Mapping IPF helps identify geographic regions at higher risk for disease development and potential triggers.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The relationship between IPF development and environmental factors has not been completely elucidated. Analysing geographic regions of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) cases could help identify those areas with higher aggregation and investigate potential triggers. We hypothesize that cross-analysing location of IPF cases and areas of consistently high air pollution concentration could lead to recognition of environmental risk factors for IPF development. METHODS: This retrospective study analysed epidemiological and clinical data from 503 patients registered in the Observatory IPF.cat from January 2017 to June 2019. Incident and prevalent IPF cases from the Catalan region of Spain were graphed based on their postal address. We generated maps of the most relevant air pollutant PM2.5 from the last 10 years using data from the CALIOPE air quality forecast system and observational data. RESULTS: In 2018, the prevalence of IPF differed across provinces; from 8.1 cases per 100 000 habitants in Barcelona to 2.0 cases per 100 000 in Girona. The ratio of IPF was higher in some areas. Mapping PM2.5 levels illustrated that certain areas with more industry, traffic and shipping maintained markedly higher PM2.5 concentrations. Most of these locations correlated with higher aggregation of IPF cases. Compared with other risk factors, PM2.5 exposure was the most frequent. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective study, prevalence of IPF is higher in areas of elevated PM2.5 concentration. Prospective studies with targeted pollution mapping need to be done in specific geographies to compile a broader profile of environmental factors involved in the development of pulmonary fibrosis.

Influence of chronic illnesses and underlying risk conditions on the incidence of pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate hospitalizations from pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults with specific underlying chronic conditions, evaluating the influence of these conditions in developing pneumonia. METHODS: Population-based cohort study involving 27,204 individuals ≥ 60 years old in Southern Catalonia, Spain. All cases of hospitalization from pneumococcal pneumonia (bacteremic and nonbacteremic) were collected since 01/12/2008 until 30/11/2011. Cox regression was used to calculate hazards ratio (HR) and estimate the association between baseline conditions and the risk of developing pneumococcal pneumonia. RESULTS: Maximum incidences (per 1000 person-years) appeared among patients with history of prior pneumonia (14.6), nursing home residents (12.8), persons with immunodeficiency/asplenia (7.7) and patients with chronic pulmonary disease (7.6). In multivariable analysis, age (HR: 1.05), nursing home residence (HR: 4.59), history of prior pneumonia (HR: 3.58), stroke (HR: 2.50), chronic heart disease (HR: 1.53), chronic pulmonary disease (HR: 4.09), diabetes mellitus (HR: 1.66), smoking (HR: 1.69) and immunosuppressive medication (HR: 1.87) appeared significantly associated with an increased risk of pneumococcal pneumonia. CONCLUSION: Our data support that nursing home residence, chronic pulmonary disease and immunocompromising conditions are the underlying conditions most strongly associated with an increasing risk of pneumococcal pneumonia in older adults. This data underline the need for better prevention strategies among these persons.

Asthma, respiratory symptoms and lung function in children living near a petrochemical site.

Residential proximity to environmental hazards has been related to adverse health outcomes. Respiratory health and allergies in children living near petrochemical sites have not been extensively studied. We evaluated the association between residential proximity to the petrochemical site of Tarragona (Catalonia, Spain) and the prevalence of asthma, respiratory symptoms and lung function in children. Children aged 6-7 (n=2672) and adolescents aged 13-14 (n=2524) residing near two large petrochemical sites and those living in a city with medium vehicular traffic were cross-sectionally compared with children from an area with low vehicular traffic and without industry. The prevalence of symptoms was measured using the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood written and video questionnaires. Lung function measurements were done in a subsample of 959 adolescents in the four areas. Multivariable analyses were done to estimate the effects of the residential area on symptoms and lung function adjusted for potential confounders. Crude prevalence of symptoms was similar across the studied areas. After adjustment, children and adolescents living near a petrochemical site had a statistically significant higher prevalence of respiratory hospitalizations in the previous year (Prevalence Ratio (PR)=1.49; 95%CI, 1.06-2.09) and of nocturnal cough (PR=1.29; 95%CI 1.05-1.57), respectively. Reduced lung function values among adolescents residing near the petrochemical areas were not observed. Although a higher prevalence of asthma in children and adolescents living near the petrochemical sites could not be demonstrated, as described in other studies, respiratory hospitalizations and nocturnal cough could be related to short-term exposures to pollutants. Other clinical and sub-clinical respiratory health effects in the petrochemical industry areas should be investigated.

Study of the probiotic potential and evaluation of the survival rate of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum lyophilized as a function of cryoprotectant.

The benefits of probiotics for the improvement of animal health status have been of great interest in recent years. For this reason, in this study was aimed at assessing a strain with probiotic potential to be added to the feed. Therefore, the objective of this trial is to use a strain with probiotic potential isolated from the intestinal microbiota of Helix aspersa Müller to subsequently add it to the feed of this species to improve its health status. So, the strain is characterized, and its probiotic potential is demonstrated. Finally, with the aim of preserving the probiotic strain by freeze-drying so that it can later be added to the feed, different cryoprotectants were studied that could give it a higher survival rate over time. The cryoprotectant that gives the best result with strain survival rate is trehalose 15%.

Endometrial Status in Queens Evaluated by Histopathology Findings and Two Cytological Techniques: Low-Volume Uterine Lavage and Uterine Swabbing.

Endometritis is associated with fertility problems in many species, with endometrial biopsy being the main diagnostic tool. In feline queens, the reduced size of the uterus may make it difficult to obtain representative diagnostic samples. Endometrial cytology may represent a valuable diagnostic tool for evaluating the health status of the endometrium in queens. Fifty domestic shorthair queens were included and divided into two cytological diagnostic technique groups, the uterine lavage (UL; n = 28) and uterine swabbing (US; n = 22) groups. Cytological results were compared with histopathological and bacteriological information. Changes in the histopathological patterns were also evaluated and compared with progesterone levels to confirm previous published data. Furthermore, the results from both cytological sampling methods were compared to evaluate the utility of each method. Endometritis was ruled out in all queens by means of histology and microbiology. Leukocyte counts and red blood cell/endometrial cell ratios were significantly higher in US than UL samples. Additionally, UL sampling is less affected by blood contamination and cells are better preserved. The combination of endometrial cytology and uterine culture might be useful for evaluating the endometrial characteristics in queens. The UL evaluation method is more representative of the actual endometrial status than the US technique.