Physical barrier effect of geopolymeric waste form on diffusivity of cesium and strontium.

The present study investigates the physical barrier effect of geopolymeric waste form on leaching behavior of cesium and strontium. Fly ash-based geopolymers and slag-blended geopolymers were used as solidification agents. The leaching behavior of cesium and strontium from geopolymers was evaluated in accordance with ANSI/ANS-16.1. The diffusivity of cesium and strontium in a fly ash-based geopolymer was lower than that in Portland cement by a factor of 10(3) and 10(4), respectively, showing significantly improved immobilization performance. The leaching resistance of fly ash-based geopolymer was relatively constant regardless of the type of fly ash. The diffusivity of water-soluble cesium and strontium ions were highly correlated with the critical pore diameter of the binder. The critical pore diameter of the fly ash-based geopolymer was remarkably smaller than those of Portland cement and slag-blended geopolymer; consequently, its ability physically to retard the diffusion of nuclides (physical barrier effect) was superior.

Relationship between serum vitamin D concentrations and clinical outcome of community-acquired pneumonia.

SETTING: Hospitalised patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in a tertiary referral hospital in South Korea. OBJECTIVE: To determine the burden of vitamin D deficiency in patients hospitalised with CAP and to investigate whether vitamin D deficiency affected clinical outcomes. DESIGN: Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25[OH]D) levels were measured at admission; vitamin D deficiency was defined as 25(OH)D <20 ng/ml. Data were retrospectively analysed for incidence of vitamin D deficiency. The primary outcome was the relationship between serum vitamin D concentration and 28-day all-cause mortality in CAP. RESULTS: The mean age was 68.1 years (standard deviation [SD] ± 14.6), and the mean pneumonia severity index was 98.0 (± SD 28.6). Of the 797 patients (males 66.0%), 641 (80.4%) had vitamin D deficiency. Overall mean serum 25(OH)D level was 14.0 ± 7.4 ng/ml. The 28-day all-cause mortality rate in vitamin D-deficient patients was significantly higher than in non-deficient patients (8.3% vs. 2.6%, P = 0.01), and serum vitamin D level was negatively associated with risk of 28-day mortality in CAP after adjustment for pneumonia severity index and serum lactate levels (OR 0.94, 95%CI 0.90-0.99, P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of vitamin D deficiency was ~80% in patients hospitalised with CAP. Vitamin D deficiency was also a significant predictor of increased 28-day all-cause mortality.

The removal of residual organic matter from biologically treated swine wastewater using membrane bioreactor process with powdered activated carbon.

The objective of this study was to characterize the mechanisms of the COD removal in the membrane bioreactor (MBR) process with powdered activated carbon (PAC) addition and to determine its optimal operation, for the removal of residual organic matters (ROM) from biologically treated swine wastewater. The MBR process with PAC showed higher removal efficiency of chemical oxygen demand (COD(Mn)) than that without PAC. When the average COD(Mn) concentration of the influent was 217 mg/L, the average COD(Mn) concentration of the permeate from the MBR with PAC was about 41.5 mg/L, indicating an approximate removal efficiency of 81%. On the other hand, the average COD(Mn) concentration of the permeate from the MBR without PAC was 172 mg/L. The PAC dosage estimated to obtain the above removal efficiency was about 0.74 g per litre of influent. Among the total residual organics removed by PAC-added MBR, 46.5% was removed by PAC adsorption, 20.8% by biodegradation, 4.4% by membrane separation, and 9.3% by enhanced microorganism activity. From these results, the MBR process with PAC was considered as a very useful treatment process for the reduction of COD(Mn) in biologically treated swine wastewater.

Mycosis fungoides mimicking inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus.

We experienced an unusual case of mycosis fungoides with the clinical and histological features mimicking inflammatory linear verrucous epidermal nevus (ILVEN) in an 11-year-old boy. Localized linear multiple pruritic verrucous confluent papules and plaques appeared on the his left elbow, forearm and hand for 7 months. Skin biopsies showed characteristic findings of mycosis fungoides (e.g. Pautrier's microabscesses, follicular epitheliotropism, wiry bundles of collagen, etc.). T-cell receptor gene rearrangement analysis in the lesional skin demonstrated rearrangement of the gamma chain. RePUVA (systemic PUVA with retinoic acid) therapy improved his skin lesions and pruritus, but these progressed after discontinuation of treatment. Thus, lesions mimicking ILVEN can be an unusual and potentially misleading presentation of mycosis fungoides.

Mycosis fungoides presenting as Ofuji's papuloerythroderma.

We report three patients presented with clinical features of Ofuji's papuloerythroderma (pruritic erythematous papules and extensive erythema sparing all skin folds), however, showing histopathological findings of mycosis fungoides (Pautrier's microabscess, haloed lymphocytes, disproportionate epidermotropism, and wiry collagen bundles). One case was associated with plaque stage of mycosis fungoides and follicular mucinosis. T-cell receptor (TCR) gene rearrangement analysis in the lesional skin tissue demonstrated rearrangement of the gamma chain in all cases. HTLV-1 serology was negative for two patients who conducted HTLV-1 test. We think that Ofuji's papuloerythroderma might be a variant of early mycosis fungoides rather than secondary skin manifestations to certain cutaneous inflammatory diseases.

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma (collagenous fibroma).

Desmoplastic fibroblastoma is a vary rare subcutaneous proliferation. We describe a case of desmoplastic fibroblastoma in a 24-year-old Korean woman who presented with a 2.5 cm solitary and firm nodule on her back which had been present for 3 months. Histologic studies showed a well demarcated subcutaneous tumor composed of stellate or spindle shaped cells embedded in hypovascular fibrous or fibromyxoid stroma. No mitotic figures, calcification, or necrosis were observed. The stellate or spindle shaped cells were positive for vimentin. The stroma stained positively with Alcian blue and Masson trichrome. S-100 protein, actin, desmin, and elastic fiber stains were all negative in the stellate or spindle shaped cells. There has been no recurrence or metastasis of the tumor over an 18-month follow-up.

Papular acantholytic dyskeratosis of the genitalia.

A 32-year-old man presented with multiple papules on the pubic area for 5 months. There were no subjective symptoms. We could not find any clues for predisposing factors. Pathological examination of the excised papules revealed marked acantholysis and dyskeratosis in the epidermis. The lesions persisted for 5 months after the pathological examination. We consider the present case to be similar to that of Chorzelski et al., papular acantholytic dyskeratosis of the vulva, reported in 1984. We would like to propose this case as papular acantholytic dyskeratosis of the genitalia.