Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383-1435.

Novel species of fungi described in this study include those from various countries as follows: Australia, Agaricus albofoetidus, Agaricus aureoelephanti and Agaricus parviumbrus on soil, Fusarium ramsdenii from stem cankers of Araucaria cunninghamii, Keissleriella sporoboli from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Leptosphaerulina queenslandica and Pestalotiopsis chiaroscuro from leaves of Sporobolus natalensis, Serendipita petricolae as endophyte from roots of Eriochilus petricola, Stagonospora tauntonensis from stem of Sporobolus natalensis, Teratosphaeria carnegiei from leaves of Eucalyptus grandis × E. camaldulensis and Wongia ficherai from roots of Eragrostis curvula. Canada, Lulworthia fundyensis from intertidal wood and Newbrunswickomyces abietophilus (incl. Newbrunswickomyces gen. nov.) on buds of Abies balsamea. Czech Republic, Geosmithia funiculosa from a bark beetle gallery on Ulmus minor and Neoherpotrichiella juglandicola (incl. Neoherpotrichiella gen. nov.) from wood of Juglans regia. France, Aspergillus rouenensis and Neoacrodontium gallica (incl. Neoacrodontium gen. nov.) from bore dust of Xestobium rufovillosum feeding on Quercus wood, Endoradiciella communis (incl. Endoradiciella gen. nov.) endophytic in roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum and Entoloma simulans on soil. India, Amanita konajensis on soil and Keithomyces indicus from soil. Israel, Microascus rothbergiorum from Stylophora pistillata. Italy, Calonarius ligusticus on soil. Netherlands, Appendopyricularia juncicola (incl. Appendopyricularia gen. nov.), Eriospora juncicola and Tetraploa juncicola on dead culms of Juncus effusus, Gonatophragmium physciae on Physcia caesia and Paracosmospora physciae (incl. Paracosmospora gen. nov.) on Physcia tenella, Myrmecridium phragmitigenum on dead culm of Phragmites australis, Neochalara lolae on stems of Pteridium aquilinum, Niesslia nieuwwulvenica on dead culm of undetermined Poaceae, Nothodevriesia narthecii (incl. Nothodevriesia gen. nov.) on dead leaves of Narthecium ossifragum and Parastenospora pini (incl. Parastenospora gen. nov.) on dead twigs of Pinus sylvestris. Norway, Verticillium bjoernoeyanum from sand grains attached to a piece of driftwood on a sandy beach. Portugal, Collybiopsis cimrmanii on the base of living Quercus ilex and amongst dead leaves of Laurus and herbs. South Africa, Paraproliferophorum hyphaenes (incl. Paraproliferophorum gen. nov.) on living leaves of Hyphaene sp. and Saccothecium widdringtoniae on twigs of Widdringtonia wallichii. Spain, Cortinarius dryosalor on soil, Cyphellophora endoradicis endophytic in roots of Microthlaspi perfoliatum, Geoglossum lauri-silvae on soil, Leptographium gemmatum from fluvial sediments, Physalacria auricularioides from a dead twig of Castanea sativa, Terfezia bertae and Tuber davidlopezii in soil. Sweden, Alpova larskersii, Inocybe alpestris and Inocybe boreogodeyi on soil. Thailand, Russula banwatchanensis, Russula purpureoviridis and Russula lilacina on soil. Ukraine, Nectriella adonidis on overwintered stems of Adonis vernalis. USA, Microcyclus jacquiniae from living leaves of Jacquinia keyensis and Penicillium neoherquei from a minute mushroom sporocarp. Morphological and culture characteristics are supported by DNA barcodes. Citation: Crous PW, Boers J, Holdom D, et al. 2022. Fungal Planet description sheets: 1383-1435. Persoonia 48: 261-371. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2022.48.08.

Cortinarius subgenus Leprocybe in Europe: expanded Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing unveil unexpected diversity in the Mediterranean.

Molecular phylogenies in the past decade have demonstrated that the described diversity of Cortinarius is still underestimated, especially outside continental and boreal ecoregions where the genus has been historically investigated. We tackled this issue by revisiting the so far unresolved subgenus Leprocybe, and focused on the largely unexplored Mediterranean hotspot of biodiversity. The sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of 161 vouchered collections from Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Italy and Spain, including 16 types, allowed for the delineation of 11 species in this lineage, three of them recognised as new to science and formally introduced as C. jimenezianus, C. selinolens and C. viridans spp. nov., respectively. Interestingly, the newly described species exhibit a strict Mediterranean distribution, and one of them is putatively endemic to the island of Cyprus, highlighting the remarkable potential of this neglected ecoregion to uncover further undescribed diversity of Cortinarius in the future. The present work also unveils 23 synonymies in this subgenus, as well as previously undetected crypticism within C. venetus. Next Generation Sequencing carried out on three old and contaminated holotypes, successfully decrypts their phylogenetic identity, including that of C. leproleptopus, finally settling the long-standing controversy over the taxonomic status of this species. A brief overview of each species in the subgenus is lastly provided and a key is proposed to facilitate the identification of presently known European taxa of Leprocybe in the field. Citation: Bidaud A, Loizides M, Armada F, et al. 2021. Cortinarius subgenus Leprocybe in Europe: expanded Sanger and Next Generation Sequencing unveil unexpected diversity in the Mediterranean. Persoonia 46: 188-215. https://doi.org/10.3767/persoonia.2021.46.07.

Ensayos clínicos en el tratamiento del edema macular diabético / Randomized clinical trials in diabetic macular edema

El edema macular diabético (EMD) es la principal causa de pérdida de visión en los pacientes diabéticos, y el tratamiento recomendado hasta ahora (la fotocoagulación láser focal o en rejilla) generalmente no mejora la visión, e incluso se sigue deteriorando en muchos pacientes a pesar del tratamiento. El factor de crecimiento vascular endotelial (VEGF) juega un papel clave en su patogénesis, y el desarrollo de fármacos anti-VEGF de administración intravítrea, como el ranibizumab, ha abierto una nueva era en el tratamiento del EMD. El objetivo de esta revisión es resumir la evidencia científica que avala el uso del ranibizumab en la práctica clínica. Los estudios analizados en esta revisión son ensayos clínicos prospectivos, controlados y aleatorizados que se han centrado en demostrar el efecto terapéutico y la seguridad del ranibizumab en el tratamiento del EMD, con resultados alentadores(AU)

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the main cause of visual acuity impairment in diabetic patients. The current standard therapy for patients with DME (focal/grid laser photocoagulation) usually does not improve impaired vision, and many patients continue to lose vision despite laser therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of DME and is a major candidate as a therapeutic target for the treatment of DME. The advent of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs, such a ranibizumab, has opened up a new era for the management of DME. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence supporting the use of ranibizumab in clinical practice. The studies analyzed in this review are prospective, controlled, randomized clinical trials (RCT) that have focused on documenting the therapeutic effect of ranibizumab and its safety, providing encouraging results(AU)

[Randomized clinical trials in diabetic macular edema]. / Ensayos clínicos en el tratamiento del edema macular diabético.

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the main cause of visual acuity impairment in diabetic patients. The current standard therapy for patients with DME (focal/grid laser photocoagulation) usually does not improve impaired vision, and many patients continue to lose vision despite laser therapy. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays a key role in the pathogenesis of DME and is a major candidate as a therapeutic target for the treatment of DME. The advent of intravitreal anti-VEGF drugs, such a ranibizumab, has opened up a new era for the management of DME. The aim of this review is to summarize the evidence supporting the use of ranibizumab in clinical practice. The studies analyzed in this review are prospective, controlled, randomized clinical trials (RCT) that have focused on documenting the therapeutic effect of ranibizumab and its safety, providing encouraging results.

Delay in treating age-related macular degeneration in Spain is associated with progressive vision loss.

PURPOSE: To assess the impact on visual acuity of delays between diagnosis and treatment in patients with subfoveal neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD) and to evaluate NV-AMD patients' emotional status before therapy initiation. METHODS: This retrospective, multicenter, epidemiological study included newly diagnosed NV-AMD patients registered in the Spanish national health system and referred to regional health centers for evaluation/treatment by a retinal specialist from 09/2005 to 03/2006. Records were reviewed and data abstracted at referring physicians' offices (diagnosis visit) and regional health centers (treatment visit). Treatment was at physicians' discretion. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale was administered at the treatment visit (before therapy). RESULTS: Median time from the diagnosis to treatment visit was 2.3 months (95% confidence interval: 0.2-10.8 months). Vision loss had progressed at the treatment visit with a doubling in the percentage of patients with a visual acuity of 20/400 or worse (from 12.4 to 24.7%). The decrease in visual acuity from the diagnosis to the treatment visit was highly statistically significant (P<0.0001) as was the correlation between months to treatment and visual acuity change (r=0.5234, P<0.0001). Time from the diagnosis to the treatment visit remained a significant predictor of progressive vision loss when visual acuity at diagnosis and change in lesion size between diagnosis and treatment were controlled (P<0.0001). Patients with more severe vision loss prior to treatment tended to report more depression. CONCLUSIONS: Delayed treatment of patients newly diagnosed with NV-AMD is associated with substantial visual acuity loss.

[Treatment of two cases of diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy with photodynamic therapy]. / Tratamiento con terapia fotodinámica de dos casos de epiteliopatía pigmentaria retiniana difusa.

CASE REPORT: We present two patients with Diffuse Retinal Pigment Epitheliopathy (DRPE) treated with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT). The first patient was treated with PDT because there was foveal involvement. The second patient received PDT because he had multiple recurrences of DRPE with poor resolution following previous argon-laser photocoagulation. Resolution of the lesions occurred in both cases with improvement in visual acuity. No recurrences have been documented at eleven months of follow-up. DISCUSSION: The outcomes in our patients were satisfactory. We consider PDT is a safe and effective option, but further randomized studies are necessary to confirm this.

Tratamiento con terapia fotodinámica de dos casos de epiteliopatía pigmentaria retiniana difusa / Treatment of two cases of diffuse retinal pigment epitheliopathy with photodynamic therapy

Caso clínico: Presentamos dos pacientes con epiteliopatía pigmentaria retiniana difusa (EPRD) tratados mediante terapia fotodinámica (TFD) con verteporfina. La primera paciente fue tratada con TFD por tener afectación foveal. El segundo paciente recibió TFD por presentar EPRD recidivante con mala evolución a pesar de fotocoagulación con láser argón. En ambos casos se resolvieron las lesiones y mejoró la agudeza visual. Tras once meses de seguimiento no se han producido recidivas. Discusión: Los resultados obtenidos en nuestros pacientes con TFD son satisfactorios. Consideramos que es una opción terapéutica segura y eficaz, aunque son necesarios estudios aleatorizados a largo plazo (AU)

Case report: We present two patients with Diffuse Retinal Pigment Epitheliopathy (DRPE) treated with verteporfin photodynamic therapy (PDT). The first patient was treated with PDT because there was foveal involvement. The second patient received PDT because he had multiple recurrences of DRPE with poor resolution following previous argon-laser photocoagulation. Resolution of the lesions occurred in both cases with improvement in visual acuity. No recurrences have been documented at eleven months of follow-up. Discussion: The outcomes in our patients were satisfactory. We consider PDT is a safe and effective option, but further randomized studies are necessary to confirm this (AU)

Hepatitis C: diagnóstico y prevención desde la consulta de atención primaria / Hepatitis C: diagnosis and prevention in primary care consultations

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Health and social security reforms in Latin America: the convergence of the World Health Organization, the World Bank, and transnational corporations.

International financial institutions have played an increasing role in the formation of social policy in Latin American countries over the last two decades, particularly in health and pension programs. World Bank loans and their attached policy conditions have promoted several social security reforms within a neoliberal framework that privileges the role of the market in the provision of health and pensions. Moreover, by endorsing the privatization of health services in Latin America, the World Health Organization has converged with these policies. The privatization of social security has benefited international corporations that become partners with local business elites. Thus the World Health Organization, international financial institutions, and transnational corporations have converged in the neoliberal reforms of social security in Latin America. Overall, the process represents a mechanism of resource transfer from labor to capital and sheds light on one of the ways in which neoliberalism may affect the health of Latin American populations.