In order to investigate air pollution by heavy metals in Seoul city, the suspended particulates in the atmosphere were sampled with high volume air sampler in industrial area(Ku Ro Dong), commercial(Kwang Hwa Moon) and residential(Shin Chon Dong) from January to November, 1977. The sampled suspended particulates were digested and extracted from suspended particulates with the acidic solution by reflux-extraction technique, and were measured by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. And Mercury was measured by mercury analyzer applying the reducing sublimation technique. Among heavy metals analyzed, the iron was identified at th highest level in the suspended particulates and the chromium was the least. Through the surveyed area, the concentration of heavy metals of the industrial area was comparatively high among others and the commercial was the second. It was detected that lead was the most concentrated in the suspended particulate of the commercial area, that might be caused of the traffic emissions. The seasonal variations were analyzed and the correlations among heavy metals and total suspended particulate were also calculated. Especially, the iron was highly correlated with total suspended particulate in all the surveyed areas.
Air Pollution ; Atmosphere* ; Chromium ; Iron ; Metals, Heavy* ; Seasons ; Seoul* ; Spectrophotometry, Atomic ; Sublimation

This study was carried out to investigate air pollution by total suspended particulate(T.S.P.), benzene soluble matter and benzo(a)pyrene in Seoul city. The sampling areas were divided into commercial(Kwang Hwa Moon), industrial(Ku Ro Dong) and residential area(Shin Chon). Sampling was undertaken by High Volume Air Sampler for four seasons from January 1977 to November 1977. The T.S.P. was extracted with Soxhlet apparatus by benzene and benzo(a)pyrene was separated by column chromatography and thin layer chromatography. The concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene were measured by means of fluorophotometer, and following results were obtained. 1. Arithmetic average concentration for 1-day averaging time of total suspended particulate were 275.6 microgram/m3 in Kwang Hwa moon, 325.9 microgram/m3 in Ku Ro Dong and 193.0 microgram/m3 in Shin Chon. 2. The seasonal variance of total suspended particulate at Ku Ro Dong and Shin Chon were 102.7 microgram/m3 99.6 microgram/m3 respectively and at Kwang Hwa Moon 39.9 microgram/m3. And the concentration of autumn is higher than of that spring at Ku Ro Dong and at Shin Chon, but at Kwang Hwa Moon, the seasonal variance is very little. 3. The concentrations of 50% frequency from geometric mean for 1-day averaging time were 264 microgram/m3 and 178 microgram/m3 at Kwang Hwa Moon, Ku Ro Dong and Shin Chon. And geometric standard deviation were 1.27, 1.38 and 1.41 respectively. 4. The concentrations of benzene soluble mater were 26.9 microgram/m3 Kwang Hwa Moon, 22.7 microgram/m3 at Ku Ro Dong and 15.5 microgram/m3 at Shin Chon, and the ratios to the T.S.P. were 9.8%(range 5.6-14.8%), 7.0%(range 2.4-14.4%) and 8.0%(range 5.5-22.1%) respectively. 5. The concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene were 8.5 microgram/m3 (range 0.8-29.9 microgram/m3 ) at Kwang Hwa Moon 10.9 microgram/m3 (range 1.1-52.0 microgram/m3 ) at Ku Ro Dong and 5.8 microgram/m3 (range 1.5-11.4 microgram/m3) at Shin Chon. 6. The results of this investigation were relatively high in compared with the recommended standards of suspended particulate in air of U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and observed levels of Benzo(a)-pyrene in U.S. city.
Air Pollution ; Atmosphere* ; Benzene ; Benzo(a)pyrene* ; Chromatography ; Chromatography, Thin Layer ; Seasons ; Seoul* ; United States Environmental Protection Agency

We must be assured that sympathetic ganglion block interrupts a vicious cycle of nerve impulses. Therefore, it prevents vasospasm and improves local circulation. The sympathetic ganglion block is effective in acute stage of herpes zoster and reduces the incidence of post-herpetic neuralgia. Herpes zoster is more often involved in an immunosuppressive imbalance. Three cases of herpes zoster were treated by repeated sympathetic ganglion block with 1% proved. Duration from onset of pain was 1 week, 1 month and 2 months, respectively. The block decreased the degree of pain markedly and dried up the vesicle in the early stage. Two of these three cases had suffering from diabetes melitus.
Action Potentials ; Ganglia, Sympathetic ; Herpes Zoster* ; Incidence ; Neuralgia

The pancreatic pseudocyst as a sequela of pancreatitis or pancreatic trauma can occur at any site in the abdomen. Its detection seems to be increasing with modern imaging tools such as abdominal ultrasound or abdominal CT scanning. But recently, we experienced a case of a pseudocyst due to a ruptured pancreatic pseudocyst which was misdiagnosed as a simple hepatic cyst by abdominal ultrasonography or abdominal CT scan. A 12-year-old male presented with recurrent epigastric pain during the past 4 years. On the abdominal ultrasound and abdominal CT scan, there was an 8x7.5 cm sized sharply defined thin-walled cyst in the left lobe of the liver. First, percutaneous (cather) drainage guided by ultrasonography was done. An exploratory laparotomy was performed because of signs of hemoperitoneum. A 8x7.5 cm sized cyst was found at the left subhepatic space, which communicated with another smaller cystic lesion in the pancreatic head. Microscopic finding of the cyst showed infiltration of inflammatory cells and granulation tissue without ephithelial lined cells which is compatible to a pseudocyst. So we report this case with a review of literatures.
Abdomen ; Child ; Diagnostic Errors* ; Drainage ; Granulation Tissue ; Head ; Hemoperitoneum ; Humans ; Laparotomy ; Liver ; Male ; Pancreatic Pseudocyst* ; Pancreatitis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Drug Therapy*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Hereditary* ; Siblings*

Hemodialysis requires anticoagulants to prevent fibrin deposition and thrombus formation in the extracorporeal circuit. Unfractionated heparin (UFH) has been used as a conventional anticoagulant for a long time. But recently, many side effects of heparin have been documented: hemorrhage, thrombocytopenia with or without thrombosis, osteoporosis, skin necrosis, alopecia, and hypersensitivity reactions. In the past decade, low molecular weight heparins (LMWH) have been developed. Compared with UFH, these compounds have a longer plasma half life, less variability in the anticoagulant response to fixed doses, and a more favorable antithrombotic to hemorrhagic ratio. Thus, rationales for using LMWH as an alternative to UFH would be a reduced risk of bleeding complications and simplified routines for heparinization due to a longer half-life of the anticoagulant activity. To evaluate the dfficacy and safety of LMWH as an anticoagulant in hemodialysis treatment, we conducted a prospective crossover study with paired comparison of two different heparins in 18 end-stage renal disease patients undergoing hemodialysis. During the first two months of observation, patients received a single bolus of LMWH (Fragmin(R)) 2,552+/-221 aXa IU/one dialysis session. Then patients were switched to UFH dose regimen comprised of a saline prime, no initial bolus and a continuous infusion of 3,174+/-420 IU/one dialysis session for further two months. All hemodialysis sessions were completed uneventfully. The coagulation values of an anti-factor Xa-specific clotting method (Heptest(R)) from citrated whole blood samples taken 15 minutes after starting hemodialysis were 0.47+/-0.21 U/ml with LMWH and 0.12+/-0.03 U/ml with UFH (p<0.05). The values taken 4hours after starting hemodialysis were 0.24+/-0.10 U/ml with LMWH and 0.22+/-0.04 U/ml with UFH (p>). The prolongation of the Heptest clotting times with LMWH and UFH was 2.86 for LMWH and 2.55 for UFH using the shole blood assay. The mean frequency of clot deposition in dialyzer was similar (1.1 vs 0.87) as well as mean venous compression time at the end of dialysis (5.96 vs 6.23 minutes). The hematologic and biochemical parameters such as hemoglobin, platelet count, triglyceride level, total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol level did not show any differences between the two heparins. We conclude that a single dose of LMWH is effective and safe in repeated use for hemodialysis and prevents clot formation to a similar degree as UFH.
Alopecia ; Anticoagulants ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Over Studies ; Dialysis ; Fibrin ; Half-Life ; Hemorrhage ; Heparin* ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight* ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Matched-Pair Analysis ; Necrosis ; Osteoporosis ; Plasma ; Platelet Count ; Prospective Studies ; Renal Dialysis* ; Skin ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombosis ; Triglycerides

No abstract available.
Amyloidosis*

PURPOSE: Renal scar or reflux nephropathy, known as a major cause of end-stage renal failure and hypertension in children and young adults, is frequently detected in pediatric urinary tract infection(UTI) patients at their first infections. So early and accurate diagnosis, and follow up of renal scar are very important. We performed this study to recognize the importance of radiologic examinations for detection of renal scar and vesicoureteral reflux(VUR) in pediatric UTI patients at their first attacks, and to compare the accuracy and usefulness of DMSA renal scan with renal ultrasonography and IVP in early detection and follow up of renal scar. We also wanted to find the association of renal scar with VUR detected by VCUG, and increased C-reactive protein(CRP) level. METHODS: We studied on 41 pediatric UTI patients without past medical history of UTI, who were admitted to the Department of Pediatics, Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from May 1993 to August 1995. On admission a blood sample was taken for the determination of CRP. Renal ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan were performed within five days after admission. Eight weeks later, with repeated studies of renal ultrasonography and DMSA renal scan, IVP and VCUG were also performed for all patients. RESULTS: 1) The incidence of UTI was most prevalent in infancy grou(56%). The ratio of male to female patients was 4.8:1 under the age of one year, and 1:2 over the age of one year. 2) At admission, 21 of 41 patients(51%) showed renal scars in the DMSA renal scans. At follow up of DMSA renal scans, 8 weaks later, 7 of 21 initially abnormal cases(33%) became normal while 14 cases(67%) continued to show renal scars. Twenty initially normal cases continued to show normal DMSA renal scans at follow up. 3) Renal ultrasonography showed 10 abnormal cases among 41 cases(24%) at admission, and 7 abnormal cases(17%) at follow up. IVP showed 13 abnormal cases among 41 cases(32%). 4) For detection of renal scar, sensitivity and specificity of DMSA renal scan were 95% and 100%, sensitivity and specificity of renal ultrasonography were 45% and 90%, and sensitivity and specificity of IVP were 59% and 100% retrospectively. 5) VCUG showed reflux in 13 patients among 41 patients(32%). Among 20 patients with normal DMSA renal scan, only two patients(10%) showed VUR in VCUG, and they were classified as grade I and II VUR by International Reflux Study Committee classifications. Among 21 patients with abnormal by DMSA renal scan, 11 patients(52%) showed VUR in VCUG, of whom 9 patients were classified as severe reflux above grade III. 6) The mean CRP level in the patients with normal DMSA renal scan was 9.6mg/L, significantly lower than mean CRP level of patients with abnormal DMSA renal scan which was 60.57mg/L(p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: For early detection of renal scars and reflux nephropathy, appropriate radiologic investigations including DMSA renal scan and VCUG should be done to all pediatric UTI patients at their first attacks. DMSA renal scan seemed to be better radiologic method than renal ultrasonography and IVP in early detection of renal scar and have association with VUR. We also found that blood CRP level is easy and useful test for early suspection of upper UTI.
C-Reactive Protein* ; Child ; Cicatrix ; Classification ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Succimer* ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Tract Infections* ; Urinary Tract* ; Young Adult