Effects of Pulsatile Exercise-Induced Shear Stress on eNOS, SOD, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 mRNA Expression of Human Carotid Artery Endothelial Cells

Exercise-induced endothelial shear stress (ESS) has been proposed as a molecular mechanism that regulates the expression of genes involved in the protection against atherosclerosis. However, research on this topic has not considered the pulsatile nature of blood flow for in vivo ESS estimations. PURPOSE: to analyze the effect of pulsatile exercise-induced ESS on endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) mRNA expression of human carotid artery endothelial cells. METHODS: A reverse translational approach was employed for this study. First, an in vivo assessment, a total of 24 apparently healthy young subjects (14 females and 10 males) were recruited to perform two exercise tests on a cycle ergometer. The first test was a maximal incremental test which established the workloads for the next session, according to lactate levels. The second one, performed at least 48 hours after the first exercise test, was a steady-state test at lactate levels of \u3c2 mmol/L for 5 minutes. Left common carotid artery diameters and velocities were recorded through Doppler ultrasound. Microhematocrit measurement was used to determine blood density (ρ) and viscosity (μ). ESS was calculated by Womersley’s approximation, ESS = μ * 2K * Velocity/Diameter, where K is a function of Womersley’s parameter (α). Thereafter, in an in vitro experiment, commercially available human carotid artery endothelial cells were cultured on 6 slides until 95-100% confluence and were randomly assigned to no ESS exposure or were exposed to anterograde pulsatile flow (OsciFlow®) in a flow chamber (Streamer®) for 35 minutes, simulating exercise-induced ESS from the previous assessments. Finally, eNOS, SOD, VCAM-1, and ICAM-1 mRNA expression were compared between both groups, using GAPDH as the housekeeping gene. RESULTS: Exercise-induced ESS for lactate \u3c2 mmol was on average 56.32 (14.82) dynes/cm2. A significant increment on eNOS mRNA expression (P\u3c0.05) and a significant reduction on SOD mRNA expression (P\u3c0.05) were observed on those cells exposed to exercise-induced ESS compared to the group without ESS exposure. No significant differences were detected on mRNA expression of VCAM-1 and ICAM-1 between both groups. CONCLUSION: Pulsatile ESS generated during 35 minutes of low-intensity cycling might favor the upregulation of eNOS and the downregulation of SOD which in turn could provide a molecular explanation of the beneficial effects of exercise on atherosclerosis

Evaluation of an enhanced service for medication review with follow up in Swiss community pharmacies: Pre-post study protocol.

In Switzerland, 20,000 people are hospitalized each year as result of drug related problems (DRPs). The sources of DRPs can be related to patients' behavior (i.e., wrong administration) or to health processes (i.e., drug-drug interaction). No community pharmacy (CP) service focus on DRPs related to patients' behavior is currently recognized or remunerated in Switzerland. A medication review with follow up (MRF) has been developed to evaluate prescription and non-prescription medication. To evaluate the impact of MRF service for the identification and management DRPs associated to patients' behavior and to describe pharmaceutical interventions carried out through MRF. A pre-post intervention study with a cluster design and one intervention group will be carried out in CPs in the canton of Vaud (Switzerland) for 15 months. Volunteer pharmacists will be trained on the identification and management of DRPs related to patients' behavior. After training, they will include randomly selected adults taking four or more chronic drugs prescribed for at least three months prior to recruitment. Then, they will conduct three pharmacist-patient face-to-face consultations at 6-month intervals. Tasks will be differentiated by pharmacy technician or pharmacist to triage expired medication or to manage DRPs in a structured manner, respectively. The primary outcome is the identification of DRPs associated to patients' behavior. Secondary outcomes are to assess patients' medication knowledge, number of expired medications, interventions carried out by pharmacists and pharmacists' satisfaction. The study will begin in April 2023 in 19 to 35 pharmacies that will recruit at least 162 patients. A sub analysis will be carried out for patients with 65 years old or over. The MRF intervention features a training designed for an enhanced evaluation of patient's behavior towards their medication. The study will allow the assessment and management of DRPs in Swiss CPs with the support of the local health authorities and pharmacist association. Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05348538

User-Based Photometer Analysis of Effluent from Advanced Nitrogen-Removal Onsite Wastewater Treatment Systems

Advanced nitrogen-removal onsite wastewater treatment systems (OWTS) are used to reduce total nitrogen (N) levels in domestic wastewater. Maintaining system performance requires regular monitoring and in situ rapid tests can provide an inexpensive option for assessing treatment performance. We used a portable photometer to measure ammonium and nitrate concentrations in final effluent from 46 advanced N-removal OWTS, sampling each site at least three times in 2017. To assess photometer accuracy, we compared measurements made using the photometer with those determined by standard laboratory methods using linear regression analysis and a two-tailed t test to compare regression parameters to those for a perfect linear relationship (slope = 1, intercept = 0). Our results show that photometer-based analysis reliably estimates inorganic N (ammonium and nitrate) concentration in field and laboratory settings. Photometer-based analysis of the sum of inorganic N species also consistently approximated the total N concentration in the final effluent from the systems. A cost-benefit analysis indicated that the photometer is a more cost-effective option than having samples analyzed by commercial environmental testing laboratories after analysis of 8 to 33 samples. A portable photometer can be used to provide reliable, cost-effective measurements of ammonium and nitrate concentrations, and estimates of total N levels in advanced N-removal OWTS effluent. This method can be a viable tool for triaging system performance in the field, helping to identify systems that are not functioning properly and may need to be adjusted or repaired by an operation and maintenance service provider in order to meet treatment standards

Legal Report on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Angola : An Analysis of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Selected National Policy and Legal Instruments of Angola

The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Angola with the EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements are reflected in Angola' policies and legislation relevant to the country’s fisheries sector and other sectors that interact with fisheries (such as environment, wildlife and ecosystems, maritime). Based on this preliminary diagnosis, gaps were identified in the assessed instruments, and recommendations on specific areas that need further improvement. Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others. To assess how the EAF is being implemented through national policy and legal frameworks, FAO developed A diagnostic tool for implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries through national policy and legal frameworks. This report was elaborated following a participatory approach with the involvement of the national competent authorities of Angola. Drafted in July 2021, the report was submitted to the national authorities of Angola in October 2021. The Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of Angola endorsed this EAF Legal Report of Angola in June 2022

Legal Report on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in the Gambia : An Analysis of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Selected National Policy and Legal Instruments of the Gambia

Legislating for the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of the EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others. To assess how the EAF is being implemented through national policy and legal frameworks, FAO developed A diagnostic tool for implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries through national policy and legal frameworks. The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of the Gambia with the EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for the EAF, are reflected in the Gambia's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs). Based on this preliminary diagnosis, gaps were identified in the assessed instruments, and recommendations were made for improving the implementation of the EAF. This report was elaborated following a participatory approach with the involvement of the national competent authorities of the Gambia. Drafted in July 2021, the report was submitted to the national authorities of the Gambia in November 2021. The Gambia Fisheries Department endorsed this EAF Legal Report of the Gambia in April 2022

Legal Report on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Ghana : An Analysis of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Selected National Policy and Legal Instruments of Ghana

Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others. To assess how an EAF is being implemented through national policy and legal frameworks, FAO developed A diagnostic tool for implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries through national policy and legal frameworks. The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Ghana with an EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for an EAF, are reflected in Ghana's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs). Based on this preliminary diagnosis, gaps were identified in the assessed instruments, and recommendations were made for improving the implementation of an EAF. This report was elaborated following a participatory approach with the involvement of the national competent authorities of Ghana. Drafted in July 2021, the report was submitted to the national authorities of Ghana in October 2021. The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development of Ghana and the Fisheries Commission endorsed this EAF Legal Report of Ghana in December 2021

Legal Report on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Madagascar : An Analysis of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Selected National Policy and Legal Instruments of Madagascar

Legislating for an ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others. To assess how an EAF is being implemented through national policy and legal frameworks, FAO developed A diagnostic tool for implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries through national policy and legal frameworks. The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Madagascar with an EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for an EAF, are reflected in Madagascar's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs). Based on this preliminary diagnosis, gaps were identified in the assessed instruments, and recommendations were made for improving the implementation of an EAF. This report was elaborated following a participatory approach with the involvement of the national competent authorities of Madagascar. Drafted in July 2021, the report was submitted to the national authorities of Madagascar in October 2021. The Ministry of Fishery and Blue Economy endorsed this EAF Legal Report of Madagascar in May 2022

Legal Report on the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Guinea-Bissau : An Analysis of the Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries in Selected National Policy and Legal Instruments of Guinea-Bissau

Legislating for the ecosystem approach to fisheries (EAF) is complex, due to the holistic nature of the EAF involving multiple factors that underpin the social, economic, environmental, and institutional aspects of fisheries sustainability. These factors include ecosystems integration, risks, inter-sectoral collaboration, research, participatory processes, monitoring, control, surveillance, and enforcement, among others. To assess how the EAF is being implemented through national policy and legal frameworks, FAO developed A diagnostic tool for implementing an ecosystem approach to fisheries through national policy and legal frameworks. The present legal report on the EAF used the diagnostic tool to assess the alignment of selected policy and legal instruments of Guinea-Bissau with the EAF. This assessment analysed the extent to which 82 EAF legal requirements, which are considered the minimum standards in legislating for the EAF, are reflected in Guinea-Bissau's policies and legislation relevant to the fisheries sector of the country and other relevant sectors (such as environment, wildlife, ecosystems, and maritime affairs). Based on this preliminary diagnosis, gaps were identified in the assessed instruments, and recommendations were made for improving the implementation of the EAF. This report was elaborated following a participatory approach with the involvement of the national competent authorities of Guinea-Bissau. Drafted in July 2021, the report was submitted to the national authorities of Guinea-Bissau in October 2021. The Ministry of Fisheries, through its Secretary-General and Legal Office, endorsed this EAF Legal Report of Guinea-Bissau in July 2022