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Abstract Background Schistosomiasis is highly endemic in sub-Saharan Africa and frequently imported to Europe. Male urogenital manifestations are often neglected. We aimed to ascertain the prevalence of genitourinary clinical signs and symptoms among long-term African migrants in a non-endemic European country using a serology test. Methods We carried out a prospective, community-based cross-sectional study of adult male migrants from sub-Saharan Africa living in Spain. Schistosoma serology tests and microscopic urine examinations were carried out, and clinical data were obtained from an electronic medical record search and a structured questionnaire. Results We included 388 adult males, mean age 43.5 years [Standard Deviation (SD) = 12.0, range: 18–76]. The median time since migration to the European Union was 17 [Interquartile range (IQR): 11–21] years. The most frequent country of origin was Senegal (N = 179, 46.1%). Of the 338, 147 (37.6%) tested positive for Schistosoma. Parasite eggs were present in the urine of only 1.3%. Nine genitourinary clinical items were significantly associated with positive Schistosoma serology results: pelvic pain (45.2%; OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.0–2.4), pain on ejaculation (14.5%; OR = 1.85, 95% CI: 1.0–3.5), dyspareunia (12.4%; OR = 2.45, 95% CI: 1.2–5.2), erectile dysfunction (9.5%; OR = 3.10, 95% CI: 1.3–7.6), self-reported episodes of infertility (32.1%; OR = 1.69, 95% CI: 1.0–2.8), haematuria (55.2%; OR = 2.37, 95% CI: 1.5–3.6), dysuria (52.1%; OR = 2.01, 95% CI: 1.3–3.1), undiagnosed syndromic STIs (5.4%), and orchitis (20.7%; OR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.0–3.1). Clinical signs tended to cluster. Conclusions Urogenital clinical signs and symptoms are prevalent among male African long-term migrants with a positive Schistosoma serology results. Genital involvement can be frequent even among those with long periods of non-residence in their sub-Saharan African countries of origin. Further research is needed to develop diagnostic tools and validate therapeutic approaches to chronic schistosomiasis. Graphical Abstract

The crisis of civilization we are experiencing unbalances the inter-relational, interdependency and intergenerational relationships of the planetary ecosystem, putting all species at risk. The current relationship between the unlimited economic development model and its social impacts in all regions, territories and communities is analyzed. These are more severe in the global South and the most impoverished populations, which often leads to conflicts, the deterioration of subsystems of life, and, as a result, movements of people. These challenges highlight the close interrelationship between social justice and issues of ecological injustice acting as a new source of inequality. The responsibility of social work, which is called on to incorporate the ecosocial perspective in all its areas and dimensions of practice, is becoming consolidated. To achieve this, five measures are proposed: expanding and strengthening the ethical and political basis of the profession; promoting the skilling-emancipatory models; cutting across all levels, methodologies and action areas; new fields of practice for ecosocial work; and introduction into social work curriculums. Social justice cannot be fully achieved without taking ecological justice into account.

Introduction: The evaluation of integrated care programmes for high-need high-cost older people is a challenge. We aim to share the early implementation results of the ProPCC programme in the North-Barcelona metropolitan area, in Catalonia, Spain. Methods: We analysed the intervention with retrospective data from May 2018 to December 2021 by describing the cohort complexity and by showing its 6-months pre-post impact on time spent at home and resources used: primary care visits, emergency department visits, hospital admissions and hospital stay. Findings: 264 cases were included (91% at home; 9% in nursing homes). 6-month pre vs. 6-months post results were (mean, p-value): primary care visits 8.2 vs. 11.5 (p < 0.05); emergency department visits 1.4 vs. 0.9 (p < 0.05); hospital admissions 0.7 vs. 0.5 (p < 0.05); hospital stay 12.8 vs. 7.9 days (p < 0.05). Time spent at home was 169.2 vs.174.2 days (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Early implementation of the ProPCC programme results in an increase in time spent at home (up to 3%) and significant reductions in emergency department attendance (–37.2%) and hospital stays (–38.3%). The increased use of primary care resources is compensated by the hospital resources savings, with a result in the average total cost of –46.3%.

Abstract Background Covid-19 pandemic has particularly affected older people living in Long-term Care settings in terms of infection and mortality. Methods We carried out a cross-sectional analysis within a cohort of Long-term care nursing home residents between March first and June thirty, 2020, who were ≥ 65 years old and on whom at least one PCR test was performed. Socio-demographic, comorbidities, and clinical data were recorded. Facility size and community incidence of SARS-CoV-2 were also considered. The outcomes of interest were infection (PCR positive) and death. Results A total of 8021 residents were included from 168 facilities. Mean age was 86.4 years (SD = 7.4). Women represented 74.1%. SARS-CoV-2 infection was detected in 27.7% of participants, and the overall case fatality rate was 11.3% (24.9% among those with a positive PCR test). Epidemiological factors related to risk of infection were larger facility size (pooled aOR 1.73; P < .001), higher community incidence (pooled aOR 1.67, P = .04), leading to a higher risk than the clinical factor of low level of functional dependence (aOR 1.22, P = .03). Epidemiological risk factors associated with mortality were male gender (aOR 1.75; P < .001), age (pooled aOR 1.16; P < .001), and higher community incidence (pooled aOR 1.19, P = < 0.001) whereas clinical factors were low level of functional dependence (aOR 2.42, P < .001), Complex Chronic Condition (aOR 1.29, P < .001) and dementia (aOR 1.33, P

BackgroundImported schistosomiasis is an emerging issue in European countries as a result of growing global migration from schistosomiasis-endemic countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa. Undetected infection may lead to serious long-term complications with an associated high cost for public healthcare systems especially among long-term migrants.ObjectiveTo evaluate from a health economics perspective the introduction of schistosomiasis screening programs in non-endemic countries with high prevalence of long-term migrants.MethodologyWe calculated the costs associated with three approaches-presumptive treatment, test-and-treat and watchful waiting-under different scenarios of prevalence, treatment efficacy and the cost of care resulting from long-term morbidity. Costs were estimated for our study area, in which there are reported to reside 74,000 individuals who have been exposed to the infection. Additionally, we methodically reviewed the potential factors that could affect the cost/benefit ratio of a schistosomiasis screening program and need therefore to be ascertained.ResultsAssuming a 24% prevalence of schistosomiasis in the exposed population and 100% treatment efficacy, the estimated associated cost per infected person of a watchful waiting strategy would be €2,424, that of a presumptive treatment strategy would be €970 and that of a test-and-treat strategy would be €360. The difference in averted costs between test-and-treat and watchful waiting strategies ranges from nearly €60 million in scenarios of high prevalence and treatment efficacy, to a neutral costs ratio when these parameters are halved. However, there are important gaps in our understanding of issues such as the efficacy of treatment in infected long-term residents, the natural history of schistosomiasis in long-term migrants and the feasibility of screening programs.ConclusionOur results support the roll-out of a schistosomiasis screening program based on a test-and-treat strategy from a health economics perspective under the most likely projected scenarios, but important knowledge gaps should be addressed for a more accurate estimations among long-term migrants.

Summary: Background: Anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin (hIG) can provide standardized and controlled antibody content. Data from controlled clinical trials using hIG for the prevention or treatment of COVID-19 outpatients have not been reported. We assessed the safety and efficacy of subcutaneous anti-COVID-19 hyperimmune immunoglobulin 20% (C19-IG20%) compared to placebo in preventing development of symptomatic COVID-19 in asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection. Methods: We did a multicentre, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, in asymptomatic unvaccinated adults (≥18 years of age) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection within 5 days between April 28 and December 27, 2021. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1) to receive a blinded subcutaneous infusion of 10 mL with 1 g or 2 g of C19-IG20%, or an equivalent volume of saline as placebo. The primary endpoint was the proportion of participants who remained asymptomatic through day 14 after infusion. Secondary endpoints included the proportion of individuals who required oxygen supplementation, any medically attended visit, hospitalisation, or ICU, and viral load reduction and viral clearance in nasopharyngeal swabs. Safety was assessed as the proportion of patients with adverse events. The trial was terminated early due to a lack of potential benefit in the target population in a planned interim analysis conducted in December 2021. ClinicalTrials.gov registry: NCT04847141. Findings: 461 individuals (mean age 39.6 years [SD 12.8]) were randomized and received the intervention within a mean of 3.1 (SD 1.27) days from a positive SARS-CoV-2 test. In the prespecified modified intention-to-treat analysis that included only participants who received a subcutaneous infusion, the primary outcome occurred in 59.9% (91/152) of participants receiving 1 g C19-IG20%, 64.7% (99/153) receiving 2 g, and 63.5% (99/156) receiving placebo (difference in proportions 1 g C19-IG20% vs. placebo, −3.6%; 95% CI -14.6% to 7.3%, p = 0.53; 2 g C19-IG20% vs placebo, 1.1%; −9.6% to 11.9%, p = 0.85). None of the secondary clinical efficacy endpoints or virological endpoints were significantly different between study groups. Adverse event rate was similar between groups, and no severe or life-threatening adverse events related to investigational product infusion were reported. Interpretation: Our findings suggested that administration of subcutaneous human hyperimmune immunoglobulin C19-IG20% to asymptomatic individuals with SARS-CoV-2 infection was safe but did not prevent development of symptomatic COVID-19. Funding: Grifols.

Introducción: La Unidad de Enlace Centralizada de Vacunación contra la COVID19 (UECeV) de la Dirección de Atención Primaria Metropolitana Nord del Institut Català de la Salut se creó para resolver las consultas de usuarios y/o profesionales sanitarios relacionadas con la vacunación contra el virus SARS-CoV-2. El objetivo principal del presente análisis fue describir la actividad de la UECeV. Método: Realizamos un estudio observacional retrospectivo a partir del registro de consultas atendidas desde la UECeV entre 31 de abril y 31 de octubre de 2021. Población de referencia: 1.139.411 habitantes adultos asignados. La UECeV se creó en tres sedes territoriales atendidas cada una por dos farmacéuticos/farmacólogos de Atención Primaria (FAP) y un administrativo. La atención telefónica fue a jornada completa adaptable según actividad. Variable principal del análisis: número y tipos de consultas atendidas. Se calculó valores absolutos y porcentajes, medianas y desviación estándar para las variables cuantitativas y para las variables cualitativas se realizó un análisis descriptivo. Resultados: 3.103 consultas gestionadas de 3.030 usuarios; 2.180 (70,25%) contestadas por el FAP. Consulta más frecuente: compatibilidad vacuna según patología/medicación de base 1.008 (32,5%). 2.830 (93,4%) usuarios se vacunaron después de la intervención (2.210 consultaron antes de la primera dosis y 618 antes de la segunda). La vacuna mayoritaria fue la Comirnaty®. Conclusiones: Las UECeV coordinadas por el FAP con atención directa a los usuarios y/o profesionales sanitarios constituyen un elemento de apoyo a los equipos de vacunación de atención primaria para la gestión experta de las consultas de vacunación contra la COVID19.

Introduction: The prevalence of people with complex chronic conditions is increasing. This population’s high social and health needs require person-centred integrated approaches to care. Methods: To collect data about experiences with the health system and identify priorities for care, we conducted 2 focus groups and 15 semi-structured interviews involving patients with multimorbidity and advanced conditions, caregivers, and representatives of patients’ associations. To design the programme, we combined this information with evidence-based recommendations from local healthcare and social care professionals. Results: Patients’ and caregivers’ main priorities were to ensure (a) comprehension of information provided by healthcare professionals; (b) coordination between patients, caregivers, and professionals; (c) access to social services; (d) support to caregivers in managing situations; (e) perceived support throughout the healthcare process; (f) home care, when available; and (d) a patient-centred approach. These dimensions were included in 37 of 63 clinical actions of the programme to cover the whole care trajectory: identifying high needs, defining, and providing care plans, managing crises, and providing transitional care and end-of-life care. Conclusion: We developed an evidence-based integrated care programme tailored to high-need patients combining input from patients, caregivers, and healthcare and social care professionals.

Nowadays, extensive livestock farming faces substantial threats in the Mediterranean region, provoking a setback dynamic in the sector. In 2016, the Fire Flocks (FF) project was conceived and implemented as a regional strategy to revert this situation and revalue the sector in Catalonia, in the NE of the Iberian Peninsula. FF promotes forest management through extensive livestock farming, and more specifically silvopastoralism, to reduce vegetation load and wildfire risk. The initiative also works on fire risk awareness with the aim of promoting extensive livestock products through FF label and valorization strategies. Five years after its initial implementation, the project managers detected several weaknesses and potential improvements directly affecting the economic and environmental performance of the participating farms. It was therefore considered necessary to conduct targeted qualitative interviews with the farmers participating in the project in order to gather their opinions on the project’s functioning and further steps. To this end, 17 farmers were interviewed with the aid of a qualitative questionnaire. The farmers stated that although FF is not providing them with any direct financial benefits, it does present an opportunity to belong to a group of farmers working on wildfire prevention, thereby lending them a voice as a group, and reaching more social visibility. The qualitative analyses elucidate key elements to be promoted in FF, such as redesign of the operational structure, expansion to a regional scale and action lines to facilitate grazing activity.

Extensive livestock grazing has proved to be a valuable tool to reduce wildfire risk in Mediterranean landscapes. Meat from herds providing wildfire prevention services exhibit sustainability traits that can appeal to ethical consumers and find a suitable niche in local markets. This study assesses the preferences of a consumer sample in the province of Girona (north-eastern Spain) for different lamb meat labeling options from herds providing wildfire prevention services. The aim is to disentangle consumer profiles, providing evidence for improved product labeling. This may increase the added value and the viability of small farms providing this service. Employing a latent class modeling approach, we explore how meat consumption patterns and socioeconomic features may contribute to explain preferences for different meat labeling options. Our results have identified three consumer profiles: traditional rural consumers relying on trust with producers, younger consumers more akin to new labeling schemes, and urban consumers that support local butchers as a trusted information source. Different labeling mechanisms may work in a complementary way to arrive to different audiences of potential consumers. Geographical indication labels can serve as a good departure point, complemented with information cues on environmental factors related to wildfire protection.

(1) Background: In epidemiological terms, it has been possible to calculate the savings in health resources and the reduction in the health effects of COVID vaccines. Conducting an economic evaluation, some studies have estimated its cost-effectiveness; the vaccination shows highly favorable results, cost-saving in some cases. (2) Methods: Cost–benefit analysis of the vaccination campaign in the North Metropolitan Health Region (Catalonia). An epidemiological model based on observational data and before and after comparison is used. The information on the doses used and the assigned resources (conventional hospital beds, ICU, number of tests) was extracted from administrative data from the largest primary care provider in the region (Catalan Institute of Health). A distinction was made between the social perspective and the health system. (3) Results: the costs of vaccination are estimated at 137 million euros (€48.05/dose administered). This figure is significantly lower than the positive impacts of the vaccination campaign, which are estimated at 470 million euros (€164/dose administered). Of these, 18% corresponds to the reduction in ICU discharges, 16% to the reduction in conventional hospital discharges, 5% to the reduction in PCR tests and 1% to the reduction in RAT tests. The monetization of deaths and cases that avoid sequelae account for 53% and 5% of total savings, respectively. The benefit/cost ratio is estimated at 3.4 from a social perspective and 1.4 from a health system perspective. The social benefits of vaccination are estimated at €116.67 per vaccine dose (€19.93 from the perspective of the health system). (4) Conclusions: The mass vaccination campaign against COVID is cost-saving. From a social perspective, most of these savings come from the monetization of the reduction in mortality and cases with sequelae, although the intervention is equally widely cost-effective from the health system perspective thanks to the reduction in the use of resources. It is concluded that, from an economic perspective, the vaccination campaign has high social returns.

Introduction: The growing numbers of People with Complex Chronic Conditions (PCCC) has been leading to a challenge of adaptation of the care providers’ response to the high needs presented by individuals. Short description of practice change implemented: The creation of a Chronic Care Management Team (CCMT) supported an innovative strategy focused on reaching a more integrated model of care. A community-based care programme was developed based on: a. International evidence (reviewed by two CCMT experts); b. A consensus reached by clinical leaders involved on care (in a local task force group with 60 members from primary and secondary care); c. The inclusion of people experience (by two focus groups with patients, and home interviews to carers and members of community institutions). It led to a new organisational and governance model for the whole territory. An IT tools adaptation was required to support the CCMT task on monitoring the care process and outcome indicators. Aim and theory of change: In order to improve the quality of the care process and to obtain patient-centred outcomes in an efficient way, it was urged to change the usual model, to a new multidisciplinary, multidimensional, patient-centred provision of integrated care focused in the community, with the central role of expert Primary Care teams. Targeted population and stakeholders: PCCC including those with advanced illnesses. Stakeholders: several units from the Catalan Health Institute in Badalona area, North of Barcelona, as a territorial public provider of primary care and hospital care, which collaborate with other social care and intermediate care providers in the area. Timeline: Phase 1: development of theory for change (2018); Phase 2: implementation of the new model of care (2018-2019); Phase 3: evaluation of the model (2019). Highlights (innovation, Impact and outcomes) People-centred integrated care ongoing project at meso level as a response to high needs of PCCC in an urban territory in the Catalan public health system. Definition of the care model by people involved on care (patients, carers and staff). Functional integration of clinicians from the institution. CCMT led the integration by: defining and monitoring the quality of the care process, planning the adaptation of resources, and evaluating people-centred outcomes. Comments on sustainability: High sustainability expected due to the pragmatic approach. Comments on transferability: High transferability expected due to the position of our institution in the health system. Conclusions (comprising key findings): Our project was created based on a need to deepen on integrated care provision. Preliminary results on the quality of the care process have been evaluated. Preliminary results centred on people have been evaluated. Discussion: It is a huge opportunity for our system to develop and evaluate an integrated care strategy at a meso level, following the Catalan Government integrated care strategy. Lessons learned: Adapting the theoretical model to real world required a strong leadership, clear governance, time for change and the alignment of all the actors. The consensus reached, based on people experience and views, was a strong element for change.

This study analyses the smouldering combustion on soils that took place during the wildfires that occurred in Rocallaura (Northeastern Spain). The smouldering combustion after the first event, 23 June, was the potential source of flaming fire re-ignition of the second event, 19 July 2016. Re-ignitions are an important challenge for the firefighting system. Budget and efforts are spent on controlling these re-ignitions that can ultimately cause the collapse of the response system if the re-ignitions happen during periods of simultaneous fire events. Our objective is to contribute to better understand the dynamics of the smouldering combustion of organic soils associated with these wildfires and the impact on the Pinus halepensis Mill. forest ecosystem. Transects were established in adjacent control and post-fire zones. Laboratory analyses were conducted to determine some physical and chemical properties of both the duff and mineral soil. Using these variables, we estimate thresholds of duff ignition probability, percentage of duff consumption and smouldering combustion spread rates. Overall, we provide a set of tools for evaluating re-ignitions in forest ecosystems. We conclude that the concept of fire persistence should be a new variable for consideration in present and future analysis of fire regimes and demonstrates the significance of introducing smouldering combustion and re-ignition within the strategic framework of the wildfire hazard and integrating these phenomena into forest planning and management.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has significantly affected older adults. Identifying host COVID-19 susceptibility genes in elderly populations remains a challenge. Here, we aimed to identify host genetic factors influencing the susceptibility to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. We genotyped 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) previously associated with the innate immune response in a total of 97 elderly (age > 65 years) residents of three long-term care facilities located in Barcelona, Spain. Individuals were PCR-tested during the SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks between September and November 2020. SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests revealed infections in 81 residents. Importantly, the 16 uninfected residents remained SARS-CoV-2 seronegative until vaccination (January and February 2021). After adjusting for sex and age, we found that two SNPs were significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection susceptibility—MMS19 nucleotide excision repair protein homolog (MMS19)/rs2236575 (p = 0.029) and interferon-induced helicase C domain-containing 1 (IFIH1)/rs1990760 (p = 0.034). No association with SARS-CoV-2 infection was found for 10 additional genotyped SNPs, which included 4 SNPs on chromosome 12 in the gene encoding oligoadenylate synthetase (OAS). Our results indicate that MMS19/rs2236575_A and IFIH1/rs1990760_TC genetic variants were associated with a resistance to SARS-CoV-2 infection in a cohort of institutionalized seniors.

Abstract Background Understanding the immune response to the SARS-CoV-2 virus is critical for efficient monitoring and control strategies. The ProHEpic-19 cohort provides a fine-grained description of the kinetics of antibodies after SARS-CoV-2 infection with an exceptional resolution over 17 months. Methods We established a cohort of 769 healthcare workers including healthy and infected with SARS-CoV-2 in northern Barcelona to determine the kinetics of the IgM against the nucleocapsid (N) and the IgG against the N and spike (S) of SARS-CoV-2 in infected healthcare workers. The study period was from 5 May 2020 to 11 November 2021.We used non-linear mixed models to investigate the kinetics of IgG and IgM measured at nine time points over 17 months from the date of diagnosis. The model included factors of time, gender, and disease severity (asymptomatic, mild-moderate, severe-critical) to assess their effects and their interactions. Findings 474 of the 769 participants (61.6%) became infected with SARS-CoV-2. Significant effects of gender and disease severity were found for the levels of all three antibodies. Median IgM(N) levels were already below the positivity threshold in patients with asymptomatic and mild-moderate disease at day 270 after the diagnosis, while IgG(N and S) levels remained positive at least until days 450 and 270, respectively. Kinetic modelling showed a general rise in both IgM(N) and IgG(N) levels up to day 30, followed by a decay with a rate depending on disease severity. IgG(S) levels remained relatively constant from day 15 over time. Interpretation IgM(N) and IgG(N, S) SARS-CoV-2 antibodies showed a heterogeneous kinetics over the 17 months. Only the IgG(S) showed a stable increase, and the levels and the kinetics of antibodies varied according to disease severity. The kinetics of IgM and IgG observed over a year also varied by clinical spectrum can be very useful for public health policies around vaccination criteria in adult population. Funding Regional Ministry of Health of the Generalitat de Catalunya (Call COVID19-PoC SLT16_04; NCT04885478).

Abstract Background Human tauopathies including Alzheimer’s disease (AD) are characterized by alterations in the post-translational modification (PTM) pattern of Tau, which parallel the formation of insoluble Tau aggregates, neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. While PTMs on aggregated Tau have been studied in detail, much less is known about the modification patterns of soluble Tau. Furthermore, PTMs other than phosphorylation have only come into focus recently and are still understudied. Soluble Tau species are likely responsible for the spreading of pathology during disease progression and are currently being investigated as targets for immunotherapies. A better understanding of their biochemical properties is thus of high importance. Methods We used a mass spectrometry approach to characterize Tau PTMs on a detergent-soluble fraction of human AD and control brain tissue, which led to the discovery of novel lysine methylation events. We developed specific antibodies against Tau methylated at these sites and biochemically characterized methylated Tau species in extracts from human brain, the rTg4510 mouse model and in hiPSC-derived neurons. Results Our study demonstrates that methylated Tau levels increase with Tau pathology stage in human AD samples as well as in a mouse model of Tauopathy. Methylated Tau is enriched in soluble brain extracts and is not associated with hyperphosphorylated, high molecular weight Tau species. We also show that in hiPSC-derived neurons and mouse brain, methylated Tau preferentially localizes to the cell soma and nuclear fractions and is absent from neurites. Knock down and inhibitor studies supported by proteomics data led to the identification of SETD7 as a novel lysine methyltransferase for Tau. SETD7 specifically methylates Tau at K132, an event that facilitates subsequent methylation at K130. Conclusions Our findings indicate that methylated Tau has a specific somatic and nuclear localization, suggesting that the methylation of soluble Tau species may provide a signal for their translocation to different subcellular compartments. Since the mislocalization and depletion of Tau from axons is associated with tauopathies, our findings may shed light onto this disease-associated phenomenon.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To evaluate the implementation of a telephone system in a department of Primary Care in Barcelona, Spain, supporting health professionals confined by COVID-19. METHODS We conducted an observational, descriptive, cross-sectional study with confined professionals, between March 11 and May 31, 2020. We emailed a questionnaire with 18 closed-ended questions and one open-ended question and performed a descriptive analysis of the closed-ended answers and an analysis of the thematic content of the open-ended question. RESULTS Thirty-nine hundred and ninety-eight professionals evaluated the system overall with a score of 6.54 on a scale of 1 to 10. The evaluation of the format of calls made in the support system had higher scores, while the psychological support unit and the coordination of the different groups had lower scores. The content analysis of the open-ended question provides explanatory arguments for the quantitative results. CONCLUSIONS The study allowed a valid and reliable evaluation of the implementation of a support system for confined professionals, in addition to recognizing areas for improvement.

Abstract Tau is a microtubule-binding protein that can receive various post-translational modifications (PTMs) including phosphorylation, methylation, acetylation, glycosylation, nitration, sumoylation and truncation. Hyperphosphorylation of tau is linked to its aggregation and the formation of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which are a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). While more than 70 phosphorylation sites have been detected previously on NFT tau, studies of oligomeric and detergent-soluble tau in human brains during the early stages of AD are lacking. Here we apply a comprehensive electrochemiluminescence ELISA assay to analyze twenty-five different PTM sites as well as tau oligomerization in control and sporadic AD brain. The samples were classified as Braak stages 0–I, II or III–IV, corresponding to the progression of microscopically detectable tau pathology throughout different brain regions. We found that soluble tau multimers are strongly increased at Braak stages III–IV in all brain regions under investigation, including the temporal cortex, which does not contain NFTs or misfolded oligomers at this stage of pathology. We additionally identified five phosphorylation sites that are specifically and consistently increased across the entorhinal cortex, hippocampus and temporal cortex in the same donors. Three of these sites correlate with tau multimerization in all three brain regions, but do not overlap with the epitopes of phospho-sensitive antibodies commonly used for the immunohistochemical detection of NFTs. Our results thus suggest that soluble multimers are characterized by a small set of specific phosphorylation events that differ from those dominating in mature NFTs. These findings shed light on early PTM changes of tau during AD pathogenesis in human brains.

Changes in climate, land use, and land management impact the occurrence and severity of wildland fires in many parts of the world. This is particularly evident in Europe, where ongoing changes in land use have strongly modified fire patterns over the last decades. Although satellite data by the European Forest Fire Information System provide large-scale wildland fire statistics across European countries, there is still a crucial need to collect and summarize in-depth local analysis and understanding of the wildland fire condition and associated challenges across Europe. This article aims to provide a general overview of the current wildland fire patterns and challenges as perceived by national representatives, supplemented by national fire statistics (2009–2018) across Europe. For each of the 31 countries included, we present a perspective authored by scientists or practitioners from each respective country, representing a wide range of disciplines and cultural backgrounds. The authors were selected from members of the COST Action “Fire and the Earth System: Science & Society” funded by the European Commission with the aim to share knowledge and improve communication about wildland fire. Where relevant, a brief overview of key studies, particular wildland fire challenges a country is facing, and an overview of notable recent fire events are also presented. Key perceived challenges included (1) the lack of consistent and detailed records for wildland fire events, within and across countries, (2) an increase in wildland fires that pose a risk to properties and human life due to high population densities and sprawl into forested regions, and (3) the view that, irrespective of changes in management, climate change is likely to increase the frequency and impact of wildland fires in the coming decades. Addressing challenge (1) will not only be valuable in advancing national and pan-European wildland fire management strategies, but also in evaluating perceptions (2) and (3) against more robust quantitative evidence.

L'IES Marta Mata, de Montornès del Vallès, va ser creat el curs 2006-2007 i, actualment, forma part de la Xarxa de Competències Bàsiques. En aquest text s'explica com ha portat a terme la introducció del nou currículum competencial al claustre i a les aules. A partir d'una formació inicial destinada als equips directius es dóna forma a un projecte que pretén introduir el treball transversal d'una primera competència bàsica, la competència comunicativa lingüística i audiovisual. El fet de ser un centre on ja s'estava desenvolupant un projecte d'innovació en mitjans audiovisuals facilita el camí. Es presenten els diversos equips de professors implicats, la tasca feta en les reunions de coordinació i les etapes d'evolució del treball. Bàsicament, el procés consisteix a detectar les febleses lingüístiques de l'alumnat i establir objectius de treball consensuats; a unificar criteris didàctics i a plantejar situacions d'avaluació en contextos diferents dels de l'aprenentatge.

En este artículo se presenta un instrumento de evaluación (rúbrica) específico para la adquisición de la competencia de pensamiento analítico en la formación de Trabajo Social, aplicable a las materias de áreas diversas y cursos del Grado de Trabajo Social. Se describe el proceso metodológico y el enfoque colaborativo de su construcción, impulsada por el Grupo de Innovación Docente Trans@net: transdisciplinariedad y aprendizaje en Trabajo Social de la Universidad de Barcelona. Este proyecto ha permitido avanzar a los docentes en su conceptualización y reducir la disparidad de los criterios evaluativos utilizados inicialmente. Aunar una visibilidad común ante los estudiantes al compartir un mismo instrumento entre asignaturas coetáneas y cursos diferentes. Favorecer la transversalidad al aplicarse a materias de distintas áreas de conocimiento y definir unas condiciones provisionales de aplicabilidad como: la vinculación a actividades de aprendizaje que acompañen su adquisición, la aplicación en ejercicios centrados específicamente o de forma prominente en el desarrollo de esta competencia, la necesidad de trabajar previamente con los estudiantes la comprensión de la competencia, el instrumento y las relaciones existentes entre los ítems de la rúbrica y el contexto del contenido de la asignatura y del ejercicio propuesto.

Main Aim: In July 2022, an extensive outbreak of Mpox (monkeypox) was considered by WHO as a Public Health Emergency. The objective of this study is to describe the obtained results from a Mpox case detection program in a semi-urban healthcare area where approximately 420 Primary Care physicians work., Design: An observational prospective study performed between June 01, 2022 and December 31, 2023., Setting: The Northern Metropolitan area of Barcelona, with 1400.000hab (Catalonia, Spain)., Methods: An unified Mpox management procedure was agreed, including a prior online training of Primary Care professionals, to individually assess all Mpox suspected cases from a clinical and epidemiological perspective., Participants: All patients who met clinical and/or epidemiological criteria of Mpox., Data Collection: Age, gender, risk classification (suspected/probable), cluster-linked (yes/no), high-risk sexual contact (yes/no), general symptoms, genital lesion and final diagnostic., Results: A total of 68 suspected Mpox cases were included, from which 16 (26.6%) were Mpox confirmed by PCR. Up to 13 (81.2%) were male and, among them, 12 (75%) men who have sex with men (MSM). The series, however, included two minors and three women. Among MSM, 3 (18.7%) were HIV positive and 3 had no regular access to the Public Healthcare system. Among discarded patients, any infectious disease was diagnosed in 55% of cases., Conclusions: In spite of the short series, this Primary Care community-based study identified a sub-population group showing a different profile of Mpox cases compared to other published series (lower HIV prevalence, higher representativeness of heterosexual transmission and hard to reach population)., (Copyright © 2024 The Authors. Publicado por Elsevier España S.L.U. All rights reserved.)