• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.65-79
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• 2001

Cerebrovascular disease(CVD) is one of the major causes of death in Korea as well as most countries in the world and the disease gives great burden to humans socio-economically due to its high fatality and common occurrence of disability as the sequelae. This study was performed to investigate the utilization of western hospital(WH) or oriental hospital(OH) due to CVD and compare the type and the clinical characteristics of patients with CVD between WH and OH located in Kwangju City, Chonnam Province and Chonbuk Province. We reviewed the medical records of 1,070 patients who were discharged from 12 WIT and 6 OH from January to March, 2000 and confirmed for the diagnosis of CVD. Fifty-one percent of the subjects were treated at WH and forty-nine percent at OH. Females were more prevalent than males. As well, the most common age group among these subjects was found to be 70 years and older. About 92% in W~H and 80% in OH received brain imaging diagnostic procedures such as CT or MRI. The cerebral infarction was the most common type of CVD when compared by the kind of utilized hospitals, sex, age group except patient Group who was treated at WH and whose age was lower than 50 years old. The cerebral hemorrhage was more frequent than cerebral infarction among this group. The proportion of cerebral hemorrhage was decreasing and that of cerebral infarction was increasing with age. The most common clinical manifestations of undetermined type of CVD was paralysis of lower extremity in WIT and paralysis of upper extremity in OH. In cerebral hemorrhage loss of consciousness in WIT and dysarthria in OH were most frequently manifested, while in the case of cerebral infarction hemiplegia in WIT and dysarthria in OH were the most common complaints. The interval from the onset of disease to admission to the hospital was 5.5 days in WH arid 31.4 days in OH and the difference was statistically significant. Average admission duration of patients at OH was longer than WH, but it was not statistically significant. In conclusion these results suggest that the effort for systematic and efficient management of CVD patients was necessary for close co-operation and role arrangement between WH and OH considering the positive and negative points of western and oriental medicines.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.11-21
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• 2000

This study was conducted to reveal the effects of musculoskeletal risk factor on farmer's syndrome. We sampled 97 farmers aged above 30 in 3 villages of Kyunggi-do. Self-administered questionnaire for general characteristics, farmer's syndrome, musculoskeletal risk factor, blood pressure, and laboratory tests were conducted. According to the score of musculoskeletal risk factor, we divide the subjects high risk group and low risk group. The most common musculoskeletal risk factor is repetitiveness, bending of waist and rapid movement in order. The prevalence of farmer's syndrome of all subjects is 28.9%. In female the prevalence of farmer's syndrome(45.2%) is higher than in male(16.4%) significantly. High musculoskeletal risk group had higher score of farmer's syndrome(5.9) than low musculoskeletal risk group(4.4). The most common symptom is lumbago(76.3%), the second was numb limb and shoulder stiffness(54.6%, 54.6%). The prevalence of numb limb and shoulder stiffness higher in high musculoskeletal risk group than low musculoskeletal risk group, but that of lumbago did not show significant differences. In linear regression, score of farmer's syndrome was related to musculoskeletal risk factor as well as gender. Blood pressure and laboratory test did not show significant differences between two groups. These results suggest that musculoskeletal risk factor would influence farmer's syndrome. Further ergonomic evaluation and intervention of farmer's works and musculoskeletal diseases are needed.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.28 no.1
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• pp.29-37
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• 2003

Objectives: This study was performed to evaluate the pesticide exposure status and acute pesticide poisoning symtoms among agricultural workers at Gangwon-do province alpine area. Alpine area was defined as the area higher than 400m. Methods: We analyzed 257 interviwed questionnaire about pesticide exposure, acute pesticide poisoning symptoms and other variables. Results: The result was shown that agricultural workers at alpine area used more pesticide than general agricultural workers for annual usage days(35.9 days vs 14.4 days), daily usage hours(6.7 hrs vs 2.8hrs, p<0.05). But there was no difference between general and alpine agricultural worker's herbicide exposure. Moreover, the alpine agricultural worker's acute pesticide poisoning symtom score was higher than general agricultural worker's. These difference was also found at result of regression analysis, under control the age, sex, monthly income. Most frequently suffered symptom was headache and dermatological problems. The symptom prevalence of dermatological problem, headache, general weakness, eye irritation, nausea were higher among alpine agricultural workers than general agricultural workers. Conclusions: As a result, agricultural workers at alpine area were more exposed to pesticide and suffered from pesticide poisoning symptoms. To prevent the symptoms and disease from pesticide exposure among agricultural workers at alpine area, more research and political effort will be needed.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.101-112
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• 2011

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine arterial stiffness levels as measured by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and to identify the association between arterial stiffness and inflammatory markers, in healthy adults over 50 years old. Methods: The study population consisted of 4617 persons over the age of 50 years who participated in the baseline survey of the Dong-gu Study, which was conducted in 2007 and 2008. Arterial stiffness was measured using baPWV. A multiple regression analysis was performed to assess the relationship between conventional cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers, including white blood cell (WBC) counts, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and gamma glutamyltransferase (GGT). Results: After adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors including sex, age, smoking status, body mass index, systolic blood pressure, fasting glucose, hypertension or diabetic medication, total cholesterol, triglycerides, uric acid, and alanine aminotransferase, baPWV was significantly associated with WBC counts (${\beta}$=0.158, p<0.0001), hs-CRP (${\beta}$=0.244, p=0.026), and GGT (${\beta}$=0.003, p<0.0001). Conclusion: This study shows that arterial stiffness correlates with inflammatory markers. Arterial stiffness may be used as a composite risk factor to identify persons with higher risk for cardiovascular disease. Additionally, arterial stiffness may be a marker for future cardiovascular disease and a target for prevention.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.130-141
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• 2013

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to reconsider the necessity of stroke-related educational programs by investigating early symptoms of stroke that emergency medical technicians (EMTs) may experience. Methods: An interview survey was carried out, targeting all EMTs 298 people who were working at 119 fire safety centers and local units in Jeollabuk-do province, from April 1 to 30, 2011. An interviewer administered questionnaire was used to obtain data on ETMs' demographic characteristics, educational level on stroke, and awareness level about early symptoms of stroke and treatment-related characteristics of stroke patients. Results: The results showed that 63.2% of those surveyed had completed the required educational programs on stroke during the past year. The level of awareness about early symptoms of stroke and assessment of stroke patients' condition was relatively high for women, those who were 30 years under, low position people, emergency service practitioners, emergency medical technicians, and people who have completed education, respectively. It was also turned out that 82.8% of those surveyed took stroke patients to the nearest hospitals first so that they could receive appropriate treatment. The level of awareness about early symptoms of stroke and assessment of stroke patients' condition in people who have completed education were higher than non-complete. The level of awareness about early symptoms of stroke was positively correlated with confidence, satisfaction and appropriateness in treatment of stroke patients. Conclusions: These results strongly suggest that it is necessary to operate specialized educational programs to enhance EMTs' appropriate awareness of the early symptoms of stroke and assessment of stroke patient's condition.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.6
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• pp.4335-4347
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• 2015

The objective of this study was to investigate $PM_{10}$ and $CO_2$ concentrations in the classrooms of 286 elementary schools in Suwon, Ansan, and Hwaseong in the province of Gyeonggi between August 2008 and December 2012. By gaining an understanding of the environmental factors that influence these concentrations, this study also aimed to establish a management plan for indoor air quality in schools, which substantially affects the health of elementary students. When the schools were classified by region, no statistically significant difference in $PM_{10}$ concentration was observed. However, $PM_{10}$ concentration was relatively high in industrial areas and low in rural areas. No difference in $CO_2$ concentration was observed among the surveyed cities. Analysis of annual $PM_{10}$ concentration showed that the highest values for Suwon and Hwaseong occurred in 2008 and 2009, respectively (p<0.01). In the case of Ansan, the highest concentration occurred during 2009, but the difference was not significant compared to the other years. Analysis of the annual $CO_2$ concentration of each city shows no significant difference among the cities (p-value=0.366,0.730,0.210). According to a time series analysis of $PM_{10}$ and $CO_2$ by season, from autumn 2008 to winter 2012, $PM_{10}$ concentration was high during 2009, then it gradually decreased until 2012, and started to increase again. While no difference in annual $CO_2$ concentration was observed, the concentration had a tendency to be higher in spring and winter than in summer. By analyzing the relationship between $PM_{10}$ and $CO_2$ and the environmental factors (years of construction, average students of classroom, temperature, and humidity), it showed a significant negative correlation was found between $CO_2$ and the environmental temperature and humidity, at -0.329 and -0.188, respectively (p<0.01).

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.153-161
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• 2021

Backgrounds: This study was performed to analyze the main key words of newspaper articles related to COVID-19 in 2020 for each category of quarantine measures according to the epidemic period of COVID-19. Methods: We analyzed articles related to COVID-19 in three major newspapers of Korea between February 17 and December 31, 2020. We targeted the front page articles on mondays and thursdays. The analysis of the relationship between the two variables was confirmed through the chi-square test. Results: As a result of analyzing the main key words for each category of quarantine measures, non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common at 54.3%, followed by 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment and vaccine) at 31.9%. In the category of non-pharmaceutical intervention, social distancing was the most common at 33.9%. In the categories such as 3Ts(test, tracing, treatment) and vaccine, diagnostic tests were the most common at 41.8%. Conclusions: It was identified that non-pharmaceutical intervention were the most common, and there was a difference in the reporting of main key words by category of quarantine measures for each epidemic period related to COVID-19 in 2020.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.162-170
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• 2021

Objectives: This study was carried out to understand the seroprevalence and risk factors for severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) among the Korea National Park Service (KNPS) workers. Methods: We used the stored serum samples (763) and survey results collected from the previous investigation on scrub typhus and Lyme disease among the KNPS workers during 2016-2017. The serum samples were analyzed by double-antigen sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, which was used to test the total antibody including IgG and IgM. Results: The SFTS seroprevalence among the KNPS worrkers was 1.4%. In multivariate logistic analysis, the national park exploration programs (odds ratio, 3.48; 95% confidence interval, 1.01-12.01) was significantly associated with the seroprevalence of SFTS. Conclusion: This study was the first serological study of SFTS among forestry workers in South Korea. Although the KNPS workers are at a high-risk group of SFTS, the prevention activities related to the working environment and habit was insufficient. Thus, systematic prevention education and training for the KNPS workers need to be strengthened.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.235-244
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• 2020

Objectives: Gyeongsangbuk-do has entered a super-aged society with 20.7% of the population aged 65 and older. As of April 30, 2020, the death rate of COVID-19(3.8 people) in Gyeongsangbuk-do is higher than the national mortality rate (2.3 people), and the fatality rate of COVID-19 by age accounts for more than half of the total of 58.6%, so it is time to propose to prevent infectious diseases in the event of additional infectious disease disasters COVID-19. Methods: We collected daily data on the number of confirmed cases and deaths due to COVID-19 from 19 February to 30 April 2020. The data collected was evaluated using the SPSS 21.0 statistical package. Results: As a result of comparing the incidence and death-related factors of confirmed patients in Gyeongsangbuk-do, there were significant differences in age group (p<0.001), underlying disease (p<0.001), and residence type (p<0.033). Conclusion: Factors affecting the mortality rate of confirmed patients in Gyeongsangbuk-do have been combined with individual level factors(age, gender, underlying disease), which means individual characteristics that have existed since before the disease, and regional level factors(Type of Residence), which are external factors that enable the use of medical resources. Therefore, each local government is required to establish preventive measures considering individual and regional level factors.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.181-188
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• 2022

Objectives: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was approximately 16% in populations of over age 30 years, and deaths from diabetes mellitus became the sixth most prevalent cause of death by disease. To assess the relationship between HbA1c and heavy metal level in blood and urine, targeted residents were evaluated in a vast steel industrial complex. Methods: We selected 414 subjects for analysis after applying the following exclusion criterion: 18 persons with diabetes mellitus. They took part in a questionnaire survey and underwent blood and urinary assessments. HbA1c and lead (Pb) level were measured in blood and, cadmium (Cd), inorganic arsenic (iAs) and mercury (Hg) were evaluated in urine. Two subgroups were divided by HbA1c 6.5%. Each subgroup was divided by 10th, 20th, 30th, 40th, 50th, 60th, 70th, 80th and 90th percentile levels of biological exposure index of the heavy metals for logistic regression. Results: Odd ratios have a tendency to increase as they go from the 90th to the 10th percentile of cadmium. However, lead, arsenic and mercury did not have significant relationships with HbA1c. In correction of age, region, gender and smoking history, a higher distribution in the subgroup with cadmium above 0.8318 ㎍/g creatinine (30th percentile) was demonstrated in the subgroup with HbA1c levels above the 6.5%, with an odds ratio of 5.26 (95% C.I. ; 1.44~19.17). Conclusion: This study found a significant correlation between urinary levels of cadmium and HbA1c in correction of several factors. It is meaningful that this outcome may be used as a basis for a study to establish the acceptable limit of urinary cadmium in Korea.