Heart urchins from the depths: Corparva lyrida gen. et sp. nov. (Palaeotropidae), and new records for the southwestern Atlantic Ocean / Erizos corazón de las profundidades: Corparva lyrida gen. et sp. nov. (Palaeotropidae) y nuevos registros para el Océano Atlántico sudoccidental

Introduction: Sea urchins in the order Spatangoida are the most diverse group of extant echinoids. Objective: Describe a new genus and species of Spatangoida from abyssal depths, and add new records for known species. Methods: Specimens were collected during several cruises at different areas of the southwestern Atlantic Ocean (SWAO), among 37-55° S latitude at depths ranging from 55 to 3 000 m. We present morphological and ultrastructure analyses. Results: Corparva lyrida gen. et sp. nov. (Palaeotropidae) is described from the Mar del Plata Canyon on the Argentine continental slope (2 950 m depth), the first record of this family from Argentina. Corparva gen. nov. differs in having an apical system semi-ethmolytic, and labrum reaching to rear part of second adjacent ambulacral plate. We also report the northernmost distribution and deepest record for Brisaster moseleyi (38° S latitude, 2 212 m depth), the northward extension of the distribution range of Tripylus excavatus (39° S latitude, 74 m depth), and the first record of Abatus philippii and Abatus agassizii at the Burdwood Bank/MPA Namuncurá. Conclusions: The present work brings novel and updated data about the diversity and distribution of spatangoids from the SWAO, including the description of C. lyrida gen. et sp. nov., and new records of species. This shows how much remains to be known about the diversity and distribution of heart urchins in the SWAO, especially from the deep-sea.

Introducción: Los erizos de mar del orden Spatangoida son el grupo más diverso de equinoideos recientes. Objetivo: Describir un nuevo género y una nueva especie de Spatangoida de profundidades abisales, y reportar nuevos registros para especies conocidas. Métodos: Los ejemplares fueron recolectados durante varias expediciones a diferentes áreas del Océano Atlántico sudoccidental (OAS), entre las latitudes 37-55° S y abarcando profundidades desde 55 a 3 000 metros. Presentamos análisis morfológicos y de ultraestructura. Resultados: Corparva lyrida gen. et sp. nov. (Palaeotropidae) fue descripta para el cañón submarino Mar del Plata en el talud continental de Argentina (2 950 m de profundidad), el primer registro de esta familia para Argentina. Corparva gen. nov. difiere en tener un sistema apical semi-etmolítico y labrum que llega a la parte posterior de la segunda placa ambulacral adyacente. También informamos la distribución más septentrional y el registro más profundo para Brisaster moseleyi (latitud 38° S, 2 212 m de profundidad), la extensión hacia el norte del rango de distribución de Tripylus excavatus (latitud 39° S, 74 m de profundidad) y el primer registro de Abatus philippii y Abatus agassizii en el Banco Burdwood/AMP Namuncurá. Conclusiones: El presente trabajo aporta datos novedosos y actualizados sobre la diversidad y distribución de erizos de mar espatangoideos del OAS, incluyendo la descripción de C. lyrida gen. et sp. nov., y nuevos registros para especies conocidas. Esto muestra cuánto queda por conocer sobre la diversidad y distribución de los erizos corazón en el OAS, especialmente de las profundidades marinas.

Assessment of essential fatty acid and omega3-fatty acid status by measurement of erythrocyte 20:3omega9 (Mead acid), 22:5omega6/20:4omega6 and 22:5omega6/22:6omega3.

BACKGROUND: Early suspicion of essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) or omega3-deficiency may rather focus on polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) or long-chain PUFA (LCP) analyses than clinical symptoms. We determined cut-off values for biochemical EFAD, omega3-and omega3/22:6omega3 [docosahexaenoic acid (DHA)]-deficiency by measurement of erythrocyte 20:3omega9 (Mead acid), 22:5omega6/20:4omega6 and 22:5omega6/22:6omega3, respectively. METHODS: Cut-off values, based on 97.5 percentiles, derived from an apparently healthy omnivorous group (six Dominica breast-fed newborns, 32 breast-fed and 27 formula+LCP-fed Dutch low-birth-weight infants, 31 Jerusalem infants, 33 Dutch 3.5-year-old infants, 69 omnivorous Dutch adults and seven Dominica mothers) and an apparently healthy group with low dietary LCP intake (81 formula-fed Dutch low-birth-weight infants, 12 Dutch vegans). Cut-off values were evaluated by their application in an EFAD suspected group of 108, mostly malnourished, Pakistani children, three pediatric patients with chronic fat-malabsorption (abetal-ipoproteinemia, congenital jejunal and biliary atresia) and one patient with a peroxisomal beta-oxidation disorder. RESULTS: Erythrocyte 20:3omega9, 22:5omega6/20:4omega6 and 22:5omega6/22:6omega3 proved age-dependent up to 0.2 years. Cut-off values for ages above 0.2 years were: 0.46mol% 20:3omega9 for EFAD, 0.068mol/mol 22:5omega6/20:4omega6 for omega3-deficiency, 0.22mol/mol 22:5omega6/22:6omega3 for omega3/DHA-marginality and 0.48mol/mol 22:5omega6/22:6omega3 for omega3/DHA-deficiency. Use of RBC 20:3omega9 and 22:5omega6/20:4omega6 cut-off values identified 20.4% of the Pakistani subjects as EFAD+omega3-deficient, 12.9% as EFAD+omega3-sufficient, 38.9% as EFA-sufficient+omega3-deficient and 27.8% as EFA-sufficient+omega3-sufficient. The patient with the peroxisomal disorder was classified as EFA-sufficient, omega3-sufficient (based on RBC 22:5omega6/20:4omega6) and omega3/DHA-deficient (based on RBC 22:5omega6/22:6omega3). The three other pediatric patients were classified as EFAD, omega3-deficient and omega3/DHA-deficient. CONCLUSION: Use of the combination of the present cut-off values for EFA, omega3 and omega3/DHA status assessment, as based on 97.5 percentiles, may serve for PUFA supplement intervention until better concepts have emerged.

Intake of medium chain fatty acids (notably 12:0 and 14:0) from human milk in Antigua is not related to growth and does not cause energy wasting due to excessive beta-oxidation - abstract

The effect of postnatal intake of medium chain fatty acids (MCFA; C6-C14) from human milk on excessive beta-oxidation and growth was studied in Antigua. On day 23-28 a mean estimated intake of 8.9 g(range:3.8-16.6) of MCFA (notably 12:0 and 14:0) per litre did not cause excessive beta-oxidation, as derived from urinary excretion of ketone bodies and beta-hudroxybutyric acid. MCFA intake was not related to growth in the first 23-28 days. Intakes of as low as 2.7 g MCFA (notably 8:0 and 10:0) per litre from semisynthetic medium chain triglycerides are known to produce excessive beta-oxidation and urinary excretion of dicarboxylic acids (Rebouche et al, Am J. Clin. Nutri. 1990;52:820-824). It is concluded that, from a metabolic point of view, 12:0 and 14:0 from human milk belong to an intermediate subclass of MCFA that resembles long chain fatty acids greater than or equal to 16). Their uptake into adipose tissue may prevent hepatic oxidation, despite conceivable transportation of free 12:0 via the portal vein (AU)

Adipose tissue in foetuses, infants, children and adolescents in Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), its fatty acid content and composition: the fatty acid disappearance rate in childhood - abstract

There are uncertainties about the fatty acid (FA) disappearance rate in adipose tissue of infants. We therefore studied the adipose tissue FA content and composition in the foetal period in relation to samples obtained in infancy, childhood and adolescence. Adipose tissue samples were obtained in Curacao from Black foetuses and newborns (n = 42, gestation ages 22-43 weeks), and from infants, children and adolescents (n = 62, ages 0-19 years). FA was analysed by capillary gas chromatography. It was assumed that feeds of human milk or formula in the first ñ6 months accomplished 'pulse labelling' of newborn adipose tissue FA with medium chain saturated fatty acid (MC-SAFA), and that feeding of a "mixed" diet after 6 months of age constituted a 'wash-out' or 'chase' of the marker FAs. FA half-life was calculated from the disappearance rate of MC-SAFAs (AU)

A carbohydrate-rich diet not only leads to incorporation of medium-chain fatty acids (6:0-14:0) in milk triglycerides but also in each milk-phospholipid subclass.

We isolated phospholipid (PL) subclasses from milk of women in Dominica and Belize. Fatty acid (FA) compositions of PLs and total lipids were determined. In the total-lipid fraction Dominican milk showed higher relative amounts of medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MC-SAFAs; 6:0-14:0) and 22:6n-3 and lower amounts of long-chain saturated fatty acids (LC-SAFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). There was a positive relationship between the MC-SAFA content in total lipids and total PLs. Incorporation of MC-SAFAs in PLs occurred at the expense of LC-SAFAs, MUFAs, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and long-chain PUFAs with greater than or equal to 20 carbon atoms (LC-PUFAs greater than or equal to C20). Previous studies from Western countries revealed low amounts of MCSAFAs and high amounts of PUFAs and LC-PUFAs greater than or equal to C20 in milk PLs. Our data show that carbohydrate-rich diets give rise to incorporation of MC-SAFAs in PLs at the expense of PUFAs and LC-PUFAs greater than or equal to C20. The data are discussed in relation to the presumed origin of fat-globule membrane phospholipids.

A carbohydrate-rich diet not only leads to incorporation of medium-chain fatty acids (6:0-14:0) in milk triglycerides but also in each milk-phospholipid subclass

We isolated phospholipid (PL) subclasses from milk of women in Dominica and Belize. Fatty acid (FA) compositions of PLs and total lipids were determined. In the total-lipid fraction Dominican milk showed higher relative amounts of medium-chain saturated fatty acids (MC-SAFAs; 6:0-14:0) and 22:6n-3 and lower amounts of long-chain saturated fatty acids (LC-SAFAs) and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs). There was a positive relationship between the MC-SAFA content in total lipids and total PLs. Incorporation of MC-SAFAs in PLs occurred at the expense of LC-SAFAs, MUFAs, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), and long-chain PUFAs with o20 carbon atoms (LC-PUFAs oC20). Previous studies from western countries revealed low amounts of MC-SAFAs and high amounts of PUFAs and LC-PUFAs oC20 in milk PLs. Our data show that carbohydrate-rich diets give rise to incorporation of MC-SAFAs in PLs at the expense of PUFAs and LC-PUFAs oC20. The data are discussed in relation to the presumed origin of fat-globule membrane phospholipids. (AU)

Foetal adipose tissue fatty acid accretion - abstract

There are still uncertainties about the origin of the fatty acids (FA) deposited in the foetus, notably the percentage derived from the maternal circulation. This study describes a method to determine the amount of FA synthesized de novo in the foetus and the amount derived from the maternal circulation. Autopsy samples of subcutaeneous adipose tissue were obtained from 42 black foetuses and newborn infants. Samples of similar tissue were obtained from 50 pregnant women and 13 non-pregnant black women during surgery. FA analysis was done by gas chromatography. The accretion rate of FA in foetal adipose tissue was calculated by linear regression analysis of the FA data obtained from foetal/infant samples from the 22nd to 43rd week of gestation. The rate of foetal FA synthesized de novo in adipose tissue was calculated as the difference between the total foetal FA accretion rate and an estimate of the maternally derived FA. The latter was estimated from the values for accretion rates of saturated FA (SAFA), mono-unsaturated FA (MUFA), and polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) and total FA in foetal tissue, and the SAFA, MUFA and PUFA composition of adipose tissue in women (Table). Results show that of the total FA increment in foetal adipose tissue (22.7mg/g wet wt./week), 86.6 per cent was synthesized de novo by the foetus and the rest (13.2 per cent) was maternally derived (AU)

Comparison of the fatty acid composition of human milk from mothers in Tanzania, Curacao and Surinam.

Fatty acid composition of mature human milk from Curacao (Netherlands Antilles), Surinam and Tanzania was determined by capillary gas chromatography. In the Curacaoan samples the cholesterol and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol concentrations were also determined. Remarkable differences were found in the fatty acid composition of breastmilk fat from the three countries. The differences in the levels of medium chain fatty acids between Curacao and Tanzania, and between Curacao and Surinam were significant. The mean sum of the essential fatty acids linoleic acid and linolenic acid showed the highest values in Curacao (16.1 g per cent). Mean values for Tanzania and Surinam were 14.9 and 12.7, respectively. The mean level of the docosahexaenoic acid was higher in the Curacaoan and Surinam samples compared with that from Tanzania. In the Curacaoan breastmilk samples the concentrations of cholesterol and alpha- and gamma-tocopherol were about twice as high as those reported for Western countries.

Simultaneous quantification of total medium- and long-chain fatty acids in human milk by capillary gas chromatography with split injection.

Four different quantification methods for the capillary gas chromatographic determination of medium-chain fatty acids (6:0-12:0) and myristic acid in human milk samples, using a split injector, were compared. Odd-carbon-numbered fatty acids (5:0-17:0) were added as internal standards. Each medium-chain fatty acid and myristic acid was calculated on the basis of: the peak area of the internal standard with one methylene group less; the peak area of the internal standard with one methylene group more; half the sum of the peak areas of the internal standards with one methylene group less and more (bracketting method); the peak area of 17:0. The peak-area ratio of each analyte and 17:0 in a standard was found to be subject to an unacceptably high coefficient of variation. From the methods using internal standards with one methylene group more and less, the bracketting method was found to be the best, resulting in recoveries close to 100%, with the lowest coefficients of variation. The method was applied for the determination of the fatty acid composition of mature milk samples of 47 Curaçaoan women.