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Purpose: Elastomeric infusion pumps are widely used in colorectal cancer chemotherapy. However, no studies to date have investigated patient preferences regarding different infusion pump types. Patients and Methods: Twenty patients with unresectable colorectal cancer undergoing chemotherapy were initially treated with a portable hard-shelled continuous infusion pump, followed by a soft-shelled continuous infusion pump. The respondents used a numerical rating scale (0– 10) to rate their comfort when using each pump, their ease of carrying it, the pump size and shape, its weight, their ease of reading its memory, and their overall satisfaction with it. They were then asked to determine which pump they would ultimately prefer. Results: In terms of comfort, significantly higher user satisfaction was reported for the soft-shelled pump during the daytime and when going out (P < 0.001, P < 0.001, respectively). For pump portability, size, shape, and weight, the soft-shelled type also outperformed the hard-shelled one (P < 0.001, P=0.0011, P < 0.001, respectively). However, the hard-shelled pump scored significantly better in terms of ease of viewing memory (P < 0.001). Overall satisfaction was significantly higher for the soft-shelled pump than the hard-shelled type (P=0.0095). Finally, 13 patients (65%) indicated that they would prefer a soft-shelled pump for their next treatment, while only one patient (5%) preferred a hard-shelled alternative. A preference for soft-shelled pump was observed, particularly in female patients and those with a body mass index of < 22 kg/m2. Conclusion: The selection of portable elastomeric infusion pumps should consider the preferences of patients with colorectal cancer, as these devices have the potential to enhance their quality of life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Japanese Brown cattle is the second most popular breed among Wagyu breeds and raised mainly in Kumamoto and Kochi Prefectures. Typical coat color of the Kumamoto sub-breed is solid brown, but individuals with diluted coat color are sometimes born. We previously detected four SNPs in PMEL gene and identified p.L18del as the causative polymorphism of this diluted phenotype. The current study examined the association between the SNPs in PMEL gene and carcass traits of the Kumamoto sub-breed. Our association analysis revealed that p.L18del had significant effects on BMS (p = 0.0263), meat brightness (p = 0.0179), meat firmness (p = 0.0102), and meat texture (p = 0.0252) and that del allele of this SNP might be useful to improve these carcass traits., (© 2024 Japanese Society of Animal Science.)