Recreational diving is an exciting and adventurous sport, but is also potentially hazardous. Despite its inherent hazards, an increasing number of people enjoy SCUBA (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) diving; the number of diving-related accidents is therefore also likely to increase. Divers might face physical or psychological stresses from the unfamiliar or hostile underwater environment, which can lead to fatal accidents. To investigate deaths related to SCUBA diving, a forensic pathologist should understand the types and mechanisms of injuries and illnesses unique to SCUBA diving. Postmortem examination of diving fatalities is therefore a formidable task for most forensic pathologists because cases are sparse and the process requires an understanding of diving physiology, diving equipment, and the underwater environment. The primary aim of autopsies in SCUBA diving fatalities is to detect evidence of pulmonary barotrauma, intravascular gas, or pre-existing illnesses. Standard autopsy protocol for SCUBA diving-related deaths should include methods to detect intravascular gas and gas accumulation in the tissue or body cavity through plain radiographs or Computerized Tomography (CT) scans. Analysis of the gas components is also helpful for determining the origin of the gas. Here, the author proposes a practical method for performing an autopsy on a person who died while SCUBA diving.
Autopsy* ; Barotrauma ; Diving* ; Humans ; Methods ; Physiology ; Preexisting Condition Coverage ; Respiration ; Sports ; Stress, Psychological

No abstract available.
Animals ; Ligation* ; Neuralgia* ; Rats* ; Rhizotomy* ; Spinal Cord* ; Spinal Nerves*

Heterotropic ossifications have been known to occur around joints in many pathological conditions of the nervous system mostly in paraplegia and is affects most of the hip joint. Recently, 4 cases of heterotropic ossification in 18 cases of traumatic paraplegia have been reviewed at the orthopedic department of Kyungpook National University Hospital from April 1965 to July 1968 and the results obtained were as follows: 1. All cases were found in male of 3rd to 4th decade. 2. Heterotropic ossification affectected around the hip joint in 3 cases and in the other one case around the medial femoral condyle of knee joint. 3. Three cases affecting around hip joint expressed pressure sores on ipsilateral great trochanteric area, but the other one case affecting around medial femoral condyle had not any pressure sore. 4. In all cases, the heterotropic ossification was noted on X-ray film within 4 to 6 months after paraplegia.
Femur ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hip Joint ; Humans ; Joints ; Knee Joint ; Male ; Nervous System ; Orthopedics ; Paraplegia ; Pressure Ulcer ; X-Ray Film

For the purpose of preparing the basic data for further cancer epidemiologic study and cancer patients control, we conducted the analysis on the degree and structure of deaths from cancer in metropolitan areas of Korea with 7,934 certified cancer deaths records of Seoul, Pusan, Taegu and Incheon in 1982. The analyzed results were as follows : 1) The total number of cancer deaths in metropolitan areas were 7,934 (male: 4,749, female: 3,185) as 14.1% of deaths from all causes in the same area. 2) The rate of physician's certification on cancer deaths was 77.4% and most of cancer deaths (84.4%) occurred at their home. 3) Cancer specific death rate was 51.7 per 100,000 population (male: 62.9, female: 41.9) and age-adjusted cancer death rate was 82.4 in male and 51.6 in female per 100,000 population. And the difference was statistically significant (p<0.01). 4) Age-specific cancer death rate was generally increased with age and most of cancer deaths (male: 75%, female: 65%) occurred from 45 to 74 years old. 5) The first three orders of cancer site were stomach (32.7%), liver (28.8%), lung (11.7%) in male and stomach (30.6%), uterus (18.4%), liver (13.8%) in female. And the relative frequency of these three cancer sites among total cancer deaths was corresponded to 73.2% in male and 62.8% in female. 6) The ratio of male to female cancer death rate was 1.5:1. And the ratio was above 3.0 in esophagus, liver, larynx, bladder cancer and the ratio was similar to 1.0 in stomach, pancreas, leukemia, brain, colon cancer, but the ratio was reversed in gall bladder and bile duct, and thyroid cancer.
Aged ; Bile Ducts ; Brain ; Busan* ; Certification ; Colonic Neoplasms ; Daegu* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Esophagus ; Female ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Korea* ; Larynx ; Leukemia ; Liver ; Lung ; Male ; Mortality ; Pancreas ; Seoul* ; Stomach ; Thyroid Neoplasms ; Urinary Bladder ; Urinary Bladder Neoplasms ; Uterus

To make the objective standard of nuclear size in grading nuclear pleomorphism of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast, we measured maximal nuclear diameter of tumor cells on imprint cytology slides and histologic sections from 65 cases by using computer-based image analysis system (Optimas 6.0). The maximal diameter of red blood cells were also measured to evaluate the ratio of maximal nuclear diameter of tumor cells to maximal diameter of red blood cells. The mean values of maximal nuclear diameter of tumor cells on imprint cytology slides and histologic sections were 7.56microgram, 7.53microgram in nuclear grade 1, 8.92+/-0.98microgram, 9.02+/-0.74microgram in nuclear grade 2, and 12.90+/-1.47prn, 12.44+/-1.41microgram in nuclear grade 3, respectively. There were no significant differences between values of imprint cytology and histologic section. The ratio of maximal nuclear diameter of tumor cells to maximal diameter of red blood cells were 1.3-1.4:1 in nuclear grade 1, 1.6-1.7:1 in nuclear grade 2, and 2.2-2.3:1 in nuclear grade 3. Ths would be guidelines for grading nuclear pleomorphism of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast on routine surgical pathology work.
Breast ; Carcinoma, Ductal ; Erythrocytes ; Pathology, Surgical ; Purpura*

BACKGROUND: The risk of rubella infection is higher among hospital employees than others because of more exposure to rubella viruses. Because rubella infection during pregnancy can cause congenital rubella syndrome, special preventive measures should be taken for female employees in the hospital. METHODS: 309 employees in Soonchunhyang Kumi Hospital, aged from 18 to 45 years old, were included this study. Rubella IgG antibody was detected by the method of MEIA (microparticle enzyme immunoassay). And non-immunized employees were received by Wister RA 27/3 rubella vaccination and rechecked rubella antibody titers at 2 months later after vaccination. RESULTS: Among 309 subjects, 276(89.3%) were positive for rubella IgG antibody. The overall mean titer of rubella antibody was 72 IU/mL (SD: 67 IU/mL). The rubella antibody in titer decreased gradually with aging. The seroconversion rate after vaccination was 100%(28/28). CONCLUSIONS: The authors recommend that the employees susceptible to rubella or all employees in the hospital should be vaccinated for preventing rubella.
Aging ; Cross Infection* ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Middle Aged ; Pregnancy ; Rubella Syndrome, Congenital ; Rubella Vaccine ; Rubella virus* ; Rubella* ; Vaccination*

PURPOSE: To solving the problems of unbalanced sex ratio through the last 10 year's and future problems. METHOD: This study was reviewed in last 10year's period in nulligravida, multigravida, cesarean section, season, year(odd, even), and month(odd, even), it's depend on the 11568 cases during the last 10 year's and average of yearly delivery is almost 1000 cases. RESULT: The following results were obtained, The total sex ratio in last 10 years were 100: 108. 5(female: male). The total monthly sex ratio in last 10 years were following. Febraury sex ratio was 100: 115.2(female:male), may sex ratio was 100: 97.0(female:male), Even month sex ratio 100: 112.1(female: male), odd month sex ratio 100: 104(female: male), seasonal sex ratio were following. Spring(100: 102.7), summer(100: 115.6), fall(100: 106.4), winter(100: 109.4). The total Normal Spontaneous Vaginal Delivery in nulligravida and multigravida were followed, nulligravida(which is one delivery only) was 100: 112.4(f: m), multigravida(which is more than one delivery, but not inclued abortion) was 100: 107.6(f: m). The total c/sec(Cesarean section) in 1st c/sec and 2nd and above c/sec were followed. 1st c/sec was 100: 113.6(female: male), 2nd and above c/sec was 100: 103(female: male). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that the unbalance of newbom baby boy sex ratio in nulligravida is higher then multigravida and is problem in this contry. We will be concerned social problem in early 21th centry.
Cesarean Section ; Female ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Infant, Newborn* ; Male ; Pregnancy ; Seasons ; Sex Ratio* ; Social Problems

Drowning is one of the most common causes accidental death worldwide, but its diagnosis remains a challenging task in forensic pathology. Several authors have suggested that diatom analysis be conducted via an enzymatic digestion method that uses proteinase K to provide objective evidence for drowning; we employed this method in our study because of its superior applicability as compared to the conventional disorganization methods. The purpose of this study was to examine the reclaiming ratio of diatoms from experimentally drowned animal organs, which could be influenced by diatom morphology. The authors injected 3 diatoms species (Cyclotella striata, Navicula incerta, and Pleurosigma angulatum) into a rat's airway and compared the detection rate to investigate the factors that influence the sensitivity of diatom analysis. The results are as follows: (1) Average reclaiming ratio in the lungs was 81.07 for Navicula incerta, 48.26 for Cyclotella striata, and 5.35 for Pleurosigma angulatum. (2) The detection rates from the closed organs in 15 experimental animals were highest in the kidney (73%, 11/15), followed by the heart (67%, 10/15), brain (60%, 9/15), and liver (53%, 8/15). (3) Two Cyclotella striata was detected in the kidney of postmortem control group which suggest the possibility of contamination during laboratory procedure. In conclusion, the authors propose that diatom size could be a significant influencing factor for diatom extraction from the organs of drowned bodies; therefore, the results of diatom analysis must be interpreted after considering the diatom population of the drowning medium at the scene and the possibility of contamination during the laboratory procedure.
Animal Structures ; Animals ; Brain ; Diatoms ; Digestion ; Drowning ; Endopeptidase K ; Forensic Pathology ; Heart ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung

There are strong evidences suggesting that Thl and Th2 lymphocytes develop from the same Thlymphocyte precursor under the influence of environmental or genetic factors acting at the level of antigen presentation, but it remains to be answered whether it is possible to change the cytokine profile of established or ongoing Th1 and Th2 response. The purpose of this study is to reveal whether it is possible to reverse the cytokine profile of human Th lymphocytes by the modulation of antigen presentation. Using a multiparameter flow cytometric assay that allows simultaneous determination of surface CD4 and intracellular IFN-r or IL-4, we have studied the emergence of Th1 or Th2 lymphocytes in response to tetanus toxoid exposure and the patterns of cytokine synthesis in established T lymphocyte clones. Th2 populations arising after 4 wk of stimulation in IL-2, PHA, tetanus toxoid and irradiated autogeneic peripheral blood mononuclear cells as antigen presenting cells (APC) could give rise to IFN-r-producing Th1 lymphocytes when stimulated in IL-2 plus PHA in the absence of antigen and APC. These IFN-r-producing Th1 lymphocytes nearly disappeared and IL-4-producing Th2 lymphocytes predominated again when cultured again in the presence of antigen and APC. In contrast, prolonged culture in the absence of antigen and APC induced relative predominance of IFN-r-producing The lymphocytes. The cytokine profile of long-term Th2 population arising originally from the repeated stimulation in the presence of antigen and APC appeared more homogeneous and less reversible, although they could convert to Th1 lymphocytes when cultured without antigen and APC. These findings may explain that the polarized Th response is reversible depending on the presence of antigen presentation.
Antigen Presentation* ; Antigen-Presenting Cells ; Clone Cells ; Humans ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-4 ; Lymphocytes ; T-Lymphocytes, Helper-Inducer* ; Tetanus Toxoid

BACKGROUND: Disinfection is essential for the prevention of hospital infection. HICLO-S (Soosan environment Co., Yongin, Korea), one of the electrolyzed oxidized water was recently developed as a disinfectant. This is not costly and does not cause any clinical problems and environmental pollution. We evaluated the disinfective activity of HICLO-S against several clinical isolates of bacteria and yeasts. METHODS: 25 strains of bacteria and two strains of yeast were exposed to HICLO-S (30 & 50 ppm HICLO-S) disinfectant for the various periods (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 8, 10, 15, 20 minutes). After the exposure to HICLO-S disinfectant, 0.01 mL of mixture of microorganisms and HICLO-S was inoculated into brain-heart infusion broth or onto Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated at 35degrees C for 48hours. RESULTS: All strains of bacteria and yeast were killed within 30 seconds after an exposure to 30 ppm of HICLO-S. All of three strains of spore forming Bacillus subtilis were killed within 4 minutes after an exposure to 30ppm of HICLO-S, but all of three strains were killed within 30 seconds in 50 ppm of HICLO-S. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that HICLO-S disinfectant was effective for the disinfection of commonly isolated bacteria and yeast from hospital, but less effective against spore-forming bacteria. It may be recommended that HICLO-S should he used for the effective disinfection of skin, instruments and hospital floors.
Agar ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacteria ; Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Environmental Pollution ; Glucose ; Gyeonggi-do ; Skin ; Spores ; Water ; Yeasts