Airborne Measurements of High Pollutant Concentration Events in the Free Troposphere over the West Coast of South Korea between 1997 and 2011

Aircrafts enable the direct measurement of chemical components in the free troposphere (FT). This study employed airborne measurements to examine the occurrences of high concentrations of SO2 and NOx in the FT over the coastal region west of the Seoul metropolitan area, South Korea. The data from a long-term (1997-2011) airborne measurement campaign were used to determine the meteorological conditions favorable for carrying these pollutants into the Seoul area. The back trajectory analyses of 21 instances of high FT pollutant concentration events showed ascending patterns from the major pollutant sources, mainly the industrial complexes in eastern China, in 9 instances and passing patterns in 12 instances. In the ascending instances, developing low-pressure systems over the source regions provide favorable conditions to uplift air pollutants from the surface into the FT. In the passing instances, an anomalous low-pressure system near the surface prevented airflows from descending into the boundary layer and upper-level anticyclonic systems helped to keep the ascending airflows in the FT. This study proposes the basic mechanisms for predicting air quality in the Seoul area, considering that air pollutants in the FT often entrain into the boundary layer to increase local concentrationsopen0

Airway epithelial cells initiate the allergen response through transglutaminase 2 by inducing IL-33 expression and a subsequent Th2 response

Transglutaminase 2 (TG2) is a post-translational protein-modifying enzyme that catalyzes the transamidation reaction, producing crosslinked or polyaminated proteins. Increased TG2 expression and activity have been reported in various inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis, inflammation-associated pulmonary fibrosis, and autoimmune encephalitis. In particular, TG2 from epithelial cells is important during the initial inflammatory response in the lung. In this study, we evaluated the role of TG2 in the pathogenesis of allergic asthma, particularly whether TG2 affects initial activation signaling leading to Th2 differentiation against antigens. Methods We induced allergic asthma by ovalbumin sensitization and intranasal challenge in wild-type (WT) BALB/c and TG2-deficient mice. Broncheoalveolar lavage fluid cells and intracellular cytokine production were analyzed by flow cytometry. Interleukin (IL)-33 and TG2 expression in lung epithelial cells was detected by confocal microscopy. Results Airway responsiveness was attenuated in TG2-deficient mice compared to that in the WT control. In addition, recruitment of eosinophils and Th2 and Th17 differentiation decreased in TG2-deficient mice. Treatment with cysteamine, a transglutaminase inhibitor, also reduced airway hypersensitivity, inflammatory cell recruitment, and T helper cell differentiation. TG2-deficient mice showed reduced IL-33 expression following induction of allergic asthma compared to those in the WT control. Conclusions We found that pulmonary epithelial cells damaged by allergens triggered TG2-mediated IL-33 expression leading to type 2 responses by recruiting both innate and adaptive arms of the immune system.Peer Reviewe

Hypereosinophilia Presenting as Eosinophilic Vasculitis and Multiple Peripheral Artery Occlusions without Organ Involvement

We report here a case with hypereosinophilia and peripheral artery occlusion. A 32-yr-old Korean woman presented to us with lower extremity swelling and pain. Angiography revealed that multiple lower extremity arteries were occlusive. The biopsy specimen showed perivascular and periadnexal dense eosinophilic infiltration in dermis and subcutaneous adipose tissue. Laboratory investigations revealed a persistent hypereosinophilia. She was prescribed prednisolone 60 mg daily. Her skin lesion and pain were improved and the eosinophil count was dramatically decreased. After discharge, eosinophil count gradually increased again. Cyanosis and pain of her fingers recurred. She had been treated with cyclophosphamide pulse therapy. Her eosinophilia was decreased, but the cyanosis and tingling sense were progressive. The extremity arterial stenoses were slightly progressed. Skin biopsy showed perivascular eosinophilic infiltration in the dermis and CD40 ligand (CD40L) positive eosinophilic infiltration. The serum TNF-α was markedly increased. These results suggest that CD40L (a member of TNF-α superfamily) could play a role in the inflammatory processes when eosinophil infiltration and activation are observed. We prescribed prednisolone, cyclophosphamide, clopidogrel, cilostazol, beraprost and nifedipine, and she was discharged

RNA sequencing analysis of Cymbidium goeringii identifies floral scent biosynthesis related genes

Background Cymbidium goeringii belongs to the Orchidaceae, which is one of the most abundant angiosperm families. Cymbidium goeringii consist with high economic value and characteristics include fragrance and multiple flower colors. Floral scent is one of the important strategies for ensuring fertilization. However, limited genetic data is available in this non-model plant, and little known about the molecular mechanism responsible for floral scent in this orchid. Transcriptome and expression profiling data are needed to identify genes and better understand the biological mechanisms of floral scents in this species. Present transcriptomic data provides basic information on the genes and enzymes related to and pathways involved in flower secondary metabolism in this plant. Results In this study, RNA sequencing analyses were performed to identify changes in gene expression and biological pathways related scent metabolism. Three cDNA libraries were obtained from three developmental floral stages: closed bud, half flowering stage and full flowering stage. Using Illumina technique 159,616,374 clean reads were obtained and were assembled into 85,868 final unigenes (average length 1194 nt), 33.85% of which were annotated in the NCBI non redundant protein database. Among this unigenes 36,082 were assigned to gene ontology and 23,164 were combined with COG groups. Total 33,417 unigenes were assigned in 127 pathways according to the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway database. According these transcriptomic data we identified number of candidates genes which differentially expressed in different developmental stages of flower related to fragrance biosynthesis. In q-RT-PCR most of the fragrance related genes highly expressed in half flowering stage. Conclusions RNA-seq and DEG data provided comprehensive gene expression information at the transcriptional level that could be facilitate the molecular mechanisms of floral biosynthesis pathways in three developmental phases flowers in Cymbidium goeringii, moreover providing useful information for further analysis on C. goeringii, and other plants of genus Cymbidium.This work was financially supported by the cooperative project grant PJ01183202 awarded by the National Institute of Horticulture and Herbal Science, RDA, Korea

The RAV1 transcription factor positively regulates leaf senescence in Arabidopsis

Leaf senescence is a developmentally programmed cell death process that constitutes the final step of leaf development and involves the extensive reprogramming of gene expression. Despite the importance of senescence in plants, the underlying regulatory mechanisms are not well understood. This study reports the isolation and functional analysis of RAV1, which encodes a RAV family transcription factor. Expression of RAV1 and its homologues is closely associated with leaf maturation and senescence. RAV1 mRNA increased at a later stage of leaf maturation and reached a maximal level early in senescence, but decreased again during late senescence. This profile indicates that RAV1 could play an important regulatory role in the early events of leaf senescence. Furthermore, constitutive and inducible overexpression of RAV1 caused premature leaf senescence. These data strongly suggest that RAV1 is sufficient to cause leaf senescence and it functions as a positive regulator in this process

Factors associated with unsuccessful pessary fitting and reasons for discontinuation in Korean women with pelvic organ prolapse

© 2022. Korean Society of Obstetrics and Gynecology. All Rights Reserved.Objective To identify the factors associated with unsuccessful pessary fitting and reasons for pessary discontinuation in Korean women with pelvic organ prolapse (POP). Methods The medical records of 234 patients who underwent pessary fitting for the management of symptomatic POP were retrospectively reviewed. A ring pessary with or without support was used. Successful pessary fitting was defined as the ability to wear a pessary for 2 weeks without any discomfort. Factors associated with unsuccessful pessary fitting were determined using a multivariable logistic regression analysis. A Kaplan-Meier survival curve was obtained to examine the probability of continuing pessary use over the follow-up period. The reasons for the discontinuation of pessary were identified. Results Two-hundred-and-twenty-five women were included in the analysis. The rate of unsuccessful pessary fitting was 40%. Prior hysterectomy (odds ratio [OR], 4.13; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.81-9.42) and POP quantification stage III-IV (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.28-4.85) were independent risk factors for unsuccessful pessary fitting. Among the patients with successful pessary fitting, the median time to discontinuation of pessary use was 4 years. The most common causes of discontinued use were vaginal erosion (45.3%) and urinary incontinence (26.5%). Conclusion Patients with a history of hysterectomy and advanced-stage POP are at risk for an unsuccessful fitting of the ring pessary. Vaginal erosion is the main reason for discontinued use among patients with successful pessary fitting.N

Estimating bulk optical properties of aerosols over the western North Pacific by using MODIS and CERES measurements

Over the western North Pacific, a large amount of land aerosols from Asian-Pacific countries is transported by the prevailing westerlies. This transport makes the radiative characteristics of these aerosols diverse, particularly when one compares those characteristics over the coastal sea with those over the open sea. In this paper we discuss a method that uses satellite data to obtain the single-scattering albedo (omega) and asymmetry factor (g) of atmospheric aerosols for two large-scale subdivisions-the coastal sea (within 250 km from the coast) and the open sea (the remaining area)-over the western North Pacific (110 degrees E-180 degrees, 20 degrees N-50 degrees N). Our estimation method uses satellite measurements, obtained over a six-year period (2000-2005), of aerosol optical depth (AOD) and shortwave fluxes at both the surface and the top of the atmosphere (TOA): the measurements are obtained using the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) and the Clouds and the Earth's Radiant Energy System (CERES). For the two subdivisions the estimated annual means of (omega, g) at 630 nm are significantly different: (0.94, 0.65) over the coastal sea and (0.97, 0.70) over the open sea. From a quantitative viewpoint, this result indicates that in comparison with aerosols over the open sea, those over the coastal sea show greater absorption and lesser forward scattering of solar radiation. The estimated optical properties are responsible for the aerosol surface cooling observed by MODIS and CERES, which is approximately 138 and 108 W m(-2) per AOD over the coastal sea and open sea, respectively.close4

Possible Relationship of Weakened Aleutian Low with Air Quality Improvement in Seoul, South Korea

Cold-season air quality in Seoul, South Korea, has been improved noticeably between 2001 and 2015 with a near-50% decrease in the mean concentration of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters ???10 ??m (PM10). Like the change in mean concentration, the occurrence frequency and intensity of the extreme-high-PM10 episodes exceeding 100 ??g m−3 has significantly decreased as well. In addition to the multilateral efforts of the South Korean government to reduce air pollutant emissions, this study proposes that large-scale circulation changes also could have contributed to the air quality improvements. Specifically, the recent weakening of the Aleutian low may have intensified the tropospheric westerlies around the Korean Peninsula, resulting in a shorter residence time of particulate matter over South Korea. Thus, despite constant governmental effort to reduce pollutant emissions, the improvement in air quality over South Korea may be delayed if the Aleutian low recovers its past strength in the future. This study emphasizes the importance of the meteorological field in determining the air quality over South Korea

Ultra-high-resolution computed tomography shows changes in the lungs related with airway hyperresponsiveness in a murine asthma model

In vivo presentation of airway hyper-responsiveness (AHR) at the different time points of the allergic reaction is not clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to investigate how AHR manifests in the airway and the lung parenchyma in vivo following exposure to different stimuli and in the early and late phases of asthma after allergen exposure. Ovalbumin (OVA)-induced allergic asthma model was established using 6-week female BALB/c mice. Enhanced pause was measured with a non-invasive method to assess AHR. The dynamic changes of the airway and lung parenchyma were evaluated with ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (128 multi-detector, 1024 × 1024 matrix) for 10 h. While the methacholine challenge showed no grossly visible changes in the proximal airway and lung parenchyma despite provoking AHR, the OVA challenge induced significant immediate changes manifesting as peribronchial ground glass opacities, consolidations, air-trapping, and paradoxical proximal airway dilatations. After resolution of immediate response, multiple episodes of AHRs occurred with paradoxical proximal airway dilatation and peripheral air-trapping in late phase over a prolonged time period in vivo. Understanding of airflow limitation based on the structural changes of asthmatic airway would be helpful to make an appropriate drug delivery strategy for the treatment of asthma