A study was conducted to investigate the blood lead and zinc protoporphyrin(ZPP) concentrations of the underground parking lot workers who exposed to vehicular exhaust aerosols which contained lead. The blood samples were collected from 25 study subjects of underground parking lot and from 33 controls in Taegu, from July to October, 1997. And also the related factors to the blood lead and ZPP concentrations were investigated. Blood lead concentration and ZPP concentration were measured by flameless furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer (IL.551) and hemetofluorometer, respectively. The mean blood lead concentrations of study subjects and controls were 23.10+/-20.77microgram/dl and 12.99+/-12.71microgram/dl, respectively(p<0.05), and the mean blood ZPP concentrations of study subjects and controls were 40.72+/-9.46microgram/dl and 38.21+/-10.97microgram/dl, respectively. No significant correlations were observed between the blood lead concentration of the study subjects and their job duration and between blood ZPP concentration of the study subjects and their job duration. There were no statistically significant differences in the blood lead concentration and the blood ZPP concentration of smokers and nonsmokers. In multiple regression analysis on blood lead concentration of the study subjects and controls, occupation was a only significant dependent variable. In case of bood ZPP concentration, age was a only significant dependent variable in the study subjects and controls.
Absorption ; Aerosols ; Daegu ; Occupations ; Zinc

Malignant mixed m llerian tumor (MMMT) of the ovary is very rare neoplasm consisting of both a sarcomatous and carcinomatous component and represent is fewer than 1% of all ovarian malignancies. Characteristically, ovarian MMMTs follow an aggressive clinical course, and long-term survival is unusual. Almost all MMMTs are found in postmenopausal women, often with low parity and usually in an advanced stage. Stage has been recognized as the single most important prognostic factors. However, a major improvement in prognosis for this rare malignancy has not yet been achieved. The authors have experienced one case of primary malignant mixed m llerian tumor of the ovary and report our experience with a brief review of literature.
Female ; Humans ; Ovary* ; Parity ; Prognosis

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is an essential technique for the diagnosis and treatment of pancreatobiliary diseases. However, ERCP-related complications such as pancreatitis, cholangitis, hemorrhage, and perforation may be problematic. For a successful and safe ERCP, preprocedural evaluations of the patients and intervention-related risk factors are needed. Furthermore, in light of the recent population aging and increase in chronic cardiopulmonary diseases in Korea, precautions including endoscopic sedation and prevention of cardiopulmonary complications should be considered. In this literature review, we describe these risk factors and the use of endoscopic sedation. In addition, we reviewed the commonly available guidewires, including their materials and options, used as a basic accessory for ERCP procedures.
Aging ; Cholangiopancreatography, Endoscopic Retrograde* ; Cholangitis ; Diagnosis ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Korea ; Pancreatitis ; Risk Factors

PURPOSE: This study was undertaken to describe the clinicopathologic characteristics and evaluate the appropriate management of appendiceal tumors. METHODS: During 5 years between Sep. 2000 and Sep. 2005, 28 appendiceal tumors were identified in a retrospective review of 3,744 cases of appendectomy or right hemicolectomy pathology. RESULTS: Carcinoids were found incidentally as appendicitis. Mucinous cystadenomas were common in women older than 50 aged; half of the cases presented with appendicitis and the other half presented with non-specific abdominal symptoms such as palpable mass, intestinal obstruction and intussusception. Carcinomas were common in the older patients (mean age: 62.8 years) and this presented as periappendiceal abscess. Right hemicolectomy was undertaken when there was evidence of tumor spread beyond the resection margin, and carcinoma and tumors were located in the appendiceal base. Recurrence and metastasis were identified only in the carcinoma cases. CONCLUSION: Most appendiceal tumors presented with appendicitis and periappendiceal abscess. One stage curative resection was possible in more than 76% of the patients, and the prepoperative diagnosis rate was less than 35%. The preoperative diagnosis did not have much impact on the clinical course, and the postoperative pathology was important in determining the additional treatment. Close follow-up is needed for the early detection of recurrence, and all the carcinomas that were advanced as serosal involvement, peritoneal seeding and liver metastasis.
Abscess ; Appendectomy* ; Appendicitis ; Appendix ; Carcinoid Tumor ; Cystadenoma, Mucinous ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Intestinal Obstruction ; Intussusception ; Liver ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies

Background/Aims: There are no definite guidelines for the management of gastric lesions diagnosed as indefinite for dysplasia (IND) by endoscopic forceps biopsy (EFB). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of gastric IND and predictive factors for gastric neoplasm. Methods: This study included 457 patients with a first diagnosis of gastric IND by EFB between January 2005 and December 2013. Patient characteristics and endoscopic and pathological data were reviewed and compared. Results: Of the 457 gastric IND patients, 128 (28%) were diagnosed with invasive carcinoma, 21 (4.6%) with high-grade dysplasia, 31 (6.8%) with low-grade dysplasia, and 277 (60.6%) as negative for dysplasia. Of lesions observed, 180 (39.4%) showed upgraded histology. Multivariate analysis revealed that surface erythema (odds ratio [OR], 2.804; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.741 to 4.516), spontaneous bleeding (OR, 2.618; 95% CI, 1.298 to 5.279), lesion size ≥ 1 cm (OR, 5.762; 95% CI, 3.459 to 9.597), and depressed morphology (OR, 2.183; 95% CI, 1.155 to 4.124) were significant risk factors for high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. The ORs associated with 2 and ≥ 3 risk factors were 7.131 and 34.86, respectively. Conclusions Precautions should be taken in the management of gastric IND patients, especially when risk factors, including surface erythema, spontaneous bleeding, lesion size ≥ 1 cm, and depressed morphology are present. Considering the combined effect of the presence of multiple risk factors on the incidence of high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma, endoscopic resection should be recommended if a gastric IND patient has at two or more of these factors.

Background/Aims: There are no definite guidelines for the management of gastric lesions diagnosed as indefinite for dysplasia (IND) by endoscopic forceps biopsy (EFB). Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the clinical outcomes of gastric IND and predictive factors for gastric neoplasm. Methods: This study included 457 patients with a first diagnosis of gastric IND by EFB between January 2005 and December 2013. Patient characteristics and endoscopic and pathological data were reviewed and compared. Results: Of the 457 gastric IND patients, 128 (28%) were diagnosed with invasive carcinoma, 21 (4.6%) with high-grade dysplasia, 31 (6.8%) with low-grade dysplasia, and 277 (60.6%) as negative for dysplasia. Of lesions observed, 180 (39.4%) showed upgraded histology. Multivariate analysis revealed that surface erythema (odds ratio [OR], 2.804; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.741 to 4.516), spontaneous bleeding (OR, 2.618; 95% CI, 1.298 to 5.279), lesion size ≥ 1 cm (OR, 5.762; 95% CI, 3.459 to 9.597), and depressed morphology (OR, 2.183; 95% CI, 1.155 to 4.124) were significant risk factors for high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma. The ORs associated with 2 and ≥ 3 risk factors were 7.131 and 34.86, respectively. Conclusions Precautions should be taken in the management of gastric IND patients, especially when risk factors, including surface erythema, spontaneous bleeding, lesion size ≥ 1 cm, and depressed morphology are present. Considering the combined effect of the presence of multiple risk factors on the incidence of high-grade dysplasia or adenocarcinoma, endoscopic resection should be recommended if a gastric IND patient has at two or more of these factors.

Fixed drug eruption (FDE) is a drug-induced disorder that may appear as patches or bullae. It recurs at the same sites as those involved in exposure to the same drug (causative drug). We encountered two cases of generalized FDE, and both patients had a history of diclofenac exposure before the onset of skin lesions. In the first case, an 82-year-old female patient presented with multiple erythematous patches on the trunk and lower extremities. In the second case, a 71-year-old male patient developed multiple bullae on violaceous patches on the trunk and extremities. The findings of histopathologic examinations were indicative of the diagnosis of FDEs. Although diclofenac is commonly used as a non-steroidal inflammatory drug, diclofenac-induced generalized FDE occurs rarely and has not been reported in Korea. With reuse of causative drugs, the size and number of lesions tend to increase. Therefore, early diagnosis of FDE is important, and avoidance of repeated exposure to drugs should be educated.

BACKGROUND: Pollen allergens are one of the main contributors to the development and/or aggravation of allergic rhinitis, allergic conjunctivitis, and asthma. OBJECTIVE: An examination of the airborne pollen in residential areas should be conducted to aid the diagnosis and treatment of allergic diseases. METHODS: Airborne pollen samples were collected from 2 sites in Incheon and 2 in Seoul from 2015 to 2016. RESULTS: The highest monthly concentration of airborne pollen was observed in May and September each year. Pollen from 32 families and 50 genera was identified over the 2 years; of these, Pinus spp. showed the highest pollen concentration (41.6%), followed by Quercus spp. (25.3%), and Humulus spp. (15.3%), the latter of which had the highest concentration among weed pollen. The total pollen concentration was significantly higher in Incheon than in Seoul (p = 0.001 in 2015, p < 0.001 in 2016) and higher in 2016 than in 2015. The concentrations of pollen from weed species (Cupressaceae, Humulus spp., Artemisia spp., Ambrosia spp., and Chenopodiaceae) and grass species (Gramineae) were significantly higher (p < 0.001) than those from tree species. Pollen was distributed from February to November. The first pollen identified in both regions in each year was Alnus spp. Overall, the total concentration of Quercus spp., Betula spp., Humulus spp., Artemisia spp., Ambrosia spp., and Chenopodiaceae pollen increased significantly over the 2 years. CONCLUSION: Region-specific differences exist in the pollen of major allergenic plants. Continuous monitoring of pollen is thus essential for management of pollen-related allergic disorders in each region.
Allergens ; Alnus ; Ambrosia ; Artemisia ; Asthma ; Betula ; Chenopodiaceae ; Conjunctivitis, Allergic ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Humulus ; Hypersensitivity ; Incheon ; Pinus ; Poaceae ; Pollen ; Quercus ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Seoul ; Trees

PURPOSE: Failure of hemodialysis access is the main medical problem in chronic renal failure patients. This resulted from complications such as thrombosis, infection, pseudoaneurysm, steal syndrome and so on. This study was undertaken in an attempt to describe the clinical characteristics and significances of dialysis failure due to iatrogenic fistula between prosthetic graft and native vein at puncture site. METHODS: During 5 years between Feb. 2005 and Feb. 2009, five Iatrogenic fistulas were identified in a retrospective review of 133 patients performed 220 times fistulography due to dialysis failure in PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) graft. RESULTS: Overall incidence is 3.8 % in PTFE graft cases. Mean age is 50 (28~75) years, male to female ratio 2:3. Median 1st patency period is 20 months (6~36). All iatrogenic fistula is usually located in not venous but arterial limb of forearm loop, combined with the stenosis in venous limb and anastomosis site. More than 70% venous anastmotic stenosis in 4 cases (80%) and diffuse stenosis of venous limb in 3 cases (60%), revised concomitantly either by patch angioplasty or ballooning. Medial follow-up period is 8 months (5~12), graft occlusion occurred in one case. CONCLUSION: All iatrogenic fistula usually occurs in not venous but arterial limb of forearm loop graft. Most iatrogenic fistula is combined with the stenosis in venous limb and anastomosis sites, must be revised concomitantly either by patch angioplasty or ballooning. Close assessment to superficial vein and graft is needed for early detection. Fistulography is the most useful diagnostic tool. Careful cannulation method is required to prevent the occurrence of iatrogenic fistula in chronic renal failure patients.
Aneurysm, False ; Angioplasty ; Catheterization ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Dialysis ; Extremities ; Female ; Fistula ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Humans ; Incidence ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Polytetrafluoroethylene ; Punctures ; Renal Dialysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Thrombosis ; Transplants ; Veins

True aneurysm of the radial artery is very rare, and the false aneurysms are more common. True aneurysms of the radial artery are usually secondary to trauma or iatrogenic injury. A 71-year-old male presented with a several year history of a left forearm-pulsating mass. He suffered from a brain infarct and had received acupuncture for his hemiplegia for the previous year. The physical examination revealed two pulsating masses on the left forearm. The left ulnar and radial arteries were palpable. The laboratory values were normal. Computerized tomography showed two 40x25 and 37x20 mm-sized saccular true aneuryms containing mural thrombosis in the left proximal radial artery with atherosclerotic change. The aneurysms were resected with reconstruction by using the cephalic vein. Distal flow was reestablished by using end-to-end anastomosis. No complications have been observed during the 4 weeks of follow-up.
Acupuncture ; Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, False ; Brain ; Follow-Up Studies ; Forearm ; Hemiplegia ; Humans ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Radial Artery ; Thrombosis ; Veins