Quality of life and special issues in women with inflammatory bowel diseases

Introduction. The impact of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) on the quality of life (QoL) of patients is significant and it has important social and professional consequences. Materials and methods. We aimed to describe the patients’ perspective regarding the impact of IBD on their overall QoL and to evaluate the differences between men and women. An observational cross-sectional study, that included 180 patients with IBD in clinical remission, was conducted. All the patients completed a number of 3 questionnaires in order to evaluate the general aspects of their QoL. A separate questionnaire was created regarding gender-specific issues in women with IBD encounter. Also, particular features such as the incidence of anemia and osteoporosis among IBD patients were documented. The data obtained were analyzed and compared between the two gender-classified groups. Results. According to the Short Inflammatory Bowel Disease Questionnaire (SIBDQ), patients had a general perception of a good QoL, but the impact was higher in women. Fatigue and tiredness were severely perceived almost to the same degree regardless of their gender, whereas anxiety and unemployment were more present in men. No significant differences in women with IBD during the active disease and during disease remission were found. Conclusions. The overall quality of life of IBD patients is affected in many aspects, leading to the deterioration of their social and professional lives, for both men and women, but some aspects remain gender-specific and require a personalized standard of care

Genetic analysis of populations of brown trout (Salmo trutta L.) from the Romanian Carpathians

The Carpathian Mountains are one of the most complex orogenetic areas of Europe, with unique fauna, including the brown trout (Salmo trutta). In this study we performed population genetic analysis of 12 different S. trutta populations using two types of molecular markers: nine microsatellites and mitochondrial D-loop sequences. The following working hypothesis was considered: the Romanian Carpathians and their surrounding lowlands can be key relief units based on which the S. trutta genetic diversity, spread, distribution, connectivity, relative isolation and genetic divergence can be at least partially explained. The phylogenetic analysis revealed that the majority of sequences were grouped in the Danubian clade. The high haplotype diversity of the 12 analyzed brown trout populations can be explained by the high nucleotide diversity. The microsatellite analysis revealed an inbreeding event for all the loci and for the populations analyzed. The Romanian Carpathians' shape and geographic orientation play a zoogeographical key role driving force in respect to the S. trutta populations

DNA-based methods for the identification of huchen (Hucho hucho, Linnaeus, 1758)

The Danube salmon or huchen (Hucho hucho, Linnaeus, 1758) is an endemic species in the Danube basin, being almost extinct in particular because of anthropogenic activities. The huchen has a special status throughout Europe, being listed on Appendix III of the Bern Convention and on Annexes II and V of the EU Habitat Directive and is a protected species in Romania. Molecular methods that use nuclear and mitochondrial DNA markers are recommended in order to contribute for a better management of aquaculture activities and also to improve the measures for conservation of endangered species such huchen. Our study aims to evaluate several DNA-based methods for species identification of Hucho hucho from the wild and aquaculture. We proposed two methods focused on the mitochondrial genome (DNA barcoding and PCR-RFLP), and one on the nuclear markers (genotyping). Methods that analyse the mitochondrial genome are focused on the COI gene and D-loop/Cytb regions, while those that analyse nuclear markers are focused on microsatellites. Therefore, techniques such as PCR-RFLP, sequencing and genotyping gave results that were easily interpretable and could be recommended as powerful species detection methods with applicability in aquaculture and for restocking purposes

Advantages and limitations of DNA barcoding in identifying commercially-exploited fish species

DNA barcoding aims to be an effective tool for species identification based on partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene (CO I). The method offers several advantages like small amount of biological samples needed, applicability for all life stages and differentiation among phenotypically alike species. Our study aimed at barcoding economically and ecologically important salmonids. The sequences were determined by using specific primers when the so-call universal primers failed to give amplifications. The sequences were BLAST with GenBank and BOLD databases for species identity confirmation. With one exception, the results of barcoding were congruent with the ones based on morphology in the cases when this last type of diagnostic was done. The method can be regular carried out for species identification, but is totally inefficient when is dealing with hybrids and should be avoided for species that can naturally hybridize

RP1S7 – a possible marker for sturgeon hybrids identification

The Acipenseridae family includes sturgeon species that have the ability to easily generate interspecies hybrids in both natural and aquaculture conditions. For the differentiation between hybrids and pure species, mitochondrial markers have been used, but they have not proven effective. Nuclear markers, such as the RP1S7 marker, encoding the S7 ribosomal protein, show to be more effective in achieving this differentiation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the capacity of this nuclear marker in discriminating between pure sturgeon species and their interspecies hybrids. DNA samples were isolated from fin fragments. The RP1S7 marker was amplified by PCR and the obtained amplicons were analysed by agarose gel electrophoresis and sequencing. In order to determine the accuracy of the primers and to validate this marker, the sequences were compared with similar ones from GenBank. The resulting electrophoretic profiles showed differences that can be used to distinguish between pure sturgeon species and their interspecies hybrids. Therefore, the RP1S7 marker can be included in a panel of DNA markers for molecular identification of sturgeon species and their hybrids

Phylogeny of Salmonidae Family Inffered from D-loop Mitochondrial Marker

Salmonids are a heterogeneous group of fish classified in one family – Salmonidae. These species are natives of the northern hemisphere, but currently have been introduced in many countries all over the world for sport fishing and aquaculture. Despite the considerable importance of salmonids, their evolutive history is still a controversial issue.  The aim of the current study is to infer the phylogeny within the Salmonidae family using as phylogenetic marker the D-loop region. For this purpose, an PCR amplification of D-loop region, followed by direct sequencing and phylogenetic analysis have been performed in four salmonids species from Romanian fauna - Salmo trutta fario, Salvelinus fontinalis, Thymallus thymallus and Oncorhynchus mykiss. For a more accurate phylogenetic classification of these species within Salmonidae family the analysis included similar sequences from GenBank belonging to 17 salmonid species and an osmerid species used as outgroup. The the phylogenetic trees illustrating the evolutive relationships within Salmonidae were constructed by using Neighbor Joining and Maximum Parsimony methodologies implemented in MEGA5.The phylogenetic analysis using mitochondrial control region as marker has allowed an overview about the positions occupied by Romanian salmonids within the Salmonidae family

Advantages and Limitations of DNA Barcoding in Identifying Commercially-Exploited Fish Species

DNA barcoding aims to be an effective tool for species identification based on partial sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase 1 gene (CO I). The method offers several advantages like small amount of biological samples needed, applicability for all life stages and differentiation among phenotypically alike species. Our study aimed at barcoding economically and ecologically important salmonids. The sequences were determined by using specific primers when the so-call universal primers failed to give amplifications. The sequences were BLAST with GenBank and BOLD databases for species identity confirmation. With one exception, the results of barcoding were congruent with the ones based on morphology in the cases when this last type of diagnostic was done. The method can be regular carried out for species identification, but is totally inefficient when is dealing with hybrids and should be avoided for species that can naturally hybridize

Microsatellite Variation in Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii) from Aquaculture

Most sturgeon species today are on the brink of extinction because of anthropogenic influences, but in the same time, the economical interest regarding these species was constantly increasing, especially because the great value of the roe. In order to satisfy the increasingly high-demand sturgeon farms began developing in the last decades and are nowadays the main producers of caviar and other sturgeon products. Due their characteristics (high polymorphism, high power of discrimination, codominant Mendelian inheritance), microsatellites prove themselves very usefull in population genetics studies. In our study we analyzed the cross-amplification and the polymorphism of seven microsatellite loci (LS-19, LS-54, LS-57, LS-68, Aox9, Aox23, and Aox45) in Acipenser gueldenstaedtii population from aquaculture. The microsatellite markers were originally designed for the American lake sturgeon, Acipenser fulvescens and Atlantic sturgeon, Acipenser oxyrinchus oxyrinchus. We successfully amplified all microsatellite loci obtaining allele peaks of different sizes which were analyzed by capilary electrophoresis. The number of allele ranged beetwen 4 (Aox23) and 12 (LS-54). This technology has great potential for investigating the genetic diversity of the wild sturgeons’ population and, also, might be extended to aquaculture studies aiming the monitoring of genetic variation in comercial breeding programs

Microsatellites variation in two different populations of Brown trout (Salmo trutta, morpha fario, Linnaeus, 1758) from Făgăraş Mountains

Salmonids are members of the Salmonidae family which includes the subfamily Coregoninae, subfamily Thymallinae and subfamily Salmoninae. This family includes fish of interest for aquaculture and sport fishing. The salmonids from the natural environment on Romanian territory are Salmo trutta fario, Salmo labrax, Salvelinus fontinalis fontinalis, Hucho hucho, and Thymallus thymallus. Gene flow from fishery populations to those in the natural habitat may create substantial problems to natural species which leads to a reduction of inherited genetic diversity and of environment adjustment due to a loss of natural capacity to adapt. Due their characteristics, microsatellites prove themselves usefull in population genetics studies. In our study we analyzed the polymorphism of nine microsatellite loci (BS131, Str60, Str73, Str15, Str543, OmyFGT, Ssa85, Ssa197, Strutta12) in two brown trout population from Făgăraş Mountains. We successfully amplified all microsatellite loci obtaining allele peaks of different sizes. The number of allele ranged beetwen 1 (Str73) and 26 (OmyFGT). The analyzed trout populations show a relatively high degree of genetic diversity, being also characterized by a low level of inbreeding among individuals. This technology has great potential for investigating the genetic diversity of the wild population and, also, might be extended to aquaculture studies