• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.581-593
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• 2011

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship of the work environments of dental hygienists to their occupational diseases in a bid to provide some information on their health care, health promotion and the prevention of occupational diseases. Methods : The subjects in this study were 300 dental hygienists who worked in Seoul, urban communities involving large cities and rural areas. One-on-one interviews and a self-administered survey were implemented with their consent. Results : The findings of the study were as follows: 1. 60 percent of the dental hygienists investigated replied that they had occupation-related physical symptoms. By the length of service, the dental hygienists who worked for six to 10 years had the most symptoms. 2. Out of the occupation-related symptoms, the most prevalent symptom was a pain in the shoulders and neck(41%), followed by a pain in the lower back, a pain in the legs, a pain in the wrists and skin diseases. The most painful parts of the body were hands and arms. 3. In regard to the relationship between the general characteristics and the intensity of pain, the highest group of the dental hygienists in Seoul replied that they had a severe pain, and the lowest number of those in the large cities gave the same answer. 4. Concerning the cause of occupational diseases, 65.7 percent cited the wrong posture. 5. As to relationship between the general characteristics and regular hospital-visit experiences for the prevention of pain during work hours, many of the dental hygienists who were in their 40s and 50s visited hospitals from time to time, and many of those in their 20s never did that. 6. In regard to links between the general characteristics and an opinion on the necessity of regular education, many of the respondents from Seoul and urban regions involving large cities considered it necessary to receive education on a regular basis. By daily work hours, the highest number of those who worked for eight hours or less considered that necessary, and lots of those who worked for 11 hours didn't consent to that. The gaps between them were statistically significant(p<0.05). Conclusions : Given the findings of the study, daily work hours and length of service were two integral factors to affect the regular hospital-visit experiences and pain, and the wrong posture was identified as the most common cause of occupational diseases. To ensure the successful prevention of occupational diseases, dental hygiene students should be taught the importance of occupational disease before they start to work, and supplementary education should be provided for dental hygienists to work in the right posture.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.3323-3332
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• 2015

The purpose of this study was to investigated the effects of alcohol intake on blood pressure, serum lipids, liver function tests and obesity indices in middle-aged male workers. The 2,175 male workers aged 30-59 years who examined health checkup were recruited as the study subjects during the period between January to December, 2013. We observed the relationships between the amount of alcohol intake and blood pressure, serum lipids, liver function tests and obesity indices. As a result, the mean score of SBP, DBP, LDL-C and TG were significantly higher increasing with amount of alcohol increased, but HDL-C were significantly lower increasing with amount of alcohol increased. AST, ALT, ALP and ${\gamma}$-GTP were significantly higher increasing with amount of alcohol increased, but obesity indices were not significant. Age adjusted odds ratios(ORs) increasing with abnormal levels of SBP, DBP, HDL-C, LDL-C, TG, AST and ALT were significantly increased in heavy drinking group than light drinking group. Above results suggested that the heavy drink related with blood, serum lipid levels and liver function test levels, but not find out with obesity indices.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2017

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between the fasting blood sugar and serum lipid levels (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C) and obesity indices (BMI, body fat rates, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio). The study sample consists of 1,473 manufacturing workers aged from 30 to 59 years, who underwent a health check-up at a university hospital during the period from Jan. to Dec. 2015. A data analysis was conducted to classify the subjects into the normal and abnormal groups according to their fasting blood sugar levels depending on the average values of the serum lipids and obesity indices. Multiple regression analyzes adjusted for sex and age were conducted for the factors affecting the fasting blood sugar level. As a result, the Serum TC, TG, LDL-C, BMI and waist circumference were found to be significantly higher in the abnormal fasting blood sugar level group than in the normal one, but the HDL-C was significantly lower in the abnormal group than in the normal one The fasting blood sugar level had a significant positive correlation with the TC, TG, LDL-C, BMI and waist circumference. The TC, TG, BMI and body fat were the significant factors affecting the fasting blood sugar. The above results suggest that the fasting blood sugar and serum lipid levels (TC, TG, HDL-C, LDL-C), obesity indices (BMI, body fat rates, waist circumference, waist to hip ratio) of manufacturing workers are significantly associated with each other.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.357-365
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• 2015

Folk medicine is traditionally passed down to cure disease, and adverse events (AEs) of folk medicine are any unfavorable and unintended discomforts temporally associated with the use of folk medicine. The aim of this study was to analyze AEs types and risks of folk medicine through the internet news articles. Included in this analysis are all articles on the topic of folk medicine and AE reported in the top 3 online news websites (NAVER, DAUM and NATE) determined by InternetTrend$^{TM}$(www.internettrend.co.kr). It was searched in the last five years (between 1 January 2009 and 28 February 2014). In total, 18 AEs articles of 973 news articles met our inclusion criteria. A total of 27 people were experienced AEs associated with use of folk medicine. Age was from 4 months to 76 years old, and it was occurred in both men and women. Folk medicine that caused AEs in twice or more was therapy that patient taking the dictamnus or aconitum of toxic herbal medicines, vinegar therapy of external use to topical skin, and cupping or bee sting therapy by practitioners. Death as a kind of serious AEs was 11 people, and 10 people were died after treatment by unqualified practitioner. Folk medicine that is popular and widely used in Korea is actively interacted with information on the internet, so it apt to misuse and abuse without guidance of health professionals. Aspects of health care system, we point out that the need for government and medical society establish not only correct health information plan and promotion of risk but also system as reporting and monitoring of AEs by folk medicine.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.185-199
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• 2021

Vibriosis is an important septicemic bacterial disease that affects a variety of commercial fish species, including cultured Dicentrarchus labrax. Nanotechnology has become an important modern tool for fish diseases prevention. Furthermore, nanomaterials have the ability to prevent and treat fish diseases. The current study was aimed to identify the causative agent of massive mortality of D. labrax commercial farm in Alexandria, Egypt. Experimental infection and the median lethal dose (LD50) of pathogenic isolate were assessed. Also, the effect of ginger nanoparticles (GNPs) and Sacchromyces cerevisiae as feed additives for prevention of vibriosis in D. labrax was carried out. Similarly, the tissue immunstimulant genes, IL-1β and TLR2 were measured in the spleen of feeding groups. The clinical signs of naturally diseased D. labrax showed corneal opacity and paleness of gills with excessive mucous secretion. The post-mortem abnormalities were severe hemorrhage and adhesion of internal organs. After bacteriological isolation and identification, the causative agent of mortality in the current study was Vibrio alginolyticus. The LD₅₀ of V. alginolyticus was 1.5×10^5.4 CFU/ml. The experimentally infected D. labrax showed ulceration, exophthalmia and skin hemorrhages. The post-mortem findings of the experimentally infected D. labrax revealed internal hemorrhage, spleen darkness and paleness of liver. There is no mortality and 100% RPS in groups fed GNPs then injected with V. alginolyticus, in those fed a combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae and a group fed normal diet then injected with physiological saline (control negative), respectively. Contrarily, there was 10% mortality and 87.5 RPS in the group fed S. cerevisae then injected with V. alginolyticus. On the other hand, the control positive group showed 79% mortality. The spleen IL-1β and TLR2 immunostimulant genes were significantly increased in groups of fish fed GNNP, S. cerevisiae and a combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae, respectively compared to control group. The highest stimulation of those immunostimulant genes was found in the group fed a combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae, while fish fed S. cerevisiae had the lowest level. Dietary combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae was shown to be efficient in preventing of vibriosis, with greatest stimulation of spleen IL-1β and TLR2 immunostimulant genes.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.105-115
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to clarify whether or not alcohol drinking patterns are associated with sleep quality. A cross-sectional study was carried out by self-administered questionnaire in May, 2017 among 553 male workers who employed in manufacturing industries in D city. Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate whether or not alcohol drinking patterns (as measured by frequency, amount of alcohol per day, and amount of alcohol per week) were associated with poor sleep quality (as measured by Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). As a result, in comparison with male workers who did not drink, the adjusted odds ratio for poor sleep quality was 0.44 (95% CI=0.232-0.845) for those who drank alcohol once a week or more, 0.31 (95% CI=0.192-0.829) for those who drank less than 1 glass daily, and 0.28 (95% CI=0.167-0.762) for those who drank 1-3 glasses daily. The results of this study suggest that some alcohol drinking patterns may affect sleep quality among male workers.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.371-382
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• 2020

There have been continuous attempts to quantify sensory attributes of cosmetic products by measuring relevant physical properties. The most representative method to evaluate stickiness is to measure axial force using texture analyzer. Stickiness is known to correlate with AUC which abbreviates area under curve in the obtained axial force curve as a function of time. Recently, Normandie University research group developed in vivo stickiness evaluation method considering the characteristics of skin along with established evaluation method[8]. Based on the study, we tried to optimize in vivo stickiness evaluation method especially for cosmetic creams. The experiment was carried out on 5 different facial creams products by changing the amount and the times of rolling of creams, and the shape and material of probes. Based on the results of the sensory evaluation, the most consistent conditions were established as the optimal evaluation method. As a result, applying 70 μL of cream and rubbing 10 times for 7 s inside the 3.4 cm circle were judged to be suitable. As for the probes, spherical metallic probe was more proper due to its reproducibility. We conducted the settled method on 10 subjects to check its validity. Although the absolute values of AUC differed depending on the individuals, the AUC values were all ranked the same. Finally, for the standardization of stickiness of AUC, polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) was set as a reference material and we measured AUC of its aqueous solution by changing concentration. Then, the degree of stickiness recognition for 5 different creams was surveyed to check the correlation between AUC and stickiness.

• The Korean Society of Law and Medicine
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.149-176
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• 2022

South Korean law strictly prohibits engagement in medical activities by non-medical practitioners. In the country, tattooing is classified as a medical practice, and non-medical practitioners who engage in it are penalized because they are unauthorized to carry out this procedure. In reality, however, people rarely seek tattooing services from medical personnel. Arguing that their freedom of job selection is violated, non-medical personnel who make a living as tattoo artists reject the characterization of the procedure as a form of medical treatment and demand the decriminalization of tattooing by non-medical practitioners. Nevertheless, tattooing can cause health- and hygiene-related dangers when it is not performed by medical professionals because it involves penetration into the skin using needles. Hence, stringent management is necessary for infection prevention. The gap between reality and the law gives rise to the need for proactive thinking about the institutionalization of tattoo practice by non-medical personnel. Policymakers should reflect on the fact that only minimal tattooing services are currently performed by medical staff while also accounting for health and safety. On this basis, this study examined tattoo-related legislation in South Korea to determine whether the procedure corresponds to medical practice and identify ways to solve problems that occur from the perspective of health care. As a response that promotes safety and reflects reality, this research proposed a three-phase approach.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.242-252
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• 2022

Objectives: Firefighters and police officers are exposed to various occupational hazards. No studies in Korea have investigated the occurrence of cancer by type of cancer for the two occupations. This study aims to investigate the risk of occurrences associated with types of cancers in firefighters and police officers. Methods: Utilizing National Health Insurance(NHI) Claims data from 2006-2015, the study included 8,871,468 general workers, 25,001 firefighters, and 102,274 police officers. Using general workers as a control group, we calculated the standardized incidence ratios(SIR) by types of cancer for firefighters and police officers. After calculating the SIR for all subjects, the SIR was calculated by stratifying according to gender. Results: SIR of colon cancer 1.38(95% CI, 1.11-1.69), cancer of the liver and intrahepatic bile ducts 1.27(95% CI, 1.04-1.54), and 1.88(95% CI, 1.28-2.65) bladder cancer were higher firefighters than general workers. SIR of Lip, oral cavity, and pharynx 1.26(95% CI, 1.07-1.47), Stomach 1.14(95% CI, 1.06-1.23), colon 1.33(95% CI, 1.21-1.46), liver and intrahepatic bile ducts 1.21(95% CI, 1.10-1.32), pancreas 1.24(95% CI, 1.02-1.49), other skin 1.60(95% CI, 1.26-2.00), bladder 1.27(95% CI, 1.04-1.54), other urinary tract 1.46(95% CI, 1.27-1.68), other parts of central nervous system 1.68(95% CI, 1.10-2.46) were higher police officers than general workers. Conclusions: Both firefighters and police officers are exposed to various cancer occurrence risks, necessitating the development of occupational medical protection measures to reduce risk exposure factors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.349-354
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• 1974

Survey results concerning the general information on health status of 7,050 inhabitants (1,141 households) which have been selected within Keumsan Gun, Chung Choung Nam Do area are as follws: 1. The average family size is $6.18{\pm}2.17$ persons per household. Tertiary sex ratio is 105.5 population composition of Kumsan Gun shown a pyramidal form consisting of 51.6% of the inhabitants under 20 years of age. 2. Rate of illiteracy amounts to 12.1% and only 4.1% of villagers were graduated from high schools, 80% of the inhabitants have some kind of jobs: 46.1% of them are engaged in agriculture, 95.2% of villagers have their own houses, and remaining 4.8% do not have their own. 3. 72% of households made use of health services provided provided by health centre or subcentres during a period of 1 year from April 1, 1973 to March 31, 1974. 26.8% of them visited health centre of sub-centres 2-4 times annually for the following purposes: 1) Vaccination: 35.7% 2) Diagnosis or treatment: 26.7% 3) Family planning: 24.1% 4) Maternal and child health: 10.5% 4. Utilization rate of health facilities is on an average 4.4 times per household and 0.75 times per capita. 5. Birth rate in the area is 1.91% and death rate is 0.75%, indicating the natural increase rate is only 1.16% that is lower than the nationwide rate of 1.8-2.2% in 1970 and 1.5-1.9% in 1973. 6. 37.7% of fertile women (20-40 years old) in the area are still unmarried, Fertility rate is the highest in the age group of 63-40 years old showing a value of 17.1%. 7. The unmarried population in this area amounts to 61.4% : 61.4% in male and 57.6% in female. 8. Number of inhaibtants who practice family planning is 612 persons(22.6%) among the married (2.771). This value consists of 8.3% of married males and 34.8% of married females. Only 16.0% of the people who put family planning in practice undergo permanent contraceptive methods and remaining 84.0% of them do temporary measures. 9. Only 57.7% of the subjects took vaccinations as follows: 1) B.C.G. vaccination: 82.7% 2) D.P.T. vaccination: 76.2% 3) Poliomyelitis vaccination: 67.9% 4) Smallpox vaccination: 62.6% 10. In the utilization of medical facilities in case of sickness drug stores (32.15%) comes first and hospitals or clinics (28.65%), health centre of health sub-centres (17.96%), herb drug stores (7.36%) and herb gerneral practioners (6.31%), etc., in decreasing order. Sickness that people living in this area suffer from are neuralgia, disease digestive troubles, respiratory diseases and skin lesions, etc.