The study was performed to measure and compare the peripheral blood T cell and T subsets in normal controls and psoriatic patients. Thirty-two normal controls and fift:en psoriatic patients were subjected to the study and the percentages and the rati vs of peripheral blood T cell and T subsets were measured. The results were as follows: 1. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT3 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 72. 8+-8. 2%, They decreased significantl) as compared with these in control group(76, 6- i-4. 7%). Mc an percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 47. 3+6, 7p;. They increased as compared with these in control group(46. 5+-3. 9p;), but the increase was insignificant. 3. Mean percentages of peripheral blood lymphocytes reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 27. 2+5. 5g, They decreased significantly as compared with these in control group(30, 6- l-4. 3%) 4. Mean ratios of lymphocytes reactive with OKT4 monoclonal antibody to these reactive with OKT8 monoclonal antibody in psoriatic patients were 1.8+- 0. 48 They increased significantly as compared with these in control group(1. 6+ 0.34).
Allergy and Immunology ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Muromonab-CD3 ; Psoriasis

BACKGROUND: The purpose of study was to analyze the demographic and health-behavioral factors that influence drug use in elderly population. METHODS: The 506 individuals aged more than 60 year old residing in the area of Seoul and Kyung-Ki Do were interviewed with structured questionnaire from July 1st to August 15th, 1997. RESULTS: Of the 506 participants, 63.5% reported of taking at least one type of drug currently. Westerns medication group was 72.8% , oriental medication group was 12.8%, and combined medication group was 14.4%. Western medication was reported to have been taken primarily for 'curative' purpose whereas the oriental medication was taken primarily for 'preventive' purpose. The most frequently used drugs were analgesics(33.0%), antihypertensives (26.4%), and digestives(18.1%). 52.8% of the participants were taking two to five drug, and 49.7% were taking drugs which doctors recommended and 27.8% were on self-medication. Only 17.2% of drug users knew the names of the drugs being taken, and 8.1% reported having experienced adverse effects. Epidemiologic factors revealed higher rate of drug use for urban residents(67.9%), and ones living without their spouses(70.9%)(p<0.05). Medicines for 'preventive' purpose such as eutrophics were found to be used more frequently by those who lived in urban(21.7%) rather than rural(13.0%) area, with higher education and higher income(p<0.05). Behavioral characteristics revealed higher rate of drug use for those with low self-confidence in health and more frequent utilization of medical institution (p<0.05). The rate of drug use was higher for non-smokers and for those who do not drink alcohol, however it was not significant. For 'preventive' drug use, factor such as self-confidence in health and past medical history do not seem to have statistical influence. CONCLUSION: Factors such as urban residents, low self-confidence in health, and frequent utilization of medical institution have significant effect on drug use in elderly population.
Aged* ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Drug Users ; Education ; Epidemiologic Factors ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seoul

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to construct a fetal animal model of congenital diaphragmatic hernia in a lamb under domestic environments. METHODS: Left-sided diaphragmatic hernias were created in seven fetal lambs at about 85 days' gestation (experimental group). Three other fetal lambs did not receive any surgical procedure and served as control group. Four of these lambs (3 in the experimental group and 1 in the control group) were delivered after a sufficient intrauterine period. The morphological changes of lung development were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: Creation of diaphragmatic hernia resulted in marked hypoplasia in fetal lung development. In this experiment, the maternal mortality was 33.3%, and the fetal mortality was 60% which are relatively high as compared with previous reports. CONCLUSION: From this data, the authors concluded that experimental fetal diaphragmatic hernia can be established although the technique for the measurement of gestational age, anesthesia and postoperative care should be improved to overcome domestic inexperience in using the lamb as an experimental animal.
Anesthesia ; Animals ; Fetal Mortality ; Gestational Age ; Hernia, Diaphragmatic* ; Lung ; Maternal Mortality ; Models, Animal ; Postoperative Care ; Pregnancy

This study was conducted to assess the health risk on the volatile organic compounds such as toluene, xylene, and styrene in painting workplace. It was monitored through personal air sampling during working time in selected 5 workplaces and analysed using gas chromatography. For the settlement of exposure situation, there were regarded working conditions such as working hours, yearly working days, and working years. Also, Monte-Carlo simulation was used for the induction of hazard index using toxicity value from IRIS(Integrated risk information system) database. The results of risk assessment were summarized as follows : 1. The air concentration of toluene was 7.096+/-15.6 ppm, 2.586+/-4.2 ppm for xylene, 1.914+/-5.3 ppm for styrene in blast painting workplaces. The level of toluene was different significantly compared with the level of xylene and styrene. 2. Computated chronic daily intake value of 95th percentile on toluene, xylene and styrene treated by Monte-Carlo simulation were 9.616, 3.567, 2.782 mg/kg/day, respectively. 3. Computated hazard index value of 75th percentile on toluene, xylene and styrene treated by Monte-Carlo simulation were 3.5, 1.0 and 1.6, respectively. Adverse health effects on the toluene, xylene and styrene would be expected by working exposure in blast painting workplace since the hazard indices of three compounds were exceeded 1 in the surroundings of percenitile 75 through having the low emerged frequency
Chromatography, Gas ; Humans ; Paint ; Paintings ; Risk Assessment* ; Styrene ; Toluene ; Volatile Organic Compounds* ; Xylenes

BACKGROUND: Nutrition delivery is frequently interrupted or delayed by physicians' ordering patterns. We conducted this study to investigate the effect of physician compliance with tube feeding (TF) protocol on the nutritional and clinical outcomes in acute lung injury (ALI) patients. METHODS: After implementing a TF protocol, 71 ALI patients with mechanical ventilation (MV) for > or = 7 days were observed. A dietician assessed the nutritional status of the patients and established individualized nutrition plans according to the protocol. If the physicians followed the dietician's recommendation within 48 hours, the patients were classified under the compliant group (Group 1). RESULTS: Forty patients (56.3%) were classified into Group 1. Prealbumin was comparable in both groups at ICU admission but higher in Group 1 at the time of discharge from the ICU (228 +/- 81 vs 157 +/- 77 mg/dl, p = 0.025). Nitrogen balance was only improved in Group 1. The time to reach calorie goal was shorter and non-feeding days were reduced in Group 1. The proportion of parenteral nutrition to nutritional support days was lower and delivered calories on the 4th and 7th day of TF were higher in Group 1 (p < 0.001). ICU mortality/stay and hospital mortality failed to show differences but hospital stay was prolonged in the noncompliant group (Group 2) (p = 0.023). Arterial oxygen tension and PaO2/FiO2 were maintained during the 1st week of ICU stay in Group 1 but were decreased in Group 2. CONCLUSIONS: Physicians' compliance with the TF protocol contributed to the likelihood of nutritional improvement and a shorter hospital stay in ALI patients with prolonged MV.
Acute Lung Injury ; Compliance ; Enteral Nutrition ; Guideline Adherence ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Nitrogen ; Nutritional Status ; Nutritional Support ; Oxygen ; Parenteral Nutrition ; Prealbumin ; Respiration, Artificial

BACKGROUND: The waist/hip ratio in an useful index of abodominal obesity, but it includes two variables which may result in a false interpretation. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the usefulness of waist/height ratio as a predictor for the risk factors of coronary artery disease(CAD). METHODS: 1,395 persons(818 men & 577 women) were selected as subjects who visited the Health Examination Center at Ewha Mokdong Hospital from October 1998 to March 1997. Waist circumference was measured at the level of umblicus with standing position. Hip circumference was measured at the level of the largest circumference of the hip. We set the criteria if the risk factors as hypertension(systolic BP > OR = 140mmHg and/or diastolic BP > OR = 90mmHg), glucose intolence (fastng blood glucose > OR = 115mg/dl) hypertriglyceridemia(>160mg/dl), hypercholesterolemia(> OR = 200mg/dl), and low HDL-cholesterol level(<35mg/dl). The morbidity index of CAD was calculated by the sim if the risk factor scores(one point per item if present). RESULTS: There was significant correlation between waist/height ratio, waist/hip ratio and body mass index(BMI)(p=0.0001). BMI had more strong correlation with waist/height ratio(r=0.81) than waist/hip ratio(r=0.48). According to the simple regression analysis, BMI, waist/hip ratio and waist/height ratio had significant correlation with all of the risk factors and the morbidity index, According to the multiple regression analysis, waist/height ratio had significant correlation with age, weight, height, systolic BP, triglyceride, cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. The risk factor morbidity index of the groups with waist/height ratio over 0.45 was significantly more higher than the group of the lowest risk factor morbidity index(waist/height ratio under 0.4) in men(p=0.01). for women, 0.46 was the level which the risk factor morbidity index increased significantly (p<0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Waist/height ratio can be a useful index of abdominal obesity. And it may be used as a more easier and better predictor of multiple CAD risk factors than waist/hip ratio. We can predict that waist/height ratio over 0.45 in men and over 0.46 in women may have more higher coronary artery disease risk.
Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Artery Disease* ; Coronary Vessels* ; Female ; Glucose ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Risk Factors* ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference

Acute hyperammonemia is a medical emergency in the newborn. Efficient, prompt removal of serum ammonia is essential in preventing irreversible brain damage in order to prevent the profound central nervous system dysfunction due to hyperammonia. We report a case of 2.3 kg, 5-day old girl with methylmalonic acidemia who presented with severe hyperammonemia and was successfully treated with continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration(CVVHDF). CVVHDF is an effective and safe method of ammonia removal in the newborn.
Ammonia ; Brain ; Central Nervous System ; Emergencies ; Female ; Hemodiafiltration* ; Humans ; Hyperammonemia* ; Infant, Newborn

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of heat wave on emergency department (ED) visits due to heat related illness, we developed an ED based active surveillance system. We want to identify epidemiology of ED visits due to heat related illness and determine the effect of heat index on daily ED visits due to heat related illness. METHODS: We developed an ED based active surveillance system for adults who visited the ED due to heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat syncope, heat edema, and heat cramp. We collected demographic and clinical variables, risk factors, and heat index by standardized registry on the webpage. We operated the surveillance into 16 emergency departments in Daegu City from June to September 2011. We analyzed epidemiologic variables descriptively and assessed the effect of heat index on the number of daily ED visits by multivariate Poisson regression analysis. RESULTS: During the study period, 34 cases were registered and nine cases were heat stroke. Heat stroke patients were older, and had more unemployment status than those with other heat related illness (p<0.05). More ED visits due to heat related illness were observed during the danger period than during the cool period, classified by heat index severity (Adjusted odds ratio: 1.72, 95% CI: 1.33-2.23). Increasing heat index by one degree caused more ED visits due to heat related illness (Adjusted incident rate ratio: 1.13, 95% CI: 1.07-1.19). CONCLUSION: We developed an ED based active surveillance system and observed more elderly persons and lower educational level in patients with heat stroke. In addition, increase in heat index significantly affected more daily ED visits due to heat related illness.
Adult ; Aged ; Daegu ; Edema ; Emergency Service, Hospital* ; Epidemiology ; Extreme Heat ; Heat Exhaustion ; Heat Stress Disorders ; Heat Stroke ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Infrared Rays ; Odds Ratio ; Public Health Surveillance ; Risk Factors ; Syncope ; Unemployment

Lung toxicity associated with cyclophosphamide use is a rare but serious side effect, that may result in a fatal course. However no such cases have been reported in Korea, so clinicians would not be alert to this adverse effect. We recently experienced a woman with Wegener's granulomatosis and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. This patient had been administered 12 grams of cyclophosphamide for 4 months. At that time of admission, She felt aggravating dyspnea on exertion for 2 weeks. Her chest x-ray and high resolution CT revealed aggravated reticular opacities and ground glass appearances. Dyspnea was improved and ground glass appearances on HRCT was disappeared after discontinuation of cyclophosphamide. We diagnosed this case as cyclophosphamide-induced pneumonitis and report it with a brief review of the literature.
Cyclophosphamide* ; Drug-Related Side Effects and Adverse Reactions ; Dyspnea ; Female ; Glass ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Korea ; Lung* ; Pneumonia ; Thorax ; Wegener Granulomatosis*