We investigated the occurrence of color vision loss in 70 organic solvent mixtures exposed workers and in 47 controls. Color Vision was assessed with a color arrangement test designed to identify the defective color sense, the Han Double 15-Hue Test. The results of the test were no significant difference between exposed workers and controls in the proportion of subjects who committed one or two errors. Quantitative analysis, using color confusion index(CCI), showed no signifiant difference between exposed workers and controls. A significant linear correlation was present between age and CCI in both exposed workers(CCi=0.0056age + 0.94; r=0.23; p<0.05) and controls(CCI=0.0066age + 0.86; r=0.33; p<0.05). Qualitative analysis of the patterns on the hue circle showed that the prevalence of acquired dyschromatopsia was 21% in both and no significant difference. Multiple regression analyses showed that age was significantly related to color vision loss. These results did not provide evidence of a relationship between organic solvents exposure and incidence of color vision loss. In field studies for monitor the people at risk of the acquired color vision loss involving low-dose organic solvents exposed workers, both quantitative and qualitative information should be considered.
Color Vision ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Solvents

PURPOSE: The aim of this pilot study was to investigate the effect of etched microgrooves on the hydrophilicity of Ti and osteoblast responses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Microgrooves were applied on Ti to have 15 and 60 micrometer width, and 3.5 and 10 micrometer depth by photolithography, respectively. Further acid etching was applied to create Ti surfaces with etched microgrooves. Both smooth- and acid-etched Ti were used as the controls. The hydrophilicity of Ti was analyzed by determining contact angles. Cell proliferation and osteogenic activity of MC3T3 mouse preosteoblasts were analyzed by bromodeoxyuridine assay and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity test, respectively. One-way ANOVA, Pearson's correlation analysis and multiple regression analysis were used for statistics. RESULTS: Etched microgrooves significantly increased the hydrophilicity of Ti compared to the smooth Ti. 60 micrometer-wide etched microgrooves significantly enhanced cell proliferation, whereas the osteogenic activity showed statistically non-significant differences between groups. Result of the osteogenic activity significantly correlated with those of hydrophilicity and cell proliferation. Hydrophilicity was determined to be an influential factor on osteogenic activity. CONCLUSION: This study indicates that increase in hydrophilicity of Ti caused by etched microgrooves acts as an influential factor on osteogenic activity. However, statistically non-significant increase in the ALP activity suggests further investigation.
Alkaline Phosphatase ; Animals ; Bromodeoxyuridine ; Cell Proliferation ; Durapatite ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Mice ; Osteoblasts ; Pilot Projects ; Titanium

The cause of essential hypertension is yet unknown, but in general is caused by interaction of hereditary factors, diet, obesity, lack of exercise and stress. The aging process influences various physiological mechanism related to regulation of blood pressure. So elderly hypertensives have a tendancy to consider the disease as a result of the physiological aging process. This attitude causes many complications, worsening of the disease and even early death because of inappropriate care. In order to improve self-management of elderly hypertensives in this study the researcher examined the effect of blood pressure regulation by an education program that improves self-care behavior, through increasing self-efficacy. The education program consisted of group education on hypertension and self-care strategies, and encouraging and reinforcing self-efficacy resources such as verbal persuation, performance accomplishment and vicarious experiences. A quasi-experimental pre-and post-test design was used. Thirty-two elderly hypertensives participated in the study. Eighteen in the education group and fourteen in the control group. The education program consisted of eight sessions twice a week for four weeks. There was no intervention for the control group. Data were analysed using SPSS for Windows(Version 8.0). The results were as follows. 1. There was a significant decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure between the experimental group and control group over three different times, and interaction by groups and over time. 2. There was no significant difference in the level of self-care behavior between the experimental group and control group over three different times, and interaction by groups and over time. 3. There was significant difference in self-efficacy of experimental and control group, depending on the measuring period, but there was no difference between these groups on interaction by groups and over time. 4. There was positive correlation between self efficacy and self care behavior depending on the measuring period. There was negative correlation between diastolic blood pressure and self-care behavior on the posttest of the program, and between systolic blood pressure and self-care behavior on the follow-up test of the program. Findings indicate that this study will contribute to develop nursing strategies for the regulation of blood pressure for the elderly, which is easy for the elderly to learn as a nonpharmacologic approach.
Aged* ; Aging ; Blood Pressure* ; Diet ; Education* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Nursing ; Obesity ; Self Care* ; Self Efficacy

PURPOSE: To evaluate the US findings of soft tissue hemangiomas in extremities and to correlate the echo-pattern with MR signal characteristics of hemangiomas. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively studied forty-two patients either with pathologically proven cases or with characteristic features of hemangiomas on MRI, US and plain film. Hemangiomas were divided into two types according to the locations;subcutaneous and intramuscular. Analytic points on US and MR findings were gross morphology of the mass, internal echo-pattern or signal characteristics. We correlated the echo-pattern with MR signal characteristics in hemangiomas. RESULTS: Subcutaneous hemangiomas revealed homogeneously anechoic mass on US, which were well correlated with MR signal characteristics' homogeneous low singnal intensity(SI) on Tl-weighted image(WI) and high SI on T2-WI. Intramuscular hemangiomas showed heterogeneously mixed echoic masses on US. An anechoic component on US corresponded to dilated vascular channels on MRI. The signal intensity of intramuscular hemangioma was less than that of subcutaneous fat on T1-WI and greater than that of fat on T2-WI. Both types of hemangiomas had tubular or lace-like appearance with interspersed fibrofatty septa. CONCLUSION: The echo-patterns in US were well associated with MR signal characteristics on MRI. Regarding US and MR features, intramuscular hemangiomas were different to subcutaneous hemangiomas.
Extremities* ; Hemangioma* ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Retrospective Studies ; Subcutaneous Fat

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Hyperaldosteronism*

No abstract available.
Female ; Humans ; Osteoporosis* ; Uterine Prolapse*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between tooth loss and sub-clinical atherosclerosis in Korean adults. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were part of a cohort study conducted in Ansan city by the Korea University medical school as part of the Korean Genome project. 749 subjects over than 40 years old were evaluated. After taking panoramic radiography, the amount of tooth loss was calculated. The intima-media thickness (IMT) was assessed by using ultrasonography at the common carotid artery. Traditional cardiovascular risk factors for atherosclerosis were also evaluated. The relationship between tooth loss and the IMT was evaluated using ANOVA with Scheffe's multiple comparison method in univariate analysis. Multiple regression analysis was also performed to determine the significance between the IMT and tooth loss. RESULTS: With age, tooth loss increased, but there was no significant increase in other traditional cardiovascular risk factors. Univariate analysis revealed the IMT to be positively related with the amount of tooth loss. Regression analysis of the IMT in the anterior and posterior tooth loss revealed that only the posterior tooth loss was significantly related with the IMT at all sites of the common carotid artery (right far wall, P = .015; left far wall, P = .008; right near wall, P < .001; left near wall, P = .001). CONCLUSION: This study verified the positive relationship between the increased tooth loss at the posterior area and the accumulation of atheroma in arteries.
Adult ; Arteries ; Atherosclerosis ; Carotid Artery, Common ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Cohort Studies ; Genome ; Humans ; Korea ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Radiography, Panoramic ; Risk Factors ; Schools, Medical ; Tooth ; Tooth Loss

Single staged posterior approach was carried out for three patients of dumbbell shaped schwannomas at the cervical region. Gross total resection was achieved in all of the patients, using a modified posterior midline exposure with hemilaminectomy and complete unilateral facetectorny. This exposure provided contiguous intraspinal, foraminal and extraforaminal access delete up to 2-3cm from lateral dural margin. The vertebral artery could be safely preserved from tumor mass. Although the follow up period is short, three patients showed no postoperative cervical spinalies from these operation. Illustrations of this approach with its possible application is discussed.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Neurilemmoma* ; Vertebral Artery

BACKGROUND: Head injury is one of the most common causes of emergency department visits and hospital admission in the pediatric populations, and most injuries are mild. In mild head injury, grading of severity and decision of hospital admission are difficult in the emergency department. Recent studies have suggested that patients with a normal head CT scan and neurologic exam following head injury can be safely discharged from the emergency department. However, previous studies have relied on incomplete patient follow-up and been limited for the most part to adult population. So we performed this study to assess clinical course and the incidence of significant CNS sequelae in children with a normal head CT scan and no focal neurologic sign after mild head injuries during hospital admission and follow-up for 1 month. METHODS: We reviewal the records of children(n=209) admitted to the department of emergency medicine with closed head injuries from Jan. 1, 1996 to Dec. 31, 1996, who's initial Glasgow Coma Scale was 13 to 15, and have no focal neurologic sign and a normal head CT scan. RESULT: 209 patients were studied with a mean age of 6.8(range 3 months to 15years), and 66.5% were male. The most common mechanisms of injury were pedestrian T.A(50.2%) and fall(11.5%). Patients had a mean Glasgow coma scale of 14.8 and mean Abbreviated Injury Score of 1.3. Patients had clinical symptoms of headache(49.3%), vomiting(44.5%), loss of consciousness(LOC)(29.6%), amnesia(10.0%), sleepiness(8.6%), irritability(8.6%), confusion(2.9%) and seizure(1.9%). The mean duration of admission was 4.3 days(range: 6 hours-20 days) and the mean duration of symptom was 36.4 hours. No child developed significant CNS sequelae during hospital admission. However, during hospital admission, aye children(all were preschooler) had psychologic complication ; one child developed post-traumatic stress disorder requiring psychologic treatment for 3 months. Three children developed enuresis and two children developed night terror. During 1 month fallow-up, one child developed a symptomatic hemorrhagic contusion 5 days after the head injury, not requiring neurosurgical treatment. CONCLUSION: Among children with an initial Glasgow Coma Scale of 13 to 15, a normal head CT scan and no focal neurologic sign after mild head injuries, delayed intracranial sequelae are extremely uncommon. So these patient may be discharged home with parental supervision and education for dose observation.
Adult ; Child* ; Contusions ; Craniocerebral Trauma* ; Education ; Emergencies* ; Emergency Medicine* ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Enuresis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Glasgow Coma Scale ; Head Injuries, Closed ; Head* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Neurologic Manifestations ; Organization and Administration ; Parents ; Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed