• 셀메드
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.6.1-6.6
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• 2024

The prevalence of respiratory diseases is increasing due to social and environmental factors such as increased environmental pollution and air pollution, and among them, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in particular has a high mortality and morbidity rate worldwide. As a result, medical expenses are rapidly increasing, creating a social and economic burden. In response to this, there is a need to discuss ways to reduce the risk from diseases and manage them appropriately, and the most basic starting point in this process is how these chronic lung disease patients are treated in actual clinical settings and how to improve the quality of treatment. There is a need to look into whether there are effective drugs. Western treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is basically a disease in which the airway narrows, so bronchodilators are used to widen the bronchi, and corticosteroids and antibiotics are mainly used to relieve the inflammatory response in the lungs. However, since the mainly used Western medicine does not serve as a fundamental therapeutic drug and contains many side effects, there is a need for drugs that improve the quality of life of patients and are more effective in managing symptoms as symptomatic prescriptions. Therefore, Western and Oriental medicine treatments are needed. The purpose is to suggest better treatments through comparative analysis.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.486-495
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• 2021

Background: Particulate matter (PM) is one of the leading causes of premature death worldwide. Previous studies in South Korea have applied a relative risk calculated from Western populations when estimating the disease burden attributable to PM. However, the relative risk of PM on health outcomes may not be the same across different countries or regions. Objectives: This study aimed to estimate the premature deaths and socioeconomic costs attributable to long-term exposure to PM in South Korea. We considered not only the difference in PM concentration between regions, but also the difference in relative risk. Methods: National monitoring data of PM concentrations was obtained, and missing values were imputed using the AERMOD model and linear regression model. As a surrogate for relative risk, hazard ratios (HRs) of PM for cardiovascular and respiratory mortality were estimated using the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort. The nation was divided into five areas (metropolitan, central, southern, south-eastern, and Gangwon-do Province regions). The number of PM attributable deaths in 2018 was calculated at the district level. The socioeconomic cost was derived by multiplying the number of deaths and the statistical value of life. Results: The average PM₁₀ concentration for 2014~2018 was 45.2 ㎍/m³. The association between long-term exposure to PM₁₀ and mortality was heterogeneous between areas. When applying area-specific HRs, 23,811 premature deaths from cardiovascular and respiratory disease in 2018 were attributable to PM₁₀ (reference level 20 ㎍/m³). The corresponding socioeconomic cost was about 31 trillion won. These estimated values were higher than that when applying nationwide HRs. Conclusions: This study is the first research to estimate the premature mortality caused by long-term exposure to PM using relative risks derived from the national population. This study will help precisely identify the national and regional health burden attributed to PM and establish the priorities of air quality policy.

• 성인간호학회지
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.213-225
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• 2016

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to provide basic data about agitation in patients with dementia by surveying the literature. Method: Key words used for search through hand-search and electronic database (CINHAL, Pubmed, Google scholar, Riss, Kiss, DBpia) included 'dementia', 'Alzheimer disease', 'agitation', 'aggression or aggressive behavior', 'problem or disruptive behavior', and 'abnormal behavior.' Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria for the Meta-analysis and 'R' version 3.2.2 was used to analyze the correlated effect size. Results: Study results showed that variables related to agitation were identified as the demographic (age, gender), dementia-related (cognition, medication uses), physical (Activity of Daily Living [ADL], pain), psychological (depression, psychotic symptom, caregiver burden) and environmental (psychosocial environment) factors. The effect size between the correlated variables and agitation were low to moderate (caregiver burden .36; ADL -.24; psychotic symptom and depression .21; pain .19; cognition -.15; medication uses .12; and psychosocial environment -.12). Conclusion: Based on the findings of this study, strategies to improve patients' depressive and psychotic symptoms and ADL and to reduce caregivers' burden are needed for prevention and management of agitation in patients with dementia.

• 한국환경보건학회지
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• 제47권5호
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• pp.379-383
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• 2021

This paper discussed environmental health policies for the past and coming decade by reviewing the First Comprehensive Environmental Health Plan (2011~2020) and introducing the Second Comprehensive Environmental Health Plan (2021~2030). The major achievement of the First Comprehensive Environmental Health Plan was the establishment of receptor-oriented environmental health policies. However, the main limitations were insufficient policy support for relief and/or recovery from environmental pollution damage and low public awareness of environmental health policies. The Second Comprehensive Environmental Health Plan presents the following major policy tasks: establish an omnidirectional environment health investigation and monitoring system, provide customized environmental health services, improve the environmental health damage relief and recovery system, and promote regional environmental health policies. The Second Plan has a clear distinction from the First Plan in that it expands the field of environmental health from the prevention and management of environmental risk factors to proactive damage response and recovery, which will effectively contribute to alleviating the burden of environmental disease.

• 한국산업보건학회지
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• 제33권3호
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• pp.298-307
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• 2023

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to analyze the recent trends in patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders in South Korea and to check the major results by reviewing the literature on the risk factors and prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases related to work. Methods: Industrial disaster data from the Ministry of Employment and Labor from 2012 to 2021 were used, and the literature was reviewed regarding risk factors for musculoskeletal diseases related to work using PubMed and RISS. Results: The trend of patients with work-related musculoskeletal disorders has increased overall since 2017 after declining until 2016, with a particularly notable increase in the average annual number of patients with physical burden work. The average annual rate per ten thousand people for patients with body burden work, non-accidental lower back pain, and carpal tunnel syndrome among work-related diseases was high in the mining industry. The average annual rate per ten thousand people for patients with accidental lower back pain was the highest in the fishing industry. Within the manufacturing field, it was the highest in the shipbuilding and ship repair industry. As a result of the literature review, the search rate for work-related musculoskeletal disease papers in unstructured work was high. In addition, physical stress factors were high among risk factors, and pain areas showed a high rate for the waist. Conclusion: Even after the institutional implementation of a hazard investigation system related to musculoskeletal diseases is implemented, the number of patients with occupational musculoskeletal disorders continues to increase. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct regular surveys and implement effective improvement activities for vulnerable industries or occupations.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제20권4호통권58호
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• pp.59-68
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• 2005

This study was designed to provide basic data on preventive plans by affecting factors that have analysed on musculoskeletal diseases. The survey were conducted from July 1 to 30, 2004 among 600 hair dressers working in Seoul and Gwangju using self-administration questionnaire. The results of this study are summarized as follows: The pain experience rate of musculoskeletal diseases. in the last one year was $55.2\%,\;35.7\%$ of respondents answered they had pain on shoulders, $30.6\%$ had pain on legs and feet, $28.9\%$ had pain on waist, $26.8\%$ had hands, fingers and wrist, $22.3\%$ had pain on necks and $17.6\%$ had pain arms and elbows more than disease on necks, shoulders, arms and elbows, hands, fingers and wrists, waist, shoulders legs and feet. The prevalence rate of the last week was $40.3\%$. The prevalence rate in each body parts of the last week was $23.3\%$ on legs and feet, $21.2\%$ on shoulders, $20.8\%$ on waist, $14.9\%$ on hands, fingers and wrists, $14.4\%$ on necks, $9.3\%$ on arms. Based on the results above, working posture, job stress and physical burden from task are highly related with pain. In order to prevent musculoskeletal disease of hairdressers, working posture shall be improved and leisure opportunities to relieve stress, and health management education shall be provided.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제52권2호
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• pp.177-181
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• 2014

Cockroaches are abundant in Nigeria and are seen to harbour an array of pathogens. Environmental and sanitary conditions associated with demographic/socio-economic settings of an area could contribute to the prevalence of disease pathogens in cockroaches. A total of 246 cockroaches (Periplaneta americana) in urban (Benin, n=91), semi-urban (Ekpoma, n=75) and rural (Emuhi, n=70) settings in Edo State, Nigeria were collected within and around households. The external body surfaces and alimentary canal of these cockroaches were screened for bacterial, fungal, and parasitological infections. Bacillus sp. and Escherichia coli were the most common bacteria in cockroaches. However, Enterococcus faecalis could not be isolated in cockroaches trapped from Ekpoma and Emuhi. Aspergillus niger was the most prevalent fungus in Benin and Ekpoma, while Mucor sp. was predominant in Emuhi. Parasitological investigations revealed the preponderance of Ascaris lumbricoides in Benin and Emuhi, while Trichuris trichura was the most predominant in Ekpoma. The prevalence and burden of infection in cockroaches is likely to be a reflection of the sanitary conditions of these areas. Also, cockroaches in these areas making incursions in homes may increase the risk of human infections with these disease agents.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• 제35권
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• pp.39.1-39.14
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• 2023

Background: Diseases affecting the lungs and airways contribute significantly to the global burden of disease. The problem in low- and middle-income countries appears to be exacerbated by a shift in global manufacturing base to these countries and inadequate enforcement of environmental and safety standards. In Ghana, the potential adverse effects on respiratory function associated with occupational wood dust exposure have not been thoroughly investigated. Methods: Sixty-four male sawmill workers and 64 non-woodworkers participated in this study. The concentration of wood dust exposure, prevalence and likelihood of association of respiratory symptoms with wood dust exposure and changes in pulmonary function test (PFT) parameters in association with wood dust exposure were determined from dust concentration measurements, symptoms questionnaire and lung function test parameters. Results: Sawmill workers were exposed to inhalable dust concentration of 3.09 ± 0.04 mg/m³ but did not use respirators and engaged in personal grooming habits that are known to increase dust inhalation. The sawmill operators also showed higher prevalence and likelihoods of association with respiratory symptoms, a significant cross-shift decline in some PFT parameters and a shift towards a restrictive pattern of lung dysfunction by end of daily shift. The before-shift PFT parameters of woodworkers were comparable to those of non-woodworkers, indicating a lack of chronic effects of wood dust exposure. Conclusions: Wood dust exposure at the study site was associated with acute respiratory symptoms and acute changes in some PFT parameters. This calls for institution and enforcement of workplace and environmental safety policies to minimise exposure at sawmill operating sites, and ultimately, decrease the burden of respiratory diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.83-90
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• 2015

Evaluation and screening of vaccines against tuberculosis depends on development of proper cost effective disease models along with identification of different immune markers that can be used as surrogate endpoints of protection in preclinical and clinical studies. The objective of the present study was therefore evaluation of subcutaneous model of M.tuberculosis infection along with investigation of different immune biomarkers of tuberculosis infection in BALB/c mice. Groups of mice were infected subcutaneously with two different doses : high ($2{\times}10^6CFU$) and low doses ($2{\times}10^2CFU$) of M.tuberculosis and immune markers including humoral and cellular markers were evaluated 30 days post M.tuberculosis infections. Based on results, we found that high dose of subcutaneous infection produced chronic disease with significant (p<0.001) production of immune markers of infection like $IFN{\gamma}$, heat shock antigens (65, 71) and antibody titres against panel of M.tuberculosis antigens (ESAT-6, CFP-10, Ag85B, 45kDa, GroES, Hsp-16) all of which correlated with high bacterial burden in lungs and spleen. To conclude high dose of subcutaneous infection produces chronic TB infection in mice and can be used as convenient alternative to aerosol models in resource limited settings. Moreover assessment of immune markers namely mycobacterial antigens and antibodies can provide us valuable insights on modulation of immune response post infection. However further investigations along with optimization of study protocols are needed to justify the outcome of present study and establish such markers as surrogate endpoints of vaccine protection in preclinical and clinical studies in future.

• 의료ㆍ복지 건축 : 한국의료복지건축학회 논문집
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• 제22권4호
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• pp.57-66
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• 2016

Purpose: According to the trend of the global burden of disease, in the future our society is expected to face with gradually increasing problems related to mental health and the demand for the various types of quality mental health facilities. This study investigates whether the accreditation of Mental health facilities serves as a building evaluation tool, and contribute to environmental welfare of the mentally ill. Methods: The facility assessment items related to architectural design are extracted through the analysis about the accreditation program of KOIHA. Extracted items should review if they comply with the relevant regulations, and establish building design standard. Results: This study shows that the accreditation of KOIHA can certify psychiatric hospitals meet the legal requirements, the minimum standard of facilities. But it is not the evaluation of environmental quality. It is difficult to assess the quality of facility in terms of architectural design, because it has no specific standards or the level of assessment. Implications: The accreditation for mental health facilities should be able to provide the right and opportunity to choose a more quality facility for the customer. The introduction of a certification system for the evaluation of environmental quality is required in order to overcome the limitations of the accreditation of KOIHA. Development of design guidelines for mental health facilities that are the basis for certification should be also followed.