PURPOSE: Chitin and chitosan are nontoxic natural chelators that chelate radiostrontium effectively. The purpose of this study was to compare radiostrontium chelation of chitin and chitosan with that of well known chemical chelators, namely EDTA and DTPA. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The chelaton rates of chitin, chitosan, EDTA and DTPA were compared using a column chromatography method (Sephadex G-25M, Sweden). Three kinds of chitins and four kinds of chitosans were used. All of them were water soloble. RESULTS: Phosphated chitosan showed the highest chelation yield of more than 97% at pH 7. All of chitins, chitosans, EDTA and DTPA showed chelation yield of more than 90% independent of varing pH level. CONCLUSION: Chitin and chitosan have similar chelation rate as compared with EDTA and DTPA.
Chelating Agents ; Chitin* ; Chitosan* ; Chromatography ; Edetic Acid* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Pentetic Acid*

Epidemiologic investigation was conducted on January, 1993 in Seoul to identify the cause of an infant methemoglobinemia. Field investigation of the area of outbreak, survey of household and family members, analysis of ground water, and blood tests of involved family members were performed. Following results were obtained. On analyzing the quality of the ground water on patients's household high levels of nitrate was found indicating contamination of water as the cause of a methemoglobinemia outbreak. On analyzing the quality of the ground waters on seven other places within the neighborhood five were contaminated by nitrate in concentration that exceeded the permissible limit implying presence nearby source of contamination. Sources of contamination were thought to be originating from human waste in conventional bathroom facilities, chicken manure used in nearby orchards and plant fields or fertilizers. But the results of water analysis with presence of bacteria or E.coli, concentration of potassium, phosphate and the past history of diarrhea among family members, chicken manure suggested the most possible source of contamination. To evaluate the health status of members in the neighborhood past history was reviewed revealing no prior existence of patient with cyanosis and 65 people in the neighborhood had normal levels of methemoglobin concentration in their blood. Conclusively, the ground water on patient's household was contaminated with nitrate and despite provision of adequate water supply, family members of the patient along with distrust in the water supply system had used ground water as their source of drinking water resulting of methemoglobinemia. Many suburban area of Seoul and country side thought to be having similar problems concerning contaminated ground water supply and dormant outbreak of patients as a result of the drinking of the contaminated water. Epidemiologic investigation and water analysis of ground waters are advised.
Bacteria ; Chickens ; Cyanosis ; Diarrhea ; Drinking ; Drinking Water ; Family Characteristics ; Fertilizers ; Groundwater ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Infant* ; Manure ; Methemoglobin ; Methemoglobinemia* ; Plants ; Potassium ; Residence Characteristics ; Seoul ; Water ; Water Supply

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop in vivo dosimetries using both chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in mice to assess biological effects of radiations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five each mice were irradiated with 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 10 Gy of Cs-137 gamma-rays. We scored numbers of chromosomal aberrations in metaphase spreads and numbers of micronuclei in bone marrow smears under light microscope, and obtained the dose-response relationships. We also examined the relationship between the two dose-response curves. RESULTS: The frequency of both chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei increased with dose, in a linear-quadratic manner. The delta, beta, and alpha coefficients were 0.0176, 0.0324, and 0.0567 for metaphase analysis (r=1.0, p<0.001) and 0.0019, 0.0073, and 0.0506 for micronuclei assay (r=1.0, p<0.001). The frequency of chromosomal aberrations and micronuclei in diffirent radiation doses was significantly correlated (r=0.99, p<0.01). CONCLUSION: In vivo dosimetry using either metaphase analysis or micronucleus assay was feasible in mice. These methods could be useful to evaluate biological effects of radiation.
Animals ; Bone Marrow Cells* ; Bone Marrow* ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Metaphase* ; Mice* ; Micronucleus Tests

No abstract available.
Hernia* ; Pneumoperitoneum*

No abstract available.
Appendicitis*

The intramedullary nailing is one of the most available method in treatment of femoral shaft fracture. Since the development of Kuntscher naukl in 1940, new design such as Grosse-Kempf IM nailing became widely used by more applicable level of femoral shaft fracture. Therefore, complications of intramedullary nailing was rarely seen. The authors analysed complications in 7 cases of intramedullary nailing for treatment of femoral shaft fracture in Koryo General Hospital from Jan. 1991 to Jan. 1993., and the results were as follows; 1. The average age was 40.5 years and all patient's sex were male. 2. Among 7 cases, complications were delayed union in 4 cases, metallic failure in 2 cases and femoral neck fracture in 1 case. 3. Among 4 cases of delayed union, 3 cases treated by weight-bearing after dynamization and 1 case treated by bone graft after dynamization. 4. Metallic failure occurred in 2 cases, 1 case developed metallic corrosion in medullary canal, the other case developed metal failure at fracture. 5. Fomoral neck fracture in 1 case was treated by multiple Knowles' pins.
Corrosion ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Fracture Fixation, Intramedullary ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Male ; Methods ; Neck ; Transplants ; Weight-Bearing

No abstract available.
Durapatite* ; Radionuclide Imaging*

To evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of dacryoscintigraphy, we examined Hones dye test and dacryoscintigraphy in 24 eyes of 18 patients who were suspected to have junctional block in lacrimal drainage system. Among 18 eyes that were negative to Jones I dye test, 3 showed punctal stenosis and 6 typical pattern of lax lid and 2 partial obsturction of nasolacrimal duct on dacryoscintigraphy. In evaluation of lacrimal drainage system, physiological aspect is as important as anatomical information since lacrimal pumping action of lid and tear flow as well as the patency of lacrimal passage contribute to the lacrimal drainage. Compared to Jones dye test, dacryoscintigraphy is more useful with certain advantages : It gives less discomfort to patients, provides anatomical information and does not depend on examiner`s skills.
Constriction, Pathologic ; Drainage* ; Humans ; Nasolacrimal Duct

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effectiveness and complication rate of our modified continuous buried suture technique for the correction of the upper lid epiblepharon. METHODS: This retrospective study included 132 eyes of 66 patients, who were diagnosed with upper lid epiblepharon from March 2000 through April 2002 After the followup of over 6 months, we evaluated the improvement and recurrent rate of epiblepharon after the procedure. RESULTS: In 131 of 132 eyes with the mean followup period of 12.9 months, the epiblepharon was corrected successfully with cosmetically satisfactory Results. In 1 eye, we experienced the disappearance of a double fold without the recurrence of the epiblepharon. CONCLUSIONS: This modified continuous buried suture Method appears to be an effective treatment of lash inversion in upper lid epiblepharon with good aesthetic Results.
Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Suture Techniques* ; Sutures*

PURPOSE: To report a case of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) associated with chickenpox. CASE SUMMARY: A 24-year-old female presenting with a history of centripetal eruption and erythema, followed by vesicle and eschar, was diagnosed with varicella and managed in a local medical clinic. Five days after the varicella eruption, she experienced decreased vision in her left eye. On initial exam visual acuity was light-sense positive in the left eye and 1.0 in the right eye; on fundus examination the patient was diagnosed with CRAO. We performed hematologic tests including thrombophilia studies, but there were no abnormal findings on routine hematologic tests, the carotid artery, or cardiovascular examinations. Antinuclear antibody, rheumatoid factor, and antiphospholipid antibody were negative. Skin biopsy and PCR results both corresponded with varicella, and the patient was diagnosed with CRAO associated with chickenpox.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Antibodies, Antiphospholipid ; Biopsy ; Carotid Arteries ; Chickenpox ; Erythema ; Eye ; Female ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Retinal Artery ; Retinal Artery Occlusion ; Rheumatoid Factor ; Skin ; Thrombophilia ; Vision, Ocular ; Visual Acuity ; Young Adult