• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2015

Objective: In this review we discuss the health effects among office workers. Background: Even if office workers are not exposed hazardous or harmful environment frequently, some problems could be happened to the office workers. Although serious occupational diseases rarely occur to the office workers, it is important to consider occupational risk factors for the office worker because the portion of the office workers is relatively high in all industries. Method: We divided possible health effects for the office workers into three categories; musculoskeletal disorders, indoor environment, and cerebro-cardiovascular diseases. We reviewed related articles, textbooks, and statistical materials non-systematically and described risk factors, related illnesses, and prevention strategies on each category. Results: Office workers have various musculoskeletal disorders to be intervened. By medical treatment, improving working environment, and ergonomic intervention, office workers can be prevented from musculoskeletal injuries. Poor indoor environment can cause many building-related illnesses or sick building syndrome. Although the etiology of some problems by poor indoor environment is not clear, it helps to maintain adequate humidity, temperature, and clarity of indoor air. Cerebro-cardiovascular diseases are a rising issue because office workers in Korea tend to work for a lot of time. To prevent the diseases, it is needed to work for adequate time, lengthen activity level, and manage other medical risk factors for the diseases. Conclusion: There is no distinct occupational disease for office workers. However, there are some aspects to consider the health effects of office workers and it is important to prevent the possible health problems. Application: A strategy against occupational diseases among office workers can be established by reviewing this article.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.471-481
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• 2017

The canonical transient receptor potential channels (TRPCs) constitute a series of nonselective cation channels with variable degrees of $Ca^{2+}$ selectivity. TRPCs consist of seven mammalian members, TRPC1, TRPC2, TRPC3, TRPC4, TRPC5, TRPC6, and TRPC7, which are further divided into four subtypes, TRPC1, TRPC2, TRPC4/5, and TRPC3/6/7. These channels take charge of various essential cell functions such as contraction, relaxation, proliferation, and dysfunction. This review, organized into seven main sections, will provide an overview of current knowledge about the underlying pathogenesis of TRPCs in cardio/cerebro-vascular diseases, including hypertension, pulmonary arterial hypertension, cardiac hypertrophy, atherosclerosis, arrhythmia, and cerebrovascular ischemia reperfusion injury. Collectively, TRPCs could become a group of drug targets with important physiological functions for the therapy of human cardio/cerebro-vascular diseases.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.284-293
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• 2007

Objectives : Hypertension(HTN), diabetes mellitus(DM) and hyperlipidemia(HL) are the most common risk factors of cerebro-vascular attack(CVA). To prevent CVA, early diagnosis (awareness before CVA) of HTN, DM and HL is essential, and for the effective early diagnosis we need to analyze the data of CVA patients concerned with HTN, DM and HL. In this study, we studied characteristics of patients early diagnosed before CVA. Methods : We analyzed the data of 363 patients with acute ischemic stroke from Hanbang Stroke Registry supported by the Ministry of Science and Technology of Korea. Subjects' enrollment was done in the oriental medical hospitals of 3 universities located in the metropolitan region from October 2005 to October 2006. We analyzed all registered data about HTN. DM and HL, for example, how many patients were aware of their HTN, DM or HL before CVA, differences in characteristics of early diagnosed patients, effects of early diagnosis on CAV, etc. Results : Patients aware of their HTN. DM and HL before CVA have more past history and family history about HTN, DM or HL. Early diagnosis rate of HL is lower than HTN and DM, and early diagnosed HL patients were younger and deucated longer than patients who weren't aware of their HL before CVA. These results mean that publicity is the key to promoting early diagnosis rates of HTN, DM and HL. In DM and HL, early diagnosed patients had more SVO type cerebral infarction than patients who weren't aware of risk factors. We can thus see that early diagnosis even affects CVA types. Conclusion : This work helps us to understand the realities and importance of early diagnosis of HTN, DM and HL before CVA. There should be further research, which can contribute to much more improved early diagnosis rates of HTN, DM and HL.

• Annals of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
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• v.34
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• pp.30.1-30.13
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• 2022

Background: Although working hours have decreased in Korea, they are still high compared to that of other countries. In Korea, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases (CCVDs) related to overwork in Korea continually occur, and the social burden from overwork is estimated to be high. This study investigated the amendment of regulations affecting the approval rate of occupational CCVDs. Methods: The change in approval rate of occupational CCVDs and related regulations were investigated using the Act and public notice on the standards for recognition of occupational CCVDs and the yearbooks of the Ministry of Employment and Labor. The CCVD mortality was estimated using data on the number of deaths according to the cause of death, the number of employed people, and resident registration population aged 15-64 years. The cumulative mortality of CCVDs was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Results: Since the establishment of the standards for recognition in Korea in 1982, the scope of occupational diseases has been expanded to include intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, myocardial infarction, and aortic dissection. In 2013, the concept of working hours was introduced in chronic overwork. The approval rate of occupational CCVDs was 44.7% in 2006, which decreased to 12.9% in 2011. After the improvement of related regulations, the approval rate increased to 41.3% in 2018. From 2000 to 2017, the CCVD mortality of both the unemployed and employed tended to decrease, and their cumulative CCVD mortalities were 549.3 and 319.7 per 100,000 people, respectively. Conclusions: CCVDs are recognized as occupational diseases in Korea. The amendments to the standards for recognition, the introduction of the Occupational Disease Adjudication Committee, the principle of presumption, and the reduction of working hours have changed the approval rate of occupational CCVDs. A strategic approach is needed to further reduce the incidence of CCVDs.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.1-7
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• 2008

Work related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) have become a hot issue within the Korean workplace for the past several years. Recently, the effect of job related stress on WMSDs, cerebro-cardiovascular diseases, and psychiatric disorders has been steadily increasing. The study conducted questionnaire of Korea version job stress model, WMSDs from NIOSH, CES-D (Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale), and STAI (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory) against train drivers. The results of this study show that the job stress score of the train drivers is high in the areas of physical environment, job latitude, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity, and organization system. The relation between job stress and WMSDs nd, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity and organizational system. The relation between job stress and depressive disorders showed statistical significance in the areas of job demand, job insecurity and low reward. Finally, the relation between job stress and anxiety disorders showed statistical significance in areas of job demand, interpersonal conflict, job insecurity, organizational system and low reward.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.64-72
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze occupational accident compensation insurance coverage and occupational accidents incidence for special-type delivery workers. Methods: The data for occupational accident compensation insurance coverage and occupational accidents from 2012 to 2017 were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Results: Rates of occupational accident compensation insurance coverage of special-type delivery workers decreased gradually from 43.4% in 2012 to 28.5% in 2016, and 29.0% in 2017. Rates of occupational illnesses death per ten thousand workers increased gradually from 2.1‱ in 2013 to 3.1‱ in 2016, and 8.6‱ in 2017. All occupational illness deaths were due to cerebro-cardiovascular diseases. Road traffic accidents and slips accounted for the largest proportion of occupational accidents. Conclusion: Special-type delivery workers have a high risk of industrial accidents, so it is necessary to raise industrial accident insurance coverage and provide professional and systematic occupational safety and health services.

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.126-137
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• 2002

Objective : There is accumulating data that cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension, cerebro-vascular accident, coronary heart disease, relate to atherosclerotic changes. Increased serum levels of lipids could play a role in these circumstances. the SDPTG(the second derivative of photoplethysmogram waveform) is noninvasive methods for evaluating the pulse wave and is correlated with age and other risk factors for atherosclerosis. Methods : To study the effects of serum lipid levels on the SDPTG in the middle-age adults, data on serum lipid levels and the SDPTG were collected in 80 healthy middle age with varying serum lipid concentrations. Biological vascular age was assessed using the SDPTG. the SDPTG consists of an a, b, c, and d wave in systole and an e wave in diastole; an SDPTG aging index(Al) was calculated as (b-c-d-e)/a. Results : Serum triglyceride, total cholesterol, total lipid, phospholipid, HDL cholesterol levels were respectively and significantly correlated with SDPTG Al. Serum lipid levels and blood pressure are age-dependent and the SDPTG is blood pressure-dependent. Restricting analysis to age and blood pressure yield strong positive correlations between serum triglyceride, total lipid levels and SDPTG Al, but no correlations between serum total cholesterol, phospholipid levels and SDPTG Al. Conclusion : The results of this study suggest that preventive acupuncture programs or herbal medications for reducing serum lipid, especially triglyceride, levels in middle-age should include a evaluation of biological vascular aging with the second derivative of photoplethysmogram waveform.