Metabolic and electrolyte abnormalities, including hypokalemia, hyperglycemia and lactic acidosis, are associated with theophylline overdose. However, we report an unusual case of sinus tachycardia, lactic acidosis, hypokalemia and hyperglycemia associated with the usual theophylline dose in a patient with asthma. The theophylline dose was 200 mg orally twice daily. Three hours after administration of the third dose, the patient experienced palpitation. An electrocardiogram showed a sinus tachycardia. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed a mixed metabolic acidosis and respiratory alkalosis. Serum lactate level was 51 mmol/L (normal 0.7~2.1 mmol/L). Biochemistry results were sodium 136 mEq/L, chloride 99 mEq/L, potassium 1.9 mEq/L and glucose 204 mg/dL. Our case suggests that a possibility of theophylline-associated metabolic abnormalities should be considered when an asthmatic patient given the usual theophylline dose presents with lactic acidosis, hypokalemia and hyperglycemia of unknown etiology.
Acidosis, Lactic/*chemically induced ; Adult ; Asthma/drug therapy ; Bronchodilator Agents/administration & dosage/*adverse effects ; Case Report ; Female ; Human ; Hyperglycemia/chemically induced ; Hypokalemia/etiology ; Tachycardia, Sinus/chemically induced ; Theophylline/administration & dosage/*adverse effects

Low back pain in computer terminal operators is a very common but important symptom. While the occupational risk factors of low back pain were approved obscurely, there have been few studies on analysis or understanding of occupational risk factors. Therefore, we studied occupational risk factors of low back pain, especially for ergonomic factors as well as general characteristics of workers. We selected 98 subjects for this study, computer terminal operators ordinary using computers in Pusan. We calculated the subjective severity of low back pain of each operator by the Low Back Pain Scoring System. The relation of low back pain score to general characteristics of worker was also analyzed. We analyzed the relationship between low back pain score and individual efforts to prevent low back pain. We measured the ergonomic factors of each computer terminal operator - Trunk Jnclination(TI), Arm Flexion(AF), Elbow Angle(EA), Head Tilting(HT), Knee Angle(KA), using of foot plate and gap between the popliteum and chair. The correlations between these ergonomic factors and low back pain score were then analyzed. And the results are as follows: 1. The prevalence rate of low back pain in computer terminal operators was 39.8% in this study, when low back pain score was converted by the low back pain scoring system. 2. According to general characteristics of workers related to low back pain, the scores were higher in the older age group, the married and the longer work carriers. (p < 0.05) 3. In the analysis of the relationship between low back pain score and individual effort to prevent low back pain, regular exercise, history of schooling for prevention of low back pain, and declaration of intention to participate in low back pain education or exercise were stastistically significant(p < 0.05). And the more severe the low back pain, the higher the intention to participate in low back pain education they had in this study. 4. In the analyses of relationships or correlations between low back pain score and each of the 7 categories of ergonomic factors, only head tilting had a weak reverse correlation with low back pain(r=-0.2999, p < 0.01). From now on, cohort studies for the risk factors of low back pain of workers, who have been forced to work in non-ergonomical positioning at the work site, will be necessary. On the background of these ergonomic studies, the occupational health profession should be required to manage ergonomic working conditions.
Arm ; Busan ; Cohort Studies ; Computer Terminals* ; Education ; Elbow ; Foot ; Head ; Human Engineering ; Humans ; Intention ; Knee ; Low Back Pain* ; Occupational Health ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Workplace

The authors examined human immunity indicators such as CD4, CD8, Natural Killer (NK) cell, IgG, IgA, and IgM, and heavy metals such as Pb, Cr, Cd to evaluate the health hazard of welders. We selected total 126 male subjects, 60 welders who had more than 5 year working history as an exposure group, and 66 office workers and medical college students as a control group. This immunity evaluation approach is the first newly designed study that has never been tried in past studios on welder's heath evaluation. And the results were as follows. 1. Total lymphocyte count of peripheral blood was significantly higher in welder group, 2,615+/-650 ea/microliter compared with 2,368+/-681 ea/microliter in control group (p<0.05). 2. The proportion of CD4, CD8, NK cell in welder group was 37 5+/-9.4%, 24.0+/-8.8%, and 21.0+/-9.5%, respectively, and 35.5+/-6.5%, 25.0+/-6.9%, and 19.6+/-8.8% in control group. CD4 and NK cell were slightly higher, and CD8 was slightly lower in welder group. But there was no statistical significance between two groups (p> or =0.05). 3. IgG, IgA, and IgM in welder group were 15.9 mg/dl, 2.7 mg/dl, and 1.5 mg/dl, respectively, and 15.6 mg/dl, 2.9 mg/dl and 1.7 mg/dl in control group. There was no statistical significance between two groups(p> or =0.05). 4. Blood lead, cadmium and chromium concentrations were 4.2+/-1.8 microgram/dl, 0.4+/-0.38 microgram/dl, 1.2+/-0.6 microgram/dl in welder group and 3.2+/-1.7 microgram/dl, 0.44+/-0.29 microgram/dl, 1.1+/-0.6 microgram/dl in control group, respectively, and these value were within normal ranges.
Cadmium ; Chromium ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A ; Immunoglobulin G ; Immunoglobulin M ; Killer Cells, Natural ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Metals, Heavy ; Reference Values

This study was performed to decide the possibility of special health examination to the hospital employees. We carried out questionnaire survey for 830 subjects at 2 general hospitals located in Pusan city. The summary of this study are as follows. 1. Above 10% of total hospital employees were replied that they exposed to 16 hazard items, such as dust, noise, stress and etc. Among them, over 50% of hospital employees exposed to dust(69.8%), noise(52.3%), stress(60.1%). And hospital employees exposed to alcoholic disinfectant(41.3%), radiation(34.6%), drug(33.3%), VDT(25.2%), and aldehyde(18.7%) also. 2. 63% of the hospital employees replied that there were hazardous factors in hospital environments, and 80% insisted the necessity for hospital environment measuring. 35.7% of respondents replied that they had never taken the education about hazardous factors. 35.7% of the total respondents answered that they didn't use protective equipment when exposed to hazardous factors. And 48.6% answered they took periodic health examination. Only 7.2% replied that ventilation condition of office room was proper. As shown in above results, hospital employees are exposed to various hazards, and turn out neglecting to health problems caused these hazardous factors. So at first, it is necessary to measuring hospital working environment, and then will be decided the possibility of special health examination to the hospital employees.
Alcoholics ; Busan ; Data Collection ; Dust ; Education ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Noise ; Questionnaires ; Ventilation

This study was performed to decide the possibility of special health examination to the hospital employees. We carried out questionnaire survey for 830 subjects at 2 general hospitals located in Pusan city. The summary of this study are as follows. 1. Above 10% of total hospital employees were replied that they exposed to 16 hazard items, such as dust, noise, stress and etc. Among them, over 50% of hospital employees exposed to dust(69.8%), noise(52.3%), stress(60.1%). And hospital employees exposed to alcoholic disinfectant(41.3%), radiation(34.6%), drug(33.3%), VDT(25.2%), and aldehyde(18.7%) also. 2. 63% of the hospital employees replied that there were hazardous factors in hospital environments, and 80% insisted the necessity for hospital environment measuring. 35.7% of respondents replied that they had never taken the education about hazardous factors. 35.7% of the total respondents answered that they didn't use protective equipment when exposed to hazardous factors. And 48.6% answered they took periodic health examination. Only 7.2% replied that ventilation condition of office room was proper. As shown in above results, hospital employees are exposed to various hazards, and turn out neglecting to health problems caused these hazardous factors. So at first, it is necessary to measuring hospital working environment, and then will be decided the possibility of special health examination to the hospital employees.
Alcoholics ; Busan ; Data Collection ; Dust ; Education ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Noise ; Questionnaires ; Ventilation

The author surveyed overall obesity indicies and factors concerned with obesity such as dietary intake, physical activity, stress and life style with the subject of doctors. The number of subjects was total 508 with 396 men and 112 women. They were subgrouped into surgical part, medical part and service and basic part by speciality. And also subgrouped into intern and resident, pay doctor, and practitioner by working type. The results were as follows. 1) Obesity indices: BMI of total doctor was 23.1+/-2.8, and WHR was 0.87+/-0.08 and overweight prevalence(BMI>25.0) was 23.6 %. It was within normal limit but slightly over the Korean standard. The degree of obesity indices of subgroups by speciality was "surgical part > medical part > service and basic part", and by working type was "practitioner > pay doctor > intern and resident". 2) Dietary intake and Physical activity: Average dietary intake was 2148+/-451 kcal/day. The degree of dietary intake by speciality was "surgical part > medical part > service and basic part". By working type it was "practitioner > pay doctor > intern and resident". Average physical activity was 29+/-5 METs/day. The degree of physical activity also showed similar pattern. But there was no significant difference among each groups. 3) Comparison between over-weight and non-over-weight group: The items that showed significant difference between two groups were dietary intake, skip breakfast, regular exercise, smoking, heavy drinking, chronic disease etc.
Breakfast ; Chronic Disease ; Drinking ; Female ; Humans ; Life Style ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Obesity* ; Overweight ; Smoke ; Smoking

PURPOSE: To evaluate the efficacy of photodynamic therapy (PDT) with verteporfin for polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) in Korean patients. METHODS: Clinical data of patients who were treated with PDT for PCV and followed up for more than 6 months were collected from 14 hospitals around the country. The changes in the best corrected visual acuity, angiographic outcome, retinal thickness measured by optical coherence tomography (OCT), and adverse effects of treatment were evaluated. RESULTS: Eighty six patients (86 eyes) were recruited (male: 75.6%, age: 65.9+/-8.3 years, mean follow-up: 14.8+/-10.2 months). The mean logMAR visual acuity at baseline was 0.55+/-0.32 and did not show any statistically significant difference from the final mean logMAR visual acuity (0.53+/-0.54) (p=0.639). The mean treatment session number of PDT was 2+/-1.2. Visual acuity stabilized or improved in 70.9% of patients. Visual acuity improved by more than 2 lines in 33 eyes (38.4%) and worsened by more than 2 lines in 21 eyes (24.4%) of patients. Vascular leakage decreased in 62.5% of patients in fluorescein angiography and polypoidal lesions disappeared or were reduced in 57.3% of patients in indocyanine green angiography. There was no systemic adverse effect of PDT, but increased subretinal hemorrhage after PDT occurred in 10 eyes (11.6%). CONCLUSIONS: In polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, photodynamic therapy with verteporfin is safe and effective for preserving visual acuity and reducing vascular leakage and retinal thickness.
Angiography ; Choroid ; Eye ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Indocyanine Green ; Photochemotherapy ; Porphyrins ; Retinaldehyde ; Retrospective Studies ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Triazenes ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of repeated photodynamic therapy (PDT) for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korean patients. METHODS: Clinical data of patients who were treated with repeated (3 times or more) PDT for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD and followed up for more than 6 months were collected from 17 hospitals around the country. Visual outcomes at 12 and 24 months, follow-up were compared between subtypes of choroidal neovascularization. The factors related to final visual prognosis and PDT-related adverse effects were evaluated. RESULTS: 244 patients (244 eyes) were recruited (male: 60%, age: 67.7+/-9.1 years). The portion of patients with predominantly classic, minimally classic, and occult without classic choroidal neovascularization was 57%, 13%, and 24%, respectively and that of patients with visual improvements or less than moderate visual loss at 24 months follow-up were 28%, 38%, 30% and 47%, 56%, and 65%, respectively. Baseline visual acuity and age were significantly related to the final visual prognosis (p<0.05). PDT-related adverse events developed in 15 (6.1%) patients, but most were mild and transient. CONCLUSIONS: Repeated PDT for subfoveal choroidal neovascularization secondary to AMD has effects comparable to those of previous prospective, controlled trials without any significant safety concerns in Korea.
Choroid* ; Choroidal Neovascularization* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Prognosis ; Visual Acuity

PURPOSE: To evaluate the incidence and clinical features of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Korea. METHODS: Web-based (www.armd-nova.or.kr) registration was conducted for AMD patients aged 50 or more who were newly diagnosed by retinal specialists in Korea from August 20, 2005 to August 20, 2006. Patient data including ophthalmologic examination, fundus photography, fluorescein angiogram and/or indocyanin green angiogram (ICG), past medical history, behavioral habit, combined systemic diseases were up-loaded. RESULTS: Among finally enrolled 1,141 newly diagnosed AMD patients, 690 patients (60.5%) were male and 451 patients (39.5%) were female. The average age of AMD patients was 69.7+/-8.0. Early AMD was observed in 190 patients and 951 patients had late AMD. Classic choroidal neovascular membrane (CNVM) was observed in 18.6% of exudative AMD patients and 63.4 % had occult CNVM. Subfoveal CNVM was observed in 80.4% of the patients with CNVM. Among the 580 exudative AMD eyes that performed indocyanin green angiography (ICG), 184 eyes (31.7%) had polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) and 36 eyes (6.2%) showed retinal angiomatous proliferation (RAP). Age, male gender, smoking, diabetes and hypertension significantly increased the risk of the AMD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: Because of the low rate of participation by retinal specialists, definite incidence of AMD was not obtainable. However, the estimated 1-year AMD incidence in the Pusan area of Korea is at least 0.4%. In contrast to Western people, 31.7% of exudative AMD cases were revealed to be PCV and 6.2% were revealed to be RAP. This discrepancy between ethnic groups should be considered in the diagnosis and treatment modality selection of Korean AMD patients.
Aged ; Angiography ; Choroid ; Ethnic Groups ; Eye ; Female ; Fluorescein ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Incidence ; Korea ; Macular Degeneration ; Male ; Membranes ; Photography ; Retinaldehyde ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Specialization