We studied the association of nonspecific bronchial hyperresponsiveness with general characteristics, exposure concentration, respiratory symptoms, chest x-ray findings, past histories and pulmonary function. We determined bronchial hyperresponsiveness by methacholine challenge test. And we conducted a respiratory symptom questionnaire and performed spirometry on 111 workers occupationally exposed to isocyanates in various industries. About 21.6% of subjects had bronchial hyperresponsiveness. No significant differences were observed between the hyperresponsive and non-responsive group with respect to age, sex, employment period, height, and smoking histories cough and breathlessness were significantly associated with the bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The hyperresponsive group had more experience of bronchitis and asthma in the past than the non-responsive group. The lower FEV1 and FEV1 % were closely related with bronchial hyperresponsiveness. Bronchial hyperrespoosiveness seems to be associated with some of respiratory symptoms, past histories and pulmonary function parameters in workers exposed to isocyanates.
Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Cough ; Employment ; Isocyanates* ; Methacholine Chloride ; Occupations ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spirometry ; Thorax

A 28-year old woman in DM (Ed note: Define DM) and chronic renal failure underwent an uneventful open reduction and internal fixation for an ankle fracture under spinal anesthesia. PCA with fentanyl and tramadol was started in the operating room with a background infusion of 2 ml/hr (10 microgram/h of fentanyl and 6 mg/h of tramadol), a bolus dose of 2 ml and a lockout interval of fifteen minutes. Approximately eight hours after initiating PCA the patient was found unresponsive in the ward with respiratory failure. Resuscitation was started with endotracheal intubation and cardiac massage with an injection of epinephrine and atropine. The patient made a full and immediate recovery two hours later.
Analgesia, Patient-Controlled ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Animals ; Ankle ; Atropine ; Epinephrine ; Female ; Fentanyl ; Heart Massage ; Humans ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Operating Rooms ; Passive Cutaneous Anaphylaxis ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Resuscitation ; Tramadol

Objective: Hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is the most crucial treatment for decompression sickness (DCS), which needs to be administered as swiftly as possible. This study evaluates the therapeutic responses of DCS patients and analyzes the major factors for clinical outcomes. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort single-center study on patients who arrived at our hospital’s emergency department for diving-related symptoms and were diagnosed with DCS and administered HBOT. Results: Totally, 337 patients were enrolled from June 2015 to May 2020. The proportion of SCUBA diving, rapid ascent, and inter-facility transport cases was higher in the recreational group, with a longer lag time from symptom onset to HBOT. The professional group had a higher proportion of cases with previous DCS history, total diving time, bottom time, in-water decompression, and repetitive diving. Examination of treatment outcomes revealed more type I cases and a shorter lag time from symptom onset to HBOT in the complete recovery group. Conversely, the incomplete recovery group had a higher proportion of type II cases and aggravation of symptoms before HBOT was administered. Conclusion DCS can occur regardless of professional or recreational divers. Both groups showed a similar level of severity. It is recommended that recreational divers should be cautious of accidents related to safety (such as rapid ascent) and receive swift treatment in case of the onset of symptoms. Occupational divers need more active efforts to get HBOT rather than just performing in-water recompression or home O2 therapy.

Purpose: Paeonia Radix Alba is a traditional herbal medicine used to treat the liver and the spleen. Many studies have reported that Paeonia Radix Alba extract (PR) affects liver injury, but there has been no study on liver injuries induced by thioacetamide (TAA). Therefore, we aimed at evaluating the effect of PR on a TAA-induced acute liver injury (ALI) model. Methods: The antioxidant activity of PR was assayed by the content of total polyphenol, total flavonoid, 1,1-diphenyl-2′-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and 2,2'-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzo-thiazoline-6-sulfonicacid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activities in vitro test. ALI was induced via-intraperitoneal injection of TAA (200 mg/kg body weight) for three consecutive days. Also, silymarin (100 mg/ kg body weight) and PR (100 or 200 mg/kg body weight) were administered at 1 hours 30 minutes prior to TAA treatment. The levels of ammonia, glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT), and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) were analyzed using an assay kit. The expressions of antioxidant proteins including Nrf2, Keap1, HO-1, SOD, catalase, and GPx-1/2 and oxidative stressrelated proteins including NOX2, p47 phox , and p22 phox were evaluated by the western blot analysis. Results: PR showed excellent antioxidant activity in vitro. TAA administration increased the levels of ammonia, GOT, and GPT in the ALI control group compared to the normal group, whereas it was significantly reduced by PR pretreatment. Moreover, NADPH oxidase protein expressions were upregulated after TAA treatment, while the elevated expressions were inhibited by PR pretreatment. The expressions of antioxidant protein were downregulated in the ALI control group, whereas Nrf2 activation in the PR group was accompanied by increased levels of antioxidant enzymes. Conclusion PR administration increased the antioxidant enzymes via activation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway and inhibited the protein levels of NADPH oxidase factors. Taken together, these results showed that PR treatment may be considered to ameliorate acute liver injury induced by TAA.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the role of ATP-sensitive potassium channel (KATP) during sustained ventricular fibrillation (VF), the effects of gliburide, a specific blocker of KATP channel and PCO400, an KATP opener, were studied in isolated and perfused swine right ventricular free walls (n=). METHODS: Recording of single cell transmembrane potentials was performed and constructed action potential duration restitution (APDR) curve by plotting APD 90%(APD90) versus preceding diastolic interval (DI). RESULTS: All isolated tissues fibrillated spontaneously. In this preparation, stable VF could persist over a 4-hour period if it was allowed to continue undisturbed (n=). Gliburide (1-5 uM) increased DI without significant changes in APD90 during VF, resulting in more regularization of VF. Higher concentration (10-20 uM) increased both APD90 and DI, and converted to monomorphic ventricular tachycardia (MVT) through the transitional period characterized by APD alternans. PCO400 (1-2.5 uM) caused a significant shortening of APD during MVT and a period of APD alternans became more evident before conversion from MVT to VF. Gliburide eliminated profibrillatory effect of PCO400. This antifibrillatory action of gliburide was accompanied by gradual decrease in the maximum slope of APDR curve during VF. CONCLUSION: KATP channel blockade causes a transition from VF to MVT via lengthening of DI and APD alternans, concomitantly with a reduction of the slope of APD restitution curve.
Action Potentials ; Membrane Potentials ; Potassium Channels ; Swine ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Ventricular Fibrillation*

BACKGROUND: Non-small cell lung cancer is one of the most frequent cause of death due to cancer in men, and its incidence among women is rapidly increasing. Although there has been a recent surge of interest in combined modality therapy for stage III non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC), the optimal treatment is still not well established. Thoracic irradiation has long been the gold standard for locally advanced unresectable NSCLC. However, although conventional radiotherapy(XRT) can palliate symptom and improve local control of disease, it huts at most only a modest effect on survival. Recently, cisplatin(cia-diamminedichloroplatinum ) has been reported to enhance the cell-killing effect of radiation For patients with unresectable NSCLC, cisplatin-based concurrent chemoradiotherapy(CCRT) had the advantage of therapeutic response over XRT alone and therapeutic side effect more commonly occurred in CCRT group in EORTC(European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer) and other trials. Objectives : We compared therapeutic response, compliance, and side effects between CCRT and XRT in patients with advanced NSCLC. Patients and METHOD: Thirty patients with biopsy-proven inoperable NSCLC were randomized to one of two treatment arms. Arm A consisted of XRT, radiotherapy for 4~6 weeks(1.8 Gy given 20~33 times, in five fractions a week), and arm B consisted of CCRT, radiotherapy for 2 weeks(3 Gy given 10 times, in five fractions a week), followed by 3 week rest period and then radiotherapy 2 more weeks(2.5 Gy given 10 timed in five fractions a week), combined with 6mg cisplatin per square meter, given daily before radiotherapy. We evaluate therapeutic response, compliance, change of performance status, side effects, and radiation pneumonitis by using the author's made scoring system. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in therapeutic response and compliance. But there was a significantly lower laboratory complication and radiation pneumonitis in CCRT group (p<0.05). There's significant negative correlation between stage and therapeutic response score in both groups(R=0.353, p<0.05). In both groups, patients with squamous cell carcinoma had a tendency to higher therapeutic response score than those with adenocarcinoma. CONCLUSION: There was. no difference between CCRT and XRT in respect to therapeutic response and compliance. But CCRT had a advantage of decreased side effects.
Adenocarcinoma ; Arm ; Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cause of Death ; Chemoradiotherapy* ; Cisplatin ; Combined Modality Therapy ; Compliance ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Radiation Pneumonitis ; Radiotherapy*

The corpus callosum consists of white fibers connecting the cerebral hemispheres. Agenesis of the corpus callosum is an uncommon congenital anomaly which is easily diagnosed in the postnatal period by ultrasound and computed tomographic scan or MRI, but its prenatal sonographic diagnosis is difficult because of fetal head positioning and limiting trans-axial scans. We experienced a case of agenesis of the corpus callusum with chromosomal anomaly. The prenatal sonographic findings are ventricular abnormalities that demonstrated dilatation of lateral ventricles and disproportionate enlargement of the occipital horns, which were suggestive findings for the corpus callosal agenesis. We could confim the diagnosis of the corpus callosal agenesis with chromosome anomaly by postnatal MRI and chromosome analysis.
Agenesis of Corpus Callosum* ; Animals ; Cerebrum ; Corpus Callosum ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Head ; Horns ; Lateral Ventricles ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: The Korean Food Composition Table (KFCT) was first published in 1970, and has since been updated every five years by the Rural Development Administration (RDA). This study was conducted to introduce the development strategies, features, and challenges of the 9th revision of the KFCT. METHODS: Due to the increasing demands of nutrient database users and generators, the RDA started a new research project in 2013 to improve the quantity and quality of data for the 9th revision of the KFCT. Over 1,000 food items frequently consumed in Korea were selected as key foods using the results of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. About 200 raw materials and processed food items were collected and analyzed every year. Target nutrients that were analyzed by collaborative labs, such as, sugars, selenium, iodine, and biotin, were increased from 22 to 43. Analytical sample handling procedures and data quality evaluation systems were also established in collaboration with 10 contracted labs. Data were evaluated for data quality according to the FAO/INFOODS, CODEX, and AOAC guidelines. RESULTS: The 9th revision contains data on 3,000 food items and up to 43 and 140 food nutrients for the printed table and the excel database file, respectively. Overall, 1,485 data items were newly added, 973 of which were provided by the RDA and 512 were cited from foreign nutrient databases. The remaining 1,515 food items were maintained as in the 8th revision. CONCLUSIONS: The KFCT provides the basic infrastructure for food and nutrition policy, research, and dietary practice in South Korea. The use of the KFCT has increased exponentially in the past few years in both public and private sectors; accordingly, increased efforts should be paid to the preparation, improvement, and maintenance of KFCT.
Biotin ; Carbohydrates ; Cooperative Behavior ; Data Accuracy ; Iodine ; Korea ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys ; Private Sector ; Selenium ; Social Planning

OBJECTIVES: The Korean Food Composition Table (KFCT) was first published in 1970, and has since been updated every five years by the Rural Development Administration (RDA). This study was conducted to introduce the development strategies, features, and challenges of the 9th revision of the KFCT. METHODS: Due to the increasing demands of nutrient database users and generators, the RDA started a new research project in 2013 to improve the quantity and quality of data for the 9th revision of the KFCT. Over 1,000 food items frequently consumed in Korea were selected as key foods using the results of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. About 200 raw materials and processed food items were collected and analyzed every year. Target nutrients that were analyzed by collaborative labs, such as, sugars, selenium, iodine, and biotin, were increased from 22 to 43. Analytical sample handling procedures and data quality evaluation systems were also established in collaboration with 10 contracted labs. Data were evaluated for data quality according to the FAO/INFOODS, CODEX, and AOAC guidelines. RESULTS: The 9th revision contains data on 3,000 food items and up to 43 and 140 food nutrients for the printed table and the excel database file, respectively. Overall, 1,485 data items were newly added, 973 of which were provided by the RDA and 512 were cited from foreign nutrient databases. The remaining 1,515 food items were maintained as in the 8th revision. CONCLUSIONS: The KFCT provides the basic infrastructure for food and nutrition policy, research, and dietary practice in South Korea. The use of the KFCT has increased exponentially in the past few years in both public and private sectors; accordingly, increased efforts should be paid to the preparation, improvement, and maintenance of KFCT.
Biotin ; Carbohydrates ; Cooperative Behavior ; Data Accuracy ; Iodine ; Korea ; Nutrition Policy ; Nutrition Surveys ; Private Sector ; Selenium ; Social Planning

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of the different regimens of immobilization after surgery in a rabbit model. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was performed on the right Achilles tendon of 30 rabbits. Modified Kessler method was used to suture the transected tendon. Rabbits were divided into three groups, Group I (n=10) underwent long leg cast with equinus position for 6 weeks, Group II (n=10) underwent weekly cast correction to full dorsiflexion from 1 week after surgery, and Group III (n=10) underwent daily correction of equinous position with external fixator from 1 week after surgery. The contralateral Achilles tendon served as an unoperated control. And three groups were compared at 6 weeks after surgery. RESULTS: The maximal load at rupture (N) was 55.50, 97.46, 140.27, 180.98 for group I, II, III and control respectively. The strain was 0.44, 0.49, 0.74, 0.67. The stiffness (N/mm) was 9.63, 17.87, 19.01, 23.33. The absorbed energy to rupture (J) was 12.23, 23.98, 51.20, 60.78. Values among groups were significantly different considering the maximal load, strain, stiffness, and absorbed energy to rupture (p<0.05). Histological finding was revealed more mature restoration and more parallel arrangement of fiber bundles in the group II, and especially group III. Achilles tendon rupture, Maximal load, Strain, Stiffness, Tensile loading. CONCLUSION: Tensile loading of the healing tendon by postoperative continuous correction leads to changes in more similar to the normal Achilles tendon, biomechanically and historically.
Achilles Tendon* ; External Fixators ; Immobilization ; Leg ; Rabbits ; Rupture ; Sutures ; Tendons