BACKGROUND: Benzoic acid contained in some food can hinder the biological monitoring of hippuric acid in urine, which is frequently used as an exposure index of toluene and xylene. METHOD: 20 male examinees who are not exposed to organic solvents in their jobs were given a bottle of drink containing benzoic acid(70 mg/dl) and took it. Urine samples were taken from every person just before, in 1.5 hrs after, and in 3 hrs after taking the drink. Hippuric acid in urine was analyzed with improved Ogata and Taguchi method and creatinine with Jaffe method. RESULT: Mean hippuric acid concentrations in urine just before, in 1.5 hrs after, and in 3 hrs after taking the drink were 0.59+/-0.21 g/g creatinine, 2.75+/-0.98 g/g creatinine, 1.04+/-0.58 g/g creatinine, respectively. And, each group had statistically significant differences (p<0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between two groups categorized by age, smoking, and drinking. CONCLUSION: From the results, we suggest that when hippuric acid concentration in urine is used as a exposure index of toluene, it should be surveyed whether the food containing benzoic acid was taken or not.
Benzoic Acid* ; Creatinine ; Drinking ; Environmental Monitoring ; Humans ; Male ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Solvents ; Toluene ; Xylenes

No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: The preparation of conventional smears (CS) from mucoid samples, despite mucolysis, can pose difficulties for cytotechnologists or cytopathologists. In recent years, liquid-based cytology (LBC) devices have been developed in attempts to improve the cytopreparation process. LBC improves both sample collection and sample preparation. Cell block preparations (CB) can be made from residual tissue fluids, and are a useful adjunct to smears. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed 3 preparations from 209 patients whose diagnosis was later confirmed via bronchoscopic biopsy, fine needle aspiration, gun biopsy or operation. Each case was categorized into one of three groups: "negative," "atypical or suspicious" and "malignant." RESULTS: When conflating the "atypical" and "malignant" categories into a "positive" category, the sensitivity of each preparation was 74.4% in LBC, 72.9% in CS, and 76.5% in CB preparations. Specificity was 98.7%, 94.7% and 98.7%, respectively. By combining LBC and CB, the sensitivity is 78.2%. CONCLUSIONS: Among three different preparation methods, sensitivity is highest in the CB method. LBC has many advantages in evaluating cell morphology and by combining CB method, the sensitivity can be improved slightly. The application of all three methods may prove helpful when one or another method proves diagnostically inconclusive.
Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity

No abstract available.
Animals ; Neurons* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Chlamydia trachomatis* ; Chlamydia* ; Female ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn* ; Nasal Cavity* ; Polymers* ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Pregnancy*

No abstract available.
Korea ; Latent Tuberculosis

The author studied the relationship of age, Glasgow coma scale, Glasgow outcome scale and appearance of basal cisterns as seen on intial computerized tomography on 95 patients with severe diffuse head injury. The results were as follows : 1) The poor outcome rates were 76.8%, 41.2% and 16.6% among those absent, compressed, and normal basal cisterns, respectively. 2) The correlation with the initial GCS score and the status of basal cistern indicated significant difference of poor outcome rate in the patients with absent or compressed basal cisterns between GCS score 3-5 group and GCS 6-8 group while the patients with normal basal cisterns indicated significantly reduced poor outcome rate regardless of GCS score. 3) When outcome was observed in connection with the patient's age and the status of the basal cisterns, a good recovery was significantly increased in the children with normal basal cisterns while the poor outcome rate was very high in the elderly patients even if the basal cisterns were normal. Therefore, the status of the basal cisterns on CT Scan should be used as non-invasive method for predicting the outcome of severe diffuse head injured patients.
Aged ; Child ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Glasgow Outcome Scale ; Head* ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed*

We present a case of metameric arteriovenous malformation (AVM) in a neonate. The neonate appeared normal, except for a dimple and blue discoloration in the lower thoracic spine. Spinal ultrasonography revealed cutaneomeningiospinalangiomatosis in the thoracic spine. Spinal magnetic resonance imaging revealed a definite metameric AVM at the T10-T11 level and a cutaneous hemangioma at T11. The neonate was conclusively diagnosed with spinal metameric AVM at the T10-T11 level. The neonate was asymptomatic with no, abnormal physical or neurological complications, including urinary incontinence, fecal incontinence, or muscle weakness.
Arteriovenous Malformations* ; Fecal Incontinence ; Hemangioma ; Humans ; Infant ; Infant, Newborn* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Muscle Weakness ; Spinal Cord* ; Spine ; Ultrasonography ; Urinary Incontinence

Anastomosis of rat common carotid artery was performed by applying four crossed-fixing sutures and by mantling with human fibrinogen-thrombin glue. There was a 97% patency rate 24 hours after surgery, and the anastomosed vessels were still patent on the 7th and 30th postoperative days. Aneurysm formation was absent but stenotic change was seen to 1 case of 8 angiographic studies. Histopathological studies of microvascular anastomosis showed that this surgical technique of anastomosis has certain advantages, namely that it reduces the number of sutures needed, is less traumatic to the vascular wall, ensures elastic vascular junction, and the glue used possess high biological inertness that provides a better physiological connection of vessels than conventional suturing. The duration of the clipping and the operation is significantly reduced. A tensile strength test 24 hours following operation and 1 week later showed that this anastomosis was significantly better than that achieved with the usual manual suture method. The author therefore concludes that this new surgical technique of microvascular anastomosis may be valuable in microvascular neurosurgery.
Adhesives ; Aneurysm ; Animals ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Fibrin Tissue Adhesive* ; Fibrin* ; Humans ; Neurosurgery ; Rats ; Sutures ; Tensile Strength

Few patients with traumatic aortic laceration remain undiagnosed and survive long enough to develop a chronic aneurysm. Such aneurysms are frequently asymptomatic: alternatively, they may manifest chest pain, dysphagia, bronchial irritation, or sudden death. A case of aortobronchial fistula secondary to a chronic post-traumatic aneurysm of the aortic isthmus is presented. Hemoptysis was the main sign. The affected segment of the thoracic aorta was repaired with a Hemashield patch and a left upper lobectomy was performed.
Aneurysm ; Aorta, Thoracic ; Chest Pain ; Death, Sudden ; Deglutition Disorders ; Fistula* ; Hemoptysis ; Humans ; Lacerations ; Thorax*