BACKGROUND: This study assessed the association between shift work and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), in female workers in electronics manufacturing services (EMS). METHODS: Female EMS workers who received special medical examinations for workers in Gyeongnam, Korea between January 2017 and December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Their age, marital status, education level, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, regular exercise, quality of sleep, work stress, and depression were investigated, and blood tests were conducted. The t- and χ2 tests were conducted to compare the general and biochemical characteristics between daytime and shift worker groups. Age-adjusted partial correlation analysis was performed to examine the linear relationship between hs-CRP level and other risk factors for CVDs. In addition, the difference in hs-CRP levels according to work schedule was analyzed by ANCOVA after adjusting for variables that could affect the hs-CRP level. RESULTS: Although the average hs-CRP levels did not differ significantly between daytime and shift workers (0.92 ± 1.87 and 1.07 ± 2.20 mg/dL, respectively), shift workers tended to show a higher hs-CRP level (p = 0.067). After adjusting for variables that can affect the hs-CRP level, the estimated average hs-CRP level was significantly higher in shift workers (1.325 ± 0.156 mg/dL) than that in daytime workers (0.652 ± 0.350 mg/dL) (p = 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study identified a relationship between shift work and hs-CRP level increase in women. Because multiple studies have reported associations between increased hs-CRP and CVD, follow-up of hs-CRP may help early detection of CVD in shift workers.
Alcohol Drinking ; Appointments and Schedules ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Depression ; Education ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Korea ; Marital Status ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: Although recent studies have investigated the influence of vitamin D on sleep patterns, there is a lack of research on the relationship between vitamin D and sleep patterns in Korean workers. This study focused on the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and sleep in fixed day indoor field workers in the electronics manufacturing industry in Korea. METHODS: The 1472 subjects who were included in this study were selected from fixed day workers in the electronics manufacturing industry who had received a worker’s special health examination at a hospital in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province between January 2015 and December 2015. Nighttime workers and those who showed symptoms of depression were excluded from this study. The sociodemographic and lifestyle variables of the participants were investigated, including age, sex, marital status, level of education, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol consumption habits, and regular exercise. Work-related factors were evaluated, such as employee tenure and occupational stress. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured as an indicator of vitamin D levels, and quality of sleep was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) translated into Korean. RESULTS: The subjects had a mean serum vitamin D level of 13.70 ± 5.93 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum vitamin D level of <10 ng/mL, was found in 24.8% of males and significantly more frequently in females (47.6%). Poor sleep quality was reported by 19.8% of participants with serum vitamin D levels ≥10 ng/mL and by 21.7% of those with serum vitamin D levels <10 ng/mL, which was a significant difference (P = .007). Multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for significant variables found that poor sleep quality was more likely in those with vitamin D deficiency than those with higher serum vitamin D levels (odds ratio = 1.36; 95% CI, 1.01–1.82). A comparison of serum vitamin D levels and PSQI components showed that the mean scores for subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, and sleep duration were significantly higher in the vitamin D-deficient participants, indicating that the vitamin D-deficient participants had poorer sleep quality. CONCLUSIONS: This study investigated serum vitamin D levels in fixed day indoor field workers in the manufacturing industry in Korea and analyzed the relationship of vitamin D deficiency with sleep quality. A significant correlation was found between serum vitamin D deficiency and poor sleep quality. Based on the results of this study, sleep disorder management for workers can be improved by providing regular examinations checking their serum vitamin D levels and supplying vitamin D to workers with serum vitamin D deficiency to enhance their quality of sleep.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Depression ; Education ; Female ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Health Personnel* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Life Style ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Marital Status ; Sleep Wake Disorders ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Vitamin D Deficiency ; Vitamin D* ; Vitamins*

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

We report a case of brain-stem glioma with hemorrhage. A 24-year-old female presented with a 2-month history of headache, vomiting, right hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance image showed a 4X2.5cm sized mass with subacute stage hemorrhage in the left cerebellopontine angle. The mass and hemorrhage was surgically removed and pathological findings were consistent with pilocytic astrocytoma with recent hemorrhage. The patient discharged with mild neurological deficit.
Astrocytoma* ; Cerebellopontine Angle ; Female ; Glioma ; Headache ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Intracranial Hemorrhages* ; Paresis ; Pons* ; Vomiting ; Young Adult

Idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome is a state of marked eosinophilia of unknown cause accompanied by multiple organ involvement. Any organ may be involved including bone marrow, heart, lung, gastrointestinal tract, liver, kidney and the nervous system. The common cardiac manifestations of hypereosinophlic syndrome are myocarditis, endocardial fibrosis, formation of mural thrombi, valvular hearat disease, restrictive cardiomyopathy and congestive heart failure. We report a case of a 61-year-old man with idiopathic hypereosinophilic syndrome manifested by myocarditis and severe pericardial effusion on transthoracicechocardiography that was successfully treated by pericardiocentesis and on-going steroid therapy.
Bone Marrow ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Eosinophilia ; Fibrosis ; Gastrointestinal Tract ; Heart ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Hypereosinophilic Syndrome* ; Kidney ; Liver ; Lung ; Middle Aged ; Myocarditis ; Nervous System ; Pericardial Effusion* ; Pericardiocentesis

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy is an effective procedure for primary hyperhidrosis. The author present a retrospective analysis of uniportal endoscopic thoracic sympathicotomy for primary hyperhidrosis. METHODS:P Twenty patients underwent bilateral uniportal endoscopic sympathicotomy since August 1999. After collapsing the lung, a 6mm skin incision was made at the third intercostal space in anterior axillary line or just behind the posterior border of the pectoralis major and perforated with operating sheath. The endoscopy was 6.5mm in diameter and has one working channel(Karl Storz). An insulated 2mm coagulating forceps was introduced and T1-2 sympathicotomy with(13 patients) or without T2-3 sympathicotomy(7 patients) was performed. After the lung was fully inflated, the scope and the operating sheath were removed without chest tube, followed by single stitch. RESULTS: Both sides were usually done within twenty minutes in a single stage. There was no postoperative complication except one case of pneumothorax and nineteen patients discharged at the following morning. Nineteen patients were satisfied with immediate and permanent relief of palmar perspiration. Recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis has been noticed in one patient who underwent T1-2 sympathicotomy only, but the symptom was not so severe. There was no surgical mortality. CONCLUSION: The results of endoscopic sympathicotomy in patients suffering from severe palmar and axillary hyperhidrosis are favorable. Single-port technique is enough for the successful sympathicotomy with less postoperative discomfort and scars.
Chest Tubes ; Cicatrix ; Endoscopy ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Ion Transport* ; Lung ; Mortality ; Pneumothorax ; Postoperative Complications ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin ; Surgical Instruments ; Sympathectomy

Coronary artery dissection after blunt chest trauma is very rare conditon, and this can result in a serious acute myocardial infarction. We report a case of a 54-year old male who was presented with an anterior myocardial infarction after traffic accident, with steering wheel injury. His coronary angiography revealed a discrete eccentric 85% stenosis of proximal left anterior descending coronary artery with dissection and intravascular ultrasound showed a dissecting flap from the distal left main coronary artery to proximal left anterior descending coronary artery. He was successfully treated by percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty with stent.
Accidents, Traffic ; Angioplasty, Balloon, Coronary ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Vessels* ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Myocardial Infarction* ; Stents ; Thorax* ; Ultrasonography

OBJECTIVES: Hemifacial spasm is painless uncommon disorder characterized by involuntary paroxysmal movement on one side of face. It is known that hemifacial spasm is mainly due to pulsatile compression by vessels at the root exit zone(REZ) of the facial nerve. Microvascular decompression at REZ of the facial nerve has become the standard treatment modality for hemifacial spasm. The authors have analized patients with hemifacial spasm treated with microvascular decompression to evaluate operation result and clinical course after operation. PATIENTS AND METHODS:From 1992 to 1999, 41 patients with hemifacial spasm underwent this operation. Retrospective analysis of operation results and clinical recovery patterns was done. The length of observation had been more than 6 months in all cases. RESULTS: The ratio of male to female was 1: 1.4, and age at operation ranged from 24 to 66 years. Their mean age was 47.6 years and the mean preoperative duration of symptoms was 7.2 years. Most common offending vessels were AICA in 18 cases(48%) and second most common were PICA in 13 cases(31.7%). The rest of them were 3 case in vertebral artery, and 7 cases(13%) in multiple offending vessels. Patterns of improvement after surgery could be divided into 4 clinical types. There was complete recovery in 3 days after operation in 24 cases(58.6%, Immediate complete recovery). There was complete recovery in 3 days after operation, and symptom was recurred partially, which was gradually subsided in 2 weeks after operation in 4 cases(9.8%, Delayed complete recovery type I). There was partial recovery after operation and symptom was compretely disappeared gradually in 6 months after operation in 7 cases(17.1%, Delayed complete recovery type II). Finally, there was partial recovery after operation, and symptom was somewhat remained after 6 months later(14.5%, Delayed partial recovery). CONCLUSION: In conclusion, microvascular decompression for hemifacial spasm is a safe and reliable treatment modality with good results of improvement and there are 4 recovery patterns in clinical course after operation in our series. Therefore, follow-up observation after microvascular decompression is necessary to evaluate the operative results and complication, especially in the delayed resolved cases.
Facial Nerve ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemifacial Spasm* ; Humans ; Male ; Microvascular Decompression Surgery* ; Pica ; Retrospective Studies ; Vertebral Artery

Retained intraorbital foreign body after penetrating orbital injury may affect adjacent tissue and lead to many ophthalmological sequeles such as visual disturbance, EOM limitation, diplopia, strabismus, orbital cellulitis and orbital abscess. If intraorbital foreign body intrudes into adjacent CNS system, it may lead to fatal complications such as meningitis and brain abscess. We should diagnose and treat intraorbital foreign body early and accurately to prevent complications, and rehabilitate damaged tissue anatomically and functionally. A patient with retained intraorbital foreign body after penetrating lower lid injury was transferred to our hospital for lid swelling and periocular pain. We diagnosed and confirmed intraorbital foreign body with use of plain X ray and orbital CT, and removed it with lateral orbitotomy surgical approach.
Abscess ; Brain Abscess ; Diplopia ; Foreign Bodies* ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Orbit ; Orbital Cellulitis ; Strabismus