Journal of UOEH
-
Cement, in particular Portland cement, is now widely used in the field of civil engineering and the construction industry. High alkalinity of wet cement and its tiny content of water-soluble chromate can cause occupational skin diseases. In this paper, we report four cases of contact dermatitis by cement and two cases of cement burn. ⋯ Therefore we concluded that better protective clothing and gloves should be used and that working conditions be improved. Most skin diseases caused by cement occur among workers at small-scale enterprises. Therefore it is desirable that regional occupational health centers, which were established to promote the health care system for workers at small-scale enterprises, take prompt measures to avoid the skin diseases.
-
We have accepted patients suffering out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest (CPA) since September 1997. In this study, we retrospectively reviewed the etiology of CPA and the outcome of the patients. We also investigated the effects of the pre-hospital cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) by a bystander or emergency life-saving technicians (ELST) on the restoration of spontaneous circulation. ⋯ The CPR by ELST did not affect the resuscitated rate significantly. These results indicate that the most common etiology of CPA is unknown endogenous disease, and the rate of full recovery is very low (2.6%). This study suggests that bystander CPR may contribute to an improved outcome of the patients suffering out-of-hospital CPA.