By implementing epoch-making policies for industrial promotion, the national economy has made a remarkable development. As a result of such economic growth, industrial accidents and occupational diseases have become a serious problem in Korean society. In the presidential order for the execution of the Korean Labor Standard Law, neuritis and other diseases stemming from health impairments due to vibrations in industrial processes are designated to be dealt with as vibration diseases. In the case of vibration disease, industrial accident compensation is not effectively paid. In order to investigate the vibration hazards of rock-drill operation, the authors studied the subjective symptoms and performed physical function tests on a total of 79 persons (vibration exposed group) who used rock-drills, and 39 persons (control group) who did not use rock-drills at anthracite mines. The results of the physical function test were as follows : 1. The right hand was more affected by white finger than the left hand. 2. Independent variables such as duration of rock-drill operation, age, drinking and smoking were identified as statistically significant factors for the occurrence of white finger. 3. In the pain sense threshold, the group with Raynaud's phenomenon showed a statistically higher level than that of the control group. 4. The skin temperature of the group with Raynaud's phenomenon was lower than that of the control group. The recovery time of skin temperature after cooling was delayed compared with the value of the control group.
Accidents, Occupational ; Coal* ; Compensation and Redress ; Drinking ; Economic Development ; Fingers ; Hand ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Neuritis ; Occupational Diseases ; Skin Temperature* ; Skin* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vibration

The purpose of this study is to reveal how the road traffic noise influences on the response of teachers and students, which composed of conversation, studying, relation, and physical disturbances. The research method used in this study was self- administrated questionnaire. Samples of the survey were composed of 420 persons(l14 teachers and 306 students) who are exposed to traffic noise less than 65 dB(A) from two junior high schools and 410 persons(140 teachers and 270 students) from two noisy junior high schools which the road traffic noise above 65 dB(A). In the response of both of the teachers and students in noisy(above 65 dB) schools complaints of disturbances of conversation, studying, relaxation, and physical disturbances are much higher than that of less noisy schools' teachers and students(p<0.01 ). On the occasion of time and season, the subjects answered the traffic noise cause high troublesome and stresses in the afternoon(12:00-17:00) and summer respectively. It is necessary to provide governmental comprehensive and fundamental measures to improve the noisy school environments.
Humans ; Noise* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Relaxation ; Seasons

Recently, the role of vitamin D in immunomodulation has been studied and shown to be significantly associated with immune function. A causal relationship exists between vitamin D and innate and adaptive immunity to infections. Recent findings on the function of vitamin D may explain aspects of the pathophysiology of various allergic diseases including allergic rhinitis, asthma, and even chronic rhinosinusitis.
Adaptive Immunity ; Asthma ; Immunomodulation ; Rhinitis ; Vitamin D*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Carbon* ; Rats*

No abstract available.
Animals ; Carbon* ; Rats*

The prognostic factor for surgical success in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patient is very important for determining treatment modality. If the chance of surgical success is expected to be high, surgery could be the first option. However, the chance is low, continuous positive airway pressure or oral appliance should be given priority. This article is a systematic review with regard to outcome predictor of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty in OSA. Various predictors are briefly reviewed and problems are discussed to help readers' decision.
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure ; Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

The evaluation of obstruction site in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patient is very important, not only for understanding origin and pathophysiology of the disease but also for deciding the range and kind of operation. So far, various attempts have been tried to assess upper airway and its obstruction site. However, no definite method has been determined as standard one. This article is a systematic review with regard to upper airway evaluation in OSA. Various techniques are briefly reviewed and problems are discussed to help readers' decision on evaluation method.
Humans ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive

No abstract available.
Information Management* ; Occupational Health*

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to evaluate vinly chloride exposure in vinyl chloride and poly vinyl chloride manufacturing factories. The object of this study was compare two different type of air sampling method that of, NIOSH and OSHA recommended and Investigate quantitative correlation between level of vinyl chloride exposure and urinary thiodiglycolic acid excretion. METHODS: Air sampling was conducted by two method and sampling mediums were located at workers breathing zone in the same location. Sampling mediums were changed in 60 minute interval and sampling pumps were recalibrated at the same time. Urine was collected before and end of shift were stored frozen and determined by GC/FID analysis. RESULTS: In NIOSH method, time weighted average was 3.562 +/- 2.898 ppm and OSHA method time weighted average was 4.051 +/- 3.700 ppm. Concentration of urinary TdGA in before shift was 0.527 +/- 0.828 g/g creatinine and end of shift was 4.190 +/- 7.665 mg/g creatinine. Difference of urinary TdGA between end of shift to before shift was 3.662 +/- 7.865 mg/g creatinine. In NIOSH method, correlation coefficient between 8hour-time weighted average (8hrs-TWA) and urinary concentration of TdGA was r=0.666. and last period vinyl chloride level (6th-TWA) and urinary TdGA concentration was r=0.972. In OSHA method, correlation coefficient between last period vinyl chloride level (6th-TWA) and urinary concentration of TdGA was r=0.976 and this was highest value. CONCLUSION: There was no statistically significant difference in NIOSH method and. OSHA method. A correlation were found between level of vinyl chloride exposure and urinary thiodiglycolic acid excretion. Also, vinyl chloride exposure had significantly effected on the urinary thiodiglycolic acid excretion.
Creatinine ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Respiration ; United States Occupational Safety and Health Administration ; Vinyl Chloride*

The objectives of this study were to develop optimal analytic methods for detecting urinary 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxylic acid (TTCA) and thiocarbamide simultaneously and to evaluate the usefulness of these metabolites to a biological exposure index (BEI) for carbon disulfide (CS2) exposure. For this experiment, synthesized TTCA and thiocarbamide were used. The synthesized TTCA was identified by infrared spectrophotometer, nuclear magnetic resonance spectrometer and thin layer chromatography. The recovery rates of both metabolites were calculated to find the optimum analytical method. The amounts of urinary TTCA and thiocarbamide were measured by using an ultraviolet detector connected to high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after the administration of CS2 (350, 700 mg/kg) into Sprague-Dawley rats intraperitoneally. The maximum absorbance wave lengths for TTCA and thiocarbamide were 272 and 236 nm, respectively. Ethyl acetate extraction with NaCl as a salting-out reagent was used as a simultaneous extraction method for these metabolites. HPLC conditions for these metabolites included using a NH2 column, 50 mM KH2PO4: acetonitrile (85:15) and pH 3. Excreted amounts of urinary TTCA and thiocarbamide were increased significantly following CS2 administration. TTCA, which was already adopted as a BEI for CS2 by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH), seems to be a more useful BEI for CS2 exposure than thiocarbamide. However further studies are needed to increase analytical efficiency before thiocarbamide can be adopted as a BEI and to apply this analytic method for simultaneous analysis of these metabolites in workers exposed to CS2.
Animal ; Carbon Disulfide/pharmacology* ; Environmental Exposure* ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Thiazoles/urine* ; Thiourea/urine* ; Urea/urine*