• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.15-29
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• 2000

Low back pain is generally defined as a complex symptom rather than a specific diseases entity, especially when musculoskeletal lesions of the low back, neurogenic, vasculogenic and discogenic lesions are present. Sixty to eighty percent of all human being have experienced low back pain once or more times during in their lifetime. Low back pain is a one of the commonest cause of physical impairment and induces disability the activities of everyday living or the activities of work. Today, low back pain plays important part for the loss of working capability from social, industrial field and individual daily life. But there are no study about incidence and prevention program of low back pain in rural peoples. This study was conducted to find out current status and characteristics related to low back pain in rural peoples(especially engaged in agriculture), so that could provide basic data to establish prevention program for them. The data were gathered from 301 rural adults(female 62.1%, male 37.9%) with low back pain by the structured interview in the 4 communities(south and north Gyeong-sang Do and Chung-cheong Do), and sampled at local hospital, local clinic, and health clinic center in May, 2000. The results were as followed. About one third of cases(35.5%) were aged from 60 to 69, 34.6% were smoker, and 91.4% not used to regular exercise. Low back pain frequently due to intervertebral articulopathy(42.5%), follewed by herniated intervertebral disk(19.9%), sprain(17.3%), vertebral dislocation(4.0%), and etc(16.2%). Above half of cases(56.5%) were a eight-hour workday, and 61.8% complained of low back pain during work. Mostly, period of agricultural experience was more than 20 years, and cultivated more than 2 crops. Low back pain is common to rural adults, therefore adequate resting time from work and lumbar strengthening exercise program needed to prevent low back pain in rural peoples.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.83-93
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• 2005

This study was designed to investigate the fitness of adjustable dental impression trays. The size and shape of these trays were designed from the results of the dental arch size of Korean adults. Tray samples were made by CAD-CAM working. A hundred dental students(male:50, female:50) were selected for taking irreversible hydrocolloid impression using these trays. The author measured the width and length of impression material on the several measuring points. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Uniform impression material thickness was achieved by controlling the width of the tray using stops and beveled guides. 2. In the upper tray, the impression material thickness was measured to be rather great showing thickness of the labial vestibule 8.3 mm and the midpalatal part 8.6 mm. 3. In the lower tray, length of the impression material of the labial vestibule of first, second premolar contact point was 7.8 mm, and thickness of the lingual part of premolars(1.8 mm) and molars(1.9 mm) showed small values. 4. In the lower tray, the impression material thickness of the buccal shelf area(0.2 mm) and the retromolar pad area(0.6 mm) was measured to be too small.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.173-193
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• 1996

This study was carried out to elucidate the causes of farmer's disease and greenhouse disease in the rural area of Kyungnam province during 1996. 2,171 (69.1%) of the 3,140 adults above 20 years old who had lived in the selected 20 villages in Uiryong County of Kyungnam Province were selected in order to over both residents who live in the green house distracts and conventional rural area. The results were as follows: 1. Among the subjects, the male was 42.2% and female was 57.6%. The average age for the male was 52.3, 55.6 for the female. 2. The proportion of the farmers in the subjects was 81.5%. Among these 78.0% were engaged in the greenhouse farming. 3. Among the eight symptoms of Nofusho(japanese farmer's comples), lumbago was the most frequently complained and followed by shoulder stiffness and parenthesis of hand or foot. 4. The total score of farmer's disease was evidently higher in the female and the older the score was clearly bigger. 5. The prevalence of Nofusho(Japanese farmer's comples)was 26.8% and 43.15% was for the suspected Nofusho. In the male, the prevalence of Nofusho was 13.6% and 40.9% for the suspected Nofusho and in the female 36.5% and 44.7% were shown, comparatively. 6. According to the multiple classification analysis, sex, age, and occupation were selected as significant variables to explain the total score of Nofusho. 7. The correlations between the total score of Nofusho and the number of sick day, working years, and age were significant, comparatively. 8. According to the multiple classification analysis corolling interaction between independent variables, age was the only variable which was significant in the male and age, pesticide work in the female. 9. The score of greenhouse disease was highest in the group who engaged in greenhouse farming and conventional farming(2.76 for male, 3.77 for female) followed by the group who engaged only in greening house farming(2.66 for male, 3.49 for female) and by the group who engaged only in conventional farming(2.27 for male, 3.05 for female) 10. According to the multiple classification analysis with the total score of greenhouse disease as dependent variable, corolling interaction between independent variables, age and pesticide work were revealed as significant variables in the male, while, pesticide work and farming type were significant in the female. According to the above results, the following could be suggested. Because lumbago, shoulder stiffness, paresthesia of hand and foot were the most frequently complained symptoms in the respondent, the development of farming tool to reduce the body burden and periodical physical exercise and rest is highly recommended. It is revealed that both in the farmer' disease and greenhouse disease the score was higher in the female than in the male. So the reasonables measures is recommended to reduce the working hours of the female. Pesticide work was revealed as the significant variable in the female in farmer's disease and both in the male and the female in greenhouse disease. So the development of the safe method of pesticide spraying including safety education should be introduced. Particularly the female should be excluded in pesticide spraying.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.12 no.6
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• pp.854-863
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• 2007

This study was performed to compare nutritional supplementation habits for Korean professional soccer players with those for the non-athletic male adults. Information about prevalence and kinds of supplements taken, information sources, nutrition knowledge were collected. Data were obtained from 53 football players working for Korean professional football clubs and 44 non-athletic males, who answered a list of questionnaires which had been prepared in advance. The prevalence of supplement use in the soccer player group (96%) was strikingly higher than in the nonathletic male group (34%). Vitamins were taken most frequently, followed by red ginseng, multivitamin, Chinese medicine and amino acids supplements in the soccer player group, with each player taking 2.96 kinds of supplements in average. Multivitamin was the most popular supplement in the non-athletic male group. The major reason for taking supplements was not to feel and recover from fatigue in both groups. It appeared that the non-athletic males started to use supplements mostly by recommendation of friends or colleagues. Meanwhile, soccer players took supplements on their needs, with half of them (50.1%) provided with nutrition information. The most important information source was coaches for soccer players group, and mass media for the non-athletic male group. The average scores of soccer players group on basic nutrition and athletic nutrition were lower than the respective values of the non-athletic males. Among the soccer players, 68% had taken more than 3 kinds of supplements during the last year; nonetheless, more than half could not perceive the effectiveness of the supplements. Our results show that supplementation practices were widespread in soccer players, and suggest that nutrition education for proper use of supplements and overall health care is needed for soccer players.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.373-380
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• 2001

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the difference of Lumbar Lordosis Angle (LLA)between patients with Low Back Pain (LBP) and control groups. Methods: Questionnaires were completed by 40 adults LBP patients seeking physical therapy services and by 40 controls at the department of Physical Therapy, SaeJong Neurosurgical Clinic in Taegu city, South Korea from October 1999 to March 2000. LLA was measured on lateral x-ray films with standing position. The angle between a line parallel to tile top of the first Lumbar (Ll) and the top of the fifth Lumbar (L5) was defined LLA. Results: LLA of 29.88$^{\circ}$ for LBP patients was statistically significant decrease from that of 35.31$^{\circ}$ for controls in the difference of lumbar lordosis (p<0.01). There were statistically significant differences between genders in patients groups. Females(32.22$^{\circ}$) had significantly greater angles than males (27.32$^{\circ}$) (p<0.05), while 36.63$^{\circ}$ for female was also greater than 34.12$^{\circ}$ for male in the controls. No significant difference was found between age. In patient groups, 27.95$^{\circ}$ for below age 40 was a smaller than 32.32$^{\circ}$ for above, however, 35.82$^{\circ}$ for below age 40 was a little greater than 34.27$^{\circ}$ for above in controls. Patients in sitting posture had greater LLA (31.35$^{\circ}$). than those standing (28.93$^{\circ}$), however. values for controls were similar to each other. Conclusions: Results from this study indicate that distinct difference exist among patients and controls and gender, whereas little difference exists in age and working posture.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2018

Intestinal parasitic infections remain a major public health problem in many parts of Thailand, particularly in rural areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among the people living in Huai Sai sub-district, Bang Khla district, Chachoengsao Province, central Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from June 2017 to August 2017 which included a total of 224 participants. Stool samples were examined using a simple direct smear and formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Association between risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 16.1%. Soil-transmitted helminth infections (14.3%) were more common than protozoan infections (1.8%). The most common intestinal parasites were hookworms (6.7%) followed by Strongyloides stercoralis, (5.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.3%). Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (1.0%), Giardia intestinalis (0.4%), and Blastocystis hominis (0.4%) were the protozoans identified. A high prevalence of infections was found in male participants of ${\geq}40years$ who raised dogs in the households and did not wear boots while working fields. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association of intestinal parasitic infections with gender with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.4 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.1-5.2 (P=0.020). The results showed a high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections among adults in rural communities which were particularly apparent regarding the skin-penetrating species of nematodes. A greater focus on intervention is required by improving sanitation and personal hygiene to prevent the spread of intestinal parasitic infections.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.54-66
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• 1988

I. Introduction Since the 1970's drug abuse among young people has increasingly become a social problem in Korea. In the 1980's, drug abuse, especially glue sniffing, has become the cause of many unfortunated incidents resulting in harm to others as well as the abusers themselves. Taking into consideration of the seriousness of this problem, the Republic of Korea National Red Cross initiated a nation-wide research programme, to understand the present situation and to raise the level of public awareness. The goal of this research was to begin a nation - wide campaign against drug abuse. The research team was composed of the Advisary Committee members and the staff of the Youth Department of the Republic of Korea National Red Cross. The data were collected in February 1988 with the collaboration of the staff and volunteers in the local Chapters. The respondents were allocated nation-wide by the quota sampling method. The questionnaires were distributed to the respondents in three groups :2, 700 to junior and senior high school students, 605 to working youths, and 916 to delinquent youths. A total of 4, 221 questionnaires were collected. II. Characteristics of the Respondents The respondents in each group were selected evenly from rural and urban areas. The general characteristics of the respondents can be described as follow: in case of students, the proportions between male and female respondents, and between senior high school and junior high school students were almost evenly distributed. In case of working youths, the proportion of females (80.5%) was higher than those of the students and the delinquents groups. Delinquent youths were defined as those currently being under custody of the centers for juvenile delinquents. Of this number, 38.8% and 68.2% were junior and senior high school drop-outs respectively. The majority of them (92.6%) were male. As for the family background of the respondents, the proportion of those residing in poverty - stricken areas, and the proportion of those from broken families were higher in case of working youths and delinquent youths than those in case of students. III. Present Patterns of Drug Abuse The following summarizes the presents of drug abuse, as tabulated from the results of the survey. 1. Smoking The percentage of youths who smoke was 36% in the student group, 32% m the working youths group, and 94.4% in the delinquent youths group. 2. Alcohol 50.3% of students, 71.6% of working youths, and 93.3% of delinquent youths has experienced drinking alcohol beverages. 3. Tonic: non - alcoholic, caffeinated beverages popular in Korea and Japan The percentage of those who have used tonic at least once was over 90% in all of the three groups. 4. Sedative About 70% of each group has used sedative with the proportion of working youths use higher than those in other groups. 5. Stimulants Those who have used stimulants comprised around 15% in each group. 6. Tranquilizers Somewhat less than 5% of students and working youths, and 28% of delinquent youths, have used tranquilizers. 7. Hypnotics The users of hypnotics amounted to 0.4% of students, 2.6% of working youths and 7.1% of delinquent youths. 8. Marihuana Those who have used marihuana indicated 0.7% of students, 0.8% of working youths, and 13% of delinquent youths. 9. Glue-sniffing The percentage of glue-sniffing was 3.7%, 5% in the students group and in the youths group respectively, but the proportion was unusually high, at 40.7% in the delinquent youths group. From the results of the survey the present situation of drug abuse in Korea can be summarized as follows: 1. A high percentage of Korean youths have experienced smoking cigarettes and drinking alcoholic beverages. 2. Tonics (non - alcoholic, caffeinated beverages), antipyretic analgesics and stimulants quite regularly used. 3. Tranquilizers, hypnotics, marihuana and glue-sniffing are more widely used among delinquent youths than the other youths. From this fact, there exists a correlation between drug abuse and juvenile delinquency. IV. Time-series Analysis of the First Experience of Drug Abuse and Deviant Behaviour The respoundents were asked when they were first exposed to drugs and when they committed deviant acts. By calculating the average age of each experience, the following pattern was found (See Figure 1). Youths are first exposed to drugs by abuse of tonic(non - alcoholic, caffeinated beverages). At the age of 13, they amoke cigarettes, the use of antipyretic analgesics begins at 14 year old, while at the age of 15, they use tranquilizers, and at 16 hynotics. The period of drug abuse which starts from drinking caffeinated beverages and smoking cigarettes and ends in the use of hypnotics takes about three years. During this period, other delinquent behaviours begin to surface, that is, at the age of 13 when smoking cigarettes begins, the delinquent behaviour pattern starts with truancy. Next, they start taking money from others by using physical force. Prior to the age of 15, they are suspended from school, become hostile to adults, begin running away from home, and start using stimulants and alcohol. Soon they become involved even in glue-sniffing and in the use of marihuana. At the age of 15, they begin to see adult videos and carry weapons. Sexual promiscuity and usage of tranquilizers follows the viewing of adult videos. Consequently, by the time they reach the age of 16, they visit drinking establishments, and are picked up by police for committing delinquent acts. And finally, they come to use hypnotic - type drugs. From the above descriptions, drug abuse can be assumed to have a close correlation with delinquent behaviour. V. Social Factors Related to Drug Abuse As for the Korean youths, glue-sniffing is found to he related to aggressive delinquency, in such cases as run - aways, being picked up by the police, and taking money by force. Smoking cigarettes and drinking alcohol is found to be related to seeing adult videos and visiting drinking establishments. Hypnotics and marihuana were found to be representive of drugs which are related to degenerational delinquency, irrespective of social delinquency. The social factors connected with these drug abuse are as follows: 1. Individual factors Male students were more heavily involved in the usage of drug than females. Youths who do not attend church were more likely to be involved in drugs than those who attend. 2. Family factors The youths who were displeased with their mothers smoking and those who thought their parents did not love each other, or those whose parents had used drugs without prescription, were more likely to he drug users. 3. School factors Those youths who found school life boring, were unsuccessful in their studies, spend most of their time with friends, feel their teachers smoke too much, those who had a positive perception of their teachers smoking were likely to he drug users. To sum up, drug abusers depend on the influence of their parents, teachers and peers. IV. Reasons for Drug Abuse Korean students have mainly used drugs to release stress (42.8%), to stay awake (19.7%), and because of the easy accessibility of drugs( 16.6%). Other reasons are due to their ignorance of the side effects of the drugs (3.6%), natural curiosity (4.2%), and to increase strength(3.O%). From the above facts, the major reasons for drug abuse among Korean youths are to release stress and to stay awake in order to prepare exams. Furthermore, since drugs are readily available, we can conclude that drug abuse is caused by the school system(such as entrance exams) in Korea. VII. Conclusion Drug usage among Korean youths are relatively less common than those of western youths. In some cases, such as, glue-sniffing and use of stimulants, the pattern of drug abuse is found. Moreover, early drug abuse is evident, and it has a close connection with deviant behaviour, resulting in juvenile delinquency. Drug abuse cannot be attributed to any one social factor. Specifically, drug abuse depends on parents, peers, teachers and other members of the community, and also is influenced by social institutions such as the entrance exam system. Every person and organization concerned with youth must participate collectively in restraining drug abuse. Finally, it is suggested that social agencial working for youth welfare should make every effort to tackle this serious problem confronted by the Korean youths today.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.78-90
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• 1993

This study was designed obtain and early detection the workers exposed to excessive copper dust and also to present biological exposure index. The exposed group consisted of 62 male workers at the metallurgy workplaces. To evaluate the degree of individual exposure the copper dust, each personal air sampling was collected. Biological exposures in the exposed group was quantified for the blood and urine copper levels using flameless atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The control group consisted of 70 male adults with the history of nonexposure to copper by the inhalation occupationally. The average concentration of copper in blood and urine of the exposed group was $49.44{\pm}8.90(29.05-80.63){\mu}g/dl$, $39.99{\pm}11.04(29.62-80.63){\mu}g/l$ respectively. The average concentration of air borne copper was $0.48{\pm}0.31(0.03-1.18)mg/m^3$. The average concentration of blood and urine copper in the control group was $42.93{\pm}5.84(25.05-57.85){\mu}g/dl$, $33.02{\pm}13.38(12.00-82.05){\mu}g/l$ respectively. The difference observed in the average concentration of blood and urine copper of the exposed and control groups was statistically significant seperately (blood copper, p<0.05 ; urine copper, p<0.05). The relationship between the individual exposure concentration of air borne copper and the concentration of the blood and urine copper was statistically significant, respectively (blood copper, r=0.54, p<0.05 ; urine copper, r=0.37, p<0.05). The relationship between the working duration and the concentration of blood and urine was not statistically significant respectively (blood copper, r=0.14 ; urine copper, r=0.12). The relationship between the age and the concentration of blood and urine copper was statistically not significant respectively (blood copper, r=013 ; urine copper, r=-0.06). The relationship between blood and urine copper concentration in the exposed group was statistically significant (r=0.62, p<0.05), and the relationship between blood and urine copper concentration in the control group was also statistically significant (r=0.39, p<0.05).

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Prosthodontics
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.185-192
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• 2008

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate the fitness of adjustable dental impression trays on the Caucasian and African American. Material and methods: The size and shape of these trays were designed from the results of the dental arch size of Korean adults. Tray samples were made by CAD-CAM working. Sixty Caucasian (male:30, female:30) and sixty African American (male:30, female:30) were selected for taking irreversible hydrocolloid impression using these trays. The author measured the width and length of impression material on the several measuring points. Results: 1. Uniform impression material width was achieved by controling the width of the tray using stops and beveled guides. 2. In the maxillary tray on the Caucasian, the impression material thickness was measured to be rather great showing thickness of the midpalatal part 13.0 mm. 3. In the maxillary tray on the African American, the impression material thickness was measured to be rather great showing thickness of the midpalatal part 12.0 mm, posterior palatal part 11.0 mm and the labial frenum width was 11.0 mm. 4. In the maxillary tray on the African American, the impression material width of posterior border (0.8 mm) was measured to be small. 5. In the mandibular tray on the Caucasian, the impression material width was measured (2.7-6.7 mm) and posterior border width (2.1 mm) was measured small. The impression material length was measured (2.8-6.7 mm). 6. In the mandibular tray on the African American, the impression material width was measured to be rather great showing width of the labial frenum 9.2 mm and the width of posterior border was measured too small (0.3 mm). Conclusion: This adjustable dental tray shows good accuracy to Korean because it was designed by the analysis of the dental arch size of Korean adult model. With this result, it can be applied to Caucasian and African American, we can take more easy and accurate dental impressions.

• Journal of Korean Ophthalmic Optics Society
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.253-260
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• 2014

Purpose: The present study was conducted to investigate whether near work with smartphone could induce the change of accommodative function. Methods: Total 63 subjects(26 male and 37 female) in their 20s were firstly examined their visual functions related to accommodation and uncorrected spherical equivalent power as the control. After that, the subjects were asked to read a book for 30 min and sequentially watch a movie on smartphone for the same time after 30 min-break under the indoor light or as it was in the reverse order to avoid time-ordered effect. Their accommodative functions, 1) accommodative amplitude, 2) accommodative facility, 3) relative positive/negative accommodation, and 4) accommodative lag and their uncorrected spherical equivalent power were examined again following each task and compared with the control values. Results: The monocular accommodative amplitude was significantly decreased after smartphone watching compared with it after reading. The monocular and binocular accommodative facilities were tended to reduce after smartphone watching and book reading but were not significantly different. Neither significant change in positive relative accommodation was determined after smartphone watching nor book reading. Negative relative accommodation after smartphone watching was almost unchanged unlike reading a book. The accommodative lag after smartphone work was significantly higher than after book reading. Conclusions: The near work with a smartphone for 30 min induced the change of some accommodative functions, which was significantly greater than when reading under the same working environment.