No abstract available.
Humans ; Muramidase*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Muramidase*

No abstract available.
Humans ; Muramidase*

There are various complex formations between immunoglobulin and serum enzymes in the body. Of these, LD-Immunoglobulin complex is most common. It has reported that LD-IgG or LD-IgA complex existed in the serum of healthy person or many patients who have various clinical disorders. The clinical significance of complexes is not known, but it results in the increase of total LD activity and interference to the LD isoenzyme electrophoresis interpretation due to its anomalous pattern. We have reported a case of LD-Immunoglobulin complex in AILD(Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia) with reference. The patient was admitted with fever, chills and cervical LN enlargement, in LN biopsy, diagnosed AILD, and during treatment expired by sepsis. Since admission, serum total LD activities were increased and serum LD isoenzyme EP showed that LD3-5 fractions was not separated in broad single band. Its pattern was due to LD-immunoglobulin complex, LD-bound immunoglobulin was IgG ,lamda. For the identification of immunoglobulin, we at first did serum protein immunoelectrophoresis. then stained the plate with tetrazolium dye for LD activity.
Biopsy ; Chills ; Electrophoresis ; Fever ; Humans ; Immunoblastic Lymphadenopathy* ; Immunoelectrophoresis ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins ; Lactic Acid* ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Sepsis

The authors have experienced 3 Rho(D) negative siblings from Rho(D) positive parents. ABO grouping and typing were carried out because the parents wanted their and children's blood types. On the five major Rh antigen(D, C, c, E, e) testing, the phenotypes of the both parents were CcDe, and those of their 3 siblings were cde. We can suspect the possible genotypes on the basis of the frequencies in Korean, both parents are CDe/cde and their 2 daughters and one son are cde/cde.
Genotype ; Humans ; Nuclear Family ; Parents* ; Phenotype ; Siblings*

A clinical analysis was performed on 326 cases of the non-penetrating rib fractures experienced in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Chosun University Hospital and 102 cases of the non-penetrating rib fractures those has been admitted and treated in the department of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, Jeonnam Hwasoon Jung-ang Hospital during a period from Jan. 1994 to Dec. 1995. 1. Sex ratio was 3.4:1 in urban and 3.6:1 in rural communities with male predominance. 2. Most common cause were traffic accident in both communities. 3. Hemothorax, pneumothorax and hemopneumothorax which needed thoracostomy were observed in 146 cases(44.7%) in the urban and 12 cases(11.7%) in the rural communities. 4. Left thorax was the spell site of rib fractures in both communities. 5. Rib fracture was prevalent from 3rd to 6th rib in both communities. 6. Open thoracotomy was performed in 37 cases(11.3%) in urban and 3 cases(2.9%) in rural communities. 7. Overall mortality was 4.29%(14 cases) in urban area and, 1.96%(2 cases) in rural communities, and cause of death were hypovolemic shock, brain edema, sepsis, respiratory failure, asphyxia, and cardiogenic shock.
Accidents, Traffic ; Asphyxia ; Brain Edema ; Cause of Death ; Hemopneumothorax ; Hemothorax ; Humans ; Jeollanam-do ; Male ; Mortality ; Pneumothorax ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Rib Fractures* ; Ribs* ; Rural Population* ; Sepsis ; Sex Ratio ; Shock ; Shock, Cardiogenic ; Thoracostomy ; Thoracotomy ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: There is an increasing concern for the social, economic, environmental and health effects of the Asian dust (Hwang-sa in Korean language) in Korea. In this study, we intended to indirectly determine ordinary people's perception about the Asian dust by analyzing the contents of newspaper articles dealing with it. METHODS: By using article searching services in the internet websites of three newspaper companies, we collected newspaper articles dealing with the Asian dust during the period from January 1st of 1998 to December 31st of 2002. We classified the articles into four categories: those forecasting the occurrence of the Asian dust, those about measures to cope with it, those about its occurrence in the neighboring foreign countries, and those about its effects. In particular, we analyzed articles about the health effects of the Asian dust more distinctly. RESULTS: A total of 1, 225 articles dealing with the Asian dust were found during the 5 year period. The number of articles increased from 102 in 1998 to 518 in 2002, approximately a five-fold increase. The numbers of articles about health effects, environmental effects and economical effects were 191 (44%), 171 (41%) and 147 (34%), respectively. It was reported that various diseases such as respiratory diseases (87%), eye problems (69%), and skin diseases (12%) were associated with the Asian dust. CONCLUSION: The increasing concern for the negative effects of the Asian dust necessitates more studies about this field. As the effects of the Asian dust are various, the information on the major concern of ordinary people could help establish the research agendas and measures for the Asian dust.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Dust* ; Forecasting ; Humans ; Internet ; Korea ; Skin Diseases ; Periodicals

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have raised the possibility that exposure to electrical and/or magnetic fields may be particularly harmful in the promotion or initiation of cancer. The purpose of this study which was based on a geographical correlation design was to investigate any association that may exist between residing near radio broadcast towers and carcinogenic activity in Korea. METHODS: In this study, the health effects of EMF of 10 AM radio broadcast towers in Korea were investigated. The electric powers of the towers were above 100kW. We chose exposed areas that were located within 2 km from the towers as well as four control regions which had similar populations in the same province(Do) but had no towers nearby. The incidence of leukemia, malignant lymphoma, brain tumor and breast cancer between the exposed areas and the control areas was compared. The standardized incidence ratios(SIRs) were calculated. Korean Medical Insurance data(between Nov,1,1993 and Oct,31,1996) was used for the cancer incidence estimation. The Nationwide Population Census data(in 1995) and the Resident Register data(in 1995) were used for information about population and locations. RESULTS: Among the 10 exposed areas, one area for leukemia and one area for brain tumor showed a significantly high incidence compared to the control areas. There were no significant increased areas for malignant lymphoma and breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This study design must be considered to be exploratory and not used for determining causality. However, the results suggest the necessity for further analytical epidemiological studies that have a more precise exposure measurement scale and information on confounding factors.
Brain Neoplasms ; Breast Neoplasms ; Censuses ; Electromagnetic Fields ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Incidence* ; Insurance ; Korea ; Leukemia ; Lymphoma ; Magnetic Fields

The index on myocardial contractility of pure mitral regurgitation(MR) after mitral valve replacement is believed to be useful in determining proper operation time before irreversible myocardial damage by volume overload. Thus the authors examined pre and post-operative echocardiographic results of 20 cases of pure MR patients who had been admitted to Pusan National University hospital and compared the usefulness of each index. Pre and post-operative echocardiographic results were as follows respectively ; 1) Left ventricular internal dimension in diastole(LVIDd) were 6.49+/-0.19cm and 5.51+/-0.17cm. 2) Left ventricular internal dimension in systole(LVIDs) were 4.26+/-0.12 and 3.79+/-0.18cm. 3) Ejection fraction were 71.28+/-1.57% and 59.24+/-3.05%. 4) Fractional shortening(FS) were 34.09+/-1.18% and 27.21+/-1.84%. 5) Mean Vcf were 1.53+/-0.08cm/sec and 1.18+/-0.09cm/sec. 6) Left ventricular end-diastolic volume index(EDVI) were 196.35+/-18.33cc/m2 and 98.46+/-9.96cc/m2. 7) Left ventricular end-systolic volume index(ESVI) were 55.28+/-5.12cc/m2 and 41.88+/-6.07cc/m2. 8) Left ventricular end-systolic wall stress/ESVI(ESS/ESVI) were 2.3+/-0.21 and 3.91+/-0.83. ESS/ESVI showed significantly(p<0.05) elevated postoperative change, LVIDd, LVIDs, EF, FS, EDVI, ESVI revealed significantly(p<0.05) reduced postoperative change whereas Mean Vcf had no postoperative change. After examining correlation between preoperative and postoperative results of each index, it is believed that LVIDd, LVIDs, and ESS/ESVI were useful prognostic indices but were unrelated to postoperative ejection phase indices such as EF, FS, and MEan Vcf. Especially in case of LVIDd>6cm, LVIDs>4cm, and ESS/ESVI<2, the prognosis was poor due to myocardial damage by mitral regurgitation.
Busan ; Echocardiography ; Humans ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency* ; Mitral Valve* ; Prognosis ; Stroke Volume

BACKGROUND: Although carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is the most commonly used ultrasonic measurement of atherosclerosis, plaque burden can be also assessed by ultrasound (US). We investigated the relationship between IMT, total plaque area (TPA) and total plaque volume (TPV) in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: One hundred and seven patients with suspected CAD and carotid plaques identified by duplex ultrasound underwent 3-dimensional US and coronary angiography. The mean IMT, TPA, and TPV were analyzed for patients with CAD according to the severity of CAD. RESULTS: In the 107 participants, IMT, TPA and TPV averaged 0.90 +/- 0.26 mm, 0.42 +/- 0.39 cm2 and 237.0 +/- 301.2 mm3, respectively. We found significant correlations for mean IMT : TPA, mean IMT : TPV and TPA : TPV of 0.448, 0.587 and 0.873, respectively (all p < 0.005). Although there was no significant association of IMT and the severity of CAD, TPA and TPV showed significant positive correlation with CAD severity (r = 0.340, p = 0.0003 for TPA and r = 0.465, p < 0.0001 for TPV). Multivariate linear regression analysis showed age was the only significant attributor to IMT, TPA, and TPV. Mean IMT was significantly associated only with hypertension. TPA was significantly associated with male sex, hypertension, and low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C). TPV was significantly associated with male sex, C-reactive protein, and LDL-C. CONCLUSION: Although there were significant correlations among the various US measures of carotid artery morphology, there seemed to be different biological determinants of IMT, TPA, and TPV. We might need to be selective about the particular measurements for specific applications.
Atherosclerosis ; C-Reactive Protein ; Carotid Arteries ; Carotid Intima-Media Thickness ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Vessels ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Linear Models ; Male ; Ultrasonics