Relationship between Comorbid Health Problems and Musculoskeletal Disorders Resulting in Musculoskeletal Complaints and Musculoskeletal Sickness Absence among Employees in Korea

BACKGROUND: To investigate the relationship between musculoskeletal disorders and comorbid health problems, including depression/anxiety disorder, insomnia/sleep disorder, fatigue, and injury by accident, and to determine whether certain physical and psychological factors reduce comorbid health problems. METHODS: In total, 29,711 employees were selected from respondents of the Third Korean Working Conditions Survey and categorized into two groups: Musculoskeletal Complaints or Musculoskeletal Sickness Absence. Four self-reported health indicators (overall fatigue, depression/anxiety, insomnia/sleep disorder, and injury by accident) were selected as outcomes, based on their high prevalence in Korea. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to determine the relationship between comorbid health problems, musculoskeletal complaints, and sickness absence. RESULTS: The prevalence of musculoskeletal complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence due to muscular pain was 32.26% and 0.59%, respectively. Compared to the reference group, depression/anxiety disorder and overall fatigue were 5.2-6.1 times more prevalent in the Musculoskeletal Complaints Group and insomnia/sleep disorder and injury by accident were 7.6-11.0 times more prevalent in the Sickness Absence Group. When adjusted for individual and work-related physical factors, prevalence of all four comorbid health problems were slightly decreased in both groups. CONCLUSION: Increases in overall fatigue and depression/anxiety disorder were observed in the Musculoskeletal Complaints Group, while increases in insomnia/sleep disorder and injury by accident were observed in the Sickness Absence Group. For management of musculoskeletal complaints and sickness absence in the workplace, differences in health problems between employees with musculoskeletal complaints and those with sickness absence as well as the physical and psychological risk factors should be considered.

The Effect of Work Characteristics on Dermatologic Symptoms in Hairdressers

OBJECTIVES: Hairdressers in Korea perform various tasks and are exposed to health risk factors such as chemical substances or prolonged duration of wet work. The objective of this study is to provide descriptive statistics on the demographics and work characteristics of hairdressers in Korea and to identify work-related risk factors for dermatologic symptoms in hairdressers. METHODS: 1,054 hairdressers were selected and analyzed for this study. Independent variables were exposure to chemical substances, the training status of the hairdressers, and the main tasks required of them, and the dependent variable was the incidence of dermatologic symptoms. The relationships between work characteristics and dermatologic symptoms were evaluated by estimating odds ratios using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Among the 1,054 study subjects, 212 hairdressers (20.1%) complained of dermatologic symptoms, and the symptoms were more prevalent in younger, unmarried or highly educated hairdressers. The main tasks that comprise the majority of the wet work were strictly determined by training status, since 96.5% of staff hairdressers identified washing as their main task, while only 1.5% and 2.0% of master and designer hairdressers, respectively, identified this as their main task. Multiple logistic regressions was performed to estimate odds ratios. While exposure to hairdressing chemicals showed no significant effect on the odds ratio for the incidence of dermatologic symptoms, higher odds ratios of dermatologic symptoms were shown in staff hairdressers (2.70, 95% CI: 1.32 - 5.51) and in hairdressers who perform washing as their main task (2.03, 95% CI: 1.22 - 3.37), after adjusting for general and work characteristics. CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that the training status and main tasks of hairdressers are closely related to each other and that the training status and main tasks of hairdressers are related to the incidence of dermatologic symptoms. This suggests that in the future, regulations on working conditions and health management guidelines for hairdressers should be established.

A Case of Acquired Idiopathic Pterygium Inversum Unguis

Pterygium inversum unguis (PIU) is a rare nail abnormality in which the distal nail bed adheres to the ventral surface of the nail plate, with obliteration of the distal groove. Because of the rarity of this condition, its exact origin is unknown. This disorder can be either congenital or acquired, with or without a family history. The acquired forms may be idiopathic or secondary to systemic connective tissue diseases or other causes such as stroke, neurofibromatosis, leprosy, or the use of nail fortifiers. We present an unusual case of acquired idiopathic PIU of the 10 fingernails in a 22-year-old man.

Comments to "Various Nail Disorders Misdiagnosed and Treated as Onychomycosis" / 대한피부과학회지

No abstract available.

Development of Bullous Acrodermatitis Enteropathica during the Course of Chemotherapy for Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia

Acrodermatitis enteropathica (AE) is an uncommon autosomal recessive genetic disorder of zinc malabsorption. The acquired form may be associated with inadequate intake, impaired absorption, and increased excretion of zinc. Those afflicted present with diarrhea, stomatitis, psychiatric symptoms, non-scarring alopecia, and nail dystrophy accompanied by erythematous which appears as scaly patches with erosion vesicles and pustules mostly affecting the extremities, perineal, and periorificial areas. Due to the variable findings of most case reports, the clinical and histopathological features of AE are often regarded as non-specific. We report an unusual case of bullous AE secondary to total parenteral nutrition for the treatment of acute pancreatitis occurring in a six-year-old male with acute lymphocytic leukemia who underwent chemotherapy. He presented with periorificial, reddish, eroded bullae with multiple vesicles and blisters on his fingers, toes, and buttock, showing necrotic keratinocytes with multiple intraepidermal vesicles and perivascular infiltration with predominant lymphocytes and few neutrophils within the dermis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of bullous AE in the Korean dermatologic literature.

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome That Developed in a Patient Taking Levothyroxine Sodium after Total Thyroidectomy / 대한피부과학회지

Cronkhite-Canada Syndrome (CCS) is a rare, non-inherited hamartomatous polyposis syndrome. It is characterized by diffuse gastrointestinal polyposis, diarrhea, weight loss and unique ectodermal manifestations such as alopecia, onychodystrophy and cutaneous hyperpigmentation. The etiology of CCS remains unknown, but an autoimmue contribution to the pathogenesis has been postulated. We report here on a 79-year-old male who has been diagnosed with CCS. He had been taking levothyroxine sodium after total thyroidectomy. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of CCS in association with hypothyroidism and supplementation with levothyroxine sodium in the Korean medical literature.

Two Cases of Facial Foreign Body Granuloma Induced by Needle-Embedding Therapy / 대한피부과학회지

In oriental medicine, "needle-embedding therapy" or "acupoint embedding therapy" is currently being used for cosmetic purposes such as correcting facial wrinkles and face-lifting. However, there is not much knowledge about the adverse events associated with needle-embedding therapy. We herein report on two cases of foreign body granuloma that developed due to injection of acupoint embedding thread by herbal medicine doctors. Two women aged 48 and 36 years old presented with erythematous plaques and patches with crust on the face, respectively. They had previously received several sessions of needle-embedding therapy for facial rejuvenation in an oriental medicine clinic. The diagnosis of foreign body granuloma was confirmed by the histological findings.

Photodynamic Therapy Combined with CO2 Laser Vaporization on Disseminated Superficial Actinic Porokeratosis: A Report of 2 Cases on the Face

Disseminated superficial actinic porokeratosis (DSAP) is a skin condition that usually shows a poor response to different modalities of treatment. Herein we describe 2 patients with DSAP on the face, each treated with 3 to 4 sessions of photodynamic therapy combined with laser vaporization.

Isolated Neurofibromas on Both Soles / 대한피부과학회지

Neurofibromas are spindle cell tumors of peripheral nerves that may be solitary or multiple. Usually neurofibromas may occur on any part of the body, but seldom involve the palms and soles. There have been no reports of neurofibromas developing on the sole in the Korean dermatologic literature. We report a 34-year-old woman with neurofibromas occurring on both soles.

Congenital Eccrine Poroma on the Left Temple / 대한피부과학회지

Eccrine poroma is a benign, rare cutaneous neoplasm that clinically represents as solitary, reddish and pink papule or nodule chiefly on the soles or sides of the feet. But it can occur anywhere wherever sweat glands are found. Eccrine poroma generally arises in the middle-aged and elderly people and do not usually exceed 20 mm in diameter. To the best our knowledge, no congenital cases of eccrine poroma have been reported in the Korean literature. We, herein, report a rare case of eccrine poroma arising on the left temple in a 45-year-old man since birth.