Article
Infectious Diseases
Silvia Fernandez-Garcia, Ana Moragas Moreno, Maria Giner-Soriano, Rosa Morros, Dan Ouchi, Ana Garcia-Sangenis, Monica Monteagudo, Ramon Monfa, Carl Llor
Summary: This is the first study to assess urinary tract infections in men using a large primary healthcare database in Catalonia, Spain. The study found that despite quinolone resistance exceeding 20% in the area, quinolones were still the most commonly used treatment for urinary tract infections.
Article
Food Science & Technology
Neus Gonzalez, Eudald Correig, Isa Marmelo, Antonio Marques, Rasmus la Cour, Jens J. Sloth, Marti Nadal, Montse Marques, Jose L. Domingo
Summary: The study revealed that iodine and iAs levels in sushi were influenced by ingredients, while total Hg and MeHg were significantly higher in tuna sushi. Adolescents were found to be exposed to MeHg above the tolerable daily intake set by EFSA, while children and adults were close to this threshold. Moreover, a relatively high daily exposure of Ni and Pb, especially for adolescents, was also identified.
FOOD AND CHEMICAL TOXICOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Geological
Rosa. M. M. Palau, Marc Berenguer, Marcel Hurlimann, Daniel Sempere-Torres
Summary: Soil moisture is important for slope stability. Most existing landslide early warning systems rely on rainfall information, but this study explores the potential of using modelled soil moisture data in the Catalonia region landslide early warning system. By combining rainfall and soil moisture information, empirical hydrometeorological thresholds have been obtained and applied to improve the accuracy of the system.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Javier Diez de los Rios, Esteban Reynaga, Merce Garcia-Gonzalez, Jordi Camara, Carmen Ardanuy, Jordi Cuquet, Maria D. Quesada, Marian Navarro, Anna Vilamala, Noemi Parraga-Nino, Sara Quero, Alba Romero, Rosa M. Benitez, Jacint Altimiras, Maria Luisa Pedro-Botet
Summary: The study focused on S. suis infections in Catalonia over a 9-year period, revealing a small number of cases predominantly affecting middle-aged males, with meningitis being the most common manifestation. More than half of the cases occurred in the last two years and were mainly seen in pig farm workers. While none of the patients died within 30 days, some did experience long-term complications such as hearing loss. Further surveillance is recommended to better understand the prevalence of S. suis infections in the region.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2021)
Article
Immunology
Elena Roel, Berta Raventos, Edward Burn, Andrea Pistillo, Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, Talita Duarte-Salles
Summary: This study examines the impact of COVID-19 vaccine roll-out on socioeconomic inequalities and finds that vaccination has reduced infection and hospitalization inequalities.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Infectious Diseases
Michael Marks, Pere Millat-Martinez, Dan Ouchi, Chrissy H. Roberts, Andrea Alemany, Marc Corbacho-Monne, Maria Ubals, Aurelio Tobias, Cristian Tebe, Ester Ballana, Quique Bassat, Barbara Baro, Marti Vall-Mayans, Camila G-Beiras, Nuria Prat, Jordi Ara, Bonaventura Clotet, Oriol Mitja
Summary: The viral load of index cases is a key driver of SARS-CoV-2 transmission, while the viral load of contacts at baseline is strongly associated with the risk of developing symptomatic COVID-19 and shortening the incubation period in a dose-dependent manner.
LANCET INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Arnau Martinez, Maite Garcia-Valles, Pura Alfonso
Summary: This study provides a characterization of materials from wastes and outcrops of two inactive bauxite mines located in Spain. The mineralogy and thermal properties of the materials were determined, and it was found that they have suitable mineralogy for ceramic materials. However, their low plasticity limits their potential applications.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anna Mota-Bertran, Marc Saez, Germa Coenders
Summary: The study aims to predict air pollutant concentrations in Catalonia, Spain without monitoring stations, using CoDa to study the relative importance of pollutants and combining it with a total pollution indicator for predictions. Results show that the log-ratio between NO2 and O-3 has the highest variance and predictive accuracy.
ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
(2022)
Article
Immunology
Pilar Ciruela, Nuria Soldevila, Juan Jose Garcia-Garcia, Sebastia Gonzalez-Peris, Alvaro Diaz-Conradi, Alba Redin, Belen Vinado, Conchita Izquierdo, Carmen Munoz-Almagro, Angela Dominguez
Summary: This study analyzed the impact of COVID-19 on healthcare demand and invasive pneumococcal disease in children in Catalonia, Spain. It found significant reductions in healthcare activities and incidence of invasive pneumococcal disease in 2020 compared to 2018-2019, likely due to the implementation of nonpharmaceutical measures during the COVID-19 pandemic.
EMERGING INFECTIOUS DISEASES
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Edward Burn, Elena Roel, Andrea Pistillo, Sergio Fernandez-Bertolin, Maria Aragon, Berta Raventos, Carlen Reyes, Katia Verhamme, Peter Rijnbeek, Xintong Li, Victoria Y. Strauss, Daniel Prieto-Alhambra, Talita Duarte-Salles
Summary: This study compares the rates of thrombosis and thrombocytopenia following vaccination against and infection with SARS-CoV-2 in Catalonia, Spain with the expected rates in the general population. The results show that adverse events after vaccination are generally similar to background rates, while the rates are significantly increased for COVID-19 cases, highlighting the importance of vaccination.
NATURE COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Marten in't Veld, Peeyush Khare, Yufang Hao, Cristina Reche, Noemi Perez, Andres Alastuey, Jesus Yus-Diez, Nicolas Marchand, Andre S. H. Prevot, Xavier Querol, Kaspar R. Daellenbach
Summary: This study found that organic aerosols (OA) are the dominant contributor to the oxidative potential of airborne particulate matter in northeastern Spain. The chemical composition of PM10 was analyzed at two sampling stations in Barcelona city and Montseny Natural Park, and it was found that Barcelona had significantly higher concentrations of water-soluble OA compared to Montseny due to the anthropogenic emissions in the city.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Infectious Diseases
J. Lucena Nemirosky, R. Espelt, E. Lopez Grado, J. Sobrino, A. Acera, J. Perez, J. S. Jensen, F. Sanchez-Reus, N. Prim
Summary: The study found high rates of Mycoplasma genitalium infection and macrolide resistance in an area adjacent to Barcelona, with some patients not receiving appropriate treatment. Macrolide resistance was associated with a previous history of M. genitalium detection.
JOURNAL OF ANTIMICROBIAL CHEMOTHERAPY
(2021)
Article
Economics
Laura Guarga, Montse Gasol, Anna Reyes, Marta Roig, Enric Alonso, Ana Clopes, Joaquim Delgadillo
Summary: This study describes different types of risk-sharing arrangements (RSAs) implemented in Catalonia and their health and economic outcomes. The results show that both performance-linked reimbursements (PLRs) and cost-sharing arrangements (CSAs) were used to manage uncertainties in accessing innovative medicines. The study data provide valuable information for decision-making.
Article
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Sara Quero, Marina Serras-Pujol, Noemi Parraga-Nino, Carmen Torres, Marian Navarro, Anna Vilamala, Emma Puigoriol, Javier Diez de los Rios, Elisenda Arque, Judit Serra-Pladevall, Alba Romero, Daniel Molina, Roger Paredes, Maria Luisa Pedro-Botet, Esteban Reynaga
Summary: This study investigated the prevalence of methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) among workers in the pork production chain. The results showed that the prevalence of MRSA was high among workers in contact with live animals, especially in pig farms, livestock transporters, and slaughterhouses.
Article
Chemistry, Applied
Neus Gonzalez, Montse Marques, Josep Calderon, Roger Collantes, Lidia Corraliza, Isabel Timoner, Jaume Bosch, Victoria Castell, Jose L. Domingo, Marti Nadal
Summary: This study investigated the levels of food processing contaminants in food products purchased in Catalonia, Spain, and assessed the human exposure for different population groups. The results revealed potential health concerns, particularly for the youngest population groups, regarding the intake of certain food processing contaminants. The study highlights the need for regular monitoring studies and policy measures to address this issue.
JOURNAL OF FOOD COMPOSITION AND ANALYSIS
(2022)
Article
Biology
David M. Alba, Josep M. Robles, Alberto Valenciano, Juan Abella, Isaac Casanovas-Vilar
Summary: This study reports the oldest Eurasian material of the Eomellivora genus and establishes a new species, Eomellivora moralesi sp. nov., based on fossil characteristics and evolutionary analysis. The new species is considered to have a more primitive morphology.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Anthropology
David M. Alba
JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Anthropology
Alessandro Urciuoli, Julide Kubat, Lisa Schisanowski, Friedemann Schrenk, Bernhard Zipfel, Mirriam Tawane, Lunga Bam, David M. Alba, Ottmar Kullmer
Summary: Homo erectus exhibits a mosaic morphology that combines primitive and derived features. Cochlear morphology of Indonesian H. erectus individuals shows variations and similarities with other hominin species. These findings contribute to our understanding of H. erectus and its evolutionary relationship with other Homo species.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
(2022)
Article
Biology
Sharrah McKenzie, Isaac Casanovas-Vilar, David M. Alba
Summary: This study classifies the dentognathic remains found at the Ca l'Almirall site in the Valles-Penedes Basin of the NE Iberian Peninsula and discusses the age of the site. The results show that the dental fossils at the site belong to a tetraconodont that is distinct from Conohyus simorrensis and Parachleuastochoerus valentini and has the closest similarities with Versoporcus spp. However, the attribution of other Versoporcus remains in the Valles-Penedes Basin needs to be revised. With an estimated age of around 14.0-13.5 Ma, the Ca l'Almirall material is contemporaneous with the oldest record of Versoporcus spp., supporting the view that they are not successive chronospecies of a single evolving lineage.
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2023)
Editorial Material
Anthropology
David M. Alba
JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Evolutionary Biology
Sharrah McKenzie, Leonardo Sorbelli, Marco Cherin, Sergio Almecija, Marta Pina, Juan Abella, Angel H. Lujan, Daniel DeMiguel, David M. Alba
Summary: This study describes unpublished suid dentognathic remains from the Miocene of the Valles-Penedes Basin in the NE Iberian Peninsula and provides taxonomic information on them. The majority of the specimens belong to the suine Propotamochoerus palaeochoerus, which is characteristic of the Vallesian stage. The study also provides insights into the dental morphology of Parachleuastochoerus valentini and supports its distinction from other Conohyus species.
JOURNAL OF MAMMALIAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Julia Arias-Martorell, Alessandro Urciuoli, Sergio Almecija, David M. Alba, Masato Nakatsukasa
JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Article
Anthropology
Clement Zanolli, Florian Bouchet, Josep Fortuny, Federico Bernardini, Claudio Tuniz, David M. Alba
Summary: Researchers conducted a study on the classification of Miocene primates using dental morphology, and found that Pierolapithecus, Anoiapithecus, Dryopithecus, and Hispanopithecus differ significantly from extant great ape genera, indicating that they belong to different genera. However, the taxonomic attribution of `Sivapithecus' occidentalis remains uncertain. Rating: 7 out of 10.
JOURNAL OF HUMAN EVOLUTION
(2023)
Review
Geography, Physical
Omar Cirilli, Luca Pandol, David M. Alba, Joan Madurell-Malapeira, Maia Bukhsianidze, Laszlo Kordos, David Lordkipanidze, Lorenzo Rook, Raymond L. Bernor
Summary: This study revises the taxonomy and evolution of the Pliocene and Early Pleistocene three-toed horses in Western Eurasia, based on large equid samples from Villarroya (Iberian Peninsula) and Kvabebi (Georgia). The samples are compared to a range of Old World hipparions to identify the different genera and species in the region. The study provides a revised interpretation of their taxonomy, chronology, paleobiogeography, and evolutionary history, identifying three genera and six species with different distributions in time and space during the Plio-Pleistocene.
QUATERNARY SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Meeting Abstract
Anthropology
Kelsey D. Pugh, Josep Fortuny, Brian M. Shearer, Ashley S. Hammond, Salvador Moya-Sola, David M. Alba, Sergio Almecija
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Anthropology
Alessandro Urciuoli, Clement Zanolli, Florian Bouchet, Sergio Almecija, Salvador Moya-Sola, David M. Alba
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Anthropology
Clement Zanolli, Alessandro Urciuoli, Miguel Delgado, Thomas W. Davies, Florian Bouchet, Josep Fortuny, Amelie Beaudet, David M. Alba, Ottmar Kullmer, Matthew M. Skinner
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2022)
Meeting Abstract
Anthropology
Florian Bouchet, Clement Zanolli, Sergio Almecija, Josep Fortuny, Josep M. Robles, Amelie Beaudet, Salvador Moya-Sola, David M. Alba
AMERICAN JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL ANTHROPOLOGY
(2022)
Correction
Biology
David M. Alba, Josep M. Robles, Alberto Valenciano, Juan Abella, Isaac Casanovas-Vilar
HISTORICAL BIOLOGY
(2022)