Cerebral arterial air embolism (CAAE), although infrequent, is a complication that can occur at any time during an invasive medical procedure. We experienced two cases of CAAE during cerebral angiography accidentally. The author reports the two cases of CAAE wherein air emboli dissolved spontaneously and immediately under normal atmospheric pressure, not under therapeutic hyperbaric environment. One of the cases shows entire dissolution of the air embolus on the moving image. This report shows that arterial air embolus can be absorbed spontaneously, and air embolus size is one of the factors that influence air embolus dissolution besides hyperbaric oxygen condition.
Absorption* ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Cerebral Angiography ; Embolism* ; Embolism, Air ; Oxygen

PURPOSE: This retrospective study was conducted to estimate the effects of climate factors and air pollution on asthma exacerbations using a case-crossover analysis. METHODS: Patients who visited the emergency department (ED) of 2 university hospitals in Chuncheon for asthma exacerbations from January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011, were enrolled. Daily average data for meteorological factors (temperature, daily temperature range, relative humidity, wind speed, atmospheric pressure, presence of rain, solar irradiation, and presence of fog) and the daily average levels of gaseous air pollutants (SO2, NO2, O3, CO, and PM10) were obtained. A case-crossover analysis was performed using variables about the weather and air pollution at 1-week intervals between cases and controls before and after ED visits. RESULTS: There were 660 ED visits by 583 patients with asthma exacerbations. Low relative humidity (lag 1 and 2) and high wind speed (lag 1, 2, and 3) were associated with ED visits for asthma. Fog (lag 2) showed protective effects against asthma exacerbations in Chuncheon (risk increase: -29.4% [95% CI=-46.3% to -7.2%], P=0.013). These relationships were stronger in patients ≤19 years old than in those >60 years old. High levels of ambient CO (lag 1, 2, and 3) and NO2 (lag 2 and 3) were associated with decreased ED visits for asthma. However, there were no significant relationships among levels of ambient CO or NO2 and asthma exacerbations after adjusting for wind speed and relative humidity. CONCLUSIONS: High wind speed and low humidity were associated with an increased risk of asthma ED visits. Fog was associated with a decreased risk of asthma ED visits after controlling for seasonal variations in weather and air pollution.
Air Pollutants ; Air Pollution* ; Asthma* ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Climate ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Gangwon-do* ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Humidity ; Korea* ; Meteorological Concepts ; Rain ; Retrospective Studies ; Seasons ; Weather* ; Wind

OBJECTIVE: We analyzed the association between regional weather and temporal changes on the daily occurrence of trauma emergencies and their severity. METHODS: In this cross-sectional prospective study, we investigated daily atmospheric patterns in trauma episodes in 1,344 patients in Cheongju city, South Korea, from January 2016 to December 2016 and analyzed the association of trauma occurrence and Injury Severity Scores (ISS) with weather conditions on a daily scale. RESULTS: The mean age of trauma patients was 53.0±23.8 years and average ISS was 9.0±2.0. Incidence of trauma was positively correlated with average temperature (r=0.512, P < 0.001) and atmospheric pressure (r=0.332, P=0.010) and negatively correlated with air pollutants (particulate matter less than 2.5 µm³ [PM2.5], r=−0.629, P < 0.001; particulate matter less than 10 µm³ [PM10], r=−0.679, P < 0.001). ISS was not significantly correlated with climate parameters and air pollutants, and variability was observed in the frequency and severity of trauma by time of day (highest occurrence, 16–20 pm; highest ISS, 4–8 am), day of the week (highest occurrence and highest ISS, Saturday), month of the year (highest occurrence, July; highest ISS, November), and season (highest incidence, summer; highest ISS, autumn). CONCLUSION: The study shows a positive relationship between trauma occurrence and specific weather conditions, such as atmospheric temperature and pressure. There was a negative relationship between concentrations of PM2.5 or PM10, and trauma occurrence. However, no correlation was observed between weather conditions or the concentrations of air pollutants and ISS. In addition, seasonal, circaseptan, and circadian variations exist in trauma occurrence and severity. Thus, we suggest that evaluation of a larger, population-based data set is needed to further investigate and confirm these relationships.
Air Pollutants* ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Chungcheongbuk-do ; Climate ; Dataset ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Injury Severity Score ; Korea ; Particulate Matter ; Prospective Studies ; Seasons* ; Weather

Aerospace neurology concentrate on the function of nervous system exposed to environmental conditions other than those encountered in our normal standard conditions. Clinical factors in these environments include the toxic effects of changes in atmospheric pressure and considerations of safety for pilot with neurologic disease. This article gives a brief overview of the environmental factors experienced in aviation and space environments that are most associated in neurologic dysfunction.
Atmospheric Pressure ; Aviation ; Nervous System ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Neurology

Nonthermal atmospheric pressure plasma has attracted great interest for biomedical applications. The plasma consists of charged particles, radicals, and a strong electric field as the fourth state of matter. This study evaluated the change in the surface roughness after tooth bleaching by plasma in combination with a low concentration (15%) of carbamide peroxide, specifically whether the application of plasma produced detriments, such as demineralization and structural change, with the goal of efficient and safe tooth bleaching. After being combined with plasma and 15% carbamide peroxide, the hydroxyapatite surface was significantly smoother with a low roughness average value. Tooth bleaching with 15% carbamide peroxide alone produced an irregular surface and increased the surface roughness with high roughness average value. Tooth bleaching with plasma resulted in no significant variations in hydroxyapatite in terms of change in surface roughness and surface topography. The application of tooth bleaching with plasma is not deleterious to dental hard tissue, implicating it as a safe tooth bleaching technique.
Atmospheric Pressure* ; Durapatite* ; Plasma* ; Streptococcus mutans ; Tooth Bleaching* ; Urea

Present study deals with the straight impact of hypobaric hypoxia on the quantity and composition of some predominant fecal microflora and its functional aspects. For that, isolated fecal contents of rat were exposed to two different simulated air pressures (70 kPa and 40 kPa) for different time durations (1, 3, and 5 h) and the bacterial community composition was compared with normobaric groups (101.3 kPa). It was found that the total anaerobes, Escherichia coli, Enterbacters spp., Bifidobacterium spp., Clostridium spp. were increased whereas total aerobes were decreased at both hypobaric treatments. The increased number of amplicon was detected in the pressure-treated groups than the control that clearly mentioned the disruption of microbiota structure at different simulated hypobaric-hypoxia. The amylase, protease, tannase, β-glucuronidase, and alkaline phosphatase activities were increased at these atmospheric pressures. Thus, the present investigation demonstrates that the hypobaric hypoxia is an important environmental factor which can strongly modulate the composition of intestinal flora as well as microflora-derived functional aspects.
Animals ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; Feces ; Hypoxia ; Microbiota ; Rats

BACKGROUND: Spontaneous pneumothorax is a common respiratory condition and has been postulated that it develops because of rupture of subpleural blebs. Although the morphology and ultrastructure of causative lesions are well known, the reason for rupture of sbupleural blebs is not absolutely clear. Broad consensus concerning the role of meteorological factors in spontaneous pneumothorax dose not exist. The aim of the study was to examine the influence of change of atmospheric pressure and temperature on the occurrence of spontaneous pneumothorax. MATERIAL AND METHOD: One hundred twenty eight consecutive spontaneous pnemothorax events that occurred between January 2003 and December 2004 were selected. Changes of meteorological factors of particular days from the day before for 5 consecutive days were calculated and compared between the days with pneumothorax occurrence (SP days) and the days without pneumothorax occurrence (Non SP days). The correation between change of pressure and temperature and the occurrence of SP was evaluated. RESULT: SP occurred on 117 days (16.0%) in the 2-year period. Although there was no significant differences in change of pressure factors prior 4 days of SP occurrence compare to the 4 days prior Non SP day, change of mean pressure was higher (+0.934 vs. -0.191hPa, RR 1.042, CI 1.003~1.082, p=0.033), and change of maximum pressure fall was lower (3.280 vs. 4.791 hPa, RR 1.051, CI 1.013~1.090, p=0.009) on the 4 days prior SP day. There were significant differences in change of temperature factors prior 2 days and the day of SP, Changes of mean temperature (-0.576 vs.+0.099 degrees C, RR 0.886, 95% CI 0.817~0.962, p=0.004) and maximum temperature rise (7.231 vs. 8.079 degrees C, RR 0.943 CI 0.896~0.993, p=0.027) were lower on the 2 days prior SP. But changes of mean temperature (0.533 vs. -0.103 degrees C, RR 1.141, CI 1.038~1.255, p=0.006) and maximum temperature rise (9.209 vs. 7.754 degrees C, RR 1.123, CI 1.061~1.190, p=0.000) were higher on the SP days. CONCLUSION: Change of atmospheric pressure and temperature seems to influence the chance of occurrence of SP. Meteorological phenomena that pressure rise 4 day prior to SP and following temperature fall and rise might explain the occurrence of SP. Further studies should be continued in the future.
Atmospheric Pressure* ; Blister ; Consensus ; Meteorological Concepts ; Pneumothorax* ; Rupture

Incidences of blowout fractures have increased due to rapid industrialization and rise in violent crimes. However, there have been few studies on the proper follow-up guidelines or protocol after reduction of the orbital wall for patients working in a high atmospheric pressure environment. We have experienced a pilot with an orbital medial wall fracture who underwent reduction through an endoscopic approach. The patient underwent the Valsalva maneuver and scan of paranasal sinuses 8 weeks after reduction. Emphysema did not occur in the orbit even after the Valsalva maneuver and he was able to return to his workplace without any complications. We report this case with a brief review of the literature.
Atmospheric Pressure ; Crime ; Emphysema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Orbit ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Valsalva Maneuver ; Industrial Development

BACKGROUND: Although hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) -100% oxygen at two to three times the atmospheric pressure at sea level-has a number of beneficial biochemical, cellular, and physiologic effects, it is intrinsically associated with the potential for producing mild to severe toxic effects. The contribution of the cellular adhesion molecules and macrophages in the renal oxygen toxicity is not well understood. Thus, we have investigated the toxic effect of HBO expressed by the analysis of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and infiltration of macrophages in rat kidney. METHODS: Male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing about 250 g were exposed to HBO at 3 ATA of 100% O2 for 4 hours. The expression of ICAM-1 and infiltration of CD68-positive macrophages were serially observed by immunohistochemical analysis. RESULTS: At 3 days after HBO exposure, CD68-positive macrophage counts were increased in glomeruli and tubulointerstitium of kidney. The expression of ICAM-1 was enhanced 1 day after HBO exposure and increased more for 3 days. There was a significant correlation between ICAM-1 expression and macrophage accumulation in the glomeruli. At 7 days after HBO, those alterations recovered to normal status. CONCLUSION: The 4-hour HBO exposure induced ICAM-1 expression and macrophage accumulation in the kidney and these change lasted for 3 days. Therefore, sustained activation of macrophages in renal oxygen toxicity may occur after prolonged (more than 4 hours) or repetitive exposures to HBO.
Animals ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Humans ; Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1* ; Kidney* ; Macrophages ; Male ; Oxygen* ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: This study examined the influence of meteorological phenomena on the development of spontaneous pneumothorax (SP). METHODS: We conducted this study from January to November 2004. We obtained the daily SP incidence from data requested by the National Health Insurance office from general hospital in Daejon, and we got the meteorological data from the Daejon Regional Meteorologic office. The difference in meteorological phenomena between cluster days (3 or more SP) and no SP days was analyzed using a generalized additive model (GAM) that used a specialized form of the non-parametric, non-linear regression test. RESULTS: Five hundred sixty-six SP patients were included. There were 369 male patients and 74 female patients. SP patients were associated with significantly lower atmospheric pressure and with broad swings of daily atmospheric pressure for 4-7 days prior to the hospital visits. More clouds had gathered for several days before cluster days than had gathered on days with no SP. CONCLUSION: Development of SP is related with meteorological phenomena. SP occurs when lower atmospheric pressure, broad swings of atmospheric pressure, and cloudy weather are collectively exprienced for several days before the hospital visit.
Atmospheric Pressure ; Daejeon ; Female ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Meteorological Concepts ; National Health Programs ; Pneumothorax* ; Weather