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n-Hexane intoxication in a Chinese medicine pharmaceutical plant: a case report

Overview of attention for article published in Journal of Medical Case Reports, April 2017
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Title
n-Hexane intoxication in a Chinese medicine pharmaceutical plant: a case report
Published in
Journal of Medical Case Reports, April 2017
DOI 10.1186/s13256-017-1280-9
Pubmed ID
Authors

Jo-Hui Pan, Chiung-Yu Peng, Chung-Ting Lo, Chia-Yen Dai, Chao-Ling Wang, Hung-Yi Chuang

Abstract

n-Hexane is a well-known neurotoxicant. Polyneuropathy due to occupational n-hexane exposure has been reported worldwide, however, our case is the first report in the Chinese herb industry. A 25-year-old Asian man experienced progressive weakness and numbness in his hands and feet after working as an operator in a Chinese medicine pharmaceutical plant for the manufacture of Chinese herbal pain relief patches for 10 months. Electrophysiological studies indicated a reduction in nerve conduction velocity, prolongation of distal latencies, mildly positive sharp waves, and reduced recruitment with polyphasic potentials, particularly at distal sites. Demyelination with axonal degeneration caused by occupational n-hexane exposure was strongly suspected. Through investigation of our patient's workplace, the ambient n-hexane concentration in air was found to considerably exceed the permissible exposure limit/time-weighted average for n-hexane in Taiwan. His symptoms were gradually relieved after 4 months of cessation of exposure to n-hexane. He was then confirmed as a case of occupational n-hexane intoxication. Further effective control measures should be implemented as soon as possible to prevent exposure of workers to n-hexane. Despite a typical clinical presentation, his exposure at workplace was appropriately investigated. Chemical exposure in Chinese medicine pharmaceutical plants could be an emerging issue that may affect workers' health. The lack of knowledge and management of solvents could endanger the health of workers. This case has profound educational implications for occupational health and is worthy of further follow-up for improving hazards control.

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X Demographics

The data shown below were collected from the profiles of 3 X users who shared this research output. Click here to find out more about how the information was compiled.
Mendeley readers

Mendeley readers

The data shown below were compiled from readership statistics for 39 Mendeley readers of this research output. Click here to see the associated Mendeley record.

Geographical breakdown

Country Count As %
Unknown 39 100%

Demographic breakdown

Readers by professional status Count As %
Student > Bachelor 8 21%
Professor 3 8%
Other 2 5%
Researcher 2 5%
Student > Doctoral Student 1 3%
Other 3 8%
Unknown 20 51%
Readers by discipline Count As %
Medicine and Dentistry 5 13%
Chemistry 2 5%
Psychology 2 5%
Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology 1 3%
Business, Management and Accounting 1 3%
Other 6 15%
Unknown 22 56%
Attention Score in Context

Attention Score in Context

This research output has an Altmetric Attention Score of 2. This is our high-level measure of the quality and quantity of online attention that it has received. This Attention Score, as well as the ranking and number of research outputs shown below, was calculated when the research output was last mentioned on 25 February 2018.
All research outputs
#14,934,072
of 22,968,808 outputs
Outputs from Journal of Medical Case Reports
#1,373
of 3,939 outputs
Outputs of similar age
#184,383
of 310,521 outputs
Outputs of similar age from Journal of Medical Case Reports
#23
of 87 outputs
Altmetric has tracked 22,968,808 research outputs across all sources so far. This one is in the 32nd percentile – i.e., 32% of other outputs scored the same or lower than it.
So far Altmetric has tracked 3,939 research outputs from this source. They receive a mean Attention Score of 4.0. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 61% of its peers.
Older research outputs will score higher simply because they've had more time to accumulate mentions. To account for age we can compare this Altmetric Attention Score to the 310,521 tracked outputs that were published within six weeks on either side of this one in any source. This one is in the 37th percentile – i.e., 37% of its contemporaries scored the same or lower than it.
We're also able to compare this research output to 87 others from the same source and published within six weeks on either side of this one. This one has gotten more attention than average, scoring higher than 70% of its contemporaries.