OBJECTIVETo revise diagnosis criteria of asbestos-induced occupational lung cancer.

METHODSAll literatures which met the criteria of cohort studies with results of lung cancer incidence or mortality among workers exposed to asbestos would incorporate into the systematic review. Meanwhile, the information about diagnosis criteria on asbestos-induced lung cancer in other countries was collected. Meta analysis was used to calculate meta-SMR and its 95% confidence interval.

RESULTS21 asbestos-exposed cohorts were summarized. The percentage of all deaths due to mesothelioma was 0 to 36.36%. The main kind of asbestos-exposed raw material was chrysotile which accounted for 47.6%, and 7 cohorts (33.3%) didn't provide the information. There were 13 cohorts in 15 which concluded that the lung cancer risk of workers with asbestos exposure had increased (lung cancer SMR = 1.6 ∼ 6.52, P < 0.05). Meta-SMR of 10 included cohorts is 2.09, with 95%CI 1.73 to 2.52 by using Meta analysis. When cumulative asbestos exposure years were less than one year, the risk of lung cancer had increased (lung cancer SMR = 1.6 ∼ 1.82, P < 0.05). When latent period of lung cancer was more than 15 years, the risk of lung cancer had increased (lung cancer SMR = 2.08 ∼ 3.75, P < 0.05). There were three studies, which had analyzed the relation between cumulative asbestos exposure years and the risk of mesothelioma, showing that when cumulative asbestos exposure years were less than one year, the risk of mesothelioma had increased (mesothelioma SMR = 18.0 ∼ 20.0, P < 0.05). When latent period of mesothelioma was more than 15 years, the risk of mesothelioma had increased.

CONCLUSIONThe emphasis of the new version of asbestos-induced lung cancer and mesothelioma diagnosis criteria should focus on cumulative asbestos exposure years and latent period.

Asbestos ; adverse effects ; Humans ; Lung Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Mesothelioma ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; Occupational Exposure ; Risk Assessment

Adult ; Female ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology

Female ; Humans ; Liability, Legal ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; Occupational Health ; legislation & jurisprudence ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma ; diagnosis ; etiology

Anemia, Aplastic ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Benzene ; poisoning ; Expert Testimony ; Humans ; Male ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis

Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Occupational ; diagnosis ; Eye Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Trichloroethylene ; poisoning ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVEWe sought to master the clinical characteristics and prognosis of hard mental lung disease, improving this disease's diagnosis and treatment quality.

METHODSWe recruited two suspected patients with hard mental lung disease and collected their occupational history, examination results of occupational health, and past medical records. By virtue of laboratory tests, high Kv chest radiography, CT and HRCT of chest, fiberoptic bronchoscopy and ECG examination, diagnostic report was synthesized respectively by respiratory physicians and pathologist from three different agencies. Then the report was submitted to diagnosis organizations of occupational disease, and diagnostic conclusion of occupational disease was drawn after discussion by at least three diagnosticians of occupational disease.

RESULTSWe found that both of the two suspected patients were exposed to dusts of hard metal, and length of exposure service ranged from 8 to 9 years. Clinical manifestations were dominated by dry cough, wheezing after activities, and pathological manifestation was characteristic giant cell interstitial pneumonia. The prognosis and outcome of the disease were different.

CONCLUSIONAccording to exact occupational exposure history, clinical manifestations, combined with the results of high Kv chest radiography, CT of chest and pathological manifestation, it can be diagnosed with hard mental lung disease.

Alloys ; adverse effects ; Bronchoscopy ; Cobalt ; adverse effects ; Dust ; Humans ; Lung ; pathology ; Lung Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Occupational Exposure ; adverse effects ; Tungsten ; adverse effects

Adolescent ; Adult ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Ulna ; injuries ; Wrist Injuries ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Young Adult

Arm ; Hand ; Humans ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Reference Standards ; Vibration ; adverse effects

OBJECTIVETo compare the dose-response relationship differences between impulse noise exposure workers and continuous noise exposure workers in prevalence of noise inducing hearing loss using dosimeter measurement.

METHODSThirty-two mechanical workers in a workshop were selected as impulse noise group and 163 textile workers in a textile factory as continuous noise group. SH-126 dosimeter was used to measure A weighted equal sound level of eight hours (L(Aeq.8 h)) during full working duration with equal energy rule for the selected workers. The cumulative noise exposure (CNE) was calculated by L(Aeq.8 h) and noise working years with equal energy rule for each worker. Hearing thresholds were measured by audiometer by routine method and adjusted by age and gender with GBZ49 - 2002. Hearing loss was diagnosed by GBZ49 - 2002 for each worker.

RESULTSCNE of impulse noise group [(103.2 +/- 4.2) dB (A) .year] was found lower than the continuous noise group [(110.6 +/- 6.0) dB (A) .year] by significance, P < 0.05. The hearing loss prevalence of impulse noise group (68.8%) was similar as continuous noise group (65%) without significance, P > 0.05. Strata analysis showed the hearing loss prevalence in 100 - 104 dB (A) .year and 105 - 109 dB (A) .year of impulse noise group was double than that of continuous noise group (76.9%, 90.9% vs 30.4%, 50.0%), P < 0.05. The chi-square test showed a relationship between CNE and hearing loss prevalence that was in high significance (P < 0.01) in both impulse noise group and continuous noise group. Logistic regression model showed the dose-response relationship curve of impulse noise group was left shift and sharp slope.

CONCLUSIONThe damage of impulse noise on hearing loss was much more than that of continuous noise according to equal energy rule of dosimeter data.

Adult ; Data Collection ; methods ; statistics & numerical data ; Female ; Hearing Loss, High-Frequency ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Humans ; Male ; Noise, Occupational ; adverse effects ; Occupational Diseases ; diagnosis ; etiology ; Surveys and Questionnaires

Porcine pancreatic extracts (PPE), which are widely used as a digestive drug in Korea, are composed of alpha-amylase and lipase. Such enzymes are commonly described as occupational allergens. This is the first report of occupational rhinitis caused by PPE developing into occupational asthma in a hospital nurse. She showed strong positive response in the skin prick test (SPT) (5+, wheal ratio of allergen to histamine) and had a high serum-specific IgE level to PPE, but showed a negative response in the methacholine bronchial challenge test (MBT). She had been exposed to PPE intermittently with intermittent medications for rhinitis. Two years later, she presented with rhinitis and additional asthmatic symptoms. In contrast to her first visit, she showed a positive response in the MBT, and developed bronchoconstriction in the PPE-bronchial provocation test (BPT). These findings suggest that inhalation of PPE powder can induce IgE-mediated occupational rhinitis in a hospital setting, which will develop into occupational asthma if avoidance is not complete.
Adult ; Animals ; Asthma/*diagnosis/etiology ; Bronchial Provocation Tests ; Female ; Gastrointestinal Agents/adverse effects ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin E/metabolism ; Methacholine Chloride/pharmacology ; Occupational Diseases/*diagnosis/etiology ; Pancreatic Extracts/*adverse effects ; Powders ; Rhinitis/*diagnosis/etiology ; Skin Tests ; Swine