• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.187-196
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• 1982

The followings are the results of the study on industrial accidents occurred at 12 factories manufacturing metal products during the period of 2 years from January 1980 to December 1981 in the area of Yong-Dung-Po in Seoul. The results of the study are as follows: 1. The incidence rate of industrial injuries was 45.7 per 1,000 workers of the sample group and the rate of male (54.0) was three times higher than that of female (17.5). 2. In age groups, the highest rate was observed in the group of under 19 years old with 83.5, while the lowest in the group of 40s. 3. It was found that those who had short term of work experience produced a higher rate of injuries, particularly, the group of workers with less than 1 year of experience showed the highest rate of it as 48.1%. 4. In working time, the highest incidence rate occurred 3 and 7 hours after the beginning of their working showing the rate of 6.0 and 6.1 per 1,000 workers, respectively. 5. The highest incidence rate was observed on Monday as 8.4 per 1,000 workers, and it was 18.3% in aspect of the days of a week. 6. In aspect of the months of a year, the highest incidence was observed on July 1,000 workers and the next was on March as 4.8. These figures account for 11.8% of total occurrence in respective month. as 5. 4 per and 10.5% 7. In causes of injuries, the accident caused by power driven machinery showed the highest rate with 37.5%, the second was due to handling without machinery with 17.2%, and the third was due to falling objects with 14.2%, and striking against objects with 10.2%, and so on. 8. By parts of the body affected, the most injuries 84.3% of them occurred on both upper and lower extremities with the rate of 58.8% for the former and 25.5% for the latter. Fingers were most frequently injured with a rate of 40.3%. Comparing the sites of extremities affected, rate of injuries on the right side was 55.0% and 45.0% on the left side. 9. In the nature of injury, laceration and open wound were the highest with 34. 0%, the next was fracture and dislocation with 31. 9%, and sprain was the third with 8.1%. 10. On the duration of treatment, it lasted less than one month in 68.9% of the injured cases, of which 14.5% of the cases were recovered within 2 weeks, and 54.4% of them were treated more than 2 weeks. And the duration of the treatment tended to be prolonged in larger industries. 11. The ratio of insured accidents to uninsured accidents was 1 to 4.7.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.73-79
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the changes in the characteristics of patients with carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning, as well as the distinctive differences in intentionally exposed patients. Methods: The medical records of CO poisoning patients, who visited nine emergency departments between January 2010 and December 2011, were reviewed retrospectively. The clinical information including age, gender, hospitalization, type of discharge, cause and location of exposure, site of onset, concentration of initial blood carboxyhemoglobin (COHb), methods of treatment and presence of neurological complications was examined. The subjects were divided into an intentional and non-intentional group and the differences between them was compared. Results: A total 209 subjects were recruited. The median age was 38 years (29~49.5 years). They frequently complained of nausea and vomiting, and the most common exposures occurred in winter, normally in the home. The cause of exposure was usually fire, followed by incomplete combustion of fuels. The median initial blood COHb was 13.15%. The proportion of intentionally exposed patients was 21%. They were significantly younger, more frequently discharged against medical advice, and showed a higher initial blood COHb level (22.85%) than the non-intentional group. Conclusion: This study suggests that those with intentional CO poisoning are normally discharged against medical advice even when they have a higher initial COHb level. An adequate explanation of the delayed neurologic sequelae and short term follow-up observation is recommended for those patients with intentional exposure.

• Korean Journal of Biological Psychiatry
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.277-287
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• 1996

Objective : It has been proposed that cognition and related aspects of mental functioning are decreased in depression as well as in alcoholism. The objective of the study was to compare behavioral side effects of paroxetine and amitriptyline in depressed patients accompanied by alcoholism. The focused comparisons were drug effects concerning psychomotor performance, cognitive function, sleep and daytime sleepiness during the first 2 weeks of treatment. Methods : After an alcohol detoxification period(3 weeks) and a washout period(1 week), a total of 20 male inpatients with alcohol use disorder (DSM-IV), who also had a major depressive episode(DSM-IV), were treated double-blind with paroxetine 20mg/day(n=10) or amitriptyline 25mg/day(n=10) for 2 weeks. All patients were required to have a scare of at least 18 respectively on bath the Hamilton Rating Scale far Depression(HAM-D) and Beck Depression Inventory(BDI) at pre-drug baseline. Patients randomized to paroxetine received active medication in the morning and placebo in the evening whereas those randomized to amitriptyline received active medication in the evening and placebo in the morning. All patients performed the various tasks in a test battery at baseline and at days 3, 7 and 14. The test battery included : critical flicker fusion threshold for sensory information processing capacity : choice reaction time for gross psychomotor performance : tracking accuracy and latency of response to peripheral stimulus as a measure of line sensorimotor co-ordination and divided attention : digit symbol substitution as a measure of sustained attention and concentration. To rate perceived sleep and daytime sleepiness, 10cm line Visual analogue scales were employed at baseline and at days 3, 7 and 14. The subjective rating scales were adapted far this study from Leeds sleep Evaluation Questionnaire and Epworth Sleepiness Scale. In addition a comprehensive side effect assessment, using the UKU side effect rating scale, was carried out at baseline and at days 7 and 14. The efficacy of treatment was evaluated using HAM-D, BDI and clinical global impression far severity and improvement at days 7 and 14. Results : The pattern of results indicated thai paroxetine improved performance an mast of the lest variables and also improved sleep with no effect on daytime sleepiness aver the study period. In contrast, amitriptyline produced disruption of performance on same tests and improved sleep with increased daytime sleepiness in particular at day 3. On the UKU side effect rating scale, mare side effects were registered an amitriptyline. The therapeutic efficacy was observed in favor of paroxetine early in day 7. Conclusion : These results demonstrated thai paroxetine in much better than amitriptyline for the treatment of depressed patients accompained by alcoholism at least in terms of behavioral safety and tolerability, furthermore the results may assist in explaining the therapeutic outcome of paroxetine. For example, and earlier onset of antidepressant action of paroxetine may be caused by early improved cognitive function or by contributing to good compliance with treatment.

• Proceedings of the KOR-BRONCHOESO Conference
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• 1972.03a
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• pp.6-7
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• 1972

The air pollutants can be classified into the irritant gas and the asphixation gas, and the irritant gas is closely related to the otorhinolaryngological diseases. The common irritant gases are nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, hydrogen carbon compounds, and the potent and irritating PAN (peroxy acyl nitrate) which is secondarily liberated from photosynthesis. Those gases adhers to the mucous membrane to result in ulceration and secondary infection due to their potent oxidizing power. 1. Sulfur dioxide gas Sulfur dioxide gas has the typical characteristics of the air pollutants. Because of its high solubility it gets easily absorbed in the respiratory tract, when the symptoms and signs by irritation become manifested initially and later the resistance in the respiratory tract brings central about pulmonary edema and respiratory paralysis of origin. Chronic exposure to the gas leads to rhinitis, pharyngitis, laryngitis, and olfactory or gustatory disturbances. 2. Carbon monoxide Toxicity of carbon monoxide is due to its deprivation of the oxygen carrying capacity of the hemoglobin. The degree of the carbon monoxide intoxication varies according to its concentration and the duration of inhalation. It starts with headache, vertigo, nausea, vomiting and tinnitus, which can progress to respiratory difficulty, muscular laxity, syncope, and coma leading to death. 3. Nitrogen dioxide Nitrogen dioxide causes respiratory disturbances by formation of methemoglobin. In acute poisoning, it can cause pulmonary congestion, pulmonary edema, bronchitis, and pneumonia due to its strong irritation on the eyes and the nose. In chronic poisoning, it causes chronic pulmonary fibrosis and pulmonary edema. 4. Ozone It has offending irritating odor, and causes dryness of na sopharyngolaryngeal mucosa, headache and depressed pulmonary function which may eventually lead to pulmonary congestion or edema. 5. Smog The most outstanding incident of the smog occurred in London from December 5 through 8, 1952, because of which the mortality of the respiratory diseases increased fourfold. The smog was thought to be due to the smoke produced by incomplete combustion and its byproduct the sulfur oxides, and the dust was thought to play the secondary role. In new sense, hazardous is the photochemical smog which is produced by combination of light energy and the hydrocarbons and oxidant in the air. The Yonsei University Institute for Environmental :pollution Research launched a project to determine the relationship between the pollution and the medical, ophthalmological and rhinopharyngological disorders. The students (469) of the "S" Technical School in the most heavily polluted area in Pusan (Uham Dong district) were compared with those (345) of "K" High School in the less polluted area. The investigated group had those with subjective symptoms twice as much as the control group, 22.6% (106) in investigated group and 11.3% (39) in the control group. Among those symptomatic students of the investigated group. There were 29 with respiratory symptoms (29%), 22 with eye symptoms (21%), 50 with stuffy nose and rhinorrhea (47%), and 5 with sore thorat (5%), which revealed that more than half the students (52%) had subjective symptoms of the rhinopharyngological aspects. Physical examination revealed that the investigated group had more number of students with signs than those of the control group by 10%, 180 (38.4%) versus 99 (28.8%). Among the preceding 180 students of the investigated group, there were 8 with eye diseases (44%), 1 with respiratory disease (0.6%), 97 with rhinitis (54%), and 74 with pharyngotonsillitis (41%) which means that 95% of them had rharygoical diseases. The preceding data revealed that the otolaryngological diseases are conspicuously outnumbered in the heavily polluted area, and that there must be very close relationship between the air pollution and the otolaryngological diseases, and the anti-pollution measure is urgently needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.27-32
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• 2005

Purpose: The frequency of carbon monoxide poisoning has been decreased in the interior of the Korea. But occasionally it is occurred and the risk of exposure is high in working place so far. Because of the characteristics of gas, the detection of exposure and poisoning could be delayed and fatality is high. We should apprehend of carbon monoxide poisoning. So we would report analysis of patients with carbon monoxide poisoning. Methods: A retrospective review of CO poisoned patients visited emergency department from January 2000 to December 2004 was conducted. Results: 24 patients were enrolled. Their average of age was $37.6\pm20.9$ years old and COHb was $19.4\pm13.32\%$. The blood level of initial COHb and mental status on arrival were not correlated each other. The blood level of initial COHb and loss of consciousness were not correlated, too. Initial electrocardiography (EKG) was not correlated with cardiac enzymes such as CK-MB and troponin I. But base excess was correlated with mental status on arrival and complication such as rhabdomyolysis. Hyperbaric oxygen therapy was correlated with base excess and mental status on arrival. Conclusion: The clinical features of carbon monoxide poisoning are nonspecific. For proper diagnosis, it is important that we should consider patient's environment and take patient's history carefully. The blood level of initial COHb does not reflect severity of poisoning accurately. So We should determine the treatment of choice depending on patient's status.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.18-25
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• 2020

Purpose: We studied the impact of arterial oxygen tension (PaO₂) on the long term neurologic outcome in patients with acute carbon monoxide poisoning. Methods: The study population included 311 patients who presented to emergency department with acute CO poisoning from January 2015 to January 2018. These patients underwent arterial blood gas testing at the time of presentation. The baseline demographic, clinical, laboratory, and clinical outcome data were recorded. The primary outcome of interest was the long term neurologic status. Results: The normoxia group was significantly older and it had a higher incidence of diffusion weighted MRI abnormality, and this group needed multiple HBO sessions compared to the group with moderate or severe hyperoxia. Also, the incidence of altered mentality at discharge was higher in the normoxia group than that of the moderate hyperoxia group. The incidence of a poor long term neurologic outcome was 11.3%. The incidence of a poor long term neurologic outcome decreased as the PaO₂ increased. The PaO₂ was significantly lower in patients with a poor long term neurologic outcome than that of the patients with a good outcome 198 (165.2 to 231.1) mmHg in the good outcome group vs. 154 (119-162) mmHg in poor outcome, p<0.001). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, PaO₂ was selected as an independent factor of the poor long-term neurologic outcome (OR 0.981 (95% CI: 0.968 to 0.995)) Conclusion: Higher PaO₂ was independently associated with a lower incidence of a poor long-term neurologic outcome.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.40 no.8
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• pp.1107-1112
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• 2011

Over-consumption of alcohol leads to many side-effects such as malnutrition, liver disease, and neuronal disorders and many investigators have tired to identify methods for preventing the side-effects of drinking. In this study, we demonstrated the protective effect of a new food component, SAC-1, containing Hovenia dulcis Thumb and Lonicera caerulea Thumb extract against the side-effects of drinking. We observed that blood alcohol concentration, glutamic oxaloacetate transaminase, lipid peroxidation, and total glutathione level decreased significantly in plasma and liver of mice fed the SAC-1 extract before alcohol intoxication. In particular, SAC-1 had more of a protective effect than that of Hovenia dulcis Thumb extract alone. These results suggest that SAC-1 should further be developed to treat alcohol detoxification and stimulate antioxidative potentials.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.89-94
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• 2016

The number of camping population and sites are rapidly increasing with to the expansion of camping culture and the advancement of leisure culture. It is necessary to develop an effective strategy of safety management, as a lot of accidents occur due to the increase of population and sites for camping. Particular attention needs to be paid for accident prevention in the increasing accidents of explosion awing to the overheating of bytane gas, and carbon monoxide poisoning due to the use of non-ventilated areas. In this study, the direction of safety management strategy is analyzed by a survey and analysis of risk factors in campsite about gas facilities and gas appliances in camp site. Accordingly, some directions are suggested. Conclusively, it is expected that the results of this study could help to improve efficiency management for camping.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.957-966
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• 2019

Carbon monoxide intoxication leads to hypoxia, which eventually leads to tissue ischemia. Delayed neuropsychiatric syndrome (DNS) can be a consequence and appears in the form of cognitive impairment and movement disorders after a lucid interval. A 58-year-old Korean male was admitted to our hospital with delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae (DNS) after an 11-day lucid interval following recovery from acute carbon monoxide intoxication. We treated him with herbal medication, acupuncture, electroacupuncture, and moxibustion. The effects were assessed by the activity index and Mini Mental State Examination-Korea (MMSE-K) scores, and by changes in gait disturbance. In this case, the clinical symptoms, including gait disturbance, and the activity index and MMSE-K scores, improved after traditional Korean treatment. The findings of this case report suggest that traditional Korean medicine treatment can be effective for treatment of symptoms of delayed neuropsychiatric sequelae due to CO intoxication.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.91-98
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• 2008

Purpose: The hypnotic effect of zolpidem is comparable to benzodiazepines, but has less abuse and addiction potential than benzodiazepines, so is one of the most commonly prescribed hypnotics. The frequency of acute zolpidem overdose has increased, but clinical analysis and severity predictors are not known in Korea. Methods: A retrospective evaluation of histories, clinical courses, and laboratory findings of each patient treated from June, 2000, to May, 2006, in a university hospital for acute zolpidem intoxication. Results: We evaluated 30 patients, including 16 co-intoxication cases. Twenty-five patients presented mental alterations but became alert within 2 days. All patients recovered completely. The median zolpidem concentration was 0.9 mg/L (range: $0.2{\sim}7.4\;mg/L$). There was a weak correlation between the amount ingested and zolpidem concentration (r=0.25). None of them presented severe laboratory abnormalities, and these abnormalities did not relate to zolpidem concentration. Conclusion: The clinical progress of acute zolpidem intoxication is mild. We could not predict zolpidem concentration or clinical severity from the amount ingested and could not predict the clinical course from laboratory findings in the emergency department.