Platos olvidados o de consumo ocasional en la gastronomía española: La Rioja / Forgotten dishes or occasional consumption in Spanish gastronomy: La Rioja

El río Ebro surca La Rioja dando lugar a una franja de tierra fértil de abundantes huertas y cultivos, muy especialmente el cultivo de la vid. Por otra parte, por sus tierras pasa la ruta jacobea (camino francés), fuente de transmisión de saber culinario. La historia documentada de la gastronomía riojanase remonta a la época medieval de la reconquista. Se mezclan la tendencia cristiana abundante de asados cárnicos, y la cocina algo más elaborada del Al-Ándalus. Gonzalo de Berceo, clérigo del Monasterio de Suso en San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja) menciona el vino y los quesos de la sierra de Cameros en el siglo XIII en sus versos. La cocina riojana está emparentada con la vasca, la navarra y la aragonesa. Se trata de una cocina en la que destaca la carne, las legumbres y el vino como sus más representativos componentes. También destaca por su abundante repostería, reflejo de una vida conventual extensa a lo largo del territorio. (AU)

The Ebro River flows through La Rioja giving rise to astrip of fertile land with abundant orchards and crops, especially vines. On the other hand, the Jacobean route (French way) passes through its lands, a source of transmission of culinary knowledge. The documented history of Rioja gastronomy dates back to the medieval period of the reconquest. The Christian trend plenty of meat roasts is mixed with the somewhat more elaborate cuisine of Al-Andalus. Gonzalo de Berceo, clergyman of the Monastery of Suso in San Millán de la Cogolla (La Rioja) mentions the wineand cheeses of the Sierra de Cameros in the 13th century in his verses. Riojan cuisine is related to Basque, Navarre and Aragonese cuisine. It is a cuisine in which meat, vegetables and wine stand out as its most representative components. It also stands out for its abundant confectionery, a reflection of extensive convent life throughout the territory. (AU)

Vitamin D deficiency in primary health care users at risk in Spain / Deficiencia de vitamina D en usuarios de atención primaria con riesgo en España

Background and objectives: despite long hours of sunlight in Spain, vitamin D deficiency has been rising of late. We aimed to describe vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in at-risk patients in La Rioja, a region in northern Spain. Methods: a retrospective, cross-sectional study involving 21,490 patients (74.3 % women) aged 14-105 years, who were primary health care (PHC) users in La Rioja, with an available 25-hidroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) test result corresponding to the first request from January 2013 to October 2015. Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were defined as 25(OH)D levels < 12 ng/mL, 12-20 ng/mL, and ≥ 20 ng/mL, respectively. Hypovitaminosis D was defined considering 2 cut-off points for 25(OH)D: < 20 ng/mL and < 30 ng/mL. Results: mean 25(OH)D levels were 18.3 (SD, 11.6) ng/mL in the whole sample, being lower in men than in women (17.6 vs 18.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Significantly higher 25(OH)D levels were found in the groups with 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70-74 years of age (range, 19.4-20.4 ng/mL), and lower levels were found in the groups with 80-85 years and older (16.7 and 14.5 ng/mL), as compared to other groups. Two thirds of the population were vitamin D-deficient (< 12 ng/mL, 30.9 %) or insufficient (12-20 ng/mL, 32.8 %), and only 32.8 % of patients were found to be vitamin D-sufficient (> 20 ng/ml). Hypovitaminosis D rate was higher (89.7 %) when the 25(OH)D cut-off point was set at < 30 ng/mL. A higher hypovitaminosis D rate (< 20 ng/mL) was found in men (67.1 %) vs women (62.6 %) (p < 0.001), and it was more prevalent in patients over 75 years (72.6 %). (AU)

Justificación y objetivos: a pesar de las largas horas de exposición solar en España, la deficiencia de vitamina D ha ido en aumento. Nuestro objetivo fue describir la deficiencia e insuficiencia de vitamina D en pacientes de riesgo en La Rioja, España. Métodos: estudio transversal retrospectivo en el que participaron 21.490 pacientes (74,3 % mujeres), usuarios de Atención Primaria (APS) en La Rioja, con resultado de prueba de 25-hidroxivitamina D (25(OH) D) disponible, correspondiente a las solicitudes efectuadas entre enero de 2013 y octubre de 2015. La deficiencia, insuficiencia y suficiencia de vitamina D se definieron como niveles de 25(OH)D < 12 ng/mL, = 12-20 ng/mL y ≥ 20 ng/mL, respectivamente. La hipovitaminosis D se definió considerando 2 puntos de corte de 25(OH)D: < 20 ng/mL y < 30 ng/mL. Resultados: los valores medios de 25(OH)D fueron de 18,3 (DE: 11,6) ng/mL en toda la muestra, siendo menores en los hombres que en las mujeres (17,6 vs. 18,5 ng/mL, p < 0,001). Se encontraron niveles de 25(OH)D significativamente más altos en los grupos de 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 y 70-74 años (rango, 19,4-20,4 ng/mL), y más bajos en los grupos de 80-85 años y mayores (16,7 y 14,5 ng/mL) en comparación con otros grupos. Dos tercios de la población presentaban deficiencia de vitamina D (< 12 ng/mL, 30,9 %) o insuficiencia (12-20 ng/mL, 32,8 %), y solo el 32,8 % de los pacientes presentaban niveles suficientes de vitamina D (> 20 ng/mL). La hipovitaminosis D fue mayor (89,7 %) cuando el punto de corte de 25(OH)D se estableció en < 30 ng/mL. Se encontró una mayor tasa de hipovitaminosis D (< 20 ng/mL) en los hombres (67,1 %) que en las mujeres (62,6 %) (p < 0,001), y dicha hipovitaminosis fue más prevalente en los pacientes mayores de 75 años (72,6 %). La prevalencia de la hipovitaminosis D siguió un patrón estacional que varió del 51,8 % al 76,5 %. (AU)

Vitamin D deficiency in primary health care users at risk in Spain.

INTRODUCTION: Background and objectives: despite long hours of sunlight in Spain, vitamin D deficiency has been rising of late. We aimed to describe vitamin D deficiency and insufficiency in at-risk patients in La Rioja, a region in northern Spain. Methods: a retrospective, cross-sectional study involving 21,490 patients (74.3 % women) aged 14-105 years, who were primary health care (PHC) users in La Rioja, with an available 25-hidroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) test result corresponding to the first request from January 2013 to October 2015. Vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were defined as 25(OH)D levels < 12 ng/mL, 12-20 ng/mL, and ≥ 20 ng/mL, respectively. Hypovitaminosis D was defined considering 2 cut-off points for 25(OH)D: < 20 ng/mL and < 30 ng/mL. Results: mean 25(OH)D levels were 18.3 (SD, 11.6) ng/mL in the whole sample, being lower in men than in women (17.6 vs 18.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001). Significantly higher 25(OH)D levels were found in the groups with 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, and 70-74 years of age (range, 19.4-20.4 ng/mL), and lower levels were found in the groups with 80-85 years and older (16.7 and 14.5 ng/mL), as compared to other groups. Two thirds of the population were vitamin D-deficient (< 12 ng/mL, 30.9 %) or insufficient (12-20 ng/mL, 32.8 %), and only 32.8 % of patients were found to be vitamin D-sufficient (> 20 ng/ml). Hypovitaminosis D rate was higher (89.7 %) when the 25(OH)D cut-off point was set at < 30 ng/mL. A higher hypovitaminosis D rate (< 20 ng/mL) was found in men (67.1 %) vs women (62.6 %) (p < 0.001), and it was more prevalent in patients over 75 years (72.6 %). The prevalence of hypovitaminosis D followed a seasonal pattern ranging from 51.8 % to 76.5 %; the lowest 25(OH)D levels were found in winter, and the highest in summer, with levels above 20 ng/mL in all age groups except for patients over 75 years (17.7 ng/mL). Patients over 75 years exhibited high rates of deficiency or insufficiency across all seasons of the year. Conclusions: in La Rioja, Spain, hypovitaminosis D was highly prevalent among PHC users, and especially in older age groups and during the winter months.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Justificación y objetivos: a pesar de las largas horas de exposición solar en España, la deficiencia de vitamina D ha ido en aumento. Nuestro objetivo fue describir la deficiencia e insuficiencia de vitamina D en pacientes de riesgo en La Rioja, España. Métodos: estudio transversal retrospectivo en el que participaron 21.490 pacientes (74,3 % mujeres), usuarios de Atención Primaria (APS) en La Rioja, con resultado de prueba de 25-hidroxivitamina D (25(OH) D) disponible, correspondiente a las solicitudes efectuadas entre enero de 2013 y octubre de 2015. La deficiencia, insuficiencia y suficiencia de vitamina D se definieron como niveles de 25(OH)D < 12 ng/mL, = 12-20 ng/mL y ≥ 20 ng/mL, respectivamente. La hipovitaminosis D se definió considerando 2 puntos de corte de 25(OH)D: < 20 ng/mL y < 30 ng/mL. Resultados: los valores medios de 25(OH)D fueron de 18,3 (DE: 11,6) ng/mL en toda la muestra, siendo menores en los hombres que en las mujeres (17,6 vs. 18,5 ng/mL, p < 0,001). Se encontraron niveles de 25(OH)D significativamente más altos en los grupos de 55-59, 60-64, 65-69 y 70-74 años (rango, 19,4-20,4 ng/mL), y más bajos en los grupos de 80-85 años y mayores (16,7 y 14,5 ng/mL) en comparación con otros grupos. Dos tercios de la población presentaban deficiencia de vitamina D (< 12 ng/mL, 30,9 %) o insuficiencia (12-20 ng/mL, 32,8 %), y solo el 32,8 % de los pacientes presentaban niveles suficientes de vitamina D (> 20 ng/mL). La hipovitaminosis D fue mayor (89,7 %) cuando el punto de corte de 25(OH)D se estableció en < 30 ng/mL. Se encontró una mayor tasa de hipovitaminosis D (< 20 ng/mL) en los hombres (67,1 %) que en las mujeres (62,6 %) (p < 0,001), y dicha hipovitaminosis fue más prevalente en los pacientes mayores de 75 años (72,6 %). La prevalencia de la hipovitaminosis D siguió un patrón estacional que varió del 51,8 % al 76,5 %. Los niveles más bajos de 25(OH)D se encontraron en invierno y los más altos en verano, con niveles por encima de 20 ng/mL en todos los grupos de edad excepto en los pacientes mayores de 75 años (17,7 ng/mL). Los pacientes mayores de 75 años presentaron altas tasas de deficiencia o insuficiencia durante todas las estaciones del año. Conclusiones: en La Rioja, España, la hipovitaminosis D fue altamente prevalente entre los usuarios de APS y, especialmente, en los grupos de mayor edad y durante los meses de invierno.

Autochthonous circulation of Saint Louis encephalitis and West Nile viruses in the Province of La Rioja, Argentina.

St. Louis encephalitis (SLEV) and West Nile (WNV) arboviruses, which circulate in Argentina, are maintained in enzootic transmission cycles involving Culex mosquitoes (vectors) and birds belonging to orders Passeriformes and Columbiformes (amplifier hosts). The objective of this work was to determine the circulation of both viruses among wild birds in a semiarid ecosystem in the Province of La Rioja through a serologic survey. During spring 2013 and fall 2014, a total of 326 wild birds belonging to 41 species were captured in areas close to the cities of La Rioja and Chilecito, in the Province of La Rioja. While exposure to SLEV and WNV was analyzed in birds' serum through neutralizing antibody detection, viral circulation was estimated through apparent seroprevalence of neutralizing antibodies. The exposure of the avian community to viruses was 3.02% for SLEV and 1.89% for WNV, while 1.19% corresponded to coinfections. Our study confirms for the first time the circulation of SLEV and WNV in wild birds in the Province of La Rioja. Moreover, it is the first study to register neutralizing antibodies for flavivirus in the species Leptotila verreauxi (White-tipped Dove) (WNV) and Melanerpes cactorum (White-fronted Woodpecker) (SLEV). These results suggest that in semiarid ecosystems from northwestern Argentina the requirements and conditions for amplification and enzootic maintenance of SLEV and WNV would be present.

[Nutrition and gastronomy in the community of La Rioja. Evolution of the food model, gastronomic identity and nutritional evaluation of the diet]. / Nutrición y gastronomía en la comunidad autónoma de La Rioja. Evolución del modelo alimentario, de la identidad gastronómica y de la valoración nutricional de la dieta.

INTRODUCTION: Objectives: the nutritional status of a population is one of the factors that most affect its health and quality of life. The gastronomy of a region as well as being an immaterial cultural asset of its inhabitants' conditions the food model of the same. Determining the evolution of the food model of the Community of La Rioja and its adaptation to the recommendations, assessing the influence that gastronomy has on it and defining the nutritional profile of the people of La Rioja has been the basis of this review. Methods: data provided by the Mapama Food Consumption Panel. Bibliographic searches on the topics described. Results: a decrease in the consumption of fresh fruits, vegetables, bread, vegetables and fresh vegetables is observed. Olive oil consumption is high. Gastronomy in La Rioja is simple but laborious, limiting the preparation of traditional dishes. The consumption of distilled drinks has increased. It has been estimated a low intake of carbohydrates and high fat. Calcium. Zinc, vitamin D and folates are nutrients that are deficient in the diet of the people of La Rioja. Conclusions: the decrease in the consumption of food of vegetable origin distances the food model from the Mediterranean diet while the high consumption of olive oil keeps it within it. The increase in the consumption of spirits with a higher content of ethanol, ethanol and ethyl carbamate is worrying. The intake of fatty acids, especially saturated fatty acids, should be moderated and a higher intake of carbohydrates from fruits, vegetables and legumes should be considered.

INTRODUCCIÓN: Objetivos: el estado nutricional de una población es uno de los factores que más inciden en su salud y en su calidad de vida. La gastronomía de una región, además de ser un bien cultural inmaterial de sus habitantes, condiciona su modelo alimentario. Determinar la evolución del modelo alimentario de la comunidad de La Rioja y su adecuación a las recomendaciones, valorar la influencia que la gastronomía tiene en el mismo y definir el perfil nutricional de los riojanos ha sido el fundamento de la presente revisión. Métodos: datos ofrecidos por el Panel de Consumo Alimentario del Mapama. Búsquedas bibliográficas sobre los temas descritos. Resultados: se observa un descenso en el consumo de fruta fresca, legumbres, pan, hortalizas y verduras frescas. El consumo de aceite de oliva es elevado. La gastronomía riojana es sencilla pero laboriosa, hecho que limita la preparación de platos tradicionales. El consumo de bebidas destiladas ha aumentado. Se ha estimado una baja ingesta de hidratos de carbono y alta en grasa. Calcio, Zinc, vitamina D y folatos son nutrientes deficitarios en la dieta de los riojanos. Conclusiones: el descenso en el consumo de alimentos de origen vegetal aleja al modelo alimentario de la dieta mediterránea, mientras que el elevado consumo de aceite de oliva lo mantiene dentro de ella. Es preocupante el incremento en el consumo de bebidas espirituosas con mayor contenido en etanol, etanal y carbamato de etilo. Debe moderarse la ingesta de ácidos grasos, y en especial de ácidos grasos saturados, y plantear una mayor ingesta de hidratos de carbono a partir de frutas, verduras y leguminosas.

Surveillance of Mosquitoes (Diptera, Culicidae) in a Northern Central Region of Spain: Implications for the Medical Community.

Mosquitoes are important to public and animal health due to their capacity to transmit diseases. Since the Zika virus was declared a pandemic by the WHO in 2016, and it has been recorded in different regions of Mediterranean Area (included Spain), the Government of La Rioja (Northern Spain) through the Center of Rickettsiosis and Arthropod-Borne Diseases, implemented an entomological surveillance programme of mosquitoes in La Rioja and in a close area of Navarra. This surveillance extended to some of the pathogens that they can transmit. Here we describe the framework of the initial surveillance programme for the detection of mosquitoes and associated human pathogens. We outline the benefits and the limitation of the programme to date, and explore how greater benefits can be achieved, for example using a One Health approach. Entomological surveillance has been carried out with BG-Sentinel traps, human bait technique and other methods such as collecting adults in resting places or immature stages by dipping in several wetlands. Since Aedes albopictus, vector of arbovirus such as Dengue, Chikungunya, and Zika, has not been detected yet in the region, the entomological programme included the surveillance of this exotic species using ovitraps in the most important cities. Morphological identification was supported using the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I and the internal transcribed spacer 2 genes analysis. In 2016 and 2017, more than 6,000 mosquitoes were collected. The mosquito's community included 21 species associated with six genera: Anopheles (n = 4), Aedes (n = 5), Culex (n = 6), Culiseta (n = 4), Uranotaenia (n = 1) and Coquillettidia (n = 1). Eleven species represent new records for La Rioja and Navarra regions. Several species were collected biting humans and a great proportion of the sampled mosquito population are competent vectors of several pathogens, such as West Nile virus. Sequences closely related to mosquito-only flavivirus have been detected in 0.34% of analysed pools. At the same time, the epidemiological surveillance emphasis is placed in the early detection of mosquito-borne diseases in primary health and emergency services. The surveillance programme represents a relevant and necessary assessment of the risk of pathogen transmission in a region, and it allows for the establishment of the appropriate preventive measures.

Biomechanical evidence suggests extensive eggshell thinning during incubation in the Sanagasta titanosaur dinosaurs.

The reproduction of titanosaur dinosaurs is still a complex and debated topic. Their Late Cretaceous nesting sites are distributed worldwide and their eggs display substantial morphological variations according to the parent species. In contrast to the typical 1.3-2.0 mm thick shells common to eggs of most titanosaur species (e.g., those that nested in Auca Mahuevo, Tama, Totesti or Boseong), the Cretaceous Sanagasta eggs of Argentina display an unusual shell thickness of up to 7.9 mm. Their oviposition was synchronous with a palaeogeothermal process, leading to the hypothesis that their extra thick eggshell was an adaptation to this particular nesting environment. Although this hypothesis has already been supported indirectly through several investigations, the mechanical implications of developing such thick shells and how this might have affected the success of hatching remains untested. Finite element analyses estimate that the breaking point of the thick-shelled Sanagasta eggs is 14-45 times higher than for other smaller and equally sized titanosaur eggs. The considerable energetic disadvantage for piping through these thick eggshells suggests that their dissolution during incubation would have been paramount for a successful hatching.

[Distribution of Rotavirus G Genotypes during 10 years in children with acute diarrhea of the city of La Rioja, Argentina. Implications for vaccination] / Genotipos G de rotavirus durante 10 años en niños con diarrea aguda de la ciudad de La Rioja, Argentina. Implicancias en la vacunación.

Vaccination against rotavirus in Argentina is obligatory from January 2015. From 418 stools in children with acute diarrhea were collected from 2000 to 2010 in city of La Rioja, Argentina, Rotavirus was detected. The 90 rotavirus positive stools samples (21.53%) were amplified by RT-PCR and genotyped by PCR-Mix for G1, G2, G3, G4, G9 and G8. The results show that during 2000-2003, the most frequent genotype was G1 and but since 2008, the G2, G3 and G9 genotypes in single and mixed infections were detected. In La Rioja, the vaccines could prevent dehydration in older children the year but children under one year could be vulnerable to the emergence of strains with genic aberrations due to the implementation of vaccination in our region.

La vacunación para rotavirus es obligatoria en Argentina desde enero del 2015. Los genotipos G de rotavirus circulantes previo a la vacunación no fueron estudiados en la Provincia de La Rioja. El objetivo del presente trabajo fue determinar los genotipos G de rotavirus que circulan en La Rioja en niños con diarrea desde 2000 a 2010. Se determinó la presencia de rotavirus del Grupo A por Inmunocromatografía (Biomerieux) en 418 muestras de materias fecales obtenidas en niños con diarrea aguda, hospitalizados y ambulatorios, en ciudad de La Rioja, Argentina. El 40 % de los niños estudiados provenía del interior de la provincia. Las 90 muestras positivas (21,53%) fueron amplificadas por RT-PCR y genotipificadas por Multiplex-PCR para genotipos G1, G2, G3, G4, G9 y G8. Los resultados muestran que el genotipo más frecuente de2000 a2003 fue G1 pero que desde el 2008 se detectaron los genotipos G2, G3 y G9 en infecciones simples y mixtas. Los genotipos G9 y las infecciones mixta, cuádruple y quíntuple, se presentaron en niños menores de un año de vida. Este es el primer reporte de los genotipos G de rotavirus en La Rioja. Los resultados indican que los genotipos G circulantes de rotavirus son compatibles con los que se dispone en la vacuna aunque la presencia de infecciones mixtas y Genotipo G9 en niños menores de un año sugieren una mayor vulnerabilidad de este grupo para la aparición de cepas con derivas génicas durante la implementación de la vacunación en esta Provincia

Epidemiological study of multiple sclerosis in La Rioja.

INTRODUCTION: Multiple sclerosis is a demyelinating disease that causes severe disability in younger patients. Many epidemiology studies have confirmed a variable prevalence. The objective of this study was to analyse the prevalence of this disease in La Rioja (Spain), using such variables as age and sex; type of progression, initial form of the disease, EDSS and number of relapses; disease-modifying treatment and reasons for treatment withdrawal; personal and family history of cancer; and incidence and mortality. METHODS: Analysis of patients in La Rioja diagnosed with MS (according to Poser criteria or the 2005 McDonald criteria) during a 10-year period (2001-2011). Data were collected from hospital records, multiple sclerosis associations, and personal records kept by neurologists. RESULTS: The MS prevalence rate in La Rioja is 65 patients/100 000 inhabitants with an incidence rate of 3.5 cases/100 000 residents per year. Relapsing-remitting MS is present in 67.6% of the patient total. Mean age of onset is 20-29 years (range, 12 to 70). Most EDSS scores were mostly ≤ 2. Untreated MS cases account for 47.6% of the total and the most commonly used therapy is interferon. We detected 4 haematological tumours and 7 families with multiple members affected by MS. CONCLUSIONS: Prevalence and incidence are similar to those found in other regions Spain. The average age at onset age for primary progressive MS is slightly higher than in other papers (40-49 years). In families with multiple patients, MS may be more aggressive. Disability in these patients remains very severe. We require more epidemiology studies with a variety of data gathering methods to support findings for prevalence obtained in different provinces.

The 25th SEM Congress (Logroño, Spain, July 7-10, 2015).

The 25th Congress of the Spanish Society for Microbiology (SEM) took place on 7-10 July, 2015, at the University of La Rioja, in Logroño. This meeting brought together microbiologists from several prestigious universities and research centers throughout Spain, as well as experts from other countries including the United States, United Kingdom, Portugal, Germany, Mexico and Venezuela. The program included an opening lecture, one invited lecture and a closing lecture, twelve symposia on selected topics, ten sessions of oral presentations, four poster sessions, and three workshops. There were around 230 poster presentations and 55 oral communications. Relevant Spanish and foreign researchers participated at the symposia in order to get a straightforward vision of the new and more successful scientific results. Besides, joint symposia with the Portuguese Society for Microbiology as well as with the Spanish Society for Virology were held. One of the main goals of the meeting was to stimulate the participation of young microbiologists, given them an excellent opportunity to present their more recent results.