Circulating microRNAs in sera correlate with soluble biomarkers of immune activation but do not predict mortality in ART treated individuals with HIV-1 infection: A case control study

Introduction: The use of anti-retroviral therapy (ART) has dramatically reduced HIV-1 associated morbidity and mortality. However, HIV-1 infected individuals have increased rates of morbidity and mortality compared to the non-HIV-1 infected population and this appears to be related to end-organ diseases collectively referred to as Serious Non-AIDS Events (SNAEs). Circulating miRNAs are reported as promising biomarkers for a number of human disease conditions including those that constitute SNAEs. Our study sought to investigate the potential of selected miRNAs in predicting mortality in HIV-1 infected ART treated individuals. Materials and Methods: A set of miRNAs was chosen based on published associations with human disease conditions that constitute SNAEs. This case: control study compared 126 cases (individuals who died whilst on therapy), and 247 matched controls (individuals who remained alive). Cases and controls were ART treated participants of two pivotal HIV-1 trials. The relative abundance of each miRNA in serum was measured, by RTqPCR. Associations with mortality (all-cause, cardiovascular and malignancy) were assessed by logistic regression analysis. Correlations between miRNAs and CD4+ T cell count, hs-CRP, IL-6 and D-dimer were also assessed. Results: None of the selected miRNAs was associated with all-cause, cardiovascular or malignancy mortality. The levels of three miRNAs (miRs -21, -122 and -200a) correlated with IL-6 while miR-21 also correlated with D-dimer. Additionally, the abundance of miRs -31, -150 and -223, correlated with baseline CD4+ T cell count while the same three miRNAs plus miR- 145 correlated with nadir CD4+ T cell count. Discussion: No associations with mortality were found with any circulating miRNA studied. These results cast doubt onto the effectiveness of circulating miRNA as early predictors of mortality or the major underlying diseases that contribute to mortality in participants treated for HIV-1 infection

Reducing the environmental impact of surgery on a global scale: systematic review and co-prioritization with healthcare workers in 132 countries

Abstract Background Healthcare cannot achieve net-zero carbon without addressing operating theatres. The aim of this study was to prioritize feasible interventions to reduce the environmental impact of operating theatres. Methods This study adopted a four-phase Delphi consensus co-prioritization methodology. In phase 1, a systematic review of published interventions and global consultation of perioperative healthcare professionals were used to longlist interventions. In phase 2, iterative thematic analysis consolidated comparable interventions into a shortlist. In phase 3, the shortlist was co-prioritized based on patient and clinician views on acceptability, feasibility, and safety. In phase 4, ranked lists of interventions were presented by their relevance to high-income countries and low–middle-income countries. Results In phase 1, 43 interventions were identified, which had low uptake in practice according to 3042 professionals globally. In phase 2, a shortlist of 15 intervention domains was generated. In phase 3, interventions were deemed acceptable for more than 90 per cent of patients except for reducing general anaesthesia (84 per cent) and re-sterilization of ‘single-use’ consumables (86 per cent). In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for high-income countries were: introducing recycling; reducing use of anaesthetic gases; and appropriate clinical waste processing. In phase 4, the top three shortlisted interventions for low–middle-income countries were: introducing reusable surgical devices; reducing use of consumables; and reducing the use of general anaesthesia. Conclusion This is a step toward environmentally sustainable operating environments with actionable interventions applicable to both high– and low–middle–income countries

Use of Juvenile Instar Diaphanosoma Celebensis (Stingelin) In Hatchery Rearing Of Asian Sea Bass Lates Calcarifer (Bloch)

The effects of size, dry mass intake and nutritional value of the brackishwater cladoceran, Diaphanosoma celebensis, on the growth and survival of 15-30 day sea bass (Lates calcarifer) lar- vae reared in a static green water system were determined. The highest specific growth rate (29.4%/day) was attained in larvae fed a 1:1 combination of Artemia nauplii and adult Diaphanosoma but it was not significantly different (p>0.05) from fish fed only adult Diaphanosoma (28.8%/day) or only juvenile instar Diaphanosoma (28.6%/day). Survival rates of larvae (92.4- 99.0%) fed the different live diets did not significantly differ (p>0.05). Larvae markedly prefered juve- nile instar Diaphanosoma over Artemia nauplii and adult Diaphanosoma. The crude protein con- tents of juvenile Diaphanosoma (58.7%), adult Diaphanosoma (58.3%) and Artemia (56.7%) were substantially high and satisfied the dietary protein requirements of larvae. The fatty acid profile of the sea bass fry reflected the lipid composition of the live diet. Improved growth, survival and dry mass intake in larvae indicate the potential of juvenile Diaphanosoma in the hatchery rearing of sea bass larvae

Culture of rotifer (Brachionus rotundiformis) and brackishwater cladoceran (Diphanosoma celebensis) for aquaculture seed production

A 32-page manual with topics on the biology and cultivation techniques of zooplankton

Biomass yield of Isochrysis galbana (Parke; clone T-ISO) and growth of Brachionus rotundiformis (Tschugunoff) using continuous cultivation method

Batch culture of Isochrysis galbana clone T-ISO is difficult due to its unstable biomass production; hence, the effect of continuous cultivation at different dilution rates was investigated to compare its productivity with that of batch culture. Significantly higher total algal cell yield was attained in continuous cultures (1.70 × 108 and 1.03 × 108 cells L-1 at 0.60 d-1 and 0.30 d-1 dilution rates, respectively) compared with batch culture (0.16 × 108 cells L-1); the batch culture did not receive any inflow of nutrients. The amount of protein per cell was similar in both batch and continuous cultures at 0.60 d-1 dilution rate after 24 h and 5 d in both culture systems. Chlorophyll a yield was not affected by dilution rate but decreased as the culture aged. The dry weight yield was also similar in both batch and continuous cultures. The higher nitrate concentration supplemented in the batch culture resulted in higher cell density and elevated protein content of the alga. Rotifer (Brahionus rotundiformis) cultures that received inflow of nutrients from the algal tanks had significantly higher (P<0.05) peak population count (28 and 33 individuals mL-1 at 0.30 and 0.60 d-1 dilution rates, respectively) compared with rotifer cultures that did not receive an inflow of food (18.22 individuals mL-1). The higher biomass yield of T-ISO using continuous cultivation method can increase the population growth of rotifer under tropical conditions

Effect of different sizes of saline red tilapia hybrid Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus x O. mossambicus Peters on the growth of luminous bacteria Vibrio harveyi

Luminous bacterial disease caused by Vibrio harveyi has devasted the shrimp industry. The use of different strains of tilapia and other fish species polycultured with shrimp cultured at a salinity of 24 ppt to control luminous bacteria has been reported. These species, however, could not tolerate salinities higher than 24 ppt. Alternative species/strains that could be used to control luminous bacteria at high salinities need to be investigated. Likewise, the effect of fish size on the growth of luminous bacteria is worth studying. Shrimp (Penaeus monodon Fabricius) were stocked in concrete tanks filled with 34 ppt cartridge filtered seawater. Tanks were stocked with two sizes (16 pcs, average body weight (ABW) = 55 g and 6 pcs ABW=250 g) of the red tilapia hybrid Oreochromis mossambicus Peters x O. niloticus Linnaeus, except for the tanks that served as the control. Luminous bacteria (V. harveyi) were inoculated into the tank water to a density of 104 Cfu mL-1. Significantly lower luminous bacterial count was observed in tanks with either of the two sizes of red tilapia hybrid compared with the control, after 5-7 d. Bacteria isolated from the fish feces, mucus and rearing water; and the fish feces and mucus themselves demonstrated anti-V. harveyi activity. Results showed that the red tilapia hybrid could be used to control luminous bacteria at salinities as high as 34 ppt and that the size of the fish did not affect its efficiency. The ability of the red tilapia hybrid to control the growth of the luminous bacteria V. harveyi is attributed to different factors such as the mucus, the feces and the bacteria associated with tilapia culture. Bacteria associated with the fish mucus and feces also contributed to the anti-V. harveyi activity of these biological substances

Production of microalgal paste in the Philippines

Technical advances have made possible the production of microalgal concentrate in paste form. Chaetoceros calcitrans was concentrated and made into an algal paste through centrifugation, chemical flocculation, and electrolytic flocculation. The paste can be stored up to three months when refrigerated, and is diluted with seawater for feeding to the tiger prawn, Penaeus monodon. This can also be done with other cultured diatoms, and they can be fed to other penaeid shrimp and other organisms such as the Sydney rock oyster and the Pacific oyster. The use of algal paste can simplify hatchery operations and reduce costs among hatcheries with no microalgal culture facilities

Potentials of Kappaphycus striatum (Schnitz) and Gracilaria heteroclada Zhang (Ad Xia) to control the growth of luminous bacteria Vibrio harveyi

Different aquaculture species such as finfishes and bivalves have been reported to control the luminous bacterial disease of shrimp, usually caused by Vibrio harveyi. The use of seaweeds in shrimp culture system has reportedly improved water quality and reduced the bacterial count. This study evaluated the potentials of two species of seaweeds, Gracilaria heteroclada (Ad Xia) and Kappaphycus striatum (Schnitz), to control the growth of V. harveyi. V. harveyi was inoculated into control tanks containing shrimps only and into treated tanks containing both shrimp and macroalgae. Luminous bacterial counts were monitored daily. From day 2 to day 6, luminous bacterial count in tanks with G. heteroclada was significantly lower than those in tanks with K. striatum. Bacteria isolated from the rearing water containing K. striatum and G. heteroclada and from the seaweed homogenized in sterile seawater showed anti-Vibrio harveyi activity. The seaweed homogenate per se also showed anti-luminous bacterial property. Presence of both G. heteroclada and K. striatum in shrimp culture system has the potential to control the growth of luminous bacteria. G. heteroclada was more efficient and sustainable, as shown by the lower luminous bacterial count and the higher percentage recovery of this macroalga after 11 d in experimental tanks

Culture of marine phytoplankton for aquaculture seed production

The 32-page extension manual describes the biology, culture techniques and maintenance and mass propagation of 12 phytoplankton species used as live feed in marine hatcheries

Cell growth, effect of filtrate and nutritive value of the tropical Prasinophyte Tetraselmis tetrathele (Butcher) at different phases of culture

A local algal isolate Tetraselmis tetrathele was studied to determine the suitable levels of three growth factors (nutrient medium, light intensity and photoperiod) for mass culture. Significantly higher population cell count (141.92 × 104) were found in 4-day-old cultures (exponential phase) enriched with Conwy medium and exposed continuously to 93.31–103.5 μmole photon m−2 s−1 light intensity compared with two other media (F, SEAFDEC/AQD) under the same light conditions. Cultures exposed to higher levels of photosynthetic photon flux density and continuous photoperiod had a significantly higher cell count regardless of nutrient media used. The chemical composition of T. tetrathele varied as the culture aged. Significantly higher crude protein (49.6%) and crude ash (15.9%) were found in cultures harvested at exponential than at stationary phase of growth. In contrast, significantly higher carbohydrate (55.2%) was noted as the culture aged. There was an increase in the percentage of saturated, monoenoic and n-3 highly unsaturated fatty acids at the stationary phase of growth. Addition of filtrate from various phases of growth and from 10-day-old cultures at various concentrations stimulated cell growth of T. tetrathele. This study identified the optimum growth conditions for mass culture of T. tetrathele and demonstrated its change in the chemical composition as the culture aged.The authors are grateful to Rogelio Gacutan, Prof. Zosima Vicencio, Dr. Veronica Alava, Dr. Doris Bagarinao and to the anonymous reviewers for the helpful comments on the manuscript. This work was supported by the MNR/BFAR/SEAFDEC/PCARR Graduate Study Grant