BACKGROUND: Passive smoking is an important worldwide public health issue. In many Korean studies, parental smoking has been reported to be associated with reduced pulmonary function in children. But few studies have evaluated the effects of passive smoking on pulmonary function in adults. Therefore, we looked into this association in the study. METHODS: Participants in the study included non-smoking, healthy men (n=46) and women (n=326) from rural Korea enrolled from June to December 2006. Exposure to passive smoking was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire, and standardized pulmonary function tests were performed. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1, % of predicted) and forced mean expiratory flow rate 25-75% (%) among the men exposed to passive smoke compared with those not exposed (55.7 vs 75.8, P=0.010; 33.9 vs 58.6, P=0.029, respectively). There were significant reductions in FEV1 among men exposed at both workplace and home compared with men exposed only at either workplace or home (42.8 vs 49.3, 64.6; P=0.034). No significant difference in pulmonary function was found between women exposed to passive smoke compared those not exposed. There were, however, reductions in FEV1 and FEV1/forced vital capacity among the women exposed at workplace. Regression analysis showed that passive smoking negatively affected lung function, which were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly at the workplace, adversely affects pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Parents ; Public Health ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Vital Capacity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of dehydrated human amnion/chorion membrane (dHACM) to repair perforated sinus membranes in rabbits. METHODS: Bilateral surgical windows (7.5-mm diameter) were prepared on the nasal bones of 14 rabbits. Standardized circular perforations (5-mm diameter) were made in the sinus membrane by manipulating implant twist drills. The perforated sinus membranes were repaired using dHACM or a resorbable collagen membrane (CM). The negative control (NC) group did not undergo perforated sinus membrane repair, while the positive control (PC) group underwent sinus augmentation without perforations. The same amount of deproteinized porcine bone mineral was grafted in all 4 groups. After 6 weeks, micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) and histomorphometric evaluations were conducted. RESULTS: The micro-CT analysis revealed that the total augmented volume was not significantly different among the groups. In the dHACM group, newly formed bone filled the augmented area with remaining biomaterials; however, non-ciliated flat epithelium and inflammatory cells were observed on the healed sinus membrane. Histometric analysis showed that the percentage of newly formed bone area in the dHACM group did not differ significantly from that in the CM group. The dHACM group showed a significantly higher percentage of newly formed bone area than the NC group, but there was no significant difference between the dHACM and PC groups. CONCLUSIONS: dHACM could be a feasible solution for repairing sinus membrane perforations that occur during sinus floor augmentation.
Amnion ; Biocompatible Materials ; Chorion ; Collagen ; Epithelium ; Humans ; Membranes ; Miners ; Nasal Bone ; Rabbits ; Sinus Floor Augmentation ; Transplants

No abstract available.
Urticaria Pigmentosa* ; Urticaria*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Spondylolisthesis*

No abstract available.
Hematoma* ; Orbit*

No abstract available.
Anti-Bacterial Agents* ; Dysentery, Bacillary*

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: For the diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis(ALS), symptoms and signs of upper motor neuron(UMN) and lower motor neuron(LMN) involvement should be confirmed. The electromyography(EMG) studies are known to be essential for the demonstration of LMN involvement. The authors assessed the value of the EMG in the diagnosis of ALS. METHODS: The authors collected 51 patients (M:F=31:20, age:51.9?12.0 years) who were diagnosed and followed up at Seoul National University Hospital from 1994 to 1996. Diagnosis of ALS was based on the El Escorial diagnostic criteria. They were classified to be definite in 5, probable in 23, and possible in 23. On view of the affected area of onset, they consisted of 12 bulbar and 39 spinal form of ALS. The needle EMG studies were performed in limb, thoracic paraspinal and tongue muscles. RESULTS: Of 51 cases, it was possible to demonstrate widespread denervations at the initial needle EMG tests in 46(90.2%); 5 of 5 definite, 21 of 23 probable, and 20 of 23 possible ALS. Among 30 spinal form ALS without bulbar symptoms, the initial EMG evaluation showed the widespread denervation processes in three limbs in 13(43.3%) and in two limbs in 17(56.7%). Of 17 patients with denervation in only two limbs, the thoracic paraspinal and tongue muscles were found to be involved in 7 and 5 cases, respectively. The other 5, who initially showed abnormal EMG in limited muscles without abnormal EMG finding in thoracic paraspinal and tongue muscles, were confirmed to have ALS by the clinical and EMG follow-up. Nine patients of spinal onset ALS with bulbar symptoms and 12 patients of bulbar onset showed widespread denervation features at the tongue and limb muscles. In 6 ALS cases, difficult to be differentiated from spondylotic myeloradiculopathy, the abnormal EMG features in thoracic paraspinal and bulbar muscle were helpful to diagnose ALS. CONCLUSION: The authors could diagnose ALS in most cases(90.2%) at the time of initial EMG evaluation. The needle EMG study with the regular follow-up is useful to diagnose ALS. Moreover, the needle EMG study on thoracic paraspinal and tongue muscle is much helpful to differentiate ALS from spondylotic myeloradiculpathy.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* ; Denervation ; Diagnosis* ; Electromyography* ; Extremities ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Muscles ; Needles* ; Seoul ; Tongue

No abstract available.
Cerebral Hemorrhage* ; Mucormycosis*

In order to study the development of fungal keratitis in wearing of the soft contact lenses contaminated with fungus in various conditions of the cornea, we contaminated the soft contact lenses with Candida albicans, and then placed them on the corneas in rabbits. The rabbits were divided into 4 groups(each 8 eyes). In group 1, dexamethasone was injected subconjunctivally once a day for 4 days and the corneal epithelium was removed 7mm in diameter. In group 2, dexamethasone was injected subconjunctivally once a day for 4 days without removal of the corneal epithelium. In group 3, the corneal epithelium was removed 7mm in diameter without subconjunctival injection of dexamethasone. In group 4, normal corneas were used as a control. The corneas were observed daily with slit-lamp. After 10 days, the infected corneas were examined with light microscope. Keratitis was developed in 5 eyes in group 1(5/8), 3 eyes in group 2(3/8), 2 eyes in group 3(2/8). But keratitis was not developed in group 4. Light microscopic examination showed active invasion of C, albicans forming pseudohyphae into the cornea associated with severe inflammation in group 1 and 2, but it showed mild inflammation and only a small number of C, albicans in the superficial cornea in group 3. In this study, it was found that immunosuppressed and de-epithelialized corneas are susceptible to C, albicans.
Candida albicans* ; Candida* ; Contact Lenses, Hydrophilic* ; Cornea ; Dexamethasone ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Fungi ; Inflammation ; Keratitis* ; Rabbits

PURPOSE: Our objective was to evaluate mammographic findings of breast cancer in men. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study includes 9 man with breast cancer diagnosed pathologically by radical mastectomy. Clinical and pathologic data were obtained by review of patients' medical record. Mammograms were analysed retrospectively. RESULTS: Of the 9 patients, eight had masses with spiculated margin or schirrous pattern with irregular margin. One patient had no specific evidence of breast cancer mammographically. Microcalcifications were seen in three patients, these calcifications were irregular in shape and were clustered. Of the 8 cases, four patients had the masses at the right breast, four at the left breast. Locations of breast cancer were subareolar(n=4) and were eccentric(n=4) from the nipple. The most common location was the upper outer quadrant. On histologic evaluation, 7 cases were infiltrating ductal carcinomas, one case was mucinous adenocarcinoma, and the remainder was proved as combined form of intraductal and infiltrating ductal carcinoma. Axillary lymph node metastasis were found in 4 cases. CONCLUSION: Mammographic findings of male breast carcinoma were that of subareolar or eccentrically located mass. Calcifications were same to the patterns of calcification as female breast cancer.
Adenocarcinoma, Mucinous ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast Neoplasms, Male* ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Female ; Humans ; Lymph Nodes ; Male ; Male* ; Mastectomy, Radical ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nipples ; Retrospective Studies