No abstract available.
Occupational Diseases*

No abstract available.
Occupational Diseases*

Reports on a potential relationship between sensory neural hearing loss(SNHL) and cardiovascular or hematologic factor show that the results are controversial. A detailed analysis of risk factors in the development of SNHL was carried out in 3,050 non-noise exposed healthy worker. The mean hearing threshold of both ears at 500, 1000, 2000, 4000, 8000Hz was measured and the effect of age, possible cardiovascular risk factor and hematologic factor (blood viscosity and hemostatic factors) on SNHL were evaluated. First, each of these were associated with loss of hearing sensitivity when univariately and multivariatively analysed. In a multiple regression model, age, sex, body mass index, WBC and total cholesterol level were independently associated with the mean of hearing sensitivity decrease at 4000 and 8000Hz. Second, study subjects were divided into two group (normal vs SNHL) and we compare the possible risk between both groups, and analysed univariate and multivariative logistic model. In a multiple logistic regression model, age, sex, body mass index, WBC and total cholesterol level, total protein, platelet were independently associated with SNHL. Our results show that we have some reliable indices of susceptibility to SNHL using cardiovascular measures or biochemical factor, but future, more extensive studies are required.
Blood Platelets ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Ear ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Logistic Models ; Risk Factors ; Viscosity

No abstract available.
Heart* ; Thoracic Surgery*

BACKGROUND: Pachydermoperiostosis(PDP) is a rare genetic disease characterized by pachydermia, periostosis, arthralgia and finger clubbing. The pathogenesis of this disease is still unknown, but the concept that platelets and endothelial cells may play a major role in the developement of pachydermia is widely accepted nowadays, It is also suspected that several serum growth factors stimulate proliferation of soft tissue. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the pathogenesis of pachydermia in patients with pachydermoperiostosis through evaluating whether the fibroblasts from these patients have a higher proliferation rate than those from controls or whether the proliferation rate of those cells are affected by certain serum growth factors. METHOD: At first, we evaluated the proliferation rate of fibroblasts from patients and corntrols by the MTT colorimetric assay, and then the proliferation rate of fibroblasts from the prepuce of newborn infants under several conditions of media containing uncentrifuged patients serum, centrifuged patients serum, uncentrifuged control serum, or centrifuged control serum. RESULTS: The proliferation of fibroblasts from patients skin was slower than the control fibroblasts and fibroblasts derived from uninvolved skin of patients. The statistically significant highest proliferation rate was observed when fibroblasts were cultured in the uncentrifuged patients serum contained media and the order of proliferation was as follows: centrifuged patients serum, uncentrifuged control serum and centrifuged control serum condition at 20%, 10%, and 1% respectively. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients fibroblasts do not proliferate in vitro at a higher rate than control firoblasts. Fibroblasts in PDP may only play a role as target cells and certain serum factors are responsible for the pathogenesis of PDP.
Arthralgia ; Endothelial Cells ; Fibroblasts* ; Fingers ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins ; Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic* ; Skin

We observed a case of sebaceous epithelioma associated with a nevus sebaceus in a 25-year-old male. The tumor was bean-sized, dome-shaped nodule on the slightly yellowish plaque of nevus sebaceus. Histopathological finding shows undifferentiated cells which are arranged in a palisade fashion at the periphery of a cell mass and a fairly large number of transitional cells and groups of mature sebaeeous cells.
Adult ; Carcinoma* ; Humans ; Male ; Nevus* ; Nevus, Sebaceous of Jadassohn*

BACKGROUND: Recently, inireaing numbers of chemotherapeutic agens are being used to treat cancer patients. Mucocutaeous complications are commonly sen in association with the administration of these medicaticins. OBJECTIVE: We conducted a study in cancer chemotherapy patient so determine the suspected chemotherapeutic agents ancl frequency of various mucocutaneous side effects in these patients. METHODS: The study involved 140 patients admitted from Decerrae 1993 to September 1994 for cancer chemot herapy at Korea University Guro Hospital. RESULTS: The mucocutaneous side effects during chemotherapy were alopecia(55%), hyperpig mentation(32.9%), stomatitis(20%), phlebitis(12.9%), flushing(8.6%) descending order. Visual grade II, IV alopecia patients were most common, but as the chemot retpy cycle increased so, the severer the alopecia. Although the onset of the alopecia were variake many patients experienced alopcia within 17 to 24 days after the start of chemotherapy. Serpeitie supravenous fluorouracil hyperpigmentation were commor,(17.9%), Diffuse and longitudinal or horizontal band like nail pigmentation were observed, and, pigmented macules were also observei, epecially on the palms and digits. Stomatitis usually developed within 10 days after the start of chemotherapy and it persist ed for about 7 days and the most of the lesions were resolved spor Laeously. Other clinical manifestations accompanied with chmotherapy were tinea infection(16.4%), acne(7.1%), oral thrush (7%), white nail band(4.3%), pruritus(2.9%) in descending order. CONCLUSION: So, physiciars need to be aware of the widely divergnal cutaneous reactions which may occur with the use of antiancer medications.
Alopecia ; Candidiasis, Oral ; Drug Therapy* ; Fluorouracil ; Humans ; Hyperpigmentation ; Korea ; Pigmentation ; Stomatitis ; Tinea

There are debates about whether peripherally induced movement disorders exist. We report a case of upper limb tremor induced by peripheral nerve injury. A 25-year-old male patient presented with pain and tremor of the left upper extremity, 2 days after a car accident. Magnetic resonance images of the brain and cervical spine were normal. His past medical history was unremarkable and there were no family members with symptoms of movement disorders. He suffered from an aggravating tremor for about 10 minutes, four to six times a day. We treated the patient with medication, epidural infusion, cervical nerve root block and trigger point injection of the trapezius muscle. The pain subsided 50% and the incidence of tremor attacks was reduced to once or twice a day. The role of peripheral trauma in the genesis of movement disorders has not been generally accepted. It is unclear whether peripheral trauma can induce dystonia and other movement disorders. It has been proposed that peripheral trauma can alter sensory input and induce cortical and subcortical reorganization that generates a movement disorder. Some studies provide evidence for central reorganization following peripheral injury.
Accidents, Traffic ; Adult ; Brain ; Dystonia ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Male ; Movement Disorders ; Muscles ; Pain, Intractable ; Peripheral Nerve Injuries ; Spine ; Tremor ; Trigger Points ; Upper Extremity

Lovastatin, a competitive inhibitor of the rate limiting enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis was administered to 34 patients with primary hypertlipidemia, 20 mg once daily with the evening meal. Patients experienced mean total and LDL cholesterol reductions of 30.9% and 34.0% respectively. HDL cholesterol level was significantly increased by 15.4% and plasma triglyceride level was decreased by 11.2%. maximal hypocholesterolemic effects were evident at 8 weeks, after which the effects were stable. Adverse effects were noted in 2 patients who had mild gastrointestinal symptoms, that subsided after discontinuing the drug. We concluded that lovastatin is a well tolerated and effective agent for the treatment of primary hyperlipidemia.
Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Humans ; Hyperlipidemias* ; Lovastatin ; Meals ; Plasma* ; Triglycerides

PURPOSE: We applied lateral lithotomy position to the severe ureteral stricture cases supposed to fail with only retrograde approach. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From October 1997 to April 1999, 13 patients with severe ureteral stricture (lenghth>2cm or complete obstruction) supposed to fail with only retrograde approach and one patient with study. The causes of ureteral strictures were pelvic malignancy in 5, tuberculosis in 4, trauma in 2 and others in 2. The patient's ipsilateral shoulder was rotated and fixed like lateral position. And ipsilateral pelvis was elevated with sandbag or pad and rotated about 45 degrees, too. The retrograde approach was tried at first, if fail, antegrade approach was combined. RESULTS: We could insert ureteral stent via retrograde approach only in 3 patients and we needed aid of antegrade approach for passage through ureteral stricture in the other 11 patients (79%). Percutaneous antegrade approaches were combined in those 11 patients and we could pass the guide wire and indwell the stent in 10 of 11 patients (91%) using this position. CONCLUSIONS: The lateral lithotomy position was very helpful to the simultaneous retrograde and antegrade approach in severe fibrotic or malignant ureteral strictures.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Humans ; Pelvis ; Shoulder ; Stents ; Tuberculosis ; Ureter*