Most of the pneumoconiosis, which is common occupational diseases, is found here in Korea can be Gategorized to coal miner's pneumoconiosis. However, recently pneumoconiosis has been found in tHe workers of manufacturing factories, Periodic Health examination is important not only detection of occupationsl disease but also post-examination Health care of occupational disease patient. Accordingly, to study post-examination Health GaTe statHs of workers with pneumoconiosis diagnosed from 1991 to 1993 in the perioaic Health examination, all 43 pneumoconiosis patients in 22 manufacturing factories in Incheon were reviewed. Chest radiologic findings of 43 workers were suspected pneumoconiosis (20 workers, 46.5%) , pneumoconiosis stage 1(20 workers, 45.5%) and pneumoconiosis stage II (3 workers, 7.0%) . Among the 1.espondents, 40 workers (93.0%) answered that they received their health examination results and 24 werkers (55.8%) Had reguest for compensation of occupationsl disease. Only 14 workers(32.6%) Had changed their workplace while 21 workers (48.8%) did not. Reasons for not taking the post-examination health care enough were worker's ignorance of adminstrative process for Compensation (28 workers,65.1%) , mild status of dlsease (6 workers, 14.0%) and financial problem (3 workers, 7.0%) . Post~examination health care of the workers diagnosed as pneumoconiosis had significant correlation with the presence of health care manager in workplace and the employer concerns for occupational disease of workers. The improvement of working environment is related witH the presence of labor union in workplace. These results suggested that the presence of health care manager in the workplace and concerns for workers health by employer were important in performing appropriate post-examination health care for workers with pneumoconiosis in manufacturing factories.
Coal ; Compensation and Redress ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Labor Unions ; Occupational Diseases ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Thorax

Background: Many studies have assessed the risk factors for adverse drug reactions (ADRs) in elderly patients. However, most of these studies have focused on risk factors for ADRs, not serious ADRs (s-ADRs). s-ADRs are commonly found in hospitalized patients. s-ADRs warrant imminent but thorough investigations, given their critical impact on patient health. Therefore, this retrospective study aimed to assess the associated risk factors for s-ADRs in elderly hospitalized patients. Methods: In-patients aged >65 years having ADRs during hospitalization at a university hospital in Korea between 2010 and 2012 were included. Medical professionals spontaneously reported ADRs using an electronic submission system at the study hospital. Further, all descriptions of ADRs were characterized and categorized through the screening of electronic medical records. We compared the characteristics of patients having s-ADRs with those of patients not having s-ADRs. Results: There were 353 cases of ADRs, 67 of which were s-ADRs. Patients taking more than eight concomitant drugs showed the highest odds ratio (OR, 11.99; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.42–42.03). The ratio of aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was also significantly related to s-ADRs (OR, 2.78; 95% CI, 1.33–5.81). The use of antibiotics (OR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.13–5.02) and antineoplastics (OR, 4.17; 95% CI, 1.09–15.94) were significant risk factors. Conclusion Our findings highlight the importance of polypharmacy. Liver function tests (AST/ALT ratio) must be monitored carefully within high-risk groups for ADRs.

We present a case of accessory tragus (AT) which developed at an unusual site, the nasal vestibule, of a 1-day-old girl. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an accessory tragus that appears on the nasal vestibule.

PURPOSE: Leptin has been considered a link between metabolic state and reproductive activity. Defective reproductive function can occur in leptin-deficient and leptin-excessive conditions. The aim of this study was to examine the effects of centrally injected leptin on the hypothalamic KiSS-1 system in relation to gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) action in the initial stage of puberty. METHODS: Leptin (1 microg) was injected directly into the ventricle of pubertal female mice. The resultant gene expressions of hypothalamic GnRH and KiSS-1 and pituitary LH, 2 and 4 hours after injection, were compared with those of saline-injected control mice. The changes in the gene expressions after blocking the GnRH action were also analyzed. RESULTS: The basal expression levels of KiSS-1, GnRH, and LH were significantly higher in the pubertal mice than in the prepubertal mice. The 1-microg leptin dose significantly decreased the mRNA expression levels of KiSS-1, GnRH, and LH in the pubertal mice. A GnRH antagonist significantly increased the KiSS-1 and GnRH mRNA expression levels, and the additional leptin injection decreased the gene expression levels compared with those in the control group. CONCLUSION: The excess leptin might have suppressed the central reproductive axis in the pubertal mice by inhibiting the KiSS-1 expression, and this mechanism is independent of the GnRH-LH-estradiol feedback loop.
Aluminum Hydroxide ; Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Carbonates ; Female ; Gene Expression ; Gonadotropin-Releasing Hormone ; Humans ; Leptin ; Luteinizing Hormone ; Mice ; Puberty ; RNA, Messenger

We report here on a 71-year-old female who had well-demarcated erythematous patches, along with some pearly papules, on the right cheek. Histopathological examination of the lesions revealed a basaloid cell mass, which appeared to be a superficial basal cell carcinoma, and a small keratin-filled cyst that appeared to be a milium. A part of the milium was surrounded by the basaloid cells of tumor islands and milia later developed on the lesion of basal cell carcinoma. We suggest that basal cell carcinoma may be one of the causes of secondary milia.
Aged ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Cheek ; Female ; Humans ; Islands

Familial cutaneous collagenoma is a rare hereditary disease that is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern. It is characterized by early onset of multiple, skin-colored, sometimes hypopigmented cutaneous nodules, which initially show a symmetrical arrangement on the trunk, and later on the neck and upper limbs. We report on a case of a 45-year-old female who presented with multiple oval to round hypopigmented papules measuring 5~15 mm on her trunk. Histopathologically, the lesions showed an increased amount of collagen fibers and decreased, fragmented elastic fibers in the dermis. The skin lesions were diagnosed as familial cutaneous collagenoma and no treatment was administered. To the best of our knowledge, our case is the first reported case of familial cutaneous collagenoma (FCC) in the Korean literature.
Collagen ; Dermis ; Elastic Tissue ; Female ; Genetic Diseases, Inborn ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Neck ; Skin ; Upper Extremity

BACKGROUND:One of effective treatment methods for back pain and radiculopathy is epidural steroid injection (ESI). However, its effectiveness is hard to judge.So, it is strongly urged to develop a method to evaluate the proper injection of ESI. Photoplethysmogram (PPG) is known as a technique to measure blood oxygen saturation. We were intended to study the PPG for the evaluation of the ESI instantaneously. METHODS:All patients were explained for the study protocol to get informed consent.Twenty volunteers were recruited for this study and four of them were allocated in one of 5 ESI levels; L2-3, L3-4, L4-5, L5-S1 and caudal.They were in the lateral position with 4 PPG probes in their both 2nd fingers and 2nd toes.The PPG signals were collected to a device and converted digitally.PPG signal has two components, total absorbance (TA) and oscillating pulse component (OPC).We compared the both toe PPG signals before and after ESI based on the finger PPG. RESULTS:TA changed in 60% of ESI volunteers and L4-L5 and L5-S1 groups had high change rate compared to L2-L3 group.Also, the symptom relief rate of TA and OPC change volunteers of L4-L5 and L5-S1 were 100% but other level had variable relief rate. CONCLUSIONS:It is possible to use the PPG signal to predict ESI success based appropriate signal change.It is also needed to develop other level signal detection method and to modify appropriate guideline for the decision of change of PPG.
Back Pain ; Fingers ; Humans ; Oxygen ; Radiculopathy ; Toes

PURPOSE: Pain is the most common and influential symptom in cancer patients. Few studies concerning pain intensity in the terminally ill cancer patients have been done. This study aimed to identify factors related with more than moderate pain. METHODS: This study used secondary data of 162 terminal cancer inpatients at the palliative ward of six training hospitals in Korea. Physician-assessed pain assessment was by 10 point numeric rating scale. Substantial pain was defined more than moderate intensity by the Korean National Guideline for cancer pain. The Korean version of the MD Anderson Symptom Inventory was self-administered to assess symptoms. Survival prediction was estimated by the attending physicians at the time of admission. RESULTS: Less than six weeks of predicted survival and more than numeric rating of six for worst drowsiness in the previous 24 h were significantly related to substantial pain (P=0.012 and P=0.046, respectively). The dose of opioid analgesics was positively related to substantial pain (P=0.004). CONCLUSION: Factors positively related to substantial pain were less than six weeks of predicted survival and considerable drowsiness. Careful monitoring and active preparation for pain are required in terminal cancer patients having those factors.
Analgesics, Opioid ; Humans ; Inpatients ; Korea ; Pain Measurement ; Sleep Stages ; Terminally Ill

PURPOSE: Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are well known inflammatory markers. This study was designed to determine whether PCT and CRP are useful as early diagnostic markers for bacteremia in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) in the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 286 episodes of FN in the ED were consecutively included between June 2009 and August 2010. From medical records, clinical characteristics including PCT and CRP were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: Bacteremia was identified in 38 (13.3%) of the 286 episodes. The median values of PCT (2.8 ng/mL vs. 0.0 ng/mL, p=0.000) and CRP (15.9 mg/dL vs. 5.6 mg/dL, p=0.002) were significantly higher in the group with bacteremia compared to the group without bacteremia. In univariate analysis, elevated PCT (>0.5 ng/mL) and CRP (>10 mg/dL) as well as older age, hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and high body temperature were significantly associated with bacteremia. On multivariate analysis, elevated PCT (>0.5 ng/mL) (odds ratio [OR], 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 9.2; p<0.01) and tachypnea (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.4 to 8.5; p<0.01) were independent early diagnostic markers for bacteremia in FN patients. The area under the curve of PCT was 74.8% (95% CI, 65.1 to 84.6%) and that of CRP was 65.5% (95% CI, 54.8 to 76.1%). With a PCT cut-off value of 0.5 ng/mL, sensitivity and specificity were 60.5% and 82.3%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity were 57.6% and 67.3%, respectively, with a CRP cutoff of 10 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that PCT is a useful early diagnostic marker for the detection of bacteremia in FN at the ED and has better diagnostic value than CRP.
Bacteremia ; Biomarkers ; Body Temperature ; C-Reactive Protein ; Calcitonin ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neutropenia ; Protein Precursors ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tachycardia ; Tachypnea

PURPOSE: Procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) are well known inflammatory markers. This study was designed to determine whether PCT and CRP are useful as early diagnostic markers for bacteremia in cancer patients with febrile neutropenia (FN) in the emergency department (ED). MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective study, 286 episodes of FN in the ED were consecutively included between June 2009 and August 2010. From medical records, clinical characteristics including PCT and CRP were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: Bacteremia was identified in 38 (13.3%) of the 286 episodes. The median values of PCT (2.8 ng/mL vs. 0.0 ng/mL, p=0.000) and CRP (15.9 mg/dL vs. 5.6 mg/dL, p=0.002) were significantly higher in the group with bacteremia compared to the group without bacteremia. In univariate analysis, elevated PCT (>0.5 ng/mL) and CRP (>10 mg/dL) as well as older age, hypotension, tachycardia, tachypnea, and high body temperature were significantly associated with bacteremia. On multivariate analysis, elevated PCT (>0.5 ng/mL) (odds ratio [OR], 3.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.4 to 9.2; p<0.01) and tachypnea (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.4 to 8.5; p<0.01) were independent early diagnostic markers for bacteremia in FN patients. The area under the curve of PCT was 74.8% (95% CI, 65.1 to 84.6%) and that of CRP was 65.5% (95% CI, 54.8 to 76.1%). With a PCT cut-off value of 0.5 ng/mL, sensitivity and specificity were 60.5% and 82.3%, respectively, while the sensitivity and specificity were 57.6% and 67.3%, respectively, with a CRP cutoff of 10 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that PCT is a useful early diagnostic marker for the detection of bacteremia in FN at the ED and has better diagnostic value than CRP.
Bacteremia ; Biomarkers ; Body Temperature ; C-Reactive Protein ; Calcitonin ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Medical Records ; Multivariate Analysis ; Neutropenia ; Protein Precursors ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tachycardia ; Tachypnea