A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism in the RASGRF2 Gene Is Associated with Alcoholic Liver Cirrhosis in Men

Background Genetic polymorphisms in the RAS gene family are associated with different diseases, which may include alcohol-related disorders. Previous studies showed an association of the allelic variant rs26907 in RASGRF2 gene with higher alcohol intake. Additionally, the rs61764370 polymorphism in the KRAS gene is located in a binding site for the let-7 micro-RNA family, which is potentially involved in alcohol-induced inflammation. Therefore, this study was designed to explore the association between these two polymorphisms and susceptibility to alcoholism or alcoholic liver disease (ALD). Methods We enrolled 301 male alcoholic patients and 156 healthy male volunteers in this study. Polymorphisms were genotyped by using TaqMan® PCR assays for allelic discrimination. Allelic and genotypic frequencies were compared between the two groups. Logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the inheritance model. Results The A allele of the RASGRF2 polymorphism (rs26907) was significantly more prevalent among alcoholic patients with cirrhosis (23.2%) compared to alcoholic patients without ALD (14.2%). This difference remained significant in the group of patients with alcohol dependence (28.8% vs. 14.3%) but not in those with alcohol abuse (15.1% vs. 14.4%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that the A allele of this polymorphism (AA or GA genotype) was associated with alcoholic cirrhosis both in the total group of alcoholics (odds ratio [OR]: 2.33, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.32–4.11; P = 0.002) and in the group of patients with alcohol dependence (OR: 3.1, 95% CI: 1.50–6.20; P = 0.001). Allelic distributions of the KRAS polymorphism (rs61764370) did not differ between the groups. Conclusions To our knowledge, this genetic association study represents the first to show an association of the RASGRF2 G>A (rs26907) polymorphism with ALD in men, particularly in the subgroup of patients with AD. The findings suggest the potential relevance of the RAS gene family in alcoholism and ALD

The role of rice fields and constructed wetlands as a source and a sink of pesticides and contaminants of emerging concern: Full-scale evaluation

Urban, industrial, and agricultural development in river basins has resulted in the pollution of estuarine and coastal ecosystems with a great amount of organic microcontaminants (OMCs) such as pesticides and contaminants of emerging concern (CECs). This study takes the Ebro Delta as a case study to assess the increase or reduction of 25 OMCs in rice fields and one 86 ha constructed wetland (CW). Bentazone and MCPA were the most abundant pesticides in the rice-field drainage water, with a peak concentration of 21,318 and 938 ng/L respectively, whereas the greatest CEC concentrations were found for caffeine, benzotriazoles, and bisphenol A (20–71 ng/L, on average) in the rice irrigation water. Pesticide concentration increased after the irrigation water passed through the rice fields (from 102 to 1973 ng/L, on average), but CECs present in the irrigation water decreased by 37% (from 14 to 10 ng/L, on average). A mass balance study showed that the CW was capable of reducing OMCs by 67%. Risk assessment analysis showed that the cumulative hazard quotient for Daphnia magna, green algae, and fish was greater than 1 during several sampling campaigns for the rice-field drainage water, but the CW was capable of reducing it by 60–63%, resulting in values below 1, which indicates that the risk was not significant. The results thus indicate that rice fields reduce CECs, but increase pesticides, whereas the use of CWs seems to be a feasible nature-based solution to reduce the discharge of OMCs into estuarine and coastal areas

Trophic interactions between native and introduced fish species in a littoral fish community

The trophic interactions between 15 native and two introduced fish species, silverside Odontesthes bonariensis and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss, collected in a major fishery area at Lake Titicaca were explored by integrating traditional ecological knowledge and stable-isotope analyses (SIA). SIA suggested the existence of six trophic groups in this fish community based on δ13C and δ15N signatures. This was supported by ecological evidence illustrating marked spatial segregation between groups, but a similar trophic level for most of the native groups. Based on Bayesian ellipse analyses, niche overlap appeared to occur between small O. bonariensis (<90 mm) and benthopelagic native species (31·6%), and between the native pelagic killifish Orestias ispi and large O. bonariensis (39%) or O. mykiss (19·7%). In addition, Bayesian mixing models suggested that O. ispi and epipelagic species are likely to be the main prey items for the two introduced fish species. This study reveals a trophic link between native and introduced fish species, and demonstrates the utility of combining both SIA and traditional ecological knowledge to understand trophic relationships between fish species with similar feeding habits

Biogas production from Sewage Sludge and Microalgae Co-digestion under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions

10.1016/j.renene.2014.10.019Isochrysis galbana and Selenastrum capricornutum, marine and freshwater microalgae species respectively,were co-digested with sewage sludge under mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. The substrates and the temperatures significantly influenced biogas production. Under mesophilic conditions, the sewage sludge digestion produced 451 ± 12 mLBiogas/gSV. Furthermore, all digesters were fed with I. galbana, or mixed with sludge, resulting in an average of 440 ± 25 mLBiogas/gSV. On the contrary, S. capricornutum produced 271 ± 6 mLBiogas/gSV and in the mixtures containing sludge produced intermediate values between sludge and microalgae production. Under thermophilic conditions, the sewage sludge digestion achieved yet the highest biogas yield, 566 ± 5 mLBiogas/gSV. During co-digestion, biogas production decreased when the microalgae content increased, and for I. galbana and for S. capricornutum it reached minimum values, 261 ± 11 and 185 ± 7 mLBiogas/gSV, respectively. However, no evidence of inhibition was found and the low yields were attributed to microalgae species characteristics. The methane content in biogas showed similar values, independently from the digested substrate, although this increased by approximately 5% under thermophilic condition