Correlation between Coarse Airborne Particulate Matter and Mortality Rates of Malignant Neoplasm

BACKGROUND: There have been growing interests in harmful effects of dust particles on human health. It has been reported that dust particles negatively affected respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Relationship of dust particles and lung cancer incidence was also investigated. However, there is a lack of studies regarding the relationship between dust particles and cancers except for lung cancer. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationship of dust particle concentration and cancer mortality in Korea. METHODS: Average concentration of coarse dust particles (particulate matter 10, PM₁₀) of 2008-2014 were obtained from AirKorea website and cancer mortality was found in Statistics Korea for 2008-2014. Correlation analyses using PM₁₀ and cancer mortality were performed. Age-adjusted death rate (AADR) was used for correlation analysis because a number of death and mortality rate do not reflect population and age of death. Regional annual PM₁₀ was matched with AADR of identical area. Correlation between two variables was presented in scatter plots and Pearson's correlation analysis was performed. RESULTS: PM₁₀ concentration was positively correlated with AADR of malignant neoplasm, lung cancer, stomach cancer, colon cancer, uterus cancer, and leukemia. PM₁₀ concentration was significantly correlated with AADR of malignant neoplasm (r=0.247, P=0.009), lung cancer (r=0.277, P=0.003), stomach cancer (r=0.434, P=0.000), colon cancer (r=0.377, P=0.000), and uterus cancer (r=0.226, P=0.017). CONCLUSION: This study suggested that cancer patients or high-risk group for cancer should pay attention to PM₁₀ concentration. Large-scale studies should investigate the relationship of PM10 concentration and cancer incidence including cancer mortality to extend understanding of this cross-section study.

Two Cases of Pneumatosis Coli Associated with Ischemic Colitis / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Pneumatosis coli (PC) is a rare disease that is characterized by multiple, varying-sized cysts at the mucosa or submucosa in the colon and sigmoid colon. About 85% of PC is associated in other gastrointestinal, pulmonary and connective diseases. Ischemic colitis is rarely associated with PC. The symptoms of PC are not specific, and the patients with this malady present with hematochezia, abdominal pain, diarrhea and other symptoms associated with their underlying diseases. Colonoscopy and computed tomography are recommended for making the diagnosis. The underlying diseases should be treated and oxygen therapy, intra-venous antibiotics and/or surgical treatment can be used. The prognosis is generally good, but volvulus, intussusception, intestinal obstruction, bleeding and perforation can occur in 3% of these patients. We experienced two patients who initially presented with hematochezia and they were found to have PC and ischemic colitis according to the colonoscopy exams; these are the first such reported cases in Korea. Both patients were treated conservatively with low-dose oxygen therapy and intra-venous metronidazole. We report here on 2 cases of PC associated with ischemic colitis, and we review the relevant literature.

Reversal of arterial stiffness by treatment with the angiotensin receptor antagonist irbesartan in essential hypertension / 대한내과학회지

BACKGROUND: Alterations of mechanical properties in the vasculature may contribute to complications of hypertension. Since angiotensin II plays a pivotal role in these vascular abnormalities, we tested the hypothesis that the AT1 angiotensin receptor antagonist irbesartan, in contrast to the beta-blocker atenolol, would correct artery stiffness in essential hypertensive patients. METHODS: Thirty untreated essential hypertensive patients (48 +/- 7 years, range 35-65; 72% male) were randomly assigned in a single-blind fashion to irbesartan or atenolol treatment for 6 months. Fifty one age/sex-matched normotensive subjects were also studied. Systemic arterial stiffness (augmentation index; AI) was measured by the pressure transfer function using radial pulse tonometry. RESULTS: Both treatments reduced blood pressure (BP) to a comparable degree (irbesartan: 160 +/- 19/105 +/- 13 to 133 +/- 16/92 +/- 10 mmHg, p<0.01; atenolol: 166 +/- 17/113 +/- 9 to 132 +/- 15/90 +/- 8 mmHg, p<0.01). Other hemodynamic parameters of peripheral and central arteries showed similar degree of reduction, except significant reduction of central pulse pressure with irbesartan treatment (42 +/- 20 to 29 +/- 8 mmHg, p=0.01 vs 41 +/- 14 to 34 +/- 12 mmHg of atenolol treatment). After 6-month treatment, systemic arterial stiffness (AI) was significantly reduced from 28 +/- 11 to 21 +/- 11% (p=0.01) after irbesartan but atenolol treatment showed no change (from 29 +/- 8 to 29 +/- 13%). Reversal of arterial stiffness correlated mostly with reduction of central pulse pressure (r=0.63, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: The AT1 angiotensin antagonist irbesartan corrected the altered arterial stiffness from patients with essential hypertension by reduction of central pulse pressure, whereas the beta-blocker atenolol had no effect.

Association of Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme and Angiotensinogen Gene Polymorphisms with Preeclampsia

We tested the hypothesis that angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) and angiotensinogen gene polymorphism influence the incidence, development and outcome of preeclampsia. Subjects were recruited from 90 Korean patients with preeclampsia during pregnancy and 98 age-matched controls. After isolation of DNA, polymerase chain reactions (PCR) were carried out to detect polymorphism of the ACE and angiotensinogen. M235T and T174M genotypes of angiotensinogen were determined by digestion with restriction enzyme endonuclease Tth 111-I and NCo I, respectively. The frequency of DD genotype was significantly greater in preeclampsia (0.36) than in controls (0.14) (p<0.05). The frequency of D allele was 0.55 in preeclampsia and 0.40 in controls (p<0.05). There were no differences in the onset of preeclampsia and pregnancy outcomes according to the ACE genotypes. There was no difference in the frequency of a allele of angiotensinogen M235T between the groups (0.79:0.78 in preeclampsia : controls). The frequency of T allele of angiotensinogen T174M gene was slightly increased, but not significantly, in preeclampsia (0.11) than in controls (0.07). In a multivariate analysis, only ACE genotype was associated with the development of preeclampsia (beta=0.27, p=0.05). In conclusion, a molecular variant of ACE, but not angiotensinogen, gene is associated with preeclampsia in Korean women.