Hand-Arm Vibration Syndrome and Neural Conduction Impairment in Swagging Workers Exposed to Hand-Arm Vibration / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) among symptomatic swagging workers exposed to hand-arm vibration, using medical evaluation and measurement of workplace vibration. Furthermore, to evaluate the neurophysiological METHODS: Four workers showing symptoms relevant to HAVS were evaluated. Medical evaluation consisted of medical interview, questionnaire, nail-bed compression test, and sensory perception tests for vibration and pain. Some other diseases were excluded by a medical interview, hematological assessment, and urinalysis. Cold provocation test was used to assess the peripheral vascular changes, and a nerve conduction velocity (NCV) test was implemented to ascertain the peripheral neural changes. Pegboard, hole plate, and tapping board tests were performed to assess motor nerve function. The hand-arm vibration acceleration levels of the swagging machines were measured. Six months later, follow-up NCV tests were performed. RESULTS: The actual exposure time to vibration was not longer than 15 minutes per day. The hand-arm vibration acceleration levels of the swagging machines, according to actual exposure time, were from 3.63 to 12.98 m/sec2, by ISO 5349. The vibratory perception thresholds and the recovery time of a nail color following finger cooling were significantly increased in all four workers. The perception of pain was mildly increased. The nerve conduction studies at first diagnosis and follow-up showed multifocal neural impairment caused by vibration. However, we could not rule out the concomitant presence of the carpal tunnel syndrome in one worker. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that HAVS can be caused by hand-arm vibration in swagging workers. Interestingly, the NCV results suggested that vibration-induced neural conduction impairments could vary, and need to be interpreted cautiously.

Role of specific IgE, IgG and IgG4 antibodies to corn dust in exposed workers

BACKGROUND AND METHODS: To evaluate the role of specific antibodies to corn dust (CD) and their relationship to respiratory dysfunction, we detected serum specific IgE(slgE) and IgG4(slgG4) antibodies by ELISA in 42 employees working in the animal feed industry and 27 unexposed controls. RESULTS: Our survey revealed that 15 (34.9%) subjects had work-related respiratory dysfunction associated with or without nasal symptoms. Among these subjects, eight had airway hyper-responsiveness to methacholine. Significant differences were noted in slgE and slgG4 between exposed and unexposed groups (p = 0.04, p = 0.00 respectively), but no difference was noted in slgG (p = 0.1). Although there was no significant differences in the prevalence of specific IgE antibody between symptomatic (29%) and asymptomatic groups (19%, p = 0.55), the specific IgE levels were significantly higher in symptomatic workers than in asymptomatic workers (p = 0.03). Specific IgG antibody was detected in 1 (6%) symptomatic and 4 (15%) asymptomatic workers (p = 0.46). Specific IgG4 antibody was detected in 11 (73%) of symptomatic and 21 (78%) of asymptomatic workers (p = 0.90). The higher prevalence of slgG4 antibody was noted in workers with slgE antibody (p = 0.001). The correlation between slgG and exposure duration was significant (r = 0.36, p = 0.02). There was no association between the prevalence of slgE, slgG, and slgG4 to exposure intensity, smoking or atopic status. CONCLUSION: These results suggested that the existence of slgG and slgG4 might represent a response to CD exposure, and that some unexposed subjects had slgG to CD. Specific IgE might play a role in the development of respiratory symptoms.

Comparisons of cholera bacilli positive and negative patients in symptoms and laboratory findings among 1991 cholera patients / 한국역학회지

Among 130 cholera patients treated in Seohae Hospital in 1991, 86 were cholera bacilli positive and remaining 44 were negative. All cholera bacilli 'positive' patients were confirmed bacteriologically by National Institute for Health team. Cholera related symptoms and laboratory findings were gathered by interviews and medical records surveys. Symptoms and some serological laboratory findings are compared between cholera bacilli 'positive' and 'negative' patients in 1991 cholera epidemic. Results are as follows: 1. There were no differences in symptoms distribution and in mean values of all serological laboratory tests done between two groups. These facts support that both cholera bacilli 'positive' and 'negative' patients are persons who have cholera bacilli infection. 2. The age distribution of the cholera bacilli 'negative' group tended to be much younger than that of 'positive' group. The infection source of this group is believed to be the environmental reservoir. This findings suggests that cholera bacilli 'negative' patients have the possibility of endemic characteristics. We think it is worth investigating Vibrio cholera antibody titers of people in area with frequent cholera epidemics in Korea.

The Effect of Diazepam on Suecinyleholine-induced Side Effects / 대한마취과학회지

Muscle pain following succinylcholine chloride(SCC) is well documented, as are elevated serum potassium and increased creatine phosphokinase(CPK) levels. Pretreatment with a subparylsing dose of a non-depolarizing muscle relaxant before SCC is standard and accepted clinical practice in prevention of SCC induced fasciculation and associated sequlae but pretreatment redners the end-plate less sensitive to SCC: hence larger doses of SCC: hence larger doses of SCC are necessary to ensure adequate degree of relaxation. Recontly fahmy et al showed in a study that small doses of diazepam suppressed the fasciculation as well as the increase in serum potassium and creatine phosphokinase(CPK). Our study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of pretreatment with diazepam on the potential side effects of SCC. Eight cases were studied in four different groups. In the first group(control group): no diazepam was used, secoun group: with diazepam 0.05mg/kg, third group:: with diazepam 0.1mg/kg, grouth group: with diazepam 0.2mg/kg. As a result of this study, we can summarize as follows: 1) Diazepam pretreatment groups had no significant change in the prevention of muscle fasciculation following SCC than control groups. 2) Conditions for intubation were assessed as excellent to good in diazepam pretreatment and control groups. 3) The increase in serum potassium and CPK produced by SCC was not inhibited by diazepam pretreatment. 4) In the prevention of incidence of muscle pain, there were no significant difference between the control and diazepam pretreatment groups.