Multi-source datasets acquired over Toulouse (France) in 2021 for urban microclimate studies during the CAMCATT/AI4GEO field campaign

The CAMCATT-AI4GEO extensive field experiment took place in Toulouse, a city in the southwest of France, from 14^th to 25^th June 2021 (with complementary measurements performed on the 6 September 2021). Its main objective was the acquisition of a new reference dataset on an urban site to support the development and validation of data products from the future thermal infrared (TIR) satellite missions such as TRISHNA (CNES/ISRO), LSTM (ESA) and SBG (NASA). With their high spatial (between 30-60m) and temporal (2-3 days) resolutions, the future TIR satellite data will allow a better investigation of the urban climate at the neighbourhood scale. However, in order to validate the future products of these missions such as LST, air temperature, comfort index and Urban Heat Island (UHI), there is a need to accurately characterise the organisation of the city in terms of 3D geometry, spectral optical properties and both land surface temperature and emissivity (LST and LSE) at several scales. In this context, the CAMCATT-AI4GEO field campaign provides a set of airborne VISNIR-SWIR (Visible Near InfraRed - ShortWave InfraRed) hyperspectral imagery, multispectral thermal infrared (TIR) imagery and 3D LiDAR acquisitions, together with a variety of ground data collected, for some of them, simultaneously to the flight. The ground dataset includes surface reflectance measured spectrally with ASD spectroradiometers and in six spectral bands spreading from shortwave to thermal infrared and for two viewing angles with a SOC410-DHR handheld reflectometer. It is completed with LST and LSE retrieved from thermal infrared radiance acquired in six spectral bands with CIMEL radiometers. It also includes meteorological data coming from four radio soundings (one of which was taken during the flight), data routinely collected at the Blagnac airport reference station as well as air temperature and humidity acquired using instrumented cars following two different itineraries. In addition, a link is provided to access the data routinely collected by the network of weather stations set up by Toulouse Metropole in the city and its surroundings. This data paper describes this new reference urban dataset which can be useful for many applications such as calibration/validation of at-surface radiance, LST and LSE data products as well as higher level products such as air temperature or comfort index. It also provides valuable opportunities for other applications in urban climate studies, such as supporting the validation of microclimate models.

Intermediate snowpack melt-out dates guarantee the highest seasonal grasslands greening in the Pyrenees

In mountain areas, the phenology and productivity of grassland are closely related to snow dynamics. However, the influence that snow melt timing has on grassland growing still needs further attention for a full understanding, particularly at high spatial resolution. Aiming to reduce this knowledge gap, this work exploits 1 m resolution snow depth and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index observations acquired with an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle at a sub-alpine site in the Pyrenees. During two snow seasons (2019-2020 and 2020-2021), 14 NDVI and 17 snow depth distributions were acquired over 48 ha. Despite the snow dynamics being different in the two seasons, the response of grasslands greening to snow melt-out exhibited a very similar pattern in both. The NDVI temporal evolution in areas with distinct melt-out dates reveals that sectors where the melt-out date occurs in late April or early May (optimum melt-out) reach the maximum vegetation productivity. Zones with an earlier or a later melt-out rarely reach peak NDVI values. The results obtained in this study area, suggest that knowledge about snow depth distribution is not needed to understand NDVI grassland dynamics. The analysis did not reveal a clear link between the spatial variability in snow duration and the diversity and richness of grassland communities within the study area.

Macrolide resistance in Mycoplasma genitalium in Catalonia, Spain: a 1 year prospective study

BACKGROUND

Mycoplasma genitalium is an emergent cause of sexually transmitted disease (STD). The first-line treatment is azithromycin, but macrolide resistance is increasing due to mutations in the 23S rRNA gene.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the rates of M. genitalium infection and macrolide resistance in an area adjacent to Barcelona.

METHODS

This 1 year prospective study was performed in a heterogenous population that included both low- and high-risk patients. M. genitalium was detected in all specimens sent to our institution for STD detection. Epidemiological and relevant clinical data were collected in the positive cases. Characterization of macrolide-associated resistance was performed by 23S rDNA sequencing.

RESULTS

Of the 3540 patients included, 132 (3.7%) were positive for M. genitalium. Another sexually transmitted bacteria was detected in 20.4% of the M. genitalium cases, and Chlamydia trachomatis (11%) was the most frequently co-detected microorganism. Only 61.4% of patients received an adequate initial treatment against M. genitalium. The test of cure (TOC) was performed in 42% of patients, and therapeutic failure was detected in 10 cases. The rate of macrolide resistance was 12.6% and the most prevalent mutation was A2058G. There was an association between macrolide resistance and a previous history of M. genitalium detection (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Our results support the contribution of the previous use of macrolides in resistant strains. Given the difficulties in performing TOC in all patients, the inclusion of macrolide resistance in the detection test should be mandatory.

Control of hypertension in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease

BACKGROUND

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor, but knowledge about the real magnitude of the problem and its determinants is lacking.

AIM

To assess control of hypertension and evaluate medical resource use, in patients at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

DESIGN

Multicentric cross-sectional study.

METHODS

We collected data for 2205 adult patients from 36 centres, representative of all regions of Spain. Patients had attended out-patient clinics from July 2002 to August 2003, had an absolute cardiovascular risk > or =20% at 10 years (according to the Framingham guidelines), and had a diagnosis of hypertension. Pregnant and terminally ill patients were excluded.

RESULTS

Hypertension was inadequately controlled in 1384 patients (62.8%). LDL cholesterol was higher in patients with uncontrolled hypertension (median 130.2 vs. 120.0 mg/dl, p < 0.001). Haemoglobin A(1c) in diabetic patients was also greater in those with uncontrolled hypertension (median 7.10% vs. 6.90%, p = 0.010). Uncontrolled hypertension was associated with the following variables, in descending strength of association: higher LDL cholesterol, taking antihypertensive medication, living in non-metropolitan areas, and higher body mass index.

DISCUSSION

Hypertension is poorly controlled in most patients with a high risk of cardiovascular disease. Uncontrolled hypertension is frequently associated with poor control of other risk factors.

[Calcium pump changes in patients with essential arterial hypertension]

BACKGROUND

Transmembrane Ca2+ fluxes are mediated, at least in part, by the Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase. Thus, genetic or acquired abnormalities of this pump could explain the increase in free cytosolic Ca2+ content that has been observed in essential hypertensive patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We carried out a kinetic study of the Ca2+ pump in intact erythrocytes from 49 essential hypertensive patients and 27 normotensive healthy persons. We used Sr2+ as a calcium analogue to measure Ca2+ fluxes dependent of the Ca2+ pump. The intracellular concentrations of Sr2+ and Ca2+ were modified using the A-23187 ionophore in a Ringer isotonic solution.

RESULTS

Hypertensive patients showed a significant increase of the maximal efflux rate for Sr2+ (Vmax) with respect to controls (6.6 [2.3] vs 5.2 [1.6] mmol/l cel/h; p = 0.006). Mean values of apparent dissociation constants for intracellular Ca2+ (KCa) were also increased in essential hypertensives (80.36 [53.46] vs 55.25 [15.13] mumol/l cel; p = 0.06). A significant correlation between Vmax and age (r = 0.342; p = 0.016), and serum creatinine (r = 0.446; p = 0.001) was observed. The KCa only correlated with serum creatinine (r = 0.402; p = 0.004). Using the KCa confidence interval of 99% as the higher normal limit, patients were segregated into two subgroups depending on normal KCa values (33 patients, 67.3%) or increased KCa values (16 patients, 32.6%). Age (50.8 [13.5] vs 43 [10.2] years; p = 0.02), serum creatinine (1.13 [0.17] vs 0.95 [0.17] mg/dl; p = 0.001) and serum uric acid (7.27 [3.32] vs 6.14 [1.49] mg/dl; p = 0.04) were higher in patients with increased KCa. Finally, patients with increased KCa also showed increased values of Vmax (9.13 [2.02] vs 5.38 [12.81] mmol/l cel/h; p < 0.0001).

CONCLUSIONS

Essential hypertensive patients are heterogeneous regarding ion transport abnormalities, only affecting subgroups of hypertensive patients. We have observed abnormalities of the Ca(2+)-dependent ATPase in 33% of essential hypertensive patients. These patients are older and tend to exhibit higher values of serum creatinine and uric acid.

Long-acting lacidipine versus short-acting nifedipine in the treatment of asymptomatic acute blood pressure increase

We compared antihypertensive efficacy and safety of a single administration of equipotent doses of lacidipine versus nifedipine in the hypertensive urgencies. Twenty-nine asymptomatic essential hypertensive patients (nine men, 20 women) with a mean age of 55.03+/-11.19 years and baseline diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of > or =120 mm Hg after resting 30 min, not taking antihypertensive drugs for the last 24 h, were randomized in a single-blind fashion to receive lacidipine, 4 mg (LCD, 15 patients) or short-acting nifedipine, 20 mg (NFD, 14 patients) in a single dose. Blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) were taken every 30 min during the first 8 h and every 2 h until 24 h of follow-up. Baseline BP values were similar in the two groups (LCD, 222.5+/-32.8/124.6+/-8.4 mm Hg vs. NFD, 215.9+/-20.6/128+/-7.7 mm Hg; p = NS). Both drugs promoted a significant reduction of systolic blood pressure (SBP; 169.6+/-27.8 vs. 170.6+/-25.3 mm Hg) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP; 104.1+/-16 vs. 102.9+/-12.4 mm Hg) after 8 h. However, either SBP (165+/-27.3 vs. 190.6+/-18.2 mm Hg; p = 0.008) and DBP (99.9+/-12.3 vs. 117.2+/-11.4 mm Hg; p = 0.001) were significantly higher in the NFD group after 24-h dosing. Eleven patients in the LCD group had a decrease in BP >25% of the baseline value both 8 and 24 h after the dose. Although 10 patients showed the same response in the NFD group 8 h after the dose, only four patients maintained these values at 24 h. One patient treated with NFD had a transient cerebrovascular ischemic attack. No adverse effects were observed in the LCD group. We conclude that the long-acting calcium antagonist lacidipine was more effective than the short-acting nifedipine in both controlling BP and maintaining this BP reduction over 8 h in essential hypertensive patients with acute asymptomatic BP increase.

Trough-to-peak ratio and circadian blood pressure profile after treatment with once-daily extended-release diltiazem, 240 mg, in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension

Once-daily diltiazem extended-release 240 mg (Lacerol-HTA Retard) was evaluated for safety, efficacy, and trough-to-peak ratio in a multicenter open study by using 24-h blood pressure (BP) monitoring in mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. After a 4-week washout period, 30 patients (17 men, 13 women) aged 25-76 years, showing a mean daytime diastolic BP (DBP) >90 mm Hg, were treated with diltiazem-ER, 240 mg, given once daily for 8 weeks. Ambulatory BP monitoring was obtained at the end of a 4-week placebo run-in period and during the last week of treatment. A significant reduction of the mean values of clinical BP [161.6 +/- 16.2 to 151.2 +/- 15.6 mm Hg; p < 0.01 for systolic BP (SBP); and 101.1 +/- 4.8 to 93.3 +/- 9.2 mm Hg; p < 0.001 for DBP] was observed at the end of treatment in the group of 30 patients, with no significant changes in heart rate (77.1 +/- 9.9 to 73.1 +/- 11.1 beats/min; p = NS). Likewise, mean values of 24-h SBP, DBP, SBP-load, and DBP-load were significantly reduced. In the group of 21 responders, the average reduction at peak was -18.6 +/- 12.9 mm Hg for SBP and -14.7 +/- 9.5 mm Hg for DBP. The residual effect at trough was -12.2 +/- 14.7 and -8.1 +/- 10 mm Hg, respectively. The trough-to-peak ratio was estimated as 0.66 for SBP and 0.55 for DBP. Long-term variability expressed as the mean standard deviation of BP for the 24-h period was reduced in responders (16.2 +/- 4.3 to 14.6 +/- 2.7 mm Hg for SBP; p = 0.0395; and 12.1 +/- 2.7 to 10.7 +/- 2.5 mm Hg for DBP; p = 0.0019), although no changes were observed in the variation coefficient (10.58-10.57% for SBP and 12.88-12.87% for DBP). We conclude that once-daily diltiazem-ER, 240 mg, was effective and well tolerated. Blood pressure was controlled over the entire period of 24 h, preserving the circadian profile and reducing long-term variability in responders. The significant reduction of both BP values and long-term variability may have implications involving protection from end-organ damage in essential hypertension.

A multicenter, parallel comparative study of the antihypertensive efficacy of once-daily lisinopril vs enalapril with 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in essential hypertension

The aim of the study was to compare the antihypertensive efficacy of once-daily lisinopril vs enalapril both during normal daily activity and sleep, in mild-to-moderate essential hypertension. After a 4-week wash-out period, 34 patients (17 M, 17 F) aged 22 to 67 years were randomized in a multicenter, open, parallel fashion: 17 received lisinopril (10-20 mg) and 17 enalapril (10-20 mg) for a 12-week period. Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) was performed using an oscillometric non-invasive automated device at both the end of the 4-week drug-free baseline period and during the last week of treatment. With no differences in initial blood pressure (BP) between groups, both drugs significantly reduced office and ABPM values. Lisinopril tended to reduce BP in a greater extension than enalapril, but only the reduction of office systolic BP (SBP) (p = 0.0062), 24-h SBP load (P = 0.0182) and night time SBP load (P = 0.0316) reached statistical significance. We conclude that, in spite of a more prominent reduction of SBP by lisinopril, both drugs have a similar efficacy in reducing BP, assessed by both office and ABPM measurements.

[Close-of-the-century trends in Mexican urbanization]

"This article reviews the main characteristics of Mexican urban development during the eighties through the study of its spatial-demographic aspects and the changes in the space-sector structure of [the] economy, and suggests a prospect of national urbanization for the nineties.... The main point is to illustrate and explain why the eighties can be considered a milestone in urban development, [introducing] a new trend in Mexican urbanization which will consolidate during the nineties." (SUMMARY IN ENG)

[Intravenous cannulae: complications arising from their use and analysis of their predisposing factors]

BACKGROUND

The aim of this study was to analyze the complications derived from the use of intravenous cannulae with particular attention being paid to the possible predisposing factors.

METHODS

A prospective follow up of 569 intravenous cannulae placed in the emergency department or the medical ward of a county hospital was carried out. 492 of these cannulae were peripheral (PC) and 77 central inserted through peripheral veins (CPVC).

RESULTS

Fifty-one percent of the catheters were withdrawn due to complications with the most frequent being phlebitis (35%), followed by extravasation (11.5%). The mean time in situ was 3.61 +/- 3.2 days. The daily risk of complications ranged from 2 to 9% for the CPVC (non significant differences) and between 15% (day 1) and 30% (6 or more days) for the PC. In the latter case there were no differences in the daily specific rate of complications after the first 24 hours. The probability of a catheter remaining in place more than three and six days without complications was 51% and 31%, respectively for the CP and 91% and 87% for the CPVC (p < 0.0001). Of the variables analyzed, age > 65 years, female sex, insertion of the cannula into the back of the hand, the fact of the route being peripheral without the administration of heparin were significantly associated to the development of complications, while the intravenous administration of aminophillin was associated with the appearance of phlebitis. Thirteen percent of the catheters withdrawn due to phlebitis were infected.

CONCLUSIONS

The complication most frequent observed in intravenous cannulation was phlebitis, an entity which is generally not of an infectious nature. The risk of unspecific complications every day during catheterization is constant in the case of central peripheral vein cannulae as well as in peripheral cannulae which do show problems during the first 24 hours after placement. Insertion of the cannulae into the veins of the back of the hand, female sex, advanced age and intravenous administration of certain drugs influence in the development of phlebitis.

[Prevalence of lipid disorders and their course after blood pressure control in essential arterial hypertension]

BACKGROUND

Arterial hypertension and hyperlipidemia are the principal factors of cardiovascular risk with an association which appears to obey common pathogenic bonds. In the present study the initial prevalence of hypercholesterolemia and hypertriglyceridemia was determined in a sample of essential hypertensives and the long term effect of different antihypertensive treatments on lipid metabolism has been analyzed.

METHODS

Total cholesterol, its LDL and HDL fractions and plasmatic triglycerides were determined in a sample of 158 hypertensive patients prior to the initiation of antihypertensive treatment and following one year of normotension.

RESULTS

The initial prevalence of lipid disturbances was of 47% (isolated hypercholesterolemia 17%, isolated hypertriglyceridemia 14% and mixed anomalies 16%). After one year of tension control the initial prevalence was not modified. In the patients controlled with a low sodium diet a decrease in total cholesterol and an increase in cholesterol-HDL were observed in those treated with atenolol, and a decrease in cholesterol-LDL was seen in those receiving captopril. The group treated with nifedipin presented no significant variations of the lipid profile.

CONCLUSIONS

The prevalence of lipid disturbances is greater among the hypertensive patient than in the general population. The rational treatment of a hypertensive patient must not only regard blood pressure figures but also control the other risk factors since the drugs commonly used in the treatment of arterial hypertension generally demonstrate a neutral effect on lipid metabolism.

Therapeutic response may be predicted by some clinical parameters in essential hypertensive patients

Several clinical parameters have been studied in a sample of 211 essential hypertensives in order to determine their usefulness as predictors of therapeutic response. One hundred and twenty-four patients (58.8%) achieved normotension with monotherapy, whereas 87 hypertensives (41.2%) needed two or more drugs to control their BP values. Patients who required a combination of drugs exhibited higher levels of systolic and diastolic BP, higher frequency of acute severe hypertension before the beginning of treatment, a more advanced stage of hypertension, and higher plasma aldosterone levels when they were compared with those controlled with a single drug. Likewise, previous cardiovascular complications related to hypertension, enlargement of cardiac silhouette on chest x-ray films and left ventricular hypertrophy were more frequent in the former. By means of a logistic regression analysis, these last three parameters showed a significant relationship with the number of required drugs. We conclude that hypertensives exhibiting this clinical profile have a higher probability of requiring a combination of drugs in the pharmacological treatment of essential hypertension.

Prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium pilosum

A case of prosthetic valve endocarditis caused by Corynebacterium pilosum in a 79-year-old woman developed eighty years after aortic valve replacement with bovine pericardium bioprosthesis is described. In spite of the antibiotic therapy she presented an unfavourable course that led to her death.

[Cardiac tamponade as the initial manifestation of a pulmonary neoplasm]

The development of cardiac tamponade as the presenting feature of neoplastic disease is extremely uncommon. We report three patients with lung adenocarcinoma clinically presenting as cardiac tamponade. The diagnosis was made by the cytological study of pericardial fluid in all three. To update the clinical aspects of this uncommon association we have reviewed the literature and we have found 52 additional patients with different types of neoplasia who presented as cardiac tamponade.

[Do clinical parameters exist that permit predicting the need to combine a diuretic with captopril in the initial treatment of essential arterial hypertension?]

In the present work the clinical, biological, radiological, electrocardiographic and hormonal characteristics are analyzed in 51 patients suffering mild essential hypertension, in whom treatment with captopril in monotherapy or associated to chlortalidone managed to normalize arterial pressure and maintained the pressure control during a period of one year. Captopril in monotherapy at a dose of 50 to 150 mg/day normalized blood pressure in 34 patients (66.7%) while in the remaining 17 patients (33.3%) the association of 25 mg of Chlortalidone was required. When comparing the subgroup of patients whose blood pressure levels were controlled with captopril as the only used drug (Group A) against those who required the association with diuretics (Group B), we could only observe significant differences regarding the blood pressure level and cardiothoracic index, being these higher in the group of patients who required pharmacologic association. We conclude that only the severity of hypertension allows to predict the necessity of associating a diuretic to captopril in order to obtain the control of blood pressure levels.

[The clinical profile of hypertensive patients can predict the need for combining a second or third drug with atenolol in the initial treatment of light and moderate essential arterial hypertension]

In this study the clinical, biological, radiologic, electrocardiographic, and hormonal characteristics of 80 patients with slight or moderate essential arterial hypertension in whom the treatment with atenolol alone or associated with chlorthalidone or with a third agent normalized the arterial pressure during a period of one year, are revised. Atenolol given alone at the dose of 50 to 100 mg per day normalized the blood tension in 44 (55%) patients, in 26 cases (32.5%) the association of chlorthalidone 25 mg/day was required, and in the remaining 10 patients (12.5%) a third pharmacologic agent was needed. Patients who required the association of three agents (group C) had systolic arterial pressures significantly higher than those observed in patients treated with atenolol alone (group A) (176.6 +/- 14.3 vs 161.4 +/- 12.9 mmHg, p less than 0.01) and higher to those measured in patients who required the association of chlorthalidone (group B) (176.6 +/- 14.3 vs 162.8 +/- 15 mmHg, p less than 0.05). On the other hand the 44 hypertensive patients controlled with monotherapy showed a lower incidence of cardiovascular complications (6.8% in group A, 38.5% in group B, and 30% in group C, p = 0.0042), they required acute treatment for hypertensive crisis (34.1% in group A, 73.1% in group B, and 66.7% in group C, p = 0.0041), and they showed electrocardiographic signs of left ventricular hypertrophy or overload (26.2% in group A, 60% in group B, and 42.9% in group C, p = 0.0228).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Prevalence, forms of clinical presentation and treatment of arterial hypertension at an emergency unit]

In order to determine the prevalence of arterial hypertension and clinical presentation of the hypertensive crisis, as well as the need and efficacy of treatment, 3626 patients who were seen at an Emergency care Unit during a period of 37 randomly chosen days in a total time period of three months, have been studied. Two hundred and fifty one patients presented arterial hypertension, defined as a systolic arterial pressure above 160 mmHg and/or diastolic above 95 mmHG, which represents 6,92% of medical emergencies and 1.79% of total emergencies. Only 104 patients (2.86%) seeked help for some pathology related to hypertension, of whom 49 (19.5% of hypertense patients) presented as a hypertensive emergency, being the acute lung edema and unstable angina the most frequently encountered emergencies. Nifedipine was the most frequently used drug in both groups and managed to control pressure levels in almost 90% of patients with a hypertensive emergency in a mean time of less than one hour.

[Cushing's disease in a patient with primary empty sella turcica]

Primary empty sella is a neuroanatomical condition which is more common in middle aged obese multiparous females with long-standing hypertension. Usually there are no symptoms, but occasionally nonspecific headache may be present. Hormone studies are commonly normal in these patients, although several functional hypothalamic and pituitary abnormalities have been reported. We report a 64-year-old female with primary empty sella in whom Cushing's disease was diagnosed. The association of both disorders is exceptional.

[Long term mental consequences in children with purulent meningoencephalitis]

Long-term intellectual sequelae were studied in 14 children who suffered purulent meningitis during their first two years of life. A proportion of 50.0% showed an I.Q. under 90 points, but no statistical difference was found when compared with a control group made up with siblings of the patients. The main difference between both groups corresponded to a greater percentage of inadequate development in patients who had suffered meningitis. This disturbance is chiefly related with environmental factors that showed the existence of familial and social integration problems in 86% of children having an I.Q. under 90 points, against only 14% of cases showing an I.Q. above 90 points.