Dose-response relationship among blood cadmium concentrations, catalase and superoxide dismutase activities were studied with acutely intoxicated rats by cadmium. The Sprague-Dawley male rats to which single dose of 1-32 mg/kg CdCl2 were administered into peritoneal cavity were sacrificed by decapitation at 3-36 hours after the administration. Cadmium concentrations in blood increased significantly with dose of CdCl2 administered and reached peak level at 3 hours later. Catalase activities in rats' tests were not correlated with exposure time elapsed after the administration in rats to which 1-2 mg/kg of CdCl2 were administered, but they showed linear relationship with time in groups to which 4-32 mg/kg of CdCl2 were administered. Cu, Zn-SOD activities in tests of acutely intoxicated rats by cadmium were not altered either by dosage or by time elapsed after the administration. Mn-SOD activities in the tests were also not influenced by dosage of 1-2 mg/kg CdCl2, but remarkably inactivated by dosage of 4-32 mg/kg CdCl2 with time elapsed after the administration. Neither catalase, Cu, Zn-SOD nor Mn-SOD activities of tests were correlated with blood cadmium concentrations in acutely intoxicated rats by cadmium.
Animals ; Cadmium Chloride ; Cadmium* ; Catalase* ; Decapitation ; Humans ; Male ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides* ; Testis*

PURPOSE: We report clinical charateristics of percutaneous central venous catheteriza- tion(PCVC) that is performed commonly as a vascular access procedure in the neonatal intensive care unit(NICU) including comparision between the success rate and com- plication rate of groups performed by a doctor and by nurses who were accustomed to the IV procedure. METHODS: We evaluated a total of 158 PCVC cases performed in the NICU of Soonchunhyang Chunan hospital over 2 years 5 rnonths from May, 1995 to September, 1997. The 24 cases of PCVC were performed by doctors and 134 cases of this proce- dures were performed by well trained nurses. We have compared success rates, clinical characteristics, insertion sites, indwelling time, causes of removal of the catheters, and associated complication of both doctor performed group (D) and nurse performed group (N) retrospectively. RESULTS: The mean gestational age, birth weight, weight at the time of insertion were significantly lower in the doctor performed group than in the nurse group(P<0.001). There were significant differences in postnatal age and mean duration per catheter in both groups. The overall success rate of insertions was 89.9%(142/158), the success rate of doctor performed group was 54.2%(13/24) and nurse group was 96.3%(129/134) and there was significant difference(P<0.001). In the doctor performed group, 100% were axillary however in the nurse group 43.4% were axillary, 38.8% were antecubital, 9.4% were temporal, and 5.4% were hand. The most common cause of the removal of the catheter was elective in both groups but there was also substantial spontaneous removal by the patients and mechanical complication. Cultures of catheter tips were done after removal in 110 cases, among then were positive in 36 cases(33.6%), the most common causes were Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans. CONCLUSION: In this report, the authors emphasize that percutanous central venous catheterization performed by well trained nurses has a higher success rates than the doctor performed group and can be considered safe. We would also like to emphasize that more attention should be paid to the maintanace of PCVC.
Birth Weight ; Candida albicans ; Catheterization, Central Venous ; Catheters ; Central Venous Catheters ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Gestational Age ; Hand ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Retrospective Studies ; Staphylococcus aureus

Superior mesenteric artery (SMA) injuries remain a challenge to most trauma surgeons and continue to result in significant mortality despite aggressive management. We report successful management of a proximal SMA injury through endovascular treatment in a 56-year-old man. The patient presented with hypotension due to a stab wound after the epigastrium. He underwent emergency laparotomy and repair of the penetrated wall of the stomach. Right retroperitoneal hematoma at the initial laparotomy expanded and ruptured, requiring a massive transfusion. At the second laparotomy, we performed lateral arteriorrhaphy of the proximal SMA. Follow-up abdominal computed tomography angiography on post-injury day 7 showed a pseudoaneurysm on the left side of the SMA trunk. The patient was treated successfully with an endovascular stent graft.
Aneurysm, False* ; Angiography ; Blood Vessel Prosthesis ; Emergencies ; Endovascular Procedures ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Laparotomy ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Stomach ; Wounds, Stab

The accuracy of fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) of the lymph node was investigated through a review of 176 FNAC cases and the corresponding biopsies. We chose 157 FNAC cases after the exclusion of 19 inadequate ones. Sensitivity of malignancy was 94.0%, specificity 100%, false negativity 6.0%, and false positivity 0.0%. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 96.8%. Sensitivity of metastatic carcinoma was 98.0% and that of malignant lymphoma was 87.9%. False negative cases included one metastatic carcinoma and four malignant lymphomas. The aspirates of metastatic carcinoma with false negativity exhibited a diffuse smear of keratin debris without viable cells, which led to the difficulty in differentiation from benign epithelial cyst. The cases of malignant lymphoma with false negative diagnosis were two Hodgkin diseases, one Lennert's lymphoma, and one peripheral T cell lymphoma in the histologic sections. On the analysis of 39 cases of tuberculosis, 17 cases (43.6%) were diagnosed as tuberculosis, 4 (10.3%) as granulomatous lymphadenitis, 3 (7.7%) as necrotizing lymphadenitis, and 15 (38.5%) as reactive hyperplasia or pyogenic inflammation. Sensitivity of tuberculosis was 53.9%. In conclusion, lymph node FNAC is an excellent non-invasive diagnostic tool for the diagnosis of metastatic carcinoma. The diagnostic accuracy of malignant lymphoma could be improved with flow cytometry or polymerase chain reaction for antigen receptor genes. For the FNAC diagnosis of tuberculosis, AFB stain, culture, and PCR would be helpful as adjuvant techniques.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Diagnosis ; Flow Cytometry ; Hyperplasia ; Inflammation ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphadenitis ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, T-Cell, Peripheral ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Receptors, Antigen ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis

Epidemiologic investigation was conducted on January, 1993 in Seoul to identify the cause of an infant methemoglobinemia. Field investigation of the area of outbreak, survey of household and family members, analysis of ground water, and blood tests of involved family members were performed. Following results were obtained. On analyzing the quality of the ground water on patients's household high levels of nitrate was found indicating contamination of water as the cause of a methemoglobinemia outbreak. On analyzing the quality of the ground waters on seven other places within the neighborhood five were contaminated by nitrate in concentration that exceeded the permissible limit implying presence nearby source of contamination. Sources of contamination were thought to be originating from human waste in conventional bathroom facilities, chicken manure used in nearby orchards and plant fields or fertilizers. But the results of water analysis with presence of bacteria or E.coli, concentration of potassium, phosphate and the past history of diarrhea among family members, chicken manure suggested the most possible source of contamination. To evaluate the health status of members in the neighborhood past history was reviewed revealing no prior existence of patient with cyanosis and 65 people in the neighborhood had normal levels of methemoglobin concentration in their blood. Conclusively, the ground water on patient's household was contaminated with nitrate and despite provision of adequate water supply, family members of the patient along with distrust in the water supply system had used ground water as their source of drinking water resulting of methemoglobinemia. Many suburban area of Seoul and country side thought to be having similar problems concerning contaminated ground water supply and dormant outbreak of patients as a result of the drinking of the contaminated water. Epidemiologic investigation and water analysis of ground waters are advised.
Bacteria ; Chickens ; Cyanosis ; Diarrhea ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilizers ; Groundwater ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Infant* ; Manure ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Plants ; Potassium ; Residence Characteristics ; Seoul ; Water ; Water Supply

Background : It is not easy to diagnose sporadic medullary thyroid carcinoma(MTC) before surgery and this might lead the patient reoperation and/or lowered chance of definite cure. Methods : The prevalence of sporadic MTC in Korean was studied in patients with thyroid nodules. A prospective study of 1048 consecutive patients with thyroid nodules was performed. In all patients, measurements of basal serum calcitonin, thyroid hormones, TSH, anti-thyroglobulin antibody and anti-thyroperoxidase antibody were undertaken along with technetium-99m thyroid scintigraphy and fine needle aspiration cytology. In patients with elevated basal calcitonin levels, calcium stimulated calcitonin level was determined. Results: Two patient had markedly elevated calcitonin levels(over 3,200 pg/mL and 1,763 pg/ mL) and another one slightly elevated calcitoni#n(71.9 pg/mL). Fine needle aspiration cytology was suggestive of MTC in one and nodular hyperplasia in the other two. They underwent surgery and histological examination revealed MTC in those two with markedly elevated calcitonin levels. The patient with slightly elevated calcitonin, who was on the maintenance hemodialysis due to chronic renal failure, had nodular hyperplasia. Conclusion: MTC was found in 0.19% of patients with thyroid nodules, which was not different with the previously reported prevalence in Europe. Routine measurements of serum calcitonin might be of value to detect sporadic MTC; however, the cost-effectiveness of routine measurement of serum calcitonin is not clear, considering the relatively low prevalence of MTC in Koreans.
Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Calcitonin ; Calcium ; Carcinoma, Medullary ; Europe ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Mass Screening ; Prevalence ; Prospective Studies ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Renal Dialysis ; Reoperation ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyroid Hormones ; Thyroid Nodule

To investigate effects of the shared living on nutrient intakes,250 college male students who were living alone (104 men) or sharing accommodation with friends (134 men) were participated. Their average age was 22.6 years, their average height was 171.8 cm, their average weight was 65.6 kg and their average Body Mass Index (BMI) was 22.2. The caloric intakes of the men living alone or sharing accommodation were 55.9% and 72.5% of the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowance (RDA), respectively. The decreased caloric level of the group living alone seemed to be due to their decreased protein and fat consumption as compared to that of the group sharing accommodation. The group living alone consumed increased amounts of fiber for breakfast and half the carbohydrates, but more fat (p<0.05) in snacks than the group sharing accommodation. The daily carbohydrate : protein : fat (C : P : F) ratio averaged 58.6 14.1 27.3, which is a lower carbohydrate and a higher fat ratio than the Korean recommended ratio. However, the group living alone was closer to the Korean recommended ratio than the group sharing accommodation. The food intake habits were evaluated as being poorer in the group living alone as compared to the group sharing accommodation, less frequent consumption of fried/pan-fried dishes, and fruits/juices, but more frequent consumption of instant/processed foods. In comparing the eating patterns of the two groups, the group living alone showed better eating habits, such as more 'breakfast eating' and less 'snacking in the morning, afternoon or late at night' whereas the group sharing accommodation showed better eating habits such as less 'picky eaters' and less 'eating out'. In the group living alone, their lower caloric intake was assumably due to their fewer side dishes, however they showed higher eating frequencies of instant i processed foods. Since the lifestyle of living alone seems to grow gradually among young men, we strongly recommend dietary education for them.
Body Mass Index ; Breakfast ; Carbohydrates ; Eating* ; Education ; Energy Intake* ; Friends* ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male* ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Snacks

Several hair dressing procedures, for example, bleaching and dyeing of the hair, are currently being frequently performed for cosmetic purposes. While allergic contact dermatitis due to hair dressing products has often been described, only a few cases of burns caused by hair dressing chemicals have been reported. A 6-year-old girl presented with an 8x6 cm sized round ulcerative lesion on the occipital area after hair bleaching with ammonium persulfate mixed with hydrogen peroxide. The skin biopsy specimen showed epidermal necrosis and sclerosing change in the dermis. She was referred to another burn center and then she was treated with skin grafting by a plastic surgeon. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first reported case of chemical burn due to a hair bleaching agent in the Korean dermatologic literature.
Ammonium Sulfate ; Bandages ; Biopsy ; Burn Units ; Burns ; Burns, Chemical ; Child ; Cosmetics ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermis ; Hair ; Humans ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Necrosis ; Quaternary Ammonium Compounds ; Skin ; Skin Transplantation ; Ulcer

Heat shock protein of 72 kDa (HSP70) has a role in the functional modulation of sex steroid hormone receptors and in p53-associated oncogenesis and inhibits apoptosis associated with bcl-2. However, the exact role of HSP70 in the development of endometrial adenocarcinoma has not been well established. The aim of this study is to evaluate the role of HSP70 in relation with ER, PR, p53 and bcl-2 expressions and apoptosis in benign and malignant endometrial lesions. Immunohistochemical studies for HSP70, ER, PR, p53, bcl-2 and TUNEL method for apoptosis were performed in 30 cases of adenocarcinoma and 30 cases of benign endometrial lesions consisted of each 10 cases of disordered proliferative endometrium (DP), simple or complex hyperplasia (HP), and atypical hyperplasia (AH). There were no significant differences of HSP70 and bcl-2 expression rates and apoptotic index (AI) between DP, HP, AH, and adenocarcinoma. p53 expression rate in adenocarcinoma was 36.7%, but no p53 expression was identified in DP, HP and AH (p<0.05). In adenocarcinoma, HSP70 expression rate was higher in ER and PR negative adenocarcinoma (p<0.05), and p53 expression rate was higher in nonendometrioid type and FIGO grade II and III (p<0.05), but no significant difference of bcl-2 expression rate according to the histological type and FIGO grade. AI was higher in nonendometrioid type (p<0.05). There was no correlation between HSP70, p53 and bcl-2 expressions, and no significant difference of AI according to HSP70, ER, PR, p53, and bcl-2 expressions. In conclusion, higher HSP70 expression rate in poorly differentiated and ER and PR negative adenocarcinoma suggests that HSP70 inhibits ER and PR expression and may be involved in the development of poorly differentiated endometrial adenocarcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma* ; Apoptosis* ; Carcinogenesis ; Endometrium ; Female ; Heat-Shock Proteins ; Hyperplasia ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling

Etiologic factors and prognosis of delayed postanoxic encephalopathy (DPE) was analyzed in 30 patients admitted in Yeungnam University Medical Center from March, 1984 to April, 1987. Twenty-three among the 30 cases was possible to be followed. The results are as follows. 1. The incidence in over 30 years of age was 77%, and sex ratio was 1:1.7 for male and female. 2. The lucid interval of DPE was from 5 to 191 days (mean=19 days) and interval between 3 to 4 weeks occupied 60%. 3. The longer the duration of exposure to CO and the more comatous of the mental state, the more increased was the incidence of DPE. 4. The hyperbaric O2 threapy had no influence on the incidence of DPE but absolute bed rest on acute CO poisoning ws important to prevent DPE. Therefore, absolute bed rest during lucid interval at least 2 weeks is more important factor to prevent DPE. 5. DPE victims are likely to retire from his social position.
Academic Medical Centers ; Bed Rest ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Poisoning ; Prognosis* ; Sex Ratio