Skin disease is the most common occupational disease, but the reported number is small in Korea due to a difficulty of detection and diagnosis in time. We described various official statistics and data from occupational skin disease surveillance system, epidemiological surveys and cases published in scientific journals. Until 1981, 2,222 cases of occupational skin disease were reported by Korean employee's regular medical check-up, accounting for 4.9% of the total occupational diseases. There was no subsequent official statistics to figure out occupational skin diseases till 1998. From 1999, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) published the number of occupational skin diseases through the statistics of Cause Investigation for Industrial Accidents. A total of 301 cases were reported from 1999 to 2007. Recent one study showed the figures of compensated occupational skin diseases. Many of them belonged to daily-paid workers in the public service, especially forestry workers. Also, it described the interesting cases such as vitiligo and trichloroethylene-induced Stevens-Johnson Syndrome. Skin diseases are still important though the number of cases has decreased, and therefore it is recommended to grasp the status of occupational skin diseases through continuous surveillance system and to make policy protecting high-risk group.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*epidemiology ; Occupational Exposure ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Safety Management ; Skin Diseases/*epidemiology ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome/chemically induced/epidemiology ; Trichloroethylene/toxicity

BACKGROUND: Female firefighters are exposed to hazardous environmental (chemical and physical) and working (shift work, psychological, and ergonomic factors) conditions that have reported or are suspected of adverse effects on reproductive health. However, no previous studies have reported on pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium outcomes (PCPOs) in female firefighters. METHODS: The present study compared hospital admissions for PCPOs, based on 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes, among Korean female firefighters with those of the general Korean population. Standardized admission ratios (SARs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The study population included 1,766 female firefighters. Total follow-up duration was 9,659 person-years. Compared to the general female population, the female firefighters' SARs were higher in all admissions for PCPOs (SAR, 1.92; 95% CI: 1.79–2.05); pregnancy and abortive outcomes (SAR, 1.56; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12); other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy (SAR, 2.65; 95% CI: 1.99–3.46); maternal care related to the fetus, amniotic cavity, and possible delivery problems (SAR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.74–2.57); labor and delivery complications (SAR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); delivery (SAR, 1.94; 95% CI: 1.80–2.08); and complications predominantly related to puerperium (SAR, 4.68; 95% CI: 2.02–9.23). CONCLUSION The results of this study showed high SARs in all and specific subcategories of PCPOs in female firefighters.

Female ; Fetus ; Firefighters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Health

BACKGROUND: Female firefighters are exposed to hazardous environmental (chemical and physical) and working (shift work, psychological, and ergonomic factors) conditions that have reported or are suspected of adverse effects on reproductive health. However, no previous studies have reported on pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium outcomes (PCPOs) in female firefighters. METHODS: The present study compared hospital admissions for PCPOs, based on 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes, among Korean female firefighters with those of the general Korean population. Standardized admission ratios (SARs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The study population included 1,766 female firefighters. Total follow-up duration was 9,659 person-years. Compared to the general female population, the female firefighters' SARs were higher in all admissions for PCPOs (SAR, 1.92; 95% CI: 1.79–2.05); pregnancy and abortive outcomes (SAR, 1.56; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12); other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy (SAR, 2.65; 95% CI: 1.99–3.46); maternal care related to the fetus, amniotic cavity, and possible delivery problems (SAR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.74–2.57); labor and delivery complications (SAR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); delivery (SAR, 1.94; 95% CI: 1.80–2.08); and complications predominantly related to puerperium (SAR, 4.68; 95% CI: 2.02–9.23). CONCLUSION The results of this study showed high SARs in all and specific subcategories of PCPOs in female firefighters.

Adenosquamous carcinomas of the intestine are rare tumors, especially when they occur in the small bowel. We report a case of primary adenosquamous carcinoma of the proximal jejunum in a 66 year old woman with no underlying pathologic condition. The tumor mainly consisted of well differentiated squamous cell carcinoma showing keratin pearl and conspicuous intercellular bridges, and minor portion revealed well differentiated adenocarcinoma. The tumor seemed to have originated from the mucosal epithelium, invading the entire wall and metastasizing to the regional lymph nodes. Previous reports of adenosquamous carcinoma of the small intestine have been associated with metastatic disease from distant sites or intestinal duplication. In the colon, squamous cell differentiation have been seen in about 0.05% of adenocarcinomas and in 0.4% of adenomata. The pathogenesis of squamous cell carcinoma of the intestine is unknown, but some possible mechanisms are proposed. :1)malignant transformation of squamous cell epithelium in the submucosa, 2)aberrant differentiation of stem cells to squamous cell with subsequent malignant change, 3)squamous metaplasia of glandular cells with subsequent malignant change, 4)transformation of an adenosquamous into an epidermoid carcinoma.
Adenocarcinoma ; Aged ; Carcinoma, Adenosquamous* ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Cell Differentiation ; Colon ; Epithelium ; Female ; Humans ; Intestine, Small ; Intestines ; Jejunum* ; Lymph Nodes ; Metaplasia ; Stem Cells

Discal cysts are a rare cause of lumbar radiculopathy. There are only a few reports of this disease in medical literature. The authors describe the case of a 40-year-old man with a lumbar discal cyst that led to radiculopathy. An intraspinal extradural cystic mass was responsible for low and high signal intensities observed in lumbar lesions on T1 and T2 weighted magnetic resonance images. This cyst was a grossly spherical mass with clear serous fluid, which was connected to an adjacent intervertebral disc. Histopathology of the cystic walls revealed fibrous connective tissues without specific cell linings. Clinical symptoms were promptly relieved after surgical resection. Further research on the pathophysiology and treatment of discal cysts are needed.
Adult ; Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Radiculopathy

Discal cysts are a rare cause of lumbar radiculopathy. There are only a few reports of this disease in medical literature. The authors describe the case of a 40-year-old man with a lumbar discal cyst that led to radiculopathy. An intraspinal extradural cystic mass was responsible for low and high signal intensities observed in lumbar lesions on T1 and T2 weighted magnetic resonance images. This cyst was a grossly spherical mass with clear serous fluid, which was connected to an adjacent intervertebral disc. Histopathology of the cystic walls revealed fibrous connective tissues without specific cell linings. Clinical symptoms were promptly relieved after surgical resection. Further research on the pathophysiology and treatment of discal cysts are needed.
Adult ; Connective Tissue ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy ; Radiculopathy

OBJECTIVE: Computerized tomography(CT) and magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) are very useful in detection of structural change in the brain including tumors. However, they can not inform functional and biological behavior of such lesions. 99m Tc-Methoxyisobutyl isonitrile(MIBI) is considered as a substrate for MDR1 gene-encoded permeability glycoprotein(P-gp) and it has been used in the evaluation of multidrug resistance(MDR) in various tumors. The purpose of the study is to demonstrate the presence of MDR in brain tumor and brain tumor grading by an external imaging with 201Thallium and 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT. METHODS: 201Thallium and 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT were performed in 18 patients with malignant tumors and in six patients with benign tumors. Immunohistochemical staining(IHC) of the tumor specimen for P-gp was also performed. The histologic grading of the tumors and immunohistochemical staining for P-gp were compared to the dual brain SPECT findings of 201Thallium and 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT studies. Brain tumor with positive 201Thallium SPECT and negative 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT is considered to be multidrug resistance. An uptake index obtained from brain SPECT was used for tumor grading. MDR1 gene-encoded P-gp was assessed by immunohistochemical staining using a monoclonal antibody for P-gp. RESULTS: The malignant group showed significantly higher uptake indices in the 201Thallium and 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT than benign group. The uptake index of 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT was inversely correlated with P-gp immunohistochemical staining without statistical significance. CONCLUSION: 201Thallium and 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT are useful for predicting histologic grade of brain tumors, and 99m Tc-MIBI SPECT might be useful for predicting the presence of MDR protein.
Brain Neoplasms* ; Brain* ; Drug Resistance, Multiple* ; Humans ; Neoplasm Grading ; P-Glycoprotein ; Permeability ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted in order to investigate the professionalism, job stress and job satisfaction in western and oriental doctors in Korea. METHODS: The authors conducted a survey using a selfadministered questionnaire, conducted between August and September, 2001. The study subjects were 457 western doctors and 161 oriental doctors practicing at local clinics in Daegu City. RESULTS: For the professionalism scale, the score for 'belief in service to the public' of western doctors was significantly higher than that of oriental doctors (p< 0.05) whereas the scores for 'sense of calling to the field' and 'feeling of autonomy' were higher in oriental doctors (p< 0.01). For the job stress scale, the scores for 'work factor', and 'clinical responsibility/decision factor' of western doctors were significantly higher than those of oriental doctors (p< 0.01). Of the western doctors, 59.7% expressed satisfaction with their job as a doctor, 69.5% responded that the role of a doctor was appropriate to their aptitude, and 61.8% answered that they wouldn't consider other kinds of job even if offered. In case of oriental doctors, these responses were83.1%, 82.5%, and 82.3%, espectively. CONCLUSION: The job stress scores of western doctors were higher than those of oriental doctors, but the job satisfaction was lower. The reasons for the above results are not clear. Further studies are required to understand the characteristics of job stress and job satisfaction in doctors.
Aptitude ; Daegu ; Job Satisfaction* ; Korea ; Professionalism

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the problems and the quality of the Internet Web-sites for management of short stature in childhood and adolescent. METHODS: We evaluated 105 Web-sites identified from 5 search engines, Naver, Daum, Korean Yahoo, Nate and Empas, using the word of 'height and/or short stature'. According to Web-site author, total Web-sites were classified as academy & society, physician, commercials, portal site, oriental medicine, and unidentified. We accessed how well the Web-sites informed people about the diseases by of short stature. RESULTS: Of the 105 Web-sites, 98 were accessible. 45 Web-sites (46%) were operated by oriental medicine group. Difference in IS between oriental medicine group and non-oriental medicine groups was significant (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: A great portion of Web-sites on short stature was operating by oriental medicine group. Oriental medicine Web-sites had a tendency to be omitted essential information on short stature and occasionally even had unhealthy information. This investigation could have a adverse influence that internet navigators for short stature might miss a chance of managing in time and there were huge increasing medical expense. There was strongly demand for reliable national certification system to certify to exellent quality for medical and health Web-sites.
Adolescent ; Certification ; Humans ; Internet* ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Search Engine