In one case of advanced systemic scleroderma hyperbaric oxygen therapy was performed. The treatrnent were given in an one-man pressure chamber (made in Korea) at a pressure of 2. 5 atmospheres absolute pressure (AT.A). The pressure was increased in 5-7 minutes, kept constant for 1.5 hours and lowered in 5--7 minutes. After 16 weeks of the treatment, regression of the skin contraction was achieved, together with improved mobility of the joints and healing of ulceration.
Atmosphere ; Hyperbaric Oxygenation* ; Joints ; Scleroderma, Systemic* ; Skin ; Ulcer

Atypical cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma (ACFH) is not well known and only a small number of cases have been reported. Characteristically, ACFH is found on the trunk and limbs of middle-aged women. Although considerable cellular atypia may be present, it occurs focally, the remainder of the tumor representing more classical cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma. A 37-year-old woman presented with a solitary brownish firm nodule on her right forearm. No other abnormalities were found in her personal or family history. Clinically, the tumor simulated a benign fibrous histiocytoma. Histologic examination revealed a poorly delineated intradermal tumor with the usual appearance of benign cutaneous fibrous histiocytoma, but a variable pro-portion of cells in the tumor were scattered atypical cells or bizarre multinucleated giant cells. We report upon a rare case of ACFH.
Adult ; Extremities ; Female ; Forearm ; Giant Cells ; Histiocytoma, Benign Fibrous* ; Humans

Previous studies on the vast increase in suicide mortality in Southeast Asia have indicated that suicide rates increase in parallel with a rise in unemployment or during periods of economic recession. This paper examines the effects of economic recession on suicidal rates amongst agriculture, fisheries, and forestry workers in Korea. Monthly time-series gross domestic product (GDP) data were linked with suicidal rates gathered from the cause of death records between1993-2008. Data were analyzed using generalized additive models to analyze trends, while a polynomial lag model was used to assess the unconstrained time lag effects of changes in GDP on suicidal rate. We found that there were significant inverse correlations between changes in GDP and suicide for a time lag of one to four months after the occurrence of economic event. Furthermore, it was evident that the overall relative risks of suicide were high enough to bring about social concern.
Agriculture ; Asia, Southeastern ; Cause of Death ; Economic Recession ; Fisheries ; Forestry ; Gross Domestic Product ; Guanosine Diphosphate ; Korea ; Suicide ; Unemployment

Previous studies on the vast increase in suicide mortality in Southeast Asia have indicated that suicide rates increase in parallel with a rise in unemployment or during periods of economic recession. This paper examines the effects of economic recession on suicidal rates amongst agriculture, fisheries, and forestry workers in Korea. Monthly time-series gross domestic product (GDP) data were linked with suicidal rates gathered from the cause of death records between1993-2008. Data were analyzed using generalized additive models to analyze trends, while a polynomial lag model was used to assess the unconstrained time lag effects of changes in GDP on suicidal rate. We found that there were significant inverse correlations between changes in GDP and suicide for a time lag of one to four months after the occurrence of economic event. Furthermore, it was evident that the overall relative risks of suicide were high enough to bring about social concern.
Agriculture ; Asia, Southeastern ; Cause of Death ; Economic Recession ; Fisheries ; Forestry ; Gross Domestic Product ; Guanosine Diphosphate ; Korea ; Suicide ; Unemployment

The Peutz-Jeghers syndrome has three cardinal features: gastrointestinal polypasis, mucocutaneous piginentation and autosomal dominant heredity. This syndrome is ciinically important because of the complication caused by the gastrointestinal ployp, leading to abdominal pain, gastrointestinal bleeding and intussusception. We experienced a case of Peutz-Jeghers syndrome who complained of dizziness, vague abdominal pain, melanin pigmentations of the lips, oral mucosa and digits and reported with the review of the literature.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia* ; Dizziness ; Hemorrhage ; Heredity ; Intussusception* ; Lip ; Melanins ; Mouth Mucosa ; Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome ; Pigmentation

Paecilomyces lilacinus is an ubiquitous saprophytic fungus and very rarely pathogenic to the human. Although it has been reported to cause endophthalmitis, orbital cellulitis, prosthetic valve endocarditis, and pulmonary infection, cutaneous infection caused by Paecilomyces lilacinus has been rarely reported. A 46-year-old Korean man had asymptomatic slowly growing multiple cutaneous nodules on the left arm and wrist for 8 months. He received a renal transplantation in 1991 because of end-stage renal disease. Postoperatively, he has taken cyclosporin and deflazacort for immunosuppression. Physical examination revealed that the lesions were discrete or confluent, firm, elevated, well-defined fluctuating nodules. Histologic section showed multiple well-encapsulated intradermal abscesses with some foci of chronic granulomatous changes composed of lymphocytes, histiocytes and giant cells. PAS positive fungal hyphae and spores were also found. On the Sabouraud's dextrose agar media, the organism grew rapidly to form velvety lilac-colored colonies with shallow radiating furrows. Slide culture showed brush-like conidiophores ending in flask-shaped phialides carrying chain of conidia. Because of the poor response to the oral antifungal drug for 2 months, all the lesions were completely excised.
Abscess* ; Agar ; Arm ; Cyclosporine ; Endocarditis ; Endophthalmitis ; Fungi ; Giant Cells ; Glucose ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Hyphae ; Immunosuppression ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Kidney Transplantation ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Orbital Cellulitis ; Paecilomyces* ; Physical Examination ; Spores ; Spores, Fungal ; Wrist

Gastric subepithelial tumors (SETs) are usually asymptomatic and are often detected incidentally during screening endoscopy. A gastric inverted hyperplastic polyp (IHP) is characterized by downward growth of hyperplastic mucosa into the submucosal layer. Owing to these characteristics, a gastric IHP is frequently misdiagnosed as a SET. Gastric IHPs are asymptomatic in most cases and are discovered incidentally. Notably, IHPs may be accompanied by an adenocarcinoma or anemia owing to chronic bleeding associated with this lesion; therefore, endoscopic submucosal dissection is recommended for complete excision of IHPs measuring > 2 cm. We report a case of gastric IHP that was diagnosed during screening endoscopy in an asymptomatic patient. We observed a whitish purulent exudate expressed from the SET, and endoscopic ultrasonography revealed a SET originating from the muscularis mucosa. Endoscopic submucosal dissection was performed to remove the SET, and final histopathological findings revealed a gastric IHP. This case report highlights that IHPs should be suspected in patients with a SET associated with whitish exudates.

A lithium-ion battery is a rechargeable battery that uses the reversible reduction of lithium ions to store energy and is the predominant battery type in many industrial and consumer electronics. The lithium-ion batteries are essential to ensure they operate safely. We conducted an exposure assessment five days after a fire in a battery-testing facility. We assessed some of the potentially hazardous materials after a lithium-ion battery fire. We sampled total suspended particles, hydrogen fluoride, and lithium with real-time monitoring of particulate matter (PM) 1, 2.5, and 10 micrometers (μm). The area sampling results indicated that primary potential hazardous materials such as dust, hydrogen fluoride, and lithium were below the recommended limits suggested by the Korean Ministry of Labor and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Values. Based on our assessment, workers were allowed to return to work.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of early cochlear implantation (CI) performed in infants less than 12 months of age. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Twenty-five children who received their first CI before 12 months of age were included in this study (infant group). The speech perception and language outcomes of these children were compared with those of 14 children who received their first CI between 13 and 24 months of age (older group). All children received sequential bilateral CI with the inter-stage interval of less than 2 years. Speech perception was measured using Categories of Auditory Performance, monosyllabic word test and sentence test, and language ability was measured using Sequenced Language Scale for Infants, Preschool Receptive-Expressive Language Scale, or Receptive & Expressive Vocavulary Test, depending on the age at the time of testing. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in speech perception abilities between the infant group and the older group. The mean expressive language score of infant group was higher than that of the older group, but the difference was not statistically significant. However, the receptive language score of infant group was significantly higher than that of the older group. CONCLUSION: Children who received CI before 12 months of age achieved better receptive language ability than those who received it after 12 months of age. Thus CI should be performed as early as before 12 months of age to achieve better language ability.
Child* ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants* ; Humans ; Infant ; Language ; Methods ; Speech Perception*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study aims to investigate the development of open-set speech perception abilities in children who received cochlear implantation at older age and to examine the preoperative variables contributing to the postoperative speech perception outcomes. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Open-set speech perception abilities were assessed with the Monosyllabic Word and Common Phrases Tests for 37 prelingually deafened children who received implantation between the ages of 7 and 17 years. Their performance was compared to that of 60 children who received implantation before 7 years of age. To identify the factors contributing to the postoperative open-set speech perception abilities, we analyzed age at hearing aid fitting, age at implantation, duration of implant use, preoperative language and speech perception abilities, and pure tone thresholds in the better ear. RESULTS: The children who received implantation after 7 years of age significantly improved during the first year of implant use, but reached a plateau by 1.5 to 2 years after implantation, reaching scores between 60% and 70%. Children who received implantation after age 7 showed higher speech perception scores than the younger children over the first year of implant use, but showed lower scores than the younger children after 2-3 years of implant use. The variables associated with the postoperative open-set speech perception abilities were speech perception ability, language ability, and hearing levels before implantation. CONCLUSION: Prelingually deafened children who received implantation at older age can obtain substantial open-set speech perception understanding, but tended to reach a plateau between 1.5-2 years after implantation. Speech perception, language abilities, and hearing level before implantation contribute to the outcome.
Child ; Cochlear Implantation ; Cochlear Implants ; Hearing ; Hearing Aids ; Humans ; Language ; Speech Perception