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.
A composite air electrode consisting of Ketjenblack carbon (KB) supported amorphous manganese oxide (MnOx) nanowires, synthesized via a polyol method, is highly efficient for the oxygen reduction ...reaction (ORR) in a Zn–air battery. The low-cost and highly conductive KB in this composite electrode overcomes the limitations due to low electrical conductivity of MnOx while acting as a supporting matrix for the catalyst. The large surface area of the amorphous MnOx nanowires, together with other microscopic features (e.g., high density of surface defects), potentially offers more active sites for oxygen adsorption, thus significantly enhancing ORR activity. In particular, a Zn–air battery based on this composite air electrode exhibits a peak power density of ∼190 mW/cm2, which is far superior to those based on a commercial air cathode with Mn3O4 catalysts.
Background The association between increased body mass index (BMI) and subsequent mortality remains unclear in Asians. This study investigated the associations between BMI increases and ...cause-specific mortality in middle-aged Korean men. Methods We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 473 358 Korean men aged 30–64 years, who had undergone health examinations in both 1992 and 1998 and were followed up during 1998–2004. Cox proportional hazards for cause-specific 7-year mortality in relation to BMI changes after stratification of baseline BMI status were analysed. Results Mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD) was associated with BMI in both 1992 and 1998. Non-CVD mortality was inversely associated with BMI in both 1992 and 1998. We cross-classified participants into groups based on their baseline BMI levels and percent BMI changes during follow-up; men with the lowest BMI level at baseline (BMI in 1992 <21 kg/m2) and stable BMI during follow-up (percent change in BMI <5%) were included in the reference category. Compared with the reference group, CVD mortality was higher in initially obese men (BMI in 1992 ≥25 kg/m2) with any increase of BMI, and in initially lean men (BMI in 1992 <21 kg/m2) or initially overweight men (BMI in 1992 23–24.9 kg/m2) with BMI increases of ≥10%. BMI increases of 5.0–9.9% in men with baseline BMI <25 kg/m2 and stable BMI in men with baseline BMI ≥21 kg/m2 appeared to lower the risk for non-CVD or all-cause mortality, to below the levels seen in the reference group. Conclusions Among middle-aged Korean men, obesity or severe weight gain was detrimental to CVD mortality. An increase in BMI appeared to have a predictive value for CVD mortality, especially when used in combination with baseline BMI level. In contrast, moderate weight gain in non-obese men seemed to protect against non-CVD and all-cause mortality.
LL-37 is a human cathelicidin antimicrobial peptide that is released in the skin after injury and acts to defend against infection and modulate the local cellular immune response. We observed in ...human dermal keloids that fibrosis was inversely related to the expression of cathelicidin and sought to determine how LL-37 influenced expression of types I and III collagen genes in dermal fibroblasts. At nano-molar concentrations, LL-37 inhibited baseline and transforming growth factor-β-induced collagen expression. At these concentrations, LL-37 also induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) within 30 minutes. Activation of ERK, and the activation of a G-protein-dependent pathway, was essential for inhibition of collagen expression as pertussis toxin or an inhibitor of ERK blocked the inhibitory effects of LL-37. c-Jun N-terminal kinase and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitors did not alter the effects of cathelicidin. Silencing of the Ets-1 reversed inhibitory effects of LL-37. Taken together, these findings show that LL-37 can directly act on dermal fibroblasts and may have antifibrotic action during the wound repair process.
The bone is a common site for metastasis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, bone marrow metastasis from HCC is rarely reported, and its frequency is unclear. Here we report a rare case of ...bone marrow metastasis that presented as bicytopenia originating from HCC without bone metastasis. A 58-year-old man was admitted for investigation of a liver mass with extensive lymph node enlargement that was detected when examining his general weakness and weight loss. Laboratory findings revealed anemia, thrombocytopenia, mild elevated liver enzymes, normal prothrombin time percentage and high levels of tumor markers (α-fetoprotein and des-γ-carboxyprothrombin). Abdominal computed tomography showed multiple enhanced masses in the liver and multiple enlarged lymph nodes in the abdomen. A bone marrow biopsy revealed only a few normal hematopoietic cells and abundant tumor cells. Despite its rarity, bone marrow metastasis should always be suspected in HCC patients even if accompanied by cirrhosis.
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
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.
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
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.
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