A twenty-year deposition record of elemental carbon in Northern Japan retrieved from archived filters.

The black carbon or elemental carbon (EC) content in ice and snow has been a concern in climate change studies, but time-series records have mostly been obtained from glacier ice-core samples in limited geographical locations, such as the Arctic or high mountains. This is the first study to present decade-long records of EC deposition measured at urban (Sapporo) and background (Rishiri Island) sites in Japan, in the mid-latitude zone of the eastern edge of the Asian continent. By using archived membrane filters from an acid rain study, we retrieved monthly EC deposition records of 1993-2012 in Sapporo and intermittent deposition data in Rishiri. Annual EC deposition showed large fluctuations, with a maximum in 2000-2001 and a minor increase in 2010-2011. This interannual change was moderately related to the deposition of non-sea salt SO42- and the collected water volume but did not reflect the estimated emission history of China. High depositions in 2000-2001 were probably caused by the transport of Asian Dust accompanied by air pollutants, which were characteristically active in these years. The findings of this study have implications for the use of observational data in validating global aerosol transport models.

Peat-fire-related air pollution in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia.

The past decade marked record high air pollution episodes in Indonesia. In this study, we specifically focus on vegetation fires in Palangkaraya located near a Mega Rice Project area in Indonesia. We analyzed various gaseous air pollution data such as particulate matter (PM10), SO2, CO, O3, and NO2 study region. We also conducted elemental analysis at two different sites. Results from 2001 to 2010 suggested the longest hazardous air pollution episode during 2002 lasting about 80 days from mid-August to late-October. Maximum peak concentrations of PM10, SO2, CO, and O3 were also observed during 2002 and their values reached 1905, 85.8, 38.3, and 1003×10(-6) gm(-3) respectively. Elemental analysis showed significant increase in concentrations during 2011 and 2010. Satellite retrieved fires and weather data could explain most of the temporal variations. Our results highlight peat fires as a major contributor of photochemical smog and air pollution in the region.

Propofol drip infusion anesthesia for MRI scanning: two case reports.

The magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) room is a special environment. The required intense magnetic fields create unique problems with the use of standard anesthesia machines, syringe pumps, and physiologic monitors. We have recently experienced 2 oral maxillofacial surgery cases requiring MRI: a 15-year-old boy with developmental disability and a healthy 5-year-old boy. The patients required complete immobilization during the scanning for obtaining high-quality images for the best diagnosis. Anesthesia was started in the MRI scanning room. An endotracheal intubation was performed after induction with intravenous administration of muscle relaxant. Total intravenous anesthesia via propofol drip infusion (4-7 mg/kg/h) was used during the scanning. Standard physiologic monitors were used during scan pauses, but special monitors were used during scanning. In MRI scanning for oral maxillofacial surgery, general anesthesia, with the added advantage of having a secured airway, is recommended as a safe alternative to sedation especially in cases of patients with disability and precooperative chidren.

Exercise intensity and antioxidant ability.

We performed maximal exercise tests on 6 men using a bicycle ergometer and then measured the ferric-reducing ability in plasma to clarify the relationship between antioxidant status and exercise intensity. The ferric-reducing ability showed a rectilinear increase with the increase in exercise intensity, whereas the generation of hydroxyl radicals showed a decrease with the increase in exercise intensity. Also, the generation of hydroxyl radicals showed a symmetrical correlation to lactate level in plasma. These results suggest that antioxidant ability is enhanced with an increase in exercise intensity, and that the lactate level, which increases with physical exercise, may act as a scavenger of free radicals.

Hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha suppresses the expression of macrophage scavenger receptor 1.

Macrophages are distributed in all peripheral tissues and play a critical role in the first line of the innate immune defenses against bacterial infection by phagocytosis of bacterial pathogens through the macrophage scavenger receptor 1 (MSR1). Within tissues, the partial pressure of oxygen (pO2) decreases depending on the distance of cells from the closest O2-supplying blood vessel. However, it is not clear how the expression of MSR1 in macrophages is regulated by low pO2. On the other hand, hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-1alpha is well known to control hypoxic responses through regulation of hypoxia-inducible genes. Therefore, we investigated the effects of hypoxia and HIF-1alpha on MSR1 expression and function in the macrophage cell line RAW264. Exposure to 1% O2 or treatment with the hypoxia-mimetic agent cobalt chloride (CoCl2) significantly suppressed the expression of MSR1 mRNA, accompanied by a markedly increase in levels of nuclear HIF-1alpha protein. The overexpression of HIF-1alpha in RAW264 cells suppressed the expression of MSR1 mRNA and protein, transcriptional activity of the MSR1 gene, and phagocytic capacity against the Gram-positive bacteria Listeria monocytogenes. The suppression of MSR1 mRNA by hypoxia or CoCl2 was inhibited by YC-1, an inhibitor of HIF-1alpha, or by the depletion of HIF-1alpha expression by small interference RNA. These results indicate that hypoxia transcriptionally suppresses MSR1 expression through HIF-1alpha.

Fatal hyperthermia due to dental treatment.

A 12-year-old boy with mental retardation and cerebral palsy developed hyperthermia during dental treatment performed while he was conscious. During the treatment, he was highly excited, and shortly after completion of the procedure, general muscular spasms occurred. His axillary temperature was 41.6 degrees C then. He was transferred to another general hospital and there he was judged to have become afebrile and was discharged. His condition deteriorated during the night, and he was readmitted to the same hospital the following morning. The patient did not respond to the therapy and died from multiple organ failure on the 13th day. It was thought that hyperthermia had led to rhabdomyolysis and DIC. The cause of death is discussed. Hyperthermia in a handicapped patient is not always transient or benign, and can be life threatening.

Disturbance of microcirculation due to unhealthy lifestyle: Cause of type 2 diabetes.

Recently, type 2 diabetes seems to be increasing annually in all developed countries. The outcome of type 2 diabetes is often tragic due to succession of complications including renal disorders requiring hemodialysis, blindness, and limb amputation. The expenses for the care of diabetic patients are also a large burden on the society. These circumstances strongly indicate the necessity of prevention. For satisfactory prevention, the clarification of the etiology related to lifestyle is important, but it remains insufficient to date. In this paper, we present a hypothesis of the etiology of type 2 diabetes from the viewpoint of microcirculation. As mentioned later, an unhealthy lifestyle first causes disturbance of the microcirculation, and a portion of the blood is considered to bypass the capillaries via arteriovenous shunts. This prevents the delivery of glucose and insulin to cells of peripheral tissues, causing hyperglycemia unrelated to the cell insulin sensitivity or the endocrine state, i.e., apparent reduction of insulin sensitivity. Disturbance of the microcirculation also causes oxidative stress in peripheral tissues by inducing ischemia and hypoxia. This oxidative stress is considered to further exacerbate reduction of insulin sensitivity. This hypothesis is supported by the well-known fact that insulin sensitivity recovers with improvement in lifestyle including moderate exercise.

Pain relief by stellate ganglion block in a case with trigeminal neuralgia caused by a cerebellopontine angle tumor.

A 29-year-old woman with symptoms suggestive of trigeminal neuralgia is presented. Because of her age, an intracranial tumor was suspected, but images of a brain computerized tomography scan revealed nothing in particular. A magnetic resonance imaging was scheduled 2 weeks later. However, as the pain increased and occurred more frequently, the patient returned to the hospital 2 days later. After a stellate ganglion block with transient nausea and dizziness, the pain was noticeably relieved. Using magnetic resonance scanning, a tumor in the cerebellopontine angle was discovered, and at surgical resection was diagnosed as an epidermoid tumor. Stellate ganglion block may provide pain relief to some patients who are suspected to have symptomatic trigeminal neuralgia.

Perfil epidemiológico dos adolescentes em atendimento no Programa Infanto-juvenil do Hospital de Clínicas Gaspar Vianna (Belém-Pa) durante o ano de 1997

A distinção entre o comportamento normal e o patológico é uma tarefa ainda mais complicada quando se refere a adolescentes, por suas características peculiares...The distinction between normal and pathological behavior is a task even more complicated when it comes to adolescents and their unique characteristics ...