OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to evaluate manganese exposure marker and the clinical significance of high signal intensity observed on brain magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) in mild steel/arc welders. METHODS: Brain MRI, blood and urinary manganese concentration measurements, physical and neurologic examinations, questionnaire and biochemistry were performed on 53 mild steel/arc welders(exposed group) and 112 non-manganese handling productive workers(control group). We calculated the pallidal index, the ratio of signal intensity of globus pallidus to subcortical frontal white-matter on sagittal 71-weighted MRI. And we studied the relationships between the pallidal index and other measurements. RESULTS: In 35(66.3%) exposed workers, high signal intensity were observed on the globus pallidus. Blood and urinary manganese levels were higher in exported group than control group. Pallidal index were significantly correlated with working duration, blood manganese level, urinary manganese level and positive rates of clinical symptoms and signs. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggests that high signal intensity finding on brain MRI may be considered as useful tool for the evaluation of workers who have manganese exposure.
Biochemistry ; Brain* ; Globus Pallidus ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Manganese ; Neurologic Examination ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated lung function in workers exposed to dusts, fumes and noxious gases at small foundries. METHODS: Lung function was measured in 148 male workers from 12 small foundries and 202 unexposed male workers. Pulmonary function tests performed included: forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), percent of FEV1/FVC (FEV1/FVC%), maximum mid-expiratory flow (MMEF), peak expiratory flow (PEF), and forced expiratory flow at 25, 50, and 75% of expired FVC (FEF25, 50, 75). RESULTS: Mean values of all ventilatory indices except FEF25 of foundry workers were significantly lower than those of controls. Specifically, following stratification by smoking habits, all ventilatory indices except FEF25 of foundry workers were significantly lower than those of controls who smoked; however, there were no significant differences observed in any ventilatory indices between nonsmoking exposed workers and controls. The results of multiple linear regression analysis indicated work duration as a significant predictor of a decrease in FVC%. CONCLUSIONS: This research indicates that combined occupational exposure to dust, fumes, and gases in small foundries is associated with a reduction in lung function. Smoking may also contribute to respiratory abnormalities. These results suggested that foundry workers should be required to undergo periodic lung function tests and-in addition to not smoking, efficient use of personal protection equipment while at work is recommended.
Dust ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Gases ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Lung ; Male ; Occupational Exposure ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vital Capacity

PURPOSE: To determine imaging findings among retired workers who were long-term exposed to asbestos. Lung and pleural diseases prevalence were studied on chest radiograph and HRCT. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen workers who were long-term exposedto asbestos occupationally in shipyards were examined by chest radiographs (PA and lateral view) and HRCT (high-resolution computed tomography). RESULTS: In 12 of 18 subjects (66.7%), asbestos-related pleural abnormalities were evident in diaphragmatic, lateral chest wall and costophrenic angle of the pleura on chest radiographs. The thickness of pleural plaques at the lateral chest wall varied. Diffuse pleural thickening was evident in 2 workers. Parenchymal abnormalities were not found on chest radiographs. On HRCT, pleural thickening wasobserved in 16 of 18 subjects (88.9%), in the areas of juxtavertebral, diaphragmatic, anterior, lateral, mediastinal and fissural pleura. Curvilinear subpleural lines representing early parenchymal asbestosis were found in the lower posterior lung in three of 18 subjects (16.7%). CONCLUSIONS: In long term asbestos-exposed workers, the asbestos-related pleural disease was 66.7% on chest radiographs and 88.9% on HRCT. The authors suggest that this group should be followed up periodically
Asbestos* ; Asbestosis ; Lung* ; Occupations ; Pleura ; Pleural Diseases* ; Prevalence* ; Radiography, Thoracic* ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax*

OBJECTIVES: To report two cases of neuropathy due to methyl bromide intoxication. METHODS: Workers, engaged in the fumigating process, complained fatigue, general weakness, ataxia, and hypersomnia. We evaluated them with blood tests, neurophysiologic studies and MRI and investigated their occupational history. RESULTS: Increased signal intensities were found in the medulla oblongata and paraver mian of cerebellum in MRI and after 11 days, high signal intensities were reduced in the following MRI. In the other case, polyneuropathy and rlght lower brainstem lesion were observed In the NCV and BAEP studies. CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that worker's symptoms were related to methyl bromide exposure in the fumigation. It is necessary that we should evaluate present condition of fumigating process and prepare appropriate methods to protect workers engaged in the fumigation.
Ataxia ; Brain Stem ; Cerebellum ; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence ; Fatigue ; Fumigation* ; Hematologic Tests ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Medulla Oblongata ; Polyneuropathies

BACKGROUND: Health problems in shift workers vary including obesity acting as a risk factor in cerebrovascular diseases. Recent studies have commonly determined the prevalence of obesity in shift workers on the basis of body mass index. The accuracy of BMI for diagnosing obesity are still limited apparently. Consequently, this study aimed to determine the relationship between shift work and obesity according to the total body fat percentage in Korean wage workers. METHODS: From the Fourth and the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2011), after military personnel were excluded, a total of 2952 wage workers (20 < or = age < or = 65) whose current jobs were their longest jobs were selected as subjects of the study. The total body fat percentage was used to determine the obesity standards (> or =25.7 % in males and > or =36.0 % in females). The subjects were divided into groups by gender and work type (manual vs non-manual), and chi-squared test was used to evaluate the relationship between socio-economic, health behavior, and work-related factors, on the one hand, and obesity, on the other. In addition, multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to examine the effects of shift work on obesity. RESULTS: When other factors were controlled for, the risk of obesity in shift work showed a statistically significant increase (odds ratio = 1.779, 95 % confidence interval = 1.050-3.015) in the male manual worker group. However, there were no significant results in the male non-manual and female worker groups. CONCLUSION: Shift work was related to a higher risk of obesity in the Korean male manual worker group.
Adipose Tissue* ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Hand ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Military Personnel ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Obesity* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Salaries and Fringe Benefits*

OBJECTIVES: Urinary hippuric acid levels have been usually determined to ' evaluate workers exposed to toluene. Food and drink intake could affect urinary hippuric acid excretion and this study was carried out to investigate what kinds of food and drink would affect urinary hippuric acid excretion. METHODS: The subjects were 136 medical school students. Authors measured urinary hippuric acid levels three times from 10 a. m. to noon; before, one hour after and two hours after food or drink-intake, and they were asked not to eat from the previous night (9 p. m) of testing. We selected six diets (bread and coffee, brown sauce noodle, Korean style meal, noodle, pork'galbi and rice and soybean stew and rice), six fruits (apple, grape, orange, pear, persimmon and plum) and five beverages (Alps-D(R), Demisoda(R), Orange juice(R), Pear juice(R) and Pocari sweat(R)). Analysis of urinary hippuric acid was performed by high performance liquid chromatography. RESULTS: Intake of popular Korean diets, fruits and some drinks didn' t affect urinary hippuric acid excretion. But intake of sodium benzoate-contained Alps-D(R) increased urinary hippuric acid excretion. CONCLUSIONS: For the health examination on workers exposed to toluene, the history of diet and fruit intake can be negligible, but that of beverage intake should be included.
Beverages ; Chromatography, Liquid ; Citrus sinensis ; Coffee ; Diet ; Diospyros ; Fruit ; Humans ; Meals ; Pyrus ; Schools, Medical ; Sodium ; Soybeans ; Toluene ; Vitis

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence and related risk factors of infection with human papillomavirus(HPV) in young adults, and the interrelationships among the risk factors, school-based survey was conducted in Busan. METHODS: A total of 1,430 male and female students(aged 16~25) participated in the survey that included self-administered questionnaire and, for males, physician-performed collection of exfoliated genital cells, for females, self-collection of vaginal cells. The prevalences of 25 HPV types were evaluated by a polymerase chain reaction-based assay. RESULTS: HPV DNA detected more frequently in female students(15.2%) than in male students(8.7%). In female students, currently smoking cigarettes(OR=3.8, 95% CI=1.7~8.3) and having had penetrative sexual intercourse(OR=12.7, 95% CI=7.2~22.2) were the significant risk factors for HPV infection; in male students, there was nothing to show statistical significance. Smoking rate was 53.8% in males and 17.7% in females, and 55.6% of male students and 25.9% of female students reported having had a sexual intercourse. Smokers were more likely to have had a sexual intercourse than nonsmokers(OR=4.0, 95% CI=2.5~6.2, males; OR=9.1, 95% CI=5.6~14.7, females). CONCLUSIONS: According to the strong interrelationship between sexual intercourse and smoking, multilateral behavioral intervention is needed to prevent infection with HPV.
Adolescent* ; Busan ; Coitus ; DNA ; Female ; Humans* ; Male ; Papillomavirus Infections* ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Sexual Behavior ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Young Adult ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This research was carried out to determine the performance rate of health related practices, to measure the agreement between morbidity by doctor's diagnosis and morbidity by 'subject' self-reported and the degree of association between health related practices and morbidity rate by doctor's diagnosis, to identify their effects on morbidity among rural area populations. The data were gathered by volunteer residents(over the age of 20) of Haman Myeon, Haman Gun, Kyeongsangnam Do in Korea, from June 10, 1993 to June 12, 1993 (369 male and 516 female). Face to face interview, lab, chest P-A, EKG and physical examination were completed. Descriptive statistics, agreement analysis and multiple logistic regression procedures were employed for analyses. The results of the study were summarized as follows : 1) Age adjusted morbidity rates by doctor's diagnosis and self-reported were 38.5% (male:37.3%, female:36.5%), 26.4% (male:33.3%, female:27.5%), respectively. Kappa coefficient between morbidity by doctor's diagnosis and morbidity by self-reported was 0.21 (male:0.21, female:0.22). 2) The frequency of disease by doctor's diagnosis was as follows: hypertension (15.3%), gastritis (9.6%), diabetes mellitus (8.5%), liver disease (8.1%), and degenerative arthritis (6.2%) in the study population. 3) Order of health practice performance rate was as follows: Males- normal body weight (62.1%), non-heavy alcohol consumption (57.5%), 7-8 hours of sleeping (50.1%), non-smoking (21.7%), and exercise (19.8%). Females- non-heavy alcohol consumption (97.3%), non-smoking (84.7%), normal body weight (57.8%), 7-8 hours of sleeping (45.0%), and exercise (9.9%). 4) There was no significant relationship between health related practice and morbidity except exercise among health related practices. 5) Health related practice index which was recategorized by high, medium, and low had effects on the probability of developing morbidity.
Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diagnosis ; Electrocardiography ; Gastritis ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Ideal Body Weight ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Osteoarthritis ; Physical Examination ; Thorax ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to investigate the effect on manganese on the brain of Sprague-Dawley rats, with particular focus on changes to anatomical pathology when brain MRI was recovered after manganese administration. METHODS: There were 15 rats divided into 3 groups of 5 based on dose of manganese: control group, low dose group (10 mg/kg), and high dose group (40 mg/kg). Each dosing group received an injection of normal saline and manganese via the tail vein once a week for 4 weeks. And then, the rats were observed for 12 weeks after stopping manganese administration. Next, each rat underwent a brain MRI and then each was sacrificed. After the rats were killed, the concentrations of blood manganese were measured, and pathologic examinations of the brain were performed. RESULTS: The signal intensity of basal ganglia on T1-weighted imaging of brain MRI did not differ between dosing groups. However, the ratio of neuron/glial cell in the basal ganglia was decreased in the low- and high-dose groups compared to the control group. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the damage of neuron in basal ganglia might be permanent after signal intensity of basal ganglia on T1-weighted imaging of brain MRI was recovered.
Animals ; Basal Ganglia ; Brain ; Brain Diseases ; Manganese ; Neurons ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Veins

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the reference values of blood lead, manganese, aluminium, and silicon in healthy adults. METHODS: The subjects were 132 (67 male and 65 female), and classified to three age groups (< or =39, 40~49, and 50< or =). Blood lead, manganese and aluminium were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer, and blood silicon was analyzed by direct current plasma optical emission spectrometer. RESULTS: Blood lead levels(geometric mean, S.D) were (3.49, 1.70) microgram/dL in male and (3.04, 1.65) microgram/dL in female, but the difference is not significant, and there was no significant difference between age groups. Mean blood manganese level was 0.99+/-0.41 microgram/dL, and there was no significant difference between sex or age groups. Mean blood aluminium level was 0.59+/-0.35 microgram/dL, and there was no significant difference between sex or age groups. Mean blood silicon level was 54.41+/-27.64 microgram/dL in male and 43.34+/- 23.51 microgram/dL in female, and the level in male was significantly higher than that in female (p<0.05). There was significant difference between age groups, and the oldest showed the highest level in male (p<0.05), but no significant difference between age groups in female. CONCLUSIONS: Authors hope that this study would provide basic data for determining reference values and evaluating health effects.
Absorption ; Adult* ; Female ; Hope ; Humans ; Male ; Manganese* ; Plasma ; Reference Values ; Silicon*