No Abstract available.
Cross Infection* ; United States*

For the purpose of the curative effects of oral D-penicillamine in lead Ip0soning,D-penicillamine was orally administered to 7 lead poisoned workers which were employed in glaze product industry dealing with the lead oxide (Pb3O4). The doses of D-penicillamine was 1, 200mg per day which was administered by oral 7days schedules, taking for 5 days and stopping for the following 2days, repeatedly during 3 months period-(All the poisoned workers started working again in that industry after I month treatment, and were treated by oral D-penicillamine for 2 months still being exposed to contaminated environment. In order to evaluate the curative effects of D-penicillamine, IOgm of whole blood and 24 hours urine were collected every 14 days during the curative period for laboratory analysis(hemoglobin, blood lead. urine c-aminolevulinic acid, urine coproporphyrin, and urine lead levels) with the observation of the clinical symptoms. The results were as follows; 1. Oral D-penicillamine effected good curative results as that hemoglobin, blood lead, urine caminolevulinic acid, and urine coproporphyrin levels were decreased belpiv the critical level within 1 month treatment. 2. After re-exposure, oral D-penicillamine effected to some extent as that urine lead level was decreased 'below the critical level after 3 months treatment with disappgarence of the clinical symptoms after 2 months treatment. However, the curative effects of orral D-penicillamine in the lead exposure state is questionable since increasement of blood lead' level and remarkable decreasement of urine lead level after 3 months treatment can be observed.
Appointments and Schedules ; Lead Poisoning* ; Penicillamine*

The cohort study is an observational epidemiological study which selects the specific study population attempting to study the relatiqnship between an exposure to the purported cause and the subsequent risk of developing disease in accordance of time direction. Since Doll and Hill had studied the association between lung cancer and smoking behavior among the British medical doctors in the years of the last fifties, the defined group cohort studies analysing the relationship between an exposure and the occurence of a disease have become very popular. Cohort studies can be classified as either prospective or retrospective, depending on the temporal relationship between the initiation of the study and the occurence of the disease. Cohort studies are admitted as the very valuable studies for demonstrating the association between an exposure and a disease because it is possible to drive relative and attributable risks and often incidence measures. They can even examine multiple effects of a single exposure. However, they are usually expensive to carry out and large cohorts are required for rare diseases in addition to the time consum ing works. There are also very significant problems associated with selection of appropriate groups to be studied as far as complete ascertainment of disease occurence in them. Usually it is necessary that we must compromise to provide the opportunity for various types of bias such as selection bias, follow-up bias, information bias or misclassification, confounding bias and post hoc bias to occur which can result in incorrect conclusions. Only the success of a cohort study would be expected when the investigator pay the deep care in recognizing and correcting for these biases.
Bias (Epidemiology) ; Cohort Studies* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lung Neoplasms ; Rare Diseases ; Research Personnel ; Selection Bias ; Smoke ; Smoking

This study was performed to investigate the change of T-lymphocyte subsets to evaluate the immune reactivity of herpes simplex keratitis patients. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were obtained from fourteen herpes simplex keratitis patients and fourteen controls. These cells were incubated with a panel of lymphocyte specific monoclonal antibodies and then CD4+ helper and CD8+ suppressor T cells were measured by the use of flow cytometer. The following results were obtained. 1. The mean age of the control group was 46.4+/-15.9(mean+/-SD)years. The proportion of CD4+ helper T cell was 41.93 +/- 7.89%(mean +/- SD), the proportion of CD8+ suppressor T cell was 24.35 +/- 5.54% and the CD4+ helper/ CD8+ suppressor T cell ratio was 1.86 +/- 0.47. 2. The mean age of herpes simples keratitis patients was 49.9 +/- 16.4 years. In the patients, CD4+ helper/ CD8+ supressor T cell ratio was 1.25 +/- 0.42, a decrease compared to cells from controls (P<0.01). The proportion of CD4+ helper T cell was 30.1 +/- 7.11%, a decrease compared to controls(P<0.01). CD8+ suppressor T cell was 25.96 +/- 7.90%. There was no significant change in the CD8+ suppressor T cell. In this study, herpes simplex keratitis patients were accompanied by decrement in the ratio of helper to suppressor T cells and this decreased ratio was due to a decrease in helper T cells. These results suggest that cell mediated immune reactivity is depressed in herpes simplex keratitis patients.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Herpes Simplex* ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratitis, Herpetic* ; Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocyte Subsets* ; T-Lymphocytes* ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer

No abstract available.
Bronchiolitis* ; Respiratory Sounds*

We investigated the 1,004 workers who worked in a automobile factory to study the epidemiologic characterist of dermatoses due to cutting oils. Among the workers, 667(66.4%) answered the questionnaire. They are belong to 5 departments of the factory-the Engine-Work(86), Power train Assembly(17). We measured the oil mist concentration in air of the departments and examined the workers who had dermatologic symptoms. The results were follows; 1) Oil mist concentration; Of all measured points(52), 9 points(17.2%) exceeded 5mg/m3-the time-weighed PEL- and one department had a upper confidence limit(95%) higher than 5mg/m3. 2) Dermatologists examined 213 workers. 172 of them complained any skin symptoms at that time-itching(32.5%), papule(21.6%), scale(15.7%), vesicle(12.5%) in order. The abnormal skin site found by dermatologist were palm(29.3%), finger & nail(24.6%), forearm(16.2%), back of hand(8.4%) in order. 3) As the result of physical examination, we found that 160 workers had skin diseases. Contact dermatitis was the most common; 69 workers had contact dermatitis alone(43.1%), 11 had contact dermatitis with acne(6.9%), 10 had contact dermatitis with folliculitis(6.3%), 1 had contact dermatitis with acne & folliculitis, and 1 had contact dermatitis with abnormal pigmentation. Others were folliculitis(9 workers, 5.6%), acne(8, 5.0%), folliculitis & acne(2, 1.2%), keratosis(1, 0.6%), abnormal pigmentation(1, 0.6%), and non-specific hand eczema(47, 29.3%). 4) The prevalence of any skin diseases was 34.0 per 100 in cutting oil users, and 13.3 per 100 in non-users. Especially, the prevalence of contact dermatitis was 23.0 per 100 in cutting oil users and 4.3 per 100 in non-users. 5) We tried patch test(standard series, oil series, organic solvents) on 49 patients to differentiate allergic contact dermatitis from irritant contact dermatitis and found 20 were positive. 6) In a multivariate analysis(independent=age, tenure, kinds of cutting oil), the risk of skin diseases was higher in the water-based cutting oil user and both oil user than non-user or neat oil user(odds ratio were 2.16 and 2.78, respectively). And the risk of contact dermatitis was much higher at the same groups(odds ratio were 5.16 and 6.82, respectively).
Acne Vulgaris ; Automobiles ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Fingers ; Folliculitis ; Hand ; Humans ; Oils ; Physical Examination ; Pigmentation ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

PURPOSE: As a retrospective study by using of medical records, this was to investigate the incidence rate of nosocomial pneumonia and risk factors and to determine the causing agent. METHODS: Subjects were 336 patients during the period from January 2003 through December 2003. Nosocomial pneumonia was defined according to the definition(CDC, 1992).The statistical SPSS was used to analyze data that included chi-square, t-test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The actual number of patients with nosocomial pneumonia turned out to be 42 out of total 336 patients during the survey period. The incidence rate was 125 per 1,000 patients and 16.7 patients per 1,000 patient-days, which is comparable with 217 patients with ventilator-associated pneumonia per 1,000 patients and 34.8 per 1,000 patient-days. The significant risk factors for nosocomial pneumonia were identified as cardiomegaly based on chest radiography (OR=4.93; 95% CI=1.11-21.94), cerebral hemorrhage(OR=6.27; 95% CI=1.63-24.16), cerebral infarction(OR=4.39; 95% CI=1.05-18.40) and the duration of admission (OR=5.57; 95% CI=3.14-9.88). Causing agents of nosocomial pneumonia were Staphylococcus aureus 21.8%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 17.4% and Acinetobacter baumani 17.4%. Ventilator-associated pneumonia were Acinetobacter baumani 27.5%, Staphylococcus aureus 24.2%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 13.8%. CONCLUSIONS: The cardiomegaly at admission, diagnosis and duration of admission were considered to enhance the incidence rate of nosocomial pneunoniae. Further studies and intervention actions would be necessary to deal with the nosocomial pneunoniae.
Acinetobacter ; Cardiomegaly ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Logistic Models ; Medical Records ; Pneumonia* ; Pneumonia, Ventilator-Associated ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Radiography ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Thorax

Inflammatory polyposis of the colon is rare portion of the colon polyp entity. We experienced three patieats who suffered from colitis of unknown'etiology and discovered membranous retkular with/ without filiform polyp in the distal sigmoid colon of the them. Case 1, 56-year-old female, combined with basaloid cercinoma of the rectal canal that confirmed by pathology after abdominoperineal resection. So we obtained specimen of inflammtory polyp end tried to evaluate the mechanism of it. We found healed ulcer under the mucosal bridge. Case 2. 55-year-old male, had been suffered from irritable bowel syndrome. Prior to visit outpatient clinic, he complained tenesmus with diarrhea for a week. Inflammatory polyp was discovered by colonoacopy but his symptoms relieved by tranqulizers only. Case 3. 57-year-old male, has been a good health. He undertook colonoscopy for routine check thst revealed membranous reticular with filiform inflammatory polyp from distal sigmoid colon to hepatic flexure. Such shape of inflammatory polyp was not documented in Korea, so we reported three cases of it with review of the literature.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Colitis ; Colon* ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Colonoscopy ; Diarrhea ; Female ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Korea ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Pathology ; Polyps* ; Ulcer

The authors have experinced 8 cases of chronic carbon disulfide poisoning in workers engaged in the viacase rayon industry during the period between March 1987 and September 1988. Cases of carbon disulfide poisoning has not been reported in Korea till then. Carbon disulfide is primarily a neurotoxic poison, therefore those symptoms indicating central and peripheral nervous damage are very important. And it has toxic effects on the various organs such as skin, eye, ear, and respiratory, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, hepatic, genitourinary, hematological, and endocrine system. Occupational histories were obtained, and clinical findings and laboratory findings were analysed on all cases. 1. Seven (7) cases had been exposed to carbon disulfide for more than 10 years, and 1 case has been exposed for 6 years. 2. Most common symptoms were neurological symptoms such as gait disturbance, extremity weakness, paresthesia, and speech disturbance. 3. Involvement of central nervous system was noted in 7 cases through abnormal findings of electroencephalography, brain computerized tomography, neurological signs, and psychological test. Needle electromyography and nerve conduction study showed polyneuropathy in all cases. Ophthalmological abnormalities were found in 7 cases, mainly retinal microaneurysms and peripheral constriction of the visual field. Renal damage appeared in 4 cases, increase of serum cholesterol and/or triglyceride level appeared in 3 cases, and dercrease of erythrocyte and hemoglobin appeared in 2 cases. And hypertenison appeared in 2 cases, and diabetes appeared in 1 case. One(1) case who has been exposed tn carbon disulfide for 6 years showed polyneuropathy and peripheral constriction of the visual field.
Brain ; Carbon Disulfide* ; Carbon* ; Central Nervous System ; Cholesterol ; Constriction ; Ear ; Electroencephalography ; Electromyography ; Endocrine System ; Erythrocytes ; Extremities ; Gait ; Korea ; Needles ; Neural Conduction ; Paresthesia ; Poisoning* ; Polyneuropathies ; Psychological Tests ; Retinaldehyde ; Skin ; Triglycerides ; Visual Fields

No abstract available.
Adult* ; Atherosclerosis* ; Cholesterol* ; Humans ; Korea*