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

We report a case of atrophie blanche which was accompanied by cryoglobulinemia. The patient, 17-year-old female, have had recurrent painful ulcerations and ivory-white atrophic scars with telangiectases surrounded by hyperpigmentation. On histological examination, vessel wall thickening and hyalinization of the intima, partial vascular occlusion, vascular proliferation and mild perivascular chronic inflammatory cells infiltration and hemorrhage in the upper dermis were noted. The patient had been treated with dipyridarnol(Persantin) and acetylsalicylic acid hut the lesions had been waxed and waned.
Adolescent ; Aspirin ; Cicatrix ; Cryoglobulinemia* ; Dermis ; Female ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Hyalin ; Hyperpigmentation ; Telangiectasis ; Ulcer

Three cases of pseudoxanthoma elasticum are presented and the literatures are reviewed. Two cases were presented with the marked cutaneous manifestation of this condition and angioid streak. One case was presented with only the marked skin lesion of this condition on both axilla and neck. Typically involved skin was shown to be speckled with pea-sized yellowish numorous papules. Typical elastic tissue degeneration was found in the involved skin. No genetic background was discovered in the patients.
Angioid Streaks ; Axilla ; Elastic Tissue ; Humans ; Neck ; Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum* ; Skin

The present study was undertaken to inveatigate whether contaet sensitivity was decreased or not in patients with atopic dermatitis, and to investigate phagocytic function of neutrophils in patients with atopic dermatitis. 1. Dinitrochlorobenzene (DNCB), a compound which uniformly induce hypersensitivity in normal individuals, had been used in the preaent study to investigate cutaneous anergy in 16 patients with atopic dermatitis. Sensitizing does of DNCB (2,000 microgram) was applied and examined at 7th and 14th day for a spontaneous flare. In the absence of spontaneous flare, challenge dose (50microgram) was reapplied and examined. Seven of the 16 cases (43.8%.) had positive reaction to DNCB. These result showed decreased contact sensitivity in patients with atopic dermatitis, which suggested some defect in the cell-mediated immunity in patients with atopic dermatitis. 2. There were some evidence that susceptibility to certain infection was increased in patients with atopic dermatitis. For investigating killing function in phagoeytosis of neutrophils in patients with atopic dermatitis, nitroblue tetrazolium dye reduction (NBT) and stimalated NBT test had performed in 35 cases of atopic dermatitis and 20 cases of healthy control. 1) There was no significant difference in the mean percentage and absolute number of NBT positive neutrophils between whole group of atopic dermatitis (8. 4+4. 9%, 301.2+225.6) and control group (6. 9+2. 9%, 246.2+143. 8). 2) The mean percentage and absolute number of stmulated NBT poeitive neutrophils in whole group of atopic dermatitis (19.6+7.3%, 702. 1+377. 2) did not differ significantly from control group (22.7+5.3%, 812.2+382.2). 3) There was no significant difference in the mean value of NBT aad stimulated NBT test in comparing the mild groud, moderate group and severe group with control group. These resuIts suggested that killing function in phagocytosis of neutrophils in patients with atopic dermatitis was not impaired.
Dermatitis, Atopic* ; Dermatitis, Contact ; Dinitrochlorobenzene* ; Homicide ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunity, Cellular ; Neutrophils ; Nitroblue Tetrazolium ; Phagocytosis

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

This study was undertaken to investigate the quantitative change of sunburn cell(FiBC)production and ear swelling reaction(ESR)aecording to the UVA radiation dose and time course sfter PUVA treatment. A total of 75 ICR male albino haired mice were used as subjects. The results were as follows : 1. At 24 hours after PUVA treatment, the mean SBC numbers per cm length of epidermis were 29.1+13.6 with 1J/cm, 48.8+19.5 with 5J/cm, and 51.6+14. 8 with 10J/cm of UVA irradiation. SBC production was dose related with respect to radiation dose, but the increment was not so remarkable with more than 5J /cm of UVA irradiation. 2. [n PUVA treatment using 5J/cm of UVA, the mean SBC numbers per cm length of epiderrnis were 48.8+19.5 after 24 hours, 63.8+18.3 after 48 hours. SBC numbers rose to a maximum at 48 hours, but epidermal damage precludecl SBC counting after this. 3. At, 24 hours after PUVA treatment, no significant ESR was observed with 1 an3 5J/cm of UVA. In PUVA treatment using lOJ/cm of UVA, the mean ear thickness was 20.6+1.7( x 10mm) before treatment and 30.1+3.3( x 10mm') at 2h: hours after treatment, which showed significa.nt change(p<0.05). 4. In PUVA treatment using 5J(cm of UVA, ESR showed significant change at 43hours reaching a maximum at 72 hours. After 7 days, ESR was not measurable due to ear necrosis.
Animals ; Ear* ; Epidermis ; Hair ; Humans ; Male ; Mice* ; Necrosis ; Skin* ; Sunburn*

The serologic testa for syphilis including VDRL and FTA-abs tests have been carried out in adult VISA applicants for emigration and bIood donors from February, 1977 to May, 1978. The results are summarized as followa: l. In 3,393 VISA applicants the reactive rate af VDRL test was 2.9%, and th biologic false positive rate of VDRL test was 5.1% using the FTA-abs test as the atandared. 2. VDRL test showed a positive rate of 2.3% in 6,220 blood donors. 3. The quantitative test of VDRL resulted in low titer belaw 1:4 in 93.9% of VDRL reactive VISA applicants. From the results it is clear that the prevalence of syphilis is grariually increasing recently compared to the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Adult ; Blood Donors ; Emigration and Immigration ; Fluorescent Treponemal Antibody-Absorption Test ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Skin Diseases* ; Syphilis ; Tissue Donors ; Zinc*

Simple congenital lymphedema is a congenital form of chronic lymphedema of unknown etiology which affects a part or all of the one extremity, especially the lower extremities, at or immediately after birth. A clinical classification of lymphedema was offered by Allen and Ghormley in 1935, based on a study of 300 cases of lymphedema of which 12 cases are simple congenital lymphedema. They classified the cases of lymphedema into two divisions: noninflammatory and inflammatory, with a tabulation of primary and secondary causes. One caes I reporting is classified as being of congenital origin and naturally comes under the noninflammatory group. On May 1960, a 3 year old girl entered to the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital because of lymphedema of right leg. Since at birth, there were no history of skin infection, cellulitis and lymphangitis etc. Gross appearance of the skin of the affecte leg revealed leather like consistency and thickening. One week of preoperative preparation of the patient was sustained absolute bed rest with elevation of affected limb to ease drainage of lymphatic fluid. The two staged operation of Homans procedure were performed under general anesthesia, first to medical half and second to remaining lateral half of the affected leg. The end result was relatively good in decreasing the circumfence of affected leg but it was not quite acceptable in its cosmetic effect. The literature on primary lymphedema is reviewed.
Anesthesia, General ; Bed Rest ; Cellulitis ; Classification ; Drainage ; Extremities ; Female ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Lymphangitis ; Lymphedema ; Parturition ; Skin

No abstract available.
Autoradiography* ; DNA* ; Ultraviolet Rays*

BACKGROUND: Rapid and accurate identification of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus (MRSA) is very important for patients because they are one of the most common etiologic agents of hospital infection. Conventional identification methods for MRSA are influenced by various factors such as pH, concentration of salt, conditions of media. METHODS: 53 methicillin resistant staphylococcus strains identified by ATB plus system (Biomerieux, France) were preformed the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), Southern blot hybridization fort the detection of mec A gene, and subcultured in Meuller-Hinton media containing 4 microgram/mL oxacillin for the comparison. RESULTS: The correlation of detection rate of mec A gene PCR and ATB plus systems was 81.6%. The correlation of mec A gene PCR and MRSA on Mueller-Hinton media containing 4 microgram/mL oxacillin was 80%. We confirmed by Southern blot hybridization the amplified mer A gene originated from chromosome of MRSA. As the results of oxacillin sensitivity test, minimal inhibitory concentrations of MRSA were distributed between 40 microgram/mL and 320 microgram/mL. When compared with executing time, ATB plus system took 24 hours, but PCR took 5 hours for identification. CONCLUSION: We concluded that mec A gone PCR techniques were simple and rapid for detection of MRSA comparative to conventional methods.
Blotting, Southern ; Cross Infection ; Genes, vif ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Oxacillin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Staphylococcus