This study examined the effects of 30% and 70% shading on the growth characteristics, phenolic content, and antioxidant activity of three male cultivars (Atticus, Avalim, and Herkolim) of asparagus grown in a rain-shelter house. The 70% shading treatment significantly increased the shoot elongation rate of all three male cultivars compared with the control and 30% shade treatments. Compared with the control treatment, 30% shading increased the shoot production rate and bud number of the Atticus and Avalim cultivars. Most of the plant growth characteristics of the Herkolim cultivar were not affected by the 30% shade treatment, except root diameter. Polyphenol contents in all three cultivars were significantly decreased under the 30% shade treatment compared with that in the plants under the control and 70% shade treatments. The Atticus cultivar had a higher polyphenol content than that in the Avalim and Herkolim cultivars under shade treatments. The flavonoid contents in Atticus and Avalim plants under the 30% shade treatment were lower than that in plants under the control treatment. Compared with the control treatment, the 30% shade treatment significantly decreased antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxide dismutase, catalase, and peroxidase as well as the 2,2'-azino-bis3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS) free-radical scavenging activity of Atticus and Herkolim. Under the 30% shade treatment, the polyphenol and flavonoid contents in the Atticus cultivar were significantly higher than those in the Avalim cultivar. The results suggest that the 30% shade treatment can be applied in the cultivation of the Atticus cultivar to improve spear production in the following season and minimize decreases in phenolic content.
Purpose Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is a key public health issue, but effective intervention has not yet been established. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis has been conducted to assess the relationship between the use of air filters, one of the most commonly studied interventions, and respiratory outcomes in patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Methods We systematically reviewed intervention studies on PM using PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases up to September 2019. Studies that included data on PM concentration changes and respiratory symptoms or lung function in patients with respiratory diseases were eligible for inclusion. Effect estimates were quantified separately using the random-effects model. Results Six studies were included in the quantitative analysis. Air filter use reduced indoor PM2.5 by 11.45 µg/m3 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.88, 16.01 µg/m3). Air filter use was not associated with improvements in respiratory symptoms in 5 of the 6 studies or significant changes in the predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) (mean change, -1.77%; 95% CI, -8.25%, 4.71%). Air filter use was associated with improved peak expiratory flow rate by 5.86 (95% CI, 3.5, 8.19 of standardized difference). Conclusions The findings of this systematic review suggest that air filters may reduce indoor PM and increase peak expiratory rate in asthmatic patients. However, most studies showed no significant effects of air filters on respiratory symptoms or FEV1. Further studies in regions with high-density PM may provide additional information on this issue. Trial registration PROSPERO Identifier: CRD42020156258.
Although bronchodilator inhaler therapy can improve lung function in patients with tuberculous destroyed lung (TDL), its effect on mortality has not been studied. We evaluated the effect of tiotropium inhaler therapy on mortality in patients with TDL.A retrospective cohort of 963 patients with TDL was followed for up to ten years by linking hospital and nationwide health insurance claims data. We compared patients receiving tiotropium inhaler with patients without tiotropium after matching with propensity scores. In addition, we elucidated the risk factors of mortality using Cox proportional hazards model.After the propensity score matching, the baseline characteristics were balanced in both the tiotropium group (n = 105) and the non-tiotropium group (n = 105); including mean age (63.9 vs. 64.4 years, P = 0.715), mean forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) (45.0 vs. 45.3%, P = 0.903), and others. After the propensity score matching, the tiotropium group showed better survival than the non-tiotropium group (median survival period: not reached for the tiotropium group vs. 7.24 years for the non-tiotropium group, Prentice-Wilcoxon test, P = 0.008). Multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed that tiotropium inhaler usage was associated with lower risk of mortality in the multivariate analysis (HR, 0.560; 95% CI, 0.380-0.824; P = 0.003) after adjusting age, sex, BMI, smoking history, mMRC dyspnea score, Charlson Comorbidity Index, concomitant COPD diagnosis, FEV1, X-ray severity score, and home oxygen usage.Our results suggest that tiotropium inhaler is associated with decreased all-cause mortality in TDL. Further prospective study is required for validation.
Because of the highly variable clinical course of rheumatoid arthritis-associated usual interstitial pneumonia (RA-UIP), the prediction of patient prognosis is important.The aim of this study was to investigate the role of blood biomarkers as prognostic predictors in the patients with RA-UIP.The blood levels of biomarkers (Krebs von den Lungen-6 [KL-6], surfactant protein-A [SP-A], matrix metalloproteinase-7 [MMP-7], interleukin-6 [IL-6], and interleukin-32 [IL-32]) were retrospectively compared with the clinical courses of 62 patients with RA-UIP.The median follow-up period was 33.4 months. RA-UIP progressed in 15 patients (45.2%) during one year of follow-up. We found that KL-6 and IL-6 were significant predictors of short-term (1 year) prognosis. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the odds ratio (OR) for KL-6 was 1.001 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.000-1.003, p = 0.077) and that the OR for IL-6 was 1.040 (95% CI: 1.002-1.080, p = 0.039) for short-term disease progression. The addition of KL-6 and IL-6 to the clinical parameters (concordance index [C-index]: 0.958, p = 0.053) predicted short-term disease progression better than the clinical parameter alone (C-index: 0.853). In addition, patients with high levels of KL-6 (≥933 U/mL) had shorter survival than those with low levels of KL-6 (<933 U/mL) (median survival: 51 vs. 96 months, p = 0.019).The results of this retrospective study suggested that KL-6 and IL-6 could be used as predictors of short-term disease progression. In addition, high levels of KL-6 could be used as a predictor of mortality. Additional studies involving a larger patient cohort are warranted.
Acute exacerbations of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (AE-IPF) have been defined as events of clinically significant respiratory deterioration with an unidentifiable cause. They carry a significant mortality and morbidity and while their exact pathogenesis remains unclear, the possibility remains that hidden infection may play a role. The aim of this pilot study was to determine whether changes in the respiratory microbiota occur during an AE-IPF. Bacterial DNA was extracted from bronchoalveolar lavage from patients with stable IPF and those experiencing an AE-IPF. A hyper-variable region of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA) was amplified, quantified and pyrosequenced. Culture independent techniques demonstrate AE-IPF is associated with an increased BAL bacterial burden compared to stable disease and highlight shifts in the composition of the respiratory microbiota during an AE-IPF.
Background: Particulate matter (PM) 2.5 has been associated with worse quality of life, more exacerbations and increased mortality in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there have been few studies with accurate measurements of PM2.5 concentrations. In this study we aimed to study effects of PM2.5 on COPD patients with prospective individualized measurements. Methods: Indoor concentrations of PM2.5 was recorded by internet of things-based sensors (CP-16-A5, Aircok Inc., Seoul, Korea) installed at participants’ homes. Outdoor concentrations data was obtained from opensource database run by Korea Environment Company, providing measurements from observatories nearest to subjects’ residences. Pulmonary function test, COPD assessments test (CAT), St George’s respiratory questionnaire-COPD-specific version (SGRQ-C) were followed trimonthly for 1 year. Results: For analysis, there were 109 participants. The mean age was 68.8 years and male were 90.8%. At baseline, mean forced expiratory volume in 1 second was 52.76%, mean CAT score was 16.7 and mean SGRQ-C was 21.1. Total number of exacerbations were 187. Concentrations of PM2.5 was higher outdoors than indoors (17.2µg/m3 vs 16.1µg/m3, p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed increase in SGRQ-C was associated higher indoor concentrations of PM2.5 (odds ratio (OR) 1.52, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-2.25, p=0.037). Occurrence of exacerbation was related to elevation of outdoors concentrations of PM2.5 on multiple logistic regression analysis (OR 1.25, 95% CI 1.06-1.47, p=0.009). Conclusions: Our data suggest increased concentrations of PM2.5 is linked to more exacerbations and aggravated health status.
Abstract BackgroundExposure to particulate matter (PM) is a key public health issue, but effective intervention has not yet been established. A systematic literature review and meta-analysis has been conducted to assess the relationship between the use of air filters, one of the most-studied interventions, and respiratory outcomes in patients with chronic respiratory disease.MethodsWe systemically reviewed intervention studies on PM using Pubmed, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases up to September 2019. Studies that included data on PM level changes and respiratory symptoms or lung function in patients with respiratory diseases were eligible for inclusion. Effect estimates were quantified separately using the random-effects model.ResultsSeven studies were included in our study. Air filter use reduced indoor PM 2.5 by 11.45 µg/m 3 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.88–16.01 µg/m 3 ). Air filter use improved predicted forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV 1 ) by 3.60% (95% CI: 0.29–6.90%). Air filter use was not associated with a significant change in respiratory symptoms (odds ratio: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.62–1.08).ConclusionThe findings from this systematic review suggest that a role for air filter with respect to reduced indoor PM and increased lung function. Further studies in high density PM regions may provide additional information on this role.Systematic review registration: PROSPERO: on review ID 156258
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