RESUMEN
Climate proxy data are required for improved understanding of climate variability and change in the pre-instrumental period. We present the first international initiative to compile and share information on pro pluvia rogation ceremonies, which is a well-studied proxy of agricultural drought. Currently, the database has more than 3500 dates of celebration of rogation ceremonies, providing information for 153 locations across 11 countries spanning the period from 1333 to 1949. This product provides data for better understanding of the pre-instrumental drought variability, validating natural proxies and model simulations, and multi-proxy rainfall reconstructions, amongst other climatic exercises. The database is freely available and can be easily accessed and visualized via http://inpro.unizar.es/ .
RESUMEN
There are concerns that recent climate change is altering the frequency and magnitude of river floods in an unprecedented way1. Historical studies have identified flood-rich periods in the past half millennium in various regions of Europe2. However, because of the low temporal resolution of existing datasets and the relatively low number of series, it has remained unclear whether Europe is currently in a flood-rich period from a long-term perspective. Here we analyse how recent decades compare with the flood history of Europe, using a new database composed of more than 100 high-resolution (sub-annual) historical flood series based on documentary evidence covering all major regions of Europe. We show that the past three decades were among the most flood-rich periods in Europe in the past 500 years, and that this period differs from other flood-rich periods in terms of its extent, air temperatures and flood seasonality. We identified nine flood-rich periods and associated regions. Among the periods richest in floods are 1560-1580 (western and central Europe), 1760-1800 (most of Europe), 1840-1870 (western and southern Europe) and 1990-2016 (western and central Europe). In most parts of Europe, previous flood-rich periods occurred during cooler-than-usual phases, but the current flood-rich period has been much warmer. Flood seasonality is also more pronounced in the recent period. For example, during previous flood and interflood periods, 41 per cent and 42 per cent of central European floods occurred in summer, respectively, compared with 55 per cent of floods in the recent period. The exceptional nature of the present-day flood-rich period calls for process-based tools for flood-risk assessment that capture the physical mechanisms involved, and management strategies that can incorporate the recent changes in risk.
RESUMEN
ABSTRACT Objective: Degenerative disc disease is a common problem that could require surgical treatment. The aim of this study was to compare clinical outcomes, complications and benefits associated with intersomatic fusions by the MI-TLIF, PLIF and PLF techniques. Methods: A total of 212 patients were retrospectively reviewed. All patients underwent the same pre- and postoperative clinical evaluations using the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and SF-36. Follow-ups were performed for at least one year. Inpatient days, complications, blood loss and operative times were equally quantified. Results: Estimated blood loss for MI-TLIF was statistically lower compared to the amount of blood recovered by Cell Saver device on PLIF and PLF groups. Mean surgical time for MI-TLIF were not significantly different compared to PLIF and PLF groups. Inpatient days were significantly lower in the MI-TLIF group, with an average decrease of one day. Four complications were recorded in the PLIF group, 2 in the PLF group, and one in the MI-TLIF group. Analysis of the clinical parameters revealed post-operative improvements at all time points, with the most statistically significant differences occurring at the first six months. Better results were achieved with the MI-TLIF technique. Conclusions: Compared to more invasive techniques, MI-TLIF showed fewer complications, less blood loss and shorter hospitalization times. Longer operative times in this group can be explained by the greater technical complexity and incipient learning curves. Interbody fusion by PLIF, PLF and MI-TLIF provided good clinical outcomes, but faster recovery was obtained with less invasive techniques. Level of evidence: III; Type of study: Retrospective comparative case study.
RESUMO Objetivo: O objetivo deste estudo foi comparar resultados clínicos, complicações e benefícios associados às fusões intersomáticas pelas técnicas MI-TLIF, PLIF e PLF. Métodos: 212 doentes foram revistos retrospectivamente. Todos os doentes foram submetidos ao mesmo método de avaliação clínica pré e pós-operatória usando o índice de incapacidade Oswestry (ODI), o Score visual analógico para a dor (VAS) e a escala SF-36. Os follow-ups foram realizados durante o período de um ano. O tempo de internamento, complicações, perdas sanguíneas e tempos operatórios também foram contabilizados. Resultados: As perdas sanguíneas estimadas para o grupo MI-TLIF foram estatisticamente inferiores comparativamente com a quantidade de sangue recuperada pelo sistema "Cell Saver" nos grupos PLIF e PLF. O tempo médio de cirurgia para o MI-TLIF não apresentou diferenças estatísticas comparativamente aos grupos PLIF e PLF. O tempo de internamento foi significativamente inferior no grupo MI-TLIF, apresentando uma diminuição média de um dia. Quatro complicações foram registradas no grupo PLIF, duas no grupo PLF e uma no grupo MI-TLIF. A análise dos parâmetros clínicos revelou melhorias pós-operatórias em todos os grupos, com diferenças mais acentuadas nos primeiros seis meses. Conclusão: comparativamente com as técnicas mais invasivas, o MI-TLIF demonstrou uma menor taxa de complicações, menos perdas sanguíneas e menor tempo de internamento. Os tempos operatórios superiores neste grupo, podem ser explicados pela maior complexidade técnica e curvas de aprendizagem incipientes. Os doentes operados pelas técnicas PLIF, PLF e MI-TLIF apresentaram excelentes resultados clínicos, porém as técnicas menos invasivas, associam-se a uma recuperação mais rápida. Nível de evidencia: III. Tipo de estudo: Estudo comparativo retrospetivo.
RESUMEN Objetivo: La enfermedad degenerativa del disco es un problema común que puede requerir tratamiento quirúrgico. El objetivo de este estudio fue comparar resultados clínicos, complicaciones y beneficios asociados a las fusiones intersomáticas mediante las técnicas MI-TLIF, PLIF y PLF. Métodos: Un total de 212 pacientes fue evaluado retrospectivamente. Todos los pacientes fueron sometidos a las mismas evaluaciones clínicas pre y postoperatorias utilizando el Índice de Discapacidad de Oswestry (ODI), Escala visual analógica (EVA) y SF-36. Los seguimientos se realizaron durante al menos uno año. Los días de hospitalización, las complicaciones, la pérdida de sangre y los tiempos operatorios también se cuantificaron. Resultados: La pérdida de sangre estimada para MI-TLIF fue estadísticamente inferior en comparación con la cantidad de sangre recuperada por el dispositivo Cell Saver en los grupos PLIF y PLF. El tiempo quirúrgico promedio para MI-TLIF no fue significativamente diferente en comparación con los grupos PLIF y PLF. Los días de internación fueron significativamente inferiores en el grupo MI-TLIF, con una disminución promedio de uno día. Se registraron cuatro complicaciones en el grupo PLIF, dos en el grupo PLF y una en el grupo MI-TLIF. El análisis de los parámetros clínicos reveló mejorías postoperatorias en todos los puntos del tiempo, con las diferencias estadísticamente más significativas ocurriendo en los primeros seis meses. Se obtuvieron mejores resultados con la técnica MI-TLIF. Conclusiones: En comparación con las técnicas más invasivas, MI-TLIF mostró menos complicaciones, menos pérdida de sangre y tiempos de internación más cortos. Los tiempos operativos superiores en este grupo se pueden explicar por la mayor complejidad técnica y las curvas de aprendizaje incipientes. La fusión intersomática por PLIF, PLF y MI-TLIF proporcionó buenos resultados clínicos, pero se obtuvo una recuperación más rápida con técnicas menos invasivas. Nivel de evidencia: III. Tipo de Estudo: Estudio comparativo retrospectivo.
