OBJECTIVE: Although cor pulmonale due to chronic lung disease was not uncommon, there was uncertainty in its diagnosis due to the difficulty in measuring functional and anatomical changes of right heart and pulmonary vascular system. Among various non-invasive diagnostic methods presented so far, no ideal standard diagnostic criterion has been established. The authors attempted to know positive diagnostic ratio of cor pulmonale and to study the presence of the relationship between these diagnostic criteria when electrocardiographic and echocardiographic diagnostic criteria for cor pulmonale were applied to the patients with chronic lung disease. And we investigated the usefulness of echocardiogaphic diagnostic criteria for the diagnosis. METHODS: One electrocardiographic and two echocardiographic diagnostic criteria were applied to 38 patients with chronic lung disease(21 pulmonary emphysema and 17 chronic advanced pulmonary tuberculosis) for the diagnosis of cor pulmonale. Comparison was also made in their relationship. Then pulmonary artery diameter, measurement of pulmonary function test and echocardiographic examination and radio-nuclear right ventricular ejection faction were compared between the groups to ensure each criterion was satisfied. RESULTS: 1) When the three diagnostic criteria for confirming the cor pulmonale, electrocardiographic rriterion(right ventricular hypertrophy), right ventricular dimension criterion(right ventricular end-diastolic dimension>25mm, RVDd>25mm), and right ventricular wall thickness criterion (right ventricular wall thickness>6mm, RVWT>6mm) were applied to the patients, the positive rate were 32%(12/37), 30%(10/33) and 17%(6/36) respectively. A statistically significant correlation between electrocardiographic criterion and right ventricular wall thickness criterion was found to exist. 2) Various parameters of pulmonary function test and echocardiographic examination were compared in the patient groups with and without cor pulmonale when each non-invasive diagnostic criterion was applied to all patients. Followings are the results. (1) In the positive group on electrocardiographic criteria, vital capacity, forced vital capacity, and arterial oxygen tension were significantly smaller than in the negative group on electrocardiographic criterion(p<0.05), and the echocardiographic parameters of right ventricle, ie. end-diastolic area, end-systolic area, end-diastolic dimension, end-systolic dimension, mid-ventricular short axis and maximal short axis in positive group were significantly larger than in the negative group. (2) In the positive group on right ventricular diastolic dimension criterion(RVDd>25mm), percentage forced expiratory volume in 1 second and forced expiratory flow 25-75% were significantly smaller than in the negative group on right ventricular diastolic dimension criterion. (3) In the positive group on right ventricular wall thickness criterion(RVWT>6mm), vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 second, forced expiratory flow 25-75% and arterial oxygen tension were significantly smaller than in the negative group on right ventricular wall thickness criterion. CONCLUSION: When several non-invasive diagnostic criteria for cor pulmonale were applied to the patients with chronic lung disease, there were some differences in its positive diagnostic ratio depending on the applied diagnostic criteria. There was also a statistically significant correlation between electrocardiographic criterion and right ventricular wall thickness criterion. When each diagnostic criterion was applied to the patients, significant differences were found in several parameters resulted from pulmonary function test and echocardiographic examination based on presence or nonpresence of cor pulmonale. But no difference in the ejection fraction measured by radio-nuclear method was shown between cor pulmonale group and non cor pulmonale group. Consequently it was suggested that applying echocardiographic criteria in addition to electrocardiographic criterion for the diagnosis of cor pulmonale in the patients with chronic lung disease is clinically useful.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Diagnosis ; Echocardiography* ; Electrocardiography ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Heart ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Oxygen ; Pulmonary Artery ; Pulmonary Emphysema ; Pulmonary Heart Disease* ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Uncertainty ; Vital Capacity

The structures forming the shoulder joint are very complex and the biomechanical effects of them on the joint are not clearly lunderstood. Frequently the long head of the biceps brachii muscle is dislocated naturally and it has been said that the supratubercular ridge, the depth, and angle of medial wall of the intertubercular groove are important. And the angles between the long axis of the humerus and the axis of head and neck are important clinically. So the authors studied them in the 105 specimens of the Korean adults humerus. The results are as follows: 1. The complete type of the supratubercular ridge was present in 22.9% and the partial type was in 53.3% 2. If the ridge was present, the spur of the lesser tubercle was present in 67.5% and if not present, the spur was in 8%. 3. The angle of medial wall of the intertubercular groove was variable, and the angle less than 45 was 13.41°. 4. The angles between the long axis of the humerus and the axis of head and neck were much greater in male than female (P<0.05). 5. The average diameter of the head of the humerus was 4.42±0.4cm in male and 4.4±0.4cm in female (P < 0.05).
Adult ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Humerus ; Joints ; Male ; Neck ; Shoulder Joint

Trichinellosis is a parasitic zoonosis of public health importance. It is caused by Trichinella spiralis which has a wide host range including humans. In the present communication, the ELISA technique was employed on a total of 803 blood samples from 7 selected pig breeding farms in 1996 for diagnosis and surveillance of trichinellosis. Out of the entire 803 samples, nine were found to be suspected while one was positive by ELISA. But western blot analyses employed for further confirmation have shown that all of 10 samples did not react to larval excretory-secretory product antigens. These results indicate that pig breeding farms included in the present study are free from trichinellosis. However, it does not mean Korea is free from trichinellosis since human trichinellosis has recently been reported. The necessity of continued surveillance for trichinellosis in both pigs and wild animals was discussed.
Animals ; *Animals, Domestic ; Antibodies, Helminth/*blood ; Biological Markers/blood ; Blotting, Western ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Human ; Korea/epidemiology ; Swine ; Swine Diseases/*diagnosis/epidemiology ; Trichinella spiralis/*immunology ; Trichinosis/*diagnosis/epidemiology/*veterinary

PURPOSE: To investigate the levels of radiation exposure of an operator which may be influenced by the wearing an apron, type of procedure, duration of fluoroscopy and operator's skill during various interventional procedures MATERIALS AND METHODS: Radiation doses were measured both inside and outside the apron(0.5mm lead equivalent) of the operator by a film badge monitoring method and the duration of fluoroscopy was measured in 96 procedures prospectively. The procedures were 30 transcatheter arterial embolizations (TAE), 25 percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainages (PTBD), 16 stone removals (SR), 15 percutaneous needle aspirations (PCNA) and 10 percutaneous nephrostomies(PCN). To assess the difference of exposure by the operator's skill, the procedures of TAE and PTBD were done separately by groups of staffs and residents. RESULTS: Average protective effect of the apron was 72.8%. Average radiation exposure(unit:micro Sv/procedure) was 23.3 in PTBD by residents, 10.0 in PTBD by staffs, 10.0 in SR, 8.7 in TAE by residents, 7.3 in TAE by staffs, 9.0 in PCN and 6.0 in PCNA. Average radiation exposure of residents were 1.9 times greater than those of staffs. CONCLUSION: Radiation exposure was not proportionally related to the duration of fiuoroscopy, but influenced by wearing an apron, various types o[procedure and operator's skills.
Aspirations (Psychology) ; Film Dosimetry ; Fluoroscopy ; Needles ; Pregnenolone Carbonitrile ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Prospective Studies

The clincal investigation have been performed on the effect of vistamycin in the field dof pediatric infection and the following results were obtained. 1. As for the effect of vistamycin, excellent in 3 cases, good in 13 cases, fair in 4 cases, no response in 5 cases. The effectiveness rate was 80%. 2. No noticeable side effects were observed concerning allergic reaction, neurotoxicity, hepatorenal toxicity, and blood toxicity.
Hypersensitivity ; Pediatrics*

Polymorphonuclear leukocytes(PMNs) infiltrate to the wound site within a few hours after excimer laser photorefractive keratectomy(PRK). Oxygen free radicals produced by the PMNs may be injurious to the surrounding corneal tissues and also acts as an inflammatory mediator that deepen tissue damage. In this study we examined that the application of ascorbic acid would decrease corneal haze following excimer laser PRK. Excimer laser PRK was done in 9 rabbits (18 eyes). Ascorbic acid was injected subconjunctivally in one eye and BSS was injected in the opposite eye. The corneal epithelium re-surfaced by 2.6 +/- 0.5 days in the ascorbic acid treated group and by 2.7 +/- 0.7 days in the ESS injected group. Corneal hazes examined in postop 2wk, 4 wk, 6 wk, and 8 wk were 1.6 +/- 0.5, 1.4 +/- 0.5, 0.7 +/- 0.3, 0.5 +/- 0.2 in the ascorbic acid treated group and 2.1 +/- 0.6, 1.7 +/- 0.5, 1.1 +/- 0.3, 0.9 +/- 0.2 in the BSS injected group, respectively. These data suggest that ascorbic acid would decrease corneal haze after excimer laser PRK without significant complications.
Ascorbic Acid* ; Epithelium, Corneal ; Free Radicals ; Lasers, Excimer* ; Oxygen ; Rabbits* ; Wounds and Injuries

No abstract available.
Blood Donors* ; Humans

Several combinations of measuring devices and phantoms were studied to measure electron beams. Silicon PN junction diode was used to find the dependence of depth dose profile on field size on axis of electron beam Depths of 50, 80 and 90% doses increased with the field size for small fields. For some larger fields, they were nearly constant. The smallest of field sizes over which the parameters were constant was enlarged with increase of the energy of electron beams. Depth dose distributions on axis of electron beam of 10 x 10 cm2 field were studied with several combinations of measuring devices and phantoms. Cylindrical ion chamber could not be used for measurement of surface dose, and was not convenient for measurement of near surface region of 6 MeV electron. With some exceptions, parameters agreed well with those studied by different devices and phantoms. Surface dose in some energies showed 4% difference between maximum and minimum. For 18 MeV, depths of 80 and 90% doses were considerably shallower by film than by others. Parallel-plate ion chamber with polystyrene phamtom and silicon PN junction would be recommended for measurement of central axis depth dose of electron beams with considerably large field size. It is desirable not to use cylindrical ion chamber for the purpose of measurement of surface dose or near surface region for lower energy electron beam. It is questionable that film would be recommended for measurement of dose distribution of electron with high energy like as 18 MeV.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Polystyrenes ; Silicones

This paper presents dose distributions in water around Fletcher-Suit colpostat containing 137Cs tube, and shielding effect of internal lead shield. Using ready packed film, author measured dose distribution in water around the colpostat containing cesium source. Nine sheets of films on one side of the colpostat are packed with acryl frames cut out so as to fill water, and irradiated in water by cesium source in the colpostat. Dose distributions on transverse plane and upper plane 0.5 cm from upper surface of the colpostat were measured. Shielding effect was greater in upper medial direction than in lower medial direction. And that was the greatest around 30degree from the axis of the colpostat on upper side and around 50degree on lower side. In the region 7 cm from the center of the colpostat, shielding efficiency was 0.23 to 0.35 on the lower 50degree and 0.26 to 0.42 on the upper 30degree, and decreased with increase of distance.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Cesium ; Water

Fletcher-Suit colpostat has an internal structure to reduce dose to bladder and rectum. Some programs were developed to calculate dose at any point in water in three dimension around the colpostat containing Cs-137 tube, to find the shielding effect to dose by the internal structure, and to draw isodose cuties and iso-shielding effect cuties. Computer was an IBM compatible AT with EGA card and language was MS-Basic V6.0. Material, shape and geometry of the structure, tube and colpostat were considered in algorithm for calculation of dose. Dose rates per unit mg. Ra. eq. in water calculated by a program were stored in auxiliary memory devices and retrieved in another programs. Isodose curves on medial side shrieked. Dose distribution was not symmetric about a transverse axis bisecting the colpostat. Reduction of dose was more excessive on top side than on bottom. Iso-shielding effect cutie showed that the shielding effect was higher on top side than on bottom, and that there was shielding effect over almost all area of medial side. Such results were related to both shifted position of tribe in the colpostat and asymmetric distribution of active source in the tube. Maximum of shielding effect was 49% on top side and 44% on bottom side. The direction of iso-shielding effect curve was generally radial from the center of active source. In treatment planning using Fletcher-Suit colpostat, the internal structure should be considered to find precise doses to bladder and rectum, etc.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Memory ; Rectum ; Urinary Bladder ; Water