Assessing the optimum temperature for survival, growth and reproduction of adult Caspian Sea Pontogammarus maeoticus

This study was conducted to assess the effect of different levels of temperature on survival, growth and reproduction of adult Caspian Sea Pontogammarus rnaeoticus. Temperature effects were studied in 5 thermal levels (15, 20, 25, 30 and 35°C) where salinity was constant (7.1±0.2ppt). The sampling was made from Hassan-nrud coastal area in Guilan province. The results showed that survival was maximum at 20CC (95.56%) with higher temperatures showing a significant descending trend in survival (P<0.05) in which all samples perished on I 8th day at 35°C treatment. The number of produced brood followed a significant ascending , trend from 15°C to 25°C treatments and reached its climax at 25°C (117.3+12.2 broods). The minimum value for produced brood was reported at 15°C treatment (21.3±2.4 broods). A significant persistent increment of growth rate was observed throughout all treatments (P<0.05) where the maximum and minimum values were observed for the final (5.76±0.1mm) and the first (1.77±0.06mm) treatments, respectively. We suggest 25°C, 20°C and 30°C temperature treatments for producing the maximum brood per unit of time, the highest survival rate and the maximum growth, respectively. The temperature 25°C is defined as the best for aquaculture of pontogammarus as livefood of aquatic organisms

Histomorphological investigation of Liza aurata (Risso, 1810) (Mugilidae) ovary in the late oogenesis in the Caspian Sea

In the present study, various developmental stages of Liza aurata oocyte, especially IV and V stages have been described. On the basis of histological investigations, oocyte development in L. aurata comprises immature (I), the early maturing (II), the late maturing (III), mature (IV), ripe (V), and spent (VI) stages. In the stages I and II, nucleus occupied a large volume of oocyte. Vacuolization and vitellogenesis appearance started at stage III. Vitellogenesis increased by further growth of oocyte at stage IV and also vacuolization occurred. Zona radiata and follicular cells were more conspicuous at this stage. In the late stage IV, the number of vacuoles decreased due to the fusing of small vacuoles and nucleoli located on different places of the nucleus at this stage. At stage V, oocyte normally possessed one or two oil droplets; nucleus disappeared after migration to animal pole. Recently spawned oocytes were fluid, lemon in color and 779.2µm in diameter. The maximum gonadosomatic index (GSI) value was found at stage V

Photodynamic Therapy in Ocular Oncology

Over the past two decades, we have witnessed the increasing use of photodynamic therapy (PDT) in the field of ocular oncology. Based on a review of the literature and our own experience, we herein review the role of PDT for the management of intraocular tumors. The discussion includes two main topics. First, we discuss the application of PDT for benign tumors, including circumscribed choroidal hemangioma, choroidal osteoma, retinal astrocytoma, retinal capillary hemangioma (retinal hemangioblastoma), and retinal vasoproliferative tumor. Second, we assess the role of PDT for malignant tumors, including choroidal melanoma and choroidal metastasis

Metabolic profiling of aortic stenosis and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy identifies mechanistic contrasts in substrate utilization

Aortic stenosis (AS) and hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) are distinct disorders leading to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), but whether cardiac metabolism substantially differs between these in humans remains to be elucidated. We undertook an invasive (aortic root, coronary sinus) metabolic profiling in patients with severe AS and HCM in comparison with non‐LVH controls to investigate cardiac fuel selection and metabolic remodeling. These patients were assessed under different physiological states (at rest, during stress induced by pacing). The identified changes in the metabolome were further validated by metabolomic and orthogonal transcriptomic analysis, in separately recruited patient cohorts. We identified a highly discriminant metabolomic signature in severe AS in all samples, regardless of sampling site, characterized by striking accumulation of long‐chain acylcarnitines, intermediates of fatty acid transport across the inner mitochondrial membrane, and validated this in a separate cohort. Mechanistically, we identify a downregulation in the PPAR‐α transcriptional network, including expression of genes regulating fatty acid oxidation (FAO). In silico modeling of β‐oxidation demonstrated that flux could be inhibited by both the accumulation of fatty acids as a substrate for mitochondria and the accumulation of medium‐chain carnitines which induce competitive inhibition of the acyl‐CoA dehydrogenases. We present a comprehensive analysis of changes in the metabolic pathways (transcriptome to metabolome) in severe AS, and its comparison to HCM. Our results demonstrate a progressive impairment of β‐oxidation from HCM to AS, particularly for FAO of long‐chain fatty acids, and that the PPAR‐α signaling network may be a specific metabolic therapeutic target in AS

Resistance of Dynamin-related Protein 1 Oligomers to Disassembly Impairs Mitophagy, Resulting in Myocardial Inflammation and Heart Failure

We have reported previously that a missense mutation in the mitochondrial fission gene Dynamin-related protein 1 (Drp1) underlies the Python mouse model of monogenic dilated cardiomyopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the consequences of the C452F mutation on Drp1 protein function and to define the cellular sequelae leading to heart failure in the Python monogenic dilated cardiomyopathy model. We found that the C452F mutation increased Drp1 GTPase activity. The mutation also conferred resistance to oligomer disassembly by guanine nucleotides and high ionic strength solutions. In a mouse embryonic fibroblast model, Drp1 C452F cells exhibited abnormal mitochondrial morphology and defective mitophagy. Mitochondria in C452F mouse embryonic fibroblasts were depolarized and had reduced calcium uptake with impaired ATP production by oxidative phosphorylation. In the Python heart, we found a corresponding progressive decline in oxidative phosphorylation with age and activation of sterile inflammation. As a corollary, enhancing autophagy by exposure to a prolonged low-protein diet improved cardiac function in Python mice. In conclusion, failure of Drp1 disassembly impairs mitophagy, leading to a downstream cascade of mitochondrial depolarization, aberrant calcium handling, impaired ATP synthesis, and activation of sterile myocardial inflammation, resulting in heart failure