OBJECTIVES: This study was carried to investigate the prevalence and odds ratio of work related musculoskeletal disorders according to the job classification in small-to-medium-sized enterprises(<300 employee). METHODS: A questionnaire survey was given to 746 workers in 8 workplaces. 501 workers (67.2%) were finally selected in this study. The workers in the 8 workplaces was divided into 7 jobs. Those were manufacturers(metal), assemblers(appliances), cashiers, packers(cosmetics), garbage collectors, and VDT workers. Multiple logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios of the musculoskeletal symptoms according to the job classification. RESULTS: Univariate analysis showed that the significantly related risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms are as follows; age, marital status, gender, work load change, work duration, hours worked per day, job demand, decision latitude, type of job. According to the type of job, the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms were 7.7%(clerks), 24.3%(manufacturers), 30.0%(assemblers), 23.0%(cashiers), 30.4%(packers), 11.9%(garbage collectors), 29.2%(VDT workers). Multiple logistic regression showed that the following significant odds ratios (referenceclerks): 7.32(packers), 5.63(assemblers), 5.11(cashiers), 4.79(VDT workers), 3.11(manufacturers). CONCLUSION: In small-to-medium-sized enterprises, the job classification was major risk factor for work related musculoskeletal disorders. According to the job classification, the odds ratios of the work related musculoskeletal disorders were different. Considering the odds ratios, the establishment of a prevention program of work related mus-culoskeletal disorders is recommended.
Classification* ; Garbage ; Logistic Models ; Marital Status ; Odds Ratio* ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in employment status and new-onset depressive symptoms through a one-year follow-up of permanent waged workers. Methods: We analyzed the open-source data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study. Using the 2017 data, we selected 2,314 permanent waged workers aged 19 to 59 years without depressive symptoms as a base group. The final analysis targeted 2,073 workers who were followed up in 2018. In 2018, there were five categories of employment status for workers who were followed up: permanent, precarious, unemployed, self-employed, and economically inactive. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association between employment status change and new-onset depressive symptoms. Results: Adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis showed that among male workers, workers who went from permanent status to being unemployed (odds ratio: 4.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.19 to 17.06) and from permanent status to being precarious workers (odds ratio: 3.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.30 to 7.65) had significantly high levels of new-onset depressive symptoms compared with those who retained their permanent employment status. There were no significant increases in new-onset depressive symptoms of male workers who went from permanent status to being self-employed or economically inactive. On the other hand, no significant differences were found among female workers. Conclusion Our study suggests that the change of employment status to precarious workers or unemployment can cause new-onset depressive symptoms in male permanent waged workers.

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in employment status and new-onset depressive symptoms through a one-year follow-up of permanent waged workers. Methods: We analyzed the open-source data from the Korea Welfare Panel Study. Using the 2017 data, we selected 2,314 permanent waged workers aged 19 to 59 years without depressive symptoms as a base group. The final analysis targeted 2,073 workers who were followed up in 2018. In 2018, there were five categories of employment status for workers who were followed up: permanent, precarious, unemployed, self-employed, and economically inactive. Multiple logistic regression was used to determine the association between employment status change and new-onset depressive symptoms. Results: Adjusted multiple logistic regression analysis showed that among male workers, workers who went from permanent status to being unemployed (odds ratio: 4.50, 95% confidence interval: 1.19 to 17.06) and from permanent status to being precarious workers (odds ratio: 3.15, 95% confidence interval: 1.30 to 7.65) had significantly high levels of new-onset depressive symptoms compared with those who retained their permanent employment status. There were no significant increases in new-onset depressive symptoms of male workers who went from permanent status to being self-employed or economically inactive. On the other hand, no significant differences were found among female workers. Conclusion Our study suggests that the change of employment status to precarious workers or unemployment can cause new-onset depressive symptoms in male permanent waged workers.

The coronary artery fistula from right coronary artery to left ventricle is a rare disease among coronary artery anomaly. We experienced three cases of rare coronary fistula and report with literature review. Although symptoms of coronary artery fistula are associated with arteriovenous shunt and coronary steal phenomenon, many cases are asymptomatic. In this report, all patients had no symptom. but incidental murmur was noted (two are continuous, one is diastolic rumbling). The diagnosis was made by transthoracic or transesophageal echocardiogram and selective coronary angiography. Because patients were relatively young and the diameter of dilated coronary artery were huge, we perfomed operation on three patients.
Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Diagnosis ; Fistula* ; Heart Ventricles* ; Humans ; Rare Diseases

Autophagy is a life-sustaining process by which cytoplasmic constituents are segregated in double-lipid bilayer membrane vesicles and undergo degradation into lysosomes. In recent studies, the basal autophagy is an indispensable process mediating proper vascular function in the body. Moreover, autophagy activated by many stress-related stimuli in the arterial wall protects endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells against cell death and the progression of vascular disease including atherosclerosis. Autophagy is protective to atherosclerosis during early stage but becomes dysfunctional in advanced atherosclerotic lesions. Following this finding, the need is emphasized which pharmacological development with compounds that activate the protective effects of autophagy in the vascular disease. Autophagy stimulated by oral or vascular delivery of rapamycin or derivatives effectively suppressed the atherosclerotic plaque growth and plaque destabilization. In this review, the recent finding is summarized on the role of autophagy in atherosclerosis and find out whether the activation or rescue of autophagy could provide a breakthrough in the treatment of atherosclerosis.
Atherosclerosis* ; Autophagy* ; Cell Death ; Cytoplasm ; Endothelial Cells ; Lysosomes ; Membranes ; Myocytes, Smooth Muscle ; Negotiating ; Plaque, Atherosclerotic ; Sirolimus ; Vascular Diseases

No abstract available.
Nortriptyline* ; Pharmacokinetics*

STUDY DESIGN: In-vitro biomechanical investigation. PURPOSE: To evaluate the biomechanical effects of the degeneration of the biodegradable cervical plates developed for anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF) on fusion and adjacent levels. OVERVIEW OF LITERATURE: Biodegradable implants have been recently introduced for cervical spine surgery. However, their effectiveness and safety remains unclear. METHODS: A linear three-dimensional finite element (FE) model of the lower cervical spine, comprising the C4–C6 vertebrae was developed using computed tomography images of a 46-year-old woman. The model was validated by comparison with previous reports. Four models of ACDF were analyzed and compared: (1) a titanium plate and bone block (Tita), (2) strong biodegradable plate and bone block (PLA-4G) that represents the early state of the biodegradable plate with full strength, (3) weak biodegradable plate and bone block (PLA-1G) that represents the late state of the biodegradable plate with decreased strength, and (4) stand-alone bone block (Bloc). FE analysis was performed to investigate the relative motion and intervertebral disc stress at the surgical (C5–C6 segment) and adjacent (C4–C5 segment) levels. RESULTS: The Tita and PLA-4G models were superior to the other models in terms of higher segment stiffness, smaller relative motion, and lower bone stress at the surgical level. However, the maximal von Mises stress at the intervertebral disc at the adjacent level was significantly higher in the Tita and PLA-4G models than in the other models. The relative motion at the adjacent level was significantly lower in the PLA-1G and Bloc models than in the other models. CONCLUSIONS: The use of biodegradable plates will enhance spinal fusion in the initial stronger period and prevent adjacent segment degeneration in the later, weaker period.
Absorbable Implants ; Diskectomy ; Female ; Finite Element Analysis ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Degeneration ; Middle Aged ; Spinal Fusion ; Spine ; Titanium

OBJECTIVE: Lumbar discectomy is an effective treatment for lumbar disc herniation (LDH); however, up to 2–18% of patients with LDH have experienced recurrent disc herniation. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a novel annular closure device (ACD) for preventing LDH recurrence and re-operation compared with that of conventional lumbar discectomy (CLD).METHODS: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, we compared CLD with discectomy utilizing the Barricaid® (Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc., Woburn, MA, USA) ACD. Primary radiologic outcomes included disc height, percentage of preoperative disc height maintained, and re-herniation rates. Additional clinical outcomes included visual analog scale (VAS) scores for back and leg pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) scores, and 12-item short-form health survey (SF-12) quality of life scores. Outcomes were measured at preoperation and at 1 week, 1, 3, 6, 12, and 24 months postoperation.RESULTS: Sixty patients (30 CLD, 30 ACD) were enrolled in this study. At 24-month follow-up, the disc height in the ACD group was significantly greater than that in the CLD group (11.4±1.5 vs. 10.2±1.2 mm, p=0.006). Re-herniation occurred in one patient in the ACD group versus six patients in the CLD group (χ²=4.04, p=0.044). Back and leg VAS scores, ODI scores, and SF-12 scores improved significantly in both groups compared with preoperative scores in the first 7 days following surgery and remained at significantly improved levels at a 24-month follow-up. However, no statistical difference was found between the two groups.CONCLUSION: Lumbar discectomy with the Barricaid® (Intrinsic Therapeutics, Inc.) ACD is more effective at maintaining disc height and preventing re-herniation compared with conventional discectomy. Our results suggest that adoption of ACD in lumbar discectomy can help improve the treatment outcome.
Diskectomy ; Follow-Up Studies ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Prospective Studies ; Quality of Life ; Recurrence ; Treatment Outcome ; Visual Analog Scale

Captopril tablets of two different producers were tested for bioequivalence as well as therapeutic equivalence. The pharmacokinetics, the time course of plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition, and the changes of systolic and diastolic blood pressure after administration of drugs were studied. In a balanced, randomized two-way crossover design, two single doses of 50mg each of captopril were administered orally to twelve male volunteers. Peak blood levels of free captopril were observed about 0.85 hour after the dose, and practically free captopril could not be detected in blood within 8 hours. Peak free captopril levels of both compounds were almost identical(Capoten(R), 464.3ng/ml ; Capril(R), 504.6ng/ml). No statistically significant difference was identified between two compounds when area und the concentration time curve, peak level, time to peak were compared. Inhibition of plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme to blood free captopril concentration showed the hyperbolic concentration-response relationship with IC50 value of 7.4ng/ml. The area under the percent angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition versus time curve were quite similar after administration of both drugs. The compounds were also found to be equivalent on the premise that no significant difference was detected when the time courses of systolic and diastolic blood pressure reduction were compared.
Biological Availability* ; Blood Pressure ; Captopril* ; Cross-Over Studies ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Male ; Pharmacokinetics ; Plasma* ; Tablets* ; Therapeutic Equivalency ; Volunteers

For the pharmacokinetic analysis of isoniazid transfer into CSF, steady-state isoniazid concentrations of plasma and CSF were measured in eleven tuberculous meningitis patients confirmed with findings of CSF and neuroimazing. Peak plasma levels (4.17-21.5 micrograms/mL) were achieved at 0.25 to 3 hours after multiple isoniazid dose (600 mg/day). Terminal half-life, total clearance (CI/F) and volume of distribution (Vd/F) were 1.42 +/- 0.41 hr, 0.47 +/- 0.22 L/kg/hr and 0.93 +/- 0.48 L/kg, respectively. Isoniazid concentrations in CSF collected intermittently were highest at 3 hr (Mean, 4.18 micrograms/mL) and were 0.54 +/- 0.21 micrograms/mL at 12 hrs after the last dose of isoniazid 10 mg/kg/day. CSF/plasma partitioning of isoniazid and equilibration rate were estimated using modified pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model. Disposition rate constant from CSF to plasma and CSF/plasma partitioning ratio of isoniazid were estimated to be 0.39 h-1 and 1.17, respectively.
Administration, Oral ; Humans ; Isoniazid/*cerebrospinal fluid ; Metabolic Clearance Rate ; Models, Biological ; Tuberculosis, Meningeal/*cerebrospinal fluid