• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.14 no.2
• /
• pp.314-328
• /
• 1997

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the effects of chronic exposure to low-dose solvent on neurobehavioral performance of 48 male workers exposed to organic solvents. A control group of 50 workers was selected from same factories. Each worker completed a medical and occupational questionnaire and four tests of Neurobehavioral Core Test Battery. These included Benton visual retention test, digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. Comparison of mean performance showed a significantly poorer performance on digit symbol, digit span, and pursuit aiming. In univariate analysis, age contributed to poor performance on Benton visual retention test and educational level was found to reduce the performance on symbol digit in both groups. Amount of alcohol intake was found to reduce the performance on digit symbol and smoking appeared to slow pursuit aiming in the exposure group. In multiple regression analysis, controlling for age, educational level, alcohol, and smoking, Solvent exposure was found to be associated with performance of digit span, and number of correct dot of pursuit aiming. Age on Benton visual retention, educational level on digit symbol, arid smoking on pursuit aiming were found to be a significant factors on each test items. This study suggest that short-term memory, and perception can be affected easily by chronic exposure of organic solvents which air concentration levels were under the Threshold Limit Value.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.49 no.11
• /
• pp.1174-1179
• /
• 2006

Purpose : Obesity and iron deficiency are common nutritional problems. Obese children are known to have iron deficiencies, but one presented opposite opinion in Korea. This study investigated the prevalence of obesity and iron deficiency in Incheon and the relationship between iron deficiency and obesity. Methods : Physical measurement and hematologic examinations were done a 764 healthy female students aged 14 to 15 years in May, 2005. Overweight was defined as a body mass index ${\geq}85th$ percentile. Iron deficiency was defined as serum ferritin <10 ng/mL. Iron deficiency anemia (IDA) was defined as serum Hb <12 g/dL and serum ferritin <10 ng/mL and/or transferrin saturation <16%. Results : 1) The prevalence of overweight was 24.4 percent (n=186), and that of obesity 16.5 percent (n=126). Ferritin and transferrin saturation was the lowest in the normal weight group. 2) The prevalence of iron deficiency and IDA was 18.7 percent (n=102) and 5.3 percent (n=41), respectively. 3) Iron deficiency was more common in the normal weight group compared with the overweight and underweight groups. Also, the non-obese had more iron deficiency and IDA than the obese. Conclusion : The prevalence of obesity in middle school girls could be higher in Incheon than in other regions, but there might be no difference in iron deficiency. However, iron deficiency was more prevalent in the normal weight group than in overweight group. The overweight group ate more food and gained more iron, so seemed to be less prevalent in iron deficiency than the normal weight group.

• Korean Journal of Social Welfare
• /
• v.36
• /
• pp.199-228
• /
• 1998

This study is designed to find out the determinants of dual-earner wives' needs for family-supportive services. For this purpose, a hypothetical model which explains the relationships among 6 stressors, role overload, stress and needs for 4 family-supportive services is developed. Using the data collected by purposive sampling from 234 professional women and 208 blue-collar women living in Chinju and Sacheon, the hypothetical model developed in this study was tested. In order to examine occupational class differences, a model for professionals and another model for blue-collars were developed separately and compared. For data analysis, a covariance structure analysis was used. The best-fitting model for professional women (df=141, GFI=0.928, CFI=0.965) and the model for blue collar women (df=141, GFI=0.902, CFI=0.912) were found. As a result of comparing two models, 9 common relationships were found:l)Greater dissatisfaction with child care service increases role overload; 2)Longer work hours increases role overload; 3) Higher level of role overload increases stress; 4)Higher level of stress increase needs for leaves; 5)Older child increases needs for flexible work pattern; 6)Younger child increases needs for finalcial assistance for child care fee; 7)needs for financial assistance for child care increases needs for on-site child care services; 8)needs for on-site child care services increases needs for leaves; 9)needs for leaves increases needs for flexible work pattern. With the exception of these 9 common relationships, the analyses revealed substantial differences between professional and blue-collar dual-earner wives. Based on the common and differential needs between 2 groups of wives, the effective ways to provide family-supportive services according to the needs of individual dual-earner wives who are in different familial, financial, and work conditions were suggested.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.6 no.2
• /
• pp.167-173
• /
• 2003

Purpose: To find out the differences in eating habits between poor feeding and non-poor feeding children. Methods: We performed questionnaires on 504 children under four years of age who visited hospitals in Gwangju city and JaollaNamdo from May to August, 2002. Results: 138 (27.4%) children were included in poor feeding group, and 366 (72.%) children were in non-poor feeding group. Breast feeding rate was 18.8% in the poor feeding group and 20.3% in the non-poor feeding group. Duration of breast feeding for less than six months were noted in 70.5% of poor feeding group, and 58.5% of non-poor feeding group. The time at starting solid food in the poor feeding group was as follows; 15.9% of infants started on solid food when they were 2~4 months old, 32.7% during 4~6 months, 38.1% during 6~8 months and 18.8% over one year of age. Solid food was given in wrongly manners in both groups by nursing bottles, including 80.4% in poor feeding group and 66.6% in non-poor feeding group. Conclusion: This study demonstrated close relationships among poor feeding children under four years of age with history of low rate and short duration of breast feeding, inappropriate time to start on solid food, less interest in food during mealtime, and unbalanced diet. Pediatricians should make an effort to play an important role in nutritional education and treatment in children.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.1-8
• /
• 2006

Objectives: We studied to find out the relevant relationship between the type of residence and the level of mental depression among aged people. Methods: The authors surveyed 156 people who are over 65 in a small city. Here are three groups: 50 persons who live in the facility for the aged. 72 persons who live with their family and 34 persons who live alone. We developed the questionnaire and the severity of depressive symptoms was measured using Korean Form of Geriatric Depression Scale (KGDS) score. Results: Positive rate of depressive disorders among the aged people was 43.6%. Positive rate of depressive disorders among the aged who live in the facility for the aged was 42.0% and that persons who live with their family was 9.7%. It's more likely to be their gender, the marital status, schooling, going out and pocket money that affect on their mental depression. According to the multiple logistic regression, the odds ratios of the persons who live in the facility for the aged versus persons who live with their family and pocket money in a month were significant (p<0.05). Conclusions: The research shows that the mental depression in the aged people is more serious in the facility for the aged and also significantly related to their pocket money.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
• /
• v.41 no.4
• /
• pp.205-216
• /
• 2016

Objectives: We compared the difference of lipid, insulin resistance and metabolic markers based on HCV RNA in Korean adults.Methods: This was a cross-sectional study of 222 subjects visited the health promotion center of Pusan nationaluniversity hospital from 2004 to 2007. Subjects were anti-HCV antibody positive and were performed RT-PCR for HCV RNA. The HCV RNA (+) group were 85 subjects, HCV RNA (-) control group were 115 subjects, and the HCV RNA (-) but past positive group were 22 subjects. We performed anthropometry, anti-HCV, RT-PCR, plasma concentrations of insulin, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride.Results: BMI, waist circumference, blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol, insulin resistance such as HOMA-IR and QUICKI were not significantly different between HCV RNA positive and negative groups. The serum total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol level were significantly lower in the HCV RNA positive group than in the negative group ($186.24{\pm}37.63$ vs $197.22{\pm}37.23$ mg/dl, p=0.041, $111.66{\pm}34.06$ vs $121.38{\pm}35.50$ mg/dl, p=0.042). After adjusting age and sex, high total cholesterol (${\geq}200mg/dl$) (adjusted OR=0.51, 95%CI 0.28-0.94, p=0.03) and high LDL cholesterol (${\geq}130mg/dl$) (adjusted OR=0.46, 95%CI 0.24~0.87, p=0.02) were inversely associated with being HCV RNA positive (p<0.05). Conclusion: The serum total cholesterol and LDL-cholesterol level were significantly lower in HCV RNA (+) group than in HCV RNA (-) group, but not in HCV RNA (-) but past positive group. Prospective cohort studies are needed to clarify the relationship between HCV RNA and metabolic markers.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.45 no.11
• /
• pp.1340-1345
• /
• 2002

Purpose : We studied the prevalence of snoring and its association with diseases, obesity and environmental factors, as well as sleep disturbance arising from snoring, in school-aged children. Methods : The survey was performed by a special questionnaire on 1,707 children at elementary schools from 1 to 30 July 2001 in Gwangju City. The prevalence of snoring, associated factors, and sleep disturbance were evaluated. Results : 266(16.5%) of the children snored at least once a week. 73(4.3%) of the children snored almost every day. Regarding the associated factors of snoring : There was a statistically significant difference between snoring and nonsnoring groups due to gender, obesity, sinusitis, tonsillar hypertrophy, bronchial asthma and allergic rhinitis. Of them, male gender, tonsillar hypertrophy, and obesity were significant risk factors for development of snoring. Especially, the odds ratio increased to 1.048(CI, 1.004-1.659), 1.748(CI, 1.175-2.599), and 2.266(CI, 1.300-3.950) in children with an obesity index of 20-29%, 30-49%, ${\geq}50%$, respectively. There was a statistically significant association of snoring with decreased sleep duration, sleep talking, and drowsiness during the day as a result of sleep disturbance. Conclusion : 16.5% of school-aged children snored at least once a week. The association of snoring with tonsillar hypertrophy, obesity and gender as risk factors was demonstrated in this study.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.28 no.1 s.49
• /
• pp.103-121
• /
• 1995

An investigation on psychophysiological health and social well-being of shift workers been carried out on workers of a automobile manufacturing plant in Ulsan, for 1 month from April, 1993. This cross-sectional survey compared shift workers(n=544) with day workers(n=115). Each subject completed a questionnaire about his personal habit, background, shift schedule, sleep and eating patterns, subjective digestive symptom and psychological well-being and distress using the General Well-Being Schedule(GWB) by self administrated questionnaire that was developed for the U.S. Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (HANES I). Chi-square analysis was used for discontinuous data and the t-test was used for continous data to determine whether differences noted between the two groups. In terms of sleep quality, a greater percentage of shift workers frequently had trouble getting back to sleep once awakend(p<0.01), and a greater percentage of shift workers awakend tired or sleepy frequently more often than day workers(p<0.05). In rating the quality of their sleep, more shift workers rated their sleep fair to poor than day workers, and greater percentage of shift workers felt tired or sleepy at work two or more times per week(p<0.01) and a much higher percentage of shift workers felt tired or sleepy after work every days(p<0.01). In terms of sleep patterns, a much higher percentage of day workers reported uninterrupted sleep per 24hours than shift workers. The shift workers reported different eating patterns from day workers but there were no statistically significant and rate of their appetite. Thirteen percent of day workers reported the best appetite but only 6.6% of shift workers had the best appetite. The gastric complaints is more frequent in shift workers than day workers(p<0.01). Among subscores in General Well-Being Schedule, anxiety, depression, positive well-being and vitality subscale of shift workers were lower than those of day workers(p<0.05) and general health and self control subscale of shift workers were lower than .those of day workers but there were no statistical significant difference. Based on these study result, it could be concluded that the shift work has significant effects on some psychophysiological conditions of the workers.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.6
• /
• pp.570-578
• /
• 2003

Background : Ambient particles during Asian dust events are usually sized less than $10{\mu}m$, known to be associated with the adverse effects on the general populations. But, there has been no considerable evidence linking these particles to the adverse effects on airways. The objectives of this study was to investigate the possible adverse effects of Asian dust events on respiratory function and symptoms in subjects with bronchial asthma. Patients and Methods : From march to June 2002, Asthmatic patients who were diagnosed with bronchial challenge test or bronchodilator response were enrolled. We divided them into three groups; mild, moderate, and severe, according to the severity. Subjects with other organ insufficiency such as heart, kidney, liver, and malignancy were excluded. All patients completed twice daily diaries and recorded peak flow rate, respiratory symptom, and daily activity. Daily and hourly mean pollutant levels of particulate matter < $10{\mu}m$ in diameter($PM_{10}$), nitrogen dioxide($NO_2$), sulphur dioxide($SO_2$), ozone($O_3$) and carbon monoxide(CO) were measured at the 10 different monitoring sites. Results : Dust events occured 14 times during the study period. Daily averages of 4 air pollutant were measured with an increased level of $PM_{10}$, decreased level of $NO_2$ and $SO_2$, and no change in CO during dust days compared to those during control days. An increase in $PM_{10}$ concentration was associated with an increase of subjects with PEF variability of >20% (p<0.05), night time symptom(p<0.05), and a decrease in mean PEF (p<0.05), which were calculated by the longitudinal data analysis. Otherwise, there was no association between $PM_{10}$ level and bronchodialtor inhaler, and daytime respiratory symptoms. Conclusion : This study shows evidence that ambient air pollution, especially $PM_{10}$, during Asian dust events, could be one of the many aggravating factors at least in patients with airway diseases. This data can be used as a primary source to set up a new policy on air environmental control and to evaluate the safety of air pollution index. We also expect that this research will help identify precise components of dust, which are more linked to the adverse effects.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
• /
• v.38 no.11
• /
• pp.1551-1558
• /
• 2009

The management of skeletal health in the twenties is the number one priority for preventing fracture or osteoporosis occurrence in later life cycle. Therefore, the factors influencing bone mineral density were examined by anthropometric measurements, food intakes, bone mineral density and biochemical nutritional indexes in blood among college students. Among the students who received health examinations from May to December, 2007, 532 male and 507 female students who agreed to participate in the study were selected. Nutritional intakes were estimated with 3-day 24-hour recall method. Bone mineral density was measured by ultrasonic attenuation passing through right calcaneus bone and expressed as broadband ultrasound attenuation and t-score was calculated by WHO criteria. Red blood cell count, hemoglobin, hematocrit values were measured by whole blood analysis, and alkaline phosphatase, serum calcium and serum iron were used as indexes for biochemical nutritional status. Data analysis was conducted using SPSS 14.0 program, and protecting and risk factors on bone health status were analyzed by logistic regression analysis between normal bone health group (t-score$\underline{\geq}$ -1.0) and osteopenia group (t-score<-1.0). The results showed that more people belong to the normal bone health group probably because this study was conducted among those with their peak bone density. Biochemical nutritional status and nutrition intakes of both groups for normal and osteopenia did not show statistically significant difference except MCHC, animal protein and animal iron intakes in female. According to the results of logistic regression analyses, dietary intakes of animal protein, animal iron and zinc showed protecting effects against osteopenia. Therefore, dietary nutritional intakes of micronutrients, especially iron and zinc are important for bone health of young people.