Quantitative analysis of mitochondrial morphologies in human induced pluripotent stem cells for Leigh syndrome.

Mitochondria are dynamic organelles with wide range of morphologies contributing to regulating different signaling pathways and several cellular functions. Leigh syndrome (LS) is a classic pediatric mitochondrial disorder characterized by complex and variable clinical pathologies, and primarily affects the nervous system during early development. It is important to understand the differences between mitochondrial morphologies in healthy and diseased states so that focused therapies can target the disease during its early stages. In this study, we performed a comprehensive analysis of mitochondrial dynamics in five patient-derived human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) containing different mutations associated with LS. Our results suggest that subtle alterations in mitochondrial morphologies are specific to the mtDNA variant. Three out of the five LS-hiPSCs exhibited characteristics consistent with fused mitochondria. To our knowledge, this is the first comprehensive study that quantifies mitochondrial dynamics in hiPSCs specific to mitochondrial disorders. In addition, we observed an overall decrease in mitochondrial membrane potential in all five LS-hiPSCs. A more thorough analysis of the correlations between mitochondrial dynamics, membrane potential dysfunction caused by mutations in the mtDNA in hiPSCs and differentiated derivatives will aid in identifying unique morphological signatures of various mitochondrial disorders during early stages of embryonic development.

Heat-health action plans in Europe: Challenges ahead and how to tackle them.

High temperatures have periodically affected large areas in Europe and urban settings. In particular, the deadly 2003 summer heat waves precipitated a multitude of national and subnational health prevention and research efforts. Building on these and other international experiences the WHO Regional Office for Europe developed and published in 2008 a comprehensive framework for prevention, the heat-health action plans (HHAPs). This provided a blueprint used by several national and subnational authorities to design their prevention efforts. A decade after the publication of the WHO guidance, a wealth of new evidence and acquired implementation experience has emerged around HHAP effectiveness; heat exposure; acclimatization and adaptation; heat-health governance and stakeholder involvement; and the role of urban design and greening interventions in prevention. This evidence and experience can guide the strategies to tackle current and upcoming challenges in protecting health from heat under a warming climate.

Unraveling the Hydrological Behavior of a Coastal Pond in Doñana National Park (Southwest Spain).

Time series analysis methods have been used to detect behavioral patterns in a set of nine time series. These series contained information in a 3-h time step about meteorological, hydrological and tidal data of a sand dune pond area located in Doñana National Park in the southwest of Spain. The methods used, such as wavelet analysis and additive seasonal decomposition, had never been applied before in the types of ecosystems studied. These approaches have improved the current knowledge of the conceptual model of the Santa Olalla pond system, the only system with a permanent hydroperiod located in this protected area. In addition, complex surface water-groundwater interactions, not visible through descriptive methods, have been distinguished to have a strong seasonal component. Finally, we evaluated the effect of pumping activity in a nearby coastal resort on the water supply of the Santa Olalla pond system. Although direct damage to this sand dune pond has not yet been identified, special attention must be paid in order to maintain groundwater inputs that are integral to maintaining its current status.