BACKGROUND: In recent years gonorrhea has been pandemic and remains one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases(STD) in the world, especially in developing countries. OBJECTIVE & METHOD: For the detection of a more effective therapeutic regimen and to assess the prevalence of penicillinase-producing Neisseria gonorrhoeae (PPNG), we have been studying patients who have visited the VD Clinic of Choong-ku Public Health Center in Seoul since 1980 by means of the chromogenic cephalosporin method. RESULTS: In 1995, 97 strains of N. gonorrhoeae were isolated, among which 41(42.3%) were PPNG. CONCLUSION: Since the prevalence of PPNG was reported as 21.9% in 1981, the rate fluctuated. However, in 1993, there was an increase up to 74.3%. Thereafter, the prevalence rate decreased to 64.3% in 1994 and 42.3% in 1995. These changes will therefore need continuous observation.
Developing Countries ; Gonorrhea ; Humans ; Methods ; Neisseria gonorrhoeae* ; Neisseria* ; Pandemics ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Seoul*

No abstract available.
Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Transurethral Resection of Prostate* ; Ultrasonography*

Aconitine is a main component of Aconitum carmichaeli, a Chinese herb known to be effective for arthritis and neuralgia. Many senior citizens consume the herb as a folk remedy. Aconitine-associated cardiogenic toxicity has been observed but aconitine-induced cerebrovascular event has not been reported so far. We report two elderly patients who became unconscious and showed neurological dysfunction soon after ingesting aconitine for pain control. We speculate that the aconitine induced cardiac arrhythmia. This resulted in cardiogenic emboli formation with subsequent large territory cerebral infarction.
Aconitine

Core tissue for histologic study is believed by many pathologists to be more diagnostic than material from needle aspiration. Recently introduced automated biopsy gun simplifies core biopsies with increased quantity and quality of samples. Authors performed 38 percutaneous biopsies from 38 patients with 18G automated biopsy guns under US guide. Diagnostic target tissues were obtained in 33 biopsies(87%), inadequate tissues in 4 (11%), and adequate but not of target tissue in 1(3%). There was no major complication requiring treatment, but pain needing analgesics and pain with nausea/vomiting were experienced in 2 and 1 biopsies respectively. Average number of needle passes was 1.5(1-5) We concluded that US-guided gun biopsy was a easy and safe way to obtained tissue samples of good quantity and quality, especially useful in hospitals without constant availability of specialists in cytopathology.
Analgesics ; Biopsy* ; Firearms ; Humans ; Needles ; Specialization

Letterer-Siwe disease occurred in a 3 year 7 month old male child showing severe emaciation, hepatosplenomegaly, otitis media, hemorrhagic and impetiginous crusted patches on the body, and seborrheic dermatitis like skin rashes in the scalp. Also showed are severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, bronchopneumonia and multiple bony defects in skull. The child expired in a month after admission.
Anemia ; Bronchopneumonia ; Child ; Dermatitis, Seborrheic ; Emaciation ; Exanthema ; Histiocytosis, Langerhans-Cell* ; Humans ; Infant ; Male ; Otitis Media ; Scalp ; Skull ; Thrombocytopenia

BACKGROUND: The number of patients of doxylamine overdose has increased, but there were little clinical reports. The purpose of this study is review the patients of doxylamine overdose for aid clinical decision making of patients disposition. METHODS: We reviewed medical records of patients who ingested doxylamine succinate retrospectively from Jan. 1, 1996 to Dec. 31. 1996. Data that was recorded were followed: age, sex, psychiatric history, amounts of ingestion, time interval from ingestion to arrival to hospital, initial vital signs and symptoms, EKG, chest PA, Lab. findings, treatment, patients disposition, length of hospital stay, complication. RESULTS : 1) Total number of patients was ninety and average dosage of ingestion was 1062mg. 2) Tachycardia was the most frequent anticholinergic symptom(46%). 3) Routine lab. findings was not abnormal except one patient who was diagnosed as Rhabdomyolysis. 4) Gut decontamination was performed in patients who had arrived at hospital in 2-3 hours, and who had ingested large dose of drug. 5) Five patients were admitted to Psychiatric dept. and one patient was admitted to emergency dept. for treatment of rhabdomyolysis. 6) The mean duration of hospital stay was 6.5 hours. CONCLUSION: The patients who ingested overdose of doxylamine was managed safely in emergency department, but we should warn against the possibility of rhabdomyolysis.
Decision Making ; Decontamination ; Doxylamine* ; Eating ; Electrocardiography ; Emergencies ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Rhabdomyolysis ; Succinic Acid* ; Tachycardia ; Thorax ; Vital Signs

The human pattern reversal retinal potential(PRRP) is a bioelectrical response that reflects neural activity generated in the proximal retina. Visual diseases which affect the retinal ganglion cells and the optic nerve often produce signifjcant reductions in the amplitude of the PRRP. PRRP amplitude reductions are freguently obseved in the patients with primary open angle glaucoma. This study was designed to determine whether patients with ocular hypertension whieh are at risk of developing glaucoma also exhibit PRRP amplitude reductions. 1. As compared to the control group the glaucoma patients showed decreased P1-N2 amplitude and a significant delay of Visual evoked potential(VEP) latency. The retinocortical time was delayed(72%) and PRRP P1-N2 amplitude was decreased in 30 percents of the ocular hypertensive patients. 2. In the glaucoma and ocular hypertension, VEP P1 latency has more diagnoic value than PRRP P1 latency. 3. VEP and PRRP show more diagnostic values and these tests are essential for early diagnosis in the glaucoma.
Early Diagnosis ; Evoked Potentials, Visual ; Glaucoma ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle ; Humans ; Ocular Hypertension* ; Optic Nerve ; Retina ; Retinal Ganglion Cells ; Retinaldehyde*

Hydrogen sulfide poisoning is frequently encountered in the workplace. Two workers lost their consciousness in an underground tank at a factory producing paper. The tank contained liquid mixture of used paper, sodium oxygenate chloride(NaOC1), and sodium thiosulfate pentahydrate(NaSO3 5H90). A worker(worker A; 36-year-old man) entered tank to remove sludge. When worker A lost his consciousness, worker B entered the tank to rescue worker A, however he lost consciousness inside the tank. We discuss in detail the clinical features of this condition. Hydrogen sulfide poisonings have occurred in industries involving petroleum refining, the manufacture of heavy water, tanning of hides, vulcanization of rubber, and the manufacture of rayon. And it is necessary to stress the health education for workers and managers in these industries.
Adult ; Consciousness ; Deuterium Oxide ; Health Education ; Humans ; Hydrogen Sulfide* ; Hydrogen* ; Oxygen ; Petroleum ; Poisoning* ; Rescue Work ; Rubber ; Sewage ; Sodium ; Tanning ; Triacetoneamine-N-Oxyl

OBJECTIVES: To know the present conditions of industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea and make the basic materials essential to prevention of industrial accidents METHODS: We reviewed and analyzed the records of industrial accidents occurred in an automobile factory in 1997 by time of occurrence, job categories(fixed production, skilled trades, mechanical material handling, and clerical 8r technical), type of injury, kind of accident, and location of injury. RESULTS: 1. By age groups, the accident rate was the highest in age 45-49(1.6 %o) followed by age 35-39(1.3 %), 40-44(0.9 %), 30-34(0.9 %), 25-29(0.6 %), and 20-24(0.4 %) and by working duration, it was highest in group of experience over 25 years, and so we could see that the more age or working duration increases the more accident rate increases. 2. By work time, the accident rate was the highest in 10-11 a.m. (21.4 %) followed by 2-3 p.m. (17.9%). By the day of the week, it was as follows, Friday(20.5%) Wednesday (17. 9%), Monday (16. 2 %), Thesday (15. 4 %), Saturday (12. 0 %), Thursday(11.1 %), Sunday(6.8 %) in order. By the month, it was high in May(17.9 %), March(11.1 %), and April(11.1 %) followed by August(10.3 %) and January(9.4 %), so we could see it was high in spring. 3. The most frequent injury was in the back by 41.0 % followed by 17 cases in fingers(14.5 %), legs(9.4 %), hands(7.7 %), head(6.0 %) in order. And by the type of injuries, the sprain was most frequent by 38. 5% followed by fracture(22. 2 %, lumbar HNP(11.1 %), and contusion(9.4 %) in order. The causes of accident were handling heavy materials(34.2 %), upset(17.1 %), stenosis(16.2 %), and falling(6.8 %) in order. CONCLUSIONS: By the above results, to prevent the industrial accidents in automobile factories in Korea, preventive activities for handling heavy materials and back injury, and continuous industrial education are necessary.
Accidents, Occupational* ; Automobiles* ; Back Injuries ; Education ; Humans ; Korea ; Sprains and Strains

No abstract available.
Humans* ; Metalloproteases ; Prostate* ; Prostatic Neoplasms