Spatio-temporal stable isotope variation of a benthic primary consumer in a simple food web in a strongly acidic lake.

Analysis of aquatic food webs is typically undertaken using carbon and nitrogen stable isotope composition of consumer and producer species. However, the trophic consequences of spatio-temporal variation in the isotope composition of consumers have not been well evaluated. Lake Katanuma, Japan, is highly acidic and has only one dominant species of benthic alga and one planktonic microalga, making it a prime system for studying trophic relationships between primary consumers and producers.

Serum heme oxygenase-1 as a marker of lung function decline in patients with chronic silicosis.

Objective: To identify predictive factors of excess decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) in patients with chronic silicosis.

Methods: Forty-six male patients enrolled in 2004 were screened and received pulmonary function tests.

Results: Among the 33 included patients, 12 were categorized as rapid decliners (reduction in FEV1 > 60 mL/yr).

Changes in carbon and nitrogen stable isotopes of chironomid larvae during growth, starvation and metamorphosis.

We conducted experiments to determine isotope changes in the deposit-feeding chironomid larvae Chironomus acerbiphilus during feeding, starvation and metamorphosis. Isotope changes in chironomid larvae occurred mainly during growth and rarely afterward. This finding indicates that chironomid isotope turnover mainly occurs in conjunction with growth and suggests that chironomid larvae only break down newly assimilated food for energy during periods of no growth.

Heme oxygenase-1, a potential biomarker of chronic silicosis, attenuates silica-induced lung injury.

Rationale: Heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1), a rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism, has antioxidative, antiapoptotic, and antiinflammatory activities. We examined whether HO-1 might be involved in silicosis.

Objectives: To investigate whether HO-1 can reduce silicosis in mice and humans.

[A case of intrapulmonary teratoma presenting with expectoration of white hair and cheese-like material].

A 41-year-old man presented with expectoration of white hair and cheese-like material. The chest radiograph showed a round shadow adjacent to the right hilum. Bronchofiberscopy revealed strands of white hair and an obstruction consisting of sebaceous material in the right B3b bronchus.