Coping with seawater acidification and the emerging contaminant diclofenac at the larval stage: A tale from the clam Ruditapes philippinarum.

Seawater acidification could alter the susceptibility of marine organisms to emerging contaminants, such as pharmaceuticals. In this study, the combined effects of seawater acidification and the non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug diclofenac on survival, growth and oxidative stress-related parameters (catalase activity and lipid peroxidation) in the larvae of the Manila clam Ruditapes philippinarum were investigated for the first time. An experimental flow-through system was set up to carry out a 96-h exposure of clam larvae. Two pH levels (pH 8.0, the control, and pH 7.8, the predicted pH by the end of this century) were tested with and without diclofenac (0.5 µg/L). After 4 days, mortality was dramatically higher under reduced pH, particularly in the presence of diclofenac (62% of the larvae dead). Shell morphology was negatively affected by both acidification and diclofenac from the first day of exposure. The percentage of abnormal larvae was always higher at pH 7.8 than in controls, peaking at 98% in the presence of diclofenac after 96 h. Instead, shell length, shell height or the ratio of these values were only negatively influenced by reduced pH throughout the whole experiment. After 96 h, catalase activity was significantly increased in all larvae kept at pH 7.8, whereas no significant difference in lipid peroxidation was found among the treatments. This study demonstrates a high susceptibility of R. philippinarum larvae to a slight reduction in seawater pH. Furthermore, the results obtained highlight that acidification enhances the sensitivity of clam larvae to environmentally relevant concentrations of diclofenac.

Prevalencia de la enfermedad hepática alcohólica y algunos factores de riesgo en pacientes que acuden a los ambulatorios de Barquisimeto

Para determinar la prevalencia de enfermedad hepática alcohólica y algunos factores de riesgo en pacientes que acuden a los Ambulatorios de Barquisimeto, Estado Lara, se realizo esta investigacion con 268 sujetos, entre 18 y 65 anos de edad, de ambos sexos y sin patologías hepáticas previas. La prevalencia general de enfermedad hepática alcohólica fue 3,7 por ciento; la prevalencia de enfermedad hepática alcohólica no cirrótica fue 2,2 por ciento; la enfermedad hepática alcohólica no cirrótica con sospecha de cirrosis represento el 1,12 por ciento y la enfermedad hepática alcohólica cirrótica 0,38 por ciento, los enfermos fueron mayoritariamente hombres. En consumidores de alto riesgo, estos resultados se triplicaron. En resumen, las prevalencias de enfermedad hepática alcohólica y enfermedad hepática alcohólica cirrótica fueron superiores a las reportadas internacionalmente, hallazgos debidos, probablemente, a la elevada frecuencia de consumo de alto riesgo. Se requieren estudios analíticos observacionales para confirmar la anterior aseveracion, así como, los resultados relacionados con el mayor riesgo que aparentemente demostraron los hombres sobre las mujeres

A research to determine the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease and some risk factors in patients who visit the outpatient centers of Barquisimeto, Lara State, was carried out. The sample was made up of 268 individuals between 18 and 65 years old, both male and female, without any previous liver pathologies. The general prevalence of alcoholic liver disease was 3.7 percent and 2.2 percent for non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease, for non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease with suspected cirrhosis 1.12 percent and 0.38 percent for cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease, being always predominated in male individuals. In patients with highrisk consumption, the results were threefold. In conclusion, the prevalence of alcoholic liver disease and non-cirrhotic alcoholic liver disease were above those internationally reported. This is due to, probably, the increased frequency of high-risk consumption. Analytic observational studies are required to confirm the previous affirmation as well as the results related with the greater risk that apparently was demonstrated by men over women

Para determinar o predomínio da doença hepática alcoólica e alguns fatores de risco em pacientes que freqüentam o ambulatorios de Barquisimeto, Estado Lara, foi realizado a pesquisa com 268 sujeitos, dentre 18 e 65 anos de idade, de ambos os sexos e sem patologias hepáticas previas. O predomínio geral da doença hepática alcoólica foi 3,7 por cento; o predomínio da doença hepática alcoólica nao-cirrótica foi 2,2 por cento; A doença hepática alcoólica nao-cirrótica com suspeita de cirroses representou o 1,12 por cento e a doença hepática alcoólica cirrótica 0,38 por cento, os doentes foram na maior parte homens. Nos consumidores de alto risco, os resultados se triplicaram. Em resumo, o predomínio da doença hepática alcoólica e doença hepática alcoólica cirrótica foi superior as descobertas internacionais, devido a elevada frequencia de consumo de alto risco. Se requerer de estudos analíticos de observaçào para confirmar a primeira hipótese, assim como também, os resultados relacionados com o alto risco predominante em homens com relação às mulheres

Air exposure and functionality of Chamelea gallina haemocytes: effects on haematocrit, adhesion, phagocytosis and enzyme contents.

The Venus clam Chamelea gallina is fairly common along the western coasts of the Adriatic and is subjected to intense fishing. Since over the last 20 years extensive hypoxic and anoxic conditions have repeatedly damaged this natural resource, we decided to study the effects of anoxic stress on the functionality of clam haemocytes and the consequences on immune responses. Clams, exposed to air, close their valves and tissues become anoxic and metabolism processes switch to anaerobiosis. In these conditions, a significant decrease in the haematocrit value and in the percentage of acid phosphatase-positive haemocytes was observed, while the number of cells with beta-glucuronidase significantly increased after day 1. The above indices generally returned to control values when clams were re-immersed in seawater after 1 day of treatment. Clams exposed to air for 2 days and then re-immersed, attempted to recover in the subsequent 3 days. Animals had fully recovered on day 4. Three-day-exposed clams did not recover. Phagocytic and adhesion indices decreased significantly after the first day of air exposure. The change in frequency of three types of circulating cells (spreading, round, apoptotic) was also monitored.