With the interest on facts and figures relative to heterophoria in symptom-free individuals, a study was performed on 100 healthy Korean adults between the age of 20-42 years. The group studied was a selected group in the sense, and none of the subjects was found to have high refractive errors. They were medical doctors and nurses, that would give very correct answers for each tests. The entire group was tested with Maddox-rod, Maddox-wing and synoptophore after full correction of refractive error. The figures depended upon the sensitivity of the tests used. Of the 100 tested with Maddox-rod and synoptophore 92% (range-7 delta ~ +12 delta) and 94% (-8 delta ~ +12 delta), for far point had hoirzontal heterophoria respectively. It showed no significant difference. On the other hand, Maddox-wing test for near point showed increased percentage of orthophoria (13%), but a tendecy toward exophoria ranging between -12 delta ~ +5 delta. The incidence of hyperphoria was certainly high. Of 100 cases tested, showed hyperphoria 26% with Maddox-rod test and 28% with synoptophore. It was interesting that 23 of 100 subjects had a cyclophoria without correction with cylinder. After wearing of the corneal contact lens to abolish corneal astigmatism, cyclophoria in 4 cases was disappeared. It can be explained by the fast that these 4 had pure optical cyclophoria. The role of cyclophoria in producing symtom could be detected by thorough history taking. 9 of the subjects with cyclophoria complained of asthenopic trouble after prolonged reading. The cyclophoria test is considered to be valuable for the patient who complains of unexplainab Ie eye strain and headache. If previous examinations did not take the cyclophoria into account and if the patient given several pairs of different glasses did not show any relief, the cyclophoria test is especially advisable.
Adult* ; Astigmatism ; Exotropia ; Eyeglasses ; Glass ; Hand ; Headache ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ocular Motility Disorders ; Refractive Errors

Authors repGrted one case of malignant melanoma which is located in the conjunctiva of the left eye This male patient, aged 45, has been a history of progressive enlargement of this melanoma since over ten years. At the time of first visit to the hospital, this melanoma revealed dark brownish strawbery-like pedunclated mass in his medial bulbar conjunctiva, and extended to fornix, palpebral conjunctiva, and lidmargin. Subtotal exenteration, BCG therapy, and X-ray radiation was performed successfully and was conformed histopathologically. In addition to some clinical observation, a brief review of literature has been described.
Conjunctiva* ; Humans ; Male ; Melanoma* ; Mycobacterium bovis

OBJECTIVE: Our aim was to establish a multi-center birth defects monitoring system for evaluating the prevalence and serial occurrence of birth defects in Korea. METHODS: Seven centers participated in this monitoring system. Trained nurses actively collected the 42,015 delivery records obtained from delivery units and pediatric clinics in the participating hospitals every month. RESULTS: We observed 722 birth defects among 42,015 births including live births and stillbirths. The prevalence of birth defect was 1.7%. About one thirds of birth defects were terminated. The most frequent congenital anomalies were cleft lip and Down syndrome. The highest proportion of birth defects was 20.1% in urogenital system. The proportion of birth defects in cardiovascular system and gastrointestinal system were 17.1% and 14.1% respectively. Chromosomal anomalies and genetic syndromes represent 13.4% and 3.3% among birth defects respectively. Among chromosomal anomalies Down syndrome was at the first rank. CONCLUSION: We could establish multi-center active monitoring system for birth defects successfully. To check serial occurrence of birth defects, it is necessary to increase participating hospitals and to launch the nationwide multi-center study.
Cardiovascular System ; Cleft Lip ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Down Syndrome ; Korea* ; Live Birth ; Parturition* ; Prevalence ; Stillbirth ; Urogenital System

BACKGROUND: HLA antibodies have been shown to be associated with graft loss of organ transplants in prior studies. This study was designed to analyze the results of ELISA- panel reactive antibody (ELISA-PRA) in kidney transplant patients and the impact of this test on the clinical outcome. METHODS: We have investigated ELISA-PRA results from 110 living donor renal transplant patients from Nov. 2001 to Apr. 2004. RESULTS: ELISA-PRA positivity was found in 22 (20%) patients and was higher in the female patients than male (P<0.05). Pretransplant transfusion, pregnancy or transplantation history was not significantly correlated with ELISA- PRA result. ELISA-PRA (+)patients had more rejection episodes of 41% (n=9) (P=0.0005) and graft failures of 18% (n=4) (P=0.028) than ELISA-PRA (-), which had 8% (n=7) and 3% (n=3), respectively. Patients group with a result of ELISA-PRA/flowcytometric crossmatch (FCXM) (+/ -) or (+ / +) had worse clinical outcome than ELISA- PRA/FCXM ( -/- ). ELISA-PRA/FCXM (+ /+ ) correlated with higher incidence of allograft rejection than ELIS- PRA/FCXM (+ /- ) or ( -/+ ). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that in conjunction with FCXM results, pretransplant ELISA-PRA test is useful predictor of clinical outcome in renal transplant recipients.
Allografts ; Antibodies ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney* ; Living Donors ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Transplantation ; Transplants

Background: This study focuses on assessing occupational risk for the health hazards encountered during maintenance works (MW) in semiconductor fabrication (FAB) facilities. Objectives: The objectives of this study include: 1) identifying the primary health hazards during MW in semiconductor FAB facilities; 2) reviewing the methods used in evaluating the likelihood and severity of health hazards through occupational health risk assessment (OHRA); and 3) suggesting variables for the categorization of likelihood of exposures to health hazards and the severity of health effects associated with MW in FAB facilities. Methods: A literature review was undertaken on OHRA methodology and health hazards resulting from MW in FAB facilities. Based on this review, approaches for categorizing the exposure to health hazards and the severity of health effects related to MW were recommended. Results: Maintenance workers in FAB facilities face exposure to hazards such as debris, machinery entanglement, and airborne particles laden with various chemical components. The level of engineering and administrative control measures is suggested to assess the likelihood of simultaneous chemical and dust exposure. Qualitative key factors for mixed exposure estimation during MW include the presence of safe operational protocols, the use of air-jet machines, the presence and effectiveness of local exhaust ventilation system, chamber post-purge and cooling, and proper respirator use. Using the risk (R) and hazard (H) codes of the Globally Harmonized System alongside carcinogenic, mutagenic, or reprotoxic classifications aid in categorizing health effect severity for OHRA. Conclusion Further research is needed to apply our proposed variables in OHRA for MW in FAB facilities and subsequently validate the findings.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether administrating insulin four times daily, compared to 1-3 times daily, improves maternal and perinatal outcomes of diabetes. METHODS: From August 1998 to April 2004, the 14 pregnant diabetic women were treated with four times daily administration of NPH and insulin-lispro and 15 pregnant diabetic women were treated with 1-3 times daily administration of Mixtard (30% RI, 70% NPH) or NPH. We compared the maternal and fetal complications between two groups. The goals for therapy are to achieve and maintain normoglycemia (premeal whole blood capillary glucose levels of less than 90 mg/dL and 1-hour after-meal levels of less than 120 mg/dL). RESULTS: The pregnant diabetic women who were treated with four times daily administration of NPH and Insulin lispro, instead of 1-3 times daily administration of Mixtard or NPH, resulted in better maternal and fetal outcome. But there was no significant difference between two groups statistically. CONCLUSION: This study reveals that this four times daily administration of NPH and insulin-lispro protocol achieved the glucose target level without maternal hypoglycemic events and helped to reduce the perinatal complications in pregnant diabetic women.
Capillaries ; Female ; Glucose ; Humans ; Insulin Lispro ; Insulin* ; Pregnancy*

Survivin, a member of the inhibitors of apoptosis protein family, is expressed during development and in various human cancers. However, the clinical relevance of survivin in cancer is still a matter of debate. Genes induced by hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) were screened using cDNA microarray technology in the stomach cancer cell lines, NUGC3 and MKN28. The levels of JunB, survivin, and uro-plasminogen activator (uPA) were up-regulated in cells treated with HGF in a dose-dependent manner. HGF-induced up regulation of JunB, survivin, and uPA was inhibited by pre-treatment with a MEK inhibitor (PD 98059). HGF-induced up-regulation of uPA was repressed by survivin knockdown. HGF enhanced the binding activity of JunB to the survivin promoter in control cells, but not in the JunB-shRNA cells. Transfection with survivin-shRNA resulted in a decrement of cell proliferation, as determined with MTT assays. In an in vitro invasion assay, significantly fewer cells transfected with survivin shRNA than control cells were able to invade across a Matrigel membrane barrier. In conclusion, survivin appeared to play an important role in the up-regulation of uPA induced by HGF via JunB and might contribute to HGF-mediated tumor invasion and metastasis, which may serve as a promising target for gastric cancer therapy.
Apoptosis ; Cell Hypoxia ; Cell Line, Tumor ; *Cytoprotection ; Glutathione Peroxidase/metabolism ; Herbicides/*toxicity ; Humans ; L-Lactate Dehydrogenase/metabolism ; Lung/*cytology/*drug effects/metabolism ; Malondialdehyde/metabolism ; Oxidative Stress ; Paraquat/*toxicity ; Reactive Oxygen Species/*metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase/metabolism

PURPOSE: Children with sensitization to aeroallergens have decreased lung function and nasal patency. Our purpose was to determine the association of sensitization to different aeroallergens with airway function and nasal patency. METHODS: Four hundred and eighty-six randomly selected 11 year-old children who lived in Seongnam City were examined. Serum specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) levels against 6 common allergens (Dermatophagoidesfarinae, birch, cat, dog, Japanese hop and Alternaria), impulse oscillometry (IOS) results for the evaluation of airway dysfunction, and acoustic rhinometry for the determination of nasal airway patency were obtained. RESULTS: IOS indicated that children sensitized to Alternaria (n = 38, 7.8%) and dog dander (n = 69, 14.2%) had decreased lung function, based on resistance at 10 Hz (Rrs10; aβ = 0.0072; 95% CI, 0.017, 0.127; P = 0.010) and 1 Hz (Rrs1; aβ = 0.038; 95% CI, 0.001, 0.074; P = 0.042). Children sensitized to D. farinae (n = 281, 57.8%) had decreased post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.605; 95% CI, −1.005, −0.205; P = 0.003), but normal IOS results at all measured frequencies (P > 0.05). Increased serum eosinophil level was associated with Rrs1 (P = 0.007) and Rrs2 (P = 0.018) and post-decongestant nasal volume at 0 to 5 cm (aβ = −0.885; 95% CI, −1.331, −0.439; P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Sensitivity to specific aeroallergens, serum eosinophil count and total IgE level had different associations with upper and lower airway dysfunction in urban children.
Allergens ; Alternaria ; Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Betula ; Cats ; Child ; Dander ; Dogs ; Eosinophils ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulins ; Jupiter ; Lung ; Oscillometry ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Rhinometry, Acoustic

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) has been used for over a century and has been demonstrated to be effective in treating patients with various allergic diseases. AIT allergens can be administered through various routes, including subcutaneous, sublingual, intralymphatic, oral, or epicutaneous routes. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) has recently gained clinical interest, and it is considered an alternative treatment for allergic rhinitis (AR) and asthma. This review provides an overview of the current evidence-based studies that address the use of SLIT for treating AR, including (1) mechanisms of action, (2) appropriate patient selection for SLIT, (3) the current available SLIT products in Korea, and (4) updated information on its efficacy and safety. Finally, this guideline aims to provide the clinician with practical considerations for SLIT.

Allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is a causative treatment of allergic diseases in which allergen extracts are regularly administered in a gradually escalated doses, leading to immune tolerance and consequent alleviation of allergic diseases. The need for uniform practice guidelines in AIT is continuously growing as the number of potential candidates for AIT increases and new therapeutic approaches are tried. This updated version of the Korean Academy of Asthma Allergy and Clinical Immunology recommendations for AIT, published in 2010, proposes an expert opinion by specialists in allergy, pediatrics, and otorhinolaryngology. This guideline deals with the basic knowledge of AIT, including mechanisms, clinical efficacy, allergen standardization, important allergens in Korea, and special consideration in pediatrics. The article also covers the methodological aspects of AIT, including patient selection, allergen selection, schedule and doses, follow-up care, efficacy measurements, and management of adverse reactions. Although this guideline suggests the optimal dosing schedule, an individualized approach and modifications are recommended considering the situation for each patient and clinic.