Peeping through the deep: Insights to the reproductive strategies of cold water gorgonians in the Azores Archipelago

INTRODUCTION:The mean age at delivery has increased over the latest half of a century. Women of advanced maternal age have increased obstetrical risks and increased risk of chromosomal abnormalities and some other specified diagnoses in the offspring. The aim of this study was to assess the association between maternal age and overall child morbidity according to main diagnosis groups. MATERIAL AND METHODS:We conducted a national cohort study including 352 027 live firstborn singleton children. The children were born between Jan 1994 and Dec 2009 and followed to Dec 2012. Children were divided into groups according to maternal age: 15-24, 25-29, 30-34, and 35+ years. Poisson regression analyses calculated adjusted incidence rate ratios (IRR) of child morbidities according to main diagnoses groups A-Q of the International Classification of Disease 10 with adjustment for year of birth, body mass index, smoking, and mother's level of education. RESULTS:Average follow-up time was 11 years. Compared to children born to women 25-29 years, firstborn children to mothers aged 35+ had higher child morbidity in 8 of 19 main diagnosis groups and firstborn children to mothers 15-24 years had higher child morbidity in 12 of 19 main diagnosis groups. Thus, for a majority of diseases a U-shaped correlation was found, with lowest rates in women 25-29 years. CONCLUSION:Firstborn children to both older and younger mothers have higher overall morbidity as compared to children born by mothers 25-29 years

ІНФОРМАЦІЙНЕ ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ СФЕРИ ОХОРОНИ ЗДОРОВ’Я УКРАЇНИ ПРОДУКЦІЄЮ, ОТРИМАНОЮ ПРИ ВИКОНАННІ НАУКОВИХ РОЗРОБОК УСТАНОВАМИ ГАЛУЗІ У 2014–2016 рр.

Purpose: to investigate the informative providing of sphere of health protection of Ukraine by the products got at implementation of scientific developments establishments of industry in 2014-2016.Materials and Methods. A retrospective analysis of the registers of sectoral innovations, the list of scientific (scientific and technical) products intended for implementation of the achievements of medical science in the sphere of health care, reports of institutions on monitoring the implementation of scientific (scientific and technical) products during 2014-2016 from the moment of its creation has been carried out.Results. Description of innovations after the name of medical (pharmacist) speciality in 2016 showed that high quantitative correlation was on 10 specialities (22.2 % of general amount of the analysed specialities). The new methods of treatment (34.8%) and new methods of diagnostics (28.1%) of general amount of innovations are most offered in 2016.Conclusions. The results of analysis of annual dynamics of offered for introduction in practice of health protection in Ukraine of innovations during 2014–2016 testifies, that after the row of directions of development answer urgent priorities of sphere of health protection.Мета: дослідити інформаційне забезпечення сфери охорони здоров’я України продукцією, отриманою при виконанні наукових розробок установами галузі у 2014–2016 рр.Матеріали і методи. Проведено ретроспективний аналіз реєстрів галузевих нововведень, переліку наукової (науково-технічної) продукції, призначеної для впровадження досягнень медичної науки у сферу охорони здоров’я, звітів установ щодо моніторингу впровадження наукової (науково-технічної) продукції протягом 2014–2016 років з моменту її створення.Результати. За період 2014–2016 рр. переважну більшість нововведень для впровадження у сферу охорони здоров’я було запропоновано ВМНЗ галузі. Кваліметрична характеристика нововведень за назвою лікарської (провізорської) спеціальності у 2016 р. показала, що високе кількісне співвідношення припадає на 10 спеціальностей (22,2 % від загальної кількості проаналізованих спеціальностей). Найбільше запропоновано у 2016 р. нові способи лікування (34,8 %) та нові способи діагностики (28,1 %) серед загальної кількості нововведень.Висновки. Результати аналізу щорічної динаміки запропонованих для впровадження в практику охорони здоров’я України інновацій протягом 2014–2016 рр. свідчить, що за рядом напрямів розробки відповідають нагальним пріоритетам сфери охорони здоров’я

МОНІТОРИНГ ОСНОВНИХ ЗАСОБІВ ІННОВАЦІЙНОГО ЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ У СФЕРІ ОХОРОНИ ЗДОРОВ᾽Я УКРАЇНИ У 2017 р.

Purpose: to monitor of the main means of innovation support in the field of health protection of Ukraine in 2017.Materials and Methods. The main means of innovative support in the field of health protection of Ukraine, developed in 2017, have been analyzed. The methods of expert evaluation, statistical, systemic, structural-logical and cluster analysis are applied.Results. A retrospective analysis of the main means of innovative support in the field of health care in Ukraine in 2017 showed that during this period the methodological recommendations and informational letters were the most developed by the institutions of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine – 83.74 % and 80.95 % respectively. Institutions-developers paid the greatest attention to the problems “Pharmacology. Pharmacy. Clinical Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacy. Organization and Management of Pharmacy” and “Dentistry”. During the mentioned period, the scientists had the smallest number of methodological recommendations, as well as information letters on medical directions “Medical genetics”, “Trial medicine” and “Urology”.Conclusions. To increase the health of the population and improve the quality of its medical care, it is necessary to develop more means of scientific communication with their further introduction into the practical activities of health facilities.Мета: провести моніторинг основних засобів інноваційного забезпечення у сфері охорони здоров’я України у 2017 р.Матеріали і методи. Проаналізовано основні засоби інноваційного забезпечення у сфері охорони здоров’я України, розроблені у 2017 р. Застосовано методи експертної оцінки, статистичного, системного, структурно-логічного та кластерного аналізу.Результати. Ретроспективний аналіз основних засобів інноваційного забезпечення у сфері охорони здоров’я України у 2017 р. показав, що за даний період найбільше було розроблено методичних рекомендацій та інформаційних листів установами МОЗ України – 83,74 % та 80,95 % відповідно. Установи-розробники найбільшу увагу приділяли проблемам «Фармакологія. Фармація. Клінічна фармакологія і клінічна фармація. Організація і управління фармацією» та «Стоматологія». За вказаний період науковцями було запропоновано найменшу кількість як методичних рекомендацій, так й інформаційних листів за медичними напрямами «Медична генетика», «Судова медицина» та «Урологія».Висновки. Для підвищення рівня здоров᾽я населення та покращення якості його медичного обслуговування необхідно розробляти більше засобів наукової комунікації з подальшим їх впровадженням у практичну діяльність закладів охорони здоров᾽я

Hypocrates is a genetically encoded fluorescent biosensor for (pseudo)hypohalous acids and their derivatives

The lack of tools to monitor the dynamics of (pseudo)hypohalous acids in live cells and tissues hinders a better understanding of inflammatory processes. Here we present a fluorescent genetically encoded biosensor, Hypocrates, for the visualization of (pseudo)hypohalous acids and their derivatives. Hypocrates consists of a circularly permuted yellow fluorescent protein integrated into the structure of the transcription repressor NemR from Escherichia coli. We show that Hypocrates is ratiometric, reversible, and responds to its analytes in the 106 M-1s-1 range. Solving the Hypocrates X-ray structure provided insights into its sensing mechanism, allowing determination of the spatial organization in this circularly permuted fluorescent protein-based redox probe. We exemplify its applicability by imaging hypohalous stress in bacteria phagocytosed by primary neutrophils. Finally, we demonstrate that Hypocrates can be utilized in combination with HyPerRed for the simultaneous visualization of (pseudo)hypohalous acids and hydrogen peroxide dynamics in a zebrafish tail fin injury model

Biodiversity and benthic megafaunal communities inhabiting the Formigas Bank (NE Azores)

The Formigas Bank is an offshore seamount located in the easternmost part of the Azores archipelago (northeast Atlantic). It rises from abyssal depths to the surface, including a small set of islets. The bank holds multiple nature conservation designations, including a Natura 2000 Special Area of Conservation, an OSPAR Marine Protected Area, a RAMSAR site and a Nature Reserve declared under the Azores network of protected areas. The protection is based on the presence of sublittoral biotopes of high conservation interest, and importance as feeding grounds, spawning and nursery areas for many marine species, including fish, cetaceans and turtles. Although some information exists on the sublittoral communities occurring on the seamount summit (e.g., infralittoral Cystoseira and Laminaria beds, circalittoral hydrarian and sponge gardens, rich pelagic fauna), virtually no information was available on the deep-sea communities inhabiting the seamount flanks. Therefore, during the MEDWAVES cruise, the flanks of the Formigas bank have been surveyed using multibeam sonar, an ROV and oceanographic profiles, with the objective to characterise deep-sea biodiversity and megafaunal communities as well as the environment where they occur. This communication will present results from the video annotations of the ten dives made on the seamount slopes between ~500m and ~1,500 m depth. Diverse communities of sedentary suspension-feeding organisms were observed, with more than 20 cold-water coral species (mainly octocorals) being recorded, as well as many different sponge morphotypes. Dense coral garden habitats and sponge grounds were identified on several occasions, confirming the presence of vulnerable marine ecosystems (VMEs) and of ecologically or biologically significant areas (EBSAs). Differences in the abundance and composition of these habitats between the northern and southern dive transects are interpreted as reflecting substrate and geomorphological differences, as well as the potential influence of the Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW). The new knowledge on deep-sea megafaunal communities reinforces the importance of this seamount as an area of high conservation interest

Red fluorescent genetically encoded indicator for intracellular hydrogen peroxide

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are conserved regulators of numerous cellular functions, and overproduction of ROS is a hallmark of various pathological processes. Genetically encoded fluorescent probes are unique tools to study ROS production in living systems of different scale and complexity. However, the currently available recombinant redox sensors have green emission, which overlaps with the spectra of many other probes. Expanding the spectral range of recombinant in vivo ROS probes would enable multiparametric in vivo ROS detection. Here we present the first genetically encoded red fluorescent sensor for hydrogen peroxide detection, HyPerRed. The performance of this sensor is similar to its green analogues. We demonstrate the utility of the sensor by tracing low concentrations of H2O2 produced in the cytoplasm of cultured cells upon growth factor stimulation. Moreover, using HyPerRed we detect local and transient H2O2 production in the mitochondrial matrix upon inhibition of the endoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+) uptake

Where Is More Important Than How in Coastal and Marine Ecosystems Restoration

Restoration is considered an effective strategy to accelerate the recovery of biological communities at local scale. However, the effects of restoration actions in the marine ecosystems are still unpredictable. We performed a global analysis of published literature to identify the factors increasing the probability of restoration success in coastal and marine systems. Our results confirm that the majority of active restoration initiatives are still concentrated in the northern hemisphere and that most of information gathered from restoration efforts derives from a relatively small subset of species. The analysis also indicates that many studies are still experimental in nature, covering small spatial and temporal scales. Despite the limits of assessing restoration effectiveness in absence of a standardized definition of success, the context (degree of human impact, ecosystem type, habitat) of where the restoration activity is undertaken is of greater relevance to a successful outcome than how (method) the restoration is carried out. Contrary to expectations, we found that restoration is not necessarily more successful closer to protected areas (PA) and in areas of moderate human impact. This result can be motivated by the limits in assessing the success of interventions and by the tendency of selecting areas in more obvious need of restoration, where the potential of actively restoring a degraded site is more evident. Restoration sites prioritization considering human uses and conservation status present in the region is of vital importance to obtain the intended outcomes and galvanize further actions

Fucans, but Not Fucomannoglucuronans, Determine the Biological Activities of Sulfated Polysaccharides from Laminaria saccharina Brown Seaweed

Sulfated polysaccharides from Laminaria saccharina (new name: Saccharina latissima) brown seaweed show promising activity for the treatment of inflammation, thrombosis, and cancer; yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these properties remain poorly understood. The aim of this work was to characterize, using in vitro and in vivo strategies, the anti-inflammatory, anti-coagulant, anti-angiogenic, and anti-tumor activities of two main sulfated polysaccharide fractions obtained from L. saccharina: a) L.s.-1.0 fraction mainly consisting of O-sulfated mannoglucuronofucans and b) L.s.-1.25 fraction mainly composed of sulfated fucans. Both fractions inhibited leukocyte recruitment in a model of inflammation in rats, although L.s.-1.25 appeared to be more active than L.s.-1.0. Also, these fractions inhibited neutrophil adhesion to platelets under flow. Only fraction L.s.-1.25, but not L.s.-1.0, displayed anticoagulant activity as measured by the activated partial thromboplastin time. Investigation of these fractions in angiogenesis settings revealed that only L.s.-1.25 strongly inhibited fetal bovine serum (FBS) induced in vitro tubulogenesis. This effect correlated with a reduction in plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels in L.s.-1.25-treated endothelial cells. Furthermore, only parent sulfated polysaccharides from L. saccharina (L.s.-P) and its fraction L.s.-1.25 were powerful inhibitors of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induced pathways. Consistently, the L.s.-1.25 fraction as well as L.s.-P successfully interfered with fibroblast binding to human bFGF. The incorporation of L.s.-P or L.s.-1.25, but not L.s.-1.0 into Matrigel plugs containing melanoma cells induced a significant reduction in hemoglobin content as well in the frequency of tumor-associated blood vessels. Moreover, i.p. administrations of L.s.-1.25, as well as L.s.-P, but not L.s.-1.0, resulted in a significant reduction of tumor growth when inoculated into syngeneic mice. Finally, L.s.-1.25 markedly inhibited breast cancer cell adhesion to human platelet-coated surfaces. Thus, sulfated fucans are mainly responsible for the anti-inflammatory, anticoagulant, antiangiogenic, and antitumor activities of sulfated polysaccharides from L. saccharina brown seaweed

Vulnerable marine ecosystems and biological features of Gazul mud volcano (Gulf of Cádiz): A contribution towards a potential "Gulf of Cádiz" EBSA

The Gulf of Cádiz (GoC) represents an area of socioeconomic and scientific importance for oceanographic, geological and biological processes. An interesting feature of the GoC is the presence of a large amount of mud volcanoes (MVs) and diapirs that display different seepage, seabed types, oceanographic settings and biological communities. Detailed exploration of some MVs is still needed for detecting Vulnerable Marine ecosystems (VMEs) that seem to be rare in other areas of the GoC, improving the current knowledge on its biodiversity and ecological attributes. During different expeditions (MEDWAVES-ATLAS, INDEMARES-CHICA 0610 & 0412 and ISUNEPCA 0616) carried out in different years, biological samples and videos were obtained in Gazul MV (Spanish Margin of the GoC). The study of those samples and videos has revealed the presence of several ecologically important VMEs (e.g. 3 species of reef framework-forming corals, coral gardens including solitary scleractinians, gorgonians and antipatharians, as well as deep-sea sponge aggregations and chemosynthesis-related structures) and a large number of species occurring in this MV, including new records for the European margin, threatened species and non-previously described species. The combination of different environmental and anthropogenic factors allowed the present-day persistence of these VMEs in the GoC. Some of Gazul MV biological and ecological attributes fit several criteria of the Convention on Biological Diversity for EBSA description (e.g. 1,3,4,6) that, together with those of other areas of the GoC, may contribute to the future potential nomination of an EBSA in this area of the NE Atlantic

Monoclonal antibodies directed to fucoidan preparations from brown algae

Cell walls of the brown algae contain a diverse range of polysaccharides with useful bioactivities. The precise structures of the sulfated fucan/fucoidan group of polysaccharides and their roles in generating cell wall architectures and cell properties are not known in detail. Four rat monoclonal antibodies, BAM1 to BAM4, directed to sulfated fucan preparations, have been generated and used to dissect the heterogeneity of brown algal cell wall polysaccharides. BAM1 and BAM4, respectively, bind to a non-sulfated epitope and a sulfated epitope present in the sulfated fucan preparations. BAM2 and BAM3 identified additional distinct epitopes present in the fucoidan preparations. All four epitopes, not yet fully characterised, occur widely within the major brown algal taxonomic groups and show divergent distribution patterns in tissues. The analysis of cell wall extractions and fluorescence imaging reveal differences in the occurrence of the BAM1 to BAM4 epitopes in various tissues of Fucus vesiculosus. In Ectocarpus subulatus, a species closely related to the brown algal model Ectocarpus siliculosus, the BAM4 sulfated epitope was modulated in relation to salinity levels. This new set of monoclonal antibodies will be useful for the dissection of the highly complex and yet poorly resolved sulfated polysaccharides in the brown algae in relation to their ecological and economic significance