Yen-Hsiung Liao's scientific contributions

p> Purpose: To determine whether hematological and immunological changes occur in manufacturing workers in association with gallium, indium, and arsenic biomarkers in light-emitting diodes. Methods: 91exposed light-emitting diodes, workers and 24 referents were monitored for whole blood and urine levels of gallium, indium, and arsenic. Venous blood was also collected for routine and immunological analyses. Results: The mean levels of blood in, urine Ga, urine as, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) in the exposed workers were significantly than in referents. The values of mean corpuscular volume (MCV), white blood cell counts (WBCs), neutrophils, lymphocytes, interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and IgG in the exposed workers were lower than in referents. Combined exposure to Ga, In, and As showed a significant change in trends of decreased MCV, WBCs, neutrophils, lymphocytes, IFN,γ, and IgG value, after adjusting for appropriate confounders. Conclusion: These findings indicated that heavier exposed to Ga, In, and As may suppress hematological and immunological variables.</p

p> Purpose: To investigate whether occupational exposure to gallium, indium, and arsenic may disrupt normal heme production and damage DNA by initiating the release of lipid peroxidation. Methods: 101exposed optoelectronic workers and 65 referents were tested for their whole blood and urine levels of gallium, indium, and arsenic. Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), blood zinc protophorphyrin (ZPP), and serum DNA fragments were used as indicators of toxic hazards. Results: The MDA, ZPP, and DNA fragment mean levels in the exposed workers were significantly higher than those in the referents. The levels of urine gallium in the exposed workers were significantly correlated with the levels of whole blood ZPP and serum DNA fragments respectively. MDA (the production of lipid peroxidation) may be one of the mechanisms for gallium-related DNA damage in multiple regression models. In addition, gallium was found to have a synergistic effect with arsenic on MDA level that may induce indium to damage DNA in blood cells. Conclusion: ZPP and DNA fragments can be elevated by gallium exposure, and the MDA increase due to combined exposure to gallium and arsenic may play a role in indium-induced DNA damage.</p

p> Purpose: To determine whether chromium, cadmium, and lead levels in human Fingernails reflected the exposure to workplace contamination in tanneries. Approach: 49 exposed tanning workers and 33 controls were monitored for fingernail levels of chromium, cadmium, and lead by graphite furnace and hydride atomic absorption spectroscopy. Results: The mean levels of fingernail chromium, cadmium, and lead in the exposed workers were significantly higher than those in the controls. In regression models for the tannery workers, the significant risk factor that affected the fingernail chromium, Cadmium, and lead level were occupational exposure, respectively. Current smoker it showed a significant change in trend of increased fingernail cadmium levels. Conclusion: These findings indicate that chromium, cadmium, and lead absorbed from. Leather tanning compounds result in raised levels of chromium, cadmium, and lead in fingernails and that improvement of the industrial health should be more practiced in the tanneries in Taiwan.</p

Purpose: To follow up the hematological changes in petroleum workers with continuous exposure to benzene. Approach: The hematological data of two petroleum company male employees was obtained from the annual health check-ups during 2001 to 2005. Workers were classified into exposed and unexposed groups on the basis of their exposure operation performed, and the industrial hygiene surveys. Results: There was not any difference between the exposed and the unexposed groups in the frequency of abnormalities with CBC differential and WBC differential almost. The frequency of higher than the normal range with eosinophils was significantly higher in exposed group (31.73%) than in unexposed group (11.54%, p < 0.05) in 1994, only. Conclusion: The study suggested that the eosinophil counts could be a hematological effect maker among workers exposed to benzene in the petroleum industry.

Purpose: To monitor whether the relief including food, and supplies met the need for the Typhoon Morakot victims. Approach: Relief data was obtained from the Relief Coordination Center (RCC), Pingtung County Government during July 10 to July 28, 2009. The relief was classified into food and supplies categories. Results: The most need of relief was cleaner necessaries (8/15 = 53.3 %), the last need of relief was seasoning (0/15 = 0 %). The subjects including eggs, bread, cloths, socks, lighter, and candle were not required by the victims although they were donated by people. Conclusion: The several catchment areas in Pingtung County needed to be cleaned after the flooding. Therefore, the kind of cleaner necessaries was the most as well as the longest need of relief expectantly. Our results suggest the priorities of resources allocation for the next disaster. Keywords: Typhoon Morakot, Cleaner Necessaries, Resource Allocation.

Purpose To investigate the basic and medical needs of 258 serious injuries in the Chi-Chi earthquake. Approach Subjects were collected from the Department of public Health Bureau, Nantou County Government. The participants were asked to complete the questionnaire about the basic and medical needs 5 months after the earthquake struck. Results There were 13 died, 8 still in hospital, and 250 discharged of the 271 serious injuries. Among the 250 discharged persons, 28 (11.2 %) needed home rehabilitation, 206 (82.4 %) needed hospital rehabilitation routinely, and 16 (6.4 %) cases were cured. The unemployment got the living fee less self-reliant than the employment (odds ratio = 214.67, 95 % confidence interval = 53.22 865.83). The unemployment needed the employment service more than the employment (odds ratio = 5.37, 95 % confidence interval = 1.20 23.94) also. There were no difference between the unemployment and employment for the needs of home rehabilitation, mental counseling, financial support, vocational training, and accommodation service. These analyses suggested that provides both the extent rehabilitation service and job service for the still unemployed as the major strategies for serious injuries in Taiwan.