Impact of COVID-19 on cardiovascular testing in the United States versus the rest of the world

Objectives: This study sought to quantify and compare the decline in volumes of cardiovascular procedures between the United States and non-US institutions during the early phase of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted the care of many non-COVID-19 illnesses. Reductions in diagnostic cardiovascular testing around the world have led to concerns over the implications of reduced testing for cardiovascular disease (CVD) morbidity and mortality. Methods: Data were submitted to the INCAPS-COVID (International Atomic Energy Agency Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocols Study of COVID-19), a multinational registry comprising 909 institutions in 108 countries (including 155 facilities in 40 U.S. states), assessing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volumes of diagnostic cardiovascular procedures. Data were obtained for April 2020 and compared with volumes of baseline procedures from March 2019. We compared laboratory characteristics, practices, and procedure volumes between U.S. and non-U.S. facilities and between U.S. geographic regions and identified factors associated with volume reduction in the United States. Results: Reductions in the volumes of procedures in the United States were similar to those in non-U.S. facilities (68% vs. 63%, respectively; p = 0.237), although U.S. facilities reported greater reductions in invasive coronary angiography (69% vs. 53%, respectively; p < 0.001). Significantly more U.S. facilities reported increased use of telehealth and patient screening measures than non-U.S. facilities, such as temperature checks, symptom screenings, and COVID-19 testing. Reductions in volumes of procedures differed between U.S. regions, with larger declines observed in the Northeast (76%) and Midwest (74%) than in the South (62%) and West (44%). Prevalence of COVID-19, staff redeployments, outpatient centers, and urban centers were associated with greater reductions in volume in U.S. facilities in a multivariable analysis. Conclusions: We observed marked reductions in U.S. cardiovascular testing in the early phase of the pandemic and significant variability between U.S. regions. The association between reductions of volumes and COVID-19 prevalence in the United States highlighted the need for proactive efforts to maintain access to cardiovascular testing in areas most affected by outbreaks of COVID-19 infection

The behavior of sympatric Chilean populations of Drosophila larvae during pupation

The behavioral mechanisms by which the larvae of sympatric Chilean populations of Drosophila melanogaster, D. simulans, D. hydei and D. busckii select pupation sites are described in terms of larval substrate preferences. These species share the same breeding sites in Central Valley of Chile. It is important to investigate larval substrate preferences to pupate in sympatric natural populations of species of Drosophila because such behavior could contribute to the coexistence of the species in the wild. D. busckii larvae preferred humid substrates with a smooth surface to pupate, whereas D. simulans larvae selected humid substrates with a rough surface. Larvae of D. melonogaster chose dry and humid substrates with a rough surface, whereas D. hydei larvae occupied dry substrates with a smooth surface to form puparia. D. melanogaster larvae dug deeper into dry than into humid sand, whereas D. simulans larvae dug more into humid sand. D. busckii larvae pupated in the upper layers of humi

Ruralidad y campesinado

¿Existe aún el campo? ¿Desapareció el campesinado? ¿Triunfó la expansión del modo de vida urbano y de los urbanistas? ¿Subsiste aún un modo de vida rural? ¿Existe aún una cultura campesina? ¿Cuáles son las tensiones y principales amenazas que recorren el mundo rural latinoamericano? ¿Cuáles son las formas de resistencia desde la identidad campesina e indígena a la marea globalizante? ¿Qué experiencias promisorias y/ o exitosas se están desplegando en el mundo rural? ¿Cómo se ha transformado la ruralidad en las últimas décadas? ¿Cómo se enlaza la producción agraria con la emergencia de territorios intermedios? son algunas de las muchas preguntas que abordamos en este número de Polis

Contemporary use of cefazolin for MSSA infective endocarditis: analysis of a national prospective cohort

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the real use of cefazolin for methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) infective endocarditis (IE) in the Spanish National Endocarditis Database (GAMES) and to compare it with antistaphylococcal penicillin (ASP). Methods: Prospective cohort study with retrospective analysis of a cohort of MSSA IE treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Outcomes assessed were relapse; intra-hospital, overall, and endocarditis-related mortality; and adverse events. Risk of renal toxicity with each treatment was evaluated separately. Results: We included 631 IE episodes caused by MSSA treated with cloxacillin and/or cefazolin. Antibiotic treatment was cloxacillin, cefazolin, or both in 537 (85%), 57 (9%), and 37 (6%) episodes, respectively. Patients treated with cefazolin had significantly higher rates of comorbidities (median Charlson Index 7, P <0.01) and previous renal failure (57.9%, P <0.01). Patients treated with cloxacillin presented higher rates of septic shock (25%, P = 0.033) and new-onset or worsening renal failure (47.3%, P = 0.024) with significantly higher rates of in-hospital mortality (38.5%, P = 0.017). One-year IE-related mortality and rate of relapses were similar between treatment groups. None of the treatments were identified as risk or protective factors. Conclusion: Our results suggest that cefazolin is a valuable option for the treatment of MSSA IE, without differences in 1-year mortality or relapses compared with cloxacillin, and might be considered equally effective

Suelo y planta. Índices. Volumen 1

Compostaje de la fracción orgánica de un residuo sólido urbano. Evolución de su contenido en diversas fracciones de metales pesados, C. García, T. Hernández, F. Costa y M. Ayuso.-- Decomposition of chromium containing leather residues in a Sandy soil, A. Benedetti, B. Ceccanti, M. Calcinai and R. Tarsitano.-- Aluminum tolerance assessment in Bush vean cultivars by root growth analysis anto hematoxylin standing, N. Massot, Ch. Poschenrieder and J. Barceló.-- Utilización del test de la formamida en la identificacion de los filosilicatos l:l de suelos de la provincia de la Coruña R. Romero, C. García y F. Macías.-- Efecto del encalado y de la fertilización con fosforo sobre las formas de acidez de dos suelos ácidos de Galicia M. M. Urrutia, E. García-Rodeja y F. Macías.-- Sobre el clima de la provincia de Almeria (se iberico): primer ensayo de cartografia automatica de medias anuales de temperatura y precipitación, R. Lázaro y J. M. Rey.-- Vitrifica tion and ba-induced anomalies in in vitro chestnut cultures, A. Ballester, M. C. San-José and A. M. Vieitez.-- Phenmedipham inhibition of biological nitrogen fixation in pea plants, S. Treleani, E. Bedmar, J. J. Lázaro, A. Chueca and J. López Gorge.-- morphometry and surface growth dynamics of the sunflower. (helianthus annuus l.) receptacle its importance in the determination of yield, L. F. Hernández.-- Acumulación de nitratos y actividad nitrato reductasa en diferentes cultivares de vicia faba l., J. M. Caba, C. Lluch, A. Hervás y F. Ligero.-- Desarrollo vegetativo, acumulación y distribución de a-, na+ y k+ en dos patrones de limonero, M. Nieves, A. Cerdá y S. Navarro.-- Incidencia de la fertilizacion foliar de quelatos de hierro y micronutrientes en los niveles de n, p, k, ca, mg y na en hojas de "vitis vinifera" cv. Aledo, J. Navarro, J. Mataix, J. Sánchez-Andreu y M. Juárez.-- Estimacion de la movilidad potencial de la arcilla mediante electroultrafiltracion y su importancia en genesis de suelos R. J. Ballesta, y J. A. Díez.-- Exchange processes in two soils subjected to different organic treatments, C. Fortún and A. Fortún.-- Respuesta del trigo a las aplicaciones parciales de nitrogeno cultivado durante tres años bajo condiciones semiáridas, G. C. Laurent y M. A. Lazzari.-- Destino del 15N del fertilizante aplicado al trigo durante dos años consecutivos en condiciones semiáridas, M. A. Lazzari, G. C. Laurent y R. L. Victoria.-- Estudio con trazador sobre la disponibilidad del nitrógeno residual M. A. Lazzari, G. C. Laurent y R. L. Victoria.-- Factores condicionantes del encalado en los ultisoles del oeste de España, R. Espejo, E. Barragán, M. C. Díaz y J. Pérez.-- Influencia de la dosis de fosforo en la disolución de riego sobre cultivo de tomate en enarenado y condiciones salinas A. Masaguer, C. Cadahía, A. Saá y M. J. Sarro.-- Influencia del manganeso y diferentes temperaturas ambientales sobre el crecimiento y absorción de manganeso en soja (Glycine_ max (L.) Merr.) J. M. Romera y M. Gómez.-- Perfiles ecotoxicologicos: la necesidad de su realización, E. Laborda, F. A. Antón y L. M. Cuadra.-- Adsorción de carbendazima, cianazina y etirimol por suelos, G. Dios, E. Romero y F. Sánchez-Rasero.-- Micorrizas vesiculo-arbusculares en austrocedrus chilensis, S. Fontenla, M. Havrylenko y P. H. Rosso.-- Determinación de capacidad de cambio catiónico y cationes extraíbles con agtiourea en andosoles, C. D. Arbelo, M. Espino y J. M. Hernández-Moreno.-- Caracterization of the humic fraction from a solio municipal waste during composting, C. García, T. Hernández, F. Costa and A. Polo.-- Sulfato desorbffile con fosfato en andosoles, V. Cubas, C. D. Arbelo y M. Espino.-- Paleoprocesos edaficos en superficies pliocuaternarias del centro de España, J. Benayas, L. Alcalá del Olmo B., F. Monturiol y A. Guerra.-- Fraccionamiento de cobalto en suelos, M. J. Graña, M. T. Barral, F. E. Guitián y F. Guitián.-- Evolución de las poblaciones de heterodera avenae (nema toda) y su efecto en el desarrollo y rendimiento de trigo en rotación y monocultivo, Mª D. Romero, A. Valdeolivas, C. Lacasta y A. Duce.-- Efecfos restrictivos de la fertilidad del suelo sobre la distribución de Cytisus multif/orus (L'Her) Sweer, J. M. Gómez, P. Galindo, V. Martínez, y M. A. Pérez.-- Dinámica del sistema radicular de dos genotipos de tomate en invernadero en riego por goteo sometidos a estrés salino, J. M. Abrisqueta, A. Hernánsaez, J. J. Alarcón y M. A. Lozano.-- Distribución de sales en una secuencia de suelos costeros de la bahía blanca (argentina), H. R. Krüger y N. Peineman.-- Evaluación cinética de la desorción de bases en suelos con carga permanente y variable. comparación con el método de la pasta saturada, C. D. Arbelo, J. M. Hernández-Moreno y J. E. García.-- Análisis de la interacción luz-forma de nutrición nitrogenada en plantas de tomate, P. Zornoza, I. Sanz y O. Carpena.-- Respuesta de algunos suelos de Galicia al aporte de un ácido fuerte, M. M. Urrutia, E. García-Rodeja y F. Macías.-- Estudio de la efectividad de fertilización foliar de uva de mesa, variedad aledo con micronutrientes quelatados a través del diagnóstico foliar y pecio lar J. Navarro, J. Sánchez Andréu, J. Mataix y M. Juárez.-- Características de suelos bajo sabinares albares sobre material calizo, J. González y M. A. Candas.-- Eficacia de quelatos de fe en un sistema de riego por goteo, A. Gárate y J. J. Lucena.-- Variaciones de la fracción orgánica durante el compost aje de lodos de depuradoras, M. A. Díaz-Burgos y A. Polo.-- Formas de cobre, niquel y cinc en horizontes . superficiales de suelos, M. J. Graña, M. T. Barral, F. E. Guitián y F. Guitián.-- Índices de contaminación por metales pesados en suelos de cultivo intensivo: aplicacion en la comarca de l'hort a (Valencia), M. F. Errecalde, R. Boluda, M. J. Lagarda y R. Farré.-- Estudio estadístico de las propiedades fÍsico-quimicas de luvisoles desarrollados sobre materiales calizos en valencia (España), Mª D. Soriano, R. Boluda, V. Pons y J. Sánchez.-- Grado de uniformidad de los materiales en suelos con horizontes texturalmente contrastados, R. J. Ballesta, V. Cala y R. García.-- Geographic information systems and remote sensing in land resources anal ysis and mangement G. W. Petersen, G. A. Nielsen, and L. P. Wilding -- El laboreo de conservación como medida de control de la erosión, P. González, E. Fereres, J. V. Giráldez, Mª I. González de Quevedo y A. Laguna.-- Laboreo de conservación: tendencias y prioridades de investigación, J. L. Arrúe y. Mª V. López.-- Factores de escala en la medida de la erosión hídrica en suelos incendiados del nw de España, F. Díaz-Fierros, B. Soto, R. Pérez y E. Benito.-- Influencia de la cobertura vegetal y material original en las características del suelo. contribución a problemas de erosión J. Hernando, M. L. Palomar, M.T. de la Cruz y P. Jerez.-- La salinidad en el nuevo regadío de quinto (zaragoza), J. Herrero y A. Bercero.-- Translocaciones solidas en suelos con características sódicas en monegros- flumen (Huesca): procesos e implicaciones para el uso agrícola, J. Porta y R. Rodríguez-Ochoa.-- Degradacion física de los suelos de una zona de rañas de la provincia de Salamanca, F. lngelmo, S. Cuadrado, J. Hernández y A. lbáñez.-- Metales extraffiles (cu, co, ni, zn y mn) en materiales estériles de minas de lignito de Galicia, S. Seoane, Mª V. González, F. Gil, Mª C. Leirós y F. Guitián Ojea.-- Contenido y evolución del plomo total en los inceptisoles de la provincia de Valencia, Y. Pons.-- Influencia del aporte sucesivo de compost urbano sobre la disponibilidad de k de un suelo, J. M. Murillo, F. Cabrera, J. M. Hernández y M. Barroso.-- Posible catena potencial de suelos en las sierras de Orce y Maria, L. J. Alías y J. Martínez.-- Caracterización mineralógica y evolución de las microtexturas de los granos de cuarzo en los suelos desarrollados sobre materiales arenosos del litoral de Cádiz, L. Torcal, M. Nieves y V. Gómez-Miguel.-- Clases mineralógicas: la clase "medial” en suelos graníticos de Galicia, R. Romero, C. García y F. Macías.-- Características analíticas de un suelo podsolizado de alta montaña, J. González y A. M. Moreno.-- Estudio de perfiles de alteración en abanicos aluviales neogenos sobre el zócalo hercinico ibeerico R. Espejo, E. Molina y M. A. Vicente.-Transformaciones mineralógicas en suelos sobre formaciones tipo "raña'' M. T. García-González y F. J. Aragoneses.-- Morfología y génesis de las terrazas antiguas de la cuenca del río Gualchos (Granada), C. Sierra, A. Roca y J. Quirantes.-- Dinámica del hierro y aluminio en las terrazas del río Gualchos (Granada), A. Roca, C. Sierra, J. Quirantes y J. Aguilar.- Homogeneidad/heterogeneidad de los materiales fluviales de las terrazas de río Tormes, P. Alonso, C. Dorronsoro, M. I. González, M. P. García, J. A. Egido y J. M. García.-- Transformaciones y translocaciones del fosforo como indicadores del desarrollo del suelo, C. RoblesPeer reviewe

Reduction of cardiac imaging tests during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case of Italy. Findings from the IAEA Non-invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Background: In early 2020, COVID-19 massively hit Italy, earlier and harder than any other European country. This caused a series of strict containment measures, aimed at blocking the spread of the pandemic. Healthcare delivery was also affected when resources were diverted towards care of COVID-19 patients, including intensive care wards. Aim of the study: The aim is assessing the impact of COVID-19 on cardiac imaging in Italy, compare to the Rest of Europe (RoE) and the World (RoW). Methods: A global survey was conducted in May–June 2020 worldwide, through a questionnaire distributed online. The survey covered three periods: March and April 2020, and March 2019. Data from 52 Italian centres, a subset of the 909 participating centres from 108 countries, were analyzed. Results: In Italy, volumes decreased by 67% in March 2020, compared to March 2019, as opposed to a significantly lower decrease (p &lt; 0.001) in RoE and RoW (41% and 40%, respectively). A further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 summed up to 76% for the North, 77% for the Centre and 86% for the South. When compared to the RoE and RoW, this further decrease from March 2020 to April 2020 in Italy was significantly less (p = 0.005), most likely reflecting the earlier effects of the containment measures in Italy, taken earlier than anywhere else in the West. Conclusions: The COVID-19 pandemic massively hit Italy and caused a disruption of healthcare services, including cardiac imaging studies. This raises concern about the medium- and long-term consequences for the high number of patients who were denied timely diagnoses and the subsequent lifesaving therapies and procedures

International Impact of COVID-19 on the Diagnosis of Heart Disease

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has adversely affected diagnosis and treatment of noncommunicable diseases. Its effects on delivery of diagnostic care for cardiovascular disease, which remains the leading cause of death worldwide, have not been quantified. Objectives: The study sought to assess COVID-19's impact on global cardiovascular diagnostic procedural volumes and safety practices. Methods: The International Atomic Energy Agency conducted a worldwide survey assessing alterations in cardiovascular procedure volumes and safety practices resulting from COVID-19. Noninvasive and invasive cardiac testing volumes were obtained from participating sites for March and April 2020 and compared with those from March 2019. Availability of personal protective equipment and pandemic-related testing practice changes were ascertained. Results: Surveys were submitted from 909 inpatient and outpatient centers performing cardiac diagnostic procedures, in 108 countries. Procedure volumes decreased 42% from March 2019 to March 2020, and 64% from March 2019 to April 2020. Transthoracic echocardiography decreased by 59%, transesophageal echocardiography 76%, and stress tests 78%, which varied between stress modalities. Coronary angiography (invasive or computed tomography) decreased 55% (p &lt; 0.001 for each procedure). In multivariable regression, significantly greater reduction in procedures occurred for centers in countries with lower gross domestic product. Location in a low-income and lower–middle-income country was associated with an additional 22% reduction in cardiac procedures and less availability of personal protective equipment and telehealth. Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with a significant and abrupt reduction in cardiovascular diagnostic testing across the globe, especially affecting the world's economically challenged. Further study of cardiovascular outcomes and COVID-19–related changes in care delivery is warranted

Impact of COVID-19 on Diagnostic Cardiac Procedural Volume in Oceania: The IAEA Non-Invasive Cardiology Protocol Survey on COVID-19 (INCAPS COVID)

Objectives: The INCAPS COVID Oceania study aimed to assess the impact caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on cardiac procedure volume provided in the Oceania region. Methods: A retrospective survey was performed comparing procedure volumes within March 2019 (pre-COVID-19) with April 2020 (during first wave of COVID-19 pandemic). Sixty-three (63) health care facilities within Oceania that perform cardiac diagnostic procedures were surveyed, including a mixture of metropolitan and regional, hospital and outpatient, public and private sites, and 846 facilities outside of Oceania. The percentage change in procedure volume was measured between March 2019 and April 2020, compared by test type and by facility. Results: In Oceania, the total cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was reduced by 52.2% from March 2019 to April 2020, compared to a reduction of 75.9% seen in the rest of the world (p&lt;0.001). Within Oceania sites, this reduction varied significantly between procedure types, but not between types of health care facility. All procedure types (other than stress cardiac magnetic resonance [CMR] and positron emission tomography [PET]) saw significant reductions in volume over this time period (p&lt;0.001). In Oceania, transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) decreased by 51.6%, transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) by 74.0%, and stress tests by 65% overall, which was more pronounced for stress electrocardiograph (ECG) (81.8%) and stress echocardiography (76.7%) compared to stress single-photon emission computerised tomography (SPECT) (44.3%). Invasive coronary angiography decreased by 36.7% in Oceania. Conclusion: A significant reduction in cardiac diagnostic procedure volume was seen across all facility types in Oceania and was likely a function of recommendations from cardiac societies and directives from government to minimise spread of COVID-19 amongst patients and staff. Longer term evaluation is important to assess for negative patient outcomes which may relate to deferral of usual models of care within cardiology