Effects of dietary supplementation with fructooligosaccharides on the excretion of nitrogen and phosphorus in Miichthys miiuy fries were investigated. Nine hundred Miichthys miiuy fries were divided into 3 groups, each with triplicates. The basal diet and the basal diet supplemented with carnitine groups were considered as the negative and positive controls respectively. Results showed that the nitrogen concentration in excreted feces decreased significantly in fries fed the diet supplementation with 1000 x 10(-6) fructooligosaccharides and 200 x 10(-6) carnitine (P<0.05). The ammonic-nitrogen concentration decreased significantly in the carnitine group only (P<0.05), indicating the decreasing tendency caused by the supplementation with fructooligosaccharides. Supplementation with both did not have significant effects on the concentration of phosphorus in feces of Miichthys miiuy fries.
Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Dietary Supplements ; Feces ; Fishes ; metabolism ; Nitrogen ; metabolism ; Oligosaccharides ; administration & dosage ; Phosphorus ; metabolism

Compared with cultured fish, the fish oil of ocean wild fish contains much more Eicosapntemacnioc acid (EPA), Docosahexenoic acid (DHA), fat-soluble vitamin. To improve the utility value of oacean wild fish, small hairtail was used as raw material to investigate the technology of extracting fish oil with enzyme. The variables to affect the efficiency of extraction, extracting and centrifugation were selected as temperature, reaction time and pH value. Optimal technology conditions were determined by the response surface method: The liquid/solid ratio is 6, pH 7.3, enzyme amount of 1000 u/g raw material, agitation speed of 200 r/min, enzymolysis under 45 degrees C for 90 min. The optimum extraction conditions were as follows: 100 mL extractant (every 20 g surimi), pH4.0, extracted under 40 degrees C for 25 min. The optimal centrifuge conditions were: centrifuge speed of 3000 r/min (1865 g), centrifuged for 10 min. The oil extraction efficiency was 79.9%. This study developed the traditional technology of fish oil extraction, and improved the protection of the active components.
Animals ; Docosahexaenoic Acids ; analysis ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid ; analysis ; Enzymes ; metabolism ; Fish Oils ; isolation & purification ; Fishes ; metabolism ; Oceans and Seas ; Technology, Pharmaceutical ; methods

The sea dragon Solenognathus hardwickii has long been used as a traditional Chinese medicine for the treatment of various diseases, such as male impotency. To gain a comprehensive insight into the protein components of the sea dragon, shotgun proteomic analysis of its protein expression profiling was conducted in the present study. Proteins were extracted from dried sea dragon using a trichloroacetic acid/acetone precipitation method and then separated by SDS-PAGE. The protein bands were cut from the gel and digested by trypsin to generate peptide mixture. The peptide fragments were then analyzed using nano liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (nano-LC-ESI MS/MS). 810 proteins and 1 577 peptides were identified in the dried sea dragon. The identified proteins exhibited molecular weight values ranging from 1 900 to 3 516 900 Da and pI values from 3.8 to 12.18. Bioinformatic analysis was conducted using the DAVID Bioinformatics Resources 6.7 Gene Ontology (GO) analysis tool to explore possible functions of the identified proteins. Ascribed functions of the proteins mainly included intracellular non-membrane-bound organelle, non-membrane-bounded organelle, cytoskeleton, structural molecule activity, calcium ion binding and etc. Furthermore, possible signal networks of the identified proteins were predicted using STRING (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes) database. Ribosomal protein synthesis was found to play an important role in the signal network. The results of this study, to best of our knowledge, were the first to provide a reference proteome profile for the sea dragon, and would aid in the understanding of the expression and functions of the identified proteins.
Animals ; Computational Biology ; Fish Proteins ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fishes ; genetics ; metabolism ; Gene Expression Profiling ; Peptides ; chemistry ; genetics ; metabolism ; Proteomics ; Tandem Mass Spectrometry

Interferon response is the first line of host defense against virus infection. Recent years have witnessed tremendous progress in understanding of fish innate response to virus infection, especially in fish interferon antiviral response. A line of fish genes involved in interferon antiviral response have been identified and functional studies further reveal that fish possess an IFN antiviral system similar to mammals. However, fish virus-induced interferon genes contain introns similar to mammalian type III interferon genes although they encode proteins similar to type I interferons, which makes it hard to understand the evolution of vertebrate interferon genes directly resulting in a debate on nomenclature of fish interferon genes. Actually, fish display some unique mechanisms underlying interferon antiviral response. This review documents the recent progress on fish interferon response and its molecular mechanism.
Animals ; Fish Diseases ; immunology ; virology ; Fish Proteins ; genetics ; metabolism ; Fishes ; immunology ; virology ; Gene Expression Regulation ; Interferons ; genetics ; immunology ; STAT1 Transcription Factor ; metabolism ; Virus Diseases ; immunology ; veterinary

Growth hormone releasing hormone receptor (GHRH-R) is a family B1 G-protein coupled receptor found predominantly on pituitary somatotrophs. In the adults it is required for the normal synthesis and release of growth hormone (GH) from the pituitary. During development it is required for the normal proliferation and maturation of somatotrophs within the pituitary. Mutations of this receptor in mouse and man are associated with GH deficiency, short stature and pituitary hypoplasia. This signaling system plays important roles in growth and development, metabolism of muscle and fat, and is implicated in the regulation of cardiac and immune function, wound healing, tumor growth and the aging process. Current areas of active research discussed here include: studiesof the structure of the receptor binding site and its interaction with GHRH, alternative splice variants of the GHRH-R which appear to promote tumor proliferation, truncated receptor isoforms that act as dominant negative inhibitors of wild type receptor, and the unclear physiologic role of the GHRH system in birds and fishes.
Adult ; Aging ; Animals ; Binding Sites ; Birds ; Fishes ; Growth and Development ; Growth Hormone* ; Growth Hormone-Releasing Hormone* ; GTP-Binding Proteins ; Humans ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Protein Isoforms ; Somatotrophs ; Wound Healing

Methylmercury is a hazardous substance that is of interest with regard to environmental health, as inorganic mercury circulating in the general environment is dissolved into freshwater and seawater, condensed through the food chain, ingested by humans, and consequently affects human health. Recently, there has been much interest and discussion regarding the toxicity of methylmercury, the correlation with fish and shellfish intake, and methods of long-term management of the human health effects of methylmercury. What effects chronic exposure to a low concentration of methylmercury has on human health remains controversial. Although the possibility of methylmercury poisoning the heart and blood vessel system, the reproductive system, and the immune system is continuously raised and discussed, and the carcinogenicity of methylmercury is also under discussion, a clear conclusion regarding the human health effects according to exposure level has not yet been drawn. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives proposed to prepare additional fish and shellfish intake recommendations for consumers based on the quantified evaluation of the hazardousness of methylmercury contained in fish and shellfish, methylmercury management in the Korea has not yet caught up with this international trend. Currently, the methylmercury exposure level of Koreans is known to be very high. The starting point of methylmercury exposure management is inorganic mercury in the general environment, but food intake through methylation is the main exposure source. Along with efforts to reduce mercury in the general environment, food intake management should be undertaken to reduce the human exposure to methylmercury in Korea.
Animals ; *Environmental Exposure ; Fishes/metabolism ; Food Chain ; Humans ; Mercury Poisoning, Nervous System/etiology ; Methylmercury Compounds/chemistry/*metabolism/toxicity ; Neurons/drug effects ; Oxidative Stress/drug effects ; Public Health ; Reproduction/drug effects ; Thymocytes/cytology/drug effects

OBJECTIVETo study the transfer of paralytic shellfish toxins (PST) using four simulated marine food chains: dinoflagellate Alexandrium tamarense --> Artemia Artemia salina --> Mysid shrimp Neomysis awatschensis; A. tamarense --> N. awatschensis; A. tamarense --> A. salina --> Perch Lateolabrax japonicus; and A. tamarense --> L. japonicus.

METHODSThe ingestion of A. tamarense, a producer of PST, by L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina was first confirmed by microscopic observation of A. tamarense cells in the intestine samples of the three different organisms, and by the analysis of Chl.a levels in the samples. Toxin accumulation in L. japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly through the vector of A. salina was then studied. The toxicity of samples was measured using the AOAC mouse bioassay method, and the toxin content and profile of A. tamarense were analyzed by the HPLC method.

RESULTSBoth A. salina and N. awatschensis could ingest A. tamarense cells. However, the ingestion capability of A. salina exceeded that of N. awatschensis. After the exposure to the culture of A. tamarense (2000 cells x mL(-1)) for 70 minutes, the content of Chl.a in A. salina and N. awatschensis reached 0.87 and 0.024 microg x mg(-1), respectively. Besides, A. tamarense cells existed in the intestines of L. japonicus, N. awatschensis and A. salina by microscopic observation. Therefore, the three organisms could ingest A. tamarense cells directly. A. salina could accumulate high content of PST, and the toxicity of A. salina in samples collected on days 1, 4, and 5 of the experiment was 2.18, 2.6, and 2.1 MU x g(-1), respectively. All extracts from the samples could lead to death of tested mice within 7 minutes, and the toxin content in artemia sample collected on the 1st day was estimated to be 1.65 x 10(-5) microg STX equal/individual. Toxin accumulation in L. japonicus and N. awatschensis directly from the feeding on A. tamarense or indirectly from the vector of A. salina was also studied. The mice injected with extracts from L. japonicus and N. awatschensis samples that accumulated PST either directly or indirectly showed PST intoxication symptoms, indicating that low levels of PST existed in these samples.

CONCLUSIONParalytic shellfish toxins can be transferred to L. japonicus, N. awatschensis, and A. salina from A. tamarense directly or indirectly via the food chains.

Animals ; Artemia ; drug effects ; Cell Count ; Chlorophyll ; metabolism ; Eukaryota ; drug effects ; Feeding Behavior ; drug effects ; Fishes ; Food Chain ; Hydrolysis ; Marine Toxins ; analysis ; metabolism ; toxicity ; Mice ; Models, Biological ; Mollusca ; chemistry ; Paralysis ; chemically induced

The relationship between omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and violent-aggressive behavior has been payed attention since 1980s. Their correlation was explored by many epidemiological investigations, and the effect of PUFAs on prevention or reduction of violent-aggressive behavior in different groups were also affirmed by some intervention studies. This article summarized the previous studies and reviewed the history of epidemiological or intervention studies on PUFAs and its relationship with violent-aggressive behavior. It also presented the possible influencing factors in these studies and possible mechanisms.
Aggression ; Animals ; Dietary Fats, Unsaturated/pharmacology* ; Dietary Supplements ; Docosahexaenoic Acids/pharmacology* ; Eicosapentaenoic Acid/pharmacology* ; Fatty Acids, Omega-3/pharmacology* ; Fatty Acids, Omega-6/pharmacology* ; Fishes ; Folic Acid/metabolism* ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid/metabolism* ; Norepinephrine/metabolism* ; Risk Factors ; Serotonin/metabolism* ; Violence/prevention & control*

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to assess energy and nutritional intake and investigate the preference for food and cooking methods of the residents in elderly care facilities. METHODS: Data were collected from 72 residents (10 males and 62 females) aged ≥ 70 years in elderly care facilities using questionnaires, food photographs for estimating dietary intake and records for daily physical activity. RESULTS: Average age of the study participants was 85.0 years and 41, 36 and 8 had dementia, hypertension and diabetes mellitus, respectively. 15%, 65% and 19% of subjects were physically mobile, enervated, and immobile, respectively. Daily energy intake was 1360.2 kcal in men and 1378.0 kcal in women, which were 68.0% and 86.1% of the estimated energy requirement (EER) of dietary reference intake for Koreans (KDRI) for ≥ 75 year old individuals, respectively. Estimated energy expenditure (EEE) of subjects calculated using formula from KDRI was 1361.9 kcal and EER calculated using estimated daily physical activity (EDPA) was 1232.9 kcal. Energy intake and EEE from KDRI were higher than EER from EDPA. Dietary intake of dietary fiber, calcium, potassium, zinc, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin C were lower, and protein, phosphorous, iron, sodium, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B6, vitamin E were higher than the corresponding ones of KDRI. Subjects liked meats, fishes and shellfish, and fruits, while subjects disliked milk, seaweeds and salted fish and salted vegetables. Cooked rice, soybean paste soup, beef, cooked sliced radish strip, and yogurt were favorite foods, with steam being a favorite cooking method. Subjects considered nutrition as the most important factor for improving food service quality. CONCLUSIONS: Results of this study could be utilized for improving food-service for the residents in elderly care facilities, and provide a basis for setting reference intake of energy and nutrients of the elderly having very low activity levels.
Aged* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Calcium ; Cooking ; Dementia ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Dietary Fiber ; Energy Intake ; Energy Metabolism ; Female ; Fishes ; Food Preferences* ; Food Services ; Fruit ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Iron ; Male ; Meat ; Milk ; Motor Activity ; Niacin ; Nutrition Assessment ; Potassium ; Raphanus ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Riboflavin ; Shellfish ; Sodium ; Soybeans ; Steam ; Thiamine ; Vegetables ; Vitamin A ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamin E ; Vitamins ; Yogurt ; Zinc