Morphological and Genetic Variation in the Endemic Seagrass Halophila hawaiiana (Hydrocharitaceae) in the Hawaiian Archipelago

The endemic seagrass Halophila hawaiiana Doty & Stone is found in discrete populations throughout the Hawaiian Archipelago. Morphological characteristics of plants from Midway Atoll, Pearl and Hermes Reef, Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, and Maui were measured and compared. Striking variation in leaf length, leaf width, leaf length to width ratio, and internode length was evident among the 18 collection sites sampled at depths ranging from 0.32 to 18 m. DNA sequence analyses of a chloroplast-genome, single-base repeat locus in ramets from nine different collections found only two repeat haplotypes. Repeat haplotypes were fixed at all collection sites and for all islands except O'ahu

A Demonstration of DNA Barcoding-Based Identification of Blade-Form Ulva (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta) Species from Three Site in the San Juan Islands, Washington, USA

Marine macroalgae are foundation species that play a critical ecological role in coastal communities as primary producers. The macroalgal genus Ulva is vital in intertidal communities, serving as a food source and shelter for organisms, but these species also form environment-damaging nuisance blooms. This project aimed to demonstrate the utility of DNA barcoding for determining the diversity of Ulva species in the San Juan Islands (Washington, DC, USA). Blade-form Ulva (Ulvophyceae) specimens were collected from the lower, mid, and upper intertidal zones at three sites experiencing different levels of wave exposure. Sequences of plastid-encoded tufA were generated for each specimen and cluster analyses revealed the presence of four species at the collection sites. Two species were positively identified as Ulva expansa and Ulva fenestrata based on their sharing identical tufA sequences with those of the holotype specimens. Sequences of plastid-encoded rbcL and the nuclear-encoded ribosomal ITS regions of representative specimens were used to identify the other two species as Ulva prolifera and Ulva californica based on their similarity to epitype and topotype specimen sequences, respectively. Additional types of specimen sequencing efforts are needed to increase the number of Ulva species that can be accurately identified and realize their true biodiversity

A Demonstration of DNA Barcoding-Based Identification of Blade-Form <i>Ulva</i> (Ulvophyceae, Chlorophyta) Species from Three Site in the San Juan Islands, Washington, USA

Marine macroalgae are foundation species that play a critical ecological role in coastal communities as primary producers. The macroalgal genus Ulva is vital in intertidal communities, serving as a food source and shelter for organisms, but these species also form environment-damaging nuisance blooms. This project aimed to demonstrate the utility of DNA barcoding for determining the diversity of Ulva species in the San Juan Islands (Washington, DC, USA). Blade-form Ulva (Ulvophyceae) specimens were collected from the lower, mid, and upper intertidal zones at three sites experiencing different levels of wave exposure. Sequences of plastid-encoded tufA were generated for each specimen and cluster analyses revealed the presence of four species at the collection sites. Two species were positively identified as Ulva expansa and Ulva fenestrata based on their sharing identical tufA sequences with those of the holotype specimens. Sequences of plastid-encoded rbcL and the nuclear-encoded ribosomal ITS regions of representative specimens were used to identify the other two species as Ulva prolifera and Ulva californica based on their similarity to epitype and topotype specimen sequences, respectively. Additional types of specimen sequencing efforts are needed to increase the number of Ulva species that can be accurately identified and realize their true biodiversity

Transfer of wastewater associated pharmaceuticals and personal care products to crop plants from biosolids treated soil

The plant uptake of emerging organic contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is receiving increased attention. Biosolids from municipal wastewater treatment have been previously identified as a major source for PPCPs. Thus, plant uptake of PPCPs from biosolids applied soils needs to be understood. In the present study, the uptake of carbamazepine, diphenhydramine, and triclocarban by five vegetable crop plants was examined in a field experiment. At the time of harvest, three compounds were detected in all plants grown in biosolids-treated soils. Calculated root concentration factor (RCF) and shoot concentration factor (SCF) are the highest for carbamazepine followed by triclocarban and diphenhydramine. Positive correlation between RCF and root lipid content was observed for carbamazepine but not for diphenhydramine and triclocarban. The results demonstrate the ability of crop plants to accumulate PPCPs from contaminated soils. The plant uptake processes of PPCPs are likely affected by their physico-chemical properties, and their interaction with soil. The difference uptake behavior between plant species could not solely be attributed to the root lipid content. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.The plant uptake of emerging organic contaminants such as pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) is receiving increased attention. Biosolids from municipal wastewater treatment have been previously identified as a major source for PPCPs. Thus, plant uptake of PPCPs from biosolids applied soils needs to be understood. In the present study, the uptake of carbamazepine, diphenhydramine, and triclocarban by five vegetable crop plants was examined in a field experiment. At the time of harvest, three compounds were detected in all plants grown in biosolids-treated soils. Calculated root concentration factor (RCF) and shoot concentration factor (SCF) are the highest for carbamazepine followed by triclocarban and diphenhydramine. Positive correlation between RCF and root lipid content was observed for carbamazepine but not for diphenhydramine and triclocarban. The results demonstrate the ability of crop plants to accumulate PPCPs from contaminated soils. The plant uptake processes of PPCPs are likely affected by their physico-chemical properties, and their interaction with soil. The difference uptake behavior between plant species could not solely be attributed to the root lipid content. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Therapeutic efficacy of sonic hedgehog protein in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Orientadora : Drª Lucélia DonattiTese (doutorado) - Universidade Federal do Paraná, Setor de Ciências Biológicas, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biologia Celular e Molecular. Defesa: Curitiba, 31/07/2014Inclui referências : f. 71-83Resumo: Os peixes que habitam o Oceano Antártico são extremamente adaptados ao frio, sendo seu metabolismo, bioquímico e fisiológico, eficiente em baixas temperaturas. Oscilações sazonais de luminosidade e do suprimento alimentar são também apontados como fatores determinantes da biodiversidade e limitantes da biomassa e da produtividade primária do Oceano Antártico. A tolerância a temperaturas mais altas dos organismos marinhos antárticos tem sido estudada devido à preocupação dos pesquisadores frente ao aquecimento global e da Península Antártica. Os poucos resultados existentes têm demonstrado que esses organismos são extremamente estenotérmicos e que alterações de temperatura podem ser letais. O sistema antioxidante representa um importante marcador de resposta dos organismos submetidos a situações de estresse e alterações de temperatura podem promover a geração de espécies reativas de oxigênio ocasionando danos celulares. Atualmente, a extrema estenotermia dos organismos marinhos antárticos também tem sido estudada através da expressão das proteínas do choque térmico (HSPs). Dentre a família das HSPs, a HSP70 apresenta síntese rápida e significativa diante de diferentes estressores, por isso é uma ferramenta útil para quantificar e prever níveis de estresse em organismos. As coletas e os bioensaios deste trabalho, foram realizados na Baía do Almirantado, Ilha Rei George, no Arquipélago das Shetlands do Sul, Península Antártica, onde se localiza a Estação Antártica Comandante Ferraz (EACF). O presente trabalho tem como objetivo investigar variações nos níveis de HSP70, nos níveis de atividade de várias enzimas antioxidantes (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR e GST) e nos níveis dos marcadores não enzimáticos (GSH, PC e LPO) do estresse oxidativo nos peixes antárticos, Notothenia rossii e Nottohenia coriiceps em condições naturais e de estresse térmico. Para tanto, três capítulos compõem este trabalho, onde o primeiro analisa o efeito da temperatura no metabolismo oxidativo de N. rossii e N. coriiceps; o segundo avalia os níveis de expressão de HSP70 no fígado de N. rossii e N. coriiceps submetidos a estresse térmico e o terceiro analisa ao longo do ano os níveis de atividades dos marcadores de estresse oxidativo em diferentes órgãos de N. rossii e N. coriiceps da Baia do Almirantado, Ilha Rei George, Península Antártica. Palavras-chaves: temperatura, sazonalidade, estresse oxidativo, peixes antárticos, proteína do choque térmico.Abstract: The fish that inhabit the Southern Ocean are highly adapted to the cold, and its metabolism, biochemical and physiological, efficient at low temperatures. Seasonal fluctuations of light and food supply are determinants of biodiversity and limiting biomass and primary productivity of the Southern Ocean. The tolerance to higher temperatures of Antarctic marine organisms have studied due to the concern of researchers against global warming and the Antarctic Peninsula. The few results have demonstrated that these organisms are extremely stenothermal and rapid temperature change can be lethal. The antioxidant system is an important response marker of organisms subjected to stress and temperature changes situations can promote the generation of reactive oxygen species causing cell damage. Currently, the extreme stenothermal of Antarctic marine organisms has studied through the expression of heat shock proteins (HSPs). Among the family of HSPs, the HSP70 has significant and rapid synthesis on different stressors, so it is a useful tool to quantify and predict stress levels in organisms. The experiments of were performed in Admiralty Bay, King George Island, in the Archipelago of the South Shetlands, Antarctic Peninsula, where is the Comandante Ferraz Antarctic Station (EACF). This study aims to investigate variations in the levels of HSP70 in the activity levels of several antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GPx, GR and GST) and the levels of non-enzymatic markers (GSH, PC and LPO) oxidative stress in Antarctic fish, Notothenia rossii and Nottohenia coriiceps in natural and heat stress conditions. Therefore, three chapters make this work, where the first examines the effect of temperature on the oxidative metabolism of N. rossii and N. coriiceps; the second evaluates the HSP70 expression levels in liver N. rossii and N. coriiceps submited to thermal stress and the third analyzes throughout the year, the activity levels of oxidative stress markers in different tissues of N. rossii and N. coriiceps of Admiralty Bay, King George Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Keywords: temperature, seasonality, oxidative stress, Antarctic fish, heat shock proteins

Therapeutic efficacy of sonic hedgehog protein in experimental diabetic neuropathy

Hedgehog proteins modulate development and patterning of the embryonic nervous system. As expression of desert hedgehog and the hedgehog receptor, patched-1, persist in the postnatal and adult peripheral nerves, the hedgehog pathway may have a role in maturation and maintenance of the peripheral nervous system in normal and disease states. We measured desert hedgehog expression in the peripheral nerve of maturing diabetic rats and found that diabetes caused a significant reduction in desert hedgehog mRNA. Treating diabetic rats with a sonic hedgehog–IgG fusion protein fully restored motor- and sensory-nerve conduction velocities and maintained the axonal caliber of large myelinated fibers. Diabetes-induced deficits in retrograde transport of nerve growth factor and sciatic-nerve levels of calcitonin gene–related product and neuropeptide Y were also ameliorated by treatment with the sonic hedgehog–IgG fusion protein, as was thermal hypoalgesia in the paw. These studies implicate disruption of normal hedgehog function in the etiology of diabetes-induced peripheral-nerve dysfunction and indicate that delivery of exogenous hedgehog proteins may have therapeutic potential for the treatment of diabetic neuropathy

Age and frailty are independently associated with increased COVID-19 mortality and increased care needs in survivors: results of an international multi-centre study

Introduction: Increased mortality has been demonstrated in older adults with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), but the effect of frailty has been unclear. Methods: This multi-centre cohort study involved patients aged 18 years and older hospitalised with COVID-19, using routinely collected data. We used Cox regression analysis to assess the impact of age, frailty and delirium on the risk of inpatient mortality, adjusting for sex, illness severity, inflammation and co-morbidities. We used ordinal logistic regression analysis to assess the impact of age, Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) and delirium on risk of increased care requirements on discharge, adjusting for the same variables. Results: Data from 5,711 patients from 55 hospitals in 12 countries were included (median age 74, interquartile range [IQR] 54–83; 55.2% male). The risk of death increased independently with increasing age (>80 versus 18–49: hazard ratio [HR] 3.57, confidence interval [CI] 2.54–5.02), frailty (CFS 8 versus 1–3: HR 3.03, CI 2.29–4.00) inflammation, renal disease, cardiovascular disease and cancer, but not delirium. Age, frailty (CFS 7 versus 1–3: odds ratio 7.00, CI 5.27–9.32), delirium, dementia and mental health diagnoses were all associated with increased risk of higher care needs on discharge. The likelihood of adverse outcomes increased across all grades of CFS from 4 to 9. Conclusion: Age and frailty are independently associated with adverse outcomes in COVID-19. Risk of increased care needs was also increased in survivors of COVID-19 with frailty or older age.</p