• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.18 no.8
• /
• pp.1135-1140
• /
• 2005

Dogs are a very good indicator of the pollution load on the environment. They share people's environment and are exposed to the action of the same pollutants. This study was to estimate the heavy metal contents in dog hairs in domestic districts, and to assess effects of age, sex, feed habits, living area, breeding environment and smoking habit of owner. The mean concentrations of heavy metals in 204 samples were 0.09${\pm}$0.10 ${\mu}g$/g, 0.21${\pm}$0.09 ${\mu}g$/g, 0.82${\pm}$0.09 ${\mu}g$/g and 0.48${\pm}$0.07 ${\mu}g$/g (Cadmium (Cd), Mercury (Hg), Lead (Pb) and Chromium (Cr)) in dog hairs, respectively. Concentrations of Pb, Cd, Hg and Cr in dog hairs in Yeongnam including Ulsan and Seoul, were higher than in Chungchong and Honam, and concentrations of Pb were significantly different (p<0.01). Concentrations of Cd, Hg, Pb and Cr in dog hairs increased with age (p<0.05). Only dogs fed commercial pet foods had significantly higher Cd and Cr concentrations in hairs than dogs fed dog feed and human diet (p<0.01 in Cd and p<0.05 in Cr). Cr concentrations of dog hairsfrom dogs kept on cement floors were the highest of the other environments (p<0.01). Heavy metal concentrations of dogs owned by smokers, were higher than dogs of non-smokers, but there were no significant differences.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.143-152
• /
• 2005

To investigate the exposure effect of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), we analyzed the relationship between urinary 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) concentration and PAHs exposure. The study population contained 44 workers in steel-pipe coating and paint manufacture industries. We measured airborne total PAHs as an external dose, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as an internal dose of PAHs exposure, and urinary 8-OHdG as an effective dose of oxidative DNA damage. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of l-OHP and the environmental concentration of PAHs, pyrene, urinary cotinine, AST, and GGT. The mean of urinary 8-OHdG was $17.07\pm1.706{\mu}g/g$ creatinine in workers exposed to airborne PAHs. There was significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 8-0HdG and the airborne concentration of PAHs. From the results of stepwise multiple regression analysis about 8-OHdG, significant independents was total PAHs. In this study, there were significant correlation between the urinary concentration of 8-OHdG and the airborne concentration of PAHs. The urinary 1-OHP was effective index as a biomarker of airborne PAHs in workplace. But it was influenced by non-occupational PAHs source, smoking and biomarkers of liver function test.

• Proceedings of the Korea Society of Environmental Toocicology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.150-150
• /
• 2003

The objective of this study was to describe the distribution of metals concentrations in blood of adults who were not occupationally exposed in Korea. The blood samples were obtained between February and August 2001 from volunteer adults in urban area of Korea. 66 male participants were 46 (20-75) years of age and 74 female were 40 (20-69) years of age. The levels of metals in blood were observed the log-normal distribution, and we calculated geometric mean (GM) and geometric standard deviation (GSD). The GM levels of metals in blood of the men were 65.88$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$, 1.01$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$, 0.23$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$ and 0.15$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$, for Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd, respectively. The GM levels of the women were 58.49$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$, 1.66$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$, 0.30$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$ and 0.10$\mu\textrm{g}$/$\ell$, for Pb, Cr, Ni and Cd, respectively. The levels of Pb-B and Cd-B were significantly higher non-smoker than smoker, whereas those of Cr-B and Ni-B were not different by smoking habit.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.16 no.6
• /
• pp.931-941
• /
• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between depression and poor oral health in Korean elderly using Korean version of the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) for assessment of depressive symptoms. Methods: This study used the data from Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES VI-2). The study included 1,454 elderly Korean aged over 65. Variables included demographic characteristics (gender, age), socioeconomic factor (income, education), systemic diseases, oral health related factor (tooth brush, dental products), health related factor (alcohol drinking, smoking), and depression. Logistic regression analysis was used as sequential models. Effects were quantified as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: From frequency analysis, being female, primary school or less, non-alcohol drinking, poor oral health were significantly related to depression. In the multiple logistic regression model, depression was significantly associated with poor oral health (OR=1.96, CI=1.15-3.53) after adjustment for other covariates including demographic characteristics, socioeconomic factor, systemic diseases, oral health related factor, and health related factor (OR=1.91, CI=1.13-3.27). Conclusions: Depression had an influence on the poor oral health after adjustment as confounding variable in the elderly. It should be focused on the health promotion for the elderly vulnerable to depression and poor oral health. The development of the mental health and oral health should be established.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.23 no.1
• /
• pp.25-31
• /
• 2002

Objectives : To prevent stroke, it is very important to reduce risk factors which might cause stroke. However, previous studies that having investigated coffee consumption associated with stroke reported various results. In addition, there were only a few studies based on the Korean population. Therefore, we studied the association of coffee consumption and the possibility of getting stroke among Koreans. Methods : A case-control study was carried out on 207 cases(stroke patients) and 207 controls(non-stroke patients) in a hospital. Information on characteristics, health habits, dietary habits and coffee consumption were obtained through direct interview by using an organized questionnaire; WHR(Waist-Hip Ratio) was determined through physical examination. The coffee consumption was classified by the average frequency of intake, such as less than 1 cup/day, 2-3 cups/day, more than 5 cups/day). Possible confounding effects of age, sex, smoking and alcohol drinking were controlled by multiple logistically regressive analysis. Results : After adjusting age and sex, coffee consumption significantly increased risk factors of stroke(${\leq}$1 cup/day OR=1.018, 95% CI=0.631-1.644; 2-3 cup/day OR=1.782, 95%CI=1.032-3.079;${\geq}$5 cup/day OR=1.210, 95% CI=0.588-2.490). When other factors were controlled, the risk factors of stroke were associated with alcohol drinking, whereas no significant association was observed with coffee consumption. Conclusion : Coffee consumption is not a major risk factor of causing stroke in this study. Prospective and cohort study on the association between coffee consumption and the possibility of getting strokes among the Korean population will be needed in the future.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.49
• /
• pp.1-12
• /
• 1995

Diatomaceous earth, quarried from the remains of aquatic plants deposited millions of years ago, continues to be a very important raw material with many industrial uses. In its natural state, diatomaceous earth is an amorphous silica with no crystalline pattern. For many uses, however, it is calcinated and calcination converts a portion of the amorphous silica to a crystalline form, cristobalite which is far more fibrogenic. In a factory which produces calcinated diatomaceous earth, seven workers were proved as pneumoconiosis on 1991 and 1992. Authors reviewed medical chart and current status of them. Authors also examined thirty one subjects from the factory with questionnaire, physical examination, spirometry and chest radiography on August 13th 1993. The radiographs were independently interpreted by two radiologists and their findings were classified by International Classification of Radiography of Pneumoconiosis(ILO, 1980). Total and respirable dust of diatomaceous earth were measured on October 1993. The results were as follows; 1. Of 31 workers, 6 (19.4%) were diagnosed as diatomaceous earth pneumoconiosis. There was an increasing tendency in prevalence of pneumoconiosis as the duration of dust exposure gets longer. 2. There were no significant differences in age, smoking rate, alcohol drinking rate, and pulmonary function test results between cases and non-cases. 3. The means of total dust exposures at flour manufacturing, fire brick grinding and packaging, ceramic raws packaging processes exceeded Korean and ACGIH standards, $10mg/m^3$. Above results suggest that engineering controls, periodic environmental and medical surveillance are important for preventing pneumoconiosis in the diatomite factory.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.44 no.6
• /
• pp.477-481
• /
• 2017

We report a case of a 51 years old female with a 25 pack year smoking history who underwent bilateral mastectomy and immediate tissue expander reconstruction for newly diagnosed right breast cancer. The patient reported herself as a non-smoker despite significant e-cigarette use, with resulting significant mastectomy skin flap necrosis and breast reconstruction failure. Little is known about the physiologic effect of e-cigarettes on wound healing and tissue perfusion. To this end, we provide an updated review of the impact of e-cigarettes on surgical outcomes. PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and PRS GO were searched for the terms "e-cigarette", "electronic cigarette", "e-cig", "electronic nicotine delivery system", "vaping", "surgery", "surgical", "peri-operative", "operate", "operative", and "wound healing". Abstract review of all articles was performed. 123 articles returned that contained both variants of e-cigarettes and surgery as keywords. Of those, manual assessment returned three articles which were found to be relevant to e-cigarette use in the surgical patient. No articles were found that compared perioperative complications in e-cigarette versus traditional cigarette users in humans. In conclusion, our case report depicts the potential dangers associated with e-cigarette use in the surgical patient. There is a public misconception that e-cigarettes are healthier than traditional cigarettes and as such their use may go unreported by patients. Early evidence suggests e-cigarettes may induce some of the same physiologic changes as traditional cigarettes, and may have a significant deleterious effect on wound healing.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.7 no.2
• /
• pp.298-307
• /
• 2001

The purpose of this study was to test the effect of the health education on college students. The content of the health education was consisted of significance of health, smoking, alcohol use and sexuality, birth control, exercise and nutrition, chronic illness, contagious disease, stress management. Two groups non-equivalent to pre and post test quasi-experimental research design were used in this study. The total number of subjects were 174 college students who did not have a health related major. The experimental group attended this health education program for 16 weeks and the control group attended other liberal arts and science classes for 16 weeks. Data were analysed with the SPSS window program. The homogeneity between the experimental and the control group pretest data was tested by $X^2$ test and t-test. The differences in stress, self-esteem, general self-efficacy, locus of control and health promoting behaviors after the health education were tested with the repeated measure ANOVA. The results were as follows: 1. There was no significant difference in general characteristics, stress, self- esteem, general self-efficacy, locus of control and health promoting behaviors between the two groups before the health education. 2. There was a significant difference in stress(p= .000) and health promoting behavior (p= .000) between the two groups after the health education. 3. There was no significant difference in self-esteem(p= .531), self-efficacy(p= .110) and locus of control between the two groups after the health education. From the results above, it can be concluded that this health education for the college students was effective to relieve stress and improve health promoting behaviors. The above results suggest that repeated studies are needed for another college students and various health education programs should be developed to promote the health of the populace considering many health related concepts.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.78 no.4
• /
• pp.445-449
• /
• 2015

Occupational lung diseases are caused by several toxic substances including heavy metals; however, the exact pathologic mechanisms remain unknown. In the workplace, dental technicians are often exposed to heavy metals such as cobalt, nickel, or beryllium and occasionally develop occupational lung diseases. We described a case of occupational lung disease in a patient who was employed as a dental technician for over a decade. A 31-year-old, non-smoking woman presented with productive cough and shortness of breath of several weeks duration. Chest computed tomography revealed a large number of scattered, bilateral small pulmonary nodules throughout the lung field, and multiple mediastinal lymph nodes enlargement. Percutaneous needle biopsy showed multifocal small granulomas with foreign body type giant cells suggestive of heavy metals inhalation. The patient's condition improved on simple avoidance strategy for several months. This case highlighted the importance of proper workplace safety.

• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.18 no.1
• /
• pp.44-54
• /
• 2009

Purpose: The aim of this study was to examine the effects of obesity on the physiological levels of adiponectin, leptin and components of metabolic syndrome (MS) in male workers, aged 30-40 years. Methods: Body mass index (BMI) was measured with Anthropometric equipment. Blood pressure and serum parameters were measured with an automatic digital sphygmomanometer and autochemical analyzer, respectively. Adiponectin and leptin were analysed by ELISA kits and MS was defined based on the NCEP-ATP III. Results: Body fat mass of waist and hip, systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher, as expected, in the BMI>25kg/$m^2$ in comparison with the $BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$. While fasting glucose, insulin, HOMA-IR and leptin in the BMI>25kg/$m^2$ were also significantly higher compared with $BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$, HDL-cholesterol and adiponectin were significantly higher in $BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$. On multiple logistic regression analysis for the components of MS, exercise, adiponectin and leptin were an only independent factor for MS in non-obese male workers($BMI{\leq}25kg/m^2$) after adjustment for age, cigarette smoking and drinking habits. Conclusion: These results suggested that the obesity in men was associated with physiological levels of adiponectin and leptin contributing to feedback control of MS and that dysfunction and/or declination in feedback control system associated with changes in physiological levels of neurptrophics: adiponectin and leptin might ultimately induce MS.