On-Site Deployment of an Air-Liquid-Interphase Device to Assess Health Hazard Potency of Airborne Workplace Contaminants: The Case of 3-D Printers.

Biomonitoring of workers is an approach of evaluating workers' exposure to chemicals and particulate matter by measuring biomarkers of parent chemicals, their metabolites, and reaction products in workers' biospecimens. Prerequisites for biological monitoring in the workplace include permission to enter the workplace, approval of the study plan from the IRB (Institutional Review Board), and obtaining consent from workers. Because of the complex legal process involved in biomonitoring, few studies have been conducted so far on biomonitoring of workers' exposures to nanoparticles and other hazards from emerging materials and advanced nanotechnologies.

Assessment and Mitigation of Exposure of 3-D Printer Emissions.

This study monitored particulates, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from 3-D printers using acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) filaments at a workplace to assess exposure before and after introducing exposure mitigation measures. Air samples were collected in the printing room and adjacent corridor, and real-time measurements of ultrafine and fine particle were also conducted. Extensive physicochemical characterizations of 3-D printer emissions were performed, including real-time (size distribution, number concentration) nanoparticle characterization, size-fractionated mass distribution and concentration, as well as chemical composition for metals by ICP-MS and VOCs by GC-FID, real-time VOC monitors, and proton-transfer-reaction time-of-flight mass spectrometer (PTR-TOF-MS).

Impact of Vitamin B12 Insufficiency on Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Korean Adults.

Vitamin B12 (B12) is involved as a cofactor in the synthesis of myelin. A lack of B12 impairs peripheral nerve production, which can contribute to sarcopenia. In this cross-sectional study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between B12 insufficiency and sarcopenia in community-dwelling older Korean adults.

Using miniaturised scanning mobility particle sizers to observe size distribution patterns of quasi-ultrafine aerosols inhaled during city commuting.

Portable miniaturised scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) instruments measuring atmospheric particles within the 10-241 nm size range were used to track particle number size distributions and concentrations during near-simultaneous pedestrian, bicycle, bus, car, tram and subway commuting journeys in Barcelona, Spain on 4th-6th July 2018. The majority of particles in this size range were <100 nm, with k-means cluster analysis identifying peaks at 15-22 nm, 30-40 nm, and 45-75 nm. Around 10-25% of the particles measured however were >100 nm (especially in the subway environment) and so lie outside the commonly defined range of "ultrafine" particles (UFP, or <100 nm particles).

Mode of silver clearance following 28-day inhalation exposure to silver nanoparticles determined from lung burden assessment including post-exposure observation periods.

Recently revised OECD inhalation toxicity testing guidelines require measurements of lung burden immediately after and for periods following exposure for nanomaterials. Lung burden is a function of pulmonary deposition and retention of nanoparticles. Using lung burden studies as per OECD guidelines, it may be possible to assess clearance mechanisms of nanoparticles.

Correlations between swallowing function and acoustic vowel space in stroke patients with dysarthria.

Background: Dysphagia and dysarthria tend to coexist in stroke patients. Dysphagia can reduce patients' quality of life, cause aspiration pneumonia and increased mortality.

Objective: To evaluate correlations among swallowing function parameters and acoustic vowel space values in patients with stroke.

28-Day inhalation toxicity study with evaluation of lung deposition and retention of tangled multi-walled carbon nanotubes.

Lung deposition and retention measurements are now required by the newly revised OECD inhalation toxicity testing guidelines 412 and 413 when evaluating the clearance and biopersistence of poorly soluble nanomaterials, such as multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). However, evaluating the lung deposition concentration is challenging with certain nanomaterials, such as carbon-based and iron-based nanomaterials, as it is difficult to differentiate them from endogenous elements. Therefore, the current 28-day inhalation toxicity study investigated the lung retention kinetics of tangled MWCNTs.

Clinical and Radiological Evaluation After Chemical Synovectomy With Rifampicin in Hemophilic Arthropathy: Korean Experience With a 2-Week Interval Protocol.

Objective: To assess the clinical outcome of chemical synovectomy with rifampicin in hemophilic arthropathy by using the World Federation of Hemophilia (WFH) scoring system and plain radiograph.

Methods: We performed rifampicin synovectomy (RS) on 30 joints of 28 hemophilic patients diagnosed as hemophilic arthropathy stage I-III (based on Fernandez-Palazzi clinical classification). Clinical status (bleeding frequency, pain, joint physical status) and radiological staging were evaluated as parts of the WFH scoring system before and 1 year after RS.

Association Between Asymmetry in Knee Extension Strength and Balance in a Community-Dwelling Elderly Population: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the association between balance function and asymmetry of knee extension strength in an elderly Korean population.

Methods: The strength of the knee extensors in each leg was measured in 306 community-dwelling elderly subjects (age, 76.70±4.

Biomechanical Parameters in Plantar Fasciitis Measured by Gait Analysis System With Pressure Sensor.

Objective: To investigate the differences in biomechanical parameters measured by gait analysis systems between healthy subjects and subjects with plantar fasciitis (PF), and to compare biomechanical parameters between 'normal, barefooted' gait and arch building gait in the participants.

Methods: The researchers evaluated 15 subjects (30 feet) with bilateral foot pain and 15 subjects (15 feet) with unilateral foot pain who had a clinical diagnosis of PF. Additionally, 17 subjects (34 feet) who had no heel pain were recruited.

Asymmetric Atrophy of Paraspinal Muscles in Patients With Chronic Unilateral Lumbar Radiculopathy.

Objective: To assess the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the muscles for investigating the occurrence of asymmetry of the paraspinal (multifidus and erector spinae) and psoas muscles and its relation to the chronicity of unilateral lumbar radiculopathy using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods: This retrospective study was conducted between January 2012 to December 2014. Sixty one patients with unilateral L5 radiculopathy were enrolled: 30 patients had a symptom duration less than 3 months (group A) and 31 patients had a symptom duration of 3 months or more (group B).

The Association Between Fall History and Physical Performance Tests in the Community-Dwelling Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Analysis.

Objective: To evaluate the association between baseline characteristics, three physical performance tests and fall history in a sample of the elderly from Korean population.

Methods: A total of 307 participants (mean age, 76.70±4.

Association Between a Polymorphism in and Genes and Ischemic Stroke.

Objective: To investigate whether the polymorphisms of gene (rs4647602, intron A/C and rs1049216, UTR C/T) and gene (rs1052576, Gln/Arg G/A and rs1052571, Ser/Val T/C) were associated with the development, and clinical severity of ischemic stroke and functional consequences after stroke.

Methods: Genomic DNA from 121 ischemic stroke patients and 201 healthy control subjects were extracted, and polymerase chain reaction products were sequenced. To investigate the association of polymorphisms and the development, and National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (K-NIHSS), logistic regression models were analyzed.

The Relationship Between Tongue Pressure and Oral Dysphagia in Stroke Patients.

Objective: To evaluate the relationships between tongue pressure and different aspects of the oral-phase swallowing function.

Methods: We included 96 stroke patients with dysphagia, ranging in age from 40 to 88 years (mean, 63.7 years).

Association Between a Polymorphism (rs2071214) in Baculoviral IAP Repeat Containing 5 Gene (BIRC5) and Ischemic Stroke in Korean Population.

Objective: To investigate whether baculoviral inhibitor of apoptosis (IAP) repeat containing 5 gene (BIRC5) polymorphisms are associated with the development and clinical phenotypes of ischemic stroke in Korea population.

Methods: We enrolled 121 ischemic stroke patients and 291 control subjects. Ischemic stroke patients were divided into subgroups according to the scores of National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (<6 or ≥6) and Modified Barthel Index (<60 or ≥60).

Interleukin-6 Receptor Polymorphisms Contribute to the Neurological Status of Korean Patients with Ischemic Stroke.

To investigate the contribution of the interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R) gene single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) to the neurological status of Korean patients with ischemic stroke (IS), two SNPs of the IL-6R gene (rs4845617, 5 UTR; rs2228144, Ala31Ala) were selected. IS patients were classified into clinical phenotypes according to two well-defined scores: the National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (NIHSS) and the Modified Barthel Index scores. There were 121 IS patients and 291 control subjects.

Polymorphism of Nitric Oxide Synthase 1 Affects the Clinical Phenotypes of Ischemic Stroke in Korean Population.

Objective: To investigate whether four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) rs2293054 [Ile734Ile], rs1047735 [His902His], rs2293044 [Val1353Val], rs2682826 (3'UTR) of nitric oxide synthase 1 (NOS1) are associated with the development and clinical phenotypes of ischemic stroke.

Methods: We enrolled 120 ischemic stroke patients and 314 control subjects. Ischemic stroke patients were divided into subgroups according to the scores of the National Institutes of Health Stroke Survey (NIHSS, <6 and ≥6) and Modified Barthel Index (MBI, <60 and ≥60).

A Patient With Focal Dystonia That Occurred Secondary to a Peripheral Neurogenic Tumor: A Case Report.

Dystonia is a movement disorder characterized by involuntary muscle contractions. Patients with dystonia may experience uncontrollable twisting, repetitive movements, or abnormal posture. A 55-year-old man presented with an involuntary left forearm supination, which he had experienced for five years.

Monomelic amyotrophy (hirayama disease) with upper motor neuron signs: a case report.

Monomelic amyotrophy (MMA), also known as Hirayama disease, is a sporadic juvenile muscular atrophy in the distal upper extremities. This disorder rarely involves proximal upper extremities and presents minimal sensory symptoms with no upper motor neuron (UMN) signs. It is caused by anterior displacement of the posterior dural sac and compression of the cervical cord during neck flexion.

Radiation recall phenomenon presenting as myositis triggered by carboplatin plus paclitaxel and related literature review.

While most case reports to date are radiation recall dermatitis, radiation recall myositis, which is a distinct form of radiation recall phenomenon caused by carboplatin plus paclitaxel, has not been reported. We treated a 57-year-old female patient who suffered from recurrent cervical cancer. When the patient developed a new left sacral metastasis, salvage radiotherapy (total dose 60 Gy) was administered.

The Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism of Angiotensin I Converting Enzyme Gene is Associated With Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament in the Korean Population.

Objective: To determine whether ACE insertion/deletion (I/D) polymorphism is associated with the ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) of the spine in the Korean population.

Methods: A case-control study was conducted to investigate the association between I/D polymorphism of the angiotensin I converting enzyme (peptidyl-dipeptidase A) 1 (ACE) gene and OPLL. The 95 OPLL patients and 274 control subjects were recruited.

Thoracic outlet syndrome caused by schwannoma of brachial plexus.

Schwannomas are benign, usually slow-growing tumors that originate from Schwann cells surrounding peripheral, cranial, or autonomic nerves. The most common form of these tumors is acoustic neuroma. Schwannomas of the brachial plexus are quite rare, and symptomatic schwannomas of the brachial plexus are even rarer.

Association between BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID) gene polymorphism and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament in Korean population.

The purpose of this study was to investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the BH3 interacting domain death agonist (BID) gene as a risk factor in Korean patients with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). To investigate the genetic association, two coding SNPs (rs8190315, Ser10Gly; rs2072392, Asp60Asp) of BID were genotyped in 157 OPLL patients and 209 control subjects. SNPStats, SNPAnalyzer Pro, Helixtree, and Haploview 4.

Nanostructural and nanomechanical responses of collagen fibrils in the collagenase-induced Achilles tendinitis rat model.

Achilles tendons are vulnerable to acute or chronic injuries that lead to inflammation. We investigated nanostructural and nanomechanical changes in collagen fibrils from rat Achilles tendons over a period of 9 weeks after injury using atomic force microscopy (AFM). To evaluate the nanostructural changes in Achilles tendons, we measured the diameter and D-banding of collagen fibrils by AFM.