Evaluation of soil pesticide leaching to groundwater using undisturbed lysimeter: development of the pesticide groundwater leaching scoring system (PLS).

Groundwater pesticide safety management is essential for providing consistently safe water for humans, but such management is limited globally. In this study, we developed an accurate and convenient exposure assessment method for the safety management of pesticides in groundwater by conducting a lysimeter experiment to evaluate the leaching of 11 pesticides into groundwater. During the experimental period, flutoalanil and oxadiazon had the highest cumulative leaching amounts, 603.7 and 83.5 ng, respectively. Comparative analysis of existing groundwater exposure prediction indices, including the GUS, LEACH, modified LEACH, Hornsby index, and GLI showed no correlations with the measured data (p > 0.05). To enhance the accuracy of the assessment method, we used lysimeter data and principal component analysis to determine the main factors affecting groundwater leaching, and developed the "pesticide groundwater leaching scoring system" (PLS). The soil and water half-life, which had the greatest positive impact on groundwater leaching, was set as a 10-point indicator, whereas log P was set as a 1-point indicator. In contrast, solubility in water was determined as a 5-point indicator, and organic carbon partition coefficient and vapor pressure were determined as 2.5-point indicators owing to their negative relationship. The correlation coefficient was 0.670, indicating a significant correlation with the lysimeter data (p < 0.05). Using our scoring system, we ranked 376 pesticides. As an exposure assessment method developed using actual data, the PLS is expected to be applicable to groundwater safety management.

Extremely high white blood cell counts on postoperative day 1 do not predict severe complications following distal pancreatectomy.

BACKGROUNDS/AIMS: Distal pancreatectomy(DP) is associated with high morbidity. In clinical practice, postoperative white blood cell(WBC) counts are useful indicators of infection complications. The aim of this study was to determine the relevance of extremely high postoperative day (POD)1 WBC counts after DP and their relationship to perioperative outcomes. METHODS: From December 2005 to December 2016, data from patients who had open or minimally invasive DP surgery (robot or laparoscopy, MIS) for benign or borderline malignant tumors were retrospectively reviewed. Patients were divided into groups based on POD1 WBC count (>20K, High and <20K, Low) for comparisons. RESULTS: Twelve patients (4.6%) were categorized into the High group. There were significant differences in age (p=0.019), BMI (p=0.010), and spleen-preserving rate (p=0.002) between the High and Low groups. In binary logistic regression analysis, the risk factors for severe complication was age (p=0.032) and open DP (p=0.005), not POD1 WBC count. CONCLUSIONS: Extremely high WBC count after POD1 after DP was not associated with severe complications, but was associated with splenectomy. Surgical methods and age were associated with severe complications.

Out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation strategies using one-handed chest compression technique for children suffering a cardiac arrest.

OBJECTIVE: We evaluated the decrease in chest compression depth during 30 : 2 compression-to-ventilation ratio one-handed chest compression (OHCC) in an out-of-hospital pediatric arrest setting, and whether switching hands every other cycle could maintain compression depth. METHODS: A 5-year-old child-sized manikin was used, and 50 medical students participated in the present study. First, the participants performed 5 min OHCC with a 30 : 2 compression-to-ventilation ratio on the floor (baseline test). Second, the compression technique was changed from the OHCC to the two-handed chest compression when they became subjectively fatigued (test 1). Third, the compression hand was alternated every other cycle (test 2). Average compression depth (ACD) data were recorded using an accelerometer device. RESULTS: ACD changed significantly during the baseline test (0-1 min: 44.5±5.3 mm, 1-2 min: 43.7±6.1 mm, 2-3 min: 43.4±6.5 mm, 3-4 min: 43.2±6.5 mm, and 4-5 min: 42.3±6.5 mm, P=0.012). However, no significant differences were observed during test 1 or test 2. The baseline ACD value for the 4-5-min interval [95% confidence interval (CI), 40.5-44.2 mm] was significantly lower than those in test 1 (95% CI, 43.0-45.9 mm, P=0.004) and test 2 (95% CI, 42.4-45.9 mm, P=0.004). No differences in the ACDs at any interval were observed between test 1 and test 2. CONCLUSION: Compression depth decreased significantly after 4 min during 30 : 2 ratio OHCC. However, it was maintained by changing from the OHCC to the two-handed chest compression or by alternating compression hands every other cycle.