OBJECTIVES: This study is conducted to estimate the cost paid by the public suffering from disease possibly caused by chemical and to examine the effect on public health. METHODS: Cost-benefit analysis is an important factor in analysis and decision-making and is an important policy decision tool in many countries. Cost-of-illness (COI), a kind of scale-based analysis method, estimates the potential value lost as a result of illness as a monetary unit and calculates the cost in terms of direct, indirect and psychological costs. This study estimates direct medical costs, transportation fees for hospitalization and outpatient treatment, and nursing fees through a number of patients suffering from disease caused by chemicals in order to analyze COI, taking into account the cost of productivity loss as an indirect cost. RESULTS: The total yearly cost of the diseases studied in 2012 is calculated as 77 million Korean won (KRW) per person. The direct and indirect costs being 52 million KRW and 23 million KRW, respectively. Within the total cost of illness, mental and behavioral disability costs amounted to 16 million KRW, relevant blood immunological parameters costs were 7.4 million KRW, and disease of the nervous system costs were 6.7 million KRW. CONCLUSIONS: This study reports on a survey conducted by experts regarding diseases possibly caused by chemicals and estimates the cost for the general public. The results can be used to formulate a basic report for a social-economic evaluation of the permitted use of chemicals and limits of usage.
Cost of Illness ; Cost-Benefit Analysis ; Efficiency ; Fees and Charges ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Nervous System ; Nursing ; Outpatients ; Public Health ; Transportation

OBJECTIVES: To protect public health from risk, the Minister of Environment in Korea legislated an act concerning the registration and evaluation of chemical substances. In this study, we estimated the value of a statistical life (VSL) of carcinogenic chemicals to evaluate the socioeconomic analysis in Korea. METHODS: The estimation of the health benefit can be calculated through an individual's VSL and willingness to pay (WTP). To estimate the VSL and WTP, we used a contingent valuation method through a web-based survey. RESULTS: The survey is conducted with 1434 people living in Seoul and six large cities. An analysis of the survey is essential to review the distribution of the characteristics of the target population. The statistically significant variables affecting the WTP are location, age, household income, quality of life. Through the review of data, we secured statistical validity. The WTP was estimated as 41205 Korean won (KRW)/person, and the estimated VSL appeared as 796 million KRW/person. CONCLUSIONS: There is a case in which the amount of statistical life value is estimated in connection with domestic environmental policy, fine dust, etc. However, there are no cases of evaluation for chemical. The utilization of this result is possible for conducting other study with chemicals.
Dust ; Environmental Policy ; Family Characteristics ; Health Services Needs and Demand ; Insurance Benefits ; Korea* ; Public Health ; Quality of Life ; Seoul

No abstract available.
Carotid Artery, Internal ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Endovascular Procedures ; Humans ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Oculomotor Nerve Diseases ; Paralysis

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by a nonspecific encephalopathy with high titers of serum anti-thyroid antibody in the absence of other defined causes. A 54-year-old woman was admitted due to recurrent seizures and confusion. Her serum anti-thyroid antibody level was elevated, and brain MRI showed multiple instances of vasogenic edema. Her symptoms disappeared after treatment with high-dose steroids and antiepileptic drugs. We propose that HE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of multiple vasogenic edema on brain imaging.
Anticonvulsants ; Brain* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Neuroimaging ; Seizures ; Steroids

Hashimoto's encephalopathy (HE) is a rare autoimmune disorder characterized by a nonspecific encephalopathy with high titers of serum anti-thyroid antibody in the absence of other defined causes. A 54-year-old woman was admitted due to recurrent seizures and confusion. Her serum anti-thyroid antibody level was elevated, and brain MRI showed multiple instances of vasogenic edema. Her symptoms disappeared after treatment with high-dose steroids and antiepileptic drugs. We propose that HE should be considered in the differential diagnosis of multiple vasogenic edema on brain imaging.
Anticonvulsants ; Brain* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Edema* ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Middle Aged ; Neuroimaging ; Seizures ; Steroids

Ceftazidime is a widely used third-generation cephalosporin. We report a case of ceftazidime-induced nonconvulsive status epilepticus in a patient with renal failure. A 56-year-old man experienced the gradual development of altered mentation after a diabetic foot ulcer was treated with ceftazidime. Rhythmic sharply contoured triphasic waves were evident in all electroencephalography leads. The clinical and electrographical seizures ceased after introducing antiepileptic drugs and discontinuing ceftazidime. This case demonstrates that altered mentality and nonconvulsive status epilepticus can be caused by ceftazidime in patients with renal dysfunction.
Anticonvulsants ; Ceftazidime ; Diabetic Foot ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus* ; Ulcer

Ceftazidime is a widely used third-generation cephalosporin. We report a case of ceftazidime-induced nonconvulsive status epilepticus in a patient with renal failure. A 56-year-old man experienced the gradual development of altered mentation after a diabetic foot ulcer was treated with ceftazidime. Rhythmic sharply contoured triphasic waves were evident in all electroencephalography leads. The clinical and electrographical seizures ceased after introducing antiepileptic drugs and discontinuing ceftazidime. This case demonstrates that altered mentality and nonconvulsive status epilepticus can be caused by ceftazidime in patients with renal dysfunction.
Anticonvulsants ; Ceftazidime ; Diabetic Foot ; Electroencephalography ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Renal Insufficiency ; Seizures ; Status Epilepticus* ; Ulcer

Far-infrared rays (FIR) are known to have various effects on atoms and molecular structures within cells owing to their radiation and vibration frequencies. The present study examined the effects of FIR on gene expression related to glucose transport through microarray analysis in rat skeletal muscle cells, as well as on mitochondrial biogenesis, at high and low glucose conditions. FIR were emitted from a bio-active material coated fabric (BMCF). L6 cells were treated with 30% BMCF for 24 h in medium containing 25 or 5.5 mM glucose, and changes in the expression of glucose transporter genes were determined. The expression of GLUT3 (Slc2a3) increased 2.0-fold (p < 0.05) under 5.5 mM glucose and 30% BMCF. In addition, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and membrane potential (ΔΨm) increased 1.5- and 3.4-fold (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), respectively, but no significant change in expression of Pgc-1a, a regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, was observed in 24 h. To analyze the relationship between GLUT3 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis under FIR, GLUT3 was down-modulated by siRNA for 72 h. As a result, the ΔΨm of the GLUT3 siRNA-treated cells increased 3.0-fold (p < 0.001), whereas that of the control group increased 4.6-fold (p < 0.001). Moreover, Pgc-1a expression increased upon 30% BMCF treatment for 72 h; an effect that was more pronounced in the presence of GLUT3. These results suggest that FIR may hold therapeutic potential for improving glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in metabolic diseases associated with insufficient glucose supply, such as type 2 diabetes.

Far-infrared rays (FIR) are known to have various effects on atoms and molecular structures within cells owing to their radiation and vibration frequencies. The present study examined the effects of FIR on gene expression related to glucose transport through microarray analysis in rat skeletal muscle cells, as well as on mitochondrial biogenesis, at high and low glucose conditions. FIR were emitted from a bio-active material coated fabric (BMCF). L6 cells were treated with 30% BMCF for 24 h in medium containing 25 or 5.5 mM glucose, and changes in the expression of glucose transporter genes were determined. The expression of GLUT3 (Slc2a3) increased 2.0-fold (p < 0.05) under 5.5 mM glucose and 30% BMCF. In addition, mitochondrial oxygen consumption and membrane potential (ΔΨm) increased 1.5- and 3.4-fold (p < 0.05 and p < 0.001), respectively, but no significant change in expression of Pgc-1a, a regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis, was observed in 24 h. To analyze the relationship between GLUT3 expression and mitochondrial biogenesis under FIR, GLUT3 was down-modulated by siRNA for 72 h. As a result, the ΔΨm of the GLUT3 siRNA-treated cells increased 3.0-fold (p < 0.001), whereas that of the control group increased 4.6-fold (p < 0.001). Moreover, Pgc-1a expression increased upon 30% BMCF treatment for 72 h; an effect that was more pronounced in the presence of GLUT3. These results suggest that FIR may hold therapeutic potential for improving glucose metabolism and mitochondrial function in metabolic diseases associated with insufficient glucose supply, such as type 2 diabetes.