We investigated the cold reaction of fingers in cold water as a criterion of peripheral resistance to frostbite in order to obtain elementary data to improve farmers' health. Experiments were carried out on 81 farmers and 64 urbanites at 20±2°C, 55±5% RH with sitting position on the floor. The finger skin temperatures of the subjects were measured while the left middle finger of each subject was immersed in cold water or 0°C for 30 minutes and recorded once every one minute with the thermistor. We also compiled statistics on the following items: mean finger skin temperature (MST), finger skin temperature at initial rising after immersion (TFR), time for the appearance of initial rising after immersion (TTR), cold resistance index (RI), etc. The results were as follows RI was higher in farmers than in urbanites, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. In men, RI was lower in farmers than in urbanites, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. By contrast, in women, TFR and RI were significantly higher in farmers than in urbanites. MST was significantly higer in women than in men, but RI was no statistically significant difference. By age, the men in their 30's showed significantly the highest MST and the shortest TFR. RI was significantly higher in the men in their 30's than others. In women, however, the difference in RI was of no statistical significance. By region, MST was the highest in Seoul dwellers. RI was the highest in Okku dwellers, but there was no statistically significant difference among regions.
These results indicated that farmers tended to be higher than urbanites in cold resistance index.

There is room for debate in appropriate diagnosis and treatment due to physiological and anatomical differences in pediatric facial bone fractures from that of adult's. The objectives of this article is to analyze for our clinical cases and to suggest the appropriate management of facial bone fracture in children. The study included 56 children who had treatment for the craniofacial fractures form March, 1990 to February, 1998. Their ages ranged from 3 to 15. There were 38 males and 18 females. Physical examination, simple x-rays, ultrasonograms and routine CT scans were used for diagnosis. Materials were classified into 28 nasal bone fractures, 4 nasoethmoidal fractures, 6 orbital fractures, 8 mandible fractures, and 10 zygoma fractures. Patients were treated with conservative treatment in 9 cases, with closed reduction in 28 cases and open reduction only, and 14 patients with open reduction and internal fixation using microplates and screws. 3 patients needed autogenous calvarial bone graft. Plates and screws were removed in postoperative 3-6 months. All patients had successful union of fractured bones without no specific complications, and normal bony growths were noticed during the 7 years follow up. We conclude that surgeons should be careful in diagnosis and management for the pediatric facial fracture due to anatomical variations and differences in fracture aspects. First, it is mandatory for surgeous to get accurate diagnosis and identify children's fracture and displacement through routine CT check up along with physical examination. Second, it is important to perform the minimally invasive technique or conservative treatment for the children with mild displacement so that it reduces the incidence of growth retardation which may be caused by extensive operation. However, application of rigid fixation is necessary in case of extensive bony displacement or bony defects because of poor coorporation in postoperative care. Third, plates and screws which were used for the internal fixation should be removed at 3-6 months after the surgery. Fourth, if bone graft is needed, it is better to use autogenous graft than allogeneous graft. Fifth, care for dentition and follow up for growth are necessary for growing children.
Child ; Dentition ; Diagnosis ; Facial Bones* ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Mandible ; Nasal Bone ; Orbital Fractures ; Physical Examination ; Postoperative Care ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Transplants ; Ultrasonography ; Zygoma

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study is to determine the efficacy of rapid karyotyping from fetal ascitic fluid. METHODS: In three cases of isolated fetal ascites diagnosed by prenatal ultrasonography, ultrasound guided fetal paracentesis and amniocentesis were performed and successfully obtained. Fetal karyotyping in each case at 29, 30 and 32 weeks gestation using modified lymphocyte culture method was conducted. RESULTS: The chromosomal analysis was successful within 72 hours and abnormalities were detected in two cases and revealed trisomy 21 in each case. Our study demonstrated that the majority distribution of white blood cells was lymphocytes which ranged from 2.1 * 10(6) cells/ml to 3.7 * 10(6) cells/ml and the cell density for culture was at least than 0.35 * 10(6) cells/ml. CONCLUSION: The use of ascitic fluid as a cell source to achieve rapid fetal karyotyping can be valuable when cordocenteis or amniocentesis would be technically more difficult, or when rapid result is required for planning of perinatal management at late second or third trimester gestational age.
Amniocentesis ; Ascites ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Cell Count ; Cytogenetics* ; Diagnosis* ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Karyotyping ; Leukocytes ; Lymphocytes ; Paracentesis ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third ; Ultrasonography ; Ultrasonography, Prenatal

The symmetrical peripheral gangrene syndrome consists of sudden onset of symmetrical gangrene of the fingers, toes and more raely, the nose, upper lip, ear lobes, or genitalia. There is no evidence of occulusion of large vessels or vasculitis. We experienced a case of symmetrical peripheral gangrene developed in fingers and toes with disseminated intravascular coagulation in 20 day-old permature infant with sepsis by Enterobacter aerogenes. Thereafter, we presented a case with a brief review of the related literatures.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Ear ; Enterobacter aerogenes ; Fingers ; Gangrene* ; Genitalia ; Humans ; Infant ; Lip ; Nose ; Sepsis ; Toes ; Vasculitis

No abstract available.
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome*

The purpose of this study was to explore the change of muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and activities of daily living to develop a rehabilitational program. The subjects were selected randomly among the patients who underwent kidney transplantations at one major transplantation hospital in Seoul, Korea. This study was carried out between November 23, 1999 and February 15, 2000. The subjects in this study consisted of 16 patients who had kidney transplantations between 1 month and 12 months ago prior to this study. They were all on steroids and did not take any physical exercise regularly. The muscle strength, muscle endurance, flexibility and activities of daily living were evaluated at 1st week and after 12 weeks. The data were analyzed with numbers, percentiles, mean, standard deviation and t-test. The results were as follows: 1. After 12 weeks, the grip strength was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0002). 2. After 12 weeks, the back lift strength was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0002). 3. After 12 weeks, the muscle endurance was increased than 1st week, but it was not significant(p=.5487). After 12 weeks, the flexibility was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0002). 5. After 12 weeks, the activities of daily living was significantly decreased than 1st week (p=.0006). Like the above result, the kidney transplant receipients' muscle strength, flexibility and activities of daily living were reduced. In order to solve this problem, the writer has found that program development to prevent the defects should be extremely required. Since now on the number of patients should expand. After the kidney transplantation, the periods of 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks are extended. The writer proposes to examine the different phase of change in each periods.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Exercise ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Kidney Transplantation ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Muscle Strength* ; Pliability* ; Program Development ; Seoul ; Steroids ; Transplantation*

No abstract available.
Bone Marrow* ; Histiocytes* ; Niemann-Pick Diseases*

2 patients of forearm deformities with ulnar defect and radial head dislocation were treated with the Ilizarov apparatus at Chungnam University Hospital. One patient had a severe hypoplastic remnant-like ulnar fragment and a anterolaterally dislocated radial head due to complicated osteomyelitis of ulnar. We applied an Ilizarov apparatus to transport the radial head distally, and fixed to remaining proximal ulnar fragment. The other had a large bony defect at the ulnar shaft and a dislocated radial head due to complicated osteomyelitis of ulna. We performed internal transport of ulna to decreased the ulnar defect and to descend the dislocated radial head. The clinical-radiological features and functional results of those 2 forearm deformities were described with brief review of the articles about the Ilizarov method for correction of forearm defor- mities.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Dislocations ; Forearm ; Head ; Humans ; Ilizarov Technique ; Osteomyelitis ; Ulna

No abstract available.
Mycoplasma pneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma* ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Mycoplasma*

Since the last 100 years, physicians from many countries have been taking collective action. However, the media, civic groups, and the government have denounced them as inhuman and unethical. This study comprehensively analyzed the background and results of physicians’ collective actions that occurred in countries around the world, and reviewed the issues surrounding them. Among 314 cases in 70 countries discussed in the literature, 180 cases in 65 countries were analyzed. Of these 180 cases, 111 (61.7%) were successful, indicating that collective action has brought favorable results to physicians. Furthermore, 177 out of 301 requirements brought favorable results (58.8%). The main reason for collective actions was ‘improvement of working conditions’, which includes improving the medical and the reimbursement systems, adjusting working hours and wages, increasing manpower, supporting medical research, and improving other working environment and conditions. This study is significant because it provides statistical data on the causes and results of collective actions taken by physicians in countries around the world.