We are calling the erupting ground water as drug water or mineral water in Korea and thinking those water and food making water. Authors tried to investigate the evidence of contamination by user on the 10 erupting ground water and gained following results: 1. All of the mineral waters on 10 area in Seoul were unfittable to drinking water standard. 2. In the view of the bacteriology 80% were contaminated by coliform group. 3. The highest value of the free carbon dioxide contents were 652.96 ppm at Sam Sun Mineral Water.
Bacteriology ; Carbon Dioxide ; Drinking Water ; Groundwater ; Korea ; Mineral Waters* ; Seoul* ; Solar System ; Thinking ; Water

The brachial plexus block has its greatest usefulness in surgery on upper extremities, especially emergency surgical procedure and significant medical problems. There are several techniques at level which the plexus may be block. In 1979, Vongvises and Panijayanond were described on parascalene technique which is safe, simple to perform and reliable in anesthesia the brachial plexus. From May through september 1980, this technique was employed in 53 cases on upper extremities, shoulder joint and distal part of clavicle with immobilization of needle. This technique is a simple and good analgesia but each one case of pneumothorax, Horner's syndrome and recurrent laryngeal nerve paralysis were developed.
Analgesia ; Anesthesia ; Brachial Plexus Block* ; Brachial Plexus* ; Clavicle ; Emergencies ; Horner Syndrome ; Immobilization ; Needles ; Paralysis ; Pneumothorax ; Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve ; Shoulder Joint ; Upper Extremity

No abstract available.
Breast Neoplasms* ; Breast*

To determine Pb level in blood, we usually used to pull out about 5ml blood from venous vessel and this sample was digested with acids to decompose organic matter and then determined the Pb contents by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer with flame. But recent trend in quan titating Pb in small amount of sample is very much recommended in clinical chemistry specially pediatrics, and industrial hygiene and occupational health area. Authors tried to determine Pb contents in small amount blood of 25 microliter by using capillary tube method and got the possibility of determination of ng amount of Pb in 25yl whole blood sample without any pretreatment of sample.
Absorption* ; Capillaries ; Chemistry, Clinical ; Nebulizers and Vaporizers* ; Occupational Health ; Pediatrics

In the determination of organic solvents in workplaces direct reading tube method have been in Korea for decades. But this method is less accurate and couldn't measure TWA (Time Weighted Average) for 8 hours. Authors tried to detect Toluene concentration in S factory by using charcoal tube according to NIOSH method. The concentration was 158.8ppm. We propose this charcoal tube method should be substituted to get accurate results and to protect employee in workplaces related with solvents.
Charcoal* ; Korea ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Solvents ; Toluene*

The main object of treatment in chronic occlusive arterial disease is to increase blood flow for ischemic limb. In case of severe symptoms and signs such as rest pain, ischemic ulcer and gangrene with poor angiographic distal run-off, conservative medical treatment is recommended. Beraprost sodium(TRK-100) is the oral preparation of a prostaglandin I2,that has known to increase blood flow, prevent secondary thrombi formation, suppress platelet aggregation,increase oxygen perfusion pressure, increase deformability of erythrocyte, and protect endothelial cell from ischemia and inflammation. From September 1995 to January 1997, 23 patients among 42 patients with severe ischemic ulcer and poor angiographic distal run-off underwent Beraprost oral treatment in the Department of Surgery, Ulsan-chungang and Yeungnam University Hospital: Buerger's disease(TAO) in 14 and arteriosclerosis obliterans(ASO) in 9 cases. Daily dose was 120microgram(6 tablets #3) and medicated for consecutive 6 weeks. To detect the changes of symptoms, signs & ischemic ulcer size and occurrence of side reactions, inquiries, photography and laboratory tests were checked at prior to medication and 2, 4 & 6 weeks after medication. The results were as follows. There were 21 men and 2 women, ranging in age from 23 to 77 years old with mean of 44 years old and in body weight from 43 to 75kg with mean of 61kg. Forteen cases(60.9%) were improved but 2 cases(6.2%) were aggravated on rest pain and coldness. Improval rate on ischemic ulcer & granulation size was 70%(16 cases) and 82.6%(19 cases) respectively. There noted infection in 7 cases(30.4%). Overall improval rates were 70.0%(16 cases), general safety rates were 95.7%(22 cases), and usefulness of the drug was shown in 16 cases(70.0%). One case(3.2%) of indigestion was reported as side reaction. There noted no significant hematologic, urinary or biochemical abnormalities. In conclusion, Beraprost treatment for severe ischemic limb had a beneficial effect on relieving pain and ulcer healing and proved safety in its use.
Adult ; Aged ; Arteriosclerosis ; Blood Platelets ; Body Weight ; Dyspepsia ; Endothelial Cells ; Epoprostenol ; Erythrocytes ; Extremities ; Female ; Gangrene ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Ischemia ; Male ; Oxygen ; Perfusion ; Photography ; Sodium ; Tablets ; Ulcer

PURPOSE: Hemodynamic factors are considered to play an important role in initiation and progression of the recurrence after endosaccular coiling of the intracranial aneurysms. We made paired virtual models of completely coiled aneurysms which were subsequently recanalized and compared to identify hemodynamic characteristics related to the recurred aneurysmal sac. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We created paired virtual models of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in five aneurysms which were initially regarded as having achieved complete occlusion and then recurred during follow-up. Paired virtual models consisted of the CFD model of 3D rotational angiography obtained in the recurred aneurysm and the control model of the initial, parent artery after artificial removal of the coiled and recanalized aneurysm. Using the CFD analysis of the virtual model, we analyzed the hemodynamic characteristics on the neck of each aneurysm before and after its recurrence. RESULTS: High wall shear stress (WSS) was identified at the cross-sectionally identified aneurysm neck at which recurrence developed in all cases. A small vortex formation with relatively low velocity in front of the neck was also identified in four cases. The aneurysm recurrence locations corresponded to the location of high WSS and/or small vortex formation. CONCLUSION: Recanalized aneurysms revealed increased WSS and small vortex formation at the cross-sectional neck of the aneurysm. This observation may partially explain the hemodynamic causes of future recanalization after coil embolization.
Aneurysm* ; Angiography ; Arteries ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemodynamics* ; Humans ; Hydrodynamics* ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Neck ; Parents ; Recurrence

Formation of de novo aneurysm from a junctional dilatation at the origin site of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA) has been rarely reported. In this case report, three females in sixth decades of age developed a de novo aneurysm from the junctional dilatation of the PComA with a tiny bleb-like lesion over 5 years after initial presentation.
Aneurysm* ; Arteries* ; Blister* ; Causality* ; Dilatation* ; Female ; Humans

Rotor syndrome is a rare benign familial disorder characterized by chronic, fluctuating, nonhemolytic and predominantly conjugated hyperbilirubinemia with normal liver tissue. In contrast to Dubin-Johnson syndrome, there is no liver hyperpigmentation in Rotor syndrome, and BSP clearance does not show a secondary retention peak. The serum bilirubin in patients with Gilbert's syndrome is almost all unconjugated in contrast to Rotor syndrome. A 29-year-old male was admitted due to persistent jaundice. Physical examination revealed icteric sclera without hepatosplenomegaly. Laboratory findings showed increased serum bilirubin with indirect bilirubin predominance. Urinary excretion of total coproporphyrin was markedly elevated, and coproporphyrin I was 66% of total urinary coproporphyrin. Oral cholecystography showed well visualized the gallbladder, but 99mTc-DISIDA scan showed markedly decreased hepatic uptake and poor visualization of the gallbladder and biliary tract. Histology of the liver showed no abnormal finding. We report the case with the review of literature.
Adult ; Biliary Tract ; Bilirubin ; Cholecystography ; Gallbladder ; Gilbert Disease ; Humans ; Hyperbilirubinemia ; Hyperbilirubinemia, Hereditary* ; Hyperpigmentation ; Jaundice ; Jaundice, Chronic Idiopathic ; Liver ; Lymphoma ; Male ; Physical Examination ; Sclera ; Skin Neoplasms ; Survival Rate ; Technetium Tc 99m Disofenin

PURPOSE: In order to investigate the survival rate, causes of death, and the predictors of death in hemodialysis patients with chronic renal failure. METHODS: Among the 3,462 patients who started hemodialysis in Asan Medical Center between May 1989 and December 1999, we selected 674 patients who were closely observed at least for 3 months since they began hemodialysis as an initial replacement therapy for chronic renal failure. Demographic and clinical characteristics, including diabetes mellitus, hepatitis viral marker, and laboratory findings at the beginning of hemodialysis were retrospectively analyzed RESULTS: The mean age of the patients was 51.0+/-14.8 years, and their sex ratio was 1.4:1(M:F). The proportion of patients with diabetic nephropathy was 34.4%. The mean follow-up period was 34.2+/-28.1 months and 117 patients died(17%). The greatest number of patients were found to have died of cardiac problems(23%), followed by cerebrovascular disease(16.2%), infection(13.7%) and malignant disease(11.1%). The survival rate of the 674 patients was found to range from 1 to 10 years:96% at 1 year, 88% at 2, 73% at 5, and 54% at 10 years. In order to determine the independent predictors of death, we used Cox proportional hazards model. The predictors of death in hemodialysis patients were found to be (i) male(Relative risk(RR)=1.46, p=0.06), (ii) people over 60 years of age(RR=1.54, p=0.03), diabetes mellitus(RR=1.45, p=0.06), and (iii) low level of serum creatinine(RR=0.65, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Cardiovascular disease and infectious diseases were important causes of death in hemodialysis patients. Old age and low serum creatinine at the beginning of hemodialysis were significant predictors of death.
Biomarkers ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cause of Death ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Communicable Diseases ; Creatinine ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diabetic Nephropathies ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Proportional Hazards Models ; Renal Dialysis* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sex Ratio ; Survival Analysis* ; Survival Rate