Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common functional gastrointestinal disorder. The pathophysiology of IBS is not completely understood. Genetic, immune, environmental, inflammatory, neurological and psychological factors contribute to the risk of this condition. Traditional research explored gastrointestinal motor abnormalities, central neural dysregulation, abnormal psychological features, and visceral hypersensitivity. More recent investigations consider bacterial overgrowth, abnormal serotonin pathways, altered gut flora, immune activation and mucosal inflammation. The purpose of this article is to review recent translational research concerning the pathophysiology, biomarker and genetic factors of IBS and to encourage IBS research in Korea.
Biomarkers ; Gastrointestinal Diseases ; Gastrointestinal Microbiome ; Hypersensitivity ; Inflammation ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome* ; Korea ; Psychology ; Serotonin ; Translational Medical Research*

Taking medication early on for aborting migraines has proved to be more effective, but trials using triptans during the aura phase have not shown significant effectiveness. Isometheptene compounds are popularly used as an anti-migraine OTC drug. We report a 27-year-old male patient with migraine with aura whose headache attacks were consistently inhibited by an isometheptene compound administered at the early aura phase, while he received no benefits from adequate treatment during the headache phase.
Adult ; Epilepsy* ; Headache ; Humans ; Male ; Migraine Disorders* ; Migraine with Aura ; Tryptamines

No abstract available.
Korea* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Treatment Outcome*

The major purpose for the use of autotransfusion is to prevent the transmission of blood borne infectious agents, such as human immunodeficiency virus and non-A & non-B hepatitis virus. To evaluate the efficacy and quality of autolgous shed blood for autotransfusion, eighty patients who had total knee arthroplasty from Dec. 1992 to Mar. 1994, were included in one of two groups: Group I, who received the autotransfusion, or Group II, who did not. Each group included 20 patients of unilateral TKR and 20 patients of bilateral TKR. The Orth-evac system(Deknatel, USA) was used to salvage drained blood in the first six hours after the operation. All of the patients were evaluated for the postoperative blood loss, transfusion requirements, hemoglobin, hematocrit, platelet count, blood pressure and body temperatures. l. In bilateral TKR, the reinfusion of shed blood reduced the requirements for homologous blood by 41.4%(1.2 pints in group I versus 2.9 pints in group II). In unilateral TKR, it was decreased to 36.4%(0.4 pint in group I vs 1.1 pint in group II). 2. In bilateral TKR, the requirements for homologous transfusion was decreased from 95% of patients in control group to 55% in group I .In unilateral TKR, it was decreased from 60% to 20%. 3. There were four patients who had high fever above 39℃ after autotransfusion. 4. At the immediate postoperative period there were two patients who had hypovolemic shock in group I patients who had bilateral TKR. 5. There was no clotting abnormality, no transfusion reaction and no thromboembolic disease in group I patients. In conclusion, the reinfusion of autologous shed blood after TKR is an acceptable alternative to the homologous transfusion without untoward effect.
Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee ; Blood Transfusion, Autologous ; Body Temperature ; Fever ; Hematocrit ; Hepatitis Viruses ; HIV ; Humans ; Knee ; Platelet Count ; Postoperative Hemorrhage ; Postoperative Period ; Shock ; Transfusion Reaction

This study presents data on the externally received doses for radiation workers who used the Korea Radioisotope Association's personal monitoring and dose record keeping service from 1984. Distributions of annual dose by age of worker and occupational category were given. The number of radiation workers registered was 23,257 in 1997. The trend of the number of radiation workers and their annual doses increased since 1984. The measured radiation dose were generally low. The collective annual dose and the mean annual dose were 33.45 Sv and 1.44 mSv, respectively. Very few workers(0.5%) exceeded 20 mSv(2 rem) and only 1 exceeded 50 mSv, the legal limit for dose.
Humans ; Korea*

Cases of foreign body ingestion are frequently seen in gastroenterology. However, it is not common for the foreign body to be located in the submucosa, which obscures it from view, even during endoscopy. A 74-year-old woman visited the emergency room 10 days after swallowing an implant screw during an implant procedure at a dental clinic. Abdominal CT revealed a 14-mm-long radio-opaque screw in the posterior wall of the proximal body of the stomach. On endoscopy, the screw was not observed in the stomach; however, fluoroscopic examination revealed that it was located under the mucosa of the posterior wall of the proximal body of the stomach. The screw was grasped using alligator forceps and retrieved. There was no evidence of perforation on chest radiography. Herein, we present a case wherein a foreign body embedded under the mucosa was removed.

To elucidate some DNA adducts as a biological marker for workers of chromate pigment, the effects of chromium exposure on the formation of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine(8-OH-dG) and sister chromatid exchanges(SCEs) frequency in 38 workers of a pigment plant in Bucheon which utilized lead chromates, were examined. The chromium contents of venous blood and urine were measured as working environmental exposure level. The concentrations of 8-OH-dG in DNA isolated from lymphocytes were determined with high performance liquid chromatography and electrochemical detector and denoted as a molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to deoxyguanosine(dG). The SCEs frequency were analyzed in DNA isolated from lymphocytes. A significant correlation was found between creatinine adjusted urine chromium concentration and the molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG(r=0.47, p<0.01). After adjusting the current smoking habit, the correlation coefficient was increased(r=0.62, p<0.05). However, there was no significant correlation between the SCE frequency and chromium exposure. This significant results between molar ratio of 8-OH-dG to dG and chromium exposure are in good agreement with in vitro studies that support the importance of DNA adduct formation for the carcinogenic effect of chromium.
Biomarkers ; Chromates ; Chromatids ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Chromium* ; Creatinine ; DNA ; DNA Adducts ; Environmental Exposure ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Lymphocytes ; Molar ; Plants ; Siblings* ; Sister Chromatid Exchange* ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: For the cases of the blowout fracture of the inferior orbital wall, reduction was performed frequently through transantral approach supporting herniated orbital tissue with silastic block, gauze or ureteral ballon catheter. But transantral approach has significant drawbacks such as instability, displacement of materials, and incomplete reduction. To overcome these shortcomings, we used an elastic silicon tube through transantral approach. In this paper, we compare the operative results between the group in which silastic blocks were used and the group in which silicon tubes were used. MATERIALS AND METHOD: We examined 19 patients whose maxillary sinuses were packed with silastic blocks or silicon tubes through only transantral approach. Among them, silastic blocks were used in nine cases ("block group") and silicon tubes in ten ("tube group"). Differences in preoperative and postoperative ocular symptoms, the percentage of revision operation, and occurrence of the infection of maxillary sinuses were compared between the two groups. RESULTS: In the block group, revision operations were carried out in three cases. Among those, one case was due to the undercorrection of fracture and two were due to the displacement of supporting material. In the tube group, one revision operation was necessary due to the overcorrection of fracture. Postoperative diplopia was observed in two cases among the block group and in one case among the tube group. One case with limitation in extraocular muscle movement was postoperatively detected among the block group. One case of infection of maxillary sinus was observed among the tube group. CONCLUSION: Reduction technique using silicone tube was easy and fast to perform by surgeons. We consider this reduction technique is a good surgical procedure instead of using silastic blocks.
Catheters ; Diplopia ; Elasticity* ; Humans ; Maxillary Sinus ; Orbit* ; Reconstructive Surgical Procedures ; Silicones ; Ureter

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: In modern society, maxillofacial trauma is correlated with an increase in population and traffic accident due to industrialization and urbanization. Many studies have examined maxillofacial trauma, although these studies have shown various results due to investigator's viewpoint and regional and cultural differences. Hence, we conducted this study to examine the current status of patients with maxillofacial trauma. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Based on patients' clinical data, we retrospectively reviewed clinical characteristics, demographic information and radiographic findings of 527 patients (633 cases based on the fracture sites) with maxillofacial trauma who had visited our hospital between January 1998 and December 2002. We analyzed patients' sex, cause of trauma, and fracture sites. Furthermore, we analyzed the type of treatment for each fracture site. RESULTS: Patients with maxillofacial fracture showed a male predominance of 2.9: 1, and were prevalent in the 20's, 10's and 30's in the order of frequency. These patients showed an increasing tendency in their numbers on a yearly basis, and were the most prevalent in 2002 and on November according to year and month, respectively. The most common etiology was `violence (36.6%)'. Predilection sites were `nasal bone (52.1%)' and `orbit (21.5% [blowout fracture of the orbital wall])'. CONCLUSION: Patients with maxillofacial trauma showed an increasing tendency in their numbers on a yearly basis and frequently exhibited nasal bone fracture and blowout fracture of the medial orbital wall. Accordingly, these patients frequently consult otolaryngologits in comparison with the past. otolaryngologists will pay more attention to these patients.
Accidents, Traffic ; Facial Bones ; Humans ; Male ; Maxillofacial Injuries ; Nasal Bone ; Orbit ; Retrospective Studies* ; Urbanization ; Industrial Development