Polyunsaturated fatty acids in various macroalgal species from north Atlantic and tropical seas

Background - In this study the efficacy of using marine macroalgae as a source for polyunsaturated fatty acids, which are associated with the prevention of inflammation, cardiovascular diseases and mental disorders, was investigated. Methods - The fatty acid (FA) composition in lipids from seven sea weed species from the North Sea (Ulva lactuca, Chondrus crispus, Laminaria hyperborea, Fucus serratus, Undaria pinnatifida, Palmaria palmata, Ascophyllum nodosum) and two from tropical seas (Caulerpa taxifolia, Sargassum natans) was determined using GCMS. Four independent replicates were taken from each seaweed species. Results - Omega-3 (n-3) and omega-6 (n-6) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), were in the concentration range of 2-14 mg/g dry matter (DM), while total lipid content ranged from 7-45 mg/g DM. The n-9 FAs of the selected seaweeds accounted for 3%-56% of total FAs, n-6 FAs for 3%-32% and n-3 FAs for 8%-63%. Red and brown seaweeds contain arachidonic (C20:4, n-6) and/or eicosapentaenoic acids (EPA, C20:5, n-3), the latter being an important "fish" FA, as major PUFAs while in green seaweeds these values are low and mainly C16 FAs were found. A unique observation is the presence of another typical "fish" fatty acid, docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, n-3) at ˜ 1 mg/g DM in S. natans. The n-6: n-3 ratio is in the range of 0.05-2.75 and in most cases below 1.0. Environmental effects on lipid-bound FA composition in seaweed species are discussed. Conclusion - Marine macroalgae form a good, durable and virtually inexhaustible source for polyunsaturated fatty acids with an (n-6) FA: (n-3) FA ratio of about 1.0. This ratio is recommended by the World Health Organization to be less than 10 in order to prevent inflammatory, cardiovascular and nervous system disorders. Some marine macroalgal species, like P. palmata, contain high proportions of the "fish fatty acid" eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA, C20:5, n-3), while in S. natans also docosahexaenoic acid (DHA, C22:6, n-3) was detected

Carotenoid fluorescence in Dunaliella salina

Dunaliella salina is a halotolerant green alga that is well known for its carotenoid producing capacity. The produced carotenoids are mainly stored in lipid globules. For various research purposes, such as production and extraction kinetics, we would like to determine and/or localise the carotenoid globules in vivo. In this study, we show that the carotenoid-rich globules emit clear green fluorescence, which can be used in, for example, fluorescence microscopy (e.g. CLSM) to obtain pictures of the cells and their carotenoid content

The Selectivity of Milking of Dunaliella salina

The process of the simultaneous production and extraction of carotenoids, milking, of Dunaliella salina was studied. We would like to know the selectivity of this process. Could all the carotenoids produced be extracted? And would it be possible to vary the profile of the produced carotenoids and, consequently, influence the type of carotenoids extracted? By using three different D. salina strains and three different stress conditions, we varied the profiles of the carotenoids produced. Between Dunaliella bardawil and D. salina 19/18, no remarkable differences were seen in the extraction profiles, although D. salina 19/18 seemed to be better extractable. D. salina 19/25 was not “milkable” at all. The milking process could only be called selective for secondary carotenoids in case gentle mixing was used. In aerated flat-panel photobioreactors, extraction was much better, but selectiveness decreased and also chlorophyll and primary carotenoids were extracted. This was possibly related to cell damage due to shear stress

Effects of Decontamination of the Oropharynx and Intestinal Tract on Antibiotic Resistance in ICUs A Randomized Clinical Trial

IMPORTANCE Selective decontamination of the digestive tract (SDD) and selective oropharyngeal decontamination (SOD) are prophylactic antibiotic regimens used in intensive care units (ICUs) and associated with improved patient outcome. Controversy exists regarding the relative effects of both measures on patient outcome and antibiotic resistance. OBJECTIVE To compare the effects of SDD and SOD, applied as unit-wide interventions, on antibiotic resistance and patient outcome. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Pragmatic, cluster randomized crossover trial comparing 12 months of SOD with 12 months of SDD in 16 Dutch ICUs between August 1, 2009, and February 1, 2013. Patients with an expected length of ICU stay longer than 48 hours were eligible to receive the regimens, and 5881 and 6116 patients were included in the clinical outcome analysis for SOD and SDD, respectively. INTERVENTIONS Intensive care units were randomized to administer either SDD or SOD. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Unit-wide prevalence of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria. Secondary outcomes were day-28 mortality, ICU-acquired bacteremia, and length of ICU stay. RESULTS In point-prevalence surveys, prevalences of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria in perianal swabs were significantly lower during SDD compared with SOD; for aminoglycoside resistance, average prevalence was 5.6%(95% CI, 4.6%-6.7%) during SDD and 11.8%(95% CI, 10.3%-13.2%) during SOD (P <.001). During both interventions the prevalence of rectal carriage of aminoglycoside-resistant gram-negative bacteria increased 7% per month (95% CI, 1%-13%) during SDD (P = .02) and 4% per month (95% CI, 0%-8%) during SOD (P = .046; P = .40 for difference). Day 28-mortality was 25.4% and 24.1% during SOD and SDD, respectively (adjusted odds ratio, 0.96 [95% CI, 0.88-1.06]; P = .42), and there were no statistically significant differences in other outcome parameters or between surgical and nonsurgical patients. Intensive care unit-acquired bacteremia occurred in 5.9% and 4.6% of the patients during SOD and SDD, respectively (odds ratio, 0.77 [95% CI, 0.65-0.91]; P = .002; number needed to treat, 77). CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Unit-wide application of SDD and SOD was associated with low levels of antibiotic resistance and no differences in day-28 mortality. Compared with SOD, SDD was associated with lower rectal carriage of antibiotic-resistant gram-negative bacteria and ICU-acquired bacteremia but a more pronounced gradual increase in aminoglycoside-resistant gram-negative bacteria

Vergleichende dreidimensionale Vokaltraktbildgebung mittels MRT beim Singen und Sprechen

Hintergrund: Die Magnetresonanztomographie (MRT) ist zur Darstellung des Vokaltraktes beim Singen und Sprechen etabliert, wobei viele Studien auf schnelle zweidimensionale Aufnahmen konzentriert sind. Zusätzlich ist jedoch auch eine dreidimensionale Bildgebung möglich. Durch diese können detailgetreue Modelle geschaffen werden, aus denen ein direkter Rückschluss auf die Vokaltraktresonanzen möglich ist.Material und Methoden: In der vorliegenden Studie wurden Vokaltraktmodelle mittels 3D MRT bei einem professionellen Tenor erstellt. Dafür phonierte der Sänger im MRT die Vokale /a/, /i/ und /u/ in seiner Sprechstimmlage (C3) in Sing- und Sprechstimmfunktion sowie in seiner hohen Singstimmfunktion oberhalb des Passaggios (A4). Aus dem gewonnenen Bildmaterial wurde jeweils der Vokaltrakt segmentiert, ein dreidimensionales Zahnmodell des Probanden anhand von anatomischen Landmarken eingefügt und mittels 3D Drucker ausgedruckt. Die gedruckten Modelle wurden nun durch Einfügen von Breitbandrauschen im Glottisbereich und Ableiten von Transferfunktionen vor der Mundöffnung akustisch analysiert und die Formantfrequenzen bestimmt.Ergebnisse: Vorläufige Ergebnisse zeigen deutliche Vokaltraktmodifikationen zwischen Sing- und Sprechstimme auf gleicher Tonhöhe, sowie für die hohe Singstimme in allen Vokalkonditionen. Insgesamt war der Vokaltrakt in der Singstimmfunktion länger als beim Sprechen und es zeigte sich der supralaryngeale Raum beim Singen vokalunabhängig erweitert. In der akustischen Analyse konnte eine Erhöhung der Formantfrequenzen mit Clusterbildung der Formanten 3-5 in der Singstimmfunktion ermittelt werden.Diskussion: Die Verlängerung des Vokaltraktes und Erweiterung des supralaryngealen Bereichs sind möglicherweise Mechanismen, welche für die Klangformung in der Singstimmfunktion von Bedeutung sind