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

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

No abstract available.

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*

This study was conducted with whole home care nurses nationwide to provide secondary analyzed data to understand on their usage of medical equipments and their need of them for a month. This study found that treatments given by home care nurses were nelaton catheterization, bladder washing/urethral washing, newborn care, exchange and care for nasogastric tube and suction in that order of frequency. Second, instruments and equipments used for home care were reported to be stethoscope, patient monitor, blood pressure measuring equipment, air flotation mattresses, beds for patients, mattresses, suctioning device sets, enteral feeding equipment and dressing set in that oder of frequency. Moreover, need assessment of medical instruments and equipments showed renal dialysis was most needed and patient monitor, blood pressure measuring equipment, enteral feeding equipment, solution and other supplies for renal dialysis and beds for patient were necessary in that order. In conclusion, the results of this study investigating special treatments and medical instruments and equipments used for home care patients and analyzing patients' need, were expected to be useful for expansion of application of long-term care insurance for the elderly and health insurance as well as for quality control of home care and development of medial instruments and equipments used at home.
Aged ; Bandages ; Beds ; Blood Pressure Monitors ; Catheterization ; Catheters ; Enteral Nutrition ; Equipment and Supplies ; Home Care Services* ; Home Nursing* ; Humans ; Infant, Newborn ; Insurance, Health ; Insurance, Long-Term Care ; Quality Control ; Renal Dialysis ; Stethoscopes ; Suction ; Urinary Bladder

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

No abstract available.
Uterine Prolapse*