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

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Many studies have evaluated the association between weather and stroke, with variable conclusions. Herein we determined the relationships between daily meteorological parameters and acute stroke incidence in South Korea. METHODS: Patients with acute stroke (2,894) were identified by standard sampling of a nationwide insurance claims database from January to December 2011. We used multiple Poisson regression analyses of stroke incidence and meteorological parameters (mean temperature, diurnal temperature change, temperature differences over the preceding 24 hours, atmospheric pressure, humidity, wind speed, and physiologically equivalent temperature) to calculate the relative risk of stroke incidence associated with meteorological parameters. RESULTS: There were no seasonal variations in the incidences of ischemic (2,176) or hemorrhagic (718) stroke. Temperature change during the day was positively correlated with ischemic stroke in men (relative risk [RR] 1.027; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.006–1.05) and older patients (≥65 years) (RR 1.031, 95% CI 1.011–1.052). Temperature differences over the preceding 24 hours had a negative correlation with all strokes (RR 0.968, 95% CI 0.941–0.996), especially among older women. Diurnal variation of atmospheric pressure was also significantly associated with the incidence of ischemic stroke (age < 65 years, RR 1.051, 95% CI 1.011–1.092; age≥65 years, RR 0.966, 95% CI 0.936–0.997). CONCLUSIONS: Diurnal temperature change, temperature differences over the preceding 24 hours, and diurnal variation of atmospheric pressure were associated with daily stroke incidence. These findings may enhance our understanding of the relationship between stroke and weather.
Atmospheric Pressure ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Cerebral Infarction ; Female ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence* ; Insurance* ; Insurance, Health ; Korea ; Male ; Seasons ; Stroke* ; Weather ; Wind

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

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

This study was undertaken to achieve a high bleaching efficacy with plasma, through longer application and reparative bleaching processes, by different shade evaluation methods. Extracted human teeth were divided into 6 groups (n=10). All teeth were treated in pairs. Low concentration of 15% carbamide peroxide (CP) was applied, with and without plasma, for 10, 20, and 30-min tooth bleaching, respectively. The bleaching procedure was repeated once daily for four days. The teeth were maintained in a moist environment provided by artificial saliva. The Vitapan Classical shade guide and Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIELAB) color system were collectively used to measure the bleaching efficacy. Color evaluation was statistically analyzed using Student t-test and one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) complemented by Tukey's test. Combining the plasma with 15% CP showed significantly greater color changes compared to bleaching without plasma (p<0.05). A high bleaching efficacy with plasma is proportional to the repetitive application and the treatment time. A 30-min application with plasma provided the best bleaching. Repetitive bleaching showed lower probability of color relapse of the bleached tooth. The color change by shade guide correlated with the changes in CIELAB color system. A value of 1 color change units (CCU) conversion factor for overall color change (ΔE) values comparisons was 3.724 values. The two measuring methods provide a more accurate correspondence of color change. The repetitive and longer application for tooth bleaching, combined with plasma, has a strong bleaching effect and produces whiter teeth.
Atmospheric Pressure* ; Complement System Proteins ; Humans ; Plasma* ; Recurrence ; Saliva, Artificial ; Tooth Bleaching* ; Tooth* ; Urea

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between meteorological factors and occurrence of spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) according to age. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the records of 735 ICH patients in a metropolitan hospital-based population. Observed and expected numbers of ICH patients were obtained at 5degrees C intervals of ambient temperature and a ratio of observed to expected frequency was then calculated. Changes in ambient temperature from the day before ICH onset day were observed. The Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney test was used to test differences in meteorological variables between the onset and non-onset days. The Kruskal-Wallis test was used for comparison of meteorological variables across gender and age. RESULTS: ICH was observed more frequently (observed/expected ratio > or = 1) at lower mean, minimum, and maximum ambient temperature (p = 0.0002, 0.0003, and 0.0002, respectively). Significantly lower mean, minimum, and maximum ambient temperature, dew point temperature, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure (p = 0.0003, 0.0005, 0.0001, 0.0013, 0.0431, and 0.0453, respectively) was observed for days on which spontaneous ICH occurred. In the subgroup analysis, the ICH onset day showed significantly lower mean, minimum, and maximum ambient temperature, dew point temperature, relative humidity, and higher atmospheric pressure in the older (> or = 65 years) female group (p = 0.0093, 0.0077, 0.0165, 0.0028, 0.0055, and 0.0205, respectively). CONCLUSION: Occurrence of spontaneous ICH is closely associated with meteorological factors and older females are more susceptible to lower ambient temperature.
Atmospheric Pressure ; Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Female ; Humans ; Humidity ; Meteorological Concepts* ; Meteorology ; Retrospective Studies ; Wind

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

OBJECTIVEAlthough many studies have examined the effects of ambient temperatures on mortality, little evidence is on health impacts of atmospheric pressure and relative humidity. This study aimed to assess the impacts of atmospheric pressure and relative humidity on mortality in Guangzhou, China.

METHODSThis study included 213,737 registered deaths during 2003-2011 in Guangzhou, China. A quasi-Poisson regression with a distributed lag non-linear model was used to assess the effects of atmospheric pressure/relative humidity.

RESULTSWe found significant effect of low atmospheric pressure/relative humidity on mortality. There was a 1.79% (95% confidence interval: 0.38%-3.22%) increase in non-accidental mortality and a 2.27% (0.07%-4.51%) increase in cardiovascular mortality comparing the 5th and 25th percentile of atmospheric pressure. A 3.97% (0.67%-7.39%) increase in cardiovascular mortality was also observed comparing the 5th and 25th percentile of relative humidity. Women were more vulnerable to decrease in atmospheric pressure and relative humidity than men. Age and education attainment were also potential effect modifiers. Furthermore, low atmospheric pressure and relative humidity increased temperature-related mortality.

CONCLUSIONBoth low atmospheric pressure and relative humidity are important risk factors of mortality. Our findings would be helpful to develop health risk assessment and climate policy interventions that would better protect vulnerable subgroups of the population.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; China ; epidemiology ; Female ; Humans ; Humidity ; Infant ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Epistaxis may be related to changes in weather, but this relationship has not been well-defined. We investigated the effects of climate fluctuations (temperature, humidity, and barometric pressure) on the number of emergency department (ED) visits for epistaxis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: In total, our study population included 1910 patients who visited the ED of a large, urban hospital during a 5-year period for epistaxis. Patients with clear etiology for epistaxis (trauma, iatrogenic, coagulopathy, and/or hypertension) were excluded, leaving 912 patients for subsequent analysis. Daily climate data was collected through the Korea Meteorological Administration. Correlation between epistaxis ED visits and weather variables were investigated using Poisson distribution and multiple regression analysis. The effect of climate factor was evaluated on the day and up to 3 days prior to ED presentation. Additionally, analyses were conducted separately for children (<15 years-old), adults (15-64 years-old), and elderly patients (> or =65 years-old). RESULTS: Changes in the lowest temperature 2 days prior to ED presentation significantly increased the number of ED visits for epistaxis (beta=-0.043, p=0.033). No associations were found between the number of ED visits and changes in humidity or atmospheric pressure. However, in children, interday changes in the highest atmospheric pressure between 2 and 3 days prior to ED presentation were both significantly associated with increased number of epistaxis ED visits. CONCLUSION: Cold temperatures 2 days prior to ED presentation were related to the increased incidence of epistaxis. Fluctuations in barometric pressure appear to influence the number of pediatric ED visits for epistaxis.
Adult ; Aged ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Child ; Climate ; Cold Temperature ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Epistaxis* ; Hospitals, Urban ; Humans ; Humidity ; Incidence ; Korea ; Meteorological Concepts* ; Weather

PURPOSE: Autoclaves and UV sterilizers have been commonly used to prevent cross-infections between dental patients and dental instruments or materials contaminated by saliva and blood. To develop a dental sterilizer which can sterilize most materials, such as metals, rubbers, and plastics, the sterilization effect of an atmospheric pressure non-thermal air plasma device was evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After inoculating E. coli and B. subtilis the diamond burs and polyvinyl siloxane materials were sterilized by exposing them to the plasma for different lengths of time (30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and, 240 seconds). The diamond burs and polyvinyl siloxane materials were immersed in PBS solutions, cultured on agar plates and quantified by counting the colony forming units. The data were analyzed using one-way ANOVA and significance was assessed by the LSD post hoc test (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: The device was effective in killing E. coli contained in the plasma device compared with the UV sterilizer. The atmospheric pressure non-thermal air plasma device contributed greatly to the sterilization of diamond burs and polyvinyl siloxane materials inoculated with E. coli and B. subtilis. Diamond burs and polyvinyl siloxane materials inoculated with E. coli was effective after 60 and 90 seconds. The diamond burs and polyvinyl siloxane materials inoculated with B. subtilis was effective after 120 and 180 seconds. CONCLUSION: The atmospheric pressure non-thermal air plasma device was effective in killing both E. coli and B. subtilis, and was more effective in killing E. coli than the UV sterilizer.
Agar ; Atmospheric Pressure ; Bacteria ; Cross Infection ; Dental Instruments ; Diamond ; Homicide ; Humans ; Lysergic Acid Diethylamide ; Metals ; Plasma ; Plasma Gases ; Plastics ; Polyvinyls ; Rubber ; Saliva ; Siloxanes ; Stem Cells ; Sterilization