Introduction: Cement industry contributes to the major constituent of airborne dust in the atmosphere. This study aims to determine the level of respirable cement dust exposure associated with workers’ respiratory health. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 84 administration workers as the comparative group and 84 manufacturing workers as the exposed group. Method: A set of validated questionnaires was used to obtain some pertained background information as well as respiratory symptoms among the respondents. Personal Air Sampling Pump was used for assessing personal exposure towards cement dust in 8 hours. For lung function performance, a Spirometry test was carried out and Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide (FENO) test was conducted to assess airway inflammation. Results: The median for personal exposure level to respirable dust of manufacturing workers was 2.68 (5.90) mg/ m3 with range 0.351 to 10.60 mg/m3. The lung function abnormality among the manufacturing workers was FVC% (PR=3.82, 95% CI=1.52-9.58) and FEV1% (PR=5.16, 95% CI=1.65-16.10). Cough was reported to occur the most likely among the manufacturing workers (PR=2.40, 95% CI=1.12-5.15). After adjusting the smoking status, the prevalence of phlegm and cough were 35.7% and 29.8% respectively. 16.7% of manufacturing workers recorded a high level of FENO. The increasing exposure to respirable dust significantly reduces the FVC% of manufacturing workers (r=-0.36, p=0.05). Conclusion: The personal exposure to respirable cement dust increases the risk of lung impairment by highly developing respiratory health symptoms, reducing lung function level and increasing the higher level of airway inflammation among highly exposed workers.
Respiratory symptoms ; Lung function ;

The study was performed on 80 chronic renal failure(CRF) subjects. Initial results: Clinical respiratory manifestation: The main respiratory symptom in CRF: chest pain 60,49%, cough 46,25%. There is not significant difference in respiratory symptoms between CRF with intermittent dialysis (P>0.05). Physical symptoms: Crepitating 48,75%, rough vesicular breathing 37,5%. Vesicular breathing and crackle in CRF with intermittent dialysis were significantly higher (P<0,01). Lung radiographic features: There are 8 lesions on lung X-ray, main lesions: lung calcification 80%, large-lung hilar syndrome 71%, lung manifestation in hyperuremia 32,5%, pleural effusion 26,25%. Lung calcification and large lung hilar-syndrom in CRF with ID were higher (P<0,01). There is a relationship between the lesions on chest X-ray and hyperuremia level.
Kidney Failure ; Lung ; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory

The source of ryokankyomishingeninto, which has been used for chronic respiratory and nasal diseases by using “sunken pulse” as an indication, is the Jin-kui-yao-lue text. We, however, experienced a case of allergic rhinitis presenting with “floating pulse” successfully treated with ryokankyomishingeninto. On the basis of this case, we investigated efficacy with ryokankyomishingeninto in 16 other patients who visited our outpatient clinic from January 2007 to March 2008, and who had the all of same remarks in pulse diagnoses and nasal symptoms, such as nasal obstruction, and rhinorrhea or respiratory symptoms such as wheeze and shortness of breathing. As a result, ryokankyomishingeninto improved symptoms in all these patients. All the adult cases had a “stuck feeling in pit of stomach”. Furthermore, they had either a “water dabbling sound in the stomach”, or “cold area on the epigastrium”.
symptoms <1> ; Nasal ; Pulse taking ; Cases ; Respiratory

OBJECTIVES: This was a cross sectional study conducted in the Paediatric Institute among infants and children with chronic respiratory symptoms with the following objectives: i) to determine the prevalence of gastro-oesophageal reflux in children with persistent respiratory symptoms, ii) to identify the clinical predictors of GOR (Gastro-oesophageal reflux) in children with persistent respiratory symptoms and iii) assess the validity of abdominal ultrasound, barium oesophagogram and chest radiograph in diagnosing GOR in these patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty-four patients were recruited over a period of six months. All the presenting symptoms were identified. The patients were subjected to chest radiograph, abdominal ultrasound, barium oesophagogram and 24-hour pH oesophageal monitoring. The predictive validity of clinical symptoms, chest radiograph, abdominal ultrasound and barium oesophagogram were assessed. Twenty-four hours oesophageal pH was the gold standard to diagnose GOR. RESULTS: The mean age of patients was 9.1 months (1-58 months). Thirty-one patients (70.5%) were confirmed to have GOR by pH study. Respiratory symptoms alone were not useful to predict GOR. Cough had the highest sensitivity of 51.6%. Stridor, wheeze and choking each had a specificity of 76%. Wheeze, vomiting, choking and stridor were identified to have high specificity (90-100%) in diagnosing GOR when any two symptoms were taken in combination. Collapse/consolidation was the commonest radiological abnormality but had low sensitivity (35.5%) and specificity (53.8%). However hyperinflation on chest radiograph had a specificity of 92.3% with positive predictive value of 80% in diagnosing GOR. Barium oesophagogram has low sensitivity (37.9%) and moderate specificity (75%) in diagnosing GOR in children with respiratory symptoms. Abdominal ultrasound was a valid mode of diagnosing GOR when there were three or more reflux episodes demonstrated during the screening period with a specificity of 90.9%. However the sensitivity was low i.e. 20-25%. The specificity increased to 90-100% when two positive tests were taken in combination (abdominal ultrasound and barium oesophagogram). However the sensitivity remained low (10-20%). Chest radiograph did not improve the predictive value when considered with the above tests. Combination of clinical symptoms were useful as clinical predictors of GOR. In the absence of a pH oesophageal monitoring, a combination of barium oesophagogram and ultrasound may be helpful in diagnosing GOR.
symptoms <1> ; Respiratory ; Ultrasonic ; Clinical ; Child

Among 604 samples gathered from respiratory inflammation patients at Thai Binh Hospital, 264 samples of Streptococcus pneumonia (43.7%) were isolated, similarily 108 of Streptococcis pyogenes (17.9%), 93 of Klebsiella pneumonia (15.4%), 49 of Staphyllococcus aureus (8.1%), 23 of Pseudomonas aeruginosa (3.8%), 21 of Proteus (3.5%), 19 of Haemophylus (3.1%) were. Different levels of antibiotic resistance of these bacteria were determined
Inflammation ; Bacteria ; Patients ; Respiratory System ; Respiratory Tract Infections ; Signs and Symptoms, Respiratory

Disease risk among elderly smokers is considered to be doubled due to their smoking habits and age as compared with elderly non-smokers. The investigators conducted risk assessments of smoking for respiratory symptoms among elderly people.A questionnaire survey on smoking habits and respiratory symptoms was conducted among 3, 000 persons of 56 years of age and over who were randomly selected from suburban residents in a prefecture in Japan in October, 1997. A total 1, 954 or 65.1% of individuals responded, consisting of 42.8% for men and 57.2% for women, with an average age of 73.6 years.In addition to descriptive analysis, multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted. The results are summarized as follows:Smokers accounted for 28.1% of men and 3.6% of women. Among all age-groups, the highest rate of smokers was observed in men of 56-69 years old (34.7%) which was lower than the national average rate for the 60-69 year-old group (56.1% of men and 14.5% of women in ‘97). The odds ratios and 95 percent confidence interval (95%CI) for “having phlegm every day” and “having phlegm for more than 4 days a week” among smokers were 2.06 (95%CI=1.41-3.01) and 2.77(95%CI=1.80-4.27). Significantly higher odds ratios among smokers were also observed for “wheezing” and “shortness of breath when hurrying”.Odds ratios for some respiratory symptoms including “having phlegm for more than 4 days per week” among inhalers were significantly high compared with non-smokers, whereas those among non-inhalers were not significantly different from 1.0.Odds ratios for symptoms of phlegm and wheezing were significantly higher (Odds ratio ≥2.0) among heavy smokers (Brinkman Index [B. I.] >900) compared to non-smokers, while odds ratios of the same symptoms were not different from 1.0 among light smokers (B.I. ≤500).
symptoms <1> ; Respiratory ; Smoking ; Elderly ; Male population group

Indoor air quality (IAQ) has become a major concern nowadays because of the universality of exposure and its potential negative impact on human health especially on children. This study is intended to explore the association between IAQ and the respiratory health among preschool children in urban and suburban area. A cross-sectional comparative study was carried out among Malay preschool children in urban (N= 60, Puchong) and suburban (N=60, Hulu Langat) areas. An indoor air quality assessment was conducted in 12 preschools and 60 houses which include parameters of PM2.5, PM10, VOCs, mold, bacteria, Gram-negative bacteria and physical parameters. A set of standardized questionnaire was distributed to obtain respondents’ background information, exposure history and respiratory health symptoms. Spirometry test was carried out and the data obtained were analyzed to determine the lung function of the respondents. There was a significant difference between IAQ in urban and suburban preschools for all parameters measured (p<0.05). Most of the pollutants were significantly associated with respiratory health symptoms. There was a significant association between the level of indoor pollutants with the lung function abnormalities among the respondents. Even though this study is the first to take Gram-negative bacteria as an indoor air pollutant, the finding also shows that there is a significant association between exposure of Gram-negative bacteria with lung function impairment and higher reported respiratory symptoms among the respondents. The finding concluded that exposures to indoor air pollutants, especially PM2.5 increases the risk of getting lung function abnormality and respiratory health symptoms among respondents.
Indoor air quality ; mold ; bacteria ; lung function ; respiratory health symptoms

Postoperative pain control is very important not only for the relief of pain. but in the prevention of respiratory acidosis, pulmonary complications, emotional disturbances and sleeping disturbances etc. Jn spite of its significance there are a few studies on postoperative pain control in medical literature. Techniques have been developed for postoperative pain control since the 19 century, for example analgesics, inhalational agents, regional block, hypnosis and accupuncture. However none of these techniques was satisfactory because of various complications. The intermittent intramuscular injection of narcotics (e.g. meperidine) has been used most widely pto the present. There have been many complications, induding addiction, from this method. Our study was done in the recovery room with intramuscular injections of Thalamonal to fully awake patients, with 20 cases each having operation done in the upper abdomen, lower abdomen, and in other sites. We evaluated the results for the requirement of meperidine after the adminstration of Thalamonal. This was compared with the control group. There were 85% of cases that did not require the injection of meperidine. One case was complicated by hypotension, but this patient was improved with routine management for , hypotension. Other complications were not found.
Abdomen ; Acidosis, Respiratory ; Affective Symptoms ; Analgesics ; Humans ; Hypnosis ; Hypotension ; Injections, Intramuscular* ; Meperidine ; Narcotics ; Pain, Postoperative* ; Recovery Room

An 18-year-old man suffered heat stroke after continuous working for 26 hours on his first day in an aluminium utensil plant in August 1998. His job was to put a pressed aluminium utensil on the conveyer before the process of spray painting. The ranges of temperature and relative humidity measured at the local weather-station during the patient' s working period were 23.6-30.2 degrees C, 49-87 % respectively. On arrival the patient was comatose and suffered generalized seizure three times. His rectal temperature was 41.2 degrees C . blood pressure was 90/60 mmHg, pulse was 148 beats/minute and respiratory rate was 28 times/minute. The serum level of AST was 421 IU/L. ALT was 205 IU/L, LDH was 1,160 IU/L. myoglobin was higher than 500 ng/mL. OK was higher than 2,000 IU/L. He recovered consciousness 7th day of admission and discharged after 2 months but cerebellar dysarthria was remained. The patient felt himself several prodromal symptoms of heat stroke and he showed awkward behavior considered to be drowsiness, but the patient and his co-workers neglected them. This case report shows that heat stroke can be occurred in a condition that ambient temperature, humidity, and working load are not extreme. A thorough health education and management concerned with guidelines on salt and water intake, detection of early symptoms of heat-related illness, prompt body cooling and rapid transportation to a hospital is necessary.
Adolescent ; Blood Pressure ; Coma ; Consciousness ; Drinking ; Dysarthria ; Health Education ; Heat Stroke* ; Hot Temperature* ; Humans ; Humidity ; Myoglobin ; Paint ; Paintings ; Plants* ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Respiratory Rate ; Seizures ; Sleep Stages ; Transportation

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) caused by Hantann virus or Seoul virus frequently occurs in Korea. The prodromal clinical symptoms are flu-like symptoms. Rapidly progressive renal failure and hemorrhage follow. Hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS) is usually found in the U.S.A., caused by the Sin-nombre virus. The prodromal symptoms resemble HFRS. However, during the third to fith hospital day after admission, pulmonary edema or pulmonary hemorrhage acutely develops, which results in acute respiratory failure. We here report a case of HFRS with HPS that developed in a 47 year-old man. The patient had flu-like symptoms and diarrhea on admission. Acute renal failure developed and acute hemodialysis was performed. On the fourth hospital day, an asymmetric bilateral haziness as seen on a chest X-ray rapidly developed with reduced O2 saturation, and mechanical ventilation was applied. On the eighth hospital day, the patient was weaned from the ventilator. When acute respiratory failure develops in patients with HFRS, HPS might be considered.
Acute Kidney Injury ; Diarrhea ; Hantavirus Pulmonary Syndrome* ; Hantavirus* ; Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Pulmonary Edema ; Renal Dialysis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory Insufficiency ; Seoul virus ; Thorax ; Ventilators, Mechanical