Prevalence and epidemiological characteristics of chronic pain in the Spanish population. Results from the pain barometer.

BACKGROUND: Chronic pain (CP) is a public health problem worldwide. AIM: To update the prevalence of CP and compare the clinical and social characteristics of people with CP with those with non-chronic continuous pain and a group without pain. METHODS: An observational cross-sectional study was carried out in a representative sample of 7058 adults from the Spanish population. Sociodemographic data, the presence of CP and non-chronic continuous pain, characteristics of pain, limitations on activities of daily living (ADL), the presence and level of anxiety and depression (HADS), quality of life (SF-12v2) and social support (DUKE) were collected. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed. RESULTS: The prevalence of CP was 25.9% (95% CI;24.8-26.9) and that of non-chronic continuous pain was 7.7% (95% CI;7.1-8.3). Women presented a higher prevalence of both CP (30.5% vs. 21.3%) and non-chronic continuous pain (8.8% vs. 6.6%). CP was more common in the group between 55 and 75 years old (30.6%, 95% CI = 28.6-32.6%), non-chronic continuous pain affected most the population between 18 and 34 years old (11.2%, 95% CI = 9.6-12.7%). The median duration of CP was 4 years. The lumbar was the most frequent pain site (58.1%), and 27.1% did not know the cause. A greater frequency of limitations on ADL, more anxiety and depression, and worse quality of life were shown among the subjects with CP. CONCLUSION: CP affects one in four Spanish people and impairs the mental, physical and social health. Differences exist by sex and age in its frequency. Identifying subjects with non-chronic continuous pain is fundamental to prevent their pain from becoming chronic. SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT: Indicating the main aspects where this work adds significantly to existing knowledge in the field, and if appropriate to clinical practice. Due to its high prevalence and impact on quality of life, chronic pain has become one of the main health problems nowadays. Attention must be paid to it both from a clinical and social perspective, trying to raise awareness among the population of its possible causes and consequences. In routine clinical practice, greater consideration is given to groups of people with a higher prevalence of chronic pain, such as women and people with middle age, and with no chronic pain to prevent the appearance of chronic pain.

Understanding the impact of the COVID-19-related lockdown in university workers. Identifying groups through cluster analysis.

Objective: To analyse the COVID-19-related lockdown impact on University workers, to identify groups based on this information, and to study the factors associated with each group. Study design: Cross-sectional study. Methods: A survey was conducted 3.5 weeks after COVID-19-related lockdown in University workers in Spain. Sociodemographic variables, housing, work, health conditions, levels of anxiety, stress and depression (DASS-21), and social support (MSPSS) were collected. A cluster analysis was performed to identify groups depending on the impact of the lockdown. Differences between groups were tested using Chi-square and Mann-Whitney-U tests, and associated factors with binary logistic regression. Results: We identified two groups of workers. "G1: Consequences in the daily life routine" was mainly composed of men, Research and Teaching Personnel (RTP) with more stable professional categories, higher income level, and bigger houses than people in G2. Participants in "G2: Concerns for the current and future well-being" presented worse intensity of pain than before the lockdown, more anxiety, depression, stress and less social support than people in G1. ASP (Administration and Services Personnel) had more risk of belonging to G2 than RTP (OR = 5.863). A higher number of people living at home decreased the risk of being in G2 (OR = 0.439). People with lower pain intensity had less risk of being in G2 (OR = 0.014), and this risk decreased as friends support increased (OR = 0.833). Conclusions: In G1, the consequences were immediately reflected in the stress resulting from changes in their daily work routine. In G2, the concerns were related to their professional future, with worse mental health, greater intensity of pain and less social support.

Genomic landscape and immune-related gene expression profiling of epithelial ovarian cancer after neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Platinum-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery is an accepted treatment for patients with stage III or IV epithelial ovarian cancer who are not suitable for primary debulking surgery. The identification of suitable adjuvant treatments in these patients is an unmet need. Here, we explore potential genomic characteristics (mutational and immune-associated expression profiles) in a series of patients undergoing neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tumor samples from biopsy and interval debulking surgery were analyzed for mutational landscape and immune profiling, together with detailed immunohistochemistry using different immune cell markers, and correlated with clinicopathological characteristics and potential response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. No major differences in the mutational landscape were observed in paired biopsy and surgery samples. Genomic loss of heterozygosity was found to be higher in patients with total/near-total tumor response. The immune gene expression profile after neoadjuvant chemotherapy revealed activation of several immune regulation-related pathways in patients with no/minimal or partial response. In parallel, neoadjuvant therapy caused a significant increase of tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte population abundance, primarily due to an augmentation of the CD8+ T cell population. Remarkably, these changes occurred irrespective of potential homologous recombination defects, such as those associated with BRCA1/2 mutations. Our study strengthens the use of loss of heterozygosity as a biomarker of homologous repair deficiency. The changes of immune states during neoadjuvant chemotherapy reveal the dynamic nature of tumor-host immune interactions and suggest the potential use of immune checkpoint inhibitors or their combination with poly-ADP polymerase inhibitors in high stage and grade epithelial ovarian cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy.

In vitro approach for evaluation of carob by-products as source bioactive ingredients with potential to attenuate metabolic syndrome (MetS).

The potential bioactivities for alleviating Metabolic Syndrome associated risk factors were evaluated in carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) fruit by-products, i.e. seed peel, germ and pod. Carob germ and seed peel showed higher phenolic content than pod (99.72, 80.24 and 47.06 µmol GAE g-1, respectively). Pod mostly contained gallic acid and gallotannins; seed peel and germ's showed as most abundant polyphenols quercetin and apigenin derivatives. Carob pod and seed peel revealed stronger antioxidant capacities compared to germ. The strongest antihypertensive activity was found in seed peel, followed by pod and germ. Anti-inflammatory activity showed inhibition of NO production in LPS-induced macrophages, although only pod was able of reducing pro-inflammatory mediators (TNF-α andPGD2). Finally, fat accumulation on mature adipocytes was reduced by carob seed peel and pod extracts. This work shows the potential use of pod carob by-products as food ingredients with special relevance of carob pod for attenuating metabolic syndrome.

High BAFF expression associated with active disease in systemic lupus erythematosus and relationship with rs9514828C>T polymorphism in TNFSF13B gene.

B cell-activating factor (BAFF) promotes the survival, proliferation and maturation of B lymphocytes, which are key elements in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). This cytokine is encoded on TNFSF13B gene, and diverse single-nucleotide polymorphisms have been associated with susceptibility in different autoimmune disorders. In this study, the relationship of TNFSF13B gene rs9514827T>C, rs1041567T>A and rs9514828C>T polymorphisms, mRNA expression and soluble BAFF levels was investigated in 175 SLE patients and 208 healthy controls (HC). The TNFSF13B polymorphisms were evaluated by PCR-RFLP technique. The TNFSF13B gene expression was quantified through the RT-PCR assays. The soluble BAFF (sBAFF) levels were measured with ELISA test. There were no differences in genotype and allele frequencies for the three TNFSF13B polymorphisms, between SLE patients and HC. SLE patients showed 3.15-fold more TNFSF13B gene expression than HC. The patients who displayed most mRNA expression were those with active disease and the carriers of rs9514828 T variant allele. The sBAFF serum levels were higher in SLE patients compared to HC (2.083 vs. 0.742 ng/mL, p < 0.001). The SLE patients with active disease showed the higher sBAFF serum levels (2.403 ng/mL), mainly patients with lupus nephritis and hematological manifestations. In addition, a correlation of sBAFF with disease activity was found (r = 0.32, p < 0.001). In conclusion, the TNFSF13B gene polymorphisms were not found to be associated with SLE susceptibility in Mexican mestizos. Nevertheless, rs9514828C>T polymorphism seems to increase TNFSF13B gene expression. High BAFF expression is related to active disease, renal and hematological involvement; therefore, it could be considered as follow-up biomarker in SLE patients.

PTPN22 +788 G>A (R263Q) Polymorphism is Associated with mRNA Expression but it is not a Susceptibility Marker for Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients from Western Mexico.

PTPN22 represents an important non-HLA gene that has been strongly associated with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) pathogenesis. Several studies have reported a specific genetic variant for PTPN22 (+788 G>A; rs33996649) that might be associated with decreased RA risk in Caucasian population; nevertheless, its specific role in western Mexican population has not been yet described. A case-control study with 443 RA patients and 317 control subjects (CS) was conducted. The genotyping was performed by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique and the PTPN22 mRNA expression was determined by SYBR Green-based real-time quantitative-PCR assay. No association between the PTPN22 +788 G>A polymorphism and RA susceptibility in western Mexican population was found when comparing genotype and allelic frequencies between RA patients and CS (G/G vs. G/A: OR 0.55, p = 0.14, 95% CI 0.22-1.32; G vs. A: OR 0.56, p = 0.14, 95% CI 0.23-1.36). The PTPN22 mRNA expression increased 4.6-fold more in RA patients than in CS, and RA patients, carriers of PTPN22 +788 G/A genotype, expressed 15.6-fold more than RA patients carrying the homozygous G/G genotype. Overall, these results showed that the PTPN22 +788 G>A polymorphism is not associated with RA susceptibility in western Mexican population, whereas the presence of G/A genotype is associated with increased PTPN22 mRNA expression in RA patients.

Synergistic effect of mixture of two proline-rich-protein salivary families (aPRP and bPRP) on the interaction with wine flavanols.

In this study, we have evaluated by HPLC-DAD, DLS and MALDI-TOF a synergic effect of the coexistence of two salivary-PRP fractions (basic-PRPs and acidic PRPs) on the interaction with flavanols. Results obtained showed noticeable enhancement of the interaction between (epi)catechin and PRPs when both types of proteins are blended. Up to 30 soluble aggregates have been tentatively identified with molecular weight from 4680 to 35,851. (epi)Catechins seem to bind preferentially bPRPs than aPRPs, although the medium size aggregates flavanol-bPRPs formed could favour the interaction with aPRPs giving rise to soluble mixed aggregates.

Macrophage polarization as a novel weapon in conditioning tumor microenvironment for bladder cancer: can we turn demons into gods?

Macrophages are major components of the immune infiltration in cancer where they can affect tumor behavior. In the bladder, they play important roles during the resolution of infectious processes and they have been associated with a worse clinical prognosis in bladder cancer. The present review focused on the characteristics of these important immune cells, not only eliciting an innate immune surveillance, but also on their importance during the cancer immunoediting process. We further discuss the potential of targeting macrophages for anticancer therapy, the current strategies and the state of the art as well as the foreseen role on combined therapies on the near future. This review shows how a comprehensive understanding of macrophages within the tumor should translate to better clinical outcome and new therapeutic strategies focusing especially on bladder cancer.

Cuestiones bioéticas relacionadas con el acceso a medicamentos en el ejercicio de la oftalmología en Colombia / Bioethical issues on the access to drugs in the practice of ophthalmology in Colombia

Resumen La oftalmología se constituye como una especialidad de alto costo en lo que respecta a tratamiento médico, quirúrgico y de innovación tecnológica. Es preocupante que en algunos países los pacientes se vean afectados en su salud visual, y por ende en su calidad de vida, por no contar con los recursos necesarios para un acceso oportuno a medicamentos, citas médicas o procedimientos quirúrgicos. A partir de la búsqueda de artículos relacionados con cuestiones bioéticas y el acceso a medicamentos en el ejercicio de la oftalmología en cuatro bases de datos electrónicas (ScienceDirect, MEDLINE/PubMed, ClinicalKey y SciELO ), así como en libros de bioética y leyes de la jurisdicción colombiana, realizamos una reflexión sobre el problema del acceso a los medicamentos oftalmológicos, centrándonos en el interés por la aplicación de la bioética en la práctica clínica y en el acceso a medicamentos de los pacientes con patologías oftalmológicas. Las consideraciones éticas se abordan desde una mirada del modelo principialista de Beauchamp y Childress, en especial considerando el principio de justicia, de modo que brinde a los profesionales de la salud en este campo, argumentos para la toma de decisiones médicas y éticas que beneficien la atención y el acceso a medicamentos de los pacientes con patologías oftalmológicas.

Abstract Ophthalmology is a high-cost specialty in terms of medical, surgical and technological innovation and treatment. It is worrisome that in some countries patients are affected in their visual health, and therefore in their quality of life because they do not have the necessary resources for timely access to medications, medical appointments or surgical procedures. We searched in four electronic databases (ScienceDirect, MEDLINE/PubMed, ClinicalKey and SciELO), as well as in books on bioethics and Colombian laws, for articles related to bioethical issues and access to medicines in the exercise of ophthalmology. We reflect on the problem of access to ophthalmological drugs, with particular interest on how to apply the principles of bioethics on the clinical practice of patients with ophthalmological conditions. Ethical considerations are approached from the principles of Beauchamp and Childress, especially regarding the principle of justice, in order to provide health professionals in this field with arguments for medical and ethical decisions that benefit the healthcare and access to medicines for patients with ophthalmological conditions.

Impact of growth temperature on exopolysaccharide production and probiotic properties of Lactobacillus paracasei strains isolated from kefir grains.

EPS-producing LAB are widely used in the dairy industry since these polymers improve the viscosity and texture of the products. Besides, EPS might be responsible for several health benefits attributed to probiotic strains. However, growth conditions (culture media, temperature, pH) could modify EPS production affecting both technological and probiotic properties. In this work, the influence of growth temperature on EPS production was evaluated, as well as the consequences of these changes in the probiotic properties of the strains. All Lactobacillus paracasei strains used in the study showed changes in EPS production caused by growth temperature, evidenced by the appearance of a high molecular weight fraction and an increment in the total amount of produced EPS at lower temperature. Nevertheless, these changes do not affect the probiotic properties of the strains; L. paracasei strains grown at 20 °C, 30 °C and 37 °C were able to survive in simulated gastrointestinal conditions, to adhere to Caco-2 cells after that treatment and to modulate the epithelial innate immune response. The results suggest that selected L. paracasei strains are new probiotic candidates that can be used in a wide range of functional foods in which temperature could be used as a tool to improve the technological properties of the product.

Understanding the different relationships between mood and sleep disorders in several groups of non-oncological patients with chronic pain.

OBJECTIVE: To compare sleep dimensions in patients suffering from chronic pain of different origins, and with a group of pain-free subjects. To analyze the relationship between depression and/or anxiety and sleep disorders in musculoskeletal, neuropathic, and fibromyalgia patients. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included patients diagnosed with neuropathic pain (NP) (n = 104), musculoskeletal pain (MSK) (n = 99), or fibromyalgia (FM) (n = 51), and pain free subjects (n = 72). Information about sleep dimensions (MOS-sleep), duration and intensity of pain (Visual Analog Scale), and anxiety and depression (Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale) was collected. RESULTS: Of the 254 patients with chronic pain (PCP) studied, the mean pain intensity was 6.6 (SD = 1.9), with an average duration of 9 years. The scores in all sleep dimensions of the MOS-sleep were higher in CPP (more disturbances) compared to pain free patients, and differences were observed among the three groups of PCP, with FM most severely affected. Anxiety (ß = 1.3), depression (ß = 1.1), intensity (ß = 1.7), and duration of pain (ß = 0.04) were associated with more sleep problems in MSK patients. In contrast, anxiety (ß = 2.5) and duration of pain (ß = 0.05) were negatively related to sleep in the NP patients, and only depression (ß = 1.3) affected FM patients. CONCLUSIONS: The sleep pattern differs among groups of PCP in the presence or absence of mood disorders. Understanding these disorders in each specific group of PCP is fundamental, and it can contribute to improve the clinical situation of the patients and better orientating therapeutic strategies.

Expression of MIF and TNFA in psoriatic arthritis: relationship with Th1/Th2/Th17 cytokine profiles and clinical variables.

Psoriatic arthritis (PsA) is an autoimmune inflammatory disease associated with psoriasis. The cause of this pathology is still unknown, but research suggests the diseases are caused by a deregulated cytokine production. MIF is a cytokine associated with immunomodulation of Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine profiles in inflammatory diseases. Based on this knowledge, the aim of this study was to determine the association of MIF and TNFA expression with Th1, Th2, and Th17 cytokine profiles in serum levels of PsA patients. A cross-sectional study was performed in 50 PsA patients and 30 control subjects (CS). The cytokine profiles were quantified by BioPlex MagPix system and the mRNA expression levels by real-time PCR. TNFA mRNA expression was 138.81-folds higher in PsA patients than CS (p < 0.001). Regarding MIF mRNA expression, no significant differences were observed; however, a positive correlation was identified between MIF mRNA expression and PsA time of evolution (r = - 0.53, p = 0.009). An increase of Th1 (IFNγ: PsA = 37.1 pg/mL vs. CS = 17 pg/mL, p < 0.05; TNFα: PsA = 24.6 pg/mL vs. CS = 9.8 pg/mL, p < 0.0001) and Th17 cytokine profiles (IL-17: PsA = 6.4 pg/mL vs. CS = 2.7 pg/mL, p < 0.05; IL-22: PsA = 8.4 pg/mL vs. CS = 1.8 pg/mL, p < 0.001), were found in PsA patients. Th2 cytokines were not significantly different in both groups. In conclusion, a high expression of TNFA mRNA, as well as an increase of Th1 and Th17 cytokine profiles evaluated by IFNγ, TNFα, IL-17, and IL-22 cytokines, was observed in PsA patients.

The 3'-UTR (CA)n microsatellite on CD40LG gene as a possible genetic marker for rheumatoid arthritis in Mexican population: impact on CD40LG mRNA expression.

The objective of this study was to determine the association of the CD40LG 3'-UTR (CA)n microsatellite with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and CD40LG mRNA levels in females from western Mexico. A case-control study with 219 RA patients and 175 control subjects (CS) was conducted. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), X 2 test was used to compare genotype and allele frequencies, and odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were calculated to evaluate the association between RA and the microsatellite. CD40LG mRNA expression was assessed by real-time quantitative PCR. For comparisons between groups, Kruskal-Wallis or Mann-Whitney U tests for non-parametric data and ANOVA test for parametric data were performed. Among the 13 different alleles identified, CA25 was the most represented (45.4% RA and 46.3% CS). Stratification according to CA repeats as CA25 showed a tendency towards a higher frequency of >CA25 alleles in RA patients (29%) compared to CS (23.4%). There was no association between any genotype and the clinical parameters of RA patients. According to the 2-∆∆Cq method, CD40LG mRNA expression in RA patients was 4.5-fold higher compared to CS; this difference was significant when assessed by the 2-∆Cq method (p = 0.028). Compared to carriers of the CA25/CA25 genotype, CS carrying the CA25/>CA25 carriers. The 3'-UTR CD40LG (CA)n microsatellite is not a genetic marker for RA in western Mexican population; however, results suggest that it plays a role in the CD40LG mRNA expression.

Hyphoderma paramacaronesicum sp. nov. (Meruliaceae, Polyporales, Basidiomycota), a cryptic lineage to H. macaronesicum.

This article re-evaluates the taxonomy of Hyphoderma macaronesicum based on various strategies, including the cohesion species recognition method through haplotype networks, multilocus genetic analyses using the genealogical concordance phylogenetic concept, as well as species tree reconstruction. The following loci were examined: the internal transcribed spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA (ITS nrDNA), the intergenic spacers of nuclear ribosomal DNA (IGS nrDNA), two fragments of the protein-coding RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (RPB2), and two fragments of the translation elongation factor 1-α (EF1-α). Our results indicate that the name H. macaronesicum includes at least two separate species, one of which is newly described as Hyphoderma paramacaronesicum. The two species are readily distinguished based on the various loci analysed, namely ITS, IGS, RPB2 and EF1-α.

High expression of interleukine-1 receptor antagonist in rheumatoid arthritis: Association with IL1RN*2/2 genotype.

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease characterized by inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines production. IL-1Ra is an anti-inflammatory cytokine codified by IL1RN gene that blocks IL-1 signalling. A VNTR polymorphism of 86 bp in IL1RN gene has been associated with RA risk and regulation of IL-1Ra expression. In this study, we determined mRNA and protein expression of IL-1Ra in RA patients and control subjects (CS). This study included 85 RA patients classified according to the ACR/EULAR 2010 criteria and 67 CS. Polymerase chain reaction was used to identify IL1RN VNTR polymorphism, the expression of sIL-1Ra (secreted isoform) mRNA was determined by SYBR Green-based real time quantitave-PCR assay, and IL-1Ra soluble levels quantification was evaluated by ELISA test. RA patients had higher soluble levels of IL-1Ra than CS (p < .01), sIL-1Ra mRNA expression was higher in RA patients compared to CS (p < .01). Carriers of IL1RN*2/2 homozygous genotype show increased IL-1Ra soluble levels compared to IL1RN*long/long and IL1RN*2/long genotypes (p < .05) in the CS group, whereas mRNA expression in carriers of IL1RN*2/2 genotype was 1.2 times higher compared to IL1RN*long/long genotypes in the same group. Regarding RA patients, high expression of sIL-1Ra mRNA on carriers of IL1RN*long/long genotype was observed. Nevertheless, in RA patients IL-1Ra soluble levels among genotypes did not show significant differences. High expression of IL-1Ra in RA patients under treatment or not with antirheumatic drugs was detected. Additionally, carriers of IL1RN*2/2 genotype had higher IL-1Ra expression than carriers of other genotypes.

Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 8327: An α-glucan producing-strain isolated from kefir grains.

Lactobacillus plantarum CIDCA 8327 is an exopolysaccharide (EPS)-producer strain isolated from kefir with promising properties for the development of functional foods. The aim of the present study was to characterize the structure of the EPS synthesized by this strain grown in skim milk or semidefined medium (SDM). Additionally, genes involved in EPS synthesis were detected by PCR. L. plantarum produces an EPS with a molecular weight of 104Da in both media. When grown in SDM produce an heteropolysaccharide composed mainly of glucose, glucosamine and rhamnose meanwhile the EPS produced in milk was composed exclusively of glucose indicating the influence of the sugar source. FTIR spectra of this EPS showed signals attributable to an α-glucan. Both by 1H NMR and methylation analysis it was possible to determine that this polysaccharide is a branched α-(1→4)-d-glucan composed of 80% linear α-(1→4)-d-glucopyranosyl units and 19% (1→4)-d-glucopyranosyl units substituted at O-3 by single α-d-glucopyranosil residues.

Draft Genome Sequence of Pediococcus parvulus 2.6, a Probiotic ß-Glucan Producer Strain.

We report here the draft genome sequence of the probiotic Pediococcus parvulus 2.6, a lactic acid bacterial strain isolated from ropy cider. The bacterium produces a prebiotic and immunomodulatory exopolysaccharide, and this is the first strain of the P. parvulus species whose genome has been characterized.

CD40 functional gene polymorphisms and mRNA expression in rheumatoid arthritis patients from western Mexico.

The CD40 pathway is involved in the development and pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CD40 gene, rs1883832 and rs4810485, are associated with susceptibility to inflammatory and autoimmune diseases and are thought to alter CD40 expression at the mRNA and protein level. This study assessed for the first time the association of these SNPs with RA and CD40 mRNA levels in a western Mexican population. A total of 278 RA patients and 318 control subjects were included. Genotyping was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-restriction fragment length polymorphism, and CD40 mRNA expression was determined by real-time quantitative PCR. No significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies were identified between the RA patients and controls. When stratified by genotype, these SNPs were not found to be associated with the presence of autoantibodies or the clinical activity of the disease. CD40 mRNA levels were elevated 1.5-fold in RA patients compared to control subjects; however, no clear tendencies were observed following stratification by genotype. These results suggest that the CD40 SNPs rs1883832 and rs4810485 are not RA susceptibility markers in the western Mexican population. Further studies are needed to clarify their roles in CD40 mRNA expression.

Fungal Planet description sheets: 400-468.

Novel species of fungi described in the present study include the following from Australia: Vermiculariopsiella eucalypti, Mulderomyces natalis (incl. Mulderomyces gen. nov.), Fusicladium paraamoenum, Neotrimmatostroma paraexcentricum, and Pseudophloeospora eucalyptorum on leaves of Eucalyptus spp., Anungitea grevilleae (on leaves of Grevillea sp.), Pyrenochaeta acaciae (on leaves of Acacia sp.), and Brunneocarpos banksiae (incl. Brunneocarpos gen. nov.) on cones of Banksia attenuata. Novel foliicolous taxa from South Africa include Neosulcatispora strelitziae (on Strelitzia nicolai), Colletotrichum ledebouriae (on Ledebouria floridunda), Cylindrosympodioides brabejum (incl. Cylindrosympodioides gen. nov.) on Brabejum stellatifolium, Sclerostagonospora ericae (on Erica sp.), Setophoma cyperi (on Cyperus sphaerocephala), and Phaeosphaeria breonadiae (on Breonadia microcephala). Novelties described from Robben Island (South Africa) include Wojnowiciella cissampeli and Diaporthe cissampeli (both on Cissampelos capensis), Phaeotheca salicorniae (on Salicornia meyeriana), Paracylindrocarpon aloicola (incl. Paracylindrocarpon gen. nov.) on Aloe sp., and Libertasomyces myopori (incl. Libertasomyces gen. nov.) on Myoporum serratum. Several novelties are recorded from La Réunion (France), namely Phaeosphaeriopsis agapanthi (on Agapanthus sp.), Roussoella solani (on Solanum mauritianum), Vermiculariopsiella acaciae (on Acacia heterophylla), Dothiorella acacicola (on Acacia mearnsii), Chalara clidemiae (on Clidemia hirta), Cytospora tibouchinae (on Tibouchina semidecandra), Diaporthe ocoteae (on Ocotea obtusata), Castanediella eucalypticola, Phaeophleospora eucalypticola and Fusicladium eucalypticola (on Eucalyptus robusta), Lareunionomyces syzygii (incl. Lareunionomyces gen. nov.) and Parawiesneriomyces syzygii (incl. Parawiesneriomyces gen. nov.) on leaves of Syzygium jambos. Novel taxa from the USA include Meristemomyces arctostaphylos (on Arctostaphylos patula), Ochroconis dracaenae (on Dracaena reflexa), Rasamsonia columbiensis (air of a hotel conference room), Paecilomyces tabacinus (on Nicotiana tabacum), Toxicocladosporium hominis (from human broncoalveolar lavage fluid), Nothophoma macrospora (from respiratory secretion of a patient with pneumonia), and Penidiellopsis radicularis (incl. Penidiellopsis gen. nov.) from a human nail. Novel taxa described from Malaysia include Prosopidicola albizziae (on Albizzia falcataria), Proxipyricularia asari (on Asarum sp.), Diaporthe passifloricola (on Passiflora foetida), Paramycoleptodiscus albizziae (incl. Paramycoleptodiscus gen. nov.) on Albizzia falcataria, and Malaysiasca phaii (incl. Malaysiasca gen. nov.) on Phaius reflexipetalus. Two species are newly described from human patients in the Czech Republic, namely Microascus longicollis (from toenails of patient with suspected onychomycosis), and Chrysosporium echinulatum (from sole skin of patient). Furthermore, Alternaria quercicola is described on leaves of Quercus brantii (Iran), Stemphylium beticola on leaves of Beta vulgaris (The Netherlands), Scleroderma capeverdeanum on soil (Cape Verde Islands), Scleroderma dunensis on soil, and Blastobotrys meliponae from bee honey (Brazil), Ganoderma mbrekobenum on angiosperms (Ghana), Geoglossum raitviirii and Entoloma kruticianum on soil (Russia), Priceomyces vitoshaensis on Pterostichus melas (Carabidae) (Bulgaria) is the only one for which the family is listed, Ganoderma ecuadoriense on decaying wood (Ecuador), Thyrostroma cornicola on Cornus officinalis (Korea), Cercophora vinosa on decorticated branch of Salix sp. (France), Coprinus pinetorum, Coprinus littoralis and Xerocomellus poederi on soil (Spain). Two new genera from Colombia include Helminthosporiella and Uwemyces on leaves of Elaeis oleifera. Two species are described from India, namely Russula intervenosa (ectomycorrhizal with Shorea robusta), and Crinipellis odorata (on bark of Mytragyna parviflora). Novelties from Thailand include Cyphellophora gamsii (on leaf litter), Pisolithus aureosericeus and Corynascus citrinus (on soil). Two species are newly described from Citrus in Italy, namely Dendryphiella paravinosa on Citrus sinensis, and Ramularia citricola on Citrus floridana. Morphological and culture characteristics along with ITS nrDNA barcodes are provided for all taxa.