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Background: Plaque angiogenesis is associated with atherosclerotic lesion growth, plaque instability and negative clinical outcome. Plaque angiogenesis is a natural occurring process to fulfil the increasing demand of oxygen and nourishment of the vessel wall. However, inadequate formed, immature plaque neovessels are leaky and cause intraplaque haemorrhage.Objective: Blockade of VEGFR2 normalizes the unbridled process of plaque neovessel formation and induces maturation of nascent vessels resulting in prevention of intraplaque haemorrhage and influx of inflammatory cells into the plaque and subsequently increases plaque stability.Methods and Results: In human carotid and vein graft atherosclerotic lesions, leaky plaque neovessels and intraplaque haemorrhage co-localize with VEGF/VEGFR2 and angiopoietins. Using hypercholesterolaemic ApoE3*Leiden mice that received a donor caval vein interposition in the carotid artery, we demonstrate that atherosclerotic vein graft lesions at t28 are associated with hypoxia, Hif1α and Sdf1 up-regulation. Local VEGF administration results in increased plaque angiogenesis. VEGFR2 blockade in this model results in a significant 44% decrease in intraplaque haemorrhage and 80% less extravasated erythrocytes compared to controls. VEGFR2 blockade in vivo results in a 32% of reduction in vein graft size and more stable lesions with significantly reduced macrophage content (30%), and increased collagen (54%) and smooth muscle cell content (123%). Significant decreased VEGF, angiopoietin-2 and increased Connexin 40 expression levels demonstrate increased plaque neovessel maturation in the vein grafts. VEGFR2 blockade in an aortic ring assay showed increased pericyte coverage of the capillary sprouts.Conclusion: Inhibition of intraplaque haemorrhage by controlling neovessels maturation holds promise to improve plaque stability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Contents The study of lipids and fatty acids ( FAs) has been used in the assessment of egg quality because their composition can influence the fertilization rate, hatching, survival and growth of marine fish larvae. For these reasons, the lipid content ( TL) and fatty acid composition of common sole ( Solea solea) eggs were measured and correlated to egg and larval viability parameters throughout an entire reproductive season. Seventeen batches of fertile eggs obtained from natural spawning of captive breeders were characterized for the TL, FA profile, hatching rate ( HR) and survival rate of larvae ( SR) at 0-6 days post-hatching (dph). The egg FA composition reflected the composition of the feed supplied to the broodstock during summer and autumn (before and during vitellogenesis) rather than that supplied during the spawning season. In general, the egg FA profile showed minimal differences among the early-, mid- and late-spawning periods (possibly due to the change of the diet and/or water temperature) indicating that it is possible to obtain a similar egg quality in terms of egg FA profile over 2 months of spawning. Saturated FAs and monounsaturated FAs ( MUFA) were positively correlated with HR, while TL, 22 : 6n-3 ( DHA), 20 : 4n-6 ( ARA), polyunsaturated FAs of the (n-3) series (n-3 PUFA) and polyunsaturated FAs of the (n-6) series were negatively correlated (p ≤ 0.05). MUFA, 20 : 5n-3 ( EPA), n-6/n-3 were positively correlated with SR, while DHA, n-3 PUFA, DHA/ EPA were negatively correlated (p ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, the feed supplied before and during vitellogenesis has a major role in determining the egg FA profile in common sole. The relationships found between TL and FAs with egg and larval viability parameters differ from many other farmed marine fish species, which may suggest the need for a specific broodstock feed for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The marine sponge Chondrosia reniformis Nardo consists largely of a collagenous tissue, the mesohyl, which confers a cartilaginous consistency on the whole animal. This investigation was prompted by the incidental observation that, despite a paucity of potentially contractile elements in the mesohyl, intact C. reniformis stiffen noticeably when touched. By measuring the deflection under gravity of beam-shaped tissue samples, it was demonstrated that the flexural stiffness of the mesohyl is altered by treatments that influence cellular activities, including [Ca2+] manipulation, inorganic and organic calcium channel-blockers and cell membrane disrupters, and that it is also sensitive to extracts of C. reniformis tissue that have been repeatedly frozen then thawed. Since the membrane disrupters and tissue extracts cause marked stiffening of mesohyl samples, it is hypothesised that cells in the mesohyl store a stiffening factor and that the physiologically controlled release of this factor is responsible for the touch-induced stiffening of intact animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five experimental diets (CTRL, 50FMFO, 50FMFO-50MIC, 0FMFO-50MIC, 0FMFO-100MIC) were formulated to replace wild-caught fishmeal (FM), wild-caught fish oil (FO) and soy protein using fisheries, aquaculture by-products (BP) and microalgae (MIC). Fifty European sea bass juveniles were distributed in 15 tanks (initial body weight 46.66 ± 0.04 g) and reared in a recirculating aquaculture system for 88 days. Temperature, salinity, oxygen and photoperiod were kept constant throughout the experiment (22 ± 0.5 °C, 25 g L−1 and 8.0 ± 1.0 mg L−1, 12:12 light/dark, respectively). Growth, feed intake (FI), proximal composition, nutritional index, apparent digestibility, somatometric indexes, blood plasma biochemistry and digestive enzyme activity were evaluated. Also, gut microbiota composition was assessed through next-generation sequencing. Results showed that growth performance and feed digestibility were not affected by FM, FO and soy replacement using BP and MIC. Dietary replacement of 100% FM and FO with circular substitutes and 50% replacement of soymeal with microalgae increased the activity of alkaline phosphatase and chymotrypsin. Moreover, the inclusion of BP and MIC had positive effects on the gut microbiota richness and abundance. In conclusion, the utilization of BP and MIC represents a valuable alternative to FM and FO as well as soy protein in feed for European sea bass juveniles. • Integration of FM and FO from trimming, with microalgae did not affect overall growth and feed efficiency. • Microalgae as a protein source promotes digestive enzyme activity. • Microalgae positively impact microbiota richness and abundance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758 (Perciformes, Sparidae)) is an important aquaculture species in the Mediterranean Sea basin. Yet, quantitative data on its dentition under standard farming conditions are currently lacking. Furthermore, it is unknown if the dentition can adapt to food of different sizes. Here, we describe the lower jaw dentition of juvenile S. aurata fed a standard pellet size (4 mm) and present a detailed analysis of 11 representative teeth. Overall, the number of teeth showed large individual variation, but it was not significantly related to fish length. Considerable left–right differences were observed, without clear side dominance. We also assessed the influence of feeding S. aurata a smaller (2 mm) or larger (6 mm) pellet size. Four months of feeding with different pellet sizes did not cause detectable differences in total tooth number on the dentaries at the time of harvest, nor in size of the teeth assumed to be most relevant in food processing. If and how different pellet sizes may nevertheless affect digestion, and eventually fish health, is subject for further studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study was carried out to test different mussel meal (MM) dietary levels in combination with fishmeal (FM) on the growth performance, fatty acid composition and liver histology of common sole, Solea solea juveniles to highlight the growth potential of this species. Four isoproteic (53%) and isolipidic (11%) pelletized diets were formulated to contain graded levels of mussel meal, MM0 (0%), MM25 (25%), MM50 (50%) and MM75 (75%), up to 75%. Sole juveniles (initial individual mean body weight 13.1 ± 2.3 g, n = 840) were fed to satiation for 91 days. Seventy fish per tank (500-L, 0.64 m² bottom surface) were reared in 12 tanks (3 tanks per treatment) at 20 ± 1°C. Diets containing MM (MM25, MM50 and MM75) gave a significantly higher specific growth rate (SGR, 1.27 ± 0.01, 1.38 ± 0.06 and 1.40 ± 0.05, respectively), higher feed intake and lower feed conversion rate (FCR, 1.09 ± 0.01, 1.00 ± 0.04 and 0.98 ± 0.02, respectively) when compared to the FM-based diet (MM0, SGR, 0.98 ± 0.11, FCR, 1.52 ± 0.13). Carcass proximate composition was not influenced by dietary treatments, with the exception of the significantly lower lipid content in the MM75 group. Protein efficiency ratio (PER) and gross protein efficiency (GPE) were significantly improved by the mussel meal inclusion (PER, 1.29 ± 0.12, 1.76 ± 0.01, 1.89 ± 0.06, 1.95 ± 0.08; GPE, 25.29 ± 1.85, 33.38 ± 0.89, 35.96 ± 1.36, 36.59 ± 1.05 in MM0, MM25, MM50 and MM75, respectively). A significant decrease in the viscerosomatic index was observed in fish fed with MM50 and MM75 in comparison to MM0. The hepatosomatic index of fish fed with MM0 and MM25 was higher than that of fish fed with MM75, although the histological examination of liver parenchyma in all experimental groups showed a uniformly abundant accumulation of lipid droplets. Carcass fatty acid composition was significantly affected by dietary treatments, reflecting the dietary fatty acid profile. According to these results, the inclusion of MM in experimental FM-based diets improved the performance and feed utilization of common sole juveniles. The inclusion of MM in the present trial allowed a higher SGR than that registered in previous growth trials on common sole. This study could provide useful information to detect effective ingredients for practical diets in Solea solea. It also seems advisable to consider an inclusion of at least 25% MM in the experimental reference diet to be used for further application towards the development of specific diets for this species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A 9-week feeding trial was performed to evaluate the effects of fishmeal ( FM) replacement by a mixture of plant proteins ( PP), consisted of wheat gluten, soybean meal and soy protein concentrate, on the growth performance and welfare of turbot juveniles (initial weight 9.7 ± 0.2 g). Four isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets contained FM at 500 g kg−1 ( FM50), 350 g kg−1 ( FM35), 200 g kg−1 ( FM20) and 50 g kg−1 ( FM5). A decreased feed intake and an increased feed conversion rate was observed in FM5 group. Specific growth rate was significantly reduced in FM20 and FM5 groups, whereas protein and lipid utilization and proximate whole body composition were significantly different in FM5 group. Serum cortisol significantly increased in FM20 and FM5 groups whereas cholesterol, triglycerides, NEFA, total protein and urea concentrations significantly decreased. Serum lysozyme and blood phagocytes increased in FM20 and FM5 groups. FM35 ensured growth close to FM50, without significant effects on health and welfare of animals. FM20 and FM5 groups displayed reduced growth, metabolic stress and an immune response with effects on health and welfare. Results highlighted the consistency between growth performance and welfare status, suggesting the usefulness of their combined assessment for evaluating the suitability of PP and to improve dietary formulation for turbot. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Histological and morphometric techniques were employed in juvenile Senegalese sole ( Solea senegalensis) livers to evaluate diet-related adaptive changes and to establish how an integrated morphofunctional approach could improve the understanding of rearing strategies. Four isoenergetic diets with variable protein/lipid content (44/22, 49/20, 54/18 and 59/16) were formulated. Data compared statistically showed that an increase in protein and decrease of lipid in the diet was associated with a significantly higher specific growth rate (SGR) and reduced feed conversion rate (FCR). Histologic evaluation (visual scoring of lipid storage) and morphometry (area and perimeter) of hepatocytes showed that a high lipid diet resulted in increased lipid storage. The data confirmed that a concomitant decrease of protein with an increase in lipids in the diet led to a massive storage of unused lipid within hepatocytes associated with a reduced growth performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The results of study of Pb influence on high temperature magnetic and thermal properties of the chalcogenides (PbySn1-y)2P2S6 are presented. The increasing Pb content shifts phase transition to the ferroelectric state at about 337 K towards lower temperatures while magnetic field till 3 T has no influence on this transition. The measured susceptibility and magnetisation data are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]