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

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*

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

The nuclear accumulation of p53 protein is known to correspond with mutation of p53 tumor supressor gene. To investigate the relationsbip between clinico-pathologic features and expression of p53 mutations, 65 cases of primary cervical carcinoma were analysed by an immunohistochemieal method using monoclonal antibody of p53. Immunostaining demonstrated varioua nuclear stinings of cancer cells in 48.4% of squamous cell carcinoma(51.9% in large cell carcinoma and 25.0% in small cell carcinomas) and 23.5% of adenocarcinoma(p<0.05) No differences in clinical stage and p53 positivity were found. There was no significant correlation between p53 positive cases and status of recurrence. This data suggests that p53 protein is not correlated with the disease progression and prognosis.
Carcinoma, Large Cell ; Cervix Uteri* ; Disease Progression ; Female ; Genes, p53* ; Prognosis ; Recurrence

No abstract available.
Uterine Prolapse*

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