No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery*

This study was conducted to evaluate the health hazards and to develop diagnostic methods of glass fiber workers. We examined 40 male glass fiber workers (exposure group) and 57 male non-glass fiber workers (reference group) with a questionnaire, physical examination, chest x-ray and pathological examination in Mar, 1997. Also we examined 65 male glass fiber workers (exposure group) and 42 male non-glass fiber workers (reference group) with the same methods also we did some energy-dispersive x-ray analyses with a scanning electron microscopic examination in Sep. 1997. Most of the clinical symptoms were significantly more frequent among the exposure group than the reference group. Coughing (32.5%), itching of the nose (30.0%), irritation of eyes (27.5%), irritation of the nose (25.0%) and sputum (22.5%) were the major symptoms among the exposure group in Mar. 1997. Only itching of the nose was significantly more frequent in Sep. 1997. No cases of pneumoconiosis were observed among the groups and there were no differences in chest abnormalities between the exposure group with the reference group on both examinations. The prevalence of dermatosis among the exposure group was 20.0% (8 cases) and the cumulative prevalence was 72.5% (29 cases) in Mar. 1997. The prevalence of dermatosis among the exposure group was 23.1% (15 cases) and the cumulative prevalence was 58.5% (38 cases) in Sep. 1997. Onset of dermatosis among the exposure group was most frequent within one month after handling. The frequent sites of skin lesions were the hands and arms on both examinations. Glass fiber induced skin lesions can be diagnosed by the scotch tape method or KOH mount and then can be examined under the light, polarizing and phase-contrast microcopies. Glass fibers can be identified by some energy-dispersive x-ray analyses with a scanning electron microscopic examination.
Arm ; Cough ; Glass* ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Nose ; Physical Examination ; Pneumoconiosis ; Prevalence ; Pruritus ; Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases ; Sputum ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to find out the effect of ApoE genotype on correlation between head circumference and cognition of the elderly in the community. METHODS: A total of 1,152 subjects (380 men and 772 women) aged 60-91 years were analyzed from preliminary data of GDEMCIS (Gwangju Dementia and MCI Study). The study questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, current and past illness history, drug history and K-MMSE (Korean version-Mini Mental State Examination). We also measured the head circumference and examined ApoE genotype. RESULTS: On regression analysis, as head circumference becomes smaller, K-MMSE scores decreased adjusted by age, sex, educational level, ApoE epsilon4 allele, current smoking and alcohol drinking status (beta=0.15, p=0.04). Only in the lowest quartile group, presence of ApoE epsilon4 allele reduced K-MMSE scores adjusted by age, sex, educational level, height, current alcohol drinking and smoking status (beta=-1.39, p=0.008). CONCLUSION: These results suggest that head circumference may have an influence on K-MMSE scores, and presence of ApoE epsilon4 allele may be a medicating factor.
Aged* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Alleles ; Apolipoproteins E* ; Cognition* ; Cognitive Reserve ; Dementia ; Genotype* ; Head* ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: To compare functional MR imaging of the motor cortex during active and passive movement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seven healthy, right-handed volunteers (M:F=6:1; age:25-30 years) were included in this study. A 1.5-T whole body scanner and the multislice EPI BOLD method were used. The motor paradigm was flexion-extension of a thumb against rest. In the active motion task, the thumb was flexed voluntarily once a second, while in the passive task, it was tied with a thread and pulled to flex and extend passively at the same interval and with the same intensity as in the active task. For image postprocessing, an SPM 96 program was used. The sites, numbers, and signal intensity of the activated pixels were determined, and the threshold for significance was set at p<0.001 to p<0.01. RESULTS: In the active motion task, strong activation at the contralateral side of the primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor cortex occurred in all 14 examples in all seven volunteers. Additionally, the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area were activated in 12/14 and 11/14 such tasks, respectively. During passive motion tasks, on the other hand, weak activation occurred at the contralateral side of the primary sensorimotor cortex in all cases, but in the contralateral supplementary motor cortex in only three. In the ipsilateral primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary motor area, there was no activation. CONCLUSION: Compared with the active motion task, activation occurring in the contralateral primary sensorimotor cortex and supplementary cortex was weaker and less frequent during the passive task, and during this latter, the ipsilateral motor cortex remained inactive. These results may be useful for the clinical application of functional MR imaging in unconscious patients or in animal studies.
Animals ; Hand ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Motor Cortex* ; Thumb ; Volunteers

Anterior basal meningiomas, which belong the olfactory groove and suprasellar meningioma account for 12 to 22% of all intracranial meningioma. Anterior cranial base meningioma are difficult to operate on because of their proximity to the important neurovascular structure. The authors report 25 cases of large meningiomas of the anterior. cranial base operated on during recent 5-year period. The tumor ranged from 3cm to 6.5cm in diameter. Fifteen tumors were located in the suprasellae(included tuberculum sellae, planum sphenoidale, diaphragma sellae,and anterior clinoid process), ten on olfactory groove. The mean age of 19 female and 6 male patient was 55years. The main clinical symptom were visual disturbance, anosmia, headache, and psychotic syndrome. Tumors were approached in 11 cases by pterional, in 9 cases by bifrontal, in 3 cases by transbasal, in 2 case by orbitozygomatic infratemporal and in 1 case by combined approach with tranabasal and orbitozygomatic infratemporal. Total tumor removal was performed in 80% of cases. Postoperative complication include accentuated psychotic syndrome in two cases, worsening of visual function in two, major vessel injury in one, infection in one, CSF rhinorrhea in one, and oculomotor palse in one. Postoperative death was in four(16%). Results at follow up of the 21 survivours were good in 17(68%), fair in 4(16%). Selection criteria for operative approach is discussed with review of pertinent literature.
Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Meningioma* ; Olfaction Disorders ; Patient Selection ; Postoperative Complications ; Skull Base ; Temazepam

No abstract available.
Neurilemmoma*

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of bronchial and intercostal arterial embolization using a glue-lipiodol mixture in patients with hemoptysis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between October 1997 and June 1999, 24 patients underwent 30 sessions of bronchial and intercostal arterial embolization using a glue-lipiodol mixture. The cause of hemoptysis was tuberculosis (n=11), bronchiectasis (n=9) or aspergilloma (n=4). Particular attention was paid to the source of bleeding, type and rate of complication and rate of recurrence, and the cause of recurrence and the duration of the asymptomatic period after bronchial and intercostal arterial embolization in patients with recurrent hemoptysis were also analysed. In addition, the asymptomatic period after bronchial and intercostal arterial emboilzation was classified as 24 hours or less, 7 days or less, or 6months or less. RESULTS: In all 24 cases, hemoptysis ceased immediately after bronchial and intercostal arterial embolization. In 18 cases, the focus of bleeding was a bronchial artery arising from the aorta, and in three of these cases there was also intercostal artery bleeding. In the remaining cases, the focus of bleeding was the right bronchial artery arising from the bronchointercostal trunk (n=5), or the intercostal artery only (n=1). During six of 24 sessions (25%) hemoptysis recurred within six months, but there was no recurrence within 24 hours or 7 days. The causes of recurrence were bleeding from systemic collaterals (n=5) and from another nonembolized bronchial artery (n=1). Retrosternal burning sensation (n=13; 43%) and shoulder pain (n=2; 7%) were detected but no complications critical. CONCLUSION: Because it involves non-recanalization of embolized vessels, bronchial and intereostol arterial embolization with a glue-lipiodol mixture can effectively control hemoptysis.
Aorta ; Arteries ; Bronchial Arteries ; Bronchiectasis ; Burns ; Hemoptysis* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Sensation ; Shoulder Pain ; Tuberculosis

OBJECTIVE: Spontaneous intracranial hemorrhage is still common cause of death in the hematologic disorder including leukemia. The authors examine laboratory & radiological findings in patients with intracranial hemorrhage caused by hematologic disorder. METHODS: From March 1998 to May 2002, 42 patients with hematologic disease complicated by intracranial hemorrhage were transferred from hematology department. The patients were normotensive and had not trauma history. In all patients, intracranial hemorrhages were diagnosed with the brain computerized tomography. Surgical treatment was performed in one case. RESULTS: Underlying hematologic disorders included aplastic anemia (4), acute myeloblastic leukemia (20), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (6), chronic myeloblastic leukemia (8), myelodysplastic syndrome (2), multiple myeloma (1), and polycythemia vera (1). Intracranial hemorrhage subtypes consisted of intracerebral hemorrhage (39) including mainly subcortical lobar hemorrhage (28), and subarachnoid hemorrhage (3). Twenty (48%) of the 42 patients had multifocal hematomas. Thirty six patients (86%) had moderate and severe thrombocytopenia (less than 100x10(9)/L). Twenty four patients (57%) had moderate and severe leukocytosis (greater than 20x109/L). CONCLUSION: It showed that (1) the risk factors of intracranial hemorrhage in hematologic disorders are thrombocytopenia, leukocytosis and disseminated intravascular coagulopathy ; (2) intracerebral hemorrhage in hematologic disorders occur preferentially in the subcortical portion ; (3) intracranial hemorrhage in hematologic disorders consist of various combinations of subcortical lobar hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, subdural hemorrhage and intraventricular hemorrhage ; (4) intracerebral hemorrhage in hematologic disorders tend to be multiple.
Anemia, Aplastic ; Brain ; Cause of Death ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Granulocyte Precursor Cells ; Hematologic Diseases ; Hematology ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Subdural ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Leukemia ; Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute ; Leukocytosis ; Multiple Myeloma ; Myelodysplastic Syndromes ; Polycythemia Vera ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; Risk Factors ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage ; Thrombocytopenia

We present 15 patients with progressive neurological deterioration while on medical treatment for massive cerebral or cerebellar edema due to large cerebral or cerebellar infarction. Clinical signs of uncal herniation were present in 10 of these patients. Remaining five patients showed progressive neurological deterioration accompanied with impending herniation. Brain CT confirmed mass effect from cerebral or cerebellar edema in all cases. All 15 patients were treated with decompressive craniectomy, duroplasty and/or ventriculostomy. Nine patients showed good results and six patients had poor results. As compared with poor result group, good result group had high score of Glass Gow Coma Scale(GCS) on admission(12.8 vs. 8.3 on average) and time from worsening to operation is shorter(8.8 vs. 21.3hrs on average). Infarction was all on right side and hearniation sign just before operation appeared infrequently in good result group. These results suggest that decompressive surgery can be effective life saving procedure for massive cerebral edema after large brain infarction, especially in cases with right side lesion, high GCS score on admission, and pertinent timing of operation(before occurrance of irreversible brain stem damage due to herniation).
Brain Edema ; Brain Infarction* ; Brain Stem ; Brain* ; Coma ; Decompression, Surgical* ; Decompressive Craniectomy ; Edema ; Glass ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ventriculostomy

BACKGROUND: Remnant lipoproteins are the lipolytic degradation product of the triglyceride-rich lipoproteins produced by the liver (very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol) and intestine (chylomicrons). Recent studies have demonstrated a correlation between remnant lipoproteins and cardiovascular risk. Our study assessed the relationship between obesity and remnant lipoproteins and evaluated the factors related to remnant lipoprotein in children and adolescents. METHODS: Body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, body fat mass, total abdominal fat, visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), LDL cholesterol (LDL-C), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) and remnant lipoprotein cholesterol (RLP-C) were measured in 135 children and adolescents (67 boys and 68 girls). Plasma RLP fractions were isolated using an immunoaffinity gel containing specific anti-apoB-100 and anti-apoA-I antibodies. The subjects were divided into three groups: the low (< 50 percentile), mid (50~84 percentile), and high (> or = 85 percentile) BMI groups. RESULTS: RLP-C was significantly correlated with age, sex, BMI, waist circumference, systolic and diastolic blood pressures, visceral and subcutaneous fat areas, visceral fat area to subcutaneous fat area ratio (VSR), total cholesterol, TG, HDL-C, apoB, and HOMA-IR. From a multivariate regression analysis, TG (beta = 0.928, P < 0.001) was found to be independently correlated with RLP-C. After excluding TG as an independent variable, a multivariate regression analysis revealed that the HOMA-IR (beta=0.231, P=0.007) and systolic blood pressure (beta=0.169, P=0.046) were independently associated with RLP-C. CONCLUSION: RLP-C was significantly higher in obese children and adolescents. TG, systolic blood pressure, and insulin resistance were related to remnant lipoproteins.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Adolescent* ; Antibodies ; Apolipoproteins B ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Child ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Dyslipidemias ; Humans ; Insulin Resistance ; Intestines ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Lipoproteins* ; Liver ; Obesity ; Pediatric Obesity* ; Plasma ; Subcutaneous Fat ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference