Geographical distribution of health indicators related to snake bites and envenomation in Morocco between 1999 and 2013

Faiçal El Hattimy,Soulaymani Bencheikh Rachida 한국역학회 2018 Epidemiology and Health Vol.40 No.-

OBJECTIVES: Envenomation from snake bites is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological features of snake bites in Morocco and to evaluate time-space trends in snake bite incidence, the mortality rate, and the case-fatality rate. METHODS: This is a retrospective study of snake bite cases reported to the Moroccan Poison Control Center between 1999 and 2013. RESULTS: During the study period, 2,053 people were bitten by snakes in Morocco. Most victims were adults (55.4%). The average age of the patients was 26.48±17.25 years. More than half of the cases (58.1%) were males. Approximately 75% of snake bites happened in rural areas, and 85 deaths were recorded during this period. The incidence of snake bites remained generally steady over the 15-year period of this study, with a marked increase noted since 2012. The mortality rate has increased slightly, from 0.02 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants in 1999 to 0.05 in 2013. The geographical distribution of snake bite cases in the regions of Morocco showed that Tanger-Tétouan had the highest annual incidence of snake bites (1.41 bites per 100,000 inhabitants). However, the highest annual mortality rates were recorded in the Guelmim-Es Semara and Souss-Massa-Drâa regions (0.09 deaths per 100,000 inhabitants for both regions). CONCLUSIONS: The geographical distribution of the incidence, mortality, and case-fatality rates of snake bites in Morocco showed large disparities across regions during the three 5-year periods included in this study, meaning that certain areas can be considered high-risk for snake bites.

Ionic liquids [EMIM][BF4], [EMIM][Otf] and [BMIM][Otf] as corrosion inhibitors for CO2 capture applications

Anissa Acidi,Azzedine Abbaci,Muhammad Hasib-ur-Rahman,Faiçal Larachi 한국화학공학회 2014 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.31 No.6

We present the viability of using thermally stable, practically non-volatile ionic liquids as corrosion inhibitorsin aqueous monoethanolamine systems. Carbon steel 1020, which is widely used as a construction material in CO2capture plants, has been taken as a test material. Corrosion inhibition capabilities of typical room-temperature ionicliquids constituting imidazolium cation in concentration range ≤3% in CO2 capture applications were investigated. Electrochemical corrosion experiments using the potentiodynamic polarization technique for measuring corrosion currentwere carried out. Subsequent calculation of corrosion rate via Tafel fit was performed. The experimental findingssuggest that the corrosion rate is significantly dependent on the process parameters, such as the CO2 loading and thepresence of oxygen. In addition, the value of the corrosion rate is sensitive to the type of ionic liquid added. Moreover,the results show that ionic liquids possess the ability of suppressing severe operational problems of corrosion in typicalCO2 capture plants to a reasonable extent (≥50%).

Renal and Splenic Micro-Infarctions Following Bronchial Artery Embolization with Tris-Acryl Microspheres

Ka-Fai Johnny Ma,Wing-Hang Wong,Choi-Yu Dilys Lui,Lik-Fai Cheng 대한영상의학회 2009 Korean Journal of Radiology Vol.10 No.1

A bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is an important therapeutic method used to control acute and chronic hemoptysis. We report a case of multiple microinfarcts involving both the kidneys and spleen, following a BAE with 500-700 μm crossed-linked tris-acryl microspheres (Embospheres) in a patient with bronchial artery pulmonary vein shunts. The superior penetration characteristics of the microspheres may have resulted in the greater tendency to cross the bronchial artery pulmonary vein shunts, which subsequently caused the systemic infarcts in our patient. We propose the use of larger sized microspheres (700-900 μm), which may aid in avoiding this complication. A bronchial artery embolization (BAE) is an important therapeutic method used to control acute and chronic hemoptysis. We report a case of multiple microinfarcts involving both the kidneys and spleen, following a BAE with 500-700 μm crossed-linked tris-acryl microspheres (Embospheres) in a patient with bronchial artery pulmonary vein shunts. The superior penetration characteristics of the microspheres may have resulted in the greater tendency to cross the bronchial artery pulmonary vein shunts, which subsequently caused the systemic infarcts in our patient. We propose the use of larger sized microspheres (700-900 μm), which may aid in avoiding this complication.

Self-Initiative in Education Reform : A Report on Some Case Studies in Guangdong Province, P. R. China 광동성을 중심으로

Fai, Law Yu 숙명여자대학교 아세아여성문제연구소 1989 亞細亞女性硏究叢書 Vol.1 No.-

1979년 광동성에는 일대 대변혁이 있었다. 1979년 7월, 중국정부는 심수(深), 주해(株海) 산두(汕頭)와 하문(廈門)에 경제특구를 설립할 것을 결정한 것이었다. 이 경제특구는 복건성(福建省)에 있는 廈門을 제외하고는 모두 廣東지역에 소재하고 있다. 1984년 4月, 중국정부는 더욱 개방을 확대하여 연해(沿海)의 14개 항구도시를 개방하기로 하였는데, 그 중 광주(廣州)와 심강(湛江)은 광동성(廣東省)에속하고 있다. 1983년 정부는 또 해남도(海南島)를 적극 개발 건설키로 결정하면서, 1988년 해남도를 성(省)으로 승격시키는 등 많은 자주권과 특혜를 부여하였다. 광공성은 홍콩과 마카오에 인접해 있는 곳으로 홍콩·마카오 거주민과 화교가 대단히 많은 지역으로써, 그들의 경제특구지역 건설사업의 투자에 힘입어 발전을 해 나가고 있으며, 또한 주강(珠江)의 삼각주 일대의 지역도 역시 해외의 투자로 인해 신속한 발전을 해 나가고 있다. 그러나 교육방면에서는 전망있는 상공업의 투자와는 비교가 되지 않을 만큼, 그 투자는 '0'(제로) 상태에 가깝다. 그중 개방정책으로 홍콩과 마카오에 인접해 있는 광동성의 교육사업에 약간의 영향이 있는 부분을 본 보고서는 4개의 사항으로 제시하였다. 본인은 중국정부의 개방정책 주도하에 그 지도권을 각 지방이나, 각 단위로 하방한다면, 각 단위의 지도자가 적극성을 발휘하여, 상공업과 마찬가지로 외래의 투자를 활용, 개발하여 교육사업을 발전시켜 나갈 수 있음을 증명하고자 한다. 또한 이런 정책을 개방하여 홍콩의 뜻있는 인사들에게, 그 기회가 주어진다면 의무적으로 교육사업에 뜻을 펴서 조국에 이바지해야 할 것이다.

An Intelligent Fault Detection and Service Restoration Scheme for Ungrounded Distribution Systems

Fai Yu,Tae-Wan Kim,Il-Hyung Lim,Myeon-Song Choi,Seung-Jae Lee,Sung-Il Lim,Sung-Woo Lee,Bok-Nam Ha 대한전기학회 2008 Journal of Electrical Engineering & Technology Vol.3 No.3

Electric load components have different characteristics according to the vanation of voltage and frequency. This paper presents the load modeling of an electric locomotive by the parameter identification method. The proposed method for load modeling is very simple and easy for application. The proposed load model of the electric locomotive is represented by the combination of the loads that have static and dynamic characteristics. This load modeling is applied to the KTX in Korea to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The results of proposed load modeling by the parameter identification follow the field measurements very exactly.

Exploring Culture Dimensions and Enablers in Quality Management Practices: Some Findings

Kit Fai Pun,Jaggernath Furlonge Surujdaye 한국품질경영학회 2009 The Asian Journal on Quality Vol.10 No.2

Arterial Stiffness in the Young: Assessment, Determinants, and Implications

Yiu-Fai Cheung 대한심장학회 2010 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.40 No.4

Arterial stiffness describes the rigidity of the arterial wall. Its significance owes to its relationship with the pulsatile afterload presented to the left ventricle and its implications on ventricular-arterial coupling. In adults, the contention that arterial stiffness as a marker and risk factor for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is gaining support. Noninvasive methods have increasingly been adopted in both the research and clinical arena to determine local,segmental, and systemic arterial stiffness in the young. With adoption of these noninvasive techniques for use in children and adolescents, the phenomenon and significance of arterial stiffening in the young is beginning to be unveiled. The list of childhood factors and conditions found to be associated with arterial stiffening has expanded rapidly over the last decade; these include traditional cardiovascular risk factors, prenatal growth restriction, vasculitides,vasculopathies associated with various syndromes, congenital heart disease, and several systemic diseases. The findings of arterial stiffening have functional implications on energetic efficiency, structure, and function of the left ventricle. Early identification of arterial dysfunction in childhood may provide a window for early intervention,although longitudinal studies are required to determine whether improvement of arterial function in normal and at-risk paediatric populations will be translated into clinical benefits.

Rates of metachronous adenoma after curative resection for left-sided or right-sided colon cancer

( Yuk Fai Lam ),( Wai Kay Seto ),( Teresa Tong ),( Ka Shing Cheung ),( Oswens Lo ),( Ivan Fn Hung ),( Wai Lun Law ),( Wai K Leung ) 대한장연구학회 2018 Intestinal Research Vol.16 No.4

Background/Aims: We determined the rates of metachronous colorectal neoplasm in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients after resection for right (R)-sided or left (L)-sided cancer. Methods: Consecutive CRC patients who had undergone surgical resection for curative intent in our hospital between 2001 and 2004 were identified. R-sided colonic cancers refer to cancer proximal to splenic flexure whereas L-sided cancers include rectal cancers. Patients were included only if they had a clearing colonoscopy performed either before or within 6 months after the operation. Findings of surveillance colonoscopy performed up to 5 years after colonic resection were included in the analysis. Results: Eight hundred and sixty-three CRC patients underwent curative surgical resection during the study period. Three hundred and twenty-seven patients (107 R-sided and 220 L-sided) fulfilled the inclusion criteria and had at least 1 postoperative surveillance colonoscopy performed. The proportion of patients who had polyp and adenoma on surveillance colonoscopy was significantly higher among patients with L-sided than R-sided cancers (polyps: 30.9% vs. 19.6%, P=0.03; adenomas: 25.5% vs. 13.1%, P=0.01). The mean number of adenoma per patient on surveillance colonoscopy was also higher for patients with L-sided than R-sided tumors (0.52; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.37-0.68 vs. 0.22; 95% CI, 0.08-0.35; P<0.01). Multivariate analysis showed that L-sided cancers, age, male gender and longer follow-up were independent predictors of adenoma detection on surveillance colonoscopy. Conclusions: Patients with L-sided cancer had a higher rate of metachronous polyps and adenoma than those with R-sided cancer on surveillance colonoscopy. (Intest Res 2018;16:619-627)

Functional Assessment for Congenital Heart Disease

Yiu-Fai Cheung 대한심장학회 2014 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.44 No.2

Significant improvement in survival of children with congenital cardiac malformations has resulted in an increasing population of adolescent and adult patients with congenital heart disease. Of the long-term cardiac problems, ventricular dysfunction remains an important issue of concern. Despite corrective or palliative repair of congenital heart lesions, the right ventricle, which may be the subpulmonary or systemic ventricular chamber, and the functional single ventricle are particularly vulnerable to functional impairment. Regular assessment of cardiac function constitutes an important aspect in the long-term follow up of patients with congenital heart disease. Echocardiography remains the most useful imaging modality for longitudinal monitoring of cardiac function. Conventional echocardiographic assessment has focused primarily on quantification of changes in ventricular size and blood flow velocities during the cardiac cycles. Advances in echocardiographic technologies including tissue Doppler imaging and speckle tracking echocardiography have enabled direct interrogation of myocardial deformation. In this review, the issues of ventricular dysfunction in congenital heart disease, conventional echocardiographic and novel myocardial deformation imaging techniques, and clinical applications of these techniques in the functional assessment of congenital heart disease are discussed.

What is the pancreatic duct size limit for a safe duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy after pancreaticoduodenectomy? A retrospective study

Kit-Fai Lee,Kandy Kam Cheung Wong,Eugene Yee Juen Lo,Janet Wui Cheung Kung,Hon-Ting Lok,Charing Ching Ning Chong,John Wong,Paul Bo San Lai,Kelvin Kwok Chai Ng 한국간담췌외과학회 2022 Annals of hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery Vol.26 No.1

Backgrounds/Aims: Postoperative pancreatic fistula (POPF) after pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) remains a dreadful complication. Duct-to-mucosa pancreaticojejunostomy (DTMPJ) is a commonly performed anastomosis after PD. This study aims to evaluate whether there is a size limit of pancreatic duct below which POPF rate increases significantly after DTMPJ. Methods: A retrospective study was performed from a database with prospectively collected data on consecutive patients undergoing DTMPJ. Results: Between the years 2003 and 2019, a total of 288 patients with DTMPJ were recruited. POPF occurred in 56.3% of the patients, of which 43.8% were biochemical leak, 8.7% were grade B, and 1.4% were grade C. Overall operative morbidity was 51.4%, of which 19.1% were major complications. Five patients (1.7%) died within 90 days of operation. Patients with grade B/C POPF had significantly soft pancreas (p < 0.001), smaller duct size (p = 0.031), and a diagnosis of carcinoma of the pancreas (p = 0.027). When a clinically significant POPF rate was analysed based on the pancreatic duct diameter, pancreatic duct size ≤ 1 mm had the highest POPF rate (35.7%). There was a significant difference in POPF rate between adjacent ductal diameter ≤ 1 mm and > 1 mm to 2 mm (35.7% vs 13.3%; p = 0.040). Multivariable analysis showed that for the soft pancreas, pancreatic duct diameter ≤ 1 mm was the only significant predictive factor for POPF (p = 0.027). Conclusions: DTMPJ can be safely performed for pancreatic duct > 1 mm without significantly increased POPF risk.