title: Decreased brain volumes in manganese-exposed welders.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  A great deal of research has been devoted to identifying subclinical functional brain abnormalities in manganese (Mn)-exposed welders. However, no previous study has investigated morphological brain abnormalities, such as changes in brain volume, in welders. This study evaluates morphological changes in brain volume among welders, and investigates the relationship between structural brain abnormalities and subclinical dysfunction in this population.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used voxel-based morphometry (VBM) to assess differences in gray and white matter brain volumes between 40 welders with chronic Mn exposure and 26 age-matched control subjects. Correlation analyses were used to investigate the relationship between brain volume changes and decreased performance on neurobehavioral tests.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Brain volumes in the globus pallidus and cerebellar regions were significantly diminished in welders with chronic Mn exposure compared to controls (FDR-corrected P<0.05). These changes in brain volume were negatively correlated with cognitive performance and grooved pegboard scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There are measurable brain volume reductions in the globus pallidus and cerebellum of welders chronically exposed to Mn, and these volume reductions correlate with cognitive and motor neurobehavioral deficits. Our findings therefore indicate that volumetric measurement could be a useful subclinical marker among welders that show no signs of manganism.
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular Medicine, Kyungpook National University College of Medicine, Kyungpook National University Hospital, Daegu, South Korea.
authors.forename: Yongmin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Seong-Uk
authors.initials: SU
authors.lastname: Jin
authors.forename: Yangho
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Kyung Min
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Shin
authors.forename: Hui Joong
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Suk Hwan
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Joon-Ho
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Ahn
authors.forename: Sin-Jae
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Kyoung Sook
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Jeong
authors.forename: Young Cheol
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Weon
authors.forename: Heun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001921:Brain / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003071:Cognition / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008345:Manganese / Q000009:adverse effects*; D020149:Manganese Poisoning / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016272:Occupational Health; D009929:Organ Size; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D008345:Manganese