PURPOSE: The purpose of this study aimed to investigate job stress levels of occupational health managers and whether job stress levels were affected by various factors such as size and types of company and work-related characteristics of occupational health managers. METHODS: The study was conducted from May to September 2011 in the chemicals manufacturing factories in Korea and total subjects were 59 occupational health managers. We measured job stress levels of occupational health managers using Korean occupational stress scale (KOSS) questionnaires and the information of company characteristics was obtained using a self-reported questionnaire. RESULTS: The characteristics of company such as type, size and industries and job characteristics of occupational health managers were significant factors in job stress. Job demand, job control, job insecurity, organizational system and occupational environment scores were significantly associated with type, size and industries of company. In multiple regression analyses, we found that job demand was significantly associated with occupational position and type of company, and job insecurity was significantly associated with working hour. Also, we found that lack of reward was significantly associated with education level, speciality, duration of work and hour and type of company. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that job stress of occupational health managers is significantly associated with work-related characteristics and company's characteristics.
Korea ; Occupational Health ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reward

No abstract available.
Neural Tube Defects* ; Neural Tube* ; Prenatal Diagnosis*

BACKGROUND: Anesthetic techniques for laryngeal microsurgery aims on modulation of sympathetic stimulation, good relaxation and rapid recovery from deep anesthesia. This study was designed to compare the influence of the different anesthetic methods on the cardiovascular responses and the recovery patterns during suspension laryngoscopic surgery. METHOD: Sixty patients of ASA class 1 or 2 scheduled for suspension laryngoscopic surgery were divided into 4 groups randomly. Two groups were anesthetized with inhalational anesthetic, enflurane, and other two groups were anesthetized with intravenous anesthetic, propofol. In each groups, esmolol or fentanyl was used as an adjunctive during anesthesia. When blood pressures increased above 30% of baseline value each adjunctive was added. The changes of blood pressure and heart rate were compared with each others during operation. Postoperatively, the start of spontaneous respiration, consciousness, memory, and the frequencies of other complications were also compared with each others. RESULT: The results were as follows; 1) The blood pressures and heart rates during operations were not different among the groups. 2) The recovery of spontaneous respiration was early in propofol esmolol group. 3) 30 minutes after operation, the consciousness state was better and complications were less in propofol groups compared with enflurane groups. CONCLUSION: From this results, it seems that propofol with nitrous oxide and supplemental fentanyl or esmolol may be useful in laryngeal microsurgery. Especially, esmolol can be a good substitute for those who can't be treated with opioids.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Consciousness ; Enflurane ; Fentanyl ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Laryngoscopy ; Memory ; Microsurgery ; Nitrous Oxide ; Propofol ; Relaxation ; Respiration

No abstract available.
Free Tissue Flaps* ; Lower Extremity* ; Soft Tissue Injuries*

PURPOSE: To compare the clinical outcomes between the open posterior approach and arthroscopic suture fixation for displaced posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) avulsion fractures. METHODS: A literature search was performed on MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Library databases. The inclusion criteria were as follows: papers written in English on displaced PCL avulsion fractures, clinical trial(s) with clear description of surgical technique, adult subjects, a follow-up longer than 12 months and modified Coleman methodology score (CMS) more than 60 points. RESULTS: Twelve studies were included with a mean CMS value of 72.4 (standard deviation, 7.6). Overall, 134 patients underwent the open posterior approach with a minimum 12-month follow-up, and 174 patients underwent arthroscopic suture fixation. At final follow-up, the range of Lysholm score was 85–100 for the open approach and 80–100 for the arthroscopic approach. Patients who were rated as normal or nearly normal in the International Knee Documentation Committee subjective knee assessment were 92%–100% for the open approach and 90%–100% for the arthroscopic approach. The range of side-to-side difference was 0–5 mm for both approaches. CONCLUSIONS: Both arthroscopic and open methods for the treatment of PCL tibial-side avulsion injuries resulted in comparably good clinical outcomes, radiological healing, and stable knees.
Adult ; Arthroscopy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Posterior Cruciate Ligament ; Sutures

OBJECTIVE: Preterm birth is an important cause of infant death and morbidity but its pathophysiology still remains to be clear. The associations between preterm birth and the polymorphism of interleukin-1beta gene and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene have been suspected. And ethnic variations in the polymorphism of the genes were also reported. We decided to study polymorphisms of interleukin-1beta+3953 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in Korean pregnant women. METHODS: Patients were divided into 2 groups. Group 1 is the control group of 33 subjects with uncomplicated term delivery : group 2 is the case group of patients who had spontaneous preterm delivery. Polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: There were significant differences in gestational age and birth weight between two groups (P<0.001). No significant differences were found in genotypic frequencies and allelic frequencies in interleukin-1beta+3953 between two groups. Interleukin-1 receptor antagonist gene had 5 alleles and the most frequent allele was IL1RN*1 (410bp), 66.7% in control group and 77.8% in case group. And significant differences were not found in genotypic frequencies and allelic frequencies between two groups, too. CONCLUSION: There were no significant differences in polymorphisms in interleukin-1beta +3953 and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist between term delivery group and preterm birth group.
Alleles ; Birth Weight ; Female ; Gestational Age ; Humans ; Infant ; Interleukin-1* ; Interleukin-1beta* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Pregnant Women ; Premature Birth*

No abstract available.
Fatty Liver/*complications ; Female ; Humans ; Intra-Abdominal Fat/*anatomy & histology ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*etiology

To describe the clinical and optical coherence tomography (OCT) features of a macular hole (MH) or its precursor lesion in patients treated with systemic antiestrogen agents. We reviewed the medical history of the patient, ophthalmic examination, and both fundus and OCT findings. Three female patients receiving antiestrogen therapy sought treatment for visual disturbance. All of the patients showed foveal cystic changes with outer retinal defect upon OCT. Visual improvement was achieved through surgery for the treatment of MH in two patients. Antiestrogen therapy may result in MH or its precursor lesion, in addition to perifoveal refractile deposits. OCT examination would be helpful for early detection in such cases.
Adult ; Breast Neoplasms/drug therapy/surgery ; Estrogen Antagonists/*adverse effects ; Female ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Retinal Perforations/*chemically induced/diagnosis/surgery ; Tamoxifen/*adverse effects ; Vitrectomy

The use of nanoparticles (NPs) in industry is increasing, bringing with it a number of adverse health effects on workers. Like other chemical carcinogens, NPs can cause cancer via oxidative DNA damage. Of all the molecules vulnerable to oxidative modification by NPs, DNA has received the greatest attention, and biomarkers of exposure and effect are nearing validation. This review concentrates on studies published between 2000 and 2012 that attempted to detect oxidative DNA damage in humans, laboratory animals, and cell lines. It is important to review these studies to improve the current understanding of the oxidative DNA damage caused by NP exposure in the workplace. In addition to examining studies on oxidative damage, this review briefly describes NPs, giving some examples of their adverse effects, and reviews occupational exposure assessments and approaches to minimizing exposure (e.g., personal protective equipment and engineering controls such as fume hoods). Current recommendations to minimize exposure are largely based on common sense, analogy to ultrafine material toxicity, and general health and safety recommendations.
Animals, Laboratory ; Biomarkers ; Carcinogens ; Cell Line ; DNA Damage* ; DNA* ; Humans ; Nanoparticles* ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health

The aim of this study is to investigate prevalence of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) among adolescents and difference in worry and stress between normal and IBS groups. Questionnaire survey was conducted at a girl's middle and high school. Students from seventh to eleventh grade participated in the examination on Rome II criteria, lifestyle and dietary habits. Worry and stress were measured with the Korean version Penn State Worry Questionnaire-Children and the Korean version Brief Encounter Psychosocial Instrument. Worry score was significantly higher in the IBS group (22.07 +/- 9.38, P < 0.001) than in the normal group (18.65 +/- 8.99) and was higher in high school students than in middle school students (P = 0.02). Stress score also was higher in the IBS group than in the normal group (P < 0.001) and was higher in the high school girls than in the middle school ones (P = 0.04). Of all the lifestyle factors influencing IBS preference for fatty foods, preference for salty foods, drinking alcohol and sleeping for less than six hours a day were found to be significant. Worry and stress seem to be associated with IBS symptoms. The findings of this study draw a clue that less worry and stress will help decrease IBS symptoms.
Adolescent ; Alcohol Drinking ; *Anxiety ; Body Mass Index ; Female ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome/epidemiology/*psychology ; Life Style ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Regression Analysis ; Sleep ; Socioeconomic Factors ; *Stress, Psychological