The Coral Fish in the Coastal Areas, Likupang Kampung Ambong Village, East Likupang District, North Minahasa Regency

Tujuan penelitian, yaitu 1). Untuk mengetahui jumlah spesies dan kelimpahan individu ikan karang; 2). Untuk mengetahui biomasssa ikan target kelompok karnivora dan herbivora. Pengambilan data dilakukan pada kedalaman 5 meter dengan metode Underwater Visual Census (UVC). Luas areal pengamatan adalah 150 m2. Ikan koralivora yang ditemukan berjumlah 8 spesies dan dikategorikan sedang. Ditemukan 28 jenis ikan target dari ikan karnivora (13 spesies), dan ikan herbivora (15 spesies). Untuk kelimpahan individu total yaitu 81 individu dan densitas 3240 individu/Ha. Jumlah individu tertinggi ditemukan pada ikan herbivora. Tingginya nilai indeks ekologi menunjukkan kemantapan komunitas dan kemampuan lingkungan yang memungkinkan jenis-jenis ikan untuk bertahan dan berkembang pada habitatnya. Ikan target umumnya pada kelas ukuran 16 - 20 cm dan 21 – 25 cm. Pada umumnya ikan karang dari kelompok herbivora yang paling banyak ditemukan di lokasi ini

Coral Fishes the Famili Chaetodontidae in Coral Reef Waters of Para Island Sub District Tatoareng, Sangihe Kepulauan Regency

This study aims to determine the distribution and abundance of reef fish families chaetodontidae in coral reef waters of Para Island Sub District Tatoareng. This study was conducted at 4 stations. Data collected was done using visual census on the 50-meter transect line at 5 meters depth. In addition to revealing the number of species and abundance of individuals chaetodontidae, data analysis aimed to determine number of species, individual abundance, and the community index. Based on the identification, obtained 27 species from 3 genera and 217 number of individuals. The highest number of species found at station Para 1. 7 species are always found in all observation stations, Chaetodon kleinii, C. punctatofasciatus, C. lunulatus, C. trifascialis, C. vagabundus, Heniochus varius, H. chrysostomus. The species with the largest number of individuals that is Chaetodon kleinii (45 individuals). Chaetodontidae fish species diversity index ranged between 2.207-2.866. Dominance Index are categorized low in the range of 0.078-0.122. Similarity index are categorized high in the range of 0.922-0.971

An Initial Strategy of Intensive Medical Therapy Is Comparable to That of Coronary Revascularization for Suppression of Scintigraphic Ischemia in High-Risk But Stable Survivors of Acute Myocardial Infarction

ObjectivesThe purpose of this study was to determine the relative benefit of intensive medical therapy compared with coronary revascularization for suppressing scintigraphic ischemia.BackgroundAlthough medical therapies can reduce myocardial ischemia and improve patient survival after acute myocardial infarction, the relative benefit of medical therapy versus coronary revascularization for reducing ischemia is unknown.MethodsA prospective randomized trial in 205 stable survivors of acute myocardial infarction was made to define the relative efficacy of an intensive medical therapy strategy versus coronary revascularization for suppressing scintigraphic ischemia as assessed by serial gated adenosine Tc-99m sestamibi myocardial perfusion tomography. All patients at baseline had large total (≥20%) and ischemic (≥10%) adenosine-induced left ventricular perfusion defects and an ejection fraction ≥35%. Imaging was performed during 1 to 10 days of hospital admission and repeated in an identical fashion after optimization of therapy. Patients randomized to either strategy had similar baseline demographic and scintigraphic characteristics.ResultsBoth intensive medical therapy and coronary revascularization induced significant but comparable reductions in total (−16.2 ± 10% vs. −17.8 ± 12%; p = NS) and ischemic (−15 ± 9% vs. −16.2 ± 9%; p = NS) perfusion defect sizes. Likewise, a similar percentage of patients randomized to medical therapy versus coronary revascularization had suppression of adenosine-induced ischemia (80% vs. 81%; p = NS).ConclusionsSequential adenosine sestamibi myocardial perfusion tomography can effectively monitor changes in scintigraphic ischemia after anti-ischemic medical or coronary revascularization therapy. A strategy of intensive medical therapy is comparable to coronary revascularization for suppressing ischemia in stable patients after acute infarction who have preserved LV function

Sputum RNA signature in allergic asthmatics following allergen bronchoprovocation test

Background: Inhaled allergen challenge is a validated disease model of allergic asthma offering useful pharmacodynamic assessment of pharmacotherapeutic effects in a limited number of subjects. Objectives: To evaluate whether an RNA signature can be identified from induced sputum following an inhaled allergen challenge, whether a RNA signature could be modulated by limited doses of inhaled fluticasone, and whether these gene expression profiles would correlate with the clinical endpoints measured in this study. Methods: Thirteen non-smoking, allergic subjects with mild-to-moderate asthma participated in a randomised, placebo-controlled, 2-period cross-over study following a single-blind placebo run-in period. Each period consisted of three consecutive days, separated by a wash-out period of at least 3 weeks. Subjects randomly received inhaled fluticasone ((FP) MDI; 500 mcg BID×5 doses in total) or placebo. On day 2, house dust mite extract was inhaled and airway response was measured by FEV1 at predefined time points until 7 h post-allergen. Sputum was induced by NaCl 4.5%, processed and analysed at 24 h pre-allergen and 7 and 24 h post-allergen. RNA was isolated from eligible sputum cell pellets (<80% squamous of 500 cells), amplified according to NuGEN technology, and profiled on Affymetrix arrays. Gene expression changes from baseline and fluticasone treatment effects were evaluated using a mixed effects ANCOVA model at 7 and at 24 h post-allergen challenge. Results: Inhaled allergen-induced statistically significant gene expression changes in sputum, which were effectively blunted by fluticasone (adjusted p<0.025). Forty-seven RNA signatures were selected from these responses for correlation analyses and further validation. This included Th2 mRNA levels for cytokines, chemokines, high-affinity IgE receptor FCER1A, histamine receptor HRH4, and enzymes and receptors in the arachidonic pathway. Individual messengers from the 47 RNA signatures correlated significantly with lung function and sputum eosinophil counts. Conclusion: Our RNA extraction and profiling protocols allowed reproducible assessments of inflammatory signatures in sputum including quantification of drug effects on this response in allergic asthmatics. This approach offers novel possibilities for the development of pharmacodynamic (PD) biomarkers in asthma