• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제7권1호
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• pp.43-48
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• 2016

Background: Work Ability Index (WAI) is a well-known and valid self-report tool that has been widely used in various studies to identify and avoid early retirement and work-related disability. Nevertheless, very few studies have been carried out to evaluate work ability in Iran. We aimed to investigate the WAI and the effect of work-related stress on it among Iranian workers. Methods: A cross-sectional, descriptive and analytic study was carried out among 449 workers from five working sectors in three big cities of Iran. Work ability and work-related stress were measured using the Persian version of WAI and the Persian version of Health and Safety Executive Stress Indicator Tool. Results: More than a third of the workers surveyed (34.70%) did not have an appropriate level of work ability (WAI < 37). There was a significant correlation between subscales of work-related stress and the mean score of WAI. Furthermore, the variables of body mass index, sleep quality, exercise activity, job tenure, and three subscales of work-related stress including demands, supervisor support, and role were significant predictors of WAI. Conclusion: According to the results of this study, the interventional programs must be focused on improving supervisors support, eliminating ambiguity and conflicts in the role of workers in their job and organization, reducing job demands, improving sleep quality, and increasing exercise activity.

• 보건교육건강증진학회지
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.25-33
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• 2009

Objectives: Smoking is related to periodontal disease and periodontal therapy. So the aim of this study was to investigate the effects of professional tooth cleaning and plaque control instruction (PT & PCI) for smoking behavior. Methods: A total of 151 adults were investigated using the O'Leary Plaque Index (PI), $L\ddot{o}e$ & Silness gingival index (GI) and the number of sextants possessing periodontal pocket (SPP). And adults were given a through dental scaling and Watanabe method for dental plaque control. Follow up examination were conducted after 3 months and compared the pre and post- status. The collected data were analyzed with t-test, paired t-test and one-way analysis of variance. Results: Regardless of smoking behavior, improving effects were identified after PT & PCI on PI, GI and SPP in the whole population. However, the effects of GI improvement were significant in the smoking group alone; those of PI improvement were most significant in the non-smoking group; and those of SPP improvement were more significant in non-smoking and pre-smoking groups than in the smoking group. The shorter period of smoking and the smaller amount of smoking, the greater effects of PT & PCI by smoking-related characteristics. Conclusion: Smoking cessation instruction should necessarily be included in oral health education in that smoking is an important factor to consider in prevention of periodontal diseases and periodontal therapies.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.9-17
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• 2023

Background: Dental evaluation and protection are important for preventing traumatic dental injuries when patients are under general anesthesia. The objective of the present study was to develop a questionnaire based on dentition-related risk factors that could serve as a valuable tool for dental evaluation and documentation. Methods: We developed a questionnaire for dental evaluation before administration of general anesthesia, investigated the association between patient-and-dentist responses and mouthguard fabrication, and assessed response agreement between 100 patients. Results: Protective mouthguards were fabricated for 27 patients who were identified as having a high risk of dental injury. There was a strong association between dentists' responses and mouthguard fabrication, depending on the general oral health status, use of ceramic prosthesis, presence of masticatory pain related to periodontal diseases, gingival edema, and implants (P < 0.05). Response agreement between patients and dentists for items related to dental pain, loss of dental pulp vitality, root canal therapy, dental trauma, aesthetic prosthesis, tooth mobility, and implant prosthesis was high (Cohen's kappa coefficient κ ≥ 0.6). Conclusions: A high agreement was observed between patient-dentist responses and a strong association with mouthguard fabrication for items pertaining to ceramic prosthesis, masticatory pain, and dental implants. Patients with a "yes" response to these items are recommended to undergo a dental evaluation and use a dental protective device while under general anesthesia.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권4호
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• pp.445-449
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• 2017

The prevalence of Centrocestus formosanus metacercariae was investigated in ornamental fish purchased from a pet shop in Chiang Mai, Thailand, including Carassius auratus (goldfish), Cyprinus carpio (Koi), Poecilia latipinna (Sailfin Molly), Danio rerio (Zebrafish), and Puntigrus tetrazona (Tiger barb). The parasite species was identified by the morphology of worms as well as by a molecular approach using ITS2. The results showed that 50 (33.3%) of 150 fish examined were infected with the metacercariae. The highest prevalence was found in C. auratus (83.3%), and the highest intensity was noted in C. carpio (70.8 metacercariae/fish). The most important morphological character was the presence of 32-34 circumoral spines on the oral sucker. The phylogenetic studies using the rRNA ITS2 region revealed that all the specimens of C. formosanus in this study were grouped together with C. formosanus in GenBank database. This is the first report on ornamental fish, C. carpio, P. latipinna, D. rerio, and P. tetrazona, taking the role of second intermediate hosts of C. formosanus in Thailand. Prevention and control of metacercarial infection in ornamental fish is urgently needed.

• 대한약침학회지
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• 제26권1호
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• pp.44-52
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• 2023

Objectives: Dental caries is one of the most prevalent human diseases worldwide. The disease initiates with bacterial adherence to the tooth surface followed by the formation of dental plaques. Mutans streptococci and Candida albicans are principal oral microorganisms involved in the initiation and development of dental caries. Phytochemicals have been shown to possess promising antimicrobial properties against a wide range of microorganisms and can be used for the prevention and treatment of dental caries. Herein, we reviewed literature on plants that are traditionally used for their antimicrobial properties or possess promising anticariogenic activity. We selected aerial parts of Scrophularia striata (S. striata) and galls of Quercus infectoria (Q. infectoria) and investigated their antimicrobial activity against cariogenic microorganisms. Methods: Water soluble fractions were obtained from hydroalcoholic extracts of S. striata and Q. infectoria and their antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans), Streptococcus sobrinus (S. sobrinus), and Candida albicans (C. albicans) was evaluated separately and in combination. The extracts were then used for preparing an herbal mouthwash whose stability and tannic acid content were evaluated over 60 days. Results: Q. infectoria gall extract possesses efficient antimicrobial activity that was synergistically enhanced in the presence of S. striata extract. Mouthwash prepared using these extracts showed desirable organoleptic characteristics, antimicrobial activity, and stability. Conclusion: Extracts of S. striata and Q. infectoria galls can be used together for preparing dental products with effective anticariogenic properties. Our study highlights the importance of extensive pharmacological investigations when using herbal products alone or in combination with other chemical substances.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제62권1호
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• pp.85-97
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• 2024

This study aimed to describe the morphological and molecular characteristics of Paralecithodendrium longiforme (Digenea: Lecithodendriidae) adults and cercariae isolated in Thailand. Adult flukes were isolated from the Chinese pipistrelle bat (Hypsugo sp.), and cercariae were detected in the viviparid snail (Filopaludina martensi martensi) from Chiang Mai province. The morphological characteristics were observed and described using conventional methods, and the molecular characteristics with internal transcribed spacer 2 (ITS2) and 28S rDNA gene sequences. The adult flukes were fusiform, 0.84-0.98 mm in length, and 0.37-0.49 mm in width, and were distinguishable from other species by the presence of longitudinal uterine coils. The cercariae were nonvirgulate xiphidiocercariae, with the oral sucker bigger than the acetabulum, the tail without fin fold, a body size of 117.5-138.3×48.3-52.2 ㎛, and a tail size of 100.7-103.7×15.0-18.9 ㎛. Molecular studies revealed that the adults and cercariae shared 99.3% (ITS2) and 99.6% (28S rDNA) homology with each other. They were phylogenetically close to P. longiforme with an identity of 94.5% for ITS2 and 98.7% for 28S rDNA. This study provides new information on the natural definitive host and first intermediate host of P. longiforme in Thailand. The discovery of its cercarial stage in Filopaludina snails highlights the importance of monitoring the associated second intermediate host and prevention and control of this potentially zoonotic trematode.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제21권3호
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• pp.235-240
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• 2005

Pollen has been used for prevention or treatment of certain diseases such as diabetes arthritis or cancer in traditional medicine. Among various pollens, pine tree pollen is known to relieve hypertension, suppress fatty liver progression, and facilitate the digestion, but its immunological activities are less known. To evaluate immunological reactivities and immunotoxicities of pine tree pollen, BALB/c mice were administered to the poller through oral route. Pine tree pollen suspended in distilled water or extracted with methanol has been administered at the concentration of 0, 10, or 100 mg/kg five days per week for four weeks. Polyclonal activation of splenic T cells with phytohemagglutinins did not induce a significant difference in IL-4 and $IFN_{\gamma}$ production between the pollen-administered mice groups and the control mice. Furthermore, polyclonal activation of splenic B cells with lipopolysaccharides did not result a significant difference in IgG1 and IgG2a production among the groups. These findings imply that the intake of pine tree pollen does not bring any humoral and cellular immune-dysrequlation. Whereas, viability of Listeria monocytogenes was suppressed in the mice administered with 100 mg/kg bw methanol extract, indicating the potential ability of pine tree pollen to enhance cell-mediated immunity mediated by type-1 helper T cells. In addition, aberrant upregulation of plasma IgG1 level was observed in the pollen-administered mice, which suggests a possibility of allergic response induction through the pine tree pollen uptake. Overall, pine tree pollen-mediated modulation of humoral or cellular immunity is worthy of further systematic investigation.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.212-222
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• 2011

Purpose: This study was conducted to survey children's health status and need of customized visiting health care services in one province. Methods: The participants in this study were 237 caregivers of infants and preschoolers. Data were collected at the participant's home or public health center. Results: Many of the children did not receive developmental screening tests or dental examinations. In the beneficiary group, the prenatal checkup rate and children's vaccination rate were lower, and caregivers had more health problems than the other groups. On the assessment of home safety, unsafe conditions were more frequently found in the beneficiary group. The caregivers in the beneficiary group showed lower child rearing confidence than the other groups, and wanted customized visiting health care services most in the areas of developmental screening, regular health check-up and counseling, nutritional supplementation, and oral health care. Conclusion: These results indicate that it is necessary for children and parents in poverty to be provided with professional home visiting interventions for the promotion of child health and prevention of developmental problems and diseases. These findings can be used for developing future customized visiting health care service programs for infants and children in this community area.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제35권2호
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• pp.119-132
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• 2014

Objectives : This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Samulhwalhyeol-tang (SM) in a hyperlipidemic animal model induced by a high-fat diet using diverse biological methods. Methods : This study was to determine whether fractionated EtOH extracts of SM inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells. Hyperlipidemia was induced by a high-fat diet fed for 6 weeks. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, glucose, liver function, cholesterol gene revelation control efficiency, and histologic change of liver were measured after oral administration of SM. Results : 1. Compared to the control group, ROS production (%) and NO production (%) were decreased significantly by SM. 2. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglyceride were decreased significantly by SM. 3. HDL cholesterol was increased significantly by SM. 4. Rats' body weight and glucose were decreased significantly by SM. 5. AST, ALP were decreased significantly by SM. 6. In histopathologic examination, fatty liver and fiver fibrosis were inhibited, almost eliminated as round of fat was observed in the liver. Conclusions : SM would appear that effective in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular diseases, fatty liver and nephrotic syndrome caused by hyperlipidemia.

• 대한한방내과학회지
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• 제35권4호
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• pp.505-518
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• 2014

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of Gugijagami-bang (GGB) in a hyperlipidemic animal model induced by a high-fat diet using diverse biological methods. Methods: This study was to determine whether fractionated GGB extracts inhibit reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitric oxide (NO) in RAW 264.7 cells. Hyperlipidemia was induced by a high-fat diet fed for 6 weeks. Total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglyceride, liver function and histologic change of liver were measured after oral administration of GGB. Results: 1. DPPH scavenging bow performance was increased in a concentration-dependent manner by GGB. 2. Compared to the control group, NO production (%) and ROS production (%) were decreased significantly by GGB. 3. Total-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride were decreased significantly by GGB. 4. HDL cholesterol increased more than the control group, but not significantly. 5. In histopathologic examination, fatty liver (hepatic steatosis) was inhibited, almost no rounds of fat were observed in the liver. Conclusions: GGB would appear effective in the prevention and treatment of atherosclerosis, ischemic heart disease, other cardiovascular diseases caused by hyperlipidemia.