Acute urticaria in children: course of the disease, features of skin microbiome.

Introduction: Quantitative and qualitative changes in the microbiome of the skin affect the emergence and course of allergic diseases, in particular, of acute urticaria. Aim: To investigate the taxonomic composition of the skin microbiota in children with acute urticaria and to study its effect on the course of the disease. Material and methods: In total, 75 children with diagnosed acute urticaria at the age of 7--14 years were examined. The average age of children was 10.83 ±0.95, of which 44 (58.7%) were boys, and 31 (41.3%) were girls. The control group consisted of 30 virtually healthy children of the appropriate age, of whom 16 (53.3%) were boys, and 13 (46.7%) were girls. Results: Regardless of the severity of the disease, the examined children suffering from acute urticaria had sensitization in history with a significant prevalence of food sensitization (p < 0.05). The occurrence of a severe episode of acute urticaria is associated with allergens of drug origin in 52.6% of cases and the action of unidentified triggers in 47.4% of cases. In children with acute urticaria, S. epidermidis, S. aureus, bacteria of the genus Peptococcus, and Peptostreptococcus dominated on a non-affected skin area, while for the affected skin area, the Propionibacterium, S. aureus, S. epidermidis, bacteria of the genus Peptococcus, Propionibacterium, and Peptostreptococcus were denoted as dominating. Conclusions: High frequency of S. aureus detection on affected and non- affected skin areas in children with acute urticaria is a predictor of the disease severity.

The global loss of floristic uniqueness.

Regional species assemblages have been shaped by colonization, speciation and extinction over millions of years. Humans have altered biogeography by introducing species to new ranges. However, an analysis of how strongly naturalized plant species (i.e. alien plants that have established self-sustaining populations) affect the taxonomic and phylogenetic uniqueness of regional floras globally is still missing. Here, we present such an analysis with data from native and naturalized alien floras in 658 regions around the world. We find strong taxonomic and phylogenetic floristic homogenization overall, and that the natural decline in floristic similarity with increasing geographic distance is weakened by naturalized species. Floristic homogenization increases with climatic similarity, which emphasizes the importance of climate matching in plant naturalization. Moreover, floristic homogenization is greater between regions with current or past administrative relationships, indicating that being part of the same country as well as historical colonial ties facilitate floristic exchange, most likely due to more intensive trade and transport between such regions. Our findings show that naturalization of alien plants threatens taxonomic and phylogenetic uniqueness of regional floras globally. Unless more effective biosecurity measures are implemented, it is likely that with ongoing globalization, even the most distant regions will lose their floristic uniqueness.

Distribution of trace metals and an environmental risk assessment of the river sediments in the area of the Lomonosov diamond deposit (NW Russia).

This article is devoted to the study of trace metals in the bottom sediments of watercourses in the area of the developed Lomonosov diamond deposit, which is the largest industrial diamond deposit in Europe. Samples of river sediments were taken from the Zolotitsa River and all its tributaries in the area of the diamond deposit. In addition, samples of kimberlites and rocks were selected from the quarries. It was established that the average concentration of metals in all types of rocks extracted from the quarries was significantly higher than that in river sediments and naturally decreased in the following order: kimberlites (D3-C2), Vendian enclosing rocks (V2) and overlying Quaternary and Carboniferous deposits (Q and C2). The results suggest that the mining and beneficiation complex plays a significant role in increasing the metal content in the river sediments, which is reliably recorded by the change in the physicochemical parameters of river sediments due to the anthropogenic impacts. The heavy metal pollution in river sediments in the area of Lomonosov diamond deposits is due to three main factors: (1) the discharge of quarry water into the peatbog-filtration fields and then into the river, (2) erosion of the rock dumps and natural factors and (3) the process by which the products from the weathering of kimberlites are transferred to the riverbed, and this transfer process requires further clarification. The results of this research can provide management references for the pollution control of the diamond mining industrial zone and the prevention of basin environmental risks.