δ15N values of macroalgae as an indicator of the potential presence of waste disposal from land-based marine fish farms

The nitrogen isotope ratio (δ¹⁵N) in tissues of native macroalgae was evaluated as a means of indicating the intensity and spatial extent of organic contamination due to disposal of waste from land-based marine fish farms (LBMFFs). Three species of macroalgae from the genus Fucus and the green macroalgae Codium tomentosum were selected for study. The study was carried out at seven flat marine fish farms located in Galicia (NW Spain). Tests were carried out to determine the intra-annual variation in δ¹⁵N values and any differences between selected macroalgae. The δ¹⁵N values enrichment was observed close to the disposal point, and δ¹⁵N values varied more widely throughout the year (±5.57 ‰) at sites affected by the marine fish farm effluent compared to natural conditions (±2 ‰). No significant differences in the isotopic signals were observed in the different species studied (standard major axis). The δ¹⁵N values of macroalgae may be an ideal means of detecting the presence of LBMFFs effluents.     

Estimating plant responses to climate by direct gradient analysis and geographic distribution analysis

We characterised the climatic behaviour of 53 woody species in terms of the climatic factors that play the main role in controlling species distribution in the study area. Floristic and climatic data were obtained from 150 stands in sites under climatic control (i.e. eu-climatopes). The sampling strategy used allowed a reliable match between floristic and climatic observations. Different methods of frequency analysis and goodness-of-fit tests were used to identify associations between species occurrence and climatic characteristics. The species' responses were summarised by statistics describing ecological preferences and amplitudes, and species were grouped accordingly. A Gaussian response model was fitted to the abundance data along the main climatic gradients for selected species and response surfaces were derived by spatial analysis for a set of indicator species. Frequency analysis methods detected 42 indicator taxa for the Baudiere's Qe drought index, and lower numbers, 34 and 22, respectively, for the mean minimum coldest-month temperature and the daily temperature range in the coldest month. Goodness-of-fit tests revealed a lower number of ecological profiles with statistically significant deviations from equidistribution. We discuss the relative performance of the different methods and suggest that the combined use of statistical tests and frequency analyses may improve estimation of the environmental requirements of species. We also recommend using the species' responses to key environmental factors as reliable criteria in the definition of plant functional types. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Monascus kaoliang CBS 302.78 immobilized in polyurethane foam using iso-propanol as co-substrate: Optimized immobilization conditions of a fungus as biocatalyst for the reduction of ketones

Monascus kaoliang was selected after a microbial screening as a highly active and selective whole cell catalyst for the reduction of ketones. In the present paper we describe the optimum growing conditions and an interesting immobilization procedure by adsorption in polyurethane foams (PUFs). This methodology is easy to perform and the immobilized catalyst is active, stable and reusable. The use of different co-substrates for cofactor regeneration was also tested and iso-propanol (i-PrOH) was found as the best co-substrate, as it leads to a catalyst reusable for 17 cycles, displaying better NADH regeneration properties than others e.g., glucose (10 cycles) or saccharose (6 cycles). The reduction of different prochiral ketones showed that the ketone reductase activity of this mould follows the Prelog’s rule and kinetic experiments demonstrated that the process follows a pseudo-first kinetic order.     

First total synthesis and antiprotozoal activity of (Z)-17-methyl-13-octadecenoic acid, a new marine fatty acid from the sponge Polymastia penicillus

The first total synthesis for the (Z)-17-methyl-13-octadecenoic acid was accomplished in seven steps and in a 45% overall yield. The use of (trimethylsilyl)acetylene was key in the synthesis. Based on a previous developed strategy in our laboratory the best synthetic route towards the title compound was first acetylide coupling of (trimethylsilyl)acetylene to the long-chain protected 12-bromo-1-dodecanol followed by a second acetylide coupling to the short-chain 3-methyl-1-bromobutane, which resulted in higher yields. Complete spectral data is also presented for the first time for this recently discovered fatty acid. The title compound displayed antiprotozoal activity against Leishmania donovani (EC₅₀ = 19.8 μg/ml) and inhibited the leishmania DNA topoisomerase IB at concentrations of 50 μM.     

Synthesis of racemic 9-methyl-10-hexadecenoic acid

The marine bacterial fatty acid 9-methyl-10-hexadecenoic acid was conveniently prepared in 6 steps and in a 22% overall yield, starting from commercially available methyl 10-hydroxydecanoate. The naturally occurring fatty acid has the E double bond configuration as confirmed by gas chromatographic co-elution experiments.     

Systems analysis of primary Sjögren's syndrome pathogenesis in salivary glands identifies shared pathways in human and a mouse model

Bone tissue has an exceptional quality to regenerate to native tissue in response to injury. However, the fracture repair process requires mechanical stability or a viable biological microenvironment or both to ensure successful healing to native tissue. An improved understanding of the molecular and cellular events that occur during bone repair and remodeling has led to the development of biologic agents that can augment the biological microenvironment and enhance bone repair. Orthobiologics, including stem cells, osteoinductive growth factors, osteoconductive matrices, and anabolic agents, are available clinically for accelerating fracture repair and treatment of compromised bone repair situations like delayed unions and nonunions. Preclinical and clinical studies using biologic agents like recombinant bone morphogenetic proteins have demonstrated an efficacy similar or better than that of autologous bone graft in acute fracture healing. A lack of standardized outcome measures for comparison of biologic agents in clinical fracture repair trials, frequent off-label use, and a limited understanding of the biological activity of these agents at the bone repair site have limited their efficacy in clinical applications.     

Species distribution and <Emphasis Type="Italic">in vitro</Emphasis> antifungal susceptibility of oral yeast isolates from Tanzanian HIV-infected patients with primary and recurrent oropharyngeal candidiasis

Background  

In Tanzania, little is known on the species distribution and antifungal susceptibility profiles of yeast isolates from HIV-infected patients with primary and recurrent oropharyngeal candidiasis.     

New advances in the chemistry of methoxylated lipids

Methoxylated lipids have been reviewed emphasizing the alkylglycerol ethers and fatty acids bearing the methoxy group in the alkyl chain. The literature on methoxylated lipids and their derivatives has been divided into four main groups, namely 2-methoxylated alkyl glycerols, ω-methoxylated fatty acids, mid-chain methoxylated fatty acids, and -methoxylated fatty acids. The natural occurrence, biological activity, and synthesis of this interesting group of lipids are discussed. Most of these compounds have been isolated from either bacterial or marine sources, but others are mainly of synthetic origin. Among the interesting biological activities displayed by these compounds the most important are antibacterial, antifungal, antitumor, and antiviral.     

Phytoecological importance,mutual redundancy and phytological threshold values of certain climatic factors

A combination of methods (intensity of indication, floristic and mesological redundancy analysis, beta-diversity analysis, principal components analysis and Wildi's interactive ranking procedure) were used to evaluate redundancy and relative phytoecological importance among 80 climatic variables in Galicia (N.W. Spain). The information they contained was found to be adequately summarized by just 3 factors thought to play a major role in regulating the distribution of the species considered in the study area and similar areas: Baudiere's QE index, mean minimum temperature in the coldest month and mean temperature range in the coldest month. For these three factors, phytoclimatic thresholds were determined by examining beta-diversity and were used to define phytoclimatic zone types.

---

Resumen Se valora la redundancia e importancia fitoecológica relative de 80 variables climáticas en Galicia (N.O. de España) empleando una combinacion de diferentes metodos (intensidad indicadora, análisis de la redundancia florística y mesológica, análisis de beta-diversidad, análisis de componentes principales y el método de ordenación interactiva de Wildi). La información contenida en esta variables es adecuadamente resumida por 3 factores que juegan un papel predominante en regular la distribución de las especies consideradas en el area de estudio y areas similares: el índice QE de Baudiere, la temperatura media de las mínimas del mes más frío y la oscilación térmica del mes más frío. Para estos factores el análisis de la beta-diversidad permitió determinar los umbrales fitoclimáticos utilizados en la definición y cartografía de las zonas fitoclimáticas.

     

Cytokine gene polymorphisms and atopic disease in two European cohorts. (ECRHS-Basel and SAPALDIA)

Background

Avoidance of allergens is still recommended as the first and best way to prevent allergic illnesses and their comorbid diseases. Despite a variety of attempts there has been very limited success in the area of environmental control of allergic disease. Our objective was to identify a non-invasive, non-pharmacological method to reduce indoor allergen loads in atopic persons' homes and public environments. We employed a novel in vivo approach to examine the possibility of using aluminum sulfate to control environmental allergens.

Methods

Fifty skin test reactive patients were simultaneously skin tested with conventional test materials and the actions of the protein/glycoprotein modifier, aluminum sulfate. Common allergens, dog, cat, dust mite, Alternaria, and cockroach were used in the study.

Results

Skin test reactivity was significantly reduced by the modifier aluminum sulfate. Our studies demonstrate that the effects of histamine were not affected by the presence of aluminum sulfate. In fact, skin test reactivity was reduced independent of whether aluminum sulfate was present in the allergen test material or removed prior to testing, indicating that the allergens had in some way been inactivated.

Conclusion

Aluminum sulfate was found to reduce the in vivo allergic reaction cascade induced by skin testing with common allergens. The exact mechanism is not clear but appears to involve the alteration of IgE-binding epitopes on the allergen. Our results indicate that it may be possible to diminish the allergenicity of an environment by application of the active agent aluminum sulfate, thus producing environmental control without complete removal of the allergen.