Early recognition of coalescence in pneumoconiotic lesions is important because such coalescence is associated with the respiratory symptoms and deterioration of lung function. This complicated form of pneumoconiosis also has worse prognosis than does simple pneumoconiosis. High resolution computerized tomography(HRCT) provides significant additional information on the stage of the pneumoconiosis because it easily detects coalescence of nodules and emphysema that may not be apparent on the simple radiograph. The Purpose of this study is to clarify the role of HRCT in detection of large opacity and the relationship of change between the coalescence of nodules or emphysema and lung function in dust exposed workers. 1. There was good correlation between the HRCT grade of pneumoconiosis and ILO category of profusion. 5(9.09%) in 55 study population had confluent nodule extending over two or more cuts on HRCT. HRCT could identify the pneumoconiotic nodules which was not found by simple radiography in 6 workers with category 0/0. 2. No significant difference was observed coalescence of nodules and emphysema by dust type. 3. There was no significant difference in pulmonary function according to ILO and HRCT classification. 4. HRCT could detect the significant reduction in FEV1, FEV1/FVC, PEER, FEF25, FEF50, and FEF75 and remarkable increase in RV and TLC in study persons with emphysema compared with non-emphysema group. 5. Emphysema was found more often in nodules-coalescence group than small opacity group by HRCT. We found that HRCT could easily detect areas of coalescence and complicated emphysema compared to plain chest X-ray. Also our data suggest that it is primarily the degree of emphysema rather than the degree of pneumoconiosis that determines the level of pulmonary function.
Classification ; Dust ; Emphysema ; Humans ; Lung ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Prognosis ; Radiography ; Thorax

This study was performed to analyze the relationship among sebum . hydration content of the skin and nutritional intake, serum antioxidant minerals and antioxidant enzymes, and lipid peroxide concentration in 50 female subjects in their 20s. The skin type was divided into Dry Skin, Mixed Skin, and Oily Skin, and the dry skin group was 14%, the mixed skin group was 56%, and the oily skin group was 30% of all subjects. The average age of the subjects was 20.54 +/- 1.43 years and BMI was 20.66. The average sebum content in each group was in the order of T-zone>forehead>chin>cheek. In case of the T-zone, a significant difference between the dry skin group and the oily skin group was observed, suggesting that the area is most sensitive to sebum content by skin type. Significant differences were not observed in energy and nutrient intakes by skin type. Serum concentrations of antioxidant minerals such as copper, manganese, zinc and selenium were not significantly different among the groups, but the dry skin group tended to be higher than the oily skin group. Serum catalase was significantly higher in the oily skin group (P < 0.05), and MDA was significantly higher in the mixed skin group (P < 0.05). The hydration of the cheek and serum zinc showed a negative correlation, and the sebum content of the cheek and GPx showed a significant negative correlation. The hydration of the forehead and serum copper showed a significant negative correlation, and the hydration of the forehead and GPx showed a significant positive correlation. The hydration of the chin and serum SOD showed a significant positive correlation. With these results, it is considered that the basic condition of nutritional status can affect the skin health.
Adult ; Catalase ; Cheek ; Chin ; Copper ; Female ; Forehead ; Humans ; Manganese ; Minerals ; Nutritional Status ; Sebum ; Selenium ; Skin ; Zinc

BACKGROUND: Because moving means can be easily shiftable according to their crude data, we made a selective expected ranges to calculate the moving means. Bull's mean (exponential factor, P=0.50) and Exponentially Adjusted Moving Mean (EAMM, P=0.66) were assessed. we studied to determine appropriately expected range and exponential factor. METHODS: We made the target values from RBC indices being measured with H-2 hematology autoanalyzer from 800 patients and the expected range from red cell indices data of additional 600 patients. Both moving means using this expected ranges were calculated. The % difference of Bull's mean and EAMM was compared and total mean of (deltaBull's mean/deltaBatch mean) and (deltaEAMM/deltaBatch mean) was compared. RESULTS: The target values were MCV: 90.6 fL, MCH: 29.8 pg. MCHC: 32.8 g/dL. The expected ranges were within +/-6% of their target values. Among the 20 batches obtained from expected range, there were no above +/-3% difference of red cell indices in both moving means. The comparison between % difference of Bull's mean and that of EAMM showed no difference. Total mean of (deltaEAMM/deltaBatch mean) was higher than that of (deltaBull's mean/deltaBatch mean). CONCLUSIONS: The % difference results of Bull's mean and EAMM were basically similiar within the expected range but EAMM method was more sensitive than Bull's mean method under the aspect of specimen effects, so EAMM was more detectable than Bull's mean on the quality control of red cell indices.
Erythrocyte Indices* ; Hematology ; Humans ; Quality Control

The purpose of this study is to describe the cellular characteristics of endometrial hyperplasia without/with atypia in cervical smears. These cellular features were compared with those of normal endometrium and endometrial carcinoma. We reviewed 265 cervical smears : 64 normal proliferative endometrium, 118 endometrial hyperplasia without atypia, 21 endometrial hyperplasia with atypia, and 62 endometrial adenocarcinoma. Of these smears, 72(27.2%) smears which had diagnostic endometrial epithelial cells were selected for this study. The cytologic abnormalities about cellularity, background, changes in cellular architecture, alterations in nuclear size, anisokaryosis, chromatin pattern, nucleoli, cytoplasmic vacuoles, and mitosis were observed. Nuclear enlargement(1.6 to 2 times of the nucleus in the intermediate squamous cell) and anisokaryosis(> OR =2 fold in size variation) were highly suggestive of endometrial hyperplasia without/with atypia. The nuclei from endometrial hyperplasia with atypia were more coarsely granular in chromatin patterns than hyperplasia without atypia(33.3% vs 3.4%). Micronucleoli were observed in all endometrial conditions, but the presence of macronucleoli were more suggestive of hyperplasia with atypia(22.2%) and adenocarcinoma(55%). The changes in cellular architecture(loss of polarity, uneven internuclear distance, overlapping and loose
Adenocarcinoma* ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Endometrial Hyperplasia* ; Endometrial Neoplasms ; Endometrium* ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Hyperplasia ; Mitosis ; Vacuoles ; Vaginal Smears

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effectiveness of CC+FSH or CC+hMG in intrauterine insemination (IUI) cycles for the treatment of infertility. METHOD: Patients received daily 100 mg of clomiphene citrate (CC) for 5 days followed by hMG or FSH. A single IUI was performed at 36 h after hCG. Clinical pregnancy was classified if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. RESULTS: The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 19.1% per cycle (17/89) and 21.5% per patient (17/79). More clinical pregnancies were recorded in CC+FSH (23.1%, 6/26) than CC+hMG cycles (17.5%, 11/63), but this difference was not statistically significant. No differences were found in age, duration of infertility, follicle size, levels of estradiol (E2) on the day of hCG injection and total motile sperm counts between pregnant and non-pregnant groups. However, more ampules of gonadotropins were used in pregnant group than non-pregnant group (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: Combination of CC and hMG may economically be more effective to induce ovulation for IUI compared to CC and FSH.
Clomiphene* ; Estradiol ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Ovulation ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Sperm Count ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to evaluate the effects of endogenous LH surge, GnRH agonist (GnRH-a) or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) as ovulation trigger on pregnancy rate by intrauterine insemination (IUI). METHOD: Patients received daily 100 mg of clomiphene citrate (CC) for 5 days stating on the third day of the menstrual cycle followed by human menopausal gonadotropin (hMG) for ovulation induction. Follicles larger than >16 mm in diameter were present in the ovary, frequent LH tests in urine were introduced to detect an endogenous LH surge. Final follicular maturation and ovulation were induced by GnRH-a 0.1 mg (s.c.) or hCG 5,000~10,000 IU (i.m.) administration except natural ovulation. Pregnancy was classified as clinical if a gestational sac or fetal cardiac activity was seen on ultrasound. RESULTS: There were no differences in age, duration of infertility and follicle size, but more ampules of hMG were used in GnRH-a group compared to hCG 10,000 IU treated group (p<0.05). Lower level of estradiol (E2) on the day of hCG or GnRH-a injection was observed in hCG 10,000 IU group than other treatment groups (p<0.01). The overall clinical pregnancy rate was 19.8% per cycle (32/162) and 22.2% per patient (32/144). Pregnancy rate was higher in natural-endogenous LH surge group (37.5%, 9/24) than GnRH-a (18.8%) or hCG treated group (20.9% & 13.9%), but this difference was not statistically significant. No patient developed ovarian hyperstimulation. Abortion rate was 22.2% (2/9) in hCG 5,000 IU group. Delivery or ongoing pregnancy rate was 37.5% (9/24), 18.8% (3/16), 16.3% (7/43) and 13.9% (11/79) in endogenous LH surge, GnRH-a, hCG 5,000 IU and hCG 10,000 IU treatment groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: These results support the concept that use of natural-endogenous LH surge in stimulated cycles may be more effective to obtain pregnancies by IUI than GnRH-a or hCG administration.
Abortion, Induced ; Chorionic Gonadotropin ; Clomiphene ; Estradiol ; Female ; Gestational Sac ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone* ; Gonadotropins ; Humans ; Infertility ; Insemination* ; Menstrual Cycle ; Ovary ; Ovulation Induction ; Ovulation* ; Pregnancy Rate* ; Pregnancy* ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of information with videotape to platelet donors on the degree of anxiety and discomfort. METHODS: Between April and September 1999, we evaluated 200 first-time donors; 100 donors were selected for experiment group and informed of the platelet donation with videotape, while 100 other donors in the control group were not informed with videotape. Data were collected by using constructed questionnaires. RESLUTS: There were not significant differences regarding the degree of state anxiety between the control group and the experiment group. The degree of discomfort felt by the platelet donors of the experiment group was similar compared to the control group. There was a correlation between the anxiety and the discomfort induced during platelet donation in both experiment and control groups. The only factor influencing anxiety and discomfort was the physical condition. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that providing information through videotape did not have noticeable effect on reducing the anxiety and discomfort of the platelet donors. It is important to assess physical condition of platelet donors for more comfortable platelet donation. Based on these results, it can be proposed that more developed and effective videotape made under supervision of a specialist should be used for further providing information to the donors.
Anxiety* ; Blood Platelets ; Humans ; Organization and Administration ; Plateletpheresis* ; Specialization ; Tissue Donors* ; Videotape Recording* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We present a case of acute prostatitis with abscess. The patient had undergone intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) immunotherapy for bladder cancer. A prostate biopsy demonstrated tuberculous prostatitis with abscess. This case illustrates that when bladder cancer is treated with BCG, a tuberculous prostate abscess can develop.
Abscess ; Bacillus ; Biopsy ; Humans ; Immunotherapy ; Mycobacterium bovis ; Prostate ; Prostatitis ; Tuberculosis ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms

Use of adenoviruses as vehicle for gene therapy requires that target cells express appropriate receptors such as coxsakievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR). We show here that CAR-deficiency in cancer cells, that limits adenoviral gene delivery, can be overcome by using adenovirus complexed with the liposome, Ad-PEGPE [1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphoethanolamine-N-[methoxy(poly-ethylene glycol)-2000]. We first confirmed that CT-26 mouse colon cancer cells are deficient in CAR by RT-PCR, and then showed that CT-26 cells infected with Ad-GFP/PEGPE exhibited highly enhanced expression of green fluorescent protein (GFP), compared with those infected with Ad-GFP. GFP expression depends on the dose of liposome and adenovirus. Luciferase expression in livers treated with Ad-luc/PEGPE was about 1,000-fold less than those infected with Ad-luc. In a liver metastasis mouse tumor model developed by intrasplenic injection of CT-26 cells, luciferase expression following i.v. injection of Ad-luc/PEGPE was significantly higher in tumors than in adjacent non-neoplastic liver. Following systemic administration of Ad-GFP/PEGPE, GFP expression increased in tumors more than in adjacent liver while the reverse was true following administration of Ad-GFP. In the latter case, GFP expression was higher in liver than in tumors. This study demonstrates that systemic delivery of PEGPE-adenovirus complex is an effective tool of adenoviral delivery as it overcomes limitation due to CAR deficiency of target cells while reducing hepatic uptake and enhancing adenoviral gene expression in tumors.
*Adenoviridae/genetics/metabolism ; Animals ; Colonic Neoplasms/*genetics/metabolism/pathology/*therapy ; Dose-Response Relationship, Drug ; Gene Therapy ; *Gene Transfer Techniques ; Genetic Vectors ; Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics ; Liposomes/administration & dosage/chemistry/pharmacokinetics/*therapeutic use ; Liver/drug effects/metabolism ; Male ; Mice ; Mice, Inbred BALB C ; Mice, Transgenic ; NIH 3T3 Cells ; Phosphatidylethanolamines/administration & dosage ; Polyethylene Glycols/administration & dosage ; Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear/deficiency/genetics ; Receptors, Virus/deficiency/*genetics ; Transcription Factors/deficiency/genetics ; Tumor Cells, Cultured

We report here on a case of a recurrent left anterior neck infection and focal left suppurative thyroiditis that were associated with a congenital pyriform sinus fistula (PSF) in an 18-year-old male. Acute suppurative thyroidits is a very rare clinical condition and it is usually caused by infection that's derived from infected perithyroidal tissue or a congenital internal fistula. The PSF can lead to recurrent episodes of neck inflammation and abscess, and it is the most common cause of acute suppurative thyroiditis in young man. In this current case, the CT scan showed an air-containing tract of a PSF from the left pyriform sinus to the left thyroid gland and the perithyroidal soft tissue. The CT scan also showed a neck inflammatory infiltration or abscess along the course of the sinus tract. The focal low density of the thyroid parenchyma was seen and this was suggestive of suppurative thyroiditis. Barium esophagography demonstrated the fistulous tract in the PSF. We performed laryngoscopy, and the internal opening of the pyriform sinus fistula was successfully cauterized with AgNO3 and the post procedure course was fair. When an air-containing tract and a recurrent inflammatory infiltration or abscess are present at the left anterior neck with including the thyroid and perithyroidal soft tissue, a PSF should be strongly suspected.
Abscess ; Adolescent ; Barium ; Fistula* ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Laryngoscopy ; Male ; Neck ; Pyriform Sinus* ; Soft Tissue Infections* ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroiditis ; Thyroiditis, Suppurative ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed