Rare Case of Echinostoma cinetorchis Infection, South Korea.

A woman in South Korea who underwent a colonoscopy for occasional gastrointestinal discomfort had 4 adult flukes of Echinostoma cinetorchis showing 37 collar spines around the oral sucker recovered from the terminal ileum through the ascending colon. Partial gene sequencing showed high identity with E. cinetorchis.

Association of Cough Severity with Asthma Control and Quality of Life in Patients with Severe Asthma.

PURPOSE: Symptoms are important components in determining asthma control and in the adjustment of treatment levels. However, clinical relevance of cough in severe asthma is not well-understood. This study aimed to evaluate the severity and association of cough with patient-reported outcomes (PROs) in patients with severe asthma. METHODS: This study analyzed cross-sectional data from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry. The severity of coughing and wheezing symptoms was assessed using a Visual Analog Scale (VAS) ranging from 0 to 100 for each symptom. Additionally, PROs included the Asthma Control Test (ACT), the Severe Asthma Questionnaire (SAQ), and the EuroQoL 5-Dimension (EQ-5D) index. Multivariate linear regression analysis was employed to explore the relationship between cough severity and other PRO scores. RESULTS: A total of 498 patients with severe asthma (age: 57.9 ± 13.1 years, females: 60.2%) were analyzed. The cough VAS score was higher than the wheeze score (median 30, [interquartile range 10-50] vs. 20 [0-50]; P < 0.001). Additionally, 22.5% of patients ranked in a higher tertile for cough severity compared to wheezing, while 18.5% ranked higher for wheezing severity than cough. Significant correlations were observed between cough and wheeze VAS scores (r = 0.61, P < 0.05) and between each symptom's VAS score and the SAQ (cough: r = -0.41, P < 0.001; wheeze: r = -0.52, P < 0.001), ACT scores (cough: r = -0.50, P < 0.001; wheeze: r = -0.63, P < 0.001) and EQ-5D index (cough: r = -0.40, P < 0.001; wheeze: r = -0.45, P < 0.001). In univariate regression analysis, the cough VAS score had weaker descriptive power (R2) values than the wheeze VAS score in relation to the PRO measures. Nevertheless, cough severity remained significantly associated with ACT, SAQ scores and EQ-5D index in multivariate analyses adjusted for wheeze severity and other confounders. CONCLUSION: Cough frequently presents as a severe symptom in patients with severe asthma and could have distinct impact on asthma control and quality of life.

Isolated respiratory tract microorganisms and clinical characteristics in asthma exacerbation of obese patients: a multicenter study.

BACKGROUND: Viral infection is a risk factor for asthma exacerbation (AE). However, bacterial infections related to AE in adults are poorly known. On the other hand, obese patients with asthma have their own clinical and biological characteristics compared with non-obese patients. METHODS: We investigated the differences in isolated pathogens for AE between obese and non-obese patients with asthma. We included 407 patients with AE from 24 medical centers in Korea. Microorganisms isolated from culture, RT-PCR or serologic tests using lower respiratory tract specimens were retrospectively investigated. RESULTS: A total of 171 obese and 236 non-obese patients with asthma were included for analysis. Compared to non-obese patients, obese patients were associated with women (77.2% vs. 63.6%), never smoker (82.5% vs. 73.9%), shorter duration of asthma (7.9 ± 8.4 vs. 10.5 ± 10.1 years), less history of pulmonary tuberculosis (8.8% vs. 17.4%), and more comorbidity of allergic rhinitis (48.5% vs. 0.8%). Viral and/or bacterial infections were detected in 205 patients (50.4%) with AE. The numbers of patients with viral only, bacterial only, or both infections were 119, 49, and 37, respectively. The most commonly isolated bacterium was Streptococcus pneumoniae, followed by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Chlamydia pneumoniae. Obese patients showed a lower incidence of Chlamydia pneumoniae infection. In the non-obese group, bacterial infection, especially Chlamydia pneumoniae infection, was significantly associated with the duration of systemic corticosteroid use (13.6 ± 19.8 vs. 9.7 ± 6.7 days, p = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Bacterial infection was associated with a longer period of corticosteroid use in the non-obese group. Acute Chlamydia pneumoniae infection was less associated with obese patients with AE. Further well-designed studies are needed to evaluate microorganisms and the efficacy of antibiotics in patients with AE.

NecroX Improves Polyhexamethylene Guanidine-induced Lung Injury by Regulating Mitochondrial Oxidative Stress and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress.

Various environmental compounds are inducers of lung injury. Mitochondria are crucial organelles that can be affected by many lung diseases. NecroX is an indole-derived antioxidant that specifically targets mitochondria. We aimed to evaluate the therapeutic potential and related molecular mechanisms of NecroX in preclinical models of fatal lung injury. We investigated the therapeutic effects of NecroX on two different experimental models of lung injury induced by polyhexamethylene guanidine (PHMG) and bleomycin, respectively. We also performed transcriptome analysis of lung tissues from PHMG-exposed mice and compared the expression profiles with those from dozens of bleomycin-induced fibrosis public data sets. Respiratory exposure to PHMG and bleomycin led to fatal lung injury manifesting extensive inflammation followed by fibrosis. These specifically affected mitochondria regarding biogenesis, mitochondrial DNA integrity, and the generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species in various cell types. NecroX significantly improved the pathobiologic features of the PHMG- and bleomycin-induced lung injuries through regulation of mitochondrial oxidative stress. Endoplasmic reticulum stress was also implicated in PHMG-associated lung injuries of mice and humans, and NecroX alleviated PHMG-induced lung injury and the subsequent fibrosis, in part, via regulation of endoplasmic reticulum stress in mice. Gene expression profiles of PHMG-exposed mice were highly consistent with public data sets of bleomycin-induced lung injury models. Pathways related to mitochondrial activities, including oxidative stress, oxidative phosphorylation, and mitochondrial translation, were upregulated, and these patterns were significantly reversed by NecroX. These findings demonstrate that NecroX possesses therapeutic potential for fatal lung injury in humans.

Self-management model based on information-motivation-behavioral skills model in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

AIM: To develop and test a predictive model of self-management based on the theory of the information-motivation-behavioural skills model and previous literature on self-management for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). DESIGN: A descriptive, correlational, cross-sectional design was used. METHODS: A convenience sample recruited 248 patients with COPD from the pulmonary medicine clinic in South Korea between July 2020 and June 2021. We used self-administrated, structured questionnaires for dyspnoea, health status, knowledge, attitude, social support, self-efficacy and self-management. Data were analysed using path analysis to test a self-management model for patients with COPD. RESULTS: Gender, COPD self-management knowledge, social support and COPD self-efficacy had a direct effect on COPD self-management. Dyspnoea, Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease stage, health status, COPD self-management attitude and social support had an indirect effect on self-management in patients with COPD. These variables explained 43.2% of the total variance for self-management in patients with COPD. CONCLUSIONS: When assessing self-management of COPD; demographic and clinical factors, knowledge, attitudes, social support and self-efficacy included in the information-motivation-behavioural skills model should be considered together.

Viral Infection and Airway Epithelial Immunity in Asthma.

Viral respiratory tract infections are associated with asthma development and exacerbation in children and adults. In the course of immune responses to viruses, airway epithelial cells are the initial platform of innate immunity against viral invasion. Patients with severe asthma are more vulnerable than those with mild to moderate asthma to viral infections. Furthermore, in most cases, asthmatic patients tend to produce lower levels of antiviral cytokines than healthy subjects, such as interferons produced from immune effector cells and airway epithelial cells. The epithelial inflammasome appears to contribute to asthma exacerbation through overactivation, leading to self-damage, despite its naturally protective role against infectious pathogens. Given the mixed and complex immune responses in viral-infection-induced asthma exacerbation, this review examines the diverse roles of airway epithelial immunity and related potential therapeutic targets and discusses the mechanisms underlying the heterogeneous manifestations of asthma exacerbations.

A Rare Case of Familial Schwannomatosis Showing Intrafamilial Variability with Identification of a Shared Novel Germline SMARCB1 Mutation.

Schwannomatosis is characterized by the presence of multiple schwannomas without landmarks of NF2. It is considered the rarest form of neurofibromatosis (NF). Here, we report the first case of familial schwannomatosis with regard to the segmental/generalized phenotype, in which the proband and the daughter present a distinct phenotype in this classification. The proband presents a generalized, painless, extradural type of schwannomatosis, while the daughter shows a segmental, painful, intradural type of schwannomatosis. Whole-exome sequencing of the affected individuals revealed a shared novel SMARCB1 gene mutation (c.92A > G, p.Glu31Gly) despite the clinical variability. We thus suggest two points in the diagnosis of familial schwannomatosis: The identified novel germline SMARCB1 variant can be reflective of a phenotypical progression from a segmental to a generalized type of schwannomatosis, or an intrafamilial variability in inherited schwannomatosis, which was not reported in previous literature. The specific combination of somatic NF2 mutations may be a major factor in regulating the severity and scope of the resulting phenotype in schwannomatosis.

Characteristics of Specialist-Diagnosed Asthma-COPD Overlap in Severe Asthma: Observations from the Korean Severe Asthma Registry (KoSAR).

BACKGROUND: While the clinical characteristics and outcomes of asthma-chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) overlap (ACO) have been frequently compared with those of COPD or asthma, the prevalence and features of ACO in patients with severe asthma are unclear. OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the prevalence and clinical features of ACO using the Korean severe asthma registry. METHODS: At the time of registration, ACO was determined in patients with severe asthma by attending specialists. Patients were classified into ACO and non-ACO groups, and the demographic and clinical characteristics of these two groups were compared. RESULTS: Of 482 patients with severe asthma, 23.7% had ACO. Patients in the ACO group were more likely to be male (P < .001), older (P < .001), and ex- or current smokers (P < .001) compared with those in the non-ACO group. Patients in the ACO group had lower mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second (P < .001) and blood eosinophil percentage (P = .006), but higher blood neutrophil percentage (P = .027) than those in the non-ACO group. The ACO group used more inhaled long-acting muscarinic antagonist (P < .001), methylxanthine (P = .001), or sustained systemic corticosteroid (P = .002). In addition, unscheduled emergency department visits due to exacerbation were more frequent in the ACO group (P = .006). CONCLUSION: Among patients with severe asthma, those with ACO were older, predominantly male, and were more likely to have a smoking history than those with asthma only. Patients with ACO used more systemic corticosteroid and had more frequent exacerbations related to emergency department visits than those with severe asthma only.

Defining Bronchial Asthma with Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase Delta Activation: Towards Endotype-Driven Management.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways play a critical role in orchestrating the chronic inflammation and the structural changes of the airways in patients with asthma. Recently, a great deal of progress has been made in developing selective and effective PI3K-targeted therapies on the basis of a vast amount of studies on the roles of specific PI3K isoforms and fine-tuned modulators of PI3Ks in a particular disease context. In particular, the pivotal roles of delta isoform of class I PI3Ks (PI3K-δ) in CD4-positive type 2 helper T cells-dominant disorders such as asthma have been consistently reported since the early investigations. Furthermore, there has been great advancement in our knowledge of the implications of PI3K-δ in various facets of allergic inflammation. This has involved the airway epithelial interface, adaptive T and B cells, potent effector cells (eosinophils and neutrophils), and, more recently, subcellular organelles (endoplasmic reticulum and mitochondria) and cytoplasmic innate immune receptors such as NLRP3 inflammasome, all of which make this PI3K isoform an important druggable target for treating asthma. Defining subpopulations of asthma patients with PI3K-δ activation, namely PI3K-δ-driven asthma endotype, may therefore provide us with a novel framework for the treatment of the disease, particularly for corticosteroid-resistant severe form, an important unresolved aspect of the current asthma management. In this review, we specifically summarize the recent advancement of our knowledge on the critical roles of PI3K-δ in the pathogenesis of bronchial asthma.

A Novel Insight on Endotyping Heterogeneous Severe Asthma Based on Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress: Beyond the "Type 2/Non-Type 2 Dichotomy".

Severe asthma is an extremely heterogeneous clinical syndrome in which diverse cellular and molecular pathobiologic mechanisms exist, namely endotypes. The current system for endotyping severe asthma is largely based on inflammatory cellular profiles and related pathways, namely the dichotomy of type 2 response (resulting in eosinophilic inflammation) and non-type 2 response (reinforcing non-eosinophilic inflammation involving neutrophils or less inflammatory cells), forming the basis of a development strategy for novel therapies. Although specific subgroups of type 2 severe asthma patients may derive benefit from modern precision medicine targeting type 2 cytokines, there is no approved and effective therapeutic agent for non-type 2 severe asthma, which comprises nearly 50% of all asthma patients. Importantly, the critical implication of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and unfolded protein response-in close relation with several pivotal cellular immune/inflammatory platforms including mitochondria, NLRP3 inflammasome, and phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ-in the generation of corticosteroid resistance is now being increasingly demonstrated in numerous experimental settings of severe asthma. Consistent with these findings, recent clinical data from a large European severe asthma cohort, in which molecular phenotyping as well as diverse clinical and physiological parameters from severe asthmatic patients were incorporated, suggest a brand new framework for endotyping severe asthma in relation to ER-associated mitochondria and inflammasome pathways. These findings highlight the view that ER stress-associated molecular pathways may serve as a unique endotype of severe asthma, and thus present a novel insight into the current knowledge and future development of treatment to overcome corticosteroid resistance in heterogeneous severe asthma.

Airway epithelial phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ contributes to the modulation of fungi-induced innate immune response.

BACKGROUND: Respiratory fungal exposure is known to be associated with severe allergic lung inflammation. Airway epithelium is an essential controller of allergic inflammation. An innate immune recognition receptor, nucleotide-binding domain, leucine-rich-containing family, pyrin-domain-containing-3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, and phosphoinositide 3 kinase (PI3K)-δ in airway epithelium are involved in various inflammatory processes. OBJECTIVES: We investigated the role of NLRP3 inflammasome in fungi-induced allergic lung inflammation and examined the regulatory mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome, focusing on PI3K-δ in airway epithelium. METHODS: We used two in vivo models induced by exposure to Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) and Alternaria alternata (Aa), as well as an Af-exposed in vitro system. We also checked NLRP3 expression in lung tissues from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA). RESULTS: Assembly/activation of NLRP3 inflammasome was increased in the lung of Af-exposed mice. Elevation of NLRP3 inflammasome assembly/activation was observed in Af-stimulated murine and human epithelial cells. Similarly, pulmonary expression of NLRP3 in patients with ABPA was increased. Importantly, neutralisation of NLRP3 inflammasome derived IL-1ß alleviated pathophysiological features of Af-induced allergic inflammation. Furthermore, PI3K-δ blockade improved Af-induced allergic inflammation through modulation of NLRP3 inflammasome, especially in epithelial cells. This modulatory role of PI3K-δ was mediated through the regulation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS) generation. NLRP3 inflammasome was also implicated in Aa-induced eosinophilic allergic inflammation, which was improved by PI3K-δ blockade. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that fungi-induced assembly/activation of NLRP3 inflammasome in airway epithelium may be modulated by PI3K-δ, which is mediated partly through the regulation of mtROS generation. Inhibition of PI3K-δ may have potential for treating fungi-induced severe allergic lung inflammation.

Effects of core and veneer thicknesses on the color of CAD-CAM lithium disilicate ceramics.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: The color of dental ceramics is important for achieving successful esthetic restorations. However, insufficient studies are available of the color of recently introduced computer-aided design-computer-aided manufacturing (CAD-CAM) lithium disilicate ceramics as functions of the core and veneer thicknesses. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of the thickness of different core and veneer thicknesses on the color of CAD-CAM lithium disilicate ceramics. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 42 specimens from 2 groups of 7 ceramic cores at 3 thicknesses (0.8, 1.0, and 1.2 mm) were fabricated. The veneer was fabricated at 3 thicknesses (0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 mm). The group name was based on the name of the ceramic core (IPS e.max CAD; lithium disilicate [LD], IPS Empress CAD; leucite-reinforced glass-ceramic [LR]), and the associated number was determined by the combined thicknesses of the core and the veneer: 1=0.8+0.7; 2=1.0+0.5; and 3=1.2+0.3. The color coordinates and the color differences were calculated using a spectrophotometer. The color difference was analyzed using the CIEDE2000 chrominance and the acceptability threshold. Two-way ANOVA was used to identify the color difference based on the core/veneer thicknesses, and the Tukey honest significant differences and Games-Howell tests were conducted to verify the ΔE00 differences of the group (α=.05). In addition, regression analysis was carried out to estimate the causal relationship between the independent variables and the chrominance. RESULTS: At a certain thickness, the color differences of LD1, LR1, and LR2 were not clinically acceptable based on the thicknesses of the core and the veneer. Results of 2-way ANOVA demonstrated that the different thicknesses of core/veneer combination significantly affected the color difference (P<.05). A significant interaction was present between the thickness and the material (P<.05). The results of multiple regression analyses showed that the average color difference of LR increased by 0.019 as the thickness of the core decreased by 0.2 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The color is influenced by the thicknesses of the core and the veneer. With a certain thickness, the color differences increased as the thickness of the core decreased, and lithium disilicate ceramics were less vulnerable to standard deviation of color difference compared with the leucite-reinforced ceramics.

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress and Allergic Diseases.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: In this review, we will integrate recent knowledge on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress and allergy, thereby highlighting the therapeutic potential of ER stress in the context of precision medicine for allergic diseases. RECENT FINDINGS: Emerging evidence suggests that allergic diseases are very heterogeneous having numerous endotypes. This leads to the new era of modern medicine, which assumes that a particular endotype-driven therapy, called precision medicine, would be more efficacious in a specific group of patients rather than in all patients. Currently, a dichotomy involving type 2/non-type 2 immune response underlies most of the studies on inflammatory and immunologic mechanisms of allergic disorders. Whereas there are several approved or investigational endotype-driven therapeutic agents targeting type 2 immune responses, investigation of mechanisms and endotype-driven interventions regarding non-type 2 immune response lags far behind. Considering that non-type 2 immune response may represent a significant proportion of allergic disease, particularly corticosteroid-resistant severe disease, defining a novel concept of endotype-driven approach may be essential. Recently, stress responses originate from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the associated inflammatory molecular platform has been suggested as a crucial player of immune and inflammatory responses. This implies that ER stress-related pathways may represent a new endotype-driven therapeutic strategy in the treatment of allergic diseases.

Benign metastasizing leiomyoma presenting as multiple cystic pulmonary nodules: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Benign metastatic leiomyoma (BML) is an extremely rare disease. Although uterine leiomyomas are benign histologically, they can metastasize to distant sites. While the incidence is very low, the lung is the organ most frequently affected by BML. Pulmonary BML usually presents as numerous well-defined nodules of various sizes, while the cavitary or cystic features in the nodules are rarely observed on radiologic images. CASE PRESENTATION: A 52-year-old woman complained of cough and dyspnea for one month. She had been previously diagnosed with uterine leiomyoma and had undergone total hysterectomy about 14 years prior. High-resolution computed tomography (CT) images showed that there were multiple cystic nodules of various sizes in both lungs. Pathologic examination revealed that the pulmonary nodule had complex branching glandular structures lined by a single layer of simple cuboidal to columnar epithelium that was surrounded by abundant spindle cells. Additional immunohistochemistry data suggested that pulmonary nodule diagnosis was BML-associated uterine leiomyoma. CONCLUSION: In this report, we introduce an interesting case of pulmonary BML that presented as a combination of various kinds of nodules including simple round nodules, simple cysts, and cysts with a solid portion, which are very rare radiologic features of BML in lung. In addition, when the patient is a woman of reproductive age, physicians should meticulously review the gynecological history and suspect BML when there are various cystic pulmonary lesions.

Evaluation of accuracy and repeatability using CBCT and a dental scanner by means of 3D software.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to compare and evaluate the accuracy of three-dimensional (3D) image data acquired from cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) and a dental scanner using 3D software. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After selecting the full-arch forms of the maxilla and mandible as the master cast, the master cast was scanned via a high-precision optical scanner for use as master model data. The model was scanned 12 times each using CBCT and a dental scanner. Scanned data were superimposed onto the master cast data for evaluation of accuracy and repeatability. RESULTS: Although significant differences in both accuracy and repeatability were seen between CBCT and dental scanner (P < 0.05), repeatability of the maxillary arch showed little difference, with CBCT and scanner having values of 17 ± 2 µm and 22 ± 5 µm, respectively. Meanwhile, repeatability of the mandibular arch with CBCT and scanner was 15 ± 0 µm and 19 ± 3 µm, respectively. Since good repeatability was shown, this demonstrated that data can be stably acquired. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated the feasibility of using a dental scanner to create a digital model as a substitute for a plaster model for use in orthodontic diagnosis and device fabrication.

Phosphoinositide 3-kinase-δ regulates fungus-induced allergic lung inflammation through endoplasmic reticulum stress.

BACKGROUND: Sensitisation with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) is known to be associated with severe allergic lung inflammation, but the mechanism remains to be clarified. Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)-δ and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress are suggested to be involved in steroid-resistant lung inflammation. We aimed to elucidate the role of PI3K-δ and its relationship with ER stress in fungus-induced allergic lung inflammation. METHODS: Using Af-exposed in vivo and in vitro experimental systems, we examined whether PI3K-δ regulates ER stress, thereby contributing to steroid resistance in fungus-induced allergic lung inflammation. Moreover, we checked expression of an ER stress marker in lung tissues isolated from patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis. RESULTS: Af-exposed mice showed that ER stress markers, unfolded protein response (UPR)-related proteins, phosphorylated Akt, generation of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mtROS), eosinophilic allergic inflammation, and airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) were increased in the lung. Similarly, glucose-regulated protein 78 was increased in lung tissues of patients with ABPA. A PI3K-δ inhibitor reduced Af-induced increases in ER stress markers, UPR-related proteins, allergic inflammation and AHR in mice. However, dexamethasone failed to reduce Af-induced allergic inflammation, AHR and elevation of ER stress. Administration of an ER stress inhibitor or a mtROS scavenger improved Af-induced allergic inflammation. The PI3K-δ inhibitor reduced Af-induced mtROS generation and the mtROS scavenger ameliorated ER stress. In primary cultured tracheal epithelial cells, Af-induced ER stress was inhibited by blockade of PI3K-δ. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that PI3K-δ regulates Af-induced steroid-resistant eosinophilic allergic lung inflammation through ER stress.

Trueness of milled prostheses according to number of ball-end mill burs.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Making a computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) prosthesis with a milling machine often requires 2 (2- and 1-mm diameter) or 3 (2-, 1-, and 0.6-mm diameter) burs; however, using 3 burs can reduce time effectiveness and increase cost. Studies evaluating the trueness of prostheses made with 2 and 3 burs are lacking. PURPOSE: The purpose of this in vitro study was to evaluate the 3-dimensional trueness of crown prostheses made using 2 and 3 ball-end mill burs in the milling process. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The abutment die of the maxillary right first molar for ceramic crowns was designed with computer-aided design software. After the crown prosthesis design was completed, polyurethane blocks were milled using 2 and 3 burs with a 5-axis milling machine. The outer and inner surfaces of the milled crown prostheses were scanned with a dental scanner. The inner part was separated into a marginal part and an internal part using 3-dimensional evaluation software. The 3-dimensional trueness of the prostheses milled with 2 or 3 burs was compared. RESULTS: No significant differences in trueness were found for the inner or internal parts of the prosthesis (P>.05). However, the outer and marginal parts of the prosthesis did show significant differences in trueness (P<.05). CONCLUSIONS: Milling the marginal part of the inner prosthesis was better with 2 burs, whereas milling the outer part was better with 3 burs.

Acute necrotizing pneumonia combined with parapneumonic effusion caused by Mycobacterium lentiflavum: a case report.

BACKGROUND: Mycobacterium lentiflavum (M. lentiflavum), a slow growing nontuberculous mycobacterium (NTM), has recently been described as an emerging human pathogen regardless of the immune status of the host. Previous reports have demonstrated that cervical lymphadenitis of children is the most frequent pathology of M. lentiflavum. However, there are little reports regarding pulmonary diseases by M. lentiflavum specifically in immunocompetent patients. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old man having prolonged productive cough and dyspnea with fever was initially diagnosed as pneumonia with parapneumonic effusion. Imaging studies showed that the radiologic abnormality was acute bronchopneumonic infiltration with abscess formation in the left lower lobe and parapneumonic pleural effusion. M. lentiflavum was identified in the cultured pleural tissues. On the basis of these findings, he was diagnosed as pulmonary infection and pleurisy caused by M. lentiflavum, which was treated with a combination of antibiotics covering NTM. His clinical manifestations were dramatically improved by the treatment targeting NTM, while those were refractory to empirical antibiotic therapy. CONCLUSION: In this report, we introduce the isolation of M. lentiflavum from pleural tissues associated with acute necrotizing pneumonia combined with parapneumonic effusion in an immunocompetent host, suggesting that the M. lentiflavum can be a human pathogen invovled in pulmonary infectious diseases and pleurisy with poor response to empirical antibiotic treatment.

Does type D personality affect symptom control and quality of life in asthma patients?

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to identify the effects of type D personality on symptom control and quality of life and to explore factors influencing quality of life among asthma patients in Korea. BACKGROUND: Psychological factors such as depression and stress are well known to be related to medical outcomes and quality of life in asthma patients. People with type D personality are vulnerable to stress, show poor prognosis in disease and experience low quality of life. DESIGN: A descriptive cross-sectional design was used. METHODS: A total of 144 patients with asthma participated in this study. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using structured questionnaires: the Type D Personality Scale-14, Asthma Control Test and Asthma-Specific Quality of Life. RESULTS: About 33% of participants were classified into the type D personality group. The type D personality group showed statistically significantly lower symptom control and asthma-specific quality of life compared to the non-type D personality group. Based on forward stepwise multiple regression, the most significant factor of quality of life was symptom control, followed by type D personality, hospitalisation within the previous one year, and lifetime hospitalisation experiences. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of type D personality in asthma patients was high, and type D personality was significantly associated with poor symptom control and low quality of life. Psychosocial interventions might be beneficial to improve symptom control and quality of life in asthma patients with type D personality. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE: Nurses should be aware of the high prevalence of type D personality and the effects on symptom control and quality of life in asthma patients. Nurses should also provide personality-specific interventions to improve quality of life in such patients.