Hypersaline water from desalinization plants causes oxidative damage in Posidonia oceanica meadows

Posidonia oceanica is an endemic marine phanerogam of the Mediterranean Sea for that is very sensitive to the environmental changes, especially those related to human activities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stress status of P. oceanica meadows exposed to spillage of hypersaline water from a desalination station by using biomarkers. Leaf samples of P. oceanica were obtained from 4 different points exposed to different levels of salinity water. Samples from the area with the highest salinity conditions were 75% shorter than the samples from the control area. Exposure to high salinity induced an increase in the levels of oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde (MDA) and protein carbonyls). Interestingly, in the area with the highest salinity the activities of glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and glutathione-s-transferase were significantly induced respect to the other studies areas, while catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activities were lower. In addition, salinity induced a progressive increase in non-enzymatic antioxidants (polyphenols and glutathione) and in total antioxidant capacity reaching the highest concentrations in samples directly affected by the saline discharge. In conclusion chronic exposure to high salinity induced an increase in total antioxidant capacity in P. oceanica. However, this increase was not enough to protect the plant against oxidative stress as it is evidenced by the raise in oxidative stress markers. The obtained data suggest that high salinity conditions deactivated CAT and SOD antioxidant enzymes and caused an increase in non-enzymatic antioxidants (polyphenols and glutathione) and in glutathione-related enzymes.

Diagnosis of GATA2 haplo-insufficiency in a young woman prompted by pancytopenia with deficiencies of B-cell and dendritic cell development

BACKGROUND

GATA2 deficiency presents with a spectrum of phenotypes including increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections, multi-lineage cytopenias, aplastic anemia, leukemic transformation and lymphedema. Allogeneic transplantation is only curative therapy for GATA2 deficiency, but is associated with significant treatment related morbidity and mortality. Given the spectrum of clinical presentation, accurate diagnosis of GATA2 deficiency is necessary to identify patients early in their disease course when allogeneic bone marrow transplantation may be of clinical benefit.

CASE PRESENTATION

In this report, we present a GATA2 mutation diagnosed in 23-year-old woman presenting with pancytopenia, recurring oral blisters, fatigue and chronic pain. We describe markedly low levels of mature B-cells in the blood and bone marrow and the absence of detectable blood dendritic cells with normal serum immunoglobulin levels and normal numbers of marrow plasma cells. She was ultimately diagnosed with GATA2 haplo-insufficiency due to a GATA2 germ-line mutation and underwent a successful allogeneic bone marrow transplant from a 10/10 HLA matched unrelated donor.

CONCLUSIONS

The case illustrates the diagnostic difficulties in identifying GATA2 deficiencies and the importance of family history and genetic testing. GATA2 plays an important role in B-cell and dendritic cell development, and decreased numbers of those cells is a characteristic feature that should prompt consideration of GATA2 deficiency in a patient with pancytopenia. Maturation of B-cells to long-lived plasma cells is relatively unaffected in GATA2 deficiency. Allogeneic stem cell transplantation can correct immune-deficiencies and prevent leukemic transformation in patients with GATA2 deficiency.

Enrichment of Antioxidant Capacity and Vitamin E in Pita Made from Barley

This study aimed to enhance total antioxidant and vitamin E content of pita bread, by replacing 50% of the standard baker's flour with flours milled from covered (WI2585 and Harrington) or hulless (Finniss) barley genotypes, previously shown to have high antioxidant and vitamin E levels at harvest. Pita breads were made from either 100% baker's flour (control) or 50% malt flour, whole-grain flour, or flour from barley grains pearled at 10%, 15%, and 20% grain weight. Antioxidant capacity and vitamin E content of flours and pitas were determined by their ability to scavenge 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radicals and high performance liquid chromatography, respectively. The physical and sensory properties of the pitas were also assessed. All pitas made from either whole grain or pearled barley flour had a higher antioxidant capacity and most also had higher vitamin E content than standard pita. The antioxidant and vitamin E levels were reduced in pearled compared to whole grains, however the extent of that reduction varied among genotypes. The greatest antioxidant and vitamin E levels were found in pita made from malt flour or Finniss whole grain flour. Furthermore, sensory analysis suggested these pitas were acceptable to consumers and retained similar physical and sensory properties to those in the control pita.

Differences in delta13C and delta15N stable isotopes in the pearly razorfish Xyrichtys novacula related to the sex, location and spawning period

In the present study, Xyrichtys novacula (Labridae) were sampled at five locations around the islands of Ibiza and Formentera (western Mediterranean Sea). Isotopic signatures of delta13C, delta15N and the C:N ratio were analysed in relation to locality, sex and size differences. delta13C and delta15N partitioning was also studied in the reproductive spawning period. There were significant differences in the delta13C signature between localities for both sexes, but not for delta15N. Sex differences were also found with a mean +/-s.e. value of -17.38 +/- 0.06 per thousand delta13C and 8.36 +/- 0.05 per thousand delta(15)N for females and -17.17 +/- 0.07 per thousand delta13C and 8.80 +/- 0.06 per thousand delta15N for males. Increasing total length in both sexes was positively correlated with delta15N enrichment and a significant positive linear regression was established for both variables. During the reproductive spawning period, there were changes in delta13C fractioning with enrichment in postspawning females and males (with respect to prespawning and spawning periods) and delta(15)N impoverishment in postspawning females (with respect to prespawning and spawning periods). Xyrichtys novacula uses local food sources, as confirmed by delta(13)C and delta(15)N, and females and males use different food sources, thus avoiding intraspecific competition. This was confirmed by delta15N enrichment as size increased. Spawning leads to special requirements for gonad maturation, which is reflected in the isotopic signatures for both sexes.

Muscle and scale isotopic offset of three fish species in the Mediterranean Sea: Dentex dentex, Argyrosomus regius and Xyrichtys novacula

Diet information of organisms was traditionally acquired by the use of lethal techniques (gut content or muscle delta(13)C and delta(15)N isotopic ratios). An increase in the number of isotopic ratio studies and the vulnerability of some species have led to increased use of non-lethal methodologies for conservation purposes. In the present work we have compared the delta(13)C and delta(15)N isotopic signals of muscle and scales of three different fish species in order to test fish-scale sampling as a non-lethal technique in fish trophodynamics. A positive correlation was found between muscle and scales in Argyrosomus regius and Xyrichtys novacula, while Dentex dentex showed no correlation due to the small length range of this species. The isotopic offset (Delta(13)C and Delta(15)N) between muscle and scales was significantly different among species (analysis of variance (ANOVA), p < 0.001) with Tukey's post-hoc HSD indicating a tissue offset difference (p < 0.001) for both stable isotopes in all species, except for Delta(13)C between A. regius and X. novacula and for Delta(15)N between D. dentex and X. novacula (p > 0.05). Mean delta(13)C and delta(15)N values between species showed significant differences (paired t-test, p < 0.01) between muscle and scale with an enrichment for delta(13)C and a depletion for delta(15)N. Spatial differences were found in the Delta(13)C of X. novacula between the studied locations, while no differences were found for Delta(15)N, indicating that non-geographical differences should be considered in the application of scales instead of muscle for (15)N, while for (13)C differences in the geographical isotopic offset should be considered.

Stable isotopes and metal contamination in caged marine mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

Metal concentrations and isotopic composition were measured in different tissues of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis in waters of the Balearic Islands (Western Mediterranean) in order to assess pollution levels. The isotopic composition was correlated with lead, cadmium, selenium and nickel obtained from the digestive gland and foot of the mussels. Significant negative correlations were found between cadmium, selenium and zinc and the mussel foot, mainly for (13)C. Significant correlations were also found between lead and cadmium and the digestive gland. Pearson correlations indicated that the (13)C isotopic signal in foot is a good proxy for the concentration of metals such as lead, cadmium, selenium and zinc. Similarly, (15)N isotopic signatures in the digestive gland reflected the lead and cadmium concentration.

Assessment of environmental pollution at Balearic Islands applying oxidative stress biomarkers in the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis

The antioxidant enzyme response of the mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis to different degree of pollution was investigated. Antioxidant enzyme activities - catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), glutathione reductase (GR), superoxide dismutase (SOD) - and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration were measured in gills and digestive glands of mussels. Mussels from the same origin were transplanted along the Balearic coastal waters in eight stations characterized by a different degree of contamination and human impacts. Antioxidant enzyme activities showed an adaptive response to increase the activities in the more polluted areas. CAT, GR and SOD in gills and CAT and GR in digestive gland presented significant differences between polluted and non-polluted stations. No significant differences were observed in MDA concentration indicating that the antioxidant response is capable to avoid the lipid peroxidation. The use of biomarkers such as CAT and GR in gills and digestive glands of the mussel M. galloprovincialis is a good tool to categorize differences between polluted and non-polluted areas.

Organic compounds temporal trends at some invertebrate species from the Balearics, Western Mediterranean

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) such as hexachlorobenzene (HCB), dichlore diphenyl trichloretane (DDT), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and gamma-hexachlorocyclohexane (gamma-HCH or lindane) were determined in tissue of marine benthic invertebrates such as Mytilus galloprovincialis, Chamelea gallina, Venus verrucosa, Lithophaga lithophaga and Paracentrotus lividus. Species were selected due to their habitat, trophic level, feeding behaviour and their consumption. Invertebrate species were systematically sampled from December 1996 to December 2005 from several sites along the Balearic Islands. The highest concentrations of PCBs (785ng/g lipid) were found in M. galloprovincialis while the lowest concentrations were found in the sea-urchin P. lividus (193ng/g lipid). Among the 7 PCB quantified congeners the higher values are mainly obtained for CB138 and CB153. All bivalves presented higher PCBs contents than the sea-urchin P. lividus are possibly linked with the bioaccumulation process of POPs throughout the food web and to differential detoxifying mechanisms. The concentration of SigmaDDT exceeds that of HCB and gamma-HCH at all species and sampling stations. DDT concentrations ranged from 0.4ng/g ww at the bivalve C. gallina in 2002, to values of 15.8ng/g ww at the bivalve L. lithophaga in 1998. The values obtained for the organic compounds (HCH, HCB, PCBs, DDT) depend upon the place and year of sampling and are compared to values found by other authors for the mussel M. galloprovincialis in other Mediterranean areas. gamma-HCH and HCB were found in lower concentrations than the other POPs.

Psychophysical and electrophysiologic support for a left hemisphere temporal processing advantage

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to investigate cerebral asymmetries for the detection of brief temporal events in a group of 22 dextrals using psychophysical measures.

BACKGROUND

By combining electrophysiologic and psychophysical measures, it should be possible to demonstrate that the right ear advantage reported in previous studies is the result of a left hemisphere temporal processing advantage rather than a rightward attentional bias.

METHOD

Bursts of white noise lasting 300 milliseconds were delivered unilaterally to the participants' ears. Half of the stimuli contained a gap lasting either 4 or 6 milliseconds. Participants indicated whether or not the noise burst contained a gap. Asymmetries in alpha and beta activity at left and right temporal lobe sites were measured during the task.

RESULTS

The psychophysical data confirmed previous reports of faster response times (RTs) and lower levels of error for the right ear (RE). There was no asymmetry in alpha activity between the left and right temporal lobes; however, there was a higher level of beta activity in the left temporal lobe.

CONCLUSIONS

The electrophysiological data suggest that the perceptual asymmetry is not the result of a nonspecific rightward attentional bias but that of a left hemisphere specialization for the detection of brief temporal events. The relation between atypical temporal processing asymmetries and developmental learning disorders is discussed.