Novel and Neutral PFAS in Multimatrix from Fluorochemical Industries: Sector-Specific Profiles and Monitoring Implications from GC-Based Targeted, Suspect, and Nontargeted Analyses.

Despite their widespread use as high-performance chemicals, the occurrence and environmental behavior of neutral per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) remain poorly characterized. In this study, air, sediment, and wastewater samples were collected from fluorochemical-related industries, such as textiles, paper materials, and semiconductor manufacturing. Gas chromatograph-based targeted and class-based suspect analyses were employed to characterize both known and novel neutral PFAS (nPFAS).

Retrospective Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Effectiveness of a New Tanner-Whitehouse-Based Bone Age Assessment Algorithm Trained with a Deep Neural Network System.

: To develop an automated deep learning-based bone age prediction model using the Tanner-Whitehouse (TW3) method and evaluate its feasibility by comparing its performance with that of pediatric radiologists. : The hand and wrist radiographs of 560 Korean children and adolescents (280 female, 280 male, mean age 9.43 ± 2.

Severe Neurological Manifestation Associated With Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children During the Omicron Variant-Predominant Period.

Background: The Omicron variant of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is known to be more infectious and less severe than the other variants. Despite the increasing number of symptomatic patients, severe neurological complications in children with the Omicron variant have been reported rarely, unlike with wild-type or Delta variants. This study aimed to investigate severe neurological complications in children with Omicron variant infection.

Target and Suspect Screening for Organic Additives in Six Classifications of Personal Care Products Using Liquid Chromatography-High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry.

Personal care products (PCPs) are integral components of daily human existence, including a large number of chemicals intentionally added for functional attributes (e.g., preservatives and fragrances) or unintentionally present, such as plasticizers.

Proposal for priority emerging pollutants in the Nakdong river, Korea: Application of EU watch list mechanisms.

The Nakdong River, the longest in Korea, has received numerous pollutants from heavily industrialized and densely populated areas while being used as a drinking water source. A number of research have reported occurrences of emerging pollutants (EPs) in the river. The results requested efficient monitoring and systematic management strategies such as EU watch list under Water Framework Directive.

Efficacy and safety of mucous fistula refeeding in preterm infants: an exploratory randomized controlled trial.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate whether mucous fistula refeeding (MFR) is safe and beneficial for the growth and intestinal adaptation of preterm infants with enterostomies.

Methods: This exploratory randomized controlled trial enrolled infants born before 35 weeks' gestation with enterostomy. If the stomal output was ≥ 40 mL/kg/day, infants were assigned to the high-output MFR group and received MFR.

Application of 3D printing technology for pre-operative evaluation, education and informed consent in pediatric retroperitoneal tumors.

To investigate usefulness of 3D printing for preoperative evaluations, student and resident education, and communication with parents or guardians of patients with pediatric retroperitoneal tumors. Ten patients planning retroperitoneal tumor resection between March and November 2019 were included. Preoperative computed tomography (CT) images were used for 3D reconstruction and printing.

Optimization of the QuEChERS method for multi-residue analysis of pharmaceuticals and pesticides in aquaculture products.

The aim of study was to optimize an QuEChERS extraction procedure for simultaneous determination of organic pollutants in aquaculture products. The QuEChERS extracts were measured using LC-HRMS. The target contaminants include 32 pesticides and 20 pharmaceuticals which have not been regulated for the products in Korea.

Long-term degradation of toluene and phenol in soil: Identification of transformation products and pathways via HRMS-based suspect and non-target screening.

In this study, the long-term fate of toluene and phenol in the soil was investigated, and the transformation products (TPs) and pathways of these compounds were studied by a high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS)-based suspect and non-target screening approach for the first time, and 9 and 12 transformation products were identified for toluene and phenol, respectively in the lab-exposed soil samples. Salicylaldehyde, 4-hydroxybenzaldehyde, and benzaldehyde were identified in toluene-contaminated field soil samples for the first time, and the main mechanisms involved in the biodegradation and detoxification of toluene and phenol in soil were oxidation, carboxylation, dehydroxylation, and ring fission amongst others. 2-oxoglutarate, TP165-A, TP165-B, TP172, and TP195 were identified as novel phenol transformation products, while salicylaldehyde, 2-oxoglutarate, TP165-A, and TP165-B were identified as novel toluene transformation products, providing new possible evidence for additional degradation pathways, which could give new insights into the fate of toluene and phenol during the natural attenuation process in the environment.

Allergic-like Hypersensitivity Reactions to Gadolinium-based Contrast Agents: An 8-year Cohort Study of 154 539 Patients.

Background With the widespread use of gadolinium-based contrast agents (GBCAs), the incidence of allergic-like hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to GBCAs is increasing. Research on the incidence and risk factors for HSRs to GBCAs is needed for their safe use. Purpose To determine the incidence of acute and delayed reactions to GBCAs and to discuss the risk factors and strategies for the prevention of HSRs to GBCAs.

Factors associated with neurodevelopment in preterm infants with systematic inflammation.

Background: Several studies have suggested that adverse neurodevelopment could be induced by systemic inflammation in preterm infants. We aimed to investigate whether preterm infants with systemic inflammation would have impaired neurodevelopment and which biomarkers and neurophysiologic studies during inflammation are associated with poor neurodevelopment.

Methods: This prospective cohort study enrolled infants born before 30 weeks of gestation or with birth weight < 1250 g.

Identification, quantification, and prioritization of new emerging pollutants in domestic and industrial effluents, Korea: Application of LC-HRMS based suspect and non-target screening.

The present study was designed to identify recently (or rarely) recognized or unreported substances (RRS or URS) contained in the effluents from water treatment plants in two industrialized urban areas, Gumi and Daegu, in Korea. In addition to 30 initial targets, 72 substances were identified through suspect and non-target screening (SNTS). Among them were 4 RRSs and 22 URSs, respectively.

Replacing the internal standard to estimate micropollutants using deep and machine learning.

Similar to the worldwide proliferation of urbanization, micropollutants have been involved in aquatic and ecological environmental systems. These pollutants have the propensity to wreak havoc on human health and the ecological system; hence, it is important to persistently monitor micropollutants in the environment. Micropollutants are commonly quantified via target analysis using high resolution mass spectrometry and the stable isotope labeled (SIL) standard.

Identification of transformation products to characterize the ability of a natural wetland to degrade synthetic organic pollutants.

Natural wetlands have been recognized as a natural reactor for degradation and elimination of environmental pollutants. The Upo Wetland, the largest inland wetland in Korea, is mainly surrounded by agricultural lands and it is susceptible to contamination from excess nutrient loads and synthetic organic contaminants (SOCs) (e.g.

Ny-Ålesund-oriented organic pollutants in sewage effluent and receiving seawater in the Arctic region of Kongsfjorden.

Ny-Ålesund, one of four permanent settlements on Spitsbergen in Svalbard, is a research town that includes scientific institutes from many countries. Because of daily-used chemicals (e.g.

Occurrence and Concentration of Chemical Additives in Consumer Products in Korea.

As the variety of chemicals used in consumer products (CPs) has increased, concerns about human health risk have grown accordingly. Even though restrictive guidelines and regulations have taken place to minimize the risks, human exposure to these chemicals and their eco-compatibility has remained a matter of greater scientific concern over the years. A major challenge in understanding the reality of the exposure is the lack of available information on the increasing number of ingredients and additives in the products.

Characterizing biotransformation products and pathways of the flame retardant triphenyl phosphate in Daphnia magna using non-target screening.

Triphenyl phosphate (TPHP), one of the organophosphate flame retardants, has been widely used in manufacturing, thereby causing a gradual increase in TPHP concentrations in aquatic environments. However, the information on the biotransformation mechanism of TPHP in invertebrates is lacking. The study identified the biotransformation products of TPHP in Daphnia magna, which showed particularly high toxicity in aquatic organisms, and determined the rates of depuration.

Acute Adverse Reactions to Nonionic Iodinated Contrast Media: A Meta-Analysis.

Objectives: We aimed to meta-analytically compare the incidence of acute adverse reactions (AARs) to nonionic iodinated contrast media (ICM) according to the type of ICM in patients who underwent radiologic examinations with administration of ICM via intravascular route.

Materials And Methods: A systematic literature search identified studies evaluating the incidence of AARs to 7 nonionic ICM (iobitridol, iohexol, iomeprol, iopamidol, iopromide, ioversol, and iodixanol) with extractable outcomes. These outcomes were pooled using a random-effects model, and the effect of ICM type on the incidence of overall and severe AARs was evaluated using meta-regression analysis.

Management of Adverse Reactions to Iodinated Contrast Media for Computed Tomography in Korean Referral Hospitals: A Survey Investigation.

Objective: To evaluate the current status of managing adverse reactions to iodinated contrast media (ICM) for computed tomography in referral hospitals in South Korea compared with hospitals in other countries.

Materials And Methods: This survey investigation involved 59 Korean and 15 overseas hospitals using guideline-based questionnaires consisting of 24 items in 7 main categories related to managing adverse reactions to ICM.

Results: Informed written consent with risk factor evaluation was appropriately performed in most of the Korean hospitals.

Prioritization of highly exposable pharmaceuticals via a suspect/non-target screening approach: A case study for Yeongsan River, Korea.

Pharmaceuticals and personal care products (PPCPs) in the Yeongsan River, Korea were prioritized via suspect and non-target analysis using LC-HRMS (QExactive plus Orbitrap) followed by semi-quantitative analysis to confirm the priority of PPCPs. A scoring and ranking system for prioritization was suggested based on occurrence frequency and chromatographic peak area or concentration. Through suspect and non-target screening, more than 50 PPCPs were tentatively identified and ranked by the scoring system.

Immediate Mild Reactions to CT with Iodinated Contrast Media: Strategy of Contrast Media Readministration without Corticosteroids.

Purpose To evaluate premedication protocols involving administration of antihistamine and multidose corticosteroid that have been widely used in prevention of recurrent hypersensitivity reactions (HSRs) to iodinated contrast media (ICM); an evidence-based optimal preventive strategy customized for patients with mild cases has not yet been established. Materials and Methods The outcomes of patients with mild HSR who subsequently underwent contrast material-enhanced computed tomography (CT) between January 2012 and December 2015 were analyzed. For premedication, 4 mg of chlorpheniramine was intravenously administered 30 minutes prior to reexposure to ICM.

Growing Cyst-Like White Matter Lesions in Children With Neurofibromatosis Type 1.

Background: Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disease with prominent neurocutaneous manifestations. The most common intracranial imaging finding of NF1 on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the high-signal intensity foci without a mass effect or growth in size.

Patient Description: We describe two children with NF1 in whom brain MRI showed growing cystic lesions and adjacent white matter signal abnormalities, which were confirmed as non-neoplastic cystic degeneration and reactive gliosis.