Ports and their influence on local air pollution and public health: A global analysis.

Despite the skyrocketing growth in recent decades of environmental studies on ports and shipping, their local health impacts remain largely under-researched. This article tackles this gap in research by statistically analyzing data on global shipping flows across nearly 5000 ports in 35 OECD countries between 2001 and 2018. The different traffic types, from containers to bulk and passengers, are analyzed jointly with data on natural conditions, air pollution, socio-economic indicators, and public health. The principal results show that port regions pollute more than non-port regions on average, while health impacts vary according to the size and specialization of the port region. Three types of port regions are clearly differentiated: industrial, intermediate, and metropolitan port regions.

Author Correction: A pre-Inca pot from underwater ruins discovered in an Andean lake provides a sedimentary record of marked hydrological change.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

A pre-Inca pot from underwater ruins discovered in an Andean lake provides a sedimentary record of marked hydrological change.

Pre-Hispanic artifacts and sacred architecture were recently discovered submerged in a large lake (Laguna Sibinacocha) in the Peruvian Andes. The underwater ruins indicate a dramatic shift in the region's hydrology but the timing and triggers of this shift remain unknown. In a novel approach blending archaeology and paleoecology, we analyzed a sediment sequence from within one of the recovered artifacts, specifically a pot from the Late Intermediate Period (~1000-1400 CE). Radioisotopic dating of discrete sediment intervals sampled from the pot show a stratigraphically intact profile that preserves a history of change at this site. The pot's basal sediment age places the timing of lake-level rise at ~1600 CE, which post-dates the end of the Inca Empire (1400-1532 CE) by several decades. The ubiquity of planktonic algae throughout the sediment profile suggests water levels remained high above the pot since its submergence. Paleoclimate data from the nearby Quelccaya ice core records indicate lake flooding followed a pronounced wet period beginning ~1520 CE. These data show the permanence of mean state changes in climate on the region's hydrology, with clear implications for the study site (an important water resource for ~500,000 people) and other lakes in the rapidly warming Andes.

Fluticasone in mild to moderate atopic dermatitis relapse: A randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND: The long-term efficacy of corticosteroids to prevent atopic dermatitis (AD) relapses has partially been addressed in children. This study compared an intermittent dosing regimen of fluticasone propionate (FP) cream 0.05% with its vehicle base in reducing the risk of relapse in children with stabilized AD. METHODS: A randomized controlled, multicentric, double-blind trial was conducted. Children (2-10 years) with mild/moderate AD (exclusion criteria: >30% affected body surface area and/or head) were enrolled into an Open-label Stabilization Phase (OSP) of up to 2 weeks on twice daily FP. Those who achieved treatment success entered the Double-blind Maintenance Phase (DMP). They were randomly allocated to receive FP or vehicle twice-weekly on consecutive days for 16 weeks. The primary study endpoint was relapse rate; time to relapse and severity of disease were also studied. Kaplan-Meier estimates were calculated. RESULTS: Fifty-four patients (29 girls) entered the OSP (23 mild AD) and 49 (26 girls) continued into the DMP. Mean age was 5.5 (SD: 2.8) and 5.1 (SD: 2.3) yrs for FP and vehicle groups, respectively. Four patients withdrew from the DMP (two in every group). Patients treated with FP twice weekly had a 2.7 fold lower risk of experiencing a relapse than patients treated with vehicle (relative risk 2.72, SD: 1.28; p=0.034). FP was also superior to vehicle for delaying time to relapse. Both treatment therapies were well tolerated. CONCLUSION: This long-term study shows that twice weekly FP provides an effective maintenance treatment to control the risk of relapse in children with AD.

[Growth charts: Impact on the prevalence of nutritional disorders]. / Tablas de crecimiento: impacto sobre la prevalencia de los trastornos nutritivos.

INTRODUCTION: The references used to assess child growth in Spain are the graphs of the Orbegozo Foundation and the charts of the World Health Organization (WHO). The objective of this study is to analyze the differences between the two charts for weight, height and body mass index, and assess their relevance to identify growth or nutritional problems. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The values of the extreme percentiles of height, weight and body mass index for each sex from 0 to 10 years in both charts are compared. For each value Absolute differences and Z scores are calculated for each value. To evaluate the impact on the prevalence of the various nutritional or growth disorders the location of the value of the respective percentiles of in each of the charts were assessed. RESULTS: Significant differences were observed between the 3th percentile of height and weight, 97th of weight, and 85th and 97th of body mass index. Marked differences were observed for the extreme values of body mass index. During the first years, the Orbegozo charts overestimate the prevalence of malnutrition (between 2% and 19% depending on age and sex) compared to the WHO charts. In subsequent ages Orbegozo underestimates WHO between 0.7% and 2.89%. Orbegozo underestimates the prevalence of overweight (between 2.5% and 14.8%) compared to the WHO charts. The 97th percentile of Body mass index in the Orbegozo charts corresponds in most cases with WHO percentiles above 99.99%. CONCLUSION: The two charts analyzed have significant differences from a clinical and the public health point of view, in the estimation of overweight/obesity and malnutrition.

[Sub-acute encephalopathy that responds to steroids without any evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease: a case of non-vasculitic autoimmune meningoencephalitis]. / Encefalopatía subaguda con respuesta a esteroides sin evidencia de enfermedad autoinmune tiroidea: un caso de meningoencefalitis autoinmune no vasculítica.

AIM: To report a case of sub-acute encephalopathy with all the extension study negative and with response to steroid therapy. CASE REPORT: The study involves a 22-year-old female with no relevant past history who presented symptoms of sub-acute encephalopathy consisting in behavioural disorders, generalised seizures and bradypsychia, which gradually progressed to a state of low-level consciousness. While she was in hospital all kinds of diagnostic tests were conducted, the results of which were either normal or negative; the electroencephalogram was repeatedly abnormal and detection of protein 14-3-3 in cerebrospinal fluid was positive. Empirical corticoid therapy was begun with clinical and electrophysiological improvements and the patient recovered completely without any sequelae. CONCLUSIONS: With no evidence of autoimmune thyroid disease, although non-specific autoimmunity was present, the patient was diagnosed as having non-vasculitic autoimmune meningoencephalitis.

[An analysis of the relationship between morbidity and the level of demand for pediatric primary care. A study on 1359 children]. / Análisis de la relación entre morbilidad y nivel de demanda en Atención Primaria pediátrica. Un estudio sobre 1.359 niños.

OBJECTIVE: To analyse the relationship morbidity and utilization in the context of paediatric primary health care. To verify if the morbidity of children who most use primary care qualitatively different from the rest of the population. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Prospective study of the utilization and morbidity over one year in two offices paediatric in a Health Center. Reasons for consulting were grouped into generic types of morbidity, analysing the different types of morbidity of each patient in relation to their level of use. RESULTS: Acute problems were the main reason behind demand. 85% of high users as opposed to 12% of low users showed recurrent morbidity and 23% as opposed to 7% showed chronic medical morbidity. 1.5% of high users as opposed to 47% of low users presented acute morbidity. Recurrent morbidity was associated with greater use due to acute morbidity and non-specific signs or symptoms. The child who only presented with acute type problems in the first half-year was less likely (relative risk: 0.57, IC 95%, 0.43-0.67) to be a high user in the second half. CONCLUSIONS: Children with high level of use group together and chronic medical morbidity whereas those with low level of demand more often present exclusively acute problems. The most part of visitor is caused by acute problems which patients who most consult present to a greater extent than the rest. Recurrent morbidity conditions greater demand due to acute and non-specific problems which are not necessarily associated from the biological point of view with the underlying illness.

[Iga and IgG antireticuline in celiac disease. Their application as diagnostic markers of the disease]. / Estudio de la reactividad IgA e IgG antirreticulina en la enfermedad celíaca. Su aplicación como marcador diagnóstico de la enfermedad.

We report the results of indirect immunofluorescent (IFI) detection of IgA and IgG antireticulin antibodies (IgA-ARA and IgG-ARA, respectively) in 283 serum samples from pediatric patients with coeliac disease (with and without gluten containing diets), patients with non-coeliac gastrointestinal disease, patients without gastrointestinal disease (control group) and patients with an increased risk for coeliac disease (diabetes mellitus, dermatitis herpetiformis or first grade relatives of coeliac patients). Our results indicate that IgA-ARA is a reproducible marker, with high positive (99-100%) and negative (100%) prediction values, when it is applied to children who have been on gluten containing diets for a long time (more than six months). The IgA-ARA measurement is not applicable in cases of selective IgA deficiency. Although IgG-ARA has a high predictive positive value, its low predictive negative value makes it a poor diagnostic tool. In the risk groups, our results suggest that these antibodies are useful in patient selection for intestinal biopsy.

[The role of IgA and IgA antigliadin antibodies in the diagnosis and management of celiac disease]. / Importancia de los anticuerpos antigliadina de tipo IgA e IgG en el diagnóstico y seguimiento de la E. celíaca.

The authors reports the results of ELISA IgG and IgA antigliadin antibodies measurements in a study of 271 serum samples proceeding from celiac patients (with and without gluten containing diet) and control subjects. IgA antigliadin antibody measurement had the most specificity and positive predictive value, IgG antigliadin antibody measurement had the most sensitivity and negative predictive value. Our results point out that antigliadin antibodies are helpful in the diagnosis and management of celiac disease. Un the same manner, antigliadin antibodies are helpful to evaluate the adherence of patients to gluten-free diet.

[Anti-endomysium antibodies: new serological markers for the diagnosis and follow-up of patients with gluten-sensitive enteropathy. Preliminary study]. / Anticuerpos antiendomisio: un nuevo marcador serológico para el diagnóstico y seguimiento de pacientes afectos de enteropatía sensible al gluten. Estudio preliminar.

The authors value the parameters of diagnostic efficacy in a preliminary study of anti-endomysium antibodies (EmA), in the diagnostic and follow-up of patients with gluten sensitive enteropathy. The study was made with 84 subjects distributed into four groups. Group I consisted of 21 patients with gluten sensitive enteropathy (GSE) who were eating gluten at the time of diagnosis. Group II consisted of 20 patients with gluten sensitive enteropathy with different periods of time of gluten free diet. Group III consisted of 16 subjects with non-evolutive neuropathies and without intestinal disease. This group was considered as controls. Group IV consisted of 27 patients with toddler diarrhoea. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and efficiency were 100%.

[Primary peptic ulcer in childhood: apropos of 20 cases studied using digestive fiberendoscopy]. / Ulcus péptico primario en la infancia: a propósito de 20 casos estudiados mediante fibroendoscopia digestiva.

We report a review of 20 children (14 males and 6 females) between 3 1/2-13 years of age (mean 9.7/ 12 years) with primary peptic ulcer disease, diagnosed by digestive fiberendoscopy. Endoscopy revealed 18 duodenal and 2 gastric ulcers. Positive family history was found in 45% of the patients. Abdominal pain was the most common presenting symptom and gastrointestinal bleeding was the only complication. The time before diagnosis was lesser than one month in 10%, between one to six months in 30% and more than months in 60% of patients. The follow-up period rate from three to 46 months (mean 14.9/12 months). Radiological study was performed in 18 patients and led 50% of false negative. A satisfactory response to mean treatment was found in all cases. Three patients related No patients required surgical treatment.