Effect of pH and medium composition on chain elongation with Megasphaera hexanoica producing C4-C8 fatty acids

IntroductionChain elongation technology, which involves fermentation with anaerobic bacteria, has gained attention for converting short and medium chain substrates into valuable and longer-chain products like medium chain fatty acids (MCFAs). In the recent past, the focus of studies with pure chain elongating cultures was on species of other genera, mainly Clostridium kluyveri. Recently, other chain elongators have been isolated that deserve further research, such as Megasphaera hexanoica.MethodsIn this study, batch studies were performed in bottles with two different media to establish the optimal conditions for growth of M. hexanoica: (a) a medium rich in different sources of nitrogen and (b) a medium whose only source of nitrogen is yeast extract. Also, batch bioreactor studies at pH values of 5.8, 6.5 and 7.2 were set up to study the fermentation of lactate (i.e., electron donor) and acetate (i.e., electron acceptor) by M. hexanoica.Results and discussionBatch bottle studies revealed the yeast extract (YE) containing medium as the most promising in terms of production/cost ratio, producing n-caproate rapidly up to 2.62 ± 0.24 g/L. Subsequent bioreactor experiments at pH 5.8, 6.5, and 7.2 confirmed consistent production profiles, yielding C4-C8 fatty acids. A fourth bioreactor experiment at pH 6.5 and doubling both lactate and acetate concentrations enhanced MCFA production, resulting in 3.7 g/L n-caproate and 1.5 g/L n-caprylate. H2 and CO2 production was observed in all fermentations, being especially high under the increased substrate conditions. Overall, this study provides insights into M. hexanoica’s behavior in lactate-based chain elongation and highlights optimization potential for improved productivity

Sustainability evaluation of greenhouse incorporation in La Plata horticulture

En la Región Hortícola Platense, el sistema de cultivo al aire libre está siendo reemplazado por el cultivo bajo cobertura plástica, asociado a un alto uso de insumos por su mayor rentabilidad. La adopción de tecnologías realizada exclusivamente por su rentabilidad, puede conducir a sistemas ecológico y socialmente menos sustentables, ya que el análisis costo-beneficio no incluye este tipo de aspectos. Se comparó la sustentabilidad de sistemas que producen bajo cobertura plástica (invernáculos) con los que producen al aire libre, en agricultores de origen europeo y boliviano. Se analizaron, como estudios de caso, 16 establecimientos hortícolas a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y observaciones a campo. Se construyeron indicadores que se estandarizaron y ponderaron. El cultivo bajo invernáculo, independientemente del tipo de agricultor, resultó más sustentable en la dimensión económica que el cultivo al aire libre, pero fue menos sustentable en las dimensiones ecológica y social, que presentaron grandes puntos críticos. Las prácticas agrícolas realizadas bajo invernáculo fueron muy similares entre sí, demostrando las pocas posibilidades de variación cuando se incorpora este paquete tecnológico. La producción al aire libre presentó algunos aspectos críticos, pero fueron menos numerosos y graves que en los sistemas bajo invernáculo. El uso de indicadores permitió detectar problemas que, con el análisis costo-beneficio, no se hubieran podido detectar. Los resultados ponen en evidencia, que los cambios tecnológicos basados en el análisis costo beneficio, pueden conducir a sistemas menos sustentables, como ocurrió con la incorporación del invernáculo en la región hortícola de La Plata.In the Horticultural Platense Region, the system of outdoor cultivation is being replaced by greenhouse cultivation associated with a high-input for its higher profitability. The adoption of technologies made exclusively for its profitability, can lead to ecological and social systems less sustainable, since the cost-benefit analysis does not include such aspects. The objective was to compare the sustainability of systems produced under plastic cover (greenhouses) with production systems outdoors in European and Bolivian farmers origins. Were analyzed as case studies, 16 horticultural establishments through semi-structured interviews and field observations. Indicators were standardized and weighted built. The cultivation under greenhouse, regardless of the type of farmer, was more sustainable, in economic dimension, growing outdoors, but was less sustainable in the ecological and social dimensions, which had large critical points. Agricultural practices conducted under greenhouse were very similar, demonstrating the limited possibilities of variation when this technology package is incorporated. The outdoor production presented some critical aspects, but were less numerous and serious than in the systems under greenhouse. The use of indicators allowed to detect problems that the cost-benefit analysis would not have been detected. The results show that technological change based on cost benefit analysis may lead to less sustainable systems, as occurred with the addition of greenhouse horticulture in the region of La Plata.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Sustainability evaluation of greenhouse incorporation in La Plata horticulture

En la Región Hortícola Platense, el sistema de cultivo al aire libre está siendo reemplazado por el cultivo bajo cobertura plástica, asociado a un alto uso de insumos por su mayor rentabilidad. La adopción de tecnologías realizada exclusivamente por su rentabilidad, puede conducir a sistemas ecológico y socialmente menos sustentables, ya que el análisis costo-beneficio no incluye este tipo de aspectos. Se comparó la sustentabilidad de sistemas que producen bajo cobertura plástica (invernáculos) con los que producen al aire libre, en agricultores de origen europeo y boliviano. Se analizaron, como estudios de caso, 16 establecimientos hortícolas a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas y observaciones a campo. Se construyeron indicadores que se estandarizaron y ponderaron. El cultivo bajo invernáculo, independientemente del tipo de agricultor, resultó más sustentable en la dimensión económica que el cultivo al aire libre, pero fue menos sustentable en las dimensiones ecológica y social, que presentaron grandes puntos críticos. Las prácticas agrícolas realizadas bajo invernáculo fueron muy similares entre sí, demostrando las pocas posibilidades de variación cuando se incorpora este paquete tecnológico. La producción al aire libre presentó algunos aspectos críticos, pero fueron menos numerosos y graves que en los sistemas bajo invernáculo. El uso de indicadores permitió detectar problemas que, con el análisis costo-beneficio, no se hubieran podido detectar. Los resultados ponen en evidencia, que los cambios tecnológicos basados en el análisis costo beneficio, pueden conducir a sistemas menos sustentables, como ocurrió con la incorporación del invernáculo en la región hortícola de La Plata.In the Horticultural Platense Region, the system of outdoor cultivation is being replaced by greenhouse cultivation associated with a high-input for its higher profitability. The adoption of technologies made exclusively for its profitability, can lead to ecological and social systems less sustainable, since the cost-benefit analysis does not include such aspects. The objective was to compare the sustainability of systems produced under plastic cover (greenhouses) with production systems outdoors in European and Bolivian farmers origins. Were analyzed as case studies, 16 horticultural establishments through semi-structured interviews and field observations. Indicators were standardized and weighted built. The cultivation under greenhouse, regardless of the type of farmer, was more sustainable, in economic dimension, growing outdoors, but was less sustainable in the ecological and social dimensions, which had large critical points. Agricultural practices conducted under greenhouse were very similar, demonstrating the limited possibilities of variation when this technology package is incorporated. The outdoor production presented some critical aspects, but were less numerous and serious than in the systems under greenhouse. The use of indicators allowed to detect problems that the cost-benefit analysis would not have been detected. The results show that technological change based on cost benefit analysis may lead to less sustainable systems, as occurred with the addition of greenhouse horticulture in the region of La Plata.Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestale

Ongoing and Upcoming Cold-Water Coral Multi Stressor Experiments

Comunicación escrita (póster) a Congresos• Cold-water corals (CWC) form complex 3-D structures that are biodiversity hotspots. However, the knowledge about their ecophysiological response to global change stressors (i.e. warming, acidification, decrease of dissolved oxygen concentration) is still very limited, as well as their possible interactions with local stressors such as the impacts from mining and fishing activities. • Three long-term, multi stressor experiments will explore the combined impact of several environmental and local stressors based on the IPCC projections on different CWC species across the North Atlantic. • Further experiments will include the addition of particles from mining or sediment from trawling activities to all treatments after long-term experiments finish to study the potential physical damage and ecotoxicological effects. • The results from these studies will increase our knowledge on the potential consequences of global change and local stressors and their possible interactions on CWC species and ecosystems that they form. • The results will contribute to support science-based marine spatial planning for the North Atlantic.European Union Commission Horizon 2020 Programa (grant agreement 818123), FEDER ((ACORES-01-0145-FEDER-000140), Ayuntamiento de A Coruña (Spain) and Deep-Sea Biology Societ

Phenformin-Induced Mitochondrial Dysfunction Sensitizes Hepatocellular Carcinoma for Dual Inhibition of mTOR

Purpose: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks second in cancer mortality and has limited therapeutic options. We recently described the synergistic effect of allosteric and ATP-site competitive inhibitors against the mTOR for the treatment of HCC. However, such inhibitors induce hyperglycemia and increase mitochondrial efficiency. Here we determined whether the mitochondrial complex I inhibitor phenformin could reverse both side effects, impose an energetic stress on cancer cells, and suppress the growth of HCC. Experimental Design: Human HCC cell lines were used in vitro to access the signaling and energetic impact of mTOR inhibitors and phenformin, either alone or in combination. Next, the therapeutic utility of these drugs alone or in combination was investigated preclinically in human orthotopic tumors implanted in mice, by analyzing their impact on the tumor burden and overall survival. Results: We found phenformin caused mitochondrial dysfunction and fragmentation, inducing a compensatory shift to glycolysis. In contrast, dual inhibition of mTOR impaired cell growth and glycolysis, while increasing mitochondrial fusion and efficiency. In a mouse model of human HCC, dual inhibition of mTOR, together with phenformin, was highly efficacious in controlling tumor burden. However, more strikingly, pretreatment with phenformin sensitized tumors to dual inhibition of mTOR, leading to a dramatic improvement in survival. Conclusions: Treatment of HCC cells in vitro with the biguanide phenformin causes a metabolic shift to glycolysis, mitochondrial dysfunction and fragmentation, and dramatically sensitizes orthotopic liver tumors to dual inhibition of mTOR. We therefore propose this therapeutic approach should be tested clinically in HCC

Bigels as drug delivery systems: From their components to their applications

Bigels are systems that usually result from mixing a hydrogel and an organogel: the aqueous phase is commonly formed by a hydrophilic biopolymer, whereas the organic phase comprises a gelled vegetable oil because of the presence of an organogelator. The proportion of the corresponding gelling agent in each phase, the organogel/hydrogel ratio, and the mixing temperature and speed all need to be taken into consideration for bigel manufacturing. Bigels, which are particularly useful drug delivery systems, have already been formulated for transdermal, buccal, and vaginal routes. Mechanical assessments and microscopy are the most reported characterization techniques. As we review here, their composition and unique structure confer promising drug delivery attributes, such as mucoadhesion, the ability to control drug release, and the possibility of including both hydrophilic and lipophilic drugs in the same system

Design and evaluation of a treatment programme for Spanish adolescents with overweight and obesity. The EVASYON Study

Background The prevalence of overweight and obesity (OW/OB) among adolescents worldwide has increased since the 60 s. Spain has reached one of the highest OW/OB prevalence rates among adolescents from European countries. The aim of this methodological paper is to describe the design and evaluation in the EVASYON study (Development, implementation and evaluation of the efficacy of a therapeutic programme for adolescents with OW/OB: integral education on nutrition and physical activity). Methods/Design The EVASYON was planned by a multidisciplinary team to treat OW/OB in Spanish adolescents. The EVASYON is a multi-centre study conducted in 5 hospitals in 5 Spanish cities (Granada, Madrid, Pamplona, Santander and Zaragoza) and two hundred and four OW/OB Spanish adolescents were recruited for this intervention. The treatment was implemented for approximately one-year follow-up. The adolescents were treated in groups of a maximum of 10 subjects; each group had 20 visits during the treatment period in two phases: intensive during the first 2 months (1st to 9th visits), and extensive during the last 11 months (10th to 20th visits). In order to assess the efficacy of the treatment, 8 dimensions were measured: diet; physical activity and fitness; eating behaviour; body composition; haematological profile; metabolic profile; minerals and vitamins; immuno-inflammatory markers. Moreover, genetic polymorphisms were also determined. Discussion The treatment programme developed in the EVASYON study was designed as a national pilot study to be implemented as an effective treatment for adolescents with OW/OB into the Spanish Health Care Service

El contraste micropaleontológico de la Historia: el Lacus Ligustinus romano

During the Roman period (3rd century BC-5th century AD), the areas located near the present-day mouth of the Guadalquivir River were occupied by a lagoon with marine connection, according to the paleoenvironmental interpretation of benthic foraminiferal assemblages obtained in a core extracted in the Donana National Park. The inner zones of this lagoon were occupied by clayey tidal flats, which suffered the effects of a storm towards the end of the 1st century A.D. The comparison with the ostracod assemblages of the same core confirms this reconstruction and the paleogeographic data provided by various chroniclers, although these microcrustaceans better record the paleoenvironmental changes in these coastal sectors.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Usefulness of bone turnover markers as predictors of mortality risk, disease progression and skeletal-related events appearance in patients with prostate cancer with bone metastases following treatment with zoledronic acid: TUGAMO study

Owing to the limited validity of clinical data on the treatment of prostate cancer (PCa) and bone metastases, biochemical markers are a promising tool for predicting survival, disease progression and skeletal-related events (SREs) in these patients. The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive capacity of biochemical markers of bone turnover for mortality risk, disease progression and SREs in patients with PCa and bone metastases undergoing treatment with zoledronic acid (ZA). Methods: This was an observational, prospective and multicenter study in which ninety-eight patients were included. Patients were treated with ZA (4mg every 4 weeks for 18 months). Data were collected at baseline and 3, 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months after the beginning of treatment. Serum levels of bone alkaline phosphtase (BALP), aminoterminal propeptide of procollagen type I (P1NP) and beta-isomer of carboxiterminal telopeptide of collagen I (b-CTX) were analysed at all points in the study. Data on disease progression, SREs development and survival were recorded. Results: Cox regression models with clinical data and bone markers showed that the levels of the three markers studied were predictive of survival time, with b-CTX being especially powerful, in which a lack of normalisation in visit 1 (3 months after the beginning of treatment) showed a 6.3-times more risk for death than in normalised patients. Levels of these markers were also predictive for SREs, although in this case BALP and P1NP proved to be better predictors. We did not find any relationship between bone markers and disease progression. Conclusion: In patients with PCa and bone metastases treated with ZA, b-CTX and P1NP can be considered suitable predictors for mortality risk, while BALP and P1NP are appropriate for SREs. The levels of these biomarkers 3 months after the beginning of treatment are especially importantThis study was supported by Novartis Oncology Spai

Physical activity as a preventive measure against overweight, obesity, infections, allergies and cardiovascular disease risk factors in adolescents: AFINOS Study protocol

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prior studies addressing the impacts of regular physical activity or sedentary habits on the immune system have been conducted in adults and laboratory settings. Thus, it is practically unknown how a healthy active lifestyle could affect low-grade inflammation processes, infections or allergies in young persons. The AFINOS Study was designed to determine the relationship between the regular physical activity levels of adolescents and overweight, infection, and allergies along with the presence of metabolic and immunological biomarkers of a deteriorated health status. A further objective of the AFINOS Study is to assess the health status and lifestyle habits of an adolescent population in an effort to identify any protective factors that could be used as preventive measures, since many chronic diseases and their associated co-morbidities often persist from adolescence into adulthood.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This study was conducted as three separate sub-studies in three different populations as follows: (a) Study 1 was performed on a population sample of adolescents; (b) Study 2 on the adolescents' parents; and (c) Study 3 on a subset of the adolescents from Study 1. Study 1 assessed health and lifestyle indicators through a questionnaire administered to a representative sample of adolescents from the Madrid Region (n = 2400) aged 13 to 16 years. In Study 2, the parents of the teenagers participating in Study 1 were required to fill out a questionnaire. Finally in Study 3, body composition, physical activity, health-related physical fitness, and blood measurements were determined in a subset (n = 200) of the individuals included in Study 1.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>This paper describes the rationale, design, and methodologies used in the AFINOS Study. This multidisciplinary, multicenter study seeks to evaluate several aspects of existing relationships between routine physical activity/sedentary behaviour and several health status markers, specifically those related to the immune system. The results of this cross-sectional study will serve for comparisons with the available data obtained in laboratory settings and in adults. In addition, knowledge regarding the health status and lifestyle habits of Spanish adolescents and their parents will be useful for designing preventive measures.</p