BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The hearing loss of workers can occur when they are affected by age, otologic disease, and work-related risks such as noise and chemicals. Based on the Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) in 2010, this research aimed to estimate the prevalence rate of hearing loss and to identify the risk factors affecting its occurrence. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The subjects were 10019 employees who completed an interview conducted as part of KWCS in 2010. The prevalence rate of hearing loss according to sex, age, education, income, smoking, drinking, hypertension, industrial type, occupations, employment status, working period, and hazards at the workplace were assessed. The factors that could affect the occurrence of hearing loss were investigated based on a logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence rate of hearing loss was 2.7%. In a logistic multivariate analysis, sex, age, occupations, working period, noise, and exposure to chemicals showed statistically significant correlations to the occurrence of hearing loss. The adjusted odd ratios were as follows: 1.74 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03-2.96] for males, 2.11 (95% CI, 1.14-3.89) for those in their 40s, 2.24 (95% CI, 1.19-4.20) for those in their 50s, 2.21 (95% CI, 1.18-4.15) for manage/professional works, 2.73 (95% CI, 1.69-4.41) for manufacturing, 2.07 (95% CI, 1.36-3.15) for those who have worked for more than 20 years, 1.72 (95% CI, 1.14-2.58) for noise exposure, 1.53 (95% CI, 1.02-2.30) for vibration exposure and 1.58 (95% CI, 1.11-2.24) for chemical exposure. CONCLUSIONS: The overall occupational and non-occupational risk factors related to employees' hearing loss were reviewed. In addition to the exposure to noise, occupational risks of hearing loss, such as isolated exposure to vibration and chemicals, and combined exposure to noise and these hazards, were identified. Multiple exposure to hazards, along with prolonged noise exposure increased the risk of hearing loss.
Drinking ; Ear Diseases ; Employment ; Hearing ; Hearing Loss ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Multivariate Analysis ; Noise ; Noise, Occupational ; Occupations ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vibration

No abstract available.
Animals ; Evoked Potentials* ; Rats*

PURPOSE: To assess the accuracy of estimating postoperative deviation in large-angle exotropia over 40 prism diopters (PD). METHODS: A retrospective analysis was performed on 61 exotropia patients with over 40 PD exotropia who had undergone 2-muscle surgery by two surgeons and with at least 6 months follow-up. The accuracy was assessed by analyzing the discrepancy between preoperatively predicted residual deviation and deviation at postoperative 6weeks. Successful surgery was defined as deviation within +/- 10 PD at the last postoperative visit. RESULTS: More accurate residual deviation was predicted in exotropia with prism diopters between 40 and 59 (97.8%) than in exotropia with 60 PD or more (62.5%). And there was no significant difference between two surgeons. Surgical success rates at six months and one year after surgery were 96.8%, 94.7% in exotropia with 40 to 49 PD, 71.4%, 60.0%, 50 to 59 PD, 50.0%, 45.5%, 60 PD or more, respectively. There were four patients of whom the postoperative deviation angle exceeded more than 10 PD of the estimated deviation. CONCLUSIONS: The accuracy of estimating residual deviation prior to surgery was higher and more successful surgery was achieved in exotropia ranging in 40 to 59 PD than in exotropia with 60 PD or more. Therefore, 2- muscle surgery will be suitable for large-angle exotropia with less than 60 PD.
Exotropia ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Muscles ; Retrospective Studies

We carried out the Schirmer test to measure objectively the amount of lacrimation among 51 clinically diagnosed parkinsonian patients (33 men and 18 women aged 50 to 79 years, mean 64) and 75 age-matched controls (42 men and 33 women aged 50 to 76, mean 62). Whatman No. 2 paper, prepared in precut strips 5mm by 35mm, was placed in the cul-de-sac for five minutes, after which the wetted length of the strip was studied. It was noted that the lacrimation amount decreased in patients with Parkinson's disease compared with controls: the average amount of lacrimation was 3.4 +/- 2.3mm in the former group and 8.1 +/- 6.5mm in the latter group (p < 0.01). We believe that the decrease in the amount of lacrimation is associated with emotional disturbance and autonomic dysfunction, and presume that the lacrimation may be under the control of the basal ganglia which has a connection with the superior salivatory nucleus downward and the limbic system upward.
Aged ; Autonomic Nervous System/physiopathology ; Female ; Human ; Limbic System/physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Age ; Parkinson Disease/*physiopathology ; Tears/*secretion

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical features of partial thickness rotator cuff tears according to location of the tear and to classify the partial thickness rotator cuff tears based on arthroscopic findings. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study evaluated 138 patients who were arthroscpically proven to be partial thickness rotator cuff tears. Three groups were identified; 56 in the articular side tear, 58 in the bursal side tear, 24 in the both sides tear. The comparison included preoperative clinical features such as pain, range of motion and impingement sign. The partial thickness rotator cuff tears were classified according to the arthroscopic findings. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in the clinical features between articular, bursal and both sides tears. Partial thickness rotator cuff tear can be divided into 5 groups. Type I (n=41): fraying or fibrillation on surface of the cuff. Type II (n=35): fiber disruptions with or without displacement. Type III (n=38): flap tear or fragmentation. Type IV (n=16): both articular and bursal side tears without communications. Type V (n=8): impending a full thickness tear. CONCLUSION: It is difficult to differentiate the clinical features based on the physical examinations according to the locations of tears. Newly designed classification may help in deternmining the appropriate arthroscopic treatment of a partial thickness rotator cuff tear.

Blastocystis is a genus of unicellular heterokont parasites belonging to a group of organisms known as Stramenopiles, which includes algae, diatoms, and water molds. Blastocystis includes several species that habitat in the gastrointestinal tracts of organisms as diverse as humans, farm animals, birds, rodents, reptiles, amphibians, fish, and cockroaches. It is important to public health and distributed globally, but its prevalence in dogs in Korea has not been reported to date. Here, we collected 787 canine fecal samples and assessed Blastocystis infection by age, sex, region, season, and diarrhea symptoms. We determined Blastocystis subtypes using phylogenetic analyses based on 18S rRNA gene sequences. We identified, 10 Blastocystis positive samples (1.3%). A higher proportion of infected dogs was asymptomatic; however, infection rates did not significantly differ according to region, age, sex, and season. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the Blastocystis sp. identified belonged to 4 subtypes (STs), ST1, ST5, ST10, and ST14, thus revealed the genetic diversity of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This is first report on the presence of Blastocystis sp. in dogs Korean. This study revealed a lower infection rate than expected and differed from previous studies in STs. Further studies are warranted to observe the national infection status of Blastocystis in dogs and the genetic characteristics of this genus.

It is well known that developmental delay or arrest occurs before implantation in mamals, which have undergone in vitro culture. Recently, these phenomena are being attributed to oxygen free radicals, and successful cell culture are being obtained by lowering the oxygen environment of in vitro culture. This is due to the fact that the oxygen concentration in the fallopian tube is around 5%, which is lower than the room air 20% concentraition for in vitro culture. Superoxide dismutase(SOD), which are free radical scavenger, were added to early embryo mice culture and compared the free radical level at each stage of development with that of culture in which free radical scavenging agent was not added. The highest free radical level in control group observed in the late 2-cell stage and was markedly decreased if SOD added to culture media. Blastulation rate, hatching rate, and blastomere count as the parameters of embryo development was significantly increased in the experimental group. This study suggests the possibility of improvement in in-vitro embryo culture with media including free radical scavengers.
Animals ; Blastomeres ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Culture Media ; Embryonic Development ; Embryonic Structures* ; Fallopian Tubes ; Female ; Free Radical Scavengers ; Free Radicals ; Mice* ; Oxygen ; Pregnancy ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

OBJECTIVES: Cognitrone Test is one of the computerized neurocognitive tests included in Vienna Test System. It assesses the ability of visuoperceptual analysis, continuous attention and the speed of information-processing. The present study aims at presenting the normative data of Korean adults for Cognitrone Test. METHODS: Cognitrone Test was administered to 353 healthy Korean volunteers aged 18 years and over. Number of correct responses, number of correct Yes-responses, number of correct No-responses, mean time of correct Yes-responses, and mean time of correct No-responses were measured in each individual. Initially the subjects were subgrouped by sex, age and educational level. And the subgroups showing similar levels of functioning were put together and analyzed as a larger unitary group. The subgroups without enough number of cases were excluded from the analysis. RESULTS: Summary scores for five variables of Cognitrone Test were given in the form of percentile and T-score distribution. For three variables representing the correctness of responses, normative data of unitary group(aged 18 to 50 years & educated more than 12 years) were presented. For two variables representing the speed of information processing, normative data of two groups(one; aged 18 to 30 years & educated more than 12 years, the other; aged 31 to 50 years & educated more than 12 years) were presented. CONCLUSIONS: The normative data of Cognitrone Test presented would be very useful in both clinical practice and research.
Adult* ; Automatic Data Processing ; Humans ; Volunteers

Ischemia followed by reperfusion in the presence of polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) results in a marked cardiac contractile dysfunction. Amrinone, a specific inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 3, has an antioxidant activity against PMNs. Therefore, we hypothesized that amrinone could attenuate PMNs-induced cardiac dysfunction by suppression of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced fby PMNs. In the present study, we examined the effects of amrinone on isolated ischemic (20 min) and reperfused (45 min) rat hearts perfused with PMNs. Amrinone at 25microM, given to hearts during the first 5 min of reperfusion, significantly improved coronary flow, left ventricular developed pressure (P< 0.001), and the maximal rate of development of left ventricular developed pressure (P< 0.001), compared with ischemic/reperfused hearts perfused with PMNs in the absence of amrinone. In addition, amrinone significantly reduced myeloperoxidase activity by 50.8%, indicating decreased PMNs infiltration (p< 0.001). Superoxide radical and hydrogen peroxide production were also significantly reduced in fMLP- and PMA-stimulated PMNs pretreated with amrinone. Hydroxyl radical was scavenged by amrinone. fMLP-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i was also inhibited by amrinone. These results provide evidence that amrinone can significantly attenuate PMN-induced cardiac contractile dysfunction in the ischemic/ reperfused rat heart via attenuation of PMNs infiltration into the myocardium and suppression of ROS release by PMNs.
Amrinone* ; Animals ; Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 3* ; Heart ; Hydrogen Peroxide ; Hydroxyl Radical ; Ischemia ; Myocardium ; Neutrophils ; Peroxidase ; Rats ; Reactive Oxygen Species ; Reperfusion ; Superoxides

Two Years Reports of "Journal of Korean Neuropychiatric Association" during 2001 to 2003 were evaluated by 17 Editorial Board of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association. We investigated the articles to specific fields and rejection rate etc. by different section chiefs. Although several problems concerning review time duration and rejection guideline issues indicated but generally all reviewer processes proved relatively clear and concise criteria. Through these objective and systematic evaluation processes, "Journal of Korean Neuropychiatric Association" will develope a good journal.
Evaluation Studies as Topic*