• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.227-239
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• 1993

The author selected 77 dust emissing processes from 71 types of industries which placed in Sasang Industrial Complex in Pusan. The level of total dust was measured as areal concentration and personal exposure concentration by low volume air sampler and personal air sampler, respectively. Collected samples were classified into 5 groups (chemicals and rubber product, metal product, sawmills and wood, foundries and others). Respirable particulate and total dust of areal and personal exposure were analyzed. The results were as follows; 1. All of the respirable dust concentration and total dust of areal and personal concentration were log-normally distributed. 2. Geometric mean of respirable particulate of personal exposure concentration measured $0.55mg/m^3$ in the first group, $0.86mg/m^3$ in the second group, $0.39mg/m^3$ in the third group, $0.81mg/m^3$ in the forth group and $0.52mg/m^3$ in the fifith group. The exceed rates over TLV (thehold limit values) of total dust were 31.3% in the first group, 31.3% in the second group, 70% in the third group, 80% in the forth group and 13.3% in the fifth group. 3. There were singnificant difference between areal and personal exposure concentration and personal exposure concentration was higher than that of area. 4. In the case of high ratio of respirable particulate to total dust, pneumoconiosis incidence was high even though the workshop was opened and emissing dust concentration was low. These findings suggest that it is desirable to measure respirable particulate in environmental assessment of dust emissing workshops.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.176-192
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to analysis change of industrial health and safety before and after economic crisis(1997~1998). The data were obtained through mail interview with health supervisor(occupational health nurses) during February, 1999. The final sample was consisted of 127 respondents, 97 are selected in this study. The major findings were as follows: First, the percent of industries whose empl safe supervisors, physicians and industry hygi decreased in number is 79.4%, 3.8%, 50.0 21.5% in each. Second, man receiving over 1.5 million won as an average wage of health supervisor is 27.5% in 1997, but it decreased to 25.3% in 1998. Man receiving under 100~150 million won is 48.4% in 1997, but this percent decreased to 36.3% in 1998 and 13.6% of health supervisor regularly were transformed to contingent worker in 1998. Third, especially, budgets for health and saf work place decreased to 13.8% in 1998 than 19. Fourth, industrial accident case, unre accident case, occupational disease decreased than 1997, but mortality from industrial a increased in 250%. Fifth, according to the health diagnosis report, number of case with evidence of disease increased in liver disease, tuberculosis and so on, and number of case with evidence of occupational disease increased in noise induced hearing loss, pneumoconiosis. organic solvent poisoning and so on. Sixth, this survey shows that health council, health education in duty of health supervisor was conducted passive in 1998 thin 1997, and percent of hold two or more positions is 47.6% in medical insurance, 10.7% in accountant's business 8.3 in secretory. 7.1% in telephone operator awl 22.6% in etc. Seventh, distress of health supervisor after economic crisis is 30.9% in employment instability, 19.8% in hold two or more positions and decrease of budgets. For subjugation of the trouble, the respond of active policy of government occupied most.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.1
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• pp.58-62
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• 2011

Pulmonary siderosis is a pneumoconiosis caused by chronic iron inhalation. A diagnosis of pulmonary siderosis is based on a patient history of iron inhalation, on chest radiographic findings, and on accumulation of iron oxide in macrophages within the lung. A typical radiographic finding of pulmonary siderosis includes ill-defined micronodules that are diffusely distributed in the lung. We experienced a 52-year-woman with a $1.3{\times}1.5$-cm mass in the left upper lobe with multiple nodules in both lungs. Because the radiographic findings were atypical, we conducted a video-assisted thorascopic lung biopsy procedure to exclude the diagnosis of metastatic lung cancer. After confirming iron deposition in the lung tissue and knowing the patient's occupational history of welding iron, we concluded that this was a case of pulmonary siderosis.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.404-413
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• 2019

Objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) is an important cause of mortality in workers exposed to hazardous dust, such as crystalline silica or coal, and COPD is related to inflammation and oxidative stress in the lung. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association of oxidative stress and inflammation to COPD in retired workers exposed to mineral dust. Methods: The levels of malondialdehyde(MDA) in EBC as biomarkers for oxidative stress and C-reactive protein(CRP) and lactate dehydrogenase(LD) as biomarkers for inflammation were measured in 107 male subjects(63 pneumoconiosis and 42 COPD subjects). Results: Mean levels of EBC MDA(2.03 nmol/L vs. 4.65 nmol/L, p=0.010) and serum LD(170.3 U/L vs. 185.9 U/L, p=0.022) were significantly higher in subjects with COPD, but mean levels of serum CRP(p=0.469) did not show a statistical difference between the study groups. Level of EBC MDA was negatively correlated with ${%}FEV_1$ predicted(r=-0.279, p=0.004) and ${%}FEV_1/FVC$ ratio(r=-0.397, p<0.001). Conclusions: These results suggest that EBC is a useful biological matrix for investigation of respiratory oxidative stress. High levels of EBC MDA and serum LD are related to COPD in retired workers exposed to mineral dust.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.131-140
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• 1992

In order to investigate the changes of hydroxyproline amount and pathologic finding in rat lung which were instilled the natural coal and free silica dust intratracheally, the subjects were divided into two groups as follows. The control group was only administered intratracheally 0.5 ml of normal saline, and the experimental groups were instilled at once the turbid solution containing 10 mg, 30 mg and 50 mg of natural coal and free silica dust each, subjects were sacrified at the 3rd and the 20th week each after the experiment. Hydroxyproline amount in the right upper lung was measured by Woessner method and HPLC (modified Dunphy) method, and the pathlogic finding of lung tissue were observed for hematoxylin-eosin staining, Bielschowski method and Masson's trichrome method. The results were as follows. 1) The wet lung weights of all experimental groups excluding in the groups instilled 10 mg and 30 mg of natural coal dust at 3rd week, were significantly increased (p<0.05) compared with control group. The weight in each free silica group was markedly increased (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with the same dose of natural coal dust group, while the weight in the same dose group of free silica dust was increased significantly at 20th week compared with at 3rd week. 2) The amount of hydroxyproline were significantly increased (p<0.05) in the natural coal and free silica groups at 20th week compared with the control groups, and in each experimental group instilled the same kind and dose of dust, its amount was markedly increased (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with at 3rd week. And also the hydroxyproline in 30 mg and 50 mg free silica groups increased markedly (p<0.05) at 20th week compared with the natural coal dust of the same dose. 3) The polymorphonuclear leukocytes, fibroblasts and macrophages in interstitium and alveolar space showed the increasing tendency in the free silica group more markedly than in the natural coal dust group. The exudate in alveolar space at 3rd week was disappeared at 20th week, and pneumoconiotic nodules observed microscopically in all experimental groups at 20th week, while the nodules apeared already at 3rd week in the 30 mg and 50 mg free silica dust groups. The significant increase of Hydroxyproline content in lung tissue and pneumoconiotic nodule formation in experimental groups found in this study indicate that the observation period, dust amount and kind of dust is important factors associated with pneumoconiosis. And these findings were generally more severe in free silica dust groups than in natural coal groups.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.3
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• pp.337-341
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• 2006

Objectives : Endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation, which presents as dark black or brown pigmentation mucosal changes of multiple bronchi combined with bronchial fibrosis and obstruction, is not a rare finding when performing diagnostic bronchoscopy for Koreans. This study was performed to define the clinical characteristics and to determine the association of these finding with the Korean life style and such other diseases as coal workers, pneumoconiosis or tuberculosis in the patients with anthracofibrotic pigmentation. Methods : This retrospective analysis was conducted on 70 (5.2%) patients with endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation, among a total of 1340 patients who underwent bronchoscopy. The distinctive clinical features, the personal life style, the past medical history, the histology and microbiology, the radiologic finding and the natures of the bronchoscopic lesions were analyzed. Results : This mean age of the patients with anthracofibrotic pigmentation was $60.6{\pm}9.2$ year old and the male to female ratio was 1:1.7. The common respiratory symptoms of these patients were coughing and sputum (81%, 57/70), and this was followed in order by dyspnea and hemoptysisir. The symptoms were not related with smoking and an occupational history such as being a coal worker and so on. Pneumonia was most common finding on the radiologic studies. On bronchoscopy, the right middle lobe bronchus was most commonly involved. The most common associated disease was tuberculosis, and 40 cases (57.1%) were diagnosed by AFB staining, TB PCR, bronchoscopic guided tissue biopsy and a past history of tuberculosis. Other diseases related with anthracotic pigmentation were hypertension, diabetes, COPD, lung cancer, pneumoconiosis and asthma. Conclusion : These results suggest that endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation was mostly related with pulmonary tuberculosis rather than with coal- related disease. Endobronchial anthracofibrotic pigmentation was more prevalent in older age females in Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.2
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• pp.112-122
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• 1993

Backgrounds : The goal of drug therapy in pneumoconiosis is to inhibit the progression of pulmonary fibrosis related to a toxic effect of the inhaled substance. Although there have been many studies on the therapy of pneumoconiosis, it is still elusive. Quinolyl piperazine phosphate (QP), a derivative of chloroquine, is less toxic, more effective, and longer action than chloroquine. This investigation was performed to examine the effect of the quinolyl piperazine phosphate in silicotic rats. Methods : The silica group was administered intratracheally by 40 mg free silica dust with 0.5 ml normal saline, and the QP group was orally administered QP 10 mg per week after free silica instillation. The animals in the silica group and the QP group were killed at the 1st, 3rd, 8th and 20th week after free silica instillation. We observed the total cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid, luminol-dependent chemiluminescence by viable alveolar inflammatory cells, the dry weights and the amount of hydroxyproline in the left lung and the histopathologic examination in the right lung. Results : 1) The total number of cells of bronchoalveolar lavage fluid in the QP group tended to be decreased in comparison with the silical group. But, It was not significant. 2) Luminol-induced chemiluminescence by viable alveolar inflammatory cells in the QP group was similiar to that in the silical group. 3) The dry weights in the left lung at the 3th and 8th week in the QP group were significantly decreased compared to the silical group. 4) The total amount of hydroxyproline at the 3rd week of the QP group were significantly decreased compared to the silical group. In the silica group, the total amount of hydroxyproline was significantly increased at the 3rd week compared with the 1st group. But, in the QP group, it was significantly increased at the 8th week. 5) In tissue pathology, the infiltration of inflammatory cells around bronchiole, and the number and the size of silicotic nodule in the QP group were similar to the silica group. But, the extent of fibrosis is less than the silica group. Especially we observed progressive massive fibrosis which located in the periphery in 3 cases among the silica group, but couldn't observe in the QP group. Conclusions : QP doesn't significantly suppress the pulmonary fibrosis consequent to the intratracheal instillation of free silica dust, but delay the progression of fibrosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.47 no.5
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• pp.642-649
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• 1999

Background: It is very important to determine an accurate staging of the non-small cell lung cancer(NSCLC) for an assessment of operability and it's prognosis. However, it is difficult to evaluate tumor involvement of mediastinal lymph nodes accurately utilizing noninvasive imaging modalities. PET is one of the sensitive and specific imaging modality. Unfortunately PET is limited use because of prohibitive cost involved with it's operation. Recently hybrid SPECT/PET(single photon emission computed tomography/positron emission tomography) camera based PET imaging was introduced with relatively low cost. We evaluated the usefulness of coincidence detection(CoDe) PET in the detection of metastasis to the mediastinal lymph nodes in patients with NSCLC. Methods: Twenty one patients with NSCLC were evaluated by CT or MRI and they were considered operable. CoDe PET was performed in all 21 patients prior to surgery. Tomographic slices of axial, coronal and sagittal planes were visually analysed. At surgery, mediastinal lymph nodes were removed and histological diagnosis was performed. CoDe PET findings were correlated with histological findings. Results: Twenty of 21 primary tumor masses were detected by the CoDe PET. Thirteen of 21 patients was correctly diagnosed mediastinal lymph node metastasis by the CoDe PET. Pathological N0 was 14 cases and the specificity of N0 of CoDe PET was 64.3%. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of N1 node was 83.3%, 73.3%, 55.6%, 91.7%, and 76.2% respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and accuracy of N2 node was 60.0%, 87.5%, 60.0%,87.5%, and 90.0% respectively. There were 3 false negative cases but the size of the 3 nodes were less than 1cm. The size of true positive nodes were 1.1cm, 1.0cm, 0.5cm respectively. There were 1 false positive among the 12 lymph nodes which were larger than 1cm. False positive cases consisted of 1 tuberculosis case, 1 pneumoconiosis case and 1 anthracosis case. Conclusion: CoDe PET has relatively high negative predictive value in the enlarged lymph node in staging of mediastinal nodes in patients with NSCLC. Therefore CoDe PET is useful in ruling out metastasis of enlarged N3 nodes. However, further study is needed including more number of patients in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.6
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• pp.408-416
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• 2011

Background: Endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) is a technique developed to allow mediastinal staging of lung cancer and also to evaluate intrathoracic lymphadenopathy. In a tuberculosis-endemic area, tuberculosis should be considered as an etiology of mediastinal lymphadenopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the utility of the routine culture for tuberculosis from specimens of EBUS-TBNA. Methods: We prospectively performed routine culture for tuberculosis from aspiration or core biopsy specimens got from 86 patients who had undergone EBUS-TBNA due to mediastinal lymphadenopathy between March 2010 and March 2011. Results: A total of 135 lymph node aspiration and 118 core biopsy specimens were included in this analysis. We confirmed the malignancy in 62 (72.9%), tuberculosis in 7 (8.1%), sarcoidosis in 7 (8.1%), asperogillosis in 2 (2.3%) and pneumoconiosis in 2 (2.3%) patients. One lung cancer patient had pulmonary tuberculosis coincidentally and 5 patients had unknown lymphadenopathy. The number of positive culture for Mycobacterium tuberculsosis by EBUS-TBNA is 2 (1.5%) from 135 lymph node aspiration specimens and 2 (1.7%) from 118 core biopsy specimens. Out of eight patients confirmed with tuberculosis, only one patient had positive mycobacterial culture of aspiration specimen from EBUS-TBNA without histopathologic diagnosis. Conclusion: These results propose that routine culture for tuberculosis from EBUS-TBNA may not provide additional information for the diagnosis of coincident tuberculous lymphadenitis. However, if there is any possibility of tuberculous lymphadenopathy or pulmonary tuberculosis, it should be considered to perform EBUS-TBNA in patients who have negative sputum AFB smears or no sputum production.

• Environmental Mutagens and Carcinogens
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.85-93
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• 2003

Welders working in a confined space, like in the shipbuilding industry, are at risk of being exposed to high concentrations of welding fumes and developing pneumoconiosis or other welding-fume exposure related diseases. Among such diseases, manganism resulting from welding-fume exposure remains a controversial issue, as the movement of manganese into specific brain regions has not been clearly established. Accordingly, to investigate the distribution of manganese in the brain after welding-fume exposure, male Sprague Dawley rats were exposed to welding fumes generated from manual metal arc stainless steel (MMA-SS) at concentrations of $63.6{\pm}4.1$ $mg/m^3$ (low dose, containing 1.6 $mg/m^3$ Mn) and $107.1{\pm}6.3$ $mg/m^3$ (high dose, containing 3.5 $mg/m^3$ Mn) total suspended particulates for 2 hrs per day, in an inhalation chamber over a 60-day period. Blood, brain, lungs and liver samples were collected after 2 hr, 15, 30, and 60 days of exposure and the tissues analyzed for their manganese concentrations using an atomic absorption spectrophotometer. Although dose- and time-dependent increases in the manganese concentrations were found in the lungs and livers of the rats exposed for 60 days, only slight manganese increases were observed in the blood during this period. Major statistically significant increases in the brain manganese concentrations were detected in the cerebellum after 15 days of exposure and up until 60 days. Slight increases in the manganese concentrations were also found in the substantia nigra, basal ganglia (caudate nucleus, putamen, and globus pallidus), temporal cortex, and frontal cortex, thereby indicating that the pharmacokinetics and distribution of manganese inhaled from welding fumes would appear to be different from those resulting from manganese-only exposure.