No abstract available.
Adult* ; Humans ; Risk Factors*

BACKGROUND: Primary hyperhidrosis is the disease of production of exessive sweat which is mainly localized in palm, sole, and axilla, treatment of the disease is usually accomplished with topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, an iontophoretic device, and surgery(sympathectomy) being reserved for recalcitrant cases. OBJECTIVE: We have compared the therapeutic effects with each treatments for hyperhidrosis using a skin surface hydrometer. METHODS: Thirty six patients(11 ; male, 25 ; femlale) with primary hyperhidrosis were evaluated in this study. Nineteen patients used topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, 10 patients used iontophoretic device, and 7 patients in recalcitrant cases. had sympathectomy. We have measured the conductance on the stratum corneum of the palm and sole suing skin surface hydrometer before and after treatment every weeks for a month. the control group were composed of healthy 10 males and 2 females. RESULTS: 1) In the patients of primary hyperhidroisis the conductances of palm, sloe and axilla were higher than that of control group(P<0.01). 2. There was a marked reduction of conductance after the treatment for one week by topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, an lontophoretic device, and sympathectomy(P<0.01). 3. After 2-4 week of treatment by the change obsetved after treatment for one week. 4. By iontophoretic device, there was a slight increasement of conductance of the palm after 2-3weeks of treatment. 5. We obseved a sustained decrease in the conductance by sympathectomy into 4 week. CONCLUSION: Topical 20% aluminum chloride solution, iontophoretic device, and sympathectomy were effective for treatment of hyperhirosis. Among hem sympathectomy showed the best effect. We observed that the skin surface hydrometer is useful to evaluate of the efficacy of the treatment.
Aluminum ; Axilla ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Male ; Skin* ; Sweat ; Sympathectomy

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia and purpura have boon developed by many various agents. Rifampin and Pyrazinamide have been known as bactericidal antituberculous drugs, but, the above side effects have been a problem. Especially, hematologic side effects art fatal to patients occasionally. Rifampin-induced thrombocytopenia and purpura have been well known, also, pyrazinamide-induced thrombocytopenia have been reported. A new quilonone agent Ciprofloxacin, has been commonly used in clinics now, but it's side effects are not known well. So, we report a case of a 23-year-old female with thrombocytopenia and purpura after taking Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, and Ciprofloxacin as antituberculous agents.
Ciprofloxacin* ; Female ; Humans ; Purpura* ; Pyrazinamide* ; Rifampin ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: To identify relationship of behavioral problems, parenting practice and school life in children with atopic dermatitis. METHODS: The participants were parents of 102 school-aged children with atopic dermatitis. The instruments used were a self-reported questionnaire on K-CBCL, Childrearing Behavior Questionnaire, and measurements of relationship with friends and teachers. Descriptive, Pearson correlation and multiple regression analyses were performed. RESULTS: There was no statistically significant relationship between behavior problems for gender, age, parent's age, parent's educational level, family structure, academic achievement, and duration and severity of illness. There were significant differences in internalizing (F=3.471, P<0.05) and externalizing problems (F=3.227, P<0.05) according to economic status. In bivariate analysis, rejection-nonintervention maternal parenting practice (r=0.293, P<0.05), the relationship with friends (r=-0.297, P<0.05) and the relationship with teachers (r=-0.252, P<0.05) were significantly correlated with internalizing problems and rejection-nonintervention maternal parenting practice (r=0.257, P<0.05), rejection-nonintervention paternal parenting practice (r=0.274, P< 0.05), the relationship with friends (r=-0.275, P<0.05) and the relationship with teachers (r= -0.263, P<0.05) were significantly correlated with externalizing problems. However, the results of multiple regression analysis showed that only the relationship with friends (beta=-1.412, P<0.05) was significantly associated with internalizing problems and rejection-nonintervention maternal parenting practice (beta=-0.458, P<0.05), the relationship with friends (beta=0.402, P<0.05) were significantly associated with externalizing problems. CONCLUSION: School-aged children with atopic dermatitis who reported lower socioeconomic status, reported higher rejection-nonintervention parenting practice and had a poor relationship with friends and teachers showed higher internalizing and externalizing problems. A comprehensive intervention program for children with atopic dermatitis is recommended to promote the development of positive relationships with parents, friend and teachers.
Achievement ; Child ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Friends ; Humans ; Parenting ; Parents ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Social Class

BACKGROUND: Recently in Korea, the rate of addictive drug abuse is rapidly increasing in men on salary, housewives, and even in adolescents, who have been considered to be free from drugs, which presents a serious problem to the society. Especially, the habituation to gateway drug, such as cigarettes and alcohol, before 15 years old, would lead to the increased possibility of other drug abuse, including illicit drugs. Thereupon in this study, we intended toreview the effect of adolescents smoking an the drug abuse and deviated behaviors. METHODS: On September, 1997, randomly selected were 12 classes, an the basis of 2 classes per grade, from the two schools which was located each in Seoul and Buchean. And survey was dane on 610 students with non non-nominl, self-reported questionnaire. RESULTS: The rate of adolescent smoking was 28.1% in male students and had increasing tendency of "the higher the grades, the higher the smoking rate"(17.0% in the 1st gade, 31.5% in the 2nd grade, 35.9% in the 3rd grade). The smoking rate of female students was 12.3%. From the 2nd grade of middle school to the 2nd grade of high school was the critical period when the smoking habit was initiated in almost 90% of the students. The experiencing rates of drug abuse in studied subjects were as follows : drinking(79.0%), stimulants(4.8%), sedatives(4.1%), hypnotics(3.1%), glue sniffing(1.5%), butane gas(0.7%), marijuana/hemp(0.2%). They were higher in the smoking group than in the nansMoking group, showing statistical significances in most items except hypnotics and marijuana/hemp. Also simihr results were shown in deviated behaviors between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: With the concerted efforts of family, school, society and natian, we as family physicians should make efforts to delay and prevent adolescent's smoking, which is a gateway to drug abuse and deviated behaviors, and to increase people's recognition of health risks caused by smoking, and to provide proper program for adolescents to stop smoking.
Adhesives ; Adolescent ; Critical Period (Psychology) ; Female ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Korea ; Male ; Physicians, Family ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits ; Seoul ; Smoke* ; Smoking* ; Street Drugs ; Substance-Related Disorders* ; Tobacco Products ; Surveys and Questionnaires

PURPOSE: The authors investigated the process of endochondral ossification quantitatively and objectively in respect to proliferation and apoptosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fractures were made on the left tibiae of 72 male Sprague-Dawley rats. The fracture callus was harvested at the 5th, 7th, 9th, 11th, 14th, and the 21st day after fracture. Cellular DNA content was analyzed with image cytometry, and proliferative index was determined from the data. The Ki-67 antigen expression was semiquantitatively measured by the immunohisto-chemical method. TUNEL was used for in situ localization of apoptotic cells. The expression of cell cycle inhibitors, P21 and P27, was investigated with Northern blotting. RESULTS: The proliferation index was highest on the 5th day, then gradually decreased until the 11th day. The expression of Ki-67 antigen gradually decreased with time. Apoptotic cells increased in accordance with enhanced bone formation within chondroid callus. The expression of p21 and p27 was highest on the 11th and the 14th day. CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that proliferative activity decreased with the reduction of mesenchymal tissue and the appearance of mature chondroid tissue. The apoptosis of hypertrophic chondrocytes occurred in accordance with enhanced bone formation. P21 and P27 had a certain role in the differentiation of chondrocytes.
Apoptosis* ; Blotting, Northern ; Bony Callus ; Cell Cycle ; Cell Proliferation* ; Chondrocytes ; DNA ; Fracture Healing* ; Humans ; Image Cytometry ; In Situ Nick-End Labeling ; Ki-67 Antigen ; Male ; Osteogenesis ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Tibia

BACKGROUND: The pathological significance of adolescent obesity is increasing, as research results indicate that about 80 percent of obese teenager becomes obese as adults. However, most studies on obesity have been mainly centered on the biomolecular aspect of obesity, thereby offering little solution to the clinical application and the promotion of overall health for people. This study investigates into the psychological factors of adolescent obesity, mainly that relating to stress. METHODS: After having chosen 14 third year classes from two middle schools, one from the Kang nam and the other from the Kang puk region of Seoul, I have distributed questionnaires to the total of 501 students. For calculating the degree of stress among the students, I have employed the BEPSI (Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument) K, transforming each 5 positive questions into 1 point, which were summed up and divided by 5 (the BEPSI K score). RESULTS: Controlling the confounding factor, the regression coefficient regarding the Body Mass Index of the BEPSI K score was 0.661, t as 3.122, and R Square as 0.05, indicating the statistical relevance of the two factors. A multiple linear regression analysis of theses data yielded the following equation: Body Mass Index=15.6+0.661 x BEPSI K score(R2=0.05) Although the R Squre, as 0.05, was relatively low, this statistical result proves that the rise in stress contributes to the increase of Body Mass Index, thereby indicating that stress functions as an important factor for adolescent obesity. CONCLUSION: For remedying and preventing adolescent obesity, one must make use of the BEPSI K examination and calculate the degree of stress among the adolescent. This study further implies that the best solution to the problems of obesity among adolescent is for the family members, the educational institutions, and the society as a whole to understand and to help the adolescent overcome frequent mental stress resulting from their daily living.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Body Mass Index* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity ; Psychology ; Seoul ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Aorta, Thoracic*

BACKGROUND: This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of plasma concentration of vitamin C is on the plasma total antioxidant status(TAS) in patients with paraquat intoxication. METHODS: As a preliminary research for this study, we measured plasma vitamin C levels, uric acid, TAS, and bilirubin from 100 healthy Koreans aged between 25-55 years. Various concentrations of vitamin C were constructed in vitro with normal pooled plasma between 1mg/dl and 100 mg/dL and TAS was measured. Both vitamin C concentrations and TAS were measured from the blood samples, taken at 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 9 hours after a bolus injection of vitamin C(50 mg/kg) from 7 volunteers who had been recruited from medical students at our hospital. Various amounts of vitamin C were given to 10 patients with paraquat intoxication for 5 consecutive days in the morning : first day ; 100 mg single dose, second day; 500 mg single dose, third day ; 1,000 mg single dose, fourth day : 3,000 mg single dose, and fifth day ; 3,000 mg three times every 8 hours. RESULTS: The mean value of TAS and vitamin C measured in 100 healthy Korean adults was 2.22 +/-0.16 mmol/L and 0.48+/-0.10 mg/dL. Age and sex do not influence these levels(p> 0.05, data are not presented). A direct correlation was observed between TAS and vitamin C concentrations of 1 mg/dL and 100 mg/dL both in vivo and vitro. As the vitamin C concentration was increased gradually 5 consecutive days, the TAS values increased in the same way as follows : first day(vitamin C 100 mg) 2.26+/-0.98 mmol/L, second day(vitamin C 500 mg) 2.76+/-0.78 mmol/L, third day(vitamin C 1.000 mg) 2.81+/-0.68 mmol/L, fourth day(vitamin C 3.000 mg) 3.18 mmol/L. On the fifth day when 3.000 mg of vitamin C was given by bolus intravenous injection 3 times(every 8 hours for a day), the TAS values measured one hour after the injection was 3.58+/-0.37 mmol/L. CONCLUSION: When vitamin C is used as a free radical scavenger, the loading dose and maintenance dose should be around 2278 mg intravenous bolus and 146 mg/hour. High doses of vitamin C are effective and safe for patients with acute paraquat intoxication.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid* ; Bilirubin ; Free Radical Scavengers ; Humans ; Injections, Intravenous ; Paraquat* ; Plasma* ; Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Students, Medical ; Uric Acid ; Vitamins* ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Electrical dyssynchronicity (Dsyn) appears to be prognostic of survival in congestive heart failure (CHF). Recent study has shown some discrepancy between the electrical Dsyn and the Doppler tissue image (DTI) assessed mechanical Dsyn. The aim of our study was to evaluate the relationship between the QRS duration and DTI assessed Dsyn. SUBJCETS AND METHODS: One hundred and forty patients, with CHF and left ventricular ejection fractions < or =40%, were enrolled. DTI was performed on 5-basal and 5-mid segments to assess the time from the R-wave to the peak systolic velocity (RS time). A QRS duration >130 msec, standard deviation (SD) of the RS time >40 msec, or a difference in the maximal and minimal RS times (RS time-diff) >100 msec were indicators of'Dsyn'. RESULTS: The prevalence of myocardial Dsyn, by QRS duration, SD of the RS time and the RS time-diff were 19, 43 and 47%, respectively. The SD of the RS time (49.8+/-23.6 vs. 36.6+/-20.7, p<0.01) and the RS time-diff (139.2+/-63.2 vs. 98.0+/-54.3, p<0.01) were prolonged in the wide (>130 msec) compared with the narrow QRS group. There was also a weak positive correlation between the QRS duration and the SD of the RS time (R=0.34, p<0.001) and the RS time-diff (R=0.38, p<0.001). However, from a cross-tabulation analysis, more than one third of patients had a discrepancy between QRS duration and DTI assessed mechanical Dsyn. From a multivariate analysis, a major determinant of the SD of the RS time was the QRS duration. CONCLUSION: Although a major determinant of the DTI assessed Dsyn was the QRS duration, more than one-third of patients had a discrepancy between electrical and mechanical Dsyn. Therefore, not only the QRS duration, but the DTI assessed Dsyn, should be measured when considering cardiac resynchronization therapy.
Cardiac Resynchronization Therapy ; Diagnosis* ; Electrocardiography* ; Estrogens, Conjugated (USP)* ; Heart Failure* ; Humans ; Multivariate Analysis ; Prevalence ; Stroke Volume