Polyopes affinis alleviates airway inflammation in a murine model of allergic asthma.

Marine algae have been utilized in food as well as medicine products for a variety of purposes. The purpose of this study was to determine whether an ethanol extract of Polyopes affinis (P.affinis) can inhibit the pathogenesis of T helper 2 (Th2)-mediated allergen-induced airway inflammation in a murine model of asthma. Mice that were sensitized and challenged with ovalbumin (OVA) evidenced typical asthmatic reactions such as the following: an increase in the number of eosinophils in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid; a marked influx of inflammatory cells into the lung around blood vessels and airways as well as the narrowing of the airway luminal; the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR); the presence of pulmonary Th2 cytokines; and the presence of allergenspecific immunoglobulin E (IgE) in the serum. The successive intraperitoneal administration of P. affinis ethanolic extracts before the last airway OVA-challenge resulted in a significant inhibition of all asthmatic reactions. These data suggest that P. affinis ethanolic extracts possess therapeutic potential for the treatment of pulmonary allergic disorders such as allergic asthma.

Ecosystem structure and trophic level to the oceanographic conditions around the waters of Jeju Island.

The water around Jeju Island was characterized by the Tsushima warm current (TWC) being high temperature and salinity and the Yellow sea cold bottom water (YSCBW) being low temperature and salinity We investigated the diversity indices, community structures and trophic level of fish species collected by trawl net in the waters around Jeju Island during April 2004-August 2005. We also presented ecosystem structure estimated by combination of trophic level and the oceanographic condition. There were totally distributed 301 species in the survey area during April 2004-August 2005, regionally 151-229 species in TWC and 75-154 in YSCBW. Shannon's diversity indices (H') of TWC were 2.95-3.39, being higher than those of YSCBW (2.11-2.40), and species richness (R) of TWC were 10.93-18.33, being also higher than those of YSCBW (6.96-12.48), except the values of October 2004. A total of 7429 individuals of 98 species was seasonally examined for their dietary composition in the survey area during 2004-2005. Of which, 3,682 individuals were observed with prey organisms. Standardized diet composition and trophic level estimates were calculated for predators in the survey area being influenced by TWC and YSCBW Trophic level values were diverged with range from 3.23 of the small pelagic to 4.39 of the goose fish, depending on the taxonomic group. The analysis of trophic level values showed that ecosystem structure was different between TWC and YSCBW during April 2004-August 2005.

Population biology and feeding habits of the nephropid lobster Metanephrops thomsoni (Bate, 1888) in the East China Sea.

Population biology and feeding habits of the nephropidlobsterMetanephrops thomsoni (Bate) was studied from a field survey sampled with bottom trawls in the East China Sea. The female/male ratio was 1.06:1. Three size-class groups were discriminated for both sexes, which may correspond to one to three year-old cohorts. The average stage fecundity was 471 in each brood. Larger than two-year-size-class females are multi broods during the breeding season. Gut analysis showed that this lobster is a common camivore and mainly consume crustaceans and fishes, regardless of sex and carapace length size.

Age and growth of the red tilefish, Branchiostegus japonicus in the northern East China Sea.

Age and growth of the red tilefish, Branchiostegus japonicus in the northern East China Sea were examined from right otoliths of 591 fish. Marginal increment analysis showed that annual ring formation occurs during the early winter months, supporting the hypothesis that one growth ring is deposited each year Growth of red filefish was expressed by von Bertalanffy's equation as TLt = 61.5[1 - exp{-0.150(t-0.312)}] for males and TLt = 50.6[1 - exp{-0.162 (t + 0.337)}] for females, where TLt is the total length in cm and t is age in years. It was found that females during the first 3 years grew larger than males, but after 3 years females were smaller than males. This phenomenon may be closely related to sexual maturity of red filefish.

A Case of Acute Renal Failure with Wernicke's Encephalopathy and Beriberi due to Severe Hyperemesis Gravidarum / 대한신장학회지

Severe hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) is a rare but potentially devastating complication of pregnancy. It can cause dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, malnutrition (especially, thiamine deficiency), and compromised renal function. We report a case of acute renal failure (ARF) with Wernicke's encephalopathy and beriberi due to severe HG. A 35-year-old woman at 16 weeks of gestation presented with confused mentality, quadriparesis, nystagmus, peripheral neuropathy, and tachycardia after prolonged nausea and vomiting. Her initial serum creatinine and blood urea were 2.6 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL, respectively. FLAIR image of the initial MR examination demonstrated bilateral symmetric high signal intensities in the medial and dorsal thalami. Echocardiography showed left ventricular dilatation and dysfunction. We thought that ARF, Wernicke's encephalopathy and beriberi were resulted from dehydration and thiamine deficiency due to HG. She was managed with intravenous fluid and 100-200 mg of parenteral thiamine. ARF was improved within one week and echocardiographic findings were normalized within 1 month. MR examination at the 21st week of pregnancy showed a decreased size of the lesion. After 4 months, her neuroloic status was recovered.

Novel approach treatment of scleroderma lung disease with anti-LFA3 therapy

This pilot trial shows the feasibility of depleting T cells from scleroderma patients, including both the blood and lungs, Alefacept was well tolerated, and T cell depletion was associated with stability in lÅuÅng funtion over the period of the protocol. The data suggest that, at least in part, T cells may drive the non-specific inflammatory response in the lungs of these patients