Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions in individuals residing in industrial complexes. To evaluate the effects of pollution from industrial complex on human health, we performed a pooled analysis of environmental epidemiologic monitoring data for residents living near national industrial complexes in Korea. The respiratory and allergic symptoms and the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, including cancer, were used as the outcome variables for health effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to pollution from industrial complexes and health conditions. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, occupational exposure, level of education, and body mass index, the residents near the industrial complexes were found to have more respiratory symptoms, such as cough (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.31) and sputum production (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20). Among residents of the industrial complexes, the prevalence of acute eye disorders was approximately 40% higher (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.84) and the prevalence of lung and uterine cancer was 3.45 times and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those among residents of the control area. This study showed that residents living in the vicinity of industrial complexes have a high risk of acute and chronic diseases including respiratory and allergic conditions. These results can be used as basic objective data for developing health management measures for individuals residing near industrial complexes.
Body Mass Index ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education ; Employment ; Environmental Pollution ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Uterine Neoplasms

Several epidemiological studies have reported an association between environmental pollution and various health conditions in individuals residing in industrial complexes. To evaluate the effects of pollution from industrial complex on human health, we performed a pooled analysis of environmental epidemiologic monitoring data for residents living near national industrial complexes in Korea. The respiratory and allergic symptoms and the prevalence of acute and chronic diseases, including cancer, were used as the outcome variables for health effects. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze the relationship between exposure to pollution from industrial complexes and health conditions. After adjusting for age, sex, smoking status, occupational exposure, level of education, and body mass index, the residents near the industrial complexes were found to have more respiratory symptoms, such as cough (odds ratio [OR], 1.18; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.31) and sputum production (OR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.03 to 1.24), and symptoms of atopic dermatitis (OR, 1.10; 95% CI, 1.01 to 1.20). Among residents of the industrial complexes, the prevalence of acute eye disorders was approximately 40% higher (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.84) and the prevalence of lung and uterine cancer was 3.45 times and 1.88 times higher, respectively, than those among residents of the control area. This study showed that residents living in the vicinity of industrial complexes have a high risk of acute and chronic diseases including respiratory and allergic conditions. These results can be used as basic objective data for developing health management measures for individuals residing near industrial complexes.
Body Mass Index ; Chronic Disease ; Cough ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Education ; Employment ; Environmental Pollution* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Sputum ; Uterine Neoplasms

We experienced 3 cases of manometry-induced colon perforation. A 75-year-old man (case 1) underwent anorectal manometry (ARM) 3 years after radiotherapy for prostate cancer and a laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer. A 70-year-old man (case 2) underwent ARM 3 months after conventional neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and a laparoscopic low anterior resection for rectal cancer. A 78-year-old man (case 3) underwent ARM 2 months after a laparoscopic intersphincteric resection for rectal cancer. In all cases, a colon perforation with fecal peritonitis occurred. All were treated successfully using prompt and active operations and were discharged without any complications. ARM with a balloon, as a measure of rectal compliance, should be performed 2 months or longer after surgery. If a perforation occurs, prompt and active surgical intervention is necessary due to the high possibility of extensive fecal peritonitis.
Aged ; Arm ; Chemoradiotherapy ; Colon ; Compliance ; Humans ; Manometry* ; Peritonitis ; Prostatic Neoplasms ; Radiotherapy ; Rectal Neoplasms

OBJECTIVES: To identify adverse health effects due to air pollution derived from a cement plant in Korea. The ventilation impairment in residents around a cement plant was compared to another group through a pulmonary function test (PFT). METHODS: From June to August of 2013, both a pre and post-bronchodilator PFT was conducted on a "more exposed group (MEG)" which consisted of 318 people who lived within a 1 km radius of a cement plant and a "less exposed group (LEG)" which consisted of 129 people who lived more than 5 km away from the same plant. The largest forced expiratory volume in a one second (FEV1) reading and a functional residual capacity (FVC) reading were recorded after examining the data from all of the usable curves that were agreed upon as valid by PFT experts of committee of National Institute of Environmental Research. The global initiative for chronic obstructive lung disease (GOLD) criteria for COPD, defined the FEV1/FVC ratio < 0.7 as the obstructive type, and the FEV1/FVC ratio >== 0.7 and FVC% predicted < 80% were as the restrictive type. The FVC% predicted value was estimated using Korean equation. We compared the proportion of lung function impairments between the MEG and the LEG by using a chi-square, and estimated the OR of obstructive and restrictive ventilation impairments by logistic regression. RESULTS: The obstructive type impairment proportion was 9.7% in the MEG, whereas it was 8.5% in the LEG. The restrictive type was 21.6% in the MEG which was more than the 12.4% of the LEG. The odds ratio (OR) of total ventilation impairment in the MEG was 2.63 (95% CI 1.50 ~ 4.61) compared to the LEG. The OR of obstructive type in the MEG was 1.60 (95% CI 0.70 ~ 3.65), the smoking history was 3.10 (CI 1.10 ~ 8.66) whereas OR of restrictive type in the MEG was 2.55 (95% CI 1.37 ~ 4.76), the smoking history was 0.75 (95% CI 0.35 ~ 1.60) after adjusting for sex and age. Level of exposure to particulate played a role in both types. However, it appeared to be a significant variable in restrictive type, while smoking history was also an important variable in obstructive type. CONCLUSION: Although this study is a limited cross-section study with a small number of subjects, ventilation impairment rate is higher in the MEG. There might be a possibility that it is due to long-term exposure to particulate dust generated by the cement plant.
Air Pollution ; Dust ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Functional Residual Capacity ; Korea ; Leg ; Logistic Models ; Lung ; Odds Ratio ; Plants* ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Radius ; Respiratory Function Tests ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Ventilation*

This study reports the first case of Capillaria hepatica infection in a nutria in Korea. Ten nutrias, captured near the Nakdong River, were submitted to our laboratory for necropsy. White-yellowish nodules were found in the liver of 1 of the nutrias at necropsy. Histologically, the lesions were granulomatous, and infiltrations of lipid-laden macrophages, eosinophils, and several multinucleated giant cells were observed. The lesions consisted of numerous eggs and necrotic hepatocytes. The eggs were lemon-shaped and had polar plugs at the ends of both long sides. The eggs were morphologically identified as those of C. hepatica. Worldwide, C. hepatica infection in nutrias is very rare. Nutrias are a kind of livestock, as well as wildlife; therefore, an epidemiological study for parasitic infections needs to be conducted.
Animals ; Capillaria/*isolation & purification ; Enoplida Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Female ; Male ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Rodent Diseases/*parasitology ; Rodentia

BACKGROUND: Association of arterial stiffness and osteoporosis has been previously reported in women. However, this association is still controversial for men. Therefore, we investigated correlation of arterial stiffness and osteoporosis by measuring brachial-ankle (ba) pulse wave velocity (PWV) and bone mineral density (BMD). METHODS: We reviewed medical charts of 239 people (women: 128, men: 111) who visited the Health Promotion Center, retrospectively. ba-PWV was measured by automatic wave analyzer. Lumbar spine (L1-L4) BMD and femur BMD were measured by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Metabolic syndrome was based on the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP)-Adult Treatment Panel (ATPIII) definition. Body mass index (BMI)>25 kg/m2 was used instead of waist circumference. RESULTS: In Pearson's correlation analysis, PWV and femur BMD (Neck, total) had a significant inverse relationship in men (r=-0.254, P=0.007; r=-0.202, P=0.034). In women, PWV and the L-spine, femur (Neck, total) had a significant inverse relationship. (r=-0.321, P<0.001; r=-0.189, P=0.032; r=-0.177, P=0.046) Age and PWV showed the greatest association in both men and women (r=0.46 P<0.001; r=0.525, P<0.001) In multiple regression analysis, the L-spine BMD and PWV had an independent relationship in women after adjusting for age, metabolic syndrome, BMI, smoking, drinking and exercise. (r=-0.229, P=0.015). No independent association was found between PWV and BMD in men. CONCLUSIONS: The association between arterial stiffness and BMD was confirmed in women. However, this association was not statistically significant for men.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Body Mass Index ; Bone Density ; Cholesterol ; Drinking ; Education ; Female ; Femur ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Mass Screening* ; Osteoporosis* ; Pulse Wave Analysis ; Retrospective Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Spine ; Vascular Stiffness* ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVE: To prevent the occurrence of CV events such as MI and stroke among professional drivers in Korea, bus drivers were compared to other occupations through the Framingham risk scoring system (FRS) or metabolic syndrome (MS) of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk assessment methods. METHODS: In October 2012, a health examination survey was conducted for 443 male bus drivers in a big city. Their CVD risk factors were compared to those of a 'total employed' (A group) and 'crafts and machine operators' (B group) extracted from Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2010) data by using FRS and MS. We calculated proportions of the CVD risk factors distribution between bus drivers and the A, B groups by the bootstrapping method. The Odds ratio (OR) between CV event risk combining MS with CHD equivalent risk of FRS and occupational factors like shift patterns and professional driving duration/age ratios (PDAR) of bus drivers was calculated through multinominal logistic regression. RESULTS: The proportion of BMI > or = 25 kg/m2 was 53.9% and waist circumference > or = 90cm was 40.9% among bus drivers. Hypertension and MS prevalence of bus drivers was 53.3%, 49.9% which is higher than 17.6%, 22.6% in the A group and 19.7%, 23.8% in the B group respectively. OR of high CV event risk in alternate shift was 2.58 (95% CI 1.33~5.00) in comparison with double shift pattern and OR in PDAR > or = 0.5 was 2.18 (95% CI 1.15~4.14). CONCLUSION: Middle aged male drivers in a big city of Korea stand a higher chance of developing CV event than other professions of the same age.
Cardiovascular Diseases* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Methods ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Occupations ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors ; Stroke ; Waist Circumference

OBJECTIVES: To identify changes in relationships with superiors or colleagues at work and family members and social networks at home, based on occupational stress and psychological characteristics in during the process of restructuring some plants undergoing a long-term labor dispute. METHODS: This study invested 213 workers involved in a long-term labor dispute using the KOSS (Korean Occupational Stress Scale) and the MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and questionnaires. The KOSS and MMPI-2 scores in accordance with aggressiveness of trade union activity and changes in human relationships were compared. In addition, the odds ratio of whether there were differences in health behavior (perception of health status, smoking, alcohol abuse, medical treatment) and the absenteeism rate was calculated by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: For members of the aggressiveness of trade union activity group, the rate at which the relationship between superiors or colleagues deteriorated was high, as was the total KOSS score, occupational system and lack of reward score of KOSS subclass. The depression subclass score of MMPI-2 was generally high, while the score of hypochondriasis, hysteria, psychopathic deviate, hypomania was high, and social introversion was low in the active group. In cases in which there were high score of psychopathic deviate, hypomania and paranoia, there were also signs of negative health behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Occupational stress caused by a long-term labor dispute, accompanied with depression can result in an aggressive, hostile and vulnerable personalities and have a negative impact on health behavior.
Absenteeism ; Alcoholism ; Depression ; Dissent and Disputes ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Hypochondriasis ; Hysteria ; Introversion (Psychology) ; Labor Unions ; Logistic Models ; Odds Ratio ; Paranoid Disorders ; Questionnaires ; Reward ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVE: In the field of spinal surgery, a few laboratory results or clinical cases about robotic spinal surgery have been reported. In vivo trials and development of related surgical instruments for spinal surgery are required before its clinical application. We investigated the use of the da Vinci(R) Surgical System in spinal surgery at the craniovertebral junction in a human cadaver to demonstrate the efficacy and pitfalls of robotic surgery. METHODS: Dissection of pharyngeal wall to the exposure of C1 and odontoid process was performed with full robotic procedure. Although assistance of another surgeon was necessary for drilling and removal of odontoid process due to the lack of appropriate end-effectors, successful robotic procedures for dural sutures and exposing spinal cord proved its safety and dexterity. RESULTS: Robot-assisted odontoidectomy was successfully performed in a human cadaver using the da Vinci(R) Surgical System with few robotic arm collisions and minimal soft tissue damages. Da Vinci(R) Surgical System manifested more dexterous movement than human hands in the deep and narrow oral cavity. Furthermore, sutures with robotic procedure in the oral cavity demonstrated the advantage over conventional procedure. CONCLUSION: Presenting cadaveric study proved the probability of robot-assisted transoral approach. However, the development of robotic instruments specific to spinal surgery must first precede its clinical application.
Arm ; Cadaver ; Hand ; Humans ; Imidazoles ; Mandrillus ; Mouth ; Nitro Compounds ; Odontoid Process ; Robotics ; Spinal Cord ; Surgical Instruments ; Sutures

PURPOSE: Gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GISTs) possess highly variable clinical behaviors and the study thereof is insufficient. There are no standard guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of GISTs, so it is difficult to predict recurrences and conduct appropriate treatments. Throughout the last 10 years of experiences with GIST patients, we have identified the variables predicting recurrences and classified the risk groups by NIH classification, Fletcher risk stratification and UICC TNM stage. METHODS: From January 1998 to December 2007, 88 patients with pathologic confirm and surgical resection were diagnosed with GISTs. GISTs were diagnosed when the tumor had characteristic histologic features and confirmed positive by KIT, CD34, or PDGFRA. RESULTS: The size, mitotic index, existence of symptoms, and origins of tumor correlate statistically with recurrence (0.002, <0.001, 0.027, 0.011). The NIH classification, Fletcher risk stratification and UICC TNM stage are correlated with recurrence (0.001, <0.001, <0.001) and 5 year disease free survival, statistically (0.009, <0.001, <0.001). Fifteen patients experienced recurrences. 14 patients were treated with imatinib, and 6 of them showed a response to the treatment. All 4 patients who had R1 resection did not survived due to the progression of the disease. CONCLUSION: The patients with large, high mitotic index, symptomatic, or extra-gastric tumor require strict surveillance. Also, patients with low risk must be under surveillance due to the possibility of recurrence. It is important to perform R0, en bloc resection. Although the imatinib is the treatment of choice with recurred or metastatic GISTs, the disease is likely to develop resistance, further studies on newly targeted therapy is in need.
Benzamides ; Disease-Free Survival ; Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors ; Humans ; Imatinib Mesylate ; Mitotic Index ; Piperazines ; Pyrimidines ; Recurrence ; Survival Rate