• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.28 no.3
• /
• pp.187-193
• /
• 2012

In order to evaluate the physical and psychological health effects of air pollutants from new building materials, 100 employees who worked in new buildings were given a general health questionnaire, and the prevalence of their subjective complaints was measured. The collected data were classified according to age, gender, smoking status, profession, working time, sleep time, life style, and length of employment. The results obtained were summarized as follows: The THI lie scale scores were significantly higher among the older respondents. Compared to males, females showed a significantly higher level in the depression itemas well asa tendency toward high ratios of physical and psychological complaints. The smoking group showed higher scores regarding health complaints related to most physical and psychological items. Smokers showed significantly increased respiratory organ complaints compared to nonsmokers. Those with a profession showed significantly higher level of nervousness. The group of those working 7 to 10 hours group showed higher rates of complaints in the multiple subjective symptoms and mouth/anus items than the group working less than 2 hours. Those living an irregular life showed a tendency toward higher rates of complaints for most physical and psychological subjective factors. Those who were satisfied with their environments showed significantly lower scores in the mouth/anus, impulsiveness, mental irritability, depression, and nervousness items. In summary, this study shows that the health complaint scores regarding physical and psychological symptoms tended to be higher among the unsatisfied group, the irregular life group, the group who worked long hours, the elderly, smokers, and females. These results can be used to improve the psychosomatic health status and working environments of employees working in new buildings.

• Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.6 no.1
• /
• pp.3-11
• /
• 2004

An increasing number of women are becoming victims of their smoking habits. Cigarette smoking is implicated as a major cause or several chronic diseases. This study was performed to investigate the nutritional status associated with smoking and other factors like drinking or fruit and vegetable consumption frequency in Korean adult women. The 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey provided the current adult women sample (n = 2900), who were categorized as smoking (n= 141) and nonsmoking group (n = 2759). The smoking women declared significantly lower intakes of carbohydrate, calcium and vitamin C and higher alcohol than nonsmokers, but with nonsignificant difference of BMI. The smoking and drinking group showed the lowest intakes in most of the nutrients, the lowest BMI and significantly elevated blood pressure. The smoking group with fruit and vegetable consumption frequency less than 3 times a day also showed lower intakes of most of the nutrients and significantly higher systolic blood pressure. Less proportion of smokers perceived their health status very good or good and more smokers felt depressed often. In conclusion it seems cigarette smoking is associated with the decreased nutrient intakes in adults women. When smoking is connected with other unhealthy dietary habits like drinking or lower fruit and vegetable consumption, it may exacerbate the nutritional status and cause elevated blood pressure.

• Child Health Nursing Research
• /
• v.28 no.2
• /
• pp.124-131
• /
• 2022

Purpose: A tobacco-free campus (TFC) is the most advanced tobacco-control policy for college campuses, but it has rarely been explored in Korea. This study aimed to explore Korean college students' attitudes toward TFC and related factors. Methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study enrolled college students who were taking an elective course on smoking cessation and a healthy lifestyle at a university located in Incheon, Korea. Data were collected from March 1 to December 31, 2019 using a structured questionnaire, and study participants were recruited using convenience sampling. Results: Data on 309 college students were analyzed. Of those participants, 6.1% supported the TFC policy. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that female gender (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=5.80, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.47-22.95), taking the course to quit smoking oneself (aOR=11.03, 95% CI=1.04-117.05), anxiety in the past month (aOR=4.27, 95% CI=1.06-17.31), and being a current smoker (aOR=0.06, 95% CI=0.01-0.70) were statistically significant independent predictors of TFC support. Conclusion: Women, students taking the course to quit smoking themselves, nonsmokers, and students who felt anxious in the past month were more likely to support TFC. Further research with more representative samples is required to examine the characteristics of people who favor TFC.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
• /
• v.7 no.1
• /
• pp.143-156
• /
• 2001

This is a survey in order to provide basic information for smoking cessation teaching as investigate adolescent smoking, stress, family function and vital power. Data collection was done at the high school(12 class) and middle school(12 class) with quota sampling during 2 weeks from October 27, 2000. in the metropolitan area of Taegu. Total subjects of this study were 1710 students. The instruments for this study were the Life Event Checklist, Family APGAR, and vital power item among in the SF-36. Frequency, percentage, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple logistic regression by SPSS/PC Win Ver7.5 program were used to analyze the data. The results of this study were as fellows; 1) The subjects of this study was consisted with middle school student (876, 51.2%) and high school students. The students that they have used smoking at past or current smoker was reported 18.9%. Most of the smoking adolescents reported that they started smoking during middle school age, and there were more smoking rate among vocational high school students than academic high school students. 2) There were more stress among high school, men, and vocational high school. In aspect of family function, there were reported high score among women and middle school. At the vital power, there were reported more score among men students than women students. 3) Current smokers were more likely than nonsmokers to report more stress, low family functioning. 4) In order to identify predicting factor for adolescent smoking, family function and stress were tested significant variables statistically.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.227-232
• /
• 2013

Purpose: The receptor activator of nuclear factor kappa B (RANK)/RANK ligand (RANKL)/osteoprotegerin (OPG) system plays a significant role in osteoclastogenesis, activation of osteoclasts, and regulation of bone resorption. This study aimed to evaluate the use of the salivary soluble RANKL (sRANKL)/OPG ratio as a diagnostic marker for periodontitis in nonsmokers. Methods: Twenty-five patients with chronic periodontitis and 25 individuals with a healthy periodontium were enrolled in this study. Samples containing 5 mL of unstimulated saliva were obtained from each subject. Salivary sRANKL and OPG concentrations were determined using a standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS ver. 18.0. Results: The levels of sRANKL and OPG were detectable in all of the samples. Positive relationships were found between the plaque index and clinical attachment level and both the salivary concentration of sRANKL and the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio (P<0.05). The salivary concentration of sRANKL and the sRANKL/OPG ratio were significantly higher in the periodontitis group than in the healthy group (P=0.004 and P=0.001, respectively). In contrast, the OPG concentration showed no significant differences between the groups (P=0.455). Conclusions: These findings suggest that the salivary sRANKL/OPG ratio may be helpful in the screening and diagnosis of periodontitis. However, longitudinal studies with larger populations are needed to confirm these results.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
• /
• v.43 no.5
• /
• pp.215-220
• /
• 2013

Purpose: Cigarette smoking is a major risk factor in periodontal diseases. The pathogenesis of periodontal diseases may be affected by alterations of the inflammatory response by smoke. Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous, colorless, highly reactive, short-lived free radical with a pivotal role in the regulation of various physiological and pathological mechanisms in the body. It is important in host defense and homeostasis, on the one hand, whereas, on the other hand, it modulates the inflammatory response in periodontitis, leading to harmful effects. The aim of this study was to assess the levels of NO in both the serum and saliva of smokers and nonsmokers having chronic periodontitis and to compare them with periodontally healthy controls. Methods: Sixty subjects participated in the study and were divided into three groups: group I, healthy nonsmoking subjects; group II, nonsmoking patients with chronic periodontitis; group III, smoking patients with chronic periodontitis. Each group consisted of twenty subjects. The biochemical estimation of NO in the collected serum and in the saliva was performed using the Griess colorimetric reaction. Results: The results showed that the mean value of the salivary and serum NO was greater in group II than in group I, and also greater in group III than in group II. Conclusions: NO appears to play an important and rather complex role in the immuno-inflammatory process and in the remodeling and maintenance of osseous structures. It is therefore logical that modulation of this mediator has potential for the treatment of a number of inflammatory conditions including periodontal disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.316-322
• /
• 2012

Objectives: Abdominal obesity increases mortality and morbidity from cardiovascular disease and there is a possibility that smoking effects obesity. However, previous studies concerning the effects of smoking on obesity are inconsistent. The objective of this study was to examine whether smoking is positively related to abdominal obesity in men with type 2 diabetes. Methods: Subjects consisted of 2197 type 2 diabetic patients who visited Huh's Diabetes Center from 2003 to 2009. Indices of abdominal obesity were defined as visceral fat thickness (VFT) measured by ultrasonography and waist circumference (WC). Overall obesity was defined as body mass index (BMI). Results: Statistically significant differences in WC and VFT by smoking status were identified. However, there was no statistical difference in BMI according to smoking status. Means of WC and VFT were not significantly higher in heavy smokers and lower in mild smokers. Compared to nonsmokers, the BMI confounder adjusted odds ratio and 95% confidence interval for VFT in ex-smokers and current-smokers were 1.70 (1.21 to 2.39) and 1.86 (1.27 to 2.73), respectively. Conclusions: Smoking status was positively associated with abdominal obesity in type 2 diabetic patients.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
• /
• v.33 no.4
• /
• pp.359-377
• /
• 2020

Background: This study investigated whether current smoking and a higher nicotine dependency were associated with chronic low back pain (LBP), lumbar related leg pain (sciatica) and/or radicular neuropathic pain. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 150 patients (mean age, 60.1 ± 13.1 yr). Demographic data, the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) neuropathic pain grade, STarT Back tool, and the Fagerström test were completed. A control group (n = 50) was recruited. Results: There was a significant difference between current smokers and nonsmokers in the chronic LBP group in the mean pain score (P = 0.025), total STarT Back score (P = 0.015), worst pain location (P = 0.020), most distal pain radiation (P = 0.042), and in the IASP neuropathic pain grade (P = 0.026). There was a significant difference in the mean Fagerström score between the four IASP neuropathic pain grades (P = 0.005). Current smoking yielded an odds ratio (OR) of 3.071 (P = 0.011) for developing chronic LBP and sciatica, and an OR of 4.028 (P = 0.002) for obtaining an IASP "definite/probable" neuropathic pain grade, for both cohorts. The likelihood for chronic LBP and sciatica increased by 40.9% (P = 0.007), while the likelihood for an IASP neuropathic grade of "definite/probable" increased by 50.8% (P = 0.002), for both cohorts, for every one unit increase in the Fagerström score. Conclusions: A current smoking status and higher nicotine dependence increase the odds for chronic LBP, sciatica and radicular neuropathic pain.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.23 no.3 s.31
• /
• pp.255-261
• /
• 1990

Taxi drivers are exposed to vehicular exhaust aerosols which are a mar source of atmospheric lead pollution in Korea where lead additives are incorporated in petrol. To investigate the blood lead concentration, their correlation factors and influences on taxi drivers, samples were collected from 90 taxi drivers who were living in the Taegu City, during August, 1989. Blood lead concentration was estimated by the atomic absorption spectrophotometer (IL.551) equipped with flameless furnace atomizer (IL.665). The results were analyzed statistically and compared with control group selected urban population. The mean blood lead concentration of taxi drivers and control group were $26.34{\pm}6.53{mu}g/dl\;and\;20.77{\pm}4.80{\mu}g/dl$ respectively (p<0.01). No significant correlation was observed between the blood lead concentration of taxi drivers and driver career (r=0.093). There were no difference of statistical significance in the blood lead concentration of smokers and nonsmokers.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.29 no.1
• /
• pp.102-114
• /
• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted in order to identify consumption status, risk awareness and experience of adverse effects of high caffeine energy drink among university students. Methods: This study was a descriptive survey including 270 students in 2 universities and 7 colleges in D metropolitan city. Consumption Status, Risk Awareness and Experience of Adverse Effects of High-Caffeine Energy Drink tools were developed by literature review. Data analyzed using descriptive statistics and $x^2$-test. Results: In the results, 86.7% of the students had previous experience of energy drink consumption and male students and smokers had more experience of energy drink consumption than female students and nonsmokers. The reason of energy drink consumption was increasing alertness for studying. 45.7% of the students were aware of the risk of high caffeine energy drink and the first risk was sleep disturbance. 51.1% of students were experienced adverse effects, mainly palpitation and sleeplessness. Conclusion: The results suggest a need to increase awareness of adverse effects and potential risks of high caffeine energy drink consumption in university students. In addition, university and government should provide education and campaigns to prevent excessive high caffeine energy drink consumption.