Clonal chromosomal mosaicism and loss of chromosome Y in elderly men increase vulnerability for SARS-CoV-2

The pandemic caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2, COVID-19) had an estimated overall case fatality ratio of 1.38% (pre-vaccination), being 53% higher in males and increasing exponentially with age. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, we found 133 cases (1.42%) with detectable clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations (mCA) and 226 males (5.08%) with acquired loss of chromosome Y (LOY). Individuals with clonal mosaic events (mCA and/or LOY) showed a 54% increase in the risk of COVID-19 lethality. LOY is associated with transcriptomic biomarkers of immune dysfunction, pro-coagulation activity and cardiovascular risk. Interferon-induced genes involved in the initial immune response to SARS-CoV-2 are also down-regulated in LOY. Thus, mCA and LOY underlie at least part of the sex-biased severity and mortality of COVID-19 in aging patients. Given its potential therapeutic and prognostic relevance, evaluation of clonal mosaicism should be implemented as biomarker of COVID-19 severity in elderly people. Among 9578 individuals diagnosed with COVID-19 in the SCOURGE study, individuals with clonal mosaic events (clonal mosaicism for chromosome alterations and/or loss of chromosome Y) showed an increased risk of COVID-19 lethality

Length-weight relationships of mesopelagic fishes from the equatorial and tropical Atlantic waters: influence of environment and body shape

11 pages, 2 figures, 4 tables, supporting information https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.14307Length–weight relationships (LWRs) were estimated for 36 mesopelagic fish species collected from the equatorial and tropical Atlantic encompassing several oceanographic regions: oligotrophic, equatorial, Cape Blanc, Cape Verde and the Canary Islands. The sample was composed of myctophids (25 species), gonostomatids (5), sternoptychids (3), stomiids (2) and phosichthyids (1). The species were clustered according to body shape: “short‐deep” (sternoptychids), “elongate” (gonostomatids, stomiids and some phosichthyids) and “fusiform” (myctophids and some phosichthyids). Three types of weight and LWRs were considered: wet weight (WW ), eviscerated wet weight (eWW ) and eviscerated dry weight (eDW ). The study demonstrated that most species present a positive allometric growth, independent of the weight used. However, the allometric value varied in 40–50% of species depending on the type of weight considered. Significant variations linked to fish morphology were found in the relationship between the slope and intercept of the LWR equation. Significant differences were also noted in the water content linked to fish body shape. Based on the distributions of several species we compare their fitness between oceanographic regions using the relative condition factor (K rel). Except for Diaphus brachycephalus (oligotrophic vs. equatorial waters) and Lampanyctus alatus (equatorial, Cape Blanc, Cape Verde and the Canary Islands), no regional significant differences were observed in the species analysedThis research was sponsored by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad through the project CTM2012-39587-C04-03With the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI)Peer reviewe

Energy density of mesopelagic fishes from the Atlantic Ocean

12 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, supporting information https://doi.org/10.1111/jfb.15331Mesopelagic fishes play a central role in marine food webs linking primary consumers to top predators. In this study, measures of direct calorimetry were used to analyse the energy density (ED) of 34 mesopelagic species collected at 12 stations in the equatorial and tropical Atlantic. Mean ED ranged from 2.7 kJ g−1 wet weight (WW) for the lanterfish Lampanyctus nobilis to 8.7 kJ g−1 WW for the lanterfish Benthosema glaciale. This study includes species of the orders Myctophiformes and Stomiiformes and represents migrants, non-migrants and partial-migrants species. The majority of the species were grouped into the medium-energy quality category (ED from 4 to 6 kJ g−1); Myctophiformes showed higher energetic values than the Stomiiformes. For the different species, the ED values were discussed in relation to spawning period and energy allocation strategies for reproduction and growth and feeding and migratory behaviour, as well as the ecoregion of study. These values will be useful for future assessment of energetic transfer between trophic levels and energetic modelling of Atlantic ecosystemsThis research study was sponsored by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad through the project CTM2012-39587-C04-03. We also acknowledge the institutional support of the AEI “Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence” accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S) and project SUMMER (grant agreement no. 817806)Peer reviewe

¿Los pediatras detectan las reacciones adversas a medicamentos aunque no las reporten?

Introducción: La notificación espontánea depende de la capacidad de los médicos de detectar las reacciones adversas a medicamentos (RAM) y del hábito de reportarlas. En 2008 y 2009, la frecuencia de reportes de RAM al Programa Electrónico de Farmacovigilancia (SISFAR) del total de egresos del Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez fueron bajas (0.44 y 0.20%, respectivamente). Por esta razón, en el 2010 se decidió evaluar la capacidad de los médicos de identificar las RAM utilizando como estrategia la revisión de los expedientes clínicos. Métodos: Se llevó a cabo un estudio observacional, descriptivo, transversal y retrospectivo en el Departamento de Urgencias (DU), del 1 de marzo al 31 de agosto del 2010. Se clasificaron y cuantificaron como RAM identificadas por los médicos cuando existió evidencia por escrito en el expediente clínico de que ellos habían asociado una manifestación clínica con una RAM, incluyendo además la evaluación del número de reportes al SISFAR. Se realizó el análisis descriptivo con SPSS versión 18. Resultados: La frecuencia de RAM de los pacientes que ingresaron al DU fue del 21.8%. El 86% de ellas fueron identificadas por los médicos en el expediente clínico y el 14% por el farmacéutico. Se reportó solamente el 6.1% al SISFAR. Conclusiones: Aunque fue elevada la identificación de las RAM en el expediente clínico, es posible que existan algunas que no se hayan detectado. Por otra parte, se confirmó el elevado grado de subreporte al SISFAR, por lo que se requieren acciones para fomentar el hábito del reporte

Susceptibilidad antimicrobiana de microorganismos causantes de infección de vías urinarias bajas en un hospital pediátrico

Introducción: La infección del tracto urinario en los niños es reconocida como una causa de morbilidad y de condiciones médicas crónicas, por lo que resulta indispensable conocer con claridad la patogénesis de esta enfermedad. Sin embargo, la resistencia creciente complica su tratamiento ya que aumenta la morbilidad, los costos, la estancia hospitalaria y el uso de fármacos de mayor espectro antimicrobiano. El propósito de este estudio fue determinar la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana de los uropatógenos aislados en niños. Métodos: Se incluyeron en el estudio 457 niños que asistieron a la consulta externa y a urgencias del Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, con síntomas de infección del tracto urinario baja no complicada. La orina fue tomada a la mitad del chorro o por cateterismo, y se realizó la identificación y la susceptibilidad antimicrobiana. Resultados: Los patógenos aislados con mayor frecuencia fueron: Escherichia coli (E. coli) (312, 68.3%), Enterococcus spp. (42, 11%), Klebsiella pneumoniae (K. pneumoniae) (40, 8.7%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) (34, 7.5%), Proteus mirabilis (P. mirabilis) (21, 4.5%), Enterobacter cloacae (8, 1.7%). La resistencia para trimetoprima/sulfametoxazol fue del 73.7, 62.2, 100, 52, 50%,respectivamente, para E. coli, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, P. mirabilis y Enterobacter spp., del 92.5% para Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) y del 49.9% para Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium). Para ampicilina fue del 86.3, 45, 100, 47.9 y 66.6% para las mismas bacterias, respectivamente. Para ciprofloxacina del 33.8, 9, 18.8, 0 y 0%; para nitrofurantoína del 4.4, 13, 97.7, 70, 0% para enterobacterias, del 0% para E. faecalis y del 16.7% para E. faecium. Conclusiones: Los antimicrobianos frecuentemente prescritos para el tratamiento empírico de la infección del tracto urinario no complicada demuestran resistencia importante o baja susceptibilidad cuando se les probó frente a las cepas aisladas

Morpho-functional diversity in Diaphus spp. (Pisces: Myctophidae) from the central Atlantic Ocean: Ecological and evolutionary implications

14 pages, 8 figures, 5 tables, supplementary material https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsr.2018.07.005Insight into the evolutionary radiation of organisms is partly underpinned by theories on the adaptive divergence of sensory systems, and the ecological, physiological, and behavioural adaptations to both environmental conditions and to competition for limited resources. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of phenotypic variability and functional niche overlap between Diaphus (Myctophidae) species that could account for the high level of speciation within this genus. The Diaphus specimens which were used for our study, were obtained from a survey transect across the central Atlantic Ocean. We analysed the morpho-functional features of fish body shape and sagittae otolith shape of these specimens. Although our study included only 9 species, our findings revealed a high degree of morpho-functional variability in the fish body and otolith shapes, both of which are coupled with the variations of the bioluminescent organs of the head, especially the suborbital organ situated under eye and called So-photophore. Two morphotypes were identified: ‘Diaphus-deep’ (morphotype-1) with an So-photophore, and defined by a larger otolith and a deep body, larger head, eye and mouth; and ‘Diaphus-slender’ (morphotype-2) without an So-photophore, and characterized by an increased development of anterior-dorsal margin of otolith and an enlarged body with small head, eye and mouth. Our analyses supported both the sensory drive and niche hypotheses as forces promoting the radiation within the genus Diaphus. Future studies involving a greater number of species are necessary to advance the knowledge of speciation mechanisms in myctophidsThis research has been sponsored by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad through project CTM2012-39587-C04-03.Peer Reviewe

Variation in the diel vertical distributions of larvae and transforming stages of oceanic fishes across the tropical and equatorial Atlantic

18 pages, 11 figures, 4 tablesThe vertical distributions of early developmental stages of oceanic fishes were investigated across the tropical and equatorial Atlantic, from oligotrophic waters close to the Brazilian coast to more productive waters close to the Mauritanian Upwelling Region. Stratification of the water column was observed throughout the study region. Fishes were caught with a MOCNESS-1 net with mouth area of 1 m2 at 11 stations. Each station was sampled both during the day and at night within a single 24-h period. The investigation covered both larvae and transforming stages from the surface to 800 m depth. Distribution patterns were analysed, and weighted mean depths for the larvae and transforming stages of each species were calculated for day and night conditions. Forty-seven different species were found. The highest number of species occurred in the three stations south of Cape Verde Islands, characterized by a mixture of South Atlantic Central Water (SACW) and Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW). There was a marked drop in species richness in the three stations closer to the African upwelling, dominated by ENACW. The highest abundances occurred in the families Myctophidae, Sternoptychidae, Gonostomatidae and Phosichthyidae. Day and night vertical distributions of larvae and transforming stages showed contrasting patterns, both in the depths of the main concentration layers in the water column, and in the diel migration patterns (where these were observed). Larvae generally showed a preference for the upper mixed layer (ca. 0–50 m) and upper thermocline (ca. 50–100 m), except for sternoptychids, which were also abundant in the lower thermocline layer (100–200 m) and even extended into the mesopelagic zone (down to 500 m). Transforming stages showed a more widespread distribution, with main concentrations in the mesopelagic zone (200–800 m). Larvae showed peak concentrations in the more illuminated and zooplankton-rich upper mixed layers during the day and a wider distribution through the upper 100 m during the night. For most species, transforming stages were concentrated in the mesopelagic layers both day and night, although in some species (Diaphus cf. vanhoeffeni and Vinciguerria nimbaria), the transforming stages displayed vertical migration into the upper 100 m at night, in a manner similar to their adult stagesThis research was funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad through project CTM2012-39587-C04-03Peer Reviewe

Mesopelagic fishes across the tropical and equatorial Atlantic: Biogeographical and vertical patterns

22 pages, 12 figures, 7 tables, supplementary data https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pocean.2016.12.001In this investigation we analysed the changes in fish species occurrences and relative abundances across the tropical and equatorial Atlantic, and their vertical distribution patterns in relation to the different environmental scenarios. The study covers a wide region encompassing different water masses, and marked differences in productivity, from an oligotrophic zone close to the Brazilian coast, to a very productive upwelling region close to the Northwest African upwelling. Fishes were collected with a medium-sized midwater trawl (Mesopelagos), complemented by hauls made with a macrozooplankton net (MOCNESS). Species richness in the region was higher than in subtropical, temperate and cold regions. The total number of species and their overall abundance was lower in the stations closer to the Brazilian coast. Abundant species across the entire region were the gonostomatids Cyclothone alba, Cyclothone acclinidens, Cyclothone pallida and Cyclothone pseudopallida, the myctophid Lampanyctus alatus, the sternoptychid Sternoptyx diaphana, and the phosichthyid Vinciguerria nimbaria. The occurrences and abundances of C. parapallida, Lampanyctus nobilis and Lepidophanes guentheri were related to zones where AAIW waters occupied the mesopelagic layers, while other species such as Cyclothone livida and Polyipnus polli increased their abundance when AAIW disappears from their living depths. The presence of Eastern North Atlantic Central Water (ENACW) was associated with the occurrence of several myctophids (Benthosema glaciale, Ceratoscopelus maderensis, Diaphus holti, Diaphus rafinesquii, Hygophum hygomii, Lampanyctus crocodilus, Myctophum punctatum, Symbolophorus veranyi), and the gonostomatid Cyclothone braueri. In spite of the important differences in hydrographic features across the tropical and equatorial Atlantic, all stations showed either the general night migration into the epipelagic layers carried out by myctophids, phosicthyids, and some stomiids, or the presence of the several species of Cyclothone, sternoptychids and melamphaeids that remain in the mesopelagic layers, both day and night. The oxygen minimum zone (OMZ) at mesopelagic depths in the north-eastern sector does not seem to disrupt diel vertical migration. Day-night distributions in our study proved that mesopelagic migratory species are capable of crossing these wide hypoxic layers, and that some species such as Diaphus vanhoeffeni remain in these layers during the day. Other non-migratory fishes (Cyclothone spp. and S. diaphana) proved to be widely tolerant to these low oxygen concentrations, as shown by their high numerical abundances in the OMZThis research has been funded by the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad through project CTM2012-39587-C04-03Peer Reviewe

Descriptive study of adverse drug reactions in a tertiary care pediatric hospital in México from 2014 to 2017.

INTRODUCTION:In Pediatrics, adverse drug reactions (ADRs) affect morbidity and mortality. In Mexico, the characteristics of ADRs and suspect drugs have not been described in hospitalized children. OBJECTIVE:To estimate the frequency of ADRs and describe them, as well as suspect drugs, in a tertiary care pediatric hospital in Mexico. METHODS:A total of 1,649 Hospital Infantil de Mexico Federico Gómez ADR reports were analyzed. Completeness of the information was assessed, and ADRs severity and seriousness were assigned based on NOM-220-SSA1-2012, with causality being established according to the Naranjo algorithm. ADRs were classified with WHO Adverse Drug Reaction Terminology (WHO-ART). The drugs involved in ADRs were categorized according to the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical (ATC) classification. Descriptive analysis was performed using the SPSS 20 statistical package. RESULTS:Of all the reports, 5.8% lacked sufficient information for the analysis (grade 0). ADRs frequency ranged from 2.12% to 8.07%. ADRs occurred most commonly in children (56.9%), in the female gender (52%), in subjects with normal BMI Z-score (46.6%) and malnutrition (35.3%), diagnosed with neoplasms (72.2%) and in the Emergency Department (70.0%). ADRs were severe in 14.4% of cases, in 81.0% they were serious and 2.1% were classified as definite. Most common serious ADR was febrile neutropenia (44.5%). The 0.7% of patients recovering with sequelae; 1.1% died (with the medication being associated) and 70.3% were admitted to the hospital as a result of an ADR. Antineoplastic and immunomodulating agents were more commonly associated with serious ADRs. CONCLUSION:ADRs affected morbidity and mortality, which is why strengthening pharmacovigilance programs in Mexican pediatric hospitals is necessary