This study was conducted to understand health status by general characteristic, and to find out relationship between social support and worker's health status. Health status was measured using SF-36(Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36), a 36 item self administered Instrument. The finding of this study were as follow; Mean scores of health status by sex were higher in male. The younger worker reported good health on physical functioning and role limitation-physical than did the older worker, but the older worker reported good health on social functioning and mental health. Mean scores of health status were higher in high income and white worker. When the relationship between social support and health status, social functioning, role limitation-emotion, mental health, vitality, general health were significantly related. Therefore we reviewed the evidence that socio-economic condition are associated with health status in this study, and that the strength of the social support was a important to maintain health.
Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

Aneurysms of the superior mesenteric artery are rare, accounting for 8% of visceral artery aneurysms. About 60% of all superior mesenteric artery aneurysms have a mycotic origin. The only helpful clinical manifestations are episodes of previous abdominal pain and a history of valvular heart disease. In this case, a 66-year-old female patient with mitral regurgitation and aortic regurgitation presented with pain in the upper abdominal area. A superior mesenteric artery aneurysm was diagnosed at the time of impending rupture. Since excellent collateral circulation was present, an aneurysmectomy without revascularization was performed, and no ischemic symptom occurred. The patient presented no major complications during the postoperative course.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Infected* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Rupture

The p53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene and mutations in this gene play an import-ant role in the development of many human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the overexpression of p53 protein as a prognostic factor in invasive cervical cancer. Forty-three formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded blocks of invasive cervical can-cers were examined using immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody against p53. The result were as follows : 1. Immunostaining for p53 consistent with overexpression was seen in 23.8%(5 of 21) of stage I cancers and in 13.7%(4 of 22) of stage II cancers. 2. Immunostaining for p53 consistent with overexpression was seen in 21.6%(8 of 37) of squamous cell carciomas and in 0%(0 of 6) of adenocarcinomas. 3. The incidence of p53 overexpression was 25.0%(1 of 4) in cases with lymph node metastasis, compared with 17.9%(7 of 39) in cases without lymph node metastasis. 4.. The incidence of p53 overexpression was 20.0%(8 of 40) in cases with less than 4 cm, compared with 0%(0 of 3) in cases with equal to or larger than 4cm. In conclusion, p53 overexpression was not associated with stage, histologic type, and tumor size. However, there were trend for p53 overexpression to increase in patients with lymph node metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Formaldehyde ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

A growing body of literature has documented that job stress is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanism of this association remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between job stress, heart rate variability, and metabolic syndrome. The study design was cross-sectional, and a total of 169 industrial workers were recruited. A structured-questionnaire was used to assess the general characteristics and job characteristics (work demand, decision latitude). Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded using SA-2000 (medi-core), and was assessed by time-domain and by frequency-domain analyses. Time domain analysis was performed using SDNN (Standard Deviation of normal to normal interval), and spectral analysis using low-frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF), and total frequency power. Metabolic syndrome was defined on the basis of risk factors being clustered when three or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors were included in the fifth quintile: glucose, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (bottom quintile), triglyceride, and waist-hip ratio. The results showed that job characteristics were not associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Compared to the lower strain group (low strain+passive+active group), the high strain group had a less favorable cardiovascular risk profile with higher levels of blood pressure, glucose, homocysteine, and clotting factor, but the difference was not statistically significant. The SDNN of HRV was significantly lower in the high strain group than in the low strain group. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the lower strain group and high strain group was 13.2% and 23.8%, respectively. In the high strain group, the metabolic syndrome was significantly related to a decreased SDNN. However, we could not find a significant association in LF/HF ratio. This result suggests that decreased HRV found in the high-strain group are not a direct indicator of disease. However, it can induce cardiovascular abnormalities or dysfunctions related to the onset of heart disease among high risk groups.
Adult ; Aged ; *Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*physiopathology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology

In this study the relationship between occupational lead exposure and minor hearing impairment was investigated in a cross-sectional design with 50 lead exposed workers from January to April 1994, The data were collected from the interview with the structured questionnaire which included sociodemographic variables and medical histories especially ear disease and occupational histories. Lead exposure indices which were blood lead, urine lead, zinc protoporphyrin in urine, and delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine were analyzed, Also study subjects were examined pure-tone hearing test. The results were as follows ; 1. There were significant differences in lead indices between lead-exposed workers and non-exposed workers. 2. The duration of lead exposure did not affect the hearing impairment among lead exposed workers. 3. Minor hearing impairment were higher in lead-exposed workers than non-exposed workers, but there were not statisticatly significant. The result from this study indicated that lead exposed workers should be monitored to prevent hearing impairment and would be needed health education.
Aminolevulinic Acid ; Ear Diseases ; Health Education ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Tests ; Hearing* ; Questionnaires ; Zinc

PURPOSE: It is essential to know the functional and morphologic changes of the larynx in the evaluation of laryngeal lesions. Conventional CT which has relatively long examination time is not suitable for this aim. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the capability of spiral CT in the dynamic study of the larynx and to know whether this new technique can replace conventional laryngography or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five healthy volunteers and 20 patients with laryngeal lesions underwent spiral dynamic CT scans with 3-dimensional reconstruction of the mucosal surface. A series of spiral CT scans were done while the volunteers performed various laryngeal positions to obtain the functional and morphologic information. The maneuvers used were:quite breathing, "E" phonation, Valsalva maneuver, modified Valsalva maneuver, and a new method of our own, "modified breath holding" technique. The patients were scanned when in quite breathing. Additioal scans were obtained by using the "modified breath holding" technique. RESULTS: The dynamic study with spiral CT could provide high resolutional images which nicely depicted the mobility of vocal cords and the mucosal changes of the laryngeal cavity in both healthy volunteer and patient groups. In patient group, the new "modified breath holding" technique was easier and more reproducible than other maneuvers. CONCLUSION: Spiral CT allows a dynamic study of the larynx and can be a new alternative of laryngography.
Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Larynx* ; Phonation ; Respiration ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Valsalva Maneuver ; Vocal Cords ; Volunteers

It may be difficult to establish laboratory information system(LIS) on radioimmunoassay works, which may result in many technical problems on computerization. Recently we have developed integrated information system in the radioimmunoassay works of endocrine laboratory in Kyung Hee Medical center. We have used VAX-6510 with 64 MB main memory and VAX-6210 with 32 MB main memory (DEC; Digital Equipment INC) which are main computers of the hospital. Additional devices were only 4 terminals and 4 printers in the laboratory and the office. This system has measurably changed the allocation of technologists' time and effort, the number of the clerical support staff in the laboratory and the speed and accuracy of laboratory response. And physicians could easily obtain and compare the patients' current and past laboratory results with computerization. In this article we have focused on experience gained in the automation of radioimmunoassay works of endocrine laboratory. The authors suggest that this computerized system of endocrine laboratory could provide a progressive approach to total LIS and it could serve as a model for other hospitals.
Automation ; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems* ; Information Systems ; Memory ; Radioimmunoassay*

PURPOSE: CT or MRT is performed in preoperative staging of laryngeal cancer. These methods are used in assessment of the deep tissues and cartilage of the larynx, but cannot compete with laryngoscopy in the evaluation of the laryngeal surface. The purpose of this study is to evaluate feasibilty and clinical value of the 3-D reconstruction of the mucosal surface in laryngeal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty two patients with laryngeal cancer proved by means of surgical.exploration (pathologic) or clinical examinations including laryngoscope, imaging studies and biopsy underwent preoperative staging with computed tomography(G-P);and three dimensional(3D) CT reconstruction. The TNM classification of the American Joint Committee on Cancer was used to compare the imaging findings with pathologic or clinical staging. RESULTS: When the extension of primary tumor(T staging) was evaluated, the findings at only transaxial CT and those at pathologic or clinical examination were concordant in 8 of 14 cases(57.1%) of supraglottic tumor, and 3 of 6 cases(50%) of glottic tumor. The overall accuracy of CT with additional 3D-reconstruction was 85.7% for assessment of supraglottic tumor, and 66.6% for glottic tumor. CONCLUSION: 3D CT reconstruction after transaxial CT may improve outcome in preoperative staging of laryngeal cancer and has a potential value in guiding management decisions.
Biopsy ; Cartilage ; Classification ; Humans ; Joints ; Laryngeal Neoplasms* ; Laryngoscopes ; Laryngoscopy ; Larynx

In order to test scaling assumption, and to assess the validity, reliability, and acceptability of the Short Form 36(SF-36) health survey questionnaire, we conducted a survey. Samples were 296 workers who had been employed in small sized companies. All scale passed for item internal consistency(100% sucess rate) and item discriminant validity(100% success rate). Reliability coefficients were ranged from a low of 0.51 to a high of 0.85. For 87.5% of the total workers, inconsistent responses were not observed. Only 3.0% of the total workers failed two or more checks. Factor analysis was performed using principal axis factor method and quartimax rotation. In this survey, the SF-36 retained available psychometric properties even when used in a generally healthy worker group. But further study with some consideration to develope health status measurement is expected ; first, the definition of health status should be rationalized. Second, the measurement of outcome is an important consideration in evaluations of quality of care. But ambiguities hinder understanding of this important topic. Third, internal consistency should be interpreted with caution as an indication reliability because it ignores potentially important sources of variation that can occur over time.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Health Surveys ; Psychometrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results*

This study was conducted to integrate the results of previous studies which evaluated hypertension as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disorders (CVD) in Koreans. We retrieved the Korean literature using a manual search and the English literature using the MEDLINE database concerning the relationship between hypertension and CVD in Koreans from 1980 to 1997. The overall effect size of hypertension as a risk factor of CVD was represented by common odds ratio (OR). Before the integration of each effect size, a heterogeneity test and a sensitivity test was conducted. The materials were nine published epidemiologic studies with a total of 2,271 cases of CVD. The common ORs (95% confidence interval) of overall CVD, hemorrhagic CVD and ischemic CVD associated with hypertension were 4.10 (3.56-4.71), 6.56 (4.92-8.80) and 3.28 (2.77-3.90), respectively. Thus, the common OR of hemorrhagic CVD associated with hypertension was significantly higher than that of overall or ischemic CVD. This suggests that hypertension is an important risk factor for overall CVD and its subtypes in Koreans. Due to the lack of reliable prospective studies, however, longitudinal study is required in this area.
Cerebrovascular Accident/etiology* ; Human ; Hypertension/complications* ; Randomized Controlled Trials ; Risk Factors