PURPOSE: Numerous studies have been performed about the various safety consideration of magnetic resonance(MR). Multiple investigators have failed to reveal any deleterious defects of MR. On the other hand, several studies have demonstrated detectable biologic effects of high-field MR produces any morphologic changes on the cell membrane and intracellular ultrastructures in human peripheral blood lymphocytes in vitro. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Lymphocytes were isolated from peripheral blood of normal human adults by Ficoll-Hypaque density centrifugation. Exposure to MR was performed with 4.69T and 11.74T MR spectrometer with a radio frequency(RF) pulse of 200MHz and 500MHz. Exposure times varyed from 30 minutes to 3 hours. The cells were fixed immediately, 1, 3, 7 days after MR exposure. Morphologic evaluation was examined by transmission electron microscopy(TEM). RESULTS: Under TEM there was cell transformation including cellular membrane, nucleus and intracellular microorganelles on lymphocytes exposed to MR. The percentage of transformed lymphocytes was not significantly increased after 4.69T MR exposure, whereas the percentage of transformed lymphocytes was significant increased after 11.74T MR exposure(P<0.05) compared with that of control. The percentage of transformed lymphocytes was significantly increased at the long incubation period in control and MR exposure group(P<0.05). No change according to MR exposure time and RF pulse sequence was noted. CONCLUSION: Exposure to high-field MR induces morphologic transformations of lymphocytes in vitro. Additional studies have to be performed before definitive conclusion can be reached about the safety of high-field MR.
Adult ; Cell Membrane ; Centrifugation ; Hand ; Humans* ; Lymphocytes* ; Membranes ; Research Personnel

No abstract available.
Cell Line* ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Eflornithine* ; Humans*

Fifty four patients who received closed hemorrhoidectomy were randomized into two parallel groups and treated with Venitol(R)(a micronized flavonoidic fraction containing diosmin 450 mg and hesperidin 50 mg) (group 1) or placebo (group 2). Venitol(R) was administered at the dosage of three toblets b.i.d. the first four days and two tablets b.i.d following three days. Postoperative analgesia and laxative prescription as well as hospital stay were same in two groups. Though there is no difference of symptoms at D1, improvement of symptoms of complications was greater in group 1 than in group 2 at D18. The clinical severity of postoperative spot-bleeding, pain and anal discharge diminished in both groups but to a greater extent in group 1 (P<0.005). There was no side-effects in using Venitol(R). In summary, Venitol(R) is effective in reducing complications after hemorrhoidectomy.
Analgesia ; Diosmin ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoidectomy* ; Hesperidin ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Prescriptions ; Prospective Studies* ; Tablets

BACKGROUND: Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) are known to diminish corneocyte cohesion at the innermost levels of the stratum corneum and have been used in the treatment of various disorders of keratinization. However, their effect on skin barrier function and their irritant potential is not fully understood. OBJECTIVE: Our study was done to evaluate the skin irritancy of AHAs in normal human skin. METHODS: Patches with 1%, 5% and 10% solutions of lactic acid (LA) and glycolic acid (GA) were applied to the volar forearm of 20 healthy volunteers for 24 hours using large Finn chambers with filter paper. Visual scores, erythema (E-) index and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) were measured at 30 min, 24 h and 48 h after removal of the patches. RESULTS: The results are summarized as follows. 1. Visual scores were 0.1+/-0.3 (1%), 0.5+/-0.6 (5%) and 1.1+/-0.8 (10%) at 24 h after removal of LA, and were 0.2+/-0.4 (1%), 0.6+/-0.6 (5%) and 1.0+/-0.7 (10%) at 24 h after removal of GA. They were increased in proportion to the concentrations and there were significant differences in skin responses between the control and each concentration of the solutions. 2. E-indices were 9.1+/-2.1 (control), 8.8+/-1.8 (1%), 9.0+/-2.6 (5%) and 10.5+/-3.9 (10%) at 24 h after removal of LA, and were 9.4+/-1.8 (control), 9.3+/-2.3 (1%), 10.0+/-3.0 (5%) and 11.1+/-3.5 (10%) at 24 h after removal of GA. They were not increased in the patch areas of 1% and 5% solutions in both the LA and GA group, but were significantly increased in the patch areas of 10% solutions in both the LA and GA group. 3. TEWL values were 7.3+/-2.3 (control), 8.3+/-4.0 (1%), 9.8+/-4.5 (5%) and 16.7+/-9.1 (10%) at 24 h after removal of LA, and were 8.1+/-3.2 (control), 7.8+/-3.8 (1%), 8.6+/-3.0 (5%) and 10.9+/-4.1 (10%) at 24 h after removal of GA. They were not increased in the patch areas of 1% LA, 1% GA and 5% LA, but there were high significant differences between the controls and 10% solutions of both LA and GA. CONCLUSION: Visual scores were increased in all concentrations of AHAs tested, but the increase in E-index and TEWL values were not significant or minimal in 1% and 5% solutions of AHAs. These findings suggest that AHAs could be classified as non-corrosive irritants.
Erythema ; Forearm ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans* ; Hydroxy Acids* ; Irritants ; Lactic Acid ; Skin*

No abstract available.

No abstract available.
Colonic Neoplasms* ; Rectum*

The authors report a case of malignant teratoma in a 3-year-old girl who suffered from occipital headache and vomiting for about 2 months. The tumor occupied left cerebellopontine angle resulting in a moderate degree of hydorcephalus. Histologically, the tumor consisted mainly of neuroepithelial tissues showing varying degrees of differentiation, with areas of epidermis, mature fat tissue, connective tissue, gastrointestinal glands and smooth muscle bundles containing ganglions. Also noted are groups pf polygonal or spindle cells representing immature mesodermal tissue. In contrast to two malignant intracranial teratomas previously reported in Korean literatures, this case is characterized by the presence of predominent neuroepithelial components and by uncommon tumor location, the posterior fossa far from middle line of the body.

The subjects of the present study were 111 patients admitted to a hospital and 304 healthy people living in similar condition. A self report symptom inventory, SCL-90(symptom check list-90) was used and the two groups were analysed and compared by many factors. The results of theis study are as follows. 1. All dimensional values of the psoriasis group were much higher than the normal healthy group. In order of significance: depression, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, psychotism, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility, and somatization(all p<0.01). This result indicates a significantly heightened incidence of psychological problems among psoriatic patients. 2. There were significant differences between each clinical type. As a whole, common and pustular types showed highter dimensional scores than guttate type. 3. In the psoriasis group, subjects over 30 years old had higher scores except in somatization and paranoid ideation dimensions. However there was no significant relationship between age and dimensional scores. 4. Female psoriatic patients showed higher values than male patients on all dimensions excopt paranoid ideation. T verification showed significance in depression and hostility (p<0.05). 5. Analysed by marital status, generally unmarried patients had higher dimensional scores than married patients, but there was no significant differences. 6. In contrast with the control group, psoriatic patients of low educational status showed higher dimensional scores than patients of high educational status. 7. Analysed by job at onset of disease, student patients showed the lowest scores. There were significant differences for somatization(p<0.01) and paranoid (p<0.05) dimensional scores. 8. Analysed by the age of onset of disease, the patients who developed psoriasis before 20 years of ages showed higher dimensional scores than the patients, after 20 years of age. 9. Compared according to duration of the disease, dimensional scores rose in patients under 1 year duration decreased in patients of 1 to 2 years' duration and rose again in parients over 3 years' duratio. 10. As the accuracy of understanding about the disease decreased, the dimensional scores tended to be higher.
Adult ; Age of Onset ; Anxiety ; Depression ; Educational Status ; Female ; Hostility ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Marital Status ; Psoriasis ; Self Report ; Single Person

The purpose of this study was to investigate the correlations between social support, dependence of activities of daily living and depression among Parkinson's disease patients. Subjects were 122 patients with Parkinson's disease. Neurologic wards inpatients or neurology clinic out patients department in a tertiary-affiliated hospital in Seoul. Data were collected from April 1996 to March 1997. The results of this study were summarized as follows: 1. The lower the level of dependence of activities of daily living, the lower the level of depression. 2. The higher the level of perceived family support, the lower the level of depression. 3. The higher the level of perceived health personnel support, the lower the level of depression. 4. The rate of depression evaluated by Zung depression scale was 37.4%(mild to moderate:30.1%, moderate to severe:4.1%, severe:3.2%). 5. Socio-demographic characteristics sex, education, occupation, and the charge person of treatment cost, significantly influenced the level of depression. 6. There was no significant difference in level of depression, dependence of activities of daily living, stage of disease between user and nonuser of L-dopa. Suggestions were made for further studies: 1. To develop nursing intervention for decreasing the dependence of activities daily living is needed. 2. To identify the change pattern of depression by time.
Activities of Daily Living* ; Depression* ; Education ; Health Care Costs ; Health Personnel ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Levodopa ; Morinda ; Neurology ; Nursing ; Occupations ; Outpatients ; Parkinson Disease* ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Hemorrhoids*