Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Nari Choy

5 Articles

A Case of Chemical Pneumonitis After Ingestion of Hydrocarbon: Suk Hwan Kim, Yangjin Jegal, Nari Choy, Yangho Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2009;21(4):406-411. Published online December 31, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2009.21.4.406

Abstract PDF: BACKGROUND
Hydrocarbon is used frequently in the home in places such as the kitchen, garage, and basement. Accidental ingestion of hydrocarbons occurs generally in infants and children in the home. In cases of accidental ingestion, the amount is usually too small to cause medical problems, but can bring about diseases such as chemical pneumonitis.
CASE
REPORT: After ingesting organic solvent mistaken for mineral water, a 53-year-old male complained of cough, fever, and pain in the right upper abdomen, back, and right chest. Simple chest x-ray revealed focal chemical pneumonitis mainly involving the right middle lobe. The resulting lung abscess did not resolve until after treatment with drainage accompanied with antibiotics therapy. The ingested solution was analyzed and found to be a C11~C13 hydrocarbon mixture which has low viscosity.
CONCLUSION
Chemical pneumonitis occurred after ingestion of hydrocarbon solution, and there is evidence of aspiratory mechanism.

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Early Objectified Detection Method of Sensorineural Component in Hand Arm Vibration Syndrome: Jae Kuk Yoon, Hun Lee, Nari Choy, Suk Hwan Kim, Hyoung Ouk Park, Ji Ho Lee, Cheol In Yoo; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2009;21(2):143-153. Published online June 30, 2009; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2009.21.2.143

OBJECTIVES
In order to determine find out the best methods for a more objective detection of neurologic abnormality in early hand arm vibration syndrome(HAVS), early with analyzing the validity of each of the detection methods was analyzed. We evaluated the relationships between the sensorineural stage of Stockholm-revised vibration syndrome classification and the results of several tests.
METHODS
497 workers were investigated for symptom, exposure duration, the types of tools used, and medical history from January 2000 to December 2007. Pain sense threshold, vibrotactile threshold, hand grasp force, finger grasp force, and a finger tapping frequency test were performed by the workers.
RESULTS
The grinder(67.3%) was the most commonly used tool and the mean exposure duration was 14.8 years. Although the pain sense and vibrotactile threshold level tended to increase according to sensorineural stage of the Stockholm classification, there was statistically significant difference in the vibrotactile threshold of 125, 250 Hz (p=0.006~0.038) but not in the pain sense threshold. Hand and finger grasp force tended to decrease according to the sensorineural stage of Stockholm classification and there was statistically significant difference(p=0.041,<0.001, 0.034) only on the right hand side. The tapping frequency also generally decreased according to the sensorineural stage of the Stockholm classification and there was statistically significant difference (p=0.002~0.019) only on the left hand side.
CONCLUSIONS
Although there is no single standardized method that can objectively diagnose the sensorineural component of early HAVS early, the combination of subjective symptoms, the sensorineural stage of Stockholm classification, the pain and vibrotactile threshold test, the hand and finger grasp force, and the finger agility (tapping) test can objectively detect sensorineural component of HAVS early.

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Application of cold intolerance symptom severity questionnaire among vibration-exposed workers as a screening tool for the early detection of hand-arm vibration syndrome: a cross-sectional study
A Ram Kim, Dae Yun Kim, Ji Soo Kim, Heun Lee, Joo Hyun Sung, Cheolin Yoo
Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine.2019;[Epub] CrossRef
Trend of Human Vibration Research in Korea
Hee-Sok Park
Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea.2013; 32(4): 293. CrossRef

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A Case of Raynaud's Phenomenon of both Feet in a Rock Drill Operator with Hand-arm Vibration Syndrome: Nari Choy, Chang Sun Sim, Jae Kuk Yoon, Suk Hwan Kim, Hyoung Ook Park, Ji Ho Lee, Cheol In Yoo; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2008;20(2):119-126. Published online June 30, 2008; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2008.20.2.119

Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
There have been many studies on hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) for almost a century. The Stockholm Workshop scale has been accepted as a useful tool in diagnosing HAVS. Although they are not standard tests for diagnosis, cold provocation test and plethysmography of the fingers are commonly used as objective measurements to confirm the vascular component of HAVS. However, there are only a handful of case reports and studies worldwide on Raynaud's phenomenon in the toes. We report the case of a patient with HAVS who developed Raynaud's phenomenon in the toes after the vibration exposure had ceased. To our knowledge, this is the first report of this entity in Korea.
CASE
REPORT: A 58-year-old male, who had been diagnosed with HAVS in 2003, first noticed white toes in the summer of 2006 after immersing his feet in cold water. He had been working as a rock drill operator since 1976 for almost 30 years and had symptoms on his fingers since 1992. He underwent the cold provocation test, photoplethysmography, Nerve conduction velocity, and basic laboratory tests to rule out other causes of secondary Raynaud's phenomenon. To describe the severity of his feet, it could be classified as vascular stage 2 and sensorineural stage 1 if we were to apply the Stockholm Workshop scale.
CONCLUSIONS
The patient showed vibration-induced white toes, and we would like to share the results of objective findings related to his condition. When diagnosing HAVS, symptoms of the feet should be assessed by the occupational and environmental medicine physicians. Further studies are needed to standardize test methods to diagnose "vibration-induced white toes."

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Raynaud’s phenomenon in the feet of Arctic open-pit miners
Albin Stjernbrandt, Hans Pettersson, Per Vihlborg, Anje Christina Höper, Anna Aminoff, Jens Wahlström, Tohr Nilsson
International Journal of Circumpolar Health.2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Body physiological responses of city bus drivers subjected to noise and vibration exposure in working environment
Ramin Rahmani, Mohsen Aliabadi, Rostam Golmohammadi, Mohammad Babamiri, Maryam Farhadian
Heliyon.2022; 8(8): e10329. CrossRef
The Health Effect of Hand Arm Transmitted Vibration
Jung-Wan Koo
Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea.2013; 32(4): 303. CrossRef
Examination of Vibration Characteristics, and Reported Musculoskeletal Discomfort for Workers Exposed to Vibration via the Feet
Mallorie Leduc, Tammy Eger, Alison Godwin, James P. Dickey, Ron House
Journal of Low Frequency Noise, Vibration and Active Control.2011; 30(3): 197. CrossRef

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A Case of Nitrogen Dioxide-Induced Pulmonary Edema in Oxygen Torch: Jong Joon Ahn, Yangjin Jegal, Kwang Won Seo, Woon Jung Kwon, Nari Choy, Yangho Kim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2007;19(3):244-249. Published online September 30, 2007; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2007.19.3.244

Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
Welders tend to be exposed to a variety of hazards including metal fumes, toxic gases, electricity, heat, noise, and radiation such as ultraviolet and infrared light. Noxious gases generated during welding include carbon monoxide, ozone, and nitrogen oxide. Although the effects of metal fumes have been well studied, few reports have investigated the influence of noxious gas exposure in welders.
CASE
REPORT: We encountered a patient who developed non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema within a day after fairing up a steel plate with an oxygen/LPG torch. The patient was a 43-year-old female who complained of dyspnea which became exacerbated the following morning. Her chest X-ray and chest CT scan showed an extensive ground glass opacity which was more prominent in the both upper lungs. Both her symptoms and chest X-ray findings improved. We attributed the patient's symptoms to non-cardiogenic pulmonary edema caused by nitrogen dioxide exposure, by reasoning that: 1) the patient's clinical course and radiologic findings suggested pulmonary edema 2) the event happened following fairing work with oxygen/LPG torch that usually induces a high concentration of nitrogen dioxide, and 3) the other possible causes of pulmonary edema could be excluded.
CONCLUSION
Nitrogen dioxide-induced pulmonary edema should be considered in oxygen torch contrary to arc welding.

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Acute Occupational Poisoning in Korea
Hyunjoo Kim, Jia Ryu
The Ewha Medical Journal.2016; 39(4): 99. CrossRef

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A Case of Acute Organotin Poisoning: Yu Jung Kim, Yangho Kim, Kyoung Sook Jeong, Chang Sun Sim, Nari Choy, Jongchul Kim, Jun Bum Eum, Yoshiaki Nakajima, Yoko Endo, Cheol In Yoo; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2006;18(3):255-262. Published online September 30, 2006; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2006.18.3.255

Abstract PDF

BACKGROUND
Although organotin compounds are widely used as PVC stabilizers, catalysts and biocides, their effects on humans are not well known. However, their acute intoxication is known to cause neurotoxicity in the central nervous system, renal toxicity, and hepatotoxicity. As there has been no previously published case of organotin intoxication in Korea, we report here the first Korean case of acute exposure to organotin.
CASE
REPORT: A 43-year-old male with disorientation and behavioral change was admitted to a hospital. He had been working as a tank cleaner for several different companies in the previous 8 years and a week before admission, he had cleaned a tank containing dimethyltin (DMT) for 4 days. A day after finishing the job, he suffered decreased memory, behavioral change and progressive mental deterioration when he arrived at the emergency room. The result of spinal tapping was negative but on the 4th day of admission he deteriorated into a state of coma along with metabolic acidosis and severe hypokalemia. High levels of DMT and trimethyltin (TMT) were detected in a highly sensitive urine analysis. After conservative treatment and chelation therapy, the patient showed some clinical improvement but the neurological defects persisted.
CONCLUSION
The patient appeared to have been intoxicated from the acute exposure to a high level of organotin while cleaning the tank.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Acute Occupational Poisoning in Korea
Hyunjoo Kim, Jia Ryu
The Ewha Medical Journal.2016; 39(4): 99. CrossRef
Compensation for Occupational Diseases by Chemical Agents in Korea
Soon-Chan Kwon, Soo-Yong Roh, Ji-Hoon Lee, Eun-A Kim
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2014; 29(Suppl): S78. CrossRef
Occupational Neurological Disorders in Korea
Eun-A Kim, Seong-Kyu Kang
Journal of Korean Medical Science.2010; 25(Suppl): S26. CrossRef
Occupational Neurologic Disorders in Korea
Yangho Kim, Kyoung Sook Jeong, Yong-Hun Yun, Myoung-Soon Oh
Journal of Clinical Neurology.2010; 6(2): 64. CrossRef

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