Clinical Observation of 12 Farmers Who Believe Themselves to Have Suffered from Chronic Pesticide Intoxication

BACKGROUND/AIMS: We assessed twelve cases of suspected chronic pesticide intoxication, with medically unexplained physical symptoms. METHODS: Complete blood cell count (CBC), blood chemistry, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastrofiberscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, neuroselective sensory nerve conduction threshold, and psychological assessment were performed on 12 farmers who believe themselves to have suffered from chronic pesticide intoxication. RESULTS: No specific abnormalities were observed on CBC, routine urinalysis, chest X-ray, ECG, gastroscopy, abdominal ultrasonography, or peripheral nerve conduction velocity test. They persistently manifested helplessness, depression, and anxiety. The results of both psychological assessment and general physical examination revealed the following clinical features: depression (8 cases), multiple chemical hypersensitivity syndrome (2 cases), alcoholism (1 case), and religious preoccupation (1 case). CONCLUSION: In those living in the western rural area of South Korea, depression is a prominent ongoing presentation in pesticide-exposed farmers, in addition to unexplainable physical symptoms.

Association between Compliance with Dietary Guidelines and Dyslipidemia among Koreans

While metabolic syndrome (MS) is rapidly expanding and dietary pattern, the known risk factor of MS, goes through heavy transition to western diet, not many researches have been done on the association between dyslipidemia and dietary factors in Korean adults. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between compliance with dietary guidelines and dyslipidemia among Koreans. The subjects of 399 adults who visited health examination center were classified into dyslipidemia (n = 180) and control (n = 219). Diagnosis of dyslipidemia was based on NCEPATPIII criteria (triglyceride > = 150 mg/d, HDL-C < 50 mg/dl for male, HDL-C < 40 mg/dl for female). A questionnaire based interview was done to collect information on compliance with dietary guidelines, general characteristics and health related behaviors. Anthropometric variables were measured during the survey. Mean compliance score of dietary guideline was significantly lower in dyslipidemia group than in control. It was associated negatively with waist circumference and positively with serum HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). Risks of dyslipidemia were significantly decreased in the group with highest dietary guideline score; high serum triglyceride levels (OR = 0.484, 95% CI = 0.268-0.875), abdominal obesity (OR = 0.296, 95% CI = 0.159-0.553), and dyslipidemia (OR = 0.481, 95% CI = 0.266-0.869). These results indicated that increasing compliance with dietary guidelines could be an effective strategy to lower the risk of dyslipidemia among Koreans.