In order to evaluate the genotoxic hazard among workers potentially exposed to low level petrochemical substances, the analyses of micronuclei (MN) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in lymphocytes were performed in 46 male workers (as exposed group) and 46 nonexposed subjects (as control group). Mean frequencies of MN and SCEs (respectively, 12.9/1000 cells and 6.5/cell) in exposed group were very significantly higher than those (10.2/1000 cells and 5.4/cell) in control group. And there were also significant differences in mean frequencies of MN and SCEs adjusted for age, employment duration, smoking, and drinking between two groups. Median frequencies of MN and SCEs in exposed group were very significantly higher than those in control group. Frequencies of SCEs were higher in smokers than in non-smoker. Frequencies of MN in smokers, however, were similiar to those of non-smoker. Interaction between exposure and smoking on MN and SCEs induction was not observed. The results suggest that there is genotoxic hazard in high risk group like workers handling carcinogens in petrochemical plants and the analyses of MN and SCEs are useful biomarkers for the exposure to hazard substances even at the level below the exposure limit.
Biological Markers ; Carcinogens ; Drinking ; Employment ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Male ; Sister Chromatid Exchange ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: It is a popular notion that cutaneous ageing includes two distinct phenomenon; true ageing, a universal presumably inevitable change attributable to the passage of time alone, and photoageing, changes attributable to chronic habitual sun exposure that are neither universal nor inevitable. Numerous investigations with experimental animals, in vitro skin models have been conducted, although, few histological studies to date have attempted to announce fundamental morphological changes with innate ageing. OBJECTIVE: We compared skin derived from the breast of old and young persons using light microscopy to discern structural changes in epidermal and dermal morphology with advancing age. METHODS: The histological, immunohistochemical studies were performed with normal skin sections of thirty donors who were diagnosed with breast cancer. They were classified into three age cohort groups; nine into group I (22 to 38), twelve into group II(40 to 52), and nine into group III(54 to 87). We chose the breast as an area that might closely resemble intrinsically aged skin. This region is relatively shielded from photoageing by its anatomical location. Analysis of data was performed using the Kruskal-Wallis and ANOVA test for dermal parameters based on a 5-point rating scale, and a simple regression test for a positive rate of immunoreactants. Results : 1. Light microscopic appearance of aged skin revealed a more flattened epidermis than young skin. There was no trend for an increase in epidermal melanin content per unit area on Fontana-Masson staining. There was an age-associated decrease in the Ki-67 positive rate(p<0.001), the density of Ki-67 positive cells declined approximately 1.16% per decade in photoprotected skin(p<0.001). The number of S-100 positive cells declined approximately 4.4/mm width along the dermo-epidermal juction per decade in photoprotected skin(p<0.001). The expression of differentiation markers(keratin 1, involucrin, filaggrin, loricrin) were not different among the three age cohort groups. 2. With advancing age, there was an attenuation in the number and diameter of elastic fibers in the papillary dermis and an increase in the number and straightness of the same fibers in the reticular dermis. The collagen fibers are arranged in sparse bundles in disarray, and/or aggregates of loosely woven, straight fibers in the aged skin. There was an apparent, age-related decrease in the stainability of ground substances in the papillary dermis on colloidal iron staining. Conclusions : Our data documents semi-quantitative differences among three groups in intrinsically aged breast skin and provide the framework for future research to evaluate the ageing process.
Animals ; Breast ; Breast Neoplasms ; Cohort Studies ; Collagen ; Colloids ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Epidermis ; Humans ; Iron ; Melanins ; Microscopy ; Skin* ; Solar System ; Tissue Donors

BACKGROUND: Lead is a common environmental metal and has been used for various purposes for a long time, leading to frequent reports of lead poisoning. The concern about lead poisoning starts has been mostly focused on occupational exposure and is linked to the prevention and management of lead exposure in refining and manufacturing processes. Nowadays, however, there is growing concern about nonoccupational lead exposure by many pollutants. Especially, lead poisoning by herb medicine has commonly been observed in clinics in Southeast Asia and South Korea. This case report contains diagnosis of inpatients who suffered from lead poisoning from a herb medicine, arthritis remedy and who complained of abdominal symptoms and dizziness. The study purpose was to awaken our healthful interest in lead poisoning. CASE REPORT: A 53-year-old female patient complaining of abdominal pain, dizziness, and numbness of hand and foot came to our hospital due to the continuation of her anemic finding symptoms while undergoing treatment at a secondary hospital. Her past medical history was unremarkable except she had taken herb pills for about a year which were administered by herb medicine to treat arthritis. Physical examination was unremarkable except for oral ulcer finding. Hemoglobin was 8.5 g/dl, reticulocyte count was 4.10%, bilirubin was 1.3 mg/dl (direct 0.3 mg/dl), and Zinc protoporphyrin 169.12 ug/dl. In urinalysis results, WBC increased to 30~39 /HPF, While AST/ALT, BUN/Cr, PT/aPTT, and nerve conduction velocity were normal. Basophilic stippling was observed through peripheral blood smear. The blood lead level was 80.4 microgram/dl and the urine lead level continued to increase to 541 microgram/l. Analysis of the pills that the patient had been taking showed that they contained 30 mg/g lead. By oral chelation therapy with D-penicillamine four times per day for five days, the patient's hemoglobin increased to 11.8 g/dl, while blood lead level decreased to 39.2 microgram/dl, and urine level to 196 microgram/l. Although the soles of her feet remained cold, but other symptoms and anemia finding were improved considerably. However, after discontinuing D-penicillamine medication, the blood lead level increased to 41.4 microgram/dl again. The further administration of D-penicillamine for five days reduced the blood lead level to 31.5 microgram/dl. At two years after the discontinuance of D-penicillamine, the followup findings were normal; hemoglobin was 13.1 g/dl, hematocrit 39.6%, reticulocyte count 1.22%, blood lead level 13.3 microgram/dl, and urine lead level 9.17 microgram/l. CONCLUSION: After taking herb medicine pills for one year, the patient was admitted to hospital chiefly complaining of abdominal pain, dizziness, and numbness of the hand and foot. The high blood and urine and lead levels and lead chemical analysis of the herb pills confirmed lead poisoning which was treated with D-penicillamine for five days. The follow-up result after two years indicated normal blood and urine lead levels.
Abdominal Pain ; Anemia ; Arthritis ; Asia, Southeastern ; Basophils ; Bilirubin ; Chelation Therapy ; Diagnosis ; Dizziness ; Eating* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Hand ; Hematocrit ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Lead Poisoning* ; Middle Aged ; Neural Conduction ; Occupational Exposure ; Oral Ulcer ; Penicillamine ; Physical Examination ; Reticulocyte Count ; Urinalysis ; Zinc

Diabetes is known to induce autonomic dysfunction and most experiments have been focused on the smooth muscle dysfunctions of the urinary bladder and corpus cavernosum in the genitourinary tract. The contractile response of the vas deferens is also decreased in diabetic rats and this effect may cause impairment of sperm transportation. However, few studies have been investigated the changes of contractility of the vas deferens in diabetic animals and little attention has been given to the differences between the contractilities of the prostatic and epididymal ends of the vas deferens in diabetic rats. In this study, the whole vas deferens was divided into two portions, prostatic and epididymal ends, and we examined the contractility of both segments to field stimulation at various frequencies from 4 to 64 Hz for 30 sec with pulses of 1 msec duration at 80 V in organ bath containing modified Tyrode's solution. Both initial twitch and the last contraction after 30 sec elicited by field stimulation were compared to clarify which component was more susceptible to field stimulation in control and diabetic rats. In the prostatic end, initial twitch was more impaired than the last contraction, which is believed that in diabetic rats, ATP(adenosine triphosphate) is more affected than NA(noradrenaline). In contrast, in the epididymal and the last contraction was more impaired than the initial twitch. In 64 Hz, initial twitch and the secondary contractions were not distinguished in the epididymal end of control rats, but in diabetic rats both phases were distinct. This means that the release of NA to field stimulation in the epididymal end is delayed in diabetic rats.
Animals ; Baths ; Muscle, Smooth ; Rats* ; Sperm Transport ; Urinary Bladder ; Vas Deferens*

BACKGROUND: Melanocytes grown in pure monolayer culure lack many of the cellular interactions that exist in vivo. This can be partially overcome by growing melanocytes together with other epidermal cells in skin equivalent models. OBJECTIVE: The objective of the present study was to grow human melanocytes in human epidermis reconstructed on dermal substrates in vitro and to examine their response to UV radiation. METHODS: The skin equivalents were prepared by seeding cultured human keratinocytes together with cultured human melanocytes(in a ratio of 5%) onto de-epidermized dermis. After 7 days of culture, they were exposed to UVB irradiation(total 150m J/cm over 5days). On day 12 of air exposure the sections of the skin equivalents were prepared for histology. The structure of the skin equivalents was studied following staining with hematoxylin and eosin. Melanocytes were characterized by DOPA staining and by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Melanocytes were localized singly within the basal layer of the reconstructs. Melanin was also visible both in the melanocytes and in neighboring keratinocytes. There was an increase in melanocyte size and dendricity following UV irradiation. Melanocytes became positive to staining with HMB-45 antibody following UV irradiation. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that melanocytes grown in reconstructed human epidermis are functional and capable of responding to UV irradiation.
Dermis ; Dihydroxyphenylalanine ; Eosine Yellowish-(YS) ; Epidermis* ; Hematoxylin ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Keratinocytes ; Melanins ; Melanocytes* ; Skin

Recently, we found an ectopic paragoniums westermani in the scrotum from 19 years old male patient who admitted our hospital under the impression of scrotal mass. We report this case, and literatures were reviewed briefly.
Humans ; Male ; Paragonimiasis* ; Scrotum ; Young Adult

Acute food impaction of the esophagus is not an unusual problem on an emergency ward. It has been termed the Steakhouse syndrome or the Backyard barbecue syndrome, indicating that meet is the obstrueting bolus in the majority of cases. Most esophageal stenoaes are located distally, and this ie also the area where most food impations occur. The obstruction quickly becomes apparent to the patient when further swallowing of food or liquid is impossible. Various obstructive lesions or motility disorders of the esophagus have been implicated as etiological factors in acute food impaction. Common,disorders include reflux esophagitis with stricture, hiatal hernia, abnormal rings and postoperative strictures at anastomotic sites. Malignant stenoses have been very rarely described. Recently we experienced of 4 patients who suffered from acute dysphagia after they had ingestion of food such as beef, pork, chicken, and dog meat, repectively. All of them were diagnased as steakhouse syndrome due to acute food impaction of the esophageal after examinations of esophagogram and endoscopy. They had hiatal hernia, esophageal cancer, reflux esophagitis with stricture, and abnormal ring as underlying diseases, repectively. All of them were treated with endoseopic removal of foreign body by a Dormia basket.
Animals ; Chickens ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Deglutition ; Deglutition Disorders ; Dogs ; Eating ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Endoscopy ; Esophageal Neoplasms ; Esophagitis, Peptic ; Esophagus* ; Foreign Bodies ; Hernia, Hiatal ; Humans ; Meat

The purposes of this study were to investigate the satisfaction of use of removable denture elated to general, functional and esthetic factors among dental patients in national sorokdo hospital, and to establish the structure relationships of dental treatment satisfaction. Two hundred fifty hansen`s patients who consented with this survey were selected and examined their oral status. Satisfaction degree was estimated by means of self-developed questionarires, filled out by face-to-face interview. Collected data were analyzed by t-tast The obtained results were as follow : 1. The satisfaction degree of four subscales was highest in esthetic actor (3.17+/-0.36), denture retention factor(3.10+/-0.60), general treatment satisfaction factor(2.94+/-0.56), and masticatory function factor (2.90+/-0.68) in descending order. It was appeared that patients was generally satisfied with all four factor. 2. On the comparison between proportion of denture satisfaction and satisfactio 02n of subscales, as the satisfaction of general treatment, masticatory function and denture retention were increased, the proportion of denture satisfaction of esthetic function and proportion of denture satisfaction. 3. The masticatiory function factor, denture retention factor and genernal satisfaction of treatment factor were directly affected on the denture satisfaction, but esthetic factor was affected indirectly on the denture satisfaction as a result of path analysis
Dental Prosthesis* ; Denture Retention ; Dentures ; Humans

BACKGROUND: It is well known that heavy alcohol consumption may result in various lesions on multiple organs and tissue, especially liver. The aim of this study was to measure prevalence of raised liver derived enzymes in healthy men and possible association with alcohol consumption, smoking and body mass index. METHODS: All subjects were 450 men who received Adult Health Examination at Seoul Hospital of Konkuk medical center from May, 1998 to October, 1998. We carried out telephone survey and analyzed 360 men, excluding men with HBs Ag(+), hepatic problems within 6 months, medication drug that could change serum activity of hepatic enzyme or joints, myscles, cardiac problem and non responder to telephone survey. We examined prevalence of raised liver enzymes and its possible association with alcohol consumption, smoking, and body mass index, applying logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: In 20.3% of study subjects, we found raised levels of lver derived enzymes. If the alcohol consumption was higher than 270 g/week, the odds ratio(OR) for raised liver enzymes, adjusted for body mass index and smoking, increased ; serum gamma glutamyltransferase(gamma GTP)(OR: 9.48), serum aspartate aminotransferase(AST)(OR: 13.09), and serum alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(OR: 7.40). Smoking was not associated with the risk of raised liver enzymes and obesity(body mass index 25 kg/m2) showed a positive association with two enzymes; gamma GTP(OR: 1.92) and ALT(OR: 2.08). CONCLUSION: If alcohol consumption was higher than 270 g/week, the risk of raised liver enzymes increased dramatically and gamma GTP, AST were shown more sensitive than ALT in alcoholic liver disease.
Adult ; Alanine ; Alcohol Drinking* ; Aspartic Acid ; Body Mass Index ; Guanosine Triphosphate ; Humans ; Joints ; Liver Diseases, Alcoholic ; Liver* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Seoul ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Telephone

BACKGROUND: Cerebral infarction is one of the common cause of death in Korea. There are many studies about risk factors of cerebral infarction in the world and Korea, and there are some studies about risk factors of mortality and recurrence after first cerebral infarction in the world, but there are no reliable epidemiologic studies about risk factors of mortality and recurrence after first cerebral infarction in Korea. So this study was designed to investigate the risk factors of mortality and recurrence after first cerebral infarction in Korea. METHODS: A cohort of 257 patients with diagnosing first cerebral infarction at our hospital were selected and followed for at least 5 years. 30 days, 1 year, 5 year cumulative mortality and recurrence was calculated. Risk factors classified at the time of first cerebral infarction, and then entered into a Cox proportional harzards model for mortality and for recurrence. RESULTS: The cumulative risk of mortality after first cerebral infarction was 13% at 30days, 21% at 1year, 49% at 5years. The cumulative risk of recurrence after first cerebral infarction was 4% at 30days, 11% at 1year, 24% at 5years. The significant risk factors of mortality after first cerebral infarction were age(> OR =65), heavy alcohol drinking history, heart failure, untreated diabetes mellitus history, untreated hypertension history, high admission Hct(> OR =50%), high admission glucose(> OR =200), atrial fibrillation at admission, under drowsy mental state at admission, embolic infarction type, high admission systolic blood pressure(> OR =160), high admission diastolic blood pressure(> OR =100). The significant risk factors of recurrence were age(<65), men, heavy alcohol drinking history, ischemic heart disease, untreated DM history, high admission glucose(> OR =200). CONCLUSION: Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, heavy alcohol drinking, cardiovascular disease were important factor of cerebral infarction prognosis on our study. So primary care physicians focus on these factors when treating cerebral infarction patient.
Alcohol Drinking ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Cerebral Infarction* ; Cohort Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality* ; Myocardial Ischemia ; Physicians, Primary Care ; Prognosis ; Recurrence* ; Risk Factors*