A core outcome set for pre‐eclampsia research: an international consensus development study

Objective To develop a core outcome set for pre‐eclampsia. Design Consensus development study. Setting International. Population Two hundred and eight‐one healthcare professionals, 41 researchers and 110 patients, representing 56 countries, participated. Methods Modified Delphi method and Modified Nominal Group Technique. Results A long‐list of 116 potential core outcomes was developed by combining the outcomes reported in 79 pre‐eclampsia trials with those derived from thematic analysis of 30 in‐depth interviews of women with lived experience of pre‐eclampsia. Forty‐seven consensus outcomes were identified from the Delphi process following which 14 maternal and eight offspring core outcomes were agreed at the consensus development meeting. Maternal core outcomes: death, eclampsia, stroke, cortical blindness, retinal detachment, pulmonary oedema, acute kidney injury, liver haematoma or rupture, abruption, postpartum haemorrhage, raised liver enzymes, low platelets, admission to intensive care required, and intubation and ventilation. Offspring core outcomes: stillbirth, gestational age at delivery, birthweight, small‐for‐gestational‐age, neonatal mortality, seizures, admission to neonatal unit required and respiratory support. Conclusions The core outcome set for pre‐eclampsia should underpin future randomised trials and systematic reviews. Such implementation should ensure that future research holds the necessary reach and relevance to inform clinical practice, enhance women's care and improve the outcomes of pregnant women and their babies

Process optimization and modeling for the cultivation of Nannochloropsis sp. and Tetraselmis striata via response surface methodology

The aim of this study was to determine the optimal physical process conditions for the cultivation of locally isolated strains of Nannochloropsis sp. and Tetraselmis striata to achieve maximum growth rate. It was essential to evaluate biomass production at different agitation rates, light intensities, and temperature levels. Central composite design and response surface methodology were applied to design the experiments and optimize the cultivation process for Nannochloropsis sp. and T. striata. The specific growth rate of 0.250 d-1 was obtained for Nannochloropsis sp. cells under the light intensity of 54 µmol photons · m-2 · s-1, at the agitation rate of 151 rpm in 24.5°C. The optimal physical process conditions for T. striata were obtained under the light intensity of 56 µmol photons · m-2 · s-1 in 25.5°C at the agitation rate of 151 rpm in 25.5°C, resulting in a specific growth rate of 0.226 d-1. The predicted values were justified by the verification tests. Good agreement between the predicted values and the experimental values confirmed the validity of the models for the cultivation of microalgal strains. In this article, the noteworthy result was that temperature was a dominant factor in obtaining high chl-a content for Nannochloropsis sp., whereas the growth of T. striata strongly depended on light exposure. © 2015 Phycological Society of America

Diatom cultivation and lipid productivity for non-cryopreserved and cryopreserved cells

Many freshwater and marine algae can be cryopreserved, but typically with lower postthaw viability levels. However, most of the algae groups (dinoflagellates, cryptophytes, synurophytes, and raphidophytes) cannot be successfully cryopreserved in these days. Marine diatoms can be cryopreserved and frequently have shown great viability. The aim of this study is to compare the cultivation and lipid productivity for non-cryopreserved and cryopreserved marine diatom cells. Diatoms preserved in the EGEMACC (Ege University Microalgae Culture Collection) are usually maintained by serial sub-culturing. In this study, the cryopreservation of marine diatom algae (Amphora cf. capitellata, Cylindrotheca closterium, Nanofrustulum shiloi) using the passive freezing system procedure was studied. Investigation into the cause of the freezing injury at the cellular level was made at different salt concentrations. Passive freezing method used in sea salts liquid media at the percentage of 1%, 2% and 3% containing cryoprotectant of 10% Me2SO for six months in liquid nitrogen. C. closterium was obtained with the highest viability however N. shiloi was revival extended period of time. All of the diatom cells were grown in 1 L sterile bottle containing 900 mL of F/2 medium under the light intensity of 20 µmol photons m-2 s-1 at 22 ± 2 °C with the air flow rate of 1 L min-1 for 15 days. The growth rate and biomass productivity were determined at the end of the batch production process. Also, lipid content of A. capitellata was obtained at the highest concentration compared to that of the other diatoms. © 2016, Eesti Pollumajandusulikool. All rights reserved

Effects of β-carotene and porphyridium cruentum polysaccharide extract on mitomycin c sensitivity of blood lymphocyte chromosomes of radiology technicians

We have investigated the individual and combined effects of β-carotene (βC) and a crude polysaccharide extract of the red alga Porphyridium cruentum (PC) on Mitomycin C (Mit-C) sensitivity of peripheral blood lymphocytes of humans occupationally exposed to low dose gamma radiation. Peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro were treated with Mit-C and the chromosome abnormalities in the presence or absence of βC and/or PC were recorded. The incidence of chromosomal abnormalities increased from 1.9% in cell cultures without Mit-C to 7.8% in those with Mit-C with a significant increase in chromosomal aberrations (chromatid breaks, chromosome breaks, dicentrics and rings) (p <0.05). However, in Mit-C treated cultures that contained βC+PC the incidence was 1.3%. Mitomycin C-induced aberrations in the lymphocytes decreased significantly with the addition of βC and PC to the culture. This suggests that mutagen sensitivity may be reduced by a βC+PC combination and that this combination may protect humans exposed to radiation