Effects of the Korean carcass-grading system on carcass traits and meat quality parameters for the
longissimus dorsi (LD) and
semimembranosus (SM) muscles were investigated for Hanwoo steer beef. ...High quality grade beef cuts had significantly higher intramuscular fat content than those of low quality grade beef cuts. To establish a guaranteed system of eating quality for Hanwoo steer beef, a palatability prediction model was developed. The model development approach used canonical discriminant analysis and multivariate regression to assess effects of muscle type, cooking method, and aging treatment on Hanwoo beef quality grade. The palatability prediction model can provide Korean consumers with detailed information about expected eating quality for an individual cut, as well as provide critical information to the industry for maintaining high-quality beef production. The model is a significant advance in grading compared with the traditional carcass grading system, which applies a single quality grade to an entire carcass.
Background and purpose
The rate at which the chance of a good outcome of endovascular stroke therapy (EVT) decays with time when eligible patients are selected by baseline diffusion‐weighted magnetic ...resonance imaging (DWI‐MRI) and whether ischaemic core size affects this rate remain to be investigated.
Methods
This study analyses a prospective multicentre registry of stroke patients treated with EVT based on pretreatment DWI‐MRI that was categorized into three groups: small Diffusion‐Weighted Imaging Alberta Stroke Program Early Computed Tomography Score (DWI‐ASPECTS) (8–10), moderate (5–7) and large (<5) cores. The main outcome was a good outcome at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale 0–2). The interaction between onset‐to‐groin puncture time (OTP) and DWI‐ASPECTS categories regarding functional outcomes was investigated.
Results
Ultimately, 985 patients (age 69 ± 11 years; male 55%) were analysed. Potential interaction effects between the DWI‐ASPECTS categories and OTP on a good outcome at 90 days were observed (Pinteraction = 0.06). Every 60‐min delay in OTP was associated with a 16% reduced likelihood of a good outcome at 90 days amongst patients with large cores, although no associations were observed amongst patients with small to moderate cores. Interestingly, the adjusted rates of a good outcome at 90 days steeply declined between 65 and 213 min of OTP and then remained smooth throughout 24 h of OTP (Pnonlinearity = 0.15).
Conclusions
Our study showed that the probability of a good outcome after EVT nonlinearly decreased, with a steeper decline at earlier OTP than at later OTP. Discrepant effects of OTP on functional outcomes by baseline DWI‐ASPECTS categories were observed. Thus, different strategies for EVT based on time and ischaemic core size are warranted.
Summary
Background
Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) can classify skin diseases at a level equivalent to a dermatologist, but their performance in specific areas requires further research.
...Objective
To evaluate the performance of a trained DCNN‐based algorithm in classifying benign and malignant lip diseases.
Methods
A training set of 1629 images (743 malignant, 886 benign) was used with Inception‐Resnet‐V2. Performance was evaluated using another set of 344 images and 281 images from other hospitals. Classifications by 44 participants (six board‐certified dermatologists, 12 dermatology residents, nine medical doctors not specialized in dermatology and 17 medical students) were used for comparison.
Results
The outcomes based on the area under curve, sensitivity and specificity were 0·827 95% confidence interval (CI) 0·782–0·873, 0·755 (95% CI 0·673–0·827) and 0·803 (95% CI 0·752–0·855), respectively, for the set of 344 images; and 0·774 (95% CI 0·699–0·849), 0·702 (95% CI 0·579–0·808) and 0·759 (95% CI 0·701–0·813), respectively, for the set of 281 images. The DCNN was equivalent to the dermatologists and superior to the nondermatologists in classifying malignancy. After referencing the DCNN result, the mean ± SD Youden index increased significantly for nondermatologists, from 0·201 ± 0·156 to 0·322 ± 0·141 (P < 0·001).
Conclusions
DCNNs can classify lip diseases at a level similar to dermatologists. This will help unskilled physicians discriminate between benign and malignant lip diseases.
What's already known about this topic?
Deep convolutional neural networks (DCNNs) can classify malignant and benign skin diseases at a level equivalent to dermatologists.
The lips are a unique feature in terms of histology and morphology.
Previous studies of DCNNs have not investigated tumours on specific locations.
What does this study add?
This study shows that DCNNs can distinguish rare malignant and benign lip disorders at the same rate as dermatologists.
DCNNs can help nondermatologists to distinguish malignant lip diseases.
What are the clinical implications of this work?
DCNNs can distinguish malignant and benign skin diseases even at specific locations such as the lips, as well as board‐certified dermatologists.
Malignant lip diseases are rare and difficult for less trained doctors to differentiate them from benign lesions.
This study shows that in dermatology, DCNN can help improve decision‐making processes for rare skin diseases in specific areas of the body.
Plain language summary available online
Summary
Effects of anti-osteoporosis medications such as anti-resorptive and anabolic agents on healing of osteoporotic spinal fracture were retrospectively investigated. The use of anabolic agent ...significantly enhanced fracture healing, reduced progressive collapse, and presented good pain relief. These findings suggest that proper selection of medication could improve initial management of acute osteoporotic spinal fractures (OSFs).
Introduction
Although anti-osteoporosis medications have beneficial effects on prevention of osteoporotic spinal fractures (OSFs), few studies have compared effects of medications on fracture healing following OSFs. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to elucidate the effects of different anti-osteoporosis medications on radiological and clinical outcomes after acute OSFs.
Methods
A total of 132 patients diagnosed with acute OSFs were enrolled and allocated into three groups group I (
n
= 39, no anti-osteoporosis medication), group II (
n
= 66, bisphosphonate), and group III (
n
= 27, parathyroid hormone (PTH). Radiological parameters including magnetic resonance (MR) classification, occurrence of intravertebral cleft (IVC), and clinical outcomes such as numerical rating scale (NRS) and Oswestry disability index were assessed. Risk analyses for IVC and progressive collapse were done along the related factors and medication type.
Results
IVC sign was observed in 30 patients. The rate of IVC sign was lower in group III (7.4%) than that in group I (20.5%) or group II (30.3%), although the difference was not statistically significant. Moreover, the degree of NRS improvement was better in group III than that in group I or group II (5.7 vs. 3.1 vs. 3.5,
p
< 0.001). On multiple regression analysis, mid-portion type fracture in MR classification was a significant risk factor for progressive OSFs. The use of PTH showed significant lower incidences of occurrence of IVC (odds ratio (OR) = 0.160) and increase in height loss (OR = 0.325).
Conclusions
Different anti-osteoporosis medications presented different clinical and radiological results after acute OSFs. The use of anabolic agent significantly enhanced fracture healing, reduced progressive collapse, and presented better clinical outcomes. Proper selection of medication might improve initial management of acute OSFs.
Summary
Background
There are increasing reports of paradoxical psoriasiform diseases secondary to anti‐tumour necrosis factor (TNF) agents.
Aims
To determine the risks of paradoxical psoriasiform ...diseases secondary to anti‐TNF agents in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
Methods
A nationwide population study was performed using the Korea National Health Insurance Claim Data. A total of 50 502 patients with IBD were identified between 2007 and 2016. We compared 5428 patients who were treated with any anti‐TNF agent for more than 6 months (anti‐TNF group) and 10 856 matched controls who had never taken anti‐TNF agents (control group).
Results
Incidence of psoriasis was significantly higher in the anti‐TNF group (36.8 per 10 000 person‐years) compared to the control group (14.5 per 10 000 person‐years) (hazard ratio HR 2.357, 95% confidence interval CI 1.668‐3.331). Palmoplantar pustulosis (HR 9.355, 95% CI 2.754‐31.780) and psoriatic arthritis (HR 2.926, 95% CI 1.640‐5.218) also showed higher risks in the anti‐TNF group. In subgroup analyses, HRs for psoriasis by IBD subtype were 2.549 (95% CI 1.658‐3.920) in Crohn's disease and 2.105 (95% CI 1.155‐3.836) in ulcerative colitis. Interestingly, men and younger (10‐39 years) patients have significantly higher risks of palmoplantar pustulosis (HR 19.682 95% CI 3.867‐100.169 and HR 14.318 95% CI 2.915‐70.315, respectively), whereas women and older (≥40 years) patients showed similar rates between the two groups.
Conclusions
The risks of psoriasiform diseases are increased by anti‐TNF agents in patients with IBD. Among psoriasiform diseases, the risk of palmoplantar pustulosis shows the biggest increase particularly in male and younger patients.
Linked ContentThis article is linked to Pariente and Blondeaux, and Lee et al papers. To view these articles visit https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14903 and https://doi.org/10.1111/apt.14917.
Lung-inspired, fractal flow-fields hold great potential in improving the performance of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) by providing uniform gas distribution across the electrodes ...and ensuring minimum entropy production in the whole system. However, the inherent susceptibility of the fractal flow-fields to flooding renders their use inadequate at high humidity conditions. In-depth understanding of water management in lung-inspired flow-fields is indispensable for the implementation of alternative outlet channel geometries or engineered water removal strategies to alleviate flooding. Here, liquid water formation and transport across the lung-inspired and serpentine flow-field based PEMFCs are evaluated using neutron radiography. The results reveal a propensity to flooding in the interdigitated outlet channels of the fractal flow-field with N = 4 generations as a result of slow gas velocity and narrow channel dimensions, which leads to significant performance deterioration. Neutron images also elucidate the importance of ensuring a well-defined internal channel structure of the fractal flow-fields to prevent backflow of liquid water via wicking and capillary pressure build-up arising from the narrow inlet gas channels and hydrophobic gas diffusion layer.
•Neutron radiographs are presented for the lung-inspired and serpentine flow-fields.•A well-defined channel structure of the fractal flow-field is indispensable.•Water removal strategies required to alleviate flooding in the fractal flow-field.
We hypothesized that the pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics of metformin would change with inhibition of the multidrug and toxin extrusion (MATE) transporter, which mediates renal elimination of ...metformin. Twenty healthy male subjects received two doses (750/500 mg) of metformin, with and without 50 mg of pyrimethamine (a potent MATE inhibitor), with 1 week of washout in between each dose. The PD characteristics of metformin were assessed using oral glucose tolerance tests (OGTTs) before and after the metformin dose. Metformin concentrations in plasma and urine were determined using liquid chromatography‐electrospray ionization‐tandem mass spectrometry. When metformin was co‐administered with pyrimethamine, its area under the concentration–time curve from 0 to 12 h was 2.58‐fold greater (p < 0.05), whereas the antihyperglycaemic effects of metformin were decreased. The mean differences (90% confidence interval) in mean and maximum serum glucose concentrations and in 2‐h‐post‐OGTT serum glucose concentration were −0.6 (−1, −0.2), −0.9 (−1.6, −0.3) and −0.5 (−1.1, 0.1) mmol/l, respectively. These findings indicate that the response to metformin is not only related to the plasma exposure of metformin but is also related to other factors, such as inhibition of uptake transporters and the gastrointestinal‐based pharmacology of metformin.
Summary
Background
Childhood and adolescent obesity may lead to obesity and related complications in adulthood. Biomarkers of obesity can be useful for screening for obesity complications and ...promoting early intervention during school age. Thus, the metabolomic differences in obese children and adolescents should be investigated for identification of potential biomarkers.
Objectives
We investigated urinary biomarkers to distinguish metabolomic characteristics between obesity and normal weight in adolescents.
Methods
Adolescent subjects were divided into non‐obese (n = 91) and obese (n = 93) groups according to body mass index. Untargeted and targeted metabolomic profiling of urine was performed using high‐performance liquid chromatography (LC)‐quadrupole time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry (MS), LC‐MS/MS and flow injection analysis‐MS/MS systems, respectively.
Results
Multivariate statistical analysis showed clear discrimination between the untargeted metabolomes of non‐obese and obese groups. Seven endogenous metabolites were distinguished in the obese group, and inflammation‐related metabolite markers showed strong predictive power for group classification. From targeted metabolomics, 45 metabolites mostly related to inflammation were significantly different in the obese group.
Conclusions
Significantly different metabolome signatures were identified between normal‐weight and obese adolescents. Combined untargeted and targeted metabolomics demonstrated that inflammation‐driven insulin resistance, ammonia toxicity and oxidative stress may represent crucial metabolomic signatures in obese adolescents.
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