Age- and cause-specific contributions to increase in life expectancy at birth in Korea, 2000-2019: a descriptive study.

BACKGROUND: Korea's life expectancy at birth has consistently increased in the 21st century. This study compared the age and cause-specific contribution to the increase in life expectancy at birth in Korea before and after 2010. METHODS: The population and death numbers by year, sex, 5-year age group, and cause of death from 2000 to 2019 were acquired. Life expectancy at birth was calculated using an abridged life table by sex and year. The annual age-standardized and age-specific mortality by cause of death was also estimated. Lastly, the age and cause-specific contribution to the increase in life expectancy at birth in the two periods were compared using a stepwise replacement algorithm. RESULTS: Life expectancy at birth in Korea increased consistently from 2010 to 2019, though slightly slower than from 2000 to 2009. The cause-specific mortality and life expectancy decomposition analysis showed a significant decrease in mortality in chronic diseases, such as neoplasms and diseases of the circulatory system, in the middle and old-aged groups. External causes, such as transport injuries and suicide, mortality in younger age groups also increased life expectancy. However, mortality from diseases of the respiratory system increased in the very old age group during 2010-2019. CONCLUSIONS: Life expectancy at birth in Korea continued to increase mainly due to decreased mortality from chronic diseases and external causes during the study period. However, the aging of the population structure increased vulnerability to respiratory diseases. The factors behind the higher death rate from respiratory disease should be studied in the future.

Comparative analysis of the aberrant immunophenotype and clinical characteristics in dogs with lymphoma: a study of 27 cases.

Introduction: Aberrant lymphoma phenotypes are frequently found in dogs, but the clinical implications are sparse. Methods: Twenty-seven dogs with aberrant lymphoma diagnosed using flow cytometry between 2017 and 2023 were analyzed. Major paraneoplastic syndromes, prognostic factors, and clinical features of lymphoma were compared to their immunophenotypes. Results: Twenty-seven dogs had aberrant immunophenotypes, with MHCII- (48%) and CD3+/CD21+ (44%) being the most commonly identified aberrancies. In B-cell lymphoma, the most frequent aberrancies were MHC II- (53%), CD3+/CD21+ (41%), CD34+ (24%), and CD79a- (24%). Meanwhile, in T-cell lymphoma, CD3+/CD21+ (63%), CD4-/CD8-(50%), CD5- (50%), and CD45- (50%) were the most common. The platelet-neutrophil ratio was significantly higher in the CD3+/CD21+ group than in the other groups, where either one or both markers were not expressed (55.23 ± 39.64; 18.72 ± 14.95, respectively; p = 0.001). Serum albumin concentration was significantly lower in the MHCII-group (2.59 g/dL, 95% CI 2.31-2.87) than in the MHCII+ group (3.06 g/dL, 95% CI 2.88-3.23; p = 0.009). CD34 expression showed significant correlations with cranial mediastinal mass, WHO clinical substage, and fever (p = 0.028, p = 0.041, and p = 0.047, respectively). MHCII expression was correlated with adverse reactions to chemotherapy, cranial mediastinal masses, and fever (p = 0.009, p = 0.023, and p < 0.001, respectively). No statistically significant differences in the survival period were observed for any of the phenotypic aberrancies. Conclusion: Aberrant lymphomas are common in dogs. Some clinical prognostic factors that significantly correlate with aberrant immunophenotypes have been identified and can be applied clinically.

Application of Milk Exosomes for Musculoskeletal Health: Talking Points in Recent Outcomes.

Milk is a nutrient-rich food source, and among the various milks, breast milk is a nutrient source provided by mothers to newborns in many mammals. Exosomes are nano-sized membranous extracellular vesicles that play important roles in cell-to-cell communication. Exosomes originate from endogenous synthesis and dietary sources such as milk. Discovered through electron microscopy as floating vesicles, the existence of exosomes in human milk was confirmed owing to a density between 1.10 and 1.18 g/mL in a sucrose gradient corresponding to the known density of exosomes and detection of MHC classes I and II, CD63, CD81, and CD86 on the vesicles. To date, milk exosomes have been used for treating many diseases, including cancers, and are widely proposed as promising carriers for the delivery of chemotherapeutic agents. However, few studies on milk exosomes focus on geriatric health, especially sarcopenia and osteoporosis related to bone and muscle. Therefore, the present study focused on milk exosomes and their cargoes, which are potential candidates for dietary supplements, and when combined with drugs, they can be effective in treating musculoskeletal diseases. In this review, we introduce the basic concepts, including the definition, various sources, and cargoes of milk exosomes, and exosome isolation and characterization methods. Additionally, we review recent literature on the musculoskeletal system and milk exosomes. Since inflammation and oxidative stress underly musculoskeletal disorders, studies reporting the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties of milk exosomes are also summarized. Finally, the therapeutic potential of milk exosomes in targeting muscle and bone health is proposed.

Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome in a dog.

Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome, a type of primary ciliary dyskinesia, is a complex disease comprising situs inversus, rhinosinusitis, and bronchiectasis. Situs inversus totalis is a condition in which all organs in the thoracic and abdominal cavities are reversed. Furthermore, primary ciliary dyskinesia, an autosomal genetic disease, may coexist with situs inversus totalis. Reports on Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome in veterinary medicine are limited. We report a rare case of primary ciliary dyskinesia with Siewert-Kartagener's syndrome in a dog, concurrently infected with canine distemper virus and type-2 adenovirus. This case highlights that situs inversus totalis can cause primary ciliary dyskinesia, and concurrent infections are possible.

Fecal microbiome in dogs with lymphoid and nonlymphoid tumors.

BACKGROUND: The association of gut microbiota with cancer etiology and prognosis has been demonstrated in humans and rodents but has not been studied in dogs with different types of tumors. HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To analyze microbiome composition according to tumor progression based on metastasis, recurrence, and therapeutic response in canine tumors. ANIMALS: Thirty-two client-owned dogs were divided into 3 groups: healthy (n = 9), with lymphoma (n = 12), with nonlymphoid tumors (n = 11). METHODS: Retrospective case series included animals were divided into subgroups according to the nature and severity of their tumors. Feces were screened for the 16S rRNA gene. RESULTS: Overall, alpha diversity was significantly reduced in dogs with tumors (n = 23; 12 lymphoid and 11 nonlymphoid) compared to healthy dogs (n = 9). Bacteroides had lower abundance in canine tumors at genus level. Staphylococcus showed significantly reduced abundance in dogs with aggressive tumor progression. Higher white blood cell (WBC) and neutrophil counts and lower hematocrit were significant in dogs with aggressive tumor. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient analysis revealed several measurements that showed moderate to strong correlations, including Coprococcus with total WBC count, neutrophil count, and hematocrit in the aggressive tumor group, and Saccharimonas with serum albumin and sodium concentration in all tumor dogs. CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: The diversity of the gut microbiome was significantly reduced in dogs with tumors compared to healthy dogs. Correlations were found between changes in blood measurements and changes in microbiome composition in relation to paraneoplastic syndrome.

Mott Cell Differentiation in Canine Multicentric B Cell Lymphoma with Cross-Lineage Rearrangement and Lineage Infidelity in a Dog.

Lymphoma is a severe condition characterized by the proliferation of neoplastic lymphoid cells. A 4-year-old female mongrel dog presented with solitary lymph node enlargement. Significant right prescapular lymphadenopathy and abdominal enlargement were observed during physical examination. A complete blood count revealed lymphocytosis, and a peripheral blood smear revealed lymphoblastosis and Mott cells. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the right prescapular lymph node revealed a predominant population of lymphoblasts and Mott cells. Based on the FNAC and blood smear results, the patient was diagnosed with leukemic state multicentric B-cell lymphoma with Mott cell differentiation. Subsequent PCR for antigen receptor rearrangement and flow cytometry revealed that the patient exhibited cross-lineage rearrangement (CLRA) and lineage infidelity (LI), respectively. CHOP-based chemotherapy was initiated, however, the patient's disease was progressive. The patient died three months after the initial presentation. Mott cell differentiation in canine B-cell lymphoma (MCL) has rarely been reported in the veterinary literature and seems to show an unusual clinical course. To the best of our knowledge, no reports of MCL with CLRA and LI exist. We report the clinical features, diagnosis, and treatment of MCL with CLRA and LI.

Two Clinical Cases of Feline Hemoplasmosis in Korea.

Feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis (hemoplasmosis) is an infection of the red blood cells caused by the Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm), and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt). The existence of Mhf, CMhm, and CMt has been demonstrated in feral cats in Korea using molecular methods, but no clinical cases have yet been reported. This study reports 2 clinical cases of hemotropic mycoplasmosis caused by CMhm and CMt in 2 anemic cats. The first case was a client-owned intact female domestic shorthair cat that presented with fever, pale mucous membranes, and normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia. Prior to referral, an immunosuppressive prednisolone dose was administered at the local veterinary clinic for 1 month. The cat was diagnosed with high-grade alimentary lymphoma. Organisms were found on the surface of the red blood cells on blood smear examination. The second case was of a rescued cat that presented with dehydration and fever. The cat had normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia. Necropsy revealed concurrent feline infectious peritonitis. Polymerase chain reaction assay targeting 16S rRNA revealed CMhm infection in case 1 and dual infection of CMhm and CMt in case 2. Normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia was observed in both cats before and during the management of the systemic inflammation. This is the first clinical case report in Korea to demonstrate CMhm and CMt infections in symptomatic cats.

Sterile Neutrophilic Dermatosis (Sweet's Syndrome) Associated With Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in a Maltese Dog: A Case Report.

We report a rare case of sterile neutrophilic dermatosis (Sweet's syndrome) accompanied by systemic inflammatory response syndrome. A 5-year-old, neutered male Maltese dog presented with extensive crusts on the whole-body surface and multifocal erosions and plaques on the four limbs. The lesions had been present for two months and did not respond to antibiotics before the presentation. In addition, the dog was lethargic, anorexic, and febrile, with joint swelling. A clinicopathologic analysis revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis with left shift and increased C-reactive protein level. Furthermore, a histopathological examination showed moderate to severe inflammatory infiltrates consisting predominantly of neutrophils from the superficial to the deep dermis. There was no evidence of bacterial or fungal infections, and autoimmune diseases, such as pemphigus, systemic lupus erythematosus, and erythema multiforme, were excluded. Sweet's syndrome, a rare skin disorder, associated with systemic inflammation was diagnosed, and the cutaneous lesions and systemic inflammation disappeared after prolonged steroid administration.

A case of leukaemia cutis in a dog with T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Leukaemia cutis (LC) is the infiltration of neoplastic leukocytes into the skin, characterised by haemorrhagic papules, nodules, and plaques. LC has been reported in human leukaemia patients, but it is extremely rare in dogs. A 13-year-old spayed female Golden Retriever that was previously diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukaemia was managed with chlorambucil (20 mg/m2 orally, every 2 weeks) and prednisolone (2 mg/kg orally, every other day) for 8 months; however, immunosuppression was temporarily discontinued because of a bacterial urinary tract infection. Cutaneous signs, including multifocal ecchymosis and white plaques, appeared 1 month after cessation of chemotherapy. Histopathological examination revealed small- to intermediate-sized lymphocytes with mild atypia in a perivascular to interstitial pattern within the superficial dermis. The bands of atypical cells within the superficial dermis were strongly and extensively positive for CD3 on immunohistochemistry. Polymerase chain reaction analysis of the biopsied skin revealed clonal rearrangement of the T-cell receptor gamma locus gene. Given the evidence of clinical signs, peripheral immunophenotyping, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and clonal gene arrangement, LC was diagnosed. The lesions disappeared when chemotherapy was restarted but were occasionally observed when chemotherapy was stopped. To the authors' best knowledge, this is the first case report of LC in a dog.

Successful treatment of canine infective endocarditis caused by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a gram-positive bacterial species that is utilised as a probiotic in humans and animals. There are no reports of infective endocarditis (IE) in dogs. An 8-year-old, spayed, female Maltese presented with a 1-month history of fever, depression, weight loss, and hindlimb lameness. Laboratory test results indicated non-regenerative anaemia, neutrophilia, hyperglobulinemia, and proteinuria. Echocardiography revealed vegetation on the septal leaflet of the mitral valve and thromboemboli in the left atrium. Consecutive blood culture results revealed that the blood samples were consistently positive for Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, which is generally considered a probiotic bacterial species for animals. Broad-spectrum antibiotics (amoxicillin-clavulanic acid and cefotaxime) and anticoagulants (clopidogrel and rivaroxaban) were administered for 4 months. The clinical signs were responsive to antibiotic treatment. After 4 months, the dog was no longer febrile and the size of the thromboemboli in the left atrium had decreased. Bacteria were no longer isolated in blood cultures after antibiotic therapy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of canine IE caused by bactaeremic infection with Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.

Clinical efficacy of membrane-free stem cell extracts for the treatment of canine atopic dermatitis.

Despite various treatment options for canine atopic dermatitis (cAD), therapeutic limitations still exist, including adverse effects and low absorption ratios. This study evaluated the effects of a membrane-free stem cell extract (MFSCE) on the clinical signs of atopic dogs. Thirty client-owned dogs previously diagnosed with cAD were separated into placebo (n = 10) and MFSCE-treated groups (n = 20). The dogs were treated with a cream (MFSCE and placebo) via dermal administration twice daily for 14 days, and the clinical response was recorded on days 0, 7, and 14. The MFSCE-treated group showed significantly decreased severity of pruritus on day 14 compared to that on day 0. In addition, the erythema, pigmentation, skin dryness, and thickness were remarkably decreased in the MFSCE-treated group on day 14 compared to those on day 0 whereas no significant changes were observed in the placebo-treated group. No general clinical signs or adverse effects were observed in this study. These results suggest that MFSCE could be a surrogate treatment option for cAD.

Comparison of clinical and inflammatory parameters in dogs with pyometra before and after ovariohysterectomy.

This study aimed to identify potential biomarkers of canine pyometra and their correlations with clinical parameters. First, 90 dogs with pyometra and 26 healthy female dogs were compared. Then, paired samples (before and after ovariohysterectomy) from 22 dogs with pyometra and 9 healthy controls from the initial cohort were compared. Concentrations of acute inflammatory proteins, C-reactive protein (CRP) and serum amyloid A (SAA), and cell-free DNA (cfDNA), were significantly higher in dogs with pyometra than in clinically healthy dogs. Cell-free DNA was the most sensitive biomarker for systemic inflammation, based on the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis (area under the curve = 0.959). In addition, cfDNA and CRP were significantly associated with inflammation and organ injury-related clinical parameters. Following the surgical removal of the inflamed uterus, interleukin-6 (IL-6), high-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and procalcitonin (PCT) significantly decreased, whereas changes in CRP, SAA, and cfDNA were not significant. These findings indicate that cfDNA, CRP, and SAA are potential clinical biomarkers of systemic inflammation in dogs with pyometra and PCT, IL-6, and HMGB1 are potential biomarkers of clinical recovery.

Cette étude visait à identifier les biomarqueurs potentiels du pyomètre canin et leurs corrélations avec les paramètres cliniques. Tout d'abord, 90 chiens avec pyomètre et 26 chiennes en bonne santé ont été comparés. Ensuite, des échantillons appariés (avant et après ovariohystérectomie) de 22 chiens avec pyomètre et neuf témoins sains de la cohorte initiale, ont été comparés.Les concentrations des protéines inflammatoires aiguës, protéine C réactive (CRP) et amyloïde sérique A (SAA), et d'ADN acellulaire (cfDNA), étaient significativement plus élevées chez les chiens atteints de pyomètre que chez les chiens cliniquement sains. L'ADN acellulaire était le biomarqueur le plus sensible pour l'inflammation systémique, sur la base de l'analyse de la courbe caractéristique de fonctionnement du récepteur (aire sous la courbe = 0,959). De plus, le cfDNA et la CRP étaient significativement associés à l'inflammation et aux paramètres cliniques liés aux lésions aux organes.Après l'ablation chirurgicale de l'utérus enflammé, l'interleukine-6 (IL-6), la protéine HMGB1 (« high-mobility groupe box 1 ¼) et la procalcitonine (PCT) ont significativement diminué, alors que les changements de CRP, SAA et cfDNA n'étaient pas significatifs. Ces résultats indiquent que cfDNA, CRP et SAA sont des biomarqueurs cliniques potentiels de l'inflammation systémique chez les chiens avec pyomètre et PCT, IL-6 et HMGB1 sont des biomarqueurs potentiels de récupération clinique.(Traduit par Docteur Serge Messier).

Cell-Free DNA as a Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarker in Dogs With Tumors.

Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is derived from apoptosis/necrosis, active cellular secretion, and lysis of circulating cancer cells or micrometastases. In humans, cfDNA is widely used in cancer diagnosis, but veterinary research has yet to be actively conducted to establish it as a cancer biomarker. This retrospective study analyzed cfDNA levels in samples collected from dogs with neoplastic disease (n = 38), clinically ill dogs without neoplasia (n = 47), and healthy dogs (n = 35). cfDNA levels and clinical data were compared among groups, and prognostic analyses were performed within the neoplastic group. Furthermore, continual cfDNA measurements were performed during the chemotherapy of six dogs with lymphoma. Dogs with neoplasia showed significantly higher cfDNA concentrations than dogs without neoplasm, and the cfDNA oncentration in the lymphoid neoplasia group was significantly elevated among all neoplastic groups. Dogs with neoplasia and a plasma cfDNA concentration above 1,247.5 µg/L had shorter survival rates than those with levels below this threshold (26.5 vs. 86.1%, respectively, P < 0.05). In cases with complete remission in response to chemotherapy, the cfDNA concentration was significantly decreased compared with the first visit, whereas the cfDNA concentration was increased in cases with disease progression or death. Interestingly, a significant correlation was found between lymph node diameter and cfDNA concentration in dogs with multicentric lymphoma (R 2 = 0.26, P < 0.01). These data suggest that changes in cfDNA concentration could be used as a diagnostic biomarker for canine neoplasia. Furthermore, increased plasma DNA levels might be associated with shorter survival time, and cfDNA concentrations may reflect the response to chemotherapy.

Idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis in a cat with feline infectious peritonitis.

A 1-year-old, castrated, male, domestic short-haired cat with pruritic, multifocal, crusted ulceration of the skin over the dorsal aspect of the neck and scapulae was presented. The cat also had a history of depression and anorexia. A causative agent for the lesion was not identified on a general dermatological examination. Histopathology revealed diffuse epidermal ulceration and loss with replacement by neutrophilic inflammation and necrotic debris. Idiopathic ulcerative dermatitis (IUD) was diagnosed based on history, physical examination and histopathology. To prevent self-trauma and secondary bacterial infection, light bandages and glucocorticoid ointment were applied. After a month of management, the lesions markedly improved. Approximately 3 months after the initial presentation, the cat died; necropsy confirmed an IUD and non-effusive (dry form) feline infectious peritonitis (FIP). This report describes a rare case of IUD in a cat with concurrent FIP. However, no association between IUD and FIP was found.

Radiography and ct features of atherosclerosis in two miniature schnauzer dogs.

Two miniature Schnauzer dogs with chronic pancreatitis were investigated. Both dogs showed systemic hypertension and increased concentrations of triglycerides and C-reactive protein. Abdominal radiography revealed cylindrical calcification in the retroperitoneum, and computed tomography (CT) showed extensive calcification of the abdominal and peripheral arteries in both dogs. Metastases and other dystrophic conditions that can cause arterial calcification were excluded based on the laboratory tests, and the dogs were diagnosed with atherosclerosis ante mortem. Atherosclerosis should be considered when extensive arterial calcification is observed on abdominal radiography or CT in miniature Schnauzers.

Clinical Case of a Transfusion-Associated Canine Mycoplasma haemocanis Infection in the Republic of Korea: A Case Report.

This report describes the first clinical case of a transfusion-associated Mycoplasma haemocanis infection in a dog in Korea. A 6-year-old male Maltese underwent a red blood cell transfusion for idiopathic immune-mediated hemolytic anemia. Eighteen days after the blood transfusion, the recipient's packed cell volume decreased and basophilic organisms were found on erythrocytes. A polymerase chain reaction and sequential analysis showed that both the donor dog and recipient dog had M. haemocanis. Six weeks after doxycycline administration, no organisms were detected and the recipient's anemia had improved.