OBJECTIVE: Acupotomy is a modern acupuncture method that includes modern surgical methods. Since acupotomy is relatively more invasive than filiform acupuncture treatment, it is important to establish the safety profile of this practice. To justify further large-scale prospective observational studies, this preliminary study was performed to assess the feasibility of the approach and investigate the safety profile and factors potentially associated with adverse events (AEs). METHODS: This was a prospective pilot study that assessed the feasibility of a large-scale forthcoming safety study on acupotomy treatment in a real-world setting. The feasibility (call response rate, drop-out rate, response rate for each variable and recruitment per month) and safety profile (incidence, type, severity and causality of AEs, and factors potentially associated with AEs) were measured. RESULTS: A total of 28 participants joined the study from January to May 2018. A follow-up assessment was achieved in 258 (1185 treatment points) out of 261 sessions (1214 treatment points). The response rate via telephone on the day after treatment was 87.3%. There were 8 systemic AEs in all the sessions (8/258; 3.11%) and 27 local AEs on the total points treated (27/1185; 2.28%). Severe AEs did not occur. Total AE and local AE occurrence were associated with blade width and the number of needle stimulations per treatment point. CONCLUSION: The findings suggest that it could be feasible to analyze the safety of acupotomy in a real-world setting. Moreover, the primary data on some relevant AEs could be determined. We are planning large-scale prospective studies based on these findings. TRIAL REGISTRATION Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) KCT0002849 (https://cris.nih.go.kr/cris/search/detailSearch.do/11487).
Humans ; Feasibility Studies ; Prospective Studies ; Pilot Projects ; Acupuncture Therapy/methods* ; Research Design ; Treatment Outcome

Background: Cyst enucleation, which extracts only the tumor with the application of Carnoy’s solution (CS), has been suggested as a conservative treatment with a low recurrence rate and morbidity. However, there has been a concern that CS’s contact with inferior alveolar nerve (IAN) can cause neurons to degenerate and cause sensory dysfunction. The purpose of this retrospective cohort study aimed to investigate the neurosensory function after surgical treatment with or without the application of CS. Methods: While controlling the effects of sex, age, follow-up period, and invasion size of the tumor, we performed the binary logistic regression analysis to examine whether or not the sensory function of the patients who were treated with CS (n = 19) for the cyst enucleation procedure was significantly different from those who were not treated with CS (n = 58) at the end of the follow-up period. Results: The logistic regression result showed that the use of CS was not significantly related to the normalness of sensory function at the end of the follow-up period. Rather, the invasion size of the cyst was significantly associated with sensory dysfunction. Conclusions CS may be used for patients who are diagnosed with OKC and UAM without much fear of its impact on sensory dysfunction. However, a small number of patients who were treated with CS experienced severe sensory damage and did not recover at the end of the follow-up period, suggesting the need for further analysis of these patients.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between job stress and the willingness of male workers in small and medium scale industry to cease smoking. METHODS: A structured self-reported questionnaire was used to assess each respondent's socio-demographics, job stress, and the will to cease smoking. A KOSS (Korean Occupational Stress Scale)- based questionnaire survey was conducted which targeted 4,435 male workers at 69 small and medium scale industries. 2,840 men returned these questionnaires with 1,663 of them being smokers. We analyzed 1,345 of the smoker returns. We estimated the relationship between the will to cease smoking and the employee job stress factors using logistic regression analyses. RESULTS: After adjusting for education, exercise, and tobacco use per day, the logistic regression analysis revealed a significantly positive association with the will to cease smoking and job stress. The odds ratios regarding insufficient job control were at 1.69 (95% CI, 1.26~2.27), organizational system at 1.37 (95% CI, 1.03~1.82), and lack of reward at 1.37 (95% CI, 1.03~1.82). CONCLUSIONS: These results indicated that job stress may play a significant role in the will to cease smoking. Further preventive efforts and studies are needed in order to reduce job stress.
Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Reward ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco

Disseminated Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection can occur in immunocompromised patients, and rarely in immunocompetent subjects. Due to the extensive distribution of the disease, clinical presentation of disseminated MAC may mimic malignancies, and thorough examinations are required in order to make accurate diagnosis. We report a case of disseminated Mycobacterium intracellulare disease in an immunocompetent patient, which involved the lung, lymph nodes, spleen, and multiple bones. F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron-emission tomography imaging showed multiple hypermetabolic lesions, which are suggestive of typical hematogenous metastasis. However, there was no evidence of malignancy in serial biopsies, and M. intracellulare was repeatedly cultured from respiratory specimens and bones. Herein, we should know that disseminated infection can occur in the immunocompetent subjects, and it can mimic malignancies.
Biopsy ; Humans ; Hybridization, Genetic ; Hydrazines ; Immunocompetence ; Immunocompromised Host ; Lung ; Lymph Nodes ; Mycobacterium ; Mycobacterium avium Complex ; Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare Infection ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria ; Positron-Emission Tomography ; Spleen

Anti-tumor activity of the proteins from Gecko (GP) on cervical cancer cells, and its signaling mechanisms were assessed by viable cell counting, propidium iodide (PI) staining, and Western blot analysis. GP induced the cell death of HeLa cells in a dose-dependent manner while it did not affect the viability of normal cells. Western blot analysis showed that GP decreased the activation of Akt, and co-administration of GP and Akt inhibitors synergistically exerted anti-tumor activities on HeLa cells, suggesting the involvement of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway in GP-induced cell death of the cancer cells. Indeed, the cytotoxic effect of GP against HeLa cells was inhibited by overexpression of constituvely active form of Akt in HeLa cells. The candidates of the functional proteins in GP were analyzed by Mass-spectrum. Taken together, our results suggest that GP elicits anti-tumor activity against HeLa cells by inhibition of PI3-kinase/Akt pathway.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Count ; Cell Death ; HeLa Cells ; Humans ; Lizards ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinases ; Propidium ; Proteins ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: This study used representative national survey data of Korean workers to estimate the occupational injury rate and to identify factors associated with occupational injuries. METHODS: We analyzed data from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted from 2007 to 2009 using the Complex Samples Frequencies procedure of the SPSS to estimate the occupational injury rate. Complex Samples Logistic Regression was performed to calculate a nationally representative odds ratios that reflects the likelihood of specific individual attributes and job characteristics being associated with occupational injuries. We did this while controlling for relevant covariates. RESULTS: It was estimated that 3.5% of Korean workers have suffered at least one occupational injury and 1.9% of full-time employed workers have suffered occupational injuries which required more than 4 days of absence during the year. After adjustment for confounding variables, the experience of occupational injuries was related to several job characteristics, including exposure to hazards such as: air pollutants (OR=1.40; 95%CI: 1.05~1.85), noise (OR=1.31; 95%CI: 1.01~1.70), biological hazards (OR=1.60; 95%CI: 1.13~2.28), a difficult physical environment (OR=1.79; 95%CI: 1.33~2.41), and difficult ergonomic work (e.g. work involving awkward posture or heavy lifting) (OR=1.49; 95%CI: 1.11~2.00). CONCLUSIONS: Using national survey data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to estimate the occupational injury rate and to identify predictors of work-related injuries has several advantages. Futhermore, these results suggest that a hazardous work environment is associated with occupational injury.
Air Pollutants ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Noise ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupational Injuries ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Posture ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to identify current status of sickness absence and early leaves from work as a result of work-related musculoskeletal symptoms. METHOD: From January to December in 2007, 4,975 workers were recruited into this study and surveyed over this time period; workers came from 116 small and medium sized companies in Incheon. Among the study populations, only those who met the NIOSH criteria for work-related musculoskeletal symptoms on each symptom locations were included in the final analysis. The survey used a structured self-administered questionnaire, which asked questions about musculoskeletal symptoms regarding locations, sickness absences and early leaves from work. Other information gathered from participants included sociodemographical characteristics, and work-related characteristics. RESULTS: The rates of sickness absences and early leaves in each symptom locations were highest (14.9%) among workers with waist symptoms. Men had higher rates of sickness absences and early leaves form work than women; manufacturing workers had higher rates of sickness absences and early leaves form work than office workers. After confounding variables that had significant difference in univariate analysis on each symptom locations were adjusted, the odds ratios for sickness absence and early leaves divided by pain intensity were 4.361(neck), 4.140(shoulder), 3.151(arm/wrist), 3.085(leg/foot), and 2.731(waist), respectively; these differences were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: The rates of sickness absence and early leaves in each work-related musculoskeletal symptom locations were highest among workers with waist symptoms, and the intensity of pain was identified to have a considerable effect on the rates of sickness absences and early leaves. Based on these results, we think that there are needs to be early interventions on workers with waist symptoms.
Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Early Intervention (Education) ; Humans ; Male ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Odds Ratio ; Porphyrins ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: Between Jan 1998 and Dec 2008, area-based occupational disease surveillance in Incheon was used to collect data on occupational diseases. The long-term data was used to estimate the scale of disease, to analyze disease characteristics, and to achieve surveillance in order to determine development tasks. METHODS: For a period of 11 years, occupation-related disease surveillance was performed on an annual basis for employees of Incheon industries. All cases of occupational disease were reported by means of the Incheon Occupational Disease Information Network (IODIN) web site, downloaded, and analyzed, subsequently. RESULTS: Between Jan 1998 and Dec 2008, 1577 cases of occupational disease were reported. Of these, there were 1043(66.1%) cases of occupational musculoskeletal disorders, 172(10.9%) cases of occupational asthma, 162(10.3%) cases of occupational dermatoses, 135(8.6%) cases of occupationally-related cancers, 30(1.9%) cases of pneumoconiosis, 27(1.7%) cases of toxic hepatitis, and 8(0.5%) cases of occupational neuronal disease. CONCLUSION: In the Incheon area, small and medium industries comprise 99% of business. The composition of the industry by category, in Incheon, is similar to the country on the whole. In actually, the data on occupational diseases in Korea are almost workers' compensation data. Thus, the survey of occupational disease based in Incheon, Korea, can serve as an estimate of the trends and size of the occupational disease throughout the entire country.
Asthma, Occupational ; Commerce ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Information Services ; Korea ; Neurons ; Occupational Diseases ; Pneumoconiosis ; Skin Diseases ; Workers' Compensation

OBJECTIVE: This study investigated case clusters of pneumoconiosis among residents near cement factories in Young_Wol, Korea. METHODS: There were 1,396 residents of a total 3,418 residents surveyed for this study. Informations on demographics, health-related behaviors (smoking and drinking), past medical history, and clinical symptoms were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. All study participants underwent a physical examination, including chest X-ray, and physicians' interview. Chest CT (computerized tomography) was taken if there was abnormal finding on chest X-ray and physicians' interview. RESULTS: We detected 5 cases of pneumoconiosis. 2 cases were related to occupational exposure to dust, such as underground mining and the breaking up of concrete. However, 3 cases were not related to occupational or environmental exposure, except that persons were living near cement factories and limestone mines. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that the long-term exposure of cement dust among residents near cement factories and mines may lead to the development of pneumoconiosis.
Calcium Carbonate ; Demography ; Dust ; Environmental Exposure ; Humans ; Korea ; Mining ; Occupational Exposure ; Physical Examination ; Pneumoconiosis ; Questionnaires ; Thorax

OBJECTIVES: This cross-sectional study was performed to examine if the serum gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) level that is within its normal range is associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes and if the association between the waist hip ratio (WHR) and type 2 diabetes is different depending on the serum GGT levels. METHODS: The study subjects were 23,436 persons aged 40 years or older and who participated in regular health check-ups at 11 hospitals (males: 5,821, females: 17,615). The gender-specific quintiles of the serum GGT and WHR were used to examine the associations with type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: The serum GGT levels within their normal range were positively associated with type 2 diabetes only in women. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were 1.0, 1.0, 1.4, 2.1, and 2.5 according to the quintiles of the serum GGT (p(trend)<0.01). The WHR was more strongly associated with the prevalence of diabetes among the women with a high-normal serum GGT level as compared with those with a low-normal serum GGT level (p for interaction=0.02). For example, the adjusted ORs for women with a low normal serum GGT level were 1.0, 1.2, 1.5, 2.2, and 2.4 according to the quintiles of the WHR, while those figures were 1.0, 2.4, 3.6, 5.0, and 8.3 among the women with a high normal serum GGT level. However, in men, the serum GGT was very weakly associated with type 2 diabetes and the association between the WHR and type 2 diabetes was not different depending on the serum GGT level. CONCLUSIONS: Serum GGT within its normal range was positively associated with type 2 diabetes, and central obesity was more strongly associated with the prevalence of type 2 diabetes when the serum GGT level was high-normal. However, these associations were observed only in women, which is different from the previous findings. The stronger relation between central obesity and type 2 diabetes among women with a high-normal serum GGT level can be useful for selecting a group that is at high risk for type 2 diabetes irregardless of whatever the underlying mechanism is.
Blood Glucose ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2/blood/enzymology/*epidemiology ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity, Abdominal/*epidemiology ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; *Waist-Hip Ratio ; gamma-Glutamyltransferase/*blood