Search

A cohort of 172 patients diagnosed clinically with nonsyndromic retinal dystrophies, from 110 families underwent full ophthalmologic examination, including retinal imaging, electrophysiology, and optical coherence tomography, when feasible. Molecular analysis was performed using targeted next-generation sequencing (NGS). Variants were filtered and prioritized according to the minimum allele frequency, and finally classified according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. Multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification and array comparative genomic hybridization were performed to validate copy number variations identified by NGS. The diagnostic yield of this study was 62% of studied families. Thirty novel mutations were identified. The study found phenotypic intra- and interfamilial variability in families with mutations in C1QTNF5, CERKL, and PROM1; biallelic mutations in PDE6B in a unilateral retinitis pigmentosa patient; interocular asymmetry RP in 50% of the symptomatic RPGR-mutated females; the first case with possible digenism between CNGA1 and CNGB1; and a ROM1 duplication in two unrelated retinitis pigmentosa families. Ten unrelated cases were reclassified. This study highlights the clinical utility of targeted NGS for nonsyndromic inherited retinal dystrophy cases and the importance of full ophthalmologic examination, which allows new genotype-phenotype associations and expands the knowledge of this group of disorders. Identifying the cause of disease is essential to improve patient management, provide accurate genetic counseling, and take advantage of gene therapy-based treatments.

Background: Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of inherited retinal dystrophies characterized by progressive degeneration of photoreceptor cells. Ocular redox status is altered in RP suggesting oxidative stress could contribute to their progression. In this study, we investigated the effect of a mixture of nutraceuticals with antioxidant properties (NUT) on retinal degeneration in rd10 mice, a model of RP. Methods: NUT was orally administered to rd10 mice from postnatal day (PD) 9 to PD18. At PD18 retinal function and morphology were examined by electroretinography (ERG) and histology including TUNEL assay, immunolabeling of microglia, Müller cells, and poly ADP ribose polymers. Retinal redox status was determined by measuring the activity of antioxidant enzymes and some oxidative stress markers. Gene expression of the cytokines IL-6, TNFα, and IL-1β was assessed by real-time PCR. Results: NUT treatment delayed the loss of photoreceptors in rd10 mice partially preserving their electrical responses to light stimuli. Moreover, it ameliorated redox status and reduced inflammation including microglia activation, upregulation of cytokines, reactive gliosis, and PARP overactivation. Conclusions: NUT ameliorated retinal functionality and morphology at early stages of RP in rd10 mice. This formulation could be useful as a neuroprotective approach for patients with RP in the future.

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) are important tools for preserving species, habitats and ecological-geological-oceanographical processes. Nowadays, more than 10% of the Alboran Sea is under some protected figure or is on its way to be protected. This chapter presents the current state of the MPAs and KBAs of the Alboran Sea. Most of the habitats included in the Annex I of the Habitats Directive or the Barcelona Convention are represented in MPAs-KBAs of the Alboran Sea. More than 290 threatened species are also occurring in these MPAs-KBAs, but some of them have experienced a strong decline even within them (e.g. Zostera marina, Pinna nobilis). Although important progress in the protection of the Alboran Sea has been made in the last decades, there is still much to be done for effective conservation of the habitats and species. The main efforts may focus on improving (1) knowledge of the habitats and species; (2) the surveillance and mitigation against current impacts; (3) the coordination between local, national and international agencies; and (4) the measures for improving habitats and threatened species populations, among others. A deep change in the socio-economic model is then needed for preserving the Alboran Sea natural heritage, promoting then a sustainable use of its resources.

The Gulf of Cádiz represents an area of extensive seepage of the south-western Iberian Peninsula that is located between two continents and basins, where a high geomorphologic, sedimentary and environmental complexity occurs. In the present study, epibenthic communities were investigated in a mud volcano field containing four mud volcanoes (Gazul, Anastasya, Pipoca and Tarsis), one diapir/mud volcano complex (Chica) and several diapirs that are all located in the upper and middle slope of the Spanish margin of the Gulf of Cádiz (300–700 m depth). Faunistic samples were collected in 2010 and 2011 using a beam-trawl in different sectors of the mud volcano field, including fluid venting submarine structures and their adjacent seabeds. Environmental variables from the sediment and water column as well as the commercial bottom trawling activity were also measured in the same sampled areas for studying relationships with the fauna. A total of 325 taxa were found in the samples, including sponges, molluscs, cnidarians and decapods the most diverse groups. The epibenthic communities displayed differences between sectors that were related to depth, sediment features, characteristics of the water masses and the trawling activity. Six different assemblages were found including deep-sea sponge aggregations and cold-water coral banks in Gazul, echinoid and solitary coral aggregations in Gazul, sea-pen communities that were sometimes intermixed with sponge and gorgonian aggregations in Tarsis, Chica and Pipoca, and low density sea-pen communities with components of chemosynthesis-based communities in Anastasya. Species richness was higher in Gazul, Pipoca and Chica due to the presence of complex habitats (e.g. cold-water coral banks, sponge aggregations) and low in Anastasya due to the scarce epifauna, high trawling activity and low near-bottom current speed. Typical cold seep chemosymbiotic bivalves of the Gulf of Cádiz were not detected in beam-trawl samples due to their infaunal habit. The studied mud volcano field was declared a Site of Community Importance due to the presence of habitats and species with a conservation status, but several commercial species are exploited by bottom trawling. Therefore, a sustainable management of this mud volcano field is still needed according to current EU directives for combining fisheries and habitat conservation (Habitats Directive of the European Union, Council Directive - 1992/43/EEC; Marine Strategy Framework, Council Directive - 2008/56/EC).

Bottom trawling activity, commercial species and benthic and demersal assemblages were studied integrating Vessel Monitoring System data (VMS), fishing logbook data and otter trawl samples in a mud volcano (MV) field of the Spanish margin of the Gulf of Cadiz (GoC) in 2011. High trawling activity was detected around Anastasya MV and between the Cadiz and Guadalquivir diapiric ridges, and low trawling activity around Gazul MV and in the deepest areas (Huelva Channel and southwards). A total of 11 938 individuals from 126 benthic and demersal species were collected in the samples. Multivariate analyses mainly grouped samples according to depth and sediment type and 3 different assemblages were detected. The Stratum 1 assemblage (Gazul MV, 441–470 m depth, muddy sand, low trawling activity and high near-bottom current speed) was dominated by Parapenaeus longirostris, Leptometra phalangium and Plesionika antigai, among others, and displayed high species richness and abundance. The Stratum 2 assemblage (Anastasya and Tarsis MVs, Triangle, and the External zone, 528–622 m, mud/sandy mud, medium to high trawling activity and low near-bottom current speed) was dominated by P. longirostris, Plesionika martia, Nezumia aequalis and small chondrichthyans (mainly sharks), among others, and displayed low species richness, abundance and biomass. The Stratum 3 assemblage (Huelva Channel > 700 m, sand, low trawling activity and high near-bottom current speed) was dominated by similar species to Stratum 2, but also included large demersal sharks (Centrophorus granulosus, Galeorhinus galeus, Dalatias licha) that resulted in a high biomass. Depth and near-bottom current speed showed strong relationships with the benthic and demersal assemblages in Principal Component Analyses. The occurrence of medium to intense trawling activity in and around some MVs (Habitat 1180, Council Directive 92/43/ECC-Habitats Directive) should imply an effective regulation that allows a balance between sustainable fisheries and habitat conservation.

INTRODUCCIÓN: al comienzo del tratamiento con presión positiva continua en la vía aérea (CPAP) por el síndrome de apnea/hipopnea del sueño (SAHS) pueden surgir distintos tipos de problemas que impidan su correcto uso o incluso su abandono. Por esto es preciso conocer cuáles son las principales complicaciones tanto para informar al paciente como para dar soluciones de forma temprana.MATERIAL Y MÉTODO: se estudiaron a 120 pacientes diagnosticados con SAHS que comenzaron el tratamiento con CPAP nasal. Se realizaron cuestionarios para valorar su sueño previo al tratamiento e identificar los factores que influyeran en la adaptación a la CPAP. Pasados al menos 2 meses, se realizaron cuestionarios en los que preguntaba sobre las complicaciones surgidas y la tolerancia al tratamiento.RESULTADOS: las molestias ocasionadas por la mascarilla o correas de fijación fueron las complicaciones más frecuentes, así como las lesiones ocasionadas por las mismas (ca- llosidades, excoriaciones), que desaparecieron en 2-3 semanas. Es frecuente la sequedad de mucosas matutina y tiende a persistir. El ruido de los equipos causó molestias inicialmente, en especial a los acompañantes. Los episodios de congestión nasal y enrojecimiento ocular matutino se relacionaron con la mala fijación de la mascarilla. Un 38 % no cumplió correcta- mente, con pocas horas de uso. 4 pacientes rechazaron el tratamiento.DISCUSIÓN: la CPAP nasal conlleva complicaciones iniciales a detectar precozmente ya que, aunque la mayoría son problemas esporádicos o breves, persisten en algunos pacien- tes y pueden causar mal cumplimiento del tratamiento. Pasados 2 meses con complicaciones, se aconseja valorar el cambio de mascarillas o emplear humidificadores. Desde las unidades de sueño, es preciso advertir al paciente de estas complicaciones y su desaparición normal.

The Gulf of Cádiz represents an important seepage area with ca. 70 mud volcanoes (MV), of which one third are located in European waters (Spain and Portugal). Previous projects and expeditions resulted on a large amount of information on different aspects of MV of the Moroccan margin, which seem to have a higher seepage activity than those of the Iberian margin. Those studies mainly focused on their geological characteristics, whereas others offered novel information on their associated biota, especially the endosymbiont-bearing invertebrates as well as non-previously described species (Vanreusel et al. 2009). In 2014, the MV of the Spanish margin of the Gulf of Cádiz were included in the Natura 2000 network (Site of Community Importance - SCI "Volcanes de fango del golfo de Cádiz" - ESZZ12002) under the framework of the Life + project INDEMARES. Nowadays, the LIFE IP PAF INTEMARES project represents an opportunity for improving the knowledge on the biodiversity of this SCI.

A relationship between scleractinian cold-water corals and fluid venting submarine structures has been observed in Mediterranean and adjacent areas. Mud volcanoes and mud diapirs promote different substrate types for biological colonisation: from muddy bottoms with chemosynthesis-based communities and typical bathyal soft bottom fauna to hard bottoms with sessile solitary and colonial scleractinian cold-water corals, sponges, octocorals and antipatharians. Fluid venting submarine structures provide an elevated position for the development of sessile suspension feeders, including scleractinian cold-water corals, where an interaction of the currents with the local topography generally accelerates the water flow. This facilitates the supply of suspended food particles and the development of carbonate mounds mainly built by scleractinian cold-water corals. Methane-derived authigenic carbonates provide hard substrates, which represent a prerequisite for larvae settlement of some scleractinian cold-water corals and further development of polyps and colonies in those elevated areas. These factors make FVSS an appropriate place for the development of habitats conformed by scleractinian cold-water corals as well as genuine and singular biodiversity hotspots.

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is one of the major causes of progressive and debilitating visual impairment in developed countries and has become a growing health and social issue that needs to be addressed. Imaging techniques and functional tests are useful to assess the degree of macular dysfunction and AMD progression. However, given the slow progression of the disease, it is necessary to identify which techniques are more sensitive for the diagnosis and monitoring of patients with AMD. To study changes observed with both imaging techniques and electrophysiological tests in dry AMD-diagnosed patients during 2 years in order to identify the most sensitive technique. Fundus photography, OCT (macular thickness and number of drusen), Pattern VEP (P100 wave), Pattern ERG (P50 wave) and multifocal ERG (central rings) were carried out in 30 patients that were diagnosed with dry AMD in both eyes. The tests were repeated 1 and 2 years later. No statistically significant changes were observed in visual acuity or in the severity of the disease throughout the study. OCT showed an increase in the number of drusen, as well as in macular thickness. As for the electrophysiological techniques, no significant changes were observed throughout the study in Pattern VEP or Pattern ERG. mfERG showed significant alterations. Statistical analysis showed that mfERG is more efficient in detecting changes throughout the experimental period. OCT and mfERG are useful in the diagnosis and monitoring of dry AMD patients, whilst mfERG is the most sensitive technique to study the progression of this disease in short periods of time.

[EN] Human’s motion and its mechanisms had become interesting in the last years, where the medecine’s field search for rehabilitation methods for handicapped persons. Other fields, like sport sciences, professional or military world, search to distinguish profiles and ways to train them with specific purposes. Besides, recent findings in neuroscience try to describe these mechanisms from an organic point of view. Until now, different researchs had given a model about control motor that describes how the union between the senses’s information allows adaptable movements. One of this sense is the proprioception, the sense which has a quite big factor in the orientation and position of the body, its members and joints. For this reason, research for new strategies to explore proprioception and improve the theories of human motion could be done by three different vias. At first, the sense is analysed in a case-study where three groups of persons are compared in a controlled enviroment with three experimental tasks. The subjects belong to each group by the kind of sport they do: sedentary, normal sportsmen (e.g. athletics, swimming) and martial sportmen (e.g. karate, judo). They are compared thinking about the following hypothesis: “Martial Sportmen have a better proprioception than of the other groups’s subjects: It could be due to the type of exercises they do in their sports as empirically, a contact sportsman shows significantly superior motor skills to the members of the other two groups. The second via are records from encephalogram (EEG) while the experimental tasks are doing. These records are analised a posteriori with a set of processing algorithms to extract characteristics about brain’s activity of the proprioception and motion control. Finally , the study tries to integrate graphic tools to make easy to understand final scientific results which allow us to explore the brain activity of the subjects through easy interfaces (e.g. space-time events, activity intensity, connectivity, specific neural netwoks or anormal activity). In the future, this application could be a complement to assist doctors, researchers, sports center specialists and anyone who must improve the health and movements of handicapped persons., [ES] Existe un creciente interés sobre la motricidad humana y sus mecanismos en los últimos años, donde el campo de la medicina investiga métodos de rehabilitación para personas con movilidad reducida. Otros campos, como las ciencias del deporte, el mundo profesional o el militar, buscan discriminar entre perfiles y entrenarlos con fines específico. Además, recientes hallazgos en neurociencia intentan analizar estos mecanismos desde un punto de vista orgánico. Hasta ahora, diferentes investigaciones han conducido a un modelo del control sensorimotor, que describe cómo la interacción entre las diferentes vías sensoriales permite la motricidad adaptativa. En este campo, la propiocepción, que se define como el sentido de la orientación y posición del cuerpo, de sus partes y de las articulaciones que las unen, ha adquirido un papel relevante. Por esta razón, la búsqueda de nuevas estrategias para explorar la propiocepción y mejorar las teorías de la moción humana es abordada por tres vías distintas. La primera de ellas analiza la propiocepción en un caso estudio, en el que tres grupos de participantes son comparados en un entorno controlado de tres protocolos experimentales. Los tres grupos se distinguen por su entrenamiento deportivo: sedentarios, deportistas de carácter general (e.g. atletismo, natación) y deportistas marciales (e.g. karate, judo). La hipótesis de la comparación es “Los deportistas marciales tienen una mejor propiocepción que los otros dos grupos, lo cual se debe al tipo de deporte que practican, o porque la gente con mejores habilidades terminan practicando dichos deportes”. La segunda aproximación son capturas de señales de electroencefalograma (EEG) mientras los sujetos ejecutan las tareas experimentales. Los resultados obtenidos son analizados a posteriori con diferentes algoritmos de procesado para extraer parámetros de la actividad nerviosa asociada a la propiocepción y al control motor. Por último, el estudio intenta integrar herramientas gráficas que faciliten entender los resultados científicos y explorar la actividad cerebral a través de interfaces intuitivas (e.g. eventos espacio-temporales, intensidad de la actividad, conectividad, rutas neuronales específicas o actividad anormal). En el futuro, está aplicación podría ser un complemento para médicos, investigadores, asesores en centros deportivos de alto rendimiento o cualquier otro profesional que deba mejorar la salud y la movilidad para personas discapacitadas.

The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an area of socioeconomic and scientific importance for oceanographic, geological and biological processes. An interesting feature of the GoC is the presence of a large amount of mud volcanoes (MVs) and diapirs that display different seepage, seabed types, oceanographic settings and biological communities. Detailed exploration of some MVs is still needed for detecting Vulnerable Marine ecosystems (VMEs) that seem to be rare in other areas of the GoC, improving the current knowledge on its biodiversity and ecological attributes. During different expeditions (MEDWAVES-ATLAS, INDEMARES-CHICA 0610 & 0412 and ISUNEPCA 0616) carried out in different years, biological samples and videos were obtained in Gazul MV (Spanish Margin of the GoC). The study of those samples and videos has revealed the presence of several ecologically important VMEs (e.g. 3 species of reef framework-forming corals, coral gardens including solitary scleractinians, gorgonians and antipatharians, as well as deep-sea sponge aggregations and chemosynthesis-related structures) and a large number of species occurring in this MV, including new records for the European margin, threatened species and non-previously described species. The combination of different environmental and anthropogenic factors allowed the present-day persistence of these VMEs in the GoC. Some of Gazul MV biological and ecological attributes fit several criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity for EBSA description (e.g. 1,3,4,6) that, together with those of other areas of the GoC, may contribute to the future potential nomination of an EBSA in this area of the NE Atlantic.

The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an area of ecological importance within the northeastern Atlantic Ocean due to the presence of Mediterranean and Atlantic water masses, a heterogeneous seafloor and a biological confluence. Nevertheless, information on the presence of vulnerable deep-sea habitats is still very scarce and it is of importance for further habitat monitoring within the context of the Habitats and Marine Strategy Framework Directives and for improving conservation and resource extraction management. From 2010 to 2012, fluid migration and emission related edifices (e.g., mud volcanoes, diapirs) from the Spanish continental margin of the GoC have been explored using a remotely operated vehicle (ROV; Liropus 2000) and an underwater camera sled (UCS; APHIA 2012) as well as several devices for collecting sediment and fauna. Different vulnerable deep-sea habitats have been observed, including anoxic bottoms with bacterial mats, sea-pen communities, sponge aggregations, antipatharian and gorgonian communities and also cold-water coral banks. Some of these habitats are included in conservation lists of the habitat directive and in international conventions (OSPAR, RAC/SPA), however some of them are located in areas of the GoC that are exposed to intense trawling. The diversity of habitats detected in the Spanish continental margin of the GoC highlights the importance of seepage related edifices as inducers of seabed and habitat heterogeneity in deep-sea areas. En prensa

Introduction Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is a group of hereditary retinal dystrophies, with a prevalence of 1/4000 inhabitants. It is an incapacitating entity that initially presents with nocturnal vision affectation and progressive decrease of the peripheral visual field, whose symptoms range from childhood to adulthood. Depending on the moment in which the electrophysiological tests are performed, the findings can be very variable. From early phases, when the symptoms are imperceptible or in healthy carriers, to those with an evolved retinosis that affects the entire retina. Methods Objective: To present the findings of the neurophysiological tests in the different times of the evolution of the disease. Material and Methods: Patients diagnosed with RP derived from our unit, we performed Visual Evoked Potentials Pattern (PEV-P), Ganzfeld Electroretinogram (ERG-G) and Multifocal Electrorretinogram (ERG-MF).The results of the tests are exposed in three stages of the disease: preclinical (P): asymptomatic patients, with nictalopia without clear campimetric affectation and healthy carriers, established peripheral retinopathy (RPE): peripheral vision deficit and evolved retinopathy (RE): visual commitment below the 10th central of the visual field. Results Our observations in patients in phase P: normal PEV-P, ERG-G with alterations of scotopic responses and ERG-MF with lower response density in peripheral rings. In phase RPE: PEV-P normal or slightly altered, ERG-G practically abolished and ERG-MF with only conservation of responses in central rings. In phase RE: PEV-P altered, ERG-G abolished and ERG-MF with only discrete central response or affected diffusely. Conclusion Neurophysiological tests are not only determinant in the diagnosis, during the different phases of the disease they contribute to assess their evolution and predict prognosis in patients affected with RP.

Introduction Coma, secondary to cardiorespiratory arrest or acute brain injury, leads to a high mortality-disability in the general population in patients aged 45–64 years. The somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) N20 and N70 are complementary neurophysiological tests that together with the electroencephalogram, the clinical examination, the biomarkers and the magnetic resonance to predict prognosis. N20 is well known for the short-term forecast, however the relevancy of the N70 potential is uncertain. The challenge is to know the functional recovery of the patient in the medium and long term crucial for the management and the expectations of the units of critics. Our goal is to analyze the usefulness of somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP) N20-N70 as an early indicator of functional prognosis in the medium-long term and to assess its usefulness in patients after post-anoxic coma after cardiorespiratory arrest and in coma after Cerebral Injury Acute structural (CIAS) Methods Observational, retrospective study performed in adult patients who had suffered post-anoxic coma (due to cardiorespiratory arrest) and after a CLC, admitted to the critical units of the General University Hospital of Albacete (January 2010 – December 2013). PESS study N20-N70 performed at 72 h of the event. Functional situation evaluated between 6 and 12 months later using the Modified Glasgow Scale considering: poor prognosis: 1-Death, 2-Persistent vegetative state and 3-Severe disability; good prognosis: 4-moderate disability and 5-good recovery. Results 120 patients were included, 60 patients in each group. In patients after postanoxic coma, the bilateral absence of N20 (36%) is an indicator of ominous vital prognosis (E 100%, PPV 100%) while its presence has no value to predict functional outcome (S 53%, NPV 50%). The presence of N70 (31%) is an indicator of good prognosis and its absence (68%) is a marker of poor prognosis (E 84%, PPV 92%, S92%, NPV 84%). On the other hand, in patients after CLC the bilateral absence N20 (41%) is an indicator of poor vital prognosis (S 54%, E 100%, PPV 100%, NPV 40%), bilateral absence of N70 (78%) is an indicator of poor prognosis while the bilateral presence of N70 (22%) is a marker of good prognosis (E 64%, S 91%, PPV 89%, NPV 69%). Conclusion The results of our study demonstrate that both PESS N20-N70 are useful as early prognostic markers with high specificity (N20) and high sensitivity (N70). The realization of the potential N70 has additional value by increasing the prediction of good functional outcome in the medium-long term, especially in patients after post-atoxic coma.

Wolfberry (Lycium barbarum) extracts have been used in the treatment of some retinal degenerative diseases, mostly associated with other antioxidants. The ones this chapter focuses on are retinitis pigmentosa and age-related macular degeneration. Hereditary retinal dystrophies are a broad (and growing) group of hereditary disorders affecting the retina. Retinitis pigmentosa is perhaps the best known of them and is sometimes (inaccurately) used as a synonym for some of the other conditions in this category. Although these two entities show completely different etiologies: The first one is a group of hereditary diseases in which photoreceptor death occurs due to different mutations, and in the second the loss of photoreceptors is associated to the aging process, in both oxidative damage has been claimed as a pathophysiological mechanism. The present chapter reviews the antioxidant chemical features of wolfberry and wolfberry extracts, the oxidative mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of photoreceptor cell death, and the existing data on the use of wolfberry for retinal degenerations.

In this chapter the mystacial pad transplantation model is presented. The mystacial pad is the area of the rat’s face that contains the vibrissae. These long tactile hairs serve for environment exploration. They move in a coordinated fashion and are innervated by branches of the facial nerve and the infraorbital nerve. Flaps that contained the follicles of the vibrissae and was vascularized based on the facial and common carotid artery and the external jugular vein was designed was transplanted under tacrolimus immunosuppression. We found statistically significant differences in the presentation of sensitivity recovery, electrodiagnostic testing and histological evaluation when the nerves were repaired. Nerve repair was essential for the recovery of function of the mystacial pad transplants. Nerve repair is an essential step for the recovery of functional units with face allograft transplants.

Introduccion. Existen distintas opciones reconstructivas de cara y cuero cabelludo, pero cuando la perdida de tejidos es muy extensa, no es posible una buena recuperacion estetica y funcional. Es preciso no solo reemplazar los tejidos danados, sino que se pueda restaurar la funcion motora y sensitiva. Objetivo. Evaluar la capacidad de recuperacion funcional del aloinjerto hemifacial en ratas. Materiales y metodos. Se trasplantaron 21 colgajos hemifaciales desde ratas Long-Evans a ratas Wistar-Lewis, bajo monoterapia de inmunosupresion con tacrolimus. Previamente se realizo un estudio anatomico y de la viabilidad del aloinjerto. Formamos dos grupos de ratas trasplantadas: sin y con reparacion nerviosa. En el grupo de reparacion nerviosa se procedio a la sutura terminoterminal de la rama infraorbitaria del nervio trigemino y de las ramas bucolabial, marginal mandibular superior y cigomaticoorbitaria del nervio facial. La recuperacion sensitiva se valoro mediante la filmacion de la traccion de los bigotes, mientras que la recuperacion motora se hizo de forma ciega mediante electromiografia de la musculatura mistacial y electroneurografia del nervio facial. Trascurridas ocho semanas, los animales fueron sacrificados y se tomaron biopsias de la region mistacial. Resultados. El colgajo facial se elevo con exito en 10 casos. En el grupo de reparacion nerviosa se observo recuperacion, tanto clinica como electrofisiologica, llegada la sexta semana, mientras que las biopsias obtenidas en la octava semana mostraron recuperacion de los fasciculos nerviosos. Conclusion. El colgajo hemifacial puede trasplantarse. Se puede obtener, mediante reparacion nerviosa del mismo, una recuperacion funcional del aloinjerto, valorable de forma clinica, electrofisiologica e histopatologica. Hasta el momento, esta es la primera evidencia de recuperacion funcional despues de un trasplante hemifacial en ratas.

Presentation given at the 3rd ATLAS General Assembly, April 2018.Vulnerable Marine Ecosystems and biological features of the northeastern sector of the Gulf of Cádiz in relation to geological structures, oceanographic processes and fishing activity: A further contribution towards a potential “Gulf of Cádiz” EBSA. The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an area of socioeconomic and scientific importance for oceanographic, geological and biological processes. An interesting feature of the GoC is the presence of a large amount of mud volcanoes (MVs) and diapirs that display different seepage, seabed types, oceanographic settings and biological communities. Detailed exploration of some MVs is still needed for detecting Vulnerable Marine ecosystems (VMEs) that seem to be rare in other areas of the GoC, improving the current knowledge on its biodiversity and ecological attributes. During different expeditions (MEDWAVES-ATLAS, INDEMARES-CHICA 0610 & 0412 and ISUNEPCA 0616) carried out in different years, biological samples and videos were obtained in Gazul MV (Spanish Margin of the GoC). The study of those samples and videos has revealed the presence of several ecologically important VMEs (e.g. 3 species of reef framework-forming corals, coral gardens including solitary scleractinians, gorgonians and antipatharians, as well as deep-sea sponge aggregations and chemosynthesis-related structures) and a large number of species occurring in this MV, including new records for the European margin, threatened species and non-previously described species. The combination of different environmental and anthropogenic factors allowed the present-day persistence of these VMEs in the GoC. Some of Gazul MV biological and ecological attributes fit several criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity for EBSA description (e.g. 1,3,4,6) that, together with those of other areas of the GoC, may contribute to the future potential nomination of an EBSA in this area of the NE Atlantic.