Suitability of Phytosterols Alongside Fatty Acids as Chemotaxonomic Biomarkers for Phytoplankton

The composition and abundance of phytoplankton is an important factor defining ecological status of marine and freshwater ecosystems. Chemotaxonomic markers (e.g., pigments and fatty acids) are needed for monitoring changes in a phytoplankton community and to know the nutritional quality of seston for herbivorous zooplankton. Here we investigated the suitability of sterols along with fatty acids as chemotaxonomic markers using multivariate statistics, by analyzing the sterol and fatty acid composition of 10 different phytoplankton classes including altogether 37 strains isolated from freshwater lakes. We were able to detect a total of 47 fatty acids and 29 sterols in our phytoplankton samples, which both differed statistically significantly between phytoplankton classes. Due to the high variation of fatty acid composition among Cyanophyceae, taxonomical differentiation increased when Cyanophyceae were excluded from statistical analysis. Sterol composition was more heterogeneous within class than fatty acids and did not improve separation of phytoplankton classes when used alongside fatty acids. However, we conclude that sterols can provide additional information on the abundance of specific genera within a class which can be generated by using fatty acids. For example, whereas high C-16 omega-3 PUFA (polyunsaturated fatty acid) indicates the presence of Chlorophyceae, a simultaneous high amount of ergosterol could specify the presence of Chlamydomonas spp. (Chlorophyceae). Additionally, we found specific 4 alpha-methyl sterols for distinct Dinophyceae genera, suggesting that 4a-methyl sterols can potentially separate freshwater dinoflagellates from each other.Peer reviewe

Lake zooplankton delta C-13 values are strongly correlated with the delta C-13 values of distinct phytoplankton taxa

Analyses of carbon stable isotopes are often used to estimate the contributions of allochthonous and autochthonous dietary resources to aquatic consumers. Most pelagic food web studies assume that all phytoplankton taxa have a similar delta C-13 value. We studied pelagic food web compartments (dissolved inorganic carbon [DIC], phytoplankton, bacteria, seston, cladoceran zooplankton) in 12 small (<0.1 km(2)) lakes in southern Finland. These lakes were classified as oligotrophic, mesotrophic, eutrophic, and dystrophic based on their concentrations of total phosphorus and dissolved organic carbon. Additionally, we studied phytoplankton photosynthetic carbon fractionation (epsilon(p)) in laboratory conditions. The photosynthetic fractionation in 28 phytoplankton cultures from nine different phytoplankton classes varied significantly at the class level, and fractionation correlated significantly with the DIC concentration of the growth media. In small boreal lakes, the delta C-13 values of different phytoplankton taxa, as directly measured or estimated from the delta C-13 values of biomarker fatty acids, varied greatly (-18 parts per thousand to - 44.5 parts per thousand). Phytoplankton delta C-13 values varied significantly by lake type and were most depleted in dystrophic lakes even though the delta C-13 values of the DIC was similar to mesotrophic lakes. Further within-taxa variation was found between lakes and between different depths within a lake. Vertical samples from dystrophic lakes also showed lower ep in the phytoplankton from meta-and hypolimnion, possibly as a result of reduced light intensity. Altogether, in nine of the 10 sampled lakes, the delta C-13 values of cladoceran zooplankton were between the minimum and the maximum phytoplankton delta C-13 value of each lake, and thus, phytoplankton alone could explain zooplankton delta C-13 values. We conclude that stable isotope mixing models should take into account carbon variation among different phytoplankton taxa.Peer reviewe

Inferring Phytoplankton, Terrestrial Plant and Bacteria Bulk delta C-13 Values from Compound Specific Analyses of Lipids and Fatty Acids

Stable isotope mixing models in aquatic ecology require delta C-13 values for food web end members such as phytoplankton and bacteria, however it is rarely possible to measure these directly. Hence there is a critical need for improved methods for estimating the delta C-13 ratios of phytoplankton, bacteria and terrestrial detritus from within mixed seston. We determined the delta C-13 values of lipids, phospholipids and biomarker fatty acids and used these to calculate isotopic differences compared to the whole-cell delta C-13 values for eight phytoplankton classes, five bacterial taxa, and three types of terrestrial organic matter (two trees and one grass). The lipid content was higher amongst the phytoplankton (9.5 +/- 4.0%) than bacteria (7.3 +/- 0.8%) or terrestrial matter (3.9 +/- 1.7%). Our measurements revealed that the delta C-13 values of lipids followed phylogenetic classification among phytoplankton (78.2% of variance was explained by class), bacteria and terrestrial matter, and there was a strong correlation between the delta C-13 values of total lipids, phospholipids and individual fatty acids. Amongst the phytoplankton, the isotopic difference between biomarker fatty acids and bulk biomass averaged -10.7 +/- 1.1 parts per thousand for Chlorophyceae and Cyanophyceae, and -6.1 +/- 1.7 parts per thousand for Cryptophyceae, Chrysophyceae and Diatomophyceae. For heterotrophic bacteria and for type I and type II methane-oxidizing bacteria our results showed a -1.3 +/- 1.3 parts per thousand, -8.0 +/- 4.4 parts per thousand, and -3.4 +/- 1.4 parts per thousand delta C-13 difference, respectively, between biomarker fatty acids and bulk biomass. For terrestrial matter the isotopic difference averaged -6.6 +/- 1.2 parts per thousand. Based on these results, the delta C-13 values of total lipids and biomarker fatty acids can be used to determine the delta C-13 values of bulk phytoplankton, bacteria or terrestrial matter with +/- 1.4 parts per thousand uncertainty (i.e., the pooled SD of the isotopic difference for all samples). We conclude that when compound-specific stable isotope analyses become more widely available, the determination of delta C-13 values for selected biomarker fatty acids coupled with established isotopic differences, offers a promising way to determine taxa-specific bulk delta C-13 values for the phytoplankton, bacteria, and terrestrial detritus embedded within mixed seston.Peer reviewe

Suositus peruselintoimintojen arvioinnista ja seurannasta

NEWS-pisteytys yhtenäistää ja systematisoi peruselintoimintojen arviointia. Se kannattaa ottaa kattavasti käyttöön ensihoidon alkuarviosta aina kotiutuspäätökseen saakka

Ecosystem responses to increased organic carbon concentration: comparing results based on longterm monitoring and whole-lake experimentation

Recent increases in terrestrial dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentrations in northern inland waters have many ecological consequences. We examined available data on carbon cycles and food webs of 2 boreal headwater lakes in southern Finland. Basic limnology and catchment characteristics of a pristine lake, Valkea-Kotinen (VK), were monitored over the past 25 years while the lake has undergone browning and DOC increased from similar to 11 to 13 mg L-1. Pronounced changes in the early 2000s represent a regime shift in DOC concentration and color. Lake Alinen Mustajarvi (AM) was manipulated for 2 years by additions of labile DOC (cane sugar), raising the DOC concentration from similar to 10 to 12 mg L-1, but not changing light conditions. The 2 different approaches both revealed increased concentrations and efflux of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the lakes and thus net heterotrophy and changes in the pelagic community structure following an increase in DOC concentration. Long-term monitoring of VK revealed a decline in phytoplankton primary production (PP) along with browning, which was reflected in retarded growth of young (1-2-year-old) perch. In the experimentally manipulated lake (AM), PP was not affected, and the growth of young perch was more variable. The results suggested the importance of a pathway from labile DOC via benthic invertebrates to perch. Although provided with this extra resource, the food chain based on DOC proved inefficient. Long-term monitoring and whole-lake experimentation are complementary approaches for revealing how freshwater ecosystems respond to climate and/or atmospheric deposition-induced changes, such as browning.Peer reviewe

Novel effects of the gastrointestinal hormone secretin on cardiac metabolism and renal function

The cardiac benefits of gastrointestinal hormones have been of interest in recent years. The aim of this study was to explore the myocardial and renal effects of the gastrointestinal hormone secretin in the GUTBAT trial (NCT03290846). A placebo-controlled crossover study was conducted on 15 healthy males in fasting conditions, where subjects were blinded to the intervention. Myocardial glucose uptake was measured with [F-18]2-fluoro-2-deoxy-o-glucose ([F-18]FDG) positron emission tomography. Kidney function was measured with [F-18]FDG renal clearance and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). Secretin increased myocardial glucose uptake compared with placebo (secretin vs. placebo, means +/- SD, 15.5 +/- 7.4 vs. 9.7 +/- 4.9 gmol/100 g/min, 95% confidence interval (CI) [2.2, 9.4], P = 0.004). Secretin also increased [F-18]FDG renal clearance (44.5 +/- 5.4 vs. 39.5 8.5 mL/min, 95%CI [1.9, 8.1], P = 0.004), and eGFR was significantly increased from baseline after secretin, compared with placebo (17.8 +/- 9.8 vs. 6.0 +/- 5.2 Delta mL/min/1.73 m(2),( ) 95%CI [6.0, 17.6], P = 0.001). Our results implicate that secretin increases heart work and renal filtration, making it an interesting drug candidate for future studies in heart and kidney failure. NEW & NOTEWORTHY Secretin increases myocardial glucose uptake compared with placebo, supporting a previously proposed inotropic effect. Secretin also increased renal filtration rate.Peer reviewe

Vähähiilisyys ja kiertotalous julkisissa hankinnoissa - Kiihdyttämö –hankkeen tulokset, opit ja kokemukset

Kaupungit ja kunnat ovat keskeisiä toimijoita hiilineutraalin kiertotalouden edistämisessä. Kuntatasolla tehtävät julkiset hankinnat ovat vuodessa lähes 20 miljardia euroa, mikä on kaksi kolmasosaa julkisen sektorin hankinnoista. Julkisten varojen kohdentamisella vähähiilisiin ja kiertotaloutta edistäviin ratkaisuihin voidaan vauhdittaa niiden markkinoita ja hyvien käytäntöjen leviämistä. Kiihdyttämö-hankkeen tavoite oli tuoda vähähiilisyys ja kiertotalous mukaan kuntien hankintoihin erityisesti hankesuunnitteluvaiheessa. Tässä raportissa kuvataan Kiihdyttämön tulokset, opit ja kokemukset siitä, miten kiertotalous ja vähähiilisyys voidaan ottaa keskeisiksi tavoitteiksi jo hankintojen suunnitteluvaiheessa ja kytkeä tavoitteet kilpailutukseen. Raportissa tuodaan esiin tarkasteltujen hankintakohteiden tärkeimmät vähähiilisyys- ja kiertotalousnäkökohdat sekä niiden odotettavissa olevat hyödyt ja tehdään toimenpide-ehdotuksia näiden huomioimiseksi suunnitteluprosessissa. Kiihdyttämössä tarkasteltiin kymmentä hankintakohdetta rakentamisen, liikkumisen ja ruokapalveluiden teemoissa. Lisäksi vauhditettiin kahta yhteishankintaa, sekä edistettiin EUn tarjoamaa ELENA-rahoituksen käyttöä hankintojen valmisteluun. Kiihdyttämön keskeisenä menetelmänä oli toimintatutkimus, jonka puitteissa pidettiin yhteiskehittämiseen pohjautuvia sparraus- ja työpajatilaisuuksia. Parhaat edellytykset vähähiilisyys- ja kiertotalousnäkökohtien huomioimiselle hankintaprosessissa on silloin, kun ne on asetettu tavoitteeksi jo mahdollisimman varhaisessa suunnitteluvaiheessa. Esimerkiksi rakentamisen hankkeissa päälämmitysjärjestelmän valinta osoittautui vähähiilisyyden näkökulmasta merkittäväksi. Jos se oli päätetty jo ennen kilpailutusta, niin hiilijalanjälkeen ei voitu enää kilpailutuksessa merkittävästi vaikuttaa. Myöhäisemmässä vaiheessa voidaan toki vaikuttaa materiaalivalintoihin ja pienentää hiilijalanjälkeä omalla uusiutuvan energian tuotannolla, mutta vain rajallisesti. Hiilijalanjälkilaskentaa käytettiin Kiihdyttämössä osoittamaan eri vaihtoehtojen ympäristövaikutuksia, mutta se ei kuitenkaan ole ainoa kestävyyden mittari. Muuntojoustavuus ja tilatehokkuus ovat kiertotalouden mukaisia tavoitteita ja toteutuessaan pienentävät rakennetun ympäristön päästöjä, vaikka vaikutus ei näkyisikään yksittäisen rakennuksen hiilijalanjälkilaskelmassa. Samoin kiertotalouden resurssitehokkuuden näkökulmasta on tärkeää edistää uusiomateriaalien käyttöä ja säästää neitseellisiä luonnonvaroja, vaikka se ei näkyisikään merkittävänä vaikutuksena rakennuksen hiilijalanjäljessä. Liikennejärjestelmissä on käynnissä useita muutostrendejä. Tavoitteena on lisätä sähkö- ja biokaasukäyttöisten autojen osuutta liikenteessä ja niitä tukevaa latausinfrastruktuuria. Kiihdyttämössä toteutettiin tätä tukevia yhteishankintoja yhdessä KL-Kuntahankintojen kanssa. Lisäksi edistettiin yhteiskäyttöautojen hankintaa, jossa ajatuksena on pienentää kuntien omistamaa autokantaa ja tehostaa kaluston käyttöä. Korttelikilpailutuksessa kiertotalous tuli esiin muun muassa rakentamisen ja liikenteen infrastruktuurin edistämisenä sekä uusien toimintatapojen, palveluiden ja yhteisöllisyyden kehittämisenä. Ruokapalveluiden hankintoihin Kiihdyttämössä kehitettiin hiilijalanjälkilaskuri, jonka avulla ruokapalveluiden päästöt ja hävikin merkitys tehtiin näkyviksi. Laskurin avulla pystytään paremmin tarttumaan konkreettisiin mahdollisuuksiin ruokapalveluiden hiilijalanjäljen pienentämiseksi. Päästölaskuri on avoimesti ladattavissa ja sen avulla kunnat pystyvät arvioimaan hiilineutraalisuustavoitteidensa saavuttamista. Kestävyystavoitteiden läpivienti julkisessa hankinnassa edellyttää paitsi tietoa ja osaamista niin myös toimijoiden sitoutumista monella tasolla. Kuntapäättäjien ja esittelevien virkamiesten ymmärryksen lisääminen elinkaarinäkökulmasta sekä tuki ja sitoutuminen kestävyystavoitteisiin hankkeen eri vaiheissa on ensiarvoisen tärkeää. Tuomalla tutuksi EUn ELENA-rahoitusta ja muita rahoitusmahdollisuuksia, voidaan hankkijoita kannustaa kestäviin hankintoihin. Kiihdyttämön tapauskohtainen asioiden työstäminen hankesuunnitteluvaiheessa koettiin hyödylliseksi erityisesti silloin, kun siihen osallistuvat hankkeen toteutuksen ja päätösten kannalta keskeiset henkilöt yhdessä asiantuntijoiden kanssa

Immunogenicity of subcutaneous TNF inhibitors and its clinical significance in real-life setting in patients with spondyloarthritis

Key messages Considerable proportion of patients with SpA have been immunized to the subcutaneous anti-TNF drug they are using. Concomitant use of MTX protects from immunization, whereas SASP does not. Patients with SpA using subcutaneous anti-TNF drugs can benefit from monitoring of the drug trough levels. Immunization to biological drugs can lead to decreased efficacy and increased risk of adverse effects. The objective of this cross-sectional study was to assess the extent and significance of immunization to subcutaneous tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors in axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) patients in real-life setting. A serum sample was taken 1-2 days before the next drug injection. Drug trough concentrations, anti-drug antibodies (ADAb) and TNF-blocking capacity were measured in 273 patients with axSpA using subcutaneous anti-TNF drugs. The clinical activity of SpA was assessed using the Bath AS Disease Activity Index (BASDAI) and the Maastricht AS Entheses Score (MASES). ADAb were found in 11% of the 273 patients: in 21/99 (21%) of patients who used adalimumab, in 0/83 (0%) of those who used etanercept, in 2/79 (3%) of those who used golimumab and in 6/12 (50%) of those who used certolizumab pegol. Use of methotrexate reduced the risk of formation of ADAb, whereas sulfasalazine did not. Presence of ADAb resulted in decreased drug concentration and reduced TNF-blocking capacity. However, low levels of ADAb had no effect on TNF-blocking capacity and did not correlate with disease activity. The drug trough levels were below the consensus target level in 36% of the patients. High BMI correlated with low drug trough concentration. Patients with low drug trough levels had higher disease activity. The presence of anti-drug antibodies was associated with reduced drug trough levels, and the patients with low drug trough levels had higher disease activity. The drug trough levels were below target level in significant proportion of patients and, thus, measuring the drug concentration and ADAb could help to optimize the treatment in SpA patients.Peer reviewe

Prevalence, associated factors and outcomes of pressure injuries in adult intensive care unit patients: the DecubICUs study

Funder: European Society of Intensive Care Medicine; doi: http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/501100013347Funder: Flemish Society for Critical Care NursesAbstract: Purpose: Intensive care unit (ICU) patients are particularly susceptible to developing pressure injuries. Epidemiologic data is however unavailable. We aimed to provide an international picture of the extent of pressure injuries and factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries in adult ICU patients. Methods: International 1-day point-prevalence study; follow-up for outcome assessment until hospital discharge (maximum 12 weeks). Factors associated with ICU-acquired pressure injury and hospital mortality were assessed by generalised linear mixed-effects regression analysis. Results: Data from 13,254 patients in 1117 ICUs (90 countries) revealed 6747 pressure injuries; 3997 (59.2%) were ICU-acquired. Overall prevalence was 26.6% (95% confidence interval [CI] 25.9–27.3). ICU-acquired prevalence was 16.2% (95% CI 15.6–16.8). Sacrum (37%) and heels (19.5%) were most affected. Factors independently associated with ICU-acquired pressure injuries were older age, male sex, being underweight, emergency surgery, higher Simplified Acute Physiology Score II, Braden score 3 days, comorbidities (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, immunodeficiency), organ support (renal replacement, mechanical ventilation on ICU admission), and being in a low or lower-middle income-economy. Gradually increasing associations with mortality were identified for increasing severity of pressure injury: stage I (odds ratio [OR] 1.5; 95% CI 1.2–1.8), stage II (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.4–1.9), and stage III or worse (OR 2.8; 95% CI 2.3–3.3). Conclusion: Pressure injuries are common in adult ICU patients. ICU-acquired pressure injuries are associated with mainly intrinsic factors and mortality. Optimal care standards, increased awareness, appropriate resource allocation, and further research into optimal prevention are pivotal to tackle this important patient safety threat