Feeding ecology of two lanternfishes Diaphus garmani and Diaphus chrysorhynchus.

The feeding ecology of two dominant lanternfishes Diaphus garmani and Diaphus chrysorhynchus was studied in the continental slope region of the East China Sea, off western Kyushu (31-33° N; 128-130° E). Stomach contents of D. garmani were composed mainly of crustacean zooplankton, such as copepods, euphausiids, decapod larvae and amphipods, and also of appendicularians. Stomach contents of D. chrysorhynchus were composed mainly of crustacean zooplankton, cephalopods and fishes. Diel changes in stomach fullness indicated that D. garmani fed more actively at night than in the day. On the other hand, although feeding activity of D. chrysorhynchus did not change drastically between day and night, it tended to feed on large prey items in the benthopelagic zone during the day and on zooplankton in the epipelagic zone at night. Daily rations of food were estimated to be 2·54% of body dry mass for D. garmani, and 2·38% of body dry mass for D. chrysorhynchus.

Surfactant protein D and KL-6 serum levels in systemic sclerosis: correlation with lung and systemic involvement.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between SP-D and KL-6 serum concentrations and the extent of interstitial lung involvement, as measured by a quantitative HRCT score and the functional impairment, in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc). Moreover we analysed the association between these lung-specific biomarkers and skin involvement, anti-Scl-70 antibody titres and an index of disease activity. METHODS: Serum SP-D, KL-6 and anti-Scl-70 concentrations were determined by ELISA in 25 SSc patients. Disease activity and lung function parameters were assessed, and the extent of ILD was measured by a HRCT score. RESULTS: SP-D and KL-6 concentrations were higher in patients with SSc and lung fibrosis than in healthy controls. KL-6 correlated positively with the HRCT-fibrosis score (r=0.68, p<0.001), SP-D showed a weaker correlation (r=0.44, p=0.025). Increased KL-6 concentrations were associated with decreased DLCO and decreased FVC in SSc patients, SP-D showed no association. Furthermore KL-6, but not SP-D, showed a strong association with skin involvement as expressed by the modified Rodnan skin score (r=0.71, p<0.0001) and a disease activity index (r=0.73, p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: KL-6 is more strongly associated than SP-D with the HRCT-fibrosis score, and, different from SP-D, it correlates with skin involvement and disease activity. We suggest that KL-6 may be a useful biomarker in the assessment of scleroderma patients.

Serum KL-6 as a novel disease marker in adolescent and adult cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND: Cystic fibrosis (CF) is a chronic progressive disease leading to obstructive pulmonary impairment, fibrosis and shortened life expectancy. Serum levels of KL-6, high molecular weight human MUC1 mucin, are increased in the majority of patients with various interstitial lung disorders. Whether they are also elevated in CF has not been investigated before. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether serum KL-6 levels are elevated and correlate with pulmonary function variables in CF. DESIGN: Serum KL-6, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and C-reactive protein (CRP) levels were measured in 72 consecutive CF and 80 age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. The relationship between serum KL-6 levels and pulmonary function variables was analyzed. RESULTS: Serum KL-6 levels in CF patients were significantly increased compared to healthy subjects. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed that the diagnostic accuracy of KL-6 was better than that of LDH and CRP. Serum KL-6 levels showed an inverse relationship with vital capacity (VC) % predicted and forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) % predicted. CONCLUSIONS: Serum KL-6 levels are elevated and appear to be correlated with pulmonary function variables in CF. These results suggest that KL-6 may be a useful noninvasive marker to monitor disease severity.

Changes in serum KL-6 levels are associated with the development of chronic lung allograft dysfunction in lung transplant recipients.

Chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD) remains a leading cause of death after lung transplantation. KL-6 is a reliable biomarker for various interstitial lung diseases and levels are increased in lung transplant recipients with versus without bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome. This study investigated whether changes in serum KL-6 levels over time were associated with CLAD. Twenty-one lung transplant recipients had serum KL-6 measured (NANOPIA®) at baseline and after 7 years. Changes in serum KL-6 levels from baseline were determined. Receiver operating characteristic curves and Kaplan-Meier analysis were used to test the predictive value of changes in serum KL-6 over time. The average increase in KL-6 in patients with CLAD was 15% versus a 28% decrease in non-CLAD patients (p = .042). An 11% decrease in serum KL-6 level was determined as the best cut-off value to be associated with the development of CLAD (86% sensitivity, 78% specificity). Kaplan-Meier analysis confirmed the association between this cut-off and the development of CLAD (log rank p = .013). In this small cohort, changes in serum KL-6 over time were associated with the development of CLAD after lung transplantation.

Esophageal sarcoidosis presenting as pseudodiverticulum.

Sarcoidosis is a multisystem granulomatous disorder that may involve many organs. However, the involvement of the gastrointestinal tract is very rare. This report describes an unusual case of esophageal sarcoidosis presenting as a pseudodiverticulum and reviews the world literature. Our case is also characterized by unusual progression of the esophageal involvement despite stable disease in other organs involved. Myotomy improved the pharyngoesophageal stenosis with no recurrence to date. Physicians should be aware of this rare manifestation, which should be suspected in any sarcoidosis patient complaining about dysphagia.