BACKGROUND: Musculoskeletal symptoms, such as pain, numbness, and ganglions on involved joints were common problems in repetitive job workers, who exposed to prolonged, repetitive use of the wrist in factory. This study was performed to compare the degree of musculoskeletal symptoms and prevalence of soft tissue mass (esp. ganglion on wrist) in repetitive job group with those of non-repetitive job group and to evaluate the association of development of ganglion and the duration of wrist use. METHODS: Study subjects were 253 workers who work on a brick manufacturing factory and they were composed of 153 non-repetitive job workers and 100 repetitive job workers. Authors conducted a questionnaire survey among workers in the factory and examined their lesions. RESULTS: There were no significant difference statistically in age, level of education and work duration in both groups. It was statistically significant that the degree of wrist use was more frequent in repetitive job group than in non-repetitive job group(P<0.01). Musculoskeletal symptoms, such as pain and numbness on affected joints were more common in repetitive job group than in non-repetitive job group. Affected side was bilateral in three joints and right only in two joints(P<0.01, P<0.05). The prevalence of ganglions in repetitive job group(6 subjects, 6.0%) was much higher statistically than that in the non-repetitive job group(2 subjects, 1.3%). In a comparison of two groups according to the existence of ganglions, no stasistically significant differences were found in age, level of education and work duration. However, duration of wrist use was statistically significant relation with development of wrist ganglions(P<0.05). The 8 subjects with ganglion on wrist all worked on manufacturing part in the factory. The duration of work ranged from two to fourteen years. The affected sides of ganglions on wrist were right in 3 cases and left in 5 cases. Size of ganglions ranged from 0.5 to 3 cm in diameter. Painful symptom in the ganglion was complained by two cases(25%) among 8 cases. CONCLUSIONS: We suggest that prolonged, repetitive activities such as carrying a brick, have a tendency to develop musculoskeletal symptoms and ganglions in the workers. Because high prevalence of ganglions in this factory seems to be an important occupational problem among repetitive job workers, further studies on the factors contributing to development of ganglions in this factory are needed.
Education ; Ganglion Cysts* ; Hypesthesia ; Joints ; Prevalence ; Wrist ; Surveys and Questionnaires

We investigated the cold reaction of fingers in cold water as a criterion of peripheral resistance to frostbite in order to obtain elementary data to improve farmers' health. Experiments were carried out on 81 farmers and 64 urbanites at 20±2°C, 55±5% RH with sitting position on the floor. The finger skin temperatures of the subjects were measured while the left middle finger of each subject was immersed in cold water or 0°C for 30 minutes and recorded once every one minute with the thermistor. We also compiled statistics on the following items: mean finger skin temperature (MST), finger skin temperature at initial rising after immersion (TFR), time for the appearance of initial rising after immersion (TTR), cold resistance index (RI), etc. The results were as follows RI was higher in farmers than in urbanites, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. In men, RI was lower in farmers than in urbanites, but there was no significant difference between the two groups. By contrast, in women, TFR and RI were significantly higher in farmers than in urbanites. MST was significantly higer in women than in men, but RI was no statistically significant difference. By age, the men in their 30's showed significantly the highest MST and the shortest TFR. RI was significantly higher in the men in their 30's than others. In women, however, the difference in RI was of no statistical significance. By region, MST was the highest in Seoul dwellers. RI was the highest in Okku dwellers, but there was no statistically significant difference among regions.
These results indicated that farmers tended to be higher than urbanites in cold resistance index.

To collect the basic data for the health management of Korean farmers, we investigated physique factors, physical fitness, and cold resistance (by digital vascular hunting reaction during finger immersion in cold water), and examined their correlations in 74 subjects. In men, the stronger the digital vascular hunting reaction was the higher the physical fitness levels. For women, however, the motility of those who showed stronger digital vascular hunting reactions appeared worse. The correlation between physique and hunting reaction appeared weak in men but in women the hunting reaction of obese subjects was stronger than that of slender subjects. Agewise, men in their 30s, 40s and 50s who were short and slim appeared to have better cold-resistance. The men in their 60s who were broad-hipped had better cold-resistance, and the relation between physical fitness and hunting reaction appeared to be negative. In contrast, the women in their 30s whose subcutaneous fat was thinner showed positive hunting reaction, but in their 40s and 50s the correlation among physique, physical fitness, and hunting reaction appeared rather weak. The body fat content in the women aged 60 to 69 was high compared to that in other age groups. Among them, those who had less fat and better physical fitness showed more favorable hunting reactions.

This study was conducted to investigate the safety of the umbilical venous blood for antologous transfusion in the premature newborn babies. Umbilical venous blood was collected with aseptic technique immediately after delivery from 270 healthy mothers admitted to the Yeungnam University Hospital between March 1,1992 and August 31,1992 . The volume of the blood and the time taken for collecting the blood were measured. Also the hematological and biochemical changes of the blood during storage in the refrigerator of blood band and the incidence of bacterial contamination were studied. It took 67.6+/-25.9 seconds on the average for collecting the blood from an umbilical vein and the average volume of the blood was 77.1+/-23.2ml which would be sufficient volume for one time transfusion of 10ml/kg of packed red blood cells for the neonates. The hemoglobin and hematocrit values did not change significantly during storage for three weeks. Thus significant hemolysis did not seem to occur during storage. However, platelet counts decreased significantly from 248+/-59x10E3/mm3 to 193+/-47x10E3/mm3(p<0.01). Although plasma calcium level was not changed (8.4+/-0.9mg/dL), sodium was decreased significantly from 184.3+/-11.1mEq/L to 170.9+/-13.9mEq/L(p<0.01) and potassium was incresed from 5.0+/-1.0mEq/L to 26.7+/-4.8mEp/L.(p<0.01). Plasma glucose level was decreased from 521.7+/-106.7mg/dL to 294.3+/-120.8mg/dL (p<0.01), blood pH and bicarbonate concentrations were decreased significantly from 6.825+/-0.110 to 6.378+/-.087 and from 13.5+/-1.6mEq/L to 2.1+/-1.0mEq/L respectively (p<0.01). The smear of the umbilical venous blood and peripheral blood of the neonates stained by KleihauerBetke method revealed no significant differences in the percentages of adult red blood cells. Also there were no differences in the percentages of adult ted blood calls in the umbilical venous blood samples according to time for collection. The degree of decrement of hemoglobins (1.2gm/dL) after delivery in the mothers who had sampling of the umbilical venous blood was not different from that in the mothers who didn't hava sampling. The bacterial contamination rate of the umbilical venous blood was 3.5% (95% confidence interval was from 0.7 to 6.3). It seems to be safe to use the umbilical venous blood in the neonates for autologous transfusion but confirmation of bacterial contamination by culture is necessary.
Adult ; Blood Glucose ; Calcium ; Erythrocytes ; Hematocrit ; Hemolysis ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Incidence ; Infant, Newborn* ; Mothers ; Plasma ; Platelet Count ; Potassium ; Sodium ; Umbilical Veins

No abstract available.
Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation* ; Heparin*

Allergic contact dermatitis that is attributable to contact with environmental sensitizers boine by a second individual, especially in marital or sexual relationships, has been described as connubial contact dermatitis. Severely pruritic multiple erythematous plaques, vesicles and bullae in a 35-year-old woman occurred on the face, posterior area of the neck, breasts, buttock, and both upper arms. No direct contact to allergens was obtained. However her husband had eaten some cooked sprouts from a lacquer tree for lunch at a restaurant the day before her eruption, then he caressed her that night. A patch test with extracts of lacquer tree in ethanol(2%), crushed extracts of lacquer tree (as is), and urushiol(0.002% pet.) on the patients back showed strong positive reactions.
Adult ; Allergens ; Arm ; Breast ; Buttocks ; Dermatitis, Allergic Contact ; Dermatitis, Contact* ; Female ; Humans ; Lacquer ; Lunch ; Neck ; Patch Tests ; Restaurants ; Rhus* ; Spouses ; Trees

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a scale to evaluate stress in elderly patients with coronary artery diseases (CAD) and to examine validity and reliability of the scale. METHODS: The development process for the preliminary scale included construction of a conceptual framework and initial items, verification of content analysis, sentence correction, and pilot study. This study was conducted using a questionnaire survey with one-to-one interviews during January and February, 2012. Participants were 240 elderly patients with CAD. Data were analyzed using item analysis, factor analysis, criterion related validity, and internal consistency. RESULTS: The developed scale consisted of 32 items and 6 factors - aging and disease (7 items), family relations (5 items), anxiety and withdrawal (9 items), management of daily living (3 items), compliance of medical regimen (4 items), poverty and finance (4 items), and explained 68.5% of total variance. The scale had significantly positive correlation with the Korean Perceived Stress Scale (KPSS). Cronbach's alpha was .96, and Guttman split half coefficient was .91. CONCLUSION: Results indicate that the Stress Scale for Elderly Patients with CAD has validity and reliability, and is a suitable scale in health care settings to assess stress in elderly patients with CAD.
Adaptation, Physiological ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Anxiety ; Coronary Artery Disease/*psychology ; Factor Analysis, Statistical ; Female ; Humans ; Interviews as Topic ; Male ; Middle Aged ; *Program Development ; Questionnaires ; Socioeconomic Factors ; *Stress, Psychological

We herein report a case of occupational contact urticaria syndrome induced by cefotiam di-hydrochloride in a nurse. She had generalized pruritic wheals accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea during the preparation of cefotiam solution. A scratch patch test with cefotiam di-hydrochloride, a major component of cefotiam ingredient showed multiple erythema and wheals within 5 minutes, accompanied by palpitations and tachypnea. No delayed type reaction was observed. Based on her clinical history and scratch test result, we diagnosed her condition as contact urticaria syndrome caused by cefotiam.
Cefotiam* ; Erythema ; Patch Tests ; Tachypnea ; Urticaria*

No abstract available.
Cyclosporine* ; Humans

Erythema multiforme is a self-limited, usually mild and relapsing exanthematic intolerance reaction of the skin that is etiologically most often related to recurrent herpes simplex virus infection. Until now, despite its increasing incidence, varicella zoster virus has rarely been considered as an etiologic agent. We herein report a case of erythema multiforme following herpes zoster. A 52-year-old man complained of multiple targetoid lesions with central bullae which developed 1 day ago and were progressively spreading to his whole body. He had suffered from the thoracic herpes zoster along the right T11-, and T12-dermatomes for 10 days. He had no history of HSV infection. He had been intermittently taking analgesics such as acetaminophen for 1 year because of low back pain, but had no history of drug eruption due to analgesics. Histopathologic examination showed subepidermal bulla with necrotic keratinocytes and vacuolization of the basal layer. Based on the clinical morphology and the histopathologic findings, our case could be presumptively diagnosed as a bullous erythema multiforme following herpes zoster.
Acetaminophen ; Analgesics ; Drug Eruptions ; Erythema Multiforme* ; Erythema* ; Herpes Zoster* ; Herpesvirus 3, Human ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratinocytes ; Low Back Pain ; Middle Aged ; Simplexvirus ; Skin