Aquaponics using saline groundwater: Effect of adding microelements to fish wastewater on the growth of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. spp. cicla)

Saline soil and saline groundwater reduce agricultural productivity on drylands. We are developing a new aquaponics system to improve food productivity on such lands while effectively utilizing saline groundwater. In this study, cultivation of Swiss chard (Beta vulgaris L. spp. cicla cv. Seiyou Shirokuki) was carried out using fish wastewater with a high salt concentration (1150 mg L−1 NaCl). The levels of microelements (e.g., Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu) in the fish wastewater were very low, so we added microelements at 100% (W100), 50% (W50), 25% (W25), and 0% (W0) of the levels in the standard hydroponics solution to the fish wastewater and investigated the effects on growth of Swiss chard. At the first harvest, yields in all wastewater treatments were as high or higher than in the control. At the second harvest, yields in W100, W50, and W25 were not significantly different from the control, while in W0 the yield was significantly lower and chlorosis was evident. At the third harvest, the yield in all wastewater treatments was less than in the control, and chlorosis symptoms were observed in W25 and W0. Since leaf Mn and Zn concentrations in W25 and W0 had decreased to below the critical values for those microelements, Mn and Zn deficiency might have contributed to the observed chlorosis and yield loss. For the cultivation of Swiss chard with fish wastewater, sufficient yield (i.e., comparable to or better than the control) without chlorosis was obtained when microelements were added at 50% of the level of the control solution. In addition, since sufficient yield was obtained even in W0 at the first harvest, it is suggested that longer-term cultivation and higher yield could be achieved by applying 50% microelements after the first harvest

Effects of a single long-acting muscarinic antagonist agent and a long-acting muscarinic antagonist/long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist combination on lung function and symptoms in untreated COPD patients in Japan

Background: A large body of evidence suggests that long-acting β2-adrenoceptor agonist (LABA)/long-acting muscarinic antagonist (LAMA) combinations induce a strong synergistic bronchodilatory effect in human isolated airways. Moreover, a recent post hoc analysis demonstrated clinical synergism between LABAs and LAMAs, which induces a synergistic improvement not only in lung function but also in dyspnea in COPD patients.Aim: The aim of this study is to examine the baseline factors related to improvement in lung function or clinical symptoms that results from the administration of LAMA or LAMA/LABA and to compare the differences in improvement in lung function or clinical symptoms between LAMA and LAMA/LABA.Methods: Among 829 patients with COPD who were treated with LAMA or LAMA/LABA in our hospital, 112 patients (aged 40–89 years) matched the criteria. Of these 112 patients, 71 received LAMA (LAMA group) and 41 received LAMA/LABA (LAMA/LABA group) as the initial treatment. Various examination results such as lung function test values, symptom change, and frequency of exacerbations were compared between the two groups.Results: Compared with the monotherapy, the combination therapy significantly improved the FEV1, inspiratory capacity (IC), and total COPD assessment test (CAT) scores. Comparing the improvement in each domain of the CAT produced by the combination therapy with that of the monotherapy, larger improvements were found for the domains of going out and sleeping. The frequency of exacerbations during the 24 weeks was significantly lower in the combination therapy group than in the LAMA monotherapy group (P=0.034). Although no relationship was found between improvement in FEV1 and any pretreatment factors in the LAMA/LABA group, the improvement in the CAT score was strongly related to the baseline CAT score, smoking index, and air trapping index (P-value <1×10-4).Conclusion: In this study of clinical practice, we found that LAMA/LABA combination therapy improved the clinical symptoms of COPD and IC and that the effects of the combination therapy were consistent with those observed in previous clinical trials

Interleukin 27 in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in patients with non–small cell lung cancer

Letter to the edito

A case of severe eosinophilic asthma and refractory rheumatoid arthritis well controlled by combination of IL-5Rα antibody and TNFα inhibitor

Letter to the Edito

A case of a pulmonary artery sling misdiagnosed as refractory asthma for 20 years

We report the case of a 25-year-old woman with a pulmonary artery sling who was misdiagnosed as having childhood-onset refractory asthma for approximately 20 years. The use of computed tomography may be useful for diagnosing this rare condition

Genetic association of the functional CDHR3 genotype with early-onset adult asthma in Japanese populations

BackgroundRecent studies have demonstrated that a coding SNP (rs6967330, Cys529→Tyr) in cadherin-related family member 3 (CDHR3), which was previously associated with wheezing illness and hospitalizations in infancy, could support efficient human rhinovirus C (RV-C) entry and replication. Here, we sought to examine the genetic contribution of this variant to the development of adult asthma.MethodsWe performed a candidate gene case–control association study of 2 independent Japanese populations (a total of 3366 adults). The odds ratios (ORs) for association of the A allele at rs6967330 with adult asthma were calculated according to age at onset of asthma. In addition, the effect of the CDHR3 genotype on the development of specific asthma phenotypes was examined.ResultsThe A allele was associated with asthma (OR = 1.56; Mantel–Haenszel p = 0.0040) when the analysis was limited to patients with early-onset adult asthma. In addition, when the analysis was limited to atopic individuals, a stronger association of the CDHR3 variant with early-onset asthma was found, and interaction of the CDHR3 genotype with atopy was demonstrated. Finally, a significant association of this variant was specifically found with a phenotype of asthma characterized by atopy, early-onset, and lower lung function.ConclusionsOur study supports the concept that the CDHR3 variant is an important susceptibility factor for severe adult asthma in individuals who develop the disease in early life. The interaction between the CDHR3 variant and atopy indicates that genetic predisposition to early respiratory viral infection is combined with atopy in promoting asthma

Rinsing of oropharynx and storage place of respiratory medicine inhaler: A cross‐sectional audit

BackgroundIn patients with bronchial asthma and those with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), inhalation therapy and rinsing of the mouth and the oropharynx by gargling (“RMOG”) after inhalation are recommended. We performed a cross‐sectional audit aimed at investigating (a) the proportion of patients performing “RMOG” after inhalation and (b) storage place of patients’ inhaler.MethodsPatients with bronchial asthma and those with COPD were asked by medical aids at outpatient visits whether they did “RMOG every time,” “RMOG sometimes,” or “no RMOG” after inhalation, and where they stored their inhaler.ResultsDuring a six month study period up to September 2017, 330 consecutive patients with asthma and those with COPD were included in the study. Two hundred and thirty‐two (70.3%) of the 330 patients answered “RMOG every time” and 98 (29.7%) of them did “RMOG sometimes” and did “no RMOG.” There was a difference in the proportion of patients performing RMOG after inhalation with patient age. With regard to the storage location of inhaler, we found the proportion of patients performing RMOG was higher in those who stored inhalers in a room with running water than in those who stored inhalers at other places. This difference was found in patients with both bronchial asthma and those with COPD.ConclusionsFurther implementation of “patient education” on performing RMOG after inhalation for patients receiving inhaled medication is still necessary. Our results suggest that it is better to store inhalers in places where there is easy access to tap water used for RMOG