Structure and functioning of Cystoseira (Fucales) populations. An applicative study to assess their relevance for marine coastal ecosystems and for human well-being, in a conservation and restoration perspective

Structure and functioning of Cystoseira (Fucales) populations. An applicative study to assess their relevance for marine coastal ecosystems and for human well-being, in a conservation and restoration perspectiv

Ecological status improvement over a decade along the Ligurian coast according to a macroalgae based index (CARLIT)

According to the Water Framework Directive, within 2015 European Union countries must reach and maintain the "good" Ecological Status (ES), quantified through indices based on key biological elements as indicators. Along the Ligurian shallow rocky coasts (NW Italy), a macroalgae based index (CARtography of LITtoral and upper-sublittoral benthic communities, CARLIT), calibrated according to national characteristics and management needs, has been applied by the Regional Environmental Agency over the last ten years. In 2015, at least a "good" ES was achieved in all Ligurian water bodies except one, located in the Eastern Ligurian coastline, characterized by the lack of the most sensitive species, Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta. A general ES improvement has been observed along the Ligurian coastline, also in comparison with other quality indices (macroinvertebrates and fecal bacteria), and in particular in the Genoa water body, as proved by a relevant increase of C. amentacea abundance, probably as a consequence of enhancement in wastewater treatments. In the present study, the reliability of the observed improvement of the ES over a decade has been assessed, teasing apart intra-seasonal and operator-related variability. These results support the reliability of monitoring procedures carried out though the CARLIT Index and highlight the need and the effectiveness of reduction measures for anthropogenic impacts in order to achieve the ES required by European directives

First ex situ outplanting of the habitatforming seaweed Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta from a restoration perspective

In the Mediterranean Sea, brown algae belonging to the Cystoseira genus play a valuable role as foundation species. Due to evidences of regression/loss of the habitats of these species caused by the interplay of human and climatic disturbances, active restoration measures have been encouraged by EU regulations. In particular, nondestructive restoration techniques, which avoid the depletion of threatened species in donor populations, are strongly recommended. In the framework of the EU project ROCPOP-Life, the first ex situ outplanting experience of Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta has been implemented in the Cinque Terre Marine Protected Area (northwestern Mediterranean). A total of 400 clay tiles, hosting approximately three mm-long germlings of C. amentacea, were fixed to the rocky shore with screws: the tiles were monitored for the next 2 months by photographic sampling, and survival (presence/absence of juveniles on the tiles), cover and growth were assessed. Additional sampling was performed 6 months after tile deployment, after which an unprecedented storm surge severely affected the restoration performance. After 2 months, over 40% of the tiles were covered with Cystoseira juveniles, which reached approximately eight mm in total length. The tiles that survived the storm hosted three to six cm-long juveniles. The high cover (25%), assuring moisture and shading, and the appropriate size of the juveniles, to avert micro-grazing, at time of deployment were key to the survival and growth of the outplanted juveniles, increasing the potential for restoration success. Our findings show that outplanting of midlittoral canopy-forming species is a feasible approach for restoration efforts, with particular attention given to the early phases: (i) laboratory culture, (ii) transport, and (iii) juvenile densities. These results are strongly encouraging for the implementation of restoration actions for C. amentacea on a large scale, in light of EU guidelines

Addressing reproductive stochasticity and grazing impacts in the restoration of a canopy-forming brown alga by implementing mitigation solutions

1. The worldwide decline of marine forests, due to human impacts and climate change, emphasizes the need to develop and implement effective and sustainable solutions to restore these endangered habitats and to re-establish the services they provide. 2. In this study, the ex situ restoration of Treptacantha barbata, a Mediterranean subtidal habitat-forming species of brown seaweed, was for the first time implemented in a marine protected area in the Adriatic Sea. Two restoration efforts were performed in 2019. The first one was started in winter, after a marine heatwave that triggered early fertility, the second one in spring, when the species usually reproduces. 3. This study aimed to evaluate: 1) the disruptive effects of a thermal anomaly on the reproductive biology and performance in culture of T. barbata; and 2) the impact of the grazing pressure on juveniles after the outplanting. 4. The first cultivation was more productive than the second one, in terms of zygote release and germling growth. To mitigate the low efficiency of the second culture and to avoid prolonged highly-demanding maintenance in the mesocosms, the cultivation period was extended outdoors using a structure suspended in the water column. 5. The modular frames conceived for outplanting T. barbata proved to be effective because of their easy operability and low cost. Controlling for herbivorous fish had significant positive effects on both juvenile survival and growth. 6. The outcomes highlighted that an unpredictable climatic event and fish grazing were major threats that impaired the restoration process of T. barbata. These stressors should be considered when developing plans to implement effective large-scale restoration of canopy-forming macroalgae

Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor and angiotensin receptor blocker initiation on organ support-free days in patients hospitalized with COVID-19

IMPORTANCE Overactivation of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) may contribute to poor clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19. Objective To determine whether angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor or angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) initiation improves outcomes in patients hospitalized for COVID-19. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In an ongoing, adaptive platform randomized clinical trial, 721 critically ill and 58 non–critically ill hospitalized adults were randomized to receive an RAS inhibitor or control between March 16, 2021, and February 25, 2022, at 69 sites in 7 countries (final follow-up on June 1, 2022). INTERVENTIONS Patients were randomized to receive open-label initiation of an ACE inhibitor (n = 257), ARB (n = 248), ARB in combination with DMX-200 (a chemokine receptor-2 inhibitor; n = 10), or no RAS inhibitor (control; n = 264) for up to 10 days. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES The primary outcome was organ support–free days, a composite of hospital survival and days alive without cardiovascular or respiratory organ support through 21 days. The primary analysis was a bayesian cumulative logistic model. Odds ratios (ORs) greater than 1 represent improved outcomes. RESULTS On February 25, 2022, enrollment was discontinued due to safety concerns. Among 679 critically ill patients with available primary outcome data, the median age was 56 years and 239 participants (35.2%) were women. Median (IQR) organ support–free days among critically ill patients was 10 (–1 to 16) in the ACE inhibitor group (n = 231), 8 (–1 to 17) in the ARB group (n = 217), and 12 (0 to 17) in the control group (n = 231) (median adjusted odds ratios of 0.77 [95% bayesian credible interval, 0.58-1.06] for improvement for ACE inhibitor and 0.76 [95% credible interval, 0.56-1.05] for ARB compared with control). The posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitors and ARBs worsened organ support–free days compared with control were 94.9% and 95.4%, respectively. Hospital survival occurred in 166 of 231 critically ill participants (71.9%) in the ACE inhibitor group, 152 of 217 (70.0%) in the ARB group, and 182 of 231 (78.8%) in the control group (posterior probabilities that ACE inhibitor and ARB worsened hospital survival compared with control were 95.3% and 98.1%, respectively). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE In this trial, among critically ill adults with COVID-19, initiation of an ACE inhibitor or ARB did not improve, and likely worsened, clinical outcomes. TRIAL REGISTRATION ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT0273570

Accounting for environmental stress in restoration of intertidal foundation species

Restoration of foundation species in historical habitat may be difficult if adult facilitation is obligatory for survival of early life stages. 2. On intertidal Mediterranean coasts, large-scale loss of the dominant forest- forming macroalga Ericaria amentacea have prompted restoration efforts using recruits. Yet, early life stages may be more susceptible to the abiotic stress that characterizes their habitat. 3. We tested strategies to enhance resilience of lab-cultured juveniles of E. amen- tacea to environmental stress in historical habitat lacking conspecifics. Juveniles were exposed in culture to fluctuations of the dominant physical stressors, irra- diance and temperature, and then outplanted in upper and lower zones of their native intertidal range. 4. Without adult canopy, juvenile outplant survival was limited to the lower tidal range, with nearly complete mortality in the upper zone. Survival was also strongly determined by spatial clumping of recruits within the outplant sub- strate. Longer-term growth in the lower zone was enhanced by fluctuating mild stress in culture, with variable irradiance and concurrent heat pulses increas- ing post-outplant cover by 40%–60% after 4 months. Clumping also promoted growth across experimental treatments. 5. Synthesis and applications. Reliance on self-facilitation feedbacks is a common barrier to foundation species restoration in high-stress habitats. Our results sug- gest that without adult habitat amelioration, environmental stress limits recruit survival in intertidal algal forest. Yet, exposure to transient, low environmental stress in culture and outplanting of clumped individuals may confer resilience and allow successful establishment of early life stages in zones of reduced abi- otic stress, providing a source for gradual colonization of more high-stress areas

Antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of six Fucoids from the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean

This work was supported by the Portuguese Foundation for Science and Technology (FCT) through the strategic project UIDP/04292/2020 and UIDB/04292/2020 granted to MARE – Marine and Environmental Sciences Center, and through CROSSATLANTIC project (PTDC/BIA-OUT/29250/2017), co-financed by COMPETE (POCI-01-0145-FEDER-029250). The Erasmus+ Program/KA1 AY 2017-18; Student Mobility for traineeship, has facilitated the collaboration of GDLF in the research activities of the present study at polytechnic of Leiria – Cetemares.BACKGROUD: In recent years, research on the bioactive properties of macroalgae has increased, due to the great interest in exploring new products that can contribute to improve human health and wellbeing. In the present study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial potential of six different brown algae of the Fucales order were evaluated, namely Ericaria selaginoides, Ericaria amentacea, Gongolaria baccata, Gongolaria usneoides, Cystoseira compressa and Sargassum vulgare (collected along the Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts). The antioxidant capacity was measured by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging activity, the oxygen radical absorbent capacity (ORAC) and the ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and were related to the total phenolic content (TPC). The antimicrobial activity was evaluated measuring the growth inhibition of Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. RESULTS: The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained for Ericaria selaginoides revealing the highest capacity to scavenge DPPH radical [half maximal effective concentration (EC50) = 27.02 ug mL−1], highest FRAP (1761.19 umol FeSO4 equivalents g−1 extract), high ORAC (138.92 umol TE g−1 extract), alongside to its high TPC (121.5 GAE g−1 extract). This species also reported the highest antimicrobial capacity against Staphylococcus aureus [half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) = 268 ug mL−1]. CONCLUSIONS: Among all studied seaweed, Ericaria selaginoides reveals the highest antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, and thus should be explored as a natural food additive and/or functional ingredient.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Ex situ cultivation protocol for Cystoseira amentacea var. stricta (Fucales, Phaeophyceae) from a restoration perspective.

Due to multiple impacts, Cystoseira forests are experiencing a significant decline, which is affecting the ecosystem services they provide. Despite conservation efforts, there is an urgent need to develop best practices and large-scale restoration strategies. To implement restoration actions, we developed an ex situ protocol for the cultivation of Cystoseira. amentacea var. stricta, aimed at reducing the time needed for laboratory culture, thus avoiding prolonged maintenance and minimizing costs. Specifically, we tested the effects of temperature, light and substratum on settlement and growth of early life stages using a factorial experiment. Temperature (20 and 24°C) and photoperiod (15L:9D) were selected to reflect the conditions experienced in the field during the reproductive period. Two light intensities (125 and 250 μmol photons m-2s-1) were selected to mimic the condition experienced in the absence of canopy (i.e. barren-higher light intensity) or in the understory (lower light intensity) during gamete release. The tested substrata were flat polished pebbles and rough clay tiles. The release of gametes and the successive survival and development of embryo and germlings were followed for two weeks. Regardless of the culture conditions, rougher tiles showed higher zygote settlement, but the substrata did not affect the successive development. Zygote mortality after one week averaged 50% and at the end of the second week, embryonic survival was higher under lower light and temperature conditions, which also determined the growth of larger embryos

Spatial variability and response to anthropogenic pressures of assemblages dominated by a habitat forming seaweed sensitive to pollution (northern coast of Alboran Sea)

Highlights: • Cystoseira ericaefolia assemblages were studied along the Mediterranean-Atlantic transition (Alboran Sea). • The assemblages showed significant differences at local and regional scales. • Regional oceanographic features seemed to play an important role explaining regional differences. • No significant differences were found between assemblages under different pollution pressures. • The results support that the effects of pollution are more visible at landscape scales than at assemblage ones. Abstract: The Cystoseira ericaefolia group is conformed by three species: C. tamariscifolia, C. mediterranea and C. amentacea. These species are among the most important habitat forming species of the upper sublittoral rocky shores of the Mediterranean Sea and adjacent Atlantic coast. This species group is sensitive to human pressures and therefore is currently suffering important losses. This study aimed to assess the influence of anthropogenic pressures, oceanographic conditions and local spatial variability in assemblages dominated by C. ericaefolia in the Alboran Sea. The results showed the absence of significant effects of anthropogenic pressures or its interactions with environmental conditions in the Cystoseira assemblages. This fact was attributed to the high spatial variability, which is most probably masking the impact of anthropogenic pressures. The results also showed that most of the variability occurred on at local levels. A relevant spatial variability was observed at regional level, suggesting a key role of oceanographic features in these assemblages

Amelogenesis Imperfecta. The Likelihood of Genetic Transmission to the Next Generation in Costa Rican Families

Amelogenesis Imperfecta describes a group of structural anomalies of dental enamel whose inheritance pattern may be dominant or recessive autosomal, or sex-linked pattern to X chromosome. It also can be linked to spontaneous genetic mutation called as novo mutation. Members of seven Costa Rican families, affected and not affected by Amelogenesis Imperfecta, were studied with the objective of determining the probability of future generations manifesting the condition in dental enamel. Subjects were referred by students and faculty members, of the postgraduate program in pediatric dentistry of dental school. Private practitioners also referred some patients. The study protocol was approved by the research ethics committee of the office of research of the University of Costa Rica, and each participant provided written informed consent. Family pedigrees and genetic information was entered into computer software using the Cyrillic program. Data was extracted from clinical records of the University of Costa Rica dental school, and direct family histories were obtained from the subjects. Data was organized in Punnett Squares, and analysis performed according to Mendelian Laws. Analysis of the pathological manifestation of Amelogenesis Imperfecta according to recessive, dominant or indeterminate patterns enabled a more precise determination of the likelihood of heritability in future generations. The results lead to a better understanding of the origin of this enamel condition and explain better its heritability to next generations of the same families. In order to confirm the precise genetic mutation(s) it is essential to collect and analyze DNA from saliva or blood of each subject. This is an additional line of research, not included within the scope of this text.