OBJECTIVES: The study was carried out to evaluate the work-relatedness and the occupational distribution in 147 carpal tunnel syndrome(CTS) cases diagnosed at a university hospital from May 1996 to May 1998. METHODS: We obtained the information on disease appearance, occupational history including job content and other life style by medical records and telephone interviews. RESULTS: Of the 147 patients with carpal tunnel syndrome, 51 patients(34.7 %) were shown to be work-related. Work-related CTS were most frequent in elementary workers (21 case, 41.2%). The other eases were 15(29.4%) workers in service and shop and market sales, 9(17.6%) workers in craft and related traders, 4(7.8%) workers in skilled agriculture and fishery. Only two workers had claimed to the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance, but no one has been admitted as an occupational CTS yet. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that arrangements of surveillance system for adequate control of occupational CTD is neccessity.
Accidents, Occupational ; Agriculture ; Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Commerce ; Compensation and Redress ; Fisheries ; Humans ; Insurance ; Interviews as Topic ; Life Style ; Medical Records

Chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) is an immune-mediated polyneuropathy with a relaps-ing or progressive course. Although the occurrence of CIDP is very rare in childhood compared to the occurrence in adulthood, it does occur in children. In childhood CIDP, the main clinical features are somewhat different from that of adults, which includes a more precipitous onset of symptoms, a high frequency of gait abnormalities, and significant neurological dysfunction. Also, the response to immune-modulating therapy is more reliable and rapid in children than in adults. The recognition of childhood CIDP is important as it may mimic hereditary neuropathies which usually pre-sent with progressive gait disturbance associated with pes cavus deformity. A careful history, clinical examination, and electrophysiological study is crucial for the accurate diagnosis of this treatable disease. Here, we report a case of CIDP in a 13-year-old Korean girl whose initial clinical presentation strongly suggested hereditary motor-sensory neuropathy.
Adolescent* ; Adult ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities* ; Diagnosis ; Female* ; Foot Deformities* ; Gait ; Humans ; Polyneuropathies* ; Polyradiculoneuropathy, Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating

AIMTo investigate the antioxidant effects of Morinda officinalis (Morindae radix, MR) on H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress in cultured mouse TM3 Leydig cells.

METHODSWe carried out 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging, 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide, lipid peroxidation, testosterone enzyme immunoassay, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) assays in Leydig TM3 cells.

RESULTSMR showed a 47.8% 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl radical scavenging effect in TM3 cells with no significant cytotoxicity. Oxidative stress was induced in TM3 cells with 100 micromol H(2)O(2), and treatment of the cells with 250 microg/mL MR showed the most significant protective effect (64%, P < 0.001) in the cell viability assay with a decreased lipid peroxidation level (1.75 nmol/mg protein, P < 0.05), increased testosterone production (43.5 pg/mL), and improvements in SOD activity (7.49 units of SOD/mg protein, P < 0.001) and CAT activity (74.6 units of CAT/mg protein, P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONThese findings indicate that MR, as an antioxidant, protects functions of cultured mouse TM3 Leydig cells from H(2)O(2)-induced oxidative stress.

Animals ; Catalase ; metabolism ; Cell Survival ; drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; adverse effects ; Leydig Cells ; cytology ; drug effects ; metabolism ; Lipid Peroxidation ; drug effects ; Male ; Mice ; Morinda ; Oxidative Stress ; drug effects ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; RNA, Messenger ; metabolism ; Superoxide Dismutase ; metabolism ; Testosterone ; metabolism

Objectives: ：Although subclinical depression symptoms are associated with suicidal idea, most research have focused on clinical depression such as major depressive disorder or dysthymia. The aim of this study is to investigate network structure of depressive symptom and to reveal which symptoms are associated with suicidal ideation. Methods: ：We used part of data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Participants were between 19 and 65 years of age (N=8,741). Network analysis with Isingfit model is used to reveal network structure of depressive symptoms and most central symptom and edges assessed by patient health questionnaire (PHQ-9). Results: ：The most two central symptoms were psychomotor activity and suicidal ideation. The strongest edge was psychomotor activity-suicidal ideation. Suicidal ideation also has strong association with depressive mood and worthlessness. Conclusions ：These results suggest that psychomotor activity and suicidal ideation can serve as treatment target for subclinical depression and psychomotor activity, worthlessness and depressed mood may be important factor for early intervention of suicidal ideation.

OBJECTIVES: After the investigation of one worker with occupational asthma, we surveyed the prevalence of occupational asthma and the exposure level of pharmaceutical dust of 32 workers in a pharmaceutical company. METHODS: Thirty-two of the 90 employees participated in the survey which consisted of questionnaire, blood sampling, spirometry and skin prick tests with 8 common allergens as well as 9 antibiotics and 2 enzymes. Various indices of the working environment were also measured. Subjects who had a symptom suggestive of work-related asthma or positive skin prick test were further investigated by PC20 methacholine. Nine subjects who had a PC20 result of 16 mg/ml or less (n=7) or had work-related symptoms and positive skin prick test (n=2) were referred to undergo a specific bronchial provocation test to pharmaceutical dust in an academic allergic disease center. RESULTS: Eleven of 32 workers (34.4%) had a work-related symptom suggestive of occupational asthma. Ten (31.2%) showed positive skin prick test. 8 (25.0%) had a PC20 result of 16 mg/ml or less (indicative of significant bronchial hyperresponsiveness), and 5 (15.6%) had a positive result on the specific bronchial provocation test. Exposure levels of stuffing, input of raw materials and screening process were relatively high. CONCLUSIONS: This survey showed that pharmaceutical workers have an increased risk of occupational asthma. Although pharmaceutical factories maintain a relatively good working environment, careful control of respiratory tract exposures, especially during stuffing, input of raw materials and screening process, is important to prevent occupational asthma. Pharmaceutical workers need to undergo regular skin prick and methacholine bronchial provocation tests, as well as asthmatic symptom survey, to ensure the early detection and prevention of occupational asthma.
Allergens ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Asthma ; Asthma, Occupational* ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Dust* ; Mass Screening ; Methacholine Chloride ; Prevalence* ; Questionnaires ; Respiratory System ; Skin ; Spirometry

The lamina II, also called the substantia gelatinosa (SG), of the trigeminal subnucleus caudalis (Vc), is thought to play an essential role in the control of orofacial nociception. Glycine and serotonin (5-hydroxytryptamine, 5-HT) are the important neurotransmitters that have the individual parts on the modulation of nociceptive transmission. However, the electrophysiological effects of 5-HT on the glycine receptors on SG neurons of the Vc have not been well studied yet. For this reason, we applied the whole-cell patch clamp technique to explore the interaction of intracellular signal transduction between 5-HT and the glycine receptors on SG neurons of the Vc in mice. In nine of 13 neurons tested (69.2%), pretreatment with 5-HT potentiated glycine-induced current (I(Gly)). Firstly, we examined with a 5-HT₁ receptor agonist (8-OH-DPAT, 5-HT(1/7) agonist, co-applied with SB-269970, 5-HT₇ antagonist) and antagonist (WAY-100635), but 5-HT₁ receptor agonist did not increase IGly and in the presence of 5-HT₁ antagonist, the potentiation of 5-HT on I(Gly) still happened. However, an agonist (α-methyl-5-HT) and antagonist (ketanserin) of the 5-HT₂ receptor mimicked and inhibited the enhancing effect of 5-HT on I(Gly) in the SG neurons, respectively. We also verified the role of the 5-HT₇ receptor by using a 5-HT₇ antagonist (SB-269970) but it also did not block the enhancement of 5-HT on I(Gly). Our study demonstrated that 5-HT facilitated I(Gly) in the SG neurons of the Vc through the 5-HT₂ receptor. The interaction between 5-HT and glycine appears to have a significant role in modulating the transmission of the nociceptive pathway.
Animals ; Glycine ; Mice ; Neurons ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Nociception ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Receptors, Glycine ; Serotonin ; Signal Transduction ; Substantia Gelatinosa

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the perception of emergency medical service (EMS) providers and medical directors toward the field skill proficiency of EMS providers. We further examined differences in perception according to the certification and hospital career of individuals. Methods: This survey was conducted enrolling all active EMS providers in Busan, Ulsan, and Gyeongnam, as well as emergency physicians who participated in direct medical direction. Pre-developed questionnaires were sent as text messages to individual EMS providers and emergency physicians using an internet-based survey tool (Google Forms).Questionnaires were composed of 25 items in 7 categories: “airway management”, “ventilatory support”, “circulatory support”, “field assessment and management of trauma patients”, “field assessment and management of patients with chest pain”, “field assessment and management of patients with neurologic symptoms”, and “other items”. The response was based on a five-point Likert scale, where 0 score indicated no experience at all. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 1,781 EMS providers and 52 medical directors; of these, 1,314 (73.7%) EMS providers and 34 (65.3%) medical directors completed the survey. EMS providers rated themselves as above average (3 points) for most of the questions. However, the majority responded that they had no experience or low proficiency in endotracheal intubation and prehospital delivery (median 2; interquartile range [IQR], 0-3). Conversely, medical directors assessed the EMS provider’s proficiency as above average in use of I-gel, recognition of hypoglycemia, field management of trauma patients, use of oropharyngeal and nasopharyngeal airway, use of laryngeal mask airway, and optimal oxygen supply (median, 4; IQR, 3-4), but responded with low scores for most other questions. Based on the EMS provider certification, nurses scored themselves more proficient than level-1 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) for intravenous access (P<0.001), whereas level-1 EMTs recognized themselves more proficient than nurses for endotracheal intubation (P<0.001), use of Magill forceps (P=0.004), and pediatric cardiopulmonary resuscitation (P<0.001). Conclusion This study recognized the discrepancies in the perception of EMS provider’s field skill proficiency, as perceived by EMS providers and medical directors, and between level-1 EMTs and nurses. We propose that regional EMS authorities need to make persistent efforts to narrow these perception gaps through effective educational programs for EMS providers and medical directors.

A renin- or angiotensin-II responsive aldosterone producing tumor is a rare cause of primary hyperaldosteronism. This tumor can be identified by tests that show that the aldosterone producing adrenal tumor is not fully autonomous. In other words partially it is responsible for the stimulation of aldosterone secretion that results aldosterone levels in an increase in serum in response to the upright posture and spironolactone treatment. Furthermore, the urinary 18-hydroxycortisol level is within the normal range. Because of different responses to surgical removal, the differential diagnosis of the causes of primary aldosteronism can't be overemphasized even for rare causes of primary aldosteronism such as unilateral nodular hyperplasia or a renin-responsible aldosterone producing tumor. We should consider renin or angiotensin-II responsive adrenal adenoma in the differential diagnosis of primary aldosteronism when biochemical data shows atypical results. Here we present the first case in Korea of a renin-responsive aldosterone producing adrenal adenoma which was fully accessible and was successfully treated by surgical removal. Also, sampling for aldosterone secretion just above the insertion site in the left renal vein before surgery showed a suspiciously abberant left adrenal vein drainage into the IVC, This was very helpful information during adrenal vein ligation in laparoscopic adrenalectomy.
Adenoma ; Adrenalectomy* ; Aldosterone ; Cushing Syndrome* ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Drainage ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperaldosteronism ; Hyperplasia ; Korea ; Ligation ; Posture ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Trimester, Third* ; Pregnant Women* ; Reference Values ; Renal Veins ; Renin ; Spironolactone ; Veins

BACKGROUND: High-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection and abnormal p53 expression are closely involved in carcinogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) of uterine cervix. Recent studies have suggested that virus-induced endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress modulates various cell survival and cell death signaling pathways. The C/EBP homologous protein (CHOP) is associated with ER stress-mediated apoptosis and is also involved in carcinogenesis of several human cancers. We hypothesized that CHOP is involved in the carcinogenesis of uterine cervical cancer in association with HR-HPV and/or p53. METHODS: Immunohistochemistry was used to analyze CHOP and p53 protein expression of tissue sections from 191 patients with invasive cancer or preinvasive lesions of the uterine cervix (61 cases of SqCC, 66 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia [CIN] III, and 64 cases of CIN I). RESULTS: CHOP was expressed in 59.4% of CIN I, 48.5% of CIN III, and 70.5% of SqCC cases. It was also significantly more frequent in invasive SqCC than in preinvasive lesions (p=0.042). Moreover, CHOP expression significantly correlated with HR-HPV infection and p53 expression (p=0.009 and p=0.038, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that CHOP is involved in the carcinogenesis of the uterine cervix SqCC via association with HR-HPV and p53.
Apoptosis ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Death ; Cell Survival ; Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Cervix Uteri ; DNA Probes, HPV ; Endoplasmic Reticulum ; Female ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Transcription Factor CHOP ; Tumor Suppressor Protein p53 ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms