Fecundity and sex steroid profile in boarfish Capros aper

The boarfish Capros aper is one of the most commonly discarded non-commercial species in the International Council for the Exploration of the Sea (ICES) Subdivision VIII in the Atlantic. An increasing interest in this fishery and an incomplete knowledge on the status of the stock justified the present investigation focused on the determination of fecundity type and its estimation, supported by sex steroid profiles for 17 beta-oestradiol (E2), 11-ketotestosterone and 17,20 beta-dihydroxypregn-4-en-3-one (17,20 beta-P). C. aper was found to have indeterminate fecundity with a mean relative batch fecundity during the spawning peak of 50 oocytes g(-1) eviscerated weight (W-E) and a mean relative annual fecundity of 4020 oocytes g(-1) W-E. E2 variations throughout the year indicated the existence of at least two important spawning events, one in winter (January-February) and the other in summer (June-August), with concentrations in females increasing from those with growing oocytes in the developing phase to those in the spawning capable phase. Higher E2 concentrations were also found from 2000 to 2400 hours and from 0800 to 1200 hours suggesting more intense vitellogenesis activity during the night and in the morning, in contrast to 17,20 beta-P concentrations, which were higher between 1200 and 2000 hours, suggesting a more intense spawning activity during this period.UID/MAR/04292/2019, UID/Multi/04326/2019, CEECIND/02705/2017, CEECIND/01528/2017, SFRH/BPD/108917/2015info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

a nationwide retrospective cohort study in mainland Portugal

Introduction There is growing concern about the aggressiveness of cancer care at the end of life (ACCEoL), defined as overly aggressive treatments that compromise the quality of life at its end. Recognising the most affected patients is a cornerstone to improve oncology care. Our aim is to identify factors associated with ACCEoL for patients with cancer dying in hospitals. Methods All adult patients with cancer who died in public hospitals in mainland Portugal (January 2010 to December 2015), identified from the hospital morbidity database. This database provided individual clinical and demographic data. We obtained hospital and region-level variables from a survey and National Statistics. The primary outcome is a composite ACCEoL measure of 16 indicators. We used multilevel random effects logistic regression modelling (p14 days in the hospital (43%, 42-43) and surgery (28%, 28-28) in the last 30 days. Older age (p<0·001), breast cancer (OR 0·83; 95% CI 0·76 to 0·91), and metastatic disease (0·54; 95% CI 0·50 to 0·58) were negatively associated with ACCEoL. In contrast, higher Deyo-Charlson Comorbidity Index (p<0·001), gastrointestinal and haematological malignancies (p<0·001), and death at cancer centre (1·31; 95% CI 1·01 to 1·72) or hospital with medical oncology department (1·29; 95% CI 1·02 to 1·63) were positively associated with ACCEoL. There was no association between hospital palliative care services at the hospital of death and ACCEoL. Conclusion Clinical factors related to a better understanding of disease course are associated with ACCEoL reduction. Patients with more comorbidities and gastrointestinal malignancies might represent groups with complex needs, and haematological patients may be at increased risk because of unpredictable prognosis. Improvement of hospital palliative care services could help reduce ACCEoL, particularly in cancer centres and hospitals with medical oncology department, as those services are usually under-resourced, thus reaching few.publishersversionpublishe

Building a Portuguese Coalition for Biodiversity Genomics

The diverse physiography of the Portuguese land and marine territory, spanning from continental Europe to the Atlantic archipelagos, has made it an important repository of biodiversity throughout the Pleistocene glacial cycles, leading to a remarkable diversity of species and ecosystems. This rich biodiversity is under threat from anthropogenic drivers, such as climate change, invasive species, land use changes, overexploitation or pathogen (re)emergence. The inventory, characterization and study of biodiversity at inter- and intra-specific levels using genomics is crucial to promote its preservation and recovery by informing biodiversity conservation policies, management measures and research. The participation of researchers from Portuguese institutions in the European Reference Genome Atlas (ERGA) initiative, and its pilot effort to generate reference genomes for European biodiversity, has reinforced the establishment of Biogenome Portugal. This nascent institutional network will connect the national community of researchers in genomics. Here, we describe the Portuguese contribution to ERGA’s pilot effort, which will generate high-quality reference genomes of six species from Portugal that are endemic, iconic and/or endangered, and include plants, insects and vertebrates (fish, birds and mammals) from mainland Portugal or the Azores islands. In addition, we outline the objectives of Biogenome Portugal, which aims to (i) promote scientific collaboration, (ii) contribute to advanced training, (iii) stimulate the participation of institutions and researchers based in Portugal in international biodiversity genomics initiatives, and (iv) contribute to the transfer of knowledge to stakeholders and engaging the public to preserve biodiversity. This initiative will strengthen biodiversity genomics research in Portugal and fuel the genomic inventory of Portuguese eukaryotic species. Such efforts will be critical to the conservation of the country’s rich biodiversity and will contribute to ERGA’s goal of generating reference genomes for European species.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Charge transfer processes in ion scattering on metal and oxide sufaces and on supported clusters

Résumé françaisRésumé anglaisORSAY-PARIS 11-BU Sciences (914712101) / SudocSudocFranceF

Guidelines for Cancer Treatment during Pregnancy: Ethics-Related Content Evolution and Implications for Clinicians

(1) Background: Current scientific evidence suggests that most cancers, including breast cancer, can be treated during pregnancy without compromising maternal and fetal outcomes. This, however, raises questions regarding the ethical implications of clinical care. (2) Methods: Using a systematic literature search, 32 clinical practice guidelines for cancer treatment during pregnancy published between 2002 and 2021 were selected for analysis and 25 of them mentioned or made references to medical ethics when offering clinical management guidance for clinicians. (3) Results: Four bioethical themes were identified: respect for patient&rsquo;s autonomy, balanced approach to maternal and fetal beneficence, protection of the vulnerable and justice in resource allocation. Most guidelines recommended informing the pregnant patient about available evidence-based treatment options, offering counselling and support in the process of decision making. The relational aspect of a pregnant patient&rsquo;s autonomy was also recognized and endorsed in a significant number of available guidelines. (4) Conclusions: Recognition and support of a patient&rsquo;s autonomy and its relational aspects should remain an integral part of future clinical practice guidelines. Nevertheless, a more structured approach is needed when addressing existing and potential ethical issues in clinical practice guidelines for cancer treatment during pregnancy

Skin healing and scale regeneration in fed and unfed sea bream, Sparus auratus

Background Fish scales are an important reservoir of calcium and phosphorus and together with the skin function as an integrated barrier against environmental changes and external aggressors. Histological studies have revealed that the skin and scales regenerate rapidly in fish when they are lost or damaged. In the present manuscript the histological and molecular changes underlying skin and scale regeneration in fed and fasted sea bream (Sparus auratus) were studied using a microarray 3 and 7 days after scale removal to provide a comprehensive molecular understanding of the early stages of these processes. Results Histological analysis of skin/scales revealed 3 days after scale removal re-epithelisation and formation of the scale pocket had occurred and 53 and 109 genes showed significant up or down-regulation, respectively. Genes significantly up-regulated were involved in cell cycle regulation, cell proliferation and adhesion, immune response and antioxidant activities. 7 days after scale removal a thin regenerated scale was visible and only minor changes in gene expression occurred. In animals that were fasted to deplete mineral availability the expression profiles centred on maintaining energy homeostasis. The utilisation of fasting as a treatment emphasised the competing whole animal physiological requirements with regard to barrier repair, infection control and energy homeostasis. Conclusions The identification of numerous genes involved in the mitotic checkpoint and cell proliferation indicate that the experimental procedure may be useful for understanding cell proliferation and control in vertebrates within the context of the whole animal physiology. In response to skin damage genes of immune surveillance were up-regulated along with others involved in tissue regeneration required to rapidly re-establish barrier function. Additionally, candidate fish genes were identified that may be involved in cytoskeletal re-modelling, mineralization and stem cells, which are of potential use in aquaculture and fish husbandry, as they may impact on the ability of the fish to produce structural proteins, such as muscle, efficiently

Cellular morphology and markers of cartilage and bone in the marine teleost Sparus auratus

Modifications have been characterised in terms of cellular organisation and the extracellular matrix (ECM) during bone ontogeny in the sea bream (Sparus auratus). During endochondral development, the agglomeration of matrix-secreting cells gives rise to chondrones; these chondrones frequently contain proliferating-cell-nuclearantigen-positive cells, which subsequently become large collagen-II-positive cells with the characteristics of chondrocytes. Moreover, the matrix:cell ratio within the perichondrium increases, accompanied by a modification in ECM composition. Mineralisation of cartilage ECM is marked by a rapid fall in cell number, the switching off of collagen II transcription and the switching on of collagen X transcription, followed by collagen I transcription and bone mineralisation. The formation of dermal structures initiated upon the condensation of mesenchyme cells defines the future location of the dermal bone. Subsequent cellular differentiation gives rise to cells on the bone surface; these cells are positive for collagen I and osteonectin transcripts. The fish skeleton, with the exception of vertebrae, tends to comprise flattened bones that are covered by a monolayer of cells, the periosteum. A third type of tissue, present in gills, consists of chondrocyte-like cells embedded in a mineralised matrix resembling chondroid bone in mammals. The results suggest that the cellular organisation and ontogeny of endochondral and dermal bone in the sea bream are similar to those described in other vertebrates

Thermal imprinting during embryogenesis modifies skin repair in juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Fish skin is a multifunctional tissue that develops during embryogenesis, a developmental stage highly susceptible to epigenetic marks. In this study, the impact of egg incubation temperature on the regeneration of a cutaneous wound caused by scale removal in juvenile European sea bass was evaluated. Sea bass eggs were incubated at 11, 13.5 and 16 °C until hatching and then were reared at a common temperature until 9 months when the skin was damaged and sampled at 0, 1 and 3 days after scale removal and compared to the intact skin from the other flank. Skin damage elicited an immediate significant (p < 0.001) up-regulation of pcna in fish from eggs incubated at higher temperatures. In fish from eggs incubated at 11 °C there was a significant (p < 0.001) up-regulation of krt2 compared to fish from higher thermal backgrounds 1 day after skin damage. Damaged epidermis was regenerated after 3 days in all fish irrespective of the thermal background, but in fish from eggs incubated at 11 °C the epidermis was significantly (p < 0.01) thinner compared to other groups, had less goblet cells and less melanomacrophages. The thickness of the dermis increased during regeneration of wounded skin irrespective of the thermal background and by 3 days was significantly (p < 0.01) thicker than the dermis from the intact flank. The expression of genes for ECM remodelling (mmp9, colXα, col1α1, sparc, and angptl2b) and innate immunity (lyg1, lalba, sod1, csf-1r and pparγ) changed during regeneration but were not affected by egg thermal regime. Overall, the results indicate that thermal imprinting of eggs modifies the damage-repair response in juvenile sea bass skin

The impact of egg thermal regimes on the response to food deprivation and refeeding in juvenile European Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

Fish are ectotherms and this means they are highly vulnerable to changes in ambient temperature, particularly during early developmental stages when temperature can induce persistent effects on phenotypic traits. In this study, the effect of egg incubation temperature on the response of juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to food deprivation and recovery after refeeding was assessed. Eggs were incubated at 11, 13.5 and 16 °C until hatching and then were reared at a common temperature until 9 months when fish were deprived of food for one week. The recovery from food deprivation was evaluated at 10 h and 2 days post-refeeding. Food deprivation in fish from eggs incubated at the highest temperature (16 °C) compared to 11 and 13.5 °C exhibited the most morphological and metabolic changes in the liver and foregut. Liver metabolism was changed as revealed by the significant reduction in lipid area and the increased number of hepatocyte nuclei. Foregut atrophy was coupled to a significant up-regulation of transcripts associated with gluconeogenesis (pck1) and peptide absorption (pept1). A modified metabolic response to the fast-refeed regime was revealed by the significantly decreased levels of plasma lactate, which may result from up-regulation of transcripts of the thyroid axis, deiodinase 2 (dio2) in the foregut. Fish incubated as eggs at a lower temperature (11 °C) exhibited less changes following the fast-refeed regime. Food deprivation did not significantly modify the morphology of the foregut and the liver parenchyma recovered sooner in fish from the 11 °C egg thermal regime compared to fish from the other thermal regimes following refeeding. The latter group of fish had a temporary stimulation of the GH-IGF axis with significant up-regulation of liver insulin-like growth factor I and II (igf-1 and igf-2) after fasting. The liver parenchyma of fish from the 13.5 °C egg thermal regime (the standard temperature of the hatchery stage) did not recover by the end of the experiment and transcripts of catalase (cat), encoding an antioxidant enzyme, were significantly downregulated compared to fish from the other egg thermal regimes. Our results suggest that thermal imprinting at the egg stage in European sea bass modified the juvenile metabolic response to food deprivation and the recovery response when feeding was resumed

The impact of egg thermal regimes on the response to food deprivation and refeeding in juvenile European Sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

International audienceFish are ectotherms and this means they are highly vulnerable to changes in ambient temperature, particularly during early developmental stages when temperature can induce persistent effects on phenotypic traits. In this study, the effect of egg incubation temperature on the response of juvenile European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) to food deprivation and recovery after refeeding was assessed. Eggs were incubated at 11, 13.5 and 16 & DEG;C until hatching and then were reared at a common temperature until 9 months when fish were deprived of food for one week. The recovery from food deprivation was evaluated at 10 h and 2 days post-refeeding. Food deprivation in fish from eggs incubated at the highest temperature (16 & DEG;C) compared to 11 and 13.5 & DEG;C exhibited the most morphological and metabolic changes in the liver and foregut. Liver metabolism was changed as revealed by the significant reduction in lipid area and the increased number of hepatocyte nuclei. Foregut atrophy was coupled to a significant up-regulation of transcripts associated with gluconeogenesis (pck1) and peptide absorption (pept1). A modified metabolic response to the fast-refeed regime was revealed by the significantly decreased levels of plasma lactate, which may result from up-regulation of transcripts of the thyroid axis, deiodinase 2 (dio2) in the foregut. Fish incubated as eggs at a lower temperature (11 & DEG;C) exhibited less changes following the fast-refeed regime. Food deprivation did not significantly modify the morphology of the foregut and the liver parenchyma recovered sooner in fish from the 11 & DEG;C egg thermal regime compared to fish from the other thermal regimes following refeeding. The latter group of fish had a temporary stimulation of the GH-IGF axis with significant up-regulation of liver insulin-like growth factor I and II (igf-1 and igf-2) after fasting. The liver parenchyma of fish from the 13.5 & DEG;C egg thermal regime (the standard temperature of the hatchery stage) did not recover by the end of the experiment and transcripts of catalase (cat), encoding an antioxidant enzyme, were significantly downregulated compared to fish from the other egg thermal regimes. Our results suggest that thermal imprinting at the egg stage in European sea bass modified the juvenile metabolic response to food deprivation and the recovery response when feeding was resumed