It has been studied that a variety of fauna and flora are sensitive biological indicators which reflect the severity of regional pollution of heavy metals, but in the center of part of Taegu city the controversial issue of lead poisoning attributable to the atmosphere which contains an increased concentrations of lead has been raised recently, it is usually hard to find suitable plants or animal in the areas with heavy traffic. Pigeons are ubiquitous in and around Taegu city area, inhabiting even the most densely populated areas with heavy traffic with its small body size, high metabolic turnover, and rather limited mobility, a pigeon, as a biological indicator is expected. This study was conducted to monitor lead pollution in the Taegu and kyongju city in Korea. We measured the lead content of the various tissue of three groups of feral pigeon(Columbia livia) and soil and atmospheric lead concentration. First group was obtained io heavy traffic area in Taegu City, the second group was obtained a park in Taegu city and the third group was obtained light traffic area in kyongju city. The air and soil lead concentration of heavy traffic area in Taegu city was 0.11 microgram/m2, 4.96 microgram/g, that of park in Taegu city was 0.05 microgram/m3, 2.65 microgram/g and that of light traffic area in kyonngju city was 0.03 microgram/m3, 0.01 microgram/g. The lead content of lung, blood, kidney, femur and liver of feral pigeons in heavy traffic area in Taegu city was significantly higher than pigeons obtained in a park in Taegu city and low traffic density area in Kyonfju city(p<0.01). But stomach lead content of three group did not reflect a significant difference. In this study positive correlation was found between atmospheric lead concentrations and the concentration of lead in the pigeon's lung(r=0.5040, p<0.001), blood(r=0.3322, p<0.01), kidney(r=0.4824, p<0.001), femur(r=0.7214, p<0.001) and liverer (r=0.4836, p<0.01). we can also found positive correlation between soil lead concentrations and the concentration of lead in the pigeon's femur(r=0.4850, p<0.001), kidney(r=0.4850, p<0.001) and liver(r=0.4386, p<0.01). In the pigeon`s tissue there were significant correlations between concentration of lead in the blood and kidney(r=0.4818, p<0.001), femur(r= 0.6157, p<0.001) and liver(r=0.3889, p<0.001). In conclusion, at the heavy traffic area in Taegu city, lead concentrations found in the atmosphere and soil are reflected in the lead concentrations of different tissue of urban pigeons. It is suggested that the tissue of pigeons can be good biological indicators of environmental lead pollution.
Animals ; Atmosphere ; Body Size ; Columbidae ; Daegu ; Femur ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Kidney ; Korea ; Lead Poisoning ; Liver ; Lung ; Metals, Heavy ; Soil* ; Stomach

BACKGROUND: Diet and weight concerns are commonplace and almost accepted features of life for girls during adolescence. Until recently, younger age groups haue largely been ignored, as these concerns were thought to be a product of pubertal development and sexual maturity. Girls under the age of fifteen therefore, have been assumed to be free of the pressures experienced by adult women. However, this belief is now hard to sustain. The object of the present study was to investigate the self-perception and body shape satisfaction in different weight categories of boys and girls aged 12-years old in Korea. METHODS: In May, 1995, one hundred and sixty seven boys and one hundred and twenty girls from two schools in Seoul completed assessments of body-esteem, self-esteem, body shape preference. The children's body weight and height were also measured. RESULTS: The heaviest children expressed the most discontent, having a low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. By the age of 12, girls boys already differ in their body shape satisfaction and differ in their body shape aspirations. There was a significant effect of weight category on the children's body esteem(boys(P =.005), girls(P=.0001). Children in both extreme categories, under-and over-weight, had lower body-esteem scores than those in other weight categories. However, it was the overweight children who had the lowest. reported body-esteem. Body esteem was highest among girls in the 'slightly underweight' category and highest among boys on the 'average weight' category. There was no effects of either weight category or gender on the childrens appraisal of self-esteem. A comparison of the points chosen on the silhouette scales to reflect current and preferred body shapes revealed clear gender differences. Of the girls, 63% placed their preferred body shape at a point thinner than their currently perceived shape, while only 15% chose a broader figure. In contrast,, 41% of the boys rated their preferred figure as broader than their current perception, and 37% as thinner than their current perception. CONCLUSIONS: This study has noted a relationship between body weight and self-perception in 12-year old children. The heaviest children expressed low body-esteem, a desire for thinness. This pattern was more characteristic of girls than boys. Even at this age, well before they have completed physical maturation, girls are aspiring to a body shape which is thinner than their average. This discontent experienced by the heaviest children on this sample was apparent in their lower body-esteem and the distance between their current and preferred body shapes. The girls preference was for thinness, while in the boys it was for a body shape which was broader than their current shape. From their responses, it would appear that the boys' desire was not for fatness, but for a more athletic and muscular build.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aspirations (Psychology) ; Body Weight ; Child* ; Diet ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Overweight ; Self Concept ; Seoul ; Sports ; Thinness ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Child* ; Humans ; Infant*

No abstract available.
Body Image* ; Child* ; Food Habits* ; Gyeongsangnam-do* ; Humans ; Obesity*

PURPOSE: In order to evaluate the clinical features and visual prognosis of Leber's hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) associated with T14484C mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutation in Korean patients. METHODS: To evaluate the clinical feature of Korean LHON patients with T14484C mtDNA mutation, a retrospective chart review was performed on 14 patients who visited our clinic with the chief complaint of decreased visual acuity. RESULTS: All of the 14 patients experienced a significant decrease in visual acuity during the follow-up period. Eight of these patients (57%) showed an improvement in visual acuity of 20/50 or better in one or both eyes, and the remaining six patients (43%) showed visual acuities of 20/200 or worse in both eyes at the final follow-up. When the symptoms aggravated, ten patients (71%) showed central scotoma or cecocentral scotoma. Eleven of 12 patients (92%) who had undergone the Ishihara color vision test showed dyschromatopsia in the aggravated stage. Four patients had dyschromatopsia and three patients had central scotoma in both eyes even after visual recovery. There were no statistically significant differences in the age of onset or the nadir of visual acuity between the good visual recovery group and the non-recovery group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Korean LHON patients with the T14484C mutation showed relatively good visual prognosis similar to those of the Caucasian or Japanese patients but with remaining dyschromatopsia or central scotoma after visual recovery.
Age of Onset ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Color Vision ; DNA, Mitochondrial ; Eye ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Optic Atrophy, Hereditary, Leber ; Prognosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Scotoma ; Visual Acuity

An alkali burn of the cornea severely damages not only the epithelium but also the underlying keratocytes and endothelium, the extracellular matrix is thought to play an important role in burn wound healing of the cornea. The glycoprotein CD44 of extracellular matrix has been implicated in biological cell behavior, including lymphocyte binding to endothelial venules, embryonic development cell migration, cell differentiation, and tumor metastasis. The purpose of this study is to investigate the presence and distribution of CD44 in wound healing using immunohistochemical staining method after alkali burning of rabbit cornea. 2 hour after burn, there was no immunodeposit for CD44 at keratocytes and endothelial cells at denuded epithelial burn area. 4 hours postburn, the epithelial cell gradually migrated over the burn area from the peripheral unburn area and immunodepositive staining of the keratocytes was observed at the margin of burn site. 24 hours postburn, immunopositive reaction for CD44 at adjacent alkali burn area was more strongly labeled, but the peripheral epithelial response of unburn area was faintly labeled by them. 48 hours postburn, immunopositive reaction gradually shifted from the border portion of alkali burn to the center portion of burn site. On days 7, the epithelium was completely reepithelized over the burn area and 3 weeks postburn, immunostaining were demonstrated the entire layer of burn site. The recovering time of the nornal immunostaing for CD44 of the rabbit cornea from the alkali burn was taken about 7 weeks. Our results suggest that the CD44 protein can be seen in proliferating in the epithelial cells, the keratocytes end endothelial cells, and is thought to play an important role in wound healing of the alkali burn cornea.
Alkalies* ; Burns* ; Cell Differentiation ; Cell Movement ; Cornea ; Embryonic Development ; Endothelial Cells ; Endothelium ; Epithelial Cells ; Epithelium ; Extracellular Matrix ; Female ; Glycoproteins ; Lymphocytes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pregnancy ; Venules ; Wound Healing* ; Wounds and Injuries*

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to estimate the risk factors affecting the farmers'syndrome of vinylhouse and non-vinylhouse farmers in the Gyeongbuk Province rural area. METHODS: As a cross-sectional study, a questionnaire survey was conducted from 2003 to 2005. Data was collected from 243 vinylhouse farmers and 236 non-vinylhouse farmers. The data from 394 subjects were used for the final analysis. We surveyed their lifestyle, 8 components of farmers'syndrome and characteristics of farm work. RESULTS: For the vinylhouse and non-vinylhouse workers, 32.0% and 34.0% were positive for farmers syndrome, while 48.3% and 43.5% were suspicious, respectively. The differences between the two groups were not significant. For both groups, the most frequent symptom of farmers'syndrome was lumbago, followed by paresthesia of hand or foot, and shoulder stiffness. Among the vinylhouse workers, the rates of wearing protective equipment and washing the skin after spraying pesticide were significantly lower than among the non-vinylhouse workers. From multiple logistic regression analysis, the risk factors significantly associated with farmers'syndrome were sex {odds ratio (OR)=3.12, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.42-6.89} and hours of farming per day (OR=2.63, 95%CI=1.22-5.65) among vinylhouse workers. However, sex (OR=4.24, 95%CI=1.87-9.65) was the only the risk factor significantly associated with farmers'syndrome among the non-vinylhouse workers. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, educational programs and attention to the female farmers were needed in particular. In addition, it was recommended that the farmers wear protective equipment continuously from opening the coverlets of the pesticide container to the completion of pesticide spraying, and wash the skin immediately after contact with pesticides.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Foot ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Hand ; Humans ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Low Back Pain ; Paresthesia ; Pesticides ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Shoulder ; Skin

Fluoride is one of the most potent stimulators of bone formation in vivo. But its direct effects on osteoblast is not yet clear. This study was to investigate the effects of Sodium fluoride on alkaline phosphatase(ALP) activity, cAMP formation responsive to parathormone(PTH) and type I alpha 2 collagen ribonucleic acid (mRNA) level in Murin osteoblast-like (MC3T3-E1) cells. The cells were cultured in alpha -Minimal essential medium ( alpha -MEM) supplement with 10% fetal bovine serum (FBS) and then changed to 0.1% FBS with various concentration of Sodium fluoride. The ALP activity was assayed by the method of Lowry with disodium phenyl phosphated as substrate. cAMP formation was measured by Radioimmuno Assay(RlA). Type I alpha 2 collagen ribonucleic acid(mRNA) expression was studied by Nothern blot analysis. The results were as follows: 1. cAMP level was increased by PTH in MC3T3-E1 cells. 2. Sodium fluoride showed the tendency of inhibitory effects on cAMP responsiveness to PTH in MC3T3-E1 cells. 3. Sodium fluoride increased ALP activity at cocentration of 2micrometer, 4micrometer, and 10micrometer significantly different from control at the 0.001 level. ALP activity revealed maximum value at 10micrometer in this study. 4. Nothern blot analysis of Sodium fluoride treated cells, using Type I alpha 2 collagen prove, revealed significant increase at 10micrometer in MC3T3-E1 cells.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Collagen* ; Fluorides ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteogenesis ; RNA* ; Sodium Fluoride* ; Sodium*

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the color stability of resin cements with accelerated test. Four dual curing resin cements: Panavia-F (KURARAY), Duolink (BISCO), Variolink-II (Ivoclar Vivadent), and RelyX Unicem (3M ESPE) and 1 self curing resin cement: Resiment CE (j. l. Blosser) were used in this study. In control group, Gradia Anterior (GC) composite resin and Tescera Dentin (Bisco) indirect composite were used. Ten disk shape specimens were made from each resin cement. The specimens were subjected to an accelerated aging process in a refrigerated bath circulator at 60degrees C for 15 and 30 days. Spectrophotometric analyses were made before and after 15 days and 30 days of accelerated aging time. The color characteristics (L*, a*, b*) and the color difference (DeltaE*) of the specimens before and after immersion were measured and computed. Regardless of type of the resin cements, L* value was decreased and a* value was increased, but there were no significant difference. But b* value was increased significantly (p < 0.05). Tescera inlay showed least color change (p < 0.05), but Gradia showed notable color change after 15 days. After 30 days on accelerated aging, DeltaE* value was increased (Panavia-F < Variolink-II < Resiment CE < Duolink < Unicem) (p < 0.05), but there were no significant difference among Panavia-F, Variolink-II, and Resiment CE groups. After 30 days of accelerated aging, DeltaE* value of all resin cements were greater than 3.0 and could be perceived by the human eye.
Aging ; Baths ; Composite Resins ; Dentin ; Dentin-Bonding Agents ; Eye ; Humans ; Immersion ; Inlays ; Resin Cements

Almost all cases of acute methanol intoxication result from ingestion. Absorption of methanol following oral administration is rapid and peak concentration occurs within 30-60 min. Foromic acid converted metabolites of methanol are responsible for its toxic effect. Methanol poisoning typically induces nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and mild central nervous system depression. Then there is a latent period lasting, followed by an uncompensated metabolic acidosis and visual dysfunction, depending on the dose of methanol ingested. Here we report on three patients who were victims of methanol intoxication due to ingestion of windshield washer fluid, which was misidentified as an alcoholic beverage. One patient had a mild form, which included abdominal discomfort, another patient had a moderate case, which included nausea, vomiting, and acidosis, and the other patient had severe acidosis and altered mentality and visual dysfunction. Except one case of visual dysfunction, all three patients recovered successfully following medical treatment and hemodialysis.
Abdominal Pain ; Absorption ; Acidosis ; Administration, Oral ; Alcoholic Beverages ; Alcoholics ; Central Nervous System ; Depression ; Eating ; Humans ; Methanol ; Nausea ; Renal Dialysis ; Vomiting