This study was carried out in order to find out the valuable measure to kill the parasite eggs in night soil. The fresh eggs of Ascaris put into human stool were irradiated with Cobalt 60 of 200,000 to 1,000,000 rad and cultured in test tubes at 25-30 C, washing with 2 percent formalin solution every 24 hours. The continuous development of those eggs were observed under microscope and the proprotions of developed eggs were compared with those of control groups. The major result can be summarized as follows: In general, The eggs in stool developed poorly than the eggs in saline. If the eggs were irradiated with the larger dose of Cobalt 60, the proportion of developed eggs were reduced subsequently. The eggs irradiated with the dose of 1,000,000 rad in saline developed in the proportion of 15.5 percent, whereas irradiated with 200,000 rad 94 percent developed in 4 weeks. The 44.5 percent of eggs in stool irradiated with 200,000 rad developed after 4 weeks, 30.5 percent with 300,000 rad, 25 percent with 500,000 rad and 3.5 percent with 1,000,000 rad respectively. The effective minimum dose of Cobalt 60 irradiation to kill the Ascaris eggs in stool was estimated 1,000,000 rad. Further examination will be required to observe the infectivity of irradiated Ascaris eggs to animals and to evaluate the effect from the standpoint of sanitary engineerings.
parasitology-nematode-Ascaris lumbricoides ; Cobalt 60 ; radiology ; prevention ; egg ; infectivity

The computed tomographic (CT) and clinical findings in 9 patients with serologically confirmed Japanese encephalitis were reviewed. In 6 patients with prominent pyramidal and extrapyramidal symptoms and signs, the main CT finding was low density areas in the thalamus, internal capsule, basal ganglia, and midbrain. Low density areas were compatible with the anatomical distribution of pathologic lesions in Japanese encephalitis. Diffuse low density in the periventricular white matter was evident in 5 of 6 cases, with ventricular compression in 2 cases, between the 1st and 7th day of illness. There was enlargement of the third and lateral ventricles and cortical sulci dilatation in 3 cases on or after the 21st day of illness. In once CT scan obtained on the 10th day of illness, diffuse low density in the periventricular white matter was observed with enlargement of lateral ventricles and cortical sulci dilatation. Gyral enhancement was noted in 3 of 4 cases within 4 days after the onset of symptoms. There was a limited correlation between the clinical and CT findings.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Basal Ganglia ; Dilatation ; Encephalitis, Japanese* ; Humans ; Internal Capsule ; Lateral Ventricles ; Mesencephalon ; Thalamus ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Behcet's disease (BD) is a multisystem disorder presenting recurrent oral and genital ulcerations as well as ocular lesions, involving the nervous system in a subgroup of patients. BD develops at a young age and is frequently presented with an acute or subacute brainstem syndrome or hemiparesis, as well as with other various neurological manifestations, the syndrome is often included in the differential diagnosis of multiple sclerosis, stroke of the young adult, and other neurological disorders. Transverse myelitis (TM) is a clinical syndrome in which an immune-mediated process causes neural injury to the spinal cord, resulting in varying degrees of weakness, sensory alterations and autonomic dysfunction. Spinal Neuro-behcet's disease is rare case. We reported a 33-year old man who had been treated for BD for 3 years.
Brain Stem ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Multiple Sclerosis ; Myelitis, Transverse ; Nervous System ; Nervous System Diseases ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Paresis ; Spinal Cord ; Stroke ; Ulcer ; Young Adult

One of the reasons for insertion of endotracheal tube is to provide a patent airway. Unfortunately, the tube itself may become the cause of airway obstruction. Especially, armored tube is known to be most effective in maintenance of airway patency. However, airway obstruction has been reported by a varity of causes even though armored tube was used. We experienced airway obstruction with armored tracheostomy tube by swelling of inner layer near the cuff. The tube was reused one and had been disinfected with ethylene oxide. Therefore, to prevent complication such as airway obstruction by use of armored tubes, it is desirable to avoid reusal of armored tube and to examine the lumen as well as cuff before intubation when reused.
Airway Obstruction* ; Ethylene Oxide ; Intubation ; Tracheostomy*

PURPOSE: Dexamethasone is a well-known treatment for preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. However, serious side effects have been identified, including hypertension, and cardiac hypertrophy. This study was undertaken to examine whether dexamethasone induced cardiac hypertrophy in preterm infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 12 infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia treated with dexamethasone at Korea University Hospital from August 1995 to February 1999. Serial two-dimensional and M-mode echocardiographic measurements were taken before treatment and at 1,2,3,4,5 weeks after the start of dexamethasone therapy. RESULTS: Patients receiving dexamethasone had a significantly increase in interventricular septal thickness and left ventricular posterior wall thickness. These effects were transient, reached their maximal degree by the third week of treatment, and approached pretreatment conditions by the fifth week of treatment. Heart rate was increased but statistically not significant. The fractional shortening, systolic and diastolic arterial pressure were transiently increased during dexamethasone therapy. CONCLUSION: We conclude that a transient myocardial hypertrophy is associated with dexamethasone therapy in infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Follow up of careful echocardiac monitoring should be considered in infants with dexamethasone therapy.
Arterial Pressure ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia ; Cardiomegaly* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Dexamethasone* ; Echocardiography ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy* ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature* ; Korea ; Retrospective Studies

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) is now accepted as an important clinical marker of ovarian reserve and is increasingly measured as an initial evaluation at infertility clinics. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for the revised second generation (Gen II) assay using population-based data. In this population-based cohort study, AMH data from unselected infertile women aged 25–45 years from June 2013 to June 2014 (n = 15,801) were collected. The AMH values were measured using the revised Gen II assay. We established and validated 5 AMH-age regression models. Based on the optimal AMH-age model, reference values and centile charts were obtained. The quadratic model (log AMH = 0.410 × age − 0.008 × age²− 3.791) was the most appropriate for describing the age-dependent decrease in AMH measured using the revised Gen II assay. This is the largest population-based study to establish age-specific reference values of AMH using the revised Gen II assay. These reference values may provide more specific information regarding the ovarian reserve estimation of infertile women.
Biomarkers ; Cohort Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Ovarian Reserve ; Reference Values*

A bronchial blocker (BB) is preferred for lung separation in patients with difficult airways. However, BBs, unlike double-lumen tubes, must be placed in the bronchus of the lung being operated on, hence can be damaged by surgical manipulation. Intubation was unexpectedly difficult in this male patient, so a Coopdech BB was placed in the right mainstem bronchus through a single-lumen tracheoscopic ventilation tube for a thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy. During the bronchial resection, however, the distal tip of the BB was transected and pinched in the staple line, so the staple line was partially opened, and the BB was withdrawn into the trachea. The opened bronchial stump was sutured manually under apnea without conversion to an open thoracotomy, and there was no significant air leakage through the suture line. This case underlines the importance of frequently evaluating the position of a BB during lung surgery.
Airway Management ; Apnea ; Bronchi ; Humans ; Intubation ; Lung ; Male ; One-Lung Ventilation ; Sutures ; Thoracoscopy ; Thoracotomy ; Trachea ; Ventilation

It has been known that the size of arterial diameter during growth in primates is closely dependent on blood flow. Flow induced arterial size can be influenced by contractile or structual characters of vascular smooth muscle cells. Furthermore it had been confirmed through experimental study that vascular endothelium releases vasoactive substances which adjust smooth muscle tone, and could detect shear stress on the vascular wall by its direct contact with luminal flow. The authors tried to prove it through the angiographic measurement of the major vessel sizes in cerebrovascular diseases with changed blood flow. We measured the major vessel sizes of 36 cases of cerebrovascular diseases:arteriovenous malformation in 14 cases, cerebral infarction in 8, cerebral hemiatrophy in 6 moyamoya disease 5, occlusion of the internal carotid artery in 2, and carotid-cavernous fistula in 1, which may influence cerebral blood flow, on angiography under the same circumstances. Results are as the followings: 1) In the cases of arteriovenous malformation and carotid-cavernous fistula, all of the major vessel sizes of the lesion wite were increased and all became decreased postoperatively. 2) In the cases of major vessel occlusion and cerebral hemiatrophy, the major vessel size of the lesion site was smaller than that of the normal site. 3) In the cases of moyamoya disease, there was no definite size different between both ICA sizes. In conclusion, the change in cerebral blood flow is a determinant factor of the major vessel sizes in the cases of cerebrovascular disorders which an influence cerebral blood flow.
Angiography ; Arteriovenous Malformations ; Carotid Artery, Internal ; Cerebral Infarction ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Endothelium, Vascular ; Fistula ; Moyamoya Disease ; Muscle, Smooth ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Phenobarbital ; Primates

PURPOSE: To assess the clinical efficacy of monocanalicular lacrimal silicone intubation in the pediatric patients with lacrimal duct obstruction. METHODS: The medical records of 14 children with 14 eyes who underwent this procedure were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Monoka(r) silicone tube was used in 3 eyes and Ritleng Self-threading Monoka(r) tube, in 11 eyes. Postoperatively, epiphora was resolved in all cases between one week and 7 months. Early postoperative extrusion of silicone tube occurred in 3 eyes(21.4%). Corneal erosion in 1 eye(7.1%), and granuloma formation in another eye(7.1%) were noticed but disappeared after removal of tubes. Removal of silicone tube was easily performed postoperatively between 3 and 7 months(mean, 4.6 months) in the clinic without sedation in all cases. CONCLUSIONS: Monocanalicular lacrimal intubation using especially Ritleng Self-threading Monoka(r) silicone tube is an easy technique for intubation and removal, and an effective method for the treatment of pediatric lacrimal duct obstruction.
Child ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Intubation* ; Lacrimal Apparatus Diseases ; Lacrimal Duct Obstruction* ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Silicones*

To determine the relationship between high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) findings, lung function, and bacteriology in bronchiectasis, we conducted a retrospective study of 49 Korean patients with stable bronchiectasis. To quantify the extent and severity of bronchiectasis, we used a CT scoring system consisting of bronchial dilatation, bronchial wall thickening, the number of bronchiectatic segments, the number of bulla, and the number of emphysema segments. The presence of air-fluid levels and lung consolidation were also evaluated. The results of CT scoring, spirometry and sputum culture were analyzed. Patients with cystic bronchiectasis had higher CT score, more dilated lumen and lower forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1), and FEV1/FVC than patients with cylindrical bronchiectasis. Patients with mixed ventilatory impairment had larger number of bronchiectatic segments than patients with obstructive ventilatory impairment. CT score and the number of bronchiectatic segments were significantly associated with FVC and FEV1, while CT score and the number of emphysema segments were significantly associated with FEV1/FVC. Twenty-one patients of 49 patients showed a positive sputum culture including 15 cases of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The CT score was the most important predictor of lung function. The presence of air-fluid levels predicted bacterial colonization.
Adult ; Body Temperature ; Bronchiectasis/*diagnosis/*microbiology ; Female ; Human ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Multivariate Analysis ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/metabolism ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Retrospective Studies ; Sputum/microbiology ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed/*methods