No abstract available.
Acromegaly* ; Fibrous Dysplasia, Polyostotic*

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to evaluate relationship of burdened work and musculoskeletal symptoms in small-to-medium sized enterprises. METHOD: After a questionnaire survey was administered to 9,950 workers in 122 workplace, 7,626 workers(76.6%) were finally selected for the study analysis. Industrial hygienists visited 122 small-to-medium sized enterprises to investigate the presence of burdened works within the workplace. The selection of jobs with significant burden was based on the Ministry of Labor's recent notification in 11 types of job description associated with musculoskeletal disorders. The subjects of this study were then divided into three categories. 1) non-burdened white collar workers, 2) non-burdened blue collar workers, and 3) burdened workers (include some VDT workers). Multiple logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between burdened work and musculoskeletal symptoms. RESULTS: The burdened workers reported significantly more musculoskeletal symptoms than non-burdened white collar workers and non-burdened blue collar workers(OR:1.57, 95% CI: 1.314-1.875). There was no significant difference in reports of musculoskeletal symptoms between non-burdened white and blue collar workers. CONCLUSION: To prevent or diminish musculoskeletal disorders in small-to-medium sized enterprises, we need to better manage burdened works.
Job Description ; Logistic Models ; Questionnaires

The end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy is usually treated with cardiac transplantation although some limited success have also been obtained in selected patients using dynamic cardiomyoplasty or medical assist devices. Recently, a new surgical alternatives, called partial left ventriculectomy (PLV) was introduced by Randas J. V Batista in 1995. A 40-year-old man who had end-stage dilated cardiomyopathy refractory to optimal doses of medicines underwent partial left ventriculectomy (Batista's operation), which reduces ventricular volume to improve left ventricular function. The left ventricular ejection fraction increased from 20 % to 58 % at 4 month after operation.
Adult ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Cardiomyoplasty ; Heart Transplantation ; Humans ; Stroke Volume ; Ventricular Function, Left

Single coronary artery is rare and the application of coronary angioplasty to these arteies presents unique technical challenge. As technical advances in the guiding catheter and balloon system occur, more challenging lesions including anomalous coronary artery are able to be treated. Correct guiding catheter selection is important to ensure adequate access to the anomalous vessel and provide support to cross the lesion. This report describes successful angioplasty with stent in right coronary artery of single ostium coronary anomaly in a patient presenting with an acute myocardial infaction.
Angioplasty ; Catheters ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Stents*

PURPOSE: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is recognized as an important cause of not only healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) but also community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). We determined the impact of MRSA on differences in clinical characteristics, courses, and outcomes between CAP and HCAP. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective observational study on 78 adult patients admitted with MRSA pneumonia at a university-affiliated tertiary hospital between January 2008 and December 2011. We compared baseline characteristics, chest radiographs, treatment outcomes, and drug resistance patterns between the CAP and HCAP groups. RESULTS: Of the 78 patients with MRSA pneumonia, 57 (73.1%) were HCAP and 21 (26.9%) were CAP. MRSA infection history in the previous year (29.8% vs. 14.3%, p=0.244) tended to be more common in HCAP than in CAP. Despite similar Pneumonia Severity Index scores (151 in CAP vs. 142 in HCAP), intubation rates (38.1% vs. 17.5%; p=0.072) and intensive care unit admission (42.9% vs. 22.8%; p=0.095) tended to be higher in the CAP group, while 28-day mortality was higher in the HCAP group (14.3% vs. 26.3%; p=0.368), although without statistical significance. All patients showed sensitivity to vancomycin and linezolid; meanwhile, HCAP patients showed greater resistance to gentamicin than CAP patients (58.3% vs. 16.6%; p=0.037). The median total hospital charges were 6899 American dollars for CAP and 5715 American dollars for HCAP (p=0.161). CONCLUSION: MRSA pneumonia showed significantly differences in baseline characteristics, chest radiographs, treatment outcomes, and medical expenses between HCAP and CAP groups.
Aged ; Community-Acquired Infections/*microbiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus/*pathogenicity ; Middle Aged ; Pneumonia/*microbiology ; Retrospective Studies

Trichloroethylene (TCE) is a toxic chemical commonly used as a degreasing agent, and it is usually found in a colorless or blue liquid form. TCE has a sweet, chloroform-like odor, and this volatile chlorinated organic chemical can cause toxic hepatitis, neurophysiological disorders, skin disorders, and hypersensitivity syndromes. However, the hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) attributed to TCE has rarely been reported. We hereby describe a case of HP associated with TCE in a 29-year-old man who was employed as a lead welder at a computer repair center. He was installing the capacitors on computer chip boards and had been wiped down with TCE. He was admitted to our hospital with complaints of dry coughs, night sweats, and weight losses for the past two months. HP due to TCE exposure was being suspected due to his occupational history, and the results of a video-associated thoracoscopic biopsy confirmed the suspicions. Symptoms have resolved after the steroid pulse therapy and his occupational change. TCE should be taken into consideration as a potential trigger of HP. Early recognition and avoidance of the TCE exposure in the future is important for the treatment of TCE induced HP.
Adult ; Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic* ; Biopsy ; Cough ; Drug-Induced Liver Injury ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity* ; Lung Diseases ; Occupational Exposure ; Odors ; Skin ; Sweat ; Trichloroethylene* ; Weight Loss

PURPOSE: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is common in critically ill patients. Serum cystatin C has emerged as a reliable marker of AKI. We sought to assess the value of serum cystatin C for early detection and prediction of renal function recovery in patients with sepsis. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sepsis patients (113 AKI patients and 49 non-AKI patients) admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) were included. Serum creatinine and cystatin C levels and glomerular filtration rate were measured on days 0, 1, 3, and 7. RESULTS: Serum cystatin C levels were significantly higher in AKI patients than in non-AKI patients at all time points. Multivariate analysis showed that only serum cystatin C levels on day 0 were associated with AKI development [odds ratio (OR)=19.30; 95% confidence interval (CI)= 2.58–144.50, p<0.001]. Linear mixed model analysis showed significant variation in cystatin C levels between the recovery and non-recovery groups over time (p=0.001). High levels of serum cystatin C at day 0 (OR=1.64; 95% CI=1.00–2.68, p=0.048) were associated with recovery of AKI. CONCLUSION: Serum cystatin C level was found to be associated with the development and worsening of AKI in ICU patients with sepsis.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Creatinine ; Critical Illness ; Cystatin C* ; Diagnosis* ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Kidney* ; Multivariate Analysis ; Recovery of Function* ; Sepsis

Hypertrophic obstructive cardiomyopathy (HOCM) is characterized by inappropriate myocardial hypertrophy that occurred in the absence of an obvious cause for the hypertrophy and dynamic left ventricular outflow tract obstruction, caused by asymmetrical septal hypertrophy and systolic anterior motion of the anterior mitral leaflet. The pathophysiological abnormality in HOCM is diastolic dysfunction, abnormal stiffness of the left ventricle with resultant impaired ventricular filling and impaired vasodilator reserve (perhaps related to the thickened and narrowed small intramural coronary arteries found in HOCM). During the early course of this progressive disease, treatment consists of negative inotropic drugs. Surgery has been the only therapeutic option in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy who are resistant to drug treatment and sequential pacemaker therapy. We describe a novel catheter-based technique that may replace surgical myocardial reduction. The technique is interventional infarction of a portion of the interventricular septum by the infusion of alcohol into a selectively catheterized septal artery.
Arteries ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic* ; Catheters ; Coronary Vessels ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Infarction

BACKGROUND: To evaluate the clinical characteristics of lung cancer patients in Korea, where there is a higher number of smokers than in Western countries. METHODS: A retrospective study was performed on 1655 lung cancer patients, who were diagnosed at a university hospital between September 1996 and August 2005. Age, gender, cell types and clinical stage were analysed. Of 941 patients, who responded to a questionnaire at the time of diagnosis, the smoking habits, occupational history, family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives, coexisting diseases (diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease), body weight loss, ECOG performance status and presenting symptoms, were examined prospectively. In addition, coexisting diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and active pulmonary tuberculosis were evaluated. RESULTS: Of the 1655 patients, the male to females ratio was 3.6. Squamous cell carcinoma was the most common cancer whereas adenocarcinoma was more common in lifetime nonsmokers or women. 19.9% of the patients were non smokers and 80.1% ever smokers. Since 2000, there was an increase in the incidence of adenocarcinoma with a corresponding decrease in the incidence of squamous cell carcinoma. 6.2% of patients were asymptomatic. A coincident diagnosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus, active pulmonary tuberculosis, and idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was made in: 44.1%, 22.2%, 10.7%, 3.9%, and 1.6% of patients, respectively. A positive family history of lung cancer in the first-degree relatives was identified in 4.4% of patients. An occupational history relevant to lung cancer was identified in 12.2% of patients. CONCLUSION: There is a high proportion of cigarette smokers in Korean lung cancer patients. The most common cell type was squamous cell carcinoma. However, a more detailed, prospective study of the clinical characteristics will be needed to better characterize lung cancer in Korea.
Adenocarcinoma ; Body Weight ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis ; Incidence ; Korea ; Lung Neoplasms* ; Lung* ; Male ; Prospective Studies ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tertiary Care Centers* ; Tobacco Products ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Treatment of lung cancer in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is difficult because the mortality rate after surgery or chemotherapy is high for these patients. Spontaneous regression of cancer is rare, especially in lung cancer. A 62-year-old man, previously diagnosed with IPF, presented with stage IIIC (T2N3M0) non-small cell lung cancer. About 4 months later, spontaneous regression of the primary tumor was observed without treatment. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous regression of lung cancer in a patient with IPF.
Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung* ; Drug Therapy ; Fibrosis ; Humans ; Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis* ; Lung Neoplasms ; Middle Aged ; Mortality ; Neoplasm Regression, Spontaneous