In January, 2023, the Science and Security Board of the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists moved the hands of the Doomsday Clock forward to 90’s before midnight, reflecting the growing risk of nuclear war.1 In August, 2022, the UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned that the world is now in “a time of nuclear danger not seen since the height of the Cold War.2 The danger has been underlined by growing tensions between many nuclear armed states.1,3 As editors of health and medical journals worldwide, we call on health professionals to alert the public and our leaders to this major danger to public health and the essential life support systems of the planet—and urge action to prevent it.
Armed Conflicts ; Nuclear Energy ; Radiation

The Russian military invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, and Hamas’ terror attack on Israel on October 7, 2023, signaled the beginning of two of the most recent wars to make international headlines. To date, over 110 armed conflicts are taking place: over 45 in the Middle East and North Africa (Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Libya, Morocco, Palestine, Syria, Turkey, Yemen, Western Sahara); over 35 in Africa (Burkina Faso, Cameroon, the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan); 21 in Asia (Afghanistan, India, Myanmar, Pakistan, the Philippines); seven in Europe (Russia, Ukraine, Moldova, Georgia, Armenia, Azerbaijan); and six in Latin America (three each in Mexico and Colombia); with two more international armed conflicts (between India and Pakistan, and between India and China) in Asia.1 This list does not even include such problematic situations as those involving China and the South East Asia region. As though these situations of armed violence were not enough, mankind has already passed or is on the verge of passing several climate tipping points – a recent review lists nine Global core tipping elements (and their tipping points) - the Greenland Ice Sheet (collapse); West Antarctic Ice Sheet (collapse); Labrador-Irminger Seas / SPG Convection (collapse); East Antarctic Subglacial Basins (collapse); Amazon Rainforest (dieback); Boreal Permafrost (collapse); Atlantic M.O. Circulation (collapse); Arctic Winter Sea Ice (collapse); and East Antarctic Ice Sheet (collapse); and seven Regional impact tipping elements (and their tipping points) – Low-latitude Coral Reefs (die-off); Boreal Permafrost (abrupt thaw); Barents Sea Ice (abrupt loss); Mountain Glaciers (loss); Sahel and W. African Monsoon (greening); Boreal Forest (southern dieback); and Boreal Forest (northern expansion).2 Closer to home, how can we forget the disaster and devastation wrought by Super Typhoon Haiyan (Yolanda) 10 years ago to date? Whether international or non-international, armed conflicts raise the risk of nuclear war. Russia has already “rehearsed its ability to deliver a ‘massive’ nuclear strike,” conducting “practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles,” and stationed a first batch of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus,3 and the possibility of nuclear escalation in Ukraine cannot be overestimated.4 Meanwhile, in a rare public announcement, the U.S. Central Command revealed that an Ohio- class submarine (560 feet long, 18,750 tons submerged and carrying as many as 154 Tomahawk cruise missiles) had arrived in the Middle East on November 5, 2023.5 Indeed, “the danger is great and growing,” as “any use of nuclear weapons would be catastrophic for humanity.”
Armed Conflicts ; Nuclear Energy ; Radiation ; Climate Change ; Global Warming

Over 200 health journals call on the United Nations, political leaders, and health professionals to recognise that climate change and biodiversity loss are one indivisible crisis and must be tackled together to preserve health and avoid catastrophe. This overall environmental crisis is now so severe as to be a global health emergency.
Armed Conflicts ; Nuclear Energy ; Radiation ; Climate Change ; Global Warming

The Korean Society for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery (KTCVS) was founded in 1968 and celebrated the 50th anniversary of its founding in 2018. The launch of the KTCVS may seem somewhat recent, given that the American Association for Thoracic Surgery was founded in 1917. However, considering the circumstances of the Korean medical community after the Japanese occupation (1910–1945), World War II (1940–1945), and the Korean War (1950–1953), this apparent delay is understandable. Even before the foundation of the KTCVS, the early pioneers of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery promptly adopted medical technologies from more advanced countries such as the United States, and contributed significantly to both cardiac and thoracic surgery despite difficult circumstances. In 2012, before the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS, members shared the opinion that objective records of the activities of the early pioneers should be identified and preserved, and reacted positively towards the necessity for historians who would preserve such records. With this background, the Historical Records Preservation Committee of the KTCVS (hereinafter, referred to as ‘the Committee’) was launched. The Committee published a white paper on the history of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in 2015 and held an exhibition of the achievements of the pioneers at the 50th anniversary of the founding of the KTCVS. The Committee also published a book entitled “The history of Korean thoracic surgery with photographs: celebrating the 50th anniversary of the society.” The Committee will keep making efforts to find and preserve materials related to activities during the early development of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in Korea.
Anniversaries and Special Events ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Humans ; Korea ; Korean War ; Occupations ; Thoracic Surgery ; United States ; World War II

INTRODUCTIONDuring the Arabian Gulf Wars of 1991 and 2003, the resident population of Kuwait sustained heavy exposure to environmental toxicants introduced by military activities. No comprehensive studies have been conducted to assess how exposure to the wartime and postwar environment may have altered the fundamental patterns of immune reactivity among Kuwaitis in ways that affect pathogenesis of disease. This present study addresses this issue by characterising immunological features of asthma and allergies in a Kuwaiti population that is unique and possibly correlates with toxicant exposures.

MATERIALS AND METHODSTwenty-fi ve long-term residents of Kuwait afflicted with bronchial asthma concurrent with rhinitis; and 2 healthy control groups: 18 long-term residents and 10 newcomers to Kuwait were evaluated by 2- and 3-colour fl ow cytometry for peripheral blood T cell subpopulation frequencies.

RESULTSRelative to healthy, long-term residents, significantly elevated frequencies of all activated cell phenotypes were observed in the blood of the asthmatic group (P <0.05 to P <0.001), except for CD8+HLA-DR+ cells and a presumed T-regulatory (Treg) subpopulation: CD4+CD25(high). The asthmatic group was also observed to have larger populations of CD3+ (pan-T cells), CD4+ (T helper cells) and CD8+ (cytotoxic T cells), CD3+CD56 (NKT-like cells) and CD56+CD16+ (NK cells) compared to healthy long-term residents. Compared to healthy recent immigrants, the blood of long-term residents contained elevated levels of CD3+CD56+ (NK-like), CD4+CD45RA+/ CD45RO+ (Naive-to-Memory Transitional), but lower CD4+CD25+(high) (Treg) (P <0.05).

CONCLUSIONSElevated representation of natural killer (NKT)-like and memory phenotypes may predispose long-term residents towards enhanced susceptibility for airway disease; while at the same time, reducing representation of Treg cells which are protective against airway disease, and this may increase vulnerability to these syndromes among the residents of Kuwait. These results may provide insight into the features of immunopathogenesis of asthma and allergies in Kuwait that arise as a result of the special environment of the country.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Asthma ; blood ; immunology ; CD3 Complex ; CD4 Lymphocyte Count ; CD56 Antigen ; CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes ; Environmental Exposure ; adverse effects ; Female ; Gulf War ; Humans ; Iraq War, 2003-2011 ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Kuwait ; Lymphocyte Activation ; immunology ; Male ; Rhinitis ; blood ; immunology ; Risk Factors ; T-Lymphocytes ; immunology ; Time Factors ; Young Adult

Recently, new methods have been developed for estimating the current and recent changes in effective population sizes. Based on the methods, the effective population sizes of Korean populations were estimated using data from the Korean Association Resource (KARE) project. The overall changes in the population sizes of the total populations were similar to CHB (Han Chinese in Beijing, China) and JPT (Japanese in Tokyo, Japan) of the HapMap project. There were no differences in past changes in population sizes with a comparison between an urban area and a rural area. Age-dependent current and recent effective population sizes represent the modern history of Korean populations, including the effects of World War II, the Korean War, and urbanization. The oldest age group showed that the population growth of Koreans had already been substantial at least since the end of the 19th century.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; HapMap Project ; History, Modern 1601- ; Humans ; Korean War ; Linkage Disequilibrium ; Population Density* ; Population Growth ; Rural Population ; Urban Population ; Urbanization ; World War II

Only since the introduction of western medicine by Japanese officials and American missionaries in the late 1890's, has the Pathology in its modern concept been considered a major part of basic science in medical schools in Korea, after its role as a hospital service had long been ignored. Limited service of tissue diagnosis on surgical material was the only service performed. Professor Inamoto was the first Japanese pathologist to come to Korea and set up a Pathology Department at the Chosun Chongdogbu Hospital in 1913, and Dr. Mills appears to be the first American hospital pathologist who worked at Severance Hospital in 1913 practicing bacteriology and parasitology as well as lecturing pathology at the medical school. Korea was annexed by Japan from 1910 to 1945. The Korean Society of Pathologists (The former Chosun Society of Pathology) was founded on October 1, 1946, during the turmoil after the end of the Second World War and liberation from Japanese occupation. Only a handful of pathologists gathered for the delivery of the Society. The purpose of the Society was to study, research and exchange information and knowledge in the field of Pathology among its members. Since 1947 the Society had held regular annual academic meetings. In 1950 the Korean War occurred and the Korean Society of Pathologists (KSP) had to restart after the war. The still existing Monthly Slide Conference started in 1959, and the Pathology specialist system was adopted in 1963. There had been a considerable confusion during the adoption period of the pathology specialist system in this country, mainly because of the confused concept of the term "clinical pathology". In its start three categories, i.e., anatomic pathology, clinical pathology, and combined anatomic and clinical pathology were opened. However, the combined training program was eliminated in 1975, which eventually resulted in the separation of clinical pathologists from the KSP to found a new society of Clinical Pathology in 1980 against the advice of the KSP. The first official Journal of the Society, The Korean Journal of Pathology was launched in 1967, marking the 20th anniversary of the Society. It started as a biannual Journal and became a quarterly in 1977. In 1991 the Journal became a bimonthly periodical, and since 1996 the Society issues 12 volumes a year. From 1976, academic activity of the Society was expanded by opening its Spring Meeting in addition to the conventional annual Fall Meeting. In 1992 the Society adopted board of trustee system, providing a fresh blood transfusion. In 1996, the Society commemorated its 50th Anniversary, and published a record book, "The First Fifty Years of The Korean Society of Pathologists". As of December 1996, the Society has a total membership of 500 and 7 special study groups The Society holds 2 annual meetings, monthly slide conferences, several long and short courses, and workshops every year. Approximately 400 papers have been presented each year at the annual meetings. Approximately 350 anatomic pathologists work at hospitals, and a additional 50 pathologists are engaged in full time research at the Department of Pathology in medical schools and other research institutes. As we turn the first half century of founding the Korean Society of Pathologists we realize that we have to be well prepared for various expected and unexpected situations in the future. Enforcement of research pathology at medical schools appears to be the most urgent and important issue. For this purpose, the concept of basic pathology, research pathology, and hospital pathology (surgical pathology) should be clearly established. We also have to clearly define the differnece between anatomic pathology and clinical pathology in this country. At present, the clinical pathology stands alone without any collaboration with the KSP in terms of training program, specialty qualification and hospital practice. Undergraduate pathology education is another issue that we have to pay special attention. The number of full time research pathologists should be increased, and their active and dominant participation in the Society are needed. As the demand for the knowledge and promotions of special field of pathology increases, establishment of additional study group should be encouraged. And if the requirements are met, founding a new Special Pathology Society could also be encouraged. However, the basic skeleton and executive power of the KSP in training residents, qualifying specialty or subspecialty, and in representing the entire pathology field should be maintained and strictly enforced. Hospital pathology has been a dominant drive of the KSP for the last 35 years since the adoption of specialty system. The term, "Diagnostic Pathology" appears to be a term that can replace "Anatomic Pathology", "Surgical Pathology", or "Tissue Pathology" in this country. In future the demand of diagnostic pathology particularly endoscopy biopsy diagnosis, cytological diagnosis and evaluation of surgical operation would be greatly increased. Therefore, we have to be ready for the requirements of professional diagnostician in various fields of pathology as well as overall general diagnostic pathologist. Subspecialty qualification could be expected around the year 2005, when the membership of the Society is expected to be 700. The Korean Journal of Pathology has yet to be improved. It should contain more basic research articles produced by full-time basic pathology researchers. Papers related to hospital pathology (diagnostic pathology) including cytopathology should pursure not only originality but also its practical importance in our situation in this country. The Korean Journal of Pathology should aim for its acception and inclusion in international indexing system in near future.
Abstracting and Indexing as Topic ; Academies and Institutes ; Anniversaries and Special Events ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Bacteriology ; Biopsy ; Blood Transfusion ; Congresses as Topic ; Cooperative Behavior ; Diagnosis ; Education ; Endoscopy ; Hand ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Korean War ; Missions and Missionaries ; Occupations ; Parasitology ; Pathology ; Pathology, Clinical ; Schools, Medical ; Skeleton ; Specialization ; Trustees ; World War II

Clinical research has expanded tremendously in the past few decades and consequently there has been growing interest in the ethical guidelines that are being followed for the protection of human subjects. This review summarizes historical scandals and social responses chronologically from World War II to the Death of Ellen Roche (2001) to emphasize the lessons we must learn from history. International ethical guidelines for studies with human subjects are also briefly described in order to understand the circumstances of clinical research. The tasks and responsibilities of the institutions and investigators in human subject research to preserve the safety and welfare of research subjects are summarized. Next, several debated ethical issues and insights are arranged as controversial topics. This brief review and summary seeks to highlight important arguments and make suggestions to institutional review boards (IRBs) to contribute to the future evolution of ethics in clinical research as we advance forward.
Ethics Committees, Research ; Humans ; Research Personnel ; Research Subjects ; World War II

A case of Lichen planus in 41 year old with predisposing emotional factor is reported here and reviewed therapeutic experiences and reveiwed of literatures. This patient who has been suffering from pruritic, dull erythematous maculo-papular eruptions of trunk and extremites which was preoccupied with imagination as if she were exposed sequela to atomic bomb explosion in Japan, World War II, is presented.
Adult ; Explosions ; Fibrinogen ; Humans ; Imagination ; Japan ; Lichen Planus* ; Lichens* ; Nuclear Weapons ; World War II

It is well known fact that physical growth and development of children are influenced by many factors. The importance of socio-economic, geographic and cultural background cannot be over-emphasized in the evaluation of general pattern of physical growth and development of children. In this study the author measured and studied the body height and body weight of children living in the region of mine and industry located in Young-Wol Kun, Kang-Won Do, for the purpose of exploring out the influence of socio-geographic factors to act on physical growth and development of children. Total number of samples were 4,147 comprising 2,170 in male and 1,977 in female with ages ranging from 7 to 15. 1) The growth curves showed that young males grow slowly by 14 years of age, here-after rapidly and the young females grow slowly by 12 years of age, rapidly by 13 years of age and slowly thereafter. 2) The annual increment curves of body height and body weight showed that the most increment of female occurs by 13 years of age and that of mate, by 15 years of age. 3) The growth curves of the male and female crossed twice. It shows the difference of the pattern of growth between the both sexes. 4) The standards for the children in this region were presented. 5) The time of changes of stndard deviation curves of body height and body wegiht coincided nearly with that of annual increment. 6) Body weight and body height .of the children is larger than that of Korean children before World War II, but smaller than that of standards of recent Korean.
Body Height* ; Body Weight* ; Child* ; Female ; Gangwon-do ; Growth and Development ; Humans ; Male ; World War II