An epidemiological investigation of 878 workers(male 812, female 66) who suffered from low back injury(LBI) in some workplace of Pusan city from January 1 to December 31 in 1992 was carried out to obtain the various informations of the prevention and management in the occupational low back pain(LBP). The results were summarized as follows: 1. The mean age of LBP workers was 39.3±10.4(18-67) in male 48.5±12.6(21-69) in female workers. And the most common age groups were the 4th decade in male and the 6th decade in female workers. 2. In the frequency distribution of LBI according to the kind of industry, manufacturing industry was most frequent, and industry of construction, transport-storage-communication were the next in order. Among manufacturing industry, LBI of metallic products and machinery was the most frequent. 3. The occupational frequency of LBP was technical worker, monotonous worker, driver of automobile, driver of heavy equipment and office worker in order. 4. The cumulative percentage of LBI was 6.9% at the first day of employment and 90.8% until 10 years after employment. 5. The mean working duration from employment to onset of injury was 1081 days(about 2.9 years) and the working duration according to occupation was the shortest in driver of heavy equipment(502 days) and longest in office worker(1982 days). 6. The careless handling of object was the most common cause of LBI, and fall down, slip down, collision and traffic accidents were the next in order. 7. The most common cause of LBI according to occupation was traffic accident in driver of automobile, fall down in driver of heavy equipment and careless handling of object in office worker respectively. 8. The case of localized LBI were 517(58.9%) and the cases of LBI combined with other injuries, such as head, neck, trunk, arm or leg, were 361(41.1%) 9. Lumbar sprain was the most frequent diagnosis of LBI, and Herniated Nucleus Pulposus(HNP) and lumbar fracture were the next in order. 10. In multiple injuries, LBI combined with multiple body injury was the most frequent, and the next was LBI combined with arm and leg, with trunk, with head and with neck in order. 11. LBI combined with multiple body injury was the main injury in fall down, slip down and traffic accident, and lumbar sprain was the main injury in careless handling of object.
Accidents, Traffic ; Arm ; Automobiles ; Back Injuries ; Busan ; Diagnosis ; Employment ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Head ; Humans ; Leg ; Male ; Multiple Trauma ; Neck ; Occupations ; Spine ; Sprains and Strains

No abstract available.
Shoes*

Recently, various types of perfluorocarbon liquids are used to treat the retinal detachment due to giant tear. The authors treated 3 cases of giant retinal tear with perfluorodecalin and silicone oil. After pars plana vitrectomy, posterior retinal flap was unfolded by injection of perfluorodecalin and exchanged it for silicone oil subsequently. Silicone oil was removed after 4 weeks. Endophotocoagulation and scleral buckling were taken in all cases, and lensectomy for normal lens in 1 case. After the close observation for 6 months or more, retina was reattached successfully in 2 of 3 cases. Because of proliferative vitreoretinopathy, reinjection of silicone oil was needed in 1 case. Perfluorodecalin and silicone oil were useful materials to reattach the folded retinal flap of giant retinal tear.
Retina ; Retinal Detachment ; Retinal Perforations* ; Retinaldehyde* ; Scleral Buckling ; Silicone Oils* ; Vitrectomy ; Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative

PURPOSE: This study were to understand the caregiving situation of families with the demented elderly and to develop a self-help program for them. METHODS: A self-help program was designed to increase caregivers' confidence and skills in problem solving. In addition, it was designed to provide information about the demented elderly. The self-help program of this study was composed of nine sessions. RESULTS: Family caregivers of elderly patients with dementia obviously experience high level of stress. which often leads the caregivers to negative outcomes such as depression, interference with social activities and health difficulties. That is, caring is stressful for caregivers because the demands of the caregiving situation tend to overwhelm the caregivers' coping resources. Therefore, families with demented elderly persons need assistances in order to be relieved from their care burden. CONCLUSION: The self-help program includes the understanding of dementia, the family caregiving experiences of the demented elderly persons, the time for self-care, the search for helping, the improving of interpersonal relations and communications.
Aged* ; Caregivers ; Dementia ; Depression ; Humans ; Interpersonal Relations ; Problem Solving ; Self Care

PURPOSE: The object of this study is to determine whether QT interval variability in patients with postoperative tetralogy of Fallot increases. METHODS: We enrolled 41 patients who had total correction of tetralogy of Fallot, and 31 healthy controls. They were 6-12 years old. Patients were divided into 2 groups : arrhythmia-positive patients(n=10) who had ventricular premature contractions more than 30/hour or who had couplets, and arrhythmia-negative patients(n=31). We selected the 10-minute arrhythmia-free portion of 24-hour ambulatory ECG recorded during sleep(1-3AM). We selected the 2nd beat of recordings for a template, then found the QT interval for each beat. The method was that T-wave shape best matches template T-wave under the time-stretch model. The mean heart rate and variance and mean QT interval and variance were computed and then a QT variability index(QTVI)-which represents the log ratio between QT interval variability and heart rate variability-was derived. RESULTS: Postoperative tetralogy of Fallot patients with/without ventricular arrhythmia showed significantly increased QTVI compared with the control(-0.481+/-0.310/-0.661+/-0.376 vs -1.200+/-0.380, P<0.0001). There was a trend that QTVI in patients with ventricular arrhythmia increased more than in patients without ventricular arrhythmia, but there were no statistical significances. CONCLUSION: QT interval variability increased in repaired tetralogy of Fallot patients with/without ventricular arrhythmia compared with the control. And this finding indicates that inhomogeneity of temporal ventricular repolarization exists in repaired tetralogy of Fallot patients.
Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Electrocardiography ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Tetralogy of Fallot*

Helicobacter pylori is now recognized as causative agent of chronic gastritis and peptic ulcer, and strongly associated with development of gastric carcinoma. With development of sensitive and specific serologic tests to identify individuals infected with Helicobacter pylori, the epidemiologic study of this diseases has been investigated. But it's transmission route is not established, yet. The purpose of this study is to measure the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori infection in healthy children and young adults and to evaluate related factors for Helicobacter pylori infection in Korea. The seroprevalence of Ig G antibodies to Helicobacter pylori was determined using a Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay and we obtained the information, such as demographic characteristics, monthly household income, numbers of family members in the house, numbers of persons using same room, type of house, and type of drinking water through the questionnaire survey. The observed overall seropositivity rate was 25.7%. The rate is increased progressively from 5.8% in the age group 1~3 years to 44.4% in the age group 20~29 years(chi-square for trend, p<0.001). Especially, the rate increased steeply from 6.5% in the age group 4~6 years to 20.8% in the age group 7~9 years, and this suggested that elementary school age was the major acquisition time of Helicobacter pylori infection. In multivariate logistic regression model, age, numbers of family members in the house, and type of house was statistically significant variables for Helicobacter pylori infection. Each odds ratio(95% CI) were as follows; base to age group 1~9 years, age group 10~19 years 3.6(2.0~6.4), age group 20~29 years 7.3(4.1~13.1) and base to group of 1~3 family members, groups of 4~5 family members 2.1(1.1~4.0), group of 6 or more family members 2.7(1.3~5.4) and base to apartment, single and multihouse 1.9(1.1~3.5). Sex, monthly household income, numbers of persons using same room, and type of drinking water was not statistically significant for Helicobacter pylori infection.
Antibodies ; Child ; Drinking Water ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Family Characteristics ; Gastritis ; Helicobacter pylori* ; Helicobacter* ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Peptic Ulcer ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Seroepidemiologic Studies* ; Serologic Tests ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to identify health practices that would be helpful in order to reduce the prevalence of correctable cardiovascular risk factors (CVR), i.e. hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia in male workers by examining the association between health practices and the prevalence of the three risk factors. METHODS: For 1,815 male workers at a car manufacturer who participated in the basic health examination, survey on socioeconomic status and seven healthy practices suchas not currenly smoking, moderate alcohol drinking, proper weight control, regular exercise, 7-8 hour sleep, eating breakfast regularly, and not eating between meals was done and the prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia as obtained. x2 test, Fisher's exact test, and multiple logistic regression analyses were done for workers under 40 years old and workers 40 and over in two, separate groups by adjusting socioeconomic variables. RESULTS: The prevalence of hypertension and hypercholesterolemia was 1.84 times and 5.22 times, respectively, showing, higher in overweight younger workers than in those of normal weight. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 2.02 times higher in younger smokers than in younger non-smokers. In contrast, the prevalence of hyperglycemia was 4.99 times higher in older smokers than in older non-smokers. The prevalence of hyperglycemia was 16.5 times higher in older workers with regular snacking habit than in those without such a habit. The prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 7.47 times higher only in younger workers practicing healthy behaviors below 3 than in those practicing at least 6 healthy behaviors. CONCLUSION: Our study suggests that overweight and smoking habit among younger workers, and smoking habit among older workers sould be controlled in order to decrease the prevalence of hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, and hyperglycemia.
Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Breakfast ; Eating ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia* ; Hyperglycemia* ; Hypertension* ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; Meals ; Overweight ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Snacks ; Social Class

To provide the basic for assessment of renal dysfunction related to silicosis, urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) activity known as a sensitive markers for early renal damage were measured in 58 silicosis patients, and control subjects of 40 pulmonary tuberculosis patients and 51 official workers. The results were summarized as follows. 1. The values of blood urea nitrogen and serum creatinine in all subjects were within reference limits. But the mean value of urinary NAG activity(7.25+/-7.31 U/g creatinine) was beyond reference value and more sensitive test than others. 2. The mean value of urinary NAG activity in silicosis group was 11.98+/-9.05 U/g creatinine and significantly higher than in tuberculosis and healthy group(p<0.01), but the mean values of NAG activity in tuberculosis and healthy group were not different(p>0.05). 3. The value of NAG activity in tuberculosis had a tendency to be increased according to severity of disease, but that was not significant(p>0.05). The value of NAG activity was increased significantly by use of nephrotoxic antituberculosis drugs(p<0.05). 4. The value of NAG activity in silicosis had a tendency to be increased according to the size of nodule, use of nephrotoxic antituberculosis drugs and shortness of onset duration, but the increase was not significant(p>0.05). 5. After excluding the users of nephrotoxic antituberculosis drugs, the mean values of NAG activity in healthy control and in tuberculosis control were same as 3.63 U/g creatinine and 3.60 U/g creatinine, respectively. But the mean value of NAG activity in silicosis group was remarkably increased as 10.90 U/g creatinine(p<0.01). As above results, even though there are no abnormal findings in screening renal function test, silicosis can be related with renal dysfunction. And it will be very useful to apply urinary NAG activity in health management of workers exposed to dust.
Acetylglucosaminidase* ; Blood Urea Nitrogen ; Creatinine ; Dust ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Reference Values ; Silicosis* ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary

Following recent advanced industrialization. the amount of polyurethane to use as thermal insulating materials, upholstery mattresses and packing materials in automotive and furniture industry is increasing world-widely, and the number of polyurethane-producing worker will be increased. Because the numerous organic solvents are used in polyurethane-producing factory, the workers in this work site is exposed to many organic solvents. Of the organic solvents. Toluene Diisocyanate(TDI) has many hazardous effects to human. The effects of TDI on human are the irritation to respiratory mucosa and gastrointestinal symptoms. Conjunctival irritation, dermal inflammation (redness, pain, vesicular formation) and gastrointestinal symptom(nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain) are reported just after short-term exposure of TDI. TDI is known to give rise to bronchial asthma, as the immune disorder. And because of strongly volatile characteristics of TDI, it is suggested as a more injurious material to human health, especially human immune system, than other organic solvents. Bronchial asthma inducing mechanism of TDI is not clearly known, but on the analogy of TDI-induced symptoms and recent studies, early-onset asthma is type I hypersensitivity reaction mediated by immunoglobulin E(IgE), and late-onset asthma is maybe type III hypersensitivity reaction by circulating IgG. And we know that the complicated human immune function is likely to move in such that mechanisms, there are not studies on immune indices evaluating the bronchial asthma-related immune function. The evaluation of change patterns of humoral immunity including IgE and IgG and cellular immunity including T-helper cell, T-suppressor cell and T-cytotoxic cell will be helpful to evaluate exposure degrees and prognosis in TDI-exposed workers. Because TDA(toluene diamine) as a biological exposure index of TDI becomes the focus of interest, we know that a study on the correlation between urinary TDA and air TDI and immunological indices will make a contribution to biological effect monitoring indicies. We examined human immunity indicators such as WBC. %Lymph (percentile of Lymphocyte in WBC). %T-cell(percentile of T-lymphocyte in total lymphocyte). CD4, CD8, C3, C4, IgA, IgG, IgM, IgE in peripheral blood to evaluate the health hazard of the TDI-exposed workers. And we examined TDA to evaluate correlation between exposure and effect. Total 90 subjects was selected, 45 workers who worked in the polyurethane-producing factories as an exposed group, and 45 cases who were office workers(10 cases), other blue collors(27 cases), and medical college students(8 cases) as a control group. And the results were as follows ; 1. The logarithm of IgE -Log10(IgE)+/-SD- in peripheral blood of a exposed group was significantly higher than a control group, 2 22+/-.62 in case group compared with 1.98+/-.53 in control group.(p<0.05) 2. IgA and IgM in the polyurethane-producing workers were 261.02+/-3.12 mg/dl, 151.97+/-9.64 mg/dl, respectively, and 292.77+/-00.45, 179.17+/-00.78 in control group. IgA and IgM was slightly lower in polyurethane-producing group than control (p>0.05). 3. WBC, %Lymph, %T-cell, C3, C4, CD4, CD8, CD4/CDB ratio and IgG in case group were 6,391.1 ea/ml, 37.53%, 59.54%, 76.68 mg/dl, 30.54 mg/dl, 0.76x10(9) ea/L, 0.63x10(9) ea/L, 1.39, and 1606.29 mg/dl, respectively, and 6,974.7 ea/ml, 35.12%, 59.64%, 71.95 mg/dl, 33.94 mg/dl, 0.80x109 ea/L, 0.61x10(9) ea/L, 1.39, and 1581.51 mg/dl in control group. There was no statistical sinificance between two groups. (p>0.05) 4. In the comparison of each other companies, average of individual urinary TDA in polyurethane paint manufacturing companies is higher than that of polyurethane sponge foaming companies. And, the concentration of 2,6-TDA which is a metabolite of well-vaporized 2,6-TDI is higher than that of 2,4-TDA in the polyurethane sponge foaming companies. But, the concentration of 2,4-TDA which is a metabolite of illvaporized but well skin-absorbed 2,4-TDI is higher in polyurethane paint manufactures. 5. There were no statistical significance in the correlations between individual urinary TDA and immunologic indices.
Asthma ; Beds ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity, Immediate ; Immune Complex Diseases ; Immune System ; Immune System Diseases ; Immunity, Cellular ; Immunity, Humoral ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin E ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Interior Design and Furnishings ; Lymphocytes ; Paint ; Polyurethanes ; Porifera ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Mucosa ; Solvents ; T-Lymphocytes ; Toluene* ; Vomiting ; Workplace

OBJECTIVES: To find work related factors affecting perceived fatigue among male metal product assemblers. METHODS: The study subjects were metal product assemblers from three metal product companies (476 car parts assemblers, 610 car engine assemblers, 454 ship engine assemblers). From the total of 1,540 subjects, 1,136 (73.8%) were included and 38 respondents with insufficient replies were excluded. Associations between fatigue score and other variables (general characteristics, job related factors, workload, job stresses) were investigated in terms of the concept of multidimensional fatigue construct by self administered questionnaire. Using MFS (Multidimensional Fatigue Scale), JCQ (Job Content Questionnaire), and Borg's scale, we estimated the fatigue, job stress, and workload, respectively. Fatigue score was estimated by 'sum of fatigue' in MFS. Associations were tested by linear regression analysis using SAS v.8.0. RESULTS: In this study, the fatigue related factors were older age, longer working hours per week, higher workload, higher job demand, lower decision latitude, and lower supervisor support. CONCLUSIONS: Prolonged working hours, higher workload, higher job demand, poor supervisor support and lower decision latitude were fatigue related factors among the male metal product assemblers of this study.
Data Collection ; Fatigue* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male* ; Questionnaires ; Ships