ENDIS-RISKS: endocrine disruption in the Scheldt estuary - a field study

ENDIS-RISKS, a multidisciplinary research project with five institutes, evaluates the distribution, exposure and effects of endocrine disruptors in the Scheldt Estuary. This estuary is known to be one of the most polluted estuaries in the world. Untreated domestic wastewater and effluents of the industrial areas of Ghent and Antwerp are to a large extent responsible for this pollution. During an intensive field study of four years, eight sampling campaigns were executed on seven sampling points along the Scheldt Estuary. A detailed analysis of the distribution of endocrine disrupting substances in the Scheldt Estuary was executed. Water, sediment, suspended solids and biota were analysed for seven groups of chemicals: estrogens, pesticides, organotins, polyaromatic components, polyaromatic hydrocarbons and phenols. Special attention was given to the estuarine mysid shrimp Neomysis integer. Its ecotoxicology and population characteristics were studied in detail. A selection of results of this field study is put forward. Water samples, tested in vitro for their potential to bind with estrogen, revealed more estrogenic activity in the more upstream stations. Concentrations of chlorotriazine herbicides in water samples, were higher in the upstream reaches compared to the downstream sites. Analyses of TBT in mysid shrimps revealed high concentrations (>2mg.kg-1 dry weight) which suggests a high bioaccumulation capacity. Population characteristics results of N. integer show that it has a broader distribution range, with a shift more upstream, in comparison with historical data (Mees et al., 1995). On the other hand, length distribution of developmental stages of N. integer along the estuary indicates some environmental stress, caused by the estuarine gradient or by pollutants. Some hypotheses will be put forward to explain these patterns

Short-Communication: Ingestion of a Nucleotide-Rich Mixed Meal Increases Serum Uric Acid Concentrations but Does Not Affect Postprandial Blood Glucose or Serum Insulin Responses in Young Adults

Circulating uric acid concentrations have been linked to various metabolic diseases. Consumption of large boluses of nucleotides increases serum uric acid concentrations. We investigated the effect of a nucleotide-rich mixed meal on postprandial circulating uric acid, glucose, and insulin responses. Ten healthy adults participated in a randomised, controlled, double-blind, crossover trial in which they consumed a mixed-meal containing either nucleotide-depleted mycoprotein (L-NU) or high-nucleotide mycoprotein (H-NU) on two separate visits. Blood samples were collected in the postabsorptive state and throughout a 24 h postprandial period, and were used to determine circulating uric acid, glucose, and insulin concentrations. Mixed meal ingestion had divergent effects on serum uric acid concentrations across conditions (time x condition interaction; P < 0.001), with L-NU decreasing transiently (from 45 to 240 min postprandially) by ~7% (from 279 ± 16 to 257 ± 14 µmol·L -1) and H-NU resulting in a ~12% increase (from 284 ± 13 to 319 ± 12 µmol·L -1 after 210 min), remaining elevated for 12 h and returning to baseline concentrations after 24 h. There were no differences between conditions in blood glucose or serum insulin responses, nor in indices of insulin sensitivity. The ingestion of a nucleotide-rich mixed-meal increases serum uric acid concentrations for ~12 h, but does not influence postprandial blood glucose or serum insulin concentrations

Endocrine disruption in the Scheldt estuary distribution, exposure and effects (ENDIS-RISKS). Final report

ENDIS-RISKS is a multidisciplinary, research project conducted by five institutes. This project aimed to assess the distribution, exposure and effects of endocrine disruptors in the Scheldt estuary, with specific attention to invertebrates. The Scheldt estuary is known to be one of the most polluted estuaries in the world. The industrial areas of Ghent and Antwerp are to a large extent responsible for this pollution. To achieve these goals detailed knowledge of the distribution and long-term effects of these substances is needed. This information is crucial for the development of future-oriented policy measures at the national and European level. The project can be divided into four different research phases. In Phase I the occurance and distribution of endocrine disrupting substances in the Scheldt estuary was studied. Water, sediment, suspended solids and biota were sampled 3 times a year for a period of 4 years (2002-2006). In all these matrices, 7 groups of chemicals were analysed: estrogens, pesticides, phthalates, organotins, polyaromatic components (PCBs, PBDEs), polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and phenols. All the analyzed chemicals are on the OSPAR list of priority chemicals or are indicated as endocrine disruptors on this list. The different water samples were also tested using in vitro assays to assess their potential to bind to the (human) estrogen and androgen receptor. Phase II evaluated the exposure of biota occuring in the Scheldt estuary to endocrine disrupting substances. Based on the results of the chemical analysis, priority substances were selected. Phase III studied the effects of endocrine disrupting substances occurring in the Scheldt estuary on resident mysid shrimp populations (laboratory and field studies). Substances of concern were selected and tested in the laboratory to evaluate their effects on the estuarine mysid Neomysis integer. In the context of this project, three new assays using invertebrate-specific endpoints were developed to examine the effect of endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) on molting, embryogenesis and vitellogenesis of N. integer. Finally, in Phase IV laboratory and field results were used to perform a preliminary environmental risk assessment of endocrine disruptors in the Scheldt estuary. Samples were collected along the salinity gradiënt of the Scheldt estuary with the RV Belgica. Water samples were taken with Teflon-coated Go-Flo bottles (10L), sediment samples with Van Veen Grab, biota with a hyperbentic sledge, and suspended particulate matter (SPM) was continuously sampled with an Alfa Laval flow-through centrifuge. For the chemical analysis, protocols were developed to analyse estrogens, organotriazine herbicides, organochlorine pesticides, phtalates, organotins, PAHs, PCBs, and PBDEs in the different matrices: i.e. water, sediment, SPM and biota.Experimental studies were performed to analyse growth, molting, embryogenesis and vitellogenesis of N. integer. These studies were needed to develop ecotoxicological assays to evaluate EDCs on these physiological processes. To study growth of N. integer, organisms were individually transferrred in exposure solutions and molts were collected to measure the growth after each molting. To study embryogenesis, embryos were taking out of the marsupium and placed in multiwell plates. Each day survival, developmental stages and hatching was analysed. To study vitellogenesis, vitellin was isolated from eggs with gelfitration and polyclonal antibodies were developed (in rabbits). With the isolated vitellin and the antibodies an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed. Vitellin was quatified in ovigerous females exposed to test compound in the laboratory and in females collected from the different sampling sites of the Scheldt estuary. In addition to vitellin levels, energy allocation and testosterone metabolism was examined in field collected mysids. Finally, results from population stu

2021 Update of the International Council for Standardization in Haematology Recommendations for Laboratory Measurement of Direct Oral Anticoagulants

International audienceIn 2018, the International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) published a consensus document providing guidance for laboratories on measuring direct oral anticoagulants (DOACs). Since that publication, several significant changes related to DOACs have occurred, including the approval of a new DOAC by the Food and Drug Administration, betrixaban, and a specific DOAC reversal agent intended for use when the reversal of anticoagulation with apixaban or rivaroxaban is needed due to life-threatening or uncontrolled bleeding, andexanet alfa. In addition, this ICSH Working Party recognized areas where additional information was warranted, including patient population considerations and updates in point-of-care testing. The information in this manuscript supplements our previous ICSH DOAC laboratory guidance document. The recommendations provided are based on (1) information from peer-reviewed publications about laboratory measurement of DOACs, (2) contributing author's personal experience/expert opinion and (3) good laboratory practice

Mycoprotein and skeletal muscle anabolism

Skeletal muscle is critical for human locomotion, postural control and the regulation of whole-body metabolism. Concomitantly, understanding how the food we eat influences skeletal muscle protein metabolism, and skeletal muscle mass, is vitally important. This is particularly true in those seeking to increase skeletal muscle mass, and for older individuals seeking to mitigate the seemingly inevitable loss of muscle mass. It is exceptionally well evidenced that protein ingestion increases muscle protein synthesis rates, with postprandial elevations in plasma essential amino acids (and leucine in particular) predominately responsible. The foundation of our evidence-base on protein intake and muscle protein synthesis rates in humans has largely been formed by investigating animal-derived protein sources, which are potent stimulators of muscle protein synthesis rates. However, there is relatively little comparative data in non-animal-derived sources. Consequently, given the prevalence of non-animal-derived proteins within the diet, there is a pressing need to develop an evidence base for sustainable alternative non-animal-derived protein sources. Mycoprotein, Fusarium venenatum, is a sustainably produced fungal derived whole food protein source. Accordingly, the purpose of this thesis was to thoroughly characterise the effect that mycoprotein ingestion has on muscle protein synthesis rates and muscle mass, with specific attention afforded to the interaction between mycoprotein ingestion and resistance exercise in younger and older adults. Firstly, I demonstrate the novel finding that the ingestion of a single bolus of mycoprotein (70 g; 31.5 g protein, 2.5 g leucine) stimulates resting and post-exercise muscle protein synthesis rates, and that it does so to a greater extent than a leucine matched bolus of milk protein (Δ 0.040±0.006 vs Δ 0.018±0.005%·h-1, respectively; P0.05), and older individuals (OMNI 1.59±0.12 vs 1.77±0.12%·d-1, VEG 1.76±0.14 vs 1.93±0.12%·d-1; P>0.05). As such, obtaining dietary protein from animal-derived sources is not an essential prerequisite to support daily myofibrillar protein synthesis rates in healthy younger and older adults. I translated this line of work further, demonstrating that a high-protein (~2 g·kg body mass-1·d-1), mycoprotein-rich, non-animal-derived diet can support equivalent resistance training-induced skeletal muscle adaptation as a high-protein omnivorous diet. After progressively resistance training 5 d/week for 10 weeks, increases in lean mass (OMNI 2.6±0.3 kg, VEG 3.1±0.8 kg; P>0.05), thigh muscle volume (OMNI 8±1%, VEG 8.2±1.4%; P>0.05), muscle fibre CSA (OMNI 33±10%, VEG 32±17%; P>0.05), and various measures of muscle strength (P>0.05) were equivalent, regardless of whether participants consumed an omnivorous or non-animal-derived diet. In turn, this demonstrates that under near-optimal nutritional and exercise-training conditions, non-animal-derived diets have the capacity to facilitate hypertrophic and strength adaptations in healthy young men and women. Collectively this thesis demonstrates that mycoprotein is an anabolic non-animal-derived protein source, capable of stimulating acute postprandial muscle protein synthesis rates, supporting daily muscle protein synthesis rates when incorporated into a non-animal-derived diet, in both young and older individuals, and, as a result, facilitative of considerable resistance training-induced skeletal muscle remodelling. Therefore, herein details a unique and novel body of work characterising the effect of mycoprotein on skeletal muscle tissue, translating from the level of molecular and metabolic minutiae, to the level of functional movement.Quor