Design, dimensioning and performance of a large-scale flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) broodstock conditioning at Helgoland Oyster Hatchery

Restocking and conservation of European flat oyster (Ostrea edulis) populations is a major focus of ecological restoration efforts to benefit from the wide range of ecosystem functions and services that this species provides by building up biogenic reefs. Today, O. edulis production is still largely based on seed collection through the placement of collectors in the wild. Given the specific requirements for ecological restoration, such as the absence of pathogens and the preservation of a high genetic diversity, the current supply with seed oysters within Europe is insufficient or inadequate. Moreover, in the German context where no native broodstock occurs and pathogens are absent, ecological restoration can only be carried out by establishing an innovative research oyster hatchery using appropriate imported oyster broodstock for controlled production. In this context this study was carried out on the island of Helgoland, addressing the requirements of: 1) substantial larval production, 2) design and construction of an effective broodstock conditioning system (against the constraints of converting an existing infrastructure from the 1970s and space limitations, 3) bio secure production. The focus of the study was the design, implementation of the conditioning structures (broodstock maturation), the validation (conditioning) of the conditioning system and the performance evaluation (number of larvae, influence of temperature, influence of broodstock origin) of the implemented structure. The inseparable aspects of biosecurity (including quarantine, purification treatments), broodstock production and feeding, and pre-conditioning operations are also addressed here. After planning period (February 2021 to April 2021), the designed system was build up (April 2021 to May 2021) and activated with broodstock oysters from two origins (Norway and Scotland) for a first conditioning cycle (June 2021 to September 2021). In total 32 million O. edulis larvae were produced successfully

Shaping supervision practice through research: Effects of supervision for counselling practice

That there are links between effective supervision and effective counselling practice tends to be taken for granted. As a contribution to documenting the professional knowledges and experiences that might stand behind the profession’s claims for the benefits of supervision, this study interviewed experienced supervisors, seeking their perspectives on the links between effective supervision and effective counselling practice. Taking a social constructionist approach and showing the processes of knowledge production, researchers then engaged with these supervisors’ perspectives, in a series of reflections. These reflections show how the research interviews contribute to shaping the researchers’ ongoing supervision practice. Areas of interest include the power relation between supervisor and practitioner; responsibilities for monitoring practice; taping; supervisor responsibility for evaluating the effectiveness of supervision, and generativity of practice through storying a practitioner’s values and principles. Questions are offered for readers, too, to engage in a shaping of practice through their own responses to the article

Platelet and Fibrin Deposition at the Damaged Vessel Wall: Cooperative Substrates for Neutrophil Adhesion Under Flow Conditions

At sites of vessel wall damage, the primary hemostatic reac- tion involves platelet and fibrin deposition. At these sites, circulating leukocytes marginate and become activated. Ad- hered platelets can support leukocyte localization; however, the role of fibrin in this respect is not known. We studied the adhesion of human neutrophils (polymorphonuclear leukocytes [PMNs]) to endothelial extracellular matrix (ECM)- bound fibrin and platelets under flow conditions. ECM alone did not show PMN adhesion. ECM-coated cover slips were perfused with plasma to form a surface-bound fibrin network, and/or with whole blood to allow platelet adhesion. Unstimulated PMNs adhered to fibrin at moderate shear stress (20 to 200 mPa). ECM-bound platelets induced rolling adhesion and allowed more PMNs to adhere at higher shear (320 mPa). ECM coated with both platelets and fibrin induced more static and shear-resistant PMN adhesion. PMN adhesion to fibrin alone but not to platelet/fibrin surfaces was inhibited by soluble fibrinogen. Adhesion to fibrin alone was inhibited by CD11b and CD18 blocking antibodies. Furthermore, fibrin formed under flow conditions showed up to threefold higher PMN adhesion compared with fibrin formed under static conditions, due to structural differences. These results indicate that circulating PMNs adhere to fibrin in an integrin-dependent manner at moderate shear stresses. However, at higher shear rates (Û200 mPa), additional mechanisms (ie, activated platelets) are necessary for an interac- tion of PMNs with a fibrin network

Characterization of Eosinophil Adhesion to TNF-a-Activated Endothelium Under Flow Conditions: a4 Integrins Mediate Initial Attachment, and E-Selectin Mediates Rolling

The multistep model of leukocyte adhesion reveals that selectins mediate rolling interactions and that integrins mediate firm adhesion processes. In this study, the interaction between eosinophils and TNF-a-activated HUVEC (second or third passage) was studied under flow conditions (0.8 and 3.2 dynes/cm 2 ). Especially the role of a4 integrins on eosinophils and E-selectin on HUVEC was studied. Inhibition of the integrin a4 chain on eosinophils reduced the number of firmly adhered resting eosinophils to TNF-a-stimulated endothelium by 43% whereas the percentage rolling cells increased 2.2-fold compared with untreated control eosinophils. Blocking of E-selectin on the endothelium reduced the number of adherent eosinophils by only 23% and 16%. In this situation, however, hardly any rolling adhesion was observed, and the few rolling cells showed a low rolling velocity. Blocking both a4 integrin on eosinophils and E-selectin on HUVEC reduced the number of adhered eosinophils by 95%. P-selectin did not significantly participate in eosinophil adhesion to TNF-a-activated HUVEC. Inhibition of both a4 integrins and ß2 integrins on eosinophils resulted in a reduction of adhered cells by 65% and a 3-fold increase in percentage rolling cells. Taken together, these results clearly show that resting eosinophils preferentially use constitutively active a4 integrins ( a4 ß1 , a4 ß7 ) for the first attach-ment to TNF-a-activated HUVEC. In addition, a4 integrins and E-selectin work synergistically in eosinophil adherence to TNF-a-activated HUVEC. Although E-selectin is important for eosinophil rolling under these conditions, P-selectin plays only a minor role

Liver failure caused by prolonged state of malnutrition following bariatric surgery

Bariatric surgery is an effective tool in the treatment of patients with morbid obesity. In these case reports we describe 2 patients who developed liver failure after currently-practiced types of bariatric surgery, caused by a prolonged state of malnutrition provoked by psychiatric problems. Despite intensive guidance of a psychologist and dieticians after surgery, our patients deteriorated psychologically, resulting in a prolonged state of severe malnutrition and anorexia. Finally, a state of starvation was reached, passing a critical level of the liver capacity. Patients who present with signs of severe protein malnutrition after bariatric surgery should be closely monitored and checked for nutritional status. Specific attention should be given to patients who develop psychiatric problems post-bariatric surgery. If refeeding does not result in clinical improvement, reversal surgery should be considered in a timely manner

A unique protein profile of peripheral neutrophils from COPD patients does not reflect cytokine-induced protein profiles of neutrophils in vitro

Contains fulltext : 96603.pdf (publisher's version ) (Open Access)ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Inflammation, both local and systemic, is a hallmark of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Inflammatory mediators such as TNFalpha and GM-CSF are secreted by lung epithelium, alveolar macrophages and other inflammatory cells and are thought to be important contributors in the pathogenesis of COPD. Indeed, neutrophils are activated by these cytokines and these cells are one of the major inflammatory cell types recruited to the pulmonary compartment of COPD patients. Furthermore, these inflammatory mediators are found in the peripheral blood of COPD patients and, therefore, we hypothesized that TNFalpha/GM-CSF-induced protein profiles can be found in peripheral neutrophils of COPD patients. METHODS: Using fluorescence 2-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis we investigated differentially regulated proteins in peripheral neutrophils from COPD patients and healthy age-matched control subjects. Furthermore, protein profiles from COPD patients were compared with those of neutrophils of healthy age-matched controls that were stimulated with TNFalpha and/or GM-CSF in vitro. Protein gels were compared using DeCyder 7.0 software. RESULTS: We identified 7 significantly regulated protein spots between peripheral neutrophils from COPD patients and age-matched healthy control subjects. Stimulation of peripheral neutrophils with TNFalpha, GM-CSF or TNFalpha + GM-CSF in vitro resulted in 13, 20 and 22 regulated protein spots, respectively. However, these cytokine-induced protein differences did not correspond with the protein differences found in neutrophils from COPD patients. CONCLUSION: These results show that neutrophils from COPD patients have a unique protein profile compared to neutrophils from healthy age-matched controls. Furthermore, the neutrophil profiles of COPD patients do not reflect putative dominant signals induced by TNFalpha, GM-CSF or their combination. Our results indicate that systemic neutrophil responses in COPD patients are caused by a unique but subtle interplay between multiple inflammatory signals

IL-8 Induces a Transient Arrest of Rolling Eosinophils on Human Endothelial Cells

Eosinophils exhibit a rolling interaction with E-selectin-expressing endothelium, and need to be activated by inflammatory me-diators to firmly adhere to this surface. This study shows that IL-8 induces a transient arrest of unprimed eosinophils that roll on E-selectin present on TNF-a-activated HUVEC in an in vitro flow chamber. This process was antagonized by neutralizing Abs directed against IL-8 showing the specificity of the IL-8 effect. Furthermore, blocking Abs against both a4 and ß2 integrins inhibited the IL-8-induced transient arrest while these Abs had no effect when they were added separately. The IL-8-induced arrest was pertussis toxin sensitive. Studying the effect of IL-8 in more detail, we evaluated putative changes in intracellular Ca^(2+) concentration in eosinophils induced by IL-8. We could show that IL-8 induces a transient rise in intracellular Ca^(2+) concentration in ~40% of the cells provided that the eosinophils are interacting with endothelial cells or fibronectin-coated surfaces. Together these data show that resting eosinophils respond to IL-8 provided that the cells adhere on physiological surfaces. The induction of a transient arrest provides a new level of chemokine-induced regulation of leukocyte adhesion under flow conditions