Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

Activity of Telomerase in Coal Worker's Autopsied Lung: Jin Suk Chung, Hae Yun Nam, Byoung Yong Ahn, Kyoung Ah Kim, Young Lim; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 2002;14(4):347-352. Published online December 31, 2002; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.2002.14.4.347

Abstract PDF: OBJECT: We measured the activity of telomerase in coal workers lung tissue and found a significant increase in telomerase activity compared to the control group. Pneumoconiosis has the characteristics of fibroblast proliferation and the accumulation of collagen,thus finally causing the pathologic changes,which lead to the irreversible and progressive fibrosis of the lungs. We hypothesized that this cellular proliferation causing irreversible fibrosis may induce some elongation of the life cycle in the chromosomes and lead to further cellular immortalization.
METHOD
8 postmortem(within 24 hours)pneumo-coniotic cases were examined and their telomerase activity was compared with that of the autopsied lungs of lung cancer patients and of accident victims without any respiratory diseases. Using the extracted ribo-nucleoprotein from pneumoconiotic nodules, telomeric repeat amplification assay (TRAP)was done.
RESULT
The pneumoconiotic lungs showed strong telomerase activity, similar to that of the lung cancer patients, while the control group showed no such activity.
CONCLUSION
Based on the results of this study, we found that coal dust-induced cellular proliferation affects telomerase-activity clinically.

Radiological discrimination of cor pulmonale with pulmonary function and electrocardiography finding in coal workers pneumoconiosis: Yong Hee Cheon; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1996;8(3):446-453. Published online December 31, 1996; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1996.8.3.446

Abstract PDF: The radiological finding, pulmonary ventilatory function test data, electrocardiography data were used for the study of relationship between these variables in cor pulmonale and normal group in coal Workers pneumoconiosis. The hospital records of 674 men who were diagnosed as coal workers pneumoconiosis were analysed. The ratio between interhilar distance and thoracic transverse diameter was used as a criterion in grouping of cor pulmonale. If. the ratio is greater than 0.36, it was classified, to cor pulmonale. The squared canonical correlation of pulmonary function variable to cor pulmonale grouping was less than 0.15. Logistic regression analysis with pulmonary function variable and electrocardiographic variable showed sensitivity 50.5%, specificity 72.2%, correctness 62.2%. Vital capacity and Forced vital capacity showed significantly decreased value in cor pulmonale group after adjustment of covariates( age, degree of dyspnea, pack-years of smoking, perfusion of small and large opacity).

Activities of Serum Lactate Dehydrohenase and Lactate Dehydrogenase Isoenzymes Activities by Small Opacity Groups on Chest Radiographs in Coal Worker's Pneumoconiosis Patients: Ho Deun chung, Jeong Pyo Hong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1990;2(2):206-211. Published online August 31, 1990; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1990.2.2.206

Abstract PDF: Serum lactate degydrogenase (LD) and LD isoenzyme activities were evaluated in sera from 74 patients of coal workers' pneumoconiosis (CWP) to investigate biochemical changes of these enzyme activities according to radiographical profusions of CWP. Subjects were participated patients in the detailed examination of pneumoconiosis in December 1989. LD activities were evaluated by lactate to pyruvate methods and isoenzyme activities were determined by agarose gel electrophoresis. And small opacity profusions on chest radiographs of subjects were evaluated by radiologist. The results were as follows: 1. LD activities were not significantly different among categories of radiographical profusions. 2. LD4 activities were shown difference significantly among categories of radiographical profusions (category 1: 8.2+/-2.69 U/l, category 2: 10.1+/-3.90, category 3: 10.6+/-2.63; p<0.05). 3. Activities of LD(1), LD(2), LD(3), and LD(5) were not different significantly among categories of radiographical profusions.
Conclusion
ly, serum LD(4) activity seems to be increased by fibroplasia of CWP, but increasing activities of LD4 should not affect serum LD activities significantly.

The Serum Alpha-antitrypsin Concentration of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Patients: Bong Suk Cha, Ho Keun Chung, Jeong Pyo Hong; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1990;2(1):34-43. Published online February 28, 1990; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1990.2.1.34

Abstract PDF: This study was performed to investigate associations between serum alpha(1)-antitrypsin(AAT) concentration and radiological categories of coal workers' pneumoconlosis(CWP), between AAT concentration and pulmonary complications such as tuberculosis and emphysema, and to study associations between AAT concentration and FEV(1.0)% in CWP patients, We classified 254 CWP patients in D Hospital into categories of small opacity profusion. And we selected 86 subjects by with or without emphysematous finding in each categories by proportional stratified sampling method. Semm AAT concentrations were quantkated by single radial immunodiffusion method, and the findings of chest radiographs were evaluated by radilogist. The results were as follows: 1. Serum AAT concentrations were not significantly different among groups of radiological categories of small opacities. 2. Complication of emphysema was associated with smoking habits sigmficantlyl(chi square=12.16, p<0,01). And AAT concentraLion was higher in smokers and ex-smokers than in non-smokers. Serum AAT concentration was significantly higher in the cases with emphysema than in the cdses without emphybema{p<0.01). 3. Serum AAT concentration of the group with active pulmonary tuberculosis was significantly higher than with inactive or without: pulmonary tuberculosis group(p<0.1). 4. Serum AAT concentration of the group with low FEV(1.0)% was significantly higher than with high or normal group(p<0.05).

Smoking Habit of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis Patients: Their Relationship to the Findings of Chest Radiographs: Jeong Pyo Hong, Ho Keun Chung; Korean Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine 1990;2(1):23-33. Published online February 28, 1990; DOI: https://doi.org/10.35371/kjoem.1990.2.1.23

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