Background: A growing number of observational and epidemiological studies have suggested that mental illness, in particular mood disorders, is associated with reduced dietary intake and/or cellular abundance of omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). This has prompted researchers to test the efficacy of omega-3 PUFA in a range of different psychiatric disorders. We have critically reviewed the double blind placebo controlled clinical trials published prior to April 2007 to determine whether omega-3 PUFA are likely to be efficacious in these disorders.

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Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, with hyper-responsive bronchoconstriction and airway remodelling, leading to extensive airway narrowing. The regulation of airway responsiveness and inflammation by endogenous hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) during the pathogenic development of asthma has been suggested. Hydrogen sulfide can be produced in the lung and airway tissues via the actions of two H 2 S-generating enzymes, cystathionine β-synthase (CBS) and/or cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE). The abnormal metabolism and function of H 2 S have been reported in experimental animals with asthma, especially ovalbumin-induced rat or mouse models. In patients with asthma, serum H 2 S levels are significantly reduced. Supplementation with exogenous H 2 S has been shown to mitigate the severity of asthma in experimental animals. It is hypothesized that decreased H 2 S production in the lung and airway tissues may be used as an early detection biomarker, and H 2 S-based therapy would represent a new treatment strategy for asthma. Major challenges for establishing the diagnostic and treatment values of H 2 S include the differential expression of CSE and CBS along the airway and their changes during asthma, the effects of H 2 S on bronchoconstriction and airway remodelling, as well as the underlying mechanisms, and the detection of the changes in H 2 S levels in airway tissues and in exhaled air.