No abstract available.
Female ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Ectopic*

This study was carried out to investigate the relationship between brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and neurological findings in welders exposed to manganese fume. Thirty five welders from a bus manufacturing factory who were occupationally exposed to low dose manganese fume were examined. We collected the information on the demo graphic factors and welding careers. Laboratory investigations included blood and urine manganese concentration and blood chemistry. Brain MRI was checked, and high signal intensity of the globus pallidus was graded from 0 to 3 compared to the white matter of the frontal lobe. Neurologic examination wart carried out. The results were as follows ; 1. The mean age of workers was 48.3+/-5.7 years, mean duration of welding was 21.4 +/-5.6 Years. 2. On brain MRI, high signal intensity in the globes pallidus was observed in 27 workers (77.1%) Among them, 18 cases (66.7%) showed remarkably high signal intensity (grade 2) Mean concentration of blood manganese was higher in those with high signal intensity and correlated to the grade of high signal intensity (p=0.02) 3. On neurologic examination, no workers showed the finding of typical parkinsonism. But 11 workers (31.4%) showed subtle neurological abnormalities such as gait without associated arm movement, postural instability, intention tremor, and so on. Blood manganese concentration of neurologically abnormal group was 2.4+/-0.7 microgram/dL, which was significantly higher, compared to 1.8+/-0.7 microgram/dL of neurologically normal group (p=0.03). 4. Among 27 workers who showed high signal intensity on brain MRI, 10 workers (37%) were neurologically abnormal. Higher grade of signal intensity on globus pallidus showed higher rate of neurologic abnormality (p<0.05) Especially postural instability and gait without associated arm movement were prominent findings. These bindings suggest that high signal intensity on brain MRI might be associated with a prodromal sign of manganese intoxication. Careful neurologic examination should be tool lowed up on welders showing high signal intensity in the golbus pallidus of brain MRI.
Arm ; Brain* ; Chemistry ; Frontal Lobe ; Gait ; Globus Pallidus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Manganese* ; Neurologic Examination ; Neurologic Manifestations* ; Occupations ; Parkinsonian Disorders ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Tremor ; Warts ; Welding

This study was conducted to investigate knowledge and attitude factor related to hearing conservation and to evaluate the effect of knowledge and attitude about noise on hearing conservation behavior and hearing loss among workers exposed to noise. We investigated the questionnaires of knowledge and attitude about noise and hearing conservation behavior and hearing loss among 355 study subjects from March, 1998 to June, 1998. The results were as follows; We extracted following 5 factors from 26 questionnaire items of knowledge and attitude about noise; knowledge of noise and concern to the control noise (factor 1), general perceived susceptibility (factor 2), relative perceived susceptibility compared with colleagues(factor 3), concern to the hearing protective devices(factor 4), concern to the hearing and noise assessment (factor 5). Knowledge and attitude factors affecting the hearing conservation behavior were general perceived susceptibility in the case of wearing hearing protective devices and knowledge of noise and concern to the control noise in the case of suggestion for hearing conservation. But, in the case of intentional avoiding noise exposure, concern to the hearing protective devices was a significant factor with concern to the hearing and noise assessment. Knowledge and attitude factors affecting hearing loss in 1 kHz were relative perceived susceptibility compared with colleagues and concern to the hearing protective devices, and in 4 KHz were relative perceived susceptibility compared with colleagues and general perceived susceptibility.
Ear Protective Devices ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Noise* ; Questionnaires