• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.161-165
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• 2006

Organophosphate insecticides, commonly used in agriculture, are a gradually increasing cause of accidental and suicidal poisoning. Intoxication can occur by ingestion, inhalation or dermal contact. Exposure to organophosphorus agents causes a sequentially triphasic illness consisting of the cholinergic phase, the intermediate syndrome, and organophosphate-induced delayed polyneuropathy. Acute pancreatitis as a rare complication of organophosphate intoxication has also been infrequently observed. We report a case of intoxication with organophosphate (phos-phamidon) by parenteral exposure (inhalation and/or dermal contact). A 34-year-old male patient was transferred to our Emergency Medical Center and was intubated due to a progressive respiratory failure. He presented with meiotic pupils, cranial nerve palsies, weak respiration, and proximal limb motor weaknesses without sensory changes. He had been employed in filling syringes with phosphamidon during the previous month. Because the patient's history and symptoms suggested organophosphate intoxication with intermediate syndrome, he was mechanically ventilated for 18 days with continuous infusion of atropine and pralidoxime (total amounts of 159 mg and 216 g, respectively). During his admission, hyperamylasemia and hyperli-pasemia were detected, and his abdominal CT scan showed a finding compatible with acute pancreatitis. He was administered a conservative treatment with NPO and nasogastric drainage. The patient was discharged and showed neither gastrointestinal nor neurologic sequelae upon follow up at one week and three months.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.63-74
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• 2016

Objectives: We surveyed the awareness and current status of using fumigant carbon disulfide for exterminate Curculio sikkimensis among chestnut farmers in Chungnam Province to suggest directions for health education and public relations. Methods: We designed questionnaires to evaluate recognition of fumigant carbon disulfide. We conducted a questionnaire survey to assess recognition and recognition level of fumigant carbon disulfide by the study variables. Results: The recognition status for fumigant carbon disulfide was 74.5%, but the recognition level was low (know well 27.5%). The path of recognition was 45.1% and 15.7% for neighbor and rural technology center, respectively. The recognition status for warning label of fumigant carbon disulfide was 52.9%. Recognition for warning label of fumigant carbon disulfide was tended to increase with high educational attainment, bigger owning land area. Recognition on the content of warning label were 29.4%, 27.5%, 21.6%, and 21.6% for inflammability, toxicity, hazard, and explosiveness, respectively. Using personal protection equipment was tended to increase with the high status of awareness on fumigant carbon disulfide. Conclusions: Health education programs for using fumigant carbon disulfide are needed for chestnut farmers. In addition, publicity information activities about prevention and protection of carbon disulfide poisoning are needed for high risk farmers.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.273-278
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• 2012

Staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB), which is a bacterial superantigen produced by Staphylococcus aureus, is associated with serious diseases, including food poisoning and atopic dermatitis. This study was performed to produce about 30 kDa of recombinant SEB protein and to immunize in chickens to acquire the specific egg yolk antibody (IgY) against the recombinant SEB. Chickens were immunized with the recombinant SEB intramuscularly in the breast muscle by injection 3 times at intervals of two weeks. Serum- and egg yolk-antibody titers of hens against SEB were highest at 4 weeks after first immunization. In western blot, anti-recombinant SEB IgY was reacted immunospecifically against the recombinant SEB and commercialized SEB. These results suggested that the recombinant SEB antigen could be used as an immunogen to elicit antibody (IgY) against SEB and the anti-recombinant SEB IgY could neutralized staphylococcal enterotoxin B effectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.144-149
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• 2014

Objectives: Nicotine is a natural alkaloid and insecticide in tobacco leaves. Green tobacco sickness (GTS) is known as a disease of acute nicotine intoxication among tobacco farmers. Until now, GTS has been recognized globally as a disease that results from nicotine absorption through the skin. However, we assumed that GTS might also result from nicotine inhalation as well as absorption. We aimed to measure the airborne nicotine concentrations in various work environments of Korean tobacco farmers. Methods: We measured the nicotine concentrations in the tobacco fields, private curing barns, and joint curing barns of farmers from July to October 2010. All sampling and analyses of airborne nicotine were conducted according to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health manual of analytic methods. Results: The airborne nicotine concentrations (geometric mean [geometric standard deviation]) in the tobacco field were $83.4mg/m^3$ (1.2) in the upper region and $93.3mg/m^3$(1.2) in the lower region. In addition, the nicotine concentration by personal sampling was $150.1mg/m^3$. Similarly, the nicotine concentrations in the private curing barn, workers in curing barns, the front yard of the curing barn, and in the joint curing barn were $323.7mg/m^3$(2.0), $121.0mg/m^3$(1.5), $73.7mg/m^3$(1.7), and $610.3mg/m^3$(1.0), respectively. Conclusions: The nicotine concentration in the workplaces of tobacco farmers was very high. Future studies should measure the environmental concentration of nicotine that is inhaled by tobacco farmers.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.420-424
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• 2005

Objectives : A few culture-confirmed cases of S. sonnei have been notified from Korean hospitals. The source of epidemic can't be firmly determined in such cases because of the rarity of this illness in the local communities and the timing of the outbreaks. The objective of this study is to estimate the source of epidemic by investigating the patients' lifestyles. Methods : Alibi verification was used to access the presumed source of the epidemic. PCR (Polymerase Chain Reaction) was used to rapidly detect the genes of Shigella in water specimens. Results : The common lifestyle trait among the Shigella infected patients was connected with Mt. Martyr in J city, Korea. The first patient's son had gone on a pilgrimage to Mt. Martyr with 41 friends and he had only eaten rice cakes on April 5th; the second patients had visited Mt. Martyr with their mother for a picnic on April 12th; the third patient had visited Mt. Martyr with 22 friends for a pilgrimage and the patient had only drunk holy water on April 13th. Therefore, the holy water of Mt. Martyr was reckoned to be the source of the epidemic. PCR detected the genes of Shigella two days before the S. sonnei was confirmed. Conclusion : The patients' lifestyles for 7 days before the onset of symptoms should be determined in terms of time, place and contacted people to find the source of infection when cases with food poisoning are seen in the hospital setting.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.1 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 1990

The effects of sulfur on the catalytic reaction between CO and NO on polycrystalline Pt surface, which is very important in the development of catalyst for automobile exhaust gas control, have been studied using thermal desorption spectrometry(TDS) under ultra-high vacuum(UHV) conditions. Sulfur weakened both the adsorptions of CO and NO by direct site blocking and indirect electronic effect. S(a) desorbing below 800 K gave little effect on reaction activity whereas S(a) desorbing above 800 K, which adsorbs as an atomic state, gave much effect on it. The adsorbed sulfur existed on the surface of platinum in the form of islands, and also reduced the adsorption energies of adsorbates by the long-ranged electronic effect. The platinum catalyst in the reaction between CO and NO was poisoned selectively by S(a), poisoning firstly the active sites of this reaction.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.83-89
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• 2009

Purpose: Rhabdomyolysis is one of the most important complications of pesticide intoxication. It affects a patient's clinical prognosis and can cause acute renal failure. It is important that patients diagnosed with pesticide intoxication receive an accurate initial diagnosis and proper treatment to prevent significant complications. This study's objective was to investigate and confirm related factors causing acute renal failure by verifying clinical observations and laboratory findings collected following pesticide intoxication. Methods: A retrospective analysis was made of 734 patients who presenting to our emergency medical center after ingesting pesticides between January 2006 and December 2008, Of these, 513 patients were selected for the study. Two hundred and twenty-one patients were excluded because of paraquat intoxication, age (if under 18), or chronic renal failure. Seventy-four patients were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, based on serum creatinine phosphokinase levels were > 1,000U/L. Acute renal failure was diagnosed when creatinine levels were > 2.0 mg/dL. Results: Among the 74 patients diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis, 26 (35.1%) experienced acute renal failure. The most meaningful related factor in the prediction of acute renal failure was initial arterial pH and creatinine level. Conclusion: Initial arterial pH and creatinine level are predictors of complications such as acute renal failure in patients with rhabdomyolysis.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.106-111
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• 2007

Purpose: Inadequate hospital stocking and unavailability of essential antidotes is a worldwide problem. The purpose of this study was to determine the adequacy of antidote stocks in Korean hospitals based on a modified version of US antidote stocking guidelines. Methods: Both written and telephone surveys to collect information on hospital demographics and antidote stocking were given to the emergency departments or hospital pharmacies of 117 hospitals with emergency medical centers. The twenty antidotes included in the survey were taken from year 2000 US antidote stocking guidelines, except for activated charcoal and black widow spider antivenin. Antidote stocks were compared by hospital size, geographic location, and type of emergency medical center. Results: Complete responses were received from all hospitals. A mean of $12.4{\pm}2.9$ antidotes were adequately stocked per hospital. All hospitals stocked atropine, $CaCl_2$ naloxone, and sodium bicarbonate. However, digoxin Fab fragment (16%), cyanide kits (15%), EDTA (10%), BAL (9%), and fomepizole (1%) were not uniformly stocked. Large and teaching hospitals were significantly more likely to stock greater numbers of antidotes. Conclusions: Korean hospitals as a group do not have adequate antidote stocks. Korean stocking guidelines and an antidote management system are recommended in order to correct these deficiencies.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2013

Gastric lavage is one of gastrointestinal decontamination methods which have been controversial in the clinical toxicology field for a long time. Expert groups of American and European clinical toxicologists have published the position papers regarding gastric lavage three times since 1997. They recommended that gastric lavage should not be used as a routine procedure in the management of acute intoxication, because they thought that there is no certain evidence of improving clinical outcome by its use. However, the studies they reviewed were not well-controlled randomized trials, which cannot be conducted in the clinical toxicology field due to variability of patients and ethical problems. Therefore, the results from these studies should be interpreted with caution. They also insisted that gastric lavage can be undertaken within 60 minutes of ingestion. The limitation of one hour after ingestion is too arbitrary and may cause a lot of misunderstanding. Formation of pharmacobezoar or gastric hypomotility after ingestion may significantly delay the gastric emptying time so that gastric lavage can be useful even after several hours or more in case of highly toxic substances or severe intoxication. Furthermore, as there are a number of serious intoxication by toxic pesticides with large amount in suicidal attempts in Korea, it seems that gastric lavage may be used more frequently in Korea than in Western countries. When deciding whether or not to use gastric lavage, all the indications, contraindications, and possible adverse effects should be taken into account on the basis of risk-benefit analysis. If the procedure is decided to be done, it should only be performed by well-trained experts.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.176-192
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• 1999

The purpose of this study is to analysis change of industrial health and safety before and after economic crisis(1997~1998). The data were obtained through mail interview with health supervisor(occupational health nurses) during February, 1999. The final sample was consisted of 127 respondents, 97 are selected in this study. The major findings were as follows: First, the percent of industries whose empl safe supervisors, physicians and industry hygi decreased in number is 79.4%, 3.8%, 50.0 21.5% in each. Second, man receiving over 1.5 million won as an average wage of health supervisor is 27.5% in 1997, but it decreased to 25.3% in 1998. Man receiving under 100~150 million won is 48.4% in 1997, but this percent decreased to 36.3% in 1998 and 13.6% of health supervisor regularly were transformed to contingent worker in 1998. Third, especially, budgets for health and saf work place decreased to 13.8% in 1998 than 19. Fourth, industrial accident case, unre accident case, occupational disease decreased than 1997, but mortality from industrial a increased in 250%. Fifth, according to the health diagnosis report, number of case with evidence of disease increased in liver disease, tuberculosis and so on, and number of case with evidence of occupational disease increased in noise induced hearing loss, pneumoconiosis. organic solvent poisoning and so on. Sixth, this survey shows that health council, health education in duty of health supervisor was conducted passive in 1998 thin 1997, and percent of hold two or more positions is 47.6% in medical insurance, 10.7% in accountant's business 8.3 in secretory. 7.1% in telephone operator awl 22.6% in etc. Seventh, distress of health supervisor after economic crisis is 30.9% in employment instability, 19.8% in hold two or more positions and decrease of budgets. For subjugation of the trouble, the respond of active policy of government occupied most.