consequences. Conclusion. Patients’ experiences of stiffness were varied, complex and not exclusive to the morning period. Importantly, stiffness was reported in terms of impact rather than the traditional measurement concepts of severity or duration. Based on these findings, further research is needed to develop a patient-centred measure that adequately reflects inflammatory activity

La pesquería demersal gallega. Estrategias de pesca para su regulación racional en base a la merluza

El presente trabajo consta de dos partes diferenciadas. En la primera se hace una descripción de la pesquería demersal gallega a través del análisis de las flotas distribuidas por puertos y artes de pesca, así como de sus caladeros y las especies en ellos existentes. En la segunda, entramos en la dinámica de la especie más importante económicamente, que es la merluza (Merluccius merluccius L.) . Para ello se hace, en primer lugar, un cálculo de los vectores de mortalidad por pesca a que está sometida, mediante los modelos de Análisis de Cohortes con Distribuciones de Tallas (Jones. 1974) y Análisis de Cohortes (Pope. 1972), con el cual obtenemos también una estimación del reclutamiento medio. En segundo lugar y a partir de esos vectores de mortalidad por pesca actuales, subdivididos por arte de pesca, se realizaron simulaciones de cambios de malla y esfuerzo para el arrastre, y de esfuerzo para los otros artes (palangre, volanta y beta), para ver los efectos que causarían estos posibles cambios en la estrategia de pesca, en los rendimientos a largo plazo que se obtendrían. Para ello se utilizaron los modelos de Efectos de Cambios de Malla y Esfuerzo (Jones, 1974) y el modelo Multiartes (Ricker, 1975). Las pérdidas inmediatas por cambio de malla se calcularon mediante el modelo efectos de cambios en las mallas (Gulland, 1961), que nos da, asimismo, los efectos a largo plazo para el arrastre. Se realizan también estudios de sensibilidad del modelo de Ricker, y se calcula la correlación de los resultados obtenidos con los modelos empleados.The present paper has two different parts. Firstly we show a descrintíon of the demersal fishery of Galicia (NW Spain), thruough the analysis of their fleets distributed by fishing ports, gears, and also the fishing grounds and the species living on them. Secondly we study the population dynamics of the more important commercial species, that it is the Hake (Merluccius merluccius L.). To do so, we firstly do a calculation of the fishing mortality vectors exerted on this species, using the Cohort Analysis with Length Compositions (Jones, 1974), and the Cohort Analysis Model (Pope, 1972). In this way, we obtain also a estimation of the mean recruitment. Secondly, and with these current fishing mortality vectors subdivided by fishing gear, we did mesh size and effort level simulations for the trawlers, and only in the effort for the other gears (long-line, gillnet, and small gillnet), with the aim of studing the long-term changes in the yield of hake in this fishery with these simulations. To do so, we used the models of changes in mesh size and fishing effort (Jones, 1974), and multigears (Ricker, 1975). The immediate looses caused by the mesh size changes were calculated by the Gulland model (1961), that gave us also the long-term effects for the trawling. We also study the sensibility of the Ricker Model, and we calculate the correlation between the results obtained with the differents models used.Dans cet travail il-y-a deux parties différentes. La premier cet une description de la pécherie demersal galicienne a partir de l'analyse des flotilles distribues par ports et engins de peche, de meme que de la zone de peche et des especes qué on truve la. Rans la deuxiéme partie, nous parlons de la dynamique de la population de I'espece plus important économiauement, cet a dire, la merlu. Nous calculons, premierement, les vecteures de mortalité par peche avec les modeles de Analysis de Cohortes avec Distribution de Tailles (Jones, 1974), et Analysis de Cohortes (Pope,1972), de façon que nous obtenons aussi une estimationdu recrutement moyen. Apres, a partir de cettes vecteures de mortalité par peche actueles par engin de peche, on a fait des simulations de change de ouverture de maille et effort pour le chault, et de l'effort pour les outres envins (palangre, filets maillants et petits filets maillants), pour voir les consecances que rapporten cettes posibles chanaes du sistema de néche aux rendiments au long terme. Cet pour ca que nous avons utilise les modeles de Effects des Changes de Maílle et Effort (Jones, 1974), et le modele Multiengins (Ricker. 1975). La perte inmédiat pour varíation de la ouverture de la maille fut calcúle avec le modele de Gulland (1961) que nous donne au meme temps les consecances au long ternos pour le chalut. On fait aussi études de sensibilité du modele de Ricker, et on fait le calcule de la corrélation des resultats obtenus avec les modeles emuloyes.Versión del editor0,000