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

No abstract available.
Allografts* ; Fibroblasts*

PURPOSE: To compare photon thunderbird with deep match (technique 1) with 3-field technique with electron inguinal boost (technique 2) in acute skin toxicity, toxicity-related treatment breaks and patterns of failure in elective inguinal radiation therapy (RT) for curative chemoradiation in anal cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventeen patients treated between January 2008 and September 2010 without evidence of inguinal and distant metastasis were retrospectively reviewed. In 9 patients with technique 1, dose to inguinal and whole pelvis area was 41.4 to 45 Gy and total dose was 59.4 Gy. In 8 patients with technique 2, doses to inguinal, whole pelvis, gross tumor were 36 to 41.4 Gy, 36 to 41.4 Gy, and 45 to 54 Gy, respectively. The median follow-up period was 27.6 and 14.8 months in group technique 1 and 2, respectively. RESULTS: The incidences of grade 3 radiation dermatitis were 56% (5 patients) and 50% (4 patients), dose ranges grade 3 dermatitis appeared were 41.4 to 50.4 Gy and 45 to 54 Gy in group technique 1 and 2, respectively (p = 0.819). The areas affected by grade 3 dermatitis in 2 groups were as follow: perianal and perineal areas in 40% and 25%, perianal and inguinal areas in 0% and 50%, and perianal area only in 60% and 25%, respectively (p = 0.196). No inguinal failure has been observed. CONCLUSION: Photon thunderbird with deep match technique and 3-field technique with electron inguinal boost showed similar incidence of radiation dermatitis. However, photon thunderbird with deep match seems to increase the possibility of severe perineal dermatitis.
Anus Neoplasms ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Dermatitis ; Electrons ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pelvis ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin

In vivo 31P NMR spectroscopic study of forearm wrist flexor muscles was performed in two groups of volunteers composed respectively of 6 sedentaries and 6 canoe athletes. A continuous isometric contraction of endurance exercises was adopted in oder to assess the endurance capacity and recovery potential of skeletal muscles. Differences in high energy phosphorus metabolism between the sedentaries and athletes were evaluated with and emphasis on the intracellular pH and Pi/PCr ratio as indicators of high energy phosphorus metabolism. There were no differences of baseline pH and Pi/PCr ratio between the two groups. The athletes sustained the exercise at more acidic intracellular pH and at a higher Pi/PCr ratio of intracellular conditions for an all-out than did the sedentaries. The recovery rate of pH showed no difference between the two groups. There was a tendency of faster recovery of Pi/PCr in athletes showing half recovery time(T1/2) of 39.0±3.0 seconds as compared to that of sedentaries (55.7±7.5 seconds). The recovery rate of Pi/PCr as a function of Pi/PCr ratio at a given period of time was significantly faster in athletes than in sedentaries (P<0.001). The correlation coefficient of the recovery rate of Pi/PCr against the Pi/PCr ratio was 0.985 and 0.914 respectively for the athletes and sedentaries. The pH and the Pi/PCR ratio at an all-out state can be used as indicators of endurance capacity and the recovery rate of Pi/PCr, as a reovery potential of skeletal muscles.
Athletes* ; Exercise ; Forearm ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; In Vitro Techniques* ; Isometric Contraction ; Metabolism ; Muscle, Skeletal* ; Muscles ; Phosphorus ; Volunteers ; Wrist

This study was conducted to examine the excretion rate of dimethylformamide (DMF) from the workers exposed to DMF. The study was done at two synthetic leather factories located in Kyeonggi-do from the period of May 2 to 30, 1996. N-methyl- formamide (NMF) concentrations in urine were measured and compared by the three exposure level of DMF in air. The mean concentration of the Low (dry and winder part). Moderate (rinsing part) and High (mixing and coating part) exposure group were 3.99+/-3.54. 10.19 +/-5.69 and 32.10+/-7.87 mg/m3 during workshift of 8 hours, respectively. The mean concentration of urinary N-methylforinamide (NMF) were 2.13+/-2.58, 11.16+/-4.98 and 26.24 +/-7.35 mg/g creatinine, respectively. The concentration of NMIF in urine could reach to maximum in 3 hours and was reduced nearly to zero in about 18 hours after exposure to DMF.
Creatinine ; Dimethylformamide ; Environmental Monitoring ; Gyeonggi-do ; Korea*

Background: The World Health Organization (WHO) proposed a global action plan for dementia and aimed to have 75% of their member states formulating National Dementia Plans (NDPs) by 2025. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) proposed the ten key objectives of dementia policy in 2015. Among previous studies on NDPs, few studies have investigated measures for proper implementation of NDPs. This study aimed to compare the implementation basis and specific action plans of NDPs between the G7 countries and South Korea. Methods: We investigated the measures for proper implementation of the NDPs of G7 countries and South Korea. To compare the specific policy approaches, the seven action areas of the WHO action plan and the ten key objectives of dementia policy proposed by the OECD were integrated into 11 targets (prevention, diagnosis, awareness, caregiver support, appropriate environments, long-term care, health service, end-of-life care, care coordination, research and technology, information systems). Results: Although most NDPs included specific action plans of the 11 targets, caregiver support, safe environments, healthcare services, and end-of-life care were lacking in some NDPs. For implementation, some countries reinforced the policy priority of their NDPs by timely updates, evaluation, legislations, or head-of-state leadership. However, only three countries had a legislative basis, and three countries included outcome measures in their latest NDP. Conclusion Effective measures for feasible implementation are needed. The WHO should promote not only the establishment of NDPs, but also their proper implementation.

Trichloroethylene (TRI) is one of the most widely used organic solvent in many industries. It is used a degreasing agent, extract and dillution solvents. TRI is metabolized by liver microsomal cytochrome P4SO to reactive intermediates, which are considered responsible for its hepatotoxicity. Cytochrome P450 is a key enzyme in the first step of TRI metabolism resulting in chloral hydrate (CH) formation, which is a rate-limiting step in TRI metabolism. This study was perfomed to find out the change of hepatic cytochrome P450 levels and of electron transport system for P-450 dependent reaction. Intraperitoneal injections of TRI were done to the male Sprague Dawley rats(mean body wights,170+/-10g) in corn oil at the dosage of 150,300,600 mg/kg for 2 days. The results of experiments are following : 1. The contents of microsomal protein, cytochrome P450 and b(5) are tended to be decreased with increasing amount of TRI, but not significantly (p>0.05) . 2. The activity of NADPH-cytochrome P450 reductase is slowly decreased by increasing amount of TRI, but not slgnificantly (p>0.05) . On the other hand, the activity of NADH-b(5) reductase is increased with increasing amount of TRI (p<0.05) 3. The activity of 7-ethoxyresolufin 0-deethylase did not show any critical changes (P>0.05) . This result suggests that the inductive pattern of TRI may not be related to P 450IAl and P450IIB.
Animals ; Chloral Hydrate ; Corn Oil ; Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; Cytochromes ; Electron Transport ; Hand ; Humans ; Injections, Intraperitoneal ; Liver ; Male ; Metabolism ; NADPH-Ferrihemoprotein Reductase ; Oxidoreductases ; Rats* ; Solvents ; Trichloroethylene*

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to compare inter-fragmentary compression pressures after fixation of a simulated type II odontoid fracture with the headless compression Herbert screw and a half threaded cannulated lag screw. METHODS: We compared inter-fragmentary compression pressures between 40- and 45-mm long 4.5-mm Herbert screws (n=8 and n=9, respectively) and 40- and 45-mm long 4.0-mm cannulated lag screws (n=7 and n=10, respectively) after insertion into rigid polyurethane foam test blocks (Sawbones, Vashon, WA, USA). A washer load cell was placed between the two segments of test blocks to measure the compression force. Because the total length of each foam block was 42 mm, the 40-mm screws were embedded in the cancellous foam, while the 45-mm screws penetrated the denser cortical foam at the bottom. This enabled us to compare inter-fragmentary compression pressures as they are affected by the penetration of the apical dens tip by the screws. RESULTS: The mean compression pressures of the 40- and 45-mm long cannulated lag screws were 50.48±1.20 N and 53.88±1.02 N, respectively, which was not statistically significant (p=0.0551). The mean compression pressures of the 40-mm long Herbert screw was 52.82±2.17 N, and was not statistically significant compared with the 40-mm long cannulated lag screw (p=0.3679). However, 45-mm Herbert screw had significantly higher mean compression pressure (60.68±2.03 N) than both the 45-mm cannulated lag screw and the 40-mm Herbert screw (p=0.0049 and p=0.0246, respectively). CONCLUSION: Our results showed that inter-fragmentary compression pressures of the Herbert screw were significantly increased when the screw tip penetrated the opposite dens cortical foam. This can support the generally recommended surgical technique that, in order to facilitate maximal reduction of the fracture gap using anterior odontoid screws, it is essential to penetrate the apical dens tip with the screw.
Polyurethanes

BACKGROUND: Bone marrow transplantation (BMT) or peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT) following high dose chemotherapy has been an important therapeutic option for patients with hematologic malignancies or some solid tumors. The number of progenitor cells in the collection products has been used to determine the optimum time to stop the collections and to predict the hematopoietic engraftment after transplantation. In this study, we investigated the relationship between end-product cell counts measured by different methods and the influence of the infused cell dose on the engraftment rate. METHODS: Twenty five patients receiving autologous PBSCT and 25 patients receiving allogeneic BMT were studied. The number of total nucleated cells (TNC), of mononuclear cells (MNC), of CD34+ cells, and of CFU-GM (colony-forming unit-granulocyte monocyte) colonies were measured in each collection product. The number of days required to achieve an absolute neutrophil count (ANC) of 0.5x109/L with TNC count of 1.0x109/L and platelet count of 20x109/L without transfusions was taken as an arbitrary measure of the engraftment rate. RESLUTS: A close correlation between CD34+ cells/kg and CFU-GM/kg was observed in both collection products (p<0.05). However, MNC/kg also showed significant correlations with CD34+ cells/kg and CFU-GM/kg in allogeneic bone marrow collection products (p<0.05). The CFU-GM amount in the PBSC products was greater than that in the bone marrow collection products (p<0.05). Time to engraftment was a median of 14 (range 9-50) days in autologous PBSCT group, but 29 (range 17-57) days in allogeneic BMT group. In autologous PBSCT, infused CD34+ cells/kg and CFU-GM/kg correlated significantly with ANC recovery (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: The number of CD34+ cells was correlated with that of CFU-GM in the collection products, and the infused cell doses showed positive relation to the engraftment rate in autologous PBSCT. These findings suggest that measurement of CD34+ cell counts alone would be a sufficient parameter to predict the engraftment rate in autologous PBSCT.
Bone Marrow Transplantation* ; Bone Marrow* ; Cell Count ; Drug Therapy ; Granulocyte-Macrophage Progenitor Cells ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Humans ; Neutrophils ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Platelet Count ; Stem Cells*

Epidural tuberculoma without bony involvement was first reported by Rao et al. in 1971; however, extraosseous spinal epidural tuberculoma and tuberculous infection of the cauda equina have never been reported. We experienced a case of epidural tuberculoma without bony involvement, which was diagnosed by decompression and biopsy, and treated with combined antituberculous chemotherapy. It resembled herniated nucleus pulposus at the L4-5 level, based on its clinical features, a physical examination, myelography and computed tomography. In the course of antituberculous medication, tuberculosis of the cauda equina occurred, which caused paraparesis. Herein, this case is reported in terms of its treatment and clinical course, with a review of the literature.
Biopsy ; Cauda Equina* ; Decompression ; Drug Therapy ; Epidural Space ; Myelography ; Paraparesis ; Physical Examination ; Spine* ; Tuberculoma* ; Tuberculosis