Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do region host numerous significant wetlands, including the Nakdong River Estuary, one of the largest migratory bird habitats in East Asia, making it an essential habitat for waterbirds. However, issues such as wetland area reduction have arisen due to accelerated industrialization and urbanization since the 1980s. This study analyzed annual and monthly changes in waterbird populations and examined habitat use patterns and interrelationships among four wetlands in Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do: the Nakdong River Estuary (NRE), Lower Nakdong River (LNR), Junam Reservoir (JUR), and Upo Wetland (UPO), using waterbird data collected from 1999 to 2024. The results showed a decreasing trend in waterbirds at the NRE and UPO, while an increasing trend was observed at the LNR and JUR. Notably, populations of Anatidae decreased at the NRE and UPO but increased at the LNR and JUR, indicating that changes in Anatidae significantly influenced waterbird population trends. Monthly population fluctuations were particularly pronounced at the NRE and LNR. While the population decreased at the NRE after November, it increased at the LNR. This suggests that waterbirds moved to the LNR due to habitat and food resource reductions in the NRE. In contrast, the JUR and UPO exhibited weaker associations with the other sites. This study aims to contribute to future wetland management and waterbird conservation strategies in the Busan and Gyeongsangnam-do region.
Crohn’s disease is a chronic inflammatory bowel disease, involving gastrointestinal tract and extra-intestinal organs. IgA nephropathy is a rare extra-intestinal manifestation of Crohn’s disease. We describe a case of 21-year old Korean man who was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease 5 years after IgA nephropathy was suspected. At the age of 16, he had gross hematuria and 2 years after he was diagnosed with IgA nephropathy. Three years later, he complained of abdominal pain and diarrhea. He was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease by colonoscopy and histologic exams. There has been increasing evidences of common pathophysiology between the two diseases.
Toxocariasis is an illness of humans caused by roundworm. Toxocara species are commonly found in dogs and cats. Humans are accidental hosts. There are two routes of infection. One route is the ingestion of infected eggs, and the other route is the ingestion of an infected paratenic host. Clinical manifestations vary from asymptomatic infection to severe organ failure. In most cases, the patients are asymptomatic and the disease is self-limited. Thus, patients with mild symptoms do not require treatment. However we report on cases of patients with asymptomatic hepatic nodules who were treated to exclude malig-nant disease.
The association of colorectal cancer with ulcerative colitis (UC) is well-recognized. However, not much is known regarding the increased risk of extra-intestinal malignancies with UC. Several studies have revealed that patients with UC are at in-creased risk of hepatobiliary cancer, nonmelanoma skin cancer, and myeloid leukemia. A 41-year-old man was diagnosed with UC in 1993 and had three relapses over the next three years. Six months after the fourth remission, he developed pan-cytopenia and was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). He achieved complete remissions of APL through chemotherapies, and, since then, no recurrences of APL and UC were observed.