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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 determined the optimal mixing ratio of food waste and livestock manure for efficient co-digestion of sewage sludge by applying the biochemical methane potential (BMP) test, Design Expert software, and continuous reactor operation. The BMP test of sewage sludge revealed a maximum methane yield of 334 mL CH4/g volatile solids (VS) at an organic loading rate (OLR) of 4 kg VS/(m3·d). For food waste, the maximum methane yield was 573 mL CH4/g VS at an OLR of 6 kg VS/(m3·d). Livestock manure showed the lowest methane yield. The BMP tests with various mixing ratios confirmed that a higher mixing ratio of food waste resulted in a higher methane yield, which showed improved biodegradability and an improved VS removal rate. The optimal mixing ratio of 2:1:1 for sewage sludge, food waste, and livestock manure was determined using Design Expert 10. Using continuous co-digestion reactor operation under an optimal mixing ratio, greater organic matter removal and methane yield was possible. The process stability of co-digestion of optimally mixed substrate was improved compared with that of operations with each substrate alone. Therefore, co-digestion could properly maintain the balance of each stage of anaerobic digestion reactions by complementing the characteristics of each substrate under a higher OLR. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Carotid intraplaque hemorrhage (IPH) increases risk of territorial cerebral ischemic events, but different sequences or criteria have been used to diagnose or quantify carotid IPH. The purpose of this study was to compare manual segmentation and semi-automatic segmentation for quantification of carotid IPH on magnetization-prepared rapid acquisition with gradient-echo (MPRAGE) sequences. Methods: Forty patients with 16–79% carotid stenosis and IPH on MPRAGE sequences were reviewed by two trained radiologists with more than five years of specialized experience in carotid plaque characterization with carotid plaque MRI. Initially, the radiologists manually viewed the IPH based on the MPRAGE sequence. IPH volume was then measured by three different semi-automatic methods, with high signal intensity 150%, 175%, and 200%, respectively, above that of adjacent muscle on the MPRAGE sequence. Agreement on measurements between manual segmentation and semi-automatic segmentation was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Results: There was near-perfect agreement between manual segmentation and the 150% and 175% criteria for semi-automatic segmentation in quantification of IPH volume. The ICC of each semi-automatic segmentation were as follows: 150% criteria: 0.861, 175% criteria: 0.809, 200% criteria: 0.491. The ICC value of manual vs. 150% criteria and manual vs. 175% criteria were significantly better than the manual vs. 200% criteria (p < 0.001). Conclusions: The ICC of 150% and 175% criteria for semi-automatic segmentation are more reliable for quantification of IPH volume. Semi-automatic classification tools may be beneficial in large-scale multicenter studies by reducing image analysis time and avoiding bias between human reviewers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rice fields, the major cropland in South Korea, provide an important wetland habitat for a diverse wildlife and contribute to biodiversity conservation. On the other hand, land consolidation conducted to increase agricultural production since the 1960s on a nationwide scale in South Korea has frequently been suggested to be one of the factors in the decline of biodiversity in agricultural ecosystems. Negative effects of habitat manipulation such as land consolidation would have influenced paddy field biodiversity, but the degree has not been clearly measured in South Korea. This study evaluated the impacts of land consolidation on the aquatic invertebrate biodiversity and investigated their patterns across the nation. Field sampling for biodiversity and environmental variables were made from 290 sites of paddy field over the country. Aquatic invertebrate communities were clustered into four major clusters showing land consolidation as the main factor and geographic location as the second factor. Species richness and abundance were significantly lower in the land consolidation fields (mean ± s.e., 12.80 ± 0.28 vs 88.89 ± 0.89 and 2027.15 ± 150.84 vs 2573.54 ± 572.16). Shannon diversity index was also significantly lower in land consolidation fields. Our results suggest that land consolidation and spatial location are important for biodiversity and conservation of the aquatic invertebrate assemblages in Korean rice fields. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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]

Oligonol, a phenolic production from lychee, has been reported to exhibit anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory effects. This study investigated the effect of Oligonol supplementation on circulating levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and cyclooxygenase (COX)-2, as well as body temperature, after heat stress in 17 healthy human male volunteers (age, 21.6±2.1 years). All experiments were performed in an automated climate chamber (26.0°C±0.5°C, relative humidity 60%±3.0%, air velocity less than 1 m/sec) between 2 and 5 p.m. Subjects ingested an Oligonol (100 mg)-containing beverage or placebo beverage before half-body immersion into hot water (42°C±0.5°C for 30 min). Tympanic and skin temperatures were measured and mean body temperatures were calculated. Serum concentrations of PGE2 and COX-2 were analyzed before, immediately after, and 60 min after immersion. Oligonol intake significantly prevented elevation of tympanic (temperature difference: 0.17°C at Post, P<.05; 0.17°C at Re-60, P<.05) and mean body temperatures (temperature difference: 0.18°C at Post, P<.05; 0.15°C at Re-60, P<.05), and lowered concentrations of serum PGE2 (increased by 13.3% vs. 29.6% at Post, P<.05) and COX-2 (increased by 15.6% vs. 21.8% at Post, P<.05), compared to placebo beverage. Our result suggests that Oligonol has the potential to suppress increases in body temperature under heat stress, and this is associated with decreases in serum levels of PGE2 and COX-2. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]