In Korea where night soil used as fertilizer for crops and vegetables they may be contaminated simultaneously with infective stage of ascaris, hookworm and other helminthes. In this circumstance, the ascaris eggs and hookworm larvae may adhere to certain kinds of leafy vegetables(Chyu, 1957) and may remain viable even after pickling in brine or in other substances (Han and Ko, 1952; Soh, 1960). It has been shown that Heliogen(Thitasut, 1961) will kill the parasite eggs and larvae, and Sodium nitrite (Kozai, 1960; Kim and Soh 1964) and Thiabendazole (Kutsmi, 1964 and 1965; Kim et al., 1966) also had ovicidal action. The present study has been planned to study the ovicidal and larvicidal actions of several chemicals in Korean pickle juice(Kimchi) and the results are summarized as follows: Heliogen solution(iodine 100 ppm) did not destroy the ascaris and hookworm eggs within 30 minutes at the temperature of 15-30 C, but the hookworm larvae were killed within 3 minutes under the same conditions. Sodium nitrite which was added to pickle juice at the rate of 0.1 percent destroyed more than 90 percent of ascaris fresh eggs within 10 days and the embryonated eggs were destroyed within 2 days. Hookworm eggs were destroyed within 3 days and larvae were killed within 7 hours. Thiabendazole which was added to pickle juice at the rate of 0.1-0.025 percent inhibited the infectivity of ascaris embryonated eggs within 24 hours and hookworm eggs were destroyed in the same concentrations of the reagent. Hydrogen ion concentration of pickle juice which was mixed with Sodium nitrite (0.1 percent) was not changed for 10 days. 1.5 mg of Sodium nitrite or Thiabendazole produced no toxicity in kidney and intestine of mice but slight pathological changes in the liver of the same animal.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; Ascaris lumbricoides ; thiabendazole ; mouse ; sodium nitrite ; iodine

OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence, location, and risk factors for the peripheral nerve entrapments of upper extremity among the crutch or cane users. METHOD: We performed the clinical and electrodiagnostic assessments of both upper extremities in 43 crutch or cane users and 49 able-bodied controls. RESULTS: The prevalence for the nerve entrapment of upper extremity among the crutch or cane users was 27.9% by the clinical criteria and 86.0% by the electrodiagnostic criteria. Electrodiagnostically, the median nerve entrapment was 76.7%, and the ulnar nerve entrapment was 72.1% among the crutch or cane users. The carpal tunnel was the most common site for the entrapment. Body weight, duration of disability, and duration of crutch or cane use were found to be significantly correlated with the emtrapments of median nerve, whereas duration of crutch or cane use alone was significantly correlated with the entrapments of ulnar nerve. CONCLUSION: The peripheral nerve entrapments of upper extremity is associated with the chronic crutch or cane use and the preventive strategies need to be developed for the patients with risks.
Body Weight ; Canes* ; Humans ; Median Nerve ; Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Peripheral Nerves* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Ulnar Nerve ; Ulnar Nerve Compression Syndromes ; Upper Extremity*

PURPOSE: Nebulizers are commonly used to treat children with asthma. Some pulmonary infections associated with contaminated nebulizer units have been reported. The aims of this study were to determine whether home nebulizers are repositories of bacteria and to ascertain how asthmatic patients use and maintain their nebulizers at home. METHODS: Fifty-five children with asthma aged 2 to 6 years were enrolled in this study. The parents were asked to bring their child's nebulizer units to regular follow-up visits. Bacterial samples which were obtained from the masks(or mouthpieces), nebulizer chambers and throat swabs were inoculated to blood agar, chocolate agar, and McConkey agar. Cultures were incubated at 5 percent CO2 incubator and observed after 24 hours. Parents completed a questionnaire regarding nebulizer usage and care in their child. RESULTS: Bacterial contamination was found in samples from 27(49.1%) of the 55 masks(or mouthpieces) and 24(43.6%) of the 55 chambers. The predominant microorganisms isolated were Acinetobacter baumannii, Bacillus subtilis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. The questionnaire revealed that 40 parents cleaned the nebulizer units with tap water(and soap) and dried then, as they had received cleaning and drying instructions from a medical staff member. Seven organisms from nebulizer units were indistinguishable from the patient's throat isolates. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated that home nebulizers in these asthmatic children were frequently contaminated with aerobic bacteria. Aerosolization might transmit these bacteria to their upper respiratory tracts. The education and training of home caregivers should include the principles of cleaning and maintenance of their child's nebulizer units.
Acinetobacter baumannii ; Agar ; Asthma ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacteria ; Bacteria, Aerobic ; Cacao ; Candida albicans ; Caregivers ; Child* ; Education ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Incubators ; Inhalation ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Medical Staff ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers* ; Parents ; Pharynx ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Respiratory System ; Staphylococcus aureus

Fibrous hamartoma of infancy is a rare benign lesion that presents as a solitary, painless, flesh-colored, subcutaneous mass. Most of these lesions occur in the axillary region, the upper arm, the upper trunk, the inguinal area and the external genital area. The lesion histologically consists of three different components in varying proportions: well-defined fibrous trabeculae, primitive mesenchyme and, mature adipose tissue. Overlying skin changes are uncommon, including alternations in pigmentation, eccrine gland hyperplasia and increased hair. To the best of our knowledge, only 6 cases of fibrous hamartoma of infancy with hypertrichosis have been reported. In these six cases, the lesions were located on the buttocks and back, which were non-predilection sites. We report the first case of fibrous hamartoma of infancy with hypertrichosis on the axilla, which is known as a predilection site.
Adipose Tissue ; Arm ; Axilla ; Buttocks ; Eccrine Glands ; Hair ; Hamartoma ; Hyperplasia ; Hypertrichosis ; Mesoderm ; Pigmentation ; Skin

Although spontaneous bacterial peritonitis is a frequent complication in the childhood nephrotic syndrome, it is very rare in adults with nephrotic syndrome. It frequently develops when the patients are either in relapse or receiving steroid therapy at the time peritonitis is diagnosed. We report an unusual case of a spontaneous bacterial peritonitis as the presenting feature in a 15-year-old male patient with nephrotic syndrome. He presented with diffuse abdominal pain and distension for 15 days. Abdominal paracentesis revealed the diagnostic laboratory findings of peritonitis, and the bacterial culture of the ascites showed a mixed growth of Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruzinosa. His serum albu- min level was 1.6gldL and the amount of 24 hours proteinuria was 21.0g/day. Although he was treated with adequate antibiotics for 3 weeks, the peritonitis was more aggravated. We decided to insert a catheter into the peritoneal cavity for continuous drainage of the intractable ascites. Two weeks after drainage, the peritonitis improved as the peritonitis subsided, the proteinuria disappeared completely without a steroid therapy. Six months after spontaneous remission, the proteinuria have recurred, and the kidney biopsy then showed focal segmental glomerulorsclerosis.
Abdominal Pain ; Adolescent ; Adult ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascites ; Biopsy ; Catheters ; Drainage ; Escherichia coli ; Humans ; Kidney ; Male ; Nephrotic Syndrome* ; Paracentesis ; Peritoneal Cavity ; Peritonitis* ; Proteinuria ; Pseudomonas ; Recurrence ; Remission, Spontaneous

BACKGROUND: It is important to provide health education to students to ensure a healthy life. Using the internet for health education may be a way to overcome the practical barriers to health education such as time and content. This study was conducted to investigate the demands for health education using the internet. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Six hundreds and twenty-four and male female students in middle and high schools, who lived on Gyeongju-si and Seongju-gun in Gyeongsangbuk-do province, were interviewed by means of structured questionnaires, from March 5 to March 28, 2003. RESULTS: More than 90% of the subjects had their own computers, and nearly 38% of those possessing their own computers had accessed internet sites related to health and medicine. Middle school students and in particular, female students were more desirous for health education through e-mail. Regarding content, the three major topics which the respondents wanted to learn about were healthy lifestyles, growth and development, and disease prevention. In terms of the interval for providing educational materials, over half of the students wanted information once a week. Most of the students wanted to have the quantity of the material be one page. In addition, there were numerous additional topics requested by the students such as sleep and health, contraception and family planning, safety education, cancer prevention, emotional instability of juveniles, the utilization of medical care facilities, stress management, etc. CONCLUSION: The students had a desire for health education through the use of e-mail, and methods and materials should be developed for appropriate health education using the internet.
Contraception ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Education ; Electronic Mail ; Family Planning Services ; Female ; Growth and Development ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Health Education* ; Humans ; Internet* ; Life Style ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires

No abstract available.
Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative* ; Glucose* ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Metabolome*

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effects of etidronate disodium on bone and soft tissue, especially on bone mineral density, and mucosal changes of the aorta and esophagus. METHOD: Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into 2 separate groups: one with etidronate disodium and one without etidronate disodium. Bone mineral density (BMD) in lumbar vertebrae, femur, and a simple X-ray of the whole body were obtained. The abdominal aorta and esophagus were assessed histopathologically in post treatment. RESULTS: In post treatment for 12 weeks, the extent of decrease in BMD of the group with etidronate disodium was less than that of the group without etidronate disodium (p<0.05). There was no evidence of aorta and heart valve calcification in the simple X-ray, nor was there intima-media thickening, atheroma formation and calcification in aorta and esophageal irritation findings in pathologic examinations in both groups. CONCLUSION: The results suggested that etidronate disodium had an inhibitory effect on bone mineral loss and had the esophageal tolerability and safety, but no difference in aorta calcification and antiarthrogenic effects, including aorta wall thickness in this study.
Aorta ; Aorta, Abdominal ; Bone Density ; Esophagus ; Etidronic Acid* ; Femur ; Heart Valves ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae ; Male ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate exercise capacity of subacute stroke patients with nonambulatory exercise stress test and to determine whether reduced exercise efficiency is associated with functional performance. METHOD: Experimental design was prospective and observational study. Eighteen patients with moderate to severe impairment after recent stroke performed exercise stress test by repeated knee flexion and extension exercise using isokinetic dynamometer. Work rate, oxygen consumption, heart rate were assessed during exercise stress test. The dynamic response, the ratio of change in oxygen uptake to change in work rate, was measured for correlation with FIM (Functional Independence Measure) scores. Occupational therapist recorded FIM scores on the day of transfer to inpatient rehabilitation unit and on discharge. Age-matched healthy group also performed exercise stress test in same settings. RESULTS: The patients group who had similar dynamic response with age-matched healthy group showed higher FIM scores than the patients group having higher dynamic response. CONCLUSION: Nonambulatory exercise stress test could be effectively used in subacute stroke patients and the ratio of change in oxygen uptake to change in work rate was a useful variable to reveal low exercise efficiency in subacute stroke patients who had a abnormal skeletal muscle metabolic capacity.
Exercise Test ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Knee ; Muscle, Skeletal ; Observational Study ; Oxygen Consumption ; Oxygen* ; Prospective Studies ; Rehabilitation ; Research Design ; Stroke*

Six hundred fifty-one metacarpal bones of Koreans were studied for variations in articular and non-articular surface and the number, position and direction of the diaphyseal nutrient foramina. The facets for articulation of the metacarpal bone with one another showed very frequent variations from the standard text-book description. The number and the sites of entry of the diaphyseal nutrient foramina also showed considerable variations. These findings show no apparent racial difference in variations of metacarpal bones between a Korean and an Indian.
Metacarpal Bones*