Compositional analysis of bacterial communities in seawater, sediment, and sponges in the Misool coral reef system, Indonesia

Sponge species have been deemed high microbial abundance (HMA) or low microbial abundance (LMA) based on the composition and abundance of their microbial symbionts. In the present study, we evaluated the richness and composition of bacterial communities associated with one HMA sponge (Xestospongia testudinaria; Demospongiae: Haplosclerida: Petrosiidae), one LMA sponge (Stylissa carteri; Demospongiae: Scopalinida - Scopalinidae), and one sponge with a hitherto unknown microbial community (Aaptos suberitoides; Demospongiae: Suberitida: Suberitidae) inhabiting the Misool coral reef system in the West Papua province of Indonesia. The bacterial communities of these sponge species were also compared with seawater and sediment bacterial communities from the same coastal coral reef habitat. Using a 16S rRNA gene barcoded pyrosequencing approach, we showed that the most abundant phylum overall was Proteobacteria. The biotope (sponge species, sediment or seawater) explained almost 84% of the variation in bacterial composition with highly significant differences in composition among biotopes and a clear separation between bacterial communities from seawater and S. carteri; X. testudinaria and A. suberitoides and sediment. The Chloroflexi classes SAR202 and Anaerolineae were most abundant in A. suberitoides and X. testudinaria and both of these species shared several OTUs that were largely absent in the remaining biotopes. This suggests that A. suberitoides is a HMA sponge. Although similar, the bacterial communities of S. carteri and seawater were compositionally distinct. These results confirm compositional differences between sponge and non-sponge biotopes and between HMA and LMA sponges.publishe

Depression, anxiety, and the risk of cancer: An individual participant data meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Depression and anxiety have long been hypothesized to be related to an increased cancer risk. Despite the great amount of research that has been conducted, findings are inconclusive. To provide a stronger basis for addressing the associations between depression, anxiety, and the incidence of various cancer types (overall, breast, lung, prostate, colorectal, alcohol-related, and smoking-related cancers), individual participant data (IPD) meta-analyses were performed within the Psychosocial Factors and Cancer Incidence (PSY-CA) consortium. METHODS: The PSY-CA consortium includes data from 18 cohorts with measures of depression or anxiety (up to N = 319,613; cancer incidences, 25,803; person-years of follow-up, 3,254,714). Both symptoms and a diagnosis of depression and anxiety were examined as predictors of future cancer risk. Two-stage IPD meta-analyses were run, first by using Cox regression models in each cohort (stage 1), and then by aggregating the results in random-effects meta-analyses (stage 2). RESULTS: No associations were found between depression or anxiety and overall, breast, prostate, colorectal, and alcohol-related cancers. Depression and anxiety (symptoms and diagnoses) were associated with the incidence of lung cancer and smoking-related cancers (hazard ratios [HRs], 1.06–1.60). However, these associations were substantially attenuated when additionally adjusting for known risk factors including smoking, alcohol use, and body mass index (HRs, 1.04–1.23). CONCLUSIONS: Depression and anxiety are not related to increased risk for most cancer outcomes, except for lung and smoking-related cancers. This study shows that key covariates are likely to explain the relationship between depression, anxiety, and lung and smoking-related cancers

Breast cancer in young women and its impact on reproductive function

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women in developed countries, and 12% of breast cancer occurs in women 20-34 years. Survival from breast cancer has significantly improved, and the potential late effects of treatment and the impact on quality of life have become increasingly important. Young women constitute a minority of breast cancer patients, but commonly have distinct concerns and issues compared with older women, including queries regarding fertility, contraception and pregnancy. Further, they are more likely than older women to have questions regarding potential side effects of therapy and risk of relapse or a new primary. In addition, many will have symptoms associated with treatment and they present a management challenge. Reproductive medicine specialists and gynaecologists commonly see these women either shortly after initial diagnosis or following adjuvant therapy and should be aware of current management of breast cancer, the options for women at increased genetic risk, the prognosis of patients with early stage breast cancer and how adjuvant systemic treatments may impact reproductive function. METHODS: No systematic literature search was done. The review focuses on the current management of breast cancer in young women and the impact of treatment on reproductive function and subsequent management. With reference to key studies and meta-analyses, we highlight controversies and current unanswered questions regarding patient management. RESULTS: Chemotherapy for breast cancer is likely to negatively impact on reproductive function. A number of interventions are available which may increase the likelihood of future successful pregnancy, but the relative safety of these interventions is not well established. For those who do conceive following breast cancer, there is no good evidence that pregnancy is detrimental to survival. We review current treatment; effects on reproductive function; preservation of fertility; contraception; pregnancy; breastfeeding and management of menopausal symptoms following breast cancer. CONCLUSION: This paper provides an update on the management of breast cancer in young women and is targeted at reproductive medicine specialists and gynaecologists

Hepatoprotective effect of Red Sea sponge extract against the toxicity of a real-life mixture of persistent organic pollutants

The present study aims to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective effect of the Red Sea Hyrtios aff. erectus sponge extract against persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The induced hepatotoxicity effects were examined by using different POPs compounds, namely, α-hexachlorocyclohexane, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, PCB 28, PCB 52, aldrin, o,p'-DDE, PCB 101, dieldrin, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, endrin, PCB 118, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, PCB 153, PCB 135, PCB 138 and PCB 180, extracted from sediments collected from Lake Mariout. The effects were assessed based on biochemical assays, where BALB/c albino mice (mean weight 28 ± 4 g) exposed to 130.6 mg/100 g b.w./d of POP mixtures were compared to control and induction groups. The POPs toxicity test was carried out on the BALB/c albino mice for one week. The POPs treated group had a significant increase in the levels of transaminases, ALT and AST. There was also a significant increase in serum bilirubin in response to POPs mixture toxicity. In contrast, the protective group revealed a non-significant increase in both aminotransferases and bilirubin level. The results indicate that POPs could act through free radical-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the hepatoprotective effect of sponge extract against POPs mixture is due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds in sponge. The present study revealed that polyphenolic compounds play a vital role in diminishing the hepatotoxicity, as confirmed by a decrease in liver toxicity

Hepatoprotective effect of Red Sea sponge extract against the toxicity of a real-life mixture of persistent organic pollutants

<p>The present study aims to evaluate the possible hepatoprotective effect of the Red Sea <i>Hyrtios</i> aff<i>. erectus</i> sponge extract against persistent organic pollutants (POPs). The induced hepatotoxicity effects were examined by using different POPs compounds, namely, α-hexachlorocyclohexane, β-hexachlorocyclohexane, γ-hexachlorocyclohexane, PCB 28, PCB 52, aldrin, o,p'-DDE, PCB 101, dieldrin, p,p'-DDE, o,p'-DDD, endrin, PCB 118, p,p'-DDD, p,p'-DDT, PCB 153, PCB 135, PCB 138 and PCB 180, extracted from sediments collected from Lake Mariout. The effects were assessed based on biochemical assays, where BALB/c albino mice (mean weight 28 ± 4 g) exposed to 130.6 mg/100 g b.w./d of POP mixtures were compared to control and induction groups. The POPs toxicity test was carried out on the BALB/c albino mice for one week. The POPs treated group had a significant increase in the levels of transaminases, ALT and AST. There was also a significant increase in serum bilirubin in response to POPs mixture toxicity. In contrast, the protective group revealed a non-significant increase in both aminotransferases and bilirubin level. The results indicate that POPs could act through free radical-induced oxidative stress. Furthermore, the hepatoprotective effect of sponge extract against POPs mixture is due to the presence of polyphenolic compounds in sponge. The present study revealed that polyphenolic compounds play a vital role in diminishing the hepatotoxicity, as confirmed by a decrease in liver toxicity.</p

Carteritins A and B, cyclic heptapeptides from the marine sponge Stylissa carteri

Two new cyclic heptapeptides, carteritins A and B (1 and 2), were isolated from the marine sponge Stylissa carteri along with three known cyclic heptapeptides, phakellistatin 13 (3) and hymenamides C and D (4 and 5). Their structures were elucidated based on data obtained using 2D NMR, HRESIMS, and ESIMS/MS, in addition to Marfey’s analysis. Carteritin A (1) showed cytotoxicities against HeLa, HCT116, and RAW264 cells with IC50 values of 0.70–1.5 μM

Tetradehydrohalicyclamine B, a new proteasome inhibitor from the marine sponge Acanthostrongylophora ingens

A new halicyclamine derivative, tetradehydrohalicyclamine B (1), was isolated from the marine sponge Acanthostrongylophora ingens, along with halicyclamine B (2) as proteasome inhibitors. Compound 1 is the second example found to have a pyridinium ring in the halicyclamine family. Although the relative configuration of 2 was previously determined by X-ray crystallographic analysis, here we determined the absolute configuration of 2 by ECD experiment. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited the constitutive proteasome as well as the immunoproteasome. The inhibitory activities of 2 were 4- to 10-fold more potent than those of 1

Ceylonamides A–F, Nitrogenous Spongian Diterpenes That Inhibit RANKL-Induced Osteoclastogenesis, from the Marine Sponge <i>Spongia ceylonensis</i>

Seven new spongian diterpenes, ceylonamides A–F (<b>1</b>–<b>6</b>) and 15α,16-dimethoxyspongi-13-en-19-oic acid (<b>7</b>), were isolated from the Indonesian marine sponge <i>Spongia ceylonensis</i> along with eight known spongian diterpenes, <b>8</b>–<b>15</b>. Compounds <b>1</b>–<b>6</b> were determined to be nitrogenous spongian diterpenes. The isolated compounds were examined for the inhibition of RANKL-induced osteoclastogenesis in RAW264 macrophages. Ceylonamide A (<b>1</b>) exhibited the most potent inhibitory activity with an IC₅₀ value of 13 μM, followed by ceylonamide B (<b>2</b>) (IC₅₀, 18 μM). An examination of the structure–activity relationships of the isolated compounds revealed that the position of the carbonyl group of the γ-lactam ring and bulkiness of the substituent at its nitrogen atom were important for inhibitory activity