BACKGROUND: Passive smoking is an important worldwide public health issue. In many Korean studies, parental smoking has been reported to be associated with reduced pulmonary function in children. But few studies have evaluated the effects of passive smoking on pulmonary function in adults. Therefore, we looked into this association in the study. METHODS: Participants in the study included non-smoking, healthy men (n=46) and women (n=326) from rural Korea enrolled from June to December 2006. Exposure to passive smoking was assessed by a self-administered questionnaire, and standardized pulmonary function tests were performed. RESULTS: There were significant reductions in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1, % of predicted) and forced mean expiratory flow rate 25-75% (%) among the men exposed to passive smoke compared with those not exposed (55.7 vs 75.8, P=0.010; 33.9 vs 58.6, P=0.029, respectively). There were significant reductions in FEV1 among men exposed at both workplace and home compared with men exposed only at either workplace or home (42.8 vs 49.3, 64.6; P=0.034). No significant difference in pulmonary function was found between women exposed to passive smoke compared those not exposed. There were, however, reductions in FEV1 and FEV1/forced vital capacity among the women exposed at workplace. Regression analysis showed that passive smoking negatively affected lung function, which were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, particularly at the workplace, adversely affects pulmonary function in adults.
Adult ; Child ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung ; Male ; Parents ; Public Health ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Vital Capacity ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Anaphylaxis is a life - threatening syndrome elicited in a hypersensitive individual on subsequent exposure to a sensitizing antigen with, reactions ranging widely in severity from mild pruritus and criteria to shock and death. Anaphylaxis occurs in the United States at rates estimated to be as high as one in every 3000 inpatients and may account for more than 500 deaths annually. Preparations of kelp Laminaria digitata are used as tents in gynecologic procedures to dilate the cervix, and the kelp consists principally of a glucagon carbohydrate called laminarin. Laminarin is thought to function as the active ingredient in dilatation by changing osmotic pressure or uterine prostaglandin metabolism. The tent is inserted into the cervix several hours before the procedure. As the cervix desiccates and dilates, the tent develops an hourglass shape. Recently, we experienced one patient with anaphylaxis to laminaria diagnosed by skin test and showing good response to treatment.
Anaphylaxis* ; Cervix Uteri ; Dilatation ; Female ; Glucagon ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Kelp ; Laminaria* ; Metabolism ; Osmotic Pressure ; Pruritus ; Shock ; Skin Tests ; United States

PURPOSE: The circular stapled hemorrhoidopexy (SH) reduces mucosal prolapse and interrupts the end branches of the upper hemorrhoidal artery through a suitable instrument, Procedure for Prolapse and Hemorrhoids (PPH). However, there are some technical difficulties in routine use of the circular anal dilator (CAD). The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and the safety of a CSH without use of a CAD. METHODS: Between April 2005 and November 2006, 250 patients with Grade III and IV prolapsed hemorrhoids who had undergone CSH with PPH without using a CAD were retrospectively analyzed. The sex and age, the operation time, the type of anesthesia, the number of excised hemorrhoid piles, the degree of hemorrhoids and postoperative pain (consumed analgesics), the hospital stay, the postoperative complications, and the number of follow-up examinations at the outpatient clinic were analyzed. RESULTS: The operation time was 17.76 minutes (10~35 minutes). Most patients (89%) experienced spinal anesthesia. The degrees of hemorrhoids were Grade III (45%) and Grade IV (55%). The numbers of excised piles were 3 (44%), 4 (43%), and more than 5 (13%). The number of consumed postoperative analgesics was 0.97 times (mean). The mean hospital stay was 2.83 days. The postoperative complications were pain, bleeding, and urinary retention. CONCLUSIONS: A CSH without use of a CAD was an effective and safe surgical modality compared with other procedures for treating hemorrhoids. This procedure is feasible and convenient. The procedure is a new alternative in the treatment of severe hemorrhoids.
Ambulatory Care Facilities ; Analgesics ; Anesthesia ; Anesthesia, Spinal ; Arteries ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhoids ; Humans ; Length of Stay ; Pain, Postoperative ; Postoperative Complications ; Prolapse ; Retrospective Studies ; Urinary Retention

PURPOSE: To evaluate the feasibility of in-vivo 1H magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) for differentiation between hepatic and renal cysts, with emphasis on the analysis of cystic content. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 1H-MR spectra of 43 cystic lesions (15 hepatic and 28 renal) obtained using in -vivo 1H-MRS at 1.5 T and with a localized proton STEAM sequence were evaluated. We calculated the ratio of the peak area of lipid/water (Rlipid/water), protein/water (Rprotein/water) and lipid/protein (Rlipid/protein), paying particular attention to identifying differences in peak area ratios between the two types of cyst. RESULTS: The 1H-MR spectra from 26.7% (4/15) of hepatic and 67.9% (19/28) of renal cysts showed the lipid peak as most prominent. Mean+/-standard deviations of the Rlipid/water of hepatic and renal cysts were 0.38+/-0.30x10-6 and 8.42+/-23.24x10-6, respectively; for Rprotein/water the corresponding figures were 0.83+/-0.74x10-6 and 1.50+/-2.94x10-6, and for Rlipid/protein, 0.57+/-0.64 and 2.44+/-3.26. All differences were statistically significant (p<0.05), and positive correlation between lipid and protein in hepatic and renal cysts was demonstrated. CONCLUSION: The different in-vivo 1H-MRS findings, for hepatic and renal cysts can be used in comparative study of cystic tumors of the liver and kidney.
Kidney ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Protons ; Steam

No abstract available.
Child* ; Heart Diseases* ; Heart* ; Humans ; Mass Screening*

BACKGROUND: The expression of adhesion molecules contribute to development of systemic diseases. Vascular cell adhesion molecule-l(VCAM-1) is an endothelial cell membrane glycoprotein that has been implicated in leukocyte/endothelial cell interactions in inflammation. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to characterize the surface expression and regulation of VCAM-1 on two different endothelial cells. METHOD: We examined the effects of the expression of VCAM-1 in two different endothelial cells, isolated from human umbilical cords and human glomerulus. Expression of VCAM-1 was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA) and flow cytometry. RESULTS: In human umbilical cord endothelial cells(HUVECs), both interleukin-l B(IL-lB) and tumor necrosis factor-a (TNF-a) increased VCAM-1 expression. VCAM-1 expression increased by TNF-a was higher than that increased by IL-lB. In human glomerular endothelial cells(HGECs), IL-lB and TNF-a markedly increased VCAM-1 expression. Conclusion. The regulation of VCAM-1 appears to be somewhat different in HGECs compared with HUVECs. These differences between the responsiveness of the two cells may possibly indicate inherent differences in endothelial cell derived from different vascular beds.
Cell Adhesion ; Cell Communication ; Cytokines* ; Endothelial Cells* ; Flow Cytometry ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Membrane Glycoproteins ; Necrosis ; Umbilical Cord ; Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1*

We evaulated the effectiveness and adverse effects of deep sclerectomy with collagen implant (DSCI), which is a kind of nonpenetrating filtering surgery. In this retrospective study, DSCI was performed in 15 eyes of 11 glaucoma patients. An trabeculo-Descemet's membrane (TDM) window is created by a deep sclerokeratectomy, and the collagen implant is placed in the sclera bed under a superficial flap (deep sclerectomy with collagen implant). In 3 of 15 eyes the DSCI was intraoperatively converted to conventional filtering surgery for a large perforation of the TDM. These eyes were not included in the results of the surgical outcomes. The mean age of the patients was 50.3 +/- 14.4 years, and the mean follow-up period was 11.1 +/- 5.9 months. A diagnosis of chronic open angle glaucoma was made in 7 eyes and a diagnosis of secondary glaucoma in 5 eyes. The mean preoperative IOP was 25.8 +/- 11.9 mmHg, the immediate postoperative IOP was 6.4 +/- 2.9 mmHg, and at the final follow-up, the IOP was 11.9 +/- 2.5 mmHg. The IOP in 5 eyes was under 6 mmHg temporarily. However, there was no serious complication such as shallow anterior chamber. DSCI is considered to be a good surgical procedure that has similar surgical outcomes to a conventional trabeculectomy without serious complications.
Adult ; Aged ; Collagen/*administration & dosage/therapeutic use ; Female ; Glaucoma/etiology/*surgery ; Glaucoma, Open-Angle/surgery ; Human ; Male ; Middle Age ; *Ophthalmologic Surgical Procedures ; *Prostheses and Implants ; Retrospective Studies ; Sclera/*surgery ; Treatment Outcome

The 45 neonates with bronchopulmonary dysplasia among 355 neonates who were managed with mechanical ventilation and oxygen therapy in NICU of Seoul National University Chhildren's Hospital from January 1, 1968 to December 31, 1991, were analyzed for risk factors and outcome. The results were as follows: 1) The incidence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia was 12.7% 2) Respiratory Distress Syndrome was most common underlying problem. 3) The common radiologic findings of BPD were peripheral streaky density, emphysematous change, reticular or granular perihilar density, pulmonary interstitial emphysema, bubbly or small cystic change, and pneumothorax. 4) The survival rate of BPD showed 80% in the follow-up study. 5) Retinopathy of prematurity and intraventricular hemorrhage were more frequent significantly in the BPD group (p<0.05). 6) The risk factors of BPD were lower birth weight, shorter gestational age, longer duration of oxygen therapy an mechanical ventilation, and the presence of PDA.
Birth Weight ; Bronchopulmonary Dysplasia* ; Emphysema ; Follow-Up Studies ; Gestational Age ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn ; Oxygen ; Pneumothorax ; Respiration, Artificial ; Retinopathy of Prematurity ; Risk Factors* ; Seoul ; Survival Rate

No abstract available.
Airports* ; Disasters*

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to investigate the timing and sequence of eruption of permanent canine and premolars, and to evaluate tooth calcification stage on emergence in Korean children. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The sample was comprised of 1,266 children (male 720, female 546) aged from 7-13 years. Tooth eruption and calcification stages were determined through oral and panoramic radiographic examination, respectively. Probit analysis was used to calculate the timing of tooth eruption and tooth calcification stage from these cross-sectional data. RESULTS: In both males and females, eruption occurred around the time when one third of tooth root or more was formed. The sequence was as follows: first premolar, canine, and second premolar in maxilla, and canine, first premolar and second premolar in mandible. Tooth eruption occurred earlier in girls compared with boys, averaging 0.63 years. CONCLUSION: Eruption sequence is identical in males and females with a trend for females to erupt earlier than males. Tooth eruption becomes earlier over the past decades in Korean children.
Aged ; Bicuspid ; Child ; Dentition, Permanent ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Tooth ; Tooth Calcification ; Tooth Eruption ; Tooth Root