Contact hypersensitivity (CH) responsiveness to 24-dinitro-l-fluorobenzene(DNFB)is depressed in mice sensitized through unexposed skin sites after exposure to high dose of ultraviolet B radiation(UVB). Exposure of mice to ultraviolet A(UVA) radiation in combination with 8-methoxypsoralen(8-MOP) also results in a systemic suppression of CH. Our study was designed to determine whether a high dose of UVA radiation alone can induce a systemic suppression of CH, and if so, which phase of CH response is influenced by UVA radiation. Relatively large doses of UVA(400, 600, 800J/cm²) induced significant systemic suppression of CH when DNFB was applied to UVA-unirradiated abdominal skin. The duration of the rest period after UVA exposure did not cause any significant change in systemic suppresion of CH. Functional analyses showed that lymph node cells(LNCs) obtained from donors that were sensitized on the unirradiated skin site with DNFB 5 days after UVA treatment transferred normal ear-swelling responsiveness to non-primed recipients, thus implying that high doses of UVA can induce systemic suppression which is not affected in the induction phase of CH but affected in the elicitation phase of CH. UVA irradiation de-creased Langerhans cell(LC) numbers significantly with a dose of 100J/cm² or greater. LNCs obtained from donors that were sensitized on the irradiated skin site with DNFB 5 days after UVA treatment did not transfer normal ear-swelling responsiveness to non-primed recipients. This phenomenon may be related to the decreased number of LC after UV treatment. To look for possible mediators impairing the elicitation phase of the CH reaction, we checked prostaglandin E(PGE) levels in serum after 800J/cm² irradiation. A high dose of UVA did not increase the serum PGE level in mice as much as UVB irradiation, in which a significant increase of PGE may affect CH response.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dinitrofluorobenzene ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice ; Prostaglandins E ; Skin ; Tissue Donors

Contact hypersensitivity (CH) responsiveness to 24-dinitro-l-fluorobenzene(DNFB)is depressed in mice sensitized through unexposed skin sites after exposure to high dose of ultraviolet B radiation(UVB). Exposure of mice to ultraviolet A(UVA) radiation in combination with 8-methoxypsoralen(8-MOP) also results in a systemic suppression of CH. Our study was designed to determine whether a high dose of UVA radiation alone can induce a systemic suppression of CH, and if so, which phase of CH response is influenced by UVA radiation. Relatively large doses of UVA(400, 600, 800J/cm²) induced significant systemic suppression of CH when DNFB was applied to UVA-unirradiated abdominal skin. The duration of the rest period after UVA exposure did not cause any significant change in systemic suppresion of CH. Functional analyses showed that lymph node cells(LNCs) obtained from donors that were sensitized on the unirradiated skin site with DNFB 5 days after UVA treatment transferred normal ear-swelling responsiveness to non-primed recipients, thus implying that high doses of UVA can induce systemic suppression which is not affected in the induction phase of CH but affected in the elicitation phase of CH. UVA irradiation de-creased Langerhans cell(LC) numbers significantly with a dose of 100J/cm² or greater. LNCs obtained from donors that were sensitized on the irradiated skin site with DNFB 5 days after UVA treatment did not transfer normal ear-swelling responsiveness to non-primed recipients. This phenomenon may be related to the decreased number of LC after UV treatment. To look for possible mediators impairing the elicitation phase of the CH reaction, we checked prostaglandin E(PGE) levels in serum after 800J/cm² irradiation. A high dose of UVA did not increase the serum PGE level in mice as much as UVB irradiation, in which a significant increase of PGE may affect CH response.
Animals ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Dinitrofluorobenzene ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Mice ; Prostaglandins E ; Skin ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: The following study has been carried out to find the symptoms of hypoglycemia and the symptoms of transient focal neurologic deficit, which were complained by insulin dependent diabetes mellitus patients and their parents. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 16 insulin dependent diabetic patients who were admitted to the pediatric department of Samsung Medical Center. From the 28 possible symptoms of hypoglycemia, the patients and their parents were asked to choose the symptoms they were experiencing through questionnaires, and the mean score was obtained by dividing the frequency of each symptom manifestation by 4 levels. RESULTS: Of the 16 patients, there were 6 males and 10 females and their average age was 13 years. The complaints raised by insulin dependent diabetic patients and their parents regarding the symptoms of hypoglycemia were relatively similar. However the frequency of observed symptoms such as pounding heart, dizziness and trembling was higher in the complaints of patients, and the mean score of objective symptoms such as slurred speech, odd behaviors, aggressiveness was much higher in the complaints of parents. During symptoms of hypoglycemia, three cases were seen throwing fits of convulsions due to neurologic deficit. CONCLUSION: It is thought that parents can offer a reasonably accurate information on the symptoms of hypoglycemia in insulin dependent diabetic patients, and particularly, behavioral changes in young children with diabetes mellitus is considered as an important characteristic for testing hypoglycemia.
Child* ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1* ; Dizziness ; Female ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Parents* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seizures

STUDY DESIGN: This is a retrospective study analysing and comparing what between posterior lumbar interbody fusion plus posterior lateral fusion(PLIF+PLF) and PLF alone for Spondylolisthesis(Degenerative type+Isthmic type). Thirty patients were treated by posterior lumbar interbody fusion(PLIF) using Harms' cage and posterolateral fusion(PLF) with transpedicular screw fixation. Forty-nine patients were treated by posterolateral fusion with transpedicular screw fixation. OBJECTIVES: This is to verify the advantages of adding posterior lumbar interbody fusion using Harms' cage to the usual posterolateral fusion with transpedicular screw fixation SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: Interbody fusions have certain distinct mechanical advantages over posterolateral ones. Autologous cancellous bone is the preferred graft material, but might be soft to maintain the disc space during fusion. METHODS: Union rate, slip reduction, sagittal angle correction, disc height restoration, and clinical results by Lin's criteria were analysed. RESULTS: Nonunion was observed in 5 PLF cases(10%) and one PLIF case(3%). Loss of slip reduction was 0.7% in PLIF and 2.59% in PLF(P<0.05). Loss of sagittal angle correction was 1.27degreein PLIF and 3.65degreein PLF(P<0.05). Loss of disc height restoration was 2.6% in PLIF and 7.6% in PLF(P<0.05). Clinical evaluation in PLIF+PLF was excellent in 67%, good in 30%, and fair in 3%. Clinical evaluation in PLF was excellent in 59%, good in 33%, and fair in 8%. More excellent results were noted in PLIF+PLFcases. CONCLUSIONS: Adding posterior lumbar interbody fusion using Harms' cage showed better radiological results and more excellent clinical results compared to posterolateral fusion with transpedicular screw fixation.
Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Spondylolisthesis* ; Titanium* ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: This study was aimed to characterize the clinical features and course of acute hepatitis A in Korean adults. METHODS: One-hundred and thirteen cases of acute hepatitis A, diagnosed between Jan. 1995 to July 1998 at 6 medical centers in Korea, were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical course of 94 cases with follow-up duration longer than 3 months were analyzed. RESULTS: The median age was 26 (16-65) years and 97.3% of the patients were under 40 years. The presumed sources of infection were identifed in 62 cases (54.9%). Among those, the leading source was ingestion of raw food. All patients showed normalization of bilirubin level within 8 weeks. The ALT levels normalized within 8 weeks in all patients except three patients (3.2%). Three patients with prolonged elevation of ALT showed second rise of ALT, suggesting a possibility of relapsing hepatitis. Prolonged fever (>38 degree C) more than 10 days was observed in 3 patients (3.2%). One case showed prolonged elevation of alkaline phosphatase (> x3 upper normal limit). No case of fulminant hepatic failure or death was observed. CONCLUSION: The majority of cases with acute hepatitis A in Korean adults showed self-limited course with full recovery.
Adult* ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Bilirubin ; Eating ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis A* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver Failure, Acute ; Retrospective Studies

Objective: This study analyzed the characteristics of people who attempted suicide that resulted in deaths as compared to that of the suicide survivors. Methods: This study included 799 suicide attempts that occurred from March 1, 2015, to March 31, 2019 at the emergency department of the university hospital in a city of around 300,000 people. Suicide attempts were classified into the survivor and death groups, and the characteristics of each group were compared. The suicide deaths due to re-attempts were also analyzed. Results: There were more males than females in the death groups. There was a high proportion of people aged 50 or older in the death groups. Hanging, carbon monoxide poisoning, and jumping from great heights were the most commonly used methods of suicide in the death groups. In the selected death group, psychiatric symptom, physical illness, and economic problem among the suicidal causes and depressive disorder among the psychiatric diagnoses were factors that increase the risk of suicide death. Sixty-three point four percent of the survival groups and 52.5% of the selected deaths had not received psychiatric care. On the analysis of suicide deaths due to re-attempts, the average number of suicide attempts was 2.45±0.9. The time from the first suicide attempt to the last suicide attempt was 13.8±10.4 months. Conclusion If it is necessary to make a treatment decision for a suicide attempt in a limited time, such as the case of treating a suicide attempter who visits an emergency department, it is necessary to consider the characteristic factors of the death attempts of suicidal people.

BACKGROUND: To estimate bowel patterns in the Korean, we surveyed routine check-up subjects about their bowel habits, using self-reported questionnaire. METHODS: We analyzed 2939 subjects (male 1430, female 1509; age range 25 - 65 years) who had visited health promotion center for routine check-up. Subjects were given a validated self-report questionnaire, which measured the defecation frequency; stool consistency; self-report of constipation; straining to defecate; and levels of laxative use. RESULTS: Of the whole subjects 96.4% had defecation frequency between three per week and three per day. The prevalence of two or less bowel movements per week (4.1% compared to 0.6%), straining to defecate (20.8% compared to 13.0%) and hard stool (18.0% compared to 9.3%) was higher in women than men (p<0.01). The prevalence of self-reported constipation was higher in women than men (9.0% compared to 2.9%, p<0.01). Women were more likely to use laxatives than men (5.5% compared to 0.6%, p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Defecation frequency in most of routine check-up subjects is between three per week to three per day. Bowel dysfunction is a greater problem in women.
Constipation ; Defecation ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Laxatives ; Male ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires