Multiple factors including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) were evaluated for a case-control study in Chonnam area to investigate the causative entity of COPD. Data on the multiple causative factors from hospital records and interview survey were analyzed in three groups of COPD(64 cases as case group), normal lung (83 cases as control group 1) and non-COPD lung disease (45 cases as control group 2). Smoking status, history of adulthood pulmonary infection and frequent history of URI, socioeconomic status, and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 1. Drinking status, physical height of the subjects and GERD were significantly different between COPD group and control group 2. If control group 1 was used, odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 5.68(95%confidence interval, 95% CI:2.59-12.45) and 4.81 (95% CI:1.89-10.53) when adjusted by age and smoking status. If control group 2 was used. Odds ratio of GERD and COPD was 4.22 (95% CI:1.69-10.56) and 4.59 (95% CI:1.64-12.86) when adjusted by alcohol and adulthood respiratory infection status. In summary, there results suggested that GERD might play a causative role in the development of COPD.
Case-Control Studies ; Drinking ; Gastroesophageal Reflux* ; Hospital Records ; Jeollanam-do ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Odds Ratio ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class

In acupuncture practice of animals, preanesthetics sometimes are needed. The purpose of this study was to select the ideal chemical restraint at acupuncture for gastric motility. Nine healthy mixed breed dogs weighed 10-21 kg and aged 1-3 years old were used in this study. Two EMG surface electrodes were placed between the seromuscular and the mucosal layer of pylorus. Twenty minutes after feeding normal gastric motility was recorded for 60 minutes using physiograph (Narco-Biosystem). Then preanesthetic treated-gastric motility was observed for 30 minutes. Preanesthetics used were xylazine, diazepam, and acepromazine. Acupuncture needles were inserted to BL-21 (Wei-Yu) acupoint, and then changes of gastric motility were recorded for 60 minutes. The gastric motility following xylazine administration (1 mg/kg, IV) was markedly decreased. BL-21 (Wei-Yu) acupoints stimulation did not alter xylazine-induced depression of gastric motility. The diazepam (1 mg/kg IV) treated-gastric motility was increased mildly 20 minutes after drug administration. BL-21 (Wei-Yu) acupoint stimulation after diazepam administration enhanced gastric motility significantly. The gastric motility following acepromazine (0.3 mg/kg, IM) administration was not changed compared with normal gastric motility. Application of traditional acupuncture at BL-21 (Wei-Yu) significantly increased the gastric motility. Based on these results, acepromazine and diazepam could be acceptable chemical restraints for acupuncture therapy of gastric motility, but xylazine couldn't be.
Acepromazine ; Acupuncture/*standards ; *Acupuncture Points ; Adjuvants, Anesthesia ; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists ; Animals ; Antipsychotic Agents ; Atropine ; Diazepam ; Dogs/*physiology ; Dopamine Antagonists ; Electromyography/veterinary ; Gastrointestinal Motility/drug effects/*physiology ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Metoclopramide ; Parasympatholytics ; Preanesthetic Medication/standards/*veterinary ; Xylazine

BACKGROUND: The peripheral blood hemoglobin and serum ferritin were analyzed in 30 consecutive repeat blood donors (28 men, 2 women; mean +/- SD age: 28.0 +/- 8.6 years: median number of donation 12.9 +/- 9.5) to evaluate the influence of the whole blood donation. 16 beginners in the blood donation were used for normal control (12 men, 4 women; 27.5 +/- 7.5years). METHOD: The repeat donors were grouped into the interval and frequency of donation. At the time of donation, blood samples were collected from all for research. Hemograms were performed using an automatic cell counter and enzyme immunoassay were used for the serum ferritin determination. Total protein and albumin were determined with an autoanalyzer. RESLUTS: The levels of the peripheral blood hemoglobin of the repeat donors were within normal limits and the median level was not significantly differentiated between the tested groups and normal control group. The median level of serum ferritin of the repeat donors was 32.19 +/- 22.82ng/mL, which was significantly low compared to the level of the normal control (62.10 +/- 25.67ng/mL, n=16)and was correlated with the interval and frequency of donation. The donors having short intervals less than 4 month reveal low ferritin level compared to other tested groups even though it was not significant. However the frequency of donation influenced significantly the level of serum ferritin. The median level of serum ferritin of the W/B donors having frequency of donation more often than 5 times was 30.64 +/- 16.22ng/mL, significantly lower than that of other tested groups and normal control (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: The Interval and frequency of blood donation seem to be very important factors that act upon nutiritional status of consecutive repeat donors. Especially consecutive, frequent donation of W/B must be deplet the storage iron in the body. Therefore the interval and frequency of donation must be adjustified and must be permitted in proper manner for korean blood donors. Test items such as hemoglobin and serum ferritin seem to be essential for repeat donors at the time of donation. Also if we can, oral iron supplement could be recommended for the repeat donors in proper time to prevent iron depletion.
Blood Donors* ; Cell Count ; Female ; Ferritins* ; Humans ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Iron ; Male ; Tissue Donors

PURPOSE: Paranasal sinusitis, easily overlooked owing to it's benign symptomatology, should be considered when the upper respiratory tract infction persists longer than seven days. Without early recognition and appropriate management, the disease will take a chronic course and the incidence of complications will be increased. The significance of paranasal sinusitis among Korean children has not appropriately been appreciated; therefore, a clinical study was under-taken to help understand clinical characteristics of paranasal sinusitis in Korean children. METHODS: One hundred sixty five(34.3%), out of 481 patients with no underlying disease seen at the outpatient division of the department of pediatrics, Hanyang university hospital from April 1992 to August 1993, were diagnosed of maxillary sinusitis and included in the study to investigate age and sex distributions, clinical manifestations, radiographic findings, and response to antibiotics therapy. Five patients followed up for less thant two weeks and 45 patients lost in follow up within 3 weeks were excluded in the evaluation of therapeutic response, which were done on the basis of clinical and radiographical analysis. RESULTS: 1) Maxillary sinusitis occurred frequently in young children; among 165 patients, 129 patients(78.3%) were wunder 5 years of age, with 83 patients(50.4%) younger than 3 years of age. The male to female ratio was 1.4:1. 2) One hundred twently three patients(74.5%) had acute sinusitis, 39 patients(23.7%) subacute sinusitis, and 3 patients(1.8%) chronic sinusitis. The most common clinical symptom was cough in 124 patients(75.2%), followed by nasal discharge in 103 patients(62.4%), nasal obstruction in 76 patients(46.1%), and fever in 49 patients(29.7%). The physical finding most commonly observed was postnasal drip in 35 patients(21.2%), followed by otitis media in 21 patients(12.7%), and throat injection in 19 patients(11.5%); however, physical examination was not contributory in 77 patients(46.7%). 3) Radiographic findings on Water's view illustrated opacification in 98 patients(59.4%), mucoperiosteal thickening in 82 patients(49.7%), and air-fluid level in 4 patients(2.4%). Bi-lateral radiographic involvement was 4 times more common than unilateral one. 4) The patients with maxillary sinusitis were trated with amoxicillin(AMX), trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole(TMP-SMZ)+/-erythromycin(EM), amoxicillin-clavulanate(AMX-CLV) or cefaclor(CCL) in sequence depending on the therapeutic response to each antibiotics. The therapeutic outcome with each antibiotics was 16.3%(15/92) with AMX, 56.7%(51/90) with TMP-SMZ, 70.6%(24/34) with AMX-CLV or CCL. Among 115 patients who have been followed up longer than 3 weeks , 90 patients(78.3%) improved clinically and/or radiographically. Among 90 patients with improvement, 32 patients(35.5%) showed clinical and/or radiographical responses in less than 3 weeks of treatment with effective antibiotics, however 19 patients(21.2%) needed to be treated for longer than 7 weeks. CONCLUSIONS: The data indicated that paranasal sinusitis is a common disease among Korean children, especially in very young ones. Once antibiotic therapy had begun, the follow-up were not infrequently interrupted. The therapeutic response to antibiotics, recommended currently for therapy of paranasal sinusitis, were not good.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Child* ; Cough ; Female ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Maxillary Sinus* ; Maxillary Sinusitis* ; Nasal Obstruction ; Otitis Media ; Outpatients ; Pediatrics ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Respiratory System ; Sex Distribution ; Sinusitis

Most of the malignant tumors of the pancreas are adenocarcinomas arising from the ductal epithelium. Primary leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas, even though it is the most common sarcoma of the pancreas, is very rare. We present a case of leiomyosarcoma of the pancreas, probably primary, with metastases to the stomach, lymph nodes, and abdominal wall. A 52-year-old woman visited the hospital with vague right upper abdominal pain and weigh loss of 6 kg for 2 months. The radiological and endoscopic examination revealed that she had a large heterogeneous mass, 11 cm in size, in the pancreatic body and tail, a 4 cm-sized mass in the paraaortic area, and a 3 cm-sized polypoid mass in the stomach. Histologically, they were all similar to one another and composed of markedly pleomorphic cells. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies showed definite smooth muscle differentiation of the tumor cells. Two months later, the patient underwent an excision of a new 3 cm mass in the right lower abdominal wall, showing features of well differentiated leiomyosarcoma.
Abdominal Pain ; Abdominal Wall ; Adenocarcinoma ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Leiomyosarcoma* ; Lymph Nodes ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pancreas* ; Sarcoma ; Stomach

This study was undertaken for the clinical analysis and evaluation on 121 patients with incompetent internal os of the cervix, who were admitted and treated with McDonald operation or Shirodkar operation at the Soonchounhyang Medical Center from January 1991 to December 1995. The results of this study were as follows : 1. The incidence of this IIOC was 1.1% of 11,116 cases of total delivery. 2. The mean age of IIOC was 31.7 years old. 3. The average number of gravida was 3.2. 4. The most common contributary factor was previous history of artificial abortion (51.2 %), and midtrimester abortion (17.4 %), cervical laceration due to previous vaginal delivery (8.3 %) etc. was followed. 5. The success rate of operation was 76 %, and the highest success rate (85.7 %) was reveald with period from 15th weeks to 16th weeks of gestation. 6. When cervical dilatation was abscent or small, the success rate of operation was high. 7. The factors of failed operation were preterm labor (58.7 %), PROM (34.5 %), and PIH, bleeding. 8. The delivery method after operation was vaginal delivery in 83 cases (68.6%) and cesarean section in 38 cases (31.4 %).
Cervix Uteri* ; Cesarean Section ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Labor Stage, First ; Lacerations ; Obstetric Labor, Premature ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second

Inflammatory pseudotumor, originally described in the lung, is a relatively rare tumor-like lesion that occurs in various organs and tissues. It is usually well demarcated from the surrounding tissue, however it can be unfortunately resected as a malignant tumor. A few inflammtory pseudotumor in the kidney have been reported in English literature, but there have been no reports in Korea. We report a case with inflammatory pseudotumor of the kidney. A 48 year old woman had an intermittent flank pain on the right side. An ultrasonographic study suggested a renal cell carcinoma and a nephrectomy was done. Grossly, there were two separate masses with a well demarcated yellowish appearance, measuring 2.3 cm and 1.3 cm in diameter, respectively. Histologically, they were composed of smooth muscle actin positive spindle cells and a large number of foamy histiocytes, lymphocytes, and plasma cells in the fibrotic backgound.
Actins ; Carcinoma, Renal Cell ; Female ; Flank Pain ; Granuloma, Plasma Cell* ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Kidney* ; Korea ; Lung ; Lymphocytes ; Middle Aged ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nephrectomy ; Plasma Cells

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that is characterized by progressive death of motor neurons in the cortex, brainstem, and spinal cord. Until now, many treatment strategies have been tested in ALS, but so far only Riluzole has shown efficacy of slightly slowing disease progression. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying ALS are multifactorial, with a complex interaction between genetic factors and molecular pathways. Other motor neuron disease such as spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and spinobulbar muscular atrophy (SBMA) are also progressive neurodegenerative disease with loss of motor neuron as ALS. This common thread of motor neuron loss has provided a target for the development of therapies for these motor neuron diseases. A better understanding of these pathogenic mechanisms and the potential pathological relationship between the various cellular processes have suggested novel therapeutic approaches, including stem cell and genetics-based strategies, providing hope for feasible treatment of ALS.
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis* ; Brain Stem ; Disease Progression ; Hope ; Motor Neuron Disease ; Motor Neurons ; Muscular Atrophy, Spinal ; Muscular Disorders, Atrophic ; Neurodegenerative Diseases ; Riluzole ; Spinal Cord ; Stem Cells

To evaluate the detection of HPV DNA according to subtype of lesions of uterine cervix and its clinical applicability, in situ hybridization (ISH) and immunohistochemistry for HPV were performed in 189 cases of uterine cervical lesion, including 23 cases of low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion (SIL), 115 cases of high grade SIL and 51 cases of invasive carcinoma. Positive immunostaining, brown precipitate, was mainly noted in the nucleus of koilocytes in the superficial and intermediate layer. Positivity of immunostaining was 21.7% in low grade SIL, 13.0% in high grade SIL and 9.8% in invasive carcinoma. Positive reaction in ISH, red precipitate, was noted in the nucleus of not only koilocytes but also non-koilocytes in the superficial and intermediate layer, and dot precipitate was rarely identified in the nest of squamous cell carcinoma. Based on HPV subtype, 6/11 was 21.7% in low grade SIL, 16/18 was 32.2% and 39.2% in high grade SIL and invasive carcinoma, respectively. With regard to their associated HPV types, low grade SILs were heterogeneous and high grade SILs and invasive carcinomas were related with the high oncogenic risk group only. The correlation of HPV subtypes with panHPV was 91.3% in low grade SIL, 91.3% in high grade SIL and 98.0% in invasive carcinoma. These results suggest that detection of HPV infection by ISH may be a more useful method than immunohistochemistry and application of the HPV subtype probe with the panHPV probe could improve the sensitivity of ISH.
Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; DNA ; Female ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry* ; In Situ Hybridization*

The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between pesticide use and mortality, and cancer mortality which are recognized as health hazards of pesticides. Data were analyzed from a cohort of 6,066 people aged fifty-five or over and who have been residing in the main island of Kangwha county. Death certificates, computerized citizenship registers searches, and household interview survey lead to get more than ninety-seven percents follow-up rate for the first five year observation period. Important findings are as follows: 1. Age specific mortality rates of pesticide users are significantly lower than those of pesticides nonusers. The SMR of male is 0.80, and 0.58 for females respectively probably due to healthy worker effects. But, age specific cancer mortality rates are significantly higher than those of pesticide nonusers (SMR=1.59) in males. this finding is not observed in females (SMR=0.85), however. 2. Logistic regression analyses showed that self-reported health status, drinking, and smoking histories in male are significantly associated with total mortality rate. The histories of pesticide use are also calculated to be highly associated with cancer mortality as in univariate analyses in males. In female, self-reported health status, age of first delivery are found to be significantly related to total mortality rate. Only drinking history is calculated to be associated with cancer mortalities in females. Data from further observation of 'Kangwha cohort' and indepth analyses of these are highly expected.
Cohort Studies* ; Death Certificates ; Drinking ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Healthy Worker Effect ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Morinda ; Mortality* ; Pesticides ; Smoke ; Smoking