Endoscopic Resection of a Pedunculated Colonic Leiomyoma Resembling a Hyperplastic Polyp / 대한소화기내시경학회지

Colonic leiomyoma is a rare condition that accounts for 3% of all gastrointestinal leiomyomas. Many colonic leiomyomas are found incidentally and are sometimes confused with epithelial neoplasms. Most leiomyomas are removed surgically. However, a small peduculated leiomyoma can be removed endoscopically as it has the appearance of an adenomatous polyp. A 54 year-old man underwent a colonoscopic examination due to frequent loose stools. Colonoscopy demonstrated the presence of a small reddish polyp with a short stalk in the sigmoid colon. We performed a successful polypectomy by the use of colonoscopic snare electrocauterization. A pathological examination revealed the presence of a leiomyoma originating in the muscularis mucosa. We report a case of a small peduculated leiomyoma that was removed endoscopically, with a review of the literature.

The Significance of Increased Signal Intensity in MR Imaging among Male Welders / 대한산업의학회지

A purpose of present study is to provide basic information evaluating the utility of Magnetic Resonance imaging as a biological marker estimating manganese effects to central nervous system among welders, which is conducted by comparing urinary and blood manganese concentrations and signal intensities of brain MR images between exposed group and non-exposed group, evaluating the objectivity of subjective grading estimated by correlations between Pallidal signal intensity index (P. I) and subjective grades among exposed group, and comparing the difference of signal intensities according to presence of neurologic symptoms, signs and exposure variables among the exposed group. The exposed group is composed of 11 welders complaining severe symptoms or showing neurological signs, and the non-exposed group is composed of 5 patients who admitted a hospital. Urinary manganese concentrations and signal intensities in T1-weighted MR images among exposed group were higher than those of the non-exposed group significantly, which exhibits that increased signal intensities in T1-weighted MR image represent the effect of manganese exposure. P. Is among the exposed group revealed relatively high correlations with subjective grades ( gamma =0.63, p=0.037) , which suggests the objectivity of subjective grade. Signal intensity in globus pallidus was a suitable single variable representing the effect of manganese accumulation in C.N.S system appropriately, which was verified as follows ; Increased signal intensities among the exposed group had the highest frequency and intensity in the globus pallidus, and the P.I. had a relatively high correlation coefficient ( gamma 0.62, p=0.044) with total score of subjective grades. Signal intensity with subjective grading in globus pallidus represented very high correlation gamma =0.97, p=0.00) with total score of subjective grades, and had a similar correlation coefficient with many variables. It is hard to argue that signal intensities are markers representing pathologic change in C.N.S system or can be used as a diagnostic tool for manganese intoxication, because signal intensities had no difference between the exposed group and the non-exposed group according to presence of neurological signs.

A Study of Working Environments and Workers Exposed to Chromium / 예방의학회지

For the purpose of providing the basic data for health management of workers who are exposed to chromium and for improving the quality of working environment, the authors evaluated blood and urinary level of chromium, the occupational history, AST, ALT, Hb, Hct, nasal specular examination on 287 workers who have been dealed chromium compounds in 56 manufacturing industries of five types, that is, 38 metal plating services(plating), 4 manufacture of other fabricated metal products (fabricated metal product), 5 manufacturing of dyestuff(dyestuff), 6 dressing and dyeing of leather (leather), 3 others (manufacture of pottery and ceramic household wares, motor vehicles, electronic valves and tubes and other electronic components) and also measured the level of chromium in air from February to october 1993. The results were as follows; 1. The utilized type of chromium compounds was the hexavalent state in plating, fabricated metal product, dyestuff leather and the trivalent state in other, and atmospheric chromium concentration as geometric mean was 0.0138m3(0.001~0.068 mg/m3) in plating, 0.0115 mg/m3(0.006~0.015 mg/m3) in fabricated metal product, 0.068 mg/m3 (0.002~0.019 mg/m3)in dyestuff, 0.0083 mg/m3(0.002~0.028 mg/m3) in leather, 0.0039 mg/m3(0.003~0.005 mg/m3) in other by the type of industry and it exceeded TLV-TWA (0.05 mg/m3) in five(13.6%) of plating services. 2. The geometric mean of chromium in blood was 1.54 microgram/dl(0.10~3.62 microgram/dl) in planting, 0.94 microgram/dl(0.27~2.82 microgram/dl) in fabricated metal product, 0.51 microgram/dl(0.10~3.25 microgram/dl) in dyestuff, 0.87 microgram/dl(0.15~8.00 microgram/dl) in leather 0.55 microgram/dl(0.20~2.28 microgram/dl) in other by the type of industry(P<0.001). 3. The geometric mean of chromiurn in urine was 14.47 microgram/l(6.90~28.00 microgram/l) in planting, 4.63 microgram/l(0.24~43.00 microgram/l) in fabricated metal product, 5.93 microgram/l(1.00~33.00 microgram/l) in dyestuff. 11.09 microgram/l(0.80~48.00 microgram/l) in leather, 12.41 microgram/l(10.10~41.00 microgram/l) in other by the type of industry(P<0.001). 4 As the result of nasal specular examination, twenty four cases(8.4%) of nasal septal perforation among 287 total subjects was observed, and there were 17(9.7%) cases in plating, 4 cases(14.3%) in dressing and dyeing of leather. In the comparison of chromium concentration in blood and urine between the perforated group and nonperforated group the perforated group showed a significantly higher value as 1.883+/-3.055 microgram/dl and 0.793+/-0.815 microgram/dl(P<0.001). 21.31+/-34.610 microgram/L and 9.304+/-11.079 microgram/L(P<0.001). 5. The mean concentration of chromium in blood, urine and the mean level of AST, ALT, Hb and Hct in exposure group were higher than those of control group(P<0.001).