Riego deficitario controlado del olivar de alta densidad: programación automática basada en la fisiología de la planta.

The geographical distribution of olive (Olea europaea L.) is mainly in areas of Mediterranean climate, where arid and semi-areas are common. Although olive trees are well adapted to dry conditions, their response to water supply is remarkable. This explains that ca. 20% of the olive cropped area is irrigated. Also, and as for many other fruit tree species, management systems with high plant densities are becoming common. Those changes are justified by the economic value of olive products. Both agronomical approaches have the advantage of contributing to facing the challenge of producing olive fruits and olive oil for the increasing global population. This is particularly important in olive growing areas, for which rising temperatures and lower precipitations are forecasted. Increasing crop water productivity per unit of cropped land is, in fact, a main challenge to olive growers. In this context, one of the most effective responses of the scientific community is the development of new irrigation strategies and reliable tools for monitoring plant water stress and scheduling irrigation. Hedgerow olive orchards with high plant densities (from 1.500 trees ha-1), or super high density (SHD) olive orchards, are considered to be among the most productive management systems for olive. On the other hand, irrigation supplies are required for an acceptable profitability in those orchards, precisely because of the high plant densities. One of the most promising irrigation strategies for SHD olive orchards is regulated deficit irrigation (RDI), which leads to significant water savings at the same time that episodes of excessive water stress are avoided when the crop is most sensitive to drought. In 2014 and 2015, the first two years of this Ph.D. work, we focused on the feasibility of scheduling a RDI strategy supplying 45% of the crop irrigation needs (45RDI), designed for SHD olive orchards, from the shape of the daily curves recorded with ZIM sensors. These curves are related to leaf turgor pressure. We worked in a commercial, fully productive ‘Arbequina’ olive orchard with 1667 trees ha−1. In addition to a treatment consisting on applying the mentioned 45RDI strategy, we had a 45RDI treatment scheduled by the crop coefficient approach and a full irrigation treatment (FI), consisting on daily irrigation to replace the crop water needs. Our results show that we were able to schedule irrigation just from the visual analysis of the curves derived from ZIM outputs (i.e. Pp values), without any further data processing. A comparison with the crop coefficient approach showed that, on the tree water status, maximum daily values of gas exchange, number of internodes in current-year shoots, leaf area, oil accumulation in the fruits, growth, fruit and oil yield were similar between treatments. With our approach also, we achieved over 50 % water savings with a negligible impact on yields, as compared to the FI treatment. However, caution must be taken when extrapolating our findings, since there is evidence from the literature on the relations between the tree water status and the shape of the daily curves recorded with the ZIM probes, depending on cultivar and main orchard conditions. The second two years, 2016 and 2017, we carried out two experiments to increase our understanding of the interaction between the environmental conditions and plant mechanisms influencing turgor related measurements from the ZIM probes. Our purpose was to unravel the plant-based responses of the ZIM probes readings, with the aim of deriving new indicators for scheduling irrigation from the ZIM records. We explored the suitability of using the maximum daily turgor (Ppmin) for irrigation scheduling, as a reliable indicator that could be independent from both the cultivar and orchard conditions. The experiment was made in the same orchard. mentioned above, but with FI trees only. Basically, we explored the influence of the proximity of fruits to leaves instrumented with ZIM probes, as well as the effect of leaf ageing, soil water availability and vapour pressure deficit. Our data showed no influence of the proximity of fruits on Ppmin records, suggesting that Ppmin readings can be made in any leaf regardless of being close or far from a cluster of fruits. Moreover, the increase on the elastic modulus with leaf ageing did not have an influence on Ppmin either. However, there was a clear effect of two main drivers of transpiration. Thus, daily patterns of Ppmin were mainly influenced by the atmospheric demand followed, to a lesser extent, by the available soil water. The pattern of Ppmin changed depending on the fruit developmental stage. Two stages were found to have a clearer influence: maximum rate of pit hardening and rapid fruit growth after the midsummer period. Out data supports Ppmin being a sensitive and reliable water stress indicator on those periods when the plant water status may have a marked effect on fruit production. Plant-based sensors have the advantage of using the tree as a biosensor. i.e. their records inform on the plant response to the soil and atmospheric water status. Thus, those sensors are particularly useful for irrigation scheduling. However, their records are not always easy to interpret, due to both the complexity of the soil-water-plant-atmosphere relationships and the adaptive responses of the species to water stress. Therefore, a greater understanding of the actual meaning of plant-based measurements for assessing water stress is needed, to increase the acceptance of plant-based measurements in commercial orchards. The fourth experiment of this doctoral thesis was made with that aim. We used 2-year old, potted olive plants growing in a greenhouse in which climate conditions mimicked those typical of Mediterranean areas. We installed ZIM probes and leaf thickness sensors in representative plants with the aim of determining the threshold levels of main water-environmental drivers of leaf turgor and leaf thickness. In our experiments we considered plants under water-stress and recovery cycles, and fully irrigated plants for control. We also studied changes in cell wall properties, from pressurevolume curves. The hydraulic processes that evolve the combination of leaf turgor, thickness and plant water status along the continuum soil-plant-atmosphere were dependent on field capacity, as a threshold of soil water availability and, to a lesser extent, on the vapour pressure deficit of the air. Under severe drought stress the properties of the cell walls changes and the inversion of the daily Pp curve occurred. The latter, attributed to the accumulation of air in the leaf tissues, had similar dynamics as the leaf thickness measurements. This suggests that the ZIM probe measures a variable related to leaf thickness during the inversion of the daily Pp curve. This finding opens new possibilities for improving irrigation scheduling in periods when the olive tree is less sensitive to drought stress. This fills a gap previously identified by our own results, on the reliability of using ZIM records to schedule irrigation in periods of the growing cycle when the 45RDI strategy advices for reducing water supplies below the crop water requirements.La distribución geográfica del olivo (Olea europaea L.) se encuentra principalmente en áreas con clima Mediterráneo donde áreas áridas y semiáridas son bastante frecuentes. A pesar de que el olivo es una especie que está bien adaptada a condiciones de escasez hídrica, su respuesta ante aportaciones de riego es destacable. Esto explica por qué ca. 20% de los olivares cultivados son de regadío. Del mismo modo que ocurre para muchas otras especies frutales, son cada vez más frecuentes los marcos de plantación con una densidad de árboles elevada. Estos cambios se justifican por el valor económico de los productos derivados del olivo. Ambas estrategias agronómicas contribuyen a hacer frente al reto de obtener una mayor producción de aceitunas y aceite de oliva de cara al aumento de la población mundial. Esto es particularmente importante en las áreas de cultivo del olivo, en las cuales se prevé un incremento de las temperaturas junto a una disminución en las precipitaciones. De hecho, el incremento de la productividad del agua por unidad de área cultivada es uno de los mayores retos a los que se enfrentan los olivicultores. En este contexto, una de las respuestas más efectivas de la comunidad científica ha sido el desarrollo de nuevas estrategias de riego y de herramientas fiables tanto para la programación del riego como para la monitorización del estrés hídrico en plantas. Los olivares en seto con alta densidad de plantas (a partir de 1.500 árboles ha-1), también llamados olivares en seto de alta densidad, son considerados como los más productivos entre los distintos tipos de manejo que existen en el cultivo del olivar. Por otro lado, precisamente porque son de elevada densidad, se requieren aportes de riego para que estas plantaciones tengan una rentabilidad aceptable. Una de las estrategias de riego más prometedoras para este tipo de plantaciones es la aplicación del riego deficitario controlado (RDC), que permite ahorros de agua considerables al mismo tiempo que se evitan episodios de estrés hídrico excesivo en los momentos en los que el cultivo es más sensible a la sequía. En 2014 y 2015, los dos primeros años de esta tesis doctoral, nos centramos en el estudio de la idoneidad de la estrategia de RDC aplicando un 45% de las necesidades de riego del cultivo (45RDC; 45RDI a lo largo de esta tesis en inglés), estrategia especialmente diseñada para olivares en seto de alta densidad, basada en la forma de las curvas diarias registradas con las sondas ZIM. Estas curvas están relacionadas con la presión de turgencia de la hoja. Trabajamos en una finca comercial y totalmente productiva de la variedad Arbequina con 1667 árboles ha-1. Además de este tratamiento consistente en la aplicación de la mencionada estrategia 45RDC, tuvimos un tratamiento 45RDC programado mediante el coeficiente del cultivo junto a otro tratamiento donde las plantas se encontraban bien regadas (FI, del inglés full irrigated), el cual consistió en un riego diario que reemplazaba las necesidades de hídricas del cultivo. Nuestros resultados muestran que fuimos capaces de programar el riego tan solo con el análisis visual de las curvas derivadas de las lecturas de las sondas ZIM (i.e. valores de Pp) sin ningún tipo de tratamiento de datos posterior. Una comparativa de nuestra aproximación con la aproximación del método del coeficiente del cultivo mostró que, tanto el estado hídrico de la planta, como valores máximos diarios de intercambio gaseoso, número de entrenudos en los ramos de años, área foliar, acumulación de aceite en los frutos, crecimiento y producción tanto de aceitunas como de aceite fueron similares entre tratamientos. Con nuestra estrategia 45RDC obtuvimos ahorros de agua de más del 50%, con un descartable impacto en la producción comparado con el tratamiento FI. Sin embargo, se debe tener precaución al extrapolar nuestros resultados, ya que hay evidencias en la literatura de que las relaciones entre el estado hídrico de la planta y la forma de las curvas diarias registradas por las sondas ZIM dependen de la variedad del cultivo y de las condiciones de la plantación. En los dos segundos años, 2016 y 2017, llevamos a cabo dos experimentos para profundizar en el conocimiento sobre las interacciones que se dan entre las condiciones ambientales y los mecanismos de las plantas que influyen en la turgencia y que están relacionados con las medidas de las sondas ZIM. Nuestro propósito fue desentrañar las respuestas basadas en la planta de las lecturas de las sondas ZIM, con el propósito de derivar nuevos indicadores para la programación del riego desde dichas lecturas. Exploramos la idoneidad del uso de la máxima turgencia (Ppmin) para la programación del riego, como un indicador fiable que pudiera ser interpretado independientemente de la variedad de cultivo y de las condiciones de cada finca. El experimento se llevó a cabo en la finca mencionada anteriormente, pero únicamente bajo el tratamiento FI. Básicamente, exploramos la influencia de la proximidad de frutos a hojas instrumentadas con las sondas ZIM, así como también el efecto del envejecimiento de la hoja, la disponibilidad de agua en el suelo y el déficit de presión de vapor. Nuestros datos mostraron que no hubo una influencia en la proximidad de frutos sobre las lecturas de Ppmin sugiriendo que éstas podrían ser usadas para cualquier hoja independientemente de si está cerca o lejos de un racimo de frutos. Además, el incremento del módulo de elasticidad con la edad de la hoja tampoco tuvo ninguna influencia en la lectura de Ppmin. Sin embargo, sí hubo un claro efecto de las dos principales variables motoras de la transpiración. De este modo, los patrones diarios de Ppmin estuvieron principalmente influenciados por la demanda atmosférica seguidos, en menor medida, de la disponibilidad hídrica en el suelo. El patrón de Ppmin cambió dependiendo del estadío de desarrollo del fruto. Se encontraron dos fases del desarrollo que tuvieron una influencia más evidente: la tasa máxima de endurecimiento del hueso y el de rápido crecimiento del fruto que se produce a fínales de la segunda mitad del verano. Nuestros datos apoyan al Ppmin como un indicador sensible y fiable del estrés hídrico en aquellos periodos en los que el estado hídrico de la planta puede tener una marcada influencia en la producción del fruto. Los sensores basados en medidas directas sobre la planta (plant-based methods, en inglés) tienen la ventaja de usar la propia planta como un biosensor, es decir, con sus registros informan de la respuesta de la planta al estado hídrico atmosférico y del suelo al mismo tiempo. Por tanto, estos sensores son particularmente útiles en la programación del riego. No obstante, los registros no son siempre fáciles de interpretar debido a la complejidad de las relaciones suelo-agua-planta-atmósfera y a la respuesta adaptativa de las especies al estrés hídrico. Así mismo, se necesita una mejor comprensión del significado real de las medidas en planta para evaluar el estrés hídrico y así aumentar la aceptación del uso de este tipo de medidas para la gestión del riego en fincas comerciales El cuarto experimento de esta tesis doctoral se llevó a cabo con este propósito. Para ello usamos plantones de dos años de edad cultivados en invernadero, imitando las condiciones típicas de áreas mediterráneas. Se instalaron sensores ZIM y sensores de grosor de hoja en plantas representativas con el objeto de determinar los valores umbrales de las principales variables ambientales hídricas como motores de la turgencia y del grosor de la hoja. En nuestros experimentos, consideramos plantas sometidas a estrés hídrico con ciclos de recuperación y plantas bien regadas como control. También, estudiamos los cambios en las propiedades hídricas de la pared celular de la hoja a partir de curvas de presión-volumen. Los procesos hidráulicos que envuelven la combinación de la turgencia de la hoja, el grosor de la misma y el estado hídrico de la planta a lo largo del continuo suelo-plantaatmósfera dependieron de la capacidad de campo, siendo esta última un umbral de la disponibilidad hídrica del suelo y, en menor medida, el déficit de presión de vapor del aire. Bajo estrés hídrico severo, las propiedades de las paredes celulares de la hoja cambiaron y tuvo lugar la inversión de la curva Pp diaria. Esta última, atribuida a la acumulación de aire en los tejidos de la hoja, presentó una dinámica similar a las medidas del grosor de la hoja. Esto sugiere que la sonda ZIM mide una variable relacionada con el grosor de la hoja durante la inversión de la curva diaria de Pp. Estos resultados, por tanto, abren nuevas posibilidades para la mejora en la programación del riego en los periodos en los que el olivo es menos sensible al estrés hídrico. Esto, resuelve las carencias en el conocimiento previamente identificadas en nuestros resultados, con la fiabilidad de usar los registros por las sondas ZIM para la programación del riego a lo largo de todo el periodo de crecimiento del olivo siguiendo las recomendaciones de la estrategia 45RDC, reduciendo las cantidades de riego aplicadas por debajo de las necesidades hídricas del cultivo

Use of Aerial Thermal Imaging to Assess Water Status Variability in Hedgerow Olive Orchards

Characterization of the spatial variability in tree water status is a prerequisite to conduct precise irrigation management within an orchard. This study assessed the suitability of a crop water stress index (CWSI) derived from high-resolution aerial thermal imagery to estimate tree water status variability in super high density (SHD) olive orchards. The experiment was conducted at a commercial SHD olive orchard near Seville (southwestern Spain). The drip irrigated trees were submitted to three irrigation regimes (four plots per treatment): a full irrigation treatment replacing the crop water needs (ETc) and two regulated deficit irrigation treatments replacing ca. 45% of ETc. During the irrigation season, meteorological variables, soil moisture content, leaf water potential and leaf gas exchange measurements were performed. Infrared temperature sensors (IRTS) installed about 1 m above the canopies were used to derive the required baselines for CWSI calculation. A thermal camera installed on a mini RPAS (Remote Piloted Aerial System) allowed recording high-resolution thermal images at 5 representative dates of the olive tree growing season. CWSI values derived from aerial thermal imagery were sensitive to the deliberately imposed variations in tree water status within the SHD olive orchard. Maximum stomatal conductance and midday stem water potential showed tight correlations with CWSI. We conclude that high resolution thermal imagery captured from a mini RPAS has proven to be a suitable tool to capture tree water status variability within SHD olive orchards.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AGL2012- 34544/ECOLIMAJunta de Andalucía P12-AGR-122

A study of the galaxy redshift distribution toward the cosmic microwave background cold spot in the Corona Borealis supercluster

We present a study of the spatial and redshift distributions of Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) galaxies toward the position of CrB-H, a very deep and extended decrement in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB), located within the Corona Borealis supercluster (CrB-SC). It was found in a survey with the Very Small Array (VSA) interferometer at 33 GHz, with a peak negative brightness temperature of -230 muK, and deviates 4.4-sigma from the Gaussian CMB (G\'enova-Santos et al.). Observations with the Millimeter and Infrared Testa Grigia Observatory (MITO) suggested that 25$^+21_-18% of this decrement may be caused by the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (tSZ) effect (Battistelli et al.). Here we investigate whether the galaxy distribution could be tracing either a previously unnoticed galaxy cluster or a Warm/Hot Intergalactic Medium (WHIM) filament that could build up this tSZ effect. We find that the projected density of galaxies outside Abell clusters and with redshifts 0.05<z<0.12 at the position of CrB-H is the highest in the area encompassed by the CrB-SC. Most of these galaxies are located around redshifts z=0.07 and z=0.11, but no clear connection in the form of a filamentary structure is appreciable in between. While the galaxy distribution at z=0.07 is sparse, we find evidence at z=0.11 of a galaxy group or a low-mass galaxy cluster. We estimate that this structure could produce a tSZ effect of ~ -18 muK. The remaining VSA signal of ~ -212 muK is still a significant 4.1-sigma deviation from the Gaussian CMB. However, the MITO error bar allows for a larger tSZ effect, which could be produced by galaxy clusters or superclusters beyond the sensitivity of the SDSS. Contributions from other possible secondary anisotropies associated with these structures are also discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables. Accepted in MNRA

Use of interactive response devices for the improvement of teaching in the degrees of the Faculty of Sciences

La implantación de los nuevos Grados dentro del EEES supone un nuevo enfoque metodológico, pero sobre todo evaluador. El profesor debe esforzarse en ser capaz de valorar no sólo el nivel de conocimientos del alumnado sobre los contenidos, ya que la sociedad actual demanda un perfil de los egresados más completo basado en la formación por competencias. La adquisición de ambas facetas por parte del alumnado se basa principalmente en actividades presenciales y metodologías docentes aplicadas en el desarrollo de las asignaturas, tanto en grupo reducido como en grupo completo. Por tanto, cualquier herramienta adicional que ayude al docente a facilitar esta doble tarea es bien recibida, pues permitirá evaluar el rendimiento académico global del alumnado. Recientemente la Facultad de Ciencias ha puesto en marcha una experiencia piloto mediante la cual un nutrido grupo de profesores ha incorporado en su docencia un sistema de mandos inalámbricos de respuesta. Actualmente, la Facultad de Ciencias dispone de un total de 82 mandos inalámbricos de respuesta y tres antenas receptoras. Esta nueva tecnología ha permitido al docente realizar, de forma interactiva, preguntas colectivas al alumnado y recoger las respuestas individuales de forma inmediata. Los resultados obtenidos en este proyecto nos permiten ser muy optimistas con el uso de esta herramienta y nos animan a continuar en la misma línea. El profesorado participante se ha mostrado dispuesto a continuar empleando esta TIC en su docencia, tratando de abarcar más asignaturas, diversificar el tipo de pruebas, y emplear los mandos de respuesta en grupo completo, cuando el número de alumnos lo permita. La puesta en común de los resultados revela que, de forma general, este tipo de sistemas de respuesta incrementa el nivel de atención del alumnado, ya que se les demanda de forma continuada su participación activa durante la sesión. Se potencia la retención de conceptos, al suministrar en el acto la respuesta correcta a cada pregunta realizada. Permite también al profesorado conocer el nivel previo de conocimientos sobre la materia a impartir, ya que se puede realizar este tipo de preguntas al comienzo de la sesión y enfocar entonces su atención en las debilidades manifestadas. Asimismo se puede testar el grado de adquisición de dichos conocimientos, realizando este tipo de cuestionarios después de la sesión. Además, el tratamiento posterior de los resultados, de forma individualizada, permite gestionar de forma ágil el nivel de conocimientos y adquisición de competencias en lo que es un sistema de evaluación continua, tan necesario en los nuevos enfoques metodológicos nacidos de la implantación del EEES. Por último destacar que el profesorado participante ha considerado que se trata de una herramienta de gran utilidad para la consecución del objetivo de excelencia en la docencia, que además es eficaz y de fácil manejo, y entiende que no debe ser una actividad puntual, sino un proceso transformador en la actividad docente e interacción alumno-profesor, configurándose como una herramienta habitual en los sistemas de enseñanza-aprendizaje.Implementation of the new degrees in the EHEA involve a new methodological approach, but above all evaluation. The teacher should strive to be able to assess not only the level of knowledge of the students on the content, as the current society demands a profile of the most complete graduates based on training by competencies. The acquisition of both facets by students is based mainly on face-to-face activities and teaching methodologies applied in the development of the subjects, both in small group and in whole group. Therefore, any additional tool that helps the teacher to facilitate this double task is well received, since it will allow to evaluate the overall academic performance of the students. Recently the Faculty of Sciences has launched a pilot experience through which a large group of teachers has incorporated into their teaching a system of interactive response devices. Currently, the Faculty of Sciences has a total of 82 wireless response controllers and three receiving antennas. This new technology has enabled the teacher to interact interactively with the students and collect the individual answers immediately. The results obtained in this project allow us to be very optimistic with the use of this tool and encourage us to continue in the same line. The participating teachers have been willing to continue using this ICT in their teaching, trying to cover more subjects, diversify the type of tests, and use the full group response commands, when the number of students allows. The sharing of results reveals that, in a general way, this type of response systems increases the level of attention of the students, since they are continuously demanded their active participation during the session. The retention of concepts is strengthened by providing the correct answer to every question asked. It also allows the faculty to know the previous level of knowledge about the subject to be taught, since this type of questions can be asked at the beginning of the session and then focus their attention on the weaknesses manifested. It is also possible to test the degree of acquisition of this knowledge, performing this type of questionnaire after the session. In addition, the subsequent treatment of the results, in an individualized way, allows to manage in an agile way the level of knowledge and acquisition of competences in what is a system of continuous evaluation, so necessary in the new methodological approaches born from the implantation of the EHEA. Finally, it should be pointed out that the participating teachers have considered that this is a very useful tool for achieving the objective of excellence in teaching, which is also efficient and easy to use and understands that it should not be a specific activity, but a transforming process in the teaching activity and student-teacher interaction, being configured as a habitual tool in the teaching-learning systems

Staging Parkinson’s Disease Combining Motor and Nonmotor Symptoms Correlates with Disability and Quality of Life

COPPADIS Study Group.[Introduction] In a degenerative disorder such as Parkinson’s disease (PD), it is important to establish clinical stages that allow to know the course of the disease. Our aim was to analyze whether a scale combining Hoehn and Yahr’s motor stage (H&Y) and the nonmotor symptoms burden (NMSB) (assessed by the nonmotor symptoms scale (NMSS)) provides information about the disability and the patient’s quality of life (QoL) with regard to a defined clinical stage.[Materials and Methods] Cross-sectional study in which 603 PD patients from the COPPADIS cohort were classified according to H&Y (1, stage I; 2, stage II; 3, stage III; 4, stage IV/V) and NMSB (A: NMSS = 0–20; B: NMSS = 21–40; C: NMSS = 41–70; D: NMSS ≥ 71) in 16 stages (HY.NMSB, from 1A to 4D). QoL was assessed with the PDQ-39SI, PQ-10, and EUROHIS-QOL8 and disability with the Schwab&England ADL (Activities of Daily Living) scale.[Results] A worse QoL and greater disability were observed at a higher stage of H&Y and NMSB (). Combining both (HY.NMSB), patients in stages 1C and 1D and 2C and 2D had significantly worse QoL and/or less autonomy for ADL than those in stages 2A and 2B and 3A and 3B, respectively (; e.g., PDQ-39SI in 1D [n = 15] vs 2A [n = 101]: 28.6 ± 17.1 vs 7.9 ± 5.8; ).[Conclusion] The HY.NMSB scale is simple and reflects the degree of patient involvement more accurately than the H&Y. Patients with a lower H&Y stage may be more affected if they have a greater NMS burden.Peer reviewe

Predictors of Global Non-Motor Symptoms Burden Progression in Parkinson’s Disease. Results from the COPPADIS Cohort at 2-Year Follow-Up

COPPADIS Study Group.[Background and Objective] Non-motor symptoms (NMS) progress in different ways between Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients. The aim of the present study was to (1) analyze the change in global NMS burden in a PD cohort after a 2-year follow-up, (2) to compare the changes with a control group, and (3) to identify predictors of global NMS burden progression in the PD group.[Material and Methods] PD patients and controls, recruited from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort from January 2016 to November 2017, were followed-up with after 2 years. The Non-Motor Symptoms Scale (NMSS) was administered at baseline (V0) and at 24 months ± 1 month (V2). Linear regression models were used for determining predictive factors of global NMS burden progression (NMSS total score change from V0 to V2 as dependent variable).[Results] After the 2-year follow-up, the mean NMS burden (NMSS total score) significantly increased in PD patients by 18.8% (from 45.08 ± 37.62 to 53.55 ± 42.28; p < 0.0001; N = 501; 60.2% males, mean age 62.59 ± 8.91) compared to no change observed in controls (from 14.74 ± 18.72 to 14.65 ± 21.82; p = 0.428; N = 122; 49.5% males, mean age 60.99 ± 8.32) (p < 0.0001). NMSS total score at baseline (β = −0.52), change from V0 to V2 in PDSS (Parkinson’s Disease Sleep Scale) (β = −0.34), and change from V0 to V2 in NPI (Neuropsychiatric Inventory) (β = 0.25) provided the highest contributions to the model (adjusted R-squared 0.41; Durbin-Watson test = 1.865).[Conclusions] Global NMS burden demonstrates short-term progression in PD patients but not in controls and identifies worsening sleep problems and neuropsychiatric symptoms as significant independent predictors of this NMS progression.This research was funded by Fundación Española de Ayuda a la Investigación en Parkinson y otras Enfermedades Neuro-degenerativas (Curemos el Parkinson; www.curemoselparkinson.org).Peer reviewe

Predictors of clinically significant quality of life impairment in Parkinson’s disease

COPPADIS Study Group.Quality of life (QOL) plays an important role in independent living in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients, being crucial to know what factors impact QoL throughout the course of the disease. Here we identified predictors of QoL impairment in PD patients from a Spanish cohort. PD patients recruited from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort from January 2016, to November 2017, were followed up during 2 years. Health-related QoL (HRQoL) and global QoL (GQoL) were assessed with the 39-item Parkinson’s disease Questionnaire (PDQ-39) and the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-QOL8), respectively, at baseline (V0) and at 24 months ± 1 month (V2). Clinically significant QoL impairment was defined as presenting an increase (PDQ-39SI) or decrement (EUROHIS-QOL8) at V2 ≥ 10% of the score at baseline (V0). A comparison with a control group was conducted for GQoL. GQoL did not change significantly in PD patients (N = 507; p = 0.686) or in the control group (N = 119; p = 0.192). The mean PDQ-39SI was significantly increased in PD patients (62.7 ± 8.5 years old; 58.8% males; N = 500) by 21.6% (from 16.7 ± 13 to 20.3 ± 16.4; p < 0.0001) at V2. Ninety-three patients (18.6%) presented a clinically significant HRQoL impairment at V2. To be younger (OR = 0.896; 95% CI 0.829–0.968; p = 0.006), to be a female (OR = 4.181; 95% CI 1.422–12.290; p = 0.009), and to have a greater increase in BDI-II (Beck Depression Inventory-II) (OR = 1.139; 95% CI 1.053–1.231; p = 0.001) and NMSS (Non-Motor Symptoms Scale) (OR = 1.052; 95% CI 1.027–1.113; p < 0.0001) total scores from V0 to V2 were associated with clinically significant HRQoL impairment at the 2-year follow-up (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, p = 0.665; R 2 = 0.655). An increase in ≥5 and ≥10 points of BDI-II and NMSS total score at V2 multiplied the probability of presenting clinically significant HRQoL impairment by 5 (OR = 5.453; 95% CI 1.663–17.876; p = 0.005) and 8 (OR = 8.217; 95% CI, 2.975–22.696; p = 0.002), respectively. In conclusion, age, gender, mood, and non-motor impairment were associated with clinically significant HRQoL impairment after the 2-year follow-up in PD patients.Mir P. has received honoraria from AbbVie, Abbott, Allergan, Bial, Merz, UCB and Zambon and have received grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [PI16/01575] co-founded by ISCIII (Subdirección General de Evaluación y Fomento de la Investigación) and by Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER), the Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo de la Junta de Andalucía [CVI-02526, CTS-7685], the Consejería de Salud y Bienestar Social de la Junta de Andalucía [PI-0437-2012, PI-0471-2013], the Sociedad Andaluza de Neurología, the Jacques and Gloria Gossweiler Foundation, the Fundación Alicia Koplowitz, the Fundación Mutua Madrileña.Peer reviewe

Staging Parkinson’s Disease According to the MNCD (Motor/Non-motor/Cognition/Dependency) Classification Correlates with Disease Severity and Quality of Life

Background: Recently, a novel simple classification called MNCD, based on 4 axes (Motor; Non-motor; Cognition; Dependency) and 5 stages, has been proposed to classify Parkinson's disease (PD). Objective: Our aim was to apply the MNCD classification in a cohort of PD patients for the first time and also to analyze the correlation with quality of life (QoL) and disease severity. Methods: Data from the baseline visit of PD patients recruited from 35 centers in Spain from the COPPADIS cohort from January 2016 to November 2017 were used to apply the MNCD classification. Three instruments were used to assess QoL: 1) the 39-item Parkinson's disease Questionnaire [PDQ-39]); PQ-10; the EUROHIS-QOL 8-item index (EUROHIS-QOL8). Results: Four hundred and thirty-nine PD patients (62.05 +/- 7.84 years old; 59% males) were included. MNCD stage was: stage 1, 8.4% (N = 37); stage 2, 62% (N = 272); stage 3, 28.2% (N = 124); stage 4-5, 1.4% (N = 6). A more advanced MNCD stage was associated with a higher score on the PDQ39SI (p < 0.0001) and a lower score on the PQ-10 (p < 0.0001) and EUROHIS-QOL8 (p < 0.0001). In many other aspects of the disease, such as disease duration, levodopa equivalent daily dose, motor symptoms, non-motor symptoms, and autonomy for activities of daily living, an association between the stage and severity was observed, with data indicating a progressive worsening related to disease progression throughout the proposed stages. Conclusion: Staging PD according to the MNCD classification correlated with QoL and disease severity. The MNCD could be a proper tool to monitor the progression of PD

Non-motor symptom burden in patients with Parkinson's disease with impulse control disorders and compulsive behaviours : results from the COPPADIS cohort

The study was aimed at analysing the frequency of impulse control disorders (ICDs) and compulsive behaviours (CBs) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) and in control subjects (CS) as well as the relationship between ICDs/CBs and motor, nonmotor features and dopaminergic treatment in PD patients. Data came from COPPADIS-2015, an observational, descriptive, nationwide (Spain) study. We used the validated Questionnaire for Impulsive-Compulsive Disorders in Parkinson's Disease-Rating Scale (QUIP-RS) for ICD/CB screening. The association between demographic data and ICDs/CBs was analyzed in both groups. In PD, this relationship was evaluated using clinical features and treatment-related data. As result, 613 PD patients (mean age 62.47 ± 9.09 years, 59.87% men) and 179 CS (mean age 60.84 ± 8.33 years, 47.48% men) were included. ICDs and CBs were more frequent in PD (ICDs 12.7% vs. 1.6%, p < 0.001; CBs 7.18% vs. 1.67%, p = 0.01). PD patients had more frequent previous ICDs history, premorbid impulsive personality and antidepressant treatment (p < 0.05) compared with CS. In PD, patients with ICDs/CBs presented younger age at disease onset, more frequent history of previous ICDs and premorbid personality (p < 0.05), as well as higher comorbidity with nonmotor symptoms, including depression and poor quality of life. Treatment with dopamine agonists increased the risk of ICDs/CBs, being dose dependent (p < 0.05). As conclusions, ICDs and CBs were more frequent in patients with PD than in CS. More nonmotor symptoms were present in patients with PD who had ICDs/CBs compared with those without. Dopamine agonists have a prominent effect on ICDs/CBs, which could be influenced by dose

Predictors of Loss of Functional Independence in Parkinson’s Disease: Results from the COPPADIS Cohort at 2-Year Follow-Up and Comparison with a Control Group

COPPADIS Study Group.[Background and objective] The aim of this study was to compare the progression of independence in activities of daily living (ADL) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients versus a control group, as well as to identify predictors of disability progression and functional dependency (FD).[Patients and Methods] PD patients and control subjects, who were recruited from 35 centers of Spain from the COPPADIS cohort between January 2016 and November 2017 (V0), were included. Patients and subjects were then evaluated again at the 2-year follow-up (V2). Disability was assessed with the Schwab & England Activities of Daily Living Scale (S&E-ADLS) at V0 and V2. FD was defined as an S&E-ADLS score less than 80%.[Results] In the PD group, a significant decrease in the S&E-ADLS score from V0 to V2 (N = 507; from 88.58 ± 10.19 to 84.26 ± 13.38; p < 0.0001; Cohen’s effect size = −0.519) was observed but not in controls (N = 124; from 98.87 ± 6.52 to 99.52 ± 2.15; p = 0.238). When only patients considered functional independent at baseline were included, 55 out of 463 (11.9%) converted to functional dependent at V2. To be a female (OR = 2.908; p = 0.009), have longer disease duration (OR = 1.152; p = 0.002), have a non-tremoric motor phenotype at baseline (OR = 3.574; p = 0.004), have a higher score at baseline in FOGQ (OR = 1.244; p < 0.0001) and BDI-II (OR = 1.080; p = 0.008), have a lower score at baseline in PD-CRS (OR = 0.963; p = 0.008), and have a greater increase in the score from V0 to V2 in UPDRS-IV (OR = 1.168; p = 0.0.29), FOGQ (OR = 1.348; p < 0.0001) and VAFS-Mental (OR = 1.177; p = 0.013) (adjusted R-squared 0.52; Hosmer and Lemeshow test = 0.94) were all found to be independent predictors of FD at V2.[Conclusions] In conclusion, autonomy for ADL worsens in PD patients compared to controls. Cognitive impairment, gait problems, fatigue, depressive symptoms, more advanced disease, and a non-tremor phenotype are independent predictors of FD in the short-term.Fundación Curemos el Parkinson (www.curemoselparkinson.org).Peer reviewe