Evaluating Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms in Inflammasome Proteins and Serum Levels of IL-18 and IL-1ß in Kidney Interstitial Damage in Anti-Neutrophilic Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis.

The inflammasome regulates the innate inflammatory response and is involved in autoimmune diseases. In this study, we explored the levels of IL-18 and IL-1ß in serum and urine and the influence of various single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) on kidney lesions at diagnosis in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) and their clinical outcomes. Ninety-two patients with renal AAV were recruited, and blood and urine were collected at diagnosis. Serum and urine cytokine levels were measured by ELISA. DNA was extracted and genotyped using TaqMan assays for SNPs in several inflammasome genes. Lower serum IL-18 (p = 0.049) and the IL-18 rs187238 G-carrier genotype (p = 0.042) were associated with severe fibrosis. The IL-18 rs1946518 TT genotype was associated with an increased risk of relapse (p = 0.05), whereas GG was related to better renal outcomes (p = 0.031). The rs187238 GG genotype was identified as a risk factor for mortality within the first year after AAV diagnosis, independent of the requirement for dialysis or lung involvement (p = 0.013). We suggest that decreased cytokine levels could be a surrogate marker of scarring and chronicity of the renal lesions, together with the rs187238 GG genotype. If our results are validated, the rs1946518 TT genotype predicts the risk of relapse and renal outcomes during follow-up.

Síndrome de las uñas amarillas. Presentación de un caso con estudio autópsico / Yellow nail syndrome. A case report with postmortem study

El síndrome de las uñas amarillas es una enfermedad rara de etiología desconocida, caracterizado por una coloración amarillenta de las uñas, manifestaciones respiratorias y linfedemas primarios1. Existe poca literatura científica en referencia a estudios autópsicos de pacientes con este síndrome, así como respecto a su etiología, si bien se postula que es causada por una malformación de los conductos linfáticos. En este artículo presentamos el caso de una paciente diagnosticada en vida de síndrome de las uñas amarillas en cuyo estudio autópsico se encontraron algunos hallazgos previamente no descritos, como dilatación de los senos de ganglios linfáticos mediastinales y esplénicos.(AU)

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. Patients with YNS have a characteristic yellowish-coloured nails, pulmonary alterations and primary lymphedema. To the best of our knowledge, only a few reports of autopsy findings in these patients have been published. Its aetiology possibly involves a primary malformation of larger lymph vessels. We describe autopsy findings not previously associated with yellow nail syndrome, such as expansion of mediastinal lymph-nodes and splenic sinusoids.The present autopsy reveals hitherto unreported findings associated with YNS, such as alterations in splenic sinusoids and mediastinal lymph-node sinuses.(AU)

[Yellow nail syndrome. A case report with postmortem study]. / Síndrome de las uñas amarillas. Presentación de un caso con estudio autópsico.

Yellow nail syndrome is a rare disease of unknown aetiology. Patients with YNS have a characteristic yellowish-coloured nails, pulmonary alterations and primary lymphedema. To the best of our knowledge, only a few reports of autopsy findings in these patients have been published. Its aetiology possibly involves a primary malformation of larger lymph vessels. We describe autopsy findings not previously associated with yellow nail syndrome, such as expansion of mediastinal lymph-nodes and splenic sinusoids. The present autopsy reveals hitherto unreported findings associated with YNS, such as alterations in splenic sinusoids and mediastinal lymph-node sinuses.

Fecal pulmonary embolism: a case report and literature review.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a common cause of death in hospitalized patients. These emboli are usually related to deep venous thrombosis, but other etiologic factors may be the cause. A 60-year-old male was diagnosed with rectal adenocarcinoma and treated by surgical rectal resection. After surgery, he presented with a decreased level of consciousness and hypoxia with no signs of bleeding. PE was ruled out by pulmonary angiography. Given the hemodynamic instability, contrast-enhanced CT was performed, showing a discrete leak related to the rectal anastomosis, which required urgent surgery. The patient suffered cardiorespiratory arrest prior to surgery, and once resolved, the surgical procedure was limited to disconnecting the intestinal anastomosis, leaving the colon and rectal stumps free in the abdomen and keeping the abdominal cavity open with negative-pressure therapy. The patient suffered from another cardiorespiratory arrest after surgery, with abdominal distension and serous-hemorrhagic material discharge through the negative-pressure device. On a new surgical revision, no bleeding was identified, so the symptoms were attributed to coagulopathy. The patient died and autopsy was performed. The autopsy revealed no surgery-related complications. The lungs were increased in weight and showed a normal macroscopic appearance; in contrast, the histological study revealed multiple and bilateral thrombo-embolisms affecting small distal arteries. Those thrombi were composed of intestinal contents, including vegetal particles, mucinous and biliary material, fibrin, and bacterial structures. Fecal PE is an extremely infrequent event. Isolated cases have been described in association with communications between the digestive tract lumen and the systemic circulation, with a generally fatal prognosis.

THSD7A-positive membranous nephropathy after kidney transplantation: A case report.

Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a common cause of nephrotic syndrome after kidney transplantation (KT); however, scarce is known regarding post-KT thrombospondin type-1 domain-containing 7A (THSD7A)-positive MN. Herein, we report on a 72-year-old woman with end-stage kidney disease due to chronic interstitial nephritis (1996). In February 2020, she received a second deceased-donor KT, achieving optimal kidney function but presenting early post-KT proteinuria, reaching up to 1800mg/24h six months after transplantation, controlled with renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) blockade. In July 2021, a kidney allograft biopsy revealed features consistent with MN. Immunohistochemical stains showed diffuse and granular THSD7A and C4d deposition in glomerular capillary walls and negative PLA2R and IgG4 staining. No anti-THSD7A antibodies were detected in the serum. The pre-implantation biopsy showed no MN-associated lesions and negative THSD7A staining. Secondary triggers such as malignancy were discarded. The present report illustrates a THSD7A-positive MN in a KT recipient. Despite lacking native kidney biopsy and early presentation, a recurrent MN seemed unprovable due to documented native kidney disease and a long time span between native kidney disease and MN diagnosis. We, therefore, presumed primary de novo disease. Two years after KT, kidney function remains stable, and the patient has reached complete remission of proteinuria.

SARS-CoV-2 infection in patients with melanoma: results of the Spanish Melanoma Group registry.

BACKGROUND: The Spanish Melanoma Group (GEM) developed a national registry of patients with melanoma infected by SARS-CoV-2 ("GRAVID"). METHODS: The main objective was to describe the COVID-19 fatality rate in patients with melanoma throughout the pandemic, as well as to explore the effect of melanoma treatment and tumor stage on the risk of COVID-19 complications. These are the final data of the register, including cases from February 2020 to September 2021. RESULTS: One hundred-fifty cases were registered. Median age was 68 years (range 6-95), 61 (40%) patients were females, and 63 (42%) patients had stage IV. Thirty-nine (26%) were on treatment with immunotherapy, and 17 (11%) with BRAF-MEK inhibitors. COVID-19 was resolved in 119 cases, including 85 (57%) patients cured, 15 (10%) that died due to melanoma, and 20 (13%) that died due to COVID-19. Only age over 60 years, cardiovascular disorders, and diabetes mellitus increased the risk of death due to COVID-19, but not advanced melanoma stage nor melanoma systemic therapies. Three waves have been covered by the register: February-May 2020, August-November 2020, and December 2020-April 2021. The first wave had the highest number of registered cases and COVID-19 mortality. CONCLUSION: Tumor stage or melanoma treatments are non-significant prognostic factors for COVID-19 mortality. During the pandemic in Spain there was a downward trend in the number of patients registered across the waves, as well as in the severity of the infection. GOV IDENTIFIER: NCT04344002.

Concordance of p16INK4a and E6*I mRNA among HPV-DNA-Positive Oropharyngeal, Laryngeal, and Oral Cavity Carcinomas from the ICO International Study.

Background: Tests or test algorithms for diagnosing HPV-driven oral cavity and laryngeal head and neck carcinomas (HNC) have not been yet validated, and the differences among oral cavity and laryngeal sites have not been comprehensively evaluated. We aimed to assess the utility of a diagnostic algorithm for the detection of HPV-driven oral cavity (OCC), oropharyngeal (OPC) and laryngeal (LC) carcinomas using HPV-DNA testing followed by p16INK4a immunohistochemistry, taking E6*I mRNA detection as the reference standard. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded OCC, OPC, and LC carcinomas were collected from pathology archives in 29 countries. All samples were subjected to histopathological evaluation, DNA quality control, and HPV-DNA detection. All HPV-DNA-positive samples (including 78 OCC, 257 OPC, and 51 LC out of 3680 HNC with valid HPV-DNA results) were also tested for p16INK4a immunohistochemistry and E6*I mRNA. Three different cutoffs of nuclear and cytoplasmic staining were evaluated for p16INK4a: (a) >25%, (b) >50%, and (c) ≥70%. The concordance of p16INK4a and E6*I mRNA among HPV-DNA-positive OCC, OPC, and LC cases was assessed. Results: A total of 78 OCC, 257 OPC, and 51 LC were HPV-DNA-positive and further tested for p16INK4a and E6*I mRNA. The percentage of concordance between p16INK4a (cutoff ≥ 70%) and E6*I mRNA among HPV-DNA-positive OCC, OPC, and LC cases was 79.5% (95% CI 69.9−89.1%), 82.1% (95% CI 77.2−87.0%), and 56.9% (95% CI 42.3−71.4%), respectively. A p16INK4a cutoff of >50% improved the concordance although the improvement was not statistically significant. For most anatomical locations and p16INK4a cutoffs, the percentage of discordant cases was higher for HPV16- than HPV-non16-positive cases. Conclusions: The diagnostic algorithm of HPV-DNA testing followed by p16INK4a immunohistochemistry might be helpful in the diagnosis of HPV-driven OCC and OPC, but not LC. A different p16INK4a expression pattern was observed in those cases HPV-DNA-positive for types other than HPV16, as compared to HPV16-positive cases. Our study provides new insights into the use HPV-DNA, p16INK4a, and HPV-E6*I mRNA for diagnosing an HPV-driven HNC, including the optimal HPV test or p16INK4a cutoffs to be used. More studies are warranted to clarify the role of p16INK4a and HPV status in both OPC and non-OPC HNC.

Factors driving sediment compositional change in the distal area of the Ria de Vigo (NW Spain): oceanographic processes vs. paleopollution.

We analyze potential Late Holocene metal contamination along a sediment core collected in the distal zone of Ria de Vigo (North Spain). Statistical treatment of the dataset based on a multiproxy approach enabled us to identify and disentangle factors influencing the depositional processes and the preservation of the records of this activity in the area over the last ≈3000 years BP. Some layers of the analyzed core have significant enrichment in Cu and a moderate enrichment in Ag, Mo, As, Sb, S, Zn, Ni, Sn, Cd, Cr, Co, Pb, and Li. The enrichment of these elements in some layers of this core may be related to mining activities that have taken place since classical times in the region. Successive phases of pollution were identified along the core KSGX24 related to the Late Bronze Age (≈3000-2450 years BP), Iron Age (≈2450-1850 years BP), Roman times (≈1850-1550 years BP), Middle Ages (≈1250-500 years BP), and industrial and modern (≈250-0 years BP) anthropic activities. The protection of the Cies Islands, the erosive and transport capacity of the rivers in the region, oscillations of the oceanographic and climatic regime, atmospheric contamination, and diagenetic sedimentary processes might have contributed to the accumulation and preservation of this record in the distal region of the Ria de Vigo. The studied core shows that the industrial and preindustrial anthropic impacts caused an environmental liability and contributed to the presence of moderate to heavy pollution of various metals in surface and subsurface sediment layers in the distal sector of the Ria de Vigo, which could be a hazard to biota.

Role of Human Papillomavirus Infection in Head and Neck Cancer in Italy: The HPV-AHEAD Study.

Literature on the role of human papillomavirus (HPV) in head and neck cancer (HNC) in Italy is limited, especially for non-oropharyngeal tumours. Within the context of the HPV-AHEAD study, we aimed to assess the prognostic value of different tests or test algorithms judging HPV carcinogenicity in HNC and factors related to HPV positivity at the European Institute of Oncology. We conducted a retrospective cohort study (2000-2010) on a total of 696 primary HNC patients. Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded cancer tissues were studied. All HPV-DNA-positive and a random sample of HPV-DNA-negative cases were subjected to HPV-E6*I mRNA detection and p16INK4a staining. Multivariate models were used to assess for factors associated with HPV positivity and proportional hazards for survival and recurrence. The percentage of HPV-driven cases (considering HPV-E6*I mRNA positivity) was 1.8, 2.2, and 40.4% for oral cavity (OC), laryngeal (LC), and oropharyngeal (OPC) cases, respectively. The estimates were similar for HPV-DNA/p16INK4a double positivity. Being a non-smoker or former smoker or diagnosed at more recent calendar periods were associated with HPV-E6*I mRNA positivity only in OPC. Being younger was associated with HPV-E6*I mRNA positivity in LC. HPV-driven OPC, but not HPV-driven OC and LC, showed better 5 year overall and disease-free survival. Our data show that HPV prevalence in OPC was much higher than in OC and LC and observed to increase in most recent years. Moreover, HPV positivity conferred better prognosis only in OPC. Novel insights on the role of HPV in HNC in Italy are provided, with possible implications in the clinical management of these patients.

Single-cell resolution analysis of the human pancreatic ductal progenitor cell niche.

We have described multipotent progenitor-like cells within the major pancreatic ducts (MPDs) of the human pancreas. They express PDX1, its surrogate surface marker P2RY1, and the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) receptor 1A (BMPR1A)/activin-like kinase 3 (ALK3), but not carbonic anhydrase II (CAII). Here we report the single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) of ALK3bright+-sorted ductal cells, a fraction that harbors BMP-responsive progenitor-like cells. Our analysis unveiled the existence of multiple subpopulations along two major axes, one that encompasses a gradient of ductal cell differentiation stages, and another featuring cells with transitional phenotypes toward acinar tissue. A third potential ducto-endocrine axis is revealed upon integration of the ALK3bright+ dataset with a single-cell whole-pancreas transcriptome. When transplanted into immunodeficient mice, P2RY1+/ALK3bright+ populations (enriched in PDX1+/ALK3+/CAII- cells) differentiate into all pancreatic lineages, including functional ß-cells. This process is accelerated when hosts are treated systemically with an ALK3 agonist. We found PDX1+/ALK3+/CAII- progenitor-like cells in the MPDs of types 1 and 2 diabetes donors, regardless of the duration of the disease. Our findings open the door to the pharmacological activation of progenitor cells in situ.

Cerebellar alterations in cannabis users: A systematic review.

Cannabis is the most used illicit substance in the world. As many countries are moving towards decriminalization, it is crucial to determine whether and how cannabis use affects human brain and behavior. The role of the cerebellum in cognition, emotion, learning, and addiction is increasingly recognized. Because of its high density in CB1 receptors, it is expected to be highly affected by cannabis use. The aim of this systematic review is to investigate how cannabis use affects cerebellar structure and function, as well as cerebellar-dependent behavioral tasks. Three databases were searched for peer-reviewed literature published until March 2018. We included studies that focused on cannabis effects on cerebellar structure, function, or cerebellar-dependent behavioral tasks. A total of 348 unique records were screened, and 40 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis. The most consistent findings include (1) increases in cerebellar gray matter volume after chronic cannabis use, (2) alteration of cerebellar resting state activity after acute or chronic use, and (3) deficits in memory, decision making, and associative learning. Age of onset and higher exposure to cannabis use were frequently associated with increased cannabis-induced alterations. Chronic cannabis use is associated with alterations in cerebellar structure and function, as well as with deficits in behavioral paradigms that involve the cerebellum (eg, eyeblink conditioning, memory, and decision making). Future studies should consider tobacco as confounding factor and use standardized methods for assessing cannabis use. Paradigms exploring the functional activity of the cerebellum may prove useful as monitoring tools of cannabis-induced impairment.

Noninvasive Brain Stimulation in Pediatric Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): A Review.

Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is one of the most prevalent neurodevelopmental disorders in the pediatric population. The clinical management of ADHD is currently limited by a lack of reliable diagnostic biomarkers and inadequate therapy for a minority of patients who do not respond to standard pharmacotherapy. There is optimism that noninvasive brain stimulation may help to address these limitations. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation are 2 methods of noninvasive brain stimulation that modulate cortical excitability and brain network activity. Transcranial magnetic stimulation can be used diagnostically to probe cortical neurophysiology, whereas daily use of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation or transcranial direct current stimulation can induce long-lasting and potentially therapeutic changes in targeted networks. In this review, we highlight research showing the potential diagnostic and therapeutic applications of transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcranial direct current stimulation in pediatric ADHD. We also discuss the safety and ethics of using these tools in the pediatric population.

Perfil y endofenotipos neuropsicológicos en TDAH: Una revisión / Neuropsychological profile and endophenotypes in ADHD: A review

Existe un acuerdo científico generalizado acerca de que un porcentaje elevado de las personas que presentan Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad (TDAH) tienen también importantes dificultades en su rendimiento psicológico. Esta afirmación cuenta con evidencias cognitivo-conductuales y neurofuncionales. Así, están ampliamente constatados los problemas en el funcionamiento ejecutivo en los pacientes con TDAH, encontrándose, en especial, tamaños de efecto robustos para la memoria de trabajo y la inhibición. En este trabajo se presenta una revisión del perfil neuropsicológico más frecuentemente encontrado en TDAH, y se discuten los distintos modelos explicativos y dificultades en el endofenotipado neuropsicológico

There is a generalized scientific agreement that a high percentage of people with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) also show significant difficulties in neuropsychological performance. There is evidence for both cognitive-behavioral and neurophysiological data. Deficits in executive functioning have been widely observed in ADHD and robust effect sizes for working memory and inhibition are found. In this work, we show a review of the most common neuropsychological profile found in ADHD, and discuss the explanatory models and the difficulties with neuropsychological endophenotypes

Efectividad cognitiva del metilfenidato y de la atomoxetina en el trastorno por déficit de atención con hiperactividad: una revisión / Cognitive effectiveness of methylphenidate and atomoxetine in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a review

INTRODUCCIÓN: El Trastorno por Déficit de Atención con Hiperactividad (TDAH) se asocia a importantes déficits en diversos dominios cognitivos. Dicha afirmación cuenta con evidencias cognitivo-conductuales y neurofuncionales. El tratamiento farmacológico indicado en esta población tiene como objetivo fundamental suprimir o reducir la sintomatología nuclear del trastorno. Esta es la diana terapéutica tanto del Metilfenidato como de la Atomoxetina. Ambos actúan sobre la corteza prefrontal y sus conexiones con los ganglios basales, parte del sustrato anatómico de la atención, la actividad motora y el control inhibitorio. Considerando que estas regiones forman parte del conjunto de áreas y circuitos implicados en el procesamiento cognitivo complejo, se puede colegir que los acercamientos farmacológicos eficaces en la mejora de la sintomatología nuclear de este trastorno tendrán un efecto beneficioso sobre la ejecución cognitiva de estos pacientes, y, por extensión, sobre el rendimiento académico. OBJETIVO: Actualizar los conocimientos existentes en neurociencia sobre la repercusión cognitiva de la administración de Metilfenidato y Atomoxetina en población con TDAH. Es un interés central del estudio profundizar en la relación entre sintomatología nuclear, sustrato anatomopatológico y rendimiento cognitivo, con especial referencia a las funciones ejecutivas. MÉTODO: Se ha realizado una exhaustiva revisión bibliográfica en la bases Pubmed, PsycINFO y Medline con las palabras clave: Metilfenidato, Atomoxetina, TDAH, Tratamiento, Evaluación neuropsicológica y Neuropsicología infantil. CONCLUSIONES: El metilfenidato ha mostrado superioridad a la atomoxetina en el control de la sintomatología nuclear. Sin embargo, sobre el funcionamiento cognitivo, y en especial sobre la memoria de trabajo, ambos fármacos muestran efectos beneficiosos comparables

INTRODUCTION: There is growing scientific agreement that attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is associated with significant deficits in several cognitive domains. This assertion has cognitive-behavioral and neurophysiological evidence. Drug therapy is traditionally focused in reducing or eliminating the nuclear symptoms of the disorder (inattention, hyperactivity and impulsivity) to adaptative levels. Methyphenidate (MTF) and Atomoxetine (ATX) are two of the most popular medications for this population. Both act on the prefrontal cortex and its connections to the basal ganglia, circuits related as well to the anatomical substrate of attention, motor activity and inhibitory control. If we consider that these regions are also involved in complex cognitive processing likewise, we can conclude that, the pharmachological approaches that are effective in improving nuclear symptoms of this disorder, will have a beneficial effect on cognitive performance of these patients, and by extension on academic performance. OBJECTIVE: This literature review pretend to update existing knowledge on cognitive impact of methylphenidate or atomoxetine administration in people with ADHD. We aim to deepen in the relationship between nuclear symptoms, pathologic substrate and cognitive performance with special reference to executive functions. METHODS: We have done an extensive literature review in PubMed, PsycINFO and Medline databases with the keywords: Methylphenidate, atomoxetine, ADHD, Treatment, Neuropsychological assessment and child neuropsychology. CONCLUSIONS: methylphenidate has shown superiority to atomoxetine in controlling nuclear symptomatology, however, on cognitive functioning, particularly on working memory, both drugs show comparable beneficial effects in some studies

Lisdexanfetamine en niños y adolescentes con trastorno por déficit de atención e hiperactividad (TDAH): una revisión sistemática global / Lisdexamfetamine in attention-defitic and hyperactivity disorder (adhd) children and adolescents: a systematic global review

El Trastorno por Déficit de Atención e Hiperactividad (TDAH) es uno de los trastornos más frecuentes en Psiquiatría Infanto-Juvenil, y muy habitualmente requiere tratamiento farmacológico dentro de su plan terapéutico. Dentro de estos, desde hace cerca de un año se dispone en España de la lisdexanfetamina, novedoso tanto por ser una anfetamina como por ser un profármaco. Objetivo: revisar y resumir la evidencia existente sobre lisdexanfetamina y su uso en niños y adolescentes afectos de TDAH. Método: búsqueda bibliográfica exhaustiva en PubMed con los siguientes términos: lisdexamfetamine, OR lisdexamphetamine, OR lisdexanfetamina. Resultados: la lisdexanfetamina es un profármaco seguro, con un perfil de efectos adversos similar al de los otros tratamientos farmacológicos del TDAH conocidos, y muy eficaz para su tratamiento en niños y adolescentes, con un bajo potencial de abuso y uso inadecuado, y una respuesta clínica estable y prolongada a lo largo del día. Limitaciones: Aunque es un fármaco con eficacia y seguridad conocida en sus casi 9 años de comercialización en EEUU y su principio activo fue uno de los primeros en usarse para el tratamiento del TDAH, precisa llevar a cabo estudios prospectivos con horizontes temporales más amplios que los actuales, que contemplen seguridad y eficacia a largo plazo, eficacia frente a otros tratamientos en TDAH, y su uso en el paciente real

Attention Deficit Disorder Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most common disorders in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, and very often requires pharmacological intervention in its treatment plan. Among these, lisdexamfetamine is available in Spain since about one year ago, new both as being an amphetamine and as a prodrug. Objective: To review and summarize the evidence on lisdexamfetamine and its use in ADHD children and adolescents. Method: A comprehensive literature search in PubMed was done with the following terms: lisdexamfetamine, OR lisdexamphetamine, OR lisdexanfetamina. Results: Lisdexamfetamine is a prodrug with a safety profile similar to other known ADHD pharmacological treatments, and very effective for ADHD treatment in children and adolescents, with a low potential for abuse or misuse, and a stable clinical response extended along the day. Limitations: Although it is a drug with a known profile of efficacy and security along its nearly 9 years of marketing in the US, it should be necessary to conduct longer-term prospective studies to show more data about its safety and efficacy, efficacy related to other ADHD treatments, and its use in the real patient

Trichoderma genes in plants for stress tolerance- status and prospects.

Many filamentous fungi from the genus Trichoderma are well known for their anti-microbial properties. Certain genes from Trichoderma spp. have been identified and transferred to plants for improving biotic and abiotic stress tolerance, as well for applications in bioremediation. Several Trichoderma genomes have been sequenced and many are in the pipeline, facilitating high throughput gene analysis and increasing the availability of candidate transgenes. This, coupled with improved plant transformation systems, is expected to usher in a new era in plant biotechnology where several genes from these antagonistic fungi can be transferred into plants to achieve enhanced stress tolerance, bioremediation activity, herbicide tolerance, and reduction of phytotoxins. In this review, we illustrate the major achievements made by transforming plants with Trichoderma genes as well as their possible mode of action. Moreover, examples of efficient application of genetically modified plants as biofactories to produce active Trichoderma enzymes are indicated.

Guía de cribado del cáncer de cuello de útero en España, 2014 / No disponible

No disponible

Guía de cribado del cáncer de cuello de útero en España, 2014 / No disponible

No disponible

The influence of weather and climate on the reliability of magnetic properties of tree leaves as proxies for air pollution monitoring.

Monthly monitoring of magnetic properties of Platanus hispanica tree leaves was used to assess atmospheric pollution in Madrid (Spain) and its suburban town of Pozuelo de Alarcón. Magnetic susceptibility, isothermal remanent magnetisation and metal concentrations were analysed to study the sources of atmospheric pollutants and their spatial and temporal evolution. In addition to urban dust, our results indicated that lithogenic dust and incorporation of trace metals in the leaf tissue also control the magnetic susceptibility of tree leaves. Global comparisons with cities of different climatic regimes suggest that air humidity is the key factor controlling the relative influence of pollutants, lithogenic dust and biological effects on the magnetic properties of tree leaves. Interaction of the atmosphere and tree leaves depends not only on local meteorology but also on climate. Climate, especially air humidity, and meteorology need to be considered when interpreting the magnetic properties of tree leaves as an atmospheric pollution tool.

Assessment of the health quality of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal): heavy metals and benthic foraminifera.

This work analyses the distribution of heavy metals in the sediments of Ria de Aveiro (Portugal) assessed by total digestion and sequential chemical extraction of the sediments. The influence of environmental parameters on the living benthic foraminiferal assemblages was studied. The most polluted parts in the Ria de Aveiro are areas where the residence time is high and cohesive sediments are deposited. Organic matter, which is an excellent scavenger for a number of metals, is in general more abundant in the finer deposits of this lagoon, which act as sinks of anthropogenic pollutants. This condition is observed in Aveiro canals and Murtosa channel where sediments with the highest concentrations of Zn, Pb, Cu, and Cr are found. The sediments of Murtosa channel are also enriched in As, Co and Hg. In Aveiro canals the enrichment of heavy metals is mostly related to the past industrial production at their margins (ceramic and metallurgy), whereas in Murtosa channel with effluent discharges of the Chemical Complex of Estarreja. Foraminiferal density and diversity reach higher values near the lagoon mouth under higher marine influence and decline in general under very low-oxygen conditions. Some species seems to be indifferent to the increasing of TOC (e.g. Haynesina germanica and Ammonia tepida) and some have an opportunistic behaviour in areas with very depressed levels of oxygen (e.g. A. tepida and Quinqueloculina seminulum) whereas other species can better tolerate sulphide/reducing conditions (e.g. H. germanica, Bolivina ordinaria, Buliminella elegantissima, Bulimina elongata/gibba and Nonionella stella) a widespread condition in this lagoon. Foraminiferal density and some species are negatively correlated with concentrations of heavy metals. A most sensitive group of species to higher concentrations of heavy metals is identified (such as B. ordinaria, B. pseudoplicata and B. elongata/gibba) and another one of more tolerant species (such as H. germanica A. tepida and Q. seminulum). Foraminifera are more tolerate higher available concentrations (AC) of Zn in any phase than higher AC of Cu adsorbed do clay minerals (F1) and associated with Fe and Mn oxides (F2) and of Pb in F2; the phase F2, probably the most mobile phase, and even phase F1 seems to be more toxic than the increasing of metals in organic matter (F3).