OBJECTIVE: The accuracy of analytical results of blood and urine heavy metals came out to the main issue on occupational health from late eighties. The discrepancy of the results for same samples from different laboratories made the diagnosis for occupational diseases be unreliable. Therefore, a quality control program for analysis of samples taken from workplace had been introduced in Korea since 1992. This study aims to show the quality control program f'or analysis of blood and urine samples and its proficient rates from 1992 to 1999 and to know how they have been being used in occupational health. METHODS: The quality control program runs twice a year with mandatory items of blood lead and urine hippuvic acid and voluntary items of blood cadmium and manganese and urine mandellic acid and methyl hippuric acid. Participant laboratories are receiving three levels for each items and two out of three samples have to be qualified for being a proficient laboratory for the item. The acceptable range of blood lead and urine hippuric acid is +/-15% and that of the others is within 3 SD(standard deviation) from the reference values. RESULTS: The proficient rates of blood lead and urine hippuric acid was 89%, 90%, repectively, however those of the other voluntary items have been from 51% to 62%. The proficient rates of urine mercury and urine N-methylformamide(NMF), which are introduced since 1999, were very poor. Urine hippuric acid and blood lead were analyzed frequently for the purpose of biological monitoring conducting by special health examination organizations. Urine and blood manganese and urine metabolites of trichloroethylene, urine phenol, methylhippuric acid and cadmium were followed. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, the quality control program for biological monitoring has dramatically improve the ability of analysing blood and urine samples and eventually contributes to diagnose occupational diseases and to prevent occupational poisoning. However, some biological monitoring data, such as urine manganese, mercury and NMF, have been still reported from laboratories that were not accepted as a proficient laboratory.
Cadmium ; Diagnosis ; Environmental Monitoring ; Korea ; Manganese ; Metals, Heavy ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Health ; Phenol ; Poisoning ; Quality Control ; Reference Values ; Trichloroethylene

No abstract available.
Lung Injury* ; Lung* ; Paraquat*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to describe the anglographic finding and clinical result of transarterial embolotherapy(TAE) in patients with injuries of renal artery branches by blunt trauma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was based on retrospective analysis of seven cases, in which TAE was attempted for the control of traumatic renal arterial bleeding. All procedures were performed via the transfemoral approach. TAE was performed with stainless steel coil in two cases, Gelfoam in one case, and Gelfoam and stainless steel coil in four cases. RESULTS: Angiographic findings of vascular injuries were pseudoaneurysm in four cases, extravasation in two cases and arteriocalyceal fistula in one case. All procedures were performed successfully without complication. CONCLUSION: Pseudoaneurysm is a common anglographic finding in patients with injury of renal artery branches and TAE is considered a safe and effective method for treating such cases.
Aneurysm, False ; Embolization, Therapeutic* ; Fistula ; Gelatin Sponge, Absorbable ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Renal Artery* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stainless Steel ; Vascular System Injuries

In order to evaluate the confounding factors of neurobehavioral tests and the neurobehavioral effects in the workers exposed to organic solvents, NCTB was carried out on 100 workers. 46 workers had never been exposed to neurotoxic substances, and the others were being exposed to the solvents, mainly toluene. Simple reaction time, digit symbol, Santa Ana dexterity test and persuit aiming were different with age in non exposure group. Simple reaction time was carried out well in males, and digit symbol and persuit aiming were in females. There was no difference at educational level when the subject was educated over 12 years. Santa Ana dexterity and Benton visual test differed according to exposure level to toluene, however simple reaction time didn't. The acute neurotoxic effect was not excluded in this study. But, NCTB could be used to evaluate and prevent neurobehavioral changes in workers exposed to neurotoxic solvents in Korea.
Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Reaction Time ; Solvents* ; Toluene

Colitis cystica profunda is a benign disorder in which a mucous cyst is located in the submucosal layer of, primarily, the pelvic colon and rectum. Radiologic reports of the condition are rare. We report the radiological findings of a case of colitis cystica profunda arising from the proximal ascending colon near the ileocecal valve, and causing intussusception. We also review the literature.
Colitis* ; Colon ; Colon, Ascending ; Ileocecal Valve ; Intussusception* ; Rectum

Muscular hamartoma is a variant of breast hamartoma shown at microscopic examination to be composed of abundant smooth muscle cells. We report a case of muscular hamartoma occurring in a 35-year-old woman with an incidentally discovered breast mass, and confirmed by excisional biopsy. We also describe the radiologic and pathologic findings.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Female ; Hamartoma* ; Humans ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle

OBJECTIVES: Chronic pain is one of the most common experiences of humans and a typical psychophysiological disorder. The aim of this study was to measure the psychophysiological responses in chronic pain patients using a biofeedback system, and to compare them with the results from normal healthy subjects. METHODS: Forty two patients with chronic pain (17 males and 25 females, average age 44.67+/-11.10 years) and 42 normal healthy controls (17 males and 25 females, average age 45.17+/-10.46 years) participated in this study. Electromyography (EMG), skin conductance (SC), and skin temperature (ST) were recorded using biofeedback system during the 3 phases (baseline, stress, and recovery) of stress reactivity test, and average values of them were calculated. Difference of values between two groups in each corresponding phase was analyzed with independent t-test, and change of values across phases of stress reactivity test was analyzed with paired t-test (all two-tailed, p<0.05). RESULTS: Compared to normal controls, chronic pain patients had higher value of EMG (baseline : 8.10+/-5.97 micronV vs 4.72+/-1.52 micronV, t=-3.56, p<0.01 ; stress : 11.25+/-6.89 micronV vs 8.49+/-4.78 micronV, t=-2.13, p<0.05 ; recovery : 7.12+/-3.77 micronV vs 4.78+/-1.59 micronV, t= -3.70, p<0.01) and SC (baseline : 1.06+/-1.0 micronS vs 0.42+/-0.29 micronS, t=-4.0. p<0.01 ; stress : 1.87+/-2.05 micronS vs 1.03+/-0.86 micronS, t=-2.47, p<0.05 ; recovery : 1.74+/-1.77 micronS vs 0.64+/-0.59 micronS, t=-3.8, p<0.01) in all the 3 phases. But, skin temperature comparison did not reveal significant differences in all the 3 phases between two groups. CONCLUSION: Psychophysiological responses of chronic pain patients in stress reactivity test were different from those of normal healthy controls. These results suggest that sympathetic nervous system is more activated in chronic pain patients.
Biofeedback, Psychology ; Chronic Pain ; Electromyography ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Psychophysiology ; Skin ; Skin Temperature ; Sympathetic Nervous System

It is well known that anatomic variations affecting the ostiomeatal unit (OMU) become one of the causes of mucosal abnormalities of paranasal sinuses (PNS). Findings of coronal plane CT scans of PNS were analyzed in 95 patients with sinusitis or sinusitis-like complaints. Anatomical variations were seen in 88 cases of 60 patients. Mucosal abnormalities were seen in 27 of 47 cases with concha bullosa, 23 of 37 cases with enlarged ethmoid bulla, 8 of 33 cases with Agger nasi, 20 of 26 cases with nasoseptal deviation, 7 of 8 cases with Haller cell, 3 of 6 cases with duoble middle turbinate, 4 of 6 cases with medially bent uncinate process, 1 cases with laterally bent uncinate process, and 33 of 40 cases with mixed variations. Mucosal abnormalities in cases with antomical variations were detected in 61 cases, including maxillary sinus(51 cases), anterior ethmoid sinus (26 cases), frontal sinus (4 cases), and mixed (32 cases). Mucosal abnormalities without anatomical variations were detected in 13 cases involving maxillary sinuses (7 cases), anterior ethmoid sinuses (5 cases), and frontal sinus(1 cases). In conclusion, as coronal plane CT scan has the capability of dolineating anatomical variations and mucosal abnormalities of PNS, it is considered useful in evaluating the treatment and prognosis of chronic or recurrent sinusitis.
Ethmoid Sinus ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Meperidine ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Prognosis ; Sinusitis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Turbinates

It is well known that anatomic variations affecting the ostiomeatal unit (OMU) become one of the causes of mucosal abnormalities of paranasal sinuses (PNS). Findings of coronal plane CT scans of PNS were analyzed in 95 patients with sinusitis or sinusitis-like complaints. Anatomical variations were seen in 88 cases of 60 patients. Mucosal abnormalities were seen in 27 of 47 cases with concha bullosa, 23 of 37 cases with enlarged ethmoid bulla, 8 of 33 cases with Agger nasi, 20 of 26 cases with nasoseptal deviation, 7 of 8 cases with Haller cell, 3 of 6 cases with duoble middle turbinate, 4 of 6 cases with medially bent uncinate process, 1 cases with laterally bent uncinate process, and 33 of 40 cases with mixed variations. Mucosal abnormalities in cases with antomical variations were detected in 61 cases, including maxillary sinus(51 cases), anterior ethmoid sinus (26 cases), frontal sinus (4 cases), and mixed (32 cases). Mucosal abnormalities without anatomical variations were detected in 13 cases involving maxillary sinuses (7 cases), anterior ethmoid sinuses (5 cases), and frontal sinus(1 cases). In conclusion, as coronal plane CT scan has the capability of dolineating anatomical variations and mucosal abnormalities of PNS, it is considered useful in evaluating the treatment and prognosis of chronic or recurrent sinusitis.
Ethmoid Sinus ; Frontal Sinus ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Meperidine ; Paranasal Sinuses ; Prognosis ; Sinusitis ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Turbinates

Our experience of surgical management of 20 adrenal tumors was present during the period from June, 1988 to May, 1993. The results of clinical study were as follows ; 1. Average age of patients was 40.9 years with the highest incidence in sixth decade occupying 40% and male to female ratio was 1:1 and right to left ratio was equal also. 2. The adrenal tumors consist of 8 adrenocortical adenoma( including 3 primary aldosteronisms and 1 Cushing syndrome), 4 adrenocortical carcinoma(including 1 Cushing syndrome), 7 pheochromocytomas and l neuroblastoma. 3. The 11 functioning adrenal tumors( including 4 adrenocortical adenomas, 1 adrenocortica1 carcinoma and 6 pheochromocytomas) showed specific symptoms and signs and the majority symptom and sign of the 9 non-functioning adrenal tumors( including 4 adrenocortical adenomas, 3 adrenocortical carcinomas, 1 neuroblastoma and 1 pheochromocytoma) showed abdominal discomfort and pain. 4. For initial diagnosis of the adrenal tumors, USG, CT, MRI and angiography are reliable but IVP was reliable in large adrenal tumor 5. The surgical approaches were transperitoneal in 18 patients and retroperitoneal in 2 patients and postoperative surgical complication occurred in 3 patients of transperitoneal approaches that were prolonged ileus, spleen injury and pancreatic injury with pleural effusion.6. The tumor masses were 12gm to 4,000gm in weight (mean: 616gm). The adrenal benign and malignant tumor were significantly different in weight ( 120gm : 1817gm).
Adrenocortical Adenoma ; Adrenocortical Carcinoma ; Angiography ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Ileus ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Neuroblastoma ; Pheochromocytoma ; Spleen