No abstract available.
Anthracosis* ; Mass Screening*

Anthracosis* ; Coal* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins

For the evaluation of change of FVC and FEV1 after discontinuance of bronchodilator in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients, 17 pairs of patients were selected. They were matched by the age(+/-5 y.o.) and the type of ventilatory impairment. Pulmonary function was measured 2 times bimonthly before and after the drug discontinuance discontinued after measurement of PFT for 2 times. In case group the bronchodilator was discontinued after measurement of PFT for 2 times. In control group there was no interruption of medication. FVC, FEV1 decreased in both group as measurement progress. Simple linear regression coefficients against the month of measurement were calculated in both group and tested for parallelism between two groups. The results of test revealed that both regression coefficients were parallel. So in conclusively, discontinuance of medication of bronchodilator for coal workers pneumoconiosis patients has no effect on the decreasing rate of FVC, FEV1.
Anthracosis ; Coal* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Pneumoconiosis*

We measured fasting Serum Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme (SACE) in 100 healthy controls and 75 coal worker's pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients by a commercial kits (ACEcolor®, Fujirio Inc., Japan) and evaluated this manual method. The linear range extends to an activity of 80U/L. Precision on a commercial control serum (ACE control-N®, Sigma Co.) with a mean value of 9.47U/L yielded a within-run and between-run CVs are 5.6% (N=15) and 6.9% (N=14) respectively. Save in 75 CWP was 20.3±5.7U/L (mean±s.d.); higher than in healthy controls (13.4±3.9U/L, P<0.01). No correlation was found between SACE, sex, and age. The results suggest that the measurement for SACE and follow-up SACE in coal workers may be a useful diagnostic tools for CWP.
Anthracosis* ; Coal* ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Methods

Anthracosis ; prevention & control ; Humans ; Silicosis ; prevention & control ; South Africa

Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity(DLco) was evaluated before and after nifedipine administration in coal workers' pneumoconiosis by the size of radioopacity. Nifedipine was administered to 18 men and 17 men of small round opacity group and large opacity group respectively. Placebo was administered to 19 men and 15 men of small and large opacity group respectively. In large opacity group DLco was increased after nifedipine administration. But, it was not significant statistically(0.05 < p < 0.01). In other groups, there were no significance difference between and after medication.
Anthracosis* ; Carbon Monoxide ; Coal* ; Diffusion* ; Humans ; Male ; Nifedipine* ; Pneumoconiosis

Occupational lung disease (OLD) is a group of lung diseases caused and/or aggravated by organic and inorganic inhaled dust, fumes, and mist. OLD can develop under various occupational situations. Therefore, occupational history should be considered when evaluating respiratory symptoms. Once OLD is developed, it may not be treated and may even progress after exposure to the causative agents has stopped. The best ways to treat OLD are prevention and early detection by controlling the working environment and conducting regular surveillance of workers. Common OLDs in Korea are coal worker's pneumoconiosis, asbestos-related diseases, and occupational asthma. Recent aspects of these common OLDs in Korea will be described based on recently published studies.
Anthracosis ; Asbestosis ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational ; Dust ; Korea ; Lung ; Lung Diseases ; Occupational Diseases ; Pneumoconiosis

OBJECTIVETo observe the clinical effect of central venous catheter in the treatment of refractory pleural effusion and pneumothorax.

METHODSPatients with coal workers' pneumoconiosis-tuberculosis complicated by pleural effusion or pneumothorax were randomly divided into central venous catheter group (48 cases, treated by chest drainage using a peripherally inserted central catheter) and conventional puncture group (56 cases, treated by conventional pleural puncture). Chemotherapy (DOTS strategy) was fully supervised, and both groups used 3HRZE/6HR (H, isoniazid; R, rifampicin; Z, pyrazinamide; E, ethambutol).

RESULTSIn the central venous catheter group, catheterization in the thoracic cavity was performed once in all cases, without fall-off; the mean total volume of pumped effusion was 3932±4430 ml; the time to disappearance of pleural effusion and pneumatosis was 10±2 d; 40 (83.33%) of the 48 cases were cured. In the conventional puncture group, the volume of pumped effusion was 2753±315 ml; the time to disappearance of pleural effusion and pneumatosis was 18±6 d; pleural puncture was performed twice in 4 cases, 3-4 times in 38 cases, and over 5 times in 10 cases, with an average of 3.8 times; 26 (46.43%) of the 56 cases were cured. The cure rate was significantly higher in the central venous catheter group than in the conventional puncture group (χ(2) = 7.59, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONFor pleural effusion and pneumothorax, PICC can be used instead of closed thoracic drainage and pleural puncture, and it has good clinical effect, causes little pain, and is easy to operate.

Anthracosis ; Catheterization ; Central Venous Catheters ; Drainage ; Humans ; Pleural Effusion ; complications ; therapy ; Pneumothorax ; complications ; therapy

Anthracosis ; complications ; Cerebrovascular Disorders ; complications ; Cohort Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVEAnalyzed associations among the incidence of coal workers' pneumoconiosis from 2003 to 2008, jobs, exposure years and cumulative total dust exposure levels (CTE) and found the current characteristics of the mine incidence of pneumoconiosis disease.

METHODScollected the health care information of the new diagnosed pneumoconiosis of underground mine workers from 2003 to 2008 and the dust monitoring data of underground mine from 1949 and estimated the personnel cumulative total dust exposure levels (CTE); analyzed the incidence features of the new diagnosed pneumoconiosis.

RESULTSThe rates of health surveillance of workers were gradually improved from 2003 to 2008 and 296 new coal workers pneumoconiosis were diagnosed. The total incidence was 0.57%, and the average annual rate was 0.32%. Among the new diagnosed cases, phase I accounted for 90.5% and the 87.2% from coal mine drillers. The shortest exposure period was 3 years and the longest was 38 years, and the cumulative total dose of dust was varied between 86.1 and 4926 mg/m(3) per year. The total dust accumulated limited dose was calculated by the percentile method to prevent 99% of miners from pneumoconiosis, which was 120.6 mg/m(3) per year, so we suggested that the exposure years should be shorter than 13 years under the current working conditions.

CONCLUSIONSPreventive coal workers' pneumoconiosis should be focused on mine drillers and their limited exposure years should be within 13 years.

Anthracosis ; China ; epidemiology ; Coal Mining ; Dust ; analysis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Middle Aged ; Pneumoconiosis ; epidemiology