• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.322-334
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• 2013

Objectives: This study describes the results of a mass screening and secondary questionnaire conducted among sampled residents around Camp Carroll. Methods: The subjects were sampled based on Waegwan groundwater ingestion history via a primary health questionnaire survey. However, the study population included voluntary participants and there were no grounds for disqualification. Among the 1,033 residents, excluding people living outside Waegwan, 844 subjects age 30 and over were analyzed. History of physician-diagnosed disease (including detailed history of cancer), eating habits, drinking and smoking histories were queried through questionnaires. Health screening consisted of a blood pressure check and blood test (complete blood cell, liver enzyme, lipid, blood sugar test, etc.). Results: The proportion of abnormal gamma-glutamyltransferase levels was higher in the groundwater ingesting female group than the non-ingesting female group. The odds ratios of the ingested '1 to 9 years' and '10 years and over' groups were 3.09 and 0.87, respectively. Proportions of hypertension in males, abnormal serum triglyceride levels in all and in females, and abnormal serum high density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in males were higher in the '10 to 29-year' resident group than in the '1 to 9 year' group. However, there were no significant trends according to length of residence. Conclusions: Physician-diagnosed prevalence and laboratory test results are not different by histories of Waegwan groundwater ingestion and by length of residence. Even if there are partially significant differences, they do not tend to follow increases of exposure amount and trends.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.476-486
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• 2007

This study was performed to investigate the dietary behaviors, perceived stress, and health-related factors along with their correlations in University students. The number of subjects was 150(64 males and 86 females), and the results of the study were as follows: Stress was felt by over 80% of the male and female students. The male students were more stressed than the females for economic value, gender difference, professor and drinking-related stress factors, and there was a significant difference between the genders. The female students had more clinical symptoms from stress than the male students in terms of dizziness, indigestion and constipation(p<0.01, p<0.001). The amount of food intake under stress was significantly different by gender. The female students preferred sweet tasting items, whereas the male students preferred hot tasting item when under stress. Also the intake of candy and chocolate when under stress in the male and female students was $2.00{\pm}0.74$ and $2.41{\pm}0.75$, respectively. The female students consumed candy and chocolate more than the male(p<0.01). Furthermore, 62.5% of the male students and 30.2% of the female students exercised to get rid of stress: the use of ball games as exercise in male and female students was $1.59{\pm}0.83$, $1.01{\pm}0.11$, respectively. Many students drank alcohol and smoked while under stress. In particular, the male students smoked more than normal as compared to the females, and there was a significant gender difference(p<0.001). The clinical symptoms positively correlated with the life stress level were degree of nervousness, sweaty, achy neck and shoulders, sore back, dizziness, eye fatigue, headache and indigestion. The amount of food intake under stress was positively correlated to the clinical symptom of headache. These results indicate the effects of life stress on dietary behaviors, food choice, and health status. Stress not only changed dietary behaviors, but was also related to health status. Therefore, education with regard to nutrition is necessary if college students are to practice food eating habits to correctly manage life stresses.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.235-244
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• 2007

By comparing the proteins from the workers exposed to styrene with the ones from controls, it may be possible to identify proteins that play a role in the occurrence and progress of occupational disease and thus to study the molecular mechanisms of occupational disease. In order to find the biomarkers for assessing the styrene effects early, before clinical symptoms develop and to understand the mechanisms of adverse health effects, we surveyed 134 employees, among whom 52 workers(30 male and 22 female) were chronically exposed to styrene in 10 glass-reinforced plastic boat manufacturing factories in Korea and 82 controls had never been occupationally exposed to hazardous chemicals including styrene. The age and drinking habits and serum biochemistry such as total protein, BUN and serum creatinine in both groups were significantly different. Exposed workers were divided into three groups according to exposure levels of styrene(G1, below 1/2 TLV; G2, 1/2 TLV to TLV; G3, above TLV). The mean concentration of airborne styrene in G1 group was $10.93{\pm}11.33ppm$, and those of urinary mandelic acid(MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid(PGA) were $0.17{\pm}0.21$ and $0.13{\pm}0.11g/g$ creatinine, respectively. The mean concentration of airborne styrene in G2 and G3 groups were $47.54{\pm}22.43$ and $65.33{\pm}33.47ppm$, respectively, and levels of urinary metabolites such as MA and PGA increased considerably as expected with the increase in exposure level of styrene. The airborne styrene concentration were significantly correlated to the urinary concentration of MA(r=0.784, p=0.000) and PGA(r=0.626, p<0.001). In the 2D electrophoresis, the concentration of five proteins including complement C3 precursor, alpha-1-antitrypsin(AAT), vitamin D binding protein precursor(DBP), alpha-1-B-glycoprotein(A1BG) and inter alpha trypsin inhibitor(ITI) heavy chain-related protein were significantly altered in workers exposed to styrene compared with controls. While expression of complement C3 precursor and AAT increased by exposure to styrene, expression of DBP, A1BG and ITI heavy chain-related protein decreased. These results suggest that the exposure of styrene might affects levels of plasma proteinase, carriers of endogenous substances and immune system. In particular, increasing of AAT with the increase in exposure level of styrene can explain the tissue damage and inflammation by the imbalance of proteinase/antiproteinase and decrease of DBP, A1BG and ITI heavy chain-related protein in workers exposed to styrene is associated with dysfunction and/or declination in immune system and signal transduction

• Journal of Korean Medical Ki-Gong Academy
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.46-73
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• 2007

In this study, the researcher tried to present the groundwork to prepare the oriental medical yangseng plan for the future obesity with the comparison between yangseng level and the obesity of workers. The researcher made up the questionnaire which asks the general character, health-related character and yangseng level, projected among 560 people. All collected material was analyzed by SPSS and tested by T-test and ANOVA. 1. The general yangseng level average is 3.27, morality yangseng 3.90, sleep yangseng 3.39, mind yangseng 3.31, sex life yangseng 3.30, exercise yangseng 3.15, activities and rest yangseng 3.08, diet yangseng 2.94, seasonal yangseng 2.84. The highest is morality yangseng and seasonal yangseng is the lowest. 2. In the aspect of yangseng level: Having a spouse, Non-smoking, Regular exercising, Sufficient sleeping have higher yangseng levels. 3. Obesity related index is changing into the higher level when he/she is older, more paid, more job experience, more education background but less metabolic calory. And drinking and regular exercising have relativity with body composition analysis. 4. After comparing yangseng level with body composition analysis, we can easily find that the more visceral fat, the higher WHR has a high yangseng level. The more mineral also has a high mind yangseng and a low diet yangseng. The visceral fat level has a high yangseng level when higher morality yangseng and mind yangseng are getting higher and higher. And sex life yangseng shows that the highest yangseng level is from 9-10 visceral fat and the lowest yangseng level is from below 4 visceral fat. The higher WHR, the higher morality, mind and sleep yangseng. The heavier, the lower diet yangseng. The mind yangseng was very high when body fat rate was higher. The more body fat, the higher morality yangseng. The higher yangseng, when we have more muscle. Yangseng level and obesity of laborer has a close relationship with individual character and daily habits. Also, relevance can be easily found between yangseng level and obesity. Now the researcher came into the conclusion that we need to control over laborers' health and prevention of their obesity.

• The Korean Journal of Community Living Science
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.123-139
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• 2006

The purpose of this study is to search how to promote health and improve nutrition and health care of the elderly people in rural area. Behaviors for health promotion and habits against health risk were surveyed. Dietary management was analyzed for surveyed nutrient intake by 24 hr -recall method. 242 subjects were collected in 12 cities or counties in Gyeonggi Province and 20 elderly people (10 male and 10 female) were selected out of 1 village in each district. Questionnaire for health behavior and dietary management was carried out by trained interviewers. Statistical analyses were made by SAS (version 8.1) and Chi-square tests and General Linear Models were used. Characteristics of the elderly people were 61-74 year-olds (68.2%), elementary school educated (78.4%), with spouse (51.7%), monthly living cost of 500-1,000 thousand won(43.4%), and monthly pocket money of 50-100 or 100-200 thousand won(33.5%, 26.5%). 41.4% of the subjects checked up medical examination regularly. The alcohol drinking status was significantly different according to gender: high no-drink rate of female (52.5%) and low no-drink rate of male (25.6%). Kinds of disease were different according to gender: higher proportion of cardiovascular disease(46.3%) and diabetes mellitus(8.1 %) in male and joint lumbago neuralgia(44.4%) and osteoporosis(8.6%) in female. Gastrointestinal complaints were nausea (69.0%) and chronic indigestion (17.8%). Constipation (12.0%) and vomiting (4.3%) were more frequent in female. Dietary management was good (3 meals per day: 93.4%., dining with family: 72.4%, regular mealtime: 72.4%, and 3-4 times of snacks per week: 44.9%) except side dish taking of 3-4 kinds only. However, almost one-third of the female elderly ate alone (30.6%) which was well compared with one-fifth of the male (19.7%). And food and nutrients intake were not significantly different according to gender except that male elderly's intake of energy and protein was lower than that of female's. The surveyed subjects had no difficulties in Activities of Daily Living (ADL), but some female elderly had some difficulties with Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) like working at home, using transport, and going shopping. These results suggest that low quality of life linked with low economic status of the rural elderly and that congregate meal at village hall would be required for the female elderly eating alone. For the undernourished male elderly, it would be needed to provide snacks and to establish nutrition and health surveillance system.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.588-598
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• 2013

This study was conducted to assess needs of educational mobile application (App) development for nutritional management and information on pregnant women. A total of 105 pregnant women were investigated on general characteristics, dietary habits, health behavior and needs for contents and composition of the application. The mean age of the subjects was 31.9 years and the mean gestation period was 25.4 weeks. The rate of skipping meal was 39.0% and the rate of irregular meal time was 46.6%. The consciousness of the meal as balanced nutrition and health was 19.9%. Eating out at least forth a week was 35.3%. Obtaining information about pregnancy and childbirth were internet (35.3%), hospital or health center (19.9%), books (17.1%), experience (15.2%), mobile (8.6%) and friends or acquaintances (4.8%). If the application is developed, subject replied 'frequently use' (51.4%), 'when needed' (47.6%) respectively. The favour topic in developing application were 'nutrition information of pregnant and fetal' (36.2%), 'weight management, feeding' (33.3%), 'food choice and cooking' (21.9%), 'shopping' (5.7%), 'example of menu' (1.9%), 'effect of smoking, drinking, exercising' (1.0%). The favorite content was 'include sufficient amount about information' (44.8%). Depending on the age and education level, the best age for pregnancy group have significantly higher ability for utilize and information gathering than old age pregnant group. Also the best age for pregnancy group have high demands of design, convenience and various contents in App development. Therefore, mobile application (App) for pregnant women could be widely used as an effective dietary guide.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.117-130
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• 2009

This study was attempted to suggest fundamental data to take health care plan in terms of oriental medicine by evaluating the health-related quality of life according to the Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) of factory workers. General characteristics, living habits, and health-related quality of life were investigated through self-administration questionnaire in the course of oriental health examination for 1,870 male workers at a manufacturing company located in the Jeollabuk-do region, and the Sasang constitution of each worker was identified and analyzed through questionnaires and oriental doctor's medical examination. For Sasang constitutional medicine, So-eum person(少陰人) was found to be the most, and then So-yang preson(少陽人), Tai-eum preson(太陰人), and Tai-yang preson(太陽人) in order; for lifestyle, smokers were most found in So-yang person workers, non-smokers in Tai-yang person workers, drinkers in Tai-yang person workers, and non-drinkers in So-eum person workers. For the general health score by the Sasang constitutions, Tai-yang person workers were found to be 42.73 in general health area, Tai-eum preson workers 41.69, So-yang person workers 40.87, and So-eum person workers 40.42; in the vitality area, Tai-eum person workers were found to be 45.14, So-yang person workers 44.16, So-eum person workers 43.02, and Tai-yang person workers 41.34. Specially, it was found that regular exercise improved physical health factors, drinking adversely affected mental health factors, and the mental health factors of Tai-eum person workers who have regularly exercised showed the highest values, while those of Tai-yang person workers who have not exercised showed the lowest values. There was difference in lifestyle by Sasang constitutions, and accordingly, the quality of life might be different Therefore it is deemed that health care plan is required to be taken by Sasang constitutions and lifestyle for health promotion and care of blue-collar workers in the future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.24 no.4 s.36
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• pp.516-530
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• 1991

A case-control study was conducted to investigate the effect of low-level blood lead on the blood pressure. The plasma renin activity(PRA) was measured also to investigate one of the possible mechanisms by which lead nay play a role to influence on the blood pressure. Seventy-two hypertensive and sixty -nine control study subjects were selected from the workers who had no history of b-related lead exposure, in Ulsan city and it's vicinity, Korea. In addition to measuring blood lead levels and PRA, body mass index(BMI), hematocrit, serum sodium, potassium, creatinine, ionized calcium, and cholesterol were measured. Also, the habits of smoking, alcohol drinking and family history of hypertension were checked. The blood lead level of the hypertensive group was $19.8{\pm}5.5{\mu}g/dl$, which was significantly higher than that of the control group, $12.5{\pm}4.7{\mu}g/dl$(p<0.01). On multiple logistic regression analysis, the odds ratio of blood lead level on the occurence of high blood pressure was 1.38, also statistically significant (p<0.01). There was no significant differences between the hypertensive and the control group in the PRA or In (PRA), but there was a marginally significant linear relationship between blood lead and PRA in the hypertensive group(p<0.1). In conclusion, blood lead level which has been known to be within normal limits may be one of the possible risk factors of hypertension and PRA alteration by lead may act as one of the mechanisms.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.425-430
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• 2005

Objectives : To investigate the prevalence of Clonorchis Sinensis infestation and to determine the associated risk factors among a population in a part of the rural area of Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea, which is an area known to have a high mortality from liver cancer and a high infection of C. sinensis. Methods : The study populat ion consisted of those people who have lived in rural areas and who were over 40 years old. This study was performed in 5 areas during the period from 1999 to 200 3. Informed consents were obtained from the 2,381 study participants, and these people were interviewed about their life style habits with using the structured questionnaire that was administered by trained staff members. The subjects underwent blood sampling and their stool specimens were examined by using the Formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Results : Among the study subjects (N=2,381), the positivity for C. sinensis in the stool was 34.4% (95% CI=36.3-42.5); it was 39.4% (95% CI=36.3-42.5) in the males and 30.9% (95% CI=28.5-33.3) in the females . The positivity for C. sinensis was associated with current alcohol drinking (odds ratio=1.8, 95% CI: 1.5-2.1) and raw fish consumption (odds ratio 1.2, 95% CI: 0.9-1.6). Conclusion : The present study confirmed the high prevalence of C. sinensis in the study subjects. It is necessary to establish consistent medical management and education programs for the treatment and prevention of C. sinensis infestation in the rural inhabitants of Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.3 s.43
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• pp.332-346
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• 1993

This study was attempted to observe leisure time physical activity pattern and its relationship to coronary risk factors (BMI, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood sugar). Subjects participated in this study were 277 adult male workers of an industry in Kyungpook province, Korea. Energy expenditure were measured using modified Physical Activity History questionnaire of CARDIA study by interviewing. Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and blood sugar level were tested with 5 ml fasting blood and height, weight and blood pressure were masured. Data on smoking and drinking habits and others were obtained. Geometric mean of leisure time physical energy expenditure were estimated as 212.80 kcal per week for study subjects and only 22.4% of them expended 2,000 kcal or more per week in leisure time physical activity. Taking walks or hikes and jogging or running were more frequent leisure time physical activities in study subjects. Statistically significant mean differences in total weekly leisure time physical activity for all coronary risk factors were not found among three groups. Because energy expenditure of leisure time was generally low in this subjects and most of them were healthy men, we did not found that leisure time physical activity was significantly associated with coronary risk factors.