A Comparison of Health Risks from PM and Heavy Metal Exposure in Industrial Complexes in Dangjin and Yeosu·Gwangyang.

Particulate matter (PM) can cause illness, including respiratory diseases, and PM compositions are likely to vary according to the emission profiles of industrial complexes. This study analyzed and compared the concentrations and distributions of PM and heavy metals in two regions of Republic of Korea: Yeosu·Gwangyang, which houses a massive national industrial complex, and Dangjin, which houses power plants. Further, we conducted a health risk assessment on the residents of the areas near these industrial complexes.

Comparative Study on the Outcome of Trauma Patients Transferred by Doctor Helicopters and Ground Ambulance in South Korea.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to analyze the cost-effectiveness of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) for its economic operations in South Korea.

Methods: This study targeted trauma patients that were transported by either HEMS or ground emergency medical services (GEMS) from the scene of an accident to a regional emergency medical center. From this patient population, severe trauma patients (injury severity score ISS ≥ 16 points) with a distance travelled from the scene of the injury to the hospital that was 30 km or longer and with analyzable outcome data were extracted and included in this study.

Coarsening behavior of bulk nanobubbles in water.

In recent years, minuscule gas bubbles called bulk nanobubbles (BNBs) have drawn increasing attention due to their unique properties and broad applicability in various technological fields, such as biomedical engineering, water treatment, and nanomaterials. However, questions remain regarding the stability and behavior of BNBs. In the present work, BNBs were generated in water using a gas-liquid mixing method.

Comparative Study on the Outcome of Stroke Patients Transferred by Doctor Helicopters and Ground Ambulances in South Korea: A Retrospective Controlled Study.

The purpose of this study was to analyze the effectiveness of helicopter emergency medical services (HEMS) for its economic operations in South Korea. This study targeted stroke patients who were transported via HEMS or ground emergency medical services (GEMS) from the scene of an accident to a regional emergency medical center. From this patient population, stroke patients who traveled at least 50 km from the scene of the cerebral infarction to the hospital with analyzable outcome data were extracted and included in this study.

Effect of dissolved-gas concentration on bulk nanobubbles generation using ultrasonication.

In this study, the effects of dissolved-gas concentration in liquid water on the nucleation and growth of bubbles and nanobubble (NB) generation were investigated by measuring the concentration and size distribution of NBs. Three types of liquids with different dissolved-gas concentrations-undersaturated, saturated, and supersaturated deionized (DI) water-were prepared, and NBs were generated via ultrasonic irradiation. As the dissolved-gas concentration increased, a large number of bubbles with relatively large diameters (several tens of micrometers or more) were generated, but the NB concentration decreased.

Assessment of the disaster medical response system through an investigation of a 43-vehicle mass collision on Jung-ang expressway.

Purpose: It was considered the challenges of the actual response and the potential for improvement, including the activities of the disaster response system, national emergency medical center, and the regional base hospital for the treatment of multiple traffic accident victims. The purpose of this study was to analyze the accident management system through real investigating the multiple collision over 10 vehicles with mass casualty events as a disaster situation.

Methods: This study was retrospective study to analyze the disaster event with multiple collision traffic accident on the expressway in Korea.

Indoor contamination from pesticides used for outdoor insect control.

The present study assessed the indoor level of pesticide residue contamination at a total of 45 dwelling facilities in 5 cities of South Korea from June to November 2014. Pesticide residue contamination was assessed by measuring the frequency and concentration of chlorpyrifos, dichlorvos, and cypermethrin residues in airborne particles, indoor dust, and surface wipes. A preparatory test showed a decreasing tendency in the concentrations of pesticide residues in indoor air over time: from 0.

Emergency medical service systems in Sri Lanka: problems of the past, challenges of the future.

Introduction: The concept of emergency medical services (EMS) is new to Sri Lanka. This article describes the development, delivery, and future ideas for EMS in Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka also faces frequent natural hazards that justify the establishment of an EMS service.

Evaluation of an International Disaster Relief Team After Participation in an ASEAN Regional Forum Disaster Relief Exercise.

Objective: Devastating disasters around the world directly contribute to significant increases in human mortality and economic costs. The objective of this study was to examine the current state of the Korea Disaster Relief Team that participated in an international training module.

Methods: The whole training period was videotaped in order to observe and evaluate the respondents.

Management of Clevudine-Resistant Chronic Hepatitis B: A Multicenter Cohort Study.

Background/aims: Data are lacking regarding the management of chronic hepatitis B (CHB) with resistance to clevudine (CLV). This study evaluated the efficacy of different rescue therapies for CLV-resistant CHB.

Methods: Patients with CLV-resistant CHB were enrolled in the cohort, and all patients developed virologic breakthrough during CLV therapy and had confirmed-genotypic resistance to CLV (rtM204I mutation) before enrollment.

Effects of Eucommia ulmoides extract on longitudinal bone growth rate in adolescent female rats.

Eucommia ulmoides is one of the popular tonic herbs for the treatment of low back pain and bone fracture and is used in Korean medicine to reinforce muscles and bones. This study was performed to investigate the effects of E. ulmoides extract on longitudinal bone growth rate, growth plate height, and the expressions of bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP-2) and insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in adolescent female rats.

A table-shaped tactile sensor for detecting triaxial force on the basis of strain distribution.

A slim and flexible tactile sensor applicable to the interaction of human and intelligent robots is presented. In particular, a simple sensing principle for decoupling of three-dimensional force is proposed. Sensitivity of the proposed tactile sensor is tested experimentally.

Treatment of lamivudine-resistant chronic hepatitis B infection: a multicenter retrospective study.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy of rescue therapies in lamivudine (LAM)-resistant chronic hepatitis B (CHB) infections including: (1) adefovir dipivoxil (ADV) monotherapy, (2) ADV plus LAM combination therapy and (3) entecavir (ETV) 1.0 mg monotherapy.

Materials And Methods: The authors designed a multicenter-retrospective study.

Phenotypic, physiological, and molecular evaluation of rice chilling stress response at the vegetative stage.

Rice is a chilling-sensitive plant that is particularly prone to injury during the early stages of seedling development and during flowering. Significant variation exists between subspecies with japonica cultivars generally being less sensitive than most indica cultivars. In most temperate and subtropical countries where rice is grown, crop damage often occurs during the early stages of seedling development due to occasional cold snaps coinciding with the first few weeks after direct seeding in late spring to early summer.

Acute comitant esotropia in a child with a cerebellar tumor.

We report a case of acute comitant esotropia in a child with a cerebellar tumor. A 3-year-old boy was referred for management of a 9 month history of acute acquired comitant esotropia. On first presentation, the patient's angle of esodeviation was 50 prism-diopters (PD) at distance and near fixation without any lateral incomitance.