• 생물정신의학
• /
• 제24권1호
• /
• pp.10-18
• /
• 2017

Occupational hazards of firefighting and rescue works include frequent exposure to emergencies and life-threatening situations. These stressful work conditions of being constantly under pressure and exposed to potentially traumatic events put them at higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), compared to the general population. PTSD is a potentially debilitating mental disorder, due to persistent intrusive thoughts, negative alterations of mood and cognition, hypervigilance, avoidance of similar situations and reminders, and re-experiences of the traumatic event. Previous studies have shown a relatively high prevalence of PTSD among firefighters, indicating the need for a systematic approach of early detection and prevention. Therefore, a critical review of the current literature on PTSD in firefighters would provide valuable insights into developing effective prevention and intervention programs. Literature indicated that there are risk factors of PTSD in firefighters, such as pre-existing depression, anxiety, sleep disorders, occupational stress, physical symptoms, and binge drinking, whereas social support and adequate rewards are protective factors. Although there are differences in the prevalence of PTSD across studies, partly due to various assessment tools utilized, different sample sizes, and sample characteristics, over one tenth of the firefighters were estimated to have PTSD. The current review warrants further investigations to precisely assess PTSD and co-morbid mental disorders, functional outcomes, and associated factors, and to develop evidence-based preventive and interventional programs to help firefighters with PTSD.

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

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• 제64권8호
• /
• pp.422-429
• /
• 2021

Background: Carnosine has antioxidative and neuroprotective properties against hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury. Hypothermia is used as a therapeutic tool for HI encephalopathy in newborn infants with perinatal asphyxia. However, the combined effects of these therapies are unknown. Purpose: Here we investigated the effects of combined carnosine and hypothermia therapy on HI brain injury in neonatal rats. Methods: Postnatal day 7 (P7) rats were subjected to HI brain injury and randomly assigned to 4 groups: vehicle; carnosine alone; vehicle and hypothermia; and carnosine and hypothermia. Carnosine (250 mg/kg) was intraperitoneally administered at 3 points: immediately following HI injury, 24 hours later, and 48 hours later. Hypothermia was performed by placing the rats in a chamber maintained at 27℃ for 3 hours to induce whole-body cooling. Sham-treated rats were also included as a normal control. The rats were euthanized for experiments at P10, P14, and P35. Histological and morphological analyses, in situ zymography, terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling (TUNEL) assays, and immunofluorescence studies were conducted to investigate the neuroprotective effects of the various interventional treatments. Results: Vehicle-treated P10 rats with HI injury showed an increased infarct volume compared to sham-treated rats during the triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining study. Hematoxylin and eosin staining revealed that vehicle-treated P35 rats with HI injury had decreased brain volume in the affected hemisphere. Compared to the vehicle group, carnosine and hypothermia alone did not result in any protective effects against HI brain injury. However, a combination of carnosine and hypothermia effectively reduced the extent of brain damage. The results of in situ zymography, TUNEL assays, and immunofluorescence studies showed that neuroprotective effects were achieved with combination therapy only. Conclusion: Carnosine and hypothermia may have synergistic neuroprotective effects against brain damage following HI injury.

• 한국산학기술학회논문지
• /
• 제19권6호
• /
• pp.391-404
• /
• 2018

이 연구의 목적은 치매노인의 낙상을 예방하기 위한 중재연구의 현황을 파악하고 낙상예방을 위한 중재 프로그램의 내용과 효과를 알아보는 것이다. 문헌 검색은 치매, 알쯔하이머, 알츠하이머, 낙상, 낙상예방을 검색어로 하여 한국교육학술정보원(http://www.riss4u.net), 국회도서관, 한국학술정보(http://kiss. kstudy.com)와 pubMed, CINAHL을 통해 2000년 1월부터 2016년 12월까지 발표된 연구 논문을 검색하였다. 전자 자료를 검색한 후 연구자가 원본을 확인하여 선별한 13편의 논문을 최종 분석 하였다. 연구에 적용된 중재분야는 운동 치료(8편, 61.5%), 물리 치료와 작업 치료(2편, 15.4%), 보완대체요법(2편, 15.4%), 음악 치료(1편, 7.7%)이었다. Scottish Intercollegiate Guideline Network의 체크 리스트로 논문의 질적 평가를 실시하였다. 논문의 질적 평가 결과 10점 만점에 9점인 연구가 2편, 8점인 연구가 5편, 7점인 연구가 6편이었다. 낙상예방 중재내용을 분석한 결과 중재시간은 1회당 평균 55분을 시행하였고 중재 총 시행 횟수는 평균 37회이었다. 분석한 연구 결과에 의하면 운동 치료(타이치 포함), 음악 치료, 물리 치료와 작업 치료, 율동 동작 치료 등이 치매노인의 낙상예방에 효과가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 향후 이 결과를 활용하여 임상 현장에서 간호사에 의한 낙상예방 중재 프로그램 개발에 근거 자료로 활용하기를 기대한다.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• 제7권4호
• /
• pp.347-353
• /
• 2016

Background: This study aimed to investigate the relation between key strike forces and musculoskeletal symptoms (MSS). Moreover, this study presents a key strike force measurement method to be used in a workplace setting. The correlation between key strike force characteristics and MSS was previously studied, but the measurement methods used either a single-key switch or force platforms applied under the keyboard. Most of the studies were conducted in a laboratory setting. The uniqueness of measurement methods in the current study is their ability to measure forces applied to a specific key in a workplace setting and to provide more information about specific key strike forces during typing. Methods: Twenty-four healthy computer workers were recruited for the study. The demographic questionnaire, and self-reported questionnaires for psychosocial status (General Nordic Questionnaire for Psychological and Social Factors at Work) and for detecting MSS were filled up, which later helped in dividing the participants into two groups (12 participants with pain and 12 without pain). Participants typed a predetermined text that utilized the instrumented keys multiple times. The dynamic forces applied to the keys were recorded and collected, using four thin and flexible force sensors attached to the preselected keys according to their location. Results: The results demonstrated that participants with high levels of MSS, specifically in the back and neck, in the last year exerted significantly higher key strike forces than those with lower levels of symptoms (p < 0.005). Conclusion: The key strike force exerted while typing on a keyboard may be a risk factor for MSS, and should therefore be considered in ergonomic evaluations and interventional programs.

• 대한핵의학회:학술대회논문집
• /
• 대한핵의학회 2001년도 제40차 춘계학술대회 및 연수교육
• /
• pp.24-34
• /
• 2001

Restenosis remains a major limitation of percutaneous coronary interventions. Numerous studios including pharmacological approaches and new devices failed to reduce the restenosis rate except coronary stenting. Since the results of $BENESTENT^{1)}\;and\;STRESS^{2)}$ studies came out, coronary stenting has been the most popular interventional strategy in the various kinds of coronary stenotic lesions, although the efficacy of stenting was shown only in the discrete lesion of the large coronary artery. The widespread use of coronary stenting has improved the early and late outcomes after coronary intervention, but it has also led to a new and serious problem, e.g., in-stent restenosis. Intravascular radiation for prevention of restenosis is a new technology in the field of percutaneous coronary intervention. Recent animal experiments and human trials have demonstrated that local irradiation, in conjunction with coronary interventions, substantially diminished the rate of restenosis. This paper reviews basic radiation biology of intracoronary radiation and its role in the inhibition of restenosis. The current status of intracoronary radiation therapy using Re-188 liquid balloon is also discussed.

• 한국임상수의학회지
• /
• 제31권2호
• /
• pp.112-116
• /
• 2014

2개월령 수컷 핏불테리어종 개 (체중 1.01 kg)가 심한 복부 팽만, 운동 불내성, 성장 지연, 노란 비루와 식욕부진을 주증으로 진료 의뢰 되었다. 영상 진단상에 비정상적인 막으로 분할된 확대된 우심방, 심한 수축기 폐동맥 제트 혈류 (최고혈류 5.66 m/s) 그리고 심방 중격에서의 우좌 단락혈류가 관찰되었다. 임상증상 및 진단학적 결과에 기초하여, 본 증례는 심한 폐동맥 협착과 우좌 단락의 난원공 개존증이 합병된 우측 삼중심방증으로 진단 되었다. 비안정적인 환자의 상태 때문에 수술적 혹은 중재적 치료는 시도되지 않았다. 그 개는 수혈, 산소공급 그리고 심장 관련 약물적 치료(예, 실데나필, 스피로노락톤, 에날라프릴)로 회복되었다.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• 제21권1호
• /
• pp.44-50
• /
• 2008

Background: The use of regional local anesthetics or opioids during laparoscopic cholecystectomy (LC), in combination with general anesthesia, has been investigated in several interventional studies. Methods: We studied a total of 240 (n = 60, each) patients who were undergoing LC, and they received local infiltration and intraperitoneal instillation with normal saline or 0.25% levobupivacaine 60 ml. Group R (S) received infiltration of normal saline 20 ml before incision and at the end of surgery and then 40 ml intraperitoneal instillation after removal of the gall bladder under remifentanil-based anesthesia. Group R (L) received 0.25% levobupivacaine instead of normal saline in the same method like group R (S). Group S (S) received the same method as group R (S) under sevoflurane based anesthesia in place of remifentanil. Group S (L) received 0.25% levobupivacaine instead of normal saline with the same method as group S (S). Pain was assessed on a visual analog scale at 1, 6, 12 and 24 hours after operation. Results: The pain intensity of Group R (L) was significantly lower than that of group R (S), and the the incisional pain of group S (L) was significantly lower than that of group S (S) in the first six hours. The time delay to first operative analgesics in group R (S) and group S (S) was significantly shorter than that of group R (L) and group S (L). Conclusions: Infiltration and instillation of levobupivacaine reduced the postoperative pain and remifentanil did not increase the pain severity and opioid requirement when performing the LC.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
• /
• 제7권5호
• /
• pp.393-399
• /
• 2013

Asian populations are thought to receive significant health benefits from traditional diets rich in soybeans due to high isoflavone contents. However, available epidemiologic data only weakly support this hypothesis. The present study was carried out to assess the pharmacokinetics of isoflavones in South Korean women after ingestion of soy-based foods. Twenty-six healthy female volunteers (20-30 y old) consumed three different soy products (i.e., isogen, soymilk, and fermented soybeans) with different aglycone/glucoside ratios. Plasma and urine isoflavone concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) after ingestion of one of the soy products. Pharmacokinetic parameters were determined using the WinNonlin program. The area under the curve (AUC) for plasma daidzein levels of the soymilk group ($2,101{\pm}352ng{\cdot}h/mL$) was significantly smaller than those of the isogen ($2,628{\pm}573ng{\cdot}h/mL$) and fermented soybean ($2,593{\pm}465ng{\cdot}h/mL$) groups. The maximum plasma concentration ($C_{max}$) of daidzein for the soymilk group ($231{\pm}44$ ng/mL) was significantly higher than those of the isogen ($160{\pm}32$ ng/mL) and fermented soybean ($195{\pm}35$ ng/mL) groups. The half-lives of daidzein and genistein in the soymilk group (5.9 and 5.6 h, respectively) were significantly shorter than those in the individuals given isogen (9.6 and 8.5 h, respectively) or fermented soybean (9.5 and 8.2 h, respectively). The urinary recovery rates of daidzein and genistein were 42% and 17% for the isogen group, 46% and 23% for the fermented soybean group, and 33% and 22% for the soymilk group. In conclusion, our data indicated that soy products containing high levels of isoflavone aglycone are more effective for maintaining plasma isoflavone concentrations. Additional dose-response, durational, and interventional studies are required to evaluate the ability of soy-based foods to increase the bioavailability of isoflavones that positively affect human health.

• Molecules and Cells
• /
• 제40권11호
• /
• pp.847-854
• /
• 2017

Recent studies on molecular carcinogenesis suggest that the chemo-resistance of some cancers is largely due to presence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), which affect the chemotherapy outcome for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, currently no consensus on a CSC phenotype in HCC has been obtained. Here, we examined Sox12 as a novel CSC marker in HCC. Sox12+ versus Sox12- cells were purified from HCC cell lines. The Sox12+ cells were compared with Sox12- HCC cells for tumor sphere formation, chemo-resistance, tumor formation after serial adoptive transplantations in nude mice, and the frequency of developing distal metastasis. We found that compared to Sox12- HCC cells, Sox12+ HCC cells generated significantly more tumor spheres in culture, were more chemo-resistant to cisplatin, were detected in circulation more frequently, and formed distal tumor more frequently. Moreover, Sox12 appeared to functionally contribute to the stemness of HCC cells. Thus, we conclude that Sox12 may be a novel marker for enriching CSCs in HCC.