Tracing the geographic origin of Atlantic cod products using stable isotope analysis.

RATIONALE: Increasing demand for fish and seafood means that the traceability of marine products is becoming ever more important for consumers, producers and regulators. Highly complex and globalised supply networks create challenges for verifying a stated catch region. Atlantic cod is one of the most commercially important species in the northeast Atlantic. Several regional fisheries supply cod into the trade network, of which some are at greater risk of overexploitation than others. Tools allowing retrospective testing of spatial origin would significantly assist sustainable harvesting of fish, reducing incentives for illegal fishing and fraud. METHODS: Here, we investigate whether stable isotope ratios of carbon, nitrogen and sulphur can be used to retrospectively identify the catch region of Atlantic cod (Gadus morhua). We measured the isotopic composition of muscle tissue from 377 cod from 10 catch regions across the northeast Atlantic and then applied three different assignment methods to classify cod by region of most likely origin. The assignment method developed was subsequently tested using independently sourced, known-origin samples. RESULTS: Individual cod could be traced back to their true origin with an average assignment accuracy of 70-79% and over 90% accuracy for certain regions. Assignment success rates comparable to those using genetic techniques were achieved when assigning among restricted and pre-selected regions. However, assignment accuracy to the fishery region estimated from independent samples across the whole geographic range of cod averaged ~25% overall, highlighting the need for careful application of isotope-based approaches. CONCLUSION: Stable isotope techniques can provide effective tools to test for origin in Atlantic cod, but not all catch regions are isotopically distinct. Stable isotopes could be combined with genetic techniques to result in higher assignment accuracy than could be achieved using either method independently. Assignment potential can be estimated from reference datasets, but estimates of realistic assignment accuracy require independently collected data.

Cnr1-/- has minimal impact on chlorpyrifos-mediated effects in the mouse endocannabinoid system, but it does alter lipopolysaccharide-induced cytokine levels in splenocytes.

Chlorpyrifos (CPF) is an organophosphate pesticide that can inhibit endocannabinoid (eCB) metabolizing enzymes in animal models at levels that do not significantly alter acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in the central nervous system (CNS). Previous studies indicated that repeated low-level CPF exposure in developing rats increased the levels of eCBs in the brain. Because eCBs play a role in immune homeostasis through their engagement with cannabinoid receptors, we investigated the role of cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1, encoded by the Cnr1 gene) on the CPF-mediated effects in the spleen and lung of neonatal and adult female mice. We treated neonatal and adult female Cnr1-/- mice with 2.5 mg/kg oral CPF or vehicle for 7 days. Tissues were harvested 4 h after the last CPF dose to evaluate eCB metabolic enzyme activity, levels of eCBs, and tissue immunophenotype. There were a small number of genotype-dependent alterations noted in the endpoints following CPF treatment that were specific to age and tissue type, and differences in eCB metabolism caused by CPF treatment did not correlate to changes in eCB levels. To explore the role of CB1 in CPF-mediated effects on immune endpoints, in vitro experiments were performed with WT murine splenocytes exposed to chlorpyrifos oxon (CPO; oxon metabolite of CPF) and challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). While CPO did not alter LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels, inactivation of CB1 by the antagonist SR141716A augmented LPS-induced IFN-γ levels. Additional experiments with WT and Cnr1-/- murine splenocytes confirmed a role for CB1 in altering the production of LPS-induced pro-inflammatory cytokine levels. We conclude that CPF-mediated effects on the eCB system are not strongly dependent on CB1, although abrogation of CB1 does alter LPS-induced cytokine levels in splenocytes.

IL-6, but not TNF-α, response to alcohol cues and acute consumption associated with neural cue reactivity, craving, and future drinking in binge drinkers.

Objective and design: Preclinical studies suggest learned immune system responses to alcohol cues and consumption may contribute to alcohol's pharmacodynamic properties and/or Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) pathogenesis. Mechanistically, these immune alterations may be associated with increased craving and alcohol consumption, both acutely and over time. We sought to characterize this relationship in a randomized, counter-balanced, crossover neuroimaging experiment which took place between June 2020-November 2021. Methods: Thirty-three binge drinkers (BD) and 31 non-binge, social drinkers (SD), matched for demographic and psychological variables, were exposed to alcohol cues and water cues in two separate 7 T functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) scans. Each scan was followed by the Alcohol Taste Test (ATT) of implicit motivation for acute alcohol. Craving measures and blood cytokine levels were collected repeatedly during and after scanning to examine the effects of alcohol cues and alcohol consumption on craving levels, Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and Interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels. A post-experiment one-month prospective measurement of participants' "real world" drinking behavior was performed to approximate chronic effects. Results: BD demonstrated significantly higher peak craving and IL-6 levels than SD in response to alcohol cues and relative to water cues. Ventromedial Prefrontal Cortex (VmPFC) signal change in the alcohol-water contrast positively related to alcohol cue condition craving and IL-6 levels, relative to water cue condition craving and IL-6 levels, in BD only. Additionally, peak craving and IL-6 levels were each independently related to ATT alcohol consumption and the number of drinks consumed in the next month for BD, again after controlling for craving and IL-6 repones to water cues. However, TNF-α release in the alcohol cue condition was not related to craving, neural activation, IL-6 levels, immediate and future alcohol consumption in either group after controlling for water cue condition responses. Conclusions: In sum, BD show greater craving and IL-6 release in the alcohol cue condition than SD, both of which were associated with prefrontal cue reactivity, immediate alcohol consumption, and future alcohol consumption over the subsequent 30 days. Alcohol associated immune changes and craving effects on drinking behavior may be independent of one another or may be indicative of a common pathway by which immune changes in BD could influence motivation to consume alcohol. Trial registration: Clinical Trials NCT04412824.

The mechanistic basis for the toxicity difference between juvenile rats and mice following exposure to the agricultural insecticide chlorpyrifos.

At high exposure levels, organophosphorus insecticides (OPs) exert their toxicity in mammals through the inhibition of brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) leading to the accumulation of acetylcholine in cholinergic synapses and hyperactivity of the nervous system. Currently, there is a concern that low-level exposure to OPs induces negative impacts in developing children and the chemical most linked to these issues is chlorpyrifos (CPF). Our laboratory has observed that a difference in the susceptibility to repeated exposure to CPF exists between juvenile mice and rats with respect to the inhibition of brain AChE. The basis for this difference is unknown but differences in the levels of the detoxification mechanisms could play a role. To investigate this, 10-day old rat and mice pups were exposed daily for 7 days to either corn oil or a range of dosages of CPF via oral gavage. Four hours following the last administration of CPF on day 16, brain, blood, and liver were collected. The inhibition of brain AChE activity was higher in juvenile rats as compared to juvenile mice. The levels of activity of the detoxification enzymes and the impact of CPF exposure on their activity were determined in the two species at this age. In blood and liver, the enzyme paraoxonase-1 (PON1) hydrolyzes the active metabolite of CPF (CPF-oxon), and the enzymes carboxylesterase (CES) and cholinesterase (ChE) act as alternative binding sites for CPF-oxon removing it from circulation and providing protection. Both species had similar levels of PON1 activity in the liver and serum. Mice had higher ChE activity in liver and serum than rats but, following CPF exposure, the percentage inhibition was similar between species at an equivalent dosage. Even though rats had slightly higher liver CES activity than mice, the level of inhibition following exposure was higher in rats. In serum, juvenile mice had an 8-fold higher CES activity than rats, and exposure to a CPF dosage that almost eliminated CES activity in rats only resulted in 22% inhibition in mice suggesting that the high serum CES activity in mice as compared to rats is a key component in this species difference. In addition, there was a species difference in the sensitivity of CES to inhibition by CPF-oxon with rats having a lower IC50 in both liver and serum as compared to mice. This greater enzyme sensitivity suggests that saturation of CES would occur more rapidly in juvenile rats than in mice, resulting in more CPF reaching the brain to inhibit AChE in rats.

NYC condom use and satisfaction and demand for alternative condom products in New York City sexually transmitted disease clinics.

In 2007, via a high-profile media campaign, the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (NYC DOHMH) introduced the "NYC Condom," the first specially packaged condom unique to a municipality. We conducted a survey to measure NYC Condom awareness of and experience with NYC Condoms and demand for alternative male condoms to be distributed by the DOHMH. Trained interviewers administered short, in-person surveys at five DOHMH-operated sexually transmitted disease (STD) clinics in Spring 2008. We systematically sampled eligible patients: NYC residents aged ≥18 years waiting to see a physician. We approached 539; 532 agreed to be screened (98.7% response rate); 462 completed the survey and provided NYC zip codes. Most respondents were male (56%), non-Hispanic black (64%), aged 18-24 years (43%) or 25-44 years (45%), employed (65%), and had a high school degree/general equivalency diploma or less (53%). Of those surveyed, 86% were aware of the NYC Condom, and 81% of those who obtained the condoms used them. NYC Condom users were more likely to have four or more sexual partners in the past 12 months (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 2.0, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.0-3.8), use condoms frequently (AOR = 2.1, 95% CI = 1.3-3.6), and name an alternative condom for distribution (AOR = 2.2, 95% CI = 1.3-3.9). The most frequently requested condom types respondents wanted DOHMH to provide were larger size (28%), ultra thin/extra sensitive (21%), and extra strength (16%). We found high rates of NYC Condom use. NYC Condom users reported more sexual partners than others, suggesting the condom initiative successfully reached higher-risk persons within the STD clinic population. Study results document the condom social marketing campaign's success.

The NYC Condom: use and acceptability of New York City's branded condom.

We assessed awareness and experience with the NYC Condom via surveys at 7 public events targeting priority condom distribution populations during 2007. Most respondents (76%) were aware of NYC Condoms. Of those that had obtained them, 69% had used them. Most (80%) wanted alternative condoms offered for free: 22% wanted ultra-thin, 18% extra-strength, and 14% larger-size. Six months after the NYC Condom launch, we found high levels of awareness and use. Because many wanted alternative condoms, the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene began distributing the 3 most-requested alternatives.