OBJECTIVES: Bisphenol A Di Glycidyl Ether (BADGE) is the major component in commercial liquid epoxy resins, which are manufactured by co-reacting bisphenol A with epichlorohydrin. The authors investigated the acute toxicity of BADGE. METHODS: BADGE was administered by a gavage to 8 week old SPF Sprague Dawley rats in a single dose of 0 (negative control), 0.37 (Diethylstilbesterol, DES), 1000, 2000, 4000, and 8000 mg/kg/day of BADGE. Each treatment group contained 7 rats. The general status and weight of the rats were observed for 14 days. The rats were anesthetized by ether at 14 days, and the changes in morphology, organ weight, sperm count and motility, and hormone level were measured. RESULTS: All the rats treated with BADGE had diarrhea on the 1st day. The rats administered BADGE at 1000, 2000, and 4000 mg/kg/day showed a soiled perineal region and soft stools with diarrhea until the 3rd day. The 8000 mg/kg/day BADGE rats had diarrhea for two days followed by emaciation, soiled fur, a soiled perineal region, staining around the mouth and were moribund for three to eight days. No weight gain was observed after the 1st day in the 2000, 4000, and 8000 mg/kg/day BADGE rats and after the 7th day in all the treatment groups compared with the control groups. Some treatment groups were observed to have a decrease in the weight of the heart (BADGE 1000, 2000 and 4000 mg/kg/day), liver (BADGE 1000, 2000, 4000 and 8000 mg/kg/day) and prostate (BADGE 4000 mg/kg/day) compared with control group. The weight of the liver was significantly lower in all treatment groups compared with the control group. The relative weight of the liver (BADGE 1000 and 4000 mg/kg/day) was significant lower than the control. No pathological changes were observed in the brain, liver, thyroid, heart, spleen, kidney, lung and prostate. The number of spermatid in the seminiferous tubule in the testes was lower in all treatment groups than the control. The sperm motility tended to decrease with increasing concentration but the sperm count was similar in all treatment groups. The plasma Estrogen and testosterone level were similar in the control and treatment groups. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that BADGE induces general, hepatic and reproductive toxicity at 1000 mg/kg/day.
Animals ; Brain ; Diarrhea ; Emaciation ; Epichlorohydrin ; Epoxy Resins ; Estrogens ; Ether* ; Heart ; Humans ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Male* ; Mouth ; Organ Size ; Plasma ; Prostate ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Soil ; Sperm Count ; Sperm Motility ; Spermatids ; Spleen ; Testis ; Testosterone ; Thyroid Gland ; Weight Gain

On the review of literature, various cases of osteomas orginated from paranasal sinuses can be found. But osteomas which are large enough to produce ocular symptoms are not very common. Even more, various ocular and intracranial sequelae may be complicated from surgical removal of huge frontal osteoma. We present a case of huge frontal osteoma which is originated from frontal sinus and removed successfully without any complications.
Congenital Abnormalities ; Exophthalmos ; Frontal Sinus* ; Osteoma* ; Paranasal Sinuses

The authors reviewed the chart of 37 patients who had chestnut bur injury to the eye from September 1997 to November 1998.Their ages were ranged from 4 to 69 years old and they 33 men (89.2%)and 4 women (10.8%).They were injured by chestnut bur on cornea (33 eyes), sclera (1 eye), cornea and sclera (2 eyes), cornea and periorbital tissue (2 eyes). Chestnut burs were removed from 28 eyes at Out Patient Department (75.7%)and from 9 eyes with surgical microscope in operating room (24.3%).At OPD, simple removals without leaking were performed in 21 eyes (56.8%)and leaking occurred in 7 eyes (18.9%).Among 7 eyes (18.9%), primary repairs were performed in 2 eyes (5.4%), therapeutic contact lens were worn in 3 eyes (8.1%), chemical tissue glue was used in 1 eye (2.7%) and a pressure patch was used in 1 eye (2.7%). At operating room, simple removals were performed in 3 eyes (8.1%)and leaking occurred in 6 eyes (16.2%).Among 6 eyes (16.2%), primary repairs were performed in 4 eyes (10.8%)and therapeutic contact lens were in 2 As complications, traumatic cataract, iritis, endophthalmitis, cornealulcers and scleral granuloma were developed in 8 eyes (21.6%), 12 eyes (32.4%), 1 eye (2.7%), 1 eye (2.7%)and 3 eyes (8.1%)respectively. In conclusion, the prompt &proper management of chestnut bur injury and the importance of prevention &public information should be stressed.
Adhesives ; Aged ; Cataract ; Cornea ; Endophthalmitis ; Female ; Granuloma ; Humans ; Iritis ; Male ; Operating Rooms ; Sclera

BACKGROUND: It is well known that family is not only the basis but also one of the major factors for personal health management. In this study, we examined to find out the association of family function with health behavior. METHODS: From June to August, 1999, a total of 800 middle and high school students, selected from several metropolitan, medium and small sized cities and a 'myon', were questionnaired on their health-related behaviors like smoking, alcohol intake, diet, exercise and sleeping by means of 'Korean Family Function Assessment Tool'. RESULTS: Among the total, 599 students gave appropriate answers. They were composed of 323 (53.9%) middle school and 276 (46.1%) high school students. Male to female sex ratio was 307 (51.3%) to 292 (48.7%). In the aspect of smoking, smoking group and non-smoking group showed 127.0 +/- 23.3 and 144.9 +/- 23.6, respectively, in terms of Korean Family Function Assessment Tool and were statistically significant (P<0.01). The students were divided into three groups as heavy alcohol drinkers who consumed alcohol more than 168 g-in case of girls the datum point was 132 g-per week, light drinkers and non-drinkers. Their KFFAT scores were also significantly different from each other (P<0.01). On tukey multiple comparison, there was a significant difference primarily between the drinkers and the non-drinkers (P<0.05). Similer findings were shown between the regular and the irregular diet group (P<0.01). But there as no significance with respect to exercise and sleeping. CONCLUSION: Among the health-related behaviors of adolescents, smoking, alcohol intake and diet habit were significantly associated with family function, but exercise and sleeping were not.
Adolescent* ; Diet ; Female ; Food Habits ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Male ; Sex Ratio ; Smoke ; Smoking

ABSTRACT: The present study was designed to investigate the possibility of restoring the testicular steroidogenic ability of the aged Brown Norway rats by administering luteinizing hormone (LH) and thyroxine (Thy). Rats of 3, 6, 12 months (M) of age (n = 8 per group) and four groups of 18 month old rats (n = 8 per group) were used. Eighteen month old rats were implanted subdermally with Alzet mini osmotic pumps containing saline (control), luteinizing hormone (LH, 24 microgram/day), thyroxine (Thy, 5 microgram/day) and LH and Thy (LH +Thy, 24 microgramday and 5 microgram/day), respectively for four weeks (i.e testing was done at 19 months). The results showed that the testis volume was unchanged among all treatment groups. The number of Leydig cell per testis was not significantly different among all treatment groups. The average volume of a Leydig cell was significantly decreased at 12 months, and a further reduction was observed at 19 months (saline-treated); values for 19 month LH-and-LH +Thy-treated rats were not significantly lower than those at 3 and 6 months of age. Testosterone secretory capacity per testis and per Leydig cell in vitro were significantly reduced concomitantly with age advancement from 6 to 19 months (saline-treated) of age. These values of LH-and Thy-treated 19 month old rats were similar to those at 12 months. LH +Thy-treated rats were equally capable to 3 and 6 month old rats in producing testicular testosterone in vitro in response to LH. Serum testosterone was unchanged from 3 M to 12 M rats but was reduced in 19M control rats. Both LH and Thy significantly raised these values above the 19M control levels, but they were still lower than the 3 M through 12 M levels. Additionally, LH +Thy significantly raised the serum testosterone levels to those of 12M rats, but these values were significantly lower than those of 3 M and 6 M rats. In summary, the present study demonstrated that the exogenous supplementation of LH and Thy was effective in restoring the steroidogenic potential of the aged Leydig cells; the most effective treatment was LH +Thy, which upgraded the capacity of aged testes to those of 3 and 6 months.
Animals ; Humans ; Infant ; Leydig Cells* ; Lutein* ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Male ; Norway* ; Rats* ; Testis ; Testosterone ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Hormones* ; Thyroxine

Most of glioblastoma multiforme in brain are known to be located supratentorially. On posterior fossa, they are mostly found in brain stem and cerebellar case is rare. A case of cerebellar glioblastoma multiforme is presented with the review of literatures.
Brain ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum* ; Glioblastoma*

The Republic of Korea (ROK) experienced a public health crisis due to Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) in 2015 and is currently going through the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. Lessons learned from the disastrous MERS outbreak were ref lected in the preparedness system, and the readiness capabilities that were subsequently developed enabled the country to successfully flatten the epidemic curve of COVID-19 in late February and March 2020. In this review, we summarize and compare the epidemiology and response of the ROK to the 2015 MERS outbreak and the COVID-19 epidemic in early 2020. We emphasize that, because further COVID-19 waves seem inevitable, it is urgent to develop comprehensive preparedness and response plans for the worst-case scenarios of the COVID-19 pandemic. Simultaneously strengthening healthcare capacity to endure the peak demand and implementing smart strategies to sustain social distancing and public hygiene are necessary until safe and effective therapeutics and vaccines against COVID-19 are available.

PURPOSE: Adverse events during mass vaccination campaigns have had a profoundly negative impact on vaccine coverage rates. The objective of the study was to identify the characteristics of reported psychogenic illness cases following mass vaccination that needed further interventions of the national immunization program. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We collected documents that were submitted to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for vaccine injury compensation, and analyzed cases of psychogenic illness following pandemic influenza A (H1N1) vaccination in 2009 which were confirmed by the Korean Advisory Committee on Vaccine Injury Compensation. RESULTS: During the 2009-2010 influenza season, 13 million Koreans were vaccinated against pandemic influenza. Of 28 reported psychogenic illness cases following immunization, 25 were vaccinated through school-located mass immunization. Significant numbers of them were female adolescents (68%) or had underlying vulnerable conditions or emotional life stressors (36%). They required lengthy hospitalization (median, 7 days) and high medical costs (median, US $1,582 per case). CONCLUSION: Health authorities and organizers of future mass vaccinations should be well aware of the possible occurrence of psychogenic illness, acknowledge their detailed characteristics, and take its economic burden into account to mitigate the risk of transmission of infectious diseases efficiently.
Adolescent ; Advisory Committees ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Communicable Diseases ; Compensation and Redress ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Hysteria ; Immunization ; Immunization Programs ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human* ; Korea* ; Mass Vaccination* ; Pandemics* ; Psychophysiologic Disorders ; Seasons ; Vaccination*

PURPOSE: Minocycline appears to reduce the mortality rate of patients with myocardial infarction. Therefore, the cardioprotective effects of minocycline through reduction of apoptosis were studied in a rat myocardiac cell culture induced by hypoxia. METHODS: Cultured cells from the hearts of Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two sets of groups: normoxia groups treated with 5% O2 and hypoxia groups treated with 1% O2. After several days of incubation, the control groups were not treated with minocycline, while the sample groups were treated with 1 mug/mL of minocycline. The damaged cells were observed under a microscope, while apoptosis was detected using a Tdt-mediated dUTP nick and labeling(TUNEL) assay control-stained with 4'-6'-diamidino-2-phenylindole-2HCl(DAPI). RESULTS: In normoxia, the control group showed a statistically significant difference from the sample group treated with 1 mug/mL of minocycline. In addition, in hypoxia, there was also a statistically significant difference between the two groups. When comparing the normoxia and hypoxia groups to each other, there was a statistically significant difference between the control groups and sample groups. CONCLUSION: Minocycline was found to be protective for heart in normoxia and in hypoxia in the model of rat myocardiac cell culture.
Animals ; Anoxia* ; Apoptosis ; Cell Culture Techniques* ; Cells, Cultured ; Heart ; Humans ; Minocycline* ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Rats* ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

PURPOSE: To prepare for vaccine shortages under an influenza pandemic, several antigen-sparing strategies have been investigated. This study was aimed to evaluate the immunogenicity of influenza vaccine at reduced intradermal and full intramuscular dose. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We compared the effect of one-fifth and one-half intradermal doses to the full intramuscular dose on immunogenicity in healthy young adults, using a commercial influenza vaccine. A hemagglutination inhibition assay was used to compare the immunogenicity of the vaccination methods. RESULTS: The one-fifth intradermal dose (3 microg hemagglutinin antigen, HA) was given to 30 participants, the one-half intradermal dose (7.5 microg HA) was given to 30, and the full intramuscular dose (15 microg HA) was given to 32. No significant differences among injection routes and dosages were seen for seroprotection rate, seroconversion rate, or geometric mean titer (GMT) fold-increase for A/H1N1, A/H3N2, and B at around 4 weeks from vaccination. Although GMT for influenza B was significantly lower at six months for the one-fifth intradermal vaccination compared to the full-dose intramuscular vaccination (32.8 vs. 63.2, p=0.048), all three groups met the Evaluation of Medicinal Products (EMA) immunogenicity criteria through 1 to 6 months. CONCLUSION: Intradermal administration of a one-fifth dose of influenza vaccine elicited antibody responses comparable to the intradermal one-half dose and a conventional intramuscular vaccination at 1 month post-vaccination. The immunogenicity of the one-fifth intradermal dose was sufficient to meet the requirement for the EMA criteria at six months after influenza vaccination.
Adult ; Antibody Formation ; Hemagglutination ; Hemagglutinins ; Humans ; Influenza Vaccines ; Influenza, Human ; Injections, Intradermal ; Pandemics ; Vaccination ; Vaccines ; Young Adult