The Effects of Wearing Protective Devices among Residents and Volunteers Participating in the Cleanup of the Hebei Spirit Oil Spill / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To assess the protective effects of wearing protective devices among the residents and volunteers who participated in the cleanup of the Hebei Spirit oil spill. METHODS: A total of 288 residents and 724 volunteers were surveyed about symptoms, whether they were wearing protective devices and potential confounding variables. The questionnaires were administered from the second to the sixth week following the accident. Spot urine samples were collected and analyzed for metabolites of 4 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), 2 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and 6 heavy metals. The association between the wearing of protective devices and various symptoms was assessed using a multiple logistic regression adjusted for confounding variables. A multiple generalized linear regression model adjusted for the covariates was used to test for a difference in least-square mean concentration of urinary biomarkers between residents who wore protective devices and those who did not. RESULTS: Thirty nine to 98% of the residents and 62-98% of volunteers wore protective devices. Levels of fatigue and fever were higher among residents not wearing masks than among those who did wear masks (odds ratio 4.5; 95% confidence interval 1.23-19.86). Urinary mercury levels were found to be significantly higher among residents not wearing work clothes or boots (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Because the survey was not performed during the initial high-exposure period, no significant difference was found in metabolite levels between people who wore protective devices and those who did not, except for mercury, whose biological half-life is more than 6 weeks.

Effective Half-life of I-131 in Patients with Differentiated Thyroid Cancer Treated by Radioactive I-131 / 핵의학분자영상

PURPOSE: Effective half life of I-131 (T(eff)) in patients with differentiated thyroid cancer treated by I-131 is must-know value for dose calculation and determination of release time from isolation room. There has been no report about T(eff) in Koreans. Thus, author tried to measure dose rate without radiation exposure to faculty members and calculated T(eff). METHODS: Probe of radiation survey meter was fixed at the wall of isolation room, and body of survey meter was placed outside the room. With this simple arrangement, author could measure radiation frequently without radiation exposure to faculty members in 68 patient (F=55, M=13, age=47+/-13.7) treated by I-131 (3.7~7.4 GBq) for differentiated thyroid cancer from Jan 2006 to Dec 2006. From this data, T(eff), 48 hr retention rate, and the time necessary to whole body retention of I-131 become less than 1.1 GBq were calculated. Serum creatinine levels were measured before and after thyroid hormone withdrawal. RESULTS: T(eff) was 15.4+/-4.3 hr (9.4~32.5 hr). There was a loose correlation between T(eff) and serum creatinine concentration (r=0.45). 48hr retention was 4.9+/-4.2% (1~23%). Time necessary to whole body retention of I-131 become less than 1.1 GBq was calculated as 47.1+/-13.2 hr for 9.25 GBq, 42.1+/-11.9 hr for 7.4 GBq, 35.7+/-10.0 hr for 5.55 GBq, and 26.7+/-7.5 hr for 3.7 GBq dose of I-131. CONCLUSION: Author successfully measured radiation dose rates in isolated patients treated by high dose of I-131 without radiation exposure to the faculty members with simple arrangement of survey meter probe. Using those data, T(eff) and some other indices were calculated.

Two Cases of Acquired Hypothyroidism with Severe Obesity, Short Stature and Cardiomegaly / 대한소아내분비학회지

The clinical signs of acquired hypothyroidism are usually manifested insidiously over several months to years. The incidence increases after 6 years of age and peaks at 11 to 18 years of age. The clinical symptoms and signs are fatigue, constipation, decreased growth velocity and delayed bone age, compromised intellectual performance, obesity, myxedema, hyperlipidemia, peripheral neuropathy and delayed or precocious puberty. Two children were referred to our hospital for the evaluation of severe obesity and short stature. During the evaluation we found they also had hyperlipidemia, cardiomegaly with or without pericardial effusion. Thyroid function test revealed decreased serum thyroid hormone levels with positive anti- microsome and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies consistent with long-standing acquired hypothyroidism. After the supplement of L-thyroxine, both of them showed rapid improvement of above symptoms, except for the incomplete catch-up growth. We herein report two cases of acquired hypothyroidism with severe obesity, short stature, hyperlipidemia and cardiomegaly with review of literatures.

Two Cases of Acquired Hypothyroidism with Severe Obesity, Short Stature and Cardiomegaly / 대한소아내분비학회지

The clinical signs of acquired hypothyroidism are usually manifested insidiously over several months to years. The incidence increases after 6 years of age and peaks at 11 to 18 years of age. The clinical symptoms and signs are fatigue, constipation, decreased growth velocity and delayed bone age, compromised intellectual performance, obesity, myxedema, hyperlipidemia, peripheral neuropathy and delayed or precocious puberty. Two children were referred to our hospital for the evaluation of severe obesity and short stature. During the evaluation we found they also had hyperlipidemia, cardiomegaly with or without pericardial effusion. Thyroid function test revealed decreased serum thyroid hormone levels with positive anti- microsome and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies consistent with long-standing acquired hypothyroidism. After the supplement of L-thyroxine, both of them showed rapid improvement of above symptoms, except for the incomplete catch-up growth. We herein report two cases of acquired hypothyroidism with severe obesity, short stature, hyperlipidemia and cardiomegaly with review of literatures.

A Case of Gastro-Colic Fistula due to Ectopic Gastric Mucosa and its 99mTcO4 Scan Findings / 대한핵의학회잡지

We report a case of gastro-colic fistula caused by ectopic gastric mucosa developed at transverse colon. Fistula was detected by colonofiberscopy. And fistulous tract was proved by barium enema. Meckel's diverticulum scan finding was similar to that of GI bleeding; e.g. injected radioactivity was secreted into the lumen and moved along the lumen. There was no bleeding. And there was no diverticulum in the colon. Absence of diverticular pouch may explain this unusuaal GI bleeding-like scan finding rather than focal collection of radioactivity, which is typical of ectopic gastric mucosa found in the Meckel's diverticulum. Ectopic gastric mucosa was confirmed by colonfiberscopic biopsy. We suggest GI bleeding-like pictures should be included differential diagnosis of Tc-99m-O4 (ectopic gastric mucosa or Meckel's diverticulum) scan.