No abstract available.

Since the book "Final Exit: The Practicalities of Self-Deliverance and Assisted Suicide for the Dying" was published in 1991, there has been a worldwide increase in the number of cases of suicidal asphyxiation using helium gas. However, no domestic reports have been published thus far. Recently, we encountered a case of asphyxial suicide by inhalation of helium from inside a plastic bag. Subsequently, we reviewed the records of the Scientific Crime Analysis System of National Police Agency of Korea. There were 17 cases of helium-associated asphyxial suicides between January 1, 2000 and June 30, 2012. The average age of the deceased was 30.6 years with a male to female ratio of approximately 5:1. Thirteen of 17 such deaths occurred in the victims'houses. In all cases, the method of death involved placing a plastic bag over the head with a hose attached to helium tanks. In 6 of 17 cases, the decedents had psychiatric disorders such as depression. As neither characteristic signs of death nor conventional methods for detecting helium gas exist, a thorough investigation of the death scene and the decedents'environment is extremely vital for confirming death due to helium asphyxiation.
Crime ; Depression ; Female ; Head ; Helium ; Humans ; Inhalation ; Korea ; Male ; Plastics ; Police ; Suicide ; Suicide, Assisted

Two cases of duodenal bezoars are presented. Both were within pseudodiverticula of the duodenal bulbs whichwere created by chronic active ulcer disease. It is felt that deformed duodenal bulb interfered with transit ofthe gastrointestinal content causing the formation of bezoar within pseudodiverticula.
Bezoars ; Gastrointestinal Contents ; Ulcer

Soft tissue coverage of heel defects has long been a difficult problem. In 1982, Iron reported eight cases of heel defects in children using an ipsilateral posterior thigh flap with use of the Hoff-man's skeletal fixation apparatus for immobilization. We report three cases of heel defects treatment in children using ipsilateral posterior thigh flap and detach flap in an average 13 days with aid of single photon emission computed tomography(SPECT) for evaluation of circulation status of flap.
Child ; Fracture Fixation ; Heel ; Humans ; Immobilization ; Iron ; Thigh ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon

A 62-year-old farmer was admitted to our department because of second degree chemical burns of both buttocks ten days following accidental contact with Gramoxone, a weed killer. He was treated with oral antibiotics and cold compresses and discharged after the burned area were reepithelialized. Laboratory findings were within normal limits for three weeks. Although lung fibrosis, hepatic and renal failure can be caused by repeated absorption of paraquat (Gramoxone) through injuried skin, systemic absorption through normal skin has not been reported. During the four month follow up period there were no systemic problems nor recurrence of skin lesions. We report herein a case of chemical burns induced by Gramoxone, which is probably an occupational dermatosis of farmers handling weed killers.
Absorption ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Burns ; Burns, Chemical* ; Buttocks ; Fibrosis ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Paraquat ; Recurrence ; Renal Insufficiency ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

OBJECTIVE: Endometriosis is a disease affecting a large population of women all over the world. A local sterile inflammation occurs in the peritonel cavity of patients with endometriosis. It suggests that immunological events play a major role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. We have studied the levels of serveral T cell and monocyte derived cytokines, especially IL-6 (promoter of immune response) and IL-10 (inhibitor of immune response), in the peritoneal fluid of patients with endometriosis to characterize the change of immune response that occurs at the site of endometriosis. Method: This study was performed in Hallym university hospital from October, 1997 to October 1998 and enrolled 29 women with gross or microscopic findings of minimal to severe endometriosis in case group, and 28 women without visual evidence of pelvic endometriosis and with benign gynecologic disease in control group. IL-6 and IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid were determined using commercial ELISA and compared between endometriosis and controls and between fertile and infertile women with endometriosis and according to the revised American Fertility Society classification. RESULT: IL-6 was higher and IL-10 was lower in the peritoneal fluid of endometriosis group than of control group. Cyclic variations in the IL-6 concentrations were seen in endometriosis group : the concentrations in the secretory phase were significantly higher than those in the proliferative phase. In endometriosis group, IL-6 concentrations of infertile women were higher than fertile women. Both IL-6 and IL-10 in the peritoneal fluid of endomtriosis group did not show significant correlation according to r-AFS stages. CONCLUSION: Increased IL-6 and decreased IL-10 levels in the peritoneal fluid may be related to infertility and pathogenesis in the endometriosis, suggesting that partially contribute to the disturbed immune regulation observed in endometriosis.
Ascitic Fluid* ; Classification ; Cytokines ; Endometriosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Female ; Fertility ; Genital Diseases, Female ; Humans ; Infertility ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10* ; Interleukin-6* ; Monocytes

No abstract available.
Bacteria, Anaerobic*

PURPOSE: The occurrence of traumatic aneurysm is rare in head injury, but this complication is important as it is a potentially treatable cause delayed onset of intracranial hemorrhage. Authors report one case of traumatic aneurysm involving A1 and A2 junction of anterior cerebral artery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A-28-year-old man with traffic accident was examined with brain CT & cerebral angiography. RESULTS: l) Brain CT:lnitial scan shows multiple skull fractures involving right frontal bones with subarachnoid hemorrhage and pneumocephalus. Follow-up scan shows intracerebral hemorrhage at bilateral frontal lobes. 2) Cerebral angiography:A traumatic aneurysm which is slowly filling and delayed emptying is noted at the junctional portion of A1 and A2 segment of the anterior cerebral artery. CONCLUSION: This report demonstrates radiologic findings of traumatic aneurysm at anterior cerebral artery with the brief review of the literatures.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aneurysm ; Anterior Cerebral Artery ; Brain ; Cerebral Angiography ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Craniocerebral Trauma ; Follow-Up Studies ; Frontal Bone ; Frontal Lobe ; Intracranial Aneurysm* ; Intracranial Hemorrhages ; Pneumocephalus ; Skull Fractures ; Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

No abstract available.
Bone Conduction* ; Ear, Middle* ; Otitis Media* ; Otitis* ; Pathology* ; Temporal Bone*

Alveolar crest is the section of interproximal alveolar bone which includes the free edge of the alveolar process. An increase of the normal forces within limits of tolerance leads to deposition of new bone. If forces are beyond the limits of tolerance, resorption of bone will result whether the force produces pressure or tension. This study was designed to evaluate changes of alveolar bone levels in mesial and distal surface of the left, right first molar, by using pre-treatment, post-treatment panorama films. Two hundreds sixteen subjects were divided into adolescent group of 104 subjects and adult group of 112 subjects, to which orthodontic treatment with a bicuspid extraction (adolescent group-50 subjects, adult group-50 subjects) or without a nonextraction (adolescent group-54 subjects, adult group-62 subjects) was applied by fixed appliances. Pre- and post-treatment panorama films were traced, and alveolar crest height was measured. Amounts of changes in alveolar crest height by treatment were calculated and compared in terms of side of tooth, extraction, age. The results were as follows; 1. When pre-treatment alveolar crest bone levels were compared, levels of adult group were significantly lower than those of adolescent group. 2. Post-treatment alveolar crest bone levels were significantly lower than pre-treatment levels. 3. When changes of alveolar crest height were compared, between adolescent and adult group were not significantly. 4. When changes of alveolar crest height were compared, significantly larger changes were noticed in extraction than nonextraction cases. 5. When changes of alveolar crest height were compared, significantly larger changes were noticed in maxilla than mandible. 6. When mesio-distally compared, significantly larger changes were observed in the distal than mesial sides of adult group.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Alveolar Process ; Bicuspid ; Humans ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Molar ; Tooth