International fisheries threaten globally endangered sharks in the Eastern Tropical Pacific Ocean: the case of the Fu Yuan Yu Leng 999 reefer vessel seized within the Galapagos Marine Reserve.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Bonaccorso E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8298506 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Shark take, driven by vast demand for meat and fins, is increasing. We set out to gain insights into the impact of small-scale longline fisheries in Peru. Onboard observers were used to document catch from 145 longline fishing trips (1668 fishing days) originating from Ilo, southern Peru. Fishing effort is divided into two seasons: targeting dolphinfish (Coryphaena hippurus; December to February) and sharks (March to November). A total of 16,610 sharks were observed caught, with 11,166 identified to species level. Of these, 70.6% were blue sharks (Prionace glauca), 28.4% short-fin mako sharks (Isurus oxyrinchus), and 1% were other species (including thresher (Alopias vulpinus), hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena), porbeagle (Lamnus nasus), and other Carcharhinidae species (Carcharhinus brachyurus, Carcharhinus falciformis, Galeorhinus galeus). Mean ± SD catch per unit effort of 33.6 ± 10.9 sharks per 1000 hooks was calculated for the shark season and 1.9 ± 3.1 sharks per 1000 hooks were caught in the dolphinfish season. An average of 83.7% of sharks caught (74.7% blue sharks; 93.3% mako sharks) were deemed sexually immature and under the legal minimum landing size, which for species exhibiting k-selected life history traits can result in susceptibility to over exploitation. As these growing fisheries operate along the entire Peruvian coast and may catch millions of sharks per annum, we conclude that their continued expansion, along with ineffective legislative approaches resulting in removal of immature individuals, has the potential to threaten the sustainability of the fishery, its target species, and ecosystem. There is a need for additional monitoring and research to inform novel management strategies for sharks while maintaining fisher livelihoods.
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Project description:ObjectivesTo identify the sensitive biomarker to predict the effectiveness of Xue-Fu-Zhu-Yu capsules (XFZYC).MethodsThis nested case-control study included 5 patients with response to XFZYC in the treatment group, 5 patients with no response to XFZYC also in the treatment group, and 5 patients in the control group treated with placebo who participated in the previous RCT. The mRNAs, miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circRNAs were sequenced by next-generation sequencing and differential-expressed (DE) RNAs were identified if p value ≤ 0.05 and fold change ≥2, bioinformatics analysis was conducted in terms of function annotations and signaling pathways, and then sensitive biomarker was analyzed based on real-time PCR.ResultsThe distributions of clinical characteristics between the selected participants from treatment group and placebo group were well balanced. A total of 1156 DE RNAs, 388 miRNAs, 1954 lncRNAs, and 560 circRNAs were identified, which was associated the mechanism of XFZYC and composed the targeted potential biomarkers for further real-time PCR. The DE RNAs were enriched in KEGG pathways pertaining to pathogenesis of Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis- (QS & BS-) & associated diseases such as coronary heart disease and digestive diseases. The expression level of FZD8 was significantly higher in response patients than that in nonresponse patients (p = 0.041) and circRNA_13799 significantly lower in response patients than that in nonresponse patients (p = 0.040) based on real-time PCR. Patients with higher expression level of FZD8 with 75% stratification have significantly higher reduction in the questionnaire score (p = 0.010), and the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.765 (95%CI = 0.593-0.936; p = 0.014).ConclusionsFZD8 might perform the sensitive biomarker for predicting the effectiveness of XFZYC. However, further prospective cohort study was warranted to confirm the exact specificity and sensitivity of this biomarker.
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Project description:The crisis caused by COVID-19 has profoundly affected human activities around the globe, and the Galapagos Islands are no exception. The impacts on this archipelago include the impairment of tourism and the loss of linkages with the Ecuadorian mainland, which has greatly impacted the local economy. The collapse of the local economy jeopardized livelihoods and food security, given that many impacts affected the food supply chain. During the crisis, the artisanal fishers of the Galapagos showed a high capacity to adapt to the diminishing demand for fish caused by the drastic drop in tourism. We observed that fishers developed strategies and initiatives by shifting roles, from being mainly tourism-oriented providers to becoming local-household food suppliers. This new role of fishers has triggered an important shift in the perception of fishers and fisheries in Galapagos by the local community. The community shifted from perceiving fisheries as a sector opposed to conservation and in conflict with the tourism sector to perceiving fisheries as the protagonist sector, which was securing fresh, high-quality protein for the human community. This study explores the socio-economic impacts and adaptations of COVID-19 on Galapagos' artisanal fisheries based on a mixed methods approach, including the analysis of fisheries datasets, interviews, surveys, and participant observation conducted during and after the lockdown. We illustrate the adaptive mechanisms developed by the sector and explore the changes, including societal perceptions regarding small-scale fisheries in the Galapagos. The research proposes strategies to enhance the Galapagos' economic recovery based on behaviors and traits shown by fishers which are considered potential assets to build-up resilience.Supplementary informationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40152-022-00268-z.
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Project description:Galapagos Phytoplankton Targeted loci environmental
| PRJNA1105929 | ENA
Project description:BackgroundXue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction (XFZYD), Tian-Ma-Gou-Teng-Yin (TMGTY) and Wen-Dan decoction (WDD) are Chinese herbal formulas used to treat hypertension and cardiovascular diseases in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM). The goal of our study is to determine if XFZYD, TMGTY or WDD treatment ameliorated myocardial fibrosis in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and to identify the mechanisms underlying any beneficial effects observed during the courses of the investigation.MethodsForty-five 12-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats and five age-matched male Wistar-Kyoto control rats were studied for 16 weeks. Each day 6 g?kg(-1) or 12 g?kg(-1) of XFZYD, TMGTY or WDD was orally administered at the indicated dose, and the systolic blood pressure (SBP) of all rats was measured using the tail-cuff method. Collagen levels were measured via hydroxyproline content assays and histological examination. Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-?1) protein levels were determined via immunhistochemical and Western blot analysis. TGF-?1 mRNA levels were assessed using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction.ResultsSystolic blood pressure was unaffected, but collagen and TGF-?1 levels in SHRs treated with captopril and XFZYD (12 g?kg(-1)) were significantly reduced when compared with untreated control SHRs. Administration of 12 g?kg(-1) XFZYD increased myocardial cell protection and decreased TGF-?1 mRNA and protein expression when compared with the other SHR treatment groups.ConclusionsXFZYD treatment demonstrated a superior ability to reverse myocardial fibrosis when compared with WDD or TMGTY treatment in SHRs. XFZYD also decreased TGF-?1 mRNA and protein expression, suggesting that the TGF-?1 signaling pathway plays a role in the therapeutic effects of XFZYD treatment.
| S-EPMC4744408 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundXue-Fu-Zhu-Yu decoction (XFZYD) is a traditional Chinese prescription that has been used to treat patients with blood stasis in China for many years. The present study aimed to evaluate the improvement of cardiac and endothelial functions of XFZYD for patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS) through a systematic review and meta-analysis.MethodsSix databases were searched to collect RCTs related to the treatment of XFZYD for ACS. The primary outcomes were cardiac and endothelial functions, including the levels of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVEDD), and left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVESD) in echocardiography, as well as the changes in the levels of nitric oxide (NO), endothelin-1 (ET-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) in the serum. The secondary outcomes were the blood levels of oxidative damage markers (including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)), C-reactive protein (CRP), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), creatine kinase-MB (CK-MB), and cardiac troponin I (cTnI) as well as the incidence of adverse drug reactions (ADRs). Weighted mean difference (WMD) was estimated for all the outcomes with the random effects model. This type of analysis was conducted in the subgroups of the ACS subtypes, and the methodological quality was assessed using the handbook of Cochrane Collaboration.ResultsA total of 1,658 records were identified, and 16 randomized controlled trials (1,171 patients) were included. The primary outcomes suggested that XFZYD combined with routine treatment improved LVEF, reduced LVEDD and LVESD, and also improved the serum levels of NO, and reduced the levels of ET-1 and ICAM-1. XFZYD combination therapy significantly ameliorated the blood levels of SOD, MDA, BNP, CK-MB, and cTnI. However, the results indicated no significant difference between XFZYD plus routine treatment and routine treatment for the levels of VCAM-1 and CRP. Moreover, all the ADRs reported in the included studies were slight and the patients recovered soon.ConclusionsThe present study suggested that XFZYD may improve the cardiac and endothelial functions of ACS patients without serious ADRs. However, based on the mediocre methodological quality, the aforementioned conclusion should be confirmed in a multicenter, large-scale, and accurately designed clinical trial.
| S-EPMC8853789 | biostudies-literature