In order to find an environment-friendly method to suppress astragal stem rot caused by the isolates of Rhizoctonia solani AG 1 and AG 4, we tested an antagonistic fungus Gliocladium virens G1 was evaluated as a biocontrol agent and estimated inorganic compounds and organic materials were tested for their effect of the disease suppression. G. virens G1 effectively inhibited mycelial growth in a dual culture and caused mycelial lysis in the culture filtrate. No adverse effect was observed when examined for seed germination and seedling growth. Promoted seedling growth was observed with the seed treatment. Seeds of astragal plant were germinated higher in the sterile soil than the natural soil. Of 14 inorganics tested, alum, aluminum sulfate and calcium oxide significantly suppressed the mycelial growth and sclerotial germination. Milled pine bark and oak sawdust also suppressed the mycelial growth. Soil amended with 1% of G. virens G1 composted with pine bark (w/v) significantly controlled astragal stem rot in the glasshouse experiments.
Aluminum ; Calcium ; Fungi ; Germination ; Gliocladium* ; Hypocrea* ; Plants ; Rhizoctonia* ; Seedlings ; Soil*

To evaluate the features of pyuria related to the bacteriuria, 140subjects were studied from Jan. 1987 to Dec. 1987. They pyuria was frequently developed from the age 30 to 60 years old, and male to female ratio was 1:1.41. The most common disease was urethrocystitis that was shown 42.8%. Common precipitating factors were urethral catheterization (25%) and urinary tract obstruction (11.4%). Through the observation, symptomatic pyuric patients were 66 subjects (47.1%), and the subjects with significant urine culture were 121 subjects (86.4%). In the urine culture, the most common bacteria was E. coli (41.4%), and the next was Pseudomonas (19.3%). A large percentage of E. coli and Pseudomonas was susceptible of amikin. The pyuria due to S. epidermidis and Accinatobacter was well treated. High therapeutic rate was observed in the acute pyelonephritis (71%) and urethrocystitis (67%). In the persistent urinary tract infection, there were relapsing (22 cases) and recurrent urinary tract infection (16 cases).
Amikacin ; Bacteria ; Bacteriuria ; Clinical Study* ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Precipitating Factors ; Pseudomonas ; Pyelonephritis ; Pyuria* ; Urinary Catheterization ; Urinary Catheters ; Urinary Tract ; Urinary Tract Infections

The intradermal (ID) test has been widely used in Korea and several reports about the results of the ID test are known. We examined the egg of Clonorchis sinensis (C.s.) by ID test in 443, stool's egg-counting technique in 79 and direct smear (cellophane thick smear technique) in 1204 subjects. The results are as follows: 1. The positive rate of C.s. was 3.8% out of 1304 persons. 2. The sensitivity of ID test was 82.1% out of 39 persons and the specificity was 64.6% out of 404 persons. 3. The false positive of ID test was 35.4% out of 404 persons and, the false negative was 17.9% out of 39 persons. Intradermal test is a rapid, sensitive and useful supplementary diagnostic tool for the detection of Clonorchiasis infection and must be used as screening test with direct smear of stool but cross reaction with other helminth infections and moderate false reaction are the main disadvantages in its practical application.
Clonorchiasis ; Clonorchis sinensis* ; Cross Reactions ; Helminths ; Humans ; Intradermal Tests* ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Ovum ; Sensitivity and Specificity

From 1989 to 1996, push back palatoplasty, 2-flap palatoplasty and Furlow's palatoplasty were the main procedures of cleft palate repair in our institute. To compare the maxillary growth state of patients in each palatoplasty group, evaluation of dental occlusion and cephalometric analysis were performed in total 50 patients. The results were as follows: 1. Normal control group was composed of 17 children who didn't have cleft lip or cleft palate. Mean values of cephalometric data in the normal control group were 6.19 cm in SN length, 1.17cm in ONA length, 7.29cm in effective maxillary length 53.88degree in SNO angle, and 82.41 degree in SNA angle. 2. Fourteen patients who underwent push-back palatoplasty showed anterior crossbite in all cases. SNO angle and SNA angle were significantly decreased compared to the normal control group, which indicated significant impairment of maxillary growth. 3. In seventeen patients who underwent 2-flap palatoplasty, 7 patients showed anterior crossbite. Cephalometric parameters showed no significant difference compared to the normal control group. 4. Nineteen patients underwent Furlow's palatoplasty. In this group, 3 patients had anterior crossbite. Cephalometric parameters showed no significant difference compared to the normal control group. Although this report was based on data acquired from patients before the age of complete maxillary growth, our results suggested that each palatoplasty would have a different influence on maxillary growth.
Child ; Cleft Lip ; Cleft Palate ; Dental Occlusion ; Facial Bones* ; Humans ; Malocclusion

BACKGROUND: Hypothyroidism may be involved in a significant portion of the causes of hypercholesterolemia in Korea. In this study, we determined the frequency of suspected hypothyroidism in hypercholesterolemic patients and compared the frequency of elevated thyrotropin levels among the groups with various total cholesterol levels. METHODS: The study subjects were healthy, asymptomatic people who visited Health Promotion Center of Seoul National University Hospital. We excluded subjects with history of hypertension, DM and hypothyroidism. The study subjects underwent physical examination and filled out a questionnaire on health risk factors. Also blood chemistry and thyroid function test were done. RESULTS: Among 6479 subjects, 194(2.99%) had elevated(>4.1 microIU/ml) thyrotropin levels. Among the hypercholesterolemic(> or=240mg/dl) patients(n=868), 40(4.60%) had elevated thyrotropin levels. And there was statistically significant difference between normal cholesterolemic and hypercholesterolemic subjects(P<0.05). Among the patients with total cholesterol above 280mg/dl (n=180), 15(8.33%) had elevated thyrotropin levels. As amount of the total cholesterol increased, the frequency of elevated thyrotropin levels Increased(P=0.001). And this result was consistent following adjustment for age, sex, BMI, smoking and drinking status(P<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Practicing physicians should be aware of the possibility of secondary hypercholesterolemia due to hypothyroidism and keep in mind the importance of evaluating TSH level.
Chemistry ; Cholesterol* ; Drinking ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Hypothyroidism ; Korea ; Physical Examination ; Risk Factors ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thyroid Function Tests ; Thyrotropin* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Heart Diseases* ; Heart*

BACKGREOUND: Tetracaine has been the most commonly used spinal anesthetic agent. Recently bupivacaine has been found to be a useful agent, and has been reported not to cause neurologic complications as well as being a better quality anesthetic. The purpose of this study was to compare the anesthetic effects of bupivacaine with that of tetracaine. METHODS: Forty patients undergoing lower abdomen and lower limb operation were randomly allocated to two groups. Group I (n=20) received 15mg, 0.5% tetracaine in 10% dextrose, while Group II (n=20) received 15mg, 0.5% bupivacaine in 8% dextrose. After intrathecal injection of the agent at the level of L3-4 intervertebral space, the changes in sensory and motor block, blood pressure and heart rate were measured in two groups. RESULTS: The onset time of sensory block was more rapid in Group I than in Group II. Two segment regression time of sensory block was significantly longer in Group II than in Group I (p<0.05). The time for maximum motor block was shorter in group I than in Group II (p<0.05), but the duration of decreased motor block was significantly longer in Group I. The change of systolic blood pressure in Group II was less than the change in Group I. CONCLUSIONS: Bupivacaine has a longer sensory block duration, a weaker, shorter motor block duration and yields a less change in systolic blood pressure than tetracaine in spinal anesthesia.
Abdomen ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Anesthetics ; Blood Pressure ; Bupivacaine* ; Glucose ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Injections, Spinal ; Lower Extremity ; Tetracaine*

No abstract available.
Education* ; Humans ; Internship and Residency* ; Korea*

BACKGROUND: In order to improve the quality of life of dying patients so that they may die with dignity, they need to receive not only the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual care, but also systematic and continuous care. However, their is no adequate medical service at present. We studied terminal cancer patients'behavior patterns of health care utilization, the problems of caring for the patient, and medical services that bereaved families suggested for terminal cancer patients and their families. METHODS: From 271 patients'families who participated in our hospice program from March 1991 to February 1996, 108 bereaved families whom we able to had been contact were interviewed by three student nurses with a structured questionnaire. RESULTS: The terminal cancer patients received their medical care through admission to hospital(45.4%), outpatient clinic(22.2%), emergency room(16.7%), and oriental medicine(12.0%). But during their terminal phase of the illness, 32.4% of patients never received medical care including oriental medicine, and 28.7% received alternative medicine care such as intake of mushroom and elm tree. 26 bereaved families(24.1%) pointed out the indifference of the medical team as a problem receiving proper hospital care, and 22 bereaved families(20.4%) emphasized emotional strain of their helplessness with the patient's suffering as a problem of caring for the patient at home. Over 90% of bereaved families from their experience suggested needs of continuous care, hospice care, home care, and 24hr telephone service. CONCLUSIONS: There were inappropriate behavior patterns of health care utilization which resulted in large proportion of terminal cancer patients received alternative medicine never receiving proper medical care. Therefore, there is a need to develop the continuous and comprehensive care for terminal cancer patients and their family, such as hospice.)
Agaricales ; Complementary Therapies ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Emergencies ; Home Care Services ; Hospice Care ; Hospices ; Humans ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Outpatients ; Quality of Life ; Telephone ; Ulmus ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Cryptotanshinone is known for its inhibitory activity against tumorigenesis in various human cancer cells. However, exact mechanisms underlying the anticancer effects of cryptotanshinone are not fully elucidated. Here, we propose a plausible molecular mechanism, wherein cryptotanshinone represses rapamycin-sensitive mTORC1/S6K1 mediated cancer cell growth and cell transformation. We investigated the various effects of cryptotanshinone on the mTORC1/S6K1 axis, which is associated with the regulation of cell growth in response to nutritional and growth factor signals. We found that cryptotanshinone specifically inhibited the mTORC1-mediated phosphorylation of S6K1, which consequently suppressed the clonogenicity of SK-Hep1 cells and the neoplastic transformation of JB6 Cl41 cells induced by insulin-like growth factor-1. Finally, we observed that cryptotanshinone prevented S6K1 from binding to the Raptor/mTOR complex, rather than regulating mTOR and its upstream pathway. Overall, our findings provide a novel mechanism underlying anti-cancer effects cryptotanshinone targeting mTORC1 signaling, contributing to the development of anticancer agents involving metabolic cancer treatment.