Anthracosis* ; Coal* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins

No abstract available.
Anthracosis* ; Mass Screening*

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

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

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

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

Most of pneumoconiosis found in Korea can be categorized in coal worker's pneumoconiosis. However, in recent years, pneumoconiosis has been frequently found in the workers of manufacturing factories. Accordingly, this study was carried out to investigate relationship of dust exposure history and development and progress of pneumoconiosis. Chest radiographs, history of dust exposure, and other data of 144 workers, who were diagnosed as suspecter pneumoconiosis (0/l) or pneumoconiosis in special health examination center in Incheon from 1986 to 1996, were reviewed. The results were as follows ; 1. According to the type of main exposure, most common type of exposure was foundry dust(93workers, 64.6%), followed by welding fume(16workers, 11.1%), talc dust, lime dust and etc. 2. Among 144 workers, the history of dust exposure was investigated in 86 workers. Mean ages of 86 workers at the present study, initial exposure to the dusts, and at the time of initial diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis were 52.1, 29.1 and 46.5 years, respectively. The mean duration of exposure was 17.3 years. 3. Comparing the type of main exposure with dust exposure history, initially exposed age of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 24.6, 30.7, 28.0 and 28.5 years, respectively. Ages at the time of diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis of welders, foundry workers, coal dust and other dusts were 41.3, 49.3, 46.4 and 44.1 years, respectively. The duration of exposure to main dust of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 16.8, 18.2, 13.3 and 11.6 years, respectively. Therefore initially exposed age was significant difference between the welders and the foundry workers (p<.05). Age which was diagnosed pneumoconiosis was significant difference between the welders, workers exposed to other dusts and the foundry workers (p<.01). And exposure duration of main dust was significant difference between the workers exposed to other dusts and foundry workers (p<.01) 4. Initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers were category 0/l (76workers, 52.8%), 1/0 (35workers, 24.3%) Therefore, workers' pneumoconiosis of manufacturing factories was mild, relatively. And there was no significant difference between initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers and dust exposure history. 5. Among 97 workers, who could follow up more than 1 year, 60 workers(61.9%) were not changed, 24 workers (24.7%) were progressed, 13 workers (13.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. Among 11 welders, initially diagnosed X-ray category of 5 welders(45.5%) were improved and of only 1 welder was progressed. But, among 19 workers exposed to other dusts, 10 (52.6%) workers were progressed and none of them were improved. 6. Among 53 workers, who were Initially diagnosed X-ray category was 0/l, 12 workers (22.6%) were progressed and 5 workers (9.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. And among 40 workers, who were initially diagnosed X-ray category was 1, 12 workers(30.0%) were progressed and 7 workers(17.5%) were improved. Above results suggest that not a few workers of manufacturing factories have pneumoconiosis and their pneumoconiosis is progressed. Therefore, we have to prepare management plan and to study epidemiologic findings of pneumoconiosis with workers of manufacturing factories.
Anthracosis ; Coal ; Diagnosis ; Dust ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incheon* ; Korea ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Talc ; Welding

Most of pneumoconiosis found in Korea can be categorized in coal worker's pneumoconiosis. However, in recent years, pneumoconiosis has been frequently found in the workers of manufacturing factories. Accordingly, this study was carried out to investigate relationship of dust exposure history and development and progress of pneumoconiosis. Chest radiographs, history of dust exposure, and other data of 144 workers, who were diagnosed as suspecter pneumoconiosis (0/l) or pneumoconiosis in special health examination center in Incheon from 1986 to 1996, were reviewed. The results were as follows ; 1. According to the type of main exposure, most common type of exposure was foundry dust(93workers, 64.6%), followed by welding fume(16workers, 11.1%), talc dust, lime dust and etc. 2. Among 144 workers, the history of dust exposure was investigated in 86 workers. Mean ages of 86 workers at the present study, initial exposure to the dusts, and at the time of initial diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis were 52.1, 29.1 and 46.5 years, respectively. The mean duration of exposure was 17.3 years. 3. Comparing the type of main exposure with dust exposure history, initially exposed age of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 24.6, 30.7, 28.0 and 28.5 years, respectively. Ages at the time of diagnosis as having pneumoconiosis of welders, foundry workers, coal dust and other dusts were 41.3, 49.3, 46.4 and 44.1 years, respectively. The duration of exposure to main dust of welders, foundry workers, workers exposed to coal dust and other dusts were 16.8, 18.2, 13.3 and 11.6 years, respectively. Therefore initially exposed age was significant difference between the welders and the foundry workers (p<.05). Age which was diagnosed pneumoconiosis was significant difference between the welders, workers exposed to other dusts and the foundry workers (p<.01). And exposure duration of main dust was significant difference between the workers exposed to other dusts and foundry workers (p<.01) 4. Initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers were category 0/l (76workers, 52.8%), 1/0 (35workers, 24.3%) Therefore, workers' pneumoconiosis of manufacturing factories was mild, relatively. And there was no significant difference between initially diagnosed X-ray category of the workers and dust exposure history. 5. Among 97 workers, who could follow up more than 1 year, 60 workers(61.9%) were not changed, 24 workers (24.7%) were progressed, 13 workers (13.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. Among 11 welders, initially diagnosed X-ray category of 5 welders(45.5%) were improved and of only 1 welder was progressed. But, among 19 workers exposed to other dusts, 10 (52.6%) workers were progressed and none of them were improved. 6. Among 53 workers, who were Initially diagnosed X-ray category was 0/l, 12 workers (22.6%) were progressed and 5 workers (9.4%) were improved in their initially diagnosed X-ray category. And among 40 workers, who were initially diagnosed X-ray category was 1, 12 workers(30.0%) were progressed and 7 workers(17.5%) were improved. Above results suggest that not a few workers of manufacturing factories have pneumoconiosis and their pneumoconiosis is progressed. Therefore, we have to prepare management plan and to study epidemiologic findings of pneumoconiosis with workers of manufacturing factories.
Anthracosis ; Coal ; Diagnosis ; Dust ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incheon* ; Korea ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Talc ; Welding

Antinuclear antibody(ANA) and rheumatoid factor(RF) in the sera of 191 coal workers pneumoconiosis(CWP) patients, 65 healthy coal workers, and 52 non-mining controls were examined by the categories of CWP, age, duration of exposure, smoking and drinking habit. Indirect fluorescent antibody technique for ANA and latex agglutination method for RF were applied for detection. ANA was positive in 24.3% of CWP patients, 10.8% of healthy coal workers and 11.5% of non-mining controls. RF was positive in 36.5 % of CWP patients, 13.8 % of healthy coal workers and 9.6 % of non-mining controls.
Agglutination ; Anthracosis* ; Antibodies, Antinuclear* ; Coal* ; Drinking ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Latex ; Rheumatoid Factor* ; Smoke ; Smoking