Fatty acids linked to cardiovascular mortality are associated with risk factors

Background. Although saturated fatty acids (FAs) have been linked to cardiovascular mortality, it is not clear whether this outcome is attributable solely to their effects on low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) or whether other risk factors are also associated with FAs. The Western Alaskan Native population, with its rapidly changing lifestyles, shift in diet from unsaturated to saturated fatty acids and dramatic increase in cardiovascular disease (CVD), presents an opportunity to elucidate any associations between specific FAs and known CVD risk factors. Objective. We tested the hypothesis that the specific FAs previously identified as related to CVD mortality are also associated with individual CVD risk factors. Methods. In this community-based, cross-sectional study, relative proportions of FAs in plasma and red blood cell membranes were compared with CVD risk factors in a sample of 758 men and women aged ]35 years. Linear regression analyses were used to analyze relations between specific FAs and CVD risk factors (LDL-C, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, heart rate, body mass index, fasting glucose and fasting insulin, 2-hour glucose and 2-hour insulin). Results. The specific saturated FAs previously identified as related to CVD mortality, the palmitic and myristic acids, were adversely associated with most CVD risk factors, whereas unsaturated linoleic acid (18:2n-6) and the marine n-3 FAs were not associated or were beneficially associated with CVD risk factors. Conclusions. The results suggest that CVD risk factors are more extensively affected by individual FAs than hitherto recognized, and that risk for CVD,MI and stroke can be reduced by reducing the intake of palmitate, myristic acid and simple carbohydrates and improved by greater intake of linoleic acid and marine n-3 FAs

New insights into the diets of harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) in the Salish Sea revealed by analysis of fatty acid signatures

Harbor seals (Phoca fvitulina) are an abundant predator along the west coast of North America, and there is considerable interest in their diet composition, especially in regard to predation on valued fish stocks. Available informationon harbor seal diets, primarily derived from scat analysis, suggests that adult salmon (Oncorhynchus spp.), Pacific Herring (Clupea pallasii), and gadids predominate. Because diet assessments based on scat analysis may be biased, we investigated diet composition through quantitative analysis of fatty acid signatures. Blubber samples from 49 harbor seals captured in western North America from haul-outs within the area of the San Juan Islands and southern Strait of Georgia in the Salish Sea were analyzed for fatty acid composition, along with 269 fish and squid specimens representing 27 potential prey classes. Diet estimates varied spatially, demographically, and among individual harbor seals. Findings confirmed the prevalence of previously identified prey species in harbor seal diets, but other species also contributed significantly. In particular, Black (Sebastes melanops) and Yellowtail (S. flavidus) Rockfish were estimated to compose up to 50% of some individual seal diets. Specialization and high predation rates on Black and Yellowtail Rockfish by a subset of harbor seals may play a role in the population dynamics of these regional rockfish stocks that is greater than previously realized

Trace metal ion activities from liquid-liquid partitioning measurements

Elucidation of the chemical speciation of trace metals in the natural aquatic environment will lead to a better understanding of their distribution and ecological effects. One approach which can provide useful information about the chemical reactivity of metal ions is the measurement of their activity. Phase equilibrium methods are required and liquid-liquid partition equilibria are applicable. This study utilized model systems to demonstrate this applicability. The partitioning of copper(II) ions as a chelate of acetylacetone was used to determine the trace activity coefficients of the copper(II) electrolyte in the CU(N03)2-HN03-KN03, Cu(N03)2-HCl04-NaCl04 and CuC12-HCl-KCl systems over a wide range of ionic strengths (u). By careful control of pH and acetylacetone concentration only 1-3% of the metal ion was extracted. Under these conditions the amount extracted is proportional to the activity. The concentration of the bis(Acetylacetonato) Copper(II) was determined in the organic phase by spectrophotometric and atomic absorption methods but any convenient concentration technique could be used to measure the amount extracted. A comparison of activity measurements by liquid-liquid partitioning was made with electrochemical measurements by utilizing a copper ion selective electrode. The significantly lower activity coefficient values obtained by the electrochemical method were explained in terms of the liquid junction potential and the necessity for extrathermodynamic approaches to single ion activities. Potential application of the liquid-liquid partitioning method to the determination of trace activity coefficients in natural aquatic systems was demonstrated by extension of the method to measurements in copper(II) amino acid solutions at u = 0.001 and u = 0.723. The ionic strength adjustments in this case were made with NaCl. A significant difference in the free copper (II) ion activity was observed between solutions of copper(II) glycinate and copper(II) alaninate under identical conditions of metal and ligand concentrations, pH and ionic strength. The copper(II) activity measurements made in the presence of the amino acids at u = 0.723 are not possible with copper ion selective electrodes due to chloride interference

fl_1174 560..564

Proton transfer chemical ionization mass spectrometry of fatty acid methyl esters separated by gas chromatography: quantitative aspects The propensity of esters to accept protons in the gas phase during chemical ionization (CI) mass spectrometry (MS) has been well known for some time. This proton transfer CI almost exclusively produces the [M1H] 1 quasimolecular ion for most esters. While it has been suggested that this could serve as the basis for particularly sensitive quantitation of fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) separated by gas chromatography (GC), the application of this approach to quantitate FAME has not been fully explored. Here, we briefly address some considerations pertinent to the application of GC with proton transfer CI-MS to quantitative analysis of FAME. Limits of detection and relative response factors (RF) for a number of FAME separated by GC and detected by CI-MS are presented and discussed. While the detection limits are comparable or superior to other detection methods, it was noted that the RF for unsaturated FAME were dramatically reduced with increasing degree of unsaturation

Physical data (sex, weight, tag ID number) from Harbor Seals tagged in the San Juan Islands, 2007-2008

Dataset: seal_ID_infoPhysical and identifying info for Harbor Seals tagged and tracked in the San Juan Islands from 2007 to 2008; includes sex, length, weight, pelage description, and tag ID numbers. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/3794NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-055044

Counts of prey species found in harbor seal scat samples collected in the San Juan Islands from 2005-2008 (Seal_response_to_prey project)

Dataset: seal_prey_species_countsCounts of prey species found in harbor seal scat samples collected in the San Juan Islands from 2005-2008. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/3817NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-055044

Locations of satellite-tagged harbor seals in the San Juan Islands, WA from 2007-2009

Dataset: seal_location_trackingCoordinates of tagged seals in the San Juan Islands are reported. Seals were captured and tagged during 2007 to 2009 at several sites in Padilla Bay and the Rosario Strait of the Pacific Northwest coast. Seals were tagged with satellite-linked time-depth recorders (TDR's) and GPS receivers. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/3704NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-055044

Summary of prey groups found in harbor seal scat samples from the San Juan Islands analyzed at the Acevedo lab at Western Washington University during 2005-2008 (Seal_response_to_prey project)

Dataset: seal_prey_by_regionFrequency of occurrence of taxonomic groups of prey identified in harbor seal scat samples collected from 2005 to 2008, summarized by region and season. Four regions of the San Juan Islands of Washington state were sampled: Eastern Bays, Rosario Strait, San Juan Channel, and the Southern Strait of Georgia. For a complete list of measurements, refer to the full dataset description in the supplemental file 'Dataset_description.pdf'. The most current version of this dataset is available at: https://www.bco-dmo.org/dataset/3786NSF Division of Ocean Sciences (NSF OCE) OCE-055044