Temporal and spatial genetic differentiation in the crab Liocarcinus depurator across the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition

Spatial genetic studies often require sampling broadly separated areas, difficult to access simultaneously. Although comparing localities surveyed at different time periods might result in spurious genetic differentiation, there is a general believe on the stability of genetic structure through time, particularly if sampled localities are isolated or very distant. By analysing spatial and temporal genetic differentiation of the portunid crab Liocarcinus depurator we assessed the contribution of historical and contemporary processes on population connectivity patterns across three main oceanographic discontinuities along the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition: Gibraltar Strait, Almeria- Oran Front and Ibiza Channel. A partial fragment of the cytochrome oxidase I gene was sequenced in 366 individuals collected from localities at both sides of each discontinuity during three time periods. Although localities showed genetic fluctuations through time, a significant gradient was detected along the coast for all sampling periods. Significant inter-annual differences identified within the Alicante area, north of the Almeria-Oran Front, were associated with shifts in the relative contribution of Atlantic and Mediterranean water masses. The persistence of a clinal pattern in the Atlantic-Mediterranean transition area together with local fluctuations suggests a complex balance of dispersal and selection

The challenge and response to global tourism in the post-modern era: the commodification, reconfiguration and mutual transformation of Habana Vieja, Cuba

There is a growing literature on the symbolic and cultural meanings of tourism and the ways in which cities are increasingly competing for tourists through the promotion of cultural assets and different forms of spectacle in the `tourist bubble'. To date, research on the role and impact of tourism in cities has largely been confined to those in Western, post-industrial economies. This paper examines the growth of cultural tourism in the central area of Havana, Cuba, and explores the range of unique, devolved, state-owned enterprises that are attempting to use tourism as a funding mechanism to achieve improvements in the social and cultural fabric of the city for the benefit of residents. The paper concludes with an assessment of the implications of this example for our understanding of how the pressures for restructuring and commodification can be moderated at the city level. Copyright 2008 SAGE Publications. All rights reserved. Not for commercial use or unauthorized distribution

Transition from Fixed-dosing to Symptom-triggered Management of Alcohol Withdrawal Syndrome in the Intensive Care Unit of a Community Hospital

Background/Purpose: In the United States, 2 to 7% of heavy alcohol users admitted to the hospital for general medical care will develop severe alcohol withdrawal (AW) requiring treatment. The most dangerous complications of AW are delirium tremens and seizures. Benzodiazepines (BZD) are considered first-line therapy, with varying modality options available to providers. Fixed-dosing has historically been used to manage AW. However, studies suggest that symptom-triggered therapy (STT) can decrease length of stay and BZD duration of therapy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the current fixed-dose protocol and outline the transition to STT in the intensive care unit (ICU) at South Miami Hospital. Methodology: This was a retrospective chart review of patients treated for AW with a fixed-dose BZD protocol at South Miami Hospital. Data was obtained from November 2017 through December 2019. Patients were included if they were admitted to the ICU and underwent treatment for AW with chlordiazepoxide or lorazepam (intravenous or oral). Patients were excluded if age less than 18 years, pregnant, or with an allergy to BZD. Primary outcomes included amount of BZD(s) used, duration of BZD therapy, and time to symptom control. The secondary objectives were incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADR) and length of stay in the critical care unit. Results: A total of 90 patients were reviewed, with 46 patients meeting inclusion criteria. Median chlordiazepoxide use was determined to be 75 mg daily. Sixty-five percent of patients received BZD therapy while asymptomatic, 26% continued BZDs after symptoms were controlled, and 9% used BZDs for the same duration as symptoms. The average duration of BZD therapy was 5.4 days, while time to symptom control was 4.25 days. BZD-related ADRs occurred in 46% of patients. In patients that experienced an ADR, 42% were receiving BZDs while asymptomatic or after symptoms were controlled. The length of stay in the ICU was 3 days, following which a majority of patients were transferred to a medical floor. Additional findings included 21% use of the AW PowerPlan and 30% use of the Clinical Institute Withdrawal Assessment of Alcohol Scale Revised (CIWAR-Ar). As a result, the institution will be transitioning to STT for the management of AW. The BZD of choice will be lorazepam and nurses will monitor response to therapy. The escalation or de-escalation of therapy will be based on predetermined parameters, taking into account the patient’s presentation and scale score. Conclusions: The current fixed-dose protocol led to patients receiving unnecessary treatment for AW and consequently, a large percentage of patients experienced an ADR. Areas for improvement for appropriate patient monitoring were identified, given the lack of use of the AW PowerPlan and poor documentation of CIWA-Ar scores

Personal exposure to particulate matter oxidative potential and airway inflammation: differences between asthmatic and non-asthmatic adults

We aimed to determine whether exposure to particulate matter PM, measured as the oxidative potential (OP) of filters collected from 24 h personal samplers, is associated with increased airway inflammation in asthmatic and non-asthmatic volunteers. Forty-two adult asthmatic patients (25 women and 17 men) and 37 matched controls wore a personal sampler for a day collecting fine (PM2.5) and coarse (PM10–2.5) particles, and determining 24 h afterwards their fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO). The PM-OP was determined by two methods: dithiothreitol (DTT) and ascorbic acid (AA) being OP levels dichotomized based on the median, to calculate adjusted mean differences (aMDs) and odds ratios (aORs) with sex, age, study level, body mass index and interleukin-6 (IL-6) levels as confounders. Statistically significant associations between PM-OP and FeNO levels in non-asthmatic volunteers were observed: aMD for OP-DTT PM2.5 = 11.64 ppbs; 95 %CI (0.13–22.79); aMD for OP-AA PM10–2.5 = 15.67; 95 %CI (2.91–28.43) with aORs = 4.87 and 18.18 respectively. In asthmatic patients an association was also observed in the form of aORs, but of lower magnitude (1.91 and 1.94 respectively). Non-significant higher FeNO levels (aMD = 5.22) and an aOR = 3.92 were also observed in non-asthmatic volunteers for OP-AA in the fine fraction. As a conclusion, the effect of personal PM-OP on airway inflammation appears to be differential between asthmatic and non-asthmatic volunteers suggesting a potential implication of inhaled corticosteroids diminishing the reactivity of airway epithelium since adjusted associations were higher in volunteers without asthma.This work was supported by the Spanish Society of Pneumology (SEPAR Nº 1383/23 and Nº 1616/24) and the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project PID2020-114787RBI00, funded by MCIN/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and “ERDF A way of making Europe”)

Los ejercicios aeróbicos como vía en el combate de la obesidad en mujeres con edades entre 20 y 30 años del consultorio #17 del reparto “Carlos Manuel” del Municipio Pinar del Río

La obesidad es hoy la segunda enfermedad crónica que más prevalece en las sociedades occidentales. Sin embargo, aún no se le ha dado la atención que merece y parte de la sociedad sigue culpando de la obesidad a los propios obesos, equivocándose, al reducir su origen a malos hábitos alimenticios. Hoy el abordaje de la obesidad debe realizarse desde múltiples ángulos: corregir los hábitos alimentarios, programar un ejercicio regular y tener conocimientos de la nutrición. El tratamiento farmacológico y la cirugía son soluciones específicas en los casos más graves. Este trabajo pretende crear una serie de ejercicios de fácil ejecución, para un grupo de mujeres obesas entre 20 y 30 años para lograr un hábito de realización de actividades físicas con carácter sistemático bajo la dirección del profesor, lo cual evitaría la obesidad

Genética poblacional del camarón rosado Farfantepenaeus notialis (Décapoda: Penaidae): Variación espacio temporal de la diversidad y la estructura genética.

En este trabajo se analiza la variación espacio temporal de los patrones de diversidad genética y estructura poblacional del camarón rosado Farfantepenaeus notialis, en la plataforma Sur de Cuba. Se estudiaron, 22 loci aloenzimáticos, de los cuales seis resultaron polimórficos (Akp3, AmyB, Est3, Gdh, GP7 y Per1); cinco loci microsatélites (PnS01, PnS03, PnS04, PnS18 y PnS20); y un fragmento de 2027pb del ADNmt, en muestras procedentes de ocho localidades del Golfo de Ana María, tres del Golfo de Batabanó y una del Golfo de Guacanayabo, durante los años 1995, 1999 y 2003. El análisis de las poblaciones en el año 1995, empleando marcadores nucleares, reveló diferencias genéticas significativas entre las poblaciones del Golfo de Ana María, como fue demostrado mediante los estimados de FST. Los agrupamientos observados a partir del análisis de distancias de Nei (1978) indican que la estructura de las poblaciones está estrechamente relacionada con su ubicación geográfica, así como con el patrón de corrientes marinas, en correspondencia con un modelo poblacional de aislamiento por pasos. Para el año 2003, ambos marcadores mostraron diferencias significativas entre las localidades de los Golfos Batabanó y Ana María, corroborando las particiones reveladas previamente por el análisis del ADNmt, el cual sugiere el aislamiento histórico de ambas regiones debido a la existencia de una barrera efectiva al flujo genético. Las frecuencias alélicas de los loci nucleares también mostraron diferencias significativas a través del tiempo, indicando que los patrones de diversidad genética y estructura poblacional de esta especie de camarón son inestables a través del tiempo. El análisis integrado de los resultados ofrecidos por tres marcadores moleculares con propiedades diferentes, conjuntamente con la características biológicas de esta especie, permiten argumentar que las causas de la inestabilidad de las poblaciones de F. notialis están determinadas por los efectos que, sobre las capacidades adaptativas y reproductivas de la especie, han ejercido a través del tiempo las migraciones y probablemente la deriva genética potenciadas por eventos naturales y antropogénicos. La existencia de dos linajes mitocondriales bien diferenciados, debido al flujo de genes restringido, permite clasificar a las poblaciones del Golfo de Ana María y a las del Golfo de Batabanó, como unidades con significado evolutivo (ESUs). Por otra parte, aunque las diferencias genéticas entre las poblaciones del Golfo de Ana María se han perdido en el tiempo, la estructuración significativa observada en 1995, permite clasificar a los grupos identificados como unidades de manejo (UM), lo cual debe ser considerado para la adecuada explotación del segundo recurso pesquero del país con vistas a su mantenimiento y conservación.Ph