Predicting the Rainfall-Triggered Landslides in a Forested Mountain Region Using TRIGRS Model

Landslides are natural disasters which can pose a serious threat to human and property in many areas around the world. The Transient Rainfall Infiltration and Grid-based Regional Slope-stability (TRIGRS) model was used to investigate the rainfall-induced shallow landslides in a forested mountain region, Korea. Various input data for TRIGRS model include time-varying rainfall, topographic characteristics, soil depth, material strength, and hydraulic properties. A series of calculations were conducted in determining the slope stability over the Jangheung region in Korea during the storm occurred on August 6, 1998. The results show that TRIGRS model captured about 64.1% of landslides that were extracted from the IKONOS2 imageries. The model demonstrated how the factor of safety changed with time during a storm considering both the transient and spatial responses of pore water pressure in its slope stability calculation.

Effects of vagus nerve preservation and vagotomy on peptide YY and body weight after subtotal gastrectomy

AIM:To investigate the relationship between the function of vagus nerve and peptide YY 3-36 and ghrelin levels after subtotal gastrectomy.METHODS:We enrolled a total of 16 patients who underwent subtotal gastrectomy due to gastric cancer.All surgeries were performed by a single skilled surgeon.We measured peptide YY 3-36,ghrelin,leptin,insulin,growth hormone levels,and body weight immediately before and one month after surgery.RESULTS:Vagus nerve preservation group showed less body weight loss and less increase of peptide YY 3-36 compared with vagotomy group(-5.56 ± 2.24 kg vs-7.85 ± 1.57 kg,P = 0.037 and 0.06 ± 0.08 ng/mL vs 0.19 ± 0.12 ng/mL,P = 0.021,respectively).Moreover,patients with body weight loss of less than 10% exhibited reduced elevation of peptide YY 3-36 level,typically less than 20% [6(66.7%) vs 0(0.0%),P = 0.011,odd ratio = 3.333,95% confidence interval(1.293,8.591)].CONCLUSION:Vagus nerve preservation contributes to the maintenance of body weight after gastrectomy,and this phenomenon may be related to the suppressed activity of peptide YY 3-36.

High morbidity in myocardial infarction and heart failure patients after gastric cancer surgery

AIM:To evaluate to morbidity and mortality differences between 4 underlying heart diseases,myocardial infarction(MI),angina pectoris(Angina),heart failure(HF),and atrial fibrillation(AF),after radical surgery for gastric cancer.METHODS:We retrospectively collected data from 221 patients of a total of 15167 patients who underwent radical gastrectomy and were preoperatively diagnosed with a history of Angina,MI,HF,or AF in 8 hospitals.RESULTS:We find that the total morbidity rate is significantly higher in the MI group(44%) than the Angina(15.7%),AF(18.8%),and HF(23.1%) groups(P < 0.01).Moreover,we note that the risk for postoperative cardiac problems is higher in patients with a history of HF(23.1%) than patients with a historyof Angina(2.2%),AF(4.3%),or MI(6%; P = 0.01).The HF and MI groups each have 1 case of cardiogenic mortality.CONCLUSION:We conclude that MI patients have a higher risk of morbidity,and HF patients have a higher risk of postoperative cardiac problems than Angina or AF.

Prediction of nephrotoxicity induced by cisplatin combination chemotherapy in gastric cancer patients

AIM:To evaluate the treatment options for nephrotoxicity due to cisplatin combination chemotherapy.METHODS:We retrospectively reviewed patients who had received cisplatin combination chemotherapy for gastric cancer between January 2002 and December 2008.We investigated patients who had shown acute renal failure(ARF),and examined their clinical characteristics,laboratory data,use of preventive measures,treatment cycles,the amount of cisplatin administered,recovery period,subsequent treatments,and renal status between the recovered and unrecovered groups.RESULTS:Forty-one of the 552 patients had serum creatinine(SCR)levels greater than 1.5 mg/dL.We found that pre-ARF SCR,ARF SCR,and ARF glomerular filtration rates were significantly associated with renal status postARF between the two groups(P=0.008,0.026,0.026,respectively).On the receiver operating characteristic curve of these values,a 1.75 mg/dL ARF SCR value had 87.5%sensitivity and 84.8%specificity(P=0.011).CONCLUSION:Cessation or reduction of chemotherapy should be considered for patients who have an elevation of SCR levels during cisplatin combination chemotherapy.

Evaluation of the safety of hair essence containing 0.05% purified bee venom on the skin and eyes of rabbits

OBJECTIVE:To investigate the safety of hair essence containing 0.05%purified bee venom(HE-PBV)on the skin and eyes of New Zealand White rabbits.METHODS:HE-PBV which contained 0.05%PBV,purified water,and glycerin,was used as the test substance.The skin-irritation test(SIT)and eye-irritation test(EIT)were conducted according to the Draize method.On the SIT,HE-PBV(0.5 m L)dropped gauze was attached both intact and abraded skin for 24 h.The other side of the skin was used as control.After 24 and 72 h,the treatment site was observed and scored according to evaluation criteria for skin reactions.On the EIT,the rabbits were divided into two groups:eye-washed(three rabbits)and non-eye-washed(six rabbits).HE-PBV(0.1 m L)was squirted into the right eye of rabbits.The left eye was untreated and used as a control.Then,20-30-s later,the eyes of rabbits in the eye-washed group were washed with^50 m L of physiologic(0.9%)salt solution.Then,1,2,3,4 and 7 d after the start of the EIT,the eyes and behavior of the rabbits were observed.The degree of eye irritation elicited by HE-PBV was determined in three steps and then the criteria of the classification of eye-irritation scores.RESULTS:The SIT revealed erythema and edema at the site of HE-PBV application.At 72 h,the body weight of rabbits was reduced slightly,but other symptoms(except erythema and edema)were not observed.The Primary Irritation Index score was0.6,and HE-PBV was deemed to be a slight irritant.The EIT did not show mortality or body-weight fluctuation,but hyperemic conjunctiva and eyelid closure were noted after HE-PBV administration.Except for these results,the score for the ophthalmic response on days 1,2,3,4 and 7 was 0,and HE-PBV was deemed to be a non-irritant.CONCLUSION:These data suggest that HE-PBV did not elicit eye irritation,but was a slight irritant to the skin of rabbits;the latter slight would have been due to the excipients used in manufacture of the hair essence because PBV has been shown to be safe.