Nutrient and herbivore alterations cause uncoupled changes in producer diversity, biomass and ecosystem function, but not in overall multifunctionality.

Altered nutrient cycles and consumer populations are among the top anthropogenic influences on ecosystems. However, studies on the simultaneous impacts of human-driven environmental alterations on ecosystem functions, and the overall change in system multifunctionality are scarce. We used estuarine tidal flats to study the effects of changes in herbivore density and nutrient availability on benthic microalgae (diversity, abundance and biomass) and ecosystem functions (N2-fixation, denitrification, extracellular polymeric substances -EPS- as a proxy for sediment cohesiveness, sediment water content as a proxy of water retention capacity and sediment organic matter). We found consistent strong impacts of modified herbivory and weak effects of increased nutrient availability on the abundance, biomass and diversity of benthic microalgae. However, the effects on specific ecosystem functions were disparate. Some functions were independently affected by nutrient addition (N2-fixation), modified herbivory (sediment organic matter and water content), or their interaction (denitrification), while others were not affected (EPS). Overall system multifunction remained invariant despite changes in specific functions. This study reveals that anthropogenic pressures can induce decoupled effects between community structure and specific ecosystem functions. Our results highlight the need to address several ecosystem functions simultaneously for better ecosystem characterization and management.

Aspectos básicos en la práctica actual de la medicina clínica en el trópico (II). Enfermedades bacterianas y virales. Malnutrición / Understanding current practice of clinical medicine in the tropics (II). Bacterial and viral diseases. Malnutrition

En los últimos años, son cada vez más los médicos que desean pasar parte de su formación en centros sanitarios de países en vías de desarrollo. Cuando se trabaja en estos centros destaca la importancia de las habilidades clínicas ante la limitación de recursos diagnósticos. Las enfermedades bacterianas y víricas son muy frecuentes y los recursos diagnósticos, muy limitados. En África, la tuberculosis supera los 200 casos por 100.000 habitantes y viven más de 22 millones de personas con infección por el VIH. La coexistencia de ambas enfermedades supone un grave problema de salud pública. La malnutrición es endémica en muchos países de África y se agrava con las crisis humanitarias y alimentarias. En este trabajo se presentan nociones básicas de epidemiología, clínica, diagnóstico y tratamiento de las principales enfermedades bacterianas y víricas que pueden encontrarse en un centro sanitario rural del trópico, así como la malnutrición(AU)

In recent years, a significant number of physicians want to spend part of their medical training in health facilities in developing countries. In this setting, clinical skills are extremely important due to the limited available diagnostic resources. Bacterial diseases are common, but bacterial cultures are rarely accessible. In Africa, tuberculosis affects over 200 cases per 100,000 persons, and more than 22 million people live with HIV infection; both diseases are a serious public health problem. Malnutrition is endemic in many countries in Africa and is compounded by the continuous humanitarian and food crisis. In this paper, basic concepts of epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of major diseases that can be found in a rural health post in the tropics are discussed(AU)

[Understanding current practice of clinical medicine in the tropics (II). Bacterial and viral diseases. Malnutrition]. / Aspectos básicos en la práctica actual de la medicina clínica en el trópico (II). Enfermedades bacterianas y virales. Malnutrición.

In recent years, a significant number of physicians want to spend part of their medical training in health facilities in developing countries. In this setting, clinical skills are extremely important due to the limited available diagnostic resources. Bacterial diseases are common, but bacterial cultures are rarely accessible. In Africa, tuberculosis affects over 200 cases per 100,000 persons, and more than 22 million people live with HIV infection; both diseases are a serious public health problem. Malnutrition is endemic in many countries in Africa and is compounded by the continuous humanitarian and food crisis. In this paper, basic concepts of epidemiology, clinical features, diagnosis and treatment of major diseases that can be found in a rural health post in the tropics are discussed.

Towards an operational system for oil-spill forecast over Spanish waters: initial developments and implementation test.

The ESEOO Project, launched after the Prestige crisis, has boosted operational oceanography capacities in Spain, creating new operational oceanographic services and increasing synergies between these new operational tools and already existing systems. In consequence, the present preparedness to face an oil-spill crisis is enhanced, significantly improving the operational response regarding ocean, meteorological and oil-spill monitoring and forecasting. A key aspect of this progress has been the agreement between the scientific community and the Spanish Search and Rescue Institution (SASEMAR), significantly favoured within the ESEOO framework. Important achievements of this collaboration are: (1) the design of protocols that at the crisis time provide operational state-of-the-art information, derived from both forecasting and observing systems; (2) the establishment, in case of oil-spill crisis, of a new specialized unit, named USyP, to monitor and forecast the marine oceanographic situation, providing the required met-ocean and oil-spill information for the crisis managers. The oil-spill crisis scenario simulated during the international search and rescue Exercise "Gijón-2006", organized by SASEMAR, represented an excellent opportunity to test the capabilities and the effectiveness of this USyP unit, as well as the protocols established to analyze and transfer information. The results presented in this work illustrate the effectiveness of the operational approach, and constitute an encouraging and improved base to face oil-spill crisis.

[Epidemiological data on chronic myeloid leukemia in Asturias, 1972-1986]. / Datos epidemiológicos de la leucemia mieloide crónica en Asturias durante el periodo 1972-1986.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence of CML in Asturias during the period 1972-1986, studying the variations in relation to age, sex and geographical zone. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Information relating to the date of diagnosis, name, age, sex and home address of the 108 cases (65 men and 43 women) diagnosed CML during the period 1972-1986 according to conventional criteria was collected from the hospital records of the region. For the calculations, SADEI demographic data were taken as a reference, comparing the incidence between sexes and geographical zones by means of the CHI2. RESULTS: A rate of incidence of 0.64/100,000 inhabitants/year was obtained, this being 0.8 in men and 0.5 in women (p < 0.05). The rate of incidence increased progressively with age until the 45-59 age group when it was maximum. There were no differences between the three main centres of population Gijón (0.53), Oviedo (0.55) and Avilés (0.69) nor the latter with the rest of the zones in Asturias; nor was three either any difference between coastal towns (0.56) and those of the interior (0.71) (p = NS). CONCLUSIONS: Limited incidence of CML in Asturias without significant differences in its geographical distribution within the region. The incidence, which was higher among males, increased progressively with age until reaching maximum importance in the 45-59 age group.

Allogeneic bone marrow transplantation versus intensification chemotherapy for acute myelogenous leukaemia in first remission: a prospective controlled trial.

In 1982 we began a prospective controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of allogeneic bone marrow transplantation and intensive post-remission chemotherapy for patients with acute myelogenous leukaemia in first complete remission. Fourteen patients, 3-45 years of age, who had an HLA-identical sibling donor, received bone marrow transplantation. Twenty-five patients who either lacked an HLA-identical sibling or were over 45 years of age received intensive consolidation chemotherapy including high-dose cytosine arabinoside with or without adriamycin. The actuarial rate of continued complete remission (CCR) at 3 years was significantly higher in the transplantation group than in the chemotherapy group: 70% (95% confidence interval 35-91%) compared with 10% (95% confidence interval 2-30%); P = 0.01. However, the actuarial rate of CCR was not significantly different between the transplantation group and patients under 45 years in the chemotherapy group: 70% (95% confidence interval 35-91%) compared with 17% (95% confidence interval 4-45%), 0.1 greater than P greater than 0.05. The actuarial probability of leukaemia relapse was significantly lower in the transplantation group than in the chemotherapy group: 10% (95% confidence interval 4-21%) compared with 88% (95% confidence interval 70-96%), 0.005 greater than P greater than 0.001. There was no significant difference between both groups if we compare only the patients who died of non-leukaemic causes: 22% (95% confidence interval 9-42%) versus 25% (95% confidence interval 7-59%), P = NS. In summary, this study shows that allogeneic bone marrow transplantation is a better anti-leukaemic treatment than is intensive consolidation chemotherapy in patients with AML in first complete remission.