Assessment of Acquired Color Vision Impairment in Inhalant Abusers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effects of inhalants on color vision impairment. METHODS: The inhalation group consisted of 81 neurotoxic chemical substance abusers at Bugok National Hospital and Institute of Forensic Psychiatry, Ministry of Justice. The control group consisted of 41 employees of Bugok National Hospital. The Lanthony D-15 desaturated hue test was administered to both groups. For the qualitative analysis, we classified the results by the morphological characteristics of color vision impairment. For the quantitative analysis, we calculated the total color distance score (TCDS) and the color confusion index (CCI) and determined that the individual was abnormal if the TCDS was over 65.0 or the CCI was over 1.25. RESULTS: The TCDS of the inhalation group was 75.58+/-21.07 and the CCI was 1.34+/-0.37 in the right eye, and 75.47+/-23.63 and 1.34+/-0.42, respectively in the left eye. These results are higher than those found for the control group. In regards to the TCDS, 50 (61.8%) of the abusers in the inhalation group had color vision impairment in the right eye and 48 (59.2%) had impairment in the left eye. 11 (26.8%) of the employees in the control group had color vision impairment in the right eye and 13 (31.7%) had impairment in the left eye. In regards to the CCI, 38 (46.9%) of the abusers in the inhalation group had color vision impairment in the right eye and 35 (43.2%) had impairment in the left eye. 4 (9.8%) of the employees in the control group had color vision impairment in the right eye and 7 (17.0%) had impairment in the left eye. The results of multiple logistic regression analysis for acquired color vision impairment showed that the inhalation period (OR=1.20, 95% CI: 1.03~1.40) was the significant variable. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that the inhalation of neurotoxic substances may impair the color vision, and the period inhaled with neurotoxic substances is significant variable affecting on the acquired color vision impairment.

Association Between Blood Lead Concentration and Computerized Neurobehavioral Performance in Korean Elementary School Students / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate association between computerized neurobehavioral performance and blood lead concentration in Korean elementary school students. METHODS: The subjects were 1,077 elementary school students of Seoul, Busan, Daegu and Gwangju. Blood lead concentration was measured and computerized neurobehavioral performance tests were performed. RESULTS: Blood lead concentration of the subjects was in the range of 0.20 and 7.39 microg/dl. The geometric mean of the subjects' blood lead concentration was 1.41 microg/dl. As blood lead concentration increased, reaction time to the symbol digit tended to increase significantly and linearly. As a result of LOWESS(locally weighted scatterplot smoothing), increasing reaction time to the symbol digit was observed. CONCLUSIONS: As blood lead concentration under the CDC (center for disease control and prevention) reference value increased, reaction time to the symbol digit tended to increase. But, as the number of subjects over 3 microg/dl is small, it is difficult to make a definite conclusion. If confounding variables are controlled properly in a follow-up study, we can obtain a more definite conclusion.

Experimental Islet Isolation in Porcine Pancreas with New Enzyme Liberase PI / 대한이식학회지

PURPOSE: Transplantation of pancreas islet cell has been demonstrated to be able to cure for type I diabetes. It can offer not only discontinuation of insulin but also preventing of complications from diabetes. However mismatching between human donors and recipients for viable pancreas has restricted the enormous potential of pancreas islet cell transplantation. Porcine islets can be the best source of xenotransplantation of islets that can overcome the donor shortage. Aim of this study is to investigate the results from consecutive 20 porcine islet isolation using new enzyme Liberase PI. METHODS: Twenty pancreata were procured for islet isolation. Islet isolation was done with modified Ricordi's method using new brand enzyme liberase PI. Quantitaion of islet, viability staining, insulin stimulation assay, intracellular insulin content/ DNA assay and in vivo transplantation into diabetic nude mice were done for quality control of islets. These results were compared between high-yield group (>2,500 IEQ/gram of pancreas) and low-yield group (<2,500 IEQ/gram of pancreas). RESULTS: Sufficient amount of purified islets (3,000 IEQ/gram of pancreas) were obtained using new brand enzyme Liberase PI. These islets showed good quality in structure and functions, which were demonstrated by in vitro and in vivo standard assay. Isolation index (IEQ/number) of low-yield group was lower than that of high-yield group (0.75 vs. 0.86), which means more fragmentation of islets in low-yield group. There were no differences in function between two groups. CONCLUSION: We were able to obtain sufficient number of viable, functional islets from porcine pancreas using new brand enzyme Liberase PI and low temperature isolation technique. However, overdigestion of islets during the isolation has remained to be overcome. Advance in porcine islet isolation technique will make the islet xenotransplantation in pig in reality for cure of diabetes mellitus in the future.