The Dropout Rates and Associated Factors in Patients with Mood Disorders in Long-term Naturalistic Treatment.

Objective: Although maintenance treatment for mood disorders is important, the treatment discontinuation rate is reported to be high. This study aimed to investigate the dropout rates and associated factors in mood disorders. Methods: The patients in a mood disorder clinic (n = 535) were examined. Demographic and clinical factors, scores of psychometric scales, time to dropout from initial treatment in patients with bipolar disorder (BP) (n = 288) and depressive disorder (DD) (n = 143) were evaluated based on database of the mood disorder clinic. Results: Among the studied patients with BP and DD, 50% showed dropout in 4.05 and 2.17 years, respectively. The mean survival times were 8.90 years in bipolar disorder I (BP-I), 5.19 years in bipolar II disorder, 3.22 years in bipolar disorder not otherwise specified, 4.24 years in major depressive disorder, and 4.03 years in other depressive disorders. In the multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model in the BP group, diagnosis BP-I was found to be significantly related to the decrease in dropout rate (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.22, p = 0.001); however, increased past suicide attempt number was significantly related to the increase in dropout rate (HR = 1.13, p = 0.017). In the DD group, none of anxiety disorders as comorbidity, increased scores of openness, and extraversion personality were related to the increase in dropout rate. Conclusion: Patients with BP, especially BP-I, showed a lower dropout rate as compared to patients with other mood disorders.

A clinically attenuated double-mutant of porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus-2 that does not prompt overexpression of proinflammatory cytokines during co-infection with a secondary pathogen.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is known to suppress the type I interferon (IFNs-α/ß) response during infection. PRRSV also activates the NF-κB signaling pathway, leading to the production of proinflammatory cytokines during infection. In swine farms, co-infections of PRRSV and other secondary bacterial pathogens are common and exacerbate the production of proinflammatory cytokines, contributing to the porcine respiratory disease complex (PRDC) which is clinically a severe disease. Previous studies identified the non-structural protein 1ß (nsp1ß) of PRRSV-2 as an IFN antagonist and the nucleocapsid (N) protein as the NF-κB activator. Further studies showed the leucine at position 126 (L126) of nsp1ß as the essential residue for IFN suppression and the region spanning the nuclear localization signal (NLS) of N as the NF-κB activation domain. In the present study, we generated a double-mutant PRRSV-2 that contained the L126A mutation in the nsp1ß gene and the NLS mutation (ΔNLS) in the N gene using reverse genetics. The immunological phenotype of this mutant PRRSV-2 was examined in porcine alveolar macrophages (PAMs) in vitro and in young pigs in vivo. In PAMs, the double-mutant virus did not suppress IFN-ß expression but decreased the NF-κB-dependent inflammatory cytokine productions compared to those for wild-type PRRSV-2. Co-infection of PAMs with the mutant PRRSV-2 and Streptococcus suis (S. suis) also reduced the production of NF-κB-directed inflammatory cytokines. To further examine the cytokine profiles and the disease severity by the mutant virus in natural host animals, 6 groups of pigs, 7 animals per group, were used for co-infection with the mutant PRRSV-2 and S. suis. The double-mutant PRRSV-2 was clinically attenuated, and the expressions of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines were significantly reduced in pigs after bacterial co-infection. Compared to the wild-type PRRSV-2 and S. suis co-infection control, pigs coinfected with the double-mutant PRRSV-2 exhibited milder clinical signs, lower titers and shorter duration of viremia, and lower expression of proinflammatory cytokines. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that genetic modification of the type I IFN suppression and NF-κB activation functions of PRRSV-2 may allow us to design a novel vaccine candidate to alleviate the clinical severity of PRRS-2 and PRDC during bacterial co-infection.

First report of kyphoscoliosis in the narrow-ridged finless porpoises (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis): Findings from congenital and degenerative cases comparison using post-mortem computed tomography.

INTRODUCTION: Spinal deformities, including kyphoscoliosis, have been consistently documented in cetaceans. However, the majority of reported cases of kyphoscoliosis in cetaceans pertain to bottlenose dolphins, with limited information on its occurrence in narrow-ridged finless porpoise (NFP) (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In November 2021, two deceased NFPs were discovered stranded on the shores of the Republic of Korea. As part of the pioneer stranded cetacean imaging programme in the Republic of Korea, both carcasses underwent post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT), revealing congenital and degenerative traumatic kyphoscoliosis, respectively. RESULTS: Although kyphoscoliosis may not have directly caused the demise of these individuals, it is hypothesized that the reduced spinal range of motion and mobility associated with kyphoscoliosis may have contributed to their deaths. CONCLUSION: This case report presents the first documented cases of kyphoscoliosis in two NFPs stranded in Korean waters, utilizing PMCT as an efficient methodology for assessing skeletal abnormalities in cetaceans.

Removal characteristics of 53 micropollutants during ozonation, chlorination, and UV/H2O2 processes used in drinking water treatment plant.

The removal of 53 emerging micropollutants (MPs), including 10 per- and polyfluorinated substances (PFASs), 25 pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs), 7 pesticides, 5 endocrine disrupters (EDCs), 3 nitrosamines, and 3 taste and odor compounds (T&Os), by chlorination, ozonation, and UV/H2O2 treatment was examined in deionized water and surface waters used as the raw waters in drinking water treatment plants (DWTPs) in South Korea. The UV/H2O2 treatment was effective in the removal of most MPs, whereas chlorination was selectively effective for 19 MPs, including EDCs (>70 %). MPs containing aromatic ring with electron-donating functional group, or primary and secondary amines were effectively removed by chlorination immediately upon reaction initiation. The removal of MPs by ozonation was generally lower than that of the other two processes at a low ozone dose (1 mg L-1), but higher than chlorination at a high ozone dose (3 mg L-1), particularly for 16 MPs, including T&Os. Compared in deionized water, the removals of MPs in the raw water samples were lower in all three processes. The regression models predicting the rate constants (kobs) of 53 MPs showed good agreement between modeled and measured value for UV/H2O2 treatment (R2 = 0.948) and chlorination (R2 = 0.973), despite using only dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and oxidant concentration as variables, whereas the ozonation model showed a variation (R2 = 0.943). Our results can provide the resources for determining which oxidative process is suitable for treating specific MPs present in the raw waters of DWTPs.

Mechanisms of Cadmium Neurotoxicity.

Cadmium is a heavy metal that increasingly contaminates food and drink products. Once ingested, cadmium exerts toxic effects that pose a significant threat to human health. The nervous system is particularly vulnerable to prolonged, low-dose cadmium exposure. This review article provides an overview of cadmium's primary mechanisms of neurotoxicity. Cadmium gains entry into the nervous system via zinc and calcium transporters, altering the homeostasis for these metal ions. Once within the nervous system, cadmium disrupts mitochondrial respiration by decreasing ATP synthesis and increasing the production of reactive oxygen species. Cadmium also impairs normal neurotransmission by increasing neurotransmitter release asynchronicity and disrupting neurotransmitter signaling proteins. Cadmium furthermore impairs the blood-brain barrier and alters the regulation of glycogen metabolism. Together, these mechanisms represent multiple sites of biochemical perturbation that result in cumulative nervous system damage which can increase the risk for neurological and neurodegenerative disorders. Understanding the way by which cadmium exerts its effects is critical for developing effective treatment and prevention strategies against cadmium-induced neurotoxic insult.

Adhesive Bowel Obstruction (ABO) in a Stranded Narrow-Ridged Finless Porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri).

In this case report, we present a rare occurrence of a narrow-ridged finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri), discovered on the coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea, that was afflicted with adhesive bowel obstruction (ABO), a life-threatening condition that has scarcely been reported in cetaceans. Diagnosis of ABO was confirmed via radiological and clinical assessments. Post-mortem computed tomography and necropsy revealed ABO between two loops of the jejunum at the L8 level. The mesenteric tissue covering the intestinal lesion was severely thickened with increased tension. Both bowel loops were fixed to the mesentery and acutely angulated, leading to asymmetrical thickening of the cross-sectional bowel walls. The intestinal lumen was stenosed because of pressure from the firm mesenteric band, and no fecal matter was observed in the lumen of the posterior bowel or rectum. Calcified nodules were detected, and histological analysis suggested parasitic or suspected post-parasitic infections. The primary cause of the intestinal lesions is presumed to be a reaction related to parasitic infection. However, further investigations would establish a definitive link between parasitic infections and ABO in this species. This case highlights the importance of studying rare medical conditions in wildlife, providing valuable insights into marine mammal health.

Optimizing the formulation of Erwinia bacteriophages for improved UV stability and adsorption on apple leaves.

Fire blight is a bacterial disease that affects plants of the Rosaceae family and causes significant economic losses worldwide. Although antibiotics have been used to control the disease, concerns about their environmental impact and the potential to promote antibiotic resistance have arisen. Bacteriophages are being investigated as an alternative to antibiotics; however, their efficacy can be affected by environmental stresses, such as UV radiation. In this study, we optimized the formulation of Erwinia phages to enhance their stability in the field, focusing on improving their UV stability and adsorption using adjuvants. Our results confirmed that 4.5 % polysorbate 80 and kaolin improve phage stability under UV stress, resulting in an 80 % increase in PFU value and improved UV protection efficacy. Adsorption assays also demonstrated that polysorbate 80 and kaolin improved the absorption efficiency, with phages detected in plant for up to two weeks. These findings demonstrate the effectiveness of the auxiliary formulation of Erwinia bacteriophages against environmental stress.

Fatal upper aerodigestive tract obstruction in an East Asian finless porpoise (Neophocaena asiaeorientalis sunameri): findings in post-mortem computed tomography.

The present case report aims to outline the post-mortem findings of an East Asian finless porpoise with upper aerodigestive tract obstruction using different post-mortem computed tomography (PMCT) visualization techniques and discusses the potential cause of death of this individual. A dead-stranded adult male East Asian finless porpoise was recovered from the Northern coast of Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The carcass was frozen in Jeju National University within 2 h upon first reported. The PMCT examinations were performed at 120 kVp, 200 mAs with a section thickness of 1 mm. The scan field of view (sFOV) was set to 400 mm. Four image rendering techniques, including multi-planar reconstruction, three-dimensional volume rendering, perspective volume rendering, and minimum intensity projection technique, were used to aid the diagnosis of upper aerodigestive tract obstruction in the stranded finless porpoise. Conventional necropsy was performed to provide a complete necropsy report. Using PMCT, a Sebastidae of 24 cm measured length was found to be lodged in the left pharyngeal food channel and esophagus of the finless porpoise. Hard rays of the pectoral fin of the lodged fish have impaled the esophageal mucosa. Fishing gear was found to embed at the dorsal side of the lodged fish. The trachea was compressed ventrally and the arytenoepiglottic tube opening has been narrowed, which may precipitate to the finless porpoise difficult breathing. Pulmonary hyperinflation, pulmonary edema, pneumothorax, pneumopericardium, and pneumorrhachis were observed. This case report represents the first documentation of potential radiological indicators of upper aerodigestive tract obstruction in the East Asian finless porpoise using PMCT. Spatial location of the lodged item could be rendered in situ as the time of death. It has demonstrated that PMCT could provide objective measurements to adjunct the necropsy findings in diagnosis of fatal aerodigestive tract obstruction in stranded cetaceans.

Learning potential and visuospatial memory could predict amyloid-beta positron emission tomography positivity in amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

We investigate the role of neuropsychological tests, including the learning potential, in predicting amyloid-beta positron emission tomography (Aß-PET) status in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). This cross-sectional study included 64 patients with aMCI (31 Aß-PET (-) and 33 (+)) who visited a memory impairment clinic at Pusan National University Hospital between 2014 and 2019. Patients underwent Aß-PET scans using 18F-florbetaben and the Seoul Neuropsychological Screening Battery. Learning potential was determined based on the difference in scores between the first and third trials of the Seoul Verbal Learning test (SVLT). Binary logistic regression was used to demonstrate the association between Aß-PET status and cognitive tests. Predictive ability of cognitive tests for Aß deposition was investigated using receiver operating characteristic curves analysis. From logistic regression models, the SVLT learning potential and Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) delayed recall were found to predict Aß-PET positivity. The areas under the curve (AUC) of the SVLT learning potential and RCFT delayed recall were significantly different from 0.5. Our findings of an association between Aß deposition status and learning potential and visuospatial memory suggest that these cognitive tests could be used to screen patients with aMCI for Aß deposition status.

Correlation between cerebral hemodynamic functional near-infrared spectroscopy and positron emission tomography for assessing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease: An exploratory study.

This study was performed to investigate the usefulness of functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) by conducting a comparative analysis of hemodynamic activation detected by fNIRS and positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Participants were divided into four groups: the subjective memory impairment (SMI), amnestic MCI (aMCI), non-amnestic MCI (naMCI), and AD groups. We recorded the hemodynamic response during the semantic verbal fluency task (SVFT) using a commercial wireless continuous-wave NIRS system. The correlation between the parameters of the neuroimaging assessments among the groups was analyzed. Region of interest-based comparisons showed that the four groups had significantly different hemodynamic responses during SVFT in the bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). The linear mixed effect model result indicates that the mean ΔHbO2 from the bilateral DLPFC regions showed a significant positive correlation to the overall FDG-PET after controlling for age and group differences in the fNIRS signals. Amyloid PET signals tended to better differentiate the AD group from other groups, and fNIRS signals tended to better differentiate the SMI group from other groups. In addition, a comparison between the group pairs revealed a mirrored pattern between the hippocampal volume and hemodynamic response in the DLPFC. The hemodynamic response detected by fNIRS showed a significant correlation with metabolic and anatomical changes associated with disease progression. Therefore, fNIRS may be considered as a screening tool to predict the hemodynamic and metabolic statuses of the brain in patients with MCI and AD.

Effects of anthocyanin supplementation on blood lipid levels: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Introduction: Dyslipidemia is a major cardiovascular disease risk factor associated with increased mortality. The intake of plant food-derived bioactive compounds is associated with beneficial cardiovascular effects, including decreased blood lipid levels and cardiovascular risk. We aimed to evaluate the effects of anthocyanin intake on blood lipid levels by analyzing relevant randomized controlled trials. Methods: We searched the PubMed and Embase databases using the "Patient/Population, Intervention, Comparison, and Outcomes" format to determine whether anthocyanin supplementation intervention affected blood lipid levels compared with placebo supplementation in human participants. Results: A total of 41 studies with 2,788 participants were included in the meta-analysis. Anthocyanin supplementation significantly reduced triglyceride [standardized mean difference (SMD) = -0.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], -0.18, -0.01) and low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (SMD = -0.16; 95% CI -0.26, -0.07) levels and increased high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels (SMD = 0.42; 95% CI 0.20, 0.65). Discussion: Anthocyanin supplementation significantly improved blood lipid component levels in the included studies. Larger, well-designed clinical trials are needed to further investigate the effects of anthocyanin intake on blood lipid levels and the safety of anthocyanin supplementation for treating dyslipidemia. Systematic review registration: https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021257087, identifier: CRD42021257087.

The efficacy of sling exercise combined with extracorporeal shock wave on office workers with chronic neck pain.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of extracorporeal shockwave therapy on the anterior surface line of the fascia meridian, including the oblique muscle, combined with sling exercise, on the stability of the spine in the neck disability index (NDI), neck joint range of motion (ROM), craniovertebral angle, neck alignment, and posture control. A total of 20 office workers with chronic neck pain were randomly assigned to an experimental group that combined extracorporeal shock wave therapy and sling exercise (n = 10) and a control group (CG) consisting of sling exercise (n = 10) performed twice weekly for 4 weeks. All subjects were evaluated using the NDI, ROM, neck alignment, and spine stability tests. Following the intervention, there were significant differences in the For example, NDI, craniovertebral angle, Cobb's angle, Centaur data, and ROM. Except for Cobb's angle and Centaur data (-90 degrees), all variables showed significant differences in the CG. Comparing changes before and after the intervention, The For example, showed significantly more significant changes in all variables than the CG. The combination of extracorporeal shockwave therapy and sling exercises improved NDI, ROM, and neck and spine alignment in office workers with chronic neck pain more effectively than the sling exercise alone. This study could be recommended as a new approach to enable individuals with chronic neck pain to perform better.

A Validation Study of Mental Health Monitoring Through a Mobile Application.

OBJECTIVE: Face-to-face evaluation is the most important in psychiatric evaluation, but smart healthcare, including non-face-to-face evaluation, can be beneficial considering the situation in which face-to-face evaluation is limited or the preventive aspect of mental illness. In this paper, we aimed to check whether mental health screening tests have the same significance as paper-based tests even when collected through mobile applications. METHODS: A smart mental healthcare screening test was conducted on the 1,327 community subjects. We measured two indicators of depression (Patient Health Questionnaire 9-item scale, PHQ-9) and anxiety (Generalized Anxiety Disorder 7-item scale, GAD-7) to check mental health conditions. RESULTS: The average Cronbach's alpha value of the PHQ-9 questionnaire was good at 0.870. As a result of PHQ-9's principal component analysis, one component with an eigenvalue of 1 or more was identified, which is suitable to be described as a single factor. The average Cronbach's alpha value of the GAD-7 was 0.919. The structural validity of the GAD-7 was confirmed through principal component analysis. CONCLUSION: Our results show that PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scales performed through mobile applications can have the same meaning as paper-based tests. Surveys using a tablet PC, or smartphone application can monitor residents' mental health and accumulate data. Based on these data, smart mental health management can check the mental health of residents and treat mental illness in connection with medical services.

Neuropsychological, neuroimaging and autopsy findings of butane encephalopathy.

BACKGROUND: Butane is an aliphatic hydrocarbon used in various commercial products. While numerous reports of sudden cardiac-related deaths from butane inhalation have been described, butane-associated acute encephalopathy has rarely been reported. CASE PRESENTATION: A 38-year-old man presented with cognitive dysfunction after butane gas inhalation. Neuropsychological test results showed impairments in verbal and visual memory, and frontal executive function. Diffusion weighted MRI revealed symmetric high-signal changes in the bilateral hippocampus and globus pallidus. FDG-PET demonstrated decreased glucose metabolism in the bilateral precuneus and occipital areas and the left temporal region. At the 8-month follow-up, he showed still significant deficits in memory and frontal functions. Diffuse cortical atrophy with white matter hyperintensities and extensive glucose hypometabolism were detected on follow-up MRI and FDG-PET, respectively. Brain autopsy demonstrated necrosis and cavitary lesions in the globus pallidus. CONCLUSIONS: Only a few cases of butane encephalopathy have been reported to date. Brain lesions associated with butane encephalopathy include lesions in the bilateral thalamus, insula, putamen, and cerebellum. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on bilateral hippocampal and globus pallidal involvement in acute butane encephalopathy. The pathophysiology of central nervous system complications induced by butane intoxication is not yet fully understood. However, the direct toxic effects of butane or anoxic injury secondary to cardiac arrest or respiratory depression have been suggested as possible mechanisms of edematous changes in the brain after butane intoxication.

Mice as an Animal Model for Japanese Encephalitis Virus Research: Mouse Susceptibility, Infection Route, and Viral Pathogenesis.

Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), a zoonotic flavivirus, is principally transmitted by hematophagous mosquitoes, continually between susceptible animals and incidentally from those animals to humans. For almost a century since its discovery, JEV was geographically confined to the Asia-Pacific region with recurrent sizable outbreaks involving wildlife, livestock, and people. However, over the past decade, it has been detected for the first time in Europe (Italy) and Africa (Angola) but has yet to cause any recognizable outbreaks in humans. JEV infection leads to a broad spectrum of clinical outcomes, ranging from asymptomatic conditions to self-limiting febrile illnesses to life-threatening neurological complications, particularly Japanese encephalitis (JE). No clinically proven antiviral drugs are available to treat the development and progression of JE. There are, however, several live and killed vaccines that have been commercialized to prevent the infection and transmission of JEV, yet this virus remains the main cause of acute encephalitis syndrome with high morbidity and mortality among children in the endemic regions. Therefore, significant research efforts have been directed toward understanding the neuropathogenesis of JE to facilitate the development of effective treatments for the disease. Thus far, multiple laboratory animal models have been established for the study of JEV infection. In this review, we focus on mice, the most extensively used animal model for JEV research, and summarize the major findings on mouse susceptibility, infection route, and viral pathogenesis reported in the past and present, and discuss some unanswered key questions for future studies.

Dietary Syzygium cumini leaf extract influences growth performance, immunological responses and gene expression in pathogen-challenged Cyprinus carpio.

This study evaluated the effects of jamun leaf extract (JLE) as a feed supplement on growth performance, haemato-immunological, oxidative stress-related parameters, and cytokine gene expression in Cyprinus carpio challenged with Aeromonas hydrophila.. Diets containing four different JLE concentrations, that is, 0 (basal diet), 5 (JLE5), 10 (JLE10), and 15 g kg-1 (JLE15), were fed to carp (6.17 ± 0.43 g) for eight weeks. Growth performance was significantly higher in JLE10. Haemato-immunological and antioxidant parameters were determined in fish at 48 h post-challenge with A. hydrohila. The cumulative survival was highest in JLE10 (69.69%) 14 days post-challenge. Serum protein (2.18 ± 0.06 g dL-1), lysozyme (32.38 ± 1.2 U mL-1), alternative complement pathway (70.43 ± 1.61 U mL-1), phagocytic activity (21.18 ± 0.48%), respiratory burst activity (0.289 ± 0.09 OD630nm), and immunoglobulin levels (6.67 ± 0.36 U mg mL-1) were significantly higher in JLE10 than in the control. Serum alanine aminotransferase (44.06 ± 1.62 Unit mL-1), aspartate aminotransferase (31.58 ± 1.82 Unit mL-1), and malondialdehyde (2.57 ± 0.26 nmol mL-1) levels were lower in JLE10 than in the control (p < 0.05), whereas myeloperoxidase activity was significantly higher in JLE5 and JLE10 than in the control. Superoxide dismutase levels in the serum were higher (p < 0.05) in JLE5 and JLE10 than in the other groups. Gene expression analysis revealed that the mRNA expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1ß was upregulated (p < 0.05) in the liver, head-kidney, and intestine of challenged carp in JLE10. The signalling molecule NF-κB p65 was upregulated in lymphoid organs in JLE10 but not in the liver. The anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 was significantly downregulated in challenged carp in JLE10 compared with that in the control. Quadratic regression analysis showed that optimal dietary JLE was estimated to be 9.03-10.15 g kg-1 to maximize the growth performance. Results of the present study revealed that dietary JLE at 10 g kg-1 can significantly improve the immunity and disease resistance of C. carpio. Thus, JLE is a promising food additive for carp aquaculture.

The association between dietary sodium intake and obesity in adults by sodium intake assessment methods: a review of systematic reviews and re-meta-analysis.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The scientific evidence of a sodium-obesity association is limited by sodium intake assessments. Our specific aim is to synthesize the association between dietary sodium intake and obesity across the sodium intake assessments as evidenced by systematic reviews in adults. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A systematic search identified systematic reviews comparing the association of dietary sodium intakes with obesity-related outcomes such as body mass index (BMI), body weight, waist circumference, and risk of (abdominal) obesity. We searched PubMed on October 24, 2022. To assess the Risk of Bias in Systematic Reviews (ROBIS), we employed the ROBIS tool. RESULTS: This review included 3 systematic reviews, consisting of 39 unique observational studies (35 cross-sectional studies and 4 longitudinal studies) and 15 randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We found consistently positive associations between dietary sodium intake and obesity-related outcomes in cross-sectional studies. Studies that used 24-h urine collection indicated a greater BMI for those with higher sodium intake (mean difference = 2.27 kg/m2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59-2.51; P < 0.001; I2 = 77%) compared to studies that used spot urine (mean difference = 1.34 kg/m2; 95% CI, 1.13-1.55; P < 0.001; I2 = 95%) and dietary methods (mean difference = 0.85 kg/m2; 95% CI, 0.1-1.51; P < 0.05; I2 = 95%). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative synthesis of the systematic reviews has shown that cross-sectional associations between dietary sodium intake and obesity outcomes were substantially different across the sodium intake assessments. We need more high-quality prospective cohort studies and RCTs using 24-h urine collection to examine the causal effects of sodium intake on obesity.

No Difference in Clinical Outcomes and Survivorship for Robotic, Navigational, and Conventional Primary Total Knee Arthroplasty with a Minimum Follow-up of 10 Years.

Background: Computer-assisted surgery, including robotic and navigational total knee arthroplasty (TKA), has been proposed as a technique used to improve alignment of implants. The purpose of this study was to compare the clinical and radiological outcomes during a minimum follow-up period of 10 years among robotic, navigational, and conventional TKA. Methods: A total of 855 knees (robotic group, 194; conventional group, 270; and navigational group, 391) were available for physical and radiological examinations over a mean follow-up period of 10 years. The survival rate was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method based on the survival endpoint. The Hospital for Special Surgery score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index, Knee Society Score, and range of motion were used for clinical evaluation. The hip-knee-ankle (HKA) axis angle, the coronal inclination of femoral and tibial components, and the presence of radiolucent lines were also assessed at the final follow-up. Results: All clinical assessments at the final follow-up revealed improvements in the three groups without any significant difference among the groups (p > 0.05). The cumulative 10-year survival rate was 97.4% in the robotic group, 96.6% in the conventional group, and 98.2% in the navigational group, with no significant difference (p = 0.447). The rates of complication-associated surgery were not significantly different among the groups (p = 0.907). Only the proportion of outliers in the HKA axis angle showed a significant difference (p = 0.001), but other radiological outcomes were not significantly different among the three groups. Conclusions: Our study demonstrated satisfactory survival rates for robotic, navigational, and conventional TKAs and similar clinical outcomes during the long-term follow-up. Larger studies with continuous serial data are needed to confirm these findings.

Evaluation of the Antimicrobial Potential and Characterization of Novel T7-Like Erwinia Bacteriophages.

The recent outbreak of blight in pome fruit plants has been a major concern as there are two indistinguishable Erwinia species, Erwinia amylovora and E. pyrifoliae, which cause blight in South Korea. Although there is a strict management protocol consisting of antibiotic-based prevention, the area and the number of cases of outbreaks have increased. In this study, we isolated four bacteriophages, pEp_SNUABM_03, 04, 11, and 12, that infect both E. amylovora and E. pyrifoliae and evaluated their potential as antimicrobial agents for administration against Erwinia-originated blight in South Korea. Morphological analysis revealed that all phages had podovirus-like capsids. The phage cocktail showed a broad spectrum of infectivity, infecting 98.91% of E. amylovora and 100% of E. pyrifoliae strains. The antibacterial effect was observed after long-term cocktail treatment against E. amylovora, whereas it was observed for both short- and long-term treatments against E. pyrifoliae. Genomic analysis verified that the phages did not encode harmful genes such as antibiotic resistance or virulence genes. All phages were stable under general orchard conditions. Collectively, we provided basic data on the potential of phages as biocontrol agents that target both E. amylovora and E. pyrifoliae.

Comparative investigation on variations of nutritional components in whole seeds and seed coats of Korean black soybeans for different crop years and screening of their antioxidant and anti-aging properties.

This research was conducted to demonstrate the comparisons of nutritional constituents (isoflavone; anthocyanin; protein; fatty acid; oil) and biological properties (antioxidant, anti-aging) in whole seeds and seed coats of black soybeans for crop years. Isoflavones and anthocyanins showed considerable differences in cultivars and growth years with the ranges of 794.9-4195.3 µg/g and 2.3-14.4 mg/g, while other components exhibited slight variations. In particular, malonylgenistin and cyanidin-3-O-glucoside were observed the most abundant phenolics, comprising approximately 35.5 (778.0 µg/g) and 76.7% (4.6 mg/g) of total average contents (isoflavone: 2197.8 µg/g; anthocyanin: 6.0 mg/g). Moreover, the whole seeds and seed coats displayed excellent activities in antioxidant (radical; DNA protectant), tyrosinase inhibition, and elastase inhibition. Their effects significantly occurred with dose-dependent patterns as follows: elastase (150 µg/mL) > tyrosinase (600 µg/mL) > ABTS (1500 µg/mL) > DPPH (1500 µg/mL) with higher abilities of seed coats than whole seeds. The DNA protection exhibited higher rates in seed coats with > 90% at 200 µg/mL. Natably, Socheong (isoflavone; 4182.4 µg/g) and Geomjeong 2 (anthocyanin: 10.3 mg/g) cultivars may be recommended as potential sources to the development of functional agents and new cultivars owing to their high average phenolic contents.