OBJECTIVES: Dental technicians are exposed to various toxic materials in the workplace. The objectives of this study were to assess the pulmonary function of dental technicians and to evaluate the association between work-related factors and pulmonary function of dental technicians. METHODS: Study subjects were 209 dental technicians in the Korean Dental Technologist Association. A self-report questionnaire including general characteristics, respiratory symptoms, and work-related characteristics was conducted on study subjects, and a pulmonary function test (PFT) was done. Study subjects were classified into two groups(normal and abnormal pulmonary function) based on the pulmonary function test (PFT). RESULTS: 43 subjects (20.6%) among 209 subjects had abnormal pulmonary function. After adjusting for general characteristics such as age, sex, past medical history, familial history, and smoking status, the odds ratio for work duration (per year) was 1.42(95% confidence interval (CI) 1.14~1.83). After adjusting for general and work-related characteristics, the odds ratio for work duration (per year) was 1.48(95% CI 1.18~1.92). CONCLUSIONS: Dental technicians are exposed to hazardous materials, which might lead to abnormal pulmonary function. A long work duration could increase exposure time, thereby increasing the chance for abnormal pulmonary function. Therefore, pulmonary function tests should be carried out periodically in dental technicians to ensure their pulmonary health.
Dental Technicians ; Dietary Sucrose ; Hazardous Substances ; Humans ; Odds Ratio ; Questionnaires ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: Although the rotavirus-related neonatal death occurred in western part of Kyeonggi Province recently, there were just a few reports about rotavirus gastroentertis in domestic since 2000. We proposed to investigate changes of epidemiology and clinical features of rotavirus gastroenteritis for the last 2 years. METHODS: We selected 166 patients diagnosed as gastroenteritis from January, 2002 to July, 2003 and reviewed the admission records retrospectively such as age distribution, sex ratio, seasonal distribution, admission period, laboratory data and dehydration type in the rotavirus group (RVG) and non-RVG. RESULTS: The percentage of patient under 3 years was 77% on RVG. The non-RVG showed even age distribution (P< 0.05). In RVG, patients occurred in March frequently and 52% occurred from January to March. In non-RVG, patients occurred highly in February and July (P< 0.05). The average of admission period was higher in RVG than non-RVG (P< 0.05). The percentage of patient admitted for over 10 days was 8% in the RVG. In dehydration severity, the RVG showed mild (51%), moderate (44%) and severe (5%) respectively, but non-RVG showed only mild dehydration (P< 0.05). The laboratory findings' did not have statistic significance between RVG and non-RVG. CONCLUSION: Compared to the previous studies, seasonal peak prevalence of rotavirus gastroenteritis changed from autumn to spring and patients over 3 years increased. Therefore, we suggest that there are variable serotypes of rotavirus domestically and there is a need for reinvestigation about clinical features and serotypes of rotavirus gastroenteritis.
Age Distribution ; Dehydration ; Epidemiology ; Gastroenteritis* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Rotavirus* ; Seasons ; Sex Ratio

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is an autoimmune disease characterized by the production of diverse autoantibodies with various systemic organ involvements. In patients with SLE, autoantibodies, such as antinuclear antibody (ANA) and anti-dsDNA antibody, play an important role not only in diagnosing the disease, but also representing the pathogenesis of the disease. ANA is the main screening tool in diagnosis and serum complement levels and anti-dsDNA antibody level are closely related to the disease activities. Nevertheless, exceptionally, some patients represent with negative ANA and/or anti-dsDNA antibody leading to difficulties in diagnosing the disease. Here, we report a case of 37-year old female SLE patient with negative ANA, negative anti-dsDNA antibody, and positive anti-Ro/SSA antibody, which manifested with nephrotic syndrome.
Antibodies, Antinuclear ; Autoantibodies ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Complement System Proteins ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, Membranous ; Humans ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic ; Mass Screening ; Nephrotic Syndrome

SLE is an autoimmune disease with multiorgan involvement and a wide range of clinical manifestations, and inflammation of gallbladder also can be represented. There were a few cases of acute acalculous cholecystitis (AAC) in previous reports. Most of them tended to already know about underlying SLE when detected AAC at that time. It may be difficult to detect AAC caused by SLE not due to biliary stone if physician is not conscious of undiagnosed lupus. We introduce a 70-year old female patient, who is diagnosed with AAC. Her symptoms were satisfied the ACR classification criteria for SLE, and was diagnosed with SLE, simultaneously. After a high dose steroid pulse therapy, followed by cyclophosphamide, her symptoms have improved rapidly. In order to better diagnose and treat the disease, we need to be aware of AAC as a potential manifestation of SLE.
Acalculous Cholecystitis* ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Cholecystitis ; Classification ; Cyclophosphamide ; Female ; Gallbladder ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Lupus Erythematosus, Systemic*