BACKGROUND: Oxygen concentrators are convenient to operate and economical for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, oxygen concentrators are not manufactured domestically and the COPD patients are currently treated with imported oxygen concentrators. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of domestically developed prototype oxygen concentrator before clinical application, the efficacy and safety of the domestic oxygen concentrator were evaluate by comparing with the imported one. Meterial and METHODS: The clinical tests were performed on 36 hyperhydrosis patients from April 1999 to August 1999. Domestic and imported oxygen concentrators were in turn applied to the same patient, who inspired oxygen for 60 minutes at a rate of 3 liters per minute through nasal prong. The oxygen concentrator, which was applied first, was randomly allocated. The arterial partial oxygen pressure (PaO2) was estimated to compare the efficacy; and the carboxy hemoglobin(COHb), pH, arterial CO2 partial pressure, pulse rate, blood pressure, and respiration rate to compare the safety before and after applying each oxygen concentrator. A student t-test was used to analyze the results. RESULTS: In respect to efficacy, the difference in the change of PaO2 before and after the application between two concentrators was not statistically significant. In respect to safety, the differences in the changes of COHb, pH, partial pressure of arterial CO2, pulse rate, blood pressure, respiration rate between two concentrators were also not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: The domestically developed oxygen concentrator, showed satisfactory efficacy and safety when compared with the imported one.
Blood Pressure ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Oxygen* ; Partial Pressure ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Respiratory Rate

Hidradenitis suppurativa is a rare disease which represents a chronic suppurative and scarring process, affecting the apocrine glands due to persistent bacterial infection and apocrine dysfunction. We have experienced a case of hidradenitis suppurativa, 22-year-old female which involved both axillary region. Diagnosis was established by clinical characteristicsymptoms, histopathological findings and bacteriological examinations.
Apocrine Glands ; Bacterial Infections ; Cicatrix ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hidradenitis Suppurativa* ; Hidradenitis* ; Humans ; Rare Diseases ; Young Adult

Neurotoxicity in the workplace may occur with exposure to scores of chemicals. Although large acute outbreaks of the occupational neurological disease are rare, the incidence of occupational neurotoxicity in its subtler aspects is unknown. A working knowledge of both the major occupational neurotoxic solvents and the tools used by clinical neurologists and neurotoxicologists to evaluate neurotoxicity in working population is a necessity for the occupational physician. To investigate the effects of carbon disulfide(CS2) on the peripheral nerve system using the nervous conduction study, 105 male workers working in the spinning room of a viscose rayon factory were examined and compared with a sex and age matched, unexposed 105 male controls using t-test analysis. 72.4% of CS2-exposed workers complained of neurological symptoms, and the abnormal cases in nerve conduction study were 48.6%. The abnormal cases of nerve conduction study increased in number according as the age and duration of exposure increased. In this study, asymptomatic workers were confirmed to have subclinical neuropathy by nerve conduction study. Also as there were abnormal cases even in its duration of exposure below 4 years, nerve conduction study turned out to be ways of discovering of early peripheral neuropathy. In nerve conduction study, the amplitude, velocity, F-wave latency and H-reflex of the motor and sensory nerves in both upper and lower extremities were significant different between CS2-exposed workers and the controls. From the pathological viewpoint, both segmental and axonal degenerations were assumed in this study.
Axons ; Carbon Disulfide* ; Carbon* ; Disease Outbreaks ; H-Reflex ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Neural Conduction ; Peripheral Nerves ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases* ; Solvents

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Mercury Poisoning*

No abstract available.
Solvents*

No abstract available.
Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Cleft Lip* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Nose* ; Transplants*

To observe the change in the status of stresses according to size of the meniscus, a 3-dimensional photoelasticity model of the knee joint was made of epoxy. Three kinds of meniscus models were made of rubber. Through the axial application of a vertical compressive load of 8kg equivalent to the joint reaction of 3,000N in the human knee joint, the peculiar patterns of the isochromatic fringes were observed and stresses around the knee joint were analyzed according to the size of the defect in the medial meniscus. Even distribution of the photoelasticity fringe patterns were observed in the normal knee joint model with both menisci intact. Stress concentration was increased at the margin of the medial side of the knee joint model with the medial menicus removed partially in about 30-50% of its central portion. In addition, the magnitude of stresses were also noted as increased in the lateral part of this type model. In the knee joint model with nearly all of the medial meniscus removed, strssess were concentrated markedly in the central portion of the knee joint just outside of both tibial spines. Stress was increased in its magnitude according to the size of the defect of the meniscus, and was focalized after menisectomy. In the model for partial menisectomy, the maximum stress concentration point of the removed side migrated to the margin of the same side of the joint. But in the model of total menisectomy, maximum stress concentration points of both side were more centralized. Not only an increment of stresses in magnitude but also centralization of the maximum stress concentration point in its location could contribute to the degenerative process of the knee joint after menisectomy. In addition, articular cartilage can be easily damaged with a relatively small amount of external force.
Cartilage, Articular ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee ; Knee Joint ; Menisci, Tibial ; Rubber ; Spine

Epidemilologic information about various syndromes in low back pain has been regarded by Vert Mooney as one of the important sources for establishing prognosis and providing a rationale for therapy. Several risk factors about low back pain and injuries were analyzed through a questionnaire filled out by 172 athletes of various kind of sports including students and professional players. The following results were obtained. 1. Types of sports were associated with the incidence of low back injuries and gymnastics were included in high risk groups (p<0.01). 2. Career is also associated with the incidence of low back injuries (p<0.05). 3. Pain pattern, such as anterior element pain or posterior element pain is also associated with the particular type of sport(p<0.001). 4. Over-use has been suspected as a main cause of sports injury in 37.8% of athletes. Neglect of warming-up, psychologic attitudes and chronic accumulation of micro-trauma have been also suspected (p<0.001). 5. Management of pain was expected to be received from physiotherapists by 34.2%, from coaches or fellow sportsmen by 24.6%, from an acupuncturist by 17.5%, from doctors by 9.7%, and from trainers by 14% of athletes. However 66.7% of the professional players wanted to receive management of pain from trainers (p<0.001).
Athletes ; Athletic Injuries ; Back Injuries ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Gymnastics ; Humans ; Incidence ; Low Back Pain ; Physical Therapists ; Prognosis ; Risk Factors ; Sports