A single administration of barley β-glucan and arabinoxylan extracts reduces blood glucose levels at the second meal via intestinal fermentation.

Diet with barley may suppress the glycemic response after consuming the next meal ("second meal effect"). This study aimed to investigate the second meal effect and its mechanism. Mice were given a single dose of β-glucan or arabinoxylan, the primary sources of soluble fiber in barley.

Arabinoxylan as well as β-glucan in barley promotes GLP-1 secretion by increasing short-chain fatty acids production.

Barley is rich in soluble dietary fiber including β-glucan and arabinoxylan. Barley β-glucan is fermented by gut bacteria and, thereby contributes to an effect on intestinal bacterial composition and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs). It also increases GLP-1 secretion via SCFAs receptor.

Simultaneously developed polymyositis and autoimmune hepatitis.

The inflammatory myopaties such as polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are autoimmune inflammatory muscle disorders characterised by the development of proximal and often symmetrical muscle weakness. Levels of serum muscle enzymes such as creatine kinase (CK), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), asparate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) are usually elevated. However, high levels of AST, ALT and LDH, without a determination of CK, are often misdiagnosed with hepatic diseases.

Severe autoimmune hemolytic anemia associated with IgM warm auto-antibodies in primary Sjögren's syndrome.

Primary Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune disorder involving mainly salivary and lachrymal glands. However, many extraglandular symptoms have also been reported. Although leucocytopenia and lymphocytopenia are frequently observed in hematological disorders, autoimmune hemolytic anemia is rarely reported.

Presenting manifestations of hemophagocytic syndrome in a male patient with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Hemophagocytic syndrome (HPS) is an unusual but sometimes fatal disorder. We reported a case of 21-year-old man who developed HPS and SLE simultaneously. Febrile pancytopenia, hyperferritinemia, and abnormal liver function tests were observed.

Interstitial pneumonitis associated with infliximab therapy without methotrexate treatment.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α inhibitors are increasingly being used to treat rheumatoid arthritis. Infliximab (INF) is a TNF-α inhibitor that is usually used in combination with methotrexate (MTX). Interstitial lung disease (ILD) during combination therapy has been attributed to MTX rather than INF.