The air-borne fungi are usually considered to be as non-pathogenic and saprophytic organisms. However, those can be causative factors of certain allergic disease, and produce mycotoxic diseases such as caused by aflatoxin B1,or opportunistic infections, since various kinds of antitumor agents and adrenocorticosteroids have been introduced to therapeutics, and those who are affected some malignant tumors or metabolic anomalous diseases. As the first step toward. understanding and controlling the diseases, the studies on the population of air-borne fungi seem to be necessary. Authors studied the fluctuations of population of air-borne fungi at monthly intervals from June 1974 through May 1975 and at various times of the day at different places in th hospital, and the results obtained were as follows: 1. The identified fungi species and the percentage of colony counts of each species were Hormodendrum sp. (37. 2% ), Penicillium sp. (18. 8% ), Aspergillus sp, (17. 6 % ), Alternaria sp. (6.3 %), Mycelia sterila (2.6 %), Paecilomyces sp. (1.2 %) RhodO torula sp. (1. 1 % ), Oospora, sp. (0, 7 % ), Rhizopus sp. (0. 6 %. ), Geotrichum sp. (0.4%), Monilia sp. (0.4%), Mucor sp. (0.4%), Trichoderma sp. (0.4%.), Trichosporon sp. (0. 1%), Stemphylium sp. (0. 1 % ), Helminthosporium sp. (0. 1%) Gliocladium sp. (0. 1,: ), Saccharomyces sp. (0. 1 % ), Trichothecium sp. (0. 03 % ), and other unknown species(11. 6%) in decreasing order of frequency. 2. The monthly fluctuations of number of cultured colonies of four major airborne fungi (Hormodendrum, Penicillium. Aspergillus, and Alternaria) were 649 in June, 105 in July, 372 in August, 431 in September, 188 in October, 241 in November and 89 in December 1974, and 92 in January, 115 in February, 77 in March, 178 in April and 116 in May 1975. 3. It was suggested that there might be a relationship among the humidity, the temperature and the population of the air-borne fungi because the abrupt drop in July seemed to be related to high level of tbe,humidity (86.8%) and the temyerature (24. 3'C). And since the total number of colonies decreased markedly in December 1974 and Junuary 1975, it seemed to be closely related to cold weather temperature. 4. The number of cultured colonies at various times of the day did not show much fluctuation, except that Aspergillus sp. showed sudden tremendous increase at. one occasion, at 3: 00 P.M. on 15th of June and that gradual increase of Hormodendrum sp. was noted on another occasion from 12: 00 A.M. on 15th of September. 5. With regard to the locations of sampling, such as the operating room, laboratory, ward and out-patient department in the hospital, the difference in the identified. fungi species, the number of colony counts and the relationship with the humidity A the temperature was not evident. Authors reviewed relevant literatures and made discussions also.
Aflatoxins ; Alternaria ; Antineoplastic Agents ; Aspergillus ; Candida ; Cryptococcus ; Fungi* ; Geotrichum ; Gliocladium ; Helminthosporium ; Humans ; Humidity ; Mucor ; Operating Rooms ; Opportunistic Infections ; Outpatients ; Paecilomyces ; Penicillium ; Rhizopus ; Saccharomyces ; Trichoderma ; Trichosporon ; Weather

Many factors including social rejection, family problems, loss of educational opportunity, fear, prejudice and ignorance of leprosy compound the inherent psychological stress of leprosy. In light of these problems this present study was undertaken to evaluate the psychological status of leprosy patients. The subjects of the present study were 205 patients admitted to a hospital and 304 control people living in similar isolated areas to resettlement villages. A self report symptom inventory, SCL-90 (symptom check list-90) was used and the groups were analysed and compared by many factors. (countinued..)
Humans ; Leprosy* ; Prejudice ; Self Report ; Social Distance ; Stress, Psychological

BACKGROUND: To report the radiological and clinical outcomes of internal fixation using distal clavicle hook plates for distal clavicle fractures. METHODS: From April 2008 to December 2012, 32 patients with distal clavicle fractures underwent surgery using an AO hook plate. The reduction was qualified and evaluated according to the radiological findings. The evaluation of the clinical outcomes was performed with the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) score, the Korean Shoulder score, and the visual analogue scale (VAS) pain score. RESULTS: By radiological evaluation, we found that 31 of 32 patients showed anatomical reduction and solid bone union. Although we obtained satisfactory UCLA scores, Korean Shoulder Scale scores, and VAS pain scores, 12 cases of complications were present. We found 4 cases of osteolysis of the acromion, 1 case of nonunion, 3 cases of periprosthetic fractures, 3 cases of subacromial pain, and 1 case of skin irritation. We performed re-operations in 2 patients. CONCLUSIONS: To avoid complications associated with clavicle hook plates, choosing the appropriate hook size and bending of the hook according to the slope of the acromion undersurface is critical. Also, we believe that early removal of clavicle plates may help reduce complications.
Acromion ; California ; Clavicle* ; Humans ; Osteolysis ; Periprosthetic Fractures ; Shoulder ; Skin

PURPOSE: To assess the value of MR imaging compared to CT for the staging of gastric carcinoma when body-wrap-around surface coil, intravenous glucagon, motion suppression technique and effervescent granules are used. MATERIAL AND METHOD: CT and MRI were performed for thirty-five patients with gastric carcinoma. Postcontrast CT scan was performed immediately after oral effervescent granules and Buscopan were given. Before MR imaging, BWA surface coil was wrapped around the upper abdomen. T1 coronal, sagittal and axial SE images (TRITE=400/15 msec) were obtained immediately after oral effervescent granules and glucagon were given. Respiratory compensation and presaturation techniques were used for each imaging. Three radiologists evaluated independently for randomly mixed 70 sets of CT and MR images. The signal intensity of gastric mass and enlarged lymph nodes were compared to the signal intensity of the adjacent pancreas, liver and spleen to evaluate any discriminating features between them. RESULTS: The accuracy in the diagnosis of pancreatic invasion was 83.8% on MRI and 74.3% on CT (p < 0.05). The accuracy of MRI and CT was 77.1% and 72.4% in detecting of gastric tumor respectively (p > 0.05), 73.3% and 68.6% in gastric serosal invasion (p> 0.05), 50.5% and 42.9% in lymph node metastasis (p > 0.05). The gastric mass and enlarged lymph nodes were hypointense to the intensity of pancreas and liver in more than 78% of cases. CONCLUSION: MRI was comparable to CT scan for the staging of gastric carcinoma. Therefore, MRI could be used as an alternative or adjunctive diagnostic modality in the staging of gastric carcinoma.
Abdomen ; Butylscopolammonium Bromide ; Compensation and Redress ; Diagnosis ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymph Nodes ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas ; Spleen ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

STUDY DESIGN: The lumbar segmental motions were analysed in asymptomatic volunteers. OBJECTIVES: To obtain normative data on flexibility and Graf's instability degree in sagittal plan of the normal lumbar spine. SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Although several clinical and radiological measurement tech niques are available, little is known about the normal range of lumbar spine motion. As a consequence, the diagnostic evaluation of radiographs are frequently based on subject opinions rather than object reality. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The authors have checked lumbar flexion-extension Yiews of 95asymptomatic volunteers who were divided into 5 groups by the age, and then their flexibility and Graf's instability degree were calculated by Graf's method with using Graf/Bar Mark II(digitalizing table) and personal computer program(RachisR). Evaluation of the sexual difference and comparison of the difference of each age group in spine level were done RESULTS: 1. There were significant differences in flexibility among age groups(p<0.05) and highest flexibility was observed in group 1 (age: 15-19yrs) and 15-19 segment 2. Flexibility was not different between male and female(p>0.05). 3. Graf's instability degree was not different among 5 age groups(p>0.05), and between male and female(p>0.05). 4. The mean Craf's instability degree was below 8o in L2-3, L3-4, and L4-5 segment, but above 8 in L5-S1 segment(male: 11.62+/-9.27 , female. 11.11+/-8.70). CONCLUSIONS: Although we observed small subjects, these results are the basic steps toward more objective and careful interpretation of flexibilty and Graf's instability degree.
Female ; Humans ; Male ; Microcomputers ; Pliability* ; Reference Values ; Spine ; Volunteers

Many factors including social rejection, family problems, loss of educational opportunity, fear, prejudice and ignorance, compound the inherent paychologicaI stress of leprosy. In ligh.t of these problems this present study was undertaken to evaluate the psychologica.l status of 1cprosy patients. The subjects of the present study were 220 patients staying at home and 304 control people living in similar isolated areas to resettlemert villages. A self reprort symptom inventory,, SCL--90 symptom check list 90) was used and the group", were analysed and compand by many factors. The results of this study are follows. -countinue-
Humans ; Leprosy* ; Prejudice ; Social Distance

Meralgia paresthetica is a syndrome of pain or dysesthesia, or both, of the anterolateral thigh caused by entrapment or metabolic neuropathy of the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. Many cases of meralgia paresthetica have been presented for a century. We have experienced a case of meralgia paresthetica which was misdiagnosed as lumbar radicu- lopathy at other hospital, of a 53-year-old man who had developed painful paresthesia and dysesthe- sia of the anterolateral thigh caused by soft tissue tuberculosis of oblique abdominal muscles just proximal to the lateral inguinal ligament where the lateral femoral cutaneous nerve passes. We report a case of unilateral meralgia paresthetica secondary to soft tissue tuberculosis with review of literatures because it has not previously been reported.
Abdominal Muscles ; Humans ; Ligaments ; Middle Aged ; Paresthesia ; Thigh ; Tuberculosis*

It had been reported by many authors that the incidence of delayed or nonunion in fracture of clavicle was higher in open reduction and internal fixation than conservative treatment. The purpose of this study is to verify the gratification of the reconstruction plate in fracture of clavicle which needed internal fixation. From March 1993 to September 1995, 32 clavicular fractures were underwent open reduction and internal fixation with reconstruction plate for the wide gap, soft tissue interposition and comminuted fracture etc. The results were as follows 1. The range of motion of the shoulder was returned to normal range within 1.5 weeks except one case who had brachial plexus injury. 2. All cases had bony union. Average time to clinical union was 2.9 weeks and the bony union 7.8 weeks. 3. By functional evaluation of shoulder by Weitzman, final results were excellent in 27, good in 4 and fair in l. 4.Fixation and maintenance of clavicular fragment by reconstruction plate was recommendable for wide separated, soft tissue interposed, comminuted fracture of the clavicle. We concluded that reconstruction plate in fracture of clavicle could be recommended as one of the device for internal fixation.
Brachial Plexus ; Clavicle ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Incidence ; Range of Motion, Articular ; Reference Values ; Shoulder

We have treated the open tibia shaft fractures, especially Gustilo type II, with unreamed interlocking intramedullary nail. In cases combined with soft tissue damage around fracture site, maintaining rigid internal fixation and preserving endoosteal blood supply is important in union of fracture and soft tissue healing. We have analyzed 18 cases of Gustilo type II open tibial shaft fractures managed with intramedullary nailing without reaming since 1991, the follow-up period was average 22 months. Most of the fractures were the result of moderate to high-energy trauma. In all 18 cases, nails were inserted via closed method. Static interlocking nailing was used in all cases. In 16 cases, union of the fracture was achieved from 16 to 25 weeks(average 23 weeks). In the other 2 cases, union was achieved in 7 months. There was no serious postoperative complication except one skin infection with skin defect managed by skin flap and one failure of the interlocking screw. These results are comparable with those obtained from other forms of fixation, including immobilization with a cast, reamed intramedullary nailing, and external fixation.
Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Immobilization ; Methods ; Postoperative Complications ; Skin ; Tibia

A 26-year-old male has experienced repeated pruritic and burning erythema and edema over the exposed areas of the skin, especially on the face and hands, after sunlight exposure. He stated that his father, three aunts, and three sisters had similar sunlight sensitivity. The face showed tiny whitish scars. And also there were hypopigmented scars on the dorsum of the hands. Characteristic laboratory findings were as followa: RBC, plasma and stool fluoresced coral red color under the Woods light. 100ml of the RBC contained 245 pg of protoporphyrin. On photosensitive test using sunlight for 60 rninutes, there developed painful sensation at 4 minutes and 40 seconds after exposure, erythema at 12 minutes after, and edema at 20 minutes after. Pathological findings of the specimen obtained from erythematous lesion of the forehead revealed hypergranulosis and acanthosis in the epidermis and perivascular thickening and hyalin deposit around the capillaries in the upper dermis. For treatment, avoidance of exposure to sunlight was recomrnended and symptomatic therapy was tried.
Adult ; Anthozoa ; Burns ; Capillaries ; Cicatrix ; Dermis ; Edema ; Epidermis ; Erythema ; Fathers ; Forehead ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Male ; Plasma ; Protoporphyria, Erythropoietic* ; Sensation ; Siblings ; Skin ; Sunlight ; Wood