Global relationship between phytoplankton diversity and productivity in the ocean.

The shape of the productivity-diversity relationship (PDR) for marine phytoplankton has been suggested to be unimodal, that is, diversity peaking at intermediate levels of productivity. However, there are few observations and there has been little attempt to understand the mechanisms that would lead to such a shape for planktonic organisms. Here we use a marine ecosystem model together with the community assembly theory to explain the shape of the unimodal PDR we obtain at the global scale. The positive slope from low to intermediate productivity is due to grazer control with selective feeding, which leads to the predator-mediated coexistence of prey. The negative slope at high productivity is due to seasonal blooms of opportunist species that occur before they are regulated by grazers. The negative side is only unveiled when the temporal scale of the observation captures the transient dynamics, which are especially relevant at highly seasonal latitudes. Thus selective predation explains the positive side while transient competitive exclusion explains the negative side of the unimodal PDR curve. The phytoplankton community composition of the positive and negative sides is mostly dominated by slow-growing nutrient specialists and fast-growing nutrient opportunist species, respectively.

Quantifying energy intake in Pacific bluefin tuna (Thunnus orientalis) using the heat increment of feeding.

Using implanted archival tags, we examined the effects of meal caloric value, food type (sardine or squid) and ambient temperature on the magnitude and duration of the heat increment of feeding in three captive juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna. The objective of our study was to develop a model that can be used to estimate energy intake in wild fish of similar body mass. Both the magnitude and duration of the heat increment of feeding (measured by visceral warming) showed a strong positive correlation with the caloric value of the ingested meal. Controlling for meal caloric value, the extent of visceral warming was significantly greater at lower ambient temperature. The extent of visceral warming was also significantly higher for squid meals compared with sardine meals. By using a hierarchical Bayesian model to analyze our data and treating individuals as random effects, we demonstrate how increases in visceral temperature can be used to estimate the energy intake of wild Pacific bluefin tuna of similar body mass to the individuals used in our study.

Incremento de IL-6 y plaquetas en la exposición crónica a combustiles de biomasa. ¿Estado procoagulante? / Increased IL-6 and platelets during chronic exposure to biomass fuel. A proclotting state?

Antecedentes: Mßs del 90 por ciento de residentes en zonas rurales en el Perú usan biomasa para preparar sus alimentos. Los infartos agudos de miocardio se relacionan con un incremento de las nanopartículas presentes en el ambiente. Objetivos: Conocer si la exposición crónica acombustibles de biomasa se acompa±a de un estado procoagulante. Población de estudio: 185 personas residentes en Chancay (100 Km. al norte de Lima), de las cuales 95 tenían exposición a combustibles de biomasa y 90 no. Metodología: Estudio descriptivo, transversal. A todos los participantes se les hizo: 1. Cuestionario ATS-78, modificado por Accinelli, ya validado en estudios previos. 2. Examen clínico. 3. Hemograma. 4. Determinación de IL-6. Resultados: Se encontró nivelesde IL-6 en 1,84 pg/ml las personas expuestas y de 0,87 pg/ml en las no expuestas (p menor que 0,005) a combustibles de biomasa. Las plaquetas también fueron mßs en los expuestos (269 vs 245 x 103/mm3, p=0,004). Conclusiones: La exposición a combustibles de biomasa generaría un estado de hipercoagulabilidad caracterizado por un incremento de la IL-6 y las plaquetas.

Summarize Precedents: More than 90 per cent of residents in rural zones in Peru uses biomass to prepare his (her, your) food. The sharp (acute) hearts attacks of myocardium relate to an increase of the present nanopartículas in the environment. Aims (Lenses): To know if the chronic exhibition to fuels of biomass accompanies of a condition(state) procoagulante. Population of study: 185 resident persons in Chancay (100 km to the north of Lima), of which 95 had exhibition to fuels of biomass and 90 not. Methodology: descriptive, transverse Study. There became all the participants: 1. Questionnaire ATS-78, modified by Accinelli, already validatedin previous studies. 2. Clinical examination. 3. Hemograma. 4. Determination of IL-6. Results: one found levels of IL-6 in 1,84 pg/ml the exposed persons and of 0,87 pg/ml in not exposed (p menor que 0,005) to fuels of biomass. The platelets also were more in the exposed ones (269 vs 245 x 103/ mm3, p=0,004). Conclusions: The exhibition to fuels of biomass would generate a condition (state) of hipercoagulabilidad characterized by an increase of the IL-6 and the platelets.

Flavonoid profile of green asparagus genotypes.

The determination of flavonoid profiles from different genotypes of triguero asparagus and their comparison to those from green asparagus commercial hybrids was the main goal of this study. The samples consisted of 32 commercial hybrids and 65 genotypes from the Huetor-Tajar population variety (triguero). The analysis of individual flavonoids by HPLC-DAD-MS has allowed the determination of eight naturally occurring flavonol derivatives in several genotypes of triguero asparagus. Those compounds included mono-, di-, and triglycosides of three flavonols, that is, quercetin, isorhamnetin, and kaempferol. The detailed analysis of the flavonoid profiles revealed significant differences among the distinct genotypes. These have been classified in three distinct groups as the result of a k-means clustering analysis, two of them containing both commercial hybrids and triguero asparagus and another cluster constituted by 21 genotypes of triguero asparagus, which contain several key flavonol derivatives able to differentiate them. Hence, the triglycosides tentatively identified as quercetin-3-rhamnosyl-rutinoside, isorhamnetin-3-rhamnosyl-rutinoside, and isorhamnetin-3-O-glucoside have been detected only in the genotypes grouped in the above-mentioned cluster. On the other hand, the compound tentatively identified as isorhamnetin-3-glucosyl-rutinoside was present in most genotypes of triguero asparagus, whereas it has not been detected in any of the commercial hybrids.

Prevención de riesgos laborales y vigilancia de la salud en el ámbito médico. Una asignatura pendiente / Labor risks prevention and surveillance of the health in the medical environment. A pending subject

FUNDAMENTO. El objetivo fue analizar el impacto referido sobre problemas de salud asociados con la actividad laboral médica, así como el conocimiento e implantación de la Ley de Prevención de Riesgos Laborales (LPRL). MÉTODOS. Estudio descriptivo transversal realizado en áreas sanitarias de la Comunidad de Madrid con presencia de Delegados de Prevención. La información se obtuvo mediante encuesta anónima autocumplimentada, remitida a 2.338 médicos, que se agruparon en tres dispositivos: Atención Primaria (AP), Servicio Coordinador de Urgencias (SCU) y Dispositivos Asistenciales (DA) (UME, VIR, UAD, Refuerzos y SUAP). RESULTADOS. Se obtuvieron 290 cuestionarios válidos (12,4%). La mayoría no habían sido informados sobre los aspectos relacionados con la seguridad y salud en su puesto de trabajo (AP: 79,9% [intervalo de confianza al 95% ­IC 95%­ 0,7373; 0,8552]; DA: 82,5% [IC 95% 0,7206; 0,8996]; SCU: 87,5% [IC 95% 0,6165; 0,9845]), ni convocados a reconocimientos médicos (AP: 75,3% [IC 95% 0,6834; 0,8112], DA: 82,5% [IC 95% 0,7172; 0,8983] y SCU: 81,3% [IC 95% 0,5435; 0,9595]). Los problemas visuales fueron más frecuentes en AP y el SCU, los auditivos en el SCU y los osteomusculares entre las médicas de AP. Recibir una agresión verbal fue más frecuente en el SCU que en AP o DA y también recibirla de forma reiterada. CONCLUSIONES. Entre los médicos la LPRL es poco conocida, siendo en parte responsable el Servicio Madrileño de Salud, que no ha asumido las competencias que le son propias (artículos 18.1 y 22 LPRL). Las diferencias entre dispositivos y con relación al género y la suma de problemas de salud en el SCU son los aspectos prioritarios a evaluar

BACKGROUND. The aim of this study was to analyze the impact referred to health problems associated with the medical labor activity, as well as the knowledge and introduction of the Law of Labor Risks Prevention (LLRP). METHODS. Cross-sectional study, carried out in sanitary areas of the Regional Community of Madrid with the presence of Prevention Delegates. The information was obtained by anonymous and self-applied survey sent to 2,338 doctors grouped into three services: Primary Care (PC), Coordinating Service of Emergency (CSE) and Emergency Services (ES). RESULTS. A total of 290 valid (12.4%) questionnaires were obtained. Most had not been informed about the aspects related with the security and health in their work position (PC: 79.9%; ES: 82.5%; CSE: 87.5%), nor had been summoned to medical examinations (PC: 75.3%, ES: 82.5% and CSE: 81.3%). Visual problems were more frequent in PC and CSE, auditory ones in CSE and musculoskeletal ones among the PC doctors. The doctors in the CSE group received more verbal aggression, and also more repeatedly, than those in PC or ES. CONCLUSIONS. Among doctors, the Law of labor Risks Prevention is not well-known, the Madrid health Service being partly responsible as it has not assumed its responsibilities (articles 18.1 and 22 LLRP). The differences among services and in relation to gender in addition to the health problems in CSE are high-priority problems to evaluate

[Prevalence of worker burnout and psychiatric illness in primary care physicians in a health care area in Madrid]. / Prevalencia de desgaste profesional y psicomorbilidad en médicos de atención primaria de un área sanitaria de Madrid.

AIM: To analyze worker burnout and the prevalence of psychiatric illness among primary care physicians, and to determine how burnout is related with sociodemographic and work-related factors. DESIGN: Cross-sectional, descriptive study. SETTING: Primary care centers in Area 8, Madrid (central Spain).Subjects. All 244 physicians (family medicine and pediatrics) who provided care at centers in Area 8 at the time of the study.Method. Anonymous, self-administered questionnaire that included the Maslach Burnout Inventory (worker burnout); GHQ-28 (possible mental illness); survey of sociodemographic and work-related factors, unhealthy behaviors, use of medications, and perceived quality of care and risk of medical errors in relation with work-related pressures; open question regarding causes of work-related stress. RESULTS: Response rate, 80.3%. Burnout was detected in 69.2% of the physicians (95% CI, 62.1%-75.4%) and was severe in 12.3%. The prevalence of possible psychiatric illness was 36.7%. Burnout was found to be related with possible psychiatric illness (P<.01); perception that work-related pressures frequently led to diminished quality of care and medical errors (P<.o1); permanent employment status (P<.05); more than 1700 patients on the patient list (P<.05); age between 37 and 46 years (P<.01) and patient load of 35 to 47 patients/day (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of worker burnout and possible psychiatric illness was high, and the two variables were related. A large percentage of participants perceived that work-related pressures diminished the quality of care provided.

Prevalencia de desgaste profesional y psicomorbilidad en médicos de atención primaria de un área sanitaria de Madrid / Prevalence of worker burnout and psychiatric illness in primary care physicians in a health care area in Madrid

Objetivo. Analizar el desgaste profesional y la prevalencia de psicomorbilidad entre facultativos de atención primaria (AP) y determinar su relación con aspectos sociodemográficos y laborales. Diseño. Estudio transversal y descriptivo. Emplazamiento. Centros de AP del Área 8 de Madrid. Sujetos. Los 244 médicos y pediatras con labor asistencial en dicha área en el momento de realizarse el estudio. Método. Cuestionario anónimo autoadministrado que incluye: el Maslach Burnout Inventory (mide el desgaste profesional); el GHQ-28 (detección de una posible enfermedad mental); encuesta sobre datos sociodemográficos, laborales, conductas no saludables, consumo de medicamentos y percepción de calidad de la asistencia y riesgo de errores médicos en relación con la presión en el trabajo, y pregunta abierta sobre las causas de estrés laboral. Resultados. La tasa de respuesta fue del 80,3 por ciento. Está afectado por burnout el 69,2 por ciento (IC del 95 por ciento, 62,1-75,4 por ciento) de los facultativos, un 12,3 por ciento de ellos, de forma aguda. La prevalencia de posible psicomorbilidad es del 36,7 por ciento. Se encontró una asociación del desgaste profesional con los siguientes aspectos: una posible psicomorbilidad (p < 0,01); la percepción de que la presión en el trabajo produce con frecuencia una disminución de la calidad y la precipitación de errores médicos (p < 0,01); tener plaza en propiedad (p < 0,05), más de 1.700 pacientes en el cupo (p < 0,05), una edad de 37 y 46 años (p < 0,01) y una presión asistencial de 35-47 pacientes/día (p < 0,05).Conclusiones. Existe una elevada prevalencia de desgaste profesional y de posible psicomorbilidad, apareciendo ambas variables relacionadas. Se percibe en un elevado porcentaje que la presión del trabajo ha hecho disminuir la calidad de la asistencia prestada (AU)

[Vulvovaginitis in premenarche girls. A preliminary study]. / Vulvovaginitis en niñas premenárquicas. En atención primaria.

The study population consisted of 832 premenarcheal girls. Vaginal cultures are performed on 40 premenarcheal girls suffering from vulvovaginitis. All were less than 7 years old. This patients were seen in primary cares. In 23 cases (57.5%) E. coli was isolated, Enterococcus (30%), mixed flora (10%) and G. vaginalis (2.5%). Common clinical characteristics were pruritus (97.5%), vaginal discharge (67.5%). Dysuria and abdominal pain constituted accompanying symptoms. Only in one case masturbation was observed.