BACKGROUND: Caplan originally described a condition, now reffered to as Caplan's syndrome or Caplan's disease, where progressive massive fibrosis was exhibited by coal miners with multiple pulmonary nodules, and rheumatoid arthritis. This syndrome is very rare in Korea. CASE REPORT: The patient was a 49-year old male, with occupational history as a stonemason for 25 years. Silicosis was diagnosed by chest X-ray, while rheumatoid arthritis was diagnosed by immunological examination. Caplan's syndrome was confirmed based on these findings, occupational history, and clinical symptoms. DISCUSSION: The authors report on the patient's Caplan's syndrome, with a particular focus on his silicosis.
Arthritis, Rheumatoid ; Caplan Syndrome ; Coal ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Multiple Pulmonary Nodules ; Pneumoconiosis ; Silicosis ; Thorax

Sand dust is a source of particulate matter (PM) in Korea. Recently, an attention has been focused on the health effects of PM and fine PM. Here we examine the possible mechanisms of PM disposition and review the literature on the health effects of PM. PM can enter and accumulate in the respiratory tract via impaction, gravitational settling, diffusion, and electrostatic attractions. PM may cause oxidative stress, inflammation, direct penetration, and increased blood viscosity. This literature review revealed that PM exposure is associated with several health risks, such as mortality and respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Furthermore, PM exposure may be linked to lung cancer. Thus, a comprehensive approach is needed to manage PM and reduce its environmental exposure and related health effects.
Air Pollutants ; Blood Viscosity ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diffusion ; Dust ; Environmental Exposure ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mortality ; Oxidative Stress ; Particulate Matter* ; Respiratory System ; Silicon Dioxide

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between lifestyle-implementation and metabolic syndrome in an electronics research and development company, and to provide a foundation for health providers of health management programs for setting priorities. METHODS: From July 1 to July 16, 2008 we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Consecutive workers of one R & D company in Seoul, Korea (N=2,079) were enrolled in study. A checklist for lifestyle (from the National Health Insurance Corporation) consisted of questions regarding diet, drinking, smoking and exercise. After the survey, researchers obtained data from health profiles for metabolic syndrome(waist-circumference, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting blood sugar level). Lifestyle was recorded as good or not good. Statistical analysis of metabolic syndrome and the lifestyle of subjects was done using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our study gropu was 13.3% (N=277). After adjustment for age, the adjusted odds ratios (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals) for metabolic syndrome increased in proportion to the number of bad habits: two (1.72, 1.23-2.44), three (2.47, 1.73-3.56), and four (3.63, 2.03-6.34). Relative to subjects eating both vegetables and meat', the OR for 'meat' eaters was 1.66 (1.18-2.31). Compared with 'non-smokers and ever-smoker', the OR for 'current-smoker' was 1.62 (1.25-2.10). Compared with 'Healthy drinker', the OR for 'unhealthy drinker' was 1.38 (1.05-1.83). CONCLUSIONS: Poor lifestyle was associated with an increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome. These findings suggest that lifestyle-based occupational health interventions for young employees should include a specific diet, smoking cessation, and healthy-drinking programs.
Adult ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weights and Measures ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Electronics ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; *Life Style ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Men's Health ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology ; Prevalence ; *Research

PURPOSE: This study was done to investigate factors affecting preparation stage to quit smoking in men. METHODS: Based on data from the Community Health Survey conducted in Chungbuk Province in 2008, we estimated rates and odds ratio (OR) of smoking cessation intention for 2,639 men who were current smokers. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to identify factors affecting preparation stage to quit smoking. RESULTS: Among current male smokers, the rate of smoking cessation intention was 17.1%. The OR of factors affecting smoking cessation was as follows: Compared to men with middle school education, the OR for rate of smoking cessation intention in men with high school education was 1.47 (p=.018), and for college or higher, 1.55 (p=.017). Compared to being single, the OR for cohabitation after marriage was 1.61 (p=.011) and living alone after marriage, 2.23 (p=.005). The OR for attempt to quit smoking, exposure to secondhand smoke and participation in smoking education were 6.80 (p<.001), 1.32 (p=.020) and 1.69 (p=.005), respectively. CONCLUSION: Results of this study show that it is necessary to decrease exposure to secondhand smoke and to increase participation in smoking cessation education targeting current smokers to move them from precontemplation or contemplation stage to preparation stage.
Adult ; Age Factors ; Aged ; Demography ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Marriage ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Smoking/*psychology ; *Smoking Cessation ; Tobacco Smoke Pollution ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to estimate musculo-skeletal symtoms of municipal sanitation workers and to evaluate working conditions of municipal sanitation workers to search for the factors related to musculo-skeletal symptoms. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey. The study subjects were comprised of 543 municipal sanitation workers in some divisions of Seoul and the Gyeonggi province. Musculo-skeletal analysis was done by using the modified criteria of NIOSH musuclo-skeletal symptoms, RULA and, REBA. Statistical analysis was done by using the chi-square test, multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: 72.2% of the subjects complained musculo-skeletal symptoms (39.6% on the upperlimbs, 30.0% on the lumbar region, 27.4% on the legs). For the musculo-skeletal symptoms criteria (1~3), street cleaners complained of more musculo-skeletal symptoms than the solid waste collectors, after classifying the jobs of sanitation workers. On logistic regression analysis of the musculo-skeletal "symptoms criteria1" positive groups, age was related to the criteria positive (prevalence odds ratio=1.018, 95% CI: 0.993-1.046). The worktime was significantly related to 'criteria positive 1 and, 2' (prevalence odds ratio=2.165 (95% CI: 1.156-4.131), 2.187 times (95% CI: 1.071-4.651)). The RULA score, the subtotal A score of RULA, the REBA score and , the total A REBA score of the upperlimbs of solid waste collectors were higher than those of the street cleaners. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of the lower ergonomic evaluation score of the street cleaner, the street cleaners complained of more musculo-skeletal symptoms than did the solid waste collectors due to more frequent repetitive motions, a longer work time (over 10 hours) etc. It is suggested that the sanitation workers need to use the proper methods to avoid musculo-skeletal disease.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Human Engineering ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Lumbosacral Region ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Sanitation ; Solid Waste ; Task Performance and Analysis ; Upper Extremity

OBJECTIVES: Dental technicians are exposed to various toxic materials in the workplace. The objectives of this study were to assess the pulmonary function of dental technicians and to evaluate the association between work-related factors and pulmonary function of dental technicians. METHODS: Study subjects were 209 dental technicians in the Korean Dental Technologist Association. A self-report questionnaire including general characteristics, respiratory symptoms, and work-related characteristics was conducted on study subjects, and a pulmonary function test (PFT) was done. Study subjects were classified into two groups(normal and abnormal pulmonary function) based on the pulmonary function test (PFT). RESULTS: 43 subjects (20.6%) among 209 subjects had abnormal pulmonary function. After adjusting for general characteristics such as age, sex, past medical history, familial history, and smoking status, the odds ratio for work duration (per year) was 1.42(95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14~1.83). After adjusting for general and work-related characteristics, the odds ratio for work duration (per year) was 1.48(95% CI 1.18~1.92). CONCLUSIONS: Dental technicians are exposed to hazardous materials, which might lead to abnormal pulmonary function. A long work duration could increase exposure time, thereby increasing the chance for abnormal pulmonary function. Therefore, pulmonary function tests should be carried out periodically in dental technicians to ensure their pulmonary health.
Dental Technicians ; Dietary Sucrose ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: Longitudinal changes in the prevalence of self-reported physician-diagnosed allergic rhinitis (AR) in Korea and the association between the prevalence of AR and type of residence area among Korean males and females in 1998, 2001, 2005 and 2007-2009 were evaluated. METHODS: Age-standardized prevalence was calculated using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) I-IV. Stratified factors of sex, age, and socioeconomic status were adjusted to compare the prevalence of AR in relation to residential area by multiple logistic analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of AR increased by tenfolds from 1.2 % in 1998 to 12.0 % in 2007-2009. The trends for prevalence of AR were also statistically significant (p < .05). The age-standardized prevalence of AR among urban females was higher (13.9%) than that in rural females (11.5%). After adjustment for survey years, age, socioeconomic levels and asthma, the odds of AR were higher in urban than rural residents, except for males in 1998. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AR in Korea has increased over the past decade, and living in an urban area may be a susceptible factor. For prevention and management of AR, further evaluations of contributing factors and mechanisms underlying differences in AR are needed.
Asthma ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis ; Rhinitis, Allergic, Perennial ; Social Class ; Urbanization

BACKGROUND: A variety of sociodemographic factors, such as gender, age, household income, and educational level, influence individuals' likelihood of smoking. Work-related factors may also be linked to smoking behavior. We sought to investigate the relationship between smoking and work environment in South Korea. METHODS: We analyzed data from the Fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to determine whether there was an association between smoking and occupation type (e.g., manual, nonmanual, or service work), night-shift work, and hours worked/week (e.g., <40, 40-48, 49-60, or >60 hours) for 4,685 workers. Regression models were adjusted for sociodemographic variables such as age, recent alcohol consumption, hours slept, educational level, and household income. RESULTS: The prevalence of smoking was 50.1% in men and 7.2% in women. For women, manual workers had 2.34 times [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.02-5.36] greater odds of smoking compared with nonmanual workers, whereas service workers had 2.37 times greater odds (95% CI: 1.28-4.40). Furthermore, women who worked 49-60 hours had 2.21 times greater odds of smoking (95% CI: 1.10-3.75) as compared with women who worked 40-48 hours. CONCLUSION: Women who work long hours or who are employed in service or manual positions are more likely to smoke. These results indicate a need in South Korea to target these specific groups when creating nonsmoking policies.
Alcohol Drinking ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea* ; Smoke* ; Smoking*

The main role of industrial accident compensation insurance is to protect injured workers and their families by providing various benefits. If a certain disease occurs due to work, the worker must prove the causal relationship between the work and the disease, although it is not easy for injured workers to do so. The epidemiological approach to causality is based on a comparison of the incidence rate in exposed and non-exposed groups. Recently, some arguments have been made regarding the application of epidemiological causality in litigation related to tobacco and some environmental-related diseases. The 3 main points of dispute are as follows: 1) the distinction between specific and non-specific diseases and causal inference, 2) the relative risk and the attributable fraction of the causative factor for the related disease, and 3) the application of population-level epidemiological study results to individual causation. Until now, the main approach to the causality of occupational diseases has been proximate causal relationships because of the practical difficulties in applying epidemiological causality to all events. As coverage under the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance Act expands, the application of epidemiological causality must be considered, as well as the expansion of applicable occupational diseases. Moreover, doing that could provide enough evidence for managers and workers to take steps to prevent occupational disease. The safety net provided by industrial accident compensation insurance for protecting injured workers needs to be implemented on the basis of scientific evidence.

Background/Aims: The aim of the study was to investigate the current nationwide burden of nosocomial exposure to tuberculosis (TB) using national health insurance claims data. Methods: All patients who had claims for drug susceptibility testing for TB from 2012 to 2016, which indicated culture-proven TB, were included. The first day of the infectious period was defined as 3 months before a doctor’s suspicion of TB in patients with respiratory symptoms and 1 month before in patients without symptoms. The last day of the infectious period was defined as one day before the prescription of anti-TB medications. Patients hospitalized during infectious periods were investigated and their hospitalization days were calculated. Records of medical procedures which increased the risk of nosocomial transmission by generating aerosols were also investigated. Results: A total of 7,186 cases with 94,636 person-days of hospitalization with unrecognized active TB were found. Patients above 60 years of age accounted for 63.99% of the total number and 69.70% of the total duration of hospitalization. TB patients in the older age group showed a trend toward higher risks for hospitalization with unrecognized active TB. Patients in their 80s showed the highest risk (12.65%). Bronchoscopy (28.86%), nebulizer therapy (28.48%), and endotracheal intubation (13.02%) were common procedures performed in these patients during hospitalization. Conclusions The burden of nosocomial exposure to TB in South Korea is still substantial. Hospitalization with unrecognized active TB, especially among the elderly TB patients could be a serious public health issue in South Korea.