Understanding Blackness in South Korea: Experiences of one Black Teacher and one Black Student

This study examines the experiences of one Black individual Wilkine Brutus who worked as a teacher and one Black individual Sam Okyere who was a university student in South Korea The purpose of this study was to understand the meaning of Blackness in South Korea and how it is constructed how anti-Black sentiments affect Black individuals and how Black individuals - given the opportunity in South Korea in diverse fields - may shape and transform the construct of Blackness in the country This study raises a number of issues in the Korean context where Black individuals are being discriminated against because of their race and skin color and are denied opportunities especially in the field of educatio

Sodium Biphenyl as Anolyte for Sodium-Seawater Batteries

Sodium-based battery systems have recently attracted increasing research interest due to the abundant resources employed. Among various material candidates for the negative electrode, sodium metal provides the highest capacity of theoretically 1165 mAh g(-1) and a very low redox potential of -2.71 versus the standard hydrogen electrode. However, the high reactivity of sodium metal toward the commonly used electrolytes results in severe side reactions, including the evolution of gaseous decomposition products, and, in addition, the risk of dendritic sodium growth, potentially causing a disastrous short circuit of the cell. Herein, the use of sodium biphenyl (Na-BP) as anolyte for the Na-seawater batteries (Na-SWB) is investigated. The catholyte for the open-structured positive electrode is natural seawater with sodium cations dissolved therein. Remarkably, the significant electronic and ionic conductivities of the Na-BP anolyte enable a low overpotential for the sodium deposition upon charge, allowing for high capacity and excellent capacity retention for 80 cycles in full Na-SWB. Additionally, the Na-BP anolyte suppresses gas evolution and dendrite growth by forming a homogeneous surface layer on the metallic negative electrode

Longitudinal Association Between Children’s Callous-Unemotional Traits and Social Competence: Child Executive Function and Maternal Warmth as Moderators

This study examined the longitudinal association between children’s early callous-unemotional (CU) traits and social competence in the transition to school-age, and tested whether this relationship was moderated by child executive function and maternal warmth. Participants were 643 children (49% girls) who were part of the Panel Study on Korean Children (PSKC) of the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education (KICCE). Mothers rated children’s CU at 5 years and executive function at 8 years, and maternal warmth at 5 years. Teachers reported on children’s social competence at 8 years. Results of the model including child executive function as the moderator indicated that deficits in child executive function and child sex (boys) predicted lower social competence. In addition, the moderating effect of executive function on the relationship between CU and social competence approached a trend such that CU predicted lower social competence only for children with lower executive function. In the model that included maternal warmth as a moderator, CU traits was associated with lower social competence, and this effect was more pronounced for boys as indicated by a significant effects of CU × child sex on social competence. The findings are discussed with respect to considering individual and contextual factors by which early CU becomes associated with individual differences in children’s social competence

Characteristics of Epilepsy in Children with Cerebral Palsy: A Single Tertiary Center Study

Purpose The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of epilepsy in cerebral palsy (CP) patients and identify risk factors for epilepsy and drug-resistant epilepsy. Methods CP patients aged 18 years old or younger who visited the pediatric neurology department and/or rehabilitation department of a tertiary care hospital between January 2016 and December 2022 with a minimum follow-up period of 2 years were included. Demographic and clinical data, seizure characteristics, brain imaging, electroencephalography, and genetic evaluation results were reviewed retrospectively. Results Among 268 patients included in this study, 36.9% had epilepsy and 10.8% had drug-resistant epilepsy. Asphyxia (29.3%), hemorrhage, infarction, and brain infection (25.3%) were associated with epilepsy. Epileptic CP patients were more likely to experience neonatal seizures (18.2% vs. 4.1%, P<0.001) and febrile seizures (12.1% vs. 7.1%, P=0.02) than non-epilepsy CP patients. The most common cerebral subtype in patients with epilepsy was spastic quadriplegia (59.6%). Epilepsy patients were more severely impaired in gross motor function, with worse intellectual disability. Patients with macrocephaly or cerebral malformation were more likely to have drug resistance. Valproate (51.7% and 25.7%) and levetiracetam (41.4% and 25.7%) were the two most commonly used antiseizure medications, both in monotherapy and polytherapy. Conclusion A history of asphyxia, febrile seizure, neonatal seizure, spastic quadriplegia, more severely impaired gross motor function, and intellectual disability were found to be risk factors for epilepsy. Further research with prospective data collection to develop a model for predicting seizures or epilepsy in CP patients is needed

An Interesting Case Highlighting Management of Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

INTRODUCTION: The development of valvular incompetence and/or obstruction in the pelvic and gonadal veins causing disabling symptoms comprises Pelvic Congestion Syndrome (PCS). It is a less known pathologic condition commonly occurring in women of child bearing age, and diagnosis can be challenging due to a variety of clinical presentations. Nutcracker syndrome (NCS) is a potential cause of PCS and involves compression of the left renal vein between the superior mesenteric artery and the aorta. We report one such case of a woman who presented with chronic pelvic pain. CASE DESCRIPTION: Our patient is a 31-year-old woman evaluated in our clinic with 6 years of unbearable back and suprapubic pain associated with dyspareunia and dysuria. She underwent evaluation by her gynecologist, and a transvaginal ultrasound demonstrated vaginal varicosities. Computed tomography angiogram (CTA) showed dilated left ovarian vein contiguous with left greater than right pelvic varicosities. We then performed a diagnostic venogram that demonstrated left pelvic venous plexus consistent with pelvic varicosities in the left ovarian vein and NCS anatomy. We decided to treat the PCS first. The patient underwent foam sclerotherapy of the pelvic venous plexus using 3cc of foam sclerosing agent (polidocanol) followed by coil embolization of the left ovarian vein. Post embolization venogram demonstrated radiographically successful treatment with no flow in the ovarian vein and preserved flow in the left renal vein. DISCUSSION: Chronic pelvic pain due to pelvic congestion is often associated with a constellation of symptoms including pelvic pain, dyspareunia, dysmenorrhea, and dysuria causing negative cognitive, behavioral, sexual and emotional consequences. There are three types of chronic pelvic pain, categorized by etiology. Type I is secondary to valvular incompetence of pelvic or ovarian veins, Type II is secondary to obstruction of outflow, and Type III is due to local compression. Venography is the gold standard for diagnosis. Treatment is directed at providing symptomatic relief with medical therapy, and treating the underlying cause by either endovascular (sclerotherapy and embolization, left renal venous stent placement) or open surgical techniques (including gonadal vein transposition, left renal vein transposition, or saphenous vein bypass).N

Thoracic Endovascular Repair of Descending Thoracic Aortic Thrombus

INTRODUCTION: Penetrating atherosclerotic ulcers (PAU) develop in the internal elastic lamina and indicate severe aortic atherosclerosis. PAU can have an associated intraluminal aortic thrombus, with associated risk of thromboembolism with subsequent mesenteric infarct and limb loss. We present a case of persistent descending thoracic aortic thrombus, with embolic renal infarcts, necessitating repair. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 80-year-old woman with history of bilateral renal infarcts on Eliquis and uncontrolled hypertension was referred to our department for extensive aortic atherosclerosis and 6mm ulceration proximal to the celiac artery, demonstrated on a CT. A follow up Computed Tomography Angiogram (CTA) demonstrated a persistent descending thoracic aortic thrombus and thoracic endovascular repair (TEVAR) was indicated. Preoperative imaging demonstrated >50% stenosis of the distal left common femoral artery (CFA). We accessed the proximal left CFA and subsequently placed stent grafts in the descending thoracic aorta, distally to proximally. Completion aortogram revealed complete occlusion in left external iliac artery. Doppler signals to the left foot were diminished on prompt exam. Current intraoperative imaging showed thromboembolism vs. flow-limiting dissection in the left CFA and external iliac arteries. Given these findings, an open endarterectomy of the iliac arteries was indicated, along with stent graft deployment in the left external iliac artery and bilateral stents in the common iliac arteries. A complete angiogram revealed a flow-limiting thromboembolism in the left superficial femoral artery (SFA). This was treated with covered stent placement, excluding the thrombus. Subsequent imaging demonstrated brisk flow into the left foot. On exam, pulses were palpable in the feet bilaterally and she moved all extremities. This patient had an uneventful hospital course and was discharge on postoperative day three. DISCUSSION: PAUs are a collective part of Acute Aortic Syndrome (AAS), seen in 2-8% of patients with AAS. PAUs develop from aortic mural thrombi, located most frequently in the abdominal aorta. A PAU > 4mm thick with ulceration is categorized as a complex plaque and warrants surgical repair. Anticoagulation is not sufficient for complex plaques. Endovascular repair (EVAR) is preferred to open since operating time is shorter, involves smaller incisions, and decreased hospital stay, with improved perioperative morbidity and all-cause mortality. Employing quality vascular access and wire manipulation can reduce endoleaks, access complications, and peripheral embolization. If complications arise, prompt imaging to access the stenotic vessels is necessary. This case demonstrates the potential morbidity of aortic thrombus embolization and the attention to detail required for successful treatment.N

Renal Artery Stenosis and Obstructive Uropathy: To Resect or to Stent?

INTRODUCTION: Atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis causes hypertension that is resistant to medical management and may eventually lead to loss of kidney function. The treatment options for uncontrolled hypertension include best medical therapy (BMT), renal artery stenting (RAS), or surgical intervention; however, the optimal modality remains uncertain. This is the case of a patient with renal artery stenosis complicated by concurrent obstructive uropathy. CASE DESCRIPTION: Our patient is a 66-year-old male with a long-standing history of hypertension uncontrolled with BMT (beta blocker, angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB) and a thiazide diuretic) and progressive renal insufficiency which was presumed to be due to prostatic obstructive uropathy. Despite undergoing a transurethral prostatectomy, his renal function continued to decline. A pelvic magnetic resonance angiogram (MRA) was performed which showed bilateral renal artery stenosis with the left being worse than the right. Computed tomography angiogram (CTA) was then performed which confirmed significant bilateral renal artery stenosis of 80 percent and 60 percent of the left and right renal artery respectively. The patient then underwent balloon angioplasty followed by stenting of both vessels without complication. Post-stenting angiography showed less than 30 percent stenosis of either vessel. During hospitalization, he had some improvement in his blood pressure, and his renal function was improved from baseline. One month follow up showed no significant change in blood pressure from initial visit prior to stenting. DISCUSSION: In healthy subjects, reduced renal perfusion lowers the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), causing a response by the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) which leads to a compensatory increase in blood pressure. Although the GFR is reduced, renal parenchyma is able to adapt to reduced blood flow if perfusion pressure is reduced by 40 percent. There are a number of ways to manage renal artery stenosis, including RAS versus BMT. Currently, the effects of stenting are controversial and not fully understood. Multiple randomized trails have shown confounding results. Some trails have shown benefit in RAS, while others have demonstrated increase adverse outcomes due to renal reperfusion. In this case, we decided to to proceed with RAS given the significant stenosis on imaging, the patient's clinical presentation of worsening renal function despite BMT, and having ruled out other causes of progressive renal failure. The decision to intervene in these patients is usually determined on a case-by-case basis after discussion between surgeon, nephrologist and patient and after educating the patient on the risks and benefits.N