Seroprevalence study prior and post vaccination in cancer patients in principality of Andorra (COVONCO study).

BACKGROUND: COVID-19 serologic response in patients with cancer may be lower than in the general population and may be influenced by the type of tumor or anticancer treatment. This study aims to analyze serological response prior and after vaccination of COVID-19 within the oncological population in Andorra. We set out to identify risk factors for a higher or lower serological response. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Observational, unicentric, prospective cohort study of oncologic patients in Andorra. We calculated the seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 (May 2020-June 2021) and analyzed the main demographic, oncologic features and factors associated with being seropositive. RESULTS: A total of 373 patients were analyzed, mainly with solid tumours (n = 334, 89.5%). At baseline, seroprevalence was 13%, increasing during follow-up to 19%; lower seroprevalence was observed in patients with hematologic malignancies (2.6% vs 14.2%; p = 0.041) and patients receiving biological therapies (0% vs 15%, p = 0.005). In the overall seroprevalence analysis, women (23% vs 11.9%; p = 0.006) and tumour-free patients (p = 0.034) showed higher seroprevalence. The multivariable analysis showed that odds of being seropositive were higher among women (OR: 2.44, 95% CI 1.28-4.64), and patients who underwent surgery (OR: 3.35, 95% CI 1.10-10.20). About 80% of the cohort received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccination, showing a higher seroprevalence of patients who received ChAdOx1-S than those who received BNT162b2 (24.4% vs 6.4%: p = 0.001). CONCLUSION: The seroprevalence of antibodies against SARS-COV-2 in oncologic patients in Andorra was higher among females and patients who received hormonal therapy and surgery while patients with hematologic malignancies and biologic therapies showed lower seropositivity without finding differences in the type of tumour or anticancer treatment.

Using mobile phone data to estimate dynamic population changes and improve the understanding of a pandemic: A case study in Andorra.

Compartmental models are often used to understand and predict the progression of an infectious disease such as COVID-19. The most basic of these models consider the total population of a region to be closed. Many incorporate human mobility into their transmission dynamics, usually based on static and aggregated data. However, mobility can change dramatically during a global pandemic as seen with COVID-19, making static data unsuitable. Recently, large mobility datasets derived from mobile devices have been used, along with COVID-19 infections data, to better understand the relationship between mobility and COVID-19. However, studies to date have relied on data that represent only a fraction of their target populations, and the data from mobile devices have been used for measuring mobility within the study region, without considering changes to the population as people enter and leave the region. This work presents a unique case study in Andorra, with comprehensive datasets that include telecoms data covering 100% of mobile subscribers in the country, and results from a serology testing program that more than 90% of the population voluntarily participated in. We use the telecoms data to both measure mobility within the country and to provide a real-time census of people entering, leaving and remaining in the country. We develop multiple SEIR (compartmental) models parameterized on these metrics and show how dynamic population metrics can improve the models. We find that total daily trips did not have predictive value in the SEIR models while country entrances did. As a secondary contribution of this work, we show how Andorra's serology testing program was likely impacted by people leaving the country. Overall, this case study suggests how using mobile phone data to measure dynamic population changes could improve studies that rely on more commonly used mobility metrics and the overall understanding of a pandemic.

Mobility and COVID-19 in Andorra: Country-Scale Analysis of High-Resolution Mobility Patterns and Infection Spread.

Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, nonpharmaceutical interventions, such as mobility restrictions, have been globally adopted as critically important strategies to curb the spread of infection. However, such interventions come with immense social and economic costs and the relative effectiveness of different mobility restrictions are not well understood. Some recent works have used telecoms data sources that cover fractions of a population to understand behavioral changes and how these changes have impacted case growth. This study analyzed uniquely comprehensive datasets in order to examine the relationship between mobility and transmission of COVID-19 in the country of Andorra. The data consisted of spatio-temporal telecoms data for all mobile subscribers in the country, serology screening results for 91% of the population, and COVID-19 case reports. A comprehensive set of mobility metrics was developed using the telecoms data to indicate entrances to the country, contact with tourists, stay-at-home rates, trip-making and levels of crowding. Mobility metrics were compared to infection rates across communities and transmission rate over time. All metrics dropped sharply at the start of the country's lockdown and gradually rose again as the restrictions were gradually lifted. Several of these metrics were highly correlated with lagged transmission rate. There was a stronger correlation for measures of indoor crowding and inter-community trip-making, and a weaker correlation for total trips (including intra-community trips) and stay-at-homes rates. These findings provide support for policies which aim to discourage gathering indoors while lifting the most restrictive mobility limitations.

Outcomes After Vascular Surgery Procedures in Patients with COVID-19 Infection: A National Multicenter Cohort Study (COVID-VAS).

OBJECTIVES: To analyze the outcome of vascular procedures performed in patients with COVID-19 infection during the 2020 pandemic. METHODS: This is a multicenter, prospective observational cohort study. We analyzed data from 75 patients with COVID-19 infection undergoing vascular surgery procedures in 17 hospitals across Spain and Andorra between March and May 2020. The primary end point was 30-day mortality. Clinical Trials registry number NCT04333693. RESULTS: The mean age was 70.9 (45-94) and 58 (77.0%) patients were male. Around 70.7% had postoperative complications, 36.0% of patients experienced respiratory failure, 22.7% acute renal failure, and 22.7% acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). All-cause 30-days mortality rate was 37.3%. Multivariate analysis identified age >65 years (P = 0.009), American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) classification IV (P = 0.004), preoperative lymphocyte count <0.6 (×109/L) (P = 0.001) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) >500 (UI/L) (P = 0.004), need for invasive ventilation (P = 0.043), postoperative acute renal failure (P = 0.001), ARDS (P = 0.003) and major amputation (P = 0.009) as independent variables associated with mortality. Preoperative coma (P = 0.001), quick Sepsis Related Organ Failure Assessment (qSOFA) score ≥2 (P = 0.043), lymphocytes <0.6 (×109/L) (P = 0.019) leucocytes >11.5 (×109/L) (P = 0.007) and serum ferritin >1800 mg/dL (P = 0.004), bilateral lung infiltrates on thorax computed tomography (P = 0.025), and postoperative acute renal failure (P = 0.009) increased the risk of postoperative ARDS. qSOFA score ≥2 was the only risk factor associated with postoperative sepsis (P = 0.041). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with COVID-19 infection undergoing vascular surgery procedures showed poor 30-days survival. Age >65 years, preoperative lymphocytes <0.6 (x109/L) and LDH >500 (UI/L), and postoperative acute renal failure, ARDS and need for major amputation were identified as prognostic factors of 30-days mortality.

Patient characteristics, clinical course and factors associated to ICU mortality in critically ill patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 in Spain: A prospective, cohort, multicentre study. / Características, evolución clínica y factores asociados a la mortalidad en UCI de los pacientes críticos infectados por SARS-CoV-2 en España: estudio prospectivo, de cohorte y multicéntrico.

BACKGROUND: The clinical course of COVID-19 critically ill patients, during their admission in the intensive care unit (UCI), including medical and infectious complications and support therapies, as well as their association with in-ICU mortality has not been fully reported. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to describe clinical characteristics and clinical course of ICU COVID-19 patients, and to determine risk factors for ICU mortality of COVID-19 patients. METHODS: Prospective, multicentre, cohort study that enrolled critically ill COVID-19 patients admitted into 30 ICUs from Spain and Andorra. Consecutive patients from March 12th to May 26th, 2020 were enrolled if they had died or were discharged from ICU during the study period. Demographics, symptoms, vital signs, laboratory markers, supportive therapies, pharmacological treatments, medical and infectious complications were reported and compared between deceased and discharged patients. RESULTS: A total of 663 patients were included. Overall ICU mortality was 31% (203 patients). At ICU admission non-survivors were more hypoxemic [SpO2 with non-rebreather mask, 90 (IQR 83 to 93) vs. 91 (IQR 87 to 94); P<.001] and with higher sequential organ failure assessment score [SOFA, 7 (IQR 5 to 9) vs. 4 (IQR 3 to 7); P<.001]. Complications were more frequent in non-survivors: acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) (95% vs. 89%; P=.009), acute kidney injury (AKI) (58% vs. 24%; P<10-16), shock (42% vs. 14%; P<10-13), and arrhythmias (24% vs. 11%; P<10-4). Respiratory super-infection, bloodstream infection and septic shock were higher in non-survivors (33% vs. 25%; P=.03, 33% vs. 23%; P=.01 and 15% vs. 3%, P=10-7), respectively. The multivariable regression model showed that age was associated with mortality, with every year increasing risk-of-death by 1% (95%CI: 1 to 10, P=.014). Each 5-point increase in APACHE II independently predicted mortality [OR: 1.508 (1.081, 2.104), P=.015]. Patients with AKI [OR: 2.468 (1.628, 3.741), P<10-4)], cardiac arrest [OR: 11.099 (3.389, 36.353), P=.0001], and septic shock [OR: 3.224 (1.486, 6.994), P=.002] had an increased risk-of-death. CONCLUSIONS: Older COVID-19 patients with higher APACHE II scores on admission, those who developed AKI grades ii or iii and/or septic shock during ICU stay had an increased risk-of-death. ICU mortality was 31%.

What is the protective role of perceived social support and religiosity in suicidal ideation in young adults?

Suicide is more effectively prevented when its first manifestations are detected. The first warning sign may be suicidal ideation, so identifying these thoughts and the factors that protect against them is essential if solutions are to be found to this social problem. The purpose of this study, then, is to determine the role of religiosity, perceived social support, and depressive symptomatology in the suicidal ideation of young people. We administered the following questionnaires to a sample of 409 subjects (60.64% women) between 18 and 29 years old: Brief Scale of Religiosity, Beck Depression Inventory, Scale for Suicide Ideation, and Functional Social Support Questionnaire (which includes the subscales Confidential social support and Affective social support). Participants were resident in Spain (84.60%) or Andorra (15.41%). The results show significant correlations between suicidal ideation and the two factors of perceived social support (confidential social support and affective social support). These relationships were still significant after controlling for depressive symptomatology. However, religiosity was not correlated with suicidal ideation. Therefore, the results suggest that perceived social support is a protection factor against suicidal ideas in young men and women. In fact, people who experience suicidal ideation tend to have a greater sense of dissatisfaction in relation to the social support received by such social groups as family and friends. On the other hand, the data of the present investigation suggest that religiosity has an indirect relationship with suicidal ideation in young Spanish and Andorran community populations, through its relationship with social support.

Protective effects of tenuifolin isolated from Polygala tenuifolia Willd roots on neuronal apoptosis and learning and memory deficits in mice with Alzheimer's disease.

The roots of Polygala tenuifolia Willd have a long history of being used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of insomnia, forgetfulness, sorrow and depression. Tenuifolin (TEN) has been isolated from Polygala tenuifolia Willd roots, and this study was carried out to investigate the potential beneficial effects of TEN on neuronal apoptosis and memory deficits in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease (AD). TEN treatment reversed spatial learning and memory deficits, as well as neuronal apoptosis in hippocampal areas, in APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice. TEN treatment protected against Aß25-35-induced apoptosis, loss of mitochondria-membrane potential, and activation of caspases-3 and -9 in SH-SY5Y cells. TEN has potential benefit in treating learning and memory deficits in APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice, and its effects may be associated with reversing AD pathology-induced neuronal apoptosis. These insights pave the way for further analysis of the potential of TEN as an AD therapeutic agent.

Experimental infection with high- and low-virulence strains of border disease virus (BDV) in Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra p. pyrenaica) sheds light on the epidemiological diversity of the disease.

Since 2001, Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) populations have been affected by border disease virus (BDV) causing mortalities of more than 80% in some areas. Field studies carried out in France, Andorra, and Spain have shown different epidemiological scenarios in chamois populations. This study was designed to confirm the presence of BDV strains of a high and low virulence in free-ranging chamois populations from Pyrenees and to understand the implications of these findings to the diverse epidemiological scenarios. An experimental infection of Pyrenean chamois with a high-virulence (Cadí-6) and low-virulence (Freser-5) BDV strains was performed. Pregnant and non-pregnant animals with and without antibodies against BDV were included in each group. Cadí-6 BDV strain was confirmed to be of high virulence for seronegative adults and their foetuses. The antibody negative chamois infected with Freser-5 BDV strain did not show symptoms, presented less viral distribution and RNA load in tissues than Cadí-6 group, and cleared the virus from the serum. However, foetuses died before the end of the experiment and RNA virus was detected in sera and tissues although with lower RNA load than the Cadí-6 group. Chamois from both groups presented lesions in brain but the ones infected with the low-virulence Freser-5 BDV strain were mild and most likely transient. In both groups, seropositive pregnant females and all but one of their foetuses did not present viraemia or viral RNA in tissues. The existence of a low-virulence strain has been confirmed experimentally and related to chamois population infection dynamics in the area where it was isolated. Such strain may persist in the chamois population through PI animals and may induce cross-protection in chamois against high-virulence strains. This study demonstrates that viral strain diversity is a significant factor in the heterogeneity of epidemiological scenarios in Pyrenean chamois populations.

[The design of a population register on cerebral palsy: its application and analysis in Andorra and Navarre]. / Diseño de un registro de paralisis cerebral de ambito poblacional: aplicacion y analisis en Andorra y Navarra.

INTRODUCTION: Cerebral palsy describes a group of developmental and posture disorders, which cause a limitation of activity due to non-progressive damage occurring in the developing brain. A population register facilitates the identification of cerebral palsy cases within a specific geographic population. Its usefulness is recognized in the world literature but in Spain, published databases focus on the treatment or complications of cerebral palsy. AIMS: To propose a population register that can be useful in different areas of our environment and to evaluate its validity through its application in two differentiated and geographically delimited health areas. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The registry consists of 124 items divided into seven sections: data on the child filiations, maternal history and parents' information, pregnancy and neonatal period data, diagnoses and classification, neuroimaging tests, therapeutic interventions and others. Patients attended in external consultations in Navarre and Andorra were included. RESULTS: In the register, 53 patients (52.8% females) were evaluated. 56.5% were premature. Spastic cerebral palsy is the most frequent presentation. 42% have associated epilepsy. CONCLUSIONS: The use of population registers allows a better knowledge of cerebral palsy as well as the evaluation and development of prevention strategies and optimization of care resources with objective data. It is necessary to generalize the use of this type of records in our environment.

TITLE: Diseño de un registro de paralisis cerebral de ambito poblacional: aplicacion y analisis en Andorra y Navarra.Introduccion. La paralisis cerebral describe un grupo de trastornos del desarrollo y la postura que causan una limitacion de la actividad debido a alteraciones no progresivas ocurridas en el cerebro en desarrollo. El registro poblacional facilita la identificacion de los casos de paralisis cerebral dentro de una poblacion geografica especifica. Esta reconocida su utilidad en la bibliografia, pero en España, las bases de datos publicadas se centran en el tratamiento o las complicaciones de la paralisis cerebral. Objetivos. Proponer un registro poblacional que pueda ser util en diferentes areas de nuestro entorno y evaluar su validez mediante su aplicacion en dos areas de salud diferenciadas y geograficamente delimitadas. Sujetos y metodos. El registro elaborado constaba de 124 items divididos en siete apartados: datos de filiacion del niño, historia materna e informacion de los padres, datos del embarazo y periodo neonatal, diagnosticos y clasificacion, pruebas de neuroimagen, intervenciones terapeuticas y otros. Se incluyo a los pacientes atendidos en consultas externas en Navarra y Andorra. Resultados. En el registro se evaluo a 53 pacientes (52,8% mujeres). El 56,5% fueron prematuros. La paralisis cerebral espastica es la presentacion mas frecuente. Un 42% asociaba epilepsia. Conclusiones. El uso de registros poblacionales permite un mejor conocimiento de la paralisis cerebral, asi como la evaluacion y el desarrollo de estrategias de prevencion y optimizacion de los recursos asistenciales con datos objetivos. Es necesaria la generalizacion del uso de este tipo de registros en nuestro entorno.

A checklist of the Syrphidae (Diptera) of Spain, Andorra and Gibraltar.

Hoverflies are relevant to pollination, predation, phytophagy and decomposition processes and they are also used as bioindicators. The numerous recent advances in the study of Spanish hoverflies and the absence of species lists for the Spanish provinces prompted us to update the national catalogue and fill in the gap at the provincial level. Andorra and Gibraltar are also included in this review. A total of 421 species of 72 genera are included in the present catalogue (417 species in Spain; 86 in Andorra; 43 in Gibraltar). León (182 spp), Salamanca (143 spp), Madrid (134 spp), Ciudad Real (124 spp) and Huesca (121 spp) are the Spanish provinces with the highest numbers of species recorded. The Balearic Islands have 81 species and the Canary Islands 41, with one and 11 endemic species respectively. The richest hoverfly genera in Spain are Cheilosia (56 spp), Merodon (40 spp plus 1 sp from Gibraltar) and Eumerus (38 spp plus 1 sp from Gibraltar), all of them being Eristalinae; within the Syrphinae, Paragus is the richest genus (18 spp). The possibility of elaborating regional (provincial) species lists from the information provided in the present study also contributes to 'Syrph the Net, the database of European Syrphidae' as a tool for assessment of habitat conservation in Spain.

Modelization of the Current and Future Habitat Suitability of Rhododendron ferrugineum Using Potential Snow Accumulation.

Mountain areas are particularly sensitive to climate change. Species distribution models predict important extinctions in these areas whose magnitude will depend on a number of different factors. Here we examine the possible impact of climate change on the Rhododendron ferrugineum (alpenrose) niche in Andorra (Pyrenees). This species currently occupies 14.6 km2 of this country and relies on the protection afforded by snow cover in winter. We used high-resolution climatic data, potential snow accumulation and a combined forecasting method to obtain the realized niche model of this species. Subsequently, we used data from the high-resolution Scampei project climate change projection for the A2, A1B and B1 scenarios to model its future realized niche model. The modelization performed well when predicting the species's distribution, which improved when we considered the potential snow accumulation, the most important variable influencing its distribution. We thus obtained a potential extent of about 70.7 km(2) or 15.1% of the country. We observed an elevation lag distribution between the current and potential distribution of the species, probably due to its slow colonization rate and the small-scale survey of seedlings. Under the three climatic scenarios, the realized niche model of the species will be reduced by 37.9-70.1 km(2) by the end of the century and it will become confined to what are today screes and rocky hillside habitats. The particular effects of climate change on seedling establishment, as well as on the species' plasticity and sensitivity in the event of a reduction of the snow cover, could worsen these predictions.

Aerobic exercise for Parkinson's disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

BACKGROUND: Although some trials assessed the effectiveness of aerobic exercise for Parkinson's disease (PD), the role of aerobic exercise in the management of PD remained controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this systematic review is to evaluate the evidence about whether aerobic exercise is effective for PD. METHODS: Seven electronic databases, up to December 2013, were searched to identify relevant studies. Two reviewers independently extracted data and assessed methodological quality based on PEDro scale. Standardised mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) of random-effects model were calculated. And heterogeneity was assessed based on the I2 statistic. RESULTS: 18 randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with 901 patients were eligible. The aggregated results suggested that aerobic exercise should show superior effects in improving motor actions (SMD, -0.57; 95% CI -0.94 to -0.19; p = 0.003), balance (SMD, 2.02; 95% CI 0.45 to 3.59; p = 0.01), and gait (SMD, 0.33; 95% CI 0.17 to 0.49; p<0.0001) in patients with PD, but not in quality of life (SMD, 0.11; 95% CI -0.23 to 0.46; p = 0.52). And there was no valid evidence on follow-up effects of aerobic exercise for PD. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercise showed immediate beneficial effects in improving motor action, balance, and gait in patients with PD. However, given no evidence on follow-up effects, large-scale RCTs with long follow-up are warrant to confirm the current findings.

Molecular polymorphism of the ABO blood group: a study in Poland, Spain, and Andorra.

OBJECTIVES: The main goal of this study is to increase knowledge on the molecular level of the ABO blood group system in Europe by providing data for Poland, Spain, and Andorra populations. METHODS: A total of 172 oral scrapings samples from individuals of Polish origin, 108 peripheral blood samples of autochthonous individuals from the province of Zamora (Spain), and 81 peripheral blood samples from individuals with Andorran origin, were analyzed. Molecular characterization of the allelic variants was performed by the analysis of exons 6 and 7 of the ABO gene. RESULTS: Seven common alleles were identified, namely: A101, A102, A201, B101, O01, O02, and O03. Less common variants (O05, O09, O21, O26, O06, O11, and O12), were also detected. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained contribute to the knowledge of the molecular European ABO map, and are discussed in regard to the allelic frequency reported by other Caucasian and Asian populations.

Clinical presentation of acute coronary syndrome in patients previously treated with nitrates.

AIMS: Several reports have suggested that nitrates limit acute ischaemic damage by a mechanism similar to preconditioning. This study aims to evaluate the effect of chronic oral nitrates on the clinical presentation and short-term outcomes of patients admitted with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in patients with ACS admitted to 62 acute care units from 2010 to 2011. A propensity score-matched samples analysis was performed. RESULTS: We analysed 3171 consecutive patients, of whom 298 (9.4%) were chronically treated with nitrates. Patients previously treated with nitrates had higher comorbidity and disease severity at admission, lower prevalence of ACS with ST elevation, lower troponin elevation, higher prevalence of initial Killip class 2-4 and higher hospital mortality. The propensity score-matched analysis confirmed that previous use of nitrates is independently associated with a lower prevalence of ST-elevation ACS [odds ratio (OR) 0.53, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.36-0.78; P = 0.0014] and a lower troponin elevation (OR 0.61, 95% CI 0.41-0.92) but not with Killip class on admission (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.83-1.67, P = 0.3697) or mortality (OR 0.71, 95% CI 0.37-1.38, P = 0.3196). CONCLUSION: The results support the hypothesis that nitrates have a protective effect on acute ischaemic injury.

Surveillance of border disease in wild ungulates and an outbreak in Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) in Andorra.

The Principality of Andorra is surrounded by areas in which Pyrenean chamois (Rupicapra pyrenaica pyrenaica) populations were severely affected by infection with border disease virus (BDV) which caused disease outbreaks between 2001 and 2009. Nevertheless, the Andorran chamois populations were not affected during this period. In light of the severe impact of BDV on several of the neighboring Pyrenean chamois populations, we monitored local Andorran populations in an effort to detect pestivirus antibodies and BDV in wild ungulates. In addition, an episode of mortality between 2009 and 2010 in chamois was investigated. We analyzed samples (spleen or serum) from 175 Pyrenean chamois, 284 European mouflon (Ovis orientalis musimon), 13 roe deer (Capreolus capreolus capreolus), and five wild boars (Sus scrofa castilianus). With the exception of three dead chamois found between 2009 and 2010, all samples came from healthy animals hunted during the hunting season. A commercial blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to test sera for antibodies against pestivirus. Positive sera were tested with a comparative virus neutralization test (VNT) using three BDV strains and a bovine viral diarrhea virus strain. Reverse-transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was performed on all sera and spleen homogenates. Antibodies against pestivirus were detected by ELISA in four of the 69 chamois (5%; 95% CI= 1.29-13.11). The VNT confirmed three of these chamois were infected with a BDV. Viral RNA was detected by RT-PCR in three chamois-one apparently healthy animal hunted in 2009 and two dead animals. Viral sequences showed that the three chamois were infected with a BDV-4, the same genotype that was involved in previous episodes of mortality in the Pyrenees. Although Pyrenean chamois from Andorra had had little contact with the pestiviruses until 2009, in this year BDV was associated with a severe disease outbreak.

Modeling rare species distribution at the edge: the case for the vulnerable endemic Pyrenean desman in France.

The endemic Pyrenean Desman (Galemys pyrenaicus) is an elusive, rare, and vulnerable species declining over its entire and narrow range (Spain, Portugal, France, and Andorra). The principal set of conservation measures in France is a 5-years National Action Plan based on 25 conservation actions. Priority is given to update its present distribution and develop tools for predictive distribution models. We aim at building the first species distribution model and map for the northern edge of the range of the Desman and confronting the outputs of the model to target conservation efforts in the context of environmental change. Contrasting to former comparable studies, we derive a simpler model emphasizing the importance of factors linked to precipitation and not to the temperature. If temperature is one of the climate change key factors, depicted shrinkage in Desman distribution could be lower or null at the northern (French) edge suggesting thus a major role for this northern population in terms of conservation of the species. Finally, we question the applied issue of temporal and spatial transferability for such environmental favourability models when it is made at the edge of the distribution range.

Distribution of phlebotomine sand flies (Diptera: Psychodidae) in Andorra: first finding of P. perniciosus and wide distribution of P. ariasi.

During July 2007 sand fly captures were carried out in Andorra using sticky castor oil traps set in sand fly resting places for four consecutive nights. The sampling stations were located between 800 and 2400 m above sea level. The specimens captured belong to two species of the genus Phlebotomus subgenus Larroussius, Phlebotomus ariasi and Phlebotomus perniciosus. The results shed new light on the wide geographical and altitudinal distribution of P. ariasi in Andorra, where it was located between 800 and 2200 m a.s.l. The study also identified P. perniciosus in Andorra for the first time, with captures below 1000 m a.s.l. The finding of these species, both proven vectors of human and canine leishmaniasis in the bordering areas of France and Spain, is considered in terms of a possible emergence of leishmaniasis in Andorra, as has occurred in other parts of Europe.

Impact of the Spanish smoking law on exposure to second-hand smoke and respiratory health in hospitality workers: a cohort study.

BACKGROUND: A smoke-free law came into effect in Spain on 1st January 2006, affecting all enclosed workplaces except hospitality venues, whose proprietors can choose among totally a smoke-free policy, a partial restriction with designated smoking areas, or no restriction on smoking on the premises. We aimed to evaluate the impact of the law among hospitality workers by assessing second-hand smoke (SHS) exposure and the frequency of respiratory symptoms before and one year after the ban. METHODS AND FINDING: We formed a baseline cohort of 431 hospitality workers in Spain and 45 workers in Portugal and Andorra. Of them, 318 (66.8%) were successfully followed up 12 months after the ban, and 137 nonsmokers were included in this analysis. We obtained self-reported exposure to SHS and the presence of respiratory symptoms, and collected saliva samples for cotinine measurement. Salivary cotinine decreased by 55.6% after the ban among nonsmoker workers in venues where smoking was totally prohibited (from median of 1.6 ng/ml before to 0.5 ng/ml, p<0.01). Cotinine concentration decreased by 27.6% (p = 0.068) among workers in venues with designated smoking areas, and by 10.7% (p = 0.475) among workers in venues where smoking was allowed. In Portugal and Andorra, no differences between cotinine concentration were found before (1.2 ng/ml) and after the ban (1.2 ng/ml). In Spain, reported respiratory symptom declined significantly (by 71.9%; p<0.05) among workers in venues that became smoke-free. After adjustment for potential confounders, salivary cotinine and respiratory symptoms decreased significantly among workers in Spanish hospitality venues where smoking was totally banned. CONCLUSIONS: Among nonsmoker hospitality workers in bars and restaurants where smoking was allowed, exposure to SHS after the ban remained similar to pre-law levels. The partial restrictions on smoking in Spanish hospitality venues do not sufficiently protect hospitality workers against SHS or its consequences for respiratory health.

Ecological and cultural pressure on marriage seasonality in the Principality of Andorra.

The Principality of Andorra is a small European state located in the central Pyrenees. Since the Middle Ages, it has retained political independence from its two neighbouring countries, France and Spain. Until recently, Andorra maintained a relative stable population and was dependent upon agriculture and livestock. Since 1940, however, a marked change in these conditions has given rise to an explosive increase in the size of the population and traditional systems of production have been replaced by tourism, commerce and service industries. These changes have influenced the model of nuptial seasonality. Based on data from 10,188 marriage certificates covering a period from 1606 to 1960, nuptial seasonality was assessed by estimating Henry's seasonality coefficient. Temporal and geographic changes in the seasonality model were assessed using linear regression analysis and analysis of variance. In addition, the Uh index--an estimate of the intensity of the seasonality model--is proposed to assess changes in the different seasonality models. The results indicate a relaxation of seasonality over time and in those parishes in which substantial demographic and socioeconomic change has occurred in recent years, suggesting a strong dependence of seasonality on the system of production.