Association between exposure to ambient air pollution and renal function in Korean adults

BACKGROUND: Ambient air pollution has a negative effect on many diseases, such as cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Recent studies have reported a relationship between air pollution and renal function, but the results were limited to exposure to particulate matter (PM). This study was to identify associations between various air pollutants and renal function among Korean adults. METHODS: Nationwide survey data for a total of 24,407 adults were analyzed. We calculated the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) for each individual to assess their renal function and used this to categorize those with chronic kidney disease (CKD). To evaluate exposure to ambient air pollution, we used the annual mean concentrations of four ambient air pollutants: PM with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 10 μm (PM10), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and carbon monoxide (CO). RESULTS: We identified significant inverse relationships between the air pollutants PM10 and NO2 and eGFR in all statistical adjustment models (all p  0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Exposures to PM10 and NO2 were significantly associated with decreases in eGFR levels, but not CKD, in Korean adults.

Superficial versus Total Parotidectomy in the Treatment of Parotid Carcinoma Confined to the Superficial Lobe of Parotid Gland / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Although there is little consensus regarding the extent of surgical ablation needed to attain cure in parotid cancers, most surgeons has been used to perform total parotidectomy. However, the chance of development for postoperative facial palsy may be incresed in case of total parotidectomy. The aim of this study was to determine whether superficial parotidectomy (SP) yielded local control and resulted in overall survival rates that are comparable to those of total parotidectomy (TP). MATERIALS AND METHOD: The medical records of 82 patients who were treated at the Severance Hospital from 1991 to 2000 and diagnosed with the parotid cancers confined to the superficial lobe and had parotidectomy were reviewed. There were 42 males and 40 females, ranging in age from 8 to 84 years. There were 47 patients in group 1 (SP) and 35 in group 2 (TP). 52 patients underwent neck dissection simultaneously with primary lesion. Surgical treatment was followed by radiotherapy in 48 patients. The follow-up period ranged from 2 to 132 months with the mean of 37.7months. Data were analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Log-Rank test and Fisher's exact test. RESULTS: The clinical prognostic factors of SP group and TP group were not significantly associated with the following variables: histologic grade, tumor size, surgical margin, facial nerve involvement and postoperative radiotherapy. The overall crude 2- and 5- survival rates for the SP group were 87% and 79%, respectively, and those for the TP group were 80.5% and 64.9% (p>0.05), respectively. Also, there was no statistically significant difference in the locoregional recurrence between the SP group and TP group (p>0.05). However, there was statistically significant difference in the presence of postoperative facial palsy between two groups (p<0.05). Therefore, in terms of oncologic integrity, superficial parotidectomy may be a safe procedure without potential morbidity, such as postoperative facial palsy in the treatment of parotid cancer confined to the superficial lobe.

UTP and ATPgammaS Induce Mucin Secretion via Ca2+ Dependant Pathways in Human Nasal Epithelial Cells / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Nucleotides such as adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and uridine-5-triphosphate (UTP) play fundamental roles in the early stage of secretion in nasal epithelial cells via P2Y receptor. In the present study, we examined the expression pattern of P2Y subtypes and their functions on Ca2+ influx ([Ca2+]i) in normal human nasal epithelial (NHNE) cells. We also examined the effect of UTP (agonist for P2Y2) and ATPgammaS (agonist for P2Y11) on mucin secretion and mucin gene expression. MATERIALS AND METHOD: The expression pattern of P2Y receptors and mRNA levels of MUC5AC, MUC5B and MUC8 were examined after treatment with UTP and ATPgammaS by RT-PCR. Mucin was quantitated by immunoblotting assay. We measured the [Ca2+]i in NHNE cells with a double perfusion chamber. RESULTS: Two uracil-sensitive receptors (P2Y2, P2Y4) and two adenine-sensitive receptors (P2Y1, P2Y11) were expressed in NHNE cells. UTP and ATPgammaS increased [Ca2+]i via caffeine-sensitive pathways, and these two agonists stimulated mucin secretion to a similar magnitude without their gene enhancement. In addition, the mucin stimulatory effects subsided when the intracellular Ca2+ was removed by 2-bis (2-aminophenoxy) ethane-N, N, N', N'-tetraacetic acid-acetoxymethyl ester. CONCLUSION: Our study showed that P2Y2 and P2Y11 receptors were expressed in NHNE cells and that their agonists, UTP and ATPgammaS, act as secretogogues on mucin secretion via Ca2+-dependent pathways.

Effect of Patient-Controlled Analgesia after Tonsillectomy with Laser Resection of Palatopharynx (LRPP)

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Pain control is one of the most important factors for the patients that underwent the snoring surgery. This study was performed to investigate the effectiveness of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) for postoperative pain control after tonsillectomy with laser resection of palatopharynx. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this double-blind randomized study, 44 patient were randomly allocated to 2 groups. In the PCA group comprising 32 patients, fentanyl citrate, ketorolac tromethamine and zofran in normal saline solution were administered by PCA equipment. In the control group comprising 12 patients, normal saline solution was given without analgesic drug by PCA equipment. Visual analogue pain score (VAS) was recorded right after surgery and 2, 4, 6, 12, 18, and 24 hours after surgery and satisfaction score was recorded just before discharge from the hospital. RESULTS: VAS was significantly higher in the control group of all time points. Overall satisfaction score was also higher in PCA group than control group. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that intravenous PCA is an effective method for postoperative pain control after tonsillectomy with laser resection of palatopharynx.