Áreas marinas protegidas en la Argentina

Los objetivos de las Áreas Marinas Protegidas (AMP) son conservar la diversidad biológica, mantener procesos ecológicos y asegurar el uso sustentable de los recursos. Se señalan las amenzas a la biodiversidad marina y algunos programas tendientes a mejorar el sistema de áreas marinas protegidas en la Argentina (oceáno Atlántico sudoccidental). Se incluyen lecturas sugeridas y el mapa de AMP de Argentina (Océano Atlántico sudoccidental)

Association of Timely Comprehensive Genomic Profiling With Precision Oncology Treatment Use and Patient Outcomes in Advanced Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer

PURPOSE: Timely biomarker testing remains out of reach for many patients with advanced non-small-cell lung cancer (aNSCLC). Here, we studied the quality-of-care implications of closing the gap in timely receipt of comprehensive genomic profiling (CGP) to inform first-line (1L) decisions. METHODS: Using a real-world clinicogenomic database, we studied testing and 1L treatment patterns in aNSCLC after the approval of pembrolizumab in combination with pemetrexed and carboplatin (May 10, 2017). To estimate the association of timely CGP results with therapy selection and patient outcomes, we identified patients with no previous genomic testing beyond PD-L1 immunohistochemistry and dichotomized patients by whether CGP results were available before or after 1L therapy initiation. RESULTS: In total, 2,694 patients were included in the 1L therapy decision impact assessment. Timely CGP increased matched targeted therapy use by 14 percentage points (17% with CGP CONCLUSION: Timely CGP is associated with the quality of patient care as measured by 1L matched targeted therapy use, time to therapy discontinuation, and avoidance of ineffective, costly ICPIs

Using self-organizing maps to investigate environmental factors regulating colony size and breeding success of the White Stork (Ciconia ciconia)

We studied variations in the size of breeding colonies and in breeding performance of White Storks Ciconia ciconia in 2006–2008 in north-east Algeria. Each colony site was characterized using 12 environmental variables describing the physical environment, land-cover categories, and human activities, and by three demographic parameters: the number of breeding pairs, the number of pairs with chicks, and the number of fledged chicks per pair. Generalized linear mixed models and the self-organizing map algorithm (SOM, neural network) were used to investigate effects of biotic, abiotic, and anthropogenic factors on demographic parameters and on their relationships. Numbers of breeding pairs and of pairs with chicks were affected by the same environmental factors, mainly anthropogenic, which differed from those affecting the number of fledged chicks per pair. Numbers of fledged chicks per pair was not affected by colony size or by the number of nests with chicks. The categorization of the environmental variables into natural and anthropogenic, in connection with demographic parameters, was relevant to detect factors explaining variation in colony size and breeding parameters. The SOM proved a relevant tool to help determine actual dynamics in White Stork colonies, and thus to support effective conservation decisions at a regional scale

keynote 412 phase iii study of pembrolizumab plus chemoradiation vs chemoradiation alone for locally advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinoma hnscc

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Abstract:  DM type 2 is a noncommunicable disease of considerable relevance worldwide. It is feasible to control its long term effects with medication and a healthy lifestyle. A key factor in the prevention of complications is treatment adherence. Although it is known to be multifactorial, its relation with the patient’s level of knowledge about their disease has been proposed.   The objective of this study is to determine treatment adherence in patients with type 2 diabetes who attend Hospital Cordoba within the context of the ProCorDia program, and its relationship with their knowledge of the disease. In addition, we intend to analyze this data aking into account demographic variables. A retrospective, observational, transversal study was carried out. It took place in the Service of Diabetes of Hospital Cordoba, in september 2019. In a convenience sample of 106 patients, over 18 years old, demographic data was obtained and validated tools were applied to evaluate treatment adherence (adherent / non-adherent; Morisky-Green Test) and disease knowledge (knower/ non-knower; Batalla Test). The statistical analysis was made with the Chi-square test.  The age range was 29 - 76, with an average age standing at 56. 64% resulted as “non-adherent”. 30% was “non-knower”. No significant association was found between treatment adherence and disease knowledge. No significant association was evidenced between disease knowledge and educational attainment. No gender differences were perceived. Treatment adherence tends to be associated with age range (p=0,0594), with lower adherence in the group of 29-45 years old. Treatment adherence and disease knowledge are not associated in patients with diabetes. Patients in this study showed low rates of adherence even though they knew about their disease, which is relevant because it was made in the third level of attention care, within a monitoring program (ProCorDia). New studies are required to develop effective strategies of intervention. Resumen:  La diabetes tipo 2 es una enfermedad crónica no transmisible de gran relevancia a nivel mundial. Sus efectos a largo plazo son factibles de ser controlados mediante medicación y un hábito de vida saludable. La adherencia al tratamiento es un factor clave en la prevención de sus complicaciones. Si bien es un proceso multifactorial, se ha propuesto su relación con el nivel de conocimiento del paciente sobre su enfermedad.   El objetivo de este trabajo es conocer la adherencia al tratamiento en pacientes con diabetes tipo 2 que asisten al Hospital Córdoba en contexto del programa ProCorDia y su relación con el nivel de conocimiento sobre la enfermedad. Adicionalmente, analizarlos en función de variables demográficas. Se realizó un estudio retrospectivo, observacional, de corte transversal, realizado en el Servicio de Diabetes del Hospital Córdoba, durante el mes de septiembre de 2019. En una muestra por conveniencia de 106 pacientes, mayores de 18 años, se recabaron datos demográficos y se aplicaron herramientas validadas para evaluar la adherencia al tratamiento (adherente/no adherente; Test de Morisky-Green) y el conocimiento de la enfermedad (conocedor/no conocedor; Test de Batalla). Para el análisis estadístico se realizaron pruebas Chi-cuadrado. El rango etario fue entre 29 y 76 años, con una media de edad de 56 años. El 64% resultó “no adherente” al tratamiento. El 30% fue “no conocedor” sobre su enfermedad. No se encontró asociación significativa entre ambas variables. Tampoco se evidenció asociación entre el grado de conocimiento y el nivel educativo de los encuestados. No se percibieron diferencias en cuanto al sexo. La adherencia al tratamiento tiende a asociarse con el grupo etario (p=0,0594), con adherencia menor en el grupo de 29 a 45 años. No se asocia significativamente la adherencia al tratamiento y el nivel de conocimiento sobre la enfermedad en pacientes con diabetes. Los pacientes encuestados mostraron bajos niveles de adherencia a pesar de conocer sobre su enfermedad, hecho relevante por tratarse de un hospital del tercer nivel de atención, dentro de un programa de seguimiento (ProCorDia). Son necesarios nuevos estudios para guiar estrategias de intervención eficaces.

On the barrier properties of the cornea: a microscopy study of the penetration of fluorescently labeled nanoparticles, polymers, and sodium fluorescein

Overcoming the natural defensive barrier functions of the eye remains one of the greatest challenges of ocular drug delivery. Cornea is a chemical and mechanical barrier preventing the passage of any foreign bodies including drugs into the eye, but the factors limiting penetration of permeants and nanoparticulate drug delivery systems through the cornea are still not fully understood. In this study, we investigate these barrier properties of the cornea using thiolated and PEGylated (750 and 5000 Da) nanoparticles, sodium fluorescein, and two linear polymers (dextran and polyethylene glycol). Experiments used intact bovine cornea in addition to bovine cornea de-epithelialized or tissues pretreated with cyclodextrin. It was shown that corneal epithelium is the major barrier for permeation; pretreatment of the cornea with β-cyclodextrin provides higher permeation of low molecular weight compounds, such as sodium fluorescein, but does not enhance penetration of nanoparticles and larger molecules. Studying penetration of thiolated and PEGylated (750 and 5000 Da) nanoparticles into the de-epithelialized ocular tissue revealed that interactions between corneal surface and thiol groups of nanoparticles were more significant determinants of penetration than particle size (for the sizes used here). PEGylation with polyethylene glycol of a higher molecular weight (5000 Da) allows penetration of nanoparticles into the stroma, which proceeds gradually, after an initial 1 h lag phase

Seasonal and spatial variability in condition of age-0+ Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi Marini, 1933, in the San Jorge Gulf (Argentina): A bottom-up perspective

In the north Patagonian region of the Argentinean Continental Shelf, the San Jorge Gulf (SJG; 45°‐47°S, 65°30ʹ‐67°30ʹW) is the main nursery ground of age‐0+ Argentine hake Merluccius hubbsi Marini, 1933, one of the most important fishery resources in Argentina. The gulf exhibits strong seasonal and spatial fluctuations in environmental features, which might affect survival of age‐0+ individuals and recruitment to the adult population. Our main goal was to evaluate the seasonal and spatial dynamics of their nutritional status within the SJG in winter 2016, spring 2016 and summer 2017. Condition indices (relative condition factor Kn, hepatosomatic index HSI and liver lipid content %L) and diet information (feeding incidence and relative importance of prey) were combined with physical (temperature and salinity) and biological (satellite chlorophyll‐a concentration; chl‐a) data. Age‐0+ condition indices and prey intake showed significant seasonal variations, with minimum values in winter, intermediate in summer and maximum in spring, strongly coupled to the mean chl‐a concentration in each season. Herbivorous euphausiids Euphausia spp. were the preferred prey along the study period. A bottom‐up effect on condition of age‐0+ hake is suggested, manifested as lower condition values in winter, the less productive season. Spatially, better conditioned individuals matched sectors of the gulf where chl‐a concentrations were higher, coupled to the presence of frontal systems. Monitoring age‐0+ hake nutritional status is relevant in the current global change scenario, which might modify phytoplankton biomass and composition and, consequently, the herbivorous zooplankton abundances.Fil: Temperoni, Brenda. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Massa, Agueda Elena. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Subsede Instituto Nacional de Investigación y Desarrollo Pesquero; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Instituto de Investigaciones Marinas y Costeras; ArgentinaFil: Martos, Patricia. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Ciencias Marinas; ArgentinaFil: Marrari, Marina. Ministerio de Defensa. Armada Argentina. Servicio de Hidrografía Naval. Departamento Oceanografía; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentin

Unmanned aircraft systems as a new source of disturbance for wildlife: A systematic review.

The use of small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS; also known as "drones") for professional and personal-leisure use is increasing enormously. UAS operate at low altitudes (<500 m) and in any terrain, thus they are susceptible to interact with local fauna, generating a new type of anthropogenic disturbance that has not been systematically evaluated. To address this gap, we performed a review of the existent literature about animals' responses to UAS flights and conducted a pooled analysis of the data to determine the probability and intensity of the disturbance, and to identify the factors influencing animals' reactions towards the small aircraft. We found that wildlife reactions depended on both the UAS attributes (flight pattern, engine type and size of aircraft) and the characteristics of animals themselves (type of animal, life-history stage and level of aggregation). Target-oriented flight patterns, larger UAS sizes, and fuel-powered (noisier) engines evoked the strongest reactions in wildlife. Animals during the non-breeding period and in large groups were more likely to show behavioral reactions to UAS, and birds are more prone to react than other taxa. We discuss the implications of these results in the context of wildlife disturbance and suggest guidelines for conservationists, users and manufacturers to minimize the impact of UAS. In addition, we propose that the legal framework needs to be adapted so that appropriate actions can be undertaken when wildlife is negatively affected by these emergent practices