• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.8.1-8.20
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• 2022

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a representative autoimmune disease that is primarily characterized by persistent inflammation and progressive destruction of synovial joints. RA has a complex and heterogeneous pathophysiology, involving interactions among various immune and joint stromal cells and a diverse network of cytokines and intracellular signaling pathways. With improved understanding of RA, over the past decades, therapeutic strategies have become considerably advanced and now included targeted molecular therapies, such as tumor necrosis factor inhibitors, IL-6 blockers, B-cell depletion agents, as well as inhibitors of T-cell co-stimulation and Janus kinases. However, a considerable proportion of RA patients experience refractory disease and interrupted treatment owing to the associated risk of developing serious infections and cancers. In contrast, although IL-1β, IL-17A, and p38α play significant roles in RA pathogenesis, several drugs targeting these factors have not been approved because of their low efficacy and severe adverse effects. In this review, we provide an overview of the working mechanism, advantages, and limitations of the currently available targeted drugs for RA. Additionally, we suggest potential mechanistic causes for clinically approved and failed drugs. Thus, this review provides perspectives on approaches for basic and translational studies that hold promise for identifying future next-generation therapeutics for RA.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.42.1-42.11
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• 2022

Background: Occupational pesticide exposure is a potential risk for respiratory health effects. Most clinical studies on pesticide exposure were related to acute exposure, and only a few studies on chronic exposure have been conducted. This study investigated the chronic respiratory health status and the chronic effects of occupational pesticide exposures of farmers in Gyeonggi-do. Methods: Surveys and pulmonary function tests were conducted on 1,697 farmers in 16 regions of Gyeonggi-do. The structured questionnaire included demographic characteristics, medical history, recent respiratory symptoms and diseases, and work-related conditions, and was conducted through one-on-one interviews. The prevalence of respiratory diseases was compared by the odds ratios (ORs) at 95% confidence intervals (CIs) estimated by logistic regression analysis. Additional multivariate logistic regression analysis was also conducted. Results: Pesticide work groups showed significant association with an obstructive pattern in the lung function test (unadjusted OR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.17-5.52). Selected work-related variables of pesticide exposure were 'start age,' 'cumulative duration,' 'mixing pesticides,' and 'protection(goggle).' The obstructive pattern of lung function test showed significant associations with mixing pesticides (OR, 2.30; 95% CI,1.07-5.46), and protection (goggle) use (OR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.12-0.79). Conclusions: Mixing two or more pesticides showed a significant association. Wearing goggles can be seen as an indicator of awareness of the protective equipment and proper wearing of protective equipment, and loss of pulmonary function can be prevented when appropriate protection is worn.

• Journal of Korean Physical Therapy Science
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.89-99
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• 2024

Background: Squats are well-known for their effectiveness in strengthening the quadriceps femoris muscle. Flexibility and stability of the ankle joint are critical factors in performing squats correctly. Ankle instability can lead to injuries owing to compensatory actions. The role of the soleus muscle in maintaining ankle balance is crucial to minimize the risk of injury. Moreover, squats on unstable surfaces have gained attention for their potential to enhance balance and stability, which in turn helps prevent injuries. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the correlation between the soleus and quadriceps femoris muscles during squat exercises on various support surfaces. Design: Simple regression analysis Methods: Participants performed three different types of squats. Prior to commencing the exercises, we conducted electromyography (EMG) measurements to assess the activity of both the soleus and quadriceps femoris muscles. The order of the exercise execution was randomized. The squats were performed in a Full Squat format, and a one-minute rest was provided between each exercise type. Results: Our analysis of the results revealed significant differences in the activation levels of the soleus and quadriceps femoris across different squat types (p<.05). The regression analysis revealed an inverse relationship between the activity levels of the soleus and quadriceps femoris. Specifically, the quadriceps femoris exhibited the highest activation during squats using a wedge, while its activation was lowest during squats using the TOGU. In contrast, the soleus muscle demonstrated its highest activation during squats using the TOGU. Conclusion: Compared to traditional floor squats, the disparities in soleus and quadriceps femoris muscle activation observed during Wedge or TOGU squats can be attributed to the influence of ankle stability and balance. As the surface instability increased during squats, the soleus muscle's activity increased while the activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle decreased. These findings suggest that heightened soleus activation on unstable surfaces can significantly impact the activation of the quadriceps femoris muscle during squat exercises.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.1-25
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• 1996

The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis can not be summarized as a single process. Lipid infiltration hypothesis and endothelial injury hypothesis have been proposed and investigated. Recent developments show that there are many points of potential interactions between them and that they can actually be regarded as two phases of a single, unifying hypothesis. Among the many risk factors of atherosclerosis, plasma homocysteine and lipoprotein(a) draw a considerable interest because they are independent indicators of atherogenicity. Triglyceride (TG)-rich lipoproteins (chylomicron and VLDL) are not considered to be atherogenic but they are related to the metabolism of HDL cholesterol and indirectly related to coronary heart disease (CHD). LDL can of itself be atherogenic but the oxidative products of this lipoprotein are more detrimental. HDL cholesterol has been considered to be a favorable cholesterol. The so-called 'causalist view' claims that HDL traps excess cholesterol from cellular membranes and transfers it to TG-rich lipoproteins that are subsequently removed by hepatic receptors. In the so-called 'noncausalist view', HDL does not interfere directly with cholesterol deposition in the arterial wall but instead reflects he metabolism of TG-rich lipoproteins and their conversion to atherogenic remnants. Approximately 70-80% of the human population shows an effective feedback control mechanism in cholesterol homeostasis. Type of dietary fat has a significant effect on the lipoprotein cholesterol metabolism and atherosclerosis. Generally, saturated fatty acids elevate and PUFA lower serum cholesterol, whereas MUFA have no specific effect. EPA and DHA inhibit the synthesis of TG, VLDL and LDL, and may have favourable effects on some of the risk factors. Phospholipids, particularly lecithin, have an antiatherosclerotic effect. Essential phospholipids (EPL) may enhance the formation of polyunsaturated cholesteryl ester (CE) which is less sclerotic and more easily dispersed via enhanced hydrolysis of CE in the arterial wall. Also, neutral fecal steroid elimination may be enhanced and cholesterol absorption reduced following EPL treatment. Antioxidants protect lipoproteins from oxidation, and cells from the injury of toxic, oxidized LDL. The rationale for lowering of serum cholesterol is the strong association between elevation of plasma or serum cholesterol and CHD. Cholesterol-lowing, especially LDL cholesterol, to the target level could be achieved using diet and combination of drug therapy. Information on the link between cholesterol and CHD has decreased egg consumption by 16-25%. Some clinical studies have indicated that dietary cholesterol and egg have a significant hypercholesterolemic effect, while others have indicated no effect. These studies differed in the use of purified cholesterol or cholesterol in eggs, in the range of baseline and challenge cholesterol levels, in the quality and quantity of concomitant dietary fat, in the study population demographics and initial serum cholesterol levels, and clinical settings. Cholesterol content of eggs varies to a certain extent depending on the age, breed and diet of hens. However, egg yolk cholesterol level is very resistant to change because of the particular mechanism involved in yolk formation. Egg yolk contains a factor of factors responsible for accelerated cholesterol metabolism and excretion compared with crystalline cholesterol. One of these factors could be egg lecithin. Egg lecithin may not be as effective as soybean lecithin in lowering serum cholesterol level due probably to the differences of fatty acid composition. However, egg lecithin may have positive effects in hypercholesterolemia by increasing serum HDL level and excretion of fecal cholesterol. The association of serum cholesterol with egg consumption has been widely studied. When the basal or control diet contained little or no cholesterol, consumption of 1 or 2 eggs daily increased the concentration of plasma cholesterol, whereas that of the normolipemic persons on a normal diet was not significantly influenced by consuming 2 to 3 eggs daily. At higher levels of egg consumption, the concentration of HDL tends to increase as well as LDL. There exist hyper-and hypo-responders to dietary (egg) cholesterol. Identifying individuals in both categories would be useful from the point of view of nutrition guidelines. Dietary modification of fatty acid composition has been pursued as a viable method of modifying fat composition of eggs and adding value to eggs. In many cases beneficial effects of PUFA enriched eggs have been demonstrated. Generally, consumption of n-3 fatty acids enriched eggs lowered the concentration of plasma TG and total cholesterol compared to the consumption of regular eggs. Due to the highly oxidative nature of PUFA, stability of this fat is essential. The implication of hepatic lipid accumulation which was observed in hens fed on fish oils should be explored. Nutritional manipulations, such as supplementation with iodine, inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, garlic products, amino acids and high fibre ingredients, have met a limited success in lowering egg cholesterol.

• Land and Housing Review
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.77-93
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• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought about significant social changes through government prevention and control measures, changes in people's risk perceptions, and lifestyle changes. In response, urban inhabitants changed their behaviors significantly, including their preferences for transportation modes and urban spaces in response to government quarantine policies and concerns over the potential risk of infection in urban spaces. These changes may have long-lasting effects on urban spaces beyond the COVID-19 pandemic or they may evolve and develop new forms. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential for urban spaces to adapt to the present and future pandemics by examining changes in urban residents' preferences in travel modes and urban space use due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This study found that overall preferences for travel modes and urban spaces significantly differ between the pre-pandemic, pandemic, and post-pandemic periods. During the pandemic, preferences for travel modes and urban spaces has decreased, except for privately owned vehicles and green spaces, which are perceived to be safe from transmission, show more favorable than others. Post-pandemic preferences for travel modes and urban spaces are less favorable than pre-pandemic with urban spaces being five times less favorable than transportation. Although green spaces and medical facilities that were positively perceived during the pandemic are expected to return to the pre-pandemic preference level, other factors of urban spaces are facing a new-normal. The findings suggest that the COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on urban residents' preferences for travel modes and urban space use. Understanding these changes is crucial for developing strategies to adapt to present and future pandemics and improve urban resilience.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.472-480
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• 2016

In this study, 110 adults aged 40 to 69 years were surveyed from April 28, 2016, to May 28, 2016 to analyze their periodontal status according to daily stress, coping methods, and oral health behavior. The collected data were analyzed using the t-test, one-way analysis of variance, and hierarchical multiple regression. Daily stress levels of all subjects were most frequent potential risk 64.5% of the subjects, the high risk 19.1% and 16.4% of the health group. Regarding stress coping methods, active methods recorded 2.46, passive methods recorded 2.32. Regarding oral health behaviors, subjects brushed an average of 2.45 times daily, for an average of 2 minutes. Futhermore, 69.1% of subjects brushed before bedtime and 89.1% practiced scaling. Regarding periodontal status, the O'Leary index was 73.45, gingivitis index was 1.30, an average of 2.83 quadrants possessed a periodontal pocket. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis identified, type of employment (${\beta}=-0.348$), scaling (${\beta}=-0.253$), and age (${\beta}=0.244$) as factors that influence the number of quadrants possessing a periodontal pocket. These results confirmed that the oral health behavior of scaling, but not stress levels of coping methods, strongly influenced periodontal status.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.16
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• pp.6883-6888
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• 2015

Background: Tobacco smoking is a major cause of preventable disease and death worldwide. Kreteks are clove-flavored cigarettes made from a combination of tobacco and ground-clove mixed with a sauce, smoked widely in Indonesia. Because health and social consequences of kretek smoking are potentially as great as those of traditional cigarettes, this study examines the prevalence of kretek smoking in Indonesia and associated risk factors. Materials and Methods: The study used nationally representative Indonesia Global Adult Tobacco Survey data. Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to identify correlates of kretek smoking. Results: One-third of Indonesian adults smoked tobacco of which about 90.0% smoked kreteks. Prevalence of kretek smoking among men (60.9%) was more than 25 times the rate among women (2.3%). Overall, the highest prevalence of kretek use was in the age group 45-54 years (36.5%), followed by 34-44 (35.1%), 25-34 (34.2 %), and 55-64 years (32.8%). By wealth index, prevalence of kreteks smoking among those in the middle index was almost 50% above the rate for the wealthiest group (36.4% vs 24.8% respectively). Logistic regression results showed that being male, being older, having less education, and being less wealthy were significant predictors of kretek smoking, while urban vs rural residence was not. Conclusions: Kretek smoking is common in Indonesia and is entrenched in the sociocultural fabric of the country. However, potential consequences of kretek smoking, particularly as risks for noncommunicable diseases, underscore the importance of a comprehensive approach to tobacco control as outlined in the World Health Organization's MPOWER strategies.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30
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• pp.2.1-2.9
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• 2015

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the association between presence of depression symptoms and the exposure level to insecticides among aged population in rural area, determined via measured levels of urinary 3-phenoxybenzoic acid (3-PBA), after controlling for socioeconomic confounding factors. Methods Using a cross-sectional study design, we randomly recruited participants for our study (161 male and 239 female) from rural areas of Asan, Chungnam, Korea. Environmental risk factor exposure was assessed using a questionnaire, and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry was used to analyze urinary 3-PBA levels. We used a logistic regression analysis to assess the association of urinary 3-PBA levels with the presence of self-reported depression symptoms. Results After controlling for creatinine levels, the median (interquartile range) concentration of 3-PBA was approximately 1.5 times (p<0.05) higher among female (1.54 [0.90 to 2.35]) ${\mu}g/g$) than among male (1.06 [0.64 to 1.81] ${\mu}g/g$). Our study found that among female participants, the unit increase in 3-PBA levels exhibited a likely positive association (odds ratio, 1.12; 95% confidence interval, 1.00 to 1.25) with an increased risk of presence of self-reported depression symptoms, after adjusting for socioeconomic insurance type, daily physical condition, marital status, smoking status, and age. Conclusions Given our finding of a potential association between the presence of self-reported depression symptoms and 3-PBA levels, precautions should be considered to minimize exposure to insecticides and thus protect the health of aged residents in rural areas.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.2598-2606
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• 2011

This study investigated the relationship between job stress and psychosocial stress among clerical public officers in Daejeon City. The self-administered questionnaire survey was administered to 386, during the period between June 1, 2010 and July 31, 2010. As a results, In terms of various levels of psychosocial stresses, 8.8% of the subjects were healthy group, 64.5% were potential stress group, and 26.7% were high risk stress group. On job specifications, the high risk stress group were significantly higher those with higher level of job demand, lower job autonomy and lower colleagues support than their respective counterparts. The level of psychosocial stress was positively correlated with job demand and negatively correlated with job autonomy and social support. Multiple regression analysis revealed that the factors of influence on psychosocial stresses included subjective status of health, satisfaction in work, smoking, leisure activities, past history of visits to medical clinics, social support from colleagues.

• Korean journal of applied entomology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.307-316
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• 1993

The potential of using GIS in analyzing pest surveillance data was explored. The Spatial Analysis System (SPANS) was used to construct a spatial data base to study pest distributions using pest surveillance data collected from 152 stations in South Korea. The annual spatIal distributions of the striped rice borer(SRB), Chdo suppressalis, showed that high densities started to expand in the early 1980s, reaching a peak in 1988. The pattern change appears to be related to cultivation of japonica and indica-japonica hybrid varieties in South Korea. Japo7l!ca varieties have longer duration resulting in the SRB haVlng more time to mature and hibernate in wmter. The locus of SRB spread appears to be located in the mid-west region near lri, Chun~ Buk Province. High brown planthopper (BPH) populations in South Korea are often related to the early immigration and temperature. The simulated distribution of PPH densities in September using these two factors was compared with the actual distribution obtained using 1990 data. The two density maps corresponded closely excepL for differences in the south eastern valley. By overlaying the simulated map layer with the elevation and rice area maps, more specific BPH risk zones could be identified.