No abstract available.
Pregnancy*

BACKGROUND: Despite concern about information of neuropeptide, the has been no baseline study of neuropeptide in Koreans. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the study was to investigate the skin sinsitivity of substance P and VIP in normal healthy persoas. METHODS: We prepared 1000pM, 100pM, 10pM solution of substan P 1-11, substnace P 1-7, substnace P 7-11, and VIP. We injected intradermally 50ul of the br ve solutions on 12 sites of both forearms in addition plaebo. We measured the size of the area of flare and wheal along time. We repeated the same test after antihistamine intake. RESULTS: Flare and wheal respinses were dose dependent. Injection of substance P 1-7 did not evoke wheal responses and injection of substance P 7-11 did not wake flare responses. Flare responses of substance P 1-11, ubstance P 7-11, VIP were inhibiteb antihistamine and wheal responses of VIP were inhibitedly antihistamine. CONCLUSION: N-terminal of subtance P is responsible for flarers onses and C-terminal of substnace P is responsible for wieal responses. Flare responses of sisance P were mediated by histamine but wheal responses osubstance P were direct effect on postcapillary venule. Flare and wheal responses of VIF were mediated by histamine.
Forearm ; Histamine ; Humans ; Neuropeptides ; Skin ; Substance P* ; Venules

Retractor and packing usually aid to expose the surgical field and fascilitate surgical procedures. but excessive packing can impede venous return and reduce cardiac output. We experienced severe hypotension and ventilatory difficulty associated with excessive packing and traction in a patient undergoing radical hysterectomy. After removing the packing and extracting the intestine exterior to abdominal cavity, patient's ventilatory condition improved immediately and cardiovascular stability was achieved.
Abdominal Cavity ; Cardiac Output ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Hysterectomy ; Intestines ; Traction

No abstract available.
Cerebrospinal Fluid* ; Spinal Fractures*

To evaluate the typical appearance and the influence in the image interpretation of the metallic artifact which is known as one of the patient-related field artifacts, we analysed the magnetic resonance (MR) images of 40 patients (the total number of metallic materials were 45) acquired at MR 1.5T unit. All patients were screened for the presence of metal. The metallic implants were surgical wires and clips, orthopedic devices, and the other miscellaneous materials. The artifacts produced by metallic objects can be seen on MRI as the focal loss of signal and/or the local distortion of the image. Regardless of their ferromagnetic properties, metallic implants created regional artifacts in their images. Ferromagnetic materials, such as a lead fragment, showed severe artifacts and nonferromagnetic metals showed mild to moderate artifacts. The conspicuity of artifact was related tot he composition, mass, shape, orientation, and the location of the metallic objects in the body. Under high magnetic field strength, there were no significant differences between the various pulse sequences. Artifacts are particularly prominent on gradient-echo images. Our findings indicate that MR imaging of patients with standard nonferromagnetic metallic materials can be successfully performed and usefully interpretated.
Artifacts* ; Humans ; Magnetic Fields ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Magnets ; Metals ; Orthopedics

In normal hurnan dermis, factor XIIIa positive dermal dendrocyte are located in the papillary areas closely associated with blood vessels and the upper reticular dem These cells represent a specific type of bone marrow derived dermal cells, distinct from Langerhans cells having some features in common with rnonocyte/macrophage lineage and with potential antier presenting activity. Although the significance of these cells has not yet been fully established, it been suggested that they play a major role in skin immune iesponses, in collagen synsthesis regultic and in wound repair. We report a case of acaqired fibrokeratoma which is studiec conventional histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Histopathologic findings of this case showed ovascular proliferation and the increased presence of fibroblast like cells as a common fe;ture of these benign tumors. Immunohistochemical staining with anti factor XIIIa antibody deiaoi strates increased numbera of positive dendritic cells in the upper dermis. There finding supports the fat that some fibroblagt like cells in the upper dermis of acquireid fibrokeratoma may be factor XIIIa positive dermal dendritic cells.
Blood Vessels ; Bone Marrow ; Collagen ; Dendritic Cells ; Dermis ; Factor XIIIa* ; Fibroblasts ; Immunohistochemistry ; Langerhans Cells ; Skin ; Wounds and Injuries

Hand washing is an important component of hygiene program for food handlers. Hands can be a source of direct or indirect contamination of foods with pathogenic microorganisms. In this study, the effectiveness of hand washing methods and the use of 70% alcohol solution against transient skin bacteria was tested in an university foodservice facility. 70% alcohol solution is sprayed for 5 seconds automatically when hands are placed in the dispenser. Samples were taken using swab technique in meat cutting area, vegetable trimming area, and vegetable cutting area: before and after washing hands according to planned methods, and after being sprayed with 70% alcohol solution after washing hands. The bacteriological analysis of total plate counts, coliform, fecal coliform of food handlers' hands was done. Statistical data analysis was completed with Mann-Whitney U test and Kruskal-Wallis model using the SPSS program. The levels of initial contamination of workers' hand were significantly different by the work areas(chi-square=9.156, p<0.01). Workers in the vegetable trimming area had more heavily soiled hands than in the other work areas. Mean of TPC counts and coliform was 8.97x10(5) CFU/12.4cm2, 2.93x10(2) MPN/12.4cm2 respectively, but fecal coliform was not detected. Transient bacteria were removed from hands after washing and using 70% alcohol solution but were not removed completely. Mean reduction percentage in TPC varied among work areas and ranged from 93.19% to 94.99%, and in colifroms from 97.31% to 100%. A significant difference in TPC was found between before and after hand disinfection (Z=-2.714, p<.01) and between standardized hand washing procedures and un-standardized hand washing procedures(z=-2.301, p<.01). Subjects using the hand sanitizer showed a great elimination of TPC(99.45% reduction), but this effect was valid only after following proper washing procedures. Based on the results, the most effective hand washing method was recommended as the combination of the standardized hand washing procedure with warm-water and use of th 70% alcohol solution. The results can be used to develop hand hygiene programs and training strategies for enhancing hand hygiene practices for food handlers in foodservice operations.
Bacteria* ; Data Interpretation, Statistical ; Hand Disinfection* ; Hand Hygiene ; Hand* ; Hygiene ; Meat ; Skin* ; Soil ; Vegetables

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate whether an early bone marrow edema pattern predicts vertebral deformity types and prognosis in osteoporotic vertebral compression fracture (OVCF). METHODS: This retrospective study enrolled 64 patients with 75 acute OVCFs who underwent early MRI and followed up MRI. On early MRI, the low SI pattern of OVCF on T1WI were assessed and classified into 3 types (diffuse, globular or patchy, band-like). On followed up MRI, the vertebral deformity types (anterior wedge, biconcave, crush), degree of vertebral body height loss, incidence of vertebral osteonecrosis and spinal stenosis were assessed for each vertebral fracture types. RESULTS: According to the early bone marrow edema pattern on T1WI, 26 vertebrae were type 1, 14 vertebrae were type 2 and 35 vertebrae were type 3. On followed up MRI, the crush-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 1 OVCFs, the biconcave-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 2 OVCFs and the anterior wedge-type vertebral deformity was most frequent among the type 3 OVCFs (p<0.001). In addition, type 1 early bone marrow edema pattern of OVCF on T1WI were associated with higher incidence of severe degree vertebral body height loss, vertebral osteonecrosis and spinal stenosis on the follow up MRI. CONCLUSION: Early bone marrow edema pattern of OVCF on T1WI, significant correlated with vertebral deformity types on the follow up MRI. The severe degree of vertebral height loss, vertebral osteonecrosis, and spinal stenosis were more frequent in patients with diffuse low SI pattern.
Body Height ; Bone Marrow* ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Edema* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Compression* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteonecrosis ; Osteoporosis ; Prognosis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Spinal Stenosis ; Spine

PURPOSE: Segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99m DISIDA scan is caused by intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. However, the diagmostic value for intrahepatic bile duct obstruction is unknown. We conducted this study to assess the positive predictive value of segmental excretiom delay for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction, and additional benefit over other noninvasive radiologic studies. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study population consisted of 43 patients (48 scans) Who showed segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99m DISIDA scan. The results of abdominal CT or ultrasonography, which was done within 1 month of Tc-99m DISIDA scan, were compared with scintigraphic findings. RESULTS: The etiology of segmental parenchymal excretion delay was determined by ERC or PTC in 31 scans, and follow-up studies in 13 scans. No causes were identified in 4 scans. The positive predictive value of segmental parenchymal excretion delay for intrahepatic bile duct obstruction was 92% (44/48). On the other hand, 13% (5/38) of CT and 28% (5/18) of ultrasonography were normal. In 18% (7/38) of CT and 17% (3/18) of ultrasonography, only intraheipatic bile duct dilatation was noted without any diagnostic findings of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. CONCLUSION: Segmental parenchymal excretion delay on Tc-99rn DISIDA scan had a high positive predictive value for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction. Tc-99m DISIDA scan may be useful for the diagnosis of intrahepatic bile duct obstruction, especially in patients with nondiagnostic CT or ultrasonography. The diagnostic usefulness need to be confirmed by further prospective studies. KW: Tc-99m DISIDA, Segmental parenchymal excretion delay, Intrahepatic bile duct obstruction.
Bile Ducts ; Bile Ducts, Intrahepatic ; Diagnosis ; Dilatation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hand ; Humans ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Ultrasonography

PURPOSE: This study was done to evaluate the predictive value of aspects of the Transtheoretical model (TTM) of behavior change as applied to smoking cessation in a rural population. METHOD: A convenience sample was recruited from a public health center in a community. A total of 484 participants were recruited, including 319 smokers, 116 ex-smokers and 49 non-smokers. A cross-sectional and descriptive design was used in this study. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics, frequency statistics, ANOVA and Logistic regression. RESULT: The major findings were 1) The participants were assessed at baseline for their current Stage of Change resulting in a distribution with 42.1% in Precontemplation, 24.1% in Contemplation, 9.7% in Preparation, 6.2% in Active, and 17.9% in the Maintenance stage. 2) There were statistically significant differences of processes of change, decisional balance and situational temptation across the stages of change. 3) The main factors that affect smoking cessation were age, number of years smoking, age when began smoking, self-liberation and negative/affective situations, which combined explained 33.2% of the smoking cessation. CONCLUSION: TTM variables measured prior to a smoking cessation program added little predictive value for cessation outcome beyond that explained by demographic and smoking history variables.
Tobacco Use Disorder/psychology/rehabilitation ; Smoking Cessation/*psychology ; Rural Population ; *Models, Psychological ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Korea ; Humans ; Female ; Aged ; Adult