Shipwrecked on the Rock, or Not Quite: Gypsophytes and Edaphic Islands.

Species-area relationships (SAR) constitute a key aspect of ecological theory and are integral to other scientific disciplines, such as biogeography, which have played a crucial role in advancing biology. The theory of insular biogeography provides a clear example. This theory initially expanded from true islands to other types of systems characterized by their insularity. One such approach was linked to geoedaphic islands, as seen in gypsum outcrops. While these continental areas have been considered insular systems, only limited and mostly indirect evidence thereof has been provided. This study utilized SAR to advance the understanding of gypsum outcrops as insular continental territories. It is hereby hypothesized that gypsum outcrops are edaphic islands, although their insular nature depends on the different functional or ecological plant types, and this nature will be reflected in the potential Arrhenius model z values. The results obtained support both hypotheses and provide insight into the ecological factors that help interpret the insularity of these areas. This interpretation goes beyond their mere extent and the distance among outcrops, emphasizing the importance of environmental filters. Said filters vary in permeability depending on the degree of gypsophily, or preference for gypsum, exhibited by different species.

Spontaneous Primary Succession and Vascular Plant Recovery in the Iberian Gypsum Quarries: Insights for Ecological Restoration in an EU Priority Habitat.

Gypsum covers a vast area of the Iberian Peninsula, making Spain a leader in its production. Gypsum is a fundamental raw material for modern societies. However, gypsum quarries have an obvious impact on the landscape and biodiversity. Gypsum outcrops host a high percentage of endemic plants and unique vegetation, considered a priority by the EU. Restoring gypsum areas after mining is a key strategy to prevent biodiversity loss. For the implementation of restoration approaches, understanding vegetation's successional processes can be of invaluable help. To fully document the spontaneous succession in gypsum quarries and to evaluate its interest for restoration, 10 permanent plots of 20 × 50 m were proposed, with nested subplots, in which vegetation change was recorded for 13 years in Almeria (Spain). Through Species-Area Relationships (SARs), these plots' floristic changes were monitored and compared to others in which an active restoration was carried out, as well as others with natural vegetation. Furthermore, the successional pattern found was compared to those recorded in 28 quarries distributed throughout the Spanish territory. The results show that an ecological pattern of spontaneous primary auto-succession is widely recurring in Iberian gypsum quarries, which is capable of regenerating the pre-existing natural vegetation.

Recent and ancient evolutionary events shaped plant elemental composition of edaphic endemics: a phylogeny-wide analysis of Iberian gypsum plants.

The analysis of plant elemental composition and the underlying factors affecting its variation are a current hot topic in ecology. Ecological adaptation to atypical soils may shift plant elemental composition. However, no previous studies have evaluated its relevance against other factors such as phylogeny, climate or individual soil conditions. We evaluated the effect of the phylogeny, environment (climate, soil), and affinity to gypsum soils on the elemental composition of 83 taxa typical of Iberian gypsum ecosystems. We used a new statistical procedure (multiple phylogenetic variance decomposition, MPVD) to decompose total explained variance by different factors across all nodes in the phylogenetic tree of target species (covering 120 million years of Angiosperm evolution). Our results highlight the relevance of phylogeny on the elemental composition of plants both at early (with the development of key preadaptive traits) and recent divergence times (diversification of the Iberian gypsum flora concurrent with Iberian gypsum deposit accumulation). Despite the predominant phylogenetic effect, plant adaptation to gypsum soils had a strong impact on the elemental composition of plants, particularly on sulphur concentrations, while climate and soil effects were smaller. Accordingly, we detected a convergent evolution of gypsum specialists from different lineages on increased sulphur and magnesium foliar concentrations.

Plants on Rich-Magnesium Dolomite Barrens: A Global Phenomenon.

For botanists and ecologists, the close link between some plants and substrates, such as serpentine or gypsum, is well known. However, the relationship between dolomite and its flora has been much less studied, due to various causes. Its diffuse separation from limestone and the use of a vague approach and terminology that, until now, no one has tried to harmonize are among these reasons. After carrying out an extensive review, completed with data on the distribution of plants linked to dolomite, the territories in which this type of flora appears at a global level were mapped using a geographic information system software. In addition, data on soils were collected, as well as on their influence on the ionomic profile of the flora. These data were completed with the authors' own information from previous research, which also served to assess these communities' degree of conservation and the genetic diversity of some of their characteristic species. The results showed that the so-called "dolomite phenomenon" is widely represented and is clearly manifested in the appearance of a peculiar flora, very rich in endemisms, on dry soils, poor in nutrients, and with a high Mg level. Although dolomite habitats cause adaptations in plants which are even more recognizable than those of other rock types, they have not been widely studied from an ecological, evolutionary, and conservation point of view because, so far, neither their characteristics nor their universal demarcation have been precisely defined.

Plant evolution in alkaline magnesium-rich soils: A phylogenetic study of the Mediterranean genus Hormathophylla (Cruciferae: Alysseae) based on nuclear and plastid sequences.

Habitats with alkaline edaphic substrates are often associated with plant speciation and diversification. The tribe Alysseae, in the family Brassicaceae, epitomizes this evolutionary trend. In this lineage, some genera, like Hormathophylla, can serve as a good case for testing the evolutionary framework. This genus is centered in the western Mediterranean. It grows on different substrates, but mostly on alkaline soils. It has been suggested that diversification in many lineages of the tribe Alysseae and in the genus Hormathophylla is linked to a tolerance for high levels of Mg+2 in xeric environments. In this study, we investigated the controversial phylogenetic placement of Hormathophylla in the tribe, the generic limits and the evolutionary relationships between the species using ribosomal and plastid DNA sequences. We also examined the putative association between the evolution of different ploidy levels, trichome morphology and the type of substrates. Our analyses demonstrated the monophyly of the genus Hormathophylla including all previously described species. Nuclear sequences revealed two lineages that differ in basic chromosome numbers (x = 7 and x = 8 or derived 11, 15) and in their trichome morphology. Contrasting results with plastid genes indicates more complex relationships between these two lineages involving recent hybridization processes. We also found an association between chloroplast haplotypes and substrate, especially in populations growing on dolomites. Finally, our dated phylogeny demonstrates that the origin of the genus took place in the mid-Miocene, during the establishment of temporal land bridges between the Tethys and Paratethys seas, with a later diversification during the upper Pliocene.

Coinfección virus de inmunodeficiencia humana-virus de la Hepatitis C: hacia un nuevo escenario terapéutico / Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Hepatitis C virus coinfection: towards a new therapeutic scenario

Introducción: Las terapias contra el virus de la Hepatitis C han evolucionado vertiginosamente con el desarrollo de los antivirales de acción directa (AADs). Los nuevos regímenes han conseguido igualar las tasas de respuesta al tratamiento en los monoinfectados y los coinfectados con VIH, una población tradicionalmente difícil de tratar debido a la elevada morbimortalidad hepática y sistémica, reacciones adversas e interacciones medicamentosas. Objetivo: Analizar las opciones farmacoterapéuticas más modernas disponibles para los pacientes coinfectados con VIH y VHC, con énfasis en los nuevos antivirales de acción directa, a fin de ofrecer una herramienta útil en el abordaje terapéutico en estos pacientes. Material y métodos: Se revisaron artículos originales, ensayos clínicos y revisiones sistemáticas hasta septiembre de 2016, bases de datos internacionales de interacciones medicamentosas y Guías de Práctica Clínica actualizadas. Desarrollo: Las terapias contra el virus de la Hepatitis C (VHC) han evolucionado vertiginosamente con el desarrollo de los antivirales de acción directa (AADs). Los nuevos regímenes han conseguido igualar las tasas de respuesta al tratamiento en los monoinfectados y los coinfectados con VIH, una población tradicionalmente difícil de tratar que, además, asociaba una elevada morbimortalidad hepática y sistémica, más reacciones adversas y complejas interacciones medicamentosas. Conclusiones: En este nuevo escenario es fundamental dedicar esfuerzos a identificar el elevado porcentaje de infectados no diagnosticados, potenciales interacciones, especialmente con fármacos para patologías asociadas al envejecimiento de los pacientes, reacciones adversas a medio-largo plazos y desarrollo de resistencias, además de garantizar la cobertura universal en todos los contextos clínicos(AU)

Introduction:Therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have rapidly evolved with the development of direct-acting antiviral agents. New regimens, achieve an equate response rates to treatment in cases of HCV mono-infected and HIV/HCV co-infected; a population traditionally difficult to treat due to a high hepatic and systemic morbidity-mortality, adverse reactions and drug interactions. Objective: To analyse the current Pharma-therapeutic options available for co-infected HIV-HCV patients, with emphasis I the new direct-acting antiviral agents, in order to offer a useful tool for the therapeutic approach in these patients. Material and Methods: Original articles, clinical studies and systematic reviews until September 2016 were carried out, as well as international drug interactions databases and updated Practical Guidelines. Development: Therapies for hepatitis C virus (HCV) have rapidly evolved with the development of direct-acting antiviral agents. New regimens achieve an equate response rates to treatment in HCV mono-infected and HIV/HCV co-infected; a population traditionally difficult to treat, which also associate a high hepatic and systemic morbidity-mortality, adverse reactions and complex drug interactions. Conclusions: In this new scenario efforts must be addressed to identify the high percentage of undiagnosed patients; potential interactions, especially with drugs related with patient aging; medium and long-term adverse reactions and development of drug resistances, as well as to guarantee universal coverage in all clinical contexts(AU)

Microsatellite loci in the Gypsophyte Lepidium subulatum (Brassicaceae), and transferability to other Lepidieae.

Polymorphic microsatellite markers were developed for the Ibero-North African, strict gypsophyte Lepidium subulatum to unravel the effects of habitat fragmentation in levels of genetic diversity, genetic structure and gene flow among its populations. Using 454 pyrosequencing 12 microsatellite loci including di- and tri-nucleotide repeats were characterized in L. subulatum. They amplified a total of 80 alleles (2-12 alleles per locus) in a sample of 35 individuals of L. subulatum, showing relatively high levels of genetic diversity, H(O) = 0.645, H(E) = 0.627. Cross-species transferability of all 12 loci was successful for the Iberian endemics Lepidium cardamines, Lepidium stylatum, and the widespread, Lepidium graminifolium and one species each of two related genera, Cardaria draba and Coronopus didymus. These microsatellite primers will be useful to investigate genetic diversity, population structure and to address conservation genetics in species of Lepidium.

Coronariopatias en ejecutivos mexicanos / Coronary disease in Mexican executives

Se estudio la frecuencia con que aparecen algunos de los principales factores de riesgo coronario en ejecutivos bancarios de la Ciudad de Mexico. Se investigo la incidencia de tabaquismo, anormalidades ECG indicativas de cardicangioesclerosis, hipercolesterolemia, intolerancia a los hidratos de carbono (HC) e hipertension arterial (HA). En funcion de estos datos se valoro la probabilidad de presentar cardiopatia isquemica. Se estudiaron 420 sujetos cuyas edades variaron entre 22 y 77 anos, divididos en tres grupos de diferente edad: 21-40; 41-60 y 61-80 anos. Para la valoracion cuantitativa del riesgo coronario se usaron las tablas de la "American Heart Association". Del total de casos estudiados, 263 (62.6%) presentaron tabaquismo; 122 (29%), hipercolesterolemia; 59 (14.1%), intolerancia a los HC y 45 (10.7%), HA. El tabaquismo ocupo el primer lugar en los grupos de 21-40 y 41-60 anos y paso a segundo lugar, por un corto margen, en el grupo de 61-80 anos. La incidencia de anomalias ECG, HA e intolerancia a los HC aumento al avanzar la edad. Por el contrario, la hipercolesterolemia se encontro en segundo lugar en el grupo de 21-40 anos y paso a ocupar el ultimo lugar en los grupos del 41-60 y 60-80 anos. La probabilidad de presentar cardiopatia isquemica dentro de un periodo de seis anos a partir de la fecha de evaluacion fue, en promedio para toda la muestra estudiada, de 4.87% con limites de 0.3 a 28.2%. En el grupo de 21-40 anos fue de 1.59% (lim. 0.3-11.3%); en el de 41-60 anos, de 6.82% (lim. 0.7-27.0%) y en el de 61-80 anos llego al 14.59% (lim. 5.3-28.2%)

Coronariopatias en ejecutivos mexicanos / Coronary disease in Mexican executives

Se estudio la frecuencia con que aparecen algunos de los principales factores de riesgo coronario en ejecutivos bancarios de la Ciudad de Mexico. Se investigo la incidencia de tabaquismo, anormalidades ECG indicativas de cardicangioesclerosis, hipercolesterolemia, intolerancia a los hidratos de carbono (HC) e hipertension arterial (HA). En funcion de estos datos se valoro la probabilidad de presentar cardiopatia isquemica. Se estudiaron 420 sujetos cuyas edades variaron entre 22 y 77 anos, divididos en tres grupos de diferente edad: 21-40; 41-60 y 61-80 anos. Para la valoracion cuantitativa del riesgo coronario se usaron las tablas de la "American Heart Association". Del total de casos estudiados, 263 (62.6 pocento) presentaron tabaquismo; 122 (29 pocento), hipercolesterolemia; 59 (14.1 pocento), intolerancia a los HC y 45 (10.7 porcento), HA. El tabaquismo ocupo el primer lugar en los grupos de 21-40 y 41-60 anos y paso a segundo lugar, por un corto margen, en el grupo de 61-80 anos. La incidencia de anomalias ECG, HA e intolerancia a los HC aumento al avanzar la edad. Por el contrario, la hipercolesterolemia se encontro en segundo lugar en el grupo de 21-40 anos y paso a ocupar el ultimo lugar en los grupos del 41-60 y 60-80 anos. La probabilidad de presentar cardiopatia isquemica dentro de un periodo de seis anos a partir de la fecha de evaluacion fue, en promedio para toda la muestra estudiada, de 4.87 porcento con limites de 0.3 a 28.2 porcento. En el grupo de 21-40 anos fue de 1.59 porcento (lim. 0.3-11.3 porcento); en el de 41-60 anos, de 6.82 porcento(lim. 0.7-27.0 porcento) y en el de 61-80 anos llego al 14.59 porcento (lim. 5.3-28.2 porcento)