GROWTH OF JUVENILES OF THE FAT SNOOK, Centropomus parallelus, IN RESPONSE TO DIETARY LIPID, ENERGY AND PROTEIN

This study evaluated the growth of fat snook Centropomus parallelus in response to the dietary total lipids, gross energy (GE) and crude protein (CP) content. In the 1st experiment, five isonitrogenous diets with 541.7 ± 2.4 g kg-1 CP varied their lipid content in 113, 151, 160, 189 and 200 g kg-1 and GE in 18.8, 19.4, 20.4, 21.2 and 22.2 MJ kg-1, respectively. A total of 300 fish with 6.5 ± 2.4 g were stocked in 30 tanks of 1 m3 under 10 fish m-³ and reared for 96 days. There were no differences in fish final body weight (38.2 ± 12.5 g), daily weight gain (DWG, 0.35 ± 0.04 g day-1) and specific growth rate (SGR, 1.92 ± 0.11 day-1) among dietary treatments. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was 1.76 ± 0.17 with a protein efficiency ratio of 1.06 ± 0.10. The viscerosomatic (VSI) and visceral fat indices (VFI) raised significantly with an increase in the dietary lipid while the hepatosomatic index (HSI) was unaffected. There was a significant reduction in feed intake as the dietary lipid content reached 189 g kg-1. In a 2nd study, five isolipidic diets (114.4 ± 1.9 g kg-1 lipids) with decreasing levels of CP and GE of 578, 535, 505, 465, and 430 g kg-1 and 20.5, 19.9, 19.4, 18.9, and 18.1 MJ kg-1, respectively, were evaluated. A total of 1,450 fish of 5.8 ± 2.1 g were reared in 30 tanks of 5.8 m³ under 10 fish m-3 for 93 days. Final survival reached 93.5 ± 5.5%. Fish DWG (0.27 ± 0.05 g day-1) and SGR (1.78 ± 0.11 % day-1) did not vary in response to dietary CP. Final body weight significantly reduced while HSI increased in fish fed the 430 g kg-1CP diet compared with fish fed the 578 g kg-1 CP diet. Results of this work indicated that fish between 5.8 g and 40.8 g wet body weight can maximize growth when fed diets containing 113.2 g kg-1 lipids, 540.5 g kg-1 CP and a 34.7 MJ kg-1 energy to protein ratio. Keywords: Centropomus parallelus, fat snook, protein, lipid, energy.

Optimizing Harvest Time Through Absolute and Relative Growth of the Black Clam, Chionista fluctifraga, Cultivated in the Intertidal Along the Southeastern Coast of the Gulf of California

The shell height-body weight relationship of the black clam Chionista fluctifraga cultivated in the intertidal of the southeastern Gulf of California, was evaluated for the first time, to improve the knowledge in determining its harvesting time. Clam seeds (n=900,000; 6.1±1.9 mm) were produced in the laboratory. The culture was divided into pre-fattening in racks on the bottom (2 months) and fattening directly in the bottom (16 months) from May 2018 to October 2019. Each month, 60 (n=1080) clams were randomly selected to stablish the morphometric relationship between shell height (SH) and body weight (BW). The growth rate (mm/d and g/d) was recorded. The SH-BW Interaction in both cultivation phases showed positive allometry. SH in prefattening and fattening registered a growth rate of 0.072 and 0.058 mm/d, respectively. In fattening, the interaction BW-SH displayed a high coefficient of determination (R2=0.99). A final survival rate of 90% was obtained. The results yielded the equations that describe the relative growth of C. fluctifraga for the fattening stage. A harvesting time after 10 months of fattening in the intertidal zone is stablished to reach the commercial size (35 mm, SH).

Atrial Fibrillation and Clinical Outcomes in a Cohort of Hospitalized Patients with Sars-Cov-2 Infection and Chronic Kidney Disease

The aim of the study was to investigate the role of chronic kidney disease (CKD) on in-hospital mortality and on incident atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients infected with SARS-CoV-2. The incidence of acute kidney injury (AKI) was also investigated. Multivariable regression models were used to assess the association between renal function groups (estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, eGFR, >60 mL/min, 30–59 mL/min, <30 mL/min) and in-hospital all-cause mortality and incident AF and AKI. A cohort of 2816 patients admitted in one year for COVID-19 disease in two large hospitals was analyzed. The independent predictors of mortality were severe CKD [HR 1.732 (95%CI 1.264–2.373)], older age [HR 1.054 (95%CI 1.044–1.065)], cerebrovascular disease [HR 1.335 (95%CI (1.016–1.754)], lower platelet count [HR 0.997 (95%CI 0.996–0.999)], higher C-reactive protein [HR 1.047 (95%CI 1.035–1.058)], and higher plasma potassium value 1.374 (95%CI 1.139–1.658). When incident AKI was added to the final survival model, it was associated with higher mortality [HR 2.202 (1.728–2.807)]. Incident AF was more frequent in patients with CKD, but in the multivariable model only older age was significantly related with a higher incidence of AF [OR 1.036 (95%CI 1.022–1.050)]. Incident AF was strongly associated with the onset of AKI [HR 2.619 (95%CI 1.711–4.009)]. In this large population of COVID-19 patients, the presence of severe CKD was an independent predictor of in-hospital mortality. In addition, patients who underwent AKI during hospitalization had a doubled risk of death. Incident AF became more frequent as eGFR decreased and it was significantly associated with the onset of AKI.

Effects of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid-Enhancing Therapy on the Course of Congestive Heart Failure in Angiotensin II-Dependent Rat Hypertension: From mRNA Analysis towards Functional In Vivo Evaluation

This study evaluates the effects of chronic treatment with EET-A, an orally active epoxyeicosatrienoic acid (EETs) analog, on the course of aorto-caval fistula (ACF)-induced heart failure (HF) in Ren-2 transgenic rats (TGR), a model characterized by hypertension and augmented activity of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). The results were compared with standard pharmacological blockade of the RAS using angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor (ACEi). The rationale for employing EET-A as a new treatment approach is based on our findings that apart from increased RAS activity, untreated ACF TGR also shows kidney and left ventricle (LV) tissue deficiency of EETs. Untreated ACF TGR began to die 17 days after creating ACF and were all dead by day 84. The treatment with EET-A alone or ACEi alone improved the survival rate: in 156 days after ACF creation, it was 45.5% and 59.4%, respectively. The combined treatment with EET-A and ACEi appeared to improve the final survival to 71%; however, the difference from either single treatment regimen did not reach significance. Nevertheless, our findings support the notion that targeting the cytochrome P-450-dependent epoxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism should be considered for the treatment of HF.

GENETIC VARIABILITY IN JUVENILE CHARACTERS OF PROGENIES OF Apuleia leiocarpa

The objective of this search was to quantify the genetic variability in progenies from grápia mother trees in natural populations, for initial growth characters of the seedlings. Seeds were collected from 13 mother trees, from four origins, located in the municipalities of Pareci Novo, São José do Sul and Aratiba in RS, and Seara in SC, as well as data from plants and place of origin. Biometrics were performed on 100 seeds lot from each mother tree, and an experiment was installed to evaluate progenies in a completely randomized design. It was evaluated the seedling emergence speed and the emergence percentage, the stem diameter and seedlings height, as well as the final survival percentage. A significative difference was found for all variables observed for seeds and seedlings of grápia mother trees. Seed length and width demonstrated high values for individual heritability in the narrow sense (above 0.6), being possible to use the seed size for an analysis of genetic variability between plants of the species, but not as an indicative variable of physiological quality and vigor. The correlation analysis indicated that the seedling emergence percentage is related to the characteristics of the mother plant plant (height and diameter). Thus, the use of seedlings for forest restoration areas is appropriate, as they have indications of genetic diversity.

Final survival results from a multicenter, randomized phase II trial of intravenous paclitaxel plus FOLFOX (ivPOF) and/or intraperitoneal paclitaxel plus FOLFOX (ipPOF) versus mFOLFOX6 as first-line treatment of advanced gastric cancer (AGC): SYLT/FNF 004.

4041 Background: Progression-free (PFS) and overall (OS) survival for SYLT/FNF 004 were previously reported in ASCO and ASCO-GI 2019. At that time, PFS was statistically significantly improved with ivPOF or ipPOF compared to mFOLFOX6 as first-line treatment of AGC; however, there were no significant between-treatment differences in OS. Herein, we report final survival results for this trial. Methods: Subjects were randomly assigned to one of three treatments: intravenous paclitaxel 135 mg/m2 + mFOLFOX6 omitting the 5-FU bolus (ivPOF); intraperitoneal paclitaxel 80 mg/m2 + mFOLFOX6 omitting the 5-FU bolus (ipPOF); or mFOLFOX6 (oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2, leucovorin 400 mg/m2 followed by 5-FU 400 mg/m2 bolus and 5-FU 2400 mg/m2 as a 46-hour continuous infusion). Treatment cycles were repeated every 14 days for up to 9 cycles. Thereafter, maintenance treatment with S-1 80 mg/m2/day for 14 days every 3 weeks until disease progression, unacceptable toxicity, patient refusal, or physician decision. The original study objective was to compare ivPOF or ipPOF vs. mFOLFOX6 for PFS. Due to slow accrual, the protocol was later amended to compare POF (ivPOF and ipPOF) with mFOLFOX6 for PFS. Results: Between Nov 2015 and May 2018, 89 subjects (30 ivPOF, 29 ipPOF, 30 mFOLFOX6) were enrolled. As of the data cutoff on Dec 31, 2020, median follow-up was 41 (IQR: 37-43) months. The median number of cycles administered was 7 (IQR: 4-9) for POF; 6 (IQR: 4-9) for ivPOF; 9 (IQR: 4-9) for ipPOF; and 4 (IQR: 3-9) for mFOLFOX6. Median PFS and OS, respectively, were 6.23 (95% CI: 4.90 to 9.07) and 10.17 (95% CI: 8.97 to 16.4) months for POF and 4.55 (95% CI: 2.73 to 6.87) and 6.87 (95% CI: 5.83 to 13.6) months for mFOLFOX6. Both PFS and OS were statistically significantly better with POF, ivPOF or ipPOF versus mFOLFOX6 (Table). Safety was consistent with previous reports. Conclusions: POF, ivPOF or ipPOF improved both PFS and OS compared with mFOLFOX6, with similarly manageable adverse effects. Clinical trial information: NCT02845908. [Table: see text]

Renal Sympathetic Denervation Attenuates Congestive Heart Failure in Angiotensin II-Dependent Hypertension: Studies with Ren-2 Transgenic Hypertensive Rats with Aortocaval Fistula

<b><i>Objective:</i></b> We examined if renal denervation (RDN) attenuates the progression of aortocaval fistula (ACF)-induced heart failure or improves renal hemodynamics in Ren-2 transgenic rats (TGR), a model of angiotensin II (ANG II)-dependent hypertension. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Bilateral RDN was performed 1 week after creation of ACF. The animals studied were ACF TGR and sham-operated controls, and both groups were subjected to RDN or sham denervation. In separate groups, renal artery blood flow (RBF) responses were determined to intrarenal ANG II (2 and 8 ng), norepinephrine (NE) (20 and 40 ng) and acetylcholine (Ach) (10 and 40 ng) 3 weeks after ACF creation. <b><i>Results:</i></b> In nondenervated ACF TGR, the final survival rate was 10 versus 50% in RDN rats. RBF was significantly lower in ACF TGR than in sham-operated TGR (6.2 ± 0.3 vs. 9.7 ± 0.5 mL min⁻¹ g⁻¹, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), the levels unaffected by RDN. Both doses of ANG II decreased RBF more in ACF TGR than in sham-operated TGR (−19 ± 3 vs. −9 ± 2% and −47 ± 3 vs. −22 ± 2%, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05 in both cases). RDN did not alter RBF responses to the lower dose, but increased it to the higher dose of ANG II in sham-operated as well as in ACF TGR. NE comparably decreased RBF in ACF TGR and sham-operated TGR, and RDN increased RBF responsiveness. Intrarenal Ach increased RBF significantly more in ACF TGR than in sham-operated TGR (29 ± 3 vs. 17 ± 3%, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.05), the changes unaffected by RDN. ACF creation induced marked bilateral cardiac hypertrophy and lung congestion, both attenuated by RDN. In sham-operated but not in ACF TGR, RDN significantly decreased mean arterial pressure. <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> The results show that RDN significantly improved survival rate in ACF TGR; however, this beneficial effect was not associated with improvement of reduced RBF or with attenuation of exaggerated renal vascular responsiveness to ANG II.

A Mutant of Vibrio parahaemolyticus pirABVP (+) That Carries Binary Toxin Genes but Does Not Cause Acute Hepatopancreatic Necrosis Disease

Vibrio parahaemolyticus carrying binary toxin genes, pirAB, is one of the etiological agents causing acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND) in shrimp. This disease has emerged recently as a major threat to shrimp aquaculture worldwide. During a routine PCR screening of AHPND-causing V. parahaemolyticus strains, an isolate tested PCR positive for pirB (R13) and another isolate tested positive for both the pirA and pirB (R14) genes. To evaluate the pathogenicity of these isolates, specific pathogen-free (SPF) Penaeus vannamei were experimentally challenged. For both R13 and R14 isolates, the final survival rate was 100% at termination of the challenge, whereas the final survival with the AHPND-causing V. parahaemolyticus was 0%. The nucleotide sequence of the plasmid DNA carrying the binary toxin genes revealed that R13 contains a deletion of the entire pirA gene whereas R14 contains the entire coding regions of both pirA and pirB genes. However, R14 possesses an insertion upstream of the pirA gene. In R14, mRNA for both pirA and pirB genes could be detected but no cognate proteins. This shows that the genome of AHPND-causing V. parahaemolyticus is highly plastic and, therefore, detection of the pirA and pirB genes alone by DNA-PCR is insufficient as a diagnostic test for AHPND.

Effects of Prehospital Factors on Survival of Out-Of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest Patients: Age-Dependent Patterns

Many prehospital factors that are known to influence survival rates after out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) have been rarely studied as to how their influence varies depending on the age. In this study, we tried to find out what prehospital factors affect the survival rate after OHCA by age groups and how large the effect size of those factors is in each age group. We used the South Korean OHCA registry, which includes information on various prehospital factors relating OHCA and final survival status. The association between prehospital factors and survival was explored through logistic regression analyses for each age group. The effects of prehospital factors vary depending on the patient’s age. Being witnessed was relatively more influential in younger patients and the presence of first responders became more important as patients became older. While bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) did not appear to significantly affect survival in younger people, use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) showed the largest effect size on the survival in all age groups. Since the pathophysiology and etiologies of OHCA vary according to age, more detailed information on life support by age is needed for the development and application of more specialized protocols for each age.