• Korean Journal of Occupational Health Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.58-68
• /
• 2020

Purpose: Workers with chronic health problems find it difficult to maintain their work because of socioeconomic difficulties. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationships between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace and chronic health problems of Korean workers. Methods: A total of 28,807 wage workers participated in the study and were selected using the Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey (2017). Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to determine the associations between physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards and chronic health problems. Results: Of the participants, 1,220 (4.23%) had chronic health problems. Even after adjusting the general characteristics, vibration, noise, high temperature, low temperature, dust, chemical and cigarette smoke, fatigue and painful posture, dragging or pushing or moving of heavy objects, repetitive hand or arm movements, working with a computer or smartphone, use of internet or e-mail, and anxiety situations increased the risk of chronic health problems. Conclusion: The study reaffirms that exposure of physical, ergonomic, and mental health hazards in the workplace significantly increases the risk of chronic health problems.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
• /
• v.20 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2016

Damage in the periphery or spinal cord induces maladaptive plastic changes along the somatosensory nervous system from the periphery to the cortex, often leading to chronic pain. Although the role of neural circuit remodeling and structural synaptic plasticity in the 'pain matrix' cortices in chronic pain has been thought as a secondary epiphenomenon to altered nociceptive signaling in the spinal cord, progress in whole brain imaging studies on human patients and animal models has suggested a possibility that plastic changes in cortical neural circuits may actively contribute to chronic pain symptoms. Furthermore, recent development in two-photon microscopy and fluorescence labeling techniques have enabled us to longitudinally trace the structural and functional changes in local circuits, single neurons and even individual synapses in the brain of living animals. These technical advances has started to reveal that cortical structural remodeling following tissue or nerve damage could rapidly occur within days, which are temporally correlated with functional plasticity of cortical circuits as well as the development and maintenance of chronic pain behavior, thereby modifying the previous concept that it takes much longer periods (e.g. months or years). In this review, we discuss the relation of neural circuit plasticity in the 'pain matrix' cortices, such as the anterior cingulate cortex, prefrontal cortex and primary somatosensory cortex, with chronic pain. We also introduce how to apply long-term in vivo two-photon imaging approaches for the study of pathophysiological mechanisms of chronic pain.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.275-280
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of cigarette smoking on physical fitness (dominant hand grip power, dominant isokinetic leg muscle strength, abdominal muscle endurance, flexibility, cardiopulmonary endurance) and depression in patients with chronic low back pain. Methods: This study was a cross sectional study and subjects consisted of 60 young males with chronic low back pain. The subjects were allocated to two groups following a self-report survey: cigarette smoking group (n=25) or non-smoking group (n=35). Physical fitness (dominant hand grip power, dominant isokinetic leg muscle strength, abdominal muscle endurance, flexibility, cardiopulmonary endurance) were measured using objective methods and depression in patients with chronic low back pain was measured using the Korean version of center for epidemiologic studies depression (CES-D) scale. Results: The results of this study were as follows: In physical fitness, the cigarette smoking group showed a significant decrease in abdominal muscle endurance, flexibility, and cardiopulmonary endurance compared with the non-smoking group. Depression index (CES-D scale score) was significantly higher in the cigarette smoking group than in the non-smoking group. Conclusion: These results suggest that cigarette smoking had a negative effect on abdominal muscle endurance, flexibility, and cardiopulmonary endurance in patients with chronic low back pain. In addition, depression of patients with chronic low back pain was affected by cigarette smoking. Thus, we suggested that cigarette smoking may play a significant role in the deterioration of physical fitness and depression of chronic low back pain patients.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.605-611
• /
• 2005

Chronic fatigue refers to the tiredness which disturbs one's daily activities and lasts more than six months without the sign of improvement by rest or sleep. Male chronic fatigue is included in internal injuries due to overstrain and exhaustion and closely related to river, spleen, stomach and kidney out of five Jang organs. Male chronic fatigue is based on the deficiency of Yang and aggravated by liquor, sex and emotional depression. Chronic fatigue has the following features in Hyungsang ; an inclination for lying: unwillingness to everything; drooping eyes and feeble voice; yellow pale complexion; withered ears; redness on the tip of nose; cheekbone, and lips; blood shot eyes; dryness and loss of hair. Male chronic fatigue usually attacks the persons of horse type and bird type because they are hyperactive compared with what they eat. The following medicines are commonly prescribed for the treatment of male chronic fatigue. Ssangwhatang, Sokunzungtang, and Yanghyulsamultang are commonly prescribed to horse type. Jaumkangwhatang, Chungsimyunzaum, Yookmijiwhangtang to bird type. Palmiwhan, Gozinumja. and Shinkihwan to fish type. Bozungikkitang, Galwhahaesungtang, Samchulgunbitang and Sipjundaebotang to turtle type.

• The Korean Journal of Rehabilitation Nursing
• /
• v.9 no.2
• /
• pp.161-165
• /
• 2006

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the level of mastery and depression in chronic arthritis patients. Method: The subjects for this study were 100 patients registered in S University Hospital, and the period of data collection was from June 20, 2006 to August 30, 2006. Results: The cronbach's ${\alpha}$ of the research instruments were .70-.86. In data analysis, SPSSWIN 12.0 program was used for descriptive statistics. The results were as follows. 1) The range of total mastery scores was from 11 to 28 and the mean score of the depression in chronic arthritis patients was 17.88. 2) The range of total depression scores was from 20 to 72 and the mean score of the depression in chronic arthritis patients was 39.99. 3) The level of mastery was significant correlation with the level of depression in chronic arthritis patients(r=-.466, p<.01). Conclusion: Mastery had significant correlation with depression in patients who have chronic arthritis. Therefore, the strategy of nursing intervention which improve mastery must be developed for patients who have chronic arthritis.

• YAKHAK HOEJI
• /
• v.45 no.1
• /
• pp.85-92
• /
• 2001

Nitric oxide is a tonically produced vasodilator that maintains blood pressure in the normal animal. The chronic inhibition of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) elicits the hypertension in rats. However, the mechanism of hypertension induced by chronic inhibition of NOS is not clear. Thus, to clarify the mechanism of the occurance of hypertension, the changes in $\alpha$-adrenergic systems in rats treated with NOS inhibitors for 21 days were examined. Chronic administration of L-NAME significantly increased in the basal blood pressure, but chronic administration of 7-nitroindazole did not. Phenylephrine and G-protein stimulator elicited the more potent contraction in the aorta of the L-NAME-induced hypertensive rats. However when the contractile responses by phenylephrine and G-protein stimulator were calculated the proportion to the contraction by 25 mM KCL, there was no difference between the vehicle-treated rats and the L-NAME-treated rats. The density of $\alpha$-adrenergic receptors in aortic tissue was not changed by the chronic inhibition of NOS. These results suggest that hypertension induced by chronic inhibition of NOS is due to the inhibition of eNOS and the increased responses to the adrenergic drugs are due to the changes of the intracellular contactile mechanism of aortic tissue rather than the changes of receptor density.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
• /
• v.16 no.3
• /
• pp.139-142
• /
• 2004

1. Objectives In this study, it is experienced that the process of sweating is important in chronic cough of Taeumin. In this case report, the patient has been simproved throuth reaction of sweating improvement. In "Dongyi Soose Bowon", The process of sweating change is described in detail. "Hamkeylhae" is similar to chronic cough in "Dongyi Soose Bowon", it is cough that is hard to spit. The chronic cough of Taeumin is related to the pathology of Liver and Lung, sweating condition is also related to condition of Lung in Sasang constitutional medicine. So the study for the process of sweating is needed. 2. Methods One patient diagnosed as chronic cough was practiced with Sasang constitutional medicine. And We observed sweating change process during treatment. 3. Results As sweating condition improved, chronic cough also decreased, but not improved, not decreased. 4. Conclusions So treating of Taeumin's chronic cough is closely connected with sweating change process.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2003

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the factors influencing Symptoms of Stress in patients with chronic illness. Method: Data were collected by questionnaires from 1,748 patients with chronic disease in General Hospital in Seoul. Chronic diseases of were cardiac disease including hypertension, peptic ulcer, pulmonary disease included COPD and asthma, DM, and chronic kidney disease. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, pearson correlation coefficients, and stepwise multiple regression. Result: 1. The level of symptoms of stress was moderate(M=2.17). 2. The score of symptoms of stress showed significantly positive correlation with the score of mood state(r=.58, p=.00), perceived stress(r=.57, p=.00), and ways of coping(r=.33, p=.00). The symptoms of stress showed significantly negative correlation with the score of social support(r=-.37, p=.00) and self-esteem(r=-.19, p=.00). 3. The most powerful predictor of symptoms of stress was mood state and the variance explained was 34%. A combination of mood state, ways of coping, perceived stress, social support, and duration of illness account for 45% of the variance in symptoms of stress of the patients with chronic illness. Conclusion: This study suggest that mood state, ways of coping, perceived stress, and social support are significantly influencing factors on symptoms of stress of the patients with chronic illness.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.251-255
• /
• 2002

Purpose: Chronic subtalar instability is not common and similar to chronic ankle instability and the incidence and cause chronic subtalar instability are not well known. Recently we have experienced chronic subtalar instability without chronic ankle instability which was treated with modified Brostrom procedures. Materials and Methods: The patient is 46 year old man who has suffered from left ankle sprain for 30 years and recently aggravated more than twice a day. On subtalar stress view, 14 degree angulation of subtalar joint was noted and on anterior drawer view, 8 mm anterior displacement of left ankle was seen. Results: In operation, there was no anterior talofibular ligament abnormility but calcaneofibular ligament loosening was found. Ligament reconstruction was performed using modified Brostrom procedure. At 12 months after operation, the patient complains no pain and no limit of motion and no instability. Conclusion: We experienced chronic subtalar instability without ankle instability treated with modified Brostrom procedures. No instability was found after treatment without complication.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
• /
• v.24 no.2
• /
• pp.35-40
• /
• 2011

Objective : The aim of this study is to investigate the characteristics of Ryodoraku in the patients with acute and chronic urticaria, and to compare the acute and chronic urticaria. Methods : Subjects were 124 patients with urticaria, acute(<8 weeks) patients were thirty eight and chronic(${\geq}$ 8 weeks) patients were sixty four. We calculated the average Ryodoraku score(RS, ${\mu}A$) and each variation from physiologic range of 12 Ryodoraku points, and compared the acute and chronic urticaria Ryodoraku points pattern. Results : 1. The mean value of F3 and F5 were under 40${\mu}A$ in acute urticaria group. 2. The mean value of H1, H2, H4, H5, H6, F1 and F4 were over 60${\mu}A$ in chronic urticaria group. 3. There were significant difference between acute and chronic urticaria group at H2, H3, H4, F1, F2, F3, F4, F5 and total Ave. Conclusion : These findings suggest that there are significant differences of Ryodoraku pattern between acute and chronic urticaria group, and Ryodoraku reflect the characteristic of urticaria.