Clinical Implications of (Pro)renin Receptor (PRR) Expression in Renal Tumours

(1) Background: Renal cancer is one of the most frequent malignancies in Western countries, with an unpredictable clinical outcome, partly due to its high heterogeneity and the scarcity of reliable biomarkers of tumour progression. (Pro)renin receptor (PRR) is a novel receptor of the renin–angiotensin system (RAS) that has been associated with the development and progression of some solid tumours by RAS-dependent and -independent mechanisms. (2) Methods: In this study, we analysed the immunohistochemical expression of PRR at the centre and border in a series of 83 clear-cell renal cell (CCRCCs), 19 papillary (PRCC) and 7 chromophobe (ChRCC) renal cell carcinomas, and the benign tumour renal oncocytoma (RO, n = 11). (3) Results: PRR is expressed in all the tumour subtypes, with higher mean staining intensity in ChRCCs and ROs. A high expression of PRR at the tumour centre and at the infiltrative front of CCRCC tissues is significantly associated with high grade, tumour diameter, local invasion and stage, and with high mortality risk by UCLA integrated staging system (UISS) scale. (4) Conclusions: These findings indicate that PRR is associated with the development and progression of renal tumours. Its potential as a novel biomarker for RCC diagnosis/prognosis and as a promising therapeutic target should be taken into account in the future.The work was funded by the Basque Government (ELKARTEK KK2018-00090 and KK-2020/00069)

Soluble PD-L1 Is an Independent Prognostic Factor in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

(1). Background: Immunohistochemical (IHC) evaluation of programmed death-1 (PD-1) and its ligand (PD-L1) is being used to evaluate advanced malignancies with potential response to immune checkpoint inhibitors. We evaluated both plasma and tissue expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 in the same cohort of patients, including non-metastatic and metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCRCC). Concomitant plasma and tissue expression of PD-1 and PD-L1 was evaluated with emphasis on diagnostic and prognostic implications. (2) Methods: we analyzed PD-1 and PD-L1 IHC expression in tumor tissues and soluble forms (sPD-1 and sPD-L1) in plasma from 89 patients with CCRCC, of which 23 were metastatic and 16 received systemic therapy. The primary endpoint was evaluation of overall survival using Kaplan-Meier analysis and the Cox regression model. Plasma samples from healthy volunteers were also evaluated. (3) Results: Interestingly, sPD-1 and sPD-L1 levels were lower in cancer patients than in controls. sPD-1 and sPD-L1 levels and their counterpart tissue expression both at the tumor center and infiltrating front were not associated. Higher expression of both PD-1 and PD-L1 were associated with tumor grade, necrosis and tumor size. PD-1 was associated to tumor stage (pT) and PD-L1 to metastases. sPD-1 and sPD-L1 were not associated with clinico-pathological parameters, although both were higher in patients with synchronous metastases compared to metachronous ones and sPD-L1 was also higher for metastatic patients compared to non-metastatic patients. sPD-1 was also associated with the International Metastatic Renal Cell Cancer Database Consortium (IMDC) prognostic groups in metastatic CCRCC and also to the Morphology, Attenuation, Size and Structure (MASS) response criteria in metastatic patients treated with systemic therapy, mainly tyrosine-kinase inhibitors. Regarding prognosis, PD-L1 immunostaining at the tumor center with and without the tumor front was associated with worse survival, and so was sPD-L1 at a cut-off >793 ng/mL. Combination of positivity at both the tissue and plasma level increased the level of significance to predict prognosis. (4) Conclusions: Our findings corroborate the role of PD-L1 IHC to evaluate prognosis in CCRCC and present novel data on the usefulness of plasma sPD-L1 as a promising biomarker of survival in this neoplasia.The work was funded by the Basque Government (ELKARTEK KK2018-00090 and KK-2020/00069)

Izaña Atmospheric Research Center. Activity Report 2019-2020

Editors: Emilio Cuevas, Celia Milford and Oksana Tarasova.[EN]The Izaña Atmospheric Research Center (IARC), which is part of the State Meteorological Agency of Spain (AEMET), is a site of excellence in atmospheric science. It manages four observatories in Tenerife including the high altitude Izaña Atmospheric Observatory. The Izaña Atmospheric Observatory was inaugurated in 1916 and since that date has carried out uninterrupted meteorological and climatological observations, contributing towards a unique 100-year record in 2016. This reports are a summary of the many activities at the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center to the broader community. The combination of operational activities, research and development in state-of-the-art measurement techniques, calibration and validation and international cooperation encompass the vision of WMO to provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and related environmental issues.[ES]El Centro de Investigación Atmosférica de Izaña (CIAI), que forma parte de la Agencia Estatal de Meteorología de España (AEMET), representa un centro de excelencia en ciencias atmosféricas. Gestiona cuatro observatorios en Tenerife, incluido el Observatorio de Izaña de gran altitud, inaugurado en 1916 y que desde entonces ha realizado observaciones meteorológicas y climatológicas ininterrumpidas y se ha convertido en una estación centenaria de la OMM. Estos informes resumen las múltiples actividades llevadas a cabo por el Centro de Investigación Atmosférica de Izaña. El liderazgo del Centro en materia de investigación y desarrollo con respecto a las técnicas de medición, calibración y validación de última generación, así como la cooperación internacional, le han otorgado una reputación sobresaliente en lo que se refiere al tiempo, el clima, la hidrología y otros temas ambientales afines

Izaña Atmospheric Research Center. Activity Report 2015-2016

This report is a summary of the many activities at the Izaña Atmospheric Research Center to the broader community. The combination of operational activities, research and development in state-of-the-art measurement techniques, calibration and validation and international cooperation encompass the vision of WMO to provide world leadership in expertise and international cooperation in weather, climate, hydrology and related environmental issues

Risk factors and outcome of COVID-19 in patients with hematological malignancies

Background: Prognostic factors of poor outcome in patients with hematological malignancies and COVID-19 are poorly defned. Patients and methods: This was a Spanish transplant group and cell therapy (GETH) multicenter retrospective observational study, which included a large cohort of blood cancer patients with laboratory-confrmed SARS-CoV-2 infection through PCR assays from March 1st 2020 to May 15th 2020. Results: We included 367 pediatric and adult patients with hematological malignancies, including recipients of autologous (ASCT) (n=58) or allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) (n=65) from 41 hospitals in Spain. Median age of patients was 64 years (range 1-93.8). Recipients of ASCT and allo-SCT showed lower mortality rates (17% and 18%, respectively) compared to non-SCT patients (31%) (p=0.02). Prognostic factors identifed for day 45 overall mortality (OM) by logistic regression multivariate analysis included age>70 years [odds ratio (OR) 2.1, 95% con‑ fdence interval (CI) 1.2-3.8, p=0.011]; uncontrolled hematological malignancy (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.6-5.2, p20 mg/dL (OR 3.3, 95% CI 1.7-6.4, p<0.0001). In multivariate analysis of 216 patients with very severe COVID-19, treatment with azithromycin or low dose corticosteroids was associated with lower OM (OR 0.42, 95% CI 0.2-0.89 and OR 0.31, 95% CI 0.11-0.87, respectively, p=0.02) whereas the use of hidroxycloroquine did not show signifcant improvement in OM (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.37-1.1, P=0.1). Conclusions: In most patients with hematological malignancies COVID-19 mortality was directly driven by older age, disease status, performance status, as well as by immune (neutropenia) parameters and level of infammation (high CRP). Use of azithromycin and low dose corticosteroids may be of value in very severe COVID-19

Innovación turística y desarrollo regional

Libro que se compila 14 capítulos asociados a las temáticas de innovación y desarrollo tecnológico en el sector turístico, emprendimiento y tecnologías emergentes, políticas estratégicas y tácticas para mejorar la competitividad en las empresas, políticas públicas y educación para el desarrollo regional y responsabilidad social ambientalBook that compiles 14 chapters associated to the themes of innovation and technological development in the tourism sector, entrepreneurship and emerging technologies, strategic and tactical policies to improve competitiveness in companies, public policies and education for regional development and environmental social responsibilityInnovación social como estrategia para el desarrollo de las poblaciones palafíticas de la ciénaga grande de santa marta mediante la oferta de productos turísticos / Gregoria Polo de Lobatón; José Luis Rosenstiehl Martínez; Daulis Lobatón Polo -- Uso de las tic para mejorar la competitividad turística en San Basilio de Palenque / Jesús Llerena Cabrera; Raúl José Martelo Gómez; David Franco Borré -- Plataforma web niu (nuevo, ideas y usados) / Néstor José Ocampo Ardila -- Posicionamiento estratégico del turismo urbano de eventos como atributo de la personalidad del espacio territorial de la ciudad de santa marta / Zuleidy María Ruíz Torres -- Identificación competitiva de la oferta exportadora de la región ariari para fortalecer el desarrollo social y económico en zonas de posconflicto basado en el comercio exterior y logística / Keyla Karina González Martínez -- Tecnologías integradas en gestión sostenible de operadores turísticos en zonas de posconflicto del departamento del meta / Carlos Hernán Cruz Castro; óscar Eduardo Sarmiento Saavedra -- Herramienta online de control de ingresos y facturación: una solución dinámica para las pequeñas y medianas empresas / Esmerlis Camargo Torres; Antonio José González Liñán; Marieth Orcasitas Peñaloza; Yerson Monroy Contreras -- Modelo de cadena productiva dinamizado a través de la educación y las estrategias TIC para el desarrollo regional sostenible en Risaralda / Beatriz Elena Franco Cárdenas; Patricia Henao Montoya; Marco Aurelio Aristizabal Valencia -- Evaluación físico - química de adhesivo de yuca (manihot esculenta) como alternativa comercial para la Orinoquia / Yarithza Molina Caro; Wilfran Hernán Cortes Conde -- Formulaciones nutracéuticas alimenticias para estilos de vida saludables / Daldo Araujo Vidal; Daniel Mendoza Cujia; Maresa Anaya de oro -- Competencias tecnológicas como estrategia formativa en los aprendices de gestión de redes de datos del SENA regional guajira / Carlos Antonio Salas Solano; Alejandro Jesús Osorio Amaya; Alda Pérez Campuzano; Duvan Andrés rondón bravo -- Uso y apropiación del computador como herramienta para las prácticas educativas de los docentes / Alda Pérez Campuzano; Carlos Antonio Salas Solano; Elkin Fuentes Jiménez; Kira Rodríguez Moscote -- El aviturismo como eje transformador de cultura ambiental y desarrollo sustentable / Lina María Gamarra Pineda; Néstor Alejandro Tascón Arias -- Huella ecológica (he), indicador de condición ambiental para evaluar la sostenibilidad en instituciones de educación (ie) / Cristian David Trujillo CardonaPrimera ediciónna169 página

re-habitar El Carmen : Un proyecto sobre patrimonio contemporáneo

El proyecto _re-HABITAR suponía para el propio proceder de la institución un avance más allá del reconocimiento, registro, inventario o protección patrimonial de la arquitectura del siglo XX y del Movimiento Moderno para posicionarse en la acción preventiva y conservativa de ese legado contemporáneo. Para ello, la praxis patrimonial se aferraba a un modelo: el de la vivienda social en España en la segunda mitad del siglo XX; a un caso concreto: el de la barriada de Nuestra Señora del Carmen (Recasens Méndez-Queipo de Llano, 1958); y a un requisito fundamental: analizar un objeto vivo y en uso, aún con la presencia de quienes lo vivieron y usaron desde su origen

Infection and exposure to vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs and their ticks, Uganda

BACKGROUND: In rural parts of Africa, dogs live in close association with humans and livestock, roam freely, and usually do not receive prophylactic measures. Thus, they are a source of infectious disease for humans and for wildlife such as protected carnivores. In 2011, an epidemiological study was carried out around three conservation areas in Uganda to detect the presence and determine the prevalence of vector-borne pathogens in rural dogs and associated ticks to evaluate the risk that these pathogens pose to humans and wildlife. METHODS: Serum samples (n = 105), blood smears (n = 43) and blood preserved on FTA cards (n = 38) and ticks (58 monospecific pools of Haemaphysalis leachi and Rhipicephalus praetextatus including 312 ticks from 52 dogs) were collected from dogs. Dog sera were tested by indirect immunofluorescence to detect the presence of antibodies against Rickettsia conorii and Ehrlichia canis. Antibodies against R. conorii were also examined by indirect enzyme immunoassay. Real time PCR for the detection of Rickettsia spp., Anaplasmataceae, Bartonella spp. and Babesia spp. was performed in DNA extracted from FTA cards and ticks. RESULTS: 99 % of the dogs were seropositive to Rickettsia spp. and 29.5 % to Ehrlichia spp. Molecular analyses revealed that 7.8 % of the blood samples were infected with Babesia rossi, and all were negative for Rickettsia spp. and Ehrlichia spp. Ticks were infected with Rickettsia sp. (18.9 %), including R. conorii and R. massiliae; Ehrlichia sp. (18.9 %), including E. chaffeensis and Anaplasma platys; and B. rossi (1.7 %). Bartonella spp. was not detected in any of the blood or tick samples. CONCLUSIONS: This study confirms the presence of previously undetected vector-borne pathogens of humans and animals in East Africa. We recommend that dog owners in rural Uganda be advised to protect their animals against ectoparasites to prevent the transmission of pathogens to humans and wildlife