The medical record of ECG and pulmonary function test of 297 cases who were dead at hospital or admitted as coal workers' pneumonociosis were used for the study of the relationship between forced expiratory volume in one second(FEV1.0) and ECG sign of pulmonale. The incidence of T wave inversion in V1 lead was significantly increased as FEV1.0 decrease. The incidence of T wave inversion in V1 lead was over the half in the group of FEV1.0 less than 0.7 liter.
Coal* ; Electrocardiography* ; Forced Expiratory Volume* ; Incidence ; Medical Records ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Pulmonary Heart Disease* ; Respiratory Function Tests

For the evaluation of change of FVC and FEV1 after discontinuance of bronchodilator in the coal workers' pneumoconiosis patients, 17 pairs of patients were selected. They were matched by the age(+/-5 y.o.) and the type of ventilatory impairment. Pulmonary function was measured 2 times bimonthly before and after the drug discontinuance discontinued after measurement of PFT for 2 times. In case group the bronchodilator was discontinued after measurement of PFT for 2 times. In control group there was no interruption of medication. FVC, FEV1 decreased in both group as measurement progress. Simple linear regression coefficients against the month of measurement were calculated in both group and tested for parallelism between two groups. The results of test revealed that both regression coefficients were parallel. So in conclusively, discontinuance of medication of bronchodilator for coal workers pneumoconiosis patients has no effect on the decreasing rate of FVC, FEV1.
Anthracosis ; Coal* ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Pneumoconiosis*

No abstract available.
Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic* ; Gyeonggi-do*

OBJECTIVES: The incidence rate of pneumoconiosis among retired coal miners was studied at Taebackchungang hospital. METHODS: Newly developed pneumoconiosis0=1/0) cases were gathered from films of ex-coal miners who were diagnosed as normal at the previous examination after retirement. RESULTS: 228 exminers were confirmed as normal at the previous examination after retirement. 37 ex-miners were diagnosed as pneumoconiosis (equal or greater than 1/0) at the next examination. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence rate was 29.5/1000 person-year. The incidence was calculated by the examined year. In 1995, 1996, 1997, the incidence rates were 104. 8, 37. 1, 14.1 per 1000 person-year respectively. There was no development of pneumoconiosis among retired coal miners who retired more than 20 years ago or who worked less than 10 years.
Coal* ; Incidence* ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Retirement

No abstract available.
Neurotoxicity Syndromes* ; Solvents*

Self sensing symptoms were surveyed by interview from the workers usig lacquer-thinner(Male 35, Female 28). And the data was converted to point. Independent variables were state of the medication, education, alcohol difinking, smoking, living and past occupational history. Dependent variable was the point. The relationship between independent variables and the depenent variable was studied. The result of the study were briefly summarized as below. 1. The difference of point between sex and medication statement was ;significant by statistical test. 2. Age and past occupational history were not important variables. 3. The Multiple Stepwise Regression Equation obtained by this study was not useful.
Education ; Female ; Humans ; Smoke ; Smoking

Serum Immunoglobulin (Ig)A, IgG, IgM, levels were measured in 99 coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) patients and 12 healthy coal workers and 9 non-miners to compare with each group by the radiological categories, its complications and working period in coal mine. Serum were measured by nephelometry. The findings were as follows: 1) Serum IgA levels were significantly different between three groups of CWP patient, healthy coal worker and non-miner (mean+/-standard deviation: 226.4+/-87.7, 221.3+/-45.1, 170.1+/-65.7 respectively). 2) There were no significant differences of Ig levels among radiological categories of CWP. 3) There were no significant differences of Ig levels among simple pneumoconiosis and its complicated disorders. 4) The three Ig levels were slightly increased in the group of mining years less than 20 years (IgA: r=0.1869, p<0.10 IgG: r=0.2902, p<0.05 IgM: r=0.2889, p<0.05).
Coal* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins* ; Mining ; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry ; Pneumoconiosis*

Carbon monoxide diffusing capacity(DLco) was evaluated before and after nifedipine administration in coal workers' pneumoconiosis by the size of radioopacity. Nifedipine was administered to 18 men and 17 men of small round opacity group and large opacity group respectively. Placebo was administered to 19 men and 15 men of small and large opacity group respectively. In large opacity group DLco was increased after nifedipine administration. But, it was not significant statistically(0.05 < p < 0.01). In other groups, there were no significance difference between and after medication.
Anthracosis* ; Carbon Monoxide ; Coal* ; Diffusion* ; Humans ; Male ; Nifedipine* ; Pneumoconiosis

Nine hundred and twelve workers who complained low back pain(LBP) were interviewed. After one year, 483 workers were followed showed improvement of LBP symptom. In the case of job change, it showed improvement rate of 91.2%. In case of exercise theraphy, 82.8% of workers showed improved symptom. Medical care(Clinical medication, physical theraphy and folk medicine) group showed 63.2% of improvement rate. In the presence of sciatic pain on the time of first interview, the improvement rate of LBP was lower than the absent group.
Follow-Up Studies* ; Low Back Pain*

Preliminary survey of low back pain(LBP) was conducted from 7,668 workers of some part of Kyungin area. Among them, 1,183 workers complained LBP. If we do not mind X-ray findings, the prevalence rate of LBP was 15.4%. Lumbar series(anterior-posterior view, lateral view, both oblique view) were take from 973 workers who complained LBP. Three radiological findings which are not related with congenital anomaly or definite trauma-degenerative spondylitis, flattening of the lumbar spine, decreased intervertebral disc space were selected. In the group of degenerative spondylitis, the prevalence rate was relatively high after thirties in both sex. In female, prevalence rate was more higher in 5th and 6th decades than other decades. In the case of flattening of lumbar spine, the prevalence rate was relatively high in 2nd, 3rd and 4th decades in both sex. In case of decreased intervertebral disc space, there was no specific prevalent age group in both sex.
Female ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc ; Low Back Pain* ; Prevalence ; Spine ; Spondylitis