The uneven spatial distribution of biodiversity is a defining feature of nature. In fact, the implementation of conservation actions both locally and globally has progressively been guided by the iden Show more
The uneven spatial distribution of biodiversity is a defining feature of nature. In fact, the implementation of conservation actions both locally and globally has progressively been guided by the identification of biodiversity 'hotspots' (areas with exceptional biodiversity). However, different regions of the world differ drastically in the availability of fine-scale data on the diversity and distribution of species, thus limiting the potential to assess their local environmental priorities. Within South America-a megadiverse continent-Uruguay represents a peculiar area where multiple tropical and non-tropical eco-regions converge, creating highly heterogeneous ecosystems, but where the systematic quantification of biodiversity remains largely anecdotal. To investigate the constraints posed by the limited access to biodiversity data, we employ the most comprehensive database for tetrapod vertebrates in Uruguay (spanning 664 species) assembled to date, to identify hotspots of species-richness, endemism and threatened species for the first time. Our results reveal negligible spatial congruence among biodiversity hotspots, and that tetrapod sampling has historically concentrated in only a few areas. Collectively, our study provides a detailed account of the areas where urgent biodiversity monitoring efforts are needed to develop more accurate knowledge on biodiversity patterns, offering government and environmental bodies a critical scientific resource for future planning. Show less
High-risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been recently identified as risk factors for ischemic heart disease in large epidemiological and genome-wide association studies. However, their i Show more
High-risk single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) have been recently identified as risk factors for ischemic heart disease in large epidemiological and genome-wide association studies. However, their influence on prognosis remains uncertain. The aim of the study was to investigate the impact of previously identified SNPs and their joint effects in a genetic score (GS) on Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACEs). High-throughput genotyping for 48 high-risk SNPs was performed in 498 patients (432 males; 57.4 ± 8.3 years) who were followed-up for 6.9 ± 3.4 years. First MACE-coronary-related death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, or myocardial revascularization- was the endpoint taken into consideration. A GS was obtained by summing the number of significant high-risk alleles associated to MACEs. One-hundred and nineteen patients (24%) had a MACE. The hazard ratio (HR) for SNPs with a significant difference in cumulative survival were: APOC3 -482C > T (HR = 1.7, 95% CI 1.01-3.0), MTHFR (HR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.02-2.2), NADHPH oxidase- p22-PHOX C242T (HR = 1.9, 95% CI 1.2-2.8), PON-2 (HR = 0.2, 95% CI 0.1-0.8), and SELP (HR = 0.6, 95% CI 0.4-0.8). The resulting GS predicted a 25% risk for MACEs per risk allele (HR = 1.25, 95% CI 1.1-1.4, p = 0.001). The highest HR for MACEs was found in patients in the top tertile (HR = 3.0, 95% CI 1.4-6.7, p = 0.0005) of the GS compared with those in the bottom tertile. Our findings show that high-risk SNPs may be used to create a useful GS that predicts MACEs in a secondary prevention setting, which in turn allows a better risk stratification. Show less