OBJECTIVES: Acrylamide is a neurotoxin inducing central-peripheral distal axonopathy. The authors evaluated several neurologic tests to screen the early effect of occupational acrylamide exposure. METHODS: Fifty-two males working either in the production of acrylamide monomer or in the handling of acrylamide in Ulsan, Korea, were selected and subcategorized into the high-exposure group (n=10, mean age of 30. 4 years) and the low-exposure group (n=42, mean age of 28.9 years). Twenty-three males (mean age 29.4 years) from medical professionals and students were chosen as a non-exposed reference group. Symptom questionnaire, neurologic examination, electrodiagnostic test, vibrotactile threshold test, and Lanthony desaturated 15 panel test (LD-15D) were done. RESULTS: The high-exposure group showed more number of specific symptoms on questionnaire and more abnormal two point discrimination test. High-exposure group showed a significant difference in the median motor conduction velocity, peroneal nerve motor latency, sensory amplitude of median nerve action potential, and sensory latency of sural nerve. The vibrotactile threshold of the high-exposure group was significantly higher in both hands and feet than that of the low-exposure group and the reference group. Average color confusion index on the LD-15D was significantly higher in the high-exposure group (median 22.7, range 0-135.7) than in the reference group (median 2.4, range 0-33.2). CONCLUSIONS: The symptom questionnaire, vibrotactile threshold test, and color discrimination test are sensitive in detection of the early acrylamide-induced neuropathy, and the combination of these tests would further facilitate the effectiveness of the screening.
Acrylamide* ; Action Potentials ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Foot ; Hand ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Median Nerve ; Neurologic Examination ; Peroneal Nerve ; Questionnaires ; Sural Nerve ; Ulsan

No abstract available.
Genes, Viral* ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis*

BACKGROUND: For pediatric anesthesia we frequently use rocuronium bromide, which is often associated with a localized withdrawal of the arm or generalized movements, that may cause harm to the patient. Lidocaine is said to be one of the better agents and reduce the incidence of movement associated with rocuronium injection in adults. The purpose of this study was to compare the effects on movement associated with rocuronium injection according to the method of lidocaine administration in children. METHODS: Two hundreds and four pediatric patients undergoing general anesthesia were randomly assigned to one of six groups (each group n = 34). Fifty seconds after the injection of thiopental sodium 5 mg/kg, the SM group was given mixture of rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg/kg and normal saline 0.05 ml/kg (same amount of 2% lidocaine 1 mg/kg) for 5-10 seconds. The LM 1.0 and LM 2.0 groups were given a mixture of rocuronium bromide 0.6 mg/kg and 2% lidocaine 1 mg/kg or 2 mg/kg, respectively. The LS 1.0, LS 1.5 and the LS 2.0 groups were given 2% lidocaine 1.0 mg/kg, 1.5 mg/kg, and 2.0 mg/kg respectively, 50 seconds after the injection of thiopental sodium, and rocuronium was given 5 seconds after the administration of lidocaine. Withdrawal movements after the injection of rocuronium were investigated. RESULTS: All of the SM group showed withdrawal movement and the LM 2.0, LS 1.0, LS 1.5, and LS 2.0 groups showed less withdrawal movement than the SM group. And the LS 1.0, LS 1.5, and LS 2.0 groups showed less movement than the LM 1.0 group. LS 2.0 group showed less withdrawal movement than LM 2.0 group. CONCLUSIONS: The sequential administration of lidocaine and rocuronium produced a better result than the administration of a mixture in terms of reducing withdrawal movement on rocuronium injection.
Adult ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, General ; Arm ; Child* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lidocaine* ; Neuromuscular Blockade ; Thiopental

Pneumoconiosis is one of the most important occupational disease in Korea. In Pusan, most of pneumoconiosis is welders' pneumoconiosis developed in shipyard. With clinical (including interview with every patients) and radiological (chest radiographs) methods, author purposed to know the factors related to development of pneumoconiosis in shipyard welders and to apply the results to the concept for health care (management) of shipyard welders. The prevalence rate of welders' pneumoconiosis was calculated by the means of reading of chest radiographs of 547 shipyard welders. The prevalence rate of welders' pneumoconiosis (including suspected pneumoconiosis, category 0/1) was 7.9%. It was lower than that (8.9%) in same area studied in 1989. Prevalence rate increased as total welding duration increased and the welding work began early. It was higher in welders who did not use antidust mask. Probability of the occurance of welder's pneumoconiosis was related with the time that the welder began welding work. Sixteen cases among the 37 who were diagnosed as pneumoconiosis returned normal in the follow-up chest radiographs. There was no case aggrevated. The pertinent management for the personnels and their working environment contributed to the decrease of incidence of the welders' pneumoconiosis and the improvement of the disease. To prevent the occurance of the pneumoconiosis in shipyard welders, it seems to be necessary for the company to be supervised under the any legislation and to educate the welder to use the protective apparatus. It is suggested that considerate and continuous observation under the adequate management is preferable to the immediate conversion of the working department for the pneumoconiotic welders.
Busan ; Delivery of Health Care ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Korea ; Masks ; Occupational Diseases ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Welding

Our previous experimental work with tissue plasminogen activator (TPA) suggested the possibility of the clearance of vitreous hemorrhage by repetitive injections of low-dose TPA. We therefore investigated in rabbits the effect of both repeated injections of TPA and the change of the integrity of the vitreous body on the clearance of vitreous hemorrhage. Vitreous hemorrhage was produced by intravitreal injection of 0.05 ml of autologous whole blood in the pigmented rabbit eyes with intact vitreous or gas-compressed vitreous. Three intravitreal injections of 3-g TPA (total dose of 9 microgram), separated by 7-day intervals, were performed. The endpoint for vitreous hemorrhage clearance was defined as clear visualization of the posterior central retina of the rabbits. Regardless of whether gas compression vitrectomy was performed, repeated injections of low-dose TPA resulted in rapid clearance of fresh vitreous hemorrhage in approximately two to three weeks after the last TPA injection. No evidence of retinal toxicity was seen in all experimental groups. Repetitive injections of low-dose TPA may be effective in the treatment of fresh vitreous hemorrhage.
Animals ; Disease Models, Animal ; Injections ; Rabbits ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Vitreous Body/drug effects ; Vitreous Hemorrhage/*drug therapy

BACKGROUND: Obtaining and utilizing the feed-backs from residents who have finished four year of anesthesia residency could well contribute to improvement in training program. Therefore authors have designed a self questionnaire to analyze the degrees or measures of satisfaction from such training program and data were evaluated to provide,in future,the guideline which would improve the quality of the training program. METHODS: The self-questionnaires were sent to residents(n=148),who have been through the entire four year of residency training courses under anesthesia department. The assessment was conducted to measure the degree of satisfaction based on several variables such as motivation, selection of anesthesiology as a first choice, type of training hospital, and sex. To evaluate the current problems of anesthesia residency program, we made 30 open-ended and close-ended questions. Data analysis was made using Fishers exaet test. RESULTS: There were no statistically significant difference between the degree of satisfaction and their motivation for choosing anesthesia, anesthesia as a major, selection of anesthesiology as a first choice, and types of hospitals. As for the difference in satisfaction of training, male residents showed significantly higher satisfaction rate( n=92, 36.2%) than female residents(n=47, 17%). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that degrees of satisfaction was more likely related to the program of each training hospital and sex compared to other variables studied.
Anesthesia Department, Hospital ; Anesthesia* ; Anesthesiology ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Internship and Residency* ; Male ; Motivation ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Statistics as Topic

BACKGROUND: Oxidative stress contributes to vascular diseases in patients with diabetes. As the mechanism of development and progression of diabetic vascular complications is poorly understood, this study was aimed to assess the potential role of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress and to determine whether the oxidative stress is a major factor in hyperglycemia-induced migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). METHODS: We treated primary cultured rat aortic smooth muscle cells for 72 hours with medium containing 5.5 mM D-glucose (normal glucose), 30 mM D-glucose (high glucose) or 5.5 mM D-glucose plus 24.5 mM mannitol (osmotic control). We measured the migration of VSMCs and superoxide production. Immunoblotting of PKC isozymes using phoshospecific antibodies was performed, and PKC activity was also measured. RESULTS: Migration of VSMCs incubated under high glucose condition were markedly increased compared to normal glucose condition. Treatment with diphenyleneiodonium (DPI, 10 micromol/L) and superoxide dismutase (SOD, 500 U/mL) significantly suppressed high glucose-induced migration of VSMCs. Superoxide production was significantly increased in high glucose condition and was markedly decreased after treatment with DPI and SOD. High glucose also markedly increased activity of PKC-delta isozyme. When VSMCs were treated with rottlerin or transfected with PKC-delta siRNA, nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT) staining and NAD(P)H oxidase activity were significantly attenuated in the high glucose-treated VSMCs. Furthermore, inhibition of PKC-delta markedly decreased VSMC migration by high glucose. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that high glucose-induced VSMC migration is dependent upon activation of PKC-delta, which may responsible for elevated intracellular ROS production in VSMCs, and this is mediated by NAD(P)H oxidase.
Acetophenones ; Animals ; Antibodies ; Benzopyrans ; Diabetic Angiopathies ; Glucose ; Humans ; Immunoblotting ; Isoenzymes ; Mannitol ; Muscle, Smooth, Vascular ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; NADPH Oxidase ; Onium Compounds ; Oxidative Stress ; Oxygen ; Protein Kinase C ; Rats ; RNA, Small Interfering ; Superoxide Dismutase ; Superoxides ; Vascular Diseases

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to evaluate the interaction between 4-hexylresorcinol (4HR) and antibody as that affects the performance of a silk-4HR combination graft for soft tissue augmentation in an animal model. METHODS: The silk graft materials consisted of four types: silk+10% tricalcium phosphate (TCP) (ST0), silk+10% TCP+1% 4HR (ST1), silk+10% TCP+3% 4HR (ST3), and silk+10% TCP+6% 4-HR (ST6). The antibody binding assay tested the 4HR effect and scanning electron microscopic (SEM) exam was done for silk grafts. The animal experiment used a subcutaneous pocket mouse model. The graft - SH0 or SH1 or SH3 or SH6 - was placed in a subcutaneous pocket. The animals were killed at one, two, and four weeks, postoperatively. The specimens were subjected to histological analysis and lysozyme assay. RESULTS: Groups with 4HR applied showed lower antibody binding affinity to antigen compared to groups without 4HR. In the SEM examination, there was no significant difference among groups. Histological examinations revealed many foreign body giant cells in ST0 and ST1 group at four weeks postoperatively. Both ST3 and ST6 groups developed significantly lower levels of giant cell values compared to ST0 and ST1 groups (P<0.001) at four weeks postoperatively. In the lysozyme assay, the ST1 and ST3 groups showed denser signals than the other groups. CONCLUSION: 4HR combined silk implants resulted in high levels of vascular and connective tissue regeneration.
Animal Experimentation ; Animals ; Composite Tissue Allografts ; Connective Tissue ; Giant Cells ; Giant Cells, Foreign-Body ; Hexylresorcinol ; Metabolism ; Mice ; Models, Animal ; Muramidase ; Regeneration ; Silk* ; Transplants*

BACKGROUND: Hypertension in the immediate postoperative period, if sufficiently high, can cause left heart failure, arrhythmia, myocardial infarction, and cerebral hemorrhage. The causes of postoperative hypertension are hypertension history, pain, hypoxia, emergence excitement, reaction to endotracheal tube, hypothermia, excess fluid administration, hypercarbia, etc. To know the predictable factors for the postoperative hypertension the authors tried to investigate perioperative patient care of the postoperative hypertensive cases. METHODS: One hundred twenty surgical patients in both sexes between the age of 40~60 were sampled randomly and devided into two groups. The normotensive (N) group included the patients with postoperative blood pressure below 140/90 mmHg and the hypertensive (H) group, above 140/90 mmHg. The incidence of hypertension history, hypertension on admission, hypertension on ward, change of systolic blood pressure above 20% during surgery, intra or postoperative use of antihypertensives or inotropic agents were compared between the groups. RESULTS: The incidence of history of hypertension was higher in H group (20%) than N group (6.7%). Hypertension on admission was higher in H group (43.3%) than N group (23.3%). Systolic blood pressure change above 20% was only in H group (6.7%). Use of antihypertensive was more frequent in H group (33.3%) than N group (3.3%) and use of inotropic agents was only in N group (8.3%). The blood pressure at ward, preinduction, and after induction were higher in H group. Within the group the blood pressure between preinduction and after induction has no difference. CONCLUSION: Immediate postoperative hypertension can be expected in case of history of hypertenion, hypertension on admission (above 140/90 mmHg), change of systolic blood pressure above 20%, use of antihypertensive during operation, and hypertension just before induction.
Anoxia ; Antihypertensive Agents ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Blood Pressure ; Cerebral Hemorrhage ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Hypothermia ; Incidence ; Myocardial Infarction ; Patient Care ; Postoperative Period*

Endotracheal intubation has been widely used for general anesthesia and patency of airway. But intubation granuloma may be developed after intubation. From Feb. 1986 to Jun. 1993, the authors encountered 20 cases of intubation granuloma in Korea University Hospital and following results were obtained. 1) The incidence of intubation granuloma was 0.017%. 2) The age range was from 24 to 49 years. 3) The ratio of male to female was 1 to 19. 4) All cases located at posterior one third of vocal cord, 6 cases were bilateral, 14 were unilateral, of them 10 were in the right sides. 5) Eleven cases were occurred after caesarian section, and the ineidence of which was 0.134% . 6) Hoarseness was the main symptom in 18 cases. 7) The duration from intubation to development of symptom was 15 days to 4 months.
Anesthesia, General ; Female ; Granuloma* ; Hoarseness ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intubation* ; Intubation, Intratracheal ; Korea ; Male ; Vocal Cords