• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.49-56
• /
• 2010

Objective: To investigate assisted reproductive technology (ART) outcomes in women with WHO class I anovulation compared with control group. Design: Retrospective case-control study. Methods: Twenty-three infertile women with hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (H-H) who undertook ART procedure from August 2003 to January 2009 were enrolled in this study. A total of 59 cycles (H-H group) were included; Intra-uterine insemination with super-ovulation (SO-IUI, 32 cycles), in vitro fertilization with fresh embryo transfer (IVF-ET, 18 cycles) and subsequent frozenthawed embryo transfer (FET, 9 cycles). Age and BMI matched 146 cycles of infertile women were collected as control group; 64 cycles of unexplained infertile women for SO-IUI and 54 cycles of IVF-ET and 28 cycles of FET with tubal factor. We compared ART and pregnancy outcomes such as clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), clinical abortion rate (CAR), and live birth rate (LBR) between the two groups. Results: There was no difference in the mean age ($32.7{\pm}3.3$ vs. $32.6{\pm}2.7$ yrs) and BMI ($21.0{\pm}3.1$ vs. $20.8{\pm}3.1kg/m^2$) between two groups. Mean levels of basal LH, FSH, and $E_2$ in H-H group were $0.62{\pm}0.35$ mIU/ml, $2.60{\pm}2.30$ mIU/ml and $10.1{\pm}8.2$ pg/ml, respectively. For ovarian stimulation, H-H group needed higher total amount of gonadotropin injected and longer duration for ovarian stimulation (p<0.001). In SO-IUI cycles, there was no significant difference of CPR, CAR, and LBR between the two groups. In IVF-ET treatment, H-H group presented higher mean $E_2$ level on hCG day ($3104.8{\pm}1020.2$ pg/ml vs. $1878.3{\pm}1197.7$ pg/ml, p<0.001) with lower CPR (16.7 vs. 37.0%, p=0.11) and LBR (5.6 vs. 33.3%, p=0.02) and higher CAR (66.7 vs. 10.0%, p=0.02) compared with the control group. However, subsequent FET cycles showed no significant difference of CPR, CAR, and LBR between the two groups. Conclusion: H-H patients need higher dosage of gonadotropin and longer duration for ovarian stimulation compared with the control groups. Significantly poor pregnancy outcomes in IVF-ET cycles of H-H group may be due to detrimental endometrial factors caused by higher $E_2$ level and the absence of previous hormonal exposure on endometrium.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.99-110
• /
• 2008

Objectives: Preimplantation genetic diagnosis (PGD) has become an assisted reproductive technique for couples carrying genetic conditions that may affect their offspring. Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) is an autosomal dominant disorder of connective tissue characterized by bone fragility and low bone mass. At least 95% of cases are caused by dominant mutations in the COL1A1 or COL1A2. In this study, we report on our experience clinical outcomes with 5 PGD cycles for OI in two couples. Methods: Before clinical PGD, we assessed the amplification rate and allele drop-out (ADO) rate of alkaline lysis and nested PCR protocol using heterozygous patient's single lymphocytes in the pre-clinical diagnostic tests for OI. We performed 5 cycles of PGD for OI by nested PCR for the causative mutation loci, COL1A1 c.2452G>A and c.3226G>A, in case 1 and case 2, respectively. The PCR products were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with HaeIII restriction enzyme in the case 1 and direct DNA sequencing. Results: We confirmed the causative mutation loci, COL1A1 c.2452G>A in case 1 and c.3226G>A in case 2. In the pre-clinical tests, the amplification rate was 94.2% and ADO rate was 22.5% in case 1, while 98.1% and 1.9% in case 2, respectively. In case 1, a total of 34 embryos were analyzed and 31 embryos (91.2%) were successfully diagnosed in 3 PGD cycles. Eight out of 19 embryos diagnosed as unaffected embryos were transferred in all 3 cycles, and in the third cycle, pregnancy was achieved and a healthy baby was delivered without any complications in July, 2005. In case 2, all 19 embryos (100.0%) were successfully diagnosed and 4 out of 11 unaffected embryos were transferred in 2 cycles. Pregnancy was achieved in the second cycle and the healthy baby was delivered in March, 2008. The causative locus was confirmed as a normal by amniocentesis and postnatal diagnosis. Conclusions: To our knowledge, these two cases are the first successful PGD for OI in Korea. Our experience provides a further demonstration that PGD is a reliable and effective clinical techniques and a useful option for many couples with a high risk of transmitting a genetic disease.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.159-169
• /
• 2009

In this study, the antibacterial activity, antioxidative effects, inhibitory effects on tyrosinase, inhibitory effects on elastase, and components of Quercus acutissima Carruth leaf extracts were investigated. MIC values of ethyl acetate fraction from Q. acutissima Carruth leaf on P. acnes, S. aureus, P. ovale, and E. coli were 0.13 %, 0.25 %, 0.13 % and 0.25 %, respectively. The results showed that the antibacterial activity of the ethyl acetate fraction was the highest in the S. aureus, P. acnes, and P. ovale. The free radical (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl, DPPH) scavenging activity ($FSC_{50}$) of extract/fractions of Q. acutissima Carruth. leaf was in the order: 50 % ethanol extract (12.13 ${\mu}g/mL$) < ethyl acetate fraction (7.07 ${\mu}g/mL$) < deglycosylated flavonoid aglycone fraction (6.20 ${\mu}g/mL$). Reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging activities ($OSC_{50}$) of some Q. acutissima Carruth leaf extracts on ROS generated in $Fe^{3+}-EDTA/H_2O_2$ system were investigated using the luminol-dependent chemiluminescence assay. The order of ROS scavenging activity was 50 % ethanol extract ($OSC_{50}$, 1.81 ${\mu}g/mL$) < ethyl acetate fraction (1.70 ${\mu}g/mL$) < deglycosylated flavonoid aglycone fraction (0.70 ${\mu}g/mL$). Deglycosylated flavonoid aglycone fraction showed the most prominent scavenging activity. The protective effects of extract/fractions of Q. acutissima Carruth leaf on the rose-bengal sensitized photohemolysis of human erythrocytes were investigated. The Q. acutissima Carruth leaf extracts suppressed photohemolysis in a concentration dependent manner, particularly deglycosylated flavonoid aglycone fraction exhibited the most prominent celluar protective effect (${\tau}50$, 220.00 min at 25 ${\mu}g/mL$). Aglycone fractions obtained from the deglycosylation reaction of ethyl acetate fraction among the Q. acutissima Carruth leaf extracts, showed 3 bands (QA 1, QA2 and QA3) on TLC. TLC chromatogram of ethyl acetate fraction of Q. Carruth. leaf extract revealed 4 bands (QA 1 ${\sim}$ QA 4), Among them, kaempferol (QA 1), quercetin (QA 2), and gallic acid (QA 3) were identified. The inhibitory effect ($IC_{50}$) of aglycone fraction on tyrosinase was 65.7 ${\mu}g/mL$. The inhibitory effect ($IC_{50}$) of aglycone fraction on elastase was 24.50 ${\mu}g/mL$. These results indicate that extract/fractions of Q. acutissima Carruth. can functionized as antioxidants in biological systems, particularly skin exposed to UV radiation by scavenging $^1O_2$ and other ROS, and protect cellular membranes against ROS. Extract/fractions of Q. acutissima Corruth can be applicable to new functional cosmetics for antioxidant, antiaging, antibacterial activity.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
• /
• v.35 no.2
• /
• pp.91-101
• /
• 2009

in the cosmetics and medical supply field as a antioxidant material. The stable nano particle emulsion of skin toner type containing VEA was prepared. To evaluate the skin permeation, experiments on VEA permeation to the skin of the ICR outbred albino mice (12 weeks, about 50 g, female) and on differences of solubility as a function of receptor formulations was performed. The analysis of nano-emulsions containing VEA 0.07 % showed that the higher ethanol contents the larger emulsions were formed, while the higher surfactant contents the size became smaller.In this study, vitamin E acetate (VEA, tocopheryl acetate), a lipid-soluble vitamin which is widely used A certain contents of ethanol in receptor phase increased VEA solubility on the nano-emulsion. When the ethanol contents were 10.0 % and 20.0 %, the VEA solubility was higher than 5.0 % and 40.0 %, respectively. The type of surfactant in receptor solution influenced to VEA solubility. The comparison between three kind surfactants whose chemical structures and HLB values are different, showed that solubility of VEA was increased as order of sorbitan sesquioleate (Arlacel 83; HLB 3.7) > POE (10) hydrogenated castor oil (HCO-10; HLB 6.5) > sorbitan monostearate (Arlacel 60; HLB 4.7). VEA solubility was also shown to be different according to the type of antioxidant. In early time, the solubility of the sample including ascorbic acid was similar to those of other samples including other types of antioxidants. However, the solubility of the sample including ascorbic acid was 2 times higher than others after 24 h. Franz diffusion cell experiment using mouse skin was performed with four nano-emulsion samples which have different VEA contents. The emulsion of 10 wt% ethanol was shown to be the most permeable at the amount of 128.8 ${\mu}g/cm^2$. When the result of 10 % ethanol content was compared with initial input of 220.057 ${\mu}g/cm^2$, the permeated amount was 58.53 % and the permeated amount at 10 % ethanol was higher 45.0 % and 15.0 % than the other results which ethanol contents were 1.0 and 20.0 wt%, respectively. Emulsion particle size used 0.5 % surfactant (HCO-60) was 26.0 nm that is one twentieth time smaller than the size of 0.007 % surfactant (HCO-60) at the same ethanol content. Transepidermal permeation of VEA was 54.848 ${\mu}g/cm^2$ which is smaller than that of particlesize 590.7 nm. Skin permeation of nano-emulsion containing VEA and difference of VEA solubility as a function of receptor phase formulation were determined from the results. Using these results, optimal conditions of transepidermal permeation with VEA were considered to be set up.

• Journal of Global Scholars of Marketing Science
• /
• v.17 no.2
• /
• pp.55-73
• /
• 2007

Festivals are an indispensable feature of cultural tourism(Formica & Uysal, 1998). Cultural tourism festivals are increasingly being used as instruments promoting tourism and boosting the regional economy. So much research related to festivals is undertaken from a variety of perspectives. Plans to revisit a particular festival have been viewed as an important research topic both in academia and the tourism industry. Therefore festivals have frequently been leveled as cultural events. Cultural tourism festivals have become a crucial component in constituting the attractiveness of tourism destinations(Prentice, 2001). As a result, a considerable number of tourist studies have been carried out in diverse cultural tourism festivals(Backman et al., 1995; Crompton & Mckay, 1997; Park, 1998; Clawson & Knetch, 1996). Much of previous literature empirically shows the close linkage between tourist satisfaction and behavioral intention in festivals. The main objective of this study is to investigate the effects of evaluation attributes of cultural tourism festivals on satisfaction and behavioral intention. accomplish the research objective, to find out evaluation items of cultural tourism festivals through the literature study an empirical study. Using a varimax rotation with Kaiser normalization, the research obtained four factors in the 18 evaluation attributes of cultural tourism festivals. Some empirical studies have examined the relationship between behavioral intention and actual behavior. To understand between tourist satisfaction and behavioral intention, this study suggests five hypotheses and hypothesized model. In this study, the analysis is based on primary data collected from visitors who participated in '2006 Gwangju Kimchi Festival'. In total, 700 self-administered questionnaires were distributed and 561 usable questionnaires were obtained. Respondents were presented with the 18 satisfactions item on a scale from 1(strongly disagree) to 7(strongly agree). Dimensionality and stability of the scale were evaluated by a factor analysis with varimax rotation. Four factors emerged with eigenvalues greater than 1, which explained 66.40% of the total variance and Cronbach' alpha raging from 0.876 to 0.774. And four factors named: advertisement and guides, programs, food and souvenirs, and convenient facilities. To test and estimate the hypothesized model, a two-step approach with an initial measurement model and a subsequent structural model for Structural Equation Modeling was used. The AMOS 4.0 analysis package was used to conduct the analysis. In estimating the model, the maximum likelihood procedure was used.In this study Chi-square test is used, which is the most common model goodness-of-fit test. In addition, considering the literature about the Structural Equation Modeling, this study used, besides Chi-square test, more model fit indexes to determine the tangibility of the suggested model: goodness-of-fit index(GFI) and root mean square error of approximation(RMSEA) as absolute fit indexes; normed-fit index(NFI) and non-normed-fit index(NNFI) as incremental fit indexes. The results of T-test and ANOVAs revealed significant differences(0.05 level), therefore H1(Tourist Satisfaction level should be different from Demographic traits) are supported. According to the multiple Regressions analysis and AMOS, H2(Tourist Satisfaction positively influences on revisit intention), H3(Tourist Satisfaction positively influences on word of mouth), H4(Evaluation Attributes of cultural tourism festivals influences on Tourist Satisfaction), and H5(Tourist Satisfaction positively influences on Behavioral Intention) are also supported. As the conclusion of this study are as following: First, there were differences in satisfaction levels in accordance with the demographic information of visitors. Not all visitors had the same degree of satisfaction with their cultural tourism festival experience. Therefore it is necessary to understand the satisfaction of tourists if the experiences that are provided are to meet their expectations. So, in making festival plans, the organizer should consider the demographic variables in explaining and segmenting visitors to cultural tourism festival. Second, satisfaction with attributes of evaluation cultural tourism festivals had a significant direct impact on visitors' intention to revisit such festivals and the word of mouth publicity they shared. The results indicated that visitor satisfaction is a significant antecedent of their intention to revisit such festivals. Festival organizers should strive to forge long-term relationships with the visitors. In addition, it is also necessary to understand how the intention to revisit a festival changes over time and identify the critical satisfaction factors. Third, it is confirmed that behavioral intention was enhanced by satisfaction. The strong link between satisfaction and behavioral intentions of visitors areensured by high quality advertisement and guides, programs, food and souvenirs, and convenient facilities. Thus, examining revisit intention from a time viewpoint may be of a great significance for both practical and theoretical reasons. Additionally, festival organizers should give special attention to visitor satisfaction, as satisfied visitors are more likely to return sooner. The findings of this research have several practical implications for the festivals managers. The promotion of cultural festivals should be based on the understanding of tourist satisfaction for the long- term success of tourism. And this study can help managers carry out this task in a more informed and strategic manner by examining the effects of demographic traits on the level of tourist satisfaction and the behavioral intention. In other words, differentiated marketing strategies should be stressed and executed by relevant parties. The limitations of this study are as follows; the results of this study cannot be generalized to other cultural tourism festivals because we have not explored the many different kinds of festivals. A future study should be a comparative analysis of other festivals of different visitor segments. Also, further efforts should be directed toward developing more comprehensive temporal models that can explain behavioral intentions of tourists.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
• /
• v.4 no.3
• /
• pp.141-148
• /
• 2004

This study was examed in order to determine influential factors of health promoting behavior on Dental Hygiene students the health promoting behavior. So examed students' health promoting behavior, self-efficacy, perceived benefit, perceived barrier, a health locus of control, self-esteem. A the result of this study were as follows: (1) Performance mean score in health promoting behavior was 2.60, self achievement score was 2.89, health responsibility score was 2.12, exercise score was 1.89, nutrition score was 2.45, interpersonal support score was 2.97, stress management score was 2.63. Performance mean score in self-efficacy was 2.56, perceived benefit was 3.45, perceived barrier was 2.32, a health locus of control score was 3.04, self-esteem score was 2.81. (2) Performance in health promoting behavior was significant differences in year, religion, economical level, experience of disease on family, perceived health status(p<0.05), perceived oral health status(p<0.001). Performance in self achievement was significant differences in year, economical level, perceived health status(p<0.05), religion, perceived oral health status(p<0.01). Performance in health responsibility was significant differences in year, religion, economical level, BMI(p<0.05) and experience of disease on myself, perceived oral health status(p<0.001). Performance in excercise was significant differences in mother's educational level, experience of disease on family, perceived oral health status(p<0.05) and nutrient was economical level, perceived oral health status(p<0.01), perceived health status(p<0.05). Performance in interpersonal relations was only significant differences perceived oral health status(p<0.05) and in stress management was year, perceived oral health status(p<0.05). (3) Performance in self-efficacy was significant differences in economical level, health status(P<0.05) and perceived health status, perceived oral health status(p<0.01). Performance in perceived benefit was significant differences in religion(p<0.05). Performance in perceived barrier was significant differences economical level, perceived oral health status(p<0.05), experience of disease on myself(p<0.01). Performance in a health locus of control was significant differences year(p<0.05), performance in a perceived oral health status(p<0.01). (4) Performance in health promoting behavior was significantly correlated with self-efficacy(r=0.376), perceived benefit(r=0.188), perceived barrier(r=-0.155), a health locus of control (r=0.064), self-esteem(r=0.318). (5) Self-efficacy was the highest factor predicting health promoting behavior.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.29-49
• /
• 2000

Objectives: To estimate the prevalence rate of hypertension, the changes of health behavior, and compliance for the drug treatment after diagnosed as hypertension. Methods: 7,030 persons who live in Cheonan City of Chungnam Province were selected by the cluster sampling method, and 5,372 persons were surveyed by questionnaire and health examination. This data is analyzed by Chi-square test on each variable. Results: 49.8%- of men and 38.8%- of women had been diagnosed as hypertension, and the prevalence rate of hypertension was significantly increased with aging in both gender. The prevalence rate tended to decrease in highly educated women group. Unemployed persons or obese persons showed relatively higher prevalence rate. The prevalence rate of hypertension increased in groups with higher total cholesterol levels over 240 mg/dl, and groups with glucose level over 200 mg/dl. 53.1%- of male patients and 66.6%- of female patients showed compliance for antihypertensive treatment. Compliance for treatment was higher in aged group or lower educated group in both gender. Among men, proportion of compliant subjects was higher in unemployed group(49.3%-), and lower in labor or primary industry than the others but among women, there was not any significant difference. And men with compliance for treatment had higher monthly income than the others, but women did not show any. Conclusion : This population had a high prevalence rate of hypertension which may lead to cardiovascular disease. Therefore health education programs and distribution of information must be emphasized in order to increase compliance to treatment and encourage the change of health behavior to promote health.

• Korean Journal of Crystallography
• /
• v.8 no.1
• /
• pp.6-14
• /
• 1997

The crystal structures of $Sr_{31}K_{30}-X\;(Sr_{31}K_{30}Si_{100}A1_{92}O_{384};\;a=25.169(5) {\AA}$) and $Sr_{8.5}Tl_{75}-X (Sr_{8.5}Tl_{75}Si_{100}A1_{92}O_{384};\;a=25.041(5) {\AA}$) have been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction techniques in the cubic space group $\=F{d3}\;at\;21(1)^{\circ}C$. Each crystal was prepared by ion exchange in a flowing stream of aqueous $Sr(ClO_4)_2\;and\;(K\;or\;T1)NO_3$ whose mole ratio was 1 : 5 for five days. Vacuum dehydration was done at $360^{\circ}C$ for 2d. Their structures were refined to the final error indices $R_1=0.072\;and\;R_w=0.057$ with 293 reflections, and $R_1= 0.058\;and\;R_w=0.044$ with 351 reflections, for which $I>2{\sigma}(I)$, respectively. In dehydrated $Sr_{31}K_{30}-X,\;all\;Sr^{2+}$ ions and $K^+$ ions are located at five different crystallographic sites. Six-teen $Sr^{2+}$ ions per unit cell are at the centers of the double six-rings (site I), filling that position. The remaining 15 $Sr^{2+}$ ions and 17 $K^+$ ions fill site II in the supercage. These $Sr^{2+}$ and $K^+$ ions are recessed ca $0.45{\AA}\;and\;1.06{\AA}$ into the supercage, respectively, from the plane of three oxygens to which each is bound. ($Sr-O=2.45(1){\AA}\;and\;K-O=2.64(1){\AA}$) Eight $K^+$ ons occupy site III'($K-O=3.09(7){\AA}\;and\;3.11(10){\AA}$) and the remaining five $K^+$ ions occupy another site III'($K-O=2.88(7){\AA}\;and\;2.76(7){\AA}$). In $Sr_{8.5}Tl_{75}-X,\;Sr^{2+}\;and\;Tl^+$ ions also occupy five different crystallographic sites. About 8.5 $Sr^{2+}$ ions are at site I. Fifteen $Tl^+$ ions are at site I' in the sodalite cavities on threefold axes opposite double six-rings: each is $1.68{\AA}$ from the plane of its three oxygens ($T1-O=2.70(2){\AA}$). Together these fill the double six-rings. Another 32 $Tl^+$ ions fill site II opposite single six-rings in the supercage, each being $1.48{\AA}$ from the plane of three oxygens ($T1-O=2.70(1){\AA}$). About 18 $Tl^+$ ions occupy site III in the supercage ($T1-O=2.86(2){\AA}$), and the remaining 10 are found at site III' in the supercage ($T1-O=2.96(4){\AA}$).

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.40 no.2
• /
• pp.135-146
• /
• 1993

Background: In acute pulmonary embolism it has been postulated that the constriction of bronchi and pulmonary artery secondary to neurohumoral response plays an important role in cardiopulmonary dysfunction in addition to the mechanical obstruction of pulmonary artery. Serotonin is considered as the most important mediator. Positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) stimulates $PGI_2$ secretion from the vascular endothelium, but its role in acute pulmonary embolism is still in controversy. Methods: To study the cardiopulmonary effect and therapeutic role of Ketanserin, selective antagonist of 5-HT2 receptor, and PEEP in acute pulmonary embolism experimental acute pulmonary embolism was induced in dogs with autologous blood clot. The experimental animals were divided into 3 groups, that is control group, Ketanserin injection group and PEEP application group. Results: Thirty minutes after embolization, mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance increased and cardiac output decreased. $PaO_2,\;P\bar{v}O_2$ and oxygen transport decreased and physiological shunt and $PaCO_2$ increased. After injection of Ketanserin, comparing with control group, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance and physiological shunt decreased, while cardiac output, $PaO_2$ and oxygen transport increased. All these changes sustained till 4 hours after embolization. After PEEP application pulmonary vascular resistance, $PaO_2$ and $PaCO_2$ increased, while physiological shunt, cardiac output and oxygen transport decreased. After discontinuation of PEEP, mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance decreased and were lower than control group, while $PaO_2$ and cardiac output increased and higher than control group. $PaCO_2$ decreased but showed no significant difference comparing with control group. Conclusion: It can be concluded that Ketanserin is effective for the treatment of acute pulmonary embolism. With PEEP hemodynamic status deteriorated, but improved better than control group after discontinuation of PEEP. Thus PEEP may be applied carefully for short period in acute pulmonary embolism if the hemodynamic status is tolerable.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.6
• /
• pp.923-933
• /
• 1995

Background: Pleural abnormality is the the most common respiratory change caused by asbestos dust inhalation and also develop other asbestos related disease after cessation of asbestos exposure. So we conducted epidemiologic study to investigate if the pleural abnormality is associated with pulmonary function change and what factors are influenced on pulmonary function impairment. Methods: Two hundred and twenty two asbestos workers from 9 industries using asbestos in Korea were selected to measure the concentration of sectional asbestos fiber. Ouestionnaire, chest X-ray, PFT were also performed. All the data were analyzed by student t-test and chi-square test using SAS. Regressional analysis was performed to evaluate important factors, for example smoking, exposure concentration, period and the existence of pleural thickening, affecting to the change of pulmonary function. Results: 1) All nine industries except two, airborn asbestos fiber concentration was less than an average permissible concentration. PFT was performed on 222 workers and the percentage of male was 88.3%, their mean age was $41{\pm}9$ years old, and the duration of asbestos exposure was $10.6{\pm}7.8$ yrs. 2) The chest X-ray showed normal(89.19%), pulmonary Tb(inactive)(2.7%), pleral thickening (7.66%), suspected reticulonodular shadow(0.9%). 3) The mean values of height, smoking status, concentration of asbestos fiberwere not different between the subjects with pleural thickening and others, but age, cumulative pack-years, the duration of asbestos exposure were higher in subjects with pleural thickening. 4) All the PFT indices were lower in the subjects with pleural thickening than in the subjects without pleural thickening. 5) Simple regression analysis showed there was a significant correlation between $FEF_{75}$ which is sensitive in small airway obstruction and cumulative smoking pack-years, the duration of asbestos exposure and the concentration of asbestos fiber. 6) Multiple regression analysis showed all the pulmonary function indices were decreased as the increase of cumulative smoking pack-years and especially in the indices those are sensitive in small airway obstruction. Pleural thickening was associated with reduction in FVC, $FEV_1$, PEFR and $FEF_{25}$. Conclusion: The more concentration of asbestos fiber and the more duration of asbestos exposure, the greater reduction in $FEF_{50}$, $FEF_{75}$. Therefore PFT was important in the evaluation of early detection for small airway obstruction. Furthermore pleural thickening without asbesto-related parenchymal lung disease is associated with reduction in pulmonary function.