João Gil

The biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea: estimates, patterns, and threats.

The Mediterranean Sea is a marine biodiversity hot spot. Here we combined an extensive literature analysis with expert opinions to update publicly available estimates of major taxa in this marine ecosystem and to revise and update several species lists. We also assessed overall spatial and temporal patterns of species diversity and identified major changes and threats. Our results listed approximately 17,000 marine species occurring in the Mediterranean Sea. However, our estimates of marine diversity are still incomplete as yet—undescribed species will be added in the future. Diversity for microbes is substantially underestimated, and the deep-sea areas and portions of the southern and eastern region are still poorly known. In addition, the invasion of alien species is a crucial factor that will continue to change the biodiversity of the Mediterranean, mainly in its eastern basin that can spread rapidly northwards and westwards due to the warming of the Mediterranean Sea. Spatial patterns showed a general decrease in biodiversity from northwestern to southeastern regions following a gradient of production, with some exceptions and caution due to gaps in our knowledge of the biota along the southern and eastern rims. Biodiversity was also generally higher in coastal areas and continental shelves, and decreases with depth. Temporal trends indicated that overexploitation and habitat loss have been the main human drivers of historical changes in biodiversity. At present, habitat loss and degradation, followed by fishing impacts, pollution, climate change, eutrophication, and the establishment of alien species are the most important threats and affect the greatest number of taxonomic groups. All these impacts are expected to grow in importance in the future, especially climate change and habitat degradation. The spatial identification of hot spots highlighted the ecological importance of most of the western Mediterranean shelves (and in particular, the Strait of Gibraltar and the adjacent Alboran Sea), western African coast, the Adriatic, and the Aegean Sea, which show high concentrations of endangered, threatened, or vulnerable species. The Levantine Basin, severely impacted by the invasion of species, is endangered as well. This abstract has been translated to other languages (File S1).

Inter-population variability and character description in the sponge-associated Haplosyllis spongicola complex (Polychaeta: Syllidae)

Haplosyllis spongicola is probably the most representative symbiotic syllid harboured by sponges and has been widely reported from tropical, subtropical and temperate seas. Its external morphology seems to be very well adapted for its life-style, with all chaetae being simple and having two small teeth and a large main fang. However, the species has been the subject of a long-lasting taxonomic controversy, which gave rise to more than 15 synonymies, with hundreds of records worldwide. The present paper is based on the study of more than 28 populations obtained from around the world. These populations have been carefully analysed using different approaches (morphometry, morphology and biology). As a consequence, the existence of a pseudo-sibling species-complex within the so-called cosmopolitan H. spongicolahas been revealed. The most relevant characters (as well as their variability) that will allow a future identification of the species involved in the complex are fully described, illustrated and analysed.

Portuguese Language Version of the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (13 Items)

Objectives The aim of this study was to translate and adapt the Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia to the Portuguese language and culture [TSK-PT], and validate its use in Portuguese patients with chronic low back pain [CLBP]. Methods The procedures were performed following published international guidelines. Patients with CLBP were recruited to complete the TSK-PT and visual analog scales [VAS] for pain and for confidence in low back movement. A portion of the same patients also completed a second TSK-PT questionnaire after a seven-day interval to establish test-retest reliability. After three months, all of the original patients completed the questionnaire again to assess its responsiveness using standardized effect size and standardized response mean. Results At baseline, 166 patients with chronic LBP completed the series of questionnaire instruments. After an interval of seven days, forty one patients again completed the series of instruments. Three months after baseline, all 166 patients again completed the questionnaire series. The Cronbach alpha of 0.82 indicated good internal consistency of the TSK-PT total score, and the one-week intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.99 indicated exceptional test-retest reliability. A three-factor solution could be found on factorial analysis. There were significant correlations between the TSK-PT total score and both VAS Pain and VAS Confidence scores. The standardized effect size of the TSK-PT was 0.50 and the standardized response mean was 0.67. Conclusions The TSK-PT has proven to be a valid and reliable tool in the assessment of kinesiophobia in patients with CLBP.

Choroidal thickness in diabetic retinopathy assessed with swept-source optical coherence tomography

Purpose: To compare the choroidal thickness (CT) of diabetic eyes (different stages of disease) with controls, using swept-source optical coherence tomography. Methods: A multicenter, prospective, cross-sectional study of diabetic and nondiabetic subjects using swept-source optical coherence tomography imaging. Choroidal thickness maps, according to the nine Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) subfields, were obtained using automated software. Mean CT was calculated as the mean value within the ETDRS grid, and central CT as the mean in the central 1 mm. Diabetic eyes were divided into four groups: no diabetic retinopathy (No DR), nonproliferative DR (NPDR), NPDR with diabetic macular edema (NPDR + DME), and proliferative DR (PDR). Multilevel mixed linear models were performed for analyses. Results: The authors included 50 control and 160 diabetic eyes (n = 27 No DR, n = 51 NPDR, n = 61 NPDR + DME, and n = 21 PDR). Mean CT (ß = −42.9, P = 0.022) and central CT (ß = −50.2, P = 0.013) were statistically significantly thinner in PDR eyes compared with controls, even after adjusting for confounding factors. Controlling for age, DR eyes presented a significantly decreased central CT than diabetic eyes without retinopathy (&bgr; = −36.2, P = 0.009). Conclusion: Swept-source optical coherence tomography demonstrates a significant reduction of CT in PDR compared with controls. In the foveal region, the choroid appears to be thinner in DR eyes than in diabetic eyes without retinopathy.

Human plasma metabolomics in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Purpose To differentiate the plasma metabolomic profile of patients with age related macular degeneration (AMD) from that of controls, by Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Methods Two cohorts (total of 396 subjects) representative of central Portugal and Boston, USA phenotypes were studied. For each cohort, subjects were grouped according to AMD stage (early, intermediate and late). Multivariate analysis of plasma NMR spectra was performed, followed by signal integration and univariate analysis. Results Small changes were detected in the levels of some amino acids, organic acids, dimethyl sulfone and specific lipid moieties, thus providing some biochemical information on the disease. The possible confounding effects of gender, smoking history and age were assessed in each cohort and found to be minimal when compared to that of the disease. A similar observation was noted in relation to age-related comorbidities. Furthermore, partially distinct putative AMD metabolite fingerprints were noted for the two cohorts studied, reflecting the importance of nutritional and other lifestyle habits in determining AMD metabolic response and potential biomarker fingerprints. Notably, some of the metabolite changes detected were noted as potentially differentiating controls from patients diagnosed with early AMD. Conclusion For the first time, this study showed metabolite changes in the plasma of patients with AMD as compared to controls, using NMR. Geographical origins were seen to affect AMD patients´ metabolic profile and some metabolites were found to be valuable in potentially differentiating controls from early stage AMD patients. Metabolomics has the potential of identifying biomarkers for AMD, and further work in this area is warranted.

Measuring the Pain Impact in Adults with a Chronic Pain Condition: Adaptation and Validation of the Pain Impact Questionnaire (PIQ-6) to the Portuguese Culture

OBJECTIVE The aim of this study was to validate the Pain Impact Questionnaire (PIQ-6) for Portuguese adults with a chronic pain condition. DESIGN The Portuguese version was developed through forward-backward translations and a cognitive debriefing with chronic pain patients. A subsequent sample of patients was selected to test the validity and the obtained Portuguese measure. PATIENTS AND SETTING Patients are comprised of a sample of 104 physical therapy patients with chronic pain from four outpatient clinics. OUTCOMES MEASURES Reliability and validity were tested by administering the PIQ-6, the Medical Outcomes Study-12-Item Short Form (SF-12) questionnaire, a numerical rating pain scale, and a form to collect some of the characteristics of the patients. RESULTS After obtaining the semantic and content equivalence, the Portuguese version of PIQ-6 showed good levels of reproducibility (intraclass correlation coefficient between 0.82 and 0.94) and good levels of internal consistency, with Cronbachs alpha of 0.92. The factor analysis confirmed the unidimensionality of the measure (initial eigen-value = 4.29, 71.6%). Construct validity was supported by the correlations obtained with a numerical rating pain scale (rho = 0.705), SF-12 subscales (r = -0.723 and -0.656), and the age of the patients (r = 0.274). CONCLUSION The PIQ-6 proved to be equivalent in both cultures (American/Portuguese), and is useful, reliable, and valid for use in Portugal.

A new species of the genus Terebellides (Polychaeta, Trichobranchidae) from the Iranian coast

Based on specimens collected during several sampling programmes along the Iranian coast, Persian Gulf, a new species of the genus Terebellides (Polychaeta, Trichobranchidae) is herein described as Terebellides persiae spec. nov. The new species is primarily characterised by the presence of a large dorsal thoracic hump in larger specimens and ciliated papillae on the branchial lamellae. The new species is compared with other taxa belonging to Terebellides described or reported with any of both characters. SEM and micro-CT have been used to study T. persiae spec. nov. and provide several new details on external characters and internal organs, respectively. A key for the identification of the species of Terebellides with dorsal hump is provided.

Automated Brightness and Contrast Adjustment of Color Fundus Photographs for the Grading of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose The purpose of this study was to develop an algorithm to automatically standardize the brightness, contrast, and color balance of digital color fundus photographs used to grade AMD and to validate this algorithm by determining the effects of the standardization on image quality and disease grading. Methods Seven-field color photographs of patients (>50 years) with any stage of AMD and a control group were acquired at two study sites, with either the Topcon TRC-50DX or Zeiss FF-450 Plus cameras. Field 2 photographs were analyzed. Pixel brightness values in the red, green, and blue (RGB) color channels were adjusted in custom-built software to make the mean brightness and contrast of the images equal to optimal values determined by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) 2 group. Results Color photographs of 370 eyes were analyzed. We found a wide range of brightness and contrast values in the images at baseline, even for those taken with the same camera. After processing, image brightness variability (brightest image–dimmest image in a color channel) was reduced 69-fold, 62-fold, and 96-fold for the RGB channels. Contrast variability was reduced 6-fold, 8-fold, and 13-fold, respectively, after adjustment. Of the 23% images considered nongradable before adjustment, only 5.7% remained nongradable. Conclusions This automated software enables rapid and accurate standardization of color photographs for AMD grading. Translational Relevance This work offers the potential to be the future of assessing and grading AMD from photos for clinical research and teleimaging.

A new species of Onuphis (Polychaeta: Onuphidae) from Southern Portugal, with comments on the validity of O. pancerii Claparède, 1868.

Onuphis farensis sp. nov. (Annelida, Polychaeta) is described, based on a population inhabiting intertidal sandbanks in the mesotidal coastal lagoon of Ria Formosa (Southern Portugal). It can be distinguished from all other known species within the genus by having bi- and tridentate pseudocompound hooks on the first 4 chaetigers, single filament branchiae from chaetiger 5, and subacicular hooks from chaetiger 9. The species was previously collected in the Bay of Cádiz and Isla Cristina (SW Spain), in a similar habitat to Ria Formosa, but referred to O. geophiliformis Moore, 1903. The taxonomic status of other Onuphis species recorded in the European waters is also discussed. On the whole, O. pancerii Claparède, 1868, described from the Gulf of Naples, has been treated as a junior synonym of O. eremita Audouin & Milne-Edwards, 1833, but taking the more restrictive definition of this species accepted today, should be considered as a valid Mediterranean species. Finally, O. opalina (Verrill, 1873) and O. rullieriana (Amoureux, 1977) may be synonymous, as both species are similar morphologically, occur at similar depths, and have partially overlapping geographical distributions. The different diagnostic characters utilised for the new species are analysed, with the number of chaetigers with postchaetal lobes determined to be a poor taxonomic character for the genus Onuphis, proving to be size-related. A synoptic table with all worldwide species of the genus Onuphis is provided, together with a dichotomic key for the species hitherto recorded in the European and nearby waters.

New records and new species of Magelonidae (Polychaeta) from the Arabian Peninsula, with a re–description of Magelona pacifica and a discussion on the magelonid buccal region

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