• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.305-314
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• 2011

The purpose of this study was to compare the findings on the chest low-dose CT (LDCT) images between the negative and positive groups for pneumoconiosis in the group exposed to inorganic dust. From May 30, 2007 to August 31, 2008, total 328 subjects were examined by a LDCT. LDCT images were read by a chest radiologist who has much experience for reading of pneumoconiosis. All subjects were classified into two groups based on digital images after consensus reading of two radiologists according to the ILO 2000 guidelines; negative group (87, 26.5%) without pneumoconiosis and positive group (241, 73.5%). Statistical analysis was performed using a SPSS 14.0. There were significant differences in age (60.9 vs. 65.0, p<0.001), and in dust expose duration (17.0 vs. 19.2, p=0.024) between two groups, but no significant difference in smoking (p=0.784). Of the 328 subjects, 13 diagnosis were extracted from 245 subjects (74.7%). Coronary artery calcification (CAC) was significantly higher in positive group than that in negative group (36.9% vs. 25.3%, p=0.049). Honeycombing showed higher frequency in positive group than in negative group (6.2% vs. 1.2%, p=0.079). Pneumoconiosis findings caused by inorganic dusts exposure showed the significant relation with CAC on LDCT images. Future studies need to prove that pneumoconiosis finding is independent risk factor for CAC using a coronary artery angiography.

• International Journal of Fuzzy Logic and Intelligent Systems
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 2002

Automatic detection of interstitial lung disease using Neural Network is presented. The rounded opacities in the pneumoconiosis X-ray photo are picked up quickly by a back propagation (BP) neural network with several typical training patterns. The training patterns from 0.6 mm ${\O}$ to 4.0 mm ${\O}$ are made by simple circles. The total evaluation is done from the size and figure categorization. Mary simulation examples show that the proposed method gives much reliable result than traditional ones.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.945-953
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• 1996

Background : Many acute and chronic lung diseases including pneumoconiosis are characterized by the presence of increased numbers of activated macrophages. These macrophages generate several inflammatory cell chemoattractants, by which neutrophil migrate from vascular compartment to the alveolar space. Recruited neutrophils secrete toxic oxygen radicals or proteolytic enzymes and induce inflammatory response. Continuing inflammatory response results in alteration of the pulmonary structure and irreversible fibrosis. Recently, a polypeptide with specific neutrophil chemotactic activity, interleukin-8(IL-8), has been cloned and isolated from a number of cells including : monocytes, macrophages and fibroblasts. IL-1 and/or TNF-${\alpha}$ preceded for the synthesis of IL-8, and we already observed high level of IL-1 and TNF-${\alpha}$ in the pneumoconioses. So we hypothesized that IL-8 may be a central role in the pathogenesis of pneumoconiosis. In order to evaluate the clinical utility of IL-8 as a biomarker in the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis, we investigated the increase of IL-8 in the pneumoconiotic patient and the correlation between IL-8 level and progression of pneumoconiosis. Method : We measured IL-8 in the serum of 48 patients with pneumoconiosis and 16 persons without dust exposure history as a control group. Pneumoconiotic cases were divided into 3 groups according to ILO Classification : suspicious group(n=16), small opacity group(n=16) and large opacity group(n=16). IL-8 was measured by a sandwich enzytne immunoassay technique. All data were expressed as the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation. Results: 1) The mean value of age was higher in the small opacity and large opacity group than comparison group, but smoking history was even. Duration of dust exposure was not different among 3 pneumoconiosis groups. 2) IL-8 level was $70.50{\pm}53.63pg/m{\ell}$ in the suspicious group, $107.50{\pm}45.88pg/m{\ell}$ in the small opacity group, $132.50{\pm}73.47pg/m{\ell}$ in the large opacity group and $17.85{\pm}33.85pg/m{\ell}$ in the comparison group. IL-8 concentration in all pneumoconiosis group was significant higher than that in the comparison group(p<0.001). 3) IL-8 level tended to increase with the progression of pneumoconiosis. Multiple comparison test using Anova/Scheffe analysis showed a significant difference between suspicious group and large opacity group(p<0.05). 4) The level of IL-8 was correlated with the progression of pneumoconiosis(r=0.4199, p<0.05). Conclusion : IL-8 is thought to be a good biomarker for the early diagnosis of pneumoconiosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.2 s.24
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• pp.271-283
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• 1988

A Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometric method was described for the determination of quartz, mica(sericite) and feldspar(potassium feldspar) in respirable dust in Taebaek area. The results were as follows; 1) The concentration of minerals were determined from the intensity of absorption peak of quartz at $799cm^{-1}$, sericite at $539cm^{-1}$, and potassium feldspar at $648cm^{-1}$ respectively. 2) The precision(C. V. %) for the quartz determination was $7.70{\pm}2.68%$ from 10 to $200{\mu}g$ of quartz. 3) The precision for the sericite determination was $16.34{\pm}6.82%$ from 30 to $500{\mu}g$ of serictite. 4) The precision for the potassium feldspar determination was $5.28{\pm}1.74%$ from 30 to $500{\mu}g$ of potassium feldspar. 5) The concentration of respirable dust in Taebaek area was $4.90{\pm}3.29mg/m^3$ (0.4-93.7%), percent quartz was $1.80{\pm}4.14%$ (0.01-20.56%), percent sericite was $11.37{\pm}6.43%$ (0.00-29.69%), percent potassium feldspar was 8.15% (n=7, 3.41-19.70%). 6) The difference of respirable coal dust, quartz, and sericite concentrations in drilling, coal cutting, hauling and seperating was significant respectively (p<0.05).

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.355-364
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• 2023

Objectives: The objective of the present study was to identify mycobacterial infection in retired dusty workers who were ineligible for medical care benefits for work-related pneumoconiosis. Methods: Sputum samples were collected from 170 retired dusty workers living in Gangwon-do. The mycobacterial culture was grown in 2% Ogawa medium and Mycobacteria Growth Indicator Tube(MGIT). Mycobacterial species were identified using MolecuTech REBA Myco-ID^Ⓡ. Results: Thirty-one(18.2%) out of 170 sputum samples were identified as positive for culture. Among the positive culture samples, eleven(6.5%) were identified as mycobacterial species. The proportion of mycobacteria was M. avium 2.3%(4/170), M. fortuitum complex 1.2%(2/170), M. intracellulare 1.2%(2/170), M. abscessus 0.6%(1/170), M. tuberculosis(MTB) complex 0.6%(1/170), and MYC(NTM except 19 species) 0.6%(1/170). Conclusions: In comparison with previous studies, the incidence rate of tuberculosis(TB) in retired dusty workers who were ineligible for medical care benefits for work-related pneumoconiosis was higher than in close contact with TB patients, workers exposed to silica, and patients with silicosis. And the proportion of non-tuberculosis mycobacteria(NTM) was higher than that of MTB.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.206-212
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• 2014

We report here on the results of evaluating the radiation doses using chest computed tomography (CT) for patients with pneumoconiosis complication. For the first time, we visited the 17 MIPs to evaluate the dose-length product (DLP, $mGy{\cdot}cm$), CT unit, and protocols of scanning and image reconstruction those is routinely used for treating patients with pneumoconiosis who have complication. All statistical analysis was performed using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS ver. 19.0, Chicago, IL, USA). Mean of total DLP was $727.7mGy{\cdot}cm$, ranging from 272.0 to $1228.7mGy{\cdot}cm$. DLP from obtaining parenchymal lung images was significantly reduced than that from obtaining total lung images (555.9 vs. 707.2, p<0.001). Third quartile of total and pre-scanning DLP was 1036.1 and $504.1mGy{\cdot}cm$, respectively. Chest CT radiation doses for patients with pneumoconiosis complication are similar with korean diagnostic reference level as well as international guidelines.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.149-156
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• 1985

By using Factor analysis on the variables relating to the subjective symptoms of total 56 workers, who have exposed to mixture of organic solvents at the musical instrument manufacturing plant, as experinmental group, and 70 workers, who worked in noisy working environment as control group, the study was performed. It was confirmed that the variables found in hematological figures, age specification, occupational history and physical examination have a influential factor on the subjective symptoms of both groups. It was explicated that the ratio of these to total Eigen Values showed 31.1 percent in experimental group and the control group revealed 37.7 percent.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.5
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• pp.317-321
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• 2011

Occupational lung disease (OLD) is a group of lung diseases caused and/or aggravated by organic and inorganic inhaled dust, fumes, and mist. OLD can develop under various occupational situations. Therefore, occupational history should be considered when evaluating respiratory symptoms. Once OLD is developed, it may not be treated and may even progress after exposure to the causative agents has stopped. The best ways to treat OLD are prevention and early detection by controlling the working environment and conducting regular surveillance of workers. Common OLDs in Korea are coal worker's pneumoconiosis, asbestos-related diseases, and occupational asthma. Recent aspects of these common OLDs in Korea will be described based on recently published studies.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1993.10a
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• pp.83-84
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• 1993

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1996.10a
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• pp.195-196
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• 1996