The Long-term Corrosion Behaviour of Abandoned Wells Under CO2 Geological Storage Conditions: (2) Experimental Results for Corrosion of Casing Steel

AbstractRegarding the geological storage of CO2 in aquifers or in depleted gas fields, the reactivity of the well casing left in the abandoned well is important in order to investigate the potential for leakage. The corrosion behavior of the casing steel tube was investigated in highly pressurized CO2 environments.The corrosion test of the J55 and N80 steel tube in API specification 5CT was conducted. Those steel tubes have been frequently used as casing tube and are found in abandoned natural gas wells. The following test conditions were achieved with the autoclave apparatus: temperature at 50 to 70°C, CO2 pressure at 5 to 18MPa with/without the impurities of 20ppm H2S and 2000ppm CO, in/above stagnant 0.5M NaCl solution of simulated formation water. The test durations were 100, 300 and 1000hours.After the corrosion test, the specimens were analyzed by Energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry and X-ray diffractometry. The specimens were found to be covered mainly with FeCO3, which is considered to be formed from dissolved Fe2+ and environmental CO2. The corrosion rate was evaluated via the weight loss of the specimens after the removal of the surface corrosion products, containing FeCO3. No significant differences were observed between J55 and N80 in terms of FeCO3 formation and corrosion weight loss. It was found that the weight loss by corrosion, around 100mg/cm2 after 100hours, was remarkably large when the specimen was placed in the solution and was, in contrast, two orders of magnitude smaller when the specimen was above the solution. In the case with the impurities of 20ppm H2S and 2000ppm CO, the weight loss in the solution was less relative to the pure CO2 condition. The weight loss in the solution reached a plateau in initial 100hours, and was only slightly increased in the 300- and the 1000-hour tests. The ‘plateau’ was considered to be due to the protective effect of the FeCO3 formed on the specimen. Considering the protective effect of the FeCO3, the corrosion of the steel casing over a long period of time is small under the stagnant condition, and would be expected to remain in place with little structural degradation

Desquamative Gingivitis

Desquamative gingivitis (DG) is characterized by erythematous, epithelial desquamation, erosion of the gingival epithelium, and blister formation on the gingiva. DG is a clinical feature of a variety of diseases or disorders. Most cases of DG are associated with mucocutaneous diseases, the most common ones being lichen planus, mucous membrane pemphigoid, and pemphigus vulgaris. Proper diagnosis of the underlying cause is important because the prognosis varies, depending on the disease. This chapter presents the underlying etiology that is most commonly associated with DG. The current literature on the diagnostic and management modalities of patients with DG is reviewed

Correlation between inflammation state and successful medical cardioversion using bepridil for refractory atrial fibrillation

AbstractBackgroundIt has been reported that inflammation is associated with long-term maintenance of sinus rhythm after electrical cardioversion for non-valvular atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the relation between high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and the recurrence of AF after medical cardioversion is unknown. On the other hand, bepridil is very effective in restoring sinus rhythm for patients with refractory AF.Methods and resultsIn 119 patients with non-valvular AF lasting >6 months who failed to maintain sinus rhythm after medical cardioversion without bepridil or electrical cardioversion, we prescribed bepridil. We divided our patients into success group who maintained sinus rhythm for at least 6 months using bepridil and failure group, and compared the following parameters, which were measured just before prescription of bepridil, between the two groups: hs-CRP as a marker of inflammation, left ventricular end-diastolic dimension, ejection fraction, and left atrial dimension as echocardiographic markers, and the incidence of dyslipidemia, hypertension, and diabetes mellitus. After the treatment with bepridil, 57 patients converted to sinus rhythm; however, 12 patients among these 57 patients could not maintain sinus rhythm. Therefore, the success group consisted of 45 patients (38%). Univariate analysis revealed that left atrial dimension and the value of hs-CRP were significantly lower and ejection fraction was significantly higher in the success group than the failure group. Multivariate analysis showed that hs-CRP and left atrial dimension were independent factors for AF recurrence.ConclusionsBepridil is effective in restoring sinus rhythm for refractory AF patients. Inflammation, in addition to left atrial dimension, may be associated with successful cardioversion using bepridil

Prompt Resolution of Hypoglycemia by Hepatic Transarterial Embolization for Malignant Insulinoma with Multiple Liver Metastases

A 45-year-old female who presented with loss of consciousness and a cold sweat was found to have a pancreatic tumor and multiple liver metastases. Laboratory studies showed marked hypoglycemia and inappropriately elevated serum insulin, C-peptide, and serum tumor markers. Fine needle aspiration revealed Grade 3 small-cell type primary pancreatic neuroendocrine carcinoma. Consequently, the diagnosis of malignant insulinoma was made. Transarterial embolization (TAE) for hepatic metastases resulted in the reduction of tumor volume and prompt resolution of hypoglycemic attacks, whereas diazoxide and systemic chemotherapy had been ineffective for controlling blood glucose levels, and octreotide was unavailable due to the allergic effect. This case report highlights the potential usefulness of TAE for malignant insulinomas in the management of hypoglycemia

ホッカイドウ バッカイコウ ニ ライユウ スル ゴマフアザラシ（Phoca largha）ノ フユ-ハル ニ オケル リヨウ カイイキ オヨビ ハンショク カイイキ ノ スイテイ

1990年代後半以降，北海道日本海側においてはゴマフアザラシの来遊個体数が急増し，新たな上陸場も多数形成されている。それらの上陸場の中でも，稚内市抜海港は顕著に個体数増加が見られている。本研究では抜海港を利用する個体に衛星発信機を装着し，彼らの利用海域および繁殖海域を推定することを目的とした。発信機を装着した個体のうち2個体（メス1，オス1）はオホーツク海へ，他の2個体（オス2）は間宮（タタール）海峡へと移動した。また，オホーツク海，間宮海峡のどちらの海域へ移動した個体においても海氷域を利用し，常に海氷縁辺部に滞在する個体と，海氷域を利用せず沿岸域に滞在する個体が確認された。海氷縁辺部を利用した2個体はどちらも体サイズが大きく，海氷域を利用していた期間は上陸割合が増加する傾向があったことから，繁殖に参加した成獣であると考えられた。したがって，抜海港に来遊するゴマフアザラシの繁殖海域は，少なくともオホーツク海と間宮海峡の海氷域であることが推察された。一方，海氷域を利用しなかった2個体はどちらも体サイズが小さく，未成熟個体であったと考えられ，成獣と同様にオホーツク海あるいは間宮海峡への移動が確認された。以上のことから，抜海港には少なくともオホーツク海由来の個体と間宮海峡由来の個体が来遊してきていることが示唆された。Spotted seals migrating to the northern Japan Sea of Hokkaido increased rapidly after the late 1990s. Since then, many new hauled-out sites have been established. The population growth was observed at these newly formed haulout groups but the increase was especially large at the port of Bakkai in Wakkanai-city. In this study, we tracked the movement of 4 spotted seals captured in Bakkai using satellite transmitters, and estimated the utilization and breeding areas of the individuals using this site. As a result, 2 seals (both males) moved to the Tatar Strait, while the others (one male, one female) migrated to the Okhotsk Sea. At both sites, seals used several environments as haul-out sites: some seals used sea-ice area and stayed for the whole time while the others used the coastal region. Since two seals using the edge of the sea-ice were both large in body size, and their landing frequencies became higher as the time spent around the sea-ice increased, they are thought to be adult seals which were breeding. This suggests the breeding area of spotted seals migrating to the port of Bakkai are located on the sea-ice region within the Okhotsk Sea and Tatar Strait. On the other hand, because the seals using non sea-ice area were both small in body size, we considered them to be immature sub-adults, and they too, moved to the Okhotsk Sea or Tatar Strait like the adults. In conclusion, it is suggested that individuals which use the port of Bakkai as haulout sites are migrants from the Okhotsk Sea or Tatar Strait

Shoulder and elbow pain in elementary school baseball players : The results from a nation-wide survey in Japan

Background: Despite recommendations on how to prevent baseball injuries in youths by the Japanese Society of Clinical Sports Medicine, shoulder and elbow pain still frequently occurs in young baseball players. We conducted a questionnaire survey among baseball players at elementary schools across the country to understand the practice conditions of players, examining the risk factors of shoulder and elbow pain in baseball players. Methods: The questionnaire survey was conducted among elementary school baseball players as members of the Baseball Federation of Japan in September 2015. Results: A total of 8354 players belonging to 412 teams (average age: 8.9) responded to the survey. Among 7894 players who did not have any shoulder and/or elbow pain in September 2014, elbow pain was experienced in 12.3% of them, shoulder pain in 8.0% and shoulder and/or elbow pain in 17.4% during the previous one year. A total of 2835 (39.9% of the total) practiced four days or more per week and 97.6% practiced 3 h or more per day on Saturdays and Sundays. The risk factors associated shoulder and elbow pain included a male sex, older age, pitchers and catchers, and players throwing more than 50 balls per day. Conclusions: It has been revealed that Japanese elementary school baseball players train too much. Coaches should pay attention to older players, male players, pitchers and catchers in order to prevent shoulder and elbow pain. Furthermore, elementary school baseball players should not be allowed to throw more than 50 balls per day. Study design: Retrospective cohort study