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Robust estimates of the relative efficacies of alternative management interventions are essential for developing evidence‐informed fisheries bycatch policy. Bycatch is a major threat to the conservation of albatrosses and other pelagic seabirds. Branchline weighting is one approach prescribed by regional fisheries management organisations and the Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses and Petrels to reduce seabird bycatch in pelagic longline fisheries. We used a Bayesian multilevel network meta‐regression modelling approach to conduct the first synthesis of available evidence to assess the relative efficacies at mitigating seabird bycatch of alternative pelagic longline weighting designs. Unlike conventional pairwise meta‐analysis, network meta‐analysis enables the simultaneous comparison of multiple interventions within a coherent modelling framework. There was a > 97% probability that all weighting designs significantly reduced seabird bycatch compared to a reference design with no weight within 5 m of the hook. Nonetheless, some weighting designs were significantly more effective at reducing seabird bycatch than others—for instance, the 2 designs with weights >60 g and >1 m from the hook performed the best with >93% probability that those 2 designs performed significantly better than 2 more commonly used designs with less weight but attached closer to the hook. These two best performing designs reduced seabird bycatch by ca 89% relative to the reference design. These relative efficacies and rankings, when combined with other performance criteria such as costs to commercial viability and crew safety, support robust evaluations of alternative bycatch management strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Hypertension is defined as a systolic blood pressure (SBP) of over 140 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) of over 90 mmHg. Hypertension is widely known to be a factor affecting human health, so its prevention is considered important. We investigated the effect of casein-derived tripeptide Met-Lys-Pro (MKP) on blood pressure in a randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study. Participants were healthy adults with SBP between 120 and 139 mmHg, and/or DBP between 80 and 89 mmHg. A total of 121 participants were randomly assigned to the MKP group or placebo group. Participants received either a test powder containing 100 μg of MKP or a placebo powder without MKP for 12 weeks. As a result, SBP and DBP were significantly lower in the MKP group than in the placebo group. No adverse events associated with the MKP intake were observed. This study showed that MKP has a beneficial effect on lowering blood pressure in healthy adults with high-normal and elevated blood pressure and can be safely used for continuous intake. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The North Pacific Transition Zone (NPTZ) is one of the most productive offshore regions. To identify important habitats for pelagic top predators within this region, we investigated the at-sea distributions of black-footed (Phoebastria nigripes) and Laysan albatrosses (P. immutabilis) by vessel-based surveys during their non-breeding season (July and October in 2010 and September and October in 2011). We developed statistical models using satellite-based oceanographic data at spatial scales of 4, 20 and 80 km to explain their densities. For both species, sea surface temperatures (SST) and distance to the Emperor Seamounts emerged as important factors in the better-fitting models at all spatial scales. In addition, black-footed albatrosses were widely distributed in the NPTZ (SST 17.7-27.4 °C), whereas Laysan albatrosses favoured northern and colder waters (13.6-25.4 °C). Our results also indicated that the Emperor Seamounts, where trawling and longline fishing occur, were an important habitat for both species in the NPTZ. Therefore, careful attention should be paid to interactions between fisheries and albatross species in this region. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1007/s00227-015-2620-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users., Author(s): Bungo Nishizawa[sup.1] , Daisuke Ochi[sup.2] , Hiroshi Minami[sup.2] , Kotaro Yokawa[sup.2] , Sei-Ichi Saitoh[sup.3] , Yutaka Watanuki[sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) Graduate School of Fisheries Sciences, Hokkaido University, 3-1-1, Minato, [...]

Pyoderma gangrenosum (PG) is a sterile inflammatory skin condition that is frequently associated with immune-related diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). PG causes noninfectious ulcers. Facial PG is uncommon while PG usually occurs on the trunk and lower limbs. Herein, we report a case of a male teenager with fever, pustules, ulcers, and necrosis on both cheeks. He was initially diagnosed with complicated acne with bacterial infection, but the condition progressed to subcutaneous ulcers despite treatment. Biopsy revealed inflammatory lesions in dermal and subcutaneous tissue with neutrophil infiltration, consistent with PG. Although lacking typical IBD symptoms, blood tests revealed anemia and positive fecal occult blood. Sigmoidoscopy revealed inflammation, ulcers, and pseudopolyps in the colon and rectum, thereby diagnosing ulcerative colitis (UC). After treating PG and UC with prednisolone and skin grafts, golimumab was prescribed. The patient is now in remission. Necrotic tissue buildup can complicate closure in PG cases;this emphasizes the need for effective IBD treatment to facilitate procedures such as skin grafts.

A woman in her 40s, previously diagnosed with ulcerative colitis (UC), presented with anterior chest pain. A CT scan of her chest and skin examination showed no abnormal findings. She was initially managed with antibacterial agents, but her chest pain worsened, she developed a fever, and there was an overall deterioration of her general condition. A repeat CT scan found abscesses on the anterior surface of her sternum and gluteal region, and colonoscopy found worsening UC lesions. Her multiple subcutaneous abscesses were aseptic, and she was diagnosed with pyoderma gangrenosum (PG), an extraintestinal manifestation of UC. Steroid treatment was initiated and her overall condition as well as her subcutaneous abscesses improved rapidly. There are only a few case reports of PG without skin manifestation but only subcutaneous aseptic abscesses. However, subcutaneous abscesses may progress to PG with skin ulcers if initial treatment is delayed. Even with non-specific clinical features, prompt diagnosis of relapsed UC with potential extraintestinal manifestations must be considered. This is a rare case and aims to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment of PG, which is an extraintestinal manifestation of relapsed UC.

A 51-year-old man with chronic myeloid leukemia undergoing treatment with dasatinib received colonoscopy for a positive fecal occult blood test. Colonoscopy revealed more than 100 erythematous, multilobulated polyps with mucoid discharge. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed for diagnosis, and the histological analysis of polyps showed hyperplastic glands and proliferative smooth muscle cells. Our findings suggested that the polyposis was caused by inflammation triggered due to the adverse effects associated with dasatinib. The patient discontinued dasatinib;the follow-up colonoscopy performed four months later revealed significantly improved polypoid lesions in the colon. The erythematous heads of the polyps and mucoid discharge disappeared. The cessation of dasatinib seemed to contribute to the improvement of inflammatory reactive polyposis;therefore, we inferred that the polyposis was caused by dasatinib in the present case.