Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the anxiety levels of parents with children aged 3-6 years due to the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic and to examine the effects of Solution-Focused Support Program (SFSP) applied to parents with high level of anxiety. Methods: The study was conducted as a parallel-group, randomized controlled design. The sample of the study consisted of 77 parents who were randomly assigned to the experimental and control groups (control group n = 40; intervention group n = 37). One session of online SFSP was applied to the intervention group each week and 4 sessions were applied in total. No intervention was applied to the control group. The data were collected using introductory information form and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI). Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) programme and Analysis of Moment Structures (AMOS) 23 application were used in the analysis of the data.  Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) was used to examine a hypothesized model that SFSP has both direct and indirect effects on anxiety levels of parents.Results: The state and trait anxiety mean scores of the intervention group decreased compared to the pre-intervention mean scores after the implemented programme. While this difference between state anxiety scores was statistically significant (p≤ .001), the difference between trait anxiety scores was not statistically significant (p> .05). There was no statistically significant difference between the pre-test and post-test STAI total scores of the control group.Conclusions: In the study, it has been found that SFSP applied to parents with high level of anxiety is an effective method in reducing the state anxiety levels of parents. Clinical trial number: NCT04609722 (Registration date: 30.10.2020)

In fungal pathogens, the transcription factor SrbA (a sterol regulatory element-binding protein, SREBP) and CBC (CCAAT binding complex) have been reported to regulate azole resistance by competitively binding the TR34 region (34 mer) in the promoter of the drug target gene, erg11A. However, current knowledge about how the SrbA and CBC coordinately mediate erg11A expression remains limited. In this study, we uncovered a novel relationship between HapB (a subunit of CBC) and SrbA in which deletion of hapB significantly prolongs the nuclear retention of SrbA by increasing its expression and cleavage under azole treatment conditions, thereby enhancing Erg11A expression for drug resistance. Furthermore, we verified that loss of HapB significantly induces the expression of the rhomboid protease RbdB, Dsc ubiquitin E3 ligase complex, and signal peptide peptidase SppA, which are required for the cleavage of SrbA, suggesting that HapB acts as a repressor for these genes which contribute to the activation of SrbA by proteolytic cleavage. Together, our study reveals that CBC functions not only to compete with SrbA for binding to erg11A promoter region but also to affect SrbA expression, cleavage, and translocation to nuclei for the function, which ultimately regulate Erg11A expression and azole resistance.

There is a growing interest in the psychiatric properties of the dissociative anesthetic ketamine, as single doses have been shown to have fast-acting mood-enhancing and anxiolytic effects, which persist for up to a week after the main psychoactive symptoms have diminished. Therefore, ketamine poses potential beneficial effects in patients with refractory anxiety disorders, where other conventional anxiolytics have been ineffective. Ketamine is a non-competitive antagonist of the N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) glutamate receptor, which underlies its induction of pain relief and anaesthesia. However, the role of NMDA receptors in anxiety reduction is still relatively unknown. To fill this paucity in the literature, this systematic review assesses the evidence that ketamine significantly reduces refractory anxiety and discusses to what extent this may be mediated by NMDA receptor antagonism. We highlight the temporary nature of the anxiolytic effects and discuss the high discrepancy among the study designs regarding many fundamental factors such as administration routes, complementary treatments, and other treatments.

To describe the surgical challenges, management, and value of intra-operative optical coherence tomography in a case of a bilateral Descemet Stripping Automated Endothelial Keratoplasty corneal transplantation at 17 weeks of age for the treatment of severe posterior polymorphous corneal dystrophy resulting from a de novo mutation of the OVOL2-gene.

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is highly effective for patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB), heart failure and left ventricular (LV) systolic dysfunction. Chronic right ventricular (RV) apical pacing is associated with pacing-induced cardiomyopathy and can be associated with exertional intolerance. The goal of this study was to assess the acute hemodynamic effects of His-bundle Pacing (HBP) compared to RV apical pacing in absence of LV systolic dysfunction in patients with exertional intolerance. Our patient population consisted of 5 patients with preserved LV systolic function and complete AV block. All five patients suffered from exertional intolerance in spite of preserved LV systolic function. At the time of generator change, all patients underwent implantation of a HBP lead. The QRS duration decreased from 179±13 ms with RVP to 113±6 with HBP (p < 0.001). Compared to RVP, HBP was associated with significantly longer diastolic filling time and improved septal early diastolic myocardial relaxation velocity (E’). Four of five patients noted acutely improved exertional dyspnea. In patients with AV block, exertional intolerance and preserved LV systolic function who are treated with chronic RV apical pacing, HBP may improve acute diastolic function and symptoms of exertional intolerance when compared to RV apical pacing. Randomized controlled trials are warranted to explore the effects of conduction system pacing in this unique patient population.

The paradox of how invasive species cope with novel selective pressures with limited genetic variation is a fundamental question in molecular ecology. Several mechanisms have been proposed, but they can lack generality and predictive power. Here, we introduce an alternative mechanism, genetic redundancy, wherein changes in multiple combinations of loci can achieve a fitness optimum for polygenic traits, and thus the variations left after the founder effect may be sufficient for adaptation. We tested the potential importance of genetic redundancy in environmental adaptation of Colorado potato beetle (CPB) in introduced Eurasia. Population genomic analyses showed substantial genetic depletion following a single introduction event, which supports invasive CPB as a classic system for the paradox study. Genome-environment association analyses revealed a suite of loci and gene functions plausibly related to cold stress. Notably, a substantial portion of loci showed different contributions to similar or identical environments. Such non-parallel evolution indicates their potential redundancy to overall fitness. Furthermore, one important adaptive gene function, “phospholipid production”, was represented by more than one independent linkage cluster, suggesting some gene functional redundancy in cold resistance. Taken together, these results support the hypothesis that genetic redundancy can promote the adaptability of polygenic traits despite strong genetic depletion, thus providing a general mechanism for resolving the genetic paradox of invasion. More broadly, genetic redundancy, as an inherent feature of the genome, may have contributed to the evolutionary success of invasive species in many aspects.

The treatment effect of trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia is often unsatisfactory. We describe a case of low temperature plasma technique combined with lateral injection of trigeminal ganglion in the treatment of senile trigeminal postherpetic neuralgia.

An endoleak is a complication that can occur after an endovascular aneurysm repair. We report a rare case of ischemic lumbosacral plexopathy post embolization of type 2 endoleak, including its presentation, neurological progress, rehabilitation strategy and functional outcome.

NSAIDs are often used as the preferred treatment of pain. More attention is paid to renal damage caused by oral and intravenous administration, while the risk of renal damage caused by percutaneous absorption such as flurbiprofen plaster is overlooked.We describe one novel case of AKI after flurbiprofen plaster.

Diaphragm eventration, an abnormal elevation of the dome of the diaphragm, could be congenital or acquired. Acquired cases usually occur after an episode of trauma to the phrenic nerve, or may be attributed to infectious and inflammatory causes. We report an acquired eventration with a probable association with tuberculosis infection.

Many autoimmune diseases are chronic in nature, so that in general patients experience periods of recurrence and remission of the symptoms characterizing their specific autoimmune ailment. In order to describe this very important feature of autoimmunity, we construct a mathematical model of kinetic type describing the immune system cellular interactions in the context of autoimmunity exhibiting recurrent dynamics. The model equations constitute a non-linear system of integro-differential equations with quadratic terms that describe the interactions between self-antigen presenting cells, self-reactive T cells and immunosuppressive cells. We consider a constant input of self-antigen presenting cells, due to external environmental factors that are believed to trigger autoimmunity in people with predisposition for this condition. We also consider the natural death of all cell populations involved in our model, caused by their interaction with cells of the host environment. We derive the macroscopic analogue and show positivity and well-posedness of the solution, and then we study the equilibria of the corresponding dynamical system and their stability properties. By applying dynamical system theory, we prove that steady oscillations may arise due to the occurrence of a Hopf bifurcation. We perform some numerical simulations for our model, and we observe a recurrent pattern in the solutions of both the kinetic description and its macroscopic analogue, which leads us to conclude that this model is able to capture the chronic behaviour of many autoimmune diseases.

Objective:Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterized by reproductive dysfunctions and metabolic disorders. This study aims to compare the therapeutic effectiveness of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) + Metformin (Met) versus co-cyprindiol (cyproterone acetate/ethinylestradiol, CPA/EE) + Met in overweight PCOS women and identify potential biomarkers. Methods: In this prospective, open-label randomized controlled trial, we recruited 60 overweight PCOS women into two groups at a 1:1 ratio to receive CPA/EE (2 mg/day) + Met (1,500 mg/day) or GLP-1RA (liraglutide, 0.6-1.2 mg/day) + Met (1,500 mg/day) for 12 weeks. The clinical effectiveness and adverse effects were evaluated, followed by plasma proteomic analysis and verification of critical biomarkers by ELISA. Results: Both interventions improved menstrual cycle, polycystic ovaries, LH levels, and LH/FSH ratio; meanwhile reduced the body weight, BMI, HbA1c, FBG, OGTT-30 min insulin, IL-6 and TNF-α. Whereas, GLP-1RA + Met showed a more robust improvement on HbA1c, HOMA-IR, lipid profiles, inflammatory parameters, and ovulation. CPA/EE + Met was more effective in reducing hyperandrogenemia. Plasma proteomic analysis revealed that the interventions altered proteins involved in reactive oxygen species detoxification (PRDX6, GSTO1, GSTP1, GSTM2), platelet degranulation (FN1), and the immune response (SERPINB9). Conclusions: CPA/EE+Met or GLP-1RA + Met treatment improved reproductive functions and alleviated metabolic disorders in overweight PCOS women. GLP-1RA + Met had a superior improvement in metabolism and inflammation. The novel plasma biomarkers PRDX6, FN1, and SERPINB9, might be indicators and targets for PCOS treatment.

Background: Defects in IFN–gamma receptor (IFN-γR) signaling via STAT1 leads to susceptibility to infection by otherwise weak pathogenic mycobacteria, resulting in mendelian susceptibility to mycobacterial disease. We identified three patients presented with disseminated mycobacterial infections caused by M. avium, M. persicum or M. bovis BCG respectively. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was used as the first line diagnostic approach, however in all patients additional analysis was crucial to make the definite diagnosis. Method: WES, SNP array and long range PCR were performed to identify the genetic defects. Expression of IFNGR1, STAT1, CD64, SOCS1 and phosphorylation of STAT1 were determined after stimulation with IFN-α or IFN-γ. Results: In Patient 1, only one heterozygous variant p.(Val63Gly) in the IFNGR1 gene was identified by WES. Additional genetic analysis identified a second complex Alu-insertion in IFNGR1. Patient 2 was compound heterozygous for the null p.(Val68Lysfs*6) variant and the hypomorphic p.(Ile37Thr) variant in IFNGR1. In Patient 3 a novel variant in the STAT1 gene p.(Asn460Ile) was identified. Patients 1 and 2 had reduced expression of IFN-γR1. All patients had reduced phosphorylation of STAT1 and absent induction of SOCS1 after IFN-γ stimulation. While STAT1 phosphorylation was normal after IFN–α stimulation in Patient 1 and 2, and mildly reduced in Patient 3. Conclusion: We conclude that functional assays are crucial to assess the extent of IFN-γR signaling defects when new combinations of bi-allelic or non-conclusive genetic variants are found, which is important in the determination of clinical treatment.

Background: CD19 molecule found on B lymphocyte surface forms CD19 complex together with CD21, CD81, CD225 in mature B cells and regulates B lymphocyte activation with antigen stimulation. Mutation(s) in the gene encoding the CD19 molecule affect CD19 protein expression and primary immunodeficiency (PID) occurs. Some genetic method, especially sanger and next generation sequencing and flow cytometric methods are widely used in the diagnosis of PID. The RFLP method, which is faster and cheaper than other mutation detection methods, is rarely used in the diagnosis of PID. The study aimed to genetically identify CD19 deficiency, which is a PID, using the RFLP method. Methods: The study was performed at Necmettin Erbakan University, Meram Medicine Faculty Hospital, Pediatric Allergy and Immunology clinic. A total of 8 patients and two healthy controls could be included in the study. A total of 8 patients and two healthy controls were included in the study, and the relevant region genotypes in the CD19 gene were determined by performing RCR-RFLP analysis. Results: CD19 deficiency was first described by us. The index case, newborn baby and mother were also included in the study. It was determined that the index case (P6) was homozygous mutant, the newborn baby (P7) and mother (P8) had heterozygous genotype. Based on this situation, one child (P1) was found to be homozygous mutant, mother (P2), father (P3) and other children (P4 and P5) had heterozygous genotype in the family, which was determined to be related to the first case. Conclusion: Rapid genetic diagnosis in patients suspected of having a known case of PID insufficiency as a result of clinical and laboratory findings carries a vital risk in terms of treatment options to be offered to patients. Although PCR-RFLP, which is a cheap, safe and fast method, is used to detect known mutations, the use of PID is rare. In our study, it has been shown that it is a method that can be used in the diagnosis of PID by determining genotypes using PCR-RFLP, and especially in terms of rapid genetic testing of family screenings.

We report an 8-year-old Afghan female with giant congenital melanocytic nevus (GCMN) which covered the entire back. The GCMN extended to anterolateral parts of the trunk surrounded by multiple satellite melanocytic nevi.

Re: Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on maternal cardiovascular system, an underestimated notion in pregnant womenDear Editor,I am glad to take this opportunity to respond the concerns about our article1, regarding the antenatal corticosteroids (ACSs) on maternal cardiovascular system.The administration of ACSs to expectant mothers in anticipation of preterm birth is one of the most important advances in perinatal medicine; ACSs are now standard care for pregnancies at risk of premature delivery. The widespread uptake of ACSs therapy is due to compelling evidence demonstrating improved neonatal outcomes, stemming most notably from corticosteroid-driven maturation of fetal pulmonary function.2 Our nationwide population-based study also provides evidence to support the hypothesis that ACSs to women at risk of late preterm delivery might reduce the risk of neonatal respiratory complications, the need of glucose within 7 days of birth, the incidence of infant mortality, and medical expenditure.1In our study, we included five untreated women (controls) matched to each woman treated with antenatal corticosteroids. The treated and matched control groups were similar in terms of maternal and gestational age, birth weight, sex, and incidence of nulliparous and gestational diabetes. However, the incidence of preeclampsia or gestational hypertension in the treated group (7.7%) is more than the control groups (6.9%, P = 0.029). Iatrogenic preterm delivery may happen due to maternal cardiovascular diseases and administered antenatal corticosteroid for fetal lung maturation in theses pregnancies.1Because of the limitation of National Health Insurance Research Database, we were not able to investigate blood pressure, heart rate, and laboratory data in the women received ACSs. Considering this limitation, we analyzed the confounding factors to adjust the risk and confirm our results. In the subgroup that had gestational hypertension, the adjusted risks of subgroup were consistent with comprehensive results. Women who received ACSs had significantly fewer days in hospital. No significant difference was found in maternal postpartum disease. Therefore, the impacts of ACSs may not lead to harmful and long-term effects.Professor Hantoushzadeh mentioned literatures involved short-term steroid use elicited both favorable and unfavorable effects on different cardiovascular risk factors in healthy young male volunteers.3 Pregnancy is a period of continuous change in the maternal cardiovascular system, partly mediated by the autonomic nervous system. Insufficient autonomic adaptation to increasing gestation is associated with pregnancy complications, such as hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and preterm birth (both major causes of perinatal morbidity and mortality). There were scarce studies have investigated the changes in maternal cardiovascular system in response to the administration of routinely used obstetric medications, such as tocolytic agents and magnesium sulphate. Even though the effect of ACSs on fetal heart rate variability has been widely investigated, ACSs use has received less attention in maternal cardiovascular system. And there was no study elaborated maternal cardiovascular effect after ACSs use during late preterm period.4 As Professor Hantoushzadeh stated, it is important to know the side effects of ACSs on the cardiovascular system.5 In the era of personalized medicine, there is both significant scope and imperative need for further research-informed refinement to the use of ACSs.2Disclosure of interestsThe authors declare no conflicts of interest.References1. Liang FW, Tsai HF, Kuo PL, Tsai PY. Antenatal corticosteroid therapy in late preterm delivery: a nationwide population-based retrospective study in Taiwan. BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology. 2021 Aug;128(9):1497-502.2. Kemp MW, Newnham JP, Challis JG, Jobe AH, Stock SJ. The clinical use of corticosteroids in pregnancy. Hum Reprod Update. 2016 Mar-Apr;22(2):240-59.3. Cottin F, Malcurat V, Zorgati H, Prieur F, Labsy Z, Do MC, et al. Effect of oral glucocorticoid intake on autonomic cardiovascular control. Springerplus. 2015;4:622.4. Bester M, Moors S, Joshi R, Nichting TJ, van der Hout-van der Jagt MB, Oei SG, et al. Changes in Maternal Heart Rate Variability in Response to the Administration of Routine Obstetric Medication in Hospitalized Patients: Study Protocol for a Cohort Study (MAMA-Heart Study). Clin Pract. 2021 Jan 21;11(1):13-25.5. Hantoushzadeh S, Saleh M, Maleki A. Effects of antenatal corticosteroids on maternal cardiovascular system, an underestimated notion in pregnant women. BJOG : an international journal of obstetrics and gynaecology. 2021;

An improved understanding of pregnancy in women with Turner’s syndrome may save lives!BJOG-21-1221Around 25% of maternal deaths are related to heart disease and up-to 20% of these are the consequence of aortic dissection (Lameijer et al, Neth Heart J (2020) 28:27–36). Connective tissue disorders (e.g. Marfan’s, Loeys-Dietz, Ehlers Danlos), Bicuspid aortic valve, Turner’s Syndrome (TS) and pre-existing coarctations constitute the bulk of aortopathies encountered in pregnancy. Although a true XO karyotype in pregnancy had been rarely encountered historically due to the reduced fertility in these patients, women with a mosaic TS may have normal fertility and in recent years reproductive technologies with oocyte donation have increasingly been used in the sub-fertile TS population. Although pregnancies in such women remain infrequent, the risk of death during pregnancy amongst all women with TS (inclusive of mosaicism) has been reported as high as 2%, 150-200 times greater than the general population. This increased risk has led to the establishment of guidelines for the use of reproductive technologies in these women (Karnis. Fertility Sterility (2012) 98(4),787-91).The rarity of these cases means that available data, even when drawn from multicenter registries, has been relatively sparse. A study of TS patients gathered from ten cardiovascular centres over 12 years evaluated 68 pregnancies (Grewal J, et al. Heart 2021;107:61–66). Although the majority had no structural cardiac disease and no major cardiovascular complications were observed, the adverse obstetric event rate was around 20% with a similar rate for adverse fetal outcomes. Like the present paper (BJOG-21-1221) which reports a larger population, these cases were followed within centres offering a dedicated obstetric-cardiac clinic.Standardized guidelines for preconceptual and perinatal care of these women have improved outcomes, as evidenced by a French study evaluating cohorts from before and after the establishment of such guidance in France (Cadoret et al, EJOGRB(2018) 229,20–25). Whilst these guidelines encourage the care of TS mothers in dedicated obstetric-cardiac centers, this is not always the case; either due to lack of diagnosis of the condition (esp in mosaic cases with milder phenotypes) or lack of appreciation of the risks. The present paper reports only cases followed in cardiac-obstetric centres; without an overall population pregnancy case number it will remain uncertain what proportion of women with TS were followed in an appropriate centre and whether the reported cohort therefore excludes cases with worse outcomes.Although it might be expected that mothers followed within appropriate centres receive optimal care, studies continue to show that this is not always so. In the present cohort only half of the women had a pre-pregnancy cardiac evaluation and 20% had no record of imaging during pregnancy; perhaps reflecting late referral to the tertiary centre. While this remains a high-risk population with risks for both maternal and fetal adverse outcomes with high haemorrhage rates, hypertensive disease rates (~19%) and an SGA rate exceeding 20%, the data from this cohort is reassuring with respect to severe perinatal morbidity. Particularly striking in this cohort was a caesarean rate of 67%.To provide women with TS optimal care, preconceptual evaluation and pregnancy planning with medical optimisation is vital, with subsequent close follow-up in an obstetric-cardiac centre capable of managing whatever complications this cohort might experience, even if rare.Disclosure of InterestRB has no conflicts of interestRB is supported by the CIHR and FRSQ

Using a population of recombinant inbred lines (RILs) cowpea (Vigna unguiculata. L. Walp), we tested for co-linkages between lipid contents and chilling responses of photosynthesis. Under low temperature conditions (19°C/13°C, day/night), we observed co-linkages between quantitative trait loci (QTL) intervals for photosynthetic light reactions and specific fatty acids, most strikingly, the thylakoid-specific fatty acid 16:1Δ3trans found exclusively in phosphatidylglycerol (PG 16:1t). By contrast, we did not observe co-associations with bulk polyunsaturated fatty acids or high-melting-point-PG (sum of PG 16:0, PG 18:0 PG 16:1t) previously thought to be involved in chilling sensitivity. These results suggest that in cowpea, chilling sensitivity is modulated by specific lipid interactions rather than bulk properties. We were able to recapitulate the predicted impact of PG 16:1t levels on photosynthetic responses at low temperature using mutants and transgenic Arabidopsis lines. Because PG 16:1t synthesis requires the activity of peroxiredoxin-Q, which is activated by H2O2 and known to be involved in redox signaling, we hypothesize that the accumulation of PG 16:1t occurs as a result of upstream effects on photosynthesis that alter redox status and production of reactive oxygen species.

Understanding biodiversity patterns as well as drivers of population declines, and range losses provides crucial baselines for monitoring and conservation. However, the information needed to evaluate such trends remains unstandardised and sparsely available for many taxonomic groups and habitats, including the cave-dwelling bats and cave ecosystems. Here, we present the DarkCideS 1.0, a global database of bat caves and bat species based on curated data from the literature, personal collections, and existing datasets. The database contains information for geographical distribution, ecological status, species traits, and parasites and hyperparasites for 679 bat species known to occur in caves or use caves in their life-histories. The database contains 6746 georeferenced occurrences for 402 cave-dwelling bat species from 2002 cave sites in 46 countries and 12 terrestrial biomes. The database has been developed to be a collaborative, open-access, and user-friendly platform, allowing continuous data-sharing among the community of bat researchers and conservation biologists. The database has a range of potential applications in bat research and enables comparative monitoring and prioritisation for conservation.

The regulation of protein synthesis plays an important role in growth and development in all organisms. Upstream open reading frames (uORFs) are commonly found in eukaryotic mRNA transcripts and typically attenuate the translation of associated downstream main ORFs (mORFs). Conserved peptide uORFs (CPuORFs) are a rare subset of uORFs, some of which have been shown to conditionally regulate translation by ribosome stalling. Here we identify three Arabidopsis CPuORFs of ancient origin that regulate translation of any downstream ORF, in response to agriculturally significant environmental signals: heat stress and water limitation. We provide evidence that different sequence classes of CPuORF stall ribosomes during different phases of translation and show that plant CPuORFs act as environmental sensors that can be utilised as inducible regulators of translation with broad application.

Within our study a special type of 〖iterative method〗^ω is developed by upgrading Newton-Raphson method. We have modified Newton’s method by using our newly developed quadrature rule which is obtained by blending Trapezoidal rule and open type Newton-cotes two point rule. Our newly developed method gives better result than the Newton’s method. Order of convergence of our newly discovered quadrature rule and iterative method is 3.

Cas9 nucleases have become the most versatile tool for genome editing projects in a broad range of organisms. The recombinant production of Cas9 nuclease is desirable for in vitro activity assays or the preparation of ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) for DNA-free genome editing approaches. For the rapid production of Cas9, we explored the use of a recently established cell-free lysate from tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L.) BY-2 cells. Using this system, the 130-kDa Cas9 nuclease from Staphylococcus aureus (SaCas9) was produced and subsequently purified via affinity chromatography. The purified apoenzyme was supplemented with ten different sgRNAs, and the nuclease activity was confirmed by the linearization of plasmid DNA containing cloned DNA target sequences.

The combination of vigorous terrain and millenary human action has produced major changes in vegetation cover, impacting soil losses from slopes and, consequently, sediment production. Increasing focus in the management of water resources led to the widespread construction of dams to generate water flows for iron production, irrigation and to satisfy the increasing demand of the massive urban development along the Costa del Sol. To investigate the connection between soil degradation and loss and river sediment transport retention at a major dam, a first-order sediment yield prediction was established by using a GIS-based model at river basin scale. A quantitative validation of model results is provided by empirical measurements of sedimentation in the main reservoir lake of La Concepción using D_GPS/Echo sounder combination and a Remotely Piloted Aircraft compared with pre-construction blue print topography aimed at documenting spot heights where sediments accumulated or eroded over 50 years. The significant erodibility that we have estimated seems matched by potentially high sediment accumulation rates along selected profiles and spot heights across the bottom of the reservoir lake. Our study discusses that Mediterranean coastal systems may no longer stay in the resilience envelope set by a critically delicate sediment transport balance and without engineering support in the form of direct sediment feeding to the marine system by the permanent nourishment works required. Due to soil loss, sediment entrapment in reservoirs and water management policies, the coastal protection offered by the natural resilience of the beach and dune system is no longer recoverable.

Objective: Acute viral bronchiolitis (AVB) is one of the most common viral infections and the most common lower respiratory tract infection in the first year of life. Current guidelines recommend that medical history and physical examination have the main role in the diagnosis of AVB. Lung ultrasound (LUS) has not been included in the diagnostic algorithm so far. The aim of this systematic review is to collect all available studies concerning the role of LUS in the diagnosis and management of AVB. Methods: PubMed - MEDLINE, Scopus and ScienceDirect databases were searched for trials reporting on LUS examination in the diagnosis and management of AVB in paediatric patients. Results: A total of seventeen studies matching our eligibility criteria were analyzed for the purposes of this review and their results were categorized into six major fields each one of them answering to a question. There are several LUS scores that evaluate the severity of sonographic findings in children with AVB. The findings on LUS and chest radiography are comparable and LUS has a significant role in further management of AVB in the Paediatric Emergency Department. LUS score is correlated to the clinical course of AVB and it can predict both the duration of hospitalization and the need for respiratory support. Conclusion: Current literature supports that LUS could have comparable efficiency with chest radiography concerning the diagnosis of AVB and it could predict the length of hospital stay and the need of oxygen supply.