Pompeu Fabra University

About: Pompeu Fabra University is a education organization based out in Barcelona, Spain. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Gene. The organization has 8093 authors who have published 23570 publications receiving 858431 citations. The organization is also known as: Universitat Pompeu Fabra & UPF.

Cerebrospinal fluid chitinase 3-like 1 levels are associated with conversion to multiple sclerosis

Abstract: In most patients with multiple sclerosis, the disease initiates with a first attack or clinically isolated syndrome. At this phase, magnetic resonance imaging is an important predictor of conversion to multiple sclerosis. With the exception of oligoclonal bands, the role of other biomarkers in patients with clinically isolated syndrome is controversial. In the present study, we aimed to identify proteins associated with conversion to multiple sclerosis in patients with clinically isolated syndrome. We applied a mass spectrometry-based proteomic approach (isobaric labelling) to previously collected pooled cerebrospinal fluid samples from patients with clinically isolated syndrome, who subsequently converted to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (n=30) and patients who remained as having clinically isolated syndrome (n=30). Next, three of the most represented differentially expressed proteins, i.e. ceruloplasmin, vitamin D-binding protein and chitinase 3-like 1 were selected for validation in individual cerebrospinal fluid samples by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Only chitinase 3-like 1 was validated and cerebrospinal fluid levels were increased in patients who converted to clinically definite multiple sclerosis compared with patients who continued as clinically isolated syndrome (P=0.00002) and controls (P=0.012). High cerebrospinal fluid levels of chitinase 3-like 1 significantly correlated with the number of gadolinium enhancing lesions and the number of T2 lesions observed in brain magnetic resonance imaging scans performed at baseline, and were associated with disability progression during follow-up and shorter time to clinically definite multiple sclerosis (log-rank P-value=0.003). Cerebrospinal fluid chitinase 3-like 1 levels were also measured in a second validation clinically isolated syndrome cohort and found to be increased in patients who converted to multiple sclerosis compared with patients who remained as having clinically isolated syndrome (P=0.018). Our results indicate that patients who will convert to clinically definite multiple sclerosis could be distinguished from those patients who will remain as clinically isolated syndrome by proteomic analysis of cerebrospinal fluid samples. Although protein levels are also increased in other disorders characterized by chronic inflammation, chitinase 3-like 1 may serve as a prognostic biomarker for conversion to multiple sclerosis and development of disability which may help to improve the understanding of the aetiopathogenesis in the early stages of multiple sclerosis.

Neandertal and Denisovan DNA from Pleistocene sediments

Abstract: Although a rich record of Pleistocene human-associated archaeological assemblages exists, the scarcity of hominin fossils often impedes the understanding of which hominins occupied a site. Using targeted enrichment of mitochondrial DNA, we show that cave sediments represent a rich source of ancient mammalian DNA that often includes traces of hominin DNA, even at sites and in layers where no hominin remains have been discovered. By automation-assisted screening of numerous sediment samples, we detected Neandertal DNA in eight archaeological layers from four caves in Eurasia. In Denisova Cave, we retrieved Denisovan DNA in a Middle Pleistocene layer near the bottom of the stratigraphy. Our work opens the possibility of detecting the presence of hominin groups at sites and in areas where no skeletal remains are found.

The Diffusion of Regulatory Capitalism in Latin America: Sectoral and National Channels in the Making of a New Order

Abstract: This article analyzes the sweeping restructuring of the state in Latin America and the consequent institutionalization of a new regulatory order. The analysis is grounded in an original database that covers the creation of regulatory agencies and their reform in nineteen countries and twelve sectors over the period from 1979 to 2002. The authors’ data capture both the national and the sectoral patterns of the rise of the new order, and the authors distinguish between (1) national patterns of diffusion, whereby the number of prior regulatory authorities within a country determines the probability of the establishment of new authorities in that country; and (2) sectoral patterns of diffusion, whereby the number of prior regulatory authority in the same sector in other countries determines the probability of the establishment of new regulatory authority in that sector. The results coincide with a growing body of literature that emphasizes the role of contagious diffusion and shed some new light on sectoral a...

Models of user engagement

Abstract: Our research goal is to provide a better understanding of how users engage with online services, and how to measure this engagement. We should not speak of one main approach to measure user engagement --- e.g. through one fixed set of metrics --- because engagement depends on the online services at hand. Instead, we should be talking of models of user engagement. As a first step, we analysed a number of online services, and show that it is possible to derive effectively simple models of user engagement, for example, accounting for user types and temporal aspects. This paper provides initial insights into engagement patterns, allowing for a better understanding of the important characteristics of how users repeatedly interact with a service or group of services.

Maternal body mass index, gestational weight gain and the risk of overweight and obesity across childhood: An individual participant data meta-analysis

Abstract: Background: Maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain may have persistent effects on offspring fat development. However, it remains unclear whether these risks differ by severity of obesity, and whether these effects are restricted to the extremes of maternal body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain. We aimed to assess the separate and combined associations of maternal BMI and gestational weight gain with the risk of overweight/obesity throughout childhood, and their population impact. Methods and Findings: We conducted an individual participant data meta-analysis of data from 162,129 mothers and children from 37 pregnancy and birth cohort studies from Europe, North-America and Australia. We assessed the individual and combined associations of maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain, both in clinical categories and across their full ranges with the risks of overweight/obesity in early- (2.0-5.0 years), mid- (5.0-10.0 years) and late childhood (10.0-18.0 years), using multilevel binary logistic regression models with a random intercept at cohort level adjusted for maternal socio-demographic and life style related characteristics. We observed that a higher maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain both in clinical categories and across their full ranges were associated with higher risks of childhood overweight/obesity, with the strongest effects in late childhood (Odds Ratios (OR) for overweight/obesity in early-, mid- and late childhood, respectively: 1.66 (95% Confidence Interval (CI): 1.56, 1.78), OR 1.91 (95% CI: 1.85, 1.98), and OR 2.28 (95% CI: 2.08, 2.50) for maternal overweight, OR 2.43 (95% CI: 2.24, 2.64), OR 3.12 (95% CI: 2.98, 3.27), and OR 4.47 (95% CI: 3.99, 5.23) for maternal obesity, and OR 1.39 (95% CI: 1.30, 1.49), OR 1.55 (95% CI: 1.49, 1.60), and 1.72 (95% CI: 1.56, 1.91) for excessive gestational weight gain. The proportions of childhood overweight/obesity prevalence attributable to maternal overweight, maternal obesity and excessive gestational weight gain ranged from 10.2 to 21.6%. Relative to the effect of maternal BMI, excessive gestational weight gain only slightly increased the risk of childhood overweight/obesity within each clinical BMI category (P-values for interactions of maternal BMI with gestational weight gain: p=0.038, p<0.001 and p=0.637, in early-, mid- and late childhood, respectively). Limitations of this study include the self-report of maternal BMI and gestational weight gain for some of the cohorts, and the potential of residual confounding. Also, as this study only included participants from Europe, North-America and Australia, results need to be interpreted with caution with respect to other populations. Conclusions: In this study, higher maternal pre-pregnancy BMI and gestational weight gain were associated with an increased risk of childhood overweight/obesity, with the strongest effects at later ages. The additional effect of gestational weight gain in women who are overweight or obese before pregnancy is small. Given the large population impact, future intervention trials aiming to reduce the prevalence of childhood overweight and obesity should focus on maternal weight status before pregnancy, in addition to weight gain during pregnancy.