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BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Patients who undergo total knee arthroplasty (TKA) have a risk of postoperative anaemia. This observational study evaluated whether single-dose intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) administered immediately after TKA facilitates the correction of anaemia. MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analysed 722 patients who underwent primary TKA. The FCM group receiving 1000 mg intravenous FCM within one postoperative hour was compared with the non-FCM group that did not receive the medication. A propensity score matching with multiple logistic regression analysis was used to minimize intergroup differences in the baseline characteristics and postoperative blood loss. The rate and severity of postoperative anaemia were compared between the groups, along with haemoglobin (Hb) value, transfusion rate and complications. RESULTS After propensity score matching, 231 patients were included in each group. In the FCM group, the rate of anaemia at postoperative day (POD) 7 (p = 0.021) and postoperative week (POW) 5 (p

Background Cutaneous cysts are common in dogs, and surgical resection is the recommended treatment. However, additional therapy may be required for ruptured follicular cysts with severe cutaneous complications. Case presentation A 3‐year‐old neutered male Samoyed was presented with multifocal masses on the forelimbs. A 5‐year‐old neutered female Maltese was also presented with multiple masses and ruptured lesions, which were ulcerative and painful, around the parotid and submandibular glands. The lesions were examined cytologically. In addition, bacterial and fungal cultures and histopathologic examination were performed. Cutaneous multifocal nodules in the Samoyed could not be diagnosed via cytological examination or bacterial/fungal culture. Histopathology revealed numerous follicular cysts with multiple pyogranulomas of various sizes, some of which contained central keratin debris. In the Maltese, cytologic examination revealed central keratins or enucleated ghost cells in the intact cysts and few keratinized squamous cells mixed with neutrophils, mucus and metachromatic cells in the ruptured cysts. Histopathologic examination revealed severely dilated follicular cysts. Oral steroid and cyclosporine therapy resulted in marked improvement in the aseptic pyogranulomas after 2 weeks in formal case and combined with a surgery for residual cysts in latter case. Conclusions We have reported two canine cases of ruptured follicular cysts causing foreign body‐like aseptic pyogranulomas around cutaneous tissues and their successful management with pharmacological therapy and surgery., We have reported two canine cases of ruptured follicular cysts causing foreign body‐like aseptic pyogranulomas around cutaneous tissues and their successful management with pharmacological therapy and surgery.

Summary This in vivo study tested the hypothesis that the modulation of acetylcholine (ACh) release by the M1 muscarinic receptor (mAChR) in the neuromuscular junction of disused muscles may affect the tensions of the muscles during the neuromuscular monitoring of a rocuronium‐induced neuromuscular block and compared the results with those obtained from normal muscles. A total of 20 C57BL/6 (wild‐type) and 10 α7 knock out (α7KO) mice were used in this experiment. As a pre‐experimental procedure, knee and ankle joints of right hind limbs were fixed by needle pinning at the 90° flexed position. After 2 weeks, the main experiment was performed. Both tendons of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscles were obtained, and the muscle tensions were recorded while the dose‐responses of rocuronium were measured three times in the same mouse by the serial administration of pirenzepine (0, 0.001 and 0.01 μg/g). Weight losses were observed after 2 weeks of immobilization in both groups, and a decrease in the mass of TA muscles at the immobilized side was observed compared to those of the contralateral nonimmobilized side. Tension depression of the TA muscles at immobilized side of the α7KO group was faster than those of the wild‐type group, but these differences decreased after the administration of pirenzepine. The tension depressions were similar regardless of the pirenzepine doses at the same side in the group. Tension depression may become more rapid in the α7 AChR‐expressed disused muscles by the decreased release of ACh release upon neuronal firing by the blockade of facilitatory M1 mAChR

This study assessed the potential application of gas chromatography (GC) in detecting milk fat (MF) adulteration with vegetable oils and animal fats and of characterizing samples by fat source. One hundred percent pure MF was adulterated with different vegetable oils and animal fats at various concentrations (0%, 10%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 90%). GC was used to obtain the fatty acid (FA) profiles, triacylglycerol (TG) contents, and cholesterol contents. The pure MF and the adulterated MF samples were discriminated based on the total concentrations of saturated FAs and on the 2 major FAs (oleic acid [C18:1n9c] and linoleic acid [C18:2n6c], TGs [C52 and C54], and cholesterol contents using statistical analysis to compared difference. These bio-markers enabled the detection of as low as 10% adulteration of non-MF into 100% pure MF. The study demonstrated the high potential of GC to rapidly detect MF adulteration with vegetable and animal fats, and discriminate among commercial butter and milk products according to the fat source. These data can be potentially useful in detecting foreign fats in these butter products. Furthermore, it is important to consider that several individual samples should be analyzed before coming to a conclusion about MF authenticity.

Summary. Background: Asthma is a chronic lower airway inflammatory disease. Nitric oxide is an inflammatory mediator produced endogenously in the airway. Previous studies have demonstrated that the fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) is increased in asthma. Objectives: To investigate if FeNO concentrations were correlated with wheezing phenotypes in

HVEM is a member of the TNF receptor superfamily that plays a role in the development of various inflammatory diseases. In this study, we show that HVEM deficiency attenuates adipose tissue inflammatory responses and glucose intolerance in diet-induced obesity. Feeding a high-fat diet (HFD) to HVEM-deficient mice elicited a reduction in the number of macrophages and T cells infiltrated into adipose tissue. Proinflammatory cytokine levels in the adipose tissue decreased in HFD-fed HVEM-deficient mice, while levels of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 increased. Moreover, glucose intolerance and insulin sensitivity were markedly improved in the HFD-fed HVEM-deficient mice. These findings indicate that HVEM may be a useful target for combating obesity-induced inflammatory responses and insulin resistance.

The objective of this study was to analyse the underlying diseases, diagnostic findings and treatment outcomes in 10 dogs with sterile panniculitis. There was no significant breed association in this study (P = 0.86).The median age of the dogs was 7.4 years. Concurrent diseases included atopic dermatitis (four dogs), acute pancreatitis (two dogs) and primary hypoadrenocorticism (one dog), with no concurrent conditions detected in three dogs. There was no significant association with the sterile panniculitis (P = 0.57). Well-circumscribed firm nodules were noted in seven dogs, and ill-defined soft nodules were observed in three dogs. Bacterial and fungal cultures of biopsy samples were negative in all cases. Fine-needle aspiration cytology of the nodules revealed pleomorphic mesenchymal cells in all of the well-circumscribed firm nodules, whereas numerous inflammatory cells and adipose cells were evident in soft nodules. These results indicate that firm nodules in panniculitis could be misdiagnosed as tumours. Immunosuppressive therapy was used in eight cases. Topical dexamethasone was used in four dogs, intralesional dexamethasone in one dog, oral prednisolone plus ciclosporin in two dogs and oral prednisolone only in one dog. The remaining treatments were surgical excision and systemic cefalexin in one dog each. The lesions regressed within 1 week in all cases, with more rapid remission following systemic immunosuppressive therapy. This study suggests that cytology may be misinterpreted as neoplastic, especially with firm lesions. In addition, topical glucocorticoid therapy should be further evaluated as a potential treatment for canine sterile panniculitis.

Antibody to hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) (anti-HBs) can exist in patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. To date, little is known about the association of concurrent HBsAg and anti-HBs (concurrent HBsAg/ anti-HBs) with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical relevance of concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs with preS deletion mutations and HCC in chronic HBV infection. A total of 755 patients with chronic HBV infection were included consecutively at a tertiary center. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify risk factors for HCC, and serum HBV DNA was amplified, followed by direct sequencing to detect preS deletions. The prevalence of concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs was 6.4% (48/755) and all HBVs tested were genotype C. HCC occurred more frequently in the concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs group than in the HBsAg only group [22.9% (11/48) vs. 7.9% (56/707), P = 0.002]. In multivariate analyses, age >40 years [odds ratio (OR), 14.712; 95% confidence interval (CI), 4.365-49.579; P < 0.001], male gender (OR 2.431; 95% CI, 1.226-4.820; P = 0.011), decompensated cirrhosis (OR, 3.642; 95% CI, 1.788-7.421; P < 0.001) and concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs (OR, 4.336; 95% CI, 1.956-9.613; P < 0.001) were associated independently with HCC. In molecular analysis, preS deletion mutations were more frequent in the concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs and HCC groups than in the HBsAg without HCC group (42.3% and 32.5% vs. 11.3%; P = 0.002 and 0.012, respectively). In conclusion, concurrent HBsAg/anti-HBs is associated with preS deletion mutations and may be one of the risk factors for HCC in chronic HBV infection with genotype C.

Background and Aim: Interleukin (IL)-1 gene polymorphism has been reported to be associated with the increment of gastric cancer (GC) and the decrement of duodenal ulcers (DU). In addition, IL-2 is known to induce Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)-associated gastric atrophy, but it is not known whether IL-2 gene polymorphism increases the risk of GC (GC) or peptic ulcer diseases. Therefore, we compared the genotypes of IL-1B, IL-1RN, and IL-2 gene polymorphisms with risk of gastric ulcers (GU), GC, and DU in Korean patients. Methods: In total, 116 GU, 122 GC, and 104 DU patients were included consecutively and compared with 100 healthy controls. Polymorphisms of the IL-1B-511/-31 gene, the penta-allelic variable number of tandem repeats of the IL-1RN gene, and the IL-2-330 gene were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction with restriction fragment length polymorphism or confronting two-pair primers methods. Results: The age–sex-adjusted odds ratios (OR) for the IL-1B-511 T genotype relative to the C/C genotype (OR = 0.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.41–1.65), IL-1RN*2 genotype relative to the L/L genotype (OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.41–1.78), and IL-2-330 T genotype relative to the G/G genotype (OR = 1.94, 95% CI 0.76–4.96) were not increased in GC. There was also no significant difference in the genotypes of these cytokine polymorphisms between the study group (GU or DU) and control group. In addition, genotypic frequency was not associated with H. pylori positivity and histological type of GC. Conclusion: IL-1B-511, IL-1RN, and IL-2 genetic polymorphisms were not important contributors to the pathogenesis of GU, GC, and DU in Korean patients.

Background Tight junctions (TJ) are important for skin barrier function and could be relevant in modulating allergen penetration in atopic dermatitis (AD). Humans with AD have been described to have decreased expressions of some TJ proteins in the skin. Hypothesis/Objectives This study aimed to investigate TJ protein expression using an experimental AD model in dogs. Methods Skin biopsies from six atopic (nonlesional skin) and five normal beagle dogs were stained for TJ proteins [zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), occludin, claudin-1] by immunohistochemistry. Staining intensity was evaluated both objectively using imaging software and subjectively. Six images/sections were randomized and blindly scored by six investigators for intensity, distribution, integrity and staining pattern. Results The intensity of ZO-1 was significantly decreased in the atopic group objectively (P = 0.010) and subjectively (P = 0.002) relative to the normal group. Occludin was decreased significantly subjectively (P = 0.027) but not objectively. Claudin was not significantly different between groups by either quantification. Additionally, only ZO-1 demonstrated a significantly patchier staining pattern in the atopic group. There was no consistent staining pattern in this study. Conclusions and clinical importance ZO-1 and occludin, which have not been described to be associated with the development of AD in humans, could play a role in this atopic dog model. Further investigation on the expression and modulation of TJ proteins and their clinical relevance is needed. Resume Contexte Les jonctions serrees (Tight Junctions TJ) sont importantes pour la fonction barriere cutanee et pourraient egalement l'etre dans la regulation de la penetration antigenique de la dermatite atopique (AD). L'homme atopique a ete decrit comme ayant une expression augmentee de certaines proteines de TJ dans la peau. Hypotheses/Objectifs Cette etude porte sur l'expression des proteines TJ a l'aide d'un modele experimental d'AD chez le chien. Methodes Des biopsies cutanees de six chiens atopiques (peau non lesionnelle) et cinq chiens beagle sains ont ete colorees par immunohistochimie pour les proteines de TJ [zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), occludine, claudine-1]. L'intensite de coloration a ete evaluee a la fois subjectivement et objectivement. Six images/sections ont ete reparties et notees en aveugle par six investigateurs pour l'intensite, la distribution, l'integrite et les patrons de coloration. Resultats L'intensite de ZO-1 etait significativement diminuee dans le groupe atopique objectivement (P = 0.010) et subjectivement (P = 0.002) compare au groupe normal. L'occludine etait diminuee significativement subjectivement (P = 0.027) mais pas objectivement. La claudine ne presentait pas de difference significative entre les groupes quelque soit la quantification. En outre, seule ZO-1 montrait un patron de coloration en patch significatif dans le groupe atopique. Il n'y avait pas de patron de coloration significatif dans cette etude. Conclusions et importance clinique ZO-1 et occludine, qui n'avaient pas ete decrit comme etant associe au developpement de l'AD humaine, pourraient jouer un role dans ce modele de chien atopique. D'autres etudes sont necessaires sur l'expression et la modulation des proteines de TJ et leur importance clinique. Resumen Introduccion las uniones oclusivas intercelulares son importantes para la funcion de barrera de la piel y pueden ser relevantes en la modulacion de la proteccion de alergenos en casos de dermatitis atopica (AD). Los seres humanos con dermatitis atopica tienen una expresion disminuida de algunas proteinas en estas uniones. Hipotesis/Objetivos este estudio esta enfocado a investigar la expresion algunas proteinas en los uniones oclusivas en un modelo experimental de dermatitis atopica en perros Metodos muestras de piel de seis perros topicos (piel sin lesiones) y cinco perros normales de la piel se tineron para las proteinas de union de las uniones oclusivas (zonula occludens -1 (ZO-1), ocludina, claudina-1) mediante inmunohistoquimica. La intensidad de la tincion se evaluo objetivamente utilizando un programa de analisis de imagen y subjetivamente. Seis imagenes/secciones fueron distribuidas al azar y valoradas a ciegas por seis investigadores en referencia a distribucion, integridad, y patron de tincion. Resultados la intensidad de ZO-1 estuvo significativamente disminuida en el grupo atopico tanto de forma objetiva (P= 0,010) como subjetiva (P= 0.002) en relacion al grupo normal. La ocludina estaba significativamente disminuida subjetivamente (P=0,027), pero no objetivamente. La claudina no fue significativamente diferente entre ambos grupos en ningun metodo cuantitativo. Ademas, solo ZO-1 demostro un patron de tincion mas granular en perros atopicos. No hubo un patron de tincion consistente en este estudio. Conclusion e importancia clinica ZO-1 y ocludina, que no han sido escritas como asociadas con el desarrollo de dermatitis atopica en humanos, podrian jugar un papel en este modelo de perros atopicos. Hace falta mayor investigacion de la expresion y modulacion de las proteinas de las zonas de union oclusivas y de su importancia clinica Zusammenfassung Hintergrund “Tight Junctions” (TJ) sind wichtig fur die Schutzfunktion der Haut und konnten bei der Regulierung der Penetration der Allergene bei atopischer Dermatitis (AD) wichtig sein. Bei Menschen mit AD wurde eine verminderte Exprimierung einiger TJ Proteine in der Haut beschrieben. Hypothese/Ziele Das Ziel dieser Studie war eine Untersuchung der Exprimierung der TJ Proteine mit einem experimentellen AD Modell bei Hunden. Methoden Es wurden Hautbiopsien von sechs atopischen (nicht veranderte Haut) und funf normalen Beagles mittels Immunhistochemie auf TJ Proteine gefarbt [Zonula occludens 1 (ZO-1), Occludin, Claudin-1]. Die Intensitat der Farbung wurde objektiv mittels bildgebender Software und subjektiv beurteilt. Sechs Bilder/Schnitte wurden zufallig und geblindet von sechs UntersucherInnen auf Intensitat, Verteilung, Integritat und Farbeverhalten bewertet. Ergebnisse Die Intensitat von ZO-1 war in der atopischen Gruppe im Vergleich zur normalen Gruppe objektiv (p=0,010) und subjektiv (p=0,002) vermindert. Occludin war subjektiv (p=0,027), aber nicht objektiv vermindert. Claudin war zwischen den Gruppen weder subjektiv noch objektiv signifikant unterschiedlich. Zusatzlich zeigte nur ZO-1 eine signifikant fleckigere Anfarbung als die atopische Gruppe. Es bestand keine konstante Anfarbung in dieser Studie. Schlussfolgerungen und klinische Bedeutung ZO-1 und Occludin, welche bisher nicht im Zusammenhang mit der Entstehung von AD beim Menschen beschrieben worden waren, konnten in diesem Modell des atopischen Hundes eine Rolle spielen. Es sind weitere Studien uber die Exprimierung und die Modulierung der TJ Proteine und ihre klinische Relevanz notig.