Growth response to climate and drought change along an aridity gradient in the southernmost Pinus nigra relict forests

Tree populations at the rear edge of species distribution are sensitive to climate stress and drought. However, growth responses of these tree populations to those stressors may vary along climatic gradients. To analyze growth responses to climate and drought using dendrochronology in rear-edge Pinus nigra populations located along an aridity gradient. Tree-ring width chronologies were built for the twentieth century and related to monthly climatic variables, a drought index (Standardized Precipitation-Evapotranspiration Index), and two atmospheric circulation patterns (North Atlantic and Western Mediterranean Oscillations). Growth was enhanced by wet and cold previous autumns and warm late winters before tree-ring formation. The influence of the previous year conditions on growth increased during the past century. Growth was significantly related to North Atlantic and Western Mediterranean Oscillations in two out of five sites. The strongest responses of growth to the drought index were observed in the most xeric sites. Dry conditions before tree-ring formation constrain growth in rear-edge P. nigra populations. The comparisons of climate-growth responses along aridity gradients allow characterizing the sensitivity of relict stands to climate warming.

Plasma levels of mannan-binding lectin (MBL)-associated serine proteases (MASPs) and MBL-associated protein in cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases

Growing evidence suggests a prominent role of the complement system in the pathogenesis of cardio- and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). Mannan-binding lectin-associated serine proteases (MASPs) MASP-1 and MASP-2 of the complement lectin pathway contribute to clot formation and may represent an important link between inflammation and thrombosis. MBL-associated protein MAp44 has shown cardioprotective effects in murine models. However, MAp44 has never been measured in patients with CVD and data on MASP levels in CVD are scarce. Our aim was to investigate for the first time plasma levels of MAp44 and MASP-1, -2, -3 concomitantly in patients with CVD. We performed a pilot study in 50 healthy volunteers, in stable coronary artery disease (CAD) patients with one-vessel (n = 51) or three-vessel disease (n = 53) and age-matched controls with normal coronary arteries (n = 53), 49 patients after myocardial infarction (MI) and 66 patients with acute ischaemic stroke. We measured MAp44 and MASP-1 levels by in-house time-resolved immunofluorometric assays. MASP-2 and MASP-3 levels were measured using commercial enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. MASP-1 levels were highest in subacute MI patients and lowest in acute stroke patients. MASP-2 levels were lower in MI and stroke patients compared with controls and CAD patients. MASP-3 and MAp44 levels did not differ between groups. MASP or MAp44 levels were not associated with severity of disease. MASP and MAp44 levels were associated with cardiovascular risk factors including dyslipidaemia, obesity and hypertension. Our results suggest that MASP levels may be altered in vascular diseases. Larger studies are needed to confirm our results and elucidate the underlying mechanisms.

Gastric pharmacobezoars in quetiapine extended-release overdose: a case series

OBJECTIVE Although extended-release (XR) formulations are recognized to bear some risk of pharmacobezoar formation in overdose, there are no previously documented reports of this phenomenon with quetiapine. We describe nine cases of pharmacobezoar formation in acute quetiapine XR overdose. METHODS Observational case series of all patients who underwent gastroscopy after quetiapine XR overdose, which were reported by physicians to the Swiss Toxicological Information Centre between January 2010 and December 2012, with detailed analysis of cases with documented pharmacobezoar. RESULTS Gastric pharmacobezoars were detected in 9 out of 19 gastroscopic evaluations performed during the study period. All these patients ingested a large dose of quetiapine XR (10-61 tablets; 6-24.4 g quetiapine). All patients but one also coingested at least one other substance, and in three cases another XR drug formulation. Gastroscopic pharmacobezoar removal was achieved without complications in all patients, but was difficult due to the particular "gelatinous-sticky-pasty" consistency of the concretion. The subsequent clinical course was favorable. CONCLUSIONS The possibility of pharmacobezoar formation following a large quetiapine XR overdose should be considered, as this may influence acute patient management. Complete endoscopic pharmacobezoar removal may be a promising approach in selected cases, but further studies are needed to define its role.

Contrasting vulnerability and resilience to drought-induced decline of densely planted vs. natural rear-edge Pinus nigra forests

The southernmost European natural and planted pine forests are among the most vulnerable areas to warming-induced drought decline. Both drought stress and management factors (e.g., stand origin or reduced thinning) may induce decline by reducing the water available to trees but their relative importances have not been properly assessed. The role of stand origin - densely planted vs. naturally regenerated stands - as a decline driver can be assessed by comparing the growth and vigor responses to drought of similar natural vs. planted stands. Here, we compare these responses in natural and planted Black pine (Pinus nigra) stands located in southern Spain. We analyze how environmental factors - climatic (temperature and precipitation anomalies) and site conditions - and biotic factors - stand structure (age, tree size, density) and defoliation by the pine processionary moth - drive radial growth and crown condition at stand and tree levels. We also assess the climatic trends in the study area over the last 60 years. We use dendrochronology, linear mixed-effects models of basal area increment and structural equation models to determine how natural and planted stands respond to drought and current competition intensity. We observed that a temperature rise and a decrease in precipitation during the growing period led to increasing drought stress during the late 20th century. Trees from planted stands experienced stronger growth reductions and displayed more severe crown defoliation after severe droughts than those from natural stands. High stand density negatively drove growth and enhanced crown dieback, particularly in planted stands. Also pine processionary moth defoliation was more severe in the growth of natural than in planted stands but affected tree crown condition similarly in both stand types. In response to drought, sharp growth reduction and widespread defoliation of planted Mediterranean pine stands indicate that they are more vulnerable and less resilient to drought stress than natural stands. To mitigate forest decline of planted stands in xeric areas such as the Mediterranean Basin, less dense and more diverse stands should be created through selective thinning or by selecting species or provenances that are more drought tolerant. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

El Karate-Do como agente educativo y herramienta social

Solo contamos con el hombre/mujer y el arte, en nuestro caso un Arte Marcial, el Karate-Do. En la continua búsqueda de implementar el mismo, vemos con mucha alegría la profundización del mismo implementándolo como agente Educativo, en los procesos de integración en los niños, jóvenes y adultos, también con capacidades distintas. Para comprender esto y fundamentarlo concebiremos a la educación como un medio para desarrollar al ser humano. El Karate-Do permite entre otras cosas el desarrollo de destrezas y habilidades psicomotoras, cognitivas y afectivas. Estas pueden incrementarse y mejorarse significativamente, como resultados de ejercicios, práctica y experiencia apropiados. Estas últimas; que se encuentran debidamente documentadas, han demostrado que teniendo presente las etapas evolutivas del crecimiento y la identificación de la problemática del grupo en cuestión, nos permitirá implementar las herramientas pedagógicas correctas, para generar actitudes positivas de aceptación de quienes lo rodean, acercándose a los principios de integración y normalización. Otro de los puntos es la importancia de dar igualdad de oportunidades, en un marco ambiental que lleve a los alumnos a generar motivaciones de progreso continuo

El Karate-Do como agente educativo y herramienta social

Solo contamos con el hombre/mujer y el arte, en nuestro caso un Arte Marcial, el Karate-Do. En la continua búsqueda de implementar el mismo, vemos con mucha alegría la profundización del mismo implementándolo como agente Educativo, en los procesos de integración en los niños, jóvenes y adultos, también con capacidades distintas. Para comprender esto y fundamentarlo concebiremos a la educación como un medio para desarrollar al ser humano. El Karate-Do permite entre otras cosas el desarrollo de destrezas y habilidades psicomotoras, cognitivas y afectivas. Estas pueden incrementarse y mejorarse significativamente, como resultados de ejercicios, práctica y experiencia apropiados. Estas últimas; que se encuentran debidamente documentadas, han demostrado que teniendo presente las etapas evolutivas del crecimiento y la identificación de la problemática del grupo en cuestión, nos permitirá implementar las herramientas pedagógicas correctas, para generar actitudes positivas de aceptación de quienes lo rodean, acercándose a los principios de integración y normalización. Otro de los puntos es la importancia de dar igualdad de oportunidades, en un marco ambiental que lleve a los alumnos a generar motivaciones de progreso continuo

El Karate-Do como agente educativo y herramienta social

Solo contamos con el hombre/mujer y el arte, en nuestro caso un Arte Marcial, el Karate-Do. En la continua búsqueda de implementar el mismo, vemos con mucha alegría la profundización del mismo implementándolo como agente Educativo, en los procesos de integración en los niños, jóvenes y adultos, también con capacidades distintas. Para comprender esto y fundamentarlo concebiremos a la educación como un medio para desarrollar al ser humano. El Karate-Do permite entre otras cosas el desarrollo de destrezas y habilidades psicomotoras, cognitivas y afectivas. Estas pueden incrementarse y mejorarse significativamente, como resultados de ejercicios, práctica y experiencia apropiados. Estas últimas; que se encuentran debidamente documentadas, han demostrado que teniendo presente las etapas evolutivas del crecimiento y la identificación de la problemática del grupo en cuestión, nos permitirá implementar las herramientas pedagógicas correctas, para generar actitudes positivas de aceptación de quienes lo rodean, acercándose a los principios de integración y normalización. Otro de los puntos es la importancia de dar igualdad de oportunidades, en un marco ambiental que lleve a los alumnos a generar motivaciones de progreso continuo