OBJECTS: Thls study was designed to assess muscle tensions while working at a YDT workstation with surface electromyography (SEMG). METHODS: Variables texted were desk height, monitor positon on the desk, distance from edge of the desk to the keyboard. Eleven female volunteers working in the tele-com munication company were seated at an ergonomically adjusted workstation. They were assigned to a task of typing for 5 minutes and were given a 10 minutes resting with hands in their lap. For the initial experiment, the desk height was fixed to standard desk height(65.0 cm) recommended by ANSI and latter adjusted to a higher desk height (72.8 cm) for this study such that the subjects experienced slight elevation of shoulders. The monitor position initially at the center on the desk and latter left site of the desk (45o from monitorneck axles). The keyboard was positioned to an optimal distance (15 cm from the desk edge) and an abnormal distance (30 cm). Five muscle groups (paraspinal muscles, upper trapezium muscle, supraspinatus muscle, infraspinatus muscle, and rhomboid muscle) were selected for the study. The data of SEMG were analyzed by 2x2x2xs mixed factorial design. RESULTS: The results were as follows: 1. SEMG activity recorded from the paraspinal muscles were significantly higher when the angle of the monitor adjusted to 45 degree from the center of the desk.. 2. SEMG activity recorded from the upper trapezius/supraspinatus/infraspinatus muscles were significantly higher when the hight of the desk was elevated from the recommended height.3. SEMG activity from the rhomboid muscle showed no significantiy difference in all test conditions. CONCLUSIONS: The results of thls study confirm that the helght of a VDT workstation and the angle of the monitor are risk factors of upper extremity cumulative trauma disorders. Also SEMG would be useful for measuring muscle activities during workstation assessment.
Cumulative Trauma Disorders ; Electromyography* ; Female ; Hand ; Humans ; Muscles ; Paraspinal Muscles ; Risk Factors ; Shoulder ; Upper Extremity ; Volunteers

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) with 2.0 Tesla superconductive magnet developed by Korea Advanced Institute ofScience was performed in 25 patients with various abdominal diseases and compared with x-ray CT. MRI was obtainedwith spin echo technique using a variety of pulse sequence and various slice orientation including axial, sgittaland coronal section in order to evaluate the diagnostic value, limitation and to determine the optimal pulsesequency in various abdominal diseases. MRI demonstrated the capability of detecting the lesions shown on CT inall cases and also detected one case of diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma which was not seen on CT. MRI showedcapability of differentiation of various liver mass including hepatocellular carcinoma, hemangnioma and simplecyst. MRI showed better anatomical resolution of tumor in retroperitoneum and pelvis, however CT delineatedalimentary tract disease better than MRI did.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pelvis

No abstract available.
Acute Kidney Injury* ; Carbon Monoxide* ; Carbon* ; Rhabdomyolysis*

We analyzed the factors of importance for nonunion in series of 91 open fractures of tibial diaphysis which were treated with external fixation. Factors analyzed included, age and sex of the patients, the mechanism of injury, the amount of soft tissue damage, the grade of comminution, the level at which the tibia was fractured, the presence of an intact fibula, the presence of the multiple injuries, the type of the external fixation used(AO external fixator, EXTOR; monotube external fixator, Ilizarov), and the need to supplement the stability of the reduction. We found that the amount of soft tissue damage and comminution of the fracture played a role in the development of the nonunion.
Diaphyses ; External Fixators ; Fibula ; Fractures, Open ; Humans ; Multiple Trauma ; Tibia ; Tibial Fractures*

No abstract available.
Fever*

BACKGROUND: It has been demonstrated that patients with atopic dermatitis(AD) show an impaired capacity of their T cells to release of interleukin-2(IL-2) in vitro and elevated serum levels of soluble IL-2 receptor(sIL-2R). Both immunosuppressive agents, cyclosporin A(CsA) and FK-506 can block early events in T lymphocyte activation and FK-506 is 10- to 100-fold more potent in the inhibition of IL-2 and other lymphokines production. OBJECTIVE: We compared the effects of CsA and FK-506 on PHA-induced lymphokine and sIL-2R production and compared the effects of CsA and FK-506 on PHA-induced IL-4 production in a high IgE group and a low IgE group in patients with AD. METHODS: A total of 32 peripheral blood samples from 17 patients with AD and 15 control groups were tested. Lymphocytes were isolated from blood samples and were cultured with PHA(positive control), PHA and CsA(10 ng/ml), PHA and FK-506 (1 ng/ml), and without stimulation (negative control). The amount of cytokines such as IL-2, IL-3, IL-4 and sIL-2R were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). RESULTS: CsA and FK-506 inhibited significantly the production of IL-2, IL-3, IL-4 in PHA-stimulated lymphocytes of both the AD patients and the control groups. FK-506(1 ng/ml) inhibited cytokines production more significantly than CsA(10 ng/ml). However, CsA and FK-506 did not significantly inhibit the production of sIL-2R. There were no significant differences in the inhibitory effect of CsA and FK-506 on IL-4 production upon PHA-stimulation between AD patients with a high IgE level and with a low IgE level. CONCLUSION: Both FK-506 and CsA inhibit lymphokine production, but not the production of sIL-2R. FK-506 inhibited more significantly lymphokine production at a 10-fold lower concentration than CsA. Our data suggest that FK-506 could be more effective in the treatment of severe AD than CsA, and both these agents show their immunosuppressive activity through the suppression of lymphokine production, not via the suppression of sIL-2R production in AD.
Cyclosporine* ; Cytokines ; Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; In Vitro Techniques ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-3 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocyte Activation ; Lymphocytes* ; Lymphokines ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tacrolimus*

The intravenous administration of midazolam is widely used as sedative premedication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. We performed a study to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of midazoiam as premedication for upper gastrointestinal endoscopy. Between June 1995 and October 1995, 112 patients of diagnostic esophago-gastroduodenoseopy were enrolled in the study. The patients were recieved a bolus midazolam 0.~03mg/kg or placebo, followed by typical anesthesia. The blood pressure, pulse and oximeter values were monitored. The systolic blood pressure and heart rate were increased during endoscopy in compared with before premedication, and normalized immediately. There was no significant change of arterial oxygen saturation. Midazolam induced amnesia completely in 49.2% and partially in 27.2%, and all patients were recovered completely in 1 hour. The tolerance score is higher in the midazolam group as compared with the placebo group(p<0.05), and midazolam group would accept the same sedation for repeated endoscopies(p<0.01). We conclude that midazolam has beneficial effects as premedication for upper gastrointastinal endoscopy without significant altteration in cardiopulmonary parameters. This suggest that midazolam may be used more frequently as premedication, especially in the cases of repeated endoscopy.
Administration, Intravenous ; Amnesia ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Endoscopy ; Endoscopy, Digestive System ; Endoscopy, Gastrointestinal* ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Midazolam* ; Oxygen ; Premedication*

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is an important cause of maternal mortality. There is currently no single, satisfactory definition of PPH. The various definitions of PPH may result in delayed diagnosis. Underestimated blood loss concerning PPH is considered one of the biggest problems. The diagnosis of PPH should include proper estimation of blood loss before vital signs and clinical symptoms change. Management of PPH involves early recognition, assessment and resuscitation. Careful monitoring of vital signs, laboratory tests, coagulation testing in particular, and timely diagnosis of the cause of PPH are important. The first priority in the management of PPH is the rapid correction of hypovolemia with fluid infusion and packed red blood cells transfusion, followed by blood component therapy as indicated by the hematocrit, coagulation tests, platelet count and clinical features. Pharmacological management of PPH is to contract uterus (e.g., oxytocin, methylergonovine, 15-methylprostaglandin F2alpha, misoprostol) and to aid hemostasis (e.g., tranexamic acid, recombinant factor VIIa). Surgical management (e.g., balloon tamponade, uterine compression suture, iliac artery ligation) should be considered if hemorrhage persists or vital signs is unstable.
Blood Transfusion ; Carboprost ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis* ; Erythrocytes ; Hematocrit ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Hypovolemia ; Iliac Artery ; Maternal Mortality ; Methylergonovine ; Oxytocin ; Platelet Count ; Postpartum Hemorrhage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Resuscitation ; Sutures ; Tranexamic Acid ; Uterine Balloon Tamponade ; Uterus ; Vital Signs

Postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) is an important cause of maternal mortality. There is currently no single, satisfactory definition of PPH. The various definitions of PPH may result in delayed diagnosis. Underestimated blood loss concerning PPH is considered one of the biggest problems. The diagnosis of PPH should include proper estimation of blood loss before vital signs and clinical symptoms change. Management of PPH involves early recognition, assessment and resuscitation. Careful monitoring of vital signs, laboratory tests, coagulation testing in particular, and timely diagnosis of the cause of PPH are important. The first priority in the management of PPH is the rapid correction of hypovolemia with fluid infusion and packed red blood cells transfusion, followed by blood component therapy as indicated by the hematocrit, coagulation tests, platelet count and clinical features. Pharmacological management of PPH is to contract uterus (e.g., oxytocin, methylergonovine, 15-methylprostaglandin F2alpha, misoprostol) and to aid hemostasis (e.g., tranexamic acid, recombinant factor VIIa). Surgical management (e.g., balloon tamponade, uterine compression suture, iliac artery ligation) should be considered if hemorrhage persists or vital signs is unstable.
Blood Transfusion ; Carboprost ; Delayed Diagnosis ; Diagnosis* ; Erythrocytes ; Hematocrit ; Hemorrhage ; Hemostasis ; Hypovolemia ; Iliac Artery ; Maternal Mortality ; Methylergonovine ; Oxytocin ; Platelet Count ; Postpartum Hemorrhage* ; Postpartum Period* ; Resuscitation ; Sutures ; Tranexamic Acid ; Uterine Balloon Tamponade ; Uterus ; Vital Signs

No abstract available.
Gestational Age* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn*