Microvascular Corrosion Casting in the Study of Tumor Vascularity: A Review

Tumor blood flow is dependent on the structure and three-dimensional (3-D) architecture of the vascular network. The latter can be best studied by scanning electron microscopy of microvascular corrosion casts. However, literature reviews show that nearly all studies using this technique render comparisons of different tumors more difficult since they are mainly based on descriptive terms that might lead to misunderstandings. Qualitative comparisons of 13 experimental and 3 human primary tumors of different origin show a high degree of similarity in the vasculature. Quantitative analysis of these casts reveals similar ranges of parameters such as diameters, intervascular and interbranching distances. Diameters of vessels with capillary wall structure range from 6 μm to 55 μm in the human primary tumors (renal clear cell carcinoma, basalioma), and from 5 μm to 80 μm in xenografted tumors (sarcomas, colon carcinoma). Intervascular distances in the human primary tumors range from 2 μm to 52 μm, and from 11 μm to 105 μm in the xenografts. Interbranching distances range from 34 μm to 258 μmin the former, and from 11 μm to 160 μmin the latter. Both qualitative and quantitative analyses of tumor microvascular corrosion casts enable pathophysiological conclusions to be drawn and contribute to a better understanding of tumor vascularity

Non-indigenous species refined national baseline inventories: A synthesis in the context of the European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Refined baseline inventories of non-indigenous species (NIS) are set per European Union Member State (MS), in the context of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The inventories are based on the initial assessment of the MSFD (2012) and the updated data of the European Alien Species Information Network, in collaboration with NIS experts appointed by the MSs. The analysis revealed that a large number of NIS was not reported from the initial assessments. Moreover, several NIS initially listed are currently considered as native in Europe or were proven to be historical misreportings. The refined baseline inventories constitute a milestone for the MSFD Descriptor 2 implementation, providing an improved basis for reporting new NIS introductions, facilitating the MSFD D2 assessment. In addition, the inventories can help MSs in the establishment of monitoring systems of targeted NIS, and foster cooperation on monitoring of NIS across or within shared marine subregions.Henn Ojaveer and Maiju Lehtiniemi wish to acknowledge the project COMPLETE (Completing management options in the Baltic Sea region to reduce risk of invasive species introduction by shipping), co-financed by the European Union's funding Programme Interreg Baltic Sea Region (European Regional Development Fund). João Canning-Clode was supported by a starting grant in the framework of the 2014 FCT Investigator Programme (IF/01606/2014/CP1230/CT0001) and wish to acknowledge the support of Fundação para a Ciência e Tecnologia (FCT), through the strategic project UID/MAR/04292/2019 granted to MARE

Non-indigenous species refined national baseline inventories : A synthesis in the context of the European Union's Marine Strategy Framework Directive

Refined baseline inventories of non-indigenous species (NIS) are set per European Union Member State (MS), in the context of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD). The inventories are based on the initial assessment of the MSFD (2012) and the updated data of the European Alien Species Information Network, in collaboration with NIS experts appointed by the MSs. The analysis revealed that a large number of NIS was not reported from the initial assessments. Moreover, several NIS initially listed are currently considered as native in Europe or were proven to be historical misreportings. The refined baseline inventories constitute a milestone for the MSFD Descriptor 2 implementation, providing an improved basis for reporting new NIS introductions, facilitating the MSFD D2 assessment. In addition, the inventories can help MSs in the establishment of monitoring systems of targeted NIS, and foster cooperation on monitoring of NIS across or within shared marine subregions. Highlights • Refined MSFD baseline inventories of non-indigenous species (NIS) are set in EU. • The inventories are given per EU Member State (MS) and MSFD subregion up to 2012. • The NIS lists provide a basis for reporting new NIS introductions in EU after 2012. • Our work constitutes a milestone for the MSFD Descriptor 2 implementation

EFFECT OF EXERCISE ON HYPOTHALAMIC PARAVENTRICULAR NUCLEUS SK CHANNEL FUNCTION IN NORMAL AND HIGH SALT CONDITIONS

Increased sympathetic outflow is a hallmark of cardiovascular disease (CVD) (Grassi, Seravalle et al. 2015). Previously, our lab demonstrated that small conductance Ca2+ activated K+ channels (SK) expressed in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN) play a crucial role in regulating neuronal firing rate and sympathetic outflow in rats with AngII-salt hypertension (Larson, Gui et al. 2015). Therefore, antihypertensive therapies targeted at upregulating SK channel function in the PVN should be pursued. Exercise is a powerful intervention to treat CVD. However, little is known about the interaction between SK channels in the PVN and exercise. Initially, we showed that following an 8-week exercise protocol, normotensive Sprague Dawley (SD) rats exhibited an augmented change in renal sympathetic nerve activity (ΔRSNA) to PVN microinjection of apamin, an SK channel blocker. This trend warranted further investigation and prompted us to split 5–6-week-old SD rats into four groups including SD SED-NS, SD EXT-NS, SD SED-HS, and SD EXT-HS. DAHL rats, a model of salt sensitive hypertension, were also split into EXT-HS and SED-HS groups. HS groups were fed 4% NaCl food while NS groups ate 0.4% NaCl chow. Following acclimation, EXT groups ran on a motorized treadmill 5 days/week for 8-10 weeks. Conscious blood pressure was measured weekly via tail plethysmography. After 8-10 weeks, animals were anesthetized and underwent in vivo surgery to record ΔRSNA and ΔMAP following PVN apamin microinjection. We found that exercise training significantly upregulated SK channel function in the PVN of normotensive SD rats fed a NS diet compared to SED rats (320.8 ± 174.6 % baseline, n=9 vs 184.8 ± 143.1 % baseline, n=9; p = 0.02) but had little effect on the blood pressure response to apamin (20.40 ± 9.98 mmHg, n=9 vs 25.27 ± 9.97 mmHg, n=8; p = 0.1658). In SD HS and DAHL rats, we did not see significant differences in ΔRSNA and ΔMAP between SED and EXT groups. Small sample size and mixed sexes possibly contributed to this lack of positive results. Collectively, these results indicate exercise can enhance PVN SK channel function to reduce sympathetic outflow. This improvement of SK channel function may be one mechanism by which exercise protects against the development of salt sensitive hypertension