Loss of the epithelial marker CDX1 predicts poor prognosis in early-stage CRC patients

BACKGROUND

We have previously shown that non-curative chemotherapy imposes fetal conversion and high metastatic capacity to cancer cells. From the set of genes differentially expressed in Chemotherapy Resistant Cells, we obtained a characteristic fetal intestinal cell signature that is present in a group of untreated tumors and is sufficient to predict patient prognosis. A feature of this fetal signature is the loss of CDX1.

METHODS

We have analyzed transcriptomic data in public datasets and performed immunohistochemistry analysis of paraffin embedded tumor samples from two cohorts of colorectal cancer patients.

RESULTS

We demonstrated that low levels of CDX1 are sufficient to identify patients with poorest outcome at the early tumor stages II and III. Presence tumor areas that are negative for CDX1 staining in stage I cancers is associated with tumor relapse.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results reveal the actual possibility of incorporating CDX1 immunostaining as a valuable biomarker for CRC patients.

Tuning the carrier injection barrier of hybrid metal-organic interfaces on rare earth-gold surface compounds

Magnetic hybrid metal-organic interfaces possess a great potential in areas such as organic spintronics and quantum information processing. However, tuning their carrier injection barriers on-demand is fundamental for the implementation in technological devices. We have prepared hybrid metal-organic interfaces by the adsorption of copper phthalocyanine CuPc on REAu₂ surfaces (RE = Gd, Ho and Yb) and studied their growth, electrostatics and electronic structure. CuPc exhibits a long-range commensurability and a vacuum level pinning of the molecular energy levels. We observe a significant effect of the RE valence of the substrate on the carrier injection barrier of the hybrid metal-organic interface. CuPc adsorbed on trivalent RE-based surfaces (HoAu₂ and GdAu₂) exhibits molecular level energies that may allow injection carriers significantly closer to an ambipolar injection behavior than in the divalent case (YbAu₂).

Assessment of humoral immune response to two mRNA SARS-CoV-2 VACCINES (Moderna and Pfizer) in healthcare workers fully vaccinated with and without a history of previous infection

Aims

Presence of anti‐S1 region of SARS‐CoV‐2 spike protein was analysed, at two and eight months, in 477 immunocompetent healthcare workers in Zaragoza, Spain, vaccinated with mRNA‐1273 (Moderna) or BNT162b2 (Pfizer).

Methods and results

Antibody analysis was performed with Alinity i System (Abbott). At 2 months, 100% of vaccinated had anti‐S1 IgG (mean = 13,285 AU ml⁻¹). This value was significantly higher with Moderna (18,192 AU ml⁻¹) than with Pfizer (10,441 AU ml⁻¹). The mean value of anti‐S1 IgG after vaccination was significantly higher in patients with than without previous infection (18,539 vs. 7919 AU ml⁻¹); in both groups was significantly higher with Moderna than with Pfizer (21,881 vs. 15,733 AU ml⁻¹ and 11,949 vs. 6387 AU ml⁻¹), respectively. At 8 months, 100% of patients were IgG positive, with higher levels with Moderna than with Pfizer. Nevertheless, in ensemble of cases, a mean decrease of antibody levels of 11,025 AU ml⁻¹ was observed.

Conclusion

At 2 and 8 months after vaccination, IgG response persists with both vaccines but with important decrease which suggests the need for revaccination.

Significance and impact of study

The study contributes to know the immune status after vaccination with two of more used anti‐SARS‐CoV‐2 vaccines. This knowledge is important for establishing the best vaccination strategy

The relationship between the phageome and human health: are bacteriophages beneficial or harmful microbes?

In the context of the global antibiotic resistance crisis, bacteriophages are increasingly becoming promising antimicrobial agents against multi-resistant bacteria. Indeed, a huge effort is being made to bring phage-derived products to the market, a process that will also require revising the current regulations in order to facilitate their approval. However, despite the evidence supporting the safety of phages for humans, the general public would still be reluctant to use 'viruses' for therapeutic purposes. In this scenario, we consider that it is important to discuss the role of these microorganisms in the equilibrium of the microbiota and how this relates to human health. To do that, this review starts by examining the role of phages as key players in bacterial communities (including those that naturally inhabit the human body), modulating the species composition and contributing to maintain a 'healthy' status quo. Additionally, in specific situations, e.g. an infectious disease, bacteriophages can be used as target-specific antimicrobials against pathogenic bacteria (phage therapy), while being harmless to the desirable microbiota. Apart from that, incipient research shows the potential application of these viruses to treat diseases caused by bacterial dysbiosis. This latter application would be comparable to the use of probiotics or prebiotics, since bacteriophages can indirectly improve the growth of beneficial bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract by removing undesirable competitors. On the other hand, possible adverse effects do not appear to be an impediment to promote phage therapy. Nonetheless, it is important to remember their potentially negative impact, mainly concerning their immunogenicity or their potential spread of virulence and antibiotic resistance genes, especially by temperate phages. Overall, we believe that phages should be largely considered beneficial microbes, although it is paramount not to overlook their potential risks.

Predictors of Metachronous Risk Polyps After Index Colonoscopy

INTRODUCTION

Guidelines for surveillance after polypectomy are lacking in strong evidence. Our aim was to identify some precursors of colorectal cancer lesions at 3 years after polypectomy to improve stratification and surveillance programs.

METHODS

We included patients with high-risk lesions (HRLs), defined as advanced adenoma (AA), large serrated polyps (SPs), and multiplicity (≥3 of any adenomas/SPs). Data on age, sex, cardiovascular risk factors, pharmacological treatment, and the histological characteristics in each individual, and mutations in genes involved in the most advanced index polyp, were collected. Parameters independently associated with a metachronous HRL diagnosis were evaluated through univariate and multivariate analyses. The results are reported as odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals along with P values.

RESULTS

A total of 537 cases (median age: 60.7 years; 66% male) were included. Dyslipidemia and smoking correlated with metachronous HRLs. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the presence of multiplicity with ≥3 polyps on the index colonoscopy was significantly associated with metachronous HRL, AA, proximal AA, and ≥3 polyps at 3 years. In addition, independent predictors of metachronous proximal AA were increasing age, female sex, and the loss of expression of the MLH1 protein.

DISCUSSION

Multiplicity was a strong predictor of HRLs at 3 years, although the inclusion of other clinical variables (age, sex, smoking status, and dyslipidemia) improves surveillance recommendations. Without these risk factors, the surveillance could be extended to 5 years; we propose examining the somatic expression of MHL1 in all patients.

Iron oxide-mediated photo-Fenton catalysis in the inactivation of enteric bacteria present in wastewater effluents at neutral pH

The pressure on natural water resources associated with increasing water scarcity highlights the value of using reclaimed water through the development of efficient and environmentally friendly treatment technologies. In this work, the use of magnetic nanoparticles in photo-Fenton catalysis for water disinfection was considered to inactivate natural enteric bacteria present in municipal wastewater effluents under white light and neutral pH. The most recommended ranges were evaluated in key variables such as the loading and composition of nanoparticles (NPs), hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) concentration, the light source (UV and visible) and treatment time were evaluated in wastewater disinfection expressed in terms of total coliforms and Escherichia coli colony forming units (CFU). The magnetic separation of NPs allowed the disinfection process to be carried out in different cycles, facilitating the recovery of the nanocatalyst and avoiding its discharge with the treated effluent.

VIP conditions human endometrial receptivity by privileging endoplasmic reticulum stress through ATF6α pathway

Endometrial stromal cells undergo endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response (UPR) during the decidualization linked with the inflammation and angiogenesis processes. Considering VIP (vasoactive intestinal peptide) induces the decidualization program, we studied whether modulates the ER/UPR pathways to condition both processes for embryo implantation. When Human Endometrial Stromal Cell line (HESC) were decidualized by VIP we observed an increased expression of ATF6α, an ER stress-sensor, and UPR markers, associated with an increase in IL-1β production. Moreover, AEBSF (ATF6α -inhibitor pathway) prevented this effect and decreased the expansion index in the in vitro model of implantation. VIP-decidualized cells also favor angiogenesis accompanied by a strong downregulation in thrombospondin-1. Finally, ATF6α, VIP and VPAC2-receptor expression were reduced in endometrial biopsies from women with recurrent implantation failures in comparison with fertile. In conclusion, VIP privileged ATF6α-pathway associated with a sterile inflammatory response and angiogenesis that might condition endometrial receptivity.

[Identification of ICF categories representative of functioning problems in adult cancer patients at hospital discharge: National expert consensus]

INTRODUCTION

The International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) provides a standardised language and conceptual framework for health and health-related conditions, aiming to unify communication between different disciplines.

OBJECTIVE

To describe the process of selecting (through national expert consensus) ICF categories representative of functioning problems in cancer patients at hospital discharge.

METHOD

We conducted a descriptive qualitative and quantitative study that used the expert consensus method to design a clinical instrument. The study included 21 experts, consisting of 2 patients and 19 health professionals from different disciplines. A total of 208 ICF categories obtained in a previous stage through a systematic review and linking process were evaluated in 3 rounds. Participants evaluated each code and classified it as: highly relevant, relevant, slightly relevant, and not relevant at all. Only those codes assessed as «highly relevant» by more than 50% of the experts were included (cut off). In addition, another 143 ICF categories were evaluated in the second round.

RESULTS

In all, 24 ICF categories were obtained: 10 corresponded to the body function component, 11 to activities and participation, and 3 to environmental factors.

CONCLUSIONS

Consensus using the common language of the ICF resulted in the selection of 24 representative categories of the main health problems related to functioning at hospital discharge in adults treated for cancer.

[Secondary glomerulonephritis in neurofibromatosis type 1. Two case reports]

Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF-1) is an autosomal dominant neurocutaneous disorder with systemic clinical manifestations. There are few publications about the renal effects of this disease, with renal vascular disease and adrenal tumors being the most frequent forms of renal involvement, while cases describing glomerular effects are exceptional. Despite the lack of published information, common molecular mechanisms in both NF-1 and nephrotic syndrome, involving the mTOR pathway, were suggested to explain a possible association between both pathologies. We present two cases of renal involvement in the form of nephrotic syndrome in patients diagnosed with NF1. A 41-year-old female was diagnosed of NF-1 in the context of a nephrotic syndrome with resistance to steroid treatment; the renal biopsy revealed a diagnosis of minimal changes disease. The second case is other 71-year-old woman with a history of NF-1, who presented a nephrotic syndrome and secondary renal amyloidosis.

Use of physiological information based on grayscale images to improve mass spectrometry imaging data analysis from biological tissues

The characterization of cancer tissues by matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-mass spectrometry images (MALDI-MSI) is of great interest because of the power of MALDI-MS to understand the composition of biological samples and the imaging side that allows for setting spatial boundaries among tissues of different nature based on their compositional differences. In tissue-based cancer research, information on the spatial location of necrotic/tumoral cell populations can be approximately known from grayscale images of the scanned tissue slices. This study proposes as a major novelty the introduction of this physiologically-based information to help in the performance of unmixing methods, oriented to extract the MS signatures and distribution maps of the different tissues present in biological samples. Specifically, the information gathered from grayscale images will be used as a local rank constraint in Multivariate Curve Resolution-Alternating Least Squares (MCR-ALS) for the analysis of MALDI-MSI of cancer tissues. The use of this constraint, setting absence of certain kind of tissues only in clear zones of the image, will help to improve the performance of MCR-ALS and to provide a more reliable definition of the chemical MS fingerprint and location of the tissues of interest. The general strategy to address the analysis of MALDI-MSI of cancer tissues will involve the study of the MCR-ALS results and the posterior use of MCR-ALS scores as dimensionality reduction for image segmentation based on K-means clustering. The resolution method will provide the MS signatures and their distribution maps for each tissue in the sample. Then, the resolved distribution maps for each biological component (MCR scores) will be submitted as initial information to K-means clustering for image segmentation to obtain information on the boundaries of the different tissular regions in the samples studied. MCR-ALS prior to K-means not only provides the desired dimensionality reduction, but additionally resolved non-biological signal contributions are not used and the weight given to the different biological components in the segmentation process can be modulated by suitable preprocessing methods.

Insight into antibiotics removal: Exploring the photocatalytic performance of a Fe3O4/ZnO nanocomposite in a novel magnetic sequential batch reactor

The purpose of this research was the preparation and photocatalytic evaluation of a novel nanocomposite (NC) based on Fe₃O₄/ZnO, to eliminate four persistent antibiotics in surface waters: sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim, erythromycin and roxithromycin. Prior to the operation of the photocatalytic reactor, the influence of pH (3-9), catalyst concentration (50-800 mg L^-1), oxidant dose (0-100 mg L^-1) and concentration of different targets (10-100 μg L^-1) on the catalytic efficiency was evaluated. The analysis of reaction kinetics showed that degradation processes of the four antibiotics followed a pseudo-first-order kinetic model. Antibiotics adsorption onto the nanocomposite surface depended on their electrostatic nature and played an important role when decreasing the initial concentration of antibiotics. In this context, kinetic rates were higher at lower initial levels of organic pollutants, which is a favourable effect from a practical application perspective. On the other hand, a synergistic effect of the available Fe in the nanocomposite was found, contributing to the oxidation of antibiotics by photo-Fenton as a secondary reaction. Then, a magnetic photocatalytic reactor was operated under optimal conditions. The enhanced photonic efficiency of Fe₃O₄/ZnO in the system, as well as the ease of the magnetic separation and catalyst reusability, indicate the viability of this reactor configuration.

Thermal stability and interlayer exchange processes in heterolayers of TiOPc and PTCDA on Ag(1 1 1)

Organic-organic interfaces, in particular donor-acceptor type heterointerfaces, represent central elements of organic electronic devices. Understanding and controlling their physical properties is key to improve and modify their performance. For this purpose we have investigated the structural properties and thermal evolution of molecular heterointerface model systems. Specifically, various stacked titanyl-phthalocyanine (TiOPc)-3,4,9,10-perylene-tetracarboxylic-dianhydride (PTCDA) heterolayers grown on Ag(1 1 1) have been examined using Fourier transform infrared absorption spectroscopy and spot-profile analysis low-energy electron diffraction. An accurate description of the thermal evolution and prevalence of the various phases of TiOPc and PTCDA is derived from the spectral signatures of the two molecular species explored in previous studies. Exceptionally high thermal stability is found for stacked heterolayers comprising TiOPc double layers with characteristic up-down arrangement of its axial Ti-O unit and single layers of PTCDA. Thereby, interlayer exchange is negligible in a wide temperature range ([Formula: see text] K). This is ascribed to attractive intermolecular interaction (dipole-dipole interaction, hydrogen bonding) among the TiOPc molecules oriented face-to-face within the TiOPc bilayer sheet. Stacked layers of comprising single layers of TiOPc and of PTCDA turn out to be thermally much less stable and more heterogeneous. In the course of their thermal evolution, a number of processes such as interlayer exchange, TiOPc double-layer formation and dewetting are encountered.

Impact of the Reticular Stress and Unfolded Protein Response on the inflammatory response in endometrial stromal cells

During decidualization, endometrial stromal cells undergo reticular stress (RS) and unfolded protein response (UPR), allowing the endoplasmic reticulum-expansion and immunomodulators production. Physiological RS generates the activation of sensing proteins, inflammasome activation and mature-IL-1β secretion, associated with pro-implantatory effects. We focus on the impact of RS and UPR on decidualized cells and whether they induce a physiological sterile inflammatory response through IL-1β production. Human endometrial stromal cell line (HESC) after decidualization treatment with MPA + dibutyryl-cAMP (Dec) increased the expression of RS-sensors (ATF6, PERK and IRE1α) and UPR markers (sXBP1 and CHOP) in comparison with Non-dec cells. Then we found increased NLRP3 expression in Dec cells compared with Non-dec cells. In fact STF-083010 (an IRE1α inhibitor) prevented this increase. Downstream, increased levels of active caspase-1 on Dec cells were detected by FAM-Flica Caspase-1 associated with an increase in IL-1β production. Moreover, the treatment with STF-083010 decreased the invasion index observed in Dec cells, evaluated by an in vitro model of implantation. In endometrial biopsies from recurrent spontaneous abortion patients an increased expression of IRE1α was found in comparison with fertile women; while recurrent implantation failure samples showed a lower expression of sXBP1, TXNIP and NLRP3 than fertile women, suggesting that RS/UPR tenors might condition endometrial receptivity.

Swimming championship finalist positions on success in international swimming competitions

The primary goal was to determine whether the achievement of finalist positions in the Junior Championship was associated with the achievement of success in the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Championship (WC). Secondary goals included analyzing the effect of various factors (gender, age, country, etc) on swimmers’ performances. Data were obtained from FINA information about the finalists from 2007 to 2015 WCs and finalists from 2006 to 2013 Junior-WCs (2400 entries). Final filtered database just included swimmers who participated in both junior and senior WCs (719 entries). A univariate general linear model (GLM) was used to examine the association between time; origin (swimmer who participated in Junior WC or not); maintenance years (number of years achieving finalist positions); country; and age, adjusting for year of competition. An ordinal logistic regression (OLR) model was used to identify predictors of achieving the top positions. The origin variable was not significant in either the GLM or the OLR. The only significant variables in the GLM were maintenance years (F_4,706 = 7.689; p < .05) and year of competition (F_4,706 = 23.239; p < .05). The OLR revealed a strong association (p < .001) between the position variable and maintenance years, getting better positions as you get more WCs (odds = 1.85). In conclusion, no evidence was obtained to conclude finalist position in Junior WC have influence in achieve success in FINA WC. Maintenance years in WCs have a positive impact to achieve better positions.

The role of CDKN2A/B deletions in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia

The CDKN2A/B genes in the 9p21 chromosomal region are frequently involved in human cancer, including pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). These genes encode 3 proteins that belong to the RB1 and TP53 pathways and act as tumor suppressors by regulating the G1/S checkpoint of the cell cycle. The prognostic value of deletions in the CDKN2A/B locus in ALL is controversial in part due to the limitations of the methodologies used. Further studies with advanced technologies are needed for elucidation. Future studies would also highlight whether CDK4/CDK6 selective inhibitors might be useful therapies for children with these genetic aberrations.

High Temperature Ferromagnetism in a GdAg2 Monolayer

Materials that exhibit ferromagnetism, interfacial stability, and tunability are highly desired for the realization of emerging magnetoelectronic phenomena in heterostructures. Here we present the GdAg2 monolayer alloy, which possesses all such qualities. By combining X-ray absorption, Kerr effect, and angle-resolved photoemission with ab initio calculations, we have investigated the ferromagnetic nature of this class of Gd-based alloys. The Curie temperature can increase from 19 K in GdAu2 to a remarkably high 85 K in GdAg2. We find that the exchange coupling between Gd atoms is barely affected by their full coordination with noble metal atoms, and instead, magnetic coupling is effectively mediated by noble metal-Gd hybrid s,p-d bands. The direct comparison between isostructural GdAu2 and GdAg2 monolayers explains how the higher degree of surface confinement and electron occupation of such hybrid s,p-d bands promote the high Curie temperature in the latter. Finally, the chemical composition and structural robustness of the GdAg2 alloy has been demonstrated by interfacing them with organic semiconductors or magnetic nanodots. These results encourage systematic investigations of rare-earth/noble metal surface alloys and interfaces, in order to exploit them in magnetoelectronic applications.

Milk and blood biomarkers associated to the clinical efficacy of a probiotic for the treatment of infectious mastitis

Previous studies have shown the efficacy of oral administration of selected lactobacilli strains to treat mastitis. The objective of this study was to find microbiological, biochemical and/or immunological biomarkers of the probiotic effect. Women with (n=23) and without (n=8) symptoms of mastitis received three daily doses (10(9) cfu) of Lactobacillus salivarius PS2 for 21 days. Samples of milk, blood and urine were collected before and after the probiotic intervention, and screened for a wide spectrum of microbiological, biochemical and immunological parameters. In the mastitis group, L. salivarius PS2 intake led to a reduction in milk bacterial counts, milk and blood leukocyte counts and interleukin (IL)-8 level in milk, an increase in those of immunoglobulin (Ig)E, IgG3, epidermal growth factor and IL-7, a modification of the milk electrolyte profile, and a reduction of some oxidative stress biomarkers. Such biomarkers will be useful in future clinical studies involving a larger cohort.

The role of silica nanoparticles on long-term room-temperature stabilization of water-in-oil emulsions containing microalgae

Prior research has demonstrated that microalgae can be stored for extended periods of time at room temperature in water-in-oil (W/O) emulsions stabilized by surface modified silica nanoparticles. However, little research has been done to examine the impact of nanoparticle concentration on emulsion stability. Such information is important for large-scale production of emulsions for microalgae storage and delivery. Studies were done to examine the impact of silica nanoparticle concentration on emulsion stability and identify the lower limit for nanoparticle concentration. Emulsion physical stability was determined using internal phase droplet size measurements and biological stability was evaluated using cell density measurements. The results demonstrate that nanoparticle concentrations as low as 0·5wt% in the oil phase can be used without significant losses in emulsion stability and microalgae viability.

SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY

Stabilization technologies are needed for long-term storage and application of microalgae in agricultural-scale systems. While prior work has demonstrated that water-in-oil emulsions containing silica nanoparticles offer a promising solution for long-term microalgae storage at room temperature, little research has been done to examine the impact of nanoparticle concentration on emulsion stability. Here, we show the effects of silica nanoparticle concentration on maintaining physical stability of emulsions and sustaining viable cells. The results enable informed decisions to be made regarding production of emulsions containing silica nanoparticles and associated impacts on stabilization of microalgae.

Activated and expanded natural killer cells target osteosarcoma tumor initiating cells in an NKG2D-NKG2DL dependent manner

Current therapies fail to cure most metastatic or recurrent bone cancer. We explored the efficacy and the pathways involved in natural killer (NK) cells' elimination of osteosarcoma (OS) cells, including tumor initiating cells (TICs), which are responsible for chemotherapy resistance, recurrence, and metastasis. The expression of ligands for NK cell receptors was studied in primary OS cell lines by flow cytometry. In vitro cytotoxicity of activated and expanded NK (NKAE) cells against OS was tested, and the pathways involved explored by using specific antibody blockade. NKAE cells' ability to target OS TICs was analyzed by flow cytometry and sphere formation assays. Spironolactone (SPIR) was tested for its ability to increase OS cells' susceptibility to NK cell lysis in vitro and in vivo. We found OS cells were susceptible to NKAE cells' lysis both in vivo and in vitro, and this cytolytic activity relied on interaction between NKG2D receptor and NKG2D ligands (NKG2DL). SPIR increased OS cells' susceptibility to lysis by NKAE cells, and could shrink the OS TICs. Our results show NKAE cells target OS cells including the TICs compartment, supporting the use of NK-cell based immunotherapies for OS.

Preterm infant gut colonization in the neonatal ICU and complete restoration 2 years later

Preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are exposed to multidrug-resistant bacteria previously adapted to the hospital environment. The aim of the present study was to characterize the bacterial antibiotic-resistant high-risk lineages colonizing preterm infants during their NICU stay and their persistence in faeces after 2 years. A total of 26 preterm neonates were recruited between October 2009 and June 2010 and provided 144 faecal samples. Milk samples (86 mother's milk, 35 human donor milk and 15 formula milk) were collected at the same time as faecal samples. An additional faecal sample was recovered in 16 infants at the age of 2 years. Samples were plated onto different selective media, and one colony per morphology was selected. Isolates were identified by 16S rDNA nucleotide sequence and MALDI-TOF. Antibiotic susceptibility (agar dilution), genetic diversity (RAPD, PFGE and MLST) and virulence factors (only in enterococcal and staphylococcal isolates) were determined by PCR. A high proportion of antibiotic-resistant high-risk clones was detected in both faecal and milk samples during the NICU admittance. Almost all infants were colonized by Enterococcus faecalis ST64 and Enterococcus faecium ST18 clones, while a wider genetic diversity was observed for the Gram-negative isolates. Multidrug-resistant high-risk clones were not recovered from the faecal samples of the 2-year-olds. In conclusion, the gut of preterm infants admitted to the NICU might be initially colonized by antibiotic-resistant and virulent high-risk lineages, which are later replaced by antibiotic-susceptible community ones.

Environmental and health benefits from designating the Marmara Sea and the Turkish Straits as an emission control area (ECA)

Ship emissions degrade air quality and affect human health, and are increasingly becoming a matter of concern. Sulfur emission control areas (ECA), specific coastal regions where only low-sulfur fuels may be consumed by ocean-going ships, have proven to be useful tools to reduce ship-sourced air pollution along the North American, Canadian, and European North and Baltic Sea coastlines. The present work assesses the environmental and health benefits which would derive from designating an ECA in the Marmara Sea and the Turkish Straits (50 000 ships/year; 23 million inhabitants). Results show evidence that implementing an ECA would be technically viable and that it would reduce ship-sourced PM10 and PM2.5 ambient concentrations in Istanbul by 67%, and SO2 by 90%. The reduction of the air pollution burden on health was quantified as 210 hospital admissions from exposure to PM10, 290 hospital admissions from exposure to SO2, and up to 30 premature deaths annually due to ECA emission controls. Consequently, the designation of an ECA in the Marmara Sea and the Turkish Straits is evaluated as a positive, technically viable and real-world measure to reduce air pollution from ships in Turkey.

Probiotics for human lactational mastitis

The use of culture-dependent and -independent techniques to study the human milk microbiota and microbiome has revealed a complex ecosystem with a much greater diversity than previously anticipated. The potential role of the milk microbiome appears to have implications not only for short- and long-term infant health but also for mammary health. In fact, mammary disbiosis, which may be triggered by a variety of host, microbial and medical factors, often leads to acute, subacute or subclinical mastitis, a condition that represents the first medical cause for undesired weaning. Multiresistance to antibiotics, together with formation of biofilms and mechanisms for evasion of the host immune response, is a common feature among the bacterial agents involved. This explains why this condition uses to be elusive to antibiotic therapy and why the development of new strategies for mastitis management based on probiotics is particularly appealing. In fact, selected lactobacilli strains isolated from breast milk have already shown a high efficacy for treatment.

A new species of Silvinichthys (Siluriformes, Trichomycteridae) lacking pelvic fins from mid-elevation localities of the southern Andes, with comments on the genus

Silvinichthys huachi new species, is described from a stream along the lower slope of the Andean Cordillera in the Provincia de San Juan, Argentina. It shares the distinctive modifications characteristic of Silvinichthys, but is distinguished from the four previously described congeners by the combination of a lack of the pelvic fin and the pelvic girdle, details of pigmentation and various meristic and morphometric features. Silvinichthys huachi is apparently endemic to the type locality situated within an arid region of western central Argentina in the Andino Cuyana Province. Major gaps in the range of species of Silvinichthys may indicate that the origin of the genus predates the uplift events that subdivided drainages along the eastern slopes of the Andean Cordillera in west central Argentina. Silvinichthys huachi is hypothesized to be the sister species of Silvinichthys bortayro.

The microbiota of human milk in healthy women

Recent work has shown that human colostrum and milk, which had been traditionally considered sterile, provides a continuous supply of commensal and potential probiotic bacteria to the infant gut. More than 200 different bacterial species, including staphylococci, lactic acid bacteria and bifidobacteria, have been isolated from human milk samples so far, although the cultivable bacterial diversity found in individual samples is much lower (2 to 8 different species per women). Interestingly, the same bacterial strains have been found in both breast milk and infant feces of different mother-infant pairs, confirming the role of human milk on the bacterial colonization of the infant gut. These commensal bacteria could protect the infant gut and direct, at least partly, the maturation of the immune system, among other functions. Different studies suggest that some bacteria present in the maternal gut could reach the mammary gland during late pregnancy and lactation through a mechanism involving gut dendritic cells and macrophages. Thus, modulation of maternal gut microbiota during pregnancy and lactation could have a direct effect on infant health.

Human milk: a source of more life than we imagine

The presence of bacteria in human milk has been acknowledged since the seventies. For a long time, microbiological analysis of human milk was only performed in case of infections and therefore the presence of non-pathogenic bacteria was yet unknown. During the last decades, the use of more sophisticated culture-dependent and -independent techniques, and the steady development of the -omic approaches are opening up the new concept of the ‘milk microbiome’, a complex ecosystem with a greater diversity than previously anticipated. In this review, possible mechanisms by which bacteria can reach the mammary gland (contamination versus active migration) are discussed. In addition, the potential roles of human milk for both infant and maternal health are summarised. A better understanding of the link between the milk microbiome and health benefit, the potential factors influencing this relationship and whether or not it can be influenced by nutrition is required to open new avenues in the field of pregnancy and lactation.