Biomarkers of Morbid Obesity and Prediabetes by Metabolomic Profiling of Human Discordant Phenotypes

Metabolomic studies aimed to dissect the connection between the development of type 2 diabetes and obesity are still scarce. In the present study, fasting serum from sixty-four adult individuals classified into four sex-matched groups by their BMI [non-obese versus morbid obese] and the increased risk of developing diabetes [prediabetic insulin resistant state versus non-prediabetic non-insulin resistant] was analyzed by LC- and FIA-ESI-MS/MS-driven metabolomic approaches. Altered levels of [lyso]glycerophospholipids was the most specific metabolic trait associated to morbid obesity, particularly lysophosphatidylcholines acylated with margaric, oleic and linoleic acids [lysoPC C17:0: R=-0.56, p=0.0003; lysoPC C18:1: R=-0.61, p=0.0001; lysoPC C18:2 R=-0.64, p<0.0001]. Several amino acids were biomarkers of risk of diabetes onset associated to obesity. For instance, glutamate significantly associated with fasting insulin [R=0.5, p=0.0019] and HOMA-IR [R=0.46, p=0.0072], while glycine showed negative associations [fasting insulin: R=-0.51, p=0.0017; HOMA-IR: R=-0.49, p=0.0033], and the branched chain amino acid valine associated to prediabetes and insulin resistance in a BMI-independent manner [fasting insulin: R=0.37, p=0.0479; HOMA-IR: R=0.37, p=0.0468]. Minority sphingolipids including specific [dihydro]ceramides and sphingomyelins also associated with the prediabetic insulin resistant state, hence deserving attention as potential targets for early diagnosis or therapeutic intervention

Contaminants of emerging concern in the Basque coast (N Spain): Occurrence and risk assessment for a better monitoring and management decisions

The study of the presence in the aquatic environment of certain substances considered as contaminants of emerging concern (CEC) is a preliminary step to the analysis of the possible harmful effects on aquatic ecosystems and the establishment of the corresponding environmental quality standards. In order to monitor the occurrence of CECs in the aquatic environment, the European Commission established in 2015 and 2018 two watch-list of substances for Union-wide monitoring in the field of water policy (Decision (EU) 2015/495 and Decision (EU) 2018/840). In the coast of the Basque Country, southeast of the Bay of Biscay, 19 of these watch list substances were monitored quarterly from May 2017 to March 2019. Water samples were collected at the effluent of three wastewater treatment plants and five control points associated with receiving waters (transitional and coastal water bodies). The most frequently quantified substances were azithromycin (91%), imidacloprid (82%), clarithromycin (80%), diclofenac (78%) and erythromycin (73%), with frequencies of quantification higher in wastewaters (83–100%) than in receiving waters (70–85%). In general, concentrations in wastewater were also higher than in receiving waters, indicating a dilution effect in the environment. In receiving waters, six out of the nineteen substances monitored exceeded their respective Predicted No-Effect Concentrations: azithromycin (34%), imidacloprid (9%), 17β-estradiol (E2) (9%), clarithromycin (7%), ciprofloxacin (7%), and diclofenac (5%); and therefore, their levels could pose an environmental risk.This work was supported by the Basque Water Agency (URA) through the project “Network for monitoring the ecological and chemical status of transitional and coastal waters of the Basque coast”, and partly by the Generalitat de Catalunya (Consolidate Research Group 2017-SGR-14) and the Ministry of Science and Innovation of Spain (Project CEX2018-000794-S). Biotage is acknowledged for the gift of ISOLUTE® Na2SO4 drying cartridges. The authors acknowledge the help of the entities in charge of the management of the three studied WWTPs (Consorcio de Aguas Bilbao Bizkaia, Consorcio de Aguas de Busturialdea and Aguas del Añarbe), as well as the work of all sampling and laboratory technicians. This is contribution number 1002 from the Marine Research of AZTI-BRTA (Basque Research and Technology Alliance).Peer reviewe

Future water quality monitoring - Adapting tools to deal with mixtures of pollutants in water resource management

Environmental quality monitoring of water resources is challenged with providing the basis for safeguarding the environment against adverse biological effects of anthropogenic chemical contamination from diffuse and point sources. While current regulatory efforts focus on monitoring and assessing a few legacy chemicals, many more anthropogenic chemicals can be detected simultaneously in our aquatic resources. However, exposure to chemical mixtures does not necessarily translate into adverse biological effects nor clearly shows whether mitigation measures are needed. Thus, the question which mixtures are present and which have associated combined effects becomes central for defining adequate monitoring and assessment strategies. Here we describe the vision of the international, EU-funded project SOLUTIONS, where three routes are explored to link the occurrence of chemical mixtures at specific sites to the assessment of adverse biological combination effects. First of all, multi-residue target and non-target screening techniques covering a broader range of anticipated chemicals co-occurring in the environment are being developed. By improving sensitivity and detection limits for known bioactive compounds of concern, new analytical chemistry data for multiple components can be obtained and used to characterise priority mixtures. This information on chemical occurrence will be used to predict mixture toxicity and to derive combined effect estimates suitable for advancing environmental quality standards. Secondly, bioanalytical tools will be explored to provide aggregate bioactivity measures integrating all components that produce common (adverse) outcomes even for mixtures of varying compositions. The ambition is to provide comprehensive arrays of effect-based tools and trait-based field observations that link multiple chemical exposures to various environmental protection goals more directly and to provide improved in situ observations for impact assessment of mixtures. Thirdly, effect-directed analysis (EDA) will be applied to identify major drivers of mixture toxicity. Refinements of EDA include the use of statistical approaches with monitoring information for guidance of experimental EDA studies. These three approaches will be explored using case studies at the Danube and Rhine river basins as well as rivers of the Iberian Peninsula. The synthesis of findings will be organised to provide guidance for future solution-oriented environmental monitoring and explore more systematic ways to assess mixture exposures and combination effects in future water quality monitoring.Seventh Framework Programme (E.U

Χωροχρονική μελέτη ιζημάτων σε κρατήρα θερμής πηγής στον κόλπο της Γέρας

Σκοπός της εργασίας ήταν αρχικά η μελέτη των ραδιολογικών και μεταλλικών παραμέτρων της θερμής πηγής στην ηφαιστειογενή περιοχή του κόλπου της Γέρας, όπου έχει διαπιστωθεί από προηγούμενες μελέτες ότι τεκτονικές ασυνέχειες κάτω από τον πυθμένα αποτελούν οδούς επιλεκτικής διαφυγής ρευστών. Επίσης η έρευνα είχε ως στόχο τον υπολογισμό του ρυθμού ιζηματογένεσης/εναπόθεσης με τη χρήση του φυσικού ραδιονουκλιδίου Pb-210 και του τεχνητού Cs-137, την εύρεση της ποσότητας του οργανικού άνθρακα στα υπό εξέταση ιζήματα του κόλπου της Γέρας, και τέλος τη σύγκριση των συγκεντρώσεων των μετάλλων (κύρια στοιχεία) και των ραδιενεργών του περιβάλλοντος της υδροθερμικής πηγής απ’ όπου λήφθηκαν δείγματα με εκείνο του υποβάθρου. Ένα από τα κίνητρα που οδήγησαν στη συγκεκριμένη μελέτη ήταν αρχικά η εκτίμηση του ραδιολογικού κινδύνου της υδροθερμικής πηγής στον κόλπο της Γέρας, η οποία εμφάνιζε τηv περισσότερη κινητικότητα. Επίσης το να χαρακτηριστούν τα ιζήματα ανάλογα με τη ραδιενέργεια, τα μέταλλα και τον οργανικό άνθρακα που αυτά εμπεριείχαν, και να μελετηθούν οι μεταβολές των συγκεντρώσεων τόσο στο πέρασμα του χρόνου, όσο και στον χώρο (εντός- εκτός κρατήρα και ανοιχτά του κόλπου), δηλαδή η χωροχρονική μεταβολή των συγκεντρώσεων, αποτέλεσαν δυο ακόμα κίνητρα τα οποία συνέβαλλαν στη μελέτη αυτή. Οι μετρήσεις των εκάστοτε παραμέτρων έλαβαν χώρα με εργαστηριακές μεθόδους φασματοσκοπίας ακτίνων-γ, υγρής οξείδωσης και XRF ανάλογα με τα ζητούμενα κάθε φορά. Αυτό που έδειξαν τα αποτελέσματα ως γενική εικόνα είναι ότι ο ραδιολογικός κίνδυνος για τους ανθρώπους και τους οργανισμούς που κατοικούν στην περιοχή είναι αμελητέος. Παράλληλα παρατηρήθηκε μη σημαντική επιβάρυνση από ανθρωπογενείς δραστηριότητες στον κόλπο της Γέρας όσον αφορά τα μέταλλα (κύρια στοιχεία) και τον οργανικό άνθρακα καθώς μάλιστα ο δεύτερος παρουσιάζει μικρές μεταβολές στη συγκέντρωσή του με το πέρας των ετών. Τέλος ο ρυθμός ιζηματογένεσης υπολογίζεται στα ~ 0.47 cm/year, τιμή η οποία οφείλεται στην υψηλή δραστηριότητα της περιοχής μελέτης λόγω των αναβλύσεων και της μικρής σχετικά απόστασης από την παράκτια περιοχή.The aim of this study was initially to study the radiological and metallic parameters of the hydrothermal vent in the volcanic area of the Gulf of Gera, where previous studies found that tectonic discontinuities below the bottom are routes of selective fluid leak. In addition, the aim of the study was to calculate the sedimentation rate by using the natural radionuclide Pb-210 and artificial Cs-137, to be found the amount of organic carbon in the under consideration sediments in the Gulf of Gera and finally the comparison of the concentrations of metals (main elements) and radioactive elements in the environment of the hydrothermal source, of which have been taken samples, to that of the background. The first motivation of conducting this research was to estimate the radiological peril of the hydrothermal vent in the Gulf of Gera, which appeared to have the highest mobility. The second one wasthe characterization of sediments depending on the radioactivity, the metals and the organic carbon they contained and ultimately to be found the changes in the concentrations both over time and in space (inside-outside the crater and off the gulf), namely the spatiotemporal change of concentrations. The measurements of parameters conducted with laboratory methods of spectroscopy of rays - γ, wet oxidation and XRF depending on the requirements each time. The results proved that the radiological risk to humans and organisms living in the area is negligible. It was also observed that there is no significant burden from anthropogenic activities in the Gulf of Gera as regards the metals (main elements) and the organic carbon, since the latter presents insignificant changes in its concentration over the years. Finally, the sedimentation rate is estimated at ~ 0.47 cm / year mainly due to the high activity of the studied area because of the fluids emissions and the relatively short distance from the coast

Μελέτη φαινομένου ξηρασίας στη λεκάνη απορροής Sebou, Morocco μέσω της χρήσης του δείκτη Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI)

Για αρκετές δεκαετίες έχουν πραγματοποιηθεί πλήθος υδρολογικών παρατηρήσεων που αφορούν βροχομετρικά δεδομένα και δεδομένα παροχής νερού στην ευρύτερη περιοχή του Μαρόκου. Τα δεδομένα αυτά αφορούν δύο από τους τρεις κύριους παραπόταμους του ποταμού Sebou, ο οποίος γεωγραφικά τοποθετείται στο Μαρόκο. Γενικά τα φράγματα ρυθμίζουν τη ροή νερού των ποταμών. Η τάση αυτή θα μπορούσε να οφείλεται στην υπερβολική χρήση νερού για άρδευση κατά τη διάρκεια της ξηρασίας, στην αύξηση της εξάτμισης που προκαλείται από την υψηλότερη επιφάνεια των επιφανειακών υδάτων και στη μεταφορά νερού σε άλλες περιοχές. Λαμβάνοντας υπόψη όλα τα φράγματα, μπορούμε να εκτιμήσουμε ότι η εκφόρτωση νερού του ποταμού Sebou και των παραπόταμών του μειώθηκε περίπου κατά 70%. Σκοπός της παρούσας πτυχιακής εργασίας είναι η εκτίμηση της ξηρασίας σε 2 υδρολογικές λεκάνες μέσω του δείκτη SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index). Η εκτίμηση αυτή διεξήχθη μέσω ανάλυσης δεδομένων σε σταθμούς από τους οποίους πάρθηκαν δεδομένα. Πιο συγκεκριμένα, χρησιμοποιήθηκαν δεδομένα βροχόπτωσης και παροχής σε δύο από τους βασικούς παραπόταμους του ποταμού Sebou, τους Beht και Ouergha όπου ο ποταμός Beht υποστηρίζει την άρδευση στην πιο γόνιμη περιοχή του Μαρόκου, το Gharb. Οι υδάτινοι πόροι, περισσότερο από κάθε άλλη μορφή πόρων, αποτελούν θεμελιώδες και απαραίτητο στοιχείο για τη διατήρηση και την ανάπτυξη όλων των ανθρώπινων, οικονομικών και κοινωνικών δραστηριοτήτων. Οι περιοχές αυτές είναι σημαντικές καθώς το μεσογειακό κλίμα που τις χαρακτηρίζει, τις κάνει πυκνοκατοικημένες, με έντονη γεωργική και βιομηχανική ανάπτυξη αλλά και αγροτική παραγωγή. Έτσι λοιπόν είναι σημαντικό να υπάρχει επάρκεια στους διαθέσιμους υδατικούς πόρους για την εξυπηρέτηση των παραπάνω αναγκών. Αυτή είναι και η βασική αιτία μελέτης της ξηρασίας στην περιοχή αυτή

Iodinated disinfection byproducts: Formation and concerns

The list of iodinated disinfection byproducts (iodo-DBPs) includes some of the most genotoxic and cytotoxic DBPs discovered to date. Therefore, human exposure should be minimized by reducing their presence in drinking water. In this manuscript we review the main iodo-DBP formation pathways during water disinfection, with focus on the advances reported in the last two years. We discuss the effect of iodine sources other than iodine salts, e.g., iodinated contrast media or iodate, on iodo-DBP formation. In addition, we review the anthropogenic activities (like oil and gas extraction, dairy industry, seawater desalination or advanced oxidation treatments with persulfate) that may release iodo-DBPs to the aquatic environment or increase the potential of source waters to generate these compounds when disinfected

Redes vir sportdeelname van hoërskoolleerlinge

The purpose of this study was to investigate the reasons that motivate high school pupils to participate in sport. Four hundred and seventy eight pupils (211 boys and 267 girls) from four high schools in the Potchefstroom district participated in the study. The Participation Motivation Questionnaire (PMQ) was used. Data analysis was performed using Statistica 2000 for Windows 1998. One-way analyses of variance together with the Tuckey post hoc HSD test were used to indicate differences between variables. Practical significance was established with effect size. The results of the study showed the reasons that motivate youths to participate in sport as: doing something you are good at, develop the body, teamwork, learn new skills and meet new people. The least important reason for participation was to release energy. A factor-analysis was performed and six factors were identified: adventure/pleasure, recognition/achievement, team spirit/affiliation, ability/physical appearance, competition/challenges and energy release. T-tests and a one-way factorial analysis of variance were applied to determine whether gender, race and age had an effect on the reasons for sport participation. The results showed that gender and race had an effect on some of the factors, but not age. Keywords: sport participation, motives, reasons, youth sport, motivation, participation South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol. 27(1) 2005: 35-4

Hindernisse met betrekking tot jeugsportdeelname

The purpose of this study was to assess barriers or constraints that can preclude or limit the sport participation of high school pupils in the Potchefstroom district. Four hundred and seventy eight pupils (211 boys and 267 girls) from four high schools in the Potchefstroom district participated in the study. A questionnaire was used to assess the barriers to sport participation. Data analysis was performed, using Statistica 2000 for Windows 1998. A one-way (ANOVA) and two-way analysis of variance together with the Tuckey post hoc HSD test were used to indicate differences between variables. Practical significance was established by means of effect size. The results of the study showed the constraints that had the most limiting effects on the sport participation as "limited time, family responsibilities, lack of talent or skills, lack of information and lack of available exercise-programmes". The least restrictive constraint was racial relationship. A factor-analysis was performed and five factors were identified: family/culture, finances, skills, facilities and other. The effect size was used to determine whether a difference in the mean values of the identified factors and age, race, and gender ocour. Gender and age showed no relation to the constraints. Race, however, had an effect on the perception of constraints to sport participation. Keywords: Sport participation, Constraints, Youth sport, Barriers South African Journal for Research in Sport, Physical Education and Recreation Vol.26(2) 2004: 1-1