Self-Esteem Trajectories After Occupational Injuries and Diseases and Their Relation to Changes in Subjective Health: Result From the Panel Study of Workers’ Compensation Insurance (PSWCI)

Background@#Occupational injuries and diseases are life events that significantly impact an individuals’ identity. In this study, we examined the trajectories of self-esteem among victims of occupational injury and disease and their relation to health. @*Methods@#The Panel Study of Workers’ Compensation Insurance conducted annual followups on workers who had experienced occupational injury or disease. A total of 2,000 participants, who had completed medical care, were followed from 2013 to 2017. Growth mixture modeling was utilized to identify latent classes in the self-esteem trajectory.Additionally, logistic regressions were conducted to explore the association between trajectory membership, baseline predictors, and outcomes. @*Results@#Three distinct trajectory classes were identified. Total 65.8% of the samples (n = 1,316) followed an increasing self-esteem trajectory, while 31.1% (n = 623) exhibited a constant trajectory, and 3.1% (n = 61) showed a decreasing trajectory. Individuals with an increasing trajectory were more likely to have a higher educational attainment (odds ratio [OR], 1.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.20–2.88), an absence of a moderate-to-severe disability rating (OR, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.25–0.96), no difficulty in daily living activities (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.75–0.88), and were economically active (re-employed: OR, 2.46; 95% CI, 1.52–3.98; returned to original work: OR, 4.46; 9% CI, 2.65–7.50). Those with a decreasing self-esteem trajectory exhibited an increased risk of poor subjective health (OR, 1.89; 95% CI, 0.85–4.85 in 2013 to OR, 3.17; 95% CI, 1.04–13.81 in 2017), whereas individuals with an increasing trajectory showed a decreased risk (OR, 0.54; 95% CI, 0.43–0.68 in 2013 to OR, 0.44; 95% CI, 0.33–0.57 in 2017). @*Conclusion@#Our findings emphasize the diversity of psychological responses to occupational injury or disease. Policymakers should implement interventions to enhance the self-esteem of victims.

Pathological Features of COVID-19 Pneumonia Diagnosed Following an Autopsy / 대한법의학회지

After initial emergence at the end of 2019, coronavirus disease 19 (COVID-19) rapidly spread to become a pandemic. The causative agent is recognized as a novel coronavirus, named as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2, which is known to primarily affect the respiratory system. We present the case of a 60-year-old man who was diagnosed to have COVID-19 pneumonia following an autopsy. Microscopic examination of the lung tissue showed acute (exudative) phase of diffuse alveolar damage, inflammatory infiltrates in alveolar spaces and interstitium, atypical pneumocytes with prominent nucleoli and expanded cytoplasm, and thrombi in small arterioles. Some megakaryocytes were observed, which were positive for immunohistochemical stain for CD61. The pathological findings observed in this case were consistent with those of previously published reports of COVID-19 pneumonia. This is the first case of COVID-19 pneumonia diagnosed with an autopsy in Korea.

Spondylolisthesis Accompanying Bilateral Pedicle Stress Fracture at Two Vertebrae

There has been no report of bilateral pedicle stress fractures involving two vertebrae. The authors describe a unique case of spondylolisthesis accompanying a bilateral pedicle stress fracture involving two vertebrae. De novo development of spondylolisthesis at the L5-S1 vertebrae accompanying a bilateral pedicle stress fracture at L4 and L5 was observed in a 70-year-old woman. The patient's medical history was unremarkable and she did not have any predisposing factors except severe osteoporosis. Interbody fusion with bone cement augmented screw fixation was performed. Surgical treatment resulted in good pain management and improved functional recovery.

Null and Duplicated Alleles of 17 Y-STR Haplotypes in Koreans and Considerations for Forensic Application / 대한법의학회지

The analysis of Y chromosome polymorphisms has become common place for the identification of male component in forensic cases. In male/female mixtures of many rape cases, Y-STRs are also very useful for the determination of contributors' number. During the analyses of 17 Y-STR haplotypes for forensic applications using the AmpFlSTR(R) Yfiler(TM) system, a number of null and duplicated alleles (40 out of 2144 subjects) were discovered. Interestingly, two haplotypes should focus the attention on forensic interpretation of Y-STR haplotype profiles, because multiple mutational events at various loci can be interpreted as a wrong mixed or allele drop-out profile.

Analysis of 12 Autopsy Cases related with Insurance Money / 대한법의학회지

Life insurance has been developed in means of providing economic compensation for unexpected accidental losses. As the insurance industry of Korea grows along with improvement of economic state, the life insurance crime has now appeared as an increasing social issue. The studies on the life insurance crime in Korea have been barely done with the viewpoint of forensic medicine and science. An understanding of insurance crime cases may be fundamental to develop the system to uncover or prevent it. The authors examined the definition of life insurance crime and twelve cases of insurance money related death investigated by postmortem examination through autopsy file of WDO, NISI in Korea. This article analyzes twelve autopsy cases related with insurance money, even though some cases have no proven investigative evidence or court ruling. A feature found in the cases is that it has the tendency of occurring among family members. Other characteristic is that automobiles are exploited with elaborately planned crime plots. To achieve an efficient prevention method for cutting down these insurance crimes, active government's engagement, assiduous operation of investigation authorities, insurance company's co-effort, and good information exchange system should be worked cooperatively.

Preliminary Research for Applying Appraisal Techniques to Evaluate the Cause of Skin Injury / 대한법의학회지

In the field of the forensic medicine, deciding the cause of the injury is very important. Forensic doctors usually use their naked eyes, two dimensional photos, the characteristics and the distribution of the wounds for evaluating the cause of the injuries. After body release, forensic doctors not infrequently met the questions from the law enforcement whether the injuries were matched with the new facts or statements given through the progression of the investigation. In the face of answering this question, the information or evidence about the injury is insufficient. New technologies and instruments are being developed and will be helpful for getting the evidence from the human skin injuries. In this preliminary study, authors try to find the usefulness of appraisal techniques(3D scanner, trace evidence, TMDT, alternative light) that are already used for other purposes in forensic field. These techniques have their own merits for preserving the evidences from the injured skin. But further studies and systemic approaches are essential for more scientifically verified evaluation of the cause of the skin injury.

Lateral Medullary Syndrome Caused by Prone Position for Spine Surgery

We report a rare case of Wallenberg's lateral medullary syndrome caused by prone position for spine surgery. A 48-yearold man developed Wallenberg's syndrome characterized by involuntary myoclonic movements, ataxia on his left side, hyperalgia and cold sensation on his right side after prone position for general anesthesia for the spinal stenosis L3-L4, L4-L5. Brain computed tomography scan was immediately performed and showed negative findings, but magnetic resonance image (MRI) demonstrated brain infarction on the left medulla. Emergent heparinization was performed and his motor power and sensation returned to normal and discharged with stable and satisfactory recovery after 16 days.

The plausible practicality of modern high-tech medical imaging devices to forensic medicine and scientific crime investigation / 대한법의학회지

CT and MRI are high-tech devices for medical diagnosis. Their electromechanical function has leaped forward such a fast step, so that their image quality is improved and the time for a whole body scanning is shortened as little as only several minutes. These essential diagnostic tools are tried to apply for the field of forensic medicine in favor of their noninvasiveness and great resolution. These merits could make our postmortem investigation system improve in the aspect of practicality. This presenting study was done for the purpose of expecting what the field of forensic medicine could get or lose, what is needed technically, and what kind of supports are required. In our preliminary study, we gave injuries to the pigs' heads with weapons, scanned the wounds with high-tech devices, and embodied the injuries and the weapons three-dimensionally. These high-tech methods would be expected to play a role in forensic medicine and scientific crime investigation as a new and powerful testimony.

The Statistical Analysis on Legal Autopsy in 2006 (The Headquarters of National Institute of Scientific Investigation) / 대한법의학회지

This is a statistical analysis based on the data of legal autopsies performed at the Headquarters of the National Institute Scientific Investigation(NISI), requested by every kind of law enforcement agencies during the year of 2006. NISI is located in Seoul, Korea and has three branches throughout the country. The Seoul NISI covers all legal autopsies in Seoul City, Incheon City and Kyunggi Province and some cases referred from other regions. This report aims to analyse various aspects of 2,515 unusual deaths in Korea, chiefly Seoul and its surrounding area. Followings are the summary of the results. 1. The number of male was 1,788 cases(71.1%) and that of female 727(28.9%). Male was over twice more than female. The forties were 709 cases(28.2%), the fifties 496(19.7%), and these two decades occupied 47.9%. 2. Unnatural deaths were 1,437 cases(57.1%), natural 955(38.0%), and the unknown 123(4.9%). Among 1,437 unnatural deaths, suicide was 366(25.5%), homicide 387(26.9%), accident 392(27.3%), and the unclear 292(20.3%). Homicide occupied 40.4% of trauma, 51.9% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall-down injury, and 91.2% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 33.2%, but it went up to 71.4% excluding hanging. It showed only 1.3% percent of homicide in poisoning. 3. Traumatic deaths were 681 cases, occupying 47.4% of 1,437 unnatural deaths, followed by drowning deaths(199 cases). Blunt trauma was 206 cases(30.2%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Poisoning was 158 cases, among which the cyanides were dominant(37cases). Thermal injuries were 144 cases, electrocution 14 cases, and starvation/neglect 21 cases. and 17 cases were directly due to medical procedures. 4. Among 955 natural deaths, heart diseases were 495 cases(51.8%), and vascular diseases 165(17.3%), and these two categories were added up to 660(69.1%). 5. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 118 cases. Homicide was 35 cases(57.4%) out of 61 unnatural deaths. Neonates including still births were the leading period of age in unnatural death, counting 45 cases(38.1%)

Homicidal Transorbital Intracranial Injury by a Metallic Chopstick: a Case Report / 대한법의학회지

The transorbital intracranial injury is a rare penetrating brain injury and few homicidal cases were reported. We report a case of 37 year-old man who died from a homicidal transorbital intracranial injury. The assailant was one of his friends, who pierced his left eye by a metallic chopstick. Despite the intensive care, he died one week after. Postmortem examination revealed only a small laceration with subcutaneous hematoma in left lower eyelid, fractures of medial orbital roof, body of sphenoid bone and sella turcica, diffuse cerebral edema, basal subarachnoid hematoma, focal subdural hematoma, and intraventricular hematoma in the right lateral ventricle.

A Statistical Analysis on Legal Autopsy in 2005 (The Headquarters of National Institute of Scientific Investigation) / 대한법의학회지

This is a statistical analysis based on the data of legal autopsies performed at the Headquarters of the National Institute Scientific Investigation (NISI), requested by every kind of law enforcement agencies during the year of 2005. NISI is located in Seoul, Korea and has three branches throughout the country. The Seoul NISI covers all legal autopsies in Seoul City, Incheon City and Kyunggi Province and some cases referred from other regions. This report aims to analyse various aspects of 2,851 unusual deaths in Korea, chiefly Seoul and its surrounding area. Followings are the summary of the results. 1. The number of male was 2,007 cases (70.4%) and that of female 844 (29.6%). Male was over twice more than female. The forties were 807 cases (28.3%), the thirties 573 (20.1%), and these two decades occupied 48.4%. 2. Unnatural deaths were 1,716 cases (60.2%), natural 1011 (35.5%), and the unknown 124 (4.3%). Among 1,716 unnatural deaths, suicide was 497 (29.0%), homicide 426 (24.9%), accident 510 (29.6%), and the unclear 283 (16.5%). Homicide occupied 42.0% of trauma, 75.6% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall-down injury, and 85.5% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 31.1%, but it went up to 60.1% excluding hanging. It showed only 0.4% percent of homicide in poisoning. 3. Traumatic deaths were 716 cases, occupying 41.7% of 1,716 unnatural deaths, followed by asphyxial deaths(296 cases). Blunt trauma was 205 cases (28.6%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Poisoning was 229 cases, among which the ethanols were dominant (58cases). Thermal injuries were 198 cases, electrocution 20 cases, and starvation/neglect 14 cases. and 18 cases were directly due to medical procedures. 4. Among 1,011 natural deaths, heart diseases were 481 cases (47.6%), and vascular diseases 193 (19.1%), and these two categories were added up to 674 (66.7%). 5. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 129 cases. Homicide was 40 cases (62.5%) out of 64 unnatural deaths. Neonates including still births were the leading period of age in unnatural death, counting 41 cases(31.8%)

Traumatic Spinal Subdural Hematoma Accompanying intracranial hematoma: Spontaneous Resolution after Pumbar Puncture

A traumatic spinal subdural hematoma is a rare condition, and only nine cases have been reported until now. We report a rare case of concomitant intracranial hemorrhage and spinal subdural hematoma with a review of the literature. A 45-year-old man was referred to our institute after being stroke by a car. He complained of nausea, headache, back pain, and bilateral sciatica. Brain computed tomography and lumbar spine magnetic resonance images revealed both an intracerbral hemorrhage and a subdural hematoma in the L4 to S1 level. After performing a lumbar spinal puncture and draining the hemorrhagic cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), the intracranial and spinal hematomas were resolved completely without any neruologic deficits.

Two Cases of Cellular Phone Dermatitis / 대한피부과학회지

In recent years, cellular phones have become one of lifes necessities. In proportion to the number of cellular phones in use, the number of reported cellular phone dermatitis cases has increased. Chromate and nickel sulfate are thought to be the allergen of cellular phone dermatitis, but direct qualitative analysis of cellular phones has not yet been carried out. We report 2 cases of cellular phone dermatitis which were suspected to be caused by a contact allergy to nickel. Patch tests were performed and showed a positive reaction to cobalt chloride and nickel sulfate. Direct qualitative analysis by a scanning electron microscope-energy dispersive X-ray analyzer of the cellular phones of the patients showed peaks for nickel and chrome.

A Morphological Analysis of the Facial Nerve in Korean Fetuses and Stillborn Infants

OBJECTIVE: The accurate anatomy of the facial nerve is essential for successful surgical outcome. The purpose of the present study is to know such information on the facial nerve from a series of specimens. METHODS: This study is based on cadaveric dissection of 41 Korean fetus and stillborn infant and describes anatomical variations of the peripheral branches of the facial nerve that pose a importance in a number of neruosurgical procedure. RESULTS: The branching patterns were classified into six types according to modified Davis classification : the frequencies of occurrence were : type I, 4.9%; type II, 24.4%; type III, 34.1%; type IV, 19.5%; type V, 12.2%; and type VI, 4.9%. Types II, III and IV together accounted for almost 80% of the specimens. CONCLUSION: Compared to previous adult and western stillborn fetus cadaveric studies, there was no significant difference in the percentage of the types between the subjects in the present study, similar pattern and anatomic distribution.

The Statistical Analysis on Legal Autopsy in 2004 (The Headquarters of National Institute of Scientific Investigation) / 대한법의학회지

This is a statistical analysis based on the data of legal autopsies performed at the Headquarters of the National Institute Scientific Investigation(NISI), requested by every kind of law enforcement agencies during the year of 2004. NISI is located in Seoul, Korea and has three branches throughout the country. The Seoul NISI covers all legal autopsies in Seoul City, Incheon City and Kyunggi Province and some cases referred from other regions. This report aims to analyse various aspects of 3,051 unusual deaths in Korea, chiefly Seoul and its surrounding area. Followings are the summary of the results. 1. The number of male was 2,214 cases(73%) and that of female 837(27%). Male was over twice more than female. The forties were 899 cases(29.5%), the thirties 561(18.4%), and these two decades occupied 47.9%. 2. Unnatural deaths were 1,816 cases(59.5%), natural 1,104(36.2%), and the unknown 131(4.3%). Among 1,816 unnatural deaths, suicide was 513(28.2%), homicide 414(22.8%), accident 505(27.8%), and the unclear 384(21.2%). Homicide occupied 38.4% of trauma, 62.9% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall-down injury, and 82.7% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 31.1%, but it went up to 67.7% excluding hanging. It showed only 0.4% percent of homicide in poisoning. 3. Traumatic deaths were 779 cases, occupying 42.9% of 1,816 unnatural deaths, followed by poisoning deaths(286 cases) and asphyxial deaths(283 cases). Blunt trauma was 240 cases(30.8%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Poisoning was 286 cases, among which the ethanols were dominant( 76cases). Thermal injuries were 162 cases, electrocution 27 cases, and starvation/neglect 7 cases and 17 cases were directly due to medical procedures. 4. Among 1,104 natural deaths, heart diseases were 522 cases(47.3%), and vascular diseases 182(16.5%), and these two categories were added up to 704(63.8%). 5. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 147 cases. Homicide was 31 cases(51.7%) out of 60 unnatural deaths. Neonates including still births were the leading period of age in unnatural death, counting 48 cases(32.7%).

The Statistical Analysis on Legal Autopsy in 2003: The Headquarters of National Institute of Scientific Investigation / 대한법의학회지

This is a statistical analysis based on the data of legal autopsies performed at the Headquarters of the National Institute Scientific Investigation (NISI), requested by every kind of law enforcement agencies during the year of 2003. NISI is located in Seoul, Korea and has three branches throughout the country. The Seoul NISI covers all legal autopsies in Seoul City, Incheon City and Kyunggi Province and some cases referred from other regions. This report aims to analyse various aspects of 3,167 unusual deaths in Korea, chiefly Seoul and its surrounding area. Followings are the summary of the results. 1. The number of male was 2,311 cases (73%) and that of female 856 (27%). Male was over twice more than female. The forties were 838 cases (26.5%), the thirties 700 (22.1%), and these two decades occupied 48.6%. 2. Unnatural deaths were 1,941 cases (61.3%), natural 1,133 (35.8%), and the unknown 93 (2.9%). Among 1,941 unnatural deaths, suicide was 522 (26.9%), homicide 457 (23.5%), accident 576 (29.7%), and the unclear 386 (19.9%). Homicide occupied 37.1% of trauma, 57.4% of blunt force injury excluding traffic and fall-down injury, and 81.9% of sharp force injury. The homicide rate in asphyxia was 35.5%, but it went up to 69.6% excluding hanging. It showed only 1.0% percent of homicide in poisoning. 3. Traumatic deaths were 902 cases, occupying 46.5% of 1,941 unnatural deaths, followed by poisoning deaths (289 cases) and asphyxial deaths (286 cases). Blunt trauma was 324 cases (35.9%) and the leading cause of death in traumatic death. Poisoning was 289 cases, among which the ethanols were dominant (99cases). Thermal injuries were 192 cases, electrocution 24 cases, and starvation/neglect 11 cases. and 15 cases were directly due to medical procedures.4. Among 1,133 natural deaths, heart diseases were 490 cases (43.2%), and vascular diseases 210 (18.5%), and these two categories were added up to 700 (61.7%). 5. Child deaths under the age of 10 were 135 cases. Homicide was 42 cases (63.6%) out of 60 unnatural deaths. Neonates including still births were the leading period of age in unnatural death, counting 52 cases (38.5%).

Study of Photogrammetric Comparison Method of Patterned Injuries Using 3D CAD Program / 대한법의학회지

It is possible to compare three-dimensional image of patterned injury in virtual space with object using 3D/CAD supported photogrammetry(FPHG). this method make it possible to examine patterned injuries of skin, soft tissue and bone for matching instruments in shape, size and angle without altering. Generally, 3D measuring of objects require 3D digitizer or series of photographs taking by metric camera. We developed program which calibrate pictures taken by non-calibrated commercial camera and un distorted image. This image and objet model n can be examined with respect to matching shapes using 3D/CAD system.

Positional Asphyxia of the Paralyzed: Implicated on the View of Death Scene / 대한법의학회지

Positional or postural asphyxia, which is clodely allied to traumatic asphyxia, means a fatal condition causing mechanical interference with pulmonary ventilation resulting from the adoption of particular body positions. To distinguish it from other form of asphyxia may be extremely difficult and therefore we need a full information about death scene and victim's history. The authors had experienced a case of putried corpse who had a history of paraplegia caused by traffic accident several years ago and he was found dead in trapped between bed and opened door of refrigerator. The autopsy finding was negative because of decomposition and toxicology was also negative. We will emphasize on the importance of finding of death scene.

A Death Resulting from Imperforate Anus in the Newborn: A Case Report / 대한법의학회지

Congenital anomalies of the anus and rectum are relatively common. Minor abnormalities occur in approximately 1 per 500 live births; major anomalies occur in 1 per 5000 live births. Among the various anomalies associated with rectal abnormalities are malformations of the urinary tract and esophagus and, less often, the small bowel. The most useful clinical classification categorized lesions by whether the rectum passes through the puborectalis muscle sling. High lesions fail to pass through this muscle complexes and low lesions traverse this muscle complex. The lesions in the spectrum covered by the term imperforate anus rarely are fatal, although some associated anomalies can be life threatening. However, in some lesions without any type of fistula may be fatal per se, unless the necessary fecal diversion is not made. Routine newborn examinations usually detect anorectal anomalies early in life. Some types of malformations are less readily detected. In newborns, failure to pass meconium within the first 24 hours of life usually prompts an examination of the perineum but delayed presentation is common in areas where access to medical care is unavailable. The authors report a male newborn who died of the high type of anorectal anomaly without fistula in fourth day of life, because the doctor did not recognize the anomaly of the newborn. We believe that the forensic examiner should make medical doctors alert by notifying them that their trivial mistakes can cause mortal results.

A Death Resulting from Inadvertent Intravenous Injection of Antidiarrheal: A Case Report / 대한법의학회지

Although medication errors in hospital are common, medication errors that result in death rarely occur. We report a case of inadvertent intravenous injection of SMECTA(TM), a kind of oral antidiarrheal, in a 4-year-old boy, who underwent orthopedic surgery of foot to correct congenital malformation. After this medical accident seizure suddenly developed, mental change, and disseminated intravascular coagu-lopathy followed. The diagnostic confirmation of this fatal error was made after thrombi and foreign materials were identified the histopathologic examination in the lung, as well as by analyzing the components of the antidiarrheal such as magnesium, aluminum etc. We propose to make it a rule to keep the strategies, for examples, oral liquids should not be put in Luer-lock syringes for IV administration, avoid drugs with similar names or packages form placing in the same area to reduce errors.