Evaluation of physical growth and sexual maturation rating of Adolescent boys.

Introduction: The present study is an attempt to evaluate the incidence of malnutrition as well as obesity. We have evaluated physical growth and sexual maturity rating of 10-18 years adolescent boys–overweight Vs Normal Vs Underweight. Material and Methods: A random sample of 530 adolescent boys (one private English Medium and one Govt. Hindi Medium School) between the ages of 10-18 years during the period of August 2008 to August 2009 constituted the material for this study. Weight, Height and BMI and Sexual maturation rating (SMR) were calculated. Results: Nearly 39% of the adolescent boys studied were either underweight (31%) or overweight (8%). All overweight adolescent boys have their mean weight more as compared to WHO 50thcentile. Normal weight and underweight adolescent boys have lesser mean weight as compared to WHO 50thcentile. All overweight and normal weight adolescent boys have their mean height lesser as compared to WHO 50thcentile. All underweight adolescent boys except for age group of 12 yr have their mean height lesser as compared to WHO 50thcentile. Underweight boys achieved different stages of genital growth prior to normal weight and overweight boys but lag behind as compared to Tanner. It was obvious that underweight boys achieved different stages of pubic hair growth prior to normal weight and overweight boys. Conclusion: Present study indicates that incidence of overweight children is also increasing significantly. Adolescent psychological need should be assessed and they should be given knowledge regarding their normal sexual growth pattern to decrease their anxiety.

Foot Length As A Marker of Pubertal Onset.

This observational study was conducted on 973 healthy children between 8 and 16 years to evaluate the relation between changes in foot length and pubertal maturation. The right foot length of study children was recorded and SMR staging was done. The difference in mean foot length was statistically significant between SMR 1 and 2 (P<0.0001). No significant difference in the mean foot lengths was found thereafter. Smoothed standard deviation curves were constructed for foot length as a function of SMR stage using the LMS method. Foot length was found to rise sharply in SMR 2, which coincides with the onset of puberty.

Fifteen Years After the Gozan-Dong Glass Fiber Outbreak, Incheon in 1995 / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: In 1995, an outbreak survey in Gozan-dong concluded that an association between fiberglass exposure in drinking water and cancer outbreak cannot be established. This study follows the subjects from a study in 1995 using a data linkage method to examine whether an association existed. The authors will address the potential benefits and methodological issues following outbreak surveys using data linkage, particularly when informed consent is absent. METHODS: This is a follow-up study of 697 (30 exposed) individuals out of the original 888 (31 exposed) participants (78.5%) from 1995 to 2007 assessing the cancer outcomes and deaths of these individuals. The National Cancer Registry (KNCR) and death certificate data were linked using the ID numbers of the participants. The standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and standardized mortality ratio (SMR) from cancers were calculated by the KNCR. RESULTS: The SIR values for all cancer or gastrointestinal cancer (GI) occurrences were the lowest in the exposed group (SIR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.10 to 5.21; 0.00 for GI), while the two control groups (control 1: external, control 2: internal) showed slight increases in their SIR values (SIR, 1.18 and 1.27 for all cancers; 1.62 and 1.46 for GI). All lacked statistical significance. All-cause mortality levels for the three groups showed the same pattern (SMR 0.37, 1.29, and 1.11). CONCLUSIONS: This study did not refute a finding of non-association with a 13-year follow-up. Considering that many outbreak surveys are associated with a small sample size and a cross-sectional design, follow-up studies that utilize data linkage should become standard procedure.

Asbestos-related Diseases among Asbestos Textile Factory Workers and Residents Around the Factory

The asbestos textile industry is characterized by the highest asbestos ambient air concentration of those workers who have suffered from high incidence of lung cancer, malignant mesothelioma, and other asbestos related diseases (ARDs). Also, asbestos dust occurred in a factory can be disseminated into the environmental air around the factory, which can cause ARDs among residents of the factory. High lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma mortality rates among asbestos textile workers were established, and increase of ARDs among residents around the factory has been reported. A large number of environmentally exposed residents as well as severity of health problems among asbestos textile workers would cause huge social problems. The high exposure group needs to be monitored for early detection and management. In addition, a nationwide mandatory malignant mesothelioma registration system to identify exposure sources and high risk groups might help to predict and manage ARDs.

Analysis of Cut-off Point of Stable MicrobubbleRating Test for Predicting Neonatal Respiratory Distress Syndrome

PURPOSE: Early detection of RDS is imperative in treatment of neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Shake test and stable microbubble rating (SMR) test have been commonly used for early detection of RDS. In this study, we analyzed the cut-off point of SMR test to identify whether current dianostic criteria (SMR 10/mm2) correlates with actual development of RDS. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of SMR test performed on neonates with birth weight less than 2, 500 gm or gestational age less than 37 weeks or had the symptoms of respiratory distress from 1990 to 2001. We evaluate the correlations of SMR counts and actual development of RDS and calculated the sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic accuracy at each SMR count. RESULTS: The diagnostic accuracy was considerably high when microbubble count was between 7 and 11. SMR count 9, the mean of these numbers, was determined as the cut-off point with 81.4% diagnostic accuracy. Sensitivity and specificity was 59.1% and 95.8% respectively. CONCLUSION: Current diagnostic criteria of SMR test would be effective in expecting development of RDS.

A SMR study of Korean public servants / 예방의학회지

In Korea, sudden deaths of middle-aged and older male workers who are the responsible persons at home as well as workplace, have aroused social concern. Besides, U.N. has reported recently that mortality of Korea male in 40-50's was one of the highest among newly developed countries in 1992. Not much is, however, known about the nature of the work contributing to the mortality of different groups of workers. Therefore, this study was done to examine mortality of public servants, comprising about 5% of all the employed in Korea, according to their job titles and grades. The datas of 1753 official deaths, comprised 323 (only disease-oriented deaths) applicants of survivors' compensation, were used to examine age-adjusted Standardized Mortality Ratios(SMRs) according to their job titles, grades, tenures and cause of deaths. Controlling age and sex difference was conducted using 26,950,481 general population, 95,340 general deaths and 864,560 working public servants. All the groups were aged 20-64, who were being observed January - December in 1993, at the same time. Results and discussions are as follows. 1. SMRs standardized by general population was significantly low (SMR 44.9 CI 42.8-52.7) for all job titlses. Of public servants, 90.0% was graduated from high school, although 17.5% in general population. The distinction of social status such a education may produce a strong healthy worker effect. Besides, SMRs for different tenure groups showed a steady increase as tenure increases. This suggests that the magnitude of healthy-worker effect may be greater with increasing tenures. 2. SMRs standardized by own public servants was significantly elevated for workmen(SMR 121.0, CI 110.2-132.6) in solitue. When SMRs for different grade of workmen was examined, 9th(SMR 124.2, CI 104.4-146.7) and 10th(SMR 137.9 CI 120.8-156.8)grade, lower grade in workmen, showed significantly elevated SMRs. Of workmen, 57.0% were graduated from high school and 50.1% in 9th grade, as well. These mean that low economic states made up social class, education may increase mortality rate. 3. Of SMRs according to all causes of death, only policemen on 'cause of death related hypertensive disease'(SMR 282.5, CI 121.6-556.7) was significantly high except for 'cause of death related other signs, symptoms and ill-defined conditions'. 4. When SMRs on cause of death related hypertensive disease for different grade of policemen was examined, senior policemen(SMR 241.9), in charge of the front service, showed elevated SMR, in spite of statistical no significance. Especially, the working hour of senior policemen is quite long and also the work schedule is even more irregular for policemen. The results of this study showed that mortality for different jobs differed, and it differed also for different grades in the same job. This difference in mortality may reflect the difference in the nature of job contents, and further studies are warranted to elucidate which job characteristics are responsible.

Characteristics of 23 MV Photon Beam from a Mevatron KD 8067 Dual Energy Linear Accelerator / 대한치료방사선과학회지

The characteristics of 23 MV photon beam have been presented with respect to clinical parameters of central axis depth dose, tissue-maximum ratis, scatter-maximum ratios, surface dose and scatter correction factors. The nominal accelerating potential was found to be 18.5+/-0.5 MV on the central axis. The half-value layer (HVL) of this photon beam was measured with narrow beam geometry from central axis, and it has been showed the thickness of 24.5 g/cm2. The tissue-maximum, ratio values have been determined from measured percentage depth dose data. In our experimental dosimetry, the surface dose of maximum showed only 9.6% of maximum dose at 10x10cm2, 100cm SSD, without blocking tray in. The TMR'S of 0x0 field size have been determined to get average 2.3% uncertainties from three different methodis; are zero effective attenuation coefficient, non-ilnear least square fil of TMR's data and effective linear attenuation coefficient from the HVL of 23 MV photon beams of dual energy linear accelerator.