Benzene and toluene, which are widely used aromatic hydrocarbons in workplace, are recently proved to cause health hazards due to their toxic effects. This study investigated the influence of toluene on the urinary excretion of benzene metabolite by administering short term exposure limit(STEL) of these compounds(i.e., 13.8mg/kg of benzene and 108.8mg/kg of toluene) intraperitoneally into Sprague-Dawley rats. After administration, urinary phenol concentration of rat was measured by gas chromatography for every three hours. Data were analyzed by non-parametric statistical methods using Kruskal-Wallis multi-sample test and Mann-Whitney U test. The following results were obtained: 1. Administration of STFL-benzene increased urinary phenol concentration in rats. 2. Urinary phenol concentration was increased logarithmically according to the dosage of benzene. 3. Excretion of phenol in urine was decreased when benzene and toluene were administered simultaneously compared with administering benzene alone. In Summary, these results reveal that administration of STEL of toluene has antagonistic effect of urinary excretion of benzene metabolite in rats.
Animals ; Benzene* ; Chromatography, Gas ; Hydrocarbons, Aromatic ; Metabolism* ; Phenol ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Threshold Limit Values ; Toluene

Most of pneumoconiosis found in Korea can be categorized in coal worker's pneumoconiosis. However, in recent years, pneumoconiosis has been frequently found in the workers of manufacturing factories. Accordingly, this study was carried out to investigate relationship of dust exposure history and development and progress of pneumoconiosis. Chest radiographs, history of dust exposure, and other data of 144 workers, who were diagnosed as suspecter pneumoconiosis (0/l) or pneumoconiosis in special health examination center in Incheon from 1986 to 1996, were reviewed. The results were as follows ; 1. According to the type of main exposure, most common type of exposure was foundry dust(93workers, 64.6%), followed by welding fume(16workers, 11.1%), talc dust, lime dust and etc. 2. Among 144 workers, the history of dust exposure was investigated in 86 workers. Mean ages of 86 workers at the present study, initial exposure to the dusts, and at the time of initial diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis were 52.1, 29.1 and 46.5 years, respectively. The mean duration of exposure was 17.3 years. 3. Comparing the type of main exposure with dust exposure history, initially exposed age of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 24.6, 30.7, 28.0 and 28.5 years, respectively. Ages at the time of diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis of welders, foundry workers, coal dust and other dusts were 41.3, 49.3, 46.4 and 44.1 years, respectively. The duration of exposure to main dust of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 16.8, 18.2, 13.3 and 11.6 years, respectively. Therefore initially exposed age was significant difference between the welders and the foundry workers (p<.05). Age which was diagnosed pneumoconiosis was significant difference between the welders, workers exposed to other dusts and the foundry workers (p<.01). And exposure duration of main dust was significant difference between the workers exposed to other dusts and foundry workers (p<.01) 4. Initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers were category 0/l (76workers, 52.8%), 1/0 (35workers, 24.3%) Therefore, workers' pneumoconiosis of manufacturing factories was mild, relatively. And there was no significant difference between initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers and dust exposure history. 5. Among 97 workers, who could follow up more than 1 year, 60 workers(61.9%) were not changed, 24 workers (24.7%) were progressed, 13 workers (13.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. Among 11 welders, initially diagnosed X-ray category of 5 welders(45.5%) were improved and of only 1 welder was progressed. But, among 19 workers exposed to other dusts, 10 (52.6%) workers were progressed and none of them were improved. 6. Among 53 workers, who were Initially diagnosed X-ray category was 0/l, 12 workers (22.6%) were progressed and 5 workers (9.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. And among 40 workers, who were initially diagnosed X-ray category was 1, 12 workers(30.0%) were progressed and 7 workers(17.5%) were improved. Above results suggest that not a few workers of manufacturing factories have pneumoconiosis and their pneumoconiosis is progressed. Therefore, we have to prepare management plan and to study epidemiologic findings of pneumoconiosis with workers of manufacturing factories.
Anthracosis ; Coal ; Diagnosis ; Dust ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incheon* ; Korea ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Talc ; Welding

Most of pneumoconiosis found in Korea can be categorized in coal worker's pneumoconiosis. However, in recent years, pneumoconiosis has been frequently found in the workers of manufacturing factories. Accordingly, this study was carried out to investigate relationship of dust exposure history and development and progress of pneumoconiosis. Chest radiographs, history of dust exposure, and other data of 144 workers, who were diagnosed as suspecter pneumoconiosis (0/l) or pneumoconiosis in special health examination center in Incheon from 1986 to 1996, were reviewed. The results were as follows ; 1. According to the type of main exposure, most common type of exposure was foundry dust(93workers, 64.6%), followed by welding fume(16workers, 11.1%), talc dust, lime dust and etc. 2. Among 144 workers, the history of dust exposure was investigated in 86 workers. Mean ages of 86 workers at the present study, initial exposure to the dusts, and at the time of initial diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis were 52.1, 29.1 and 46.5 years, respectively. The mean duration of exposure was 17.3 years. 3. Comparing the type of main exposure with dust exposure history, initially exposed age of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 24.6, 30.7, 28.0 and 28.5 years, respectively. Ages at the time of diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis of welders, foundry workers, coal dust and other dusts were 41.3, 49.3, 46.4 and 44.1 years, respectively. The duration of exposure to main dust of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 16.8, 18.2, 13.3 and 11.6 years, respectively. Therefore initially exposed age was significant difference between the welders and the foundry workers (p<.05). Age which was diagnosed pneumoconiosis was significant difference between the welders, workers exposed to other dusts and the foundry workers (p<.01). And exposure duration of main dust was significant difference between the workers exposed to other dusts and foundry workers (p<.01) 4. Initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers were category 0/l (76workers, 52.8%), 1/0 (35workers, 24.3%) Therefore, workers' pneumoconiosis of manufacturing factories was mild, relatively. And there was no significant difference between initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers and dust exposure history. 5. Among 97 workers, who could follow up more than 1 year, 60 workers(61.9%) were not changed, 24 workers (24.7%) were progressed, 13 workers (13.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. Among 11 welders, initially diagnosed X-ray category of 5 welders(45.5%) were improved and of only 1 welder was progressed. But, among 19 workers exposed to other dusts, 10 (52.6%) workers were progressed and none of them were improved. 6. Among 53 workers, who were Initially diagnosed X-ray category was 0/l, 12 workers (22.6%) were progressed and 5 workers (9.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. And among 40 workers, who were initially diagnosed X-ray category was 1, 12 workers(30.0%) were progressed and 7 workers(17.5%) were improved. Above results suggest that not a few workers of manufacturing factories have pneumoconiosis and their pneumoconiosis is progressed. Therefore, we have to prepare management plan and to study epidemiologic findings of pneumoconiosis with workers of manufacturing factories.
Anthracosis ; Coal ; Diagnosis ; Dust ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incheon* ; Korea ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Talc ; Welding

In some blepharochalasis patients, upper blepharoplasty alone is not satisfactory because of narrow distance between eyebrow and eyelash. On that occasion, eyebrow lift is advisable. There are many methods of classical eyebrow lift, such as direct excision, transblepharoplasty approach, anterior hairline technique, and so on. But they are not so effective, have a tendency to recur and also give rise to side effects; unacceptable scar, facial nerve palsy, sensory loss and hematoma, etc. Some patients who have prominent nasolabial folds, are reluctant to perform face lift procedure due to psychologic or economic burden. The authors performed the eyebrow lift procedure separately or simultaneously with face lift or forehead lift. After making 2 or 3 slit incisions, we passed absorbable suture material, 3-0 vicryl, through suborbicularis oculi fat layer. Then it was passed through subperiosteal plane and fixated to the temporalis fascia. When patients complain prominent nasolabial folds, malar fat pad was elevated also in the same manner. This methods is effective and has minimal complication such as facial nerve palsy, scar, sensory loss. Recurrent tendency was rarely observed during follow- up. Dimples were observed at slit incision sites but they disappeared within 2 or 3 weeks. Eyebrow lift and malar fat lift by absorbable suture elevation with subperiosteal dissection is a simple and less morbid. Because of its effectiveness and little side effect or complication, this procedure can be a useful method.
Adipose Tissue ; Blepharoplasty ; Cicatrix ; Eyebrows* ; Facial Nerve ; Fascia ; Forehead ; Hematoma ; Humans ; Nasolabial Fold ; Paralysis ; Polyglactin 910 ; Rhytidoplasty ; Sutures*

The purpose of this study was to find a better evaluation method by comparison and analysis of the subdivision-score for preventive medicine with other subjects and total score. Among the 475 students who were second grade in 1983, 1984 and 1985, we analyzed the scores for all subjects at Yonsei University College of Medicine obtained by 443 students, with the exception of 32 students who had a temporary absence from school, failed or had been expelled. And we analyzed the score for preventive medicine of 162 students who were second grade in 1987 and 179 students who were second grade in 1988. Statistical analysis of the above was done using the correlation analysis, chi-square test and discriminating index. The results were as follows: 1. The correlations of the subdivision of preventive medicine in 1984, 1987 and 1988 were statistical significantly high(r=0.36-0.56). 2. The grades obtained for preventive medicine and for other subjects except pediatrics (clerkship) were not independent. 3. The discriminating indices that determined whether or not a pertinent evaluation was made were 0.42 in 1983, 0.52 in 1984 and 0.54 n 1985. These results were classified as excellent. These results suggest that the score of a subject is determined not by the characteristics of the subject, but by the amount of personal study.
Humans ; Pediatrics ; Preventive Medicine*

Breast surgery is fully justified only in aesthetic perspectives. Although there are largely two areas in breast surgery, reconstruction and aesthetic, they frequently overlap each other. A reconstructed breast, therefore, should be aesthetically as natural as possible and similar to the contralateral one, even if this means reproducing some little defects. The authors present our experience of recent 6 years in breast reconstruction with an aesthetic eye and an artistic touch, and illustrate personal tips and technical adjustments: use of anatomical prostheses, autologous tissue transfer, axillary fold and nipple-areola complex reconstruction, including augmentation mammaplasty(implant, fat injection) and reduction mammaplasty. In 6 years, 178 cases of breast surgery were performed. Breast reconstruction(post-mastectomy, post burn deformity, congenital deformity etc) was 106 cases. There were 83 TRAM free flap cases, 10 Latissimus dorsi free flap cases. 7 cases using tissue expander and breast implant and 6 were fat graft cases. Number of breast augmentation was 35(25 submuscular, 10 subglandular). Breast reduction procedure was performed in 37 cases(13 periareolar, 8 vertical, 14 inferior pyramidal and 2 free nipple graft technique). The factors characterizing aesthetic results are profiles of breast(projection, inframammary fold location, superficial evenness, and ptosis), symmetry, axillary fold, areola, and nipple. In every procedure, we take account above factors, and results were satisfactory both surgically and aesthetically.
Breast Implants ; Breast* ; Burns ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Female ; Free Tissue Flaps ; Humans ; Mammaplasty ; Nipples ; Prostheses and Implants ; Superficial Back Muscles ; Tissue Expansion Devices ; Transplants

Amyloidosis is defined by tissue deposits of amyloid, which cause both functional and structural damage to organs. Three histopathological types of pulmonary amyloidosis have been described: tracheobronchial, nodular parenchymal, and diffuse parenchymal or alveolar septal types. Diffuse alveolar septal involvement of the lung is a rare form of primary pulmonary amyloidosis, with radiological features similar to those of pulmonary edema, pulmonary fibrosis, and lymphangitic carcinomatosis. Therefore, it is always challenging to diagnose alveolar septal involvement of pulmonary amyloidosis. Here, we report a case of alveolar septal involvement of pulmonary amyloidosis mimicking lymphangitic carcinomatosis, which was diagnosed from a transbronchial lung biopsy.
Amyloid ; Amyloidosis* ; Biopsy ; Carcinoma* ; Lung* ; Lymphatic Metastasis ; Multiple Myeloma ; Pulmonary Edema ; Pulmonary Fibrosis

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the association between catecholamine levels and skin prick test results among children. METHODS: Two hundred eight first grade children from one elementary school were invited to participate in this study. Skin prick test (SPT) for six allergens (2 house dust mites, cat, dog, mugwort, and pollen mixture) was performed, and patient demographic information was recorded. The parents were surveyed using questionnaires about rhinitis-related symptoms. Finally, venous blood sampling was done to measure catecholamine levels (epinephrine, norepinephrine, and dopamine) by high-performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Out of 208 children, 174 (106 boys and 68 girls) enrolled in this study. Ninety-six of the children (55%) had negative SPT (nonsensitization group), while 78 (45%) had a positive SPT to at least one of six allergens (sensitization group). The diagnosis of chronic rhinitis was more prevalent in the sensitization group (35.9%) than nonsensitization group (26.0%), however the finding was not significant (P=0.186). Epinephrine levels were decreased between the sensitization group compared to the nonsensitization group (P=0.004). There was no difference in norepinephrine and dopamine levels (P>0.05). CONCLUSION: Epinephrine levels are lower in children with positive SPT compared to controls, however, the level of the catecholamine was not associated with the presence or absence of rhinitis symptoms.
Allergens ; Animals ; Artemisia ; Cats ; Child* ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Diagnosis ; Dogs ; Dopamine ; Epinephrine* ; Humans ; Norepinephrine ; Parents ; Pollen ; Pyroglyphidae ; Rhinitis ; Skin Tests ; Skin*

Proinflammatory cytokines and their receptors are increased in the peripheral blood of patients with heart failure. We measured cytokines and their receptors in systemic artery (SA), coronary sinus (CS) and infra-renal inferior vena cava (IVC), in order to investigate their origin and influential factors. Thirty patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were performed echocardiography at admission, and right heart catheterization after stabilization. Blood was drawn from 3 sites for measurement of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interleukin-6 (IL-6) and soluble tumor necrosis factor- receptor (sTNFR) I, II. TNF-alpha at CS (3.25+/-0.34 pg/mL) was higher than those of SA (1.81+/-0.39 pg/mL) and IVC (1.88+/-0.38 pg/mL, p<0.05). IL-6 at CS (18.3+/-3.8 pg/mL) was higher than that of SA (5.8+/-1.2 pg/mL, p<0.01). The levels of sTNFR I, II showed increasing tendency in sequence of SA, IVC and CS. TNF-alpha and sTNFR I, II from all sites were proportional to worsening of functional classes at admission (p<0.05). E/Ea by Doppler study at admission, which reflects left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) was positively correlated with TNF-alpha from SA (R=0.71, p<0.01), CS (R=0.52, p<0.05) and IVC (R=0.46, p<0.05). Thus, elevated LVEDP during decompensation might cause cytokine release from myocardium in patients with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiomyopathy, Congestive/*blood/*immunology ; Female ; Heart/anatomy & histology ; Hemodynamic Processes ; Human ; Interleukin-6/*blood ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Receptors, Tumor Necrosis Factor/*blood ; Statistics ; Tumor Necrosis Factor/*metabolism

Although pandemic community-associated (CA-) methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) ST30 clone has successfully spread into many Asian countries, there has been no case in Korea. We report the first imported case of infection caused by this clone in a Korean traveler returning from the Philippines. A previously healthy 30-yr-old Korean woman developed a buttock carbuncle while traveling in the Philippines. After coming back to Korea, oral cephalosporin was given by a primary physician without any improvement. Abscess was drained and MRSA strain isolated from her carbuncle was molecularly characterized and it was confirmed as ST30-MRSA-IV. She was successfully treated with vancomycin and surgery. Frequent international travel and migration have increased the risk of international spread of CA-MRSA clones. The efforts to understand the changing epidemiology of CA-MRSA should be continued, and we should raise suspicion of CA-MRSA infection in travelers with skin infections returning from CA-MRSA-endemic countries.
Adult ; Bacterial Toxins/metabolism ; Carbuncle/microbiology ; Cephalosporins/therapeutic use ; Community-Acquired Infections/drug therapy/microbiology ; Exotoxins/metabolism ; Female ; Humans ; Leukocidins/metabolism ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*isolation & purification ; Philippines ; Republic of Korea ; Staphylococcal Skin Infections/*drug therapy/surgery ; Travel ; Vancomycin/therapeutic use