Source Characteristics of Atmospheric CO(2)and CH(4)in a Northeastern Highland Area of South Korea

This study aims to present the atmospheric CO(2)and CH(4)levels and analyze their source characteristics at an observation station in a northeastern highland area of Korea for the 2012-2014 period. We summarized the measured CO(2)and CH(4)concentrations for the 2012-2014 period. In addition, we characterized the major source of the rise of CO(2)and CH(4)in Ganseong (GS) by employing bivariate polar plots (BPP) and the concentration weighted trajectory (CWT) method together with currently available information on emission sources. For the three years, CO(2)was generally high in the order of winter, spring, autumn and summer and CH(4)high in the order of winter, autumn, spring and summer. The observed positive correlations between the hourly CO(2)and CH(4)in every season suggested the possibility of shared common emission sources, but there is a necessity for elucidation on this in the future. The BPP analysis indicated the local sources that are likely to be associated with the rise of greenhouse gases (GHGs) observed at GS (combustion in the village, plant respirations nearby GS, and mobile emissions on the nearby road for CO(2)and leakages from the gas stations along the road and agricultural activities for CH4). Synthesizing the CWT results together with emission source information from national and global emission inventories, we identified likely major source areas and characterized major emission sources. For example, the identified major sources for the winter CO(2)are coal combustion, coal washing and industrial activities in Inner Mongolia, northern and the northeastern China, fuel burning for the energy for the infrastructure of a northwestern city in South Korea, and the manufacturing industry and fuel combustion in the northern parts of North Korea. Hopefully, these kinds of results will aid environmental researchers and decision-makers in performing more in-depth studies for GHG sources in order to derive effective mitigation strategies

Clinical outcomes of pneumococcal pneumonia caused by antibiotic-resistant strains in Asian countries: a study by the Asian network for surveillance of resistant pathogens

To evaluate the clinical outcomes of pneumococcal pneumonia caused by antibiotic-resistant strains in Asian countries, we performed a prospective observational study of 233 cases of adult pneumococcal pneumonia in 9 Asian countries from January 2000 to June 2001. Among 233 isolates, 128 (55%) were not susceptible to penicillin (25.3% were intermediately susceptible, and 29.6% were resistant). Clinical severity of pneumococcal pneumonia was not significantly different between antibiotic-resistant and antibiotic-susceptible groups. Mortality rates among patients with pneumococcal pneumonia caused by penicillin-, cephalosporin-, or macrolide-resistant strains were not higher than those with antibiotic-susceptible pneumococcal pneumonia. Bacteremia and mechanical ventilation were significant risk factors for death, but any kind of antibiotic resistance was not associated with increased mortality due to pneumococcal pneumonia. Outcome of pneumococcal pneumonia was not significantly affected by drug resistance, and current antimicrobial regimens are mostly effective in the treatment of pneumococcal pneumonia, despite the widespread emergence of in vitro resistance

Comparison between Matched Related and Alternative Donors of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cells Transplanted into Adult Patients with Acquired Aplastic Anemia: Multivariate and Propensity Score-Matched Analysis

We retrospectively compared the outcomes of 225 patients with adult acquired aplastic anemia (AA) who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (alloHSCT) from matched related donors (MRDs), and those treated by alloHSCT from alternative donors (ADs). Univariate and multivariate analyses of factors associated with survival were performed. Multivariate analysis showed that age at alloHSCT of ≤31 years, MRD, successful engraftment, absence of acute graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD), and platelet engraftment at ≤21 days, were independent predictors of longer survival. In addition, time to aGVHD and cumulative nonrelapse mortality (NRM) were better in MRD than in AD recipients. Using propensity score matching (PSM), we performed a case-control study comparing 25 patients in each group who underwent alloHSCT from MRDs and ADs. Pretransplantation clinical factors were well balanced in either group. Median survival time was similar, and no statistically significant difference in transplantation outcomes was apparent when MRD and AD recipients were compared. In conclusion, our results suggest that alloHSCT from an AD should be considered earlier in adult patients with AA who do not have an MRD

Measurement of Cross-Sectional Dimensions of the Cricoid Cartilage: A Computed Tomographic Study

Objectives: We measured the cross-sectional dimensions of the cricoid cartilage and degrees of ossification of the marrow space for designing a cricoid implant. Methods: We reviewed 100 age- and sex-matched neck computed tomography scans that were performed at Seoul National University Hospital from 2001 to 2005. Under a standardized computed tomography window setting, the height of the cricoid cartilage marrow and the thickness of the marrow space and the ossified inner and outer cortices were measured by one observer. Results: The mean height of the cricoid cartilage marrow was 13.6 mm (range, 5.5 to 20.5 mm) in women and 17.5 mm (range, 13.0 to 24.5 mm) in men. The mean thickness of the cricoid cartilage marrow was 3.17 mm (range, 1.22 to 4.75 mm) in women and 5.13 mm (range, 3.42 to 7.60 mm) in men. We also observed that women in general have a higher density of the cricoid marrow than men; 4 women and 1 man had a markedly denser marrow space. There were individual variations in size and density of the cricoid marrow. Conclusions: Human adult cricoid cartilages have Sufficient marrow space for cricoid implantation. Preoperative evaluation of the size and density of the cricoid marrow is recommended for individual application of the cricoid implant.Kwon TK, 2007, ANN OTO RHINOL LARYN, V116, P770Karpenko AN, 2003, ANN OTO RHINOL LARYN, V112, P927Prevrhal S, 2003, MED PHYS, V30, P1, DOI 10.1118/1.1521940Randestad A, 2000, LARYNGOSCOPE, V110, P1957Yumoto E, 1999, ARCH OTOLARYNGOL, V125, P883Dougherty G, 1999, MED PHYS, V26, P1341Prevrhal S, 1999, PHYS MED BIOL, V44, P751, DOI 10.1088/0031-9155/44/3/017Newman DL, 1998, PHYS MED BIOL, V43, P619, DOI 10.1088/0031-9155/43/3/013ECKEL HE, 1995, AM J OTOLARYNG, V16, P40ECKEL HE, 1994, SURG RADIOL ANAT, V16, P31AJMANI ML, 1990, J ANAT, V171, P187

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug-induced enteropathy

Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are well known to be associated with serious upper gastrointestinal complications, such as peptic ulcer, bleeding, perforation, and obstruction. Recently, attention has been mainly focused on the small bowel injuries caused by NSAIDs, and new endoscopic techniques such as capsule endoscopy and double balloon endoscopy can help in detecting such injuries. This article reviewed the epidemiology, pathogenesis, clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and treatment of small bowel injuries caused by NSAIDs. Small bowel injures by NSAIDs might occur with a similar frequency and extent as those observed in the upper gastrointestinal tract. The pathogenesis of NSAID-induced enteropathy is complex and not clearly understood. The various lesions observed in the small bowel, including petechiae, reddened folds, loss of villi, erosions, and ulcers can be detected by capsule endoscopy. A drug that could prevent or treat NSAID-induced enteropathy has not yet been developed. Therefore, further investigations should be performed to elucidate the pathogenesis of such enteropathy and develop suitable preventive and treatment strategies

Effect of <i>Helicobacter pylori</i> Eradication Treatment on Metachronous Gastric Neoplasm Prevention Following Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection for Gastric Adenoma

The long-term effect of Helicobacter pylori eradication on metachronous gastric neoplasm prevention after endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of gastric adenoma is unclear. This study included patients with confirmed H. pylori infection after ESD with curative resection for gastric adenoma. Patients were divided based on the success of H. pylori eradication treatment into two groups: eradication and non-eradication. Patients with any newly detected lesion within 1 year after ESD and recurrence at the ESD site were excluded from the analysis. Further, 1:1 propensity score matching was also performed to eliminate baseline differences between the two groups. H. pylori eradication treatment was administered to 673 patients after ESD (163 in the successful eradication group and 510 in the non-eradication group). During the median follow-up periods of 25 and 39 months in the eradication and non-eradication groups, metachronous gastric neoplasm was identified in 6 (3.7%) and 22 patients (4.3%), respectively. Adjusted Cox analysis revealed that H. pylori eradication was not associated with increased risk of metachronous gastric neoplasm after ESD. Kaplan–Meier analysis in the matched population yielded similar findings (p = 0.546). H. pylori eradication treatment was not associated with metachronous gastric neoplasm after ESD with curative resection for gastric adenoma