The purpose of this study was to identify the risk factors of serious fall-related injuries by analyzing the differences between two fall groups: one with serious fall-related injuries and one without such injuries. Applying a retrospective, descriptive investigation study design, we analyzed the degree of fall-related injury and the risk factors related to serious falls by conducting a complete survey of the medical records of fall patients reported throughout one full year, 2017, at a tertiary hospital in Seoul, Korea. Among the patients with reported falls, 188 sustained no injury (63.1%), 72 sustained minor injury (24.2%), and 38 patients sustained serious injury (12.8%). The serious fall-related injuries included eight lacerations requiring suture (2.7%), 23 fractures (7.7%), five brain injuries (1.7%), and two deaths (0.7%). Analysis results indicated that taking anticoagulants/antiplatelet drugs (p = 0.016) and having a fall history (p = 0.038) were statistically significant in the differences between the group with serious injury related to falls and the group without serious injury. Logistic regression revealed that taking anticoagulant/antiplatelet drugs was the factor most significantly correlated with serious injuries related to falls (OR = 2.299, p = 0.022). Results show that it is necessary to develop a patient-tailored fall prevention activity program.

Jo HJ, et al. J Korean Med Sci. 2021 Sep;36(38):e274. https://doi.org/10.3346/jkms.2021.36.e274

Herbicide-resistant transgenic zoysiagrass JG21 expressing bar gene inserted in the plant genome has been generated previously through Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated transformation. The acute toxicity effect of herbicide-resistant transgenic zoysiagrass and nongenetically modified (GM) zoysiagrass (Zoysia japonica Steud.) on Cyprinus carpio was investigated at different concentrations (0, 1,250, 2,500, 5,000, 10,000 and 20,000 mg•L-1). It was confirmed through strip that herbicide-resistant transgenic zoysiagrass was resistant to glyphosinate herbicides by introduction of phosphinothricin acetyltransferase (PAT) gene from the Streptomyces hygroscopicus. Feeding tests were conducted with C. carpio to evaluate the environmental risk of transgenic zoysiagrass, including herbicide resistance gene. C. carpio was fed 100% ground zoysiagrass suspension, herbicide resistance zoysiagrass or non-GM counterpart zoysiagrass. The 48 h-LC 50 (lethal concentration 50) values of the herbicide resistance and non-GM counterpart zoysiagrass were 10,670 mg•L-1 (95% confidence limits: 9,230-12,340 mg•L-1) and 11,220 mg•L-1 (95% confidence limits: 9,910-12,710 mg•L-1), respectively. The zoysiagrass NOEC (no observed effect concentration) value for C. carpio was suggested to be 2,500 mg•L-1. Based on these results, there was no significant difference in toxicity for non-target organisms (C. carpio) between the herbicide resistance zoysiagrass and non-GM counterparts.