No abstract available.
Breast Diseases* ; Breast* ; Estrogens* ; Progesterone* ; Receptors, Estrogen* ; Receptors, Progesterone*

Pressure sores are common complications in patients with spinal injuries or cerebrovascular accidents. The management of pressure sores requires prolonged hospitalization and repeated surgical interventions with a high recurrence rate. Particularly osteomyelitis following initial pressure sores persistently complicates wound healing and recovery. Furthermore, it may also ultimately result in serious sepsis; thus an early diagnosis of osteomyelitis in pressure sore patients is crucial along with appropriate surgical and antibiotic therapy. Although many diagnostic methods were reported, there is no single 'gold' standard for early diagnosis of pressure sore-associated osteomyelitis. Authors reviewed pre-operative CBC, plain X-ray, Tc-99m bone scan, and post-operative biopsy results in 37 patients who had received surgical treatment for pressure sores in a 5-year period from September 1991 to August 1996. Based on these reviews, authors compared and analyzed the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing osteomyelitis.The results were as follows: 1. Of 37 patients studied, 25 cases were confirmed histologically as osteomyelitis. Ischial region revealed the highest incidence of pressure sore-related osteomyelitis(78%, 14 out of 18 cases) while the regional incidence was as following in descending order : ischial, sacral, and greater trochanteric area. 2. Tc-99m bone scan had superior sensitivity(100%) and specificity(83%) to other pre-operative studies in diagnosing osteomyelitis.In conclusion, authors suggest that Tc-99m bone scan is the best diagnostic method because of its high sensitivity and specificity if osteomyelitis is clinically suspected in pressure sore patients. And in case the test result is positive, agressive surgical bone resection and appropriate antibiotic therapy based on bacterial culture from deep bone specimen should be combined to prevent complications or recurrences.
Biopsy ; Early Diagnosis ; Femur ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Incidence ; Osteomyelitis ; Pressure Ulcer* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Sepsis ; Spinal Injuries ; Stroke ; Wound Healing

An outbreak of dermatosis occurred at a machinery manufacture factory in kyongju on Aug 1995. Authors conducted a questionnaire survey among 92 workers in the factory and a dermatologist examined their skin lesions. Authors also collected moths and identified them. The results are as follows; 1. Forty-two cases of dermatosis were identified with attack rate of 45.7%. Attack rate was not different by company, age, sex, educational level and duration of employment. Attack rate was 47.8% among productive workers, 25.0% among clerical workers and 100.0% among patrolmen. 2. Two cases among 42 dermatosis cases and three subjects among 50 non-cases had a history of same dermatosis last year. Four of dermatosis cases had a history of dermatosis among their family members. 3. skin lesions of the cases were scattered or grouped rice-sized erythematous papules or vesicles. Duration of dermatosis from the onset to the time of survey was from one day to more than 30 days. The most frequent site of skin lesion was the arms(81.0%), and it was also observed at the neck(47.6%), abdomen(45.2%), chest(42.9%), legs(38.1%) and back(35.7%). skin lesion was aggravated with sweating(31.0%), after shower(16.7%) and with scratching(l1.9%). 4. Moths were collected and identified as Euproetis subflava(Bremer). Many poisons stings were observed on their wngs which is harmful to human. 5. Contact with moths' wing droppings to two authors on their forearms for provocation resulted in severe immediate pain followed by prolonged pruritus. Erythematous macules quickly appeared and suoceeded by firm wheal-like red papules. Authors thought that the outbreak of dermatosis was brought about by Euproetix subflava(Bremer). Further studies on the factors contributing to the prosperity of the moths in this area are needed.
Bites and Stings ; Employment ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Forearm ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Korea ; Moths* ; Poisons ; Pruritus ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Skin Diseases* ; Wings, Animal

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast* ; Humans ; Necrosis*

Since the introduction of the Papanicolaou (Pap) smear system in 1943, cervicovaginal cytology has been used as a standard screening test for cervical cancer. The dissemination of this test contributed to reductions of the incidence and mortality of cervical cancer worldwide. In Korea, regular health check-ups for industrial workers and their family members were introduced in 1988 and were performed as part of the National Cancer Screening Program in 1999. As a result, the incidence of cervical cancer in Korea has been steadily decreasing. However, about 800 cases of cervical cancer-related deaths are reported each year due to false-negative test results. Hence, new screening methods have been proposed. Liquid-based cytology (LBC) was introduced in 1996 to overcome the limitations of conventional Pap smears. Since then, other LBC methods have been developed and utilized, including the human papilloma virus test—a method with higher sensitivity that requires fewer screenings. In this study, we review current issues and future perspectives related to cervical cancer screening in Korea.
Cervix Uteri ; Early Detection of Cancer ; Female ; Human Papillomavirus DNA Tests ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Methods ; Mortality ; Papanicolaou Test ; Papillomaviridae ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms ; Uterus

Radiographic measurement of cervical spine is very important in cervical spine injury especially those without fracture. Authors measured the retropharyngeal space, retrotracheal space, lordortic curve and sagittal diameter of cervical spinal canal in 148 cases of normal adult male. The results are as follows: 1 . In normal Korean adult male maximum retropharyngeal space is 7mm in C, level and Smm in Cs level. Maximum retrotracheal space is 16mm in C, level. 3. Loss of normal lordotic curve is shown in 21 cases(14.2%), 4. Average sagittal diameter of C, level is 21.27mm-it's the largest of all the cervical spinal cana1s, and that of C, level is 16.15mm-it's the smallest.
Adult ; Humans ; Male ; Spinal Canal ; Spine

BACKGROUNDS: The Rh antigens are important m clinical practice. The classification of Rh phenotype is usually based on the antigen detection done by conventional serologic method, but it has many limitation such as delicate grading of antigen expression. Recently, Flowcytometry has been introduced in immunohematology to detect and quantitate cell bound immunoglobulins to assess blood cell antigens and related antibodies. So, we tried these method to detect Rh(D) antigen and measure its density and evaluated the possibility of clinical usage. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a flowcytometric analysis for the expression of D antigen in D-positive, negative and weak D group in indirect immune fluorescence assay by using polyclonal antibodies. We measured the intensity of immunofluorescence as a degree of antigen density and analysed the difference of mean channel fluorescence value(MCF) among these groups. RESULTS: Weak D groups had the lower fluorescence than D-positive group, while D-negative sample showed the same fluorecence as negative ntrol. The difference of fluorescence intensity of D antigen between that of C antigen were not observed and were statistically insignificant. CONCLUSION: Flowcytometry appear to be a good tool for antigen density measurement in immunohematologic areas and shows the possibility of application to other aspect.
Antibodies ; Blood Cells ; Classification ; Fluorescence ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Immunoglobulins ; Phenotype

Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) includes fasting or reactive hypoglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and the presence of insulin-binding antibodies in patients who have never been exposed to exogenous insulin. This report concems a 29-year-old male patient with Graves disease who had history of having taken methimazole for two months, without any consequence, 6 months previously. However, when methimazole was administered again for three weeks, the patient suffered hypoglycemia during the next fourth week. He denied history of diabetes mellitus (DM), of taking any oral hypoglycemic agent or of having received insulin injection. Laboratory data showed total serum insulin level > 300 pu/mL, C-peptide reactivity (CPR) 8.0ng/mL and insulin antibody 89%. After stopping methimazole, he was treated with radioiodine (131I). There was no episode of hypoglycemic attack during 8 months of follow-up.
Adult ; Antibodies ; C-Peptide ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Graves Disease* ; Humans ; Hyperinsulinism ; Hypoglycemia ; Insulin ; Male ; Methimazole

BACKGROUDNS: In Korea, CPDA-1 solution is currently used for blood preservation and by this anticoagulant solution, RBCs can be preserved for up to 35 days at the refrigerate temperature. RBC additive solutions (AS-1, AS-3, AS-5, SAG-M, SAG-PM) are widely used in the other countries for longer preservation of RBCs (42 days). We studied the survival of transfused RBCs preserved in SAG-M additive solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 400 mL of whole blood were collected from 8 healthy volunteers, Plasma was removed by centrifugation separation method at 2,960g, 10 minute and replaced by 100 mL of SAG-M additive solution. Autologous transfusions were done in two groups on day 20 and 42 with Na51CrO4 (Dupont, USA) labelled RBCs. After 3, 10, 15, 20, 30 minutes and 1, 2, 24 hours, 20 days, the venous blood samples were collected from the volunteers, and their radioactivities were measured by the Gamma-counter (Cobra II, Germany), and 24 hour survival rate were calculated by Moroff's method. RESULTS: The mean 24 hour survival rate was 89.0% in 20 days preservation group and 71.8% in 42 days preservation group. The mean half life of transfused RBCs were 27.8 days (n=2)and 24.3 days (n=4) in 20 days and 42 days preservation group, respectively. No complications were observed during the study period. CONCLUSIONS: The RBCs preserved in SAG-M additive solution were near within allowable survival rates for transfusion.
Blood Preservation ; Centrifugation ; Erythrocytes* ; Half-Life ; Healthy Volunteers ; Korea ; Plasma ; Radioactivity ; Survival Rate ; Volunteers

Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal Hyperostosis (DISH) is a skeletal disease characterized by ligamentous ossification of the anterolateral side of the spine. Paravertebral and ligamentous ossification appears to be an usual complication of hypoparathyroidism. Diabetes Mellitus has often been mentioned in associated with DISH. The patient was presented with back pain, stiffness and intermittent numbness of hands and feet. Spine X-ray showed extensive ligamentous ossification of the anterolateral side of the spine with normal disc space height. Sacroiliac joints are normal. Increased bone mineral density of the L-spine and femur neck was observed, as well. Hypocalcemia, hyperphophatemia and low intact parathyroid hormone level were detected. Postprandial sugar were elevated. HLA B27 was negative.
Back Pain ; Bone Density ; Diabetes Mellitus* ; Femur Neck ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal* ; Hypesthesia ; Hypocalcemia ; Hypoparathyroidism* ; Ligaments ; Parathyroid Hormone ; Sacroiliac Joint ; Spine