OBJECTIVES: Work-related musculoskeletal disorder (WMSD) of the neck is a frequent health problem in dental hygienists. This study was conducted to assess the risk factors of neck musculoskeletal disorder (neck MSD) using video recording. METHODS: The subjects were 50 currently working dental hygienists who agreed to participate in this study. A standardized questionnaire about WMSD (NIOSH/KOSHA) was distributed and video recording for neck posture and motion was performed between August and October 2012. The video recording was performed for 5 minutes using the reflective marker attachment on the 7th cervical vertebra. Major observation points included neck flexion angle, number of flexions, and length of static work when performing scaling and prosthetic procedures. Data were analyzed using MedCalc (ver 12.3.0, Mariakerke, Belgium), and the risk factors for neck MSD were assessed using simple and multiple variate analysis. RESULTS: The mean age and work experience of the subjects were 27.9 years and 5 years respectively. The prevalence of neck MSD symptoms that met NIOSH/KOSHA's criteria was 48%. The mean angle of neck flexion was 54.6°, mean maximum angle of flexion was 64.8°, and the mean time of static posture was 4.8 minutes during the 5 minutes recording interval. In the multiple logistic regression analysis adjusted by career, daily work time, and posture, the prevalence of neck MSD symptoms increased by 1.47 times (95% CI=0.24–9.48) with flexion >45°, and by 4.90 times (95% CI=0.91–26.4) when a static posture was preserved for >4.8 minutes CONCLUSIONS: The measured angle of flexion and time of preserved static posture identified further serious than expected. Therefore, to reduce the risk of neck MSD, reasonable and practically applicable guidelines to correct neck bending and tilting, especially to relax the long static posture associated with flexion, should be prepared.
Dental Hygienists* ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Neck* ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Spine ; Video Recording*

PURPOSE: To analyze the reasons for glaucoma evaluation and distribution of new patients visiting the glaucoma department. METHODS: In a retrospective study, 330 new patients underwent ocular examination using Goldmann applanation tonometry, gonioscopy, optic disc analysis, optical coherence tomography, and Humphrey perimeter under suspicion of glaucoma for the first time in the Glaucoma Department from January 2013 to December 2013. We analyzed the reasons and their diagnostic outcomes. RESULTS: The reasons for glaucoma evaluation were health screening (103 patients, 32.49%), other symptoms (102 patients, 31.55%), known glaucoma (56 patients, 17.67%), pre-refractive surgery evaluation (31 patients, 9.78%), family history (19 patients, 5.99%), and high myopia (6 patients, 1.89%). The diagnostic outcomes were as follows: glaucoma (139 patients, 43.85%), glaucoma suspect (60 patients, 18.93%), ocular hypertension (9 patients, 2.84%), neither glaucoma nor ocular hypertension (79 patients, 24.92%), normal (30 patients, 9.46%). The percentages of confirmed glaucoma according to the reasons for glaucoma evaluation were as follows: health screening, 26.21%; other symptoms, 40.20%; known glaucoma, 85.71%; pre-refractive surgery evaluation, 58.06%; family history, 15.79% and high myopia, 33.33%. CONCLUSIONS: The reasons for glaucoma evaluation were diverse. Glaucoma was confirmed in 43.85% of the patients and the predicted value of positive test for glaucoma including glaucoma suspect and ocular hypertension was 65.62%.
Glaucoma* ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Manometry ; Mass Screening ; Myopia ; Ocular Hypertension ; Outpatients* ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence

Objectives: This study aimed to objectively evaluate factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders by measuring the range of motion of the cervical spine. Using three-dimensional motion analysis, the degree of flexion, lateral flexion and rotation were compared between dental hygiene students and dental hygienists during dental scaling. Methods: Muscle activity in the range of motion of the cervical vertebrae was measured in 35 dental hygiene students and 15 dental hygienists while scaling. Data were collected and processed using the biofeedback exercise function of the 2EM (4D-MT, Relive, Gimhae, Korea), an electromyography measuring device. A three-dimensional motion analysis sensor was attached to the subject’s right external auditory canal, and the joint angle was measured at 20 Hz. Results: Cervical flexion (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students.Cervical flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher in students than in dental hygienists. For cervical lateral flexion of 15°-45° and >45°, dental hygienists measured higher than students. In contrast, cervical lateral flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher among students than dental hygienists. Cervical rotation (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students. No dental hygienist’s cervical rotation measured over 45°, and more students reached the 45° measurement than dental hygienists. Conclusions Flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation were measured higher in dental hygienists then dental hygiene students. The results indicated that the range of motion of the cervical spine in the two groups exceeded the average scores for normal flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation by more than 15°, thereby increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Objectives: This study aimed to objectively evaluate factors associated with musculoskeletal disorders by measuring the range of motion of the cervical spine. Using three-dimensional motion analysis, the degree of flexion, lateral flexion and rotation were compared between dental hygiene students and dental hygienists during dental scaling. Methods: Muscle activity in the range of motion of the cervical vertebrae was measured in 35 dental hygiene students and 15 dental hygienists while scaling. Data were collected and processed using the biofeedback exercise function of the 2EM (4D-MT, Relive, Gimhae, Korea), an electromyography measuring device. A three-dimensional motion analysis sensor was attached to the subject’s right external auditory canal, and the joint angle was measured at 20 Hz. Results: Cervical flexion (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students.Cervical flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher in students than in dental hygienists. For cervical lateral flexion of 15°-45° and >45°, dental hygienists measured higher than students. In contrast, cervical lateral flexion within 15° of the normal range was higher among students than dental hygienists. Cervical rotation (15°-45°) was measured higher in dental hygienists than in students. No dental hygienist’s cervical rotation measured over 45°, and more students reached the 45° measurement than dental hygienists. Conclusions Flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation were measured higher in dental hygienists then dental hygiene students. The results indicated that the range of motion of the cervical spine in the two groups exceeded the average scores for normal flexion, lateral flexion, and rotation by more than 15°, thereby increasing the risk of musculoskeletal disorders.

Background: Disinfection is essential for the prevention of hospital infection. The electrolyzed oxidized water generated by WATRIX(R)-10G(Microbank co., Korea) was recently developed as a disinfectant. This is not costly and does not cause any clinical problems and environmental pollution. We evaluated bactericidal activity of the electrolyzed oxidized water generated by WATRIX(R)-10G against several clinical isolates of bacteria and yeasts. Methods: 23 strains of bacteria and four strains of yeast were exposed to the electrolyzed oxidized water(40&50ppm HOel) generated by WATRIX(R)-10G for the various periods (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 10, 15, 30, 60minutes). After the exposure to electrolyzed oxidized water, 0.01mL of mixture of microorganisms and electrolyzed oxidized water was inoculated into brain-heart infusion broth or onto Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated at 35degrees C for 48 hours. Results: All strains of bacteria and yeast were killed within 30 seconds after an exposure to 40 ppm of electrolyzed oxidized water. All vegetative forms of Bacillus subtills were killed within 10, 4 and 2 minutes in 30, 40 and 50 ppm of electrolyzed oxidized water. respectively. But, all spore forms of Bacillus subtilis were killed within 30, 15 and 10 minutes in 30, 40 and 50 ppm of electrolyzed oxidized water respectively. Conclusions: This study showed that the electrolyzed oxidized water generated by WATRIX(R)-10G was effective not only for the disinfection of commonly isolated bacteria and yeast from hospital but also against spore-forming bacteria. It may be recommended that WATRIX(R)-10G should be used for the effective disinfection of skin, instruments ,hospital floors and hand-washing.
Agar ; Bacillus ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacteria ; Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Environmental Pollution ; Glucose ; Skin ; Spores ; Water* ; Yeasts

Background: Disinfection is essential for the prevention of hospital infection. The electrolyzed oxidized water generated by WATRIX(R)-10G(Microbank co., Korea) was recently developed as a disinfectant. This is not costly and does not cause any clinical problems and environmental pollution. We evaluated bactericidal activity of the electrolyzed oxidized water generated by WATRIX(R)-10G against several clinical isolates of bacteria and yeasts. Methods: 23 strains of bacteria and four strains of yeast were exposed to the electrolyzed oxidized water(40&50ppm HOel) generated by WATRIX(R)-10G for the various periods (0.5, 1, 2, 4, 10, 15, 30, 60minutes). After the exposure to electrolyzed oxidized water, 0.01mL of mixture of microorganisms and electrolyzed oxidized water was inoculated into brain-heart infusion broth or onto Sabouraud dextrose agar and incubated at 35degrees C for 48 hours. Results: All strains of bacteria and yeast were killed within 30 seconds after an exposure to 40 ppm of electrolyzed oxidized water. All vegetative forms of Bacillus subtills were killed within 10, 4 and 2 minutes in 30, 40 and 50 ppm of electrolyzed oxidized water. respectively. But, all spore forms of Bacillus subtilis were killed within 30, 15 and 10 minutes in 30, 40 and 50 ppm of electrolyzed oxidized water respectively. Conclusions: This study showed that the electrolyzed oxidized water generated by WATRIX(R)-10G was effective not only for the disinfection of commonly isolated bacteria and yeast from hospital but also against spore-forming bacteria. It may be recommended that WATRIX(R)-10G should be used for the effective disinfection of skin, instruments ,hospital floors and hand-washing.
Agar ; Bacillus ; Bacillus subtilis ; Bacteria ; Cross Infection ; Disinfection ; Environmental Pollution ; Glucose ; Skin ; Spores ; Water* ; Yeasts

PURPOSE: To report clinical characteristics of thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy (TAO) in patients who previously underwent total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer or a benign mass of the thyroid. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Of the patients who were diagnosed with TAO from March 2008 to March 2012, we performed a retrospective chart review on those who had undergone total thyroidectomy for thyroid cancer or a benign mass of the thyroid before the occurrence of ophthalmopathy. RESULTS: Of the 206 patients diagnosed with TAO, seven (3.4%) met the inclusion criteria. The mean age of the subjects was 47.4 years, and all were female. Six patients were diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer, and one was diagnosed with a benign mass. The duration between total thyroidectomy and onset of TAO ranged from 3-120 months (median 48 months). Ophthalmic manifestations varied among cases. Except for the patient who was diagnosed with a benign mass, all patients showed hyperthyroid status and were under Synthroid hormone treatment at the time of TAO development. Five of these six patients had positive levels of thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) receptor autoantibodies. CONCLUSION: TAO rarely develops after total thyroidectomy, and the mechanism of TAO occurrence is unclear. However, most patients showed abnormalities in thyroid function and TSH receptor autoantibodies.
Adult ; Aged ; Autoantibodies/blood ; Carcinoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary/immunology/surgery ; Female ; Graves Ophthalmopathy/*diagnosis/immunology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Postoperative Complications/etiology/immunology/pathology ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Retrospective Studies ; Thyroid Neoplasms/complications/*surgery ; Thyroidectomy/adverse effects/*methods ; Thyrotropin/blood ; Treatment Outcome

No abstract available.
Thyrotoxicosis*

We investigated the optimal condition of thyroid stimulating antibody(TSAb) assay using Chinese hamster ovary cells transfected with cDNA of human TSH receptor(TSHr-CHO) stably expressing functional TSH receptors. The extracellular cAMP responses of TSHr-CHO cells to the stimulation of bTSH or Graves' IgG were observed in three different incubation media. Stimulation indices of extracellular cAMP were higher when sucrose containing NaCl-free isotonic Hank's balanced salt solution(HBSS)(media A)was used as incubation media than those of NaCl-free hypotonic HBSS(media B) or those of NaCl containing isotonic HBSS(media C). The incubation of TSHr-CHO cells in media B caused marked increase in the basal cAMP level without concomittant fold-increase in the stimulated cAMP level at various doses of bTSH and Graves' IgG. Decreasing the stimulation indices of extracellular cAMP, use of media B failed to detect TSAb activities in two TSAb-positive Graves' IgG tested. In case of media C, extracellular cAMP responses are poor at 0.001 and 0.1U/L of bTSH and at all doses of Graves' IgG tested(0.5, 1, 5g/L). The incubation of TSHr-CHO cells in media B caused significant increase in the number of trypan blue-stained, nonviable cells(5.7+-1.5, 7.6+-1.9 and 8.5+-1.6% at 1, 2 and 3h of incubation, respectively; p<0.01) comparing to those incubated in media A or media C(about 2-3% in both media). Those decrease in the viability of TSHr-CHO cells when incubated in hypotonic incubation media may explain the decrease in the stimulation index of extracellular cAMP with the use of media B in contrast to the case of FRTL-5 cells. TSAb assay of 87 consecutive fresh Graves' patients with TSHr-CHO cells using media A detected TSAb activities in 90%(78 patients) of them, and moreover TSAb activities showed significant positive correlation with the pre-treatment serum T_3 and free T_4 levels of those patients. We conclude that TSAb assay with TSHr-CHO cells is a sensitive and physiologically relevant assay system to measure TSAb activities merely through measurements of extracellular cAMP provided that the cells are incubated in NaCl-free isotonic incubation media.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Biological Assay ; Cricetinae ; Cricetulus ; DNA, Complementary ; Female ; Humans ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulins, Thyroid-Stimulating ; Ovary ; Receptors, Thyrotropin ; Sucrose ; Thyroid Gland ; Thyrotropin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The frequency of co-occurence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis and papillary thyroid carcinoma has been variously reported to range from 0.3% to 38%, and the association of these two diseases is still controversial. The aim of our study is to determine the relationship between these two entities, and in this paper, we compare the clinical characteristics of patients with and without histopathological evidence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. SUBJECTS AND METHOD: Among 366 patients treated for thyroid nodules (including benign nodules and thyroid cancers) during the period of July 2004-June 2005, 278 patients (male versus female=1 : 7.9) with papillary thyroid carcinoma were included in this study. RESULTS: Hashimoto's thyroiditis co-occurred with papillary thyroid carcinoma in 68 of 278 patients (24.5%), compared with 0 of 21 patients (0%) with other thyroid malignancies. The age at presentation (median, 43.9 years), tumor size (median, 1.31 cm), methods of diagnostic evaluation, and the extent of surgery had not influenced by the presence of Hashimoto's thyroiditis. However, TNM stage, AMES stage, MACIS score were slightly lower and the proportion of female patients (1 : 67) was higher in patients with Hashimoto's thyroiditis. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that patients who have papillary thyroid carcinoma may have more favorable prognosis in the co-ocurring Hashimoto's thyroiditis. Further studies are required to confirm the long-term prognostic association between these two diseases.
Female ; Humans ; Prognosis ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms* ; Thyroid Nodule ; Thyroiditis*