Three measurements were conducted for each

evaluation and

Three measurements were conducted for each

evaluation and the variability was below 5%. Periodontal ligament and surrounding alveolar bone samples from the areas adjacent to the upper first molars were obtained using a stereomicroscope. Samples were weighed and homogenized in PBS (0.4 mM NaCl and 10 mM NaPO4) containing protease inhibitors (0.1 mM PMSF, 0.1 mM benzethonium chloride, 10 mM EDTA, and 0.01 mg/mL aprotinin A) and 0.05% Tween-20 at 1 mg/mL. The homogenate was centrifuged (8946 × g) at 4 °C for 10 min. The supernatant VE-821 order was then collected and stored at −70 °C until further analysis. The levels of IL-1β, TNF-α and IL-10 were evaluated by double-ligand enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), according to the manufacturer’s protocol (R&D Systems, Minneapolis, MN, USA). The results were expressed as picograms of cytokine/100 mg of tissue. The results were expressed as the mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Comparison amongst the groups was statistically analysed by one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Newman–Keuls multiple comparison test. P < 0.05 was considered IPI-145 statistically significant. The amount of OTM was significantly less in mice treated with IL-1Ra (Fig. 1A), as well as the number of TRAP-positive osteoclasts (Fig. 1B), when compared to the vehicle group after 12 days of mechanical loading. Histological characterisation

of periodontal tissues also revealed that IL-1Ra treated mice demonstrated a decreased TRAP activity and a smaller number of osteoclasts in the pressure side of the periodontium (Fig. 2E and F), when compared to the experimental tooth of vehicle

treated mice (Fig. 2C and D). The smaller amount of OTM observed in IL-1Ra treated mice led us to investigate the effects of such therapy on the expression of cytokines involved in bone remodelling. Mechanical loading applied to tooth triggered a significant release of pro-inflammatory and bone resorptive cytokines in periodontal tissues just after 12 h of stimulation. Whilst the levels of IL-1β (Fig. 3A) and TNF-α (Fig. 3B) increased approximately 6 and 5.5 fold, respectively, IL-10 levels (Fig. 3C) were not altered when compared to control mice. After 72 h of mechanical loading, Thymidine kinase IL-1β levels were almost 10 times higher than control (Fig. 3A), and the levels of TNF-α (Fig. 3B) and IL-10 (Fig. 3C) were similar to the basal condition. In contrast, treatment of mice with IL-1Ra reduced the inflammatory milieu observed in periodontal tissues after stimuli. IL-1Ra therapy induced a decrease of 66% and 76% in the levels of IL-1β (Fig. 3A) and TNF-α (Fig. 3B), respectively, when compared to vehicle-treated mice, whilst the levels of IL-10 (Fig. 3C) enhanced approximately 2 fold either at 12 or at 72 h after mechanical loading. Interleukin-1 (IL-1) has been one of the most studied cytokines and it is one of the major soluble proteins related to osteoclast activation and bone resorption.

Also, in Turbinaria mesenterina, convoluted forms (good for sedim

Also, in Turbinaria mesenterina, convoluted forms (good for sediment rejection) became explanate (bad for sediment rejection) in low light and explanate forms became convoluted in high light conditions ( Willis, 1985). selleck chemicals The same problem also occurs at finer scales. Smaller corallites with fewer septa are likely related to decreased light in Montastraea cavernosa and some other faviids ( Wijsman-Best, 1974 and Beltran-Torres and Carricart-Ganivet, 1993) but the opposite traits are beneficial for sediment removal ( Marshall and Orr, 1931, Hubbard and Pocock,

1972, Stafford-Smith and Ormond, 1992 and Hodgson, 1993). All coral species are arranged along a gradient of relative tolerance to stress from sediment. Each coral species, therefore, has its own set of threshold values representing the concentrations of sediment which produce sublethal or lethal effects. After a certain maximum concentration, reduction of growth occurs due to smothering, reduced light levels and reduced zooxanthella photosynthesis. Ultimately, when sustained over a longer period, such concentrations can cause mortality. There is a clear relationship between substratum cover by live corals and water transparency (KPAR), which determines the compensation

depth of corals ( Yentsch et al., 2002). Values for the minimum light requirements of corals reported in the literature range from <1% to as much as 60% of surface irradiance (SI) ( Table 3). Kleypas et al. (1999) suggested minimum light requirements to allow reef formation (40% SI) to differ Volasertib concentration from Thymidylate synthase the minimum light requirements to allow survival of individual corals (10% SI). The sensitivity to reduced light is—at least in part—dependent on the growth form of corals, with branching species generally

thriving only under at least 60% average SI, while most plocoid and meandroid massive species require only 20% average SI, and several platy corals can survive with as little as 0.15% ( Jaap and Hallock, 1990). Typically, the reduced availability of light caused by increased turbidity is experienced more strongly by corals growing in deeper areas of a reef than by corals growing in shallower areas. Turbidity effects on corals depend on the grain size of the suspended sediment, with fine particles contributing most to light reduction while coarser particles may cause scouring and abrasion of coral tissue ( PIANC, 2010). Despite an impressive body of literature (see review by Hubbard, 1986), little quantitative information exists on the specific responses of reef organisms to suspended-sediment loading. There is a highly significant inverse relationship between coral growth rates and suspended-sediment yields (Miller and Cruise, 1995).

Interestingly, this BTG regulated cell cycle pathway was also sig

Interestingly, this BTG regulated cell cycle pathway was also significant for cells

exposed to the highest concentration of TSC at the 6 h time point, with Btg1, Btg2 and Ccrn4l being up-regulated. In our earlier toxicogenomic analyses of three cigarette smoke condensates Btg2 was also found to be among the most up-regulated genes ( Yauk et al., 2011). Fig. 7 shows a comparison of the significantly AZD9291 solubility dmso altered cell cycle genes following exposure to the two smoke condensates. Although many of the same genes are affected and cell cycle appears to be a commonly disrupted function, there appears to be subtle differences in how this disruption occurs. Furthermore, cluster analyses of cell cycle genes (data not shown) confirms the importance of the smoke condensate type since cell cycle genes cluster primarily by smoke type, and subsequently by concentration. Both MSC and TSC exposed cells responded with NSC 683864 mouse the up-regulation of inflammation related genes and pathways at the 6 h time point. These finding are consistent with the published literature, which notes that inflammation is typically seen in gene expression studies involving

tobacco smoke exposure (Bosio et al., 2002, Fields et al., 2005 and Lu et al., 2007). Similarly, mucosal biopsy, and bronchial lavage show that smoking marijuana is also consistently linked with airway inflammation (Lee and Hancox, 2011 and Roth et al., 1998). A gene expression study that examined human airway epithelial cells exposed to THC for 7 days showed an increase in Ptgs-2 and Il-1a levels, and it was hypothesized that the effect contributes to the airway inflammation observed in habitual marijuana smokers ( Sarafian et al., 2005). In the present study, it appeared that MSC might be a more potent inducer of the inflammatory Cytidine deaminase response than TSC. At the highest concentration, 12 genes in the KEGG Cytokine-Cytokine Receptor Interaction Pathway were significantly

expressed following MSC exposure as opposed to 5 significantly expressed genes following TSC exposure. In addition, inflammatory related genes and IPA pathways (e.g., IL-10, IL-17, IL17A, IL-17F) were more significantly altered following MSC relative to TSC exposure (Supplementary Fig. 1). The Biosynthesis of Steroids Pathway was among the most significantly affected IPA Canonical Pathways for MSC exposed cells. This held true both when all of the significantly altered MSC genes were taken into account, and when only the genes unique to MSC were considered. The Biosynthesis of Steroids Pathway is a lipid metabolism pathway that controls the synthesis of cholesterol, which is an essential component of cell membranes and a precursor in the production of bile acids, steroid hormones, and vitamin D.

Safety should always be the main concern in therapeutic endoscopy

Safety should always be the main concern in therapeutic endoscopy. When deciding to perform a potentially harmful or dangerous procedure, one should always take into account all the possible alternatives and thoroughly analyze the respective advantages and drawbacks. Also the correct sequence of increasingly

aggressive dilation techniques should be maintained. For instance, over-the-wire introduction of low-profile dilating balloons (4F) or ultrathin angioplasty balloons3 should always be attempted before any more aggressive technique, such as the use of the Soehendra screw as a drill4 or, obviously, the www.selleckchem.com/products/Nutlin-3.html needle-knife electrotomy. Another alternative technique, described Buparlisib by our group some years ago,5 is to leave the guidewire in place for 24 hours (after having threaded it through the nose

like a nasobiliary or a nasopancreatic catheter): the guidewire, because of the peristaltic movements of the duodenum, will act as a dilator and subsequent insertion of a dilating device during a second ERCP has a much better chance of being successful. The setting in which an aggressive approach should be applied also deserves a comment. It is well-known that the risk of cholangitis is extremely high if contrast has been injected over a neoplastic stricture and drainage cannot be secured immediately or within a few hours. Ready availability of alternative techniques, such as a percutaneous approach and a EUS-guided transduodenal or transgastric approach to the biliary or pancreatic ductal system,6 allows a more conservative approach. Benign strictures,

both in the biliary and pancreatic locations, carry a much lower risk of septic complications if left undrained after contrast injection: it must be kept in mind that endoscopy is always a repeatable procedure, and therefore conventional methods can be reiterated before irreversible damage is done. Archimedes of Syracuse needed just a lever to move the world, whereas we have a plethora of devices and tools just for stricture managing. Think about Archimedes dealing with a tight pancreatic stricture! The authors disclosed no financial relationships relevant Montelukast Sodium to this publication. “
“Obscure GI bleeding (OGIB) is defined as bleeding of unknown origin that persists or recurs after a negative initial evaluation with bidirectional endoscopy1 and is thought to account for approximately 5% of all GI bleeding.2 Overt obscure GI bleeding (OOGIB) presents with evidence of visible bleeding, either as melena or hematochezia, without an identifiable source on upper endoscopy and colonoscopy. It has been postulated that the diagnostic yield of video capsule endoscopy (VCE) may be higher if VCE is performed closer to the bleeding event.

To compare the effectiveness between C-SEMS placed above and acro

To compare the effectiveness between C-SEMS placed above and across see more SO in patients with malignant biliary obstruction. From February 2010 to September 2012, this study was conducted in 6 centers from Korea and 6 centers from Japan. Total of 84 cases with unresectable malignant biliary obstruction were randomized into either Group A

(above SO without biliary sphincterotomy, n=40) or B (across SO after biliary sphincterotomy, n=44). Biliary obstruction was defined as bile duct obstruction located at least 2.0 cm distal to bifurcation and 0.5 cm proximal to the ampulla. Niti-S ComVi fully covered biliary stent ® (Taewoong Medical, Seoul, Korea) was used. Data of 37 cases from Group A and 38 from Group B were available for final analysis. Between Groups A and B, there was no significant difference regarding gender, age (70.5±12.9 vs. 73.9±12.2 yrs, p=0.238), duration of follow-up (177 [IQR 110-287] vs. 192 [IQR 73-316] days. p=0.801), diagnosis, biochemical profiles, level of biliary obstruction, tumor morphology, length of obstruction, and Karnofsky score (81±10 vs. 77±12, p=0.116). Mean C-SEMS patency period were 160.6 ± 102.8 days for Group A and http://www.selleckchem.com/screening/anti-diabetic-compound-library.html 191.2 ± 118.3 days for Group B, respectively (p= 0.284). Occlusion rate were 43.2% and 28.9% for Groups A and B (p=0.197). Mean survival periods were 221.8±171.1 days for

Group A and 284±174.5 days for Group B (p=0.414). Cholangitis without stent

occlusion occurred 2 cases in group A and 2 cases in group B (p=0.978). Between two groups, there was no significant difference regarding stent-related complications such as pancreatitis (0 vs. 1), cholecystitis (1 vs. 2), external migration (0 vs. 3, p=0.199) and bleeding (none). Occlusion rates in patients of pancreatic cancer were 55.0% in Group A and 21.1% in Group B (p=0.029), respectively. C-SEMS placement above the SO did not prolong stent patency and did not reduce development of cholangitis without occlusion. PDK4 C-SEMS placement across the SO may result in more external migration. In cases with pancreatic cancer, stent occlusion occurred more often in C-SEM placement above the SO. “
“Self expandable metallic stent (SEMS) has been widely used for palliation of distal malignant obstructive jaundice. In a randomized controlled trial, we compare a steel alloy SEMS (sSEMS), Wallstent® with a nitinol SEMS (nSEMS), Wallflex® (Boston Scientific). To evaluate stent patency, survival and complications after endoscopically placed nSEMS vs sSEMS in patients with distal non-resectable malignant bile duct obstruction. Patients were randomized to receive a partially covered Wallflex® or Wallstent®. To demonstrate a difference of 15% between two stents, alfa 5% and beta 92%, 400 patientes were needed.

Three hundred and fifty children aged from 9 months to 3 years fr

Three hundred and fifty children aged from 9 months to 3 years from central, eastern and western regions of Ukraine were involved in the cross-sectional study. Inclusion criteria were: • Age from 9 to 36 months. Exclusion criteria were: • The need to follow a special elimination diet for significant food allergies, metabolic disorders (including hereditary diseases). Main study outcomes • Prevalence Veliparib ic50 of normal, high and low consumption of basic macro- and micronutrients. During the first visit basic child’s data were collected, health status was assessed by a physician and parents were given

a food diary and a food questionnaire for self-completion. The parents were asked to fill in the diary for 3 days (2 regular week days and 1 day – during weekend) and the questionnaire of eating behavior before the second visit. At the second visit (in 8–10 days after the first one) a doctor checked the filled food diary and eating behavior questionnaire (the

presence of a child was not required). At the final, third visit LBH589 in vivo (in 4–5 weeks) the parents were informed about the results of the data analysis and were given advice on the nutrition of their child. Special attention was paid to the presence of infectious and allergic diseases on the basis of physical examination and medical history data of a child. Data from the diaries and questionnaires were analyzed with DietPlan 6 software (Forestfield Software Ltd., UK). The software allowed calculating the daily consumption of all major nutrients, taking into account age, sex, physical activity and other characteristics of the child as well as the reference values of caloric and nutrient intake and foods recommended by the Committee of Medical Aspects of Food Policy (1991) and adapted to the standards of Ukraine. The following Aprepitant indicators

were calculated and included into analysis: daily caloric intake, the amount of consumed protein, fat, carbohydrates, macronutrients (calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, chloride and magnesium), essential micronutrients (iron, zinc, iodine, fluorine, copper, selenium, chromium, molybdenum, cobalt and manganese) and vitamins. The social status of children was not taken into account. From 105 children, involved in the laboratory part of the study, blood was taken to determine ferritin, erythrocytes, hemoglobin and hematocrit levels. Standard methods of descriptive, categorical and correlation (nonparametric Spearman, Kendall Tau and Gamma coefficients) analyses were used with the calculation of 95% confidence intervals (CIs) as appropriate. If normally distributed continuous data are presented as average ± standard deviation (SD), if not – as median [minimum–maximum]. The statistical analysis was performed with Statistica 8 software (StatSoft Inc., 2008; USA).

Although the authors were able to correlate proteomic data with o

Although the authors were able to correlate proteomic data with other high-throughput technologies, the data remains preliminary and discovery-based. Further investigation into specific sulfatides and validation in clinical samples is needed to decipher their true clinical utility for OvCa diagnosis. Overall, huge advances have been made in the past decade in terms of innovative uses of MS. No longer are biomarker discovery studies

focused on only proteomic profiling, but are now investigating downstream molecules on a global scale as markers of OvCa. This paradigm shift Selinexor solubility dmso represents the changing perspectives on OvCa pathophysiology in that it is no longer a genetic disease, but a complex network of proteins, extracellular interactions and inflammation that leads to malignancy. Despite the advances in technology and throughput, however, many OvCa biomarker discovery studies continue to fail to produce markers that

can truly pass clinical validation across multiple independent cohorts and this has been attributed to poor study design and biases. As a result, there have been efforts to implement more stringent and standardized protocols for biomarker evaluations to alleviate these issues. In 2008, Pepe et al. described a variation

Ivacaftor of a nested case–control study for the purposes of biomarker evaluation (for example between subjects with OvCa and subjects without OvCa) termed prospective-specimen-collection, retrospective-blinded PTK6 evaluation (PRoBE) which has begun to gain prominence in recent biomarker studies [57]. A recent study by Lee et al. in 2011 investigating the ability of a panel of 7 biomarkers in addition to CA125 to diagnose preclinical OvCa also represents the importance of robust study design to truly assess novel OvCa biomarkers. As opposed to previous studies that had reported successful validation of the addition of the 7-biomarker panel to CA125, Lee et al. were able to confirm that the biomarker panel did not in fact improve preclinical OvCa diagnosis compared to CA125 alone. The authors were able to attribute this to the fact that earlier studies were incorrectly using postdiagnostically collected sera as opposed to truly prediagnostic sera. Despite the wealth of advances in MS-based biomarker discovery efforts for OvCa, it is clear that the majority of such approaches still face many biological and technical challenges that must be addressed before this new generation of biomarkers can be introduced into the clinic.

As shown in Fig 3A, the gene expression of NPR-A in the kidney w

As shown in Fig. 3A, the gene expression of NPR-A in the kidney was significantly lower in the SW compared to the SD group. However, the expression of NPR-A in the RN group compared to the SD group did not reach significance. Similarly, only the gene expression of NPR-C was significantly decreased in the SW group, but not in the RN group, when compared to the SD group (Fig. 3B). The ability of natriuretic peptide receptors to bind 125I-ANP was investigated in mesenteric adipose tissue by in vitro autoradiography. Unlabeled ANP displaces 125I-ANP

bound to both receptors, NPR-A and NPR-C, and c-ANF displaces 125I-ANP bound specifically to NPR-C. The displacement of 125I-ANP from NPR-A can be inferred by the difference between ANP and cANF displacements.

125I-ANP bound reversibly and with high affinity to the mesenteric adipose tissue of all groups, but Selleckchem R428 as Fig. 4A–C shows, the SW group presented higher total 125I-ANP binding compared to the other groups. Unlabeled ANP almost completely inhibited 125I-ANP binding to the mesenteric adipose tissue of the SD group. A high displacement rate was also observed using c-ANF, which indicates a high level of NPR-C in the mesenteric adipose tissue of SHR. The percentage of displacement by ANP in the SW group was similar to the SD group, but the displacement by c-ANF was reduced, indicating a reduction of NPR-C ( Fig. 4A, B, D and E). Although no difference in total binding was observed in the RN group compared to the SD group, displacement by ANP IDH mutation or c-ANF was reduced, indicating a reduction in the specific receptors, NPR-A and NPR-C, respectively ( Fig. 4C Interleukin-3 receptor and F). This

study demonstrated for the first time that chronic swimming and running training promote significant changes in endogenous ANP of SHR at rest through alterations in the synthesis and bioavailability of ANP as well as within its gene expression receptors. The data showed increased plasma ANP levels in the SW group and decreased ANP expression in the LA only in the RN group. In the kidney, a decrease in NPR-A such as in NPR-C gene expression was only noticed in the SW group; however, swimming increased 125I-ANP binding to mesenteric adipose tissue and displacement by c-ANF was reduced, indicating a reduction of NPR-C. We did not observe any influence of physical training by running or swimming on HR at rest in SHR. Previously, Schaible and Scheuer had shown decreases in HR after eight weeks of training on running and swimming in normotensive animals [37]. Besides using hypertensive rats, the intensity of training used in our study was different. We used the intensity of the maximal lactate steady state (i.e., the highest intensity at which aerobic metabolism still predominates over anaerobic metabolism) [11] and [33]. This was done so that both training modalities had similar intensities and in order to promote adaptations from predominantly aerobic activities.

In many Boussinesq formulations the velocity is used instead of t

In many Boussinesq formulations the velocity is used instead of the potential. Writing u=∂xϕu=∂xϕ the equations

with forcing in the velocity become equation(16) {∂tη=1g∂xC2u∂tu=−g∂xη+G3where C2=^−D/k2 is the squared phase velocity operator. By eliminating ηη the second order equation for u   is obtained ∂t2u=−Du+∂tG3This is the same as Eq. (15) for the uni-directional elevation influxing, and G  3 can be specified if the velocity at x  =0 is given, say u(0,t)=s3(t)u(0,t)=s3(t) G3=g(x)f(t)−(∂t−1f(t))A1g(x)withg^(K1(ω))fˇ(ω)=12πVg(K1(ω))sˇ3(ω) In this section the results of the previous R428 in vivo section are generalized to multi-directional waves in 2D in a straightforward way. The notation for the horizontal coordinates is x=(x,y)x=(x,y) and

for the wave vector k=(kx,ky)k=(kx,ky); the lengths of these vectors are written as x=|x|x=|x| and k=|k|=kx2+ky2 respectively. In 2D the spatial transform is η(x)=∫η^(k)eik.xdk,η^(k)=1(2π)2∫η(x)e−ik.xdxThe dispersion relation is the relation between the wave vector kk and the frequency ωω so that the plane waves expi(k.x−ωt) are physical solutions. In 2D a skew-symmetric operator AeAe will Afatinib supplier be defined for given direction vector ee to formulate first order dynamic equations that describe forward or backward wave propagation with respect to the vector ee. Forward propagating wave modes have a wave vector that lies in the positive half-space kk.e>0 while the wave vector of backward propagating modes lies in the negative half-space k.e<0k.e<0. First order in time equations for forward or backward

travelling waves is most useful for wave influxing in a specific part of a half plane, for instance when waves are generated in a hydrodynamic laboratory, Ribonucleotide reductase or when dealing with coastal waves from the deep ocean towards the shore. The embedded forcing in the first order equations will also help us to determine the forcings in second order in time multi-directional equations. The first order in time equations are obtained with an operator AeAe that is defined as the pseudo-differential operator that acts in Fourier space as multiplication as Ae=^iΩ2(k)withΩ2(k)=sign(k.e)Ω(k)As before ω2=Ω(k)2=D(k)ω2=Ω(k)2=D(k), but note that now k=|k|k=|k| in Ω(k)Ω(k) only takes nonnegative values. Since Ω2(k)=−Ω2(−k)Ω2(k)=−Ω2(−k) the operator AeAe is real and skew-symmetric. Observe that Ω2Ω2 has discontinuity along the direction e⊥e⊥ (perpendicular to ee). The 2D forward propagating dispersive wave equation is then given as equation(17) ∂tζ=−Aeζ∂tζ=−Aeζwhich has as basic solutions the plane waves expi(k.x−Ω2(k)t). Without restriction of generality we will take in the following e=(1,0)e=(1,0) so that Ω2(k)=sign(kx)Ω(k)Ω2(k)=sign(kx)Ω(k).

Processed data were imported to the ODV database (Ocean Data View

Processed data were imported to the ODV database (Ocean Data View, Schlitzer 2005) for further manipulation and export to relevant databases (e.g., WOCE, WOD, etc.). Horizontal maps of selected variables were produced using DIVA gridding software

(Data Interpolating Variational Analysis), an algorithm that considers coastlines and bathymetry features for domain subdivision and performs better in the case of sparse and heterogeneous data coverage (signal-to-noise ratio = 40; quality limit = 1.5; excluding outliers). Meridional sections were produced for each parameter using VG gridding, utilizing data from the original sampling stations and not reconstructing them from the 3-D parameter selleck field. Meteorological data (air temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction) for the period commencing fifteen days prior to the cruise start until the end of each annual cruise, were obtained from all the main airports of the broader North Aegean Sea area (Thessaloniki, Kavala, Alexandroupolis, Chios I., Lemnos I., Skyros I. and Istanbul). These data were combined with the surface wind vectors obtained from the NOAA 3-D atmospheric model, based on systematic satellite observations over the North Aegean Sea (http://www.arl.noaa.gov/ready/amet.html). Figure 3 presents a synoptic view of the surface wind vectors prevailing over the North Aegean Sea during each cruise period.

The significant impact of the Etesians (north to north-easterly Ribociclib ic50 winds) during the 1998 to 2000 cruises is shown. Strong south to south-westerly winds, changing rapidly to northerlies,

dominate during the 2001 sampling period. The sea surface temperature displays a zonal distribution, with lower values (20–21°C) in the Thracian Sea and higher ones (23.2°C) in the Chios Basin (Figure 4a). This distinct north-to-south gradient is disrupted by the presence of cooler water (19–20°C) in the area south of Lemnos Island, corresponding to the BSW Sitaxentan core. Relatively colder water occupies the surface layer along the eastern coastline of the North and Central Aegean Sea, with values 22–23°C near Lesvos and Chios Islands, compared to the warmer water (24.5°C) near the Sporades Islands. A similar zonal pattern is also exhibited by the surface salinity, with minimum values in an extended area south of Lemnos Island (28.7–29.3), occupied by the BSW. From this minimum, the surface salinity showed gradually increasing values of 33.0–34.5 towards the Thracian Sea and to the south-west towards the Sporades Basin (33.8–36.3) (Figure 4b). The very distinctive frontal zone separating the BSW and the LIW appears to be located in the vicinity of Agios Efstratios Island. However, the ‘closed-bull-eye’ pattern in this area is mostly the result of the sparse and heterogeneous data coverage in this area, representing the exit of the BSW from the Dardanelles, rather than an existing hydrographic feature.