In the plywood manufacturing factory established in 1979, female 3 workers who had exposed to adhesives containing formaldehyde for more than 48 months of duration suffered from eye, nasal, oral, throat and skin irritation and dyspnea as chief complaints. The actual level of the exposure to formaldehyde were not estimated when the exposed workers started to have above symptoms. The environmental monitoring of workplace was measured on April 25, 1990, and the concentration of formaldehyde revealed 0.2 ppm, however the exhaustive ventilatory system was already installed at that time. Twenty six subjects from entire factory were examined by questionnaire, physical examination and spirometry, etc. on August 22, 1990. Significant difference was observed in symptoms and signs of nasal, oral and throat irritation between teh exposed group with longer duration and that with short duration. When the exposed group with longer duration was compared to the group of nonexposed, symptoms and signs of nasal, oral, throat and skin irritation, chest tightness and dullness were significantly increased in the former group. The results of the spirometric test showed that the forced vital capacity and the forced expiratory volume at 1 second were decreased amont the exposed group with longer duration but not significant.
Adhesives ; Dyspnea ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Formaldehyde* ; Humans ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Spirometry ; Thorax ; Vital Capacity

We experienced 3 cases of manometry-induced colon perforation. A 75-year-old man (case 1) underwent anorectal manometry (ARM) 3 years after radiotherapy for prostate cancer and a laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer. A 70-year-old man (case 2) underwent ARM 3 months after conventional neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and a laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer. A 78-year-old man (case 3) underwent ARM 2 months after a laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer. In all cases, a colon perforation with fecal peritonitis occurred. All were treated successfully using prompt and active operations and were discharged without any complications. ARM with a balloon, as a measure of rectal compliance, should be performed 2 months or longer after surgery. If a perforation occurs, prompt and active surgical intervention is necessary due to the high possibility of extensive fecal peritonitis.
Aged ; Arm ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Colon ; Compliance ; Humans ; Manometry* ; Peritonitis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms

Essential palmar hyperhidrosis is a disease characterized by excessive sweating on palms and hands due to hyperaction of sympathetic nervous discharge. It develops severe hypothermia on both hands because of loss of surface heat by evaporation of the sweating. Numerous tests including starch-iodine test were used to detect sweating status. But they were complicated and unpleasant to patients. Digital infrared Thermographic Imaging(DITI) can show a thermal difference very clearly. We have used DITI not only for the diagnosis, but for planning of the operation and operative follow up of the disease since 1990. 343 cases of bilateral upper thoracic(T2 & T3) sympathetic ganglionectomy were performed from Mar. 1989 to Dec. 1996 in our spine center. Among them, open surgery with posterior midline approach were initially carried out in 54 cases and recently percutaneous endoscopic sympathectomy were carried out in 289 additional cases. Digital Infrared Thermographic Imaging has been taken pre and postoperatively in 339 cases. Preoperatively, severe hypothermia is noted in 96.2% in both hands and feet. Immediately after operation, the sweating ceased in all cases and marked hyperthermia was noted in both hands compared to preoperative status due to sympathetic denervation. DITI is more accurate and easier than any other method for diagnosis and evaluation of treatment effect in hyperhidrosis. DITI is simple, accurate, comfortable and objective diagnostic tool for hyperhidrosis patient.
Diagnosis ; Fever ; Follow-Up Studies ; Foot ; Ganglionectomy ; Hand ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Hypothermia ; Spine ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Sympathectomy

This study was conducted to investigate the cause and magnitude of food poisoning among residents and visitors for a birthday party in a rural area of Kyongju city in september, 1996. The total subjects were 137 persons, 119 residents(53 males, 66 females), including 7 hospitalixed patients and 18 visitors(8 males, 10 females). The investigation consisted of an interview survey, a study on clinical characteristics for the patients hospitalized, bacteriological examinations of the underground water and microbiologic examinations on microbes isolated from the patients. The population at risk was 59 persons(24 males, 35 females). The attack rate was 50.0%(12 cases) for males, 48.6% for females(17 cases). The cases were distributed evenly for all age groups. The attack rates for each party-food and possible fooe groups were not significantly different. Most clinical symptoms were significantly more frequent among cases than non-ases: abdominal pain(73.1%), diarrhea(73.1%), chilliness(69.2%), fever(65.4%), anorexia(61.5%), nausea(53.8%), general weakness(50.0%) and dizziness(50.0%) were the major symptoms among the cases. The admission rate among the cases was 24.1%(1 male, 6 females). In the stool cultures, Salmonella species group D was isolated from 6 persons of 85 examinees. It was identified as Salmonella enteritidis by serological diagnosis. The samples of underground water were assessed Enon-compatible for drinking in 10 wells(83.3%) of this rural area and it was suggested that it could have been contaminated from cattle feces. There were two wells in the party house, one of them was contaminated by bacterias including E. coli. The contaminated water was stored in a water tank located on the rooftop. This water was used for dish washing and cooking. Wd concluded that the cause of this epidemic was the underground water contaminated by Salmonella enteritidis from guman carriers or domestic animal carriers.
Animals ; Animals, Domestic ; Bacteria ; Cattle ; Cooking ; Diagnosis ; Drinking ; Feces ; Foodborne Diseases ; Groundwater ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Male ; Population Characteristics ; Salmonella enteritidis* ; Salmonella*

BACKGROUND: Association of arterial stiffness and osteoporosis has been previously reported in women. However, this association is still controversial for men. Therefore, we investigated correlation of arterial stiffness and osteoporosis by measuring brachial-ankle (ba) pulse wave velocity (PWV) and bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: We reviewed medical charts of 239 people (women: 128, men: 111) who visited the Health Promotion Center, retrospectively. ba-PWV was measured by automatic wave analyzer. Lumbar spine (L1-L4) BMD and femur BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Metabolic syndrome was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) definition. Body mass index (BMI)>25 kg/m2 was used instead of waist circumference. RESULTS: In Pearson's correlation analysis, PWV and femur BMD (Neck, total) had a significant inverse relationship in men (r=-0.254, P=0.007; r=-0.202, P=0.034). In women, PWV and the L-spine, femur (Neck, total) had a significant inverse relationship. (r=-0.321, P<0.001; r=-0.189, P=0.032; r=-0.177, P=0.046) Age and PWV showed the greatest association in both men and women (r=0.46 P<0.001; r=0.525, P<0.001) In multiple regression analysis, the L-spine BMD and PWV had an independent relationship in women after adjusting for age, metabolic syndrome, BMI, smoking, drinking and exercise. (r=-0.229, P=0.015). No independent association was found between PWV and BMD in men. CONCLUSIONS: The association between arterial stiffness and BMD was confirmed in women. However, this association was not statistically significant for men.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Education ; Female ; Femur ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Osteoporosis* ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spine ; Vascular Stiffness* ; Waist Circumference

Tularemia is a major laboratory acquired zoonoses caused by Francisella tularensis that have high virulence, and usually transmitted to humans from direct contact with infected wild animals like rabbits or insect vectors like ticks. Clinical tularemia can be divided with 6 major syndromes that are delineated by the mode of organism aquisition, in which ulceroglandular type is the most common. F. tularensis have 3 different biogroups which have homogeneous antigenecity, type A (biogroup tularensis), type B (biogroup palearctica) and biogroup novicida, and can be confirmed by serology most frequently. In the domestic area, there was no reports of tularemia in humans or presence of bacteria in the reservoirs. Authers experienced a case of tularemia which is suspected as F. tularensis type B, ulceroglandular type. A healthy 40-year-old man admitted the hospital for lymph node swelling in both axillary and upper arm area and for furuncles in both forearm and palm. He contacted with dead rabbit and eated it after cooking before 20 days from admission day. In laboratory cultures, F. tularensis did not grow in any of the routine or anaerobic culture media except for one blood agar plate at 5 days. After subculturing that to cystine containing chocolate agar plate at 37C degree, 5% CO2 incubator, we could see the accelerating growth of colony. In microbiological test, it was oxidase and urease negative. In acid production in cystine trypticase agar base, it was glucose positive and sucrose, maltose, glycerol negative. In agglutinating test, F. tularensis antiserum titer (Difco, USA) with isolates was 1:160 or over and antibody titer to F. tularensis antigen (Difco, USA) was 1:320 or over. Anti-F. tularensis-IF assay and Anti-F. tularensis-indirect-EIA with isolates were positive.
Adult ; Agar ; Animals ; Animals, Wild ; Arm ; Bacteria ; Cacao ; Cooking ; Culture Media ; Cystine ; Forearm ; Francisella tularensis* ; Francisella* ; Furunculosis ; Glucose ; Glycerol ; Humans ; Incubators ; Insect Vectors ; Lymph Nodes ; Maltose ; Oxidoreductases ; Rabbits ; Sucrose ; Ticks ; Tularemia* ; Urease ; Virulence ; Zoonoses

PURPOSE: Analyzing of the causes of childhood death will provide us with the basis to understand prevalent diseases and to make the best possible health plan according to the studies. The National Statistical Office (NSO) of Korea has released an annual report of nationwide death. However, it could have underestimated the death toll of children because of delayed or missing reports of infants who died during the neonatal period. The death reports by pediatricians at hospitals could compensate for the dropped number of infantile death reported by the NSO. METHODS: We collected the death records for children under 15 years of age from the 136 secondary or tertiary referral hospitals over the country from January 1 through December 31, 1995. Then we tried to make a compilation of the records from both the NSO and our committee to finalize the cause of death. RESULTS: According to the records of the 136 hospitals, the total number of childhood death was 3,900 in 1995, including 1,790 deaths in the first 28 days of life. Most deaths occurred in the hospital (89.0%), which were confirmed either by a pediatrician (6.2%) or by a pediatric resident (58.8%). We were compiling 6,735 deaths according to the NSO and 3,415 of our own, with 846 overlaps. Seventeen deaths recorded by the NSO occurred in the first 6 days of life, compared to 1,292 from our own. After the first year, 4,762 deaths recorded by the NSO and 790 of ours were observed. CONCLUSION: The death records from hospitals could be enough to compensate for the dropped number of neonatal deaths recorded by the NSO, depicting more accurately the real pattern of death for Korean children in 1995.
Cause of Death* ; Child* ; Death Certificates ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: Analyzing of the causes of childhood death will provide us with the basis to understand prevalent diseases and to make the best possible health plan according to the studies. The National Statistical Office (NSO) of Korea has released an annual report of nationwide death. However, it could have underestimated the death toll of children because of delayed or missing reports of infants who died during the neonatal period. The death reports by pediatricians at hospitals could compensate for the dropped number of infantile death reported by the NSO. METHODS: We collected the death records for children under 15 years of age from the 136 secondary or tertiary referral hospitals over the country from January 1 through December 31, 1995. Then we tried to make a compilation of the records from both the NSO and our committee to finalize the cause of death. RESULTS: According to the records of the 136 hospitals, the total number of childhood death was 3,900 in 1995, including 1,790 deaths in the first 28 days of life. Most deaths occurred in the hospital (89.0%), which were confirmed either by a pediatrician (6.2%) or by a pediatric resident (58.8%). We were compiling 6,735 deaths according to the NSO and 3,415 of our own, with 846 overlaps. Seventeen deaths recorded by the NSO occurred in the first 6 days of life, compared to 1,292 from our own. After the first year, 4,762 deaths recorded by the NSO and 790 of ours were observed. CONCLUSION: The death records from hospitals could be enough to compensate for the dropped number of neonatal deaths recorded by the NSO, depicting more accurately the real pattern of death for Korean children in 1995.
Cause of Death* ; Child* ; Death Certificates ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Tertiary Care Centers

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to provide the baseline data for the epidemiologic and microbiologic investigation for the etiology of sudden deaths of cattle in Sara-Ri, Seo Myun, Kyongju. METHODS: This survey was performed between April 11 and 22, 1994. Epidemiologic investigation consisted of interview of the residents, as well as pathologic and microbiologic test on tissues and blood samples from cardiac puncture. RESULTS: The dead numbers of cattle were 149 in 35 households during about 20 years. The cows(63.9%) were more than bulls(36.1%) and most of them were raised in playpen(95.7%). The first death occurred in 1974, and then number of deaths increased until 1994. Besides the age of cattle at death was over two years old (88.3%), most of them(69.4%) died within one hour after onset of noticeable symptom by the farmers. The most common symptom of cattle at death was 'sudden death after screaming(71.1%)' and 'seizure (33.3%)'. Colonies from blood of case 3 showed double hemolysis in blood agar plate. The microbiologic test results in the culture of Clostridium perfringens. The pathological features were characterized as most of renal tubules revealed coagulative necrosis. Some gram-positive bacilli are scattered in interstitium. CONCLUSIONS: Above results suggest C. perfringens as a possible pathogen of this ourbreak in livestock. The possibility of human infection, although nonfatal, and lack of vaccination against C. perfringens raises a need for stronger preventive action toward this communicable disease of cattle on this village.
Agar ; Animals ; Cattle* ; Clostridium Infections ; Clostridium perfringens ; Communicable Diseases ; Death, Sudden* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Epidemiology ; Family Characteristics ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Livestock ; Necrosis ; Punctures ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Korean mistletoe (Viscum album) extract has been found to posses immunostimulatory activity. In this study, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C (non-lectin components), was used to know whether this extract might activate mouse peritoneal macrophages to produce interleukin 1 beta (IL-1 beta). METHODS: Hemagglutination assay was carried out to examine whether M11C contained a lectin or not . To know the effect of M11C on the production of IL-1 beta, the macrophages were treated by the M11C, and then collected the supernatant (M11C stimulated macrophages-conditioned media; MMCM). MMCM was analyzed for the IL-1 beta quantification and mRNA expression by means of ELISA and RT-PCR, respectively. RESULTS: Maximum effective dose and time of M11C on IL-1 beta production from macrophages were 20 micro gram/ml and 8 hours, respectively . This ELISA data was reconfirmed by immunoblotting assay . indicating that M11C is a good candidate for an immunomodulator. The dose and time dependent effect s of M11C on the expression of IL-1 beta mRNA from macrophages was also shown in expression of mRNA detected by RT-PCR. Treatment dose and time for the maximum expression of IL-1 beta mRNA were 20 micro gram/ml and 4 hours, respectively . Maximum gene expression of IL-1 beta was much earlier than maximum production of it. CONCLUSION: As results, Korean mistletoe extract, M11C, may be used for an immunomodulator. This will be able to make up for and solve the problems caused by existent immunoagent with many adverse effects through many other studies in future including one molecule extraction.
Animals ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Gene Expression ; Hemagglutination ; Immunoblotting ; Interleukin-1beta ; Macrophages* ; Macrophages, Peritoneal ; Mice ; Mistletoe* ; RNA, Messenger