The purpose of this study is to analyze occupational history of coal miners with pnemoconiosis. In this study, occupational chracteristics of 49 coal miners with pneumoconiosis were compared with those of 45 coal miners without pneumoconiosis but in similar age category (43-52 years of age) based on interview survey. Various indices on occupational characteristics were developed for the following areas: duration of employment, perception of working condition, working density, dust concentration, temperature, humidity, and experience of respirator wearings. Perception of working condition were measured in 5 points scales but experiences of respirator wearing was measured in 3 points scale. Each index was multiplied by duration of employment. From the analysis, only the experience of respirator wearing showed statistically significant difference between the two groups. Therefore, respirator wearing seemed to be effective in reducing occurrence of pneumoconiosis.
Coal* ; Dust ; Employment ; Humidity ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Lymphangioleiomyomatosis* ; Tuberous Sclerosis*

PURPOSE: To describe the appearance and average thickness of the internal anal sphincter with anal endosonography in healthy Korean adults. MATERIAL AND METHODS: 184 subjects(male: 96, female: 88) with no history of anorectal disease or surgery were studied with anal endosonography. The average thickness of internal sphincter was meas ured at the mid-anal canal. For the internal sphincter, which is often asymmetric, the thickness of each 4 part(12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock direction) were measured in left lateral decubitus position. RESULTS: The anal wall was well visualized in 5 layers(mucosa, submucosa, internal anal sphincter, intersphincteric plane, external anal sphincter) with anal endosonography. The anal endosonogram showed the internal anal sphincter as a homogenous, well-defined, hypoechoic, circular band, and slightly asymmetric. The average thickness of the internal anal sphincter in the area of mid-anal portion was 2.0 0.3 mm(range: 1~3 mm). There was no sexual difference; however, a significant positive correlation with age was found in average thickness of the internal anal sphincter. The correlation with lean body mass was not found. CONCLUSION: The internal anal sphincter is well-visualized, best defined structure by anal endosonography. Average thickeness of the sphincter in Korean appeared to be the same as in the Western.
Adult* ; Anal Canal* ; Endosonography ; Female ; Humans

We report a case of tibial nerve palsy after pneumatic tourniquet application for 40 minutes with a tourniquet pressure of 300 mmHg. A 45 years old woman with morbid obesity and diabetes mellitus was underwent partial lateral meniscectomy of left knee. Even 3 months after the event, nerve palsy was not completely recovered. The case underscores the necessity of being aware of the potential for complications associated with tourniquets, despite following recommended guidelines of tourniquet time and pressure. Especially, in the patients with metabolic diseases such as diabetes mellites or obesity, safe duration of tourniquet application may be shortened.
Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Knee ; Metabolic Diseases ; Obesity ; Obesity, Morbid ; Paralysis ; Tibial Nerve ; Tourniquets

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the normal values of regional cerebral blood flow (rCBF) and cerebrovascular reserve (CVR) in normal children to aged volunteers using Tc-99m HMPAO. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty four right-handed normal volunteers (20 males, 14 females, mean age 40.3+/-24.9 years, range 4 to 82 years) were underwent rest/acetazolamide (ACZ) brain SPECT using Tc-99m HMPAO and the sequential injection and subtraction method. rCBF was estimated on the basis of a semiquantitative approach by means of right/left ratio, region/cerebellum and region to whole brain ratios in frontal, parietal, temporal, and occipital lobes, basal ganglia, thalami, and cerebellum. CVR was measured by means of % perfusion increase calculated as % mean count change compared to rest rCBF in each regions. RESULTS: Mean values of right to left ratios range from 1.004 to 1.018. rCBF was highest in cerebellum and lowest in basal ganglia and thalami. Frontal and temporal rCBF decreased while occipital and thalamic rCBF increased according to age. No sexual difference of rCBF was noted. Mean CVR was 29.9+/-12.9%. Mean CVR significantly increased to late teens, and declined thereafter. After 6th decade, CVR in both frontal lobes, left parietal lobe and right basal ganglia decreased significantly with advancing age. There was no sexual difference of CVR. CONCLUSION:: Quantitative assessment of CVR was possible by ACZ Tc-99m HMPAO brain SPECT. It revealed that rCBF and CVR changed according to age in normal Korean volunteers. There was no sexual difference.
Acetazolamide ; Adolescent ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain* ; Cerebellum ; Child ; Female ; Frontal Lobe ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Male ; Occipital Lobe ; Parietal Lobe ; Perfusion ; Rabeprazole ; Reference Values ; Technetium Tc 99m Exametazime* ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon* ; Volunteers

BACKGROUND & PURPOSE: The ocular torsion (OT) and tilt of the subjective visual vertical (SVV) are sensitive brainstem signs and helps us to localize lesion. We calibrated the degree of OT, SVV tilt and head tilt to investigate their characteristics and temporal profiles in patients with brainstem lesion. METHODS: We selected 15 patients with acute brainstem stroke. We took serial fundus photographs and body pictures in upright position at various times after the stroke. We also determined the deviations of patient's SVV. The data measurement for this investigation ranged from day 2 to day 47. RESULTS: Eight of ten patients with lateral medullay infarction showed ipsiversive tilt of SVV and OT. Among four patients with pontine infarction, one showed ipsiversive tilt and three contraversive. One patient with midbrain hemorrhage showed cotraversive tilt. The resolution of OT and the tilt of SVV in medullary lesions occurred over the periods ranging from 7 days to more than 47 days and was slower in patients with upper brainstem lesion than lower brainstem lesion. The directions of head tilt in our patients, especially with medullary lesions, were rather different from the previous reports. CONCLUSION: The vestibular dysfunction by the brainstem lesions disturbs the eye and head stabilization and also distorts the perception of the subjective vertical in space. The direction of OT and the tilt of SVV is ipsiversive in lower brainstem lesion and contraversive in upper brainstem lesion. But head tilt is contraversive in most lower brainstem lesion as well as upper brainstem lesion. Large-grouped study for the direction of head tilt is thought to be needed. These signs are compensated in the course of clinical recovery.
Brain Stem Infarctions* ; Brain Stem* ; Head* ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Infarction ; Mesencephalon ; Stroke

PURPOSE: The reasons for breast feeding failure within the first month of birth were related to inappropriate handling of problems in breast feeding. We investigated common reasons for the failure during the neonatal period and assessed medical personnels' attempts to solve them. METHODS: We conducted a survey with a prepared questionnaire on one-hundred-twenty mothers who failed in breast feeding within the first month after delivery. They were selected among those who brought their infants to local private clinics or general hospitals in Taegu from July to August 1999. RESULTS: The breast feeding rate at the starting time of feeding after delivery was significantly higher in the infants who were born at local clinics than general hospitals(52.7% vs 31.8%, P< 0.05), and higher with rooming-in service than routine nursery care(62.1% vs 31.8%, P<0.05). Most with routine nursery care(79.7%) had to feed breast milk at the appointed time. As a consequence, hospital policy was inconvenient for breast feeding. 51.7 per cent of the responders did not even try breast feeding until discharge from hospitals. Information about breast feeding were obtained mainly from their mothers' advice(39.3%). And it was only 7.7 per cent of the responders who obtained information from physicians. The common reasons for breast feeding failure within the first month were insufficient secretion of milk(36.7%), looser stool(16.7%), and inverted nipple(15%), which could have been solved with adequate support and advice from medical personnel. CONCLUSION: To increase the breast feeding rate, medical personnel should actively recommend breast feeding as early as possible after delivery, should educate mothers on the problems that may arise during breast feeding, and should make the hospital environment more convenient for breast feeding.
Breast Feeding* ; Breast* ; Daegu ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Infant ; Milk, Human ; Mothers ; Nurseries ; Parturition ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Neisseria animaloris is a common flora in animals, but its pathogenicity is rarely reported. In this case report, N. animaloris was isolated from a hospitalized cat with pneumonia. The cat was discharged after testing and treatment with appropriate antibiotics. This paper reports the first case of N. animaloris pneumonia in Korea.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the pathophysiologic role of serum E-selectin, vascular endothelial growth factor(VEGF)-induced cell adhesion mollecule in Kawasaki disease(KD) and to look for the evidence of direct relationship between the plasma levels of soluble E-selectin and the incidence of coronary artery lesion(CAL). METHODS: Changes in plasma levels of sE-selectin(n=98) over time were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) in 23 patients with acute KD and 25 age-matched febrile children. RESULTS: Compared with control values, the peak levels of plasma sE-selectin were significantly elevated(mean+/-S.E.:22.89+/-12.53 ng/mL vs 10.65+/-3.42 ng/mL, P=0.01) in KD. 5 patients with CAL, plasma sE-selectin levels before treatment were higher than in 18 patients without CAL(mean+/-S.E.:39.43+/-15.08 ng/mL and 19.00+/-8.32 ng/mL, respectively; P=0.01). Plasma sE-selectin declined rapidly in the majority of KD patients regardless of the presence of CAL. Plasma sE-selectin levels after treatment and convalesent period were similar in KD patients with and without CAL. The plasma levels sE-selectin were correlated with those of white blood cell count(r=0.299, P<0.05), CRP(r=0.430, P<0.05), serum albumin(r=-0.483, P<0.05), serum protein(r=-0.502, P<0.05) and hemoglobin(r=-0.372, P<0.05) not with those of ESR, platelet, or duration of fever. There were significant differences in the initial level of serum sE-selectin between KD with and without CAL(mean+/-S.E.:39.44+/-15.08 ng/mL vs. 19.00+/-17.18 ng/mL) in multivariated linear tests. CONCLUSION: Plasma sE-selectin levels were significantly higher in KD than in other febrile illness. Higher plamsa levels of sE-selectin may have potential as a predictor of CAL in patients with KD.
Blood Platelets ; Cell Adhesion ; Child ; Coronary Vessels ; E-Selectin* ; Fever ; Humans ; Incidence ; Leukocytes ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome* ; Plasma

PURPOSE: Among the many factors associated with acute intestinal mucosal infection, numerous studies have proposed the usefulness of fecal calprotectin. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of fecal calprotectin in the diagnosis of necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC). METHODS: We collected 154 stool samples from 16 very low birth weight and premature newborns at the Konyang University Hospital neonatal intensive care unit or neonatal nursery. The stool samples were collected using the Calprest device, and the fecal calprotectin level was measured with the BUHLMANN Calprotectin enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit. RESULTS: Fecal calprotectin levels were significantly higher in the NEC group than in the non-NEC group (P=0.02). There was a significant positive linear relationship between the fecal calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.00) in the gestational age <26 weeks group. There was a significant negative linear relationship between the calprotectin level and number of days after birth (P=0.03) in the gestational age > or =26 weeks and <30 weeks group. There was no difference in the calprotectin levels according to the type and method of feeding between the NEC and non-NEC groups. CONCLUSION: Fecal calprotectin levels were significantly increased in premature infants with NEC. The fecal calprotectin test is a noninvasive, easy, and useful tool for the diagnosis of NEC.
Diagnosis ; Enterocolitis, Necrotizing* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Infant, Premature ; Infant, Very Low Birth Weight ; Intensive Care, Neonatal ; Leukocyte L1 Antigen Complex* ; Nurseries ; Parturition