• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.326-332
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• 1999

Background: In korea the agricultural community widely uses organophosphorous, and organophosphorous poisonings are increasing every year. We compared change in activity of acetylcholinesterase and pseudocholinesterase by organophosphorous and by the interaction of ethanol and organophosphorous. We also compared the effect of reversible anticholinesterase drugs, physostigmine and neostigmine The object of this study is to investigate the effects of several anticholinesterase drugs and on how ethanol influences the activity of cholinesterase. Materials and Methods: Fifteen male university students were randomly selected, and blood samples were taken from the antecubital vein. The acetylcholinesterase in the RBC and the pseudocholinesterase in the serum were extracted and separated. The enzyme activity change was measured by the electrometric method. After adding acetylcholine, the pH change was measured with a pH meter. Results and Conclusion: Our results indicated that reversible anticholinesterase drugs decreased the cholinesterase activity more efficiently than organophosphorous. The acetyl cholinesterase and pseudocholinosterase activity were decreased by ethanol. When ethanol was added, oxime a cholinesterase activator, increased acetylcholinesterase activity but does not increased pseudocholinesterase activity.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.318-325
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• 1999

Background: Anticholinesterase drug inhibits acetylcholinesterase(AChE), induce accumulation of acetylcholine(ACh) near cholinergic receptors and cholinergic stimulation. This experiment was performed to study the effects of anticholinesterase drugs on gastric motility and the effect of ethanol on anticholinesterase drug-induced motility change. Materials and Methods: After excision of stomach, $2{\times}10mm$ circular muscle strips were made, which were then fixed to the isolated muscle chamber. An isometric tension transducer was used to measure the contraction change of the gastric smooth muscle strips after drug addition. Results: Fenthion, an irreversible anticholinesterase drug, increased ACh induced contraction of gastric smooth muscle strips and PAM, a cholinesterase activator, antagonized this action. Physostigmine, a reversible anticholinesterase drug, also increased the ACh induced contraction. The gastric motility was decreased by PAM. Ethanol, which is known to induce smooth muscle relaxation, inhibited the increase of contraction by fenthion. Conclusion: These results indicate that irreversible and reversible anticholinesterase drugs increase gastric motility and antagonized by cholinesterase activating drugs. And when exposed to both ethanol and anticholinesterase drug, gastric motility was decreased by the smooth muscle relaxation effect by ethanol.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.296-301
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• 1999

Background: Generally, it is difficult to differentiate uterine malignant mixed M$\ddot{u}$ llerian tumor(MMMT) from endometrial carcinom in radiological and clinical aspects. Our purpose is to investigate MR findings that distinguishes MMMT from endometrial carcinoma. Materials and Methods: We retrogradely evaluated the magnetic resonance imaging findings of pathologically proven 5 cases of malignant mixed M$\ddot{u}$llerian tumor(MMMT) and 14 endometrial carcinomas to know the differential points of these two tumors originating in the endometrial cavity. The size of the mass, presence or absence of myometrial or uterine cervical invasion, growth pattern of the mass, signal intensity and degree and pattern of contrast enhancement were analyzed and compared. Results: The length of the long axis of the MMMT was 1.5-9.0cm(average, 5.7cm) but that of the endometrial carcinoma was 0.5-6.0cm(average, 2.5cm). Invasion of uterine cervix which was found in 3 MMMT cases, dilated the endometrial cavity and the lumen of the uterine cervix and showed the pattern of growing into the external os. Invasion of uterine cervix was found in only one case of endometrial carcinoma. The presence or absence of myometrial invasion, the signal intensity and homogeneity on T1- and T2-weighted images, and the degree and patterns of contrast enhancement showed no significant difference. Conclusion: Any specific finding to differentiate MMMT from endometrial carcinoma was not ascertained. However, MMMT can be suspected if the size of the endometrial mass is greater than 5cm and if the mass dilates the enocervical canal and invades the uterine cervix.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.244-254
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• 1999

Objectives: This study investigated the psychological characteristics of patients with functional dyspepsia. Methods: The subjects included ninety patients with functional dyspepsia and sixty four psychiatric out-patients. We administered Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory(MMPI) and Illness Behavior Questionnaire(IBQ). Results: There were no significant differences between the patients with functional dyspepsia and the psychiatric out-patients by MMPI. Two groups both showed a higher distribution in hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria subscales than in any other subscales. The patients with functional dyspepsia showed lower scores in disease conviction and affective disturbance subscales in IBQ than the psychiatric out-patients. The distribution of scores of the other IBQ subscales were similar between the patients with functional dyspepsia and the psychiatric out-patients. The patients with functional dyspepsia were divided into three groups for the Multivariate cluster analysis: normal, similar to psychiatric out-patient, and severe neurotic. The severe neurotic group showed higher scores in hypochondriasis, depression, hysteria, psychathenia, and schizophrenia subscales in MMPI and showed significant different scores in affective disturbance, disease conviction, psychological and somatic concerns, affective disturbance, denial, and irritability subscales in IBQ. Conclusion: If patients with functional dyspepsia show severe neurotic behavior, such as those in, they would need appropriate psychiatric intervention.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.193-199
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• 1999

Background: Measurement of body temperature is an important parameter in patient management in many clinical conditions. Failure to reach minimal acceptable body temperature standards has been associated with physiological derangements and has necessitated the application of additional therapy. The authors developed a new, simple, accurate thermometry system, which could be used to undertake precise temperature measurement for various clinical conditions. Materials and Methods: A new thermometry system using a specially designed temperature detecting and display system was developed. This system contains a temperature detecting sensor(LM 35CZ), which enables multiple serial checking of heat, data collection and processing computer, and 3-dimensional display system. It provides real time volumetric visualization of temperature distribution of a defined volume and stores and prints the data. Results: With this system, temperature can be measured at multiple interesting sites simultaneously, demonstrated as a 3-dimensional temperature distribution and stored. In well-controlled, systematic experiments a significant correlation has been observed between standard temperature and temperature using this system at various measuring points. Conclusion: This thermometry system is a real-time measurement system, which can demonstrate 3-dimensional heat distribution in experimental phantom and human body and can be used for diagnosing abnormal clinical conditions. In addition, this system reduces the nursing staff work load, providing them more time for long term care to patients.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.254-262
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• 1998

We evaluated the effectiveness of Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy in differentiating the causes of vertebral compression fracture. This study involved 16 patients with vertebral compression fracture; 8 were due to trauma or osteoporosis, 3 were due to metastasis and 5 were due to tuberculous spondylitis. We retrospectively analyzed the location and the extent of decreased tracer uptake in tomographic images of Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy. Eight patients had a 16 vertebral compression fractures due to trauma or osteoporosis, three patients had 3 vertebral compression fractures due to metastasis and 5 patients had 6 vertebral compression fractures due to tuberculous spondylitis. Sixteen vertebral compression fractures by trauma or osteoporosis showed a normal tracer uptake in pedicle, laminar and spinous process, but there was noted with 6 decreased uptake, 8 absence of tracer uptake and 2 normal tracer uptake in the vertebral body. Two vertebral compression fractures by metastasis showed the absence of uptake in vertebral body, pedicle, laminar and spinous process, and one showed an absence of vertebral body and spinous process. Six vertebral compression fractures by tuberculous spondylitis showed the absence of uptake in six compression fractures, the absence of pedicle in five compression fractures. We concluded Tc-99m labeled antigranulocyte antibody immunoscintigraphy may be helpful to differentiate the causes of vertebral compression fractures.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.246-253
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• 1998

Sparfloxacin is a new synthetic quinolone antimicrobial developed at the Research Laboratories of Dainippon Pharmaceutical Co, Ltd. To evaluate the efficacy and safety of sparfloxacin in acute pulmonary infection, we administered sparfloxacina(100mg) twice in a day to 30 patients who had signs and symptoms of acute pulmonary infectious diseases regardless of their underlying lung disease for 7 days. The results were as follows: 1) A total 30 patients were enrolled in the trial. Among them, 24 cases(80%) had underlying lung problems such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(36.4%), bronchiectasis(36.4%), bronchial asthma(3.3%), or lung cancer(3.3%). 2) In 26 cases(86.6%), we observed effective improvement, and 4 cases(13.4%) show mildly effective improvement of symptoms and signs of respiratory infection. 3) In 23 cases(73.4%), we observed bacteriological eradication in culture or decreased the number of bacteria by Gram stain which found dominantly in previous Gram stain. 4) The significant side effect was not noted. The above results suggested that sparfloxacin was effective as a first line therapy in patients with acute respiratory infection.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.357-363
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• 1999

Objectives: The purpose of this investigation was to study the health status of apartment guards and associated factors. Materials and Methods: This investigation was conducted for 1 month starting from August, 1997. Study population in this cross-sectional survey consisted of 182 guards of apartments located throughout the district of Taegu. Each subject completed a questionnaire about his general characteristics, health behaviors, job descriptions, subjective GIT symptoms and somatization and depression using Symptom Checklist-90-Reversion (SCL-90-R) by self administrated questionnaire and personal interview. Results: Study subjects had one or more GIT symptoms(53.3%), somatization symptoms(83.5%) and depression symptoms(79.7%). The mean scores of GIT, somatization and depression symptoms were not different among the age groups and based on marital status, respectively, but, significantly different by education level(p<0.05). The mean scores of GIT, somatization and depression symptoms were not different among the age group and based on marital status, respectively, but, significantly different by regular diet and by the subject's health status(p<0.05). The mean scores of GIT, somatization and depression symptoms were not different by duration of shift work, by job tenure and by the number of managed houses but, those of somatization and depression symptoms were significantly different by level of job satisfaction(p<0.05). Conclusion: The health statuses of guards at apartments were different from other shift workers because of healthy worker effects and characteristics of their jobs.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.121-128
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• 1984

The authors studied on anxiety, using Zung's self-rating anxiety scale (SAS), on the subjects of 329 men and 522 women of 60 years old and older. This study was carried out for 8 months from November 1983 to June 1984 in the area of Seoul, Taegu and Kyungsan Gun, Kyungpook province. The results showed that there was no significant difference in the means of total anxiety scores between the two groups of men and women. The anxiety scores in items of sweating, apprehension, dyspnea, restlessness and insomnia were relatively high in both groups. The scores of faintness, panic, fear, tremor and facial flushing were low in both groups. Among 329 men, 48(14.6%) showed rather serious anxiety level of score 50 or higher, while 153 of 522 women (29.4%) showed the same score. Among these psychosocial factors, suppoter, living place, religion and security system are significantly related with anxiety scores in both groups (p<0.01).

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.115-120
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• 1984

To find clinical significance of routine "dipstick" urinalysis on admission, we analyzed the results of the "dipstick" urinalyses performed in 844 patients admitted to the pediatric department of Yeungnam University hospital from May 1, 1983 to October 31, 1984. Ketonuria, proteinuria, hematuria and glucosuria were found in 9.5%, 4.9%, 2.4% and 1.1% of the patients respectively. There were no significant differences by sex, age and presence of fever. However, proteinuria and ketonuria were found more frequently in the patients with dehydration (p<0.05). The degree of ketonuria showed a positive association w:th the severity of dehydration (p<0.005). All of the patients with proteinuria and ketonuria showed negative results on follow up. However, among 13 patients with hematura, 9 patients showed negative results and 4 patients had persistent hematuria on follow up. These 4 patients were found to have chronic pyelonephritis (2), asymptomatic urinary tract infection (1) and benign recurrent hematuria (1). This routine "dipstick" urinalysis on admission seems to be simple test which is useful in detecting unrecognized kidney and other urinary tract disease.