The purpose of this article is to provide an overview of pesticide poisoning in South Korea and the relevant epidemiologic characteristics. During the period of 1996-2005, an approximate average of twenty-five hundred fatalities occurred per year due to pesticide poisoning, while age-standardized mortality rates by pesticide poisoning significantly increased from 4.42 to 6.42 per 100,000 population. Intentional self-poisoning was the primary cause of death due to pesticides (84.8% of total pesticide poisoning deaths). The prevalence of non-fatal pesticide poisoning among farmers varied from 5.7% to 86.7%. Paraquat was the leading causative agent for pesticide poisoning, followed by organophosphate insecticides. A variety of work-related factors such as pesticide usage, pesticide application days, hazardous practices and poor personal hygiene were significantly related with pesticide poisoning. The majority of the poisoned were male, elderly individuals possessing low levels of education and residing in rural areas. The number of pesticide poisoning cases was the highest during the growing season of May to August. Further evaluation of the incidence and risk factors of pesticide poisoning at the national level in South Korea is warranted to reduce the number of victims of pesticide poisoning.
Pesticides ; Poisoning aspects ; South Korea ; seconds ; Poisoning

The carpal tunnel syndromes is one of the most common peripheral nerve entrapment syndromes. The typical symptoms are pain, numbness and paresthesia in the median nerve territory of the hand. Recently, it is widely recognized that occupational factor is regarded as the important cause of the carpal tunnel syndrome. Clinical study is performed in the 42 female workers who is repetitively working at packing department in a rayon manufacturing factory from November 1991 till March 1992. The study included a questionnaire, physical examinations, and the neurophysiological test. The summary of the results obtained was as follows: 1. Among 42 packing workers, 9 workers(21.4%) were diagnosed as carpal tunnel syndrome by electromyography. The affected side was bilateral in 4 workers(9.5%), right in 4 workers(9.5%), and left in one worker(2.4%). 2. Among 42 subjects, 28 workers(66.7%) complained the clinical symptoms related to carpal tunnel syndrome, 11 workers(26.2%) showed positive Phalen sign, and 7 workers(16.7%) showed positive Tinel sign. 3. Researchers regard electromyographic finding as the gold standard for diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome. The sensitivity and specificity of the clinical symptoms to diagnose the carpal tunnel syndrome were 0.89, 0.39 respectively. If the carpal tunnel syndrome is diagnosed by the combination of the positive findings of the symptoms and the physical examinations, either Tinel of Phalen sign, the sensitivity and specificity were 0.67 and 0.76 respectively. Considering above results, though this small number of worker is not adequate for epidemiologic conclusions, carpal tunnel syndrome seems to be an important occupational disorder among packing workers in a rayon manufacturing factory.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome* ; Diagnosis ; Electromyography ; Female ; Fibrinogen ; Hand ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Median Nerve ; Occupations ; Paresthesia ; Peripheral Nerves ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Sensitivity and Specificity

We report a case of Dirty Neck in a 27-year-old male suffering from severe atopic dermatitis. 'Dirty Neck', a reticulate pigmentation of the anterior and anterolateral aspects of the neck, is a specific finding in some subjects with atopic dermatitis. Two groups have been indentified. One is found in older patients with severe atopic dermatitis whose pigmentary lesions develop after puberty and show little seasonal variation. The other is found in younger patients with mild eczema who have a increase in pigment during the summer. Our patient showed a dark brown colored, linear, reticulate pigmentation of the neck, especially anterolateral aspeet regarded as the former group. More comprehensive and detailed clinical study is needed to evaluate the importanee of this entity in regard to as a minor clinical feature of Korean atopic dermatitis.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Eczema ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Pigmentation ; Puberty ; Seasons

Although traumatic bowing of one or both bones of the forearm in children following acute trauma was reported by some authors, traumatic bowing of the ulna with dislocation of the radial head was described by only a few reports. We experienced one case of traumatic bowing of ulna associated with dislocation of the radial head and it was managed with open reduction of the dislocation of radial head and closed management of the bowing of the ulna. The result 1 year 10 months after treatment was very good, so we report this a case with related literatures.
Child ; Dislocations ; Forearm ; Head ; Humans ; Ulna

This retrospective study evaluated possible rupture of silicone gel breast implants in 92 patients. the series included patients undergone augmentation mammoplasty(n=59), and reconstructive mammoplasty(n=23) from Sep. 1993 to Aug. 1996. the age of implants ranged from 4 months to 8 years(mean:23.1months). of these, 19 cases displayed Ultrasonographic sings of rupture. of 13 implants removed, 7 were intact and 6 were ruptured. Implant contour deformities and radial folds are often seen in both ruptured and intact silicone implants and therefore cannot serve as reliable signs of rupture. A stepladder sign in intact implant is believed to be the result of reverberation artifacts within the interior of the implant. Due to these false-positive ultrasonographic findings, ultrasonographiy is not as absolutely reliable tool for the diagnosis of implant rupture. Alternative imaging methods(CT, MRI) are required to establish an accurate preoperative diagnosis.
Artifacts ; Breast Implants* ; Breast* ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Retrospective Studies ; Rupture* ; Silicone Gels*

No abstract available.
Child* ; Gastritis* ; Humans

Subcutaneous granuloma pyogenicum (SGP) is a rare variant of granuloma pyogenicum. In general, it appears as a single subcutaneous nodule with a slight tenderness. We report herein an unusual case of SGP arising from the left palm of an 11-year-old girl. Two mild-tender bean-sized reddish or flesh colored subcutaneous nodules on the lateral border of the left palm, and medial side of 5th left finger, respectively, were noted on physical examination. Histopathologic examination revealed the findings of lobular capillary hemangioma, characterized by localized proliferation of capillary lined by a single endothelial cell layer. Intralesional injection of triamcinolone acetonide (TA) were performed for the treatment. However two new erythematous nodules developed at another area of the left palm, which disappeared without any treatment.
Capillaries ; Child ; Endothelial Cells ; Female ; Fingers ; Granuloma* ; Granuloma, Pyogenic* ; Humans ; Injections, Intralesional ; Physical Examination ; Recurrence* ; Triamcinolone Acetonide

No abstract available.
Tibia*

This study was carried out in order to find out the changes of the pharyngeal airway, hyoid bone and head posture before and after tonsillectomy in functional class III malocclusion patients. For this study, 21 Angle's class I patients and 21 Angle's class III patients, totally 42 subjects were chosen. The results were as follows; 1. In comparison to Class I group, tongue was more anteriorly and hyoid bone was more inferiorly positioned in functional Class III group 2. In comparison to pre-tonsillectomy, tongue was more posteriorly positioned and larger nasopharynx depth was shown in post-tonsillectomy. In post tonsillectomy, the hyoid bone was displaced posteriorly and superiorly and counterclockwise rotation was shown. 3. The level of significance for the correlation shown was 5 percent (p<0.05) indicating that: The change of nasopharyx depth was correlated to the inclination of lower incisors. Vertical change of tongue posture was correlated to the hyoid axis change. Vertical change of hyoid bone was correlated to the horizontal change of hyoid bone, craruocervical inclination. The change of craniocervical inclination was correlated to the inclination of lower incisors. 4. After the tonsillectomy, counterclockwise rotation of hyoid axis was associated with decease of hya-NL and large nasopharyngeal airway. High posture of the tongue was associated with decrease of hya-NL. Posterior posture of the tongue was associated with increase of h-hl,and decrease of hya-ba-n.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Head* ; Humans ; Hyoid Bone* ; Incisor ; Malocclusion* ; Nasopharynx ; Posture* ; Tongue ; Tonsillectomy*

No abstract available.
Bone Plates* ; Tibia*