Coastal exposure to oil spill impacts from the Finisterre Traffic Separation Scheme.

This study analyzes the coastal exposure to potential oil spills coming from the various corridors that constitute the Finisterre Traffic Separation Scheme (NW Iberia). A Lagrangian model was executed with results from a realistic configuration of an ocean model during 2012, validated here against High-Frequency (HF) radar-derived surface currents. Virtual particles were released each hour and followed during the next 4 days. A series of maps summarize which regions would be impacted and when. We have learnt, for example, that Cape Finisterre is the most affected area under a wide range of scenarios and that a sensitive area such as the National Park of the Atlantic Islands would require protective actions in less than 24 h if oil spills from the south eventually occurred. A complete analysis by corridor and during specific wind events is available through a web tool, which could be useful for decision makers in case of contingency.

Afalia: diagnóstico inesperado en un recién nacido con retraso de crecimiento intrauterino / Aphallia: striking diagnosis in intrauterine growth retardation

La afalia es una es una anomalía extremadamente rara, cuya incidencia es de 1 por cada 30 millones de recién nacidos vivos. Hasta la actualidad se han descrito menos de 100 casos en la literatura médica. Se describe un caso de afalia asociado a cardiopatía congénita de diagnóstico posnatal en un recién nacido con retraso del crecimiento intrauterino, sin otro hallazgo prenatal. Se decidió una reasignación de sexo masculino. En el estudio cromosómico se determinó un cariotipo 46XY. No se describieron otras anomalías asociadas (AU)

Aphallia is a really uncommon anomaly occurring in 1 per 30 million births. At this time, less than 100 cases have been reported worldwide. Herein, we describe a case of aphallia associated with congenital heart disease in a fetus with intrauterine growth retardation. No other congenital anomalies were detected. Karyotype was 46XY. Gender assignment has been to male (AU)

Incidence of bacteria of public health interest carried by cockroaches in different food-related environments.

The aim of this study was to determine the incidence of bacteria of public health interest transmitted by cockroaches in different food-related environments. From April to November, cockroaches were trapped in 11 buildings in different urban areas of Western Andalusia (Spain): three hotels, four grocery stores, a catering establishment, a food-industry plant, a health center, and a care home. The presence of a number of bacterial species, including Salmonella, in these food-related environments was confirmed; these species included microorganisms listed in European Union regulations, such as Salmonella spp., Enterobacter sakazakii (Cronobacter spp.), and Escherichia coli. A wide variety of species were isolated, some belonging to different genera that have a significant impact on public health and hygiene, such as Enterobacter and Klebsiella. To ensure adequate elimination of these microorganisms in food-related environments, the control of vectors such as Blattella germanica, Periplaneta americana, and Blatta orientalis, together with a thorough review of hygiene strategies, appears to be fundamental. It is clearly essential to compare the results of hygiene regulations implemented in food-related environments.

[Risk factors involved in the need for blood transfusion in very low birth weight newborns treated with erythropoietin]. / Factores de riesgo implicados en la necesidad de transfusión sanguínea en recién nacidos de muy bajo peso tratados con eritropoyetina.

OBJECTIVE: To identify and quantify risk factors related to red blood cell transfusion in premature babies weighing<1,500g who received erythropoietin (EPO). Secondly, to assess the relationship between retinopathy of prematurity and rh-EPO. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Prospective descriptive study of infants admitted to the Reina Sofía University Hospital between January 2006 and March 2009. Infants reviewed had a birth weight<1,500g and gestational age<32 weeks. Infants were administered rh-EPO 750IU/kg/week subcutaneously 3 days/week/ 6 weeks. We used univariate and multivariate logistic regressions with PASW Statistics 18 for Windows. RESULTS: Data were obtained from 110 infants, with a mean birth weight of 1154grs and mean gestational age of 29.3 weeks. Risk factors (OR; 95% CI) for being transfused were: male sex (4.41; 1.24-15.66), GA (1.64; 1.14-2.36, 1 week), Hb level on admission (1.45; 1.04-2.04; 1g/dl), late onset sepsis (7.75; 2.21-21.11), late onset treatment with rh-EPO (6.27; 1.22-32.35). All surgically treated infants with patent ductus arteriosus ligation or necrotizing enterocolitis needed transfusion. There is no relationship between rh-EPO administration and retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), but there was a relationship with transfusion. CONCLUSIONS: Premature infants with the lower gestational age, being male, a lower Hb level on admission and late onset sepsis are those with the greatest risk for blood transfusion.

[Usefulness of Clinical Risk Index for Babies based on birth weight in predicting hospital death and severe intraventicular hemorrhage in the SEN 1500 Spanish neonatal network]. / Análisis de la utilidad del Clinical Risk Index for Babies por estratos de peso como predictor de muerte hospitalaria y de hemorragia intraventricular grave en la Red Neonatal Española SEN 1500.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of the Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) in predicting hospital mortality and severe intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH) in very low birth weight infants stratified by weight groups, in the Spanish neonatal network SEN 1500. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A prospective cohort study was made. Morbidity-mortality data and CRIB were collected in newborns weighing below 1500 g and admitted to 68 neonatal intensive care units between January 2002 and December 2006. Data were analyzed globally and stratified by weight groups (< 501 g, 500-750 g, 751-1000 g, 1001-1250 g, 1251-1500 g). Multivariate models were generated and ROC curves were plotted for estimating predictive values. RESULTS: A total of 10,608 patients were analyzed. The mean weight was 1116 g (SD 267), and gestational age 29.5 weeks (SD 2.9). Low birth weight for gestational age was 34.3% and the multiple birth rate 36%. Prenatal corticoids were given in 78.2%. Severe intraventricular hemorrhage was diagnosed in 8.5%. Gender, prenatal corticoids, birth weight, gestational age and CRIB proved significant for the outcomes. CRIB showed the highest predictive accuracy in all strata (P < 0.001) except in the 501-750 g group, where it was similar to gestational age. Body weight showed the lowest AUC in all groups, except in the 1251-1500 g group, where it was no different to gestational age. Gestational age and CRIB yielded greater AUC values than weight (P < 0.001) in all groups. No significant differences were found between CRIB and gestational age, except in the 751-1000 g group, where gestational age was greater (P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The CRIB is the best predictor among newborns below 1500 g, except in the 501-750 g group, where CRIB is similar to gestational age. Body weight is the worst predictor, except in the group 1251-1500 g, where it is similar to gestational age. The accuracies of CRIB and gestational age in the prediction of IVH are similar, and both superior to body weight. This similarity persists in all the groups, except in the 751-1000 g interval, where gestational age is a better predictor.

Oceanographic conditions in North and Northwest Iberia and their influence on the Prestige oil spill.

Oceanographic conditions at the time of the Prestige oil spill (November 2002) and following months are analyzed based on a set of hydrographic cruises. The ship sank off one of the flanks of the Galician Bank, an offshore seamount, and a major oil spill drifted to the N and NW Iberian coast mainly driven by dominant winds. Coastal circulation was characterized by freshwater plumes and the poleward slope current, and could have affected the fate of the oil spill and influenced stranding places. Seasonal evolution of oceanographic conditions in this particular year is compared with the long-term average and reveals specific features that need to be taken into account in studies of the impact of the oil spill on populations. Spring conditions commenced earlier than other years in the Southern Bay of Biscay, contrastingly in western Iberia. The lack of subsurface intrusion of subtropical waters suggests a low intense penetration of the poleward current in Spanish Biscay slopes. In western Iberia, the slope poleward current observed in late autumn weakens and is exported off slope during upwelling pulses in the spring, with no strong intrusion of the poleward current on the slope at the time of the spring bloom. A description of current velocities near the wreck on the Galician Bank is obtained after the analysis of a mooring line.

Occurrence of Aflatoxin M1 in Cheeses from the South of Spain.

Thirty-five samples of commercial cheeses, 9 fresh, 9 semicured or semiripened and 17 ripened made with different types of milk (cow, ewe, goat and mixtures of milk of various species) produced in the South of Spain were analyzed for the presence of aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) by high-performance liquid chromatography, In 16 of the 35 samples (45.71%) the presence of AFM1 was detected in concentrations ranging between 20 and 200 ng/g of cheese, In the positive cases, the mean levels of AFM1 were 105.33 ng/g in ripened cheeses, 73.80 ng/g in semiripened cheeses and 42.60 ng/g in fresh cheeses.