When free-ranging birds are accidentally killed or die, there may be greater potential for their associated ticks to detach, seek alternate hosts, and become established. We examined 711 carcasses of 95 avian species for ticks at a stopover island of migratory birds in the Republic of Korea where only Ixodes nipponensis and I. persulcatus were previously reported from local mammals and vegetation. A total of 16 ticks, I. turdus and Haemaphysalis flava, were collected from 8 fresh carcasses belonging to 5 avian species. Despite their known abundance on migratory birds and mainland Korea, these species had not colonized the isolated insular ecosystem possibly due to the low abundance and diversity of local hosts. The results imply that increasing human impact, such as the anthropogenic mortality of migratory birds and the introduction of non-native mammalian hosts, will increase the potential invasion and colonization risk of ticks. This finding also suggests that tick surveillance consisting of fresh carcasses of dead migratory birds may provide additional information, often ignored in surveillance of ticks on live birds, for the potential introduction of non-native ticks and associated pathogens affecting animal and human health.

BACKGROUND: Monitoring and control of PM(2.5) are being recognized as key to address health issues attributed to PM(2.5). Availability of low-cost PM(2.5) sensors made it possible to introduce a number of portable PM(2.5) monitors based on light scattering to the consumer market at an affordable price. Accuracy of light scattering–based PM(2.5) monitors significantly depends on the method of calibration. Static calibration curve is used as the most popular calibration method for low-cost PM(2.5) sensors particularly because of ease of application. Drawback in this approach is, however, the lack of accuracy.METHODS: This study discussed the calibration of a low-cost PM(2.5)-monitoring device (PMD) to improve the accuracy and reliability for practical use. The proposed method is based on construction of the PM(2.5) sensor network using Message Queuing Telemetry Transport (MQTT) protocol and web query of reference measurement data available at government-authorized PM monitoring station (GAMS) in the republic of Korea. Four machine learning (ML) algorithms such as support vector machine, k-nearest neighbors, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting were used as regression models to calibrate the PMD measurements of PM(2.5). Performance of each ML algorithm was evaluated using stratified K-fold cross-validation, and a linear regression model was used as a reference.RESULTS: Based on the performance of ML algorithms used, regression of the output of the PMD to PM(2.5) concentrations data available from the GAMS through web query was effective. The extreme gradient boosting algorithm showed the best performance with a mean coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.78 and standard error of 5.0 μg/m³, corresponding to 8% increase in R² and 12% decrease in root mean square error in comparison with the linear regression model. Minimum 100 hours of calibration period was found required to calibrate the PMD to its full capacity. Calibration method proposed poses a limitation on the location of the PMD being in the vicinity of the GAMS. As the number of the PMD participating in the sensor network increases, however, calibrated PMDs can be used as reference devices to nearby PMDs that require calibration, forming a calibration chain through MQTT protocol.CONCLUSIONS: Calibration of a low-cost PMD, which is based on construction of PM(2.5) sensor network using MQTT protocol and web query of reference measurement data available at a GAMS, significantly improves the accuracy and reliability of a PMD, thereby making practical use of the low-cost PMD possible.
Calibration ; Forests ; Linear Models ; Machine Learning ; Methods ; Particulate Matter ; Republic of Korea ; Support Vector Machine ; Telemetry

Recent studies have provided several lines of evidence that peripheral administration of oxytocin induces analgesia in human and rodents. However, the exact underlying mechanism of analgesia still remains elusive. In the present study, we aimed to identify which receptor could mediate the analgesic effect of intraperitoneal injection of oxytocin and its cellular mechanisms in thermal pain behavior. We found that oxytocin-induced analgesia could be reversed by d(CH₂)₅[Tyr(Me)²,Dab⁵] AVP, a vasopressin-1a (V1a) receptor antagonist, but not by desGly-NH₂-d(CH₂)₅[DTyr², Thr⁴]OVT, an oxytocin receptor antagonist. Single cell RT-PCR analysis revealed that V1a receptor, compared to oxytocin, vasopressin-1b and vasopressin-2 receptors, was more profoundly expressed in dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the expression of V1a receptor was predominant in transient receptor potential vanilloid 1 (TRPV1)-expressing DRG neurons. Fura-2 based calcium imaging experiments showed that capsaicin-induced calcium transient was significantly inhibited by oxytocin and that such inhibition was reversed by V1a receptor antagonist. Additionally, whole cell patch clamp recording demonstrated that oxytocin significantly increased potassium conductance via V1a receptor in DRG neurons. Taken together, our findings suggest that analgesic effects produced by peripheral administration of oxytocin were attributable to the activation of V1a receptor, resulting in reduction of TRPV1 activity and enhancement of potassium conductance in DRG neurons.
Analgesia* ; Calcium ; Diagnosis-Related Groups ; Electrophysiology ; Fura-2 ; Ganglia, Spinal* ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Neurons ; Oxytocin* ; Potassium* ; Receptors, Oxytocin ; Receptors, Vasopressin ; Rodentia ; Spinal Nerve Roots*

BACKGROUND: Despite the recent efforts to prevent industrial accidents in the Republic of Korea, the industrial accident rate has not improved much. Industrial safety policies and safety management are also known to be inefficient. This study focused on dynamic characteristics of industrial safety systems and their effects on safety performance in the Republic of Korea. Such dynamic characteristics are particularly important for restructuring of the industrial safety system. METHODS: The effects of damping and elastic characteristics of the industrial safety system model on safety performance were examined and feedback control performance was explained in view of cost and benefit. The implications on safety policies of restructuring the industrial safety system were also explored. RESULTS: A strong correlation between the safety budget and the industrial accident rate enabled modeling of an industrial safety system with these variables as the input and the output, respectively. A more effective and efficient industrial safety system could be realized by having weaker elastic characteristics and stronger damping characteristics in it. A substantial decrease in total social cost is expected as the industrial safety system is restructured accordingly. CONCLUSION: A simple feedback control with proportional–integral action is effective in prevention of industrial accidents. Securing a lower level of elastic industrial accident-driving energy appears to have dominant effects on the control performance compared with the damping effort to dissipate such energy. More attention needs to be directed towards physical and social feedbacks that have prolonged cumulative effects. Suggestions for further improvement of the safety system including physical and social feedbacks are also made.
Accidents, Occupational ; Budgets ; Republic of Korea* ; Safety Management

BACKGROUND: Despite considerable efforts made in recent years, the industrial accident rate and the fatality rate in the Republic of Korea are much higher than those in most developed countries in Europe and North America. Industrial safety policies and safety regulations are also known to be ineffective and inefficient in some cases. METHODS: This study focuses on the quantitative evaluation of the effectiveness of direct safety regulations such as safety certification, self-declaration of conformity, and safety inspection of industrial machines in the Republic of Korea. Implications on safety policies to restructure the industrial safety system associated with industrial machines are also explored. RESULTS: Analysis of causes in industrial accidents associated with industrial machines confirms that technical causes need to be resolved to reduce both the frequency and the severity of such industrial accidents. Statistical analysis also confirms that the indirect effects of safety device regulation on users are limited for a variety of reasons. Safety device regulation needs to be shifted to complement safety certification and self-declaration of conformity for more balanced direct regulations on manufacturers and users. An example of cost-benefit analysis on conveyor justifies such a transition. CONCLUSION: Industrial safety policies and regulations associated with industrial machines must be directed towards eliminating the sources of danger at the stage of danger creation, thereby securing the safe industrial machines. Safety inspection further secures the safety of workers at the stage of danger use. The overall balance between such safety regulations is achieved by proper distribution of industrial machines subject to such regulations and the intensity of each regulation. Rearrangement of industrial machines subject to safety certification and self-declaration of conformity to include more movable industrial machines and other industrial machines with a high level of danger is also suggested.
Accidents, Occupational ; Certification ; Complement System Proteins ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Developed Countries ; Europe ; Evaluation Studies as Topic ; North America ; Protective Devices ; Republic of Korea* ; Social Control, Formal*

PURPOSE: A rectourethral fistula (RUF) is an uncommon complication resulting from surgery, radiation or trauma. Although various surgical procedures for the treatment of an RUF have been described, none has gained acceptance as the procedure of choice. The aim of this study was to review our experience with surgical management of RUF. METHODS: The outcomes of 6 male patients (mean age, 51 years) with an RUF who were operated on by a single surgeon between May 2005 and July 2012 were assessed. RESULTS: The causes of the RUF were iatrogenic in four cases (two after radiation therapy for rectal cancer, one after brachytherapy for prostate cancer, and one after surgery for a bladder stone) and traumatic in two cases. Fecal diversion was the initial treatment in five patients. In one patient, fecal diversion was performed simultaneously with definitive repair. Four patients underwent staged repair after a mean of 12 months. Rectal advancement flaps were done for simple, small fistula (n = 2), and flap interpositions (gracilis muscle flap, n = 2; omental flap, n = 1) were done for complex or recurrent fistulae. Urinary strictures and incontinence were observed in patients after gracilis muscle flap interposition, but they were resolved with simple treatments. The mean follow-up period was 28 months, and closure of the fistula was achieved in all five patients (100%) who underwent definitive repairs. The fistula persisted in one patient who refused further definitive surgery after receiving only a fecal diversion. CONCLUSION: Depending on the severity and the recurrence status of RUF, a relatively simple rectal advancement flap repair or a more complex gracilis muscle or omental flap interposition can be used to achieve closure of the fistula.
Brachytherapy ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Fistula* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Rectal Fistula ; Rectal Neoplasms ; Recurrence ; Surgical Flaps ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Fistula

PURPOSE: Anterolateral thigh(ALT) perforator free flap is commonly used because of its various benefits. The author reports important factors of preoperative and perioperative ALT perforator free flap and causes of failure. METHODS: 84 patients who were treated with ALT perforator free flap from December 2004 to 2008, and February 2010 to April 2010 were studied. 61 patients were male and 23 were female. The mean age of patients was 51.1. The main cause was neoplasm and the main reconstructive areas were head and neck area. The size of flap was various from 3 x 4 to 12 x 18cm. 6 patients received split thickness skin graft at donor site. Preoperative angiography was checked to all patients. RESULTS: Among the 84 patients, partial necrosis of flaps occurred in 4 patients because of atherosclerosis, varicose vein, or inattention of patient, etc. And total flap necrosis in 5 patients because of abnormal vessels of recipient area or delay of operation, etc. One case of serous cyst was found as the complication of donor area. Two cases of skin graft on donor site were done because of suspected muscle compartment syndrome, 4 cases of that because of large flap. Septocutaneous perforators were found in 7 cases. The author couldn't find reliable perforator in 3 cases, ipsilateral anteromedial thigh perforator and contralateral ALT perforator and latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous free flap were done instead of ALT. There was no case which needed reoperation because of the impairment of blood supply, and 3 cases were revised by leech because of the burn injury by a lamp or venous congestion. CONCLUSION: Although ALT perforator free flap is widely used with its various merits, many factors such as preoperative condition of donor or recipient area, morphology of defect and operating time need to consider to prevent flap necrosis. And operators should need careful technique because septocutaneous perforator is uncommon, and musculocutaneous perforator is common but difficult to dissect.
Angiography ; Atherosclerosis ; Burns ; Compartment Syndromes ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Reoperation ; Skin ; Thigh ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants ; Varicose Veins

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to assess the impact of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in pregnancies with mild and severe preeclampsia. METHODS: From January 1999 to June 2001, we studied the severity for pregnant women with pregnancy induced hypertension between 28 and 40 weeks gestation. In the mild (n=46) and severe preeclamptic women (n=28), the laboratory evaluation included liver function test, platelet counts, and serum creatinine. The systolic/diastolic (S/D) ratio of the fetal umbilical artery flow for placental resistance was measured by ultrasonographic doppler velocimetry. To detect the damage of vascular endothelial cells in all preeclamptic women, serum concentrations of VEGF were measured. RESULTS: Severe preeclampsia had more elevated liver enzymes, thrombocytopenia, high creatinine than mild preeclampsia. HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, and low platelets) was encountered in 8/28 (28.6%) of severe preeclampsia. Fifteen out of twenty-eight cases (53.6%) in severe preeclampsia had elevated S/D ratio from 3.0 to 4.5 including 6 cases with absent end diastolic velocity, whereas 4/46 (8.7%) was elevated SD ratio (>3.0) in mild preeclampsia. Serum concentrations of VEGF were elevated in both mild (7.5+/-4.9 ng/mL, p<0.05) and severe preeclampsia (19.3+/-8.8 ng/mL, p<0.05) compared to normal pregnancy (0.5~2.1 ng/mL). CONCLUSION: The higher serum concentration of VEGF and elevated S/D ratio of umbilical artery were responsible for the changes of the resistance of placental blood flow in severe preeclampsia. Furthermore, elevated S/D ratio of umbilical artery velocity was essential as a surveillance method of fetal health status with IUGR (Intrauterine growth restriction) by vascular declination of placenta.
Creatinine ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fetal Growth Retardation ; HELLP Syndrome ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pregnancy-Induced ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Placenta ; Platelet Count ; Pre-Eclampsia* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Rheology ; Thrombocytopenia ; Umbilical Arteries ; Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A*

PURPOSE: Accurate assessment of the lesion after treatment of patients with bone lymphoma is difficult. In this patient who demonstrated complete remission after chemotherapy, the regions of fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose ( (18) FFDG) PET uptake diminished more rapidly following therapy, indicating a complete response at much earlier stage than did Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) or CT based findings. With the conventional methods, such as MRI and CT, it was difficult to assess whether the residual tumor tissue was viable or not. Decision to complete response is very important in patients with lymphoma to plan the further treatment. We experienced a patient with primary lymphoma of bone who revealed complete response to chemotherapy on (18) FFDGPET while CT showed persistent destructive bone lesion. Thus, (18) FFDGPET study after therapy may be superior to CT in the evaluation of response to treatment in primary lymphoma of bone.
Drug Therapy ; Electrons* ; Fluorodeoxyglucose F18* ; Humans ; Lymphoma* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm, Residual ; Positron-Emission Tomography*

This study was conducted to examine and compare the characteristics in the cognitive functions of peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and normal kidney function groups as basic data for effectively educating dialysis patients. The data were collected from May 10 to October 30. 2000, collected from each of 20 patients with peritoneal dialysis, hemodialysis and normal Kidney function and who registered for the dialysis room at a general hospital affiliated to a university in Seoul and sampled by age and educational level through personal interviews with the researchers of this study. As a measuring tool, MMSE developed by Folstein et al.(1975) to measure cognitive function disorder was used, slightly revised for hemodialysis patients. Collected data were processed into frequency, percentage, mean, and standard deviation by the use of SAS. The results of this study are as follows: 1.With a maximum of 30 points for cognitive function, the mean of the peritoneal dialysis patients was 27.06+/-2.06, while that of the hemodialysis patients was 27.25+/-2.76; that of the normal Kidney function patients was 27.85+/-2.00, indicating no significant difference among those three groups. 2. As for the subjects who scored 23 points, the turning point of confirming the cognitive disorder, the percentage was 5% in the case of the peritoneal dialysis, 10% in the case of the hemodialysis and 5% in the case of the normal Kidney function group. 3.Differences between the peritoneal dialysis and hemodialysis patients by gender, occupation, spouse, diabetes, hypertension, the period of dialysis, number of hospitalizations, and the use of erythropoietin were not significant in the scoring of cognitive function. 4. There was no significant correlation between the level of Hb, Hct, albumin, aluminium, PTH, BUN, Cr, dialysis adequacy and the cognitive function. Considering such results, it is clear that there is no significant difference in the cognitive functions of the sampled subjects. Therefore, the nurse in the dialysis room should continually carry out assessment and intervention against elements degrading the effect of patients' education to improve self-care.
Dialysis ; Education ; Erythropoietin ; Hospitalization ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Kidney* ; Occupations ; Peritoneal Dialysis* ; Renal Dialysis* ; Self Care ; Seoul ; Spouses