The purpose of this study was to compare parameters associated with pork quality, muscle fiber, and eating quality among various breeds, and to examine if differences in eating quality were ...associated to pork quality and muscle fiber characteristics. For carcass and pork quality, although there were significant differences among breeds, the values of parameters in all pigs were assigned a normal quality class, a likely outcome of the similarity in the area percentage of type I and IIB fibers. For eating quality, pork loins from Berkshire pigs were more tender and full of pork flavor than Landrace and Yorkshire pigs. Except juiciness and mouth coating, over 20% of the variability in the eating quality parameters can be explained by pork quality traits and muscle fiber characteristics using multiple regression analysis. Furthermore, differences in muscle pH
24
h
, cooking loss, shear force, and NPPC marbling score could explain a large proportion of variation in eating quality parameters associated with the texture of pork.
► Pork loins from Berkshire pigs show better technological and eating quality compared to other breeds. ► Variations of pork quality can be explained by area percentage of type I and IIB fibers. ► Pork quality traits can explain a large proportion of variation in eating quality of pork.
A low body mass index (BMI) is associated with increased mortality and low health-related quality of life in patients with COPD. The Asia-Pacific classification of BMI has a lower cutoff for ...overweight and obese categories compared to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. The present study assessed patients with COPD among different BMI categories according to two BMI classification systems: WHO and Asia-Pacific.
Patients with COPD aged 40 years or older from the Korean COPD Subtype Study cohort were selected for evaluation. We enrolled 1,462 patients. Medical history including age, sex, St George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ-C), the modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea scale, and post-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV
) were evaluated. Patients were categorized into different BMI groups according to the two BMI classification systems.
FEV
and the diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) percentage revealed an inverse "U"-shaped pattern as the BMI groups changed from underweight to obese when WHO cutoffs were applied. When Asia-Pacific cutoffs were applied, FEV
and DLCO (%) exhibited a linearly ascending relationship as the BMI increased, and the percentage of patients in the overweight and obese groups linearly decreased with increasing severity of the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease criteria. From the underweight to the overweight groups, SGRQ-C and mMRC had a decreasing relationship in both the WHO and Asia-Pacific classifications. The prevalence of comorbidities in the different BMI groups showed similar trends in both BMI classifications systems.
The present study demonstrated that patients with COPD who have a high BMI have better pulmonary function and health-related quality of life and reduced dyspnea symptoms. Furthermore, the Asia-Pacific BMI classification more appropriately reflects the correlation of obesity and disease manifestation in Asian COPD patients than the WHO classification.
Summary
Background
The risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) associated with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use has been raised in cirrhotic patients with ascites. However, this is based on ...case–control studies, often with a small series.
Aim
To determine whether PPI use increases the risk of SBP using a large cohort.
Methods
This retrospective cohort study included 1965 cirrhotic patients with ascites diagnosed between January 2005 and December 2009. The SBP incidence rate was compared between the PPI and non‐PPI groups before and after propensity score matching to reduce the effect of selection bias and potential confounders. Multivariate analysis was conducted to confirm the association of PPI use with SBP.
Results
After excluding 411 patients, 1554 were analysed. Among them, 512 patients (32.9%) were included in the PPI group. The annual SBP incidence rate was higher in the PPI group than in the non‐PPI group (10.6% and 5.8%, P = 0.002) before matching. Indications for PPI use and dose of PPI were similar between patients with and without SBP. In the propensity score matched cohort (402 pairs), the SBP incidence rate was also higher in the PPI group than in the non‐PPI group (10.8% vs. 6.0%, P = 0.038). Multivariate analysis revealed that PPI use (Hazard ratio 1.396; 95% confidence interval, 1.057–1.843; P = 0.019) was the independent risk factor for SBP.
Conclusions
Proton pump inhibitor use significantly increases the risk of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in cirrhotic patients with ascites. Proton pump inhibitor use should be undertaken with greater caution and appropriately in patients with cirrhosis.
Multicentre study.
To define the clinical characteristics of patients with tuberculosis (TB) destroyed lung due to past TB.
We reviewed patients with TB-destroyed lung between May 2005 and June 2011.
...A total of 595 patients from 21 hospitals were enrolled. The mean age was 65.63 ± 0.47 (mean ± standard error); 60.5% were male. The mean number of lobes involved was 2.59 ± 0.05. Pleural thickening was observed in 54.1% of the patients. Mean forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV(1)), FEV(1)/FVC, bronchodilator response and number of exacerbations per year were respectively 2.06 ± 0.03 l (61.26% ± 0.79), 1.16 ± 0.02 l (49.05% ± 0.84), 58.03% ± 0.70, 5.70% ± 0.34, and 0.40 ± 0.04. The number of lobes involved was significantly correlated with FVC and FEV(1), and with the number of exacerbations per year. Use of long-acting muscarinic antagonists or long-acting beta-2 agonists plus inhaled corticosteroids resulted in bronchodilatory effects. Multivariable regression analysis showed that age, initial FEV(1) (%) and number of exacerbations during follow-up were independent factors affecting change in FEV(1).
Decreased lung function with exacerbation, and progressive decline of FEV(1) were observed in patients with TB-destroyed lung.
The electrochemical corrosion properties of Ti–STS dissimilar joints brazed by a 72Ag–28Cu alloy filler and an Ag interlayer were studied in a 3.5% NaCl solution using potentiodynamic polarization ...and ac impedance spectroscopy. For a joint with a layered structure of Ti(base)/TiAg/Ag solid solution/Ag–Cu eutectic/STS(base), galvanic corrosion mostly occurred in the TiAg phase with a severe material loss, indicating that the TiAg layer acted as an anode in the galvanic couple in the layered joint. The Ag-rich solid solution layer was also corroded to a certain extent, but the corrosion in this layer was dominated by the selective pitting corrosion of the eutectic Cu-rich phase. With an increase in the brazing temperature, the Cu-rich phases disappeared owing to the enhanced isothermal solidification effect, leading to an improvement of the corrosion resistance.
Abstract Background To achieve en bloc resection for large lesions, endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting and endoscopic submucosal dissection techniques have been developed. ...Aim To compare endoscopic submucosal dissection with endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting in terms of the clinical efficacy and safety. Patients and methods 346 consecutive patients underwent their first endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting (103 patients) or endoscopic submucosal dissection (243 patients) for early gastric cancer and their clinical outcomes were compared. Results For early gastric cancer ≥20 mm endoscopic submucosal dissection group demonstrated significantly higher en bloc resection and en bloc plus R0 resection rate compared with endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting group. For early gastric cancer with size of 10–19 mm, endoscopic submucosal dissection group also showed significantly higher en bloc resection rate. For early gastric cancer <20 mm, however, en bloc plus R0 resection rate for endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting group was comparable to that for endoscopic submucosal dissection group. In case of R0 resection of intramucosal differentiated cancer, neither group showed local recurrence during the median 29 and 17 months of follow-up. Two groups did not show significant difference in the bleeding or perforation rates. Conclusion For early gastric cancer <20 mm endoscopic mucosal resection after circumferential precutting may be considered as an alternative choice to endoscopic submucosal dissection. However, for early gastric cancer ≥20 mm endoscopic submucosal dissection should be considered as the first choice for treating early gastric cancer.
Using a data set of 1217 patients with multiple myeloma enrolled in Total Therapies, we have examined the impact of novel therapies on molecular and risk subgroups and the clinical value of molecular ...classification. Bortezomib significantly improved the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) of the MMSET (MS) subgroup. Thalidomide and bortezomib positively impacted the PFS of low-risk (LoR) cases defined by the GEP70 signature, whereas high-risk (HiR) cases showed no significant changes in outcome. We show that molecular classification is important if response rates are to be used to predict outcomes. The t(11;14)-containing CD-1 and CD-2 subgroups showed clear differences in time to response and cumulative response rates but similar PFS and OS. Furthermore, complete remission was not significantly associated with the outcome of the MAF/MAFB (MF) subgroup or HiR cases. HiR cases were enriched in the MF, MS and proliferation subgroups, but the poor outcome of these groups was not linked to subgroup-specific characteristics such as MAF overexpression per se. It is especially important to define risk status if HiR cases are to be managed appropriately because of their aggressive clinical course, high rates of early relapse and the need to maintain therapeutic pressure on the clone.
Previous studies have used various definitions to classify chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients into chronic bronchitis (CB) and non-CB patients. This study was performed to identify ...differences among three definitions of CB based on the classical method, St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ), and the CAT (COPD Assessment Test) score.
We extracted data from the multicenter Korea COPD Subgroup Study (KOCOSS) cohort, for which patients recruited from among 47 medical centers in South Korea beginning in April 2012. Patients were classified according to three different definitions of CB: 1) classical definition; 2) SGRQ (using questions regarding cough and sputum); and 3) CAT score (comprising cough CAT1 and sputum CAT2 subscale scores).
A total of 2694 patients were enrolled in this study. The proportions of CB were 10.8%, 35.8%, and 24.0% according to the classical, SGRQ, and CAT definitions, respectively. The three definitions yielded consistently significant differences between CB and non-CB patients in modified Medical Research Council dyspnea scale CAT score, SGRQ score, number of moderate-to-severe exacerbations per year and forced expiratory volume in 1 second. By three definitions, CB consistently predicted future risk of exacerbation. The kappa coefficient of agreement between the classical definition and SGRQ definition was 0.29, that of the classical definition and CAT definition was 0.32, and that of the SGRQ definition and CAT definition was 0.44.
Patients with CB according to the new definitions based on SGRQ or CAT score showed similar clinical characteristics to those defined according to the classical definition. The new CB definitions may be used as alternatives to the classical definition.
Evaluating the diaphragm muscle in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is important. However, the role of diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) in distinguishing the exacerbation status of COPD ...(AECOPD) is not fully understood. We set this study to evaluate the role of DUS as a biomarker for distinguishing the AECOPD.
COPD patients who underwent DUS were enrolled between March 2020 and November 2020. The diaphragm thickening fraction (TF
) and diaphragm excursion (DE
) during maximal deep breathing were measured. Patients were divided into exacerbation and stable groups. Demographics, lung function, and DUS findings were compared between the two groups. Receiver operating characteristic curve and univariate/multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed.
Fifty-five patients were enrolled. The exacerbation group had a lower body mass index (BMI) (20.9 vs 24.2,
= 0.003), lower TF
(94.8 ± 8.2% vs 158.4 ± 83.5%,
= 0.010), and lower DE
(30.8 ± 11.1 mm vs 40.5 ± 12.5 mm,
= 0.007) compared to stable group. The areas under the TF
(0.745) and DE
(0.721) curves indicated fair results for distinguishing AECOPD. The patients were divided into low and high TF
and DE
groups based on calculated cut-off values. Low TF
(odds ratio OR 8.40; 95% confidence interval CI 1.55-45.56) and low DE
(OR 11.51; 95% CI 1.15-115.56) were associated with AECOPD after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, and lung functions.
DUS showed the possibility of an imaging biomarker distinguishing AECOPD from stable status.
Summary
Background
Airway remodelling is associated with irreversible, or partially reversible, airflow obstruction and ultimately unresponsiveness to asthma therapies such as corticosteroids. ...Roflumilast is a selective phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitor that has an anti‐inflammatory effect in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Objective
The objective of this study was to study the effect of roflumilast on airway inflammation and remodelling in a murine model of chronic asthma.
Methods
BALB/c mice sensitized to ovalbumin (OVA) were chronically exposed to intranasal OVA administration twice a week for additional 3 months. Roflumilast was administered orally during the intranasal OVA challenge. A lung fibroblast cell line was used in the proliferation assay.
Results
Compared with control mice, mice chronically exposed to OVA developed eosinophilic airway inflammation, airway hyper‐responsiveness (AHR), and exhibited features of airway remodelling. Administration of roflumilast significantly inhibited airway inflammation and AHR. Roflumilast also significantly decreased goblet cell hyperplasia and pulmonary fibrosis, which are parameters of airway remodelling. The levels of interleukin (IL)‐4, IL‐5, and IL‐13 in the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluids were significantly lower in the roflumilast group. In vitro, roflumilast significantly inhibited stem cell factor (SCF)‐induced cell proliferation of fibroblasts. The SCF concentration and mRNA expression in a murine model also significantly decreased with roflumilast treatment.
Conclusions
These results suggest that the administration of roflumilast regulates airway inflammation, AHR, and airway remodelling in a model of chronic asthma. The beneficial effects from roflumilast may be related to the SCF/c‐kit pathway.
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