Wide-gene expression analysis of lipid-relevant genes in nutritionally challenged gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Disturbances of lipid metabolism are a major problem in livestock fish and the present study analysed the different tissue expression patterns and regulations of 40 lipid-relevant genes in gilthead sea bream. Nineteen sequences, including fatty acid elongases (4), phospholipases (7), acylglycerol lipases (8) and lipase-maturating enzymes (1), were new for gilthead sea bream (GenBank, JX975700-JX975718). Up to six different lipase-related enzymes were highly expressed in adipose tissue and liver, which also showed a high expression level of δ6 and δ9 desaturases. In the brain, the greatest gene expression level was achieved by the very long chain fatty acid elongation 1, along with relatively high levels of δ9 desaturases and the phospholipase retinoic acid receptor responder. These two enzymes were also expressed at a high level in white skeletal muscle, which also shared a high expression of lipid oxidative enzymes. An overall down-regulation trend was observed in liver and adipose tissue in response to fasting following the depletion of lipid stores. The white skeletal muscle of fasted fish showed a strong down-regulation of δ9 desaturases in conjunction with a consistent up-regulation of the >lipolytic machinery> including key enzymes of tissue fatty acid uptake and mitochondrial fatty acid transport and oxidation. In contrast, the gene expression profile of the brain remained almost unaltered in fasted fish, which highlights the different tissue plasticity of lipid-related genes. Taken together, these findings provide new fish genomic resources and contribute to define the most informative set of lipid-relevant genes for a given tissue and physiological condition in gilthead sea bream. © 2014 Elsevier B.V.This research was funded by the Spanish MICINN through AQUAFAT (AGL2009-07797; predictive modelling of flesh fatty acid composition in cultured fish species with different muscle lipid contents) and AQUAGENOMICS (CSD2007-00002, improvement of aquaculture production by the use of biotechnological tools) projects. Additional funding was obtained from EU project ARRAINA (KBBE-2011-5-288925, advanced research initiatives for nutrition and aquaculture).Peer Reviewe

Complexation of common metal cations by cyanins: binding affinity and molecular structure

The ability of diverse metal cations to form complexes with cyanin has been investigated by means of Density Functional Theory (DFT) and the Quantum Theory of Atoms in Molecules (QTAIM). The strongest preference is shown by trivalent metals which exceed that of Mg(II), indicating that ion replacement processes are suitable detoxification mechanisms for plants. Molecular structure analysis indicates that the larger the metal affinity of Cy- the longer the C2‐C1’ bond length and smaller ρb value. This is understood as upon metal complexation the Cy− ligand molecular structure is more compatible with a dienolate‐like structure rather than the 4′‐keto‐quinoidal‐like structure. The weight of the former increases as stronger the binding. QTAIM charges indicate that the stronger the binding energy the larger the charge transfer from Cy− to the metal, reducing its positive charge below the values indicated by the corresponding Lewis structure.Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. CTQ2010‐2150

Análisis de los resultados de los Planes de Pensiones del sistema de Empleo del sector público

El presente trabajo analiza la persistencia en rentabilidad de los Planes de Pensiones del sistema de Empleo del sector público. Para ello, comenzaremos contextualizando el Sistema Público de Pensiones español explicando su actual situación, así como las reformas aplicadas a lo largo de los años. Continuaremos presentando los Planes de Pensiones privados como complemento a la pensión pública detallando sus respectivas ventajas e inconvenientes, tipología y progreso histórico. Posteriormente, nos centraremos en los Planes de Pensiones del sistema de Empleo y su evolución en el tiempo para, finalmente, proceder al estudio del análisis empírico basado en los Planes de Pensiones del sistema de Empleo pertenecientes a organismos públicos españoles para el periodo 2005-2016. A partir del estudio realizado, se concluye que existe persistencia en la rentabilidad en periodos de crecimiento económico

Intención de uso de vivienda vacacional: moderación e influencia de variables sociodemográficas

La vivienda vacacional ha sido uno de los fenómenos que más ha cobrado importancia en la última década en el sector turístico. Basado en la Teoría del Comportamiento Planificado, en este estudio se ha analizado la influencia de las variables sociodemográficas a la hora de reservar y hacer uso de este tipo de alojamiento. La metodología utilizada para este estudio ha sido una encuesta realizada tanto de forma personal como administrada, a una muestra de 874 personas residentes en la isla de Tenerife. Los resultados sugieren que, con respecto a las variables sociodemográficas, tanto la edad, como el status y la ocupación, influyen en la intención de reserva de la vivienda vacacional, así como en los antecedentes de este marco teórico. En este estudio se proponen una serie de implicaciones prácticas, con las que aumentar el interés y reserva de los grupos de personas con una menor predisposición de uso.Holiday homes have been one of the most important phenomena in the last decade in the tourism sector. Based on the Theory of Planned Behavior, this study has analyzed the influence of sociodemographic variables on the booking and use of this type of accommodation. The methodology used for this study has been a personal and administered survey, to a sample of 874 people residing on the island of Tenerife. The results suggest that, with respect to the sociodemographic variables, both age, status and occupation, influence the intention to book a holiday home, as well as on the background of this theoretical framework. In this study, a number of practical implications are proposed, through which the interest and reserve of groups of people with a lower predisposition to use could be increased

Cellular and molecular alterations in neurons and glial cells in inherited retinal degeneration

Multiple gene mutations have been associated with inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs). Despite the spectrum of phenotypes caused by the distinct mutations, IRDs display common physiopathology features. Cell death is accompanied by inflammation and oxidative stress. The vertebrate retina has several attributes that make this tissue vulnerable to oxidative and nitrosative imbalance. The high energy demands and active metabolism in retinal cells, as well as their continuous exposure to high oxygen levels and light-induced stress, reveal the importance of tightly regulated homeostatic processes to maintain retinal function, which are compromised in pathological conditions. In addition, the subsequent microglial activation and gliosis, which triggers the secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, trophic factors, and other molecules, further worsen the degenerative process. As the disease evolves, retinal cells change their morphology and function. In disease stages where photoreceptors are lost, the remaining neurons of the retina to preserve their function seek out for new synaptic partners, which leads to a cascade of morphological alterations in retinal cells that results in a complete remodeling of the tissue. In this review, we describe important molecular and morphological changes in retinal cells that occur in response to oxidative stress and the inflammatory processes underlying IRDs.This research was funded by the DGA group B08_17R: Investigación en Retina y Sistema Visual and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) funds: “Una manera de hacer Europa”, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (FEDER-PID 2019-106230RB-I00), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/00740-FEDER, RETICS-FEDER RD16/0008/0016), Generalitat Valenciana-FEDER (IDIFEDER/2017/064, PROMETEO/2021/024), Ministerio de Universidades (FPU16/04114), Es Retina Asturias (2019/00286/001). The APC was funded by the DGA group B08_17R: Investigación en Retina y Sistema Visual (FEDER)

Inherited Retinal Dystrophies: Role of Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Their Physiopathology and Therapeutic Implications

Inherited retinal dystrophies (IRDs) are a large group of genetically and clinically heterogeneous diseases characterized by the progressive degeneration of the retina, ultimately leading to loss of visual function. Oxidative stress and inflammation play fundamental roles in the physiopathology of these diseases. Photoreceptor cell death induces an inflammatory state in the retina. The activation of several molecular pathways triggers different cellular responses to injury, including the activation of microglia to eliminate debris and recruit inflammatory cells from circulation. Therapeutical options for IRDs are currently limited, although a small number of patients have been successfully treated by gene therapy. Many other therapeutic strategies are being pursued to mitigate the deleterious effects of IRDs associated with oxidative metabolism and/or inflammation, including inhibiting reactive oxygen species’ accumulation and inflammatory responses, and blocking autophagy. Several compounds are being tested in clinical trials, generating great expectations for their implementation. The present review discusses the main death mechanisms that occur in IRDs and the latest therapies that are under investigation.This research was funded by DGA group B08_17R: Investigación en Retina y Sistema Visual and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional (FEDER) funds: “Una manera de hacer Europa”, Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación (FEDER-PID 2019-106230RB-I00), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI20/00740-FEDER, RETICS-FEDER RD16/0008/0016), Generalitat Valenciana-FEDER (IDIFEDER/2017/064, PROMETEO/2021/024), Ministerio de Universidades (FPU16/04114), Es Retina Asturias (2019/00286/001). The APC was funded by DGA group B08_17R: Investigación en Retina y Sistema Visual (FEDER)

Up-scaling validation of a dummy regression approach for predictive modelling the fillet fatty acid composition of cultured European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The aim of the study was to validate a dummy regression approach for predictive modelling the fillet fatty acid (FA) composition of cultured European sea bass with dietary FA composition and lipid fillet content as independent variables. The model used our own data on gilthead sea bream as reference subgroup dataset and data from turbot, sole and European sea bass as dummy variables. Most of the observed variance within and among species was explained by the regression model without statistical significant interactions on blocks between diet composition and fish species subgroups. For the validation of European sea bass FA descriptors, predictive values derived from data on fish reared at laboratory scale were plotted against those obtained in farmed fish harvested at commercial size. A close linear association near to equality was found for 12 representative FAs, including saturated FAs, monoenenes and polyunsaturated FAs. This finding reinforces the possibility to produce tailored and healthy seafood products according to the guidelines of essential FA requirements in humans. FA algorithms for all the species in the model are hosted at www.nutrigroup-iats.org/aquafat as a multispecies tool to interrogate the nutritionally regulated FA composition of four cultured marine fish species of a high added value.This study was founded by Spanish (AQUAFAT, AGL2009-07797, Predictive modelling of flesh fatty acid composition in cultured fish species with different muscle lipid content) and EU (ARRAINA, KBBE-2011-5-288925, Advanced research initiatives for nutrition and aquaculture) projects. Additional founding was obtained from the “Generalitat Valenciana” (research grant PROMETEO 2010/006). GFB-L was recipient of a Spanish PhD fellowship from the Diputación Provincial de Castellón.Peer Reviewe

Dummy regression analysis for modelling the nutritionally tailored fillet fatty acid composition of turbot and sole using gilthead sea bream as a reference subgroup category

Farmed turbot and sole were sampled at different stages of the production cycle for analysis of fillet lipid content and fatty acid (FA) composition. The entire data set along with our own published data on gilthead sea bream were fitted to dummy regression equations with turbot and sole as dummy variables, gilthead sea bream as a reference subgroup category, and diet FA composition and fillet lipid content as independent variables. The relative contribution of each independent variable to the total variance was found to vary within and among FAs and fish species, but strong correlation coefficients (0.76 0.99) were found for almost all of the FA equations, including saturated FAs, monoenes and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) of n-3 and n-6 series. Given the differences in lipogenic activities of the fish species, major interaction effects between fillet lipid content and dummy variables were found for monoenes and saturated FAs. The proposed equations (hosted at www.nutrigroup-iats.org/aquafat) were able to fit different proportions of EPA, DPA and DHA underlying the fish species differences in FA desaturation/elongation pathways. The robustness of the model was proven with extra data from the three fish species, allowing a close linear association near to equality for the scatter plot of observed and predicted values. © 2014 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.This study was funded by Spanish (AQUAFAT, AGL2009-07797, Predictive modelling of flesh fatty acid composition in cultured fish species with different muscle lipid content; AQUAGENOMICS, CSD2007-00002, Improvement of aquaculture production by the use of biotechnological tools) and EU (ARRAINA, KBBE-2011-5-288925, Advanced research initiatives for nutrition and aquaculture) projects. Additional funding was obtained from the ‘Generalitat Valenciana’ (research grant PROMETEO 2010/006). GFB-L was recipient of a Spanish PhD fellowship from the Diputación Provincial de Castellón.Peer Reviewe

Correlation between SD-OCT, immunocytochemistry and functional findings in an animal model of retinal degeneration

Purpose: The P23H rhodopsin mutation is an autosomal dominant cause of retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The degeneration can be tracked using different anatomical and functional methods. In our case, we evaluated the anatomical changes using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography (SD-OCT) and correlated the findings with retinal thickness values determined by immunocytochemistry.Methods: Pigmented rats heterozygous for the P23H mutation, with ages between P18 and P180 were studied. Function was assessed by means of optomotor testing and ERGs. Retinal thicknesses measurements, autofluorescence and fluorescein angiography were performed using Spectralis OCT. Retinas were studied by means of immunohistochemistry. Results: Between P30 and P180, visual acuity decreased from 0.500 to 0.182 cycles per degree (cyc/deg) and contrast sensitivity decreased from 54.56 to 2.98 for a spatial frequency of 0.089 cyc/deg. Only cone-driven b-wave responses reached developmental maturity. Flicker fusions were also comparable at P29 (42 Hz). Double flash-isolated rod-driven responses were already affected at P29. Photopic responses revealed deterioration after P29.A reduction in retinal thicknesses and morphological modifications were seen in OCT sections. Statistically significant differences were found in all evaluated thicknesses. Autofluorescence was seen in P23H rats as sparse dots. Immunocytochemistry showed a progressive decrease in the outer nuclear layer (ONL), and morphological changes. Although anatomical thickness measures were significantly lower than OCT values, there was a very strong correlation between the values measured by both techniques.Conclusions: In pigmented P23H rats, a progressive deterioration occurs in both retinal function and anatomy. Anatomical changes can be effectively evaluated using SD-OCT and immunocytochemistry, with a good correlation between their values, thus making SD-OCT an important tool for research in retinal degeneration.Dr. Pinilla and Dr. Cuenca were supported by grants from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness-FEDER (BFU2012-36845), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (FIS PI13/01124, PS0901854, PI042399 and RETICS RD12/0034/0010), Fundación Gangoiti, ONCE (Organización Nacional de Ciegos Españoles) and FUNDALUCE. Dr. Yves Sauvé is a recipient of the Barbara Tuck/MacPhee Family Vision Research Award in Macular Degeneration

Lasting effects of butyrate and low FM/FO diets on growth performance, blood haematology/biochemistry and molecular growth-related markers in gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata)

Four isoproteic/isolipidic plant protein-based diets were formulated to assess the lasting effects of feed additives and low fish meal (FM) and fish oil (FO) diet formulations on gilthead sea bream growth performance. FM was included at 23% in the control diet (D1) and at 3% in the other three diets (D2, D3, D4). Added oil was either FO (D1) or a blend of vegetable oils replacing 58% (D2) and 84% (D3, D4 diets) of FO. A commercial sodium butyrate preparation (NOREL, 70-BP) was added to the D4 diet at 0.4%. Each diet was allocated to triplicate groups of juvenile fish fed to satiety over an 8-month feeding trial (May-December). All fish grew efficiently from 15. g of initial body weight to 296-320. g with an overall feed efficiency (FE) of 0.95-1.01, although fish fed D3 and D4 diets showed transient growth impairments over the course of the first four weeks of the trial. Data on biometric indexes, whole body composition, haematology and blood biochemistry revealed a strong effect of sampling time in fish sampled at mid-summer (August) and late autumn (December). In contrast, the diet effect was mostly reduced to a few blood parameters. Low inclusion levels of FM reduced plasma haemoglobin levels (D2, D3), but these effects were reversed by butyrate supplementation (D4). The same phenomena occurred for total cholesterol with the highest circulating concentration of choline and IGF-I in fish fed the D4 diet during their summer growth spurt. At the transcriptional level, gene expression profiling of liver and skeletal muscle with a PCR-array of 87 growth markers provided additional evidence for an overall well-growth condition in all of the experimental groups. Up to 73 genes were found at detectable levels in the liver tissue, but only 13 were differentially expressed. Likewise, 84 genes were actively transcribed in the skeletal muscle, but only nine were differentially expressed in at least one experimental group. Butyrate supplementation reversed the up-regulated expression of inflammatory cytokines (TNFα) and muscle markers of cellular morphogenesis and protein breakdown (CDH15, CAPN3, PSMA5, PSMB1, UBE2N) in the muscle of fish fed the extreme D3 diet. These results support the use of low FM/FO diets alone or supplemented with feed additives, which have the potential to improve or reverse metabolic steady-states. Statement of relevance: Butyrate effect on low fish meal/fish oil diets.This study was funded by the European Union (ARRAINA, FP7-KBBE-2011-5-288925, Advanced research initiatives for nutrition and aquaculture) projects. Additional funding was obtained from the Spanish MINECO (MI2-Fish, AGL2013-48560) and from Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEO FASE II-2014/085).Peer Reviewe