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Objectives: To evaluate radiologic and histologic correlations for interstitial lung abnormalities (ILAs) and to investigate radiologic or pathologic features contributing to disease progression and mortality.Methods: From 268 patients who underwent surgical lung biopsy between January 2004 and April 2019, 45 patients with incidentally detected ILA and normal pulmonary function were retrospectively included. CT features were classified as subpleural fibrotic or non-fibrotic, and changes in ILA over at least 2 years of follow-up were evaluated. Histologic findings were categorized as definite, probable, indeterminate, or alternative diagnosis for usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) patterns. Overall and progression-free survival were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method, and the Cox proportional hazard method was used to examine predictors for ILA progression and survival.Results: Among 36 subpleural fibrotic ILA subjects, 25 (69%) showed definite or probable UIP patterns, and 89% (8/9) of subpleural non-fibrotic ILA subjects showed an indeterminate or alternative diagnosis for UIP pattern on histopathology. On the radiologic-pathologic correlation, reticular opacity of fibrotic ILA was correlated with patchy involvement of fibrosis, and ground-glass attenuation of non-fibrotic ILA corresponded to diffuse interstitial thickening. The median progression time of ILA was 54 months, and fibrotic ILA increased the likelihood of progression (hazard ratio, 2.42; p = 0.017). The median survival time of ILA subjects was 123 months, and fibrotic ILA was associated with an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 9.22; p = 0.025).Conclusions: Subpleural fibrotic ILAs are associated with pathologic UIP patterns, and it is important to recognize subpleural fibrotic ILA on CT to predict disease progression and mortality.Key Points: • In total, 69% of subpleural fibrotic ILA showed definite or probable UIP patterns, while 11% of subpleural non-fibrotic ILA showed definite or probable UIP patterns. • Subpleural fibrotic ILA was associated with an increased rate of progression (hazard ratio, 2.42; p = 0.017), and the median progression-free time was 40 months. • Subpleural fibrotic ILA had an increased risk of death (hazard ratio, 9.22; p = 0.025), and the median survival time was 86 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the inhibitory effect of active hexose correlated compound (AHCC) on muscle atrophy in hindlimb-suspended rats. Twenty-four six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into three groups: the control sedentary group (CS, n = 8), the hindlimb-suspended group (HS, n = 8), and the hindlimb-suspended and AHCC-supplemented group (HSA, n = 8). Hindlimb suspension and AHCC supplementation were performed for two weeks. The HSA group was treated with AHCC (1 g/1 kg of body weight (BW)) orally in 0.3 mL of PBS solution, while the HS group received the vehicle (PBS solution) only. After two weeks, the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the HS and HSA groups decreased by approximately 36% (p < 0.05) and 19%, respectively, compared to the CS group. In addition, myonuclear numbers of the HS and HSA groups and the extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscle weight of the HS group decreased 30% (p < 0.05) and 18%, respectively, compared to the CS group. AHCC supplementation increased the phosphorylation of pAkt/Akt in the HSA group compared to the HS group (p < 0.05). Furthermore, Fbx32 and MuRF1 protein expression in the HSA group recovered to the level of the CS group. Based on these results, AHCC supplementation may have a positive role in the prevention of muscle atrophy via Akt activation in hindlimb-suspended rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the effects of α-lipoic acid (ALA) supplementation on the malondialdehyde (MDA) contents and superoxide dismutase (SOD) protein expression in rat skeletal muscles under non-exercising condition. Fourteen Sprague-Dawley male rats at the age of 6 weeks were randomly divided into 2 groups CS, (normal diet group, n=7) and AS (0.5% ALA supplemented diet group, n=7), and keep non-exercising condition for 4 weeks. The muscle MDA concentration of the AS group was significantly lower than that of the CS group in the both soleus and extensor digitorum longus muscles. The expressions of Cu/Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD proteins in the soleus muscle were significantly higher in the AS group than that in the CS group. From these results, ALA supplementation under non-exercising condition had a role in increasing of antioxidant enzymes in skeletal muscle types of rats. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the anti-inflammatory effects of Pellinus linteus (PL) extract supplementation in healthy young men. The subjects were 18 healthy young males 20 years of age that were given 1.5 L of 0.12% PL extract orally ( n=8) or a placebo (control group, n=10) daily for 4 weeks. The body composition, the white blood cell (WBC) count and differential as well as the serum cortisol, interleukin (IL)-1β, and IL-6 concentrations were measured before and after the supplementation. Serum concentrations of cortisol and IL-1β at rest after oral supplementation were significantly decreased compared to before treatment ( p<0.01, p<0.05, respectively). However, there was no change in the IL-6. And also, these factors in PL extract supplement group were significantly reduced after performing the exercise compared to control group. These results suggest that oral PL extract supplements for 4 weeks had a significant effect on inhibition of inflammatory markers in healthy young men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]