• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
• /
• v.62 no.5
• /
• pp.682-691
• /
• 2020

Careful cleaning and disinfection of pigpens is essential to prevent disease spread and avoid the resultant economic losses. Hygiene in pigpens is generally evaluated by visual monitoring supplemented with bacteriological monitoring, which includes counting the total aerobic bacteria (TAB) and/or fecal indicator bacteria (FIB). However, these methods present drawbacks such as time and labor requirements. As adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is ubiquitous in all living organisms including microorganisms, this study aimed to directly compare the results of microbial assessment and ATP quantification, and to suggest possible detailed application methods of the ATP test for hygiene evaluation in pigpens of a farrowing unit. Before and after standard cleaning procedures, samples were collected from the floor corner, floor center, and feeding trough of four pigpens at different time points. No FIB were detected and both the TAB and ATP levels were significantly decreased in the floor center area after cleaning. FIB were continuously detected after cleaning and disinfection of the floor corners, and there was no significant ATP level reduction. The feeding trough did not show any significant difference in these values before and after cleaning, indicating insufficient cleaning of this area. The levels of TAB and ATP after cleaning were significantly correlated and the average ATP value was significantly lower in the absence of FIB than in their presence. In the absence of standard references, a more thorough hygiene management could be achieved evenly by supplementing cleaning or disinfection based on the lowest ATP results obtained at the cleanest test site, which in the present study was the floor center. Overall, these results indicate that the on-farm ATP test can be used to determine the cleanliness status, in addition to visual inspection, as an alternative to laboratory culture-based testing for the presence of microorganisms.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.117-123
• /
• 2008

Allergic diseases have been dramarically increased over recent years, especially in industrialized countries. Oxidative stress has been believed to playa significant role in the occurrence of the allergic inflammatory responses. Although previous studies concerning oxidative stress and systemic inflammation have been reported, few data is available, and other allergic diseases, except for asthma, are hardly studied about the association with oxidative stress. This study evaluated the relationship between allergic disease and Malondialdehyde (MDA) as an indicator of oxidative stress. The study population was 197 male adults living in an industrial area. The ISAAC questionnaire was used to confirm wheezing and rhinitis, and atopy was evaluated by skin prick test. MDA was analyzed by spectrophotometer. To examine bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BHR), methacholine test was performed, and the index of bronchial responsiveness (BR index) was calculated. We used multivariate logistic regression model and general linear model with SAS program. We found significant associations of MDA with brindex (p=0.023), rhinitis (p=0.016), atopy (p=0.03), adjusted by age, smoking, and body mass index (BMI). On the contrary, there was no significant difference of MDA with the status of asthma. Our result suggests that oxidative stress may playa major role in the occurrence of allergic response in male adults.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.14-20
• /
• 2019

One of the primary goals of epidemiology is to quantify various aspects of a population's health, illness, and death status and the determinants (or risk factors) thereof by calculating health indicators that measure the magnitudes of various conditions. There has been some confusion regarding health indicators, with discrepancies in usage among organizations such as the World Health Organization the, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the CDC of other countries, and the usage of the relevant terminology may vary across papers. Therefore, in this review, we would like to propose appropriate terminological definitions for health indicators based on the most commonly used meanings and/or the terms used by official agencies, in order to bring clarity to this area of confusion. We have used appropriate examples to make each health indicator easy for the reader to understand. We have included practical exercises for some health indicators to help readers understand the underlying concepts.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
• /
• v.12 no.3
• /
• pp.597-609
• /
• 2012

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to determine the influence of workers health behaviorals, oral health behaviorals and metabolic syndrome risk factors on oral health and to identify the relationship between these. and then, a basis data propose for integrative health promotion programs development and effective Management measures. Methods : The subjects were 4,600 workers working at a industrial place in North Gyeongsang Province, data were collected from July 13, 2010 to September 12, 2010. using the results of the subjects medical check-ups and Oral examinations, this study was performed. collected data included workers general characteristics, job characteristics, and smoking, drinking, exercise behavior as lifestyle factors, and waist measurement, fasting blood sugar level, systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, the level of Triglyceride and HDL-cholesterol as metabolic syndrome risk factor indicator. Data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, chi-square test, correlation analysis, logistic regression using SPSS 18.0. Results : In results of the subjects medical check-ups, 14.1% were above the criterion value of waist measurement, 2.5% fasting blood sugar level, 8.5% hypertension, 16.8% Triglyceride level and 4.0% HDL-cholesterol respectively. according to oral examination results, showing that 43.3% inflammation of the gums. The inflammation of the gums was correlated with gender, age, dental clinic visit, scaling management, smoking, exercise behavior and high triglyceride level and hypertension of metabolic syndrome risk factor indicators. In addition, this result was statistically significant. Conclusions : Based on this study, the workers health should be managed actively and effectively by using periodical workers health check-ups. At a corporate level, the institutional supports were achieved and arranged for activation of regular oral health education programs, and the prevention plan of metabolic syndrome were needed for changing exercise behavior by conducting suitable exercise programs.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Integrative Medicine
• /
• v.11 no.2
• /
• pp.181-196
• /
• 2023

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of physical activity on impaired fasting glucose in adults aged 20 years or older. Methods : This study utilized raw data from the 8th National Health and Nutrition Examination survey (2019~2021). The subjects of this study were 5,344 adults aged 20 years or older who were confirmed to be free of diabetes. The control variables in this study model are health behavior characteristics (subjective health status, smoking, drinking), anthropometric characteristics (body mass index), and personal background characteristics (gender, age, income level, education level, marital status). As for the analysis method, the degree of physical activity was made into a dummy variable, and a probit model was used. Results : As a result of this study, compared to quartile 1 of the relative grip strength value obtained by dividing the grip strength by the body mass index (body mass index, kg, m²), fasting blood glucose levels were significantly higher in quartile 2 (.05, p<.01), quartile 3 (.04, p<.01), and quartile 4 (.04, p<.01). It was found that the probability of belonging to the normal category was higher than that of impaired fasting glucose. In addition, in the group of adults aged 20 or older who had a lot of aerobic and anaerobic physical activity, fasting blood sugar was more likely to be in the normal category. Conclusion : Based on the results of this study, it was suggested that diabetes should be managed through physical activity in the pre-diabetic stage, as prevention is important as well as treatment. From a practical point of view, muscle strength, such as grip strength, can be identified as a reliable indicator for identifying impaired fasting glucose.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.31 no.3
• /
• pp.301-311
• /
• 2021

Background: This study purposed to analyze the relationship between the local extinction index and medical service uses of chronic diseases. The local extinction index is an indicator of the demographic structure and population aging of the region. Methods: The 2014-2018 statistics of National Health Insurance Corporation and Korean Statistical Information Service data were used for the analysis. First, descriptive statistics were used to analyze the general status of research variables. Second, a panel analysis was performed to analyze the relationship between the local extinction index and medical service uses of chronic diseases (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, periodontal disease, arthritis, mental health, epidemic disease, liver disease). Medical service uses were measured by the number of visits/inpatient days and medical charges of seven chronic diseases. Results: Panel analysis results showed that higher local extinction risks (meaning lower local extinction index) had a positive relationship with the number of visits/inpatient days and medical charges of chronic diseases. But the relationships were varied when the seven chronic diseases were analyzed separately. Conclusion: This study showed a significant relationship between the local demographic structure and medical service uses of chronic disease. Analyzing the local demographic structure will be an essential prerequisite step for implementing appropriate regional health care policies.

• Health Policy and Management
• /
• v.33 no.1
• /
• pp.107-113
• /
• 2023

Unmet healthcare is an important indicator for measuring accessibility of healthcare services. We analyzed the following four data from a nationally representative sample of South Korean population: Korea Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2007-2021), Community Health Survey (CHS, 2008-2021), Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2011-2019), and Korean Welfare Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2006-2021). The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs were 6.0% (KNHANES), 5.1% (CHS), and 13.1% (KHP). Annual percentage change (APC) which identifies trend for the follow-up period was -9.4%, -9.4%, and -5.3%, respectively. The proportion of individuals reporting unmet healthcare needs due to cost were 1.2% (KNAHANES), 0.5% (CHS), 2.7% (KHP), and 0.4% (KOWEPS). The APC was -10.4%, -16.1%, -11.5%, and -19.1%, respectively. Compared to the previous year, the rate of unmet healthcare needs decreased slightly, but the rate of unmet health care needs due to cost tended to increase. Overall, higher rates of unmet healthcare needs were reported in the low-income and the elderly population. Although it was confirmed through the APC that the rate of unmet healthcare experience has decreased over the past decade, it can be seen that there is still a disparity by income level and age. These results suggest the need for an appropriate health benefit coverage policy for the low-income and the elderly.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
• /
• v.38 no.4
• /
• pp.541-544
• /
• 2015

We report the status of wetland vascular plant species in Korea including the whole peninsula and its adjacent islands. This analysis was based on database from our previous categorized list. In all, 4,050 taxa have been reported, including 3,769 native and 281 naturalized. Of these, 479 taxa (12%) are considered as wetland vascular indicator species: 240 obligate wetland plants (OBW) and 239 facultative upland plants (FACW). Approximately 31% of those 479 taxa, i.e., 149 taxa, are labelled as aquatic macrophytes. Wetland plants, mostly herbaceous but some woody, inhabit aquatic bodies and wet meadows. Except for two OBW and six FACW taxa, the rest of the plants are summer-green only. The information provided here is valuable for making assessments of wetland ecosystem health, as well as for developing management plans to preserve and restore wetlands and their resident plant species while also creating artificial wetland environments.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.32 no.7
• /
• pp.775-780
• /
• 1999

We investigated the effects of antioxidant vitamins supplementation on antioxidative status and plasma lipid profile in female Korean non-insulin diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) patients. Forty-five patients were groups by types of vitamin to take into three groups-Vitam in E group(400IU/day, n=15), Vitamin C group (1,000mg/day, n=15) and Vitamin E plus C group (400 IU plus 1,000mg/day). Supplementation period was 4 weeks. After vitamins supplementation, plasma vitamin E concentration significantly increased in vitamin E and vitamin E + C group, but plasma retinol concentration were not affected by vitamin E or vitamin C supplementation. And plasma levels of lipid peroxide measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances(TBARS), indicator of lipid peroxidation and increased susceptibility of LDL towards lipid peroxidation, were significantly decreased in all three groups after vitamins supplementation. Also catalase activities in erythrocytes were significantly decreased after antioxidant vitamin supplementation in all subjects. And after vitamins supplementation, post prandial 2 hour glucose and total cholesterol levels was decreased in all subjects. And after vitamins supplementation, post prandial 2 hour glucose and total cholesterol levels was decreased in all patients, especially there was a significant difference in vitamin C, Vitamin E + C group. In this study, antioxidant vitamins supplementation might have a protective function against the free radical-mediated lipid peroxidation and decrease the plasma total cholesterol levels in Korean female NIDDM patients.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.479-484
• /
• 2011

The study was conducted on 20 Holstein X Sahiwal cross bred dairy cows, with an average milk production of $2,752{\pm}113.79$ liters in $284{\pm}5.75$ days during a single lactation, that were divided in to two groups of 10 animals. We investigated the oxidative stress and antioxidant status during the transition period in dairy cows. In this study, plasma level of MDA was considered as an indicator of lipid peroxidation and SOD, catalase, GSH and GSHPx as antioxidants. The lipid peroxidation was significantly (p<0.001) higher in cows during early lactation as compared to the cows in advanced pregnancy. A significant positive correlation (r = +0.831, p<0.01) was determined between MDA and catalase in early lactating cows. In early lactating cows, blood glutathione was significantly lower than in advanced pregnant cows. However, early lactating cows showed non-significant negative correlation for all antioxidant enzymes with lipid peroxidation. In conclusion, dairy cows seemed to have more oxidative stress and low antioxidant defense during early lactation or just after parturition than advanced pregnant cows, and this appears to be the reason for their increased susceptibility to production diseases (e.g. mastitis, metritis, retention of fetal membranes etc.) and other health problems.