This study is performed to evaluate usefulness of dermal measurement of benzidine and benzidine based dye as one of the occupational exposure assessment method for these compounds. We selected one benzidine manufacturing factory and one dye manufacturing factory in Incheon area. Eleven workers were for benzidine manufacturing factory and twenty four for dye. We analyzed relationships among air level, amount on skin and concentration of urinary metabolites for these compounds. Airborne levels of benzidine and dye were measured by NIOSH 5509, 5013 methods. Amount of these compounds on skin was measured with skin wipe method. Concentration of benzidine metabolites in urine was measured by High Performance Liquid Chromatography after alkaline hydrolysis. The amount of benzidine on hand skin was 25.05( - 233.2) ng/ur, and the amount of the neck was 2.01 ( - 11.9) ng/cm2 in the benzidine dihydrochloride manufacturing factory. The amount of benzidine on hand and neck skin has positive correlation with concentration of urinary monoacetyl benzidine (r=0.644, p < 0.05) . The amount of benzidine based dye on hand skin was 55.75( - 457.7) ng/cm2, and the amount of the neck skin was 18( - 284.7) ng/cm in benzidine based dye manufacturing factory The amount of dye on hand and neck skin has positive correlation with concentration of urinary benzidine for dye workers (r=0.467, p < 0.05). When assessing the exposure of workers who deal with benzidine, the amount of benzidine on skin should be measured for an accurate exposure assessment.
Chromatography, Liquid ; Hand ; Hydrolysis ; Incheon ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Neck ; Occupational Exposure ; Skin

No abstract available.
Nuchal Cord* ; Ultrasonography*

Functional paraganglioma of the mediastinum is an uncommon tumor of the paraganglion system that causes symptoms and signs of episodic catecholamine release. It has not been reported in Korea. We experienced a case of a 17 years old man with a history of diaphoresis and paroxysmal hypertension refractory to therapy since 14 years old. Urinary execretion of catecholamine and its metabolites were elevated. Computed tomography(CT) scan revealed high density mass located on the posterior mediastinum in the area of the right fifth intercostal space. At thoracotomy, a 3X3X4cm sized lesion was resected and confirmed as a paraganglioma.
Adolescent ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Korea ; Mediastinum* ; Paraganglioma* ; Pheochromocytoma ; Thoracotomy

BACKGROUND: Nonsyndromic craniosynostosis is a relatively common craniofacial anomaly and various techniques were introduced to achieve its operative goals. Authors found that by using smaller bone fragments than that used in conventional cranioplasty, sufficiently rigid bone union and effective regeneration capacity could be achieved with better postoperative outcome, only if their stable fixation was ensured. METHODS: Through bicoronal incisional approach, involved synostotic cranial bone together with its surrounding areas were removed. The resected bone flap was split into as many pieces as possible. The extent of this ‘multi-split osteotomy’ depends on the degree of dysmorphology, expectative volume increment after surgery and probable dead space caused by bony gap between bone segments. Rigid interosseous fixation was performed with variable types of absorbable plate and screw. In all cases, the pre-operational three-dimensional computed tomography (3D CT) was checked and brain CT was taken immediately after the surgery. Also about 12 months after the operation, 3D CT was checked again to see postoperative morphology improvement, bone union, regeneration and intracranial volume change. RESULTS: The bony gaps seen in the immediate postoperative brain CT were all improved as seen in the 3D CT after 12 months from the surgery. No small bone fragment resorption was observed. Brain volume increase was found to be made gradually, leaving no case of remaining epidural dead space. CONCLUSION: We conclude that it is meaningful in presenting a new possibility to be applied to not only nonsyndromic craniosynostosis but also other reconstructive cranial vault surgeries.
Absorbable Implants ; Brain ; Craniosynostoses* ; Osteotomy* ; Regeneration

Primary pulmonary hypertension is a rar, incurable, and progressive clinical entity. When associated with pregnancy, the prognosis of primary pulmonary hypertension is worsened with maternal mortality rates of at least 50%. The patient was a 29-year-old mother in her 2nd pregnancy, with previous uncomplicated gestation, 5 years ago. She had been well until the 28th week of present gestation when she was admitted because of increasing dyspnea on exertion. She was a housewife with no remarkable family and past histories. We have experienced a patient with primary pulmonary hypertension in pregnancy. She was treated with an oral calcium-channel blocker and low-molecular-weight heparin and was delivered vaginally with good maternal and fetal outcome. So we report a case of primary pulmonary hypertension associated with pregnancy and review literature.
Adult ; Dyspnea ; Heparin, Low-Molecular-Weight ; Humans ; Hypertension, Pulmonary* ; Maternal Mortality ; Mothers ; Pregnancy* ; Prognosis

No abstract available.
Animals ; Rats* ; Skin*

A 26-year-old male who had no underlying disease, including coagulopathy, underwent thoracotomy and bleeding control due to hemothorax. On the fifth postoperative day, paralysis of both lower limbs occurred. Urgent spine magnetic resonance imaging showed a massive anterior spinal epidural hematoma from C2 to L1 level with different signal intensities, which was suspected to be staged hemorrhage. Hematoma evacuation with decompressive laminectomy was performed. The patient's neurologic deterioration was recovered immediately, and he was discharged without neurological deficits. A drug history of naftazone, which could induce a drug-induced platelet dysfunction, was revealed retrospectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of whole spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma in a young patient, with a history of hemorrhoid medication.
Adult ; Blood Platelets ; Hematoma ; Hematoma, Epidural, Spinal* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Laminectomy ; Lower Extremity ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Paralysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Spine ; Thoracotomy

Phase-partitioning with Triton X-114 (TX114) was applied to the TSP antigen, which may be preferentially associated with the cell wall of M. tuberculosis. The hydrophilic protein components of the TSP antigen were successfully separated from integral hydrophobic macromolecules. To further characterize and examine the cellular immune response of the aqueous fraction of the TSP antigen (TSPa), the in vitro properties of the antigen were measured by lymphoproliferation; surface expression of IL-2 Ra on T lymphocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry; and the cytokine mRNA expression pattern was determined by RT-PCR. Significant lymphoproliferative responses to the TSPa antigen were observed in healthy tuberculin reactive donors after a 5 day in vitro stimulation. TSPa treatment of PBMCs from healthy tuberculin positive subjects for 5 days resulted in progressive augmentation of IFN-r, II 2, and IL-2Ra mRNA expression, as measured by RT-PCR, but considerably reduced IL-4 mRNA expression. In addition, the TSPa antigen stimulated more IL-12 p40 mRNA production than did the PPD antigen, and graduaBy suppressed IL- 10 mRNA expression. Moreover, the CD3' T cells of tuberculin positive subjects displayed a profound increase in their expression of the II 2Ru protein (39.0%) in response to the TSPa antigen. Proliferation was correlated with IL-2 and IL-2Ra mRNAs, but not correlated with distinct IFN-r or IL-12 p40 mRNA production. These findings strongly suggest that the TSPa antigen preferentially evokes the generation of a Thl-like immune response in healthy tuberculin reactors.
Cell Wall ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Immunity, Cellular* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Neptune ; RNA, Messenger ; T-Lymphocytes ; Tissue Donors ; Tuberculin ; Tuberculosis

PURPOSE: Perforator flap-using ischial sore reconstruction is performed in a prone position. But after the surgery, recurrence frequently occurs in a sitting position. In this sense, we introduce modified flap insetting method which closely resembles patient's sitting position to lessen the flap tension surgically. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Authors tried to check a skin tension difference between prone position and sitting position in normal people group and to find out the importance of performing flap insetting in hip flexion position. Healthy volunteers were collected (n=20) and designed the same length of 4 divided sections around the ischium. Lengths of each section were measured when hip joint was flexed to 90 degree and when both hip and knee joints were flexed to 90 degree and the statistical evaluation was performed. Twenty cases with ischial sore underwent reconstructive surgery using perforator flap under hip flexion position and followed-up for any recurrences. RESULTS: There was a meaningful difference between the joint flexed skin length and that of the neutral position. Flap showed sufficient thickness over 12 months. CONCLUSION: It seems that recurrence could be reduced when the reconstructed flap could sufficiently cover in a sitting position regarding its significant length difference in normal people group.
Healthy Volunteers ; Hip Joint ; Hip* ; Ischium ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Methods ; Perforator Flap* ; Pressure Ulcer ; Prone Position ; Recurrence ; Skin

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease(AVD) is a major cause of the mortality and morbidity in end-stage renal disease(ESRD) patients undergoing chronic dialysis therapy. The factors such as lipopretein metabolism abnormality, diabetes, hypertension, hyperhomocysteinemia and oxidative stress have been implicated as underlying causes related AVD. Malnutrition, chronic inflammation, increased oxidative stress, hyperparathyroidism and its related lipoprotein abnormalities are suggested to accelerate AVD in ESRD patients. High-resolution B-mode ultrasono-graphy has been used to evaluate atherosclerotic change in carotid artery in a number of epidemiologic or clinical studies because of its non-invasive advantage and proven effects in predicting AVD or cardiovascular mortality. Using high-resolution B-mode sonography, we evaluated the presence of plaque and carotid intima-media area(cIM area), which is known to be a good predictor of athero-sclerosis. We compared and analyzed those sonographic findings according to a number of selected clinical and laboratory factors. Study subjects were 27 stable ESRD patient receiving hemodialysis(HD) or chronic ambulatory peritoneal dialysis(CAPD) at least over 24 months. The patients with present or past coronary, cerebral or peripheral vascular disease, history of anti-platelet agents or age over 70 years were excluded. Nine HD and 18 CAPD patients were included and mean age was 52.1+/-2.6 years and number of male and female patients were sixteen and eleven. Among many factors, sex, age, dialysis duration, diabetes, smoking history, blood pressure, body mass index, albumin, creatinine, high-density lipoprotein, triglyceride, C-reactive protein, total calcium, phosphorus, intact-parathyroidid hormone were selected and analyzed for their correlation with carotid sonograpic findings. 1) Mean cIM area of all patients was 15.4+/-0.7 mm2. cIM area was significantly increased in CAPD patients compared to HD patients(16.5+/-1.2 vs 14.9+/- 0.9mm2, p<0.05). Atherosclerotic plaques were found in 48.1% and bilateral lesion was found in 18.5% of all patients. The incidence of the plaque was 42.1% in HD and 55.6% in CAPD patients. 2) cIM area was more significantly increased in male than female(16.7+/-0.8 vs 13.6+/-1.2mm2, in diabetes than non-diabetes(16.4+/-0.8 vs 14.7+/-l.lmm2) and in smoker than non-smoker(18.8+/-0.7 vs 12.8+/-0.7mm2, p<0.05). It was also significantly inereased in patients with body mass index more than 2.3kg/ m(18.3+/-1.1 vs 14.6+/-0.8mm), systolic blood pres-sure more than 14mmHg(16.6+/-0.7 vs 13.0+/-1.2mm) and C-reactive pretein more than 0.5 mg/dL(18.9+/-1.5 vs 14.2+/-0.77mm2p<0.05). Among those factors, age, systolic blood pressure, body mass index and C-reactive protein were proven to positively correlate to cIM area with statistical significance(p<0.05). Even though cIM area was increased in patients with high serum parathyroid hormone, high total cholesterol and triglyceride and low high-density lipoprotein level, no statistical significances were found in these factors. 3) In comparison of each factor according to the presence of the plaque, age and the presence of diabetes were proven to be significantly different between patients without the plaque and with the plaque(45.7+/-2.7 vs 59.5+/-3.8 year, 33.3% vs 53.8%, respectively, p<0.05). Systolic blood pressure and C-reactive protein were increased in patients with the plaque but no statistical significance was shown. In conclusions, we found that old age, male sex, presence of diabetes, smoking history, high systolic blood pressure, increased body mass index and increased C-reactive protein were significantly related to increased cIM area and the plaque was more frequent in old age and diabetes patients using high resolution B-mode ultrasonography. It can be assumed that inflammatory state as reflected by C-reactive protein would be more related with atherosclerosis in ESRD patients than such as nutritional state, parathyroid hormone or lipoprotein metabolism based on these results. Fusing prospective analysis demonstrating causeeffect relationship or analyzing inflammatory index such as TNF-a or interleukin would be necessary to prove this assumption.
Age Factors ; Atherosclerosis* ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; C-Reactive Protein ; Calcium ; Carotid Arteries* ; Cholesterol ; Creatinine ; Dialysis ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia ; Hyperparathyroidism ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Interleukins ; Kidney Failure, Chronic* ; Lipoproteins ; Male ; Malnutrition ; Metabolism ; Mortality ; Oxidative Stress ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Peripheral Vascular Diseases ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory ; Phosphorus ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Sex Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Ultrasonography*