Serum Immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, IgM, levels were measured in 99 coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients and 12 healthy coal workers and 9 non-miners to compare with each group by the radiological categories, its complications and working period in coal mine. Serum were measured by nephelometry. The findings were as follows: 1) Serum IgA levels were significantly different between three groups of CWP patient, healthy coal worker and non-miner (mean+/-standard deviation: 226.4+/-87.7, 221.3+/-45.1, 170.1+/-65.7 respectively). 2) There were no significant differences of Ig levels among radiological categories of CWP. 3) There were no significant differences of Ig levels among simple pneumoconiosis and its complicated disorders. 4) The three Ig levels were slightly increased in the group of mining years less than 20 years (IgA: r=0.1869, p<0.10 IgG: r=0.2902, p<0.05 IgM: r=0.2889, p<0.05).
Coal* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Mining ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Pneumoconiosis*

No abstract available.
Breast* ; Tuberculosis*

The purpose of this study is to analyze occupational history of coal miners with pnemoconiosis. In this study, occupational chracteristics of 49 coal miners with pneumoconiosis were compared with those of 45 coal miners without pneumoconiosis but in similar age category (43-52 years of age) based on interview survey. Various indices on occupational characteristics were developed for the following areas: duration of employment, perception of working condition, working density, dust concentration, temperature, humidity, and experience of respirator wearings. Perception of working condition were measured in 5 points scales but experiences of respirator wearing was measured in 3 points scale. Each index was multiplied by duration of employment. From the analysis, only the experience of respirator wearing showed statistically significant difference between the two groups. Therefore, respirator wearing seemed to be effective in reducing occurrence of pneumoconiosis.
Coal* ; Dust ; Employment ; Humidity ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Ventilators, Mechanical ; Weights and Measures

No abstract available.
Rectal Neoplasms*

No abstract available.
Mortality*

Amylase-producing multiple myeloma is a rare disorder and has poor prognosis. Its characteristics are elevation of salivary type amylase, extensive extramedullary spread, extensive bone destruction, shorter survival time, and abnormal karyotype. Recently, we have experienced a case of amylase-producing IgG kappa type multiple myeloma in a 63-year-old woman. On admission, serum and urine amylase was 8,450U/L and 169,710U/L, 85% and 86% of which was determined to be the salivary type, respectively. The other cause of hyperamylasemia had not been detected. The presence of immunoglobulin and amylase in the myeloma cells was demonstrated immunohistochemically. Bone marrow aspiration smear revealed 59.1% plasma cells. The cytogenetic study of bone marrow cell showed normal karyotype. The patient died 3 months after chemotherapy with melphalan and prednisolone.
Abnormal Karyotype ; Amylases ; Bone Marrow ; Bone Marrow Cells ; Cytogenetics ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperamylasemia ; Immunoglobulin G* ; Immunoglobulins ; Karyotype ; Melphalan ; Middle Aged ; Multiple Myeloma* ; Plasma Cells ; Prednisolone ; Prognosis

PURPOSE: To compare 3D ultrasound (3D-US) with 2D ultrasound (2D-US) in terms of their usefulness and limitations in the diagnosis of breast masses. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained 2D and 3D US images of 37 breast lesions present in 20 cases of fibroadenoma, nine of cancer, and eight of fibrocystic disease proven in a total of 26 cases [fibroadenoma (n=13), breast cancer (n=9), fibrocystic disease (n=4)] by histologic examination, and by clinical evaluation and clinical evaluation with sonographic imaging in eleven. When comparing 3D and 2D-US images we had no prior information regarding detection rate according to the size of lesions, whether or not internal and boundary echo patterns could be interpreted, accurate differentiation between tumorous and non-tumorous lesions, or the accuracy with which benign and malignant tumors could be differentiated. RESULTS: For lesions of 1 cm or less in diameter the detection rate of 3D-US was lower than that of 2D-US, but for lesions over 1 cm there was no difference between the two modalities. In fibroadenoma and breast cancer, 3D-US was more useful than 2D-US for the evaluation of both internal and boundary echo, but with fibrocystic disease and in the diagnosis of tumor/non-tumor, there was no significant difference. In breast cancer, however, 3D-US more accurately determined malignancy, and in fibroadenoma, because of the pseudospicule revealed by 3D-US, this modality was less exact in determining benignancy. CONCLUSION: In the evaluation of internal and boundary echo in breast mass diagnosis, 3D-US was more useful than its 2D counterpart. For lesions of 1 cm or less in diameter, however, the detection rate of 3D-US was low, and since in some benign cases a pseudospicule was apparent, the possibiliy of confusion with malignancy arose. For these reasons, the usefulness of 3D-US was limited.
Breast Neoplasms ; Breast* ; Diagnosis* ; Fibroadenoma ; Ultrasonography

BACKGROUND: To prevent sudden unexpected movement of patients during surgery, muscle relaxants are used to maintain intense neuromuscular blockade.They are administered by intermittent bolus or continuous infusion.Rocuronium is often used for continuous infusion because it is known to lack cumulative effects. The purpose of this study was to compare recovery times from intense neuromuscular block to reappearance of muscle twitches after 0.1 Hz single twitch stimulation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Seventy five patients were randomized to one of 3 groups.Patients in group 1 were administered a single bolus of rocuronium; groups 2 and 3 were given continuous infusion of rocuronium for 1 and 2 h, respectively.During anesthesia, neuromuscular blockade was monitored by TOF-watch(R) and regulated so as not to exceed more than 5 (PTC) during the infusion. After infusion, PTC was counted every 5 min until single twitch heights had reappeared and the time till the twitch reappeared was calculated. RESULTS: There was a good correlation between the time it took to observe a PTC and the first response of TOF time in each group.In a parallelism test, there were no significant differences. There were also no significant differences in recovery times from PTC to the reappearance of a single twitch between groups. CONCLUSIONS: There are no significant differences in recovery times-from deep neuromuscular blockade to reappearance of single twitch-regardless of the infusion time.When a PTC occurs during deep neuromuscular blockade, it may predict the remaining time of reappearance of a single twitch response.
Androstanols ; Anesthesia ; Factor IX ; Humans ; Muscles ; Neuromuscular Blockade

The rigid metal fixation devices are currently the most widely used in maxillofacial surgery. The use of metal plate and screw fixation, however, is not free of some postoperative complication. Once the fractures have healed, metal devices no longer serve any tissue purpose other than the potential for adverse reaction, including loosening, palpability, corrosion, and artifacts in CT and MRI, and they restrict growth of the neurocranium. To overcome these drawbacks, there had been a continuous research on the development of a bioabsorbable skeletal fixation system using polymers of polylactic and polyglycolic acid. There is an increasing acceptance of there use as an alternative fixation device in craniomaxillofacial surgery. We have used the BiosorbFX(R) system(Bionix Implants Ltd) in 48 patients of facial bone fractures. Age varied from 3 to 70(mean 34) and follow up period varied form 1 months to 10 months(mean 5 months). A total of 860 bioabsorbable devices(151 plates and 709 screws) was used. We encountered no significant intraoperative difficulties in obtaining placement of the devices. No patients has experienced any implant-related complications including infection, fracture instability or relapse, or radiographic evidence of osteolysis. The use of nonmetallic materials as a fixation devices that will be resorbed after facial bone fracture healing, therefore, would have advantages. The good results indicate that the use of bioabsorbable implants can be considered for the fixation of facial bone fractures.
Absorbable Implants ; Artifacts ; Corrosion ; Facial Bones* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Fracture Fixation* ; Fracture Healing ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Osteolysis ; Polyglycolic Acid ; Polymers ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Surgery, Oral

No abstract available.
Gastrointestinal Tract* ; Radionuclide Imaging*