• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제11권2호
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• pp.173-177
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• 2020

Background: Indoor air dampness microbiota (DM) is a big health hazard. Sufficient evidence exists that exposure to DM causes new asthma or exacerbation, dyspnea, infections of upper airways and allergic alveolitis. Less convincing evidence has yet been published for extrapulmonary manifestations of dampness and mold hypersensitivity syndrome). Methods: We investigated the prevalence of extrapulmonary in addition to respiratory symptoms with a questionnaire in a cohort of nurses and midwives (n = 90) exposed to DM in a Helsinki Obstetric Hospital. The corresponding prevalence was compared with an unexposed cohort (n = 45). Particular interest was put on neurological symptoms and multiple chemical sensitivity. Results: The results show that respiratory symptoms were more common among participants of the study vs. control cohort, that is, 80 vs 29%, respectively (risk ratio [RR]: 2.56, p < 0.001). Symptoms of the central or peripheral nervous system were also more common in study vs. control cohort: 81 vs 11% (RR: 6.63, p < 0.001). Fatigue was reported in 77 vs. 24%, (RR: 3.05, p < 0.001) and multiple chemical sensitivity in 40 vs. 9%, (RR: 3.44, p = 0.01), the so-called "brain fog", was prevalent in 62 vs 11% (RR: 4.94, p < 0.001), arrhythmias were reported in 57 vs. 2.4% (RR: 19.75, p < 0.001) and musculoskeletal pain in 51 vs 22% (RR: 2.02, p = 0.02) among participants of the study vs. control cohort, respectively. Conclusion: The results indicate that the exposure to DM is associated with a plethora of extrapulmonary symptoms. Presented data corroborate our recent reports on the health effects of moist and mold exposure in a workplace.

• 정신신체의학
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• 제6권1호
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• pp.70-78
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• 1998

Alternative medicine is defined as the practices used for the prevention and the treatment of diseases that are not taught widely in medical schools, nor generally available inside hospitals. Alternative medicine or therapy is of growing interest to the general public. We conducted a survey to determine the prevalence and patterns of using alternative medicine such as herbal medicine acupuncture, folk medicine, health food and diet, yoga, qi therapy, shiatsu, chiropractics, homeopathy etc.. Based on 794 completed questionnaires, 484 respondents(61%) reported using at least one form of alternative medicine for their medical problems. The major medical conditions for which they used alternative medicine were back pain(85.6%), arthritis(85.4%), hypertension(85.2%), cerebrovascular disorders(86.4%), and insomnia(84.6%). The types of alternative medicine frequently used were herbal medicine, acupuncture, folk medicine, and health food. The reasons why the vast majority of people sought after alternative medicine was that: less side-effect, it is not harmful, it is more effective, there is a shorter waiting time, and a better explanation fur the conditions and a kinder therapist. We found that the frequency of using alternative medicine in the health care system was high. Physicians need to be more aware that many patients may be using alternative medicine. Further survey of the nation-wide prevalence of alternative medicine, and scientific study into the efficacy of this medicine should be followed. In the meantime, we suggest paying attention to possible harmful effects caused by some sorts of alternative medicine.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제85권3호
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• pp.205-220
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• 2022

This study aimed to describe the prevalence of comorbidities associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and their relation with relevant outcomes. A systematic review based on the PRISMA methodology was performed from January 2020 until July 2021. The MEDLINE, Lilacs, and Scielo databases were searched to identify studies related to COPD and its comorbidities. Observational studies on the prevalence of comorbidities in COPD patients and costs with health estimates, reduced quality of life, and mortality were included. Studies that were restricted to one or more COPD pain assessments and only specific comorbidities such as osteoporosis, bronchitis, and asthma were excluded. The initial search identified 1,409 studies and after applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 20 studies were finally selected for analysis (comprising data from 447,459 COPD subjects). The most frequent COPD comorbidities were: hypertension (range, 17%-64.7%), coronary artery disease (19.9%-47.8%), diabetes (10.2%-45%), osteoarthritis (18%-43.8%), psychiatric conditions (12.1%-33%), and asthma (14.7%-32.5%). Several comorbidities had an impact on the frequency and severity of COPD exacerbations, quality of life, and mortality risk, in particular malignancies, coronary artery disease, chronic heart failure, and cardiac arrhythmias. Comorbidities, especially cardiovascular diseases and diabetes, are frequent in COPD patients, and some of them are associated with higher mortality.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• 제14권3호
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• pp.267-271
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• 2023

Background: The objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population. Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization. Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07-20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07-20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50-10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51-3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44-3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24-2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46-2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26-4.52) and a greater prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74-10.32). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제30권3호
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• pp.353-360
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• 2005

측두하악장애 연구진단기준 (Research Diagnostic Criteria for Temporomandibular Disorders; RDC/TMD)을 이용하여 측두하악장애 환자들에서 심리학적 상태 및 턱기능장애의 정도가 통증의 정도 및 지속기간, 통증과 관련된 일상생활 장애의 정도 및 기간, 만성통증척도에 미치는 영향 등을 알아보기 위하여 RDC/TMD axis I criteria에 따라 측두하악장애로 진단받은 평균연령 30.1$\pm$12.5 세인 93 명의 환자들(남성 17명, 여성 76명)을 대상으로 RDC/TMD axis II 병력 설문지를 작성하게 한 뒤, 우울증점수, 신체화장애점수, 턱기능장애점수와 만성통증척도의 통증 강도, 통증 지속기간, 통증과 연관된 장애 점수, 통증과 연관된 장애의 기간 및 만성통증척도 사이의 연관성을 분석하여 다음과 같은 결론을 얻었다. 1. 93명의 측두하악장애 환자들에서 만성통증척도의 경도의 장애를 보이는 군 (low disability group, grade I and II)은 42.0% 이었으며, 심도의 장애를 보이는 군 (high disability group, grade III and IV)은 51.5% 이었다. 2. 우울증점수는 통증 강도, 통증 지속기간, 통증과 연관된 장애 점수, 통증과 연관된 장애의 기간, 만성통증척도 모두에 통계적으로 유의한 영향을 미치지 않았다. 3. 신체화장애점수는 통증 강도 (p<0.01), 통증과 연관된 장애의 기간 (p<0.01), 만성통증척도 (p<0.01)에 유의한 영향을 미쳤으나, 통증 지속기간이나 통증과 연관된 장애 점수에는 통계적으로 유의한 영향을 미치지 않았다. 4. 턱기능장애점수는 통증 강도 (p<0.001), 통증과 연관된 장애의 기간 (p<0.01), 만성통증척도 (p<0.001)에 유의한 영향을 미쳤으나, 통증 지속기간이나 통증과 연관된 장애 점수에는 통계적으로 유의한 영향을 미치지 않았다. 측두하악장애환자에서 신체화장애와 턱기능장애는 환자가 느끼는 통증의 강도 및 장애의 정도와 밀접하게 관련되어 나타날 수 있으며, 환자가 호소하는 정서적 스트레스에 대한 포괄적인 이해와 기능장애에 대한 적절한 관리가 측두하악장애 환자의 성공적인 치료에 매우 중요하리라 생각된다.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권9호
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• pp.4335-4340
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• 2016

Background: Bone metastasis is a single condition but presents with various patterns and severities. Skeletal-related events (SREs) deteriorate overall performance status and reduce quality of life. However, guidelines for early detection and management are limited. This study includes a survey of the prevalence of bone metastasis in cases with common cancers in Thailand as well as a focus on survival patterns and SREs. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort analysis was conducted using a database of the Chiang Mai Cancer Registry and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry of the OLARN Center, Chiang Mai University. The prevalence of bone metastasis from each type of primary cancer was noted and time-to-event analysis was performed to estimate cancer survival rates after bone metastasis. Results: There were 29,447 cases of the ten most common cancers in Thailand, accounting for 82.2% of the entire cancer registry entries during the study period. Among those cases, there were 2,263 with bone metastases, accounting for 7.68% of entries. Bone metastasis from lung, liver, breast, cervix and prostate are common in the Thai population, accounting for 83.4% of all positive cases. The median survival time of all was 6 months. Of the bone metastases, 48.9% required therapeutic intervention, including treatment of spinal cord and nerve root compression, pathological fractures, and bone pain. Conclusions: The frequency of the top five types of bone metastasis in Thailand were different from the frequencies in other countries, but corresponded to the relative prevalence of the cancers in Thailand and osteophilic properties of each cancer. The results of this study support the establishment of country specific guidelines for primary cancer identification with skeletal lesions of unknown origin. In addition, further clinical studies of the top five bone metastases should be performed to develop guidelines for optimal patient management during palliative care.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제22권1호
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• pp.153-161
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• 1989

Authors studied on the prevalence of 94 cases of pneumoconiosis who were found out through the screening test on 1,062 workers engaged in welding process at 36 shipyard in Pusan area from March 1st, 1986 to November 30th, 1986. The result were as follows; 1. Dust concentration was measured $4.49{\pm}0.54mg/m^3$ in the small scale shipyard while it was $6.25{\pm}1.08mg/m^3$ in the large one. 2. The prevalence of welder's lung was 8.9% (male:8.5%, female:12.0%) and this is consist of 4.9% suspected pneumoconiosis and 4.0% pneumoconiosis more than category 1/0. 3. The prevalence was significantly increased according to the duration of dust exposure(p<0.05), and it showed the increasing tendency by the age group. 4. The prevalence was significantly higher in the large scale shipyard than is the small scale one(p<0.01). 5. The type and shape of opacities were 71.4% of p type and 28.6% of q type, however no pneumoconiosis with r type observed in this study. 6. The main subjective symptoms were the sputum(29.8%), coughing(25.5%), shortness of breath(20.2%), fatique(6.4%), and chest pain(5.3%). In other hand, 57.4% of pneumoconiosis were asymptomatic. 7. The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis was radiologically 1.7% in all subjects including 5.3% in pneumoconiosis and 1.3% in no pneumoconiosis(p<0.01).

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.679-692
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• 1996

This study was performed to find the prevalence and the associated risk factors with low back pain(LBP) of the staffs in a university at Kwang-ju city. The data were collected by a questionnaire including SDS(self - rating depression Scale) battery from September 1st to October 15th, 1996. The results were as follows; 1. The prevalence rate of LBP during lifetime was 73.1%, 53.1% for the last one year, and 23.6% for the last one week. 2. Statistically significant factors related to LBP during lifetime were sex and satisfaction with job. Sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, occupation, work posture, forward bending of trunk and satisfaction with job were selected as significant factors related to LBP during the last one year. The significant determinants related with LBP during the last one week were sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, occupation, forward bending of trunk and satisfaction with job. 3. Through the analysis of self - rating depression scores according to LBP, respondents with LBP had the significantly higher value of physiological disturbances and lower value of psychomotor activities than those without LBP. 4. Through the multivariate logistic regression, significantly associated factors with LBP during lifetime were selected to be female(OR=2.63, 95% CI : $1.08\sim6.40$), dissatisfaction with job(OR=2.16, 95% CI : $1.16\sim4.15$), those for the last one year were chosen to be female(OR=2.30, 95% CI : $1.03\sim5.12$), forward bending of trunk(OR=2.18, 95% CI : $1.26\sim3.79$), dissatisfaction with job(OR=1.84, 95% CI : $1.06\sim3.21$), and those for the last one week were female(OR=3.00, 95% CI : $1.17\sim7.69$), forward bending of trunk(OR=2.85, 95% CI : $1.38\sim5.88$). In conclusion, for effective prevention of the LBP at work site, appropriate improvement of work posture and various psychological factors should be considered.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• 제36권1호
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• pp.25-37
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• 2011

측두하악장애증상 및 기여요인과 성격유형과의 관련성을 규명하고자 경기도 지역 대학에 재학중인 학생 199명(평균연령 $21.0{\pm}2.9$세, 남자 73명, 여자 126명)을 대상으로 MBTI 검사와 설문조사를 실시하여 다음과 같은 결과를 얻었다. 1. 내향성(I)이 외향성(E)보다, 감각형(S)이 직관형(N)보다, 사고형(T)이 감정형(F)보다, 인식형(P)이 판단형(J)보다 한 가지 이상의 주관적 측두하악장애증상을 가지고 있는 자의 비율 및 한가지 이상의 기여요인을 갖는 자의 기여요인 수 평균치가 높은 경향을 보였다. 2. ISTP와 ISFP는 다른 성격유형들에 비해 한 가지 이상의 주관적 측두하악장애증상을 가지고 있는 사람의 비율과 한 가지 이상의 기여요인을 갖는 사람의 비율에서 높은 경향을 보였다. 3. 내향성(I)이 외향성(E)보다, 감각형(S)이 직관형(N)보다, 감정형(F)이 사고형(T)보다, 판단형(J)이 인식형(P)보다 개구시 악관절부 동통 증상의 빈도가 높은 경향을 보였다. 4. 이악물기 습관과 스트레스는 내향성(I)이 외향성(E)보다 높은 빈도를 보였고(p<0.05), 껌 씹는 습관은 외향성(E)이 내향성 (I)보다 높은 빈도를 보였다(p<0.05). 5. 편측저작습관은 판단형(J)이 인식형(P)보다 높은 빈도를 보였다(p<0.05). 6. 성격이 느긋한 편이거나 보통인 경우보다는 예민한 편이거나 신경질적인 경우가 측두하악장애 증상수의 평균치가 높게 나타났다(p<0.001). 7. 보통 성격이 다른 성격들에 비해 기여요인 수의 평균치가 가장 낮게 나타났다(p<0.0001). 결론적으로 측두하악장애는 개인의 성격과 관계가 있으므로 환자의 성격 유형을 고려한 상담과 교육의 활용이 측두하악 장애 치료에 도움이 되리라 사료된다.

• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.302-312
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify associated factors of chewing discomfort among community-dwelling elderly. Methods: The study was cross-sectional design and secondary data analysis using the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Among the total of 7,550 participants, data was analyzed with 1,126 adults aged 65 years and over. Chewing discomfort was assessed by the perceived chewing discomfort. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to find the associated factors of chewing discomfort. Results: Along with 61.7% of the participants reported having chewing discomfort, 85.2% reported to perceive poor oral health and 35.0% had oral pain. In multivariate logistic regression, perceived oral health (OR 3.22, 95% CI 2.24~4.63), oral pain (OR 2.46, 95% CI 1.76~3.43), activity limitation (OR 1.71, 95% CI 1.05~2.80), teeth requiring treatment (OR 1.61, 95% CI 1.14~2.26), number of remaining teeth (OR 1.60, 95% CI 1.22~2.10) and educational level (OR 1.56, 95% CI 1.15~2.12) were the significant predictors of chewing discomfort. Conclusion: The prevalence in chewing discomfort was high in elderly Koreans and various factors were associated with chewing discomfort. To improve chewing ability, it is suggested that the national level of policies offer strategical oral health programs in this population.