• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.14 no.4
• /
• pp.398-405
• /
• 2023

Background: Starting from March 2020 until December 2021, different phases of Covid-19 pandemic have been identified in Italy, with several containing/lifting measures progressively enforced by the National government. In the present study, we investigate the change in occupational risk during the subsequent pandemic phases and we propose an estimate of the incidence of the cases by economic sector, based on the analysis of insurance claims for compensation for Covid-19. Methods: Covid-19 epidemiological data available for the general population and injury claims of workers covered by the Italian public insurance system in 2020-2021 were analyzed. Monthly Incidence Rate of Covid-19 compensation claims per 100,000 workers (MIRw) was calculated by the economic sector and compared with the same indicator for general population in different pandemic periods. Results: The distribution of Covid-19 MIRw by sector significantly changed during the pandemic related to both the strength of different waves and the mitigation/lifting strategies enforced. The level of occupational fraction was very high at the beginning phase of the pandemic, decreasing to 5% at the end of 2021. Healthcare and related services were continuously hit but the incidence was significantly decreasing in 2021 in all sectors, except for postal and courier activities in transportation and storage enterprises. Conclusion: The analysis of compensation claim data allowed to identify time trends for infection risk in different working sectors. The claim rates were highest for human health and social work activities but the distribution of risk among sectors was clearly influenced by the different stages of the pandemic.

• Annals of Hepato-Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.195-200
• /
• 2023

Backgrounds/Aims: We aimed to build a machine learning tool to help predict low-grade intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) in order to avoid unnecessary surgical resection. IPMNs are precursors to pancreatic cancer. Surgical resection remains the only recognized treatment for IPMNs yet carries some risks of morbidity and potential mortality. Existing clinical guidelines are imperfect in distinguishing low-risk cysts from high-risk cysts that warrant resection. Methods: We built a linear support vector machine (SVM) learning model using a prospectively maintained surgical database of patients with resected IPMNs. Input variables included 18 demographic, clinical, and imaging characteristics. The outcome variable was the presence of low-grade or high-grade IPMN based on post-operative pathology results. Data were divided into a training/validation set and a testing set at a ratio of 4:1. Receiver operating characteristics analysis was used to assess classification performance. Results: A total of 575 patients with resected IPMNs were identified. Of them, 53.4% had low-grade disease on final pathology. After classifier training and testing, a linear SVM-based model (IPMN-LEARN) was applied on the validation set. It achieved an accuracy of 77.4%, with a positive predictive value of 83%, a specificity of 72%, and a sensitivity of 83% in predicting low-grade disease in patients with IPMN. The model predicted low-grade lesions with an area under the curve of 0.82. Conclusions: A linear SVM learning model can identify low-grade IPMNs with good sensitivity and specificity. It may be used as a complement to existing guidelines to identify patients who could avoid unnecessary surgical resection.

• Obstetrics & gynecology science
• /
• v.61 no.6
• /
• pp.662-668
• /
• 2018

Objective This study was to identify the risk factors for cytological progression in women with atypical squamous cells of undetermined significance (ASC-US) or low-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions (LSIL). Methods We analyzed data from women infected with the human papillomavirus (HPV) who participated in the Korean HPV cohort study. The cohort recruited women aged 20-60 years with abnormal cervical cytology (ASC-US or LSIL) from April 2010. All women were followed-up at every 6-month intervals with cervical cytology and HPV DNA testing. Results Of the 1,158 women included, 654 (56.5%) and 504 (43.5%) women showed ASC-US and LSIL, respectively. At the time of enrollment, 143 women tested positive for HPV 16 (85 single and 58 multiple infections). Cervical cytology performed in the HPV 16-positive women showed progression in 27%, no change in 23%, and regression in 50% of the women at the six-month follow-up. The progression rate associated with HPV 16 infection was higher than that with infection caused by other HPV types (relative risk [RR], 1.75; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-2.84; P=0.028). The cytological progression rate in women with persistent HPV 16 infection was higher than that in women with incidental or cleared infections (P<0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant relationship between cigarette smoking and cytological progression (RR, 4.15; 95% CI, 1.01-17.00). Conclusion The cytological progression rate in HPV 16-positive women with ASC-US or LSIL is higher than that in women infected with other HPV types. Additionally, cigarette smoking may play a role in cytological progression.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.167-175
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Children may be more exposed to certain environmental contaminants because they react with greater sensitivity and have different food intakes and breathing rate per unit of body weight compared to adults. The aim of this study was to determine general exposure factors such as skin surface area, period and frequency of exposure, and others among Korean children aged ${\leq}18$ years old. This study was carried out as the first of its kind in Korea. Methods: We developed 23 recommended exposure factors for Korean children aged 0 to 18 years by reclassifying raw data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and the National Statistical Information Service, as well as through investigation by experiments in the absence of related data. Results: Reflecting the activity patterns of about 9,000 children, the daily inhalation rates for long-term exposure ranged from $9.49m^3/day$ for children from birth to <2 years to $14.98m^3/day$ for children aged 16 to <18 years. The research found that Korean children spent an average of 22.21 hours indoors, 0.67 hours outdoors, and 1.12 hours in-transit every day. Young children (${\leq}2$ years old) spent approximately 34 more minutes outdoors on weekends than they did on weekdays. Conclusion: Various physiological variables in the human body reflect characteristics of children that can directly influence risk exposure. Therefore, the identification of general exposure factors based on Korean children is required for appropriate risk assessment.

• Journal of Radiation Industry
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.37-46
• /
• 2015

This study examines mutual perceptions between general public and nuclear plant employees on understanding nuclear policy communication applying the co-orientation model. The total of 414 responses were analyzed including 211 of the general public and 203 of plant employees. Results indicate that agreement between general public and plant employees is relatively high, in that general public tends to have negative evaluation to nuclear policy communication, but plant employees tends to have positive one. In terms of congruence, general public perceive that plant employees might have more positive evaluation than themselves, and nuclear plant employees perceive that general public might have more negative evaluation than themselves. Finally, in terms of accuracy, general public accurately estimate how nuclear plant employees perceive on policy communication, whereas nuclear plant employees unaccurately estimate how general public perceive on policy communication.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.10
• /
• pp.4959-4962
• /
• 2012

The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate prognostic factors associated with survival of patients with extensive stage small cell lung cancer (ES-SCLC). Included were 200 patients admitted to the Liberation Army General Hospital with a diagnosis of ES-SCLC. The demographics of patients, disease characteristics, pre-treatment biochemical parameters and therapeutic plan were assessed or evaluated. Univariate analysis found that second-line chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and no liver metastasis were associated with improved survival. Tumor response to first-line chemotherapy and normal initial hemoglobin levels were also associated with a survival benefit (all P-values ${\leq}$ 0.0369). Multivariate Cox regression analysis indicated that liver metastasis and the total number of all chemotherapy cycles were independent prognostic factors of survival. The morbidity risk in patients with liver metastasis was 2.52-fold higher than that in patients without liver metastasis (hazard ratio (HR)=2.52 (1.69-3.76); P<0.0001). However, one unit increase in the total number of chemotherapy cycles decreased the risk of death by 0.86-fold (HR=0.86 (0.80-0.92); P<0.0001). Absence of liver metastasis and ability of a patient to receive and tolerate multiple lines of chemotherapy were associated with longer survival.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
• /
• v.16 no.2
• /
• pp.38-45
• /
• 2015

The risk analysis phase of construction risk management process is subdivided into the qualitative risk analysis that plays a major role, and the quantitative risk analysis acting as a supportive role. The traditional calculation method for quantifying a risk value that has been applied so far is an equation to multiply a probability by an impact simply, but its result shows the low risk value biased distribution. Although another equation that shows the high risk biased distribution as an alternative of traditional method was proposed, both of the low or high risk biased equations do not match with the statistical general knowledge that most natural phenomenons are close to the normal distribution. This study proposes a new risk value calculation method that is concentrated to the moderate risk value. Because the risk value distribution by a new method shows a normal shape similar to natural phenomenon, it helps to choose a middle level not biased to the low or high levels when choosing the level of risk response. Furthermore, it could contribute to improve the flexibility and rationality of risk analysis method by providing additional options for the risk value calculation.

• Journal of the Korea Institute of Information Security & Cryptology
• /
• v.30 no.4
• /
• pp.719-734
• /
• 2020

This paper proposes a new measurement scheme for estimating the processing level according to risk when performing de-identification in the use of personal information by practitioners in the organization in line with the recently revised Data 3 Act. Our proposed methods considered the surrounding circumstances surrounding the data, not just the data, for risk measurement, and divided the data situation into three categories more systematically so that it can be applied in all areas in a general-purpose environment, the data utilization environment, and the data (self) so that it can be calculated quantitatively based on each context risk according to the presented classification. The proposed method is designed to calculate the risk of existing de-identifiable information in a quantitative manner so that personal information controller in general organizations can use it in practice, not just in the qualitative judgment of experts.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
• /
• v.4 no.1
• /
• pp.3-12
• /
• 1996

Objects : This study was attempted to evaluate the body image and the self concept in high risk adolescents for eating disorders. Methods 589 middle school students were investigated with EAT(Eating Attitude Test) and BITE(Bulimic Investigatory Test Edinburgh) and Schematic Figures(Child/Adolescent Version) and Piers-Harris Self-Concept Scale. According to the score of EAT and BITE, three high risk groups(high EAT group, high BITE group, high EAT & BITE group) were identified. Three groups were examined in terms of sex, weight, self concept and body image. Each group was EAT group, BITE group, EAT & BITE group Results: The results of the study were as follows : 1) EAT & BITE group showed greatest body image distortion. 2) BITE group and EAT & BITE group showed lower score in self concept scale. 3) The majority of EAT group were boys, BITE group and EAT & BITE group were mostly girls. 4) All three high risk groups, especially Bin group, revealed overweight compared with normal control group. Conclusions : High BITE group and high EAT & BITE group could be considered as significantly high risk groups for eating disorders, showing overweight, severe body image distortion, and poor self concept. EAT score alone seemed not to discriminate high risk adolescents for eating disorders.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• v.5 no.6
• /
• pp.560-568
• /
• 2011

Consumption of a diet consistent with dietary guidelines is believed to have a beneficial effect on the prevention of chronic diseases and the promotion of general health. This study was conducted to explore the relationship between adherence to the Korean Food Guidance System (KFGS), which was based on the 2010 revised KDRIs, and the risk of metabolic abnormalities. Five hundred and ninety-six Korean adults between 30 and 59 years of age were recruited by advertisement to the Bundang Jesaeng General Hospital (BJGH), and those not taking regular medications and without diagnoses of fulminant disease were included. Data were collected on anthropometric measurements, diagnostic parameters for metabolic syndrome (MetS), and 3-day dietary intakes from individuals in the study. The number of servings consumed from each food group was compared to the KFGS recommended servings for each of the 6 food groups. Poor adherence to the recommendations for servings of milk and dairy products (OR: 2.038, 1.128-3.682) was associated with a higher risk of MetS, and poor adherence to the guidelines for fruit consumption (OR: 1.849, 1.027-3.329) was associated with a higher risk for the existence an elevated waist circumference. Conversely, the consumption of meat, fish, eggs, and beans above the recommended number of servings was associated with a lower risk of having an elevated waist circumference (OR: 0.523, 0.288-0.950), and the consumption of vegetables above the recommended number of servings was associated with a reduced risk of having elevated fasting glucose (OR: 0.533, 0.298-0.954). These results suggest that adherence to the KFGS guidelines helps to prevent the development of MetS, but this association needs to be confirmed by prospective studies.