The Poisoning Information Database Covers a Large Proportion of Real Poisoning Cases in Korea

The poisoning information database (PIDB) provides clinical toxicological information on commonly encountered toxic substances in Korea. The aim of this study was to estimate the coverage rate of the PIDB by comparing the database with the distribution of toxic substances that real poisoning patients presented to 20 emergency departments. Development of the PIDB started in 2007, and the number of toxic substances increased annually from 50 to 470 substances in 2014. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with toxic exposure who visited 20 emergency departments in Korea from January to December 2013. Identified toxic substances were classified as prescription drug, agricultural chemical, household product, animal or plant, herbal drug, or other. We calculated the coverage rate of the PIDB for both the number of poisoning cases and the kinds of toxic substances. A total of 10,887 cases of intoxication among 8,145 patients was collected. The 470 substances registered in the PIDB covered 89.3% of 8,891 identified cases related to poisoning, while the same substances only covered 45.3% of the 671 kinds of identified toxic substances. According to category, 211 prescription drugs, 58 agricultural chemicals, 28 household products, and 32 animals or plants were not covered by the PIDB. This study suggested that the PIDB covered a large proportion of real poisoning cases in Korea. However, the database should be continuously extended to provide information for even rare toxic substances.

The Effect of Mitomycin C in Middle Meatal Antrostomy Site / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Adhesion and stenosis are important in causing poor results of sinus surgery. Mitomycin C (MMC) is an antibiotic-antineoplastic agent that decreases fibroblast proliferation and scar formation. This study was designed to observe the effect of intraoperative application of mitomycin C on the size of the antrostomy site and mucociliary clearance rate after an endoscopic sinus surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total 20 patients diagnosed with chronic sinusitis with nasal polyp were used. After middle meatal antrostomy, a piece of merocel soaked with 0.04 mg/mL MMC 1.5 mL was applied on right antrostomy site for 5 minutes. Left antrostomy site was used as control without applying MMC. The antrostomy size was measured by using gauze instrument under endoscopy at operation, 1, 3 and 6 months after surgery. Mucocilliary clearance rate was assessed by saccharine time test after 2 weeks, 1, 3 and 6 month. RESULTS: The MMC group has showed lower incidence of stenosis, granulation and adhesion than the control group. At 1 month, the percentage of remaining antrostomy size was 61.6+/-31.6% in MMC group, whereas that of the control group was 46.9+/-23.3%. There was a significant difference in the antrostomy size between the two groups at 1 month, but there was no significant difference at 3 and 6 month. The saccharine time test between the two groups showed no significant difference after operation. CONCLUSION: The use of MMC will improve the success rate of sinus surgery if it is used as adjuvant therapy after antrostomy. Further study will be needed on the duration of application time, concentration of MMC and method.