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This academic study aims to know what are the sources of happiness from the perspective of different generations. This research is founded on the Hedonism Theory & Emotional State View, Life Satisfaction Theory & Hybrid Theories, Positive Psychology Theory, Strauss-Howe Generational Theory, and Mannheim’s Theory of Generation. The study was a qualitative research design, a phenomenological approach, a semi-structured interview was used, and purposive sampling. The significant statements were thoroughly examined and organized into themes. It was found that (1) For Generation Alpha, liberty is equated with happiness. It was an emotional touch for Generation Z, and knowing that their family is happy makes both Xennials and Generation X happy. Generation Jones values close relationships with loved ones, while Baby Boomers have the softest hearts and are always concerned about their loved ones. (2) Family relationships, trends, and accustom are three timely external factors influencing each generation's perspective on happiness. (3) As a result of being a happy person, different core values emerge, which at the very least inspired or motivated them.

Perfluoroalkyls acids (PFAAs) have been emitted in the environment either as manufacturing by products or through degradation of its precursors. Development of efficient identification and quantification of PFAAs in different environmental media is important for environmental and human health risk assessments. In this study, different extraction methods were developed to determine nine (9) different PFAAs in seawater and seawater sandworm Perinereis wilsoni. P. wilsoni extracted using two methods: manual extraction and accelerated solvent extraction (ASE). Solid phase extraction method was used for the clean-up and preconcentration of PFAAs from the marine water samples. High-performace liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry was used to analyze PFAAs concentrations in the samples. Percent recoveries of surrogate (SUR) in marine water samples were between 52 to 72% (blank), 52 to 88% (1 ng), and 56 to 79% (10 ng). Manual extraction of sandworm resulted in 57 to 93% recovery of SUR compounds. ASE extraction gave higher recoveries of SUR compounds (62 to 92%). The developed analytical methods for seawater and sandworm extraction can assure production of good quality PFAAs data.

Climate variability is one of the factors that directly and greatly affect cropping system and plant yield. It is therefore very important to obtain a good understanding about climate variability or changes in the climate and the effect of these changes to clearly understand the vulnerability of food crops as well as its agronomic impacts for us to create and implement adaptive strategies to mitigate its negative effects. This study assessed the effect of climate in rice crop yield in both irrigated and rainfed ecotype farming system in Nueva Ecija Province in the Philippines using semi-annual yield data and the different climate variables such as seasonal rainfall, mean temperature, minimum temperature, and relative humidity by using empirical/statistical method through time series analysis, and correlation analysis. Results indicated that rice yield for irrigated and rainfed ecosystem type of farming in Nueva Ecija show an overall increasing trend from year 1991-2018, although there are observed decline and fluctuations in some years. The different climate variables (i.e., rainfall, temperature, and humidity) show fluctuating trends and irregularities spanning from the year 1991-2018. But it showed overall decreasing trends for relative humidity and increasing trends for rainfall, minimum temperature, and mean temperature. There are significant correlations between rice yield the all the climate variables in both irrigated and rainfed farming ecosystem types.

BackgroundIgA vasculitis (IgAV) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are inflammatory conditions [1, 2], that share pathogenic mechanisms [1], in which B-lymphocytes are described as key cells implicated in these processes. BAFF, APRIL and BAFF-R are cytokines implicated in the development of B-lymphocytes [3, 4] and in autoimmune processes [5, 6]. In this regard, an influence of BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR polymorphisms was observed on several immune-mediated conditions, being BAFF GCTGT>A a shared insertion-deletion variant for inflammatory conditions [7, 8].ObjectivesTo determine whether BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR could be used as differential biomarkers between IgAV and IgAN.MethodsBAFF rs374039502 (which colocalizes with BAFF GCTGT>A), two tag variants within APRIL (rs11552708 and rs6608) and two tag variants within BAFFR (rs7290134 and rs77874543) were genotyped in 394 Caucasian IgAV patients, 95 patients with IgAN and 832 matched healthy controls.ResultsSimilar genotype and allele frequencies were observed in the whole cohort of patients with IgAV when compared to those with IgAN when BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR variants were analyzed independently (Table 1). In accordance with that, no BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR genotype or allele differences were detected between IgAV patients who developed nephritis and patients with IgAN (Table 1). Additionally, no statistically significant differences were observed between the whole cohort of patients with IgAV and healthy controls as well as between patients with IgAN and healthy controls when each when BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR genetic variant was also analyzed independently (Table 1). Similar results were disclosed when haplotype frequencies of APRIL and BAFFR were compared between the different comparative groups above mentioned (data not shown).Table 1.Genotype and allele frequencies of BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR in the whole cohort of patients with IgAV, patients with IgAV who developed nephritis, patients with IgAN and healthy controls.PolymorphismChangeData setGenotypes, % (n)Alleles, % (n)1/21/11/22/212BAFF rs374039502T/AIgAV92.1 (363)7.9 (31)0.096.1 (757)3.9 (31)IgAV with nephritis90.1 (128)9.9 (14)0.095.1 (270)4.9 (14)IgAN91.6 (87)8.4 (8)0.095.8 (182)4.2 (8)Controls91.8 (764)7.8 (65)0.4 (3)95.7 (1593)4.3 (71)APRIL rs11552708G/AIgAV78.7 (310)20.1 (79)1.3 (5)88.7 (699)11.3 (89)IgAV with nephritis81.1 (116)18.9 (27)0.090.6 (259)9.4 (27)IgAN75.8 (72)23.2 (22)1.1 (1)87.4 (166)12.6 (24)Controls78.7 (655)19.7 (164)1.6 (13)88.6 (1474)11.4 (190)APRIL rs6608C/TIgAV72.6 (286)25.4 (100)2.0 (8)85.3 (672)14.7 (116)IgAV with nephritis75.5 (108)23.1 (33)1.4 (2)87.1 (249)12.9 (37)IgAN65.3 (62)30.5 (29)4.2 (4)80.5 (153)19.5 (37)Controls71.0 (591)26.6 (221)2.4 (20)84.3 (1403)15.7 (261)BAFFR rs7290134A/GIgAV58.9 (232)35.5 (140)5.6 (22)76.6 (604)23.4 (184)IgAV with nephritis60.1 (86)32.2 (46)7.7 (11)76.2 (218)23.8 (68)IgAN57.9 (55)38.9 (37)3.2 (3)77.4 (147)22.6 (43)Controls58.7 (488)35.1 (292)6.3 (52)76.2 (1268)23.8 (396)BAFFR rs77874543G/CIgAV83.2 (328)15.5 (61)1.3 (5)91.0 (717)9.0 (71)IgAV with nephritis83.1 (118)16.9 (24)0.091.5 (260)8.5 (24)IgAN86.3 (82)13.7 (13)0.093.2 (167)6.8 (13)Controls83.7 (696)16.0 (133)0.4 (3)91.6 (1525)8.4 (139)IgAV: IgA vasculitis; IgAN: IgA nephropathy.ConclusionOur results reveal a similar BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR genetic distribution in IgAV and IgAN, suggesting that these genes could not be used as differential biomarkers between these pathologies.References[1]N Engl J Med 2013;368:2402-14;[2]Am J Kidney Dis 1988;12:373-7;[3]J Exp Med 1999;189:1747-56;[4]Nat Genet 2005;37:793-4;[5]Arthritis Res Ther 2018;20:158;[6]Arthritis Res Ther 2020;22:157;[7]Engl J Med 2017;376:1615-26;[8]Sci Rep 2018;8:8195.AcknowledgementsThis study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (grant PI18/00042 and PI21/00042) from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII, Health Ministry, Spain). DP-P is a recipient of a Río Hortega programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) [grant number CM20/00006]; SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program co-funded by ERDF [grant number RD16/0012/0009]; VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL [grant number PREVAL 18/01]; RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type II programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by ESF `Investing in your future´ [grant number CPII21/00004].Disclosure of InterestsDiana Prieto-Peña: None declared, Fernanda Genre: None declared, Sara Remuzgo Martinez: None declared, Verónica Pulito-Cueto: None declared, Belén Atienza-Mateo: None declared, Belén Sevilla: None declared, Javier Llorca: None declared, Norberto Ortego: None declared, Maite Leonardo: None declared, Ana Peñalba: None declared, Luis Martín-Penagos: None declared, Jose Alberto Miranda Fillloy: None declared, J. Narváez: None declared, LUIS CAMINAL MONTERO: None declared, PAZ COLLADO: None declared, Antonio Fernandez-Nebro: None declared, Gisela Díaz-Cordoves: None declared, Secundino Cigarrán: None declared, Jesús Calviño: None declared, Carmen Cobelo: None declared, Diego de Argila: None declared, Esther F. Vicente-Rabaneda: None declared, Esteban Rubio-Romero: None declared, MANUEL LEON LUQUE: None declared, Juan María Blanco-Madrigal: None declared, E. Galíndez-Agirregoikoa: None declared, Oreste Gualillo: None declared, Javier Martin Ibanez: None declared, Santos Castañeda: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Miguel A González-Gay Speakers bureau: Abbvie, MSD, Jansen, and Roche, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Lilly, Celgene, MSD and GSK, Raquel López-Mejías: None declared

The extrusion of a sebaceous gland through a follicular infundibulum is a rare dermatopathology image that raises two fundamental questions: Is it an artifact?. Can a full gland be expelled just as its secretion does?. The answer is not easy and there are no bibliographic references to help us solving the doubt. These two images correspond to the case of an 18-year-old male patient who consulted for a rapidly evolving yellowish nummular lesion on the cheek. An oily secretion was released from it.

BackgroundIn contrast with the setting of acute myocardial infarction, there are limited data regarding the impact of diabetes mellitus on clinical outcomes in contemporary cohorts of patients with chronic coronary syndromes. We aimed to investigate the prevalence and prognostic impact of diabetes according to geographical regions and ethnicity.Methods and resultsCLARIFY is an observational registry of patients with chronic coronary syndromes, enrolled across 45 countries in Europe, Asia, America, Middle East, Australia, and Africa in 2009–2010, and followed up yearly for 5 years. Chronic coronary syndromes were defined by ≥1 of the following criteria: prior myocardial infarction, evidence of coronary stenosis >50%, proven symptomatic myocardial ischaemia, or prior revascularization procedure.Among 32 694 patients, 9502 (29%) had diabetes, with a regional prevalence ranging from below 20% in Northern Europe to ∼60% in the Gulf countries. In a multivariable-adjusted Cox proportional hazards model, diabetes was associated with increased risks for the primary outcome (cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 1.28 (95% confidence interval 1.18, 1.39) and for all secondary outcomes (all-cause and cardiovascular mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, and coronary revascularization). Differences on outcomes according to geography and ethnicity were modest.ConclusionIn patients with chronic coronary syndromes, diabetes is independently associated with mortality and cardiovascular events, including heart failure, which is not accounted by demographics, prior medical history, left ventricular ejection fraction, or use of secondary prevention medication. This is observed across multiple geographic regions and ethnicities, despite marked disparities in the prevalence of diabetes.ClinicalTrials identifierISRCTN43070564

BackgroundIgA vasculitis (IgAV) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are inflammatory conditions that share pathogenic and molecular mechanisms [1] and may represent different outcomes of a continuous spectrum of the disease [2]. Interleukin (IL)-33 is a cytokine that exerts its biological functions by binding to its receptor, IL-1 receptor like 1 (IL-1RL1) [3]. Several lines of evidence demonstrate that genetic variants located both in IL33 and IL1RL1 genes are implicated in the increased risk of numerous immune-mediated diseases [4].ObjectivesTo determine whether IgAV and IgAN exhibit a different IL33-IL1RL1 association pattern.MethodsThree tag genetic variants within IL33 (rs3939286, rs7025417 and rs7044343) and three tag polymorphisms within IL1RL1 (rs2310173, rs13015714 and rs2058660), which cover the major variability of these loci and that were previously associated with several inflammatory diseases were genotyped in 380 Caucasian patients with IgAV, 96 patients with IgAN and 845 sex and ethnically matched healthy controls.ResultsSimilar genotype and allele frequencies were observed in the whole cohort of patients with IgAV when compared to those with IgAN when IL33-IL1RL1 genetic variants were analyzed independently (Table 1). In accordance with that, no IL33-IL1RL1 genotype or allele differences were detected between IgAV patients who developed nephritis and patients with IgAN (Table 1). Additionally, no statistically significant differences between the whole cohort of patients with IgAV and healthy controls as well as between patients with IgAN and healthy controls were observed when each IL33-IL1RL1 genetic variant was also analyzed independently (Table 1). Similar results were disclosed when haplotype frequencies were compared between the different comparative groups above mentioned (data not shown).Table 1.Genotype and allele frequencies of IL33 and IL1RL1 in the whole cohort of patients with IgAV, patients with IgAV who developed nephritis, patients with IgAN and healthy controls.PolymorphismChangeData setGenotypes, % (n)Alleles, % (n)1/21/11/22/212IL33 rs3939286C/TIgAV49.1 (186)40.9 (155)10.0 (38)69.5 (527)30.5 (231)IgAV with nephritis48.5 (66)39.7 (54)11.8 (16)68.4 (186)31.6 (86)IgAN43.8 (42)49.0 (47)7.3 (7)68.2 (131)31.8 (61)Controls49.0 (414)41.4 (350)9.6 (81)69.7 (1178)30.3 (512)IL33 rs7025417T/CIgAV68.1 (254)29.5 (110)2.4 (9)82.8 (618)17.2 (128)IgAV with nephritis69.9 (93)27.1 (36)3.0 (4)83.5 (222)16.5 (44)IgAN61.5 (59)37.5 (36)1.0 (1)80.2 (154)19.8 (38)Controls70.8 (598)25.9 (219)3.3 (28)83.7 (1415)16.3 (275)IL33 rs7044343T/CIgAV42.3 (160)42.1 (159)15.6 (59)63.4 (479)36.6 (277)IgAV with nephritis44.5 (61)39.4 (54)16.1 (22)64.2 (176)35.8 (98)IgAN40.6 (39)49.0 (47)10.4 (10)65.1 (125)34.9 (67)Controls44.5 (376)43.9 (371)11.6 (98)66.4 (1123)33.6 (567)IL1RL1 rs2310173G/TIgAV29.2 (111)46.1 (175)24.7 (94)52.2 (397)47.8 (363)IgAV with nephritis32.1 (44)43.1 (59)24.8 (34)53.6 (147)46.4 (127)IgAN20.8 (20)46.9 (45)32.3 (31)44.3 (85)55.7 (107)Controls30.2 (255)46.7 (395)23.1 (195)53.6 (905)46.4 (785)IL1RL1 rs13015714T/GIgAV56.3 (211)39.5 (148)4.3 (16)76.0 (570)24.0 (180)IgAV with nephritis61.8 (84)33.8 (46)4.4 (6)78.7 (214)21.3 (58)IgAN54.2 (52)40.6 (39)5.2 (5)74.5 (143)25.5 (49)Controls57.2 (483)37.2 (314)5.7 (48)75.7 (1280)24.3 (410)IL1RL1 rs2058660A/GIgAV56.9 (215)38.6 (146)4.5 (17)76.2 (576)23.8 (180)IgAV with nephritis62.2 (84)31.9 (43)5.9 (8)78.1 (211)21.9 (59)IgAN53.1 (51)42.7 (41)4.2 (4)74.5 (143)25.5 (49)Controls56.7 (479)37.5 (317)5.8 (49)75.4 (1275)24.6 (415)IgAV: IgA vasculitis; IgAN: IgA nephropathy.ConclusionOur results reveal that IgAV and IgAN share a similar IL33-IL1RL1 association pattern.References[1]N Engl J Med 2013;368:2402-14;[2]Am J Kidney Dis 1988;12:373-7;[3]J Immunol 2007;179:2551–5,[4]Sci Rep 2021;11:16163AcknowledgementsThis study was supported by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (grant PI18/00042 and PI21/00042) from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII, Health Ministry, Spain). DP-P is a recipient of a Río Hortega programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) [grant number CM20/00006]; SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program co-funded by ERDF [grant number RD16/0012/0009]; VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL [grant number PREVAL 18/01]; RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type II programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by ESF `Investing in your future´ [grant number CPII21/00004].Disclosure of InterestsDiana Prieto-Peña: None declared, Sara Remuzgo Martinez: None declared, Fernanda Genre: None declared, Verónica Pulito-Cueto: None declared, Belén Atienza-Mateo: None declared, Belén Sevilla: None declared, Javier Llorca: None declared, Norberto Ortego: None declared, Maite Leonardo: None declared, Ana Peñalba: None declared, Luis Martín-Penagos: None declared, Jose Alberto Miranda Fillloy: None declared, J. Narváez: None declared, LUIS CAMINAL MONTERO: None declared, PAZ COLLADO: None declared, Antonio Fernandez-Nebro: None declared, Gisela Díaz-Cordoves: None declared, Secundino Cigarrán: None declared, Jesús Calviño: None declared, Carmen Cobelo: None declared, Patricia Quiroga Colino: None declared, Javier Sanchez Perez: None declared, Esteban Rubio-Romero: None declared, MANUEL LEON LUQUE: None declared, Juan María Blanco-Madrigal: None declared, E. Galíndez-Agirregoikoa: None declared, Oreste Gualillo: None declared, Javier Martin Ibanez: None declared, Santos Castañeda: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Miguel A González-Gay Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi, Lilly, Celgene, MSD and GSK, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD, Jansen and Roche, Raquel López-Mejías: None declared

Resumen Objetivos: Evaluar la prevención, el diagnóstico precoz y la formación recibida de la osteoporosis en la Pediatría de nuestro medio. Material y métodos: Encuesta dirigida a facultativos de Pediatría de Atención Primaria (AP) y Atención Especializada (AE) que valora su actividad en prevención, detección y formación recibida en osteoporosis, y que fue difundida a través de las sociedades científicas pertinentes. Resultados: Participaron 420 pediatras (324 de AP y 96 de AE). El 93,5% de los pediatras de AP y el 89,6% de los de AE valoraban la actividad física de los pacientes; el 85,19% y 35,4% de ellos, respectivamente, la ingesta de lácteos. El 45,68% de AP y el 70,2% de AE suplementaban con calcio y vitamina D ante aporte nutricional bajo, realizándoles seguimiento el 39,2% de AP y el 47,2% de AE. El 39,6% de pediatras de AE solicitaba densitometría ósea ante enfermedad o tratamiento de riesgo, y el 47,9% medía los niveles de 25-OH-vitamina D. El 25,93% de AP y el 45,3% de AE preguntaban por la existencia de fracturas, el 90,4% y 96,8% valoraban el mecanismo etiopatogénico. El 40% de AP y el 86,2% de AE solicitaban una densitometría ósea o derivaban al especialista ante fracturas por traumatismos de baja energía, con criterios específicos en el 13,7% y 5,86%, respectivamente. El 92% de AP y el 82,3% de AE no habían recibido formación reciente en osteoporosis infantil. Conclusión: La detección, los circuitos de derivación y la formación de los pediatras respecto a la salud ósea en nuestro país es mejorable. Optimizar estos aspectos es fundamental para favorecer el pico de masa ósea en nuestra población.

Background:BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR are genes that encode cytokines with a key role in the development and survival of B-lymphocytes [1-4]: The B cell-activating factor (BAFF, also known as BLyS), a proliferation-inducing ligand (APRIL) and BAFF receptor (BAFF-R), respectively. Previous genetic studies have revealed that the BAFF-APRIL-BAFFR pathway is implicated in the genetic predisposition to several immune-mediated diseases [5].Objectives:To determine whether the BAFF-APRIL-BAFFR pathway represents a novel genetic risk factor for the pathogenesis of Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), an inflammatory disease in which IgA deposits and B-lymphocytes are crucial [6, 7].Methods:A functional BAFF polymorphism (rs374039502) and two tag variants within APRIL (rs11552708 and rs6608) and BAFFR (rs7290134 and rs77874543) were genotyped in 386 Caucasian IgAV patients (the largest series of Caucasian patients with IgAV ever assessed for genetic studies) and 806 sex and ethnically matched healthy controls by TaqMan assays.Results:No statistically significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies between patients with IgAV and healthy controls were observed when each genetic variant of BAFF APRIL and BAFFR was analyzed independently (Table 1). Likewise, no statistically significant differences in genotype and allele frequencies of BAFF APRIL or BAFFR were found when patients with IgAV were stratified according to the age at disease onset or to the presence/absence of gastrointestinal or renal manifestations. Similar results were disclosed when haplotype frequencies of APRIL and BAFFR were compared between patients with IgAV and healthy controls as well as patients with IgAV stratified according to the age at disease onset or to the presence/absence of gastrointestinal or renal manifestations.Conclusion:Our results suggest that the BAFF-APRIL-BAFFR pathway does not contribute to the genetic network underlying IgAV.References:[1]J Exp Med 1999;190:1697-710; [2] Science 1999;285:260-3; [3] Nat Genet 2005;37:829-34; [4] Nat Immunol 2002;3:822-9; [5] N Engl J Med 2017;376:1615-26; [6] N Engl J Med 2013;368:2402-14; [7] Autoimmun Rev 2018;17:301-315.Table 1.Genotype and allele frequencies of BAFF, APRIL and BAFFR genes in patients with IgA vasculitis and healthy controls.PolymorphismLocus1/2Data set1/11/22/212rs374039502BAFFT/APatients91.9 (353)8.1 (31)095.9 (737)4.1 (31)Controls91.5 (733)8.1 (65)0.4 (3)95.6 (1531)4.4 (71)rs11552708APRILG/APatients78.1 (299)20.6 (79)1.3 (5)88.4 (677)11.6 (89)Controls77.9 (625)20.4 (1641.6 (13)88.1 (1414)11.9 (190)rs6608APRILC/TPatients71.9 (277)26.0 (100)2.1 (8)84.9 (654)15.1 (116)Controls70.0 (561)27.6 (221)2.5 (20)83.7 (1343)16.3 (261)rs7290134BAFFRA/GPatients58.0 (224)36.3 (140)5.7 (22)76.2 (588)23.8 (184)Controls57.2 (459)36.4 (292)6.5 (52)75.3 (1210)24.6 (396)rs77874543BAFFRG/CPatients82.7 (316)16.0 (61)1.3 (5)90.7 (693)9.3 (71)Controls83.0 (666)16.6 (133)0.4 (3)91.3 (1465)8.7 (139)Acknowledgements:This study was supported by European Union FEDER funds and “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (grant PI18/00042) from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII, Health Ministry, Spain). DP-P is a recipient of a Río Hortega programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) [grant number CM20/00006]; SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [grant number RD16/0012/0009]; VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL [grant number PREVAL 18/01]; BA-M is a recipient of a `López Albo´ Post-Residency Programme funded by Servicio Cántabro de Salud; LL-G is supported by funds of IDIVAL [grant number INNVAL20/06]; RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) [grant number CP16/00033].Disclosure of Interests:Diana Prieto-Peña Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Sara Remuzgo Martinez: None declared, Fernanda Genre: None declared, Verónica Pulito-Cueto: None declared, Belén Atienza-Mateo: None declared, Belén Sevilla: None declared, Javier Llorca: None declared, Norberto Ortego: None declared, Leticia Lera-Gómez: None declared, Maite Leonardo: None declared, Ana Peñalba: None declared, J. Narváez: None declared, Luis Martín-Penagos: None declared, Jose Alberto Miranda-Filloy: None declared, LUIS CAMINAL MONTERO: None declared, PAZ COLLADO: None declared, Javier Sanchez Perez: None declared, Diego de Argila: None declared, Esteban Rubio-Romero: None declared, MANUEL LEON LUQUE: None declared, Juan María Blanco-Madrigal: None declared, E. Galindez: None declared, Javier Martin Ibanez: None declared, Santos Castañeda: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Miguel A González-Gay Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Raquel López-Mejías: None declared

Background:IgA vasculitis (IgAV) and IgA nephropathy (IgAN) are inflammatory conditions that share pathogenic and molecular mechanisms [1] and may represent different outcomes of a continuous spectrum of disease [2]. Interleukin (IL)17A has been identified as a common genetic risk locus for several immune-mediated diseases [3, 4].Objectives:To determine whether IgAV and IgAN exhibit a different IL17A association pattern.Methods:Five IL17A tag polymorphisms (rs4711998, rs8193036, rs3819024, rs2275913 and rs7747909) were genotyped in 388 Caucasian patients with IgAV, 99 patients with IgAN and 1,003 sex and ethnically matched healthy controls.Results:No statistically significant differences between patients with IgAV and healthy controls and between patients with IgAN and healthy controls were observed when each IL17A genetic variant was analyzed independently (Table 1). Similarly, IgAV patients exhibited similar genotype and allele IL17A frequencies than those with IgAN (Table 1). Moreover, no genotype or allele differences between IgAV patients who developed nephritis and patients with IgAN were detected. Furthermore, haplotype frequencies were similar in patients with IgAV, IgAV and nephritis and those with IgAN.Table 1.Genotype and allele frequencies of IL17A gene in patients with IgA vasculitis, patients with IgA nephropathy and healthy controls.PolymorphismChangeData set1/11/22/212rs4711998G/AIgAV53.4 (207)38.9 (151)7.7 (30)72.8 (565)27.2 (211)IgAN49.0 (48)42.9 (42)8.2 (8)70.4 (138)29.6 (58)Controls52.7 (529)41.2 (413)6.1 (61)73.3 (1471)26.7 (535)rs8193036T/CIgAV57.0 (221)38.4 (149)4.6 (18)76.2 (591)23.8 (185)IgAN64.3 (63)31.6 (31)4.1 (4)80.1 (157)19.9 (39)Controls60.3 (605)35.2 (353)4.5 (45)77.9 (1563)22.1 (443)rs3819024A/GIgAV44.1 (171)43.3 (168)12.6 (49)65.7 (510)34.3 (266)IgAN39.4 (39)54.5 (54)6.1 (6)66.7 (132)33.3 (66)Controls45.6 (457)44.6 (447)9.9 (99)67.8 (1361)32.2 (645)rs2275913G/AIgAV44.6 (172)43.3 (167)12.2 (47)66.2 (511)33.8 (261)IgAN39.8 (39)53.1 (52)7.1 (7)66.3 (130)33.7 (66)Controls44.8 (449)44.2 (443)11.1 (111)66.8 (1341)33.2 (665)rs7747909G/AIgAV53.9 (209)39.4 (153)6.7 (26)73.6 (571)26.4 (205)IgAN41.1 (39)54.7 (52)4.2 (4)68.4 (130)31.6 (60)Controls53.0 (532)39.4 (395)7.6 (76)72.7 (1459)27.3 (547)Conclusion:Our results revealed that IgAV and IgAN share a similar IL17A association pattern.References:[1]N Engl J Med 2013;368:2402-14.[2]Am J Kidney Dis 1988;12:373-7.[3]Ann Rheum Dis 2014;73:1742-5.[4]Mediators Inflamm 2018;2018:1395823.Acknowledgements:This study was supported by European Union FEDER funds and “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (grant PI18/00042) from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII, Health Ministry, Spain). DP-P is a recipient of a Río Hortega programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) [grant number CM20/00006]; SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) [grant number RD16/0012/0009]; VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL [grant number PREVAL 18/01]; BA-M is a recipient of a `López Albo´ Post-Residency Programme funded by Servicio Cántabro de Salud; LL-G is supported by funds of IDIVAL [grant number INNVAL20/06]; RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) [grant number CP16/00033].Disclosure of Interests:Diana Prieto-Peña: None declared, Fernanda Genre: None declared, Sara Remuzgo Martinez: None declared, Verónica Pulito-Cueto: None declared, Belén Atienza-Mateo: None declared, Belén Sevilla: None declared, Javier Llorca: None declared, Norberto Ortego: None declared, Leticia Lera-Gómez: None declared, Maite Leonardo: None declared, Ana Peñalba: None declared, Luis Martín-Penagos: None declared, Jose Alberto Miranda-Filloy: None declared, J. Narváez: None declared, LUIS CAMINAL MONTERO: None declared, PAZ COLLADO: None declared, Antonio Fernandez-Nebro: None declared, Gisela Díaz-Cordoves: None declared, Secundino Cigarrán: None declared, Jesús Calviño: None declared, Carmen Cobelo: None declared, Javier Sanchez Perez: None declared, Diego de Argila: None declared, Esteban Rubio-Romero: None declared, MANUEL LEON LUQUE: None declared, Juan María Blanco-Madrigal: None declared, E. Galindez: None declared, Javier Martin Ibanez: None declared, Santos Castañeda: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Miguel A González-Gay Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Raquel López-Mejías: None declared

Background:Interferon signaling pathway plays a relevant role in autoimmunity. Genetic variants in theinterferon regulatory factor (IRF) 5gene, that encodes the major regulator of the type I interferon induction [1], have been related to the development of several inflammatory diseases [2].Objectives:To determine the influence ofIRF5on Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV), an inflammatory vascular disease.Methods:ThreeIRF5polymorphisms (rs2004640, rs2070197 and rs10954213) representative of 3 different haplotype blocks were genotyped in 372 Caucasian patients with IgAV and 876 sex and ethnically matched healthy controls.Results:No statistically significant differences between patients with IgAV and controls were observed when eachIRF5polymorphism was analyzed independently. Similarly, no statistically significant differences between patients with IgAV and controls were found whenIRF5polymorphisms were evaluated combined conforming haplotypes. Additionally, there were no statistically significant differences in genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies ofIRF5when patients with IgAV were stratified according to the age at disease onset or to the presence/absence of gastrointestinal or renal manifestations.Conclusion:Our results do not support an influence ofIRF5on the pathogenesis of IgAV.References:[1]Nat Immunol 2011; 12: 231-8;[2]Arthritis Res Ther 2014; 16: R146.Acknowledgments:This study was supported by European Union FEDER funds and “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (grant PI18/00042) from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII, Health Ministry, Spain). RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) (grant CP16/00033). SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program (RD16/0012/0009) (ISCIII, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)). VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL (PREVAL 18/01). LL-G is supported by funds of PI18/00042 (ISCIII, co-funded by ERDF).Disclosure of Interests:Sara Remuzgo Martinez: None declared, Fernanda Genre: None declared, Verónica Pulito-Cueto: None declared, D. Prieto-Peña: None declared, Belén Atienza-Mateo: None declared, Belén Sevilla: None declared, Javier Llorca: None declared, Norberto Ortego: None declared, Leticia Lera-Gómez: None declared, Maite Leonardo: None declared, Ana Peñalba: None declared, María Jesús Cabero: None declared, Luis Martín-Penagos: None declared, Jose Alberto Miranda-Filloy: None declared, Antonio Navas Parejo: None declared, Javier Sanchez Perez: None declared, Maximiliano Aragües: None declared, Esteban Rubio: None declared, MANUEL LEON LUQUE: None declared, Juan María Blanco-Madrigal: None declared, E. Galindez: None declared, Javier Martin Ibanez: None declared, Santos Castañeda: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen, Lilly and MSD, Miguel A González-Gay Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Raquel López-Mejías: None declared

Background:Cytokines signaling pathway genes represent a key component of the genetic network implicated in the pathogenesis of Immunoglobulin-A vasculitis (IgAV) [1], an inflammatory vascular pathology.Interleukin (IL)17Ais a genetic risklocusfor autoimmune diseases, such as giant cell arteritis [2] and spondyloarthritis [3].Objectives:To determine the potential influence ofIL17Aon IgAV.Methods:FiveIL17Atag polymorphisms (rs4711998, rs8193036, rs3819024, rs2275913 and rs7747909) were genotyped in 360 Caucasian patients with IgAV and 1,003 sex and ethnically matched healthy controls.Results:No statistically significant differences between patients with IgAV and healthy controls were observed when eachIL17Agenetic variant was analyzed independently. Similarly, no statistically significant differences between patients with IgAV and healthy controls were found when the fiveIL17Apolymorphisms were evaluated combined conforming haplotypes. In addition, there were no statistically significant differences in genotype, allele and haplotype frequencies ofIL17Awhen patients with IgAV were stratified according to the age at disease onset or to the presence/absence of gastrointestinal or renal manifestations.Conclusion:Our results do not support an influence ofIL17Aon the pathogenesis of IgAV.References:[1]Autoimmun Rev 2018; 17: 301-15[2]Ann Rheum Dis 2014; 73: 1742-5[3]Mediators Inflamm 2018; 2018: 1395823.Acknowledgments:This study was supported by European Union FEDER funds and “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” (grant PI18/00042) from ‘Instituto de Salud Carlos III’ (ISCIII, Health Ministry, Spain). RL-M is a recipient of a Miguel Servet type I programme fellowship from the ISCIII, co-funded by the European Social Fund (ESF, `Investing in your future´) (grant CP16/00033). SR-M is supported by funds of the RETICS Program (RD16/0012/0009) (ISCIII, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)). VP-C is supported by a pre-doctoral grant from IDIVAL (PREVAL 18/01). LL-G is supported by funds of PI18/00042 (ISCIII, co-funded by ERDF).Disclosure of Interests:Fernanda Genre: None declared, Sara Remuzgo Martinez: None declared, Verónica Pulito-Cueto: None declared, D. Prieto-Peña: None declared, Belén Atienza-Mateo: None declared, Belén Sevilla: None declared, Javier Llorca: None declared, Norberto Ortego: None declared, Leticia Lera-Gómez: None declared, Maite Leonardo: None declared, Ana Peñalba: None declared, María Jesús Cabero: None declared, Luis Martín-Penagos: None declared, Jose Alberto Miranda-Filloy: None declared, Antonio Navas Parejo: None declared, Diego de Argila: None declared, Maximiliano Aragües: None declared, Esteban Rubio-Romero: None declared, MANUEL LEON LUQUE: None declared, Juan María Blanco-Madrigal: None declared, E. Galindez: None declared, Javier Martin Ibanez: None declared, Santos Castañeda: None declared, Ricardo Blanco Grant/research support from: Abbvie, MSD and Roche, Consultant of: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen and MSD, Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Pfizer, Roche, Bristol-Myers, Janssen, Lilly and MSD, Miguel A González-Gay Grant/research support from: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Speakers bureau: Pfizer, Abbvie, MSD, Raquel López-Mejías: None declared

To report the intraoperative optical coherence tomography findings in idiopathic epiretinal membrane (ERM) with connecting strands and to describe the postoperative outcomes.A retrospective, case series study within a prospective observational intraoperative optical coherence tomography imaging study was performed. Epiretinal membranes with connecting strands were characterized on preoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography images and assessed against corresponding intraoperative (after internal limiting membrane [ILM] peeling) and postoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography images.Eleven locations of the connecting strands in 7 eyes were studied. The connecting strands had visible connections from the inner retinal surface to the ERM in all locations, and the reflectivity was moderate in 8 locations and high in 3 locations. After ERM and ILM peeling, disconnected strands were identified in all of the intraoperative optical coherence tomography images. The reflectivity of the remaining intraoperative strands was higher than that of the preoperative lesions and appeared as "finger-like" and branching projections. The remaining disconnected lesions were contiguous with the inner retinal layers. Postoperatively, the intraoperative lesions disappeared completely in all locations, and recurrent formation of ERM was not identified in any eyes.In ERM eyes with connecting strands, intraoperative spectral domain optical coherence tomography imaging showed moderately to highly reflective sub-ILM finger-like lesions that persist immediately after membrane and ILM peeling. Postoperatively, the hyperreflective lesions disappeared spontaneously without localized nerve fiber layer loss. The sub-ILM connecting strands may represent glial retinal attachments.

We developed an approach to a resilient communications system for post-disaster situations that make use of cooperative missions involving multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), ground teams, and vehicle communication hubs (VHUB). In this paper, we will discuss how the communication system can operate even without relying on conventional communication networks such as the cellular network and Internet, which we assume may not be available in a post-disaster scenario, by using the concept of delay-tolerant networks (DTN). By using sub-GHz radio frequencies, we can also extend the range of transmission of responder nodes from several hundred meters to a few kilometers, allowing for the ground-to-ground and ground-to-sky communications. We will also discuss and demonstrate the components of the system and several applications on victim finding, rescue, and identification. Other key capabilities of the decision support node include mapping and visualization of disaster area and victim locations, information dissemination through ad-hoc broadcast messaging, and other disaster mobile kiosk applications. We envision the technical approach discussed in this paper to eventually be deployed in future post-disaster decision-support systems based on accurate situational awareness data. Maps, videos, and other post-disaster operational information will eventually be provided to partner organizations in an effective and timely manner.

Ependymoma is a rare central nervous system neoplasm with an even rarer morphologic variant called giant-cell ependymoma (GCE). GCE has a characteristic discrepant, malignant-like morphology but indolent behavior. We present the case of a 21-year-old female with an extra-axial GCE located in the sacral region. To date, 16 cases of sacral GCE have been reported in the literature, with 4 cases in the sacral region; however, all those cases were intra-axial. We present the first case of an extra-axial sacral GCE.

Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common type of primary small-sized blood vessel vasculitis in children and an uncommon condition in adults. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine whose effect is controlled by the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). IL-6 transducer (IL-6ST/gp130) is the signal-transducing subunit of the IL-6R. Two hundred and eighty five Spanish HSP patients and 877 sex and ethnically matched controls were genotyped for the IL6R rs2228145 and IL6ST/gp130 rs2228044 functional polymorphisms. No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies between HSP patients and controls were observed. Moreover, there were no differences between HSP patients according to the age at disease onset, presence of nephritis or gastrointestinal manifestations. Our results do not confirm association of IL6R rs2228145 and IL6ST/gp130 rs2228044 polymorphisms with HSP.

Purpose To develop methods to make precise comparisons of specific retinal features between and within spectral-domain (SD) OCT images, color fundus photography (CFP) images, and fluorescein angiography (FA) images in eyes treated with anti–vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents for neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD). Design Retrospective study. Participants Patients with good study-eye images at the 104-week visit in the Comparison of Age-Related Macular Degeneration Treatments Trials. Methods Graders reviewed CFP and FA images and delineated areas of fibrotic or nonfibrotic scar and geographic atrophy (GA) or non-GA. Other graders reviewed SD-OCT images and delineated retinal and subretinal lesion characteristics. Using newly developed custom software and graphic user interfaces, the presence and thickness of each feature at each pixel on the en face view was determined. Main Outcome Measures Spectral-domain OCT findings versus CFP and FA lesion components from regional overlays. Results Per-eye distribution and thickness of SD-OCT features within CFP- and FA-established areas of scar and atrophy can be determined precisely, can be displayed in multiple formats, and can be extracted into pixel-specific data sets. These methods enable statistical analysis of imaging results within eyes and across eyes of different patients. For example, photoreceptor loss, subretinal lesion material, and thicknesses of photoreceptor layer and subretinal material across those SD-OCT features can be related precisely to CFP and FA regions of scar or atrophy. Conclusions Methods to integrate qualitative and quantitative retinal and subretinal changes to coincide with photographic and angiographic designations of the nAMD lesion areas and sequelae are integral for accurate assessments of posttreatment retinal morphologic features. These may lead to better understanding of disease progression and improved treatment strategies.

Mevalonate kinase deficiency (MKD) is a recessively-inherited autoinflammatory condition caused by loss-of-functionMVK mutations. This gene encodes for the enzyme mevalonate kinase (MVK), which catalyzes a crucial step of the biosynthetic pathway of cholesterol and isoprenoids. The partial deficiency of enzymatic activity causes the Hyper-IgD and periodic fever syndrome (HIDS), whereas it complete deficiency provokes the Mevalonic Aciduria (MA).

To assess retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness at term-equivalent age in very preterm (32 weeks gestational age) vs term-born infant cohorts, and compare very preterm infant RNFL thickness with brain anatomy and neurodevelopment.Cohort study.RNFL was semi-automatically segmented (1 eye per infant) in 57 very preterm and 50 term infants with adequate images from bedside portable, handheld spectral-domain optical coherence tomography imaging at 37-42 weeks postmenstrual age. Mean RNFL thickness was calculated for the papillomacular bundle (-15 degrees to +15 degrees) and temporal quadrant (-45 degrees to +45 degrees) relative to the fovea-optic nerve axis. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans clinically obtained in 26 very preterm infants were scored for global structural abnormalities by an expert masked to data except for age. Cognitive, language, and motor skills were assessed in 33 of the very preterm infants at 18-24 months corrected age.RNFL was thinner for very preterm vs term infants at the papillomacular bundle ([mean ± standard deviation] 61 ± 17 vs 72 ± 13 μm, P.001) and temporal quadrant (72 ± 21 vs 82 ± 16 μm, P = .005). In very preterm infants, thinner papillomacular bundle RNFL correlated with higher global brain MRI lesion burden index (R(2) = 0.35, P = .001) and lower cognitive (R(2) = 0.18, P = .01) and motor (R(2) = 0.17, P = .02) scores. Relationships were similar for temporal quadrant.Thinner RNFL in very preterm infants relative to term-born infants may relate to brain structure and neurodevelopment.

El presente diseno es un estudio descriptivo en el que se describen las personas mordidas por animales, los tratamientos antirrabicos aplicados y las reacciones. Se senalan las frecuencias de eventos a la vacuna y al suero. Se evaluaron las formas de presentacion y el cuadro clinico de las reacciones ocurridas en la provincia Ciego de Avila (Cuba) en el periodo de 1981 a 2001. En esa etapa predominaron las reacciones al suero heterologo sobre las producidas por la vacuna antirrabica humana. Las reacciones locales a la vacuna fueron mas frecuentes que las sistemicas. Se presentaron 4 reacciones neuroparaliticas producidas por las vacunas. Los sintomas y signos mas frecuentes de los pacientes con reaccion a la vacuna fueron prurito, rash urticariano localizado, papula en el punto de inyeccion y dolor local. Las manifestaciones clinicas que predominaron en los pacientes concluidos como reacciones al suero heterologo fueron rash en gluteos, prurito, eritema local y fiebre. No se detecto ningun paciente con manifestaciones neurologicas producidas por el suero heterologo.

Purpose To measure average retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thicknesses in healthy, full-term neonates. Design Descriptive research to develop normative data. Methods Healthy infants born between 37 and 42 weeks postmenstrual age were imaged with hand-held spectral-domain optical coherence tomography. A custom script segmented the RNFL; the fovea and optic nerve center were manually selected. A second script measured the average RNFL thickness along the papillomacular bundle, defined as the arc from −15 degrees to +15 degrees on the axis from the optic nerve to fovea, with radii of 1.1, 1.3, 1.5, and 1.7 mm from the center of the optic disc. Shapiro-Wilk W tests assessed these measurements for normality to determine the age-appropriate radial distance for subsequent analyses. Average RNFL thicknesses for four temporal 45-degree sectors (superior temporal, temporal superior, temporal inferior, and inferior temporal) and the temporal quadrant were calculated and compared to demographic parameters for all infants. Results Fifty full-term infants were adequately imaged for RNFL analysis. RNFL thicknesses at 1.5 mm radial distance from the optic nerve were the most normally distributed. While there was a trend toward greater mean superior temporal RNFL thickness for both black and Hispanic vs white infants (128 ± 27 μm, 124 ± 30 μm, and 100 ± 19 μm, respectively, P = .04 for both comparisons), there were no other significant differences noted in RNFL thicknesses by race, sex, gestational age, or birth weight. Conclusions We present RNFL thickness measurements for healthy, full-term infants that may serve as normative data for future analyses.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is the most common type of primary small-sized blood vessel vasculitis in children and an uncommon condition in adults. Interleukin (IL)-6 is a proinflammatory cytokine whose effect is controlled by the IL-6 receptor (IL-6R). IL-6 transducer (IL-6ST/gp130) is the signal-transducing subunit of the IL-6R. Two hundred and eighty five Spanish HSP patients and 877 sex and ethnically matched controls were genotyped for the IL6R rs2228145 and IL6ST/gp130 rs2228044 functional polymorphisms. No significant differences in the genotype and allele frequencies between HSP patients and controls were observed. Moreover, there were no differences between HSP patients according to the age at disease onset, presence of nephritis or gastrointestinal manifestations. Our results do not confirm association of IL6R rs2228145 and IL6ST/gp130 rs2228044 polymorphisms with HSP.

Pinning of the triple contact line adversely affects electrowetting on dielectric. Electrowetting response of substrates with contact angle hysteresis ranging from 1° to 30° has been characterized, and the results are interpreted within the framework of electromechanics corrected for pinning. The relationship between contact angle hysteresis, threshold potential for liquid actuation, and electrowetting hysteresis is quantified. Our results demonstrate that a modified electrowetting equation, based on balance of forces (including the pinning forces) acting on the triple contact line and on the drop, describes the electrowetting response of substrates with significant contact angle hysteresis. Finally, the surface properties of PDMS Sylgard 184 were found to be influenced by the electric field.

Kyeongan stream is one of the tributaries of the Paldang Reservoir which is the largest drinking water source in South Korea. It serves as one of the major contributors of pollution. In this study, the database obtained during the monitoring program was subjected to different multivariate statistical analyses (MVA) such as Cluster Analysis (CA) and Factor Analysis (FA) with a view to suggest a simplemethodological approach for analysis and interpretation of complex data sets. Using CA, data rendered a dendrogram grouping all the monitored streams into three statistically significant clusters (high pollution, moderate pollution and low pollution regions). Through CA, it is possible to design a future spatial sampling strategy in an optimal manner through reducing the number of sampling sites and cost without losing any significance of the outcome. FA for the three data sets evolved five VFs for LP and MP regions and four VFs for HP region. The eigenvalue is greater than 1, explaining 74.24, 76.84 and 78.25% of the total variance in respective water quality data sets. This included the organic pollution group (municipal and industrial effluents), nutrients group (agricultural runoff) and EC and solids (soil leaching and runoff process).

It was aimed to compare urine B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) according to left ventricular systolic dysfunction and to investigate its diagnostic value in heart failure (HF) patients.A total of 90 HF outpatients (61 men, age 66 +/- 12) and 30 age- and gender-matched controls were studied.An increase in urine BNP was observed in patients with EF/= 40% compared to EF40% (p0.0001), and controls (p0.0001). Significant correlations between urinary BNP and left ventricular functional parameters were obtained. A multivariate regression analysis was performed and the best model associated with urine BNP included plasma BNP (p0.0001), EF (p = 0.02) and LV volume indexes (p0.0001). The ROC for detection of EF/= 40% using urine BNP levels showed an area under the curve of 0.74 +/- 0.05, (p0.0001). From the ROC curve, the optimal cut-off value (2.30 ng/l) had a 60% sensitivity and 90% specificity. Finally, we performed a binary logistic regression for detection of EF/= 40%, and urine BNP was shown to be a strong predictor with an odds-ratio of 21.Urine BNP levels correlated with left ventricular functional parameters. This biomarker is a useful tool for detecting and diagnosing left ventricular systolic dysfunction in heart failure.

To analyze the value of novel measures of retinal pigment epithelium-drusen complex (RPEDC) volume to predict 2-year disease progression of intermediate age-related macular degeneration (AMD).Prospective, observational study.Three hundred forty-five AMD and 122 non-AMD participants enrolled in the Age Related Eye Disease Study 2 Ancillary Spectral-Domain (SD) Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT) study.High-density SD OCT macular volumes were obtained at yearly study visits. The RPEDC abnormal thickening (henceforth, OCT drusen) and RPEDC abnormal thinning (RAT) volumes were generated by semiautomated segmentation of total RPEDC within a 5-mm-diameter macular field.Volume change and odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) for progression to advanced AMD with choroidal neovascularization (CNV) or central geographic atrophy (GA).Complete volumes were obtained in 265 and 266 AMD eyes and in 115 and 97 control eyes at baseline and at year 2, respectively. In AMD eyes, mean (standard deviation) OCT drusen volume increased from 0.08 mm(3) (0.16 mm(3)) to 0.10 mm(3) (0.23 mm(3); P0.001), and RAT volume increased from 8.3 × 10(-4) mm(3) (20.8 × 10(-4) mm(3)) to 18.4 × 10(-4) mm(3) (46.6 × 10(-4) mm(3); P0.001). Greater baseline OCT drusen volume was associated with 2-year progression to CNV (P = 0.002). Odds of developing CNV increased by 31% for every 0.1-mm(3) increase in baseline OCT drusen volume (OR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.06-1.63; P = 0.013). Greater baseline RAT volume was associated with significant 2-year increase in RAT volume (P0.001), noncentral GA (P0.001), and progression to central GA (P0.001). Odds of developing central GA increased by 32% for every 0.001-mm(3) increase in baseline RAT volume (OR, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.14-1.53; P0.001). In non-AMD eyes, all volumes were significantly lower than AMD eyes and showed no significant 2-year change.Macular OCT drusen and RAT volumes increased significantly in AMD eyes over 2 years. These quantitative SD OCT biomarkers predict 2-year AMD progression and may serve as useful biomarkers for future clinical trials.

Background To determine whether the human leukocyte antigen ( HLA ) B alleles are implicated in the susceptibility to Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) in the largest series of Caucasian HSP patients ever assessed for genetic studies. Methods The study population was composed of 349 Spanish patients diagnosed with HSP fulfilling the American College of Rheumatology and the Michel et al. classification criteria, and 335 sex and ethnically matched controls. HLA-B phenotypes were determined by sequencing-based typing (SBT) and analyzed by chi-square or Fisher exact test. Results A statistically significant increase of HLA-B*41:02 allele in HSP patients when compared with controls was found (8.3% versus 1.5% respectively; p=0.0001; OR (odds ratio) =5.76 [2.15-19.3]). These results remained statistically significant after adjusting for Bonferroni correction (p=0.0028). An internal validation also confirmed the susceptibility effect on HSP associated with HLA-B*41:02 (OR=5.70 [1.98-16.44]). Since a former study described an association between HLA-DRB1*01:03 and HSP susceptibility, we also evaluated the implication of HLA-B*41:02 independently of HLA-DRB1*01:03 . Interestingly, the association remained statistically significant (p=0.0004, OR=4.97 [1.8-16.9]). No HLA-B association with specific HSP clinical features was found. Conclusions Our study indicates that HLA-B*41:02 is associated with the susceptibility to HSP in Spanish patients irrespective of HLA-DRB1 status. Acknowledgements This study was supported by a grant from “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” PI12/00193 (Spain). RLM is a recipient of a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III at the Spanish Ministry of Health (Spain) (CD12/00425). FG and BU are supported by funds from the RETICS Program (RIER) (RD12/0009/0013). Disclosure of Interest None declared

The present design is a descriptive study in which people bitten by animals, rabies treatment used and the reactions to it are described. The frequency of adverse effects to the vaccine and to the serum are pointed out. The forms of clinical presentation and the clinical symptoms of the reactions observed in the Ciego de Avila province, Cuba, in the period from 1981 to 2001, were evaluated. In this period prevailed the reactions to the heterologous serum and the reactions caused by the human rabies vaccine. Local reactions to the vaccine were more common than the systemic ones. Four neuroparalytic reactions produced by the vaccines were observed. The most frequent symptoms and signs of the patients with reaction to the vaccine were pruritus, rash, localized urticaria, papule in the point of injection and local pain. The clinical manifestations considered as reactions to the heterologous serum that prevailed in the patients were rash in gluteal regions, pruritus, local erythyema and fever. No patient was detected with neurological manifestations caused by the heterologous serum.

Background Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP) is the most common type of primary small-sized blood vessel vasculitis in children and a rare entity in adults [1]. Although the etiology of HSP remains unknown, environmental factors and a susceptible genetic background have been associated with this pathology [2]. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) is a proinflammatory cytokine with a pivotal role in the immune system [3] and polymorphisms in the IL6 gene have been associated with several autoimmune diseases Objectives In the present study, we assessed the potential association of three genetic variants located in the IL6 gene that cover the major variability of this gene with HSP susceptibility and severity. Methods Our study population was composed of 285 Spanish patients diagnosed with HSP and 877 sex and ethnically matched Spanish controls. In addition to genotyping the traditional promoter single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) -174G>C (rs1800795), we assessed another two SNPs (rs2069827 and rs2069840) located in the IL6 gene that were selected by SNP-tagging. Results No significant differences in the genotypic and allelic frequencies between HSP patients and controls were observed when the rs2069827, rs1800795 and rs2069840 polymorphisms were analyzed independently or combined conforming haplotypes. Moreover, there were no differences in the allele or genotype frequency when HSP were stratified according to the age at disease onset, presence of nephritis or gastrointestinal manifestations. Conclusions Our results do not support association between the IL6 rs2069827, rs1800795 and rs2069840 gene polymorphisms and HSP susceptibility or specific clinical features of the disease. References Gonzalez-Gay MA, Garcia-Porrua C. Rheum Dis Clin North Am 2001; 27: 729-749. Wyatt RJ, Julian BA. N Engl J Med 2013; 368: 2402-14. Nishimoto N, Kishimoto T. Nat Clin Pract Rheumatol 2006; 2: 619-626. Acknowledgements This study was supported by a grant from “Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias” PI12/00193 (Spain). RLM is a recipient of a Sara Borrell postdoctoral fellowship from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III at the Spanish Ministry of Health (Spain). FG and BU are supported by funds from the RETICS Program (RIER) (RD12/0009/0013). Disclosure of Interest None declared DOI 10.1136/annrheumdis-2014-eular.1766

Congenital coronary artery fistulas are rare malformations that may evolve to pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and myocardial ischemia, although some may close spontaneously. Complications such as endocarditis, rupture, aneurysm or thrombosis may also be observed. Most patients are asymptomatic and the fistulas are usually detected by doppler echocardiography and angiography. We report the case of an asymptomatic 10-year-old male who was submitted because he of a heart murmur, and three coronary fistulas were diagnosed. Two originated in the left coronary artery draining into the right ventricle and the other origin was in the right coronary artery draining into the pulmonary artery trunk.

Iodinated oil (Ethiodol, 1 or 2 ml) was administered po or by im administration to adult women and older children in rural highland Ecuador who were either well nourished or malnourished to determine the effect of nutritional status on the disposal rate of iodine. These subjects resides in a region previously severely deficient in iodine, but this had been corrected in these subjects by prior administration of iodinated oil or by use of iodized salt or both. Malnutrition as determined by the conventional standards of height for age was associated with a significantly shortened retention time of the administered iodine, whether given po or im. The half life of retention was approximately half in the malourished of that in the well nourished. If these findings can be extrapolated to chronically iodine deficient subjects, then malnourished populations in need of iodine supplementation should either receive higher dosages than those conventionally employed or more frequent dosage.

Obesity is the most common( nutritional disease in children and adolescents in developed countries. It is a proinfammatory disease that implies a break in the transduction signal of insulin with subsequent insulin resistance. The aim of the study was to assess the presence of particles of small and dense c-LDL by calculating the c-LDL/ApoB-100 index in an insulin resistant obese children population. Children of both sexes aged between 2 and 12 attending the pediatric outpatient clinics of Hospital Universitario Virgen Macarena were included. It recruited a cohort of 200 children, with a total of 103 girls and 97 boys distributed in the following groups: Group 1: n=96 obese (P97) and IR and n=104 normal weight, Group 2 (P