• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objectives: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was approximately 16% in populations of over age 30 years, and deaths from diabetes mellitus became the sixth most prevalent cause of death by disease. To assess the relationship between HbA1c and heavy metal level in blood and urine, targeted residents were evaluated in a vast steel industrial complex. Methods: We selected 414 subjects for analysis after applying the following exclusion criterion: 18 persons with diabetes mellitus. They took part in a questionnaire survey and underwent blood and urinary assessments. HbA1c and lead (Pb) level were measured in blood and, cadmium (Cd), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and mercury (Hg) were evaluated in urine. Two subgroups were divided by HbA1c 6.5%. Each subgroup was divided by 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th percentile levels of biological exposure index of the heavy metals for logistic regression. Results: Odd ratios have a tendency to increase as they go from the 90th to the 10th percentile of cadmium. However, lead, arsenic and mercury did not have significant relationships with HbA1c. In correction of age, region, gender and smoking history, a higher distribution in the subgroup with cadmium above 0.8318 ㎍/g creatinine (30th percentile) was demonstrated in the subgroup with HbA1c levels above the 6.5%, with an odds ratio of 5.26 (95% C.I. ; 1.44~19.17). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between urinary levels of cadmium and HbA1c in correction of several factors. It is meaningful that this outcome may be used as a basis for a study to establish the acceptable limit of urinary cadmium in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.125-133
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• 2023

Objectives : This study aims to compare the mental health of adolescents living in child care institutions (orphanages) and youth shelters, to provide basic data for appropriate psychiatric interventions for each facilities. Methods : The sample consisted of 157 adolescents in child care institutions and 31 adolescents in Youth Shelters who completed the Korean version of the Youth Self Report (K-YSR). We compared the K-YSR scores between the two groups and also examined factors related to suicidality. Results : Adolescents in youth shelters were older and had higher rates of drinking (p<0.001), smoking (p<0.001), and "abnormal sleep" (p=0.007) than adolescents in child care institutions. They also showed higher 'suicidality' (p=0.004) and K-YSR scores. On the other hand, adolescents in child care institutions have lower 'suicidality', but they have higher 'suicidality' when they have 'abnormal sleep' (OR 4.194; p=0.006), 'abnormal diet' (OR 2.503; p=0.010), and 'concerns about weight gain' (OR 2.503; p=0.010). Additionally, 17.6% of participants in the study showed 'suicidality'. The 'suicidality' group had a higher overall K-YSR score than the non-suicidal group, and had higher 'abnormal sleep' (OR 3.766; p=0.014) and 'concern about weight gain' (OR 2.864; p=0.032). Conclusions : Adolescents in youth shelters appear to have more serious clinical difficulties than adolescents in child care institutions, so prompt psychiatric intervention is needed. Additionally, it is necessary to consider mental health assessments including suicidality when adolescents in child care institutions complain of sleep, eating, or weight gain problems.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.133-148
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• 1995

This study was to identify the factors affecting the performance in health promoting lifestyle and measuring health promoting lifestyle. The subjects for this study were all adult in rural area, Kakbuk Nyun, Chung-do Gun, Kyungpook, Korea. The data were collected during the period from April 1 to April 30, 1995. The instruments used for this study were the health promoting lifestyle by Park(1995). The results of this study are as follows. Health condition felt by the subjects was worse in female group and was getting worse according as the age increase. According to health promoting life style implementation questionnaire, more than half of the subjects responded "never" in deep breathing 3 times a day item and non-smoking item; more than half of the subjects responded "yes" in 3 meal a day item, home-cooked meals item, never to omit breakfast item and frequent wearing of cotton underwear item. Health promoting life style implementation by health condition is higher in healthy group and frequency of consulting a specialist is higher in unhealthy group. Health promoting life style implementation by sex is higher in male group. Frequency, of consulting a specialist and non-excessive drinking are higher in female group. Health promoting life style implementation by age showed that the implementation of never omitting breakfast, keeping early hours and proper sleeping is higher in old age group ; that of enjoying hobby, pastime, cleaning as well as reading health books is higher in young age group. Health promoting life style implementation by religion showed that the implementation of deep breathing 3 times more a day, regular checking of blood pressure, never having non-healthful food and keeping right posture in sitting and standing is higher in religion group. Health promoting life style implementation by education is higher in highly-educated group ; the implementation of keeping early hours is higher in low-educated group. Health promoting life style implementation by marriage state showed that the implementation of deep breathing 3 times more a day, twenty minutes of brisk physical movement three or four times a week, enjoying his or her own time, relaxation to relieve from tension and pressure and equalized movement of each part of body is higher in unmarred group ; that of having elaborately cooked food, never omitting three meals a day and keeping early hours is higher in married group. Health promoting life style implementation by the number of family members showed that more-member-group has more plans and objectives for their future. Health promoting life style implementation by family type showed that the implementation of reading health books and articles, living with positive way of thinking and enjoying favorite hobby in pastime is higher in nuclear families ; that of having three meals a day never omitting breakfast is higher in large families.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.685-696
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• 1999

Background : Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a diffuse inflammatory and fibrosing process that occurs within the interstitium and alveolus of the lung with invariably poor prognosis. The major problem in management of IPF results from the variable rate of disease progression and the difficulties in predicting the response to therapy. The purpose of this retrospective study was to evaluate the short-term efficacy of steroid and immunosuppressive therapy for IPF and to identify the pre-treatment determinants of favorable response. Method : Twenty patients of IPF were included. Diagnosis of IPF was proven by thoracoscopic lung biopsy and they were presumed to have active progressive disease. The baseline evaluation in these patients included clinical history, pulmonary function test, bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL), and chest high resolution computed tomography (HRCT). Fourteen patients received oral prednisolone treatment with initial dose of 1mg/kg/day for 8 to 12 weeks and then tapering to low-dose prednisolone (0.25mg/kg/day). Six patients who previously had experienced significant side effects to steroid received 2mg/kg/day of oral cyclophosphamide with or without low-dose prednisolone. Follow-up evaluation was performed after 6 months of therapy. If patients met more than one of followings, they were considered to be responders : (1) improvement of more than one grade in dyspnea index, (2) improvement in FVC or TLC more than 10% or improvement in DLco more than 20% (3) decreased extent of disease in chest HRCT findings. Result : One patient died of extrapulmonary cause after 3 month of therapy, and another patient gave up any further medical therapy due to side effect of steroid. Eventually medical records of 18 patients were analyzed. Nine of 18 patients were classified into responders and the other nine patients into nonresponders. The histopathologic diagnosis of the responders were all nonspecific interstitial pneumonia (NSIP) and that of nonresponders were all usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) (p<0.001). The other significant differences between the two groups were female predominance (p<0.01), smoking history (p<0.001), severe grade of dyspnea (p<0.05), lymphocytosis in BAL fluid ($23.8{\pm}16.3%$ vs $7.8{\pm}3.6%$, p<0.05), and less honeycombing in chest HRCT findings (0% vs $9.2{\pm}2.3%$, p<0.001). Conclusion : Our results suggest that patients with histopathologic diagnosis of NSIP or lymphocytosis in BAL fluid are more likely to respond to steroid or immunosuppressive therapy. Clinical results in large numbers of IPF patients will be required to identify the independent variables.

• Journal of muscle and joint health
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.86-108
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• 2001

This study was performed to examine the annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom and its related factors in rural farmers. Six-hundred and sixty one rural farmers were investigated by questionnaire survey through interview from July 1 to July 31 in 2000. The results were as follows; The rural farmers who had experienced musculoskeletal symptom during recent 1 year was 82.7% in male, 92.1% in female. The annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom by part of the body in male were turned out as back; 42.3% leg and knee; 36.4%, shoulder; 21.4%, arm and hand; 12.7%, elbow; 7.7%, hip; 6.8% neck; 6.4%, ankle and foot; 6.4% in order. The annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom by part of the body in female were turned out as back; 59.4%, leg and knee; 48.5%, shoulder; 20.2%, arm and hand; 13.8%, hip; 10.7%, neck; 6.8%, ankle and foot; 6.3%, elbow; 5.0% in order. The annual experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom, back pain, and pain on leg and knee were significantly higher in female. In male, the experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom was different significantly according to educational level, family size, economic status, status of smoking, duration of farming, type of major agricultural affairs. By the multiple logistic regression analysis for experience of musculoskeletal symptom, family size and economic status were the significant variables. It was higher in male with no or one family living together and low economic status. In female, the experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom was different significantly according to body mass index, perceived health status, type of agricultural affairs. By the multiple logistic regression analysis for experience of musculoskeletal symptom, body mass index, perceived health status, and type of major agricultural affairs were the significant variables. It was higher as female farmer's body mass index was increasing and when female farmer's perceived health status was not healthier, and it was lower when female farmer did livestock farming as major agricultural affair. The experience rate of musculoskeletal symptom was higher in the busy season for farmers and treatment methods for musculoskeletal symptom were physical therapy, medication, herb medical treatment, etc. In conclusion, because most of farmers experience musculoskeletal symptom, continuous systematic study on musculoskeletal symptom of farmers and active effort to prevent and manage musculoskeletal symptom of farmers are necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.34 no.7
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• pp.1018-1027
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• 2005

The purpose of this study was to investigate nutrients intake and health-related behaviors in elderly people residing in Gyeongsan-si, Gyeongbuk who have no problem in daily living. Information on general characteristics of the elderly, health-related behaviors and dietary habits were obtained by interview based on questionnare. Dietary nutrients intake data were obtained through the 24 recall method. The subject group of this study was composed of 113 males and 112 females, the average age being $73.1\pm6.06$ years old. In health related factors, $76.9\%$ of subjects exercised regularly. The rates of alcohol drinking and smoking showed to be $38.2\%\;and\;22.2\%$, respectively. There were many elderly with neuralgia, hypertension, and gastrointestinal disease, especially female were worse. Average heights of the subjects were lower than the standard established in the Korean Recommended Dietary Allowances, and average weights were similar to the standards. The mean BMI and WHR were 24.8 (male 23.7, female 25.7) and 0.92 (male 0.92, female 0.89), respectively. Most of the subjects had a regular meal pattern comsuming three meals a day, and many elderly, especially more than $79.5\%$ of female, prepared the meals for themselves. Mean daily energy intakes and RDA percentage of energy intakes of the male and female subjects were estimated as 1426.9kcal $(79.3\%)$ and 1381.3 kcal $(86.3\%)$, respectively. Mean daily intakes of nutrients were estimatied as 48.1g for protein, 411.3mg for calcium, 8.05mg for iron, 541.8 R.E. for vitamin A, 0.84mg for vitamin $B_1$, and 0.79mg for vitamin $B_2$. Most nutrients except protein, clacium, iron and vitamin $B_2$ were consumed over $75\%$ of the RDA. Female elderly showed significant lower intakes (p<0.05) for most of the nutrients except calcium, phosphorus and vitamin ethan the elderly male.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.14-23
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• 2000

Background: The evaluation of candidates for successful lung resection is important. Our study was conducted to determine the preoperative predictors of postoperative mortality and morbidity in lung cancer patients with impaired lung function. Method; Between October 1, 1995 and August 31, 1997, 36 lung resection candidates for lung cancer with $FEV_1$ of less than 2L or 60% of predicted value were included prospectively. Age, sex, weight loss, hematocrit, serum albumin, EKG and concomitant illness were considered as systemic potential predictors for successful lung resection. Smoking history, presence of pneumonia, dyspnea scale(l to 4), arterial blood gas analysis with room air breathing, routine pulmonary function test were also included for the analysis. In addition, predicted postoperative(ppo) pulmonary factors such as ppo-$FEV_1$ ppo-diffusing capacity(DLco), predicted postoperative product(PPP) of ppo-$FEV_1%{\times}$ppo-DLco% and ppo-maximal $O_2$ uptake($VO_2$max) were also measured. Results: There were 31 men and 5 women with the median age of 65 years(range, 44 to 82) and a mean $FEV_1$ of $1.78{\pm}0.06L$. Pneumonectomy was performed in 14 patients, bilobectomy in 8, lobectomy in 14. Pulmonary complications developed in 10 patients; cardiac complications in 3, other complications(empyema, air leak, bleeding) in 4. Twelve patients were managed in the intensive care unit for more than 48 hours. Two patients died within 30 days after operation. The ppo-$VO_2$max was less than 10 ml/kg/min in these two patients. MVV was the only predictor for the pulmonary complications. However, there was no predictor for the post operative death in this study. Conclusions: Based on the results, MVV was the useful predictor for postoperative pulmonary complications in lung cancer resection candidates with impaired lung function In addition, ppo-$VO_2$max value less than 10 ml/kg/min was associated with postoperative death, so exercise pulmonary function test could be useful as preoperative test. But further studies are needed to validate this result.