Effect of Tea Polyphenol on Oxidative Injury in S180 Cells Induced Hepatocarcinoma Mice

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant nature of tea polyphenol on S180 cells induced liver cancer in mice. In the present study, hepatocellular carcinoma was induced by tumor transplantation of liver in situ. The antitumor activity of tea polyphenol has been determined in vivo in hepatocellular carcinoma mice after treatment of drug (50, 100, 150 mg/kg body weight) by gavage for 20 days. Results showed that a significant increase in serum aspartate transaminase (AST), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransfere (ALT), malondialdehyde (MDA) level, decrease in serum white blood cells (WBC), serum total protein (TP), albumin (ALB), A/G, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), liver reduced glutathione (GSH) levels were observed. In addition, the levels of enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants were decreased when subjected to S180 cells induction. These altered enzyme levels were ameliorated significantly by administration of tea polyphenol at the concentration of 50, 100, 150 mg/kg body weight in drug-treated animals. These results indicate that the protective effect of tea polyphenol was associated with inhibition of MDA induced by S180 cells and to maintain the antioxidant enzyme levels

La nature juridique des activités de pêche dans les zones maritimes contestées et leur impact sur la surveillance maritime: le cas de la Chine, de Taïwan et du Japon

International audienceThe end of the Pacific War saw the development of three structurally defining features of fishing activities in East Asia: the development of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Seas (UNCLOS), the crystallization of territorial conflicts mostly located in maritime areas, and the rapidly growing rate of fishing industries coupled with the equally rapid depletion of fish stocks in territorial waters. SinoJapanese relations have normalized in 1972, and the two countries have signed the Treaty of Peace and Friendship between Japan and People’s Republic of China in 1978. A new agreement came into effect in 2000 for an initial period of 5 years, and was later extended. It established a common fishing zone in the East China Sea, called the Provisional Measures Zone (PMZ), notably encompassing the disputed EEZ delimitations in order to shelve territorial problems and avoid serious legal hurdlesregarding cooperation on fisheries. The zone is administered by a Joint Fisheries Committee (JFC), whose role is to recommend fishing quotas, act as a forum for dialogue between the two parties, to take measures for the conservation of resources, and to calculate the number of fishing vessels allowed in the fishing zones as well as the Total Allowed Catches (TAC).The recent example of the Chinese fishing boats illegally operating near the Ogasawara archipelago highlights the weaknesses of the surveillance apparatus. Illegal fishing activities do not need international legal loopholes to take place, and the recent examples of nearly 200 Mainland Chinese coral poachers illegally trespassing in Japanese EEZ around the Ogasawara islands act as such a reminder, although one can safely assume that the preexisting political situation between the PRC and the ROC has no doubt had a role to play. Behind this phenomenon, there are underlying causes that drive illegal fishing. The future trend in maritime surveillance on fishing activities in this area and elsewhere is most likely two fold. In terms of "repression", the growing use of technologies such as satellites and drones will help monitor the activity of fishing vessels and enhance the efficiency of coast guards, although their currently limited means will still remain a problem. Overall situational awareness does not necessarily mean that the relevant agencies will have the means at their disposals to tackle these issues, especially if the current economic pressures continue. In terms of «prevention», an often overlookedbut equally primordial way to curb problems of illegal fishing is the management of domestic fishing industries. Tailoring the size of fishing fleets to the needs of the market and the availability of fish stocks is indubitably an essential means in improving efficient maritime surveillance at sea. For example, faced with a set of factors and conjunctures, the Taiwanese fishing industry has been forced to curtail its fishing fleet and help with the reconversion of fishermen. It may even be possible to consider the strengthening of fishing agreements and the development of joint management of disputed maritime areas as a means to promote political dialogue between the parties on a comprehensive level and avoid further incidents involving fishermen and CoastGuards.La fin de la guerre du Pacifique a vu le développement de trois caractéristiques structurellement déterminantes des activités de pêche dans l’Asie de l’Est : le développement de la Convention des Nations Unies sur le droit de la mer (UNCLOS), la cristallisation de conflits territoriaux surtout situés dans les zones maritimes, et le taux de croissance rapide des industries de pêche, couplés avec l’épuisement tout aussi rapide des stocks de poissons dans les eaux territoriales. Les relations sinojaponaises se sont normalisées en 1972, et les deux pays ont signé le traité de paix et d’amitié entre le Japon et la République populaire de Chine en 1978. Un nouvel accord est entré en vigueur en 2000 pour une période initiale de 5 ans, et a été plus tard prolongé. Il a établi une zone de pêche commune dans la mer de Chine orientale, appelé les mesures provisoires de la Zone (PMZ), englobant notamment les délimitations contestées de la ZEE afin de régler les problèmes territoriaux et d’éviter les obstacles juridiques graves concernant la coopération en matière de pêche. La zone est administrée par un comité conjoint des pêches (JFC), dont le rôle est de recommander des quotas de pêche, d’agir comme un forum pour le dialogue entre les deux parties, de prendre des mesures pour la conservation des ressources, et de calculer le nombre de navires de pêche autorisés dans les zones de pêche ainsi que les captures totales autorisées (TAC).L’exemple récent des bateaux de pêche chinois opérant illégalement près de l’archipel d’Ogasawara met en évidence les faiblesses de l’appareil de surveillance. Les activités de pêche illégales n’ont pas besoin des lacunes du droit international pour prospérer, et les exemples récents de près de 200 braconniers chinois de corail faisant intrusion illégalement dans la ZEE japonaise, autour des îles Ogasawara le rappelle, même si République Populaire de Chine et la République de Chine (Taïwan) a sans aucun doute eu un rôle à jouer. Derrière ce phénomène, il y a des causes sous-jacentes quialimentent la pêche illégale.La tendance future en matière de surveillance maritime sur les activités de pêche dans cette zone et d’ailleurs est probablement double. En termes de « répression », l’utilisation croissante des technologies telles que les satellites et les drones aidera à surveiller l’activité des navires de pêche et à améliorer l’efficacité des gardes côtes, bien que leurs moyens actuellement limités reste toujours un problème. La conscience de la situation globale ne signifie pas nécessairement que les organismes compétents auront les moyens à leur disposition pour traiter ces questions, surtout si les pressionséconomiques actuelles continuent. En termes de « prévention », un moyen souvent négligé, mais tout aussi primordial pour lutter contre les problèmes de pêche illégale, est la gestion des industries nationales de la pêche. Adapter la taille des flottes de pêche aux besoins du marché et de la disponibilité des stocks de poissons est indubitablement un moyen essentiel dans l’amélioration de la surveillance maritime efficace en mer. Par exemple, face à un ensemble de facteurs et conjonctures, l’industrie de la pêche taïwanaise a été contrainte de réduire sa flotte de pêche et d’aider la reconversion de ses pêcheurs. Il peut même être possible d’envisager le renforcement des accords de pêche et le développement de la gestion conjointe des zones maritimes contestées comme un moyen de promouvoir le dialogue politique entre les parties à un niveau global et d’éviter de nouveaux incidents impliquant des pêcheurs et des garde-côtes

The Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form as a predictor of nursing home mortality in Japan: A 30-month longitudinal study

Objectives: We examined whether the Mini Nutritional Assessment-Short Form (MNA (R)-SF) predicted mortality in 367 nursing home residents (82% women; mean age = 84.4 +/- 8.5 years) in Japan. Measurements: We examined participants' basic characteristics (sex, age, height, weight, and medical history), the Barthel index (BI), clinical dementia rating (CDR), and six items of the MNA (R)-SF. The association between the MNA (R)-SF and 30-month mortality was assessed using a Cox proportional regression analysis. Results: During the study, 157 (42.8%) participants died. MNA (R)-SF scores in the Survival group were significantly higher than in the Death group (9.4 +/- 2.1 vs. 8.4 +/- 2.3, respectively; p < .001). After adjusting for age, sex, history of aspiration pneumonia, BI, and CDR, MNA (R)-SF scores were significantly associated with 30-month mortality (hazard ratio: 0.89, 95% confidence interval: 0.82-0.97, p = .005). Conclusion: The MNA (R)-SF was an effective predictor of mortality among nursing home residents in Japan, even after adjusting for potential confounders. These results indicate that periodically evaluating nutritional status using the MNA (R)-SF, and nutritional interventions according to status, may result in maintenance and improvement of nutritional status, as well as lead to reduced mortality

Genetic diversities of commercially harvested jellyfish, <i>Rhopilema hispidum</i> and <i>Lobonemoides robustus</i> in Southeast Asia

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