OBJECTIVES: Acrylamide is a neurotoxin inducing central-peripheral distal axonopathy. The authors evaluated several neurologic tests to screen the early effect of occupational acrylamide exposure. METHODS: Fifty-two males working either in the production of acrylamide monomer or in the handling of acrylamide in Ulsan, Korea, were selected and subcategorized into the high-exposure group (n=10, mean age of 30. 4 years) and the low-exposure group (n=42, mean age of 28.9 years). Twenty-three males (mean age 29.4 years) from medical professionals and students were chosen as a non-exposed reference group. Symptom questionnaire, neurologic examination, electrodiagnostic test, vibrotactile threshold test, and Lanthony desaturated 15 panel test (LD-15D) were done. RESULTS: The high-exposure group showed more number of specific symptoms on questionnaire and more abnormal two point discrimination test. High-exposure group showed a significant difference in the median motor conduction velocity, peroneal nerve motor latency, sensory amplitude of median nerve action potential, and sensory latency of sural nerve. The vibrotactile threshold of the high-exposure group was significantly higher in both hands and feet than that of the low-exposure group and the reference group. Average color confusion index on the LD-15D was significantly higher in the high-exposure group (median 22.7, range 0-135.7) than in the reference group (median 2.4, range 0-33.2). CONCLUSIONS: The symptom questionnaire, vibrotactile threshold test, and color discrimination test are sensitive in detection of the early acrylamide-induced neuropathy, and the combination of these tests would further facilitate the effectiveness of the screening.
Acrylamide* ; Action Potentials ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Median Nerve ; Neurologic Examination ; Peroneal Nerve ; Questionnaires ; Sural Nerve ; Ulsan

communicable diseases. The purposes of the study is to estimate reporting proportion of National Notifiable Infectious Diseases(NNIDs) and investigate characteristics related to reporting using KAP(knowledge, attitude, practice) model. METHOD: We surveyed randomly selected 2,185 physicians (speciality: internal medicine, family medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, general physicians) of their knowledge, attitude, and practice of NNIDs reporting through self-administered mail questionnaires. Of them, 231 physicians responded (response proportion: 10.6%). RESULT: The reporting proportion was estimated to 27.0%. Recognition level (knowledge) of NNIDs was relatively high with proportion of 69.4%, and attitude (public health importance) of reporting was 65.8%. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that knowledge, attitude significantly affected physicians' reporting in a positive direction (O.R. 6.2, 6.2 respectively). Whereas, senior age group, specialty (family medicine, pediatrics, dermatology) showed significantly lower reporting. General (tertiary care) hospital level of care showed significantly higher reporting practice (alpha=0.05). CONCLUSION: The NNIDs reporting proportion, 27.0% is similar with those studied recently. Continuous efforts to increase the performance level of communicable diseases surveillance system. Of those, restructuring surveillance systems considering characteristics of notifiable diseases classes must be stressed. Educational approach of physicians needs to be tailored specially to newly-designated diseases such as Group II, Designated Group NNIDs.
Communicable Diseases* ; Dermatology ; Humans ; Internal Medicine ; Logistic Models ; Pediatrics ; Postal Service ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.

Congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia, the most severe form of congenital adrenal hyperplasia, is caused by mutations in the steroidogenic acute regulatory protien (StAR). It is characterized by failure of synthesis of all three classes of adrenal steroids and massive accumulation of lipids and cholesterol in the adrenal cortex. The computed tomography (CT) unequivocally delineated massively enlarged adrenal glands of fat-tissue attenuation, enabling early diagnosis and replacement therapy. We report a case of congenital lipoid adrenal hyperplasia, in which CT established that lipoid deposition at the adrenal cortex disappeared after the adrenal hormone replacement therapy.
Adrenal Cortex ; Adrenal Glands ; Adrenal Hyperplasia, Congenital ; Cholesterol ; Early Diagnosis* ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Hyperplasia* ; Steroids

Rigid posterior fixation of the atlas to the third and fourth cervical spine was achieved in a patient in whom axis pedicle fracture and dislocation of axis on the third cervical spine. Althouth there was no evidence of neurologic disorder, marked instability of axis on the third cervical spine should inevitably be fused in any procedures. An anatomically contoured loop was secured to the posterior arch of the atlas and the laminae of the third and the fourth cervical spine by sublaminar wirings. The technique has the advantage over bone graft, either alone or with cement, in that it affords rigid stabilization, allows early mobilization and some flexion movement of atlanto-occipital joint.
Atlanto-Occipital Joint ; Dislocations ; Early Ambulation ; Humans ; Nervous System Diseases ; Spine ; Spondylolisthesis ; Transplants

Acquired digital fibrokeratoma is a relatively unusual benign fibrous tumor that is usually found on the distal extremities. It is characterized by a solitary, flesh-colored, firm and hyperkeratotic projection with a surrounding collarette of raised skin at the base. We report a case of acquired digital fibrokeratoma resembling cutaneous horn in a 31-year-old male who showed a 0.5x0.5x2 cm, firm, hyperkeratotic protruded mass with secondary changes including crust and bleeding on the left 4th finger.
Adult ; Animals ; Extremities ; Fingers ; Hemorrhage ; Horns* ; Humans ; Male ; Skin

Dermatophytoses are often observed coexisting fungal infections. Trichophyton (T.) rubrum syndrome is defined as the following obligatory criteria. (A) Skin lesions at the following four sites: (1) feet; (2) hands; (3) nails; and (4) at least one lesion in another location than (1) (2) or (3), except for groins. (B) Positive microscopic findings of KOH preparations of skin scrapings in all four locations. (C) Identification of T. rubrum by culture at three of the four locations at least. Three cases of T. rubrum syndrome is reported in a 50-year-old woman, in a 73-year-old man, and in a 55-year-old man.
Aged ; Female ; Foot ; Groin ; Hand ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Skin ; Tinea ; Trichophyton*

BACKGOUND: CHROMagar Candida is a new differential culture medium that allows selective isolation and identification of clinically important Candida species. However, no study of CHROMagar Candida in superficial cutaneous candidiasis has been reported in Korea. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of CHROMagar Candida to identify Candida species isolated from patients with cutaneous candidiasis. METHOD: A total of 95 strains isolated from 92 patients with candidiasis (70 Candida albicans, 9 Candida parapsilosis, 7 Candida guilliermondii, 1 Candida krusei, 1 Candida glabrata, 1 Candida tropicalis, 2 C. albicans plus C. parapsilosis, 1 C. albicans plus C. krusei) were subcultured to CHROMagar Candida (KOMED, Korea) and incubated for 48 hours. Colony appearance on CHROMagar Candida was assessed by two observers. RESULTS: Expected colony appearance on CHROMagar Candida was 100% for C. albicans, C. krusei, C. glabrata and C. tropicalis, respectively but 85.7% for C. guilliermondii and 77.8% for C. parapsilosis. Three mixed cultures of Candida species, not detected by conventional methods, were detected by CHROMagar Candida. CONCLUSION: CHROMagar Candida is a useful isolation medium capable of a rapid presumptive identification of Candida species and more reliable detection of mixed cultures in clinical specimens.
Candida albicans ; Candida glabrata ; Candida tropicalis ; Candida* ; Candidiasis ; Candidiasis, Cutaneous* ; Humans ; Korea

PURPOSE: A composite of aluminum and vanadium (Ti-6Al-4V) is one of the most common compositions of titanium-based alloys. Unfortunately, vanadium has been found to cause adverse reactions. We evaluated the effects of vanadium containing titanium alloy (Ti-6Al-4V) on an osteoblast-like cell line (SaOS-2). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We studied the biologic and morphologic responses of SaOS-2 cell to Ti alloy with grit blasting and Ti coated Ti alloy with grit blasting. We performed energy-dispersive x-ray spectroscopy (EDS) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) investigations and performed a cell proliferation assay, ALP activity, and cell migration assay of SaOS-2 cells. RESULTS: The morphologic assessment of cells through SEM showed that the two surfaces were covered with similar amounts of small slender osteoblast like cells. The amount of proliferation, ALP activity and the migration extent of SaOS-2 cells on the surfaces of each group were not statistically different. CONCLUSION: We used a grit-blasted Ti-coated Ti alloy, coated using electron beam deposition, and a grit-blasted Ti alloy to evaluate the toxicity of Ti-6Al-4V on SaOS-2 cell. Compared with pure titanium, the vanadium-containing Ti-alloy did not show an adverse effect on SaOS-2 cells.
Alloys ; Aluminum ; Cell Line ; Cell Migration Assays ; Cell Proliferation ; Electrons ; Microscopy, Electron, Scanning ; Osteoblasts ; Spectrum Analysis ; Titanium ; Vanadium

A survey was conducted by the staff of the College of Medicine and School of Public Health, Seoul National University in cooperation with Seoul Special City from 1 December 1967 through 28 February 1968, on such events as delivery, death, abortion and pregnancy. The survey directed to a total population of 47,811 residing in 9,157 households led us to the following findings: 1. Two year averages of crude birth rate, crude death rate and natural increase rate were 30.1, 5.6 and 24.5, respectively. 2. Of all deliveries, home and hospital deliveries constituted 61.1 per cent and 35.5 per cent, respectively. 3. Deliveries other than hospital deliveries were found to be attended more often by mother-in-laws(26.5 per cent) than by doctors or midwives(23.4 per cent). 4. About 52 per cent of all women having experiences in pregnancy during the last two years had an experience of consulting a doctor at least one time throughout whole period of pregnancy. 5. In most cases scissors were used to cut umbilical cords, of which 71.0 per cent were not sterilized and only 28.3 per cent sterilized. 6. In many cases placenta was incinerated(48,2 per cent) and on many other occasions it was thrown away into water(28.3 per cent). 7. Cement page(37.4 per cent), gauze and absorbent cotton(29.8 per cent)were found to be most frequently used to receive new-born babies. 8. In 1966 8.8 per cent of the women had at least one abortion induced and in 1967 the percentage was 9.2 per cent. 9. Nearly all(95.8 per cent) of the induced abortions reportedly were done at doctor's clinics. 10. Of all the abortions induced 65.3 per cent were done by specialists in obstetrics, 30.3 per cent by general practitioners and 2.7 per cent by midwives. 11. Those who experienced spontaneous abortions were 1.9 per cent of all women both in 1966 and 1967. 12. About 9.2 per cent of women investigated were found to be currently pregnant. 13. Age specific death rate turned out to be highest among those under 1 year of age. 14. Ten major causes of death in their order of frequency were: 15. Places of death can be classified into homes(75.3 per cent) and hospitals(13.2 per cent). 16. Method of disposing of corpses comprised burials(54.2 per cent) and cremations(44.6 per cent). 17. Infant, neonatal and hebdomadal mortality rates have been computed at 32.2, 18.9 and 13.7, respectively. 18. Infants were found to have died either at homes(81.5 per cent) or at hospitals(18.5 per cent). 19. Birth registrations had been done for about 18.5 per cent of the dead infants.
Abortion, Induced ; Abortion, Spontaneous ; Birth Rate ; Cadaver ; Cause of Death ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; General Practitioners ; Humans ; Infant ; Midwifery ; Mortality ; Obstetrics ; Parturition* ; Placenta ; Population Growth ; Pregnancy ; Public Health ; Seoul* ; Specialization ; Umbilical Cord