Why despite the lower prevalence, is asthma more severe in the semiarid region?

Introduction and objectives: Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease which is very prevalent throughout the world, and climatic factors, especially air humidity, have been considered fundamental to its development. This study aims to evaluate the relationship between the climate factor and the severity of asthma episodes in the semiarid region, comparing it to the coast and an intermediate climate region, considering the use of medication as an intervening factor. Materials and methods: Ecological study in cities with different climatic conditions (semiarid, intermediate region and Coast). Prevailing data was obtained from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) protocol. We evaluated the temperature, humidity and use of drugs for asthma/100,000 inhabitants. Results: The prevalence of asthma was lower in the semiarid (14%; 95% CI = 12.1-15.7) than the intermediate region (19.1%; 95% CI = 17.7-20.6) and coast (17.9%; 95% CI = 16.6-19.2). Episodes of severe asthma attacks were surprisingly higher in semiarid (10.4%; 95% CI=8.9-11.9) when compared to coast (4.1%; 95% CI = 3.4-4.9) and intermediate region (5.0%; 95% CI = 4.3-5.8). In the semiarid region, the humidity was lower and the temperature higher than the other cities evaluated. The dispensing of medications was lower in the semiarid region. Conclusions: Temperature and humidity may have contributed to a lower prevalence and greater severity of asthma in the semiarid region. The dispensing of medications was lower in the semiarid region, indicating that access to both relief and control drugs was lower in this city. The possibility of lack of health care in the semiarid region can also be another explanatory factor associated

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Comparative analysis of the microbial communities inhabiting halite evaporites of the Atacama Desert

Molecular biology and microscopy techniques were used to characterize the microbial communities inside halite evaporites from different parts of the Atacama Desert. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analysis revealed that the evaporite rocks harbor communities predominantly made up of cyanobacteria, along with heterotrophic bacteria and archaea. Different DGGE profiles were obtained for the different sites, with the exception of the cyanobacterial profile, in which only one phylotype was detected across the three sites examined. Chroococcidiopsis-like cells were the only cyanobacterial components of the rock samples, although the phylogenetic study revealed their closer genetic affinity to Halothece genera. Gene sequences of the heterotrophic bacteria and archaea indicated their proximity to microorganisms found in other hypersaline environments. Microorganisms colonizing these halites formed microbial aggregates in the pore spaces between halite crystals, where microbial interactions occur. In this exceptional, salty, porous halite rock habitat, microbial consortia with a community structure probably conditioned by the environmental conditions occupy special microhabitats with physical and chemical properties that promote their survival (AU)

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Primer registro de Montagnea arenaria (D. C.) Zeller (Agaricales) en Chile / First report of Montagnea arenaria (D. C.) Zeller (Agaricales) in Chile

Montagnea arenaria (D. C.) Zeller (Agaricales), un interesante basidiomiceto adaptado a ambientes áridos, se registra por primera vez en Chile, recolectado desde suelo arenoso en la zona norte del país. Se describe su cuerpo fructífero maduro junto a comentarios taxonómicos y ecológicos de interés(AU)

Montagnea arenaria (D.C.) Zeller (Agaricales), an interesting basidiomycete adapted to arid environments is recorded for the first time from a sample collected on sandy soil in the northern zone of Chile. Its mature fruiting body is described. Taxonomic and ecological comments are also addressed(AU)