Mitochondrial Reactive Oxygen Species Elicit Acute and Chronic Itch via Transient Receptor Potential Canonical 3 Activation in Mice / 神经科学通报·英文版

Mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mROS) that are overproduced by mitochondrial dysfunction are linked to pathological conditions including sensory abnormalities. Here, we explored whether mROS overproduction induces itch through transient receptor potential canonical 3 (TRPC3), which is sensitive to ROS. Intradermal injection of antimycin A (AA), a selective inhibitor of mitochondrial electron transport chain complex III for mROS overproduction, produced robust scratching behavior in naïve mice, which was suppressed by MitoTEMPO, a mitochondria-selective ROS scavenger, and Pyr10, a TRPC3-specific blocker, but not by blockers of TRPA1 or TRPV1. AA activated subsets of trigeminal ganglion neurons and also induced inward currents, which were blocked by MitoTEMPO and Pyr10. Besides, dry skin-induced chronic scratching was relieved by MitoTEMPO and Pyr10, and also by resveratrol, an antioxidant. Taken together, our results suggest that mROS elicit itch through TRPC3, which may underlie chronic itch, representing a potential therapeutic target for chronic itch.

Comparative analysis of distance measurement on the rendering screen between dental CAD programs / 대한치과보철학회지

This study was to find out whether the rendering screen difference affect to measuring distance in a CAD program according to three types of CAD programs. Materials and methods: The model presented in ISO 12836 for dental scanner evaluation was reduced by 70%. This model was repeatedly scanned 15times using Trios II (3Shape, Denmark). Using the output STL file, 3Shape CAD, inLab 15, and ExoCAD programs were used to measure the horizontal distance (H) and vertical distance (V) between adjacent point angle, and for each experiment, three groups were set according to the CAD program type. Statistical analysis was performed using One-way ANOVA test and post hoc was performed using Dunnett T3 test. Results: In the horizontal and vertical distance measurement, there was no difference in the average of the measured values between the three groups according to the CAD program (P>.05). Conclusion: There were no effect of the difference in the rendering screen in the horizontal and vertical linear distance measurements of the inlay model on the dental CAD program.

The Structure-function Relationships between Two Different Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients with High Myopic Glaucoma

Purpose@#To evaluate the structure-function relationships between swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in glaucoma patients with high myopia. @*Methods@#Forty-three eyes with high-myopia (axial length over 28 mm) and 30 with emmetropia (axial length 21 to 24 mm) of patients with preperimetric glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma were retrospectively enrolled. Visual field (VF) sensitivity and mean deviation were evaluated via standard automated perimetry. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was measured using SD-OCT and SS-OCT. The topographic relationships between structure and function were investigated. @*Results@#In the high myopia group, the average (p 0.05). The emmetropic group exhibited a significant correlation between the average RNFL thickness, and the MS and VF mean deviation (MD) using SS-OCT (both p ≤ 0.001). The average RNFL thickness correlated significantly with the MD using SD-OCT (p = 0.036). In emmetropia patients, the superotemporal, inferotemporal, superonasal, and inferonasal RNFL thicknesses correlated with the corresponding VF sensitivities using both SS-OCT and SD-OCT (all p < 0.05). @*Conclusions@#SS-OCT assessed structure-function relationships more accurately than did SD-OCT in glaucoma patients with high myopia.

The Structure-function Relationships between Two Different Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients with High Myopic Glaucoma

Purpose@#To evaluate the structure-function relationships between swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) in glaucoma patients with high myopia. @*Methods@#Forty-three eyes with high-myopia (axial length over 28 mm) and 30 with emmetropia (axial length 21 to 24 mm) of patients with preperimetric glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma were retrospectively enrolled. Visual field (VF) sensitivity and mean deviation were evaluated via standard automated perimetry. Peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness was measured using SD-OCT and SS-OCT. The topographic relationships between structure and function were investigated. @*Results@#In the high myopia group, the average (p 0.05). The emmetropic group exhibited a significant correlation between the average RNFL thickness, and the MS and VF mean deviation (MD) using SS-OCT (both p ≤ 0.001). The average RNFL thickness correlated significantly with the MD using SD-OCT (p = 0.036). In emmetropia patients, the superotemporal, inferotemporal, superonasal, and inferonasal RNFL thicknesses correlated with the corresponding VF sensitivities using both SS-OCT and SD-OCT (all p < 0.05). @*Conclusions@#SS-OCT assessed structure-function relationships more accurately than did SD-OCT in glaucoma patients with high myopia.

The association of potassium intake with bone mineral density and the prevalence of osteoporosis among older Korean adults

Association between antioxidant vitamin intake and obesity among Korean women: using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007 ~ 2016 / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: This study examined the association between the antioxidant vitamin intake and obesity in Korean women. METHODS: Adult women aged ≥19 years who completed a health examination and nutrition survey from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2007 ~ 2016 were selected for the study (n = 30,425). A BMI ≥25 kg/m2 and waist circumference ≥85 cm were defined as obesity and abdominal obesity, respectively. The individual antioxidant vitamin intake was estimated by linking the antioxidant vitamin composition database of commonly consumed foods and the subjects' 24-hour recall food consumption data. Carotenoids, retinol, vitamin A (retinol activity equivalent), vitamin C, tocopherols, and vitamin E (α-tocopherol equivalent) were included in the analysis. Each vitamin intake was converted to the nutrient density per 1,000 kcal. Odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for obesity according to each tertile of the nutrient density was obtained from multiple logistic regression adjusted for age, household income, education level, smoking, alcohol consumption, and physical activity. RESULTS: The mean intake of α-carotene, retinol, vitamin E, α-tocopherol, and γ-tocopherol per 1,000 kcal was significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. A higher intake of lycopene was inversely associated with obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.89, 95% CI: 0.83–0.96) and abdominal obesity (highest vs. lowest; OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.81–0.95). Higher intakes of α-carotene, total carotenoids, vitamin A, and γ-tocopherol also had a negative relationship with abdominal obesity. The antioxidant vitamin intakes from eggs, milk and dairy products, seasoning, and grains were significantly lower in the obese group than in the normal group. CONCLUSION: This study showed that the dietary intake of antioxidant vitamins was inversely associated with obesity and abdominal obesity among Korean women. Further study will be needed to examine the causal relationship between the antioxidant vitamin and obesity.

Estimated flavonoid intakes according to socioeconomic status of Korean adults based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007~2012 / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate the dietary flavonoid intakes of Korean adults according to socioeconomic status. METHODS: Using data from the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 31,112 subjects aged over 19 years were included in this study. We estimated individuals' daily intakes of total flavonoids and seven flavonoid subclasses, including flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanins, proanthocyanidin, and isoflavones,by linking food consumption data with the flavonoids database for commonly consumed Korean foods. We compared intakes of flavonoids according to the levels of household income and education. RESULTS: Average dietary flavonoid intakes of the study subjects were 321.8 mg/d in men and 308.3 mg/d in women. Daily flavonoid intakes were positively associated with household income level (p < 0.0001) and education level (p < 0.0001). The subjects in the highest household income and highest education level group (OR 0.37, 95% CI 0.30~0.45, p < 0.0001 in men, OR 0.50, 95% CI 0.41~0.60, p < 0.0001 in women) had a lower likelihood of having low total flavonoid intake (less than 25 percentile) compared to the lowest household income and lowest education level group. The food group that contributed to total flavonoid intake with the biggest difference between the lowest and highest groups for both household income level and education level was beverages. CONCLUSION: This study shows that socioeconomic status was positively associated with flavonoid intake in a representative Korean population. Further research is needed to analyze the association of flavonoid intake with health outcomes according to socioeconomic status such as household income and education level.

Current status and trends in estimated intakes and major food groups of vitamin E among Korean adults: Using the 1~6(th) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to determine trends in dietary vitamin E intakes and contributing food groups among Korean adults. METHODS: This study included 66,695 subjects aged ≥ 19 years who completed a nutrition survey as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007~2009, 2010~2012, 2013~2015). We estimated individual daily intakes of α-, β-, γ-, δ-tocopherol, and total vitamin E by linking food consumption data with a vitamin E database of commonly consumed foods. RESULTS: Daily vitamin E intake significantly increased from 6.4 mg α-TE/d in 1998 to 7.7 mg α-TE/d in 2013~2015 (p for trend < 0.0001) among men as well as from 5.4 mg α-TE/d in 1998 to 6.5 mg α-TE/d in 2013~2015 among women (p for trend < 0.0001). However, the intake of vitamin E was lower than the adequate intake (AI) of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015 (2015 KDRI). In 2013~2015, men consumed 6.5 mg/d of α-tocopherol, 0.5 mg/d of β-tocopherol, 6.0 mg/d of γ-tocopherol, and 3.9 mg/d of δ-tocopherol, whereas women consumed 5.7 mg/d of α-tocopherol, 0.4 mg/d of β-tocopherol, 4.8 mg/d of γ-tocopherol, and 2.8 mg/d of δ-tocopherol. The major food groups contributing to vitamin E intake were vegetables (men: 23.3%, women: 22.7%), grains (men: 14.5%, women: 13.9%), and eggs (men: 13.0%, women: 12.5%). CONCLUSION: This study provides scientific evidence for vitamin E intake in Korean adults. Since the current intake of vitamin E was lower than the reference intakes set by 2015 KDRI, dietary vitamin E intake should be monitored regularly among Korean adults.

Estimated macronutrients and antioxidant vitamins intake according to Hansik consumption rate among Korean adults: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007~2012 / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate intakes of macronutrients and antioxidant vitamins according to the Hansik consumption rate among Korean adults. METHODS: Using data from the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 33,069 subjects aged over 19 years old were included in this study. We estimated individual daily Hansik consumption rates and intakes of macronutrients and antioxidant vitamins, including vitamin A and its subgroup such as retinol, α-carotene, β-carotene, and β-cryptoxanthin, vitamin C, and vitamin E, by linking food consumption data with the nutrient and antioxidant vitamin database of commonly consumed foods. RESULTS: Around 75% of subjects consumed Hansik in over 75% of their daily total consumed food. The most frequently consumed Hansik was cabbage kimchi (1.57 times/day), followed by multigrain rice (0.86 times/day) and white rice (0.80 times/day). The household income level and education level was inversely associated with the Hansik consumption rate. There was a positive relationship between Hansik consumption rate and vitamin A, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, and vitamin C intakes. On the other hand, Hansik consumption rate was inversely associated with energy and fat intake. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggest that Hansik consumption could provide more antioxidant vitamins and less energy and fat. Thus, further research will be needed to analyze the association between Hansik and health effects.

Estimated dietary intake of vitamin A in Korean adults: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007~2012 / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate dietary vitamin A intake and examine major food sources of vitamin A in Korean adults. METHODS: Using data from the 2007~2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 33,069 subjects over 19-years-old were included in this study. We estimated individual daily intakes of retinol, carotenoids such as α-carotene, β-carotene, β-cryptoxanthin, lutein/zeaxanthin, and lycopene, and vitamin A by linking food consumption data with the vitamin A database of commonly consumed foods. We compared individual vitamin A intakes with the reference value of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans. RESULTS: Average dietary vitamin A intakes of study subjects were 864.3 µg retinol equivalent/day (495.7 µg retinol activity equivalent/day) in men and 715.0 µg retinol equivalent/day (403.6 µg retinol activity equivalent/day) in women. Exactly 42.9% and 70.6% of total subjects consumed less vitamin A than the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) based on retinol equivalent and retinol activity equivalent, respectively. The major food sources of vitamin A were Korean radish leaves, carrot, red pepper, and laver, and the top 20 foods provided about 80% of total vitamin A intake. CONCLUSION: This study provides basic data for estimation of vitamin A intake in Korean adults. Further research will be needed to analyze the association of insufficient or excess intakes of vitamin A and health problems in the Korean population.

Estimated dietary flavonoids intake of Korean adolescent: Based on the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007~2012 / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to estimate dietary flavonoids intake of Korean adolescents. METHODS: Using data from the 2007-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 3,957 subjects aged 12-18 were included in this study. We estimated individual daily intake of total flavonoid and six flavonoid classes including flavonols, flavones, flavanones, flavan-3-ols, anthocyanidins, and isoflavones by linking food consumption data with the flavonoids in the commonly consumed food database. The distribution of sociodemographic, health-related, and dietary factors according to flavonoids intake was examined. RESULTS: Average dietary flavonoids intake of the study subjects was 195.6 mg/d in girls, and 189.4 mg/d in boys. The highest flavonoids intake group consumed significantly more fiber, vitamin C, legumes, fruits, and vegetables (p < 0.01) and less fat, grains, meats and dairy foods than other lower consumption groups (p < 0.001). Dietary flavonoid intake showed negative correlation with waist circumference and systolic blood pressure (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: This study provided basic data for estimation of flavonoids intake of Korean adolescents. Further research will be required for analysis of the association of flavonoids intake and health-related factors such as cardiovascular risk factors.

Developing and testing the reliability of a measurement tool for an urban area food environment in Korea: Focusing on food stores / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to develop a reliable measurement tool to assess the urban food environment, particularly focusing on food stores in Korea. METHODS: The items for the measurement tool were selected through systematic literature reviews and adjusted to the Korean food environment. A total of 25 food stores in an urban area were recruited for the pilot test to evaluate the time required for completion of the survey, ease of response, willingness to participate, difficulties in conducting the survey, and appropriateness, and 34 food stores were recruited for assessment of the reliability of the tool using percent agreement and kappa value. RESULTS: The measurement tool is composed of questions regarding food store characteristics, accessibility, and food availability. On average, 26 minutes was required to survey a single food store, and the subjects and interviewers answered that the process was not difficult for the survey. The percent agreement for the inter-rater and test-retest reliability ranged from 93.9~98.8% and 91.9~97.9, respectively. The kappa values ranged from 0.78 to 0.97, which was very high. Percent agreement and kappa value of food with healthy option were lower than those of the general food in the inter-rater reliability (p = 0.0027, p = 0.0095 respectively) as well as in the test-retest reliability (p = 0.0081, p = 0.0290, respectively), although they were still high enough (86.4~98.0% for percent agreement, 0.64~0.96 for kappa value). CONCLUSION: The newly developed measurement tool for assessment of food store environment appears to be feasible and reliable; therefore, it can be applied to research on the association between food environment and dietary behaviors as well as health outcomes.

Development of a mercury database for food commonly consumed by Koreans / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a mercury database for food commonly consumed by Koreans. METHODS: Target foods for a mercury database were selected from dietary survey data of the 2007-2009 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Data for mercury contents of foods were collected through literature review. Among 702 food items reported by 24 hr dietary recall method, the contents of mercury for 300 food items were selected with systematic evaluation from the literature, which provided analytical values, and those of 56 food items were imputed by using a conversion factor. RESULTS: The mercury database developed in this study covered 50.7% of all kinds of consumed foods and 95.1% of total amount of food intake reported by 2007-2009 KNHANES. In the database, the geometric mean of mercury contents in food items was the highest in the fishes and shellfishes group (41.13 microg/kg, n = 101) followed by mushrooms (18.93 microg/kg, n = 12) and seaweeds (5.92 microg/kg, n = 14), and the lowest in the meats group (0.15 microg/kg, n = 17). CONCLUSION: The developed mercury database can be used to estimate the dietary mercury exposure of Korean people, and the method for development of a mercury database would be helpful to researchers in development of a new database for other food borne hazardous substances.

Comparison of the distribution and accessibility of restaurants in urban area and rural area / 한국영양학회지

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to measure accessibility and to examine distribution of restaurants in the local community. METHODS: The target area of this study was two urban areas and a rural area in a city. We collected location information on all restaurants in target areas and classified all restaurants according to Korean food restaurants and Non-Korean food restaurants. We measured restaurant density per 100 m from the residences of the study population and calculated the distance of the nearest restaurant from the residences of the subjects using the Geographic Information System (GIS) analysis method. We compared the accessibility and distribution of restaurants in urban areas with that of the rural area, and compared the accessibility and distribution of Korean restaurants with that of Non-Korean restaurants. RESULTS: Restaurants in urban areas were more dense than those in the rural area, and, in urban areas, restaurants were intensively distributed around the subjects' residence. Also, there were more Non-Korean food restaurants than Korean food restaurants in urban areas, and it was opposite in the rural area. CONCLUSION: It is important that we understood the current state of the restaurant environment in the local community using GIS analysis for the first time in the field of food environment. Further research is necessary on the association of restaurant environments and the dietary life of the population.

Clinical impact of fat clearing technique in nodal staging of rectal cancer after preoperative chemoradiotherapy / 대한외과학회지

PURPOSE: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of a fat clearing technique for accurate nodal staging of rectal cancer patients after preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT). METHODS: A total of 19 patients with rectal cancer within 10 cm from anal verge were divided into two groups: non-CRT group (n = 10) and CRT group (n = 9). For pathologic assessment, lymph node (LN) harvest was performed using conventional manual dissection followed by a fat clearing technique. RESULTS: A median of 3.0 additional LNs in non-CRT group and 3.8 LNs in CRT group were identified by the fat clearing technique. When subanalysis was performed in patients with fewer than 12 retrieved LNs, a median of 4.0 extra LNs in non-CRT group and 3.5 extra LNs in CRT group were identified after the fat clearing technique. None of additionally identified nodes were metastatic. In both groups, the median size of retrieved LNs following the fat clearing technique was smaller than that obtained by manual dissection (2.0 mm vs. 3.0 mm, P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The fat clearing technique allowed detection of additional LNs that were missed by the manual method, but these detected LNs were not proven to be metastatic.

Recurrences after Local Excision for Early Rectal Adenocarcinoma

PURPOSE: The role of local excision in treating rectal cancer patients continues to be controversial. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term oncological results of local excision for early rectal adenocarcinomas and review the outcomes of salvage therapy on rectal cancer patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between March 1992 and September 2005, 35 consecutive patients with early-stage primary rectal adenocarcinomas were treated by local excision with curative intent. The mean tumor distance from the anal verge was 5 cm (range, 1-10 cm). RESULTS: The median follow-up was 66 months (range, 17-161 months). Pathological examination revealed 23 cases of T1 and 12 cases of T2. Recurrence had developed in 10 patients (6 local recurrences, 4 systemic recurrences). Purely extrapelvic recurrence was observed in only two (5.7%) patients. Of the eight recurrent patients with surgical salvage, five survived with no evidence of disease at the time of this analysis. The 5-year local recurrence-free and disease-free survival rates were 79.6% and 67.9%, respectively. CONCLUSION: Local excision alone of early-staged rectal adenocarcinomas, even in the ideal candidate, is followed by a relatively higher local recurrence rate than previously reported and may not be a valid modality. Either the use of adjuvant therapy with local excision, even in patients with T1 lesions or the use of preoperative therapy followed by local excision has good promise.

The Prognostic Significance of Tumor Budding, Tumor Nodules, and Lymph Node Extracapsular Extension in Stage III Colorectal Cancer Patients

PURPOSE: The prognosis of advanced colorectal cancer patients may be different even for the same TNM staging. The characteristic features of tumors, such as tumor budding, tumor nodules, and extracapsular extension (ECE) of lymph nodes, can influence the disease progression and the outcome for patients. Tumor budding occurs what at the invasion front of colorectal adenocarcinomas, tumor cells, singly or in small aggregates, become detached from the neoplastic glands, and it can be divided it into two groups, low grade (0~16 foci in a field) and high grade (17 or more foci in a field). A tumor nodule is histologically identified within the fatty tissue or the detached fatty tissue around the dissected lymph nodes, or is a place picked up as lymph nodes from resected specimens which contain no lymph node components. ECE is defined as a tumor extension beyond the node capsule. The aims of this study were to evaluate the clinical significance of tumor budding, tumor nodules, and ECE of lymph nodes as prognostic factors in Stage III colorectal cancer patients. METHODS: We analyzed the disease-free and overall 5-year survival rates and recurrence rates in 94 Stage-III colorectal cancer patients according to tumor the budding intensity, the tumor nodules, and the lymph node ECE status. RESULTS: Of the entire group, the 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were 49%, and 50%, respectively. The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were higher in the low-grade tumor budding group than in the high-grade group (58% vs 33%, P=0.045, 61% vs 39%, P=0.003). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates in patients with tumor nodules were lower than those in patients without one (44% vs 69%, P=0.086, 47% vs 77%, P=0.018). The recurrence rate was also higher in the group with tumor nodules than without one (80% vs 52%, P=0.045). The 5-year disease-free and overall survival rates were higher in the ECE negative group than in the positive one (68% vs 37%, P=0.018, 75% vs 42%, P=0.001). The recurrence rate was also higher in the ECE positive group than in the negative group (78% vs 46%, P=0.008). The existence of ECE and tumor nodule were strongly related to systemic recurrence (P=0.006, P=0.033), but not to the local recurrence (P=0.777, P=0.611). Considering the analysis of the recurrence pattern by N stage classification, there is no statistical difference in the N2 patient group, but there was in the existence of ECE and tumor nodule were strongly related to the systemic recurrence in N1 group (P=0.019, P=0.028). These three factors were scored according to the existence, and the score range was divided into two prognostic groups, high risk group (> or =2) and low risk group (<2). The high risk group was significantly associated with systemic recurrence (P= 0.004) rather than recurrence (P=0.865), and these score value were only significant in the N1 patient group (P=0.007) rather than in the N2 group (P=0.927). The high risk group also showed poor overall survival rate compared with the low risk one in only the N1 group (P=0.002), but nof in the N2 group (P=0.193). On multivariate analysis, UICC stage and ECE were two significant factors for tumor recurrence and the 5-year disease-free survival rate. CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that even if similar lymph node metastasis existed in advanced colorectal cancer patients, there was a different 5-year disease-free survival rate and overall survival rate according to the tumor budding, tumor nodule, and ECE status. On multivariate analysis, UICC stage and ECE were two significant factors for the tumor recurrence and the 5-year disease-free survival rate. Our results suggest that tumor budding, tumor nodule, and ECE of lymph node are excellent parameters to provide a confident prediction of clinical outcome.

Medical Facilities Utilization According to Health Status Measured by SF-36 in Male Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to examine the health status measured by SF-36 and medical facilities utilization according to the health status measured by SF-36 in male workers. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to 786 male workers. RESULTS: In bivariate analysis, physical functioning score was significantly different among the workers according to age, educational level, economic level, and job type. The bodily pain score and general health score were significantly different according to the workers'economic level and job type. The vitality score was significantly different according to the workers'age, educational level, economic level, and job type. The social functioning score was significantly different according to the workers'age, marital status, economic level, and job type. The role limitation emotion score was significantly different according to the workers'age, marital status, and job type. The mental health score was significantly different according to the workers'marital status, economic level, and job type (p<0.05). The SF-36 scores increased with higher workers'self-rated health status (p<0.05). The self-rated current health status of the workers was good when their economic status was high, their previous year health status was good and their SF-36 score was high (p<0.05). The rates of morbidity incidence and medical facilities utilization for 1 year were lower when workers'SF-36 score was high (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: In consideration of the above findings, SF-36 is suitable to measure health status and predict the medical utilization.

A Case of Exercise-induced Rhabdomyolysis with Hepatitis / 대한산업의학회지

BACKGROUND: Rhabdomyolysis is a relatively rare disease caused by various factors and is characterized by skeletal muscle damage. While crush injury is the most common cause in Korea as well as other countries, overexertion is an important common cause among young men in daily life. Although exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis is already well published among athletes or military persons, there have been few reports in workers. CASE REPORT: We observed a 28-year-old male worker who had elevated liver transaminases during a periodic workers' health checkup. Although he did not exhibit the typical pattern of toxic hepatitis, we had to exclude any possibility of dimethylacetamide-induced hepatitis (DIH) because he had worked in a spandex-producing factory, which already had a history of many DIH cases over several years. We performed careful history taking, several laboratory tests, liver ultrasonography and liver biopsy. We also investigated the results of biological monitoring and air concentrations of dimethylacetamide. The findings from these examinations supported the clinical diagnosis of exercise-induced rhabdomyolysis with hepatitis. CONCLUSION: This case demonstrates that exercise can induce rhabdomyolysis and hepatitis. This disease must be treated by prompt and appropriate management because it might develop more serious complications such as acute renal failure.

Blood Lead Levels in Umbilical Cord and Neonatal Neurobehavioral Status / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between umbilical cord blood lead level lower than 10 microgram/dl and neonatal neurobehavioral performance. METHODS: Umbilical cord blood lead level, as an indicator for prenatal exposure to lead, and Brazelton neonatal behavioral assessment scale (NBAS), as an indicator for effect, were determined in 86 neonates in Gumi, Kyungpook, Korea. The blood levels were measured by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Development was assessed by NBAS at birth in 86 neonates and at 1 month in 55 neonates. RESULTS: The mean cord blood lead levels of the 86 and 55 neonates were 3.90 +/- 0.71 microgram/dl (range 2.24 - 5.39 microgram/dl) and 3.88 +/- 0.70 microgram/dl (range 2.24~5.03 microgram/dl), respectively. We used the median value of 4 microgram/dl to divide into low- and high- lead level groups. There was a significant difference in the peak of excitement at birth, and in the animate visual, inanimate visual, inanimate auditory, activity level, peak of excitement, and liability of states at one month, between the two groups. For cluster scores, motor system and state organization scores showed significant differences between the two groups. For adjusting the potential confounding effect of intial difference, differences of the scores between the two groups at one month were analysed with ANCOVA. The results of ANCOVA showed the significant difference between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: The findings suggest that prenatal low-level lead exposure, even lower than 10 microgram/dl, might affect the neonatal neurobehavioral development.