In order to study the exposure level of silica dust and the effects of silica dust on ventilatory function, respirable dust samples were collected by personal air samplers using NIOSH method 0500 from the selected foundry operations, and ventilatory function tests were performed on 209 male foundry workers and 239 male control subjects. Ventilatory indices such as forced vital capacity (FVC) , one-second forced expiratory volume (FEV1), ratio of FEV1 to FVC(FEV1 %), maximal mid-expiratory flow(MMF), peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) and maximal expiratory flow at 25, 50 and 75 % of expired FVC (FEF25, FEF50, FEF75 were obtained by analyzing forced expiratory spirogram and maximal expiratory flow-volume curve which were simultaneously measured by Vitalography in standing position. The results were as follows : 1. The average quartz concentrations of respirable dust were the highest in melting operation (0.079 mg/m3) and followed by molding operation (0.051 mg/m3), finishing operation (0.041 mg/m3) and coremaking operation (0.023 mg/m3) in the descending order. 2. No significant differences for mean values of all ventilatory indices expressed as percent of predicted value were demonstrated between smokers and nonsmokers In foundry workers and control subjects. 3. Mean values of all ventilatory indices except FVC of foundry workers were significantly lower than those of control subjects. 4. Mean values of FEV1 %, MMF, FEF25, FEF50 and FEF75 expressed as percent of predicted value tended to decrease with increasing cumulative dust exposure. 5. In foundry workers, proportions of workers with low MMF, FEF50 and FEF75 were markedly higher than those with other indices, and were significantly increased with increasing cumulative dust exposure. 6. In foundry workers, 2 workers(1.0 %) were diagnosed as silicosis and the profusion of radiographic opacities were category 1/0 and q type. With the above considerations in mind, it suggested that increasing exposure of silica dust be associated with progressive deterioration in ventilatory function of an obstructive nature and that MMF, FEF50 and FEF75 be more sensitive indices in the detection of the early obstructive changes of air flow of workers exposed to silica dust.
Dust* ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Freezing ; Fungi ; Humans ; Male ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Peak Expiratory Flow Rate ; Quartz ; Silicon Dioxide* ; Silicosis ; Vital Capacity

Dyskeratosis congenita is a rare genodermatosis of ectodermal dysplasia, which is characterized by the diagnostic triad consisting of reticulated hyperpigmentation, dystrophic nails, and leukoplakia. There is a predisposition to malignancy, particularly at sites of leukoplakia. Bone marrow failure can occur in about a half of the cases. A 16-year-old boy was presented with asymptomatic reticulated pigmentation of the neck and nail dystrophy. The patient also had leukoplakia on the tongue, nasolacrimal duct obstruction and cataract. The histopathological findings taken from the reticulated lesion were consistent with poikiloderma atrophicans vasculare. These clinical and histopathological findings were typical features of dyskeratosis congenita.
Adolescent ; Bone Marrow ; Cataract ; Dyskeratosis Congenita* ; Ectodermal Dysplasia ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Leukoplakia ; Male ; Nasolacrimal Duct ; Neck ; Pigmentation ; Tongue

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical significance of the screening mammography in the detection of the breast diseases, especially breast carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed 1,800 cases of mammography retrospectively. The mammography was done as a part of routine check in Health Counselling Center, Korea University Medical Center, during 9 months from November 1993 to July 1994. The age range was from 23 years to 76 years, mean 49.8 years, and the largest age group was 6th decade(31.4%). According to the mammographic findings, we divided the subjects into three groups; normal group, abnormal group in need of follow up study, abnormal group requiring biopsy. RESULT: On mammography, the normal group consisted of 1,534 cases(85%), and the abnormal group consisted of 266 cases(15%). The abnormal findings were benign-looking calcification(n=140), fibroadeno ma (n=29), fibrocystic changes (n=27), cyst(n=23), malignant lesion(n=15), lipoma(n=7), and others. In four of 15 cases, which were suspected to be malignant on mammograms, breast carcinoma was confirmed pathologically. In four cases of breast carcinoma, one was under 40 and the other 3 were over 50 years of age. All of the breast cancers were under 3cm in size, and the mammographic findings of breast cancer included spiculated margin(n=3), parenchymal disortion(n=3), malignant calcification(n=2) and enlarged axillary node (n=l). CONCLUSION: Screening mammogram is helpful for early detection of non-palpable breast cancer, especially for women over 50 years of age.
Academic Medical Centers ; Biopsy ; Breast Diseases* ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Mammography* ; Mass Screening* ; Retrospective Studies

PURPOSE: Endobronchial tuberculosis and bronchogenic cancer are common causes of atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis in Korea. Differntiation between endobronchial tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma is important for the treatment and prognosis but it is sometimes difficult to differentiate these two lesions with radiologic examinations. The purpose of this study was to find the differential points between endobronchial tuberculosis and bronchogenic carcinoma associated with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty patients in whom atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis was detected on chest radiographs comprised the study. A definite mass opacity was not observed on chest radiographs in all patients. In these patients, the causes of obstruction were endobronchial tuberculosis (n=20) and bronchogenic cancer (n=20) which were microbiologically or pathologically confirmed. RESULTS: Double obstructive lesions were more frequently found in endobronchial tuberculosis (8/20) than in bronchogenic cancer (1/20). Multiple calcifications along the bronchial wall and severe distortion of bronchi were observed only in endobronchial tuberculosis (4/20) and associated low density mass at obstruction site was only observed in bronchogenic cancer (6/20). Bronchial dilatation (11/20) and parenchymal calcifications (14/20) distal to obstruction site, air containing bronchogram at post obstructive bronchus (14/20) were more frequently found in endobronchial tuberculosis. Contour bulging at obstruction site (14/20), and only mucus bronchogram at post obstructive bronchus (14/20) were more frequently found in bronchogenic carcinoma. CONCLUSION: In patients with atelectasis or obstructive pneumonitis, endobronchial tuberculosis is characterized by double obstructive lesion, multiple calcifications at the bronchial wall, and severe distortion of the bronchi. Endobronchial carcinoma is characterized by a low density mass at the obstructive site.
Bronchi ; Carcinoma, Bronchogenic* ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Korea ; Mucus ; Pneumonia* ; Prognosis ; Pulmonary Atelectasis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Tuberculosis*

Purpose: To determine whether the clinical features of intermittent exotropia (IXT) needing muscle surgery were different in the ophthalmologist-detected and non-specialist-detected groups (including parents). Methods: Medical records of 218 children (mean age: 5.9 ± 1.4 years) with IXT of ≥ 20 prism diopters (PD) were reviewed retrospectively. The angles of deviation were measured using the prism and alternate cover test and assessed by two ophthalmologists using photographs with a translucent occluder (photographic angle). The IXT subtype, fusional control, stereopsis, suppression, and spherical equivalent (SE) were compared between the ophthalmologist-detected and non-specialist-detected groups. Results: Mean 25.8 ± 6.8 PD of distant angle of IXT was first detected by the ophthalmologist in 41 patients (18.8%) and the non-specialists in 177 patients (81.2%). The deviated eye was more myopic in the ophthalmologist-detected than non-specialist- detected group (-0.77 ± 1.59 diopters [D] vs. -0.19 ± 1.48 D, p = 0.03). There were no other differences between the two groups. A comparison of 39 age- and non-dominant eye SE-matched pairs demonstrated that the measured angles for distant and near fixation were smaller in the ophthalmologist-detected than non-specialist-detected group (24.0 ± 6.8 PD vs. 28.5 ± 6.4 PD and 26.9 ± 6.6 PD vs. 31.0 ± 6.4 PD, respectively, p < 0.01), while the remaining characteristics, including the photographic angle, were similar. Conclusions In cases with small angles of deviation or myopia, IXT with angles requiring surgical correction were commonly first detected by ophthalmologists during examinations.

BACKGROUND: An automatic alarm system was developed was developed for unexpected vital sign instability in admitted patients to reduce staffing needs and costs related to rapid response teams. This was a pilot study of the automatic alarm system, the medical emergency system (MES), and the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the MES before expanding this system to all departments. METHODS: This retrospective, observational study compared the performance of patients admitted to the pulmonary department at a single center using patient data from three 3-month periods (before implementation of the MES, December 2013–February 2014; after implementation of the MES, December 2014–February 2015 and December 2015–February 2016). RESULTS: A total of 571 patients were admitted to the pulmonary department during the three observation periods. During this pilot study, the MES automatically issued 568 alarms for 415 admitted patients. There was no significant difference in the rate of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) before and after application of the MES. The mortality rate also did not change. However, it appeared that CPR was prevented in four patients admitted from the general ward to the intensive care unit (ICU) during MES implementation. The median length of hospital stay and median length of ICU stay were not significantly different before and after MES implementation. CONCLUSIONS: Although we did not find a significant improvement in outcomes upon MES implementation, the CPR rate and mortality rate did not increase despite increased comorbidities. This was a small pilot study and, based on these results, we believe that the MES may have significant effects in longer-term and larger-scale studies.
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation ; Clinical Alarms ; Comorbidity ; Critical Care ; Emergencies* ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Internal Medicine ; Korea* ; Length of Stay ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Mortality ; Observational Study ; Patients' Rooms ; Pilot Projects* ; Retrospective Studies ; Vital Signs

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the Military Mental Health Promotion Program. The program was an email based cognitive behavioral intervention. METHODS: The research design was a quasi-experimental study with a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design. Participants were 32 soldiers who agreed to participate in the program. Data were collected at three different times from January 2012 to March 2012; pre-test, post-test, and a one-month follow-up test. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS 18.0. The effectiveness of the program was tested by repeated measures ANOVA. RESULTS: The first hypothesis that the level of depression in the experimental group who participated in the program would decrease compared to the control group was not supported in that the difference in group-time interaction was not statistically significant (F=2.19, p=.121). The second and third hypothesis related to anxiety and self-esteem were supported in group-time interaction, respectively (F=7.41, p=.001, F=11.67, p<.001). CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the program is effective in improving soldiers' mental health status in areas of anxiety and self-esteem.
Anxiety ; Cognitive Therapy ; Depression/pathology ; Electronic Mail ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; *Mental Health ; Military Personnel/*psychology ; *Program Evaluation ; Questionnaires ; Self Concept ; Severity of Illness Index ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of patching on ocular alignment in children with unilateral amblyopia. METHODS: We evaluated the change in ocular alignment during and after patching in patients who had started amblyopia treatment with patching, and analyzed the aspects of change according to the cause and severity of amblyopia, type and magnitude of deviation, type of refractive error, and age at initiation. A change of eight prism diopters (PD) or more in horizontal deviation, or two PD or more in vertical deviation was considered significant. RESULTS: A total of 209 patients were enrolled; 135 had amblyopia associated with anisometropia, 50 with strabismus, 19 with combined cause, and 5 with deprivation. After patching, there was no change in distant deviation in 177 patients (84.7%), while a decrease was noted in 23 patients (11.0%) and an increase in nine patients (4.3%). The angle of deviation decreased in 7.4% of anisometropic amblyopia, 20.0% of strabismic amblyopia, 10.5% of combined amblyopia, and 20.0% of deprivation amblyopia. The angle of deviation increased in 4.4% of anisometropic amblyopia, 5.3% of combined amblyopia, and 40.0% of deprivation amblyopia. The angle of deviation decreased in 24.2% of exodeviation, and 21.6% of esodeviation, but there was no change in vertical deviation among the studied patients. The angle of deviation decreased in 31.9% of patients with deviation greater than 8 PD. The change did not differ according to severity of amblyopia, type of refractive error, or age. Among the successes, decrease in deviation was more common until they achieved equal visual acuity between both eyes, while the increase during tapering of patching. CONCLUSIONS: Change in ocular alignment may occur after patching in some patients with amblyopia, and seems to be more frequent in cases associated with horizontal deviation greater than 8 PD.
Amblyopia* ; Anisometropia ; Child ; Esotropia ; Exotropia ; Humans ; Refractive Errors ; Strabismus ; Visual Acuity

No abstract available.

We have investigated where the stem cells located in the corneal epithelium by using immunohistochemistry for EGFR and PCNA and electron microscopic study. EGFR and PCNA immunoreactivities were observed in the basal epithelial layer in the entire cornea from postnatal day 10, when increased stratification of epithelium was also observed. But in adult, immunoreactive cells were found only in the limbal basal cells. And the basal cells in limbal epithelium maintained their ovoid or round shape even in adult. The basal cells of the limbus had euchromatic nuclei and rich cytoplasmic organelles, compatible with stem cells. Wide intercellular space and polarity of basal cells at postnatal 10 days seems to be associated with cellular migration for increased stratification of epithelium. These results suggest that stem cells are located in the basal layer of the entire corneal epithelium during development. But it seems that as the corneal epithelium matures, these cells are sequestered in the limbus.
Adult ; Animals ; Cornea ; Cytoplasm ; Epithelium ; Epithelium, Corneal* ; Extracellular Space ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Organelles ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen* ; Rats* ; Stem Cells