Hydro-climatic changes of wetlandscapes across the world.

Assessments of ecosystem service and function losses of wetlandscapes (i.e., wetlands and their hydrological catchments) suffer from knowledge gaps regarding impacts of ongoing hydro-climatic change. This study investigates hydro-climatic changes during 1976-2015 in 25 wetlandscapes distributed across the world's tropical, arid, temperate and cold climate zones. Results show that the wetlandscapes were subject to precipitation (P) and temperature (T) changes consistent with mean changes over the world's land area. However, arid and cold wetlandscapes experienced higher T increases than their respective climate zone. Also, average P decreased in arid and cold wetlandscapes, contrarily to P of arid and cold climate zones, suggesting that these wetlandscapes are located in regions of elevated climate pressures. For most wetlandscapes with available runoff (R) data, the decreases were larger in R than in P, which was attributed to aggravation of climate change impacts by enhanced evapotranspiration losses, e.g. caused by land-use changes.

Deforestation in Colombian protected areas increased during post-conflict periods.

Protected areas (PAs) are a foundational and essential strategy for reducing biodiversity loss. However, many PAs around the world exist on paper only; thus, while logging and habitat conversion may be banned in these areas, illegal activities often continue to cause alarming habitat destruction. In such cases, the presence of armed conflict may ultimately prevent incursions to a greater extent than the absence of conflict. Although there are several reports of habitat destruction following cessation of conflict, there has never been a systematic and quantitative "before-and-after-conflict" analysis of a large sample of PAs and surrounding areas. Here we report the results of such a study in Colombia, using an open-access global forest change dataset. By analysing 39 PAs over three years before and after Colombia's peace agreement with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), we found a dramatic and highly significant increase in the deforestation rate for the majority of these areas and their buffer zones. We discuss the reasons behind such findings from the Colombian case, and debate some general conservation lessons applicable to other countries undergoing post-conflict transitions.

Restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of HLA-DR- and DQ-linked alleles in multiple sclerosis in Spain.

HLA-DR allele subtypes in multiple sclerosis (MS) individuals in Spain were determined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis. The well-established association of DRw15, DQw6, Dw2 alleles and MS susceptibility was confirmed. The strength of its association, however, was relatively weak in our MS population and no involvement with any other DR allele was observed. DQw6 increase correlated with the elevation of the involved DR2 subtype. The hypothesis that MS-associated susceptibility genes may be more closely associated with the DQ than the DR region was not supported by our findings which, on the other hand, could be in concordance with the concept that multiple genes contribute to MS susceptibility.

Quantitative and qualitative analysis of platelet GPIb and von Willebrand factor in liver cirrhosis.

Numerous abnormalities of plasmatic coagulation and platelet function may contribute to the bleeding in liver cirrhosis with a defective platelet-von Willebrand factor interaction being a potential mechanism. To analyze GPIb and von Willebrand factor in cirrhosis, we quantified the number of GPIb molecules on the platelet surface by flow cytometry, assessed the total (and indirectly the internal) pool of GPIb by ELISA and measured the circulating amount of glycocalicin in plasma as a measure of proteolytic activity and platelet turnover. Von Willebrand factor was characterized by ELISA, by its ristocetin-cofactor activity and by multimer analysis. Botrocetin-induced agglutination was used for functional analysis. The data from 8 well-characterized cirrhosis patients indicate that total GPIb is insignificantly increased to 46,000 +/- 5,000 molecules/P (normal: 39,500 +/- 2,000 [SEM]), surface-GPIb is normal with some variability and that the glycocalicin levels are 2-3 times higher than would be expected from the platelet count (= 100 +/- 5 x 10(9)/l). Von Willebrand factor antigen levels and activity were 400-500% of normal with a 22% reduction of the high molecular weight multimers. A significant hyperagglutination response to botrocetin was observed with platelets from both patients and controls using patient plasma as a source of von Willebrand factor. In conclusion, a hyperresponsiveness rather than a defective platelet-von Willebrand factor interaction can be observed in cirrhosis which may compensate for other hemostatic problems and appears to be mediated primarily by increased levels of von Willebrand factor.

Defective chemotactic response of human alveolar and colostral macrophages.

This report describes the chemotactic response of human alveolar macrophages (AM luminal diameter) and milk macrophages (MM luminal diameter) to a panel of chemotactic agents: endotoxin (EAS) and zymosan (ZAS) activated serum, lymphocyte derived chemotactic factor (LDCF) and formylated synthetic peptides. The locomotion studies were compared with the responses of peripheral blood monocytes. Both AM luminal diameter and MM luminal diameter exhibited an extremely poor chemotactic response to all agents in comparison with the monocytic response. When monocytes were cultured for long periods, a defective response was likewise demonstrated. The chemotactic response was significantly higher in AM luminal diameter from smokers. The stimulated locomotion was not increased by the addition of a surfactant lipoprotein to the AM luminal diameter suspension. Moreover, monocytes incubated with fat- and cell-free human milk exhibited lower chemotactic responses than normal monocytes and practically in the same range as that obtained with MM luminal diameter.

[Mortality in the Swiss and foreign immigrants in the Canton of Ticino]. / La mortalità negli svizzeri e negli stranieri immigrati nel Cantone Ticino.

The Canton Ticino is one of the Swiss cantons with the highest number of foreigners (mainly Italians): roughly 25% of the entire canton's population. The aim of this work, which is part of a wider study on the immigration problem in Switzerland, is to evaluate whether the immigrant population in the Canton Ticino presents differences in death rates, both in general and according to cause of death, with respect to the Swiss population. Crude and standardized death rates were calculated for autochthonals, Italians and other foreigners, using data on those deceased in the Canton during 1991 and 1994. Higher death-rates (both sexes and all age groups, except 0-19 years) were calculated for almost all causes of death, of the Swiss group with respect to Italians and other foreigners. The low death-rates found in the immigrants may be due, at least partially, to the "healthy emigrant" effect. This effect seems to be stronger than the effect of the often negative factors to which immigrants are exposed in the host country.

Analysis of chemotactic factor generation in C1q-deficient sera.

The roles of the classical and alternative complement pathways in the formation of chemotactic factors in normal human serum and in sera from patients with an inherited selective deficiency of C1q were studied. Monocytic chemotaxis was evaluated in serum activated by zymosan, endotoxin, cobra venom factor, aggregated human IgG and immune complexes. Chemotactic activity was only impaired when the C1q-deficient serum concentration was low or the period of exposure to zymosan, endotoxin or immune complexes was short. No effect was demonstrated when cobra venom factor and aggregated human IgG were used as activating agents even at limited serum concentrations. Chemotactic activity was also impaired when deficient sera were chelated with EGTA and activated with immune complexes during 7 and 60 min. The addition of normal human serum or purified human C1q to the assay resulted in improvement or normalization of the chemotactic function. The observation that the formation of chemotactic factors via the alternative pathway requires a higher serum concentration and/or longer activation time, points out the necessity for an intact classical pathway in order to achieve optimal activation of the alternative pathway.

Expression of Ia like (HLA-DR) antigens on human alveolar macrophages.

The distribution of Ia like (HLA-DR) antigens on human alveolar macrophages (HAM phi) has been investigated by indirect immunofluorescence staining of viable macrophages with a panel of monoclonal antibodies (MoAb) to common determinants of these antigens. HAM phi were characterized by non-specific esterase stain, plastic adherence, phagocytosis and IgG-Fc receptor expression. Ia like antigens were expressed in approximately 45-80% of HAM phi, being localized as patchy and lineal fluorescence along the membrane. Ia like expression was higher in macrophages from non-smoker subjects (P less than 0.025). No difference in Ia like antigen expression was found between adherent and non-adherent HAM phi subsets. Ia like positive HAM phi from both smoker and non-smoker subjects consisted of a large subpopulation of phagocytic cells (60-70%) and a smaller non-phagocytic subpopulation (20-25%). These subpopulations were also present in the Ia like negative HAM phi. The percentage of Ia like positive macrophages showed variable results depending on the MoAb used, suggesting that not all anti-Ia like antibodies recognize the same antigenic determinants. Moreover, lack of staining of one macrophage subset occurred with all MoAb tested, over a large range of concentrations.

[Why all those resignations? An investigation with those nurses and geriatric assistants of the Cantonal Neuropsychiatric Hospital who gave up their activities between 1983 and 1988]. / Perché le dimissioni? Un'inchiesta presso gli infermieri e assistenti geriatrici dell'ospedale Neuropsichiatrico Cantonale che hanno abbandonato l'attività nel 1983-1988.

This study has been born out the preposition of a working group of nurses and headnurses belonging to the Regional Sociopsychiatric Organization, who wanted to explore the reasons why several psychiatric and geriatric nurses left the Regional Neuropsychiatric Hospital over the years 1983-1988. Responses were received from 31/55 of these who was possible to locate. The most frequently quoted motivations were mainly linked to the working conditions (scarcity of personnel, professional dissatisfaction, difficulty in practicing the know-how acquired during the training); far less to personal and familiar factors (e.g. new or growing children). More than the twothirds of those interviewed resigned in the course of the first two years of activity. More than the half of them are still working in health-related sectors.

Direct activation of guinea pig macrophages by a B-cell mitogen.

Since polyclonal B-cell activators (PBA) require macrophages to induce modifications in the lymphocyte in vitro primary response to thymus-dependent antigens, we have investigated whether PBA act directly on macrophages. [14C]glucosamine uptake by guinea pig peritoneal adherent cells after stimulation with purified protein derivative (PPD), lipopolysaccharide (LPS), and dextran sulfate (DxS) was tested. PPD produced an increased [14C]glucosamine uptake, whereas LPS and DxS did not. According to our experiments, (a) PPD does not require the presence of lymphocytes to stimulate macrophages; furthermore, when lymphocytes were present in a concentration higher than 5%, a suppressor effect in the glucosamine uptake was found, and (b) there was no significant difference between the findings when peritoneal adherent cells were cultured in normal medium and in supernatant of lymphocyte cultures stimulated with PPD.

[Mental disorder and the use of public psychiatric services in the foreign population in the Canton Ticino region]. / Disagio psichico e utilizzazione dei servizi psichiatrici pubblici nella popolazione straniera del Canton Ticino.

OBJECTIVE: To verify if the foreign population resident in the Canton Ticino, differs in the use of public psychiatric services and in the type of mental disorder presented, with respect to the Swiss population. DESIGN: Research completed on subjects Swiss and foreign, over 19 years old, and resident in the Canton Ticino, who during 1995 spent at least one day admitted at the psychiatric hospital or had at least one contact with the out-patient services. SETTING: Public psychiatric services of the Canton's sociopsychiatric organisation. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: For the Swiss, Italian and other non-Italian foreigners, the standardised annual rates of in- and outpatient prevalence and first admission and first outpatient contact were calculated, both totals and per diagnostic categories (ICD-10). RESULTS: The group of non-Italian foreigners presents higher total standardised annual rates of in-patient prevalence and first admission and above all, of first admission, with respect to the Swiss and Italian groups; furthermore, with respect to the other two groups it presents higher first admission rates for the schizophrenic syndromes (F2) in men and for mental disorders due to psychoactive substances (F1) in women. Whereas for first outpatient contacts the other foreigners present higher rates in neurotic syndromes (F4) in men, and affective syndromes (F3) in women. CONCLUSIONS: The results seem to confirm the presence of higher levels of mental disorder in non-Italian foreigners, above all for certain nationalities, with respect to Swiss and Italians. It is possible that the presence of a substantial offer of psychiatric services from the private sector may have caused an underestimation of the actual rate of mental disorder above all in the Swiss group and to a minor extent in that of the Italians.

Multiple sclerosis is associated with HLA-DR2 antigen in Spain.

One hundred and twenty-one Spanish multiple sclerosis patients were typed for HLA antigens. We found a significant increase of HLA-DR2 (p less than 0.004) compared with local normal controls. We confirm similar findings in other Caucasian populations.

Human leukocyte antigen alleles and haplotypes associated with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency in Spanish pediatric patients.

Class I and II human leukocyte antigens were determined by a standard microlymphocytotoxity test in a group of 45 pediatric patients with selective immunoglobulin A deficiency (IgA-D), 33 of them with frequent respiratory tract infections, allergic diseases, or gastrointestinal disorders (RTIAG), and 12 with celiac disease (CD). The results showed that the DR1 allele, and the A1, B8, Cw7, DR3, DQw2; B35, Cw4, DR1, DQw1; and B14, DR1, DQw1 haplotypes could be involved with IgA-D susceptibility in RTIAG patients. Among the CD-IgA-D group, the B14 allele and A1, B8, Cw7, DR3, DQw2 haplotype were found to confer a high risk of developing IgA-D. A possible protective role may be postulated for DR2 and DR4 in both types of IgA-D patients. The present study confirms some of the previous findings in other white populations and describes new possible alleles and haplotypes that could be implicated with IgA-D susceptibility and resistance.