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

No abstract available.
Pulmonary Artery*

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

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

OBJECTIVE: Suprasellar meningioma have in general been difficult lesions to treat because of their vicinity to the optic apparatus and major vessels, and high vascularity. This study was performed to analyze clinical outcome of patients with histopathologically identified suprasellar meningioma. METHOD: Between 1989 and 1998, 37 patients(30 women, 7 men: average 47.5years) with histopathologically identified meningiomas originating from the suprasellar region underwent surgical tumor removal in our institution. The medical records and clinical data of these patients are retrospectively analyzed. RESULT: The tumor size ranged from 2.1cm to 6.5cm(average 5.1cm) in diameter. The tumors have been approached basically through the pterional and bifrontal routes. Skull base technique was also applied in large or complicated cases. Total resection rates and overall outcome including visual function was better in patients with tumor of less then 3cm. A considerable increase of mortality, morbidity and failure of visual improvement were seen in case of the tumors size of 3cm or more. CONCLUSION: Early diagnosis and treatment were important factors in the successful management of these suprasellar meningioma. In large complicated cases encasing major vessels or invading cavernous sinus or anterior skull base, surgeons need to operate with extreme caution and piecemeal removal of the tumor without injuring optic apparatus and major vessels utilizing skull base technique.
Cavernous Sinus ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Medical Records ; Meningioma* ; Mortality ; Retrospective Studies ; Skull Base

Centrinuclear myopathy, an uncommon condition, is one of the congenital myopathies. It is characterized by the presence of central nuclei of muscle cells which can be detected on electronmicroscopy. It is believed to arise as a result of maturational arrest with persistence of microtubes postnatally. We report a boy with generalized hypotonia and muscle weakness who was diagnosed as centrinuclear myopathy by muscle biopsy.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle Cells ; Muscle Hypotonia ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscular Diseases ; Myopathies, Structural, Congenital*

No abstract available.
Neurilemmoma*

From a young age, males are at higher cardiovascular risk than females. Dyslipidemia, including a higher burden related to small low-density lipoproteins (LDL), plays an important role in precipitating atherosclerosis in both males and females. We investigated sex differences in atherogenic lipoprotein burden and the independent predictors of LDL particle size in children and adolescents. We measured the concentrations of total testosterone, sex hormone-binding globulin, estradiol, total cholesterol, triglyceride, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and LDL particle size in 135 children and adolescents (67 boys, 68 girls). The free androgen index was significantly and negatively correlated with LDL particle size (r = -0.273, P = 0.026) in boys, but estrogen and LDL particle size were not related. In a stepwise multiple regression analysis adjusted for body mass index, age, and homeostasis model assessment for insulin resistance, free androgen index was still an independent predictor of LDL particle size in boys (R2 = 0.075, P = 0.026). The prominent decrease in LDL particle size along with increased testosterone concentrations in males might explain why they are more likely to display atherogenic dyslipidemia from adolescence.
Adolescent ; Age Factors ; Atherosclerosis/blood ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol, HDL/blood ; Cholesterol, LDL/blood ; Estradiol/blood ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins, LDL/*blood ; Male ; Particle Size ; Puberty/blood ; Regression Analysis ; Risk ; Sex Factors ; Sex Hormone-Binding Globulin/analysis ; Testosterone/*blood ; Triglycerides/blood

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was as follows: 1) to compare the current status of management for dementia between city and country health center. 2) to check the amount and detailed items of budgets for dementia in dementia counseling center, referral courses for registration of dementia patient, number of dementia patient referred to welfare institutions for the elderly. 3) to understand the troubles in management for dementia in health center and to provide baseline data about future community dementia management system. METHOD: The questionnaire was administered to 248 public health centers. The 162 collected questionnaires were used in analysis and the whole response rate was 65.3%. Questionnaire composed by general contents about dementia management in health center and dementia counseling center. Statistical analysis was conducted to compare the difference about each item in city and country health center. RESULTS: City and country health center showed differences in number of registered dementia patient, budgets for dementia, referral courses for registration of dementia patient, number of dementia patient referred to institution, troubles in management for dementia in health center. CONCLUSION: Current dementia management system does not meet the various needs of community for management of dementia. Thus, complementary strategies are needed to solve this problem.
Aged ; Budgets ; Counseling ; Dementia* ; Humans ; Public Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Referral and Consultation

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the present study was to investigate the clinical usefulness of serum CA 125 and CA 19-9 levels for diagnosing and determining the severity of endometriosis. METHODS: A total of 112 women who underwent gynecologic surgery between January 1998 and August 2004 were selected in this study. 81 patients had histologically confirmed endometriosis and the remaining 31 had benign ovarian tumor but no obvious evidence of endometriosis. Blood samples were collected in all patients before the operation and the mean values and standard deviations of both serum CA 125 and CA 19-9 levels were measured in various stages of disease. Both tumor markers were also measured in the control group. The results were compared to determine the usefulness of CA 125 and CA 19-9 in diagnosing and predicting the severity of endometriosis. As a results, new cutoff values of serum CA 125 and CA 19-9 in endometriosis were obtained. RESULTS: The mean levels of serum CA 125 and CA 19-9 in patients at stage III and IV of endometriosis were significantly higher than in patients without endometriosis, and increased in accordance with the advancement of the clinical stage. Statistically appropriate cutoff values of CA 125 and CA 19-9 were calculated to be 20 IU/mL and 10 IU/mL, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of CA 125 at this cutoff value for endometriosis were 72% and 71%, respectively. The sensitivity and specificity were 59% and 55% respectively in the case of CA 19-9. CONCLUSION: CA 125 is a useful marker for diagnosing and determining the severity of endometriosis. CA 19-9 shows limitation in diagnosing endometriosis, but is indeed a potential marker in predicting the severity of disease.
Endometriosis* ; Female ; Gynecologic Surgical Procedures ; Humans ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Biomarkers, Tumor