Sungkyunkwan University

SEOUL, South Korea, Dec. 19, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Covering over 70% of Earth's surface, the oceans are home to countless life forms that maintain ecological balance and support human well-being. Among these, brown algae (Phaeophyceae) play a crucial role in sustaining coastal habitats, supporting marine biodiversity, and combating climate change through carbon capture. While they have long captured interest of the scientific world, the genomic and evolutionary history of these organisms have remained largely unexplored. Continue Reading Exploring the evolutionary journey of brown algae using genomic analysis unraveling key milestones that influenced their evolution, and discussing their potential applications. A groundbreaking study by researchers from Sungkyunkwan University has unveiled the evolutionary journey of brown algae through a comprehensive genomic analysis of 44 species. The study was available online on November 20, 2024 and published on November 27, 2024 in Volume 187, Issue 24 of Cell. It created the Phaeoexplorer database, a valuable tool for comparative genomics. The researchers explored key evolutionary milestones, including the transition from unicellular to multicellular forms and the integration of viral sequences into brown algae genomes—an area previously unexplored. The study revealed two major evolutionary milestones in the history of brown algae. Lead author Professor Hwan Su Yoon explains, "Approximately 450 million years ago, brown algae transitioned from unicellular organisms to simple multicellular forms. This shift was driven by horizontal gene transfer from bacteria, enabling the synthesis of vital cell wall components like alginate and phlorotannin. These adaptations the algae aggregate, improved cell-to-cell communication, and defend against predators, marking a crucial step in their evolution." Around 200 million years ago, following the breakup of the supercontinent Pangaea, brown algae underwent significant species diversification. Prof. Yoon explains, "This diversification led to the development of complex life cycles, structural innovations, and specialized metabolic pathways, shaping the ecological roles of various species. The study also revealed widespread viral integration in brown algal genomes, with Phaeovirus sequences found in 67 out of 69 genomes analyzed." These viral integrations likely played a key role in shaping the evolution and diversity of brown algae. The study offers valuable insights into practical applications of brown algae. In aquaculture, it supports selective breeding programs of commercially important species like Undaria pinnatifida and Saccharina japonica, boosting productivity and disease resistance. In biotechnology, the biosynthesis of compounds like alginate opens doors to health supplements, bioactive substances, and sustainable biomaterials. The study also highlights brown algae's potential in climate change mitigation, particularly in carbon capture and ecosystem restoration, highlighting their ecological and economic benefits. This study also offers valuable insights on how climate change could impact marine ecosystems. Prof. Yoon states, "By analyzing how past environmental changes shaped the evolution of brown algae, we can better predict how future climate shifts might affect marine biodiversity. The genomic resources established from this research help identify traits that enhance ecological resilience, guiding efforts to develop brown algae resistant to climate stresses such as rising temperatures and sea-level changes." Additionally, promoting kelp forests as "blue carbon" reservoirs offers a natural solution to sequester carbon, mitigating climate change effects while fostering ecological sustainability in marine environments. By decoding the genetic makeup of brown algae, this study enhances our understanding of marine ecosystems and provides insights into how we can use their ecological and economic potential for a more sustainable future. The oceans hold the keys to our planet's resilience, and this study offers a roadmap for a sustainable future rooted in the nature's wisdom. Reference Title of original paper: Evolutionary genomics of the emergence of brown algae as key components of coastal ecosystems Journal: Cell DOI: About the institute Website: Media Contact: Dongmin Kim +82 2-760-1144 [email protected] SOURCE Sungkyunkwan University WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In GET STARTED

FRIDAY, Aug. 16, 2024 -- Automated multiorgan computed tomography (CT), including visceral fat, can predict diabetes and associated cardiometabolic conditions, according to a study published online Aug. 6 in Radiology . Yoosoo Chang, M.D., Ph.D., from Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and colleagues examined the ability of automated CT-derived markers to predict diabetes and associated cardiometabolic comorbidities in a retrospective cohort study of Korean adults. Participants underwent health screening with fluorine 18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/CT between January 2012 and December 2015. Data were included for 32,166 adults in a cross-sectional analysis and for 27,298 adults in a cohort analysis. The researchers found that diabetes prevalence and incidence were 6 and 9 percent at baseline and during the 7.3-year median follow-up, respectively. The highest predictive performance for prevalent and incident diabetes was seen for the visceral fat index, with areas under the curve (AUCs) of 0.70 and 0.82 for men and women, respectively, and C-indexes of 0.68 and 0.82, respectively. Predictive performance was improved by combining visceral fat, muscle area, liver fat faction, and aortic calcification, yielding C-indexes of 0.69 and 0.83 for men and women, respectively. For identifying metabolic syndrome, the AUCs for the visceral fat index were 0.81 and 0.90 for men and women, respectively. Ultrasound-diagnosed fatty liver, coronary artery calcium scores >100, sarcopenia, and osteoporosis were also identified by CT-derived markers, with AUCs ranging from 0.80 to 0.95. "CT-derived parameters, particularly the visceral fat area index, outperformed traditional methods for predicting type 2 diabetes mellitus in both sexes," the authors write. Several authors disclosed ties to MEDICAL IP. Abstract/Full Text Editorial (subscription or payment may be required) Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.

Being near and having more exposure to urban green space and blue (water) space is linked to lower odds of having coronary artery calcification in middle age, which is an early marker of cardiovascular disease. The associations were more pronounced among Black individuals and those living in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status, with the strongest effects observed in Black individuals in economically deprived neighborhoods. Being near and having more exposure to urban green space and blue (water) space is linked to lower odds of having coronary artery calcification in middle age, which is an early marker of cardiovascular disease. The associations were more pronounced among Black individuals and those living in neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status, with the strongest effects observed in Black individuals in economically deprived neighborhoods. Specifically, Black participants with the highest accessibility to a river had 32% lower odds of coronary artery calcification compared to those with the lowest accessibility. Black participants with greater access to green spaces had up to 35% lower odds of calcification. For each 10%-point increase in green space, the odds of having coronary artery calcification decreased by 15% on average. The study was published today June 27 Circulation. Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is when calcium builds up in the plaque found in the walls of the coronary arteries. It can be a sign of early coronary artery disease, which can cause a heart attack. "The protective effect of having access to urban blue and green spaces with coronary artery calcification highlighted in our study underscore the potential benefits of such infrastructure, particularly for underserved populations at higher risk for cardiovascular disease," said corresponding author Dr. Lifang Hou, a professor of preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. "Our findings provide quantitative evidence supporting environmental policies to enhance the accessibility and quality of residential blue and green spaces, which can promote public health benefit and address racial and neighborhood-related health disparities." Why do green and blue spaces improve health? "Having more green and blue spaces may provide increased opportunities for physical activities, social interactions, stress relief and restoration, all of which have been linked to improved metabolic and cardiovascular health," Hou said. "Additionally, exposure to green and blue spaces has been shown to boost people's immune system, reduce chronic inflammation and slow down the biological aging process, all of which are biologically important in people's overall health and cardiovascular health. More studies are needed to fully understand the role of urban natural environments in pathways related to human health." Conversely, the study also showed shorter distances to parks were associated with higher odds of CAC in these neighborhoods, with individuals having the highest park accessibility showing 29% higher odds of CAC compared to those with the lowest accessibility. "The poor condition of parks and/or safety concerns in underserved urban neighborhoods might deter park use and prevent residents from fully benefiting from these spaces," said study first author Kyeezu Kim, adjunct assistant professor of preventive medicine at Feinberg and assistant professor at Sungkyunkwan University School of Medicine in South Korea. "From a public health perspective, the results suggest the need for quality control and management of the surrounding environment in neighborhoods with disadvantaged social determinants of health. More data is warranted to fully explain this observation." How the study was conducted The study included 2,960 Black and white men and women (average age of 50 years) from Birmingham, Ala., Chicago, Ill., Minneapolis, Minn., and Oakland, Calif., who were followed for 25 years (from 1985-1986 to 2010-2011). While proximity to urban blue and green spaces has been linked to better cardiovascular health, few studies have examined the role of social determinants of health, such as race and neighborhoods with lower socioeconomic status in these associations, particularly with long-term observational data. Data for this study were drawn from the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a multi-center prospective cohort study across four urban cities in the U.S. The CARDIA study began in 1985-1986 with 5,115 self-reported Black and white individuals in early adulthood (mean age 24.8). For blue and green spaces, researchers included percent blue space cover, distance to the nearest river, percent green space cover and distance to the nearest major park within 5 km of the participants' residential addresses. The presence of CAC was measured using a CT (computed tomography) scan when participants were about 50 years old. Researchers examined the associations between each blue and green space and CAC by race and neighborhood socioeconomic status. The CARDIA study is conducted and supported by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) in collaboration with the University of Alabama at Birmingham grants HHSN268201800005I and HHSN268201800007I, Northwestern University grant HHSN268201800003I, University of Minnesota grant HHSN268201800006I and Kaiser Foundation Research Institute grant HHSN268201800004I. The research is also supported by NHLBI grant R01HL114091 and National Institute on Aging grant R01AG081244, all of the National Institutes of Health. It is also supported by the American Heart Association.