Improving methane mitigating functionality of blast furnace slag by adding electron acceptor.

Blast furnace slag (BFS), a byproduct of iron-producing process, has been applied as silicate fertilizer in rice paddy. Silicate fertilizer contains lime and silicate as main components and iron and manganese as electron acceptors. This amendment improves soil productivity and mitigates methane (CH4) emissions. However, its suppression effect was limited to <20 % at a field level, and its functionality needs improvement to encourage recycling. We hypothesized that the effect of silicate fertilizer on suppressing CH4 emission might improve by increasing electron acceptor concentration. To investigate the feasibility of electron acceptor added silicate fertilizer on increasing CH4 flux suppression, four byproducts of the iron-production process (basic oxygen slag-BOF, ferromanganese slag-FerroMn, iron rust, and Kambara reactor slag-KR) were selected and compared through soil incubation test. Iron rust effectively suppressed CH4 production by 67 %, which is comparable with a 15-30 % reduction of others. To find the optimum mixing ratio of iron rust, it was mixed to BFS with the rate of 0-5 % (wt wt-1), and their effect on CH4 flux was compared. The 3 % mixing ratio highly increased the BFS functionality on suppressing CH4 production. To confirm the field adaptability of the improved BFS, three types of silicate fertilizer (mixing iron rust with the ratios of 0, 2.5, and 5 %) were applied with the recommendation level (1.5 Mg ha-1) before rice transplanting. Seasonal CH4 flux was significantly decreased by the original silicate fertilizer (BFS0) application to 20 % over control. This effectiveness was enhanced by adding 2.5 % iron rust but thereafter, not more increased. Silicate fertilization (BFS0) significantly increased rice grain productivity by 9 % over control, and the improved silicate fertilizer (BFS2.5 & 5.0) more highly increased by 13 %. In conclusion, the BFS's functionality to increase rice productivity and suppress CH4 emission could be improved by adding an effective electron acceptor such as Fe2O3.

Bacterial Reverse Mutation Test of Verbenalin.

Objectives: Verbenalin is a compound found in herbs such as Cornus officinalis and Verbena officinalis. This study investigated whether verbenalin is safe by analyzing its mutagenicity. Methods: To examine the mutagenic potential of verbenalin, a bacterial reverse mutation test (Ames test) was conducted with Salmonella typhimurium and Escherichia coli strains. Experiments with and without metabolic activity were performed. Results: The mean colony number was less than double that of the control. Growth inhibition and precipitation of verbenalin were not apparent in all strains at different concentrations regardless of metabolic activity. Conclusion: Verbenalin did not show any signs of mutagenicity in this study. Additional toxicity studies including repeated oral toxicity, reproductive toxicity, and carcinogenicity tests are needed.

Introduction of a Program to Improve the Information Sharing System of Food Allergy Patients.

Although the symptoms of food allergy are diverse and sometimes dangerous to life, we have not been able to effectively share information on patients' food allergies. In this study, we developed a program to prescribe the allergic formula for each patient and to establish a series of processes for safe allergenic meal delivery based on the standards and guidelines of food allergy management. We then assessed the utility of the "introduction of food allergy program" by comparing the number of allergic prescriptions before and after the program application for inpatients. Through the development and introduction of the program, all hospital staffs, including medical staff and dieticians, can share information on food allergy patients. Systematic management of food allergy patients from doctor's prescriptions has provided the basis for safe meal preparation.

Endoscopic Extraction of Biliary Fascioliasis Diagnosed Using Intraductal Ultrasonography in a Patient with Acute Cholangitis.

Fasciola hepatica infection may result in biliary obstruction with or without cholangitis in the chronic biliary phase. Because clinical symptoms and signs of F. hepatica are similar to other biliary diseases that cause bile duct obstruction, such as stones or bile duct malignancies, that are, in fact, more common, this condition may not be suspected and diagnosis may be overlooked and delayed. Patients undergoing endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography or endoscopic ultrasonography for the evaluation of bile duct obstruction may be incidentally detected with the worm, and diagnosis can be confirmed by extraction of the leaf-like trematode from the bile duct. Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) can provide high-resolution cross-sectional images of the bile duct, and is useful in evaluating indeterminate biliary diseases. We present a case of biliary fascioliasis that was diagnosed using IDUS and managed endoscopically in a patient with acute cholangitis.

Direct insertion of an ultra-slim upper endoscope for cholangioscopy in patients undergoing choledochoduodenostomy.

Direct peroral cholangioscopy (POC) using an ultra-slim upper endoscope is one modality of POC for intraductal endoscopic evaluation and treatment of the bile duct. Choledochoduodenostomy (CDS) is one modality of biliary bypass surgery that provides a new route to the bile duct. We carried out direct POC using an ultra-slim upper endoscope without the use of accessories in 10 patients (four sump syndromes, three bile duct strictures and three intrahepatic duct stones) previously undergoing surgical CDS. Direct POC was successful in all patients. The use of an intraductal balloon catheter was required in one patient for advancement of the endoscope into the bile duct. Distal bile ducts with sump syndromes were cleared using baskets and water irrigation under direct POC. Cholangiocarcinoma was diagnosed in one patient with hilar bile duct stricture after cholangioscopic evaluation and a targeting forceps biopsy under direct POC. Intrahepatic duct stones were successfully extracted after intraductal fragmentation under direct POC. Oozing bleeding occurred during intraductal lithotripsy but stopped spontaneously. Direct POC using an ultra-slim upper endoscope without the assistance of accessories can easily be carried out in patients undergoing CDS.

Comparison of endoscopic papillary balloon dilation and sphincterotomy in young patients with CBD stones and gallstones.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Endoscopic biliary sphincterotomy (EBS) results in permanent loss of sphincter function and its long-term complications are unknown. Endoscopic papillary balloon dilation (EPBD) is an alternative procedure that preserves sphincter function, although it is associated with a higher risk of pancreatitis than is EBS. The aim of this study was to evaluate the safety and outcomes of EPBD with limited indications for removal of common bile duct (CBD) stones combined with gallstones in patients younger than 40 years. METHODS: Young (age < 40 years) patients who had CBD stones combined with gallstones on imaging studies were enrolled in this study. A total of 132 patients were randomly divided into the EPBD group (n = 62) or the EBS group (n = 70) for extraction of CBD stones. The ballooning size of EPBD ranged from 6 to 10 mm. RESULTS: Complete bile duct clearance was achieved in 98.4 % (61/62) of the EPBD group and 100 % (70/70) of the EBS group. Mechanical lithotripsy was required in 8.1 % (5/62) of the EPBD group and 8.6 % (6/70) of the EBS group. The early complication rates were 8.1 % (5/62) (five pancreatitis) in the EPBD group and 11.4 % (8/70) (five [7.1 %] pancreatitis, two bleeding and one perforation) in the EBS group. The recurrence rates of CBD stones were 1.6 % (1/62) in the EPBD group and 5.7 % (4/70) in the EBS group. CONCLUSIONS: EPBD with limited indications was safe and effective as EBS for removal of CBD stones combined with gallstones in young patients who had a longer life expectancy.

[Therapeutic outcomes of endoscopic submucosal dissection in undifferentiated-type early gastric cancer].

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has been accepted as a standard treatment of early gastric cancer (EGC). However, the indication of ESD in undifferentiated-type EGC was controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the therapeutic outcomes of ESD in undifferentiated-type EGC according to expanded indication. METHODS: At Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, a total of 82 lesions in 81 patients with undifferentiated-type EGC were treated with ESD. The therapeutic outcomes of ESD were evaluated by resection method (en bloc resection; piecemeal resection), histologic curative resection, complications and recurrence rates after ESD. RESULTS: The rate on en bloc resection and complete resection rate were 87.8% (72/82) and 80.5% (66/82), respectively. In signet ring cell carcinoma, the complete resection rate was higher than those in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell features, but there was no statistical significance (89.3% vs. 75.0%, 76.7%; p=0.347). The lateral margin positivity rate in poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma, signet ring cell carcinoma and poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma with signet ring cell features were 12.5%, 3.6% and 13.3%, respectively (p=0.395). The vertical margin positivity rate were 12.5%, 3.6% and 10.0%, respectively (p=0.485). The overall recurrence rate was 3.0% during a mean follow-up period of 37.4 months. CONCLUSIONS: ESD may be considered as a feasible treatment for undifferentiated-type EGC according to expanded indication. The therapeutic outcome of ESD in undifferentiated-type EGC is likely to be favorable, though further longer follow-up studies are needed.