• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2008

In order to study the occurrence of symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders of radio-technologists employed at metropolitan general hospitals and the factors that influence such occurrence, standardized questionnaire by NIOSH that was modified and supplemented to be suitable for conditions in Korea was used. Answers collected from 143 radio-technologists in two weeks from June 13, 2007 were analyzed and the results are as follows. Factor that influence symptoms of musculoskeletal disorders by area were analyzed through multiple logistic regression analysis and the results found that in the neck area, risk increased as the burdening work category 2(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=3.94) and burdening work category 9(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=4.72) increased. In the shoulder region, risk increased as burdening work category 2(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=5.36), burdening work category 7(Korea ministry of labor)(OR=3.90), and burdening work category 9 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=5.76) increased. In the arm/hand/wrist regions, risk increased as burdening work category 2 (Korea ministry of labor) (OR=6.91), and burdening work category 9 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=3.76) increased. In the lower back region, risk increased as burdening work category 2 (Korea ministry of labor) (OR=3.06), and burdening work category 8 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=8.14) increased. In the leg/knees/foot regions, risk increased as burdening work category 2 (Korea ministry of labor) (OR=3.63), and burdening work category 9 (Korea ministry of labor)(OR=2.96) increased. Conclusively, in factors that influence musculoskeletal disorder symptoms in radio-technologists, influence of subjective health conditions, total work experience, experience in current division, and burdening work category 2, 7, 8, and 9 (Korea ministry of labor) were most significant. Therefore, for preventive management, in addition to ergonomic and educational intervention for correcting improper posture during work, efforts for break time adjustment and stress reduction is needed, and encouragement and support for regular exercise is needed.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.31 no.3
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• pp.259-266
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• 2008

Objective : The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD) and the metabolic syndrome. Method : We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1204 adults(males: 364 females: 840) in a general hospital health promotion center. They were grouped into the normal and lower BMD group according to bone loss(osteopenia, osteoporosis), as determined by duel energy X-ray absorptiometery(DEXA). We analyzed the association between BMD and metabolic syndrome by multiple logistic regression analysis. After adjustment for age, weight, alcohol intake, smoking, regular exercise, regular intake of meals, and menopausal status, odds ratios for the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome by gender were calculated for lower BMD. Results : After adjustment for the effect of potential covariates, the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was associated with bone loss in men(p<0.001). If the odds ratio of normal group is 1.00, then that of the lower BMD group is 3.07(95% CI=1.83-5.16). The prevalence of metabolic alterations fitting the criteria of metabolic syndrome was significantly decreased in High BMI, Low HDL in men and in High BMI in women(p<0.05). Conclusions : This study shows that BMD was associated with metabolic syndrome. Further studies needed to obtain evidence concerning the association between BMD and metabolic syndrome.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 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
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.215-223
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• 1997

To estimate association of minerals relating to non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus(NIDDM) the contents of essential minerals and toxic heavy metals in the scalp hair were measured during the period from March 1993 to June 1993. The cases were selected 69 (32 male, 37 female) from the patients who visited Kyungpook University Hospital during the period from March 1993 to June 1993 and 74 controls (47 male 27 female) from normal population. zinc, copper, manganese, lead, cadmium and aluminum were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrophotometer(IL. 551). The results were summarized as follows. In NIDDM group, mean contents of zinc and copper were $132.99{\pm}19.66$ ppm, $8.58{\pm}5.07$ ppm respectively; where as $152.51{\pm}46.15$ ppm, $12.48{\pm}6.56$ ppm in control group. The mean of above two mineral content showed significant difference statistically (p<0.01). But, in manganese the content of NIDDM group; $0.44{\pm}0.27$ ppm were significantly higher than the control group; $0.34{\pm}0.18$ ppm(p<0.05). A thesis submitted to the Council of the Graduate School of Kyungpook National University in partial fulfillment of the require ements for the degree of Ph.D. in Medical Science in June 1994. The mean contents of toxic metals - lead, cadmium, aluminum - in NIDDM group were $10.04{\pm}4.60$ ppm, $0.57{\pm}0.12$ ppm, $11.31{\pm}3.98$ ppm; whereas $8.10{\pm}2.45$ ppm, $0.41{\pm}0.23$ ppm, $7.61{\pm}4.16$ ppm in control group. The mean of above three mineral showed significant difference statistically(p<0.01). Cadmium, zinc and copper were selected statistically significant variables with presence of the NIDDM by multiple logistic regression analysis; copper, zinc and cadmium may be associated with NIDDM.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.84-95
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• 2012

Background: In Korea, private health insurance has neglected to induce externality on national health insurance by moral hazard. Therefore, we conducted this study in order to explore the influence of private health insurance on unnecessary medical utilization among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Method: The study examined a population of 449 patients (admission, 384; out-patient; 85) diagnosed with simple cervical or lumbar sprain without neurological symptoms at 20 small hospitals or clinics in Gwangju and Jeollanam provinces from Jul. 1 to Aug. 31 2008. The data were collected using structured, self-administrated questionnaire which collected information such as whether or not the patient was admitted (as a dependent variable), whether or not they had private health insurance (as a independent variable), and covariates such as socio-demographic characteristics, the factors related to the sprain, and characteristics of the insurance provider. Results: From hierarchical multiple logistic regression analysis, it was found that the admission rate of patient with private health insurance was higher than that those without it (Odds ratio=3.31, 95% Confidence interval; 1.14-9.58), meaning that private health insurance was an independent factor influencing the admission of patients with these conditions. Other determinants of admission were patient age and physician referral. Conclusions: This study is the first empirical study to explore the influence of private health insurance on inducing moral hazard in admission services, specifically among patients with cervical or lumbar sprain. Regulation of benefits provided by private health insurance may be necessary, as the effect of this moral hazard may mean existence of externality.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.258-267
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• 2014

Purpose: The current study was designed to investigate the relationship of dietary calcium and riboflavin and their main dietary source (milk and dairy products) with the risk of periodontitis using data from 2007 to 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Methods: A total of 1,690 adults aged ${\geq}40$ years were included. We used results of dental examination regarding all sextant information on probing depth of at least two index teeth, nutritional assessment by a single 24-hour dietary recall, and demographic and medical information. The periodontitis group was defined as those who had 3-4 points, and the normal group was defined as those who had 0 points of Community Periodontal Index at all locations of six examination sites using a probe. Results: Using multiple logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for age, body mass index, energy intake, income, smoking, and alcohol drinking, we found an inverse relationship between consumption of dairy products and risk for periodontitis (OR: 0.465, 95% CI: 0.224-0.964) and between dietary riboflavin intake more than the estimated average requirements and risk for periodontitis (OR: 0.535, 95% CI: 0.300-0.954) in males. Conclusion: Adequate intake of milk dairy products and riboflavin may be recommended for prevention of periodontitis in the Korean male population.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.313-324
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the association between intake of antioxidant vitamins and prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) among Korean adults. Methods: A total of 614 subjects aged 30~60 years were recruited from those who received a medical checkup at a general hospital in South Korea between 2009 and 2012. Presence of MetS was determined based on criteria issued by the NCEP ATP III. Intakes of antioxidant vitamins (vitamin A, retinol, carotenoids, vitamin C, and vitamin E) were estimated by combining 3-day diet records with an antioxidant vitamin database for common Korean foods. We used multiple logistic regression analysis to assess the association between dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins and MetS. Results: Men in the highest tertile for retinol (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.23~0.71, P for trend = 0.0009), carotenoids (OR = 0.57, 95% CI = 0.32~1.00, P for trend = 0.0470), and vitamin E (OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.30~0.92, P for trend = 0.0190) intakes had a lower likelihood of having Mets than those in the lowest tertile. The OR of high fasting blood glucose among men in the highest tertile for vitamin A (${\mu}g$ RE: OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.32~0.97, P for trend = 0.0417, ${\mu}g$ RAE: OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.29~0.92, P for trend = 0.0211), carotenoids (OR = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.23~0.73, P for trend = 0.0036), and vitamin E (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.26~0.82, P for trend = 0.0080) intakes was lower than those in the lowest tertile. In women, subjects in the highest tertile of retinol intakes had a lower prevalence of MetS than those in the lowest tertile group (OR = 0.55, 95% CI = 0.30~0.98). The OR for abdominal obesity was lower among women with the highest vitamin A (${\mu}g$ RE) intakes compared to those in the lowest tertile (OR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.28~0.93, P for trend = 0.0293). Conclusion: These results suggest that dietary intakes of antioxidant vitamins might be associated with reduced risk of having MetS among Korean adults.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.27 no.1 s.45
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• pp.25-43
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• 1994

To estimate the factors to the inclination of the criminal violence, the content of trace minerals and toxic metals in the scalp hair were measured during the period from May 1992 to October 1992. One hundred eleven violent and 89 nonviolent criminal inmates of Taegu Correctional Institute were selected. The inmates of violent criminals were imprisoned by murder, robber, rape, injury and violent acts. Those of nonviolent criminals were swindle, larceny, and adultery and had no history of institutional violence. The contents of two toxic metals (cadmium, lead) and five trace minerals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Mg, Na) were determined by an atomic absorption spectrophotometer (IL. 551). The contents of cadmium and lead in hair of violent criminals were significantly higher as $0.56{\pm}0.14ppm,\;11.53{\pm}3.32ppm$, respectively, than $0.42{\pm}0.20ppm,\;9.63{\pm}4.31ppm$ of nonviolent group (p<0.01). But the level of copper was significantly lower than nonviolent group (p<0.05). The factors that had a significant correlation with the inclination of violence in multiple logistic regression analysis were cadmium (odds ratio=98.09), unmarried (odds ratio=0.39), many times of criminal history(odds ratio=1.57) and residence of rural area (odds ratio=0.44). The results suggest that the sub-toxic contents of cadmium and lead in the hair may be of potential effect on behavior, and the mineral analysis may be an important adjunctive diagnostic procedure. Further studies into this problem are necessary.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.96-103
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• 2009

Objectives : We evaluated the health effects of exposure to BTEX(Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene, o-Xylene) in the Taean area after the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Methods : We used a questionnaire survey to look for health effects among 80 pregnant women 2 to 3 months following the Hebei Spirit oil spill. Their BTEX exposures were estimated using the CALPUFF method. We then used a multiple logistic regression analysis to evaluate the effects of BTEX exposure on the women s health effets. Results : Pregnant women who lived near the accident site reported more symptoms of eye irritation and headache than those who lived farther from the site. There was a trend of decreasing symptoms with an increase in distance from the spill site. Pregnant women exposed to higher ambient cumulative levels of Xylene were significantly more likely to report symptoms of the skin(OR 8.01 95% CI=1.74-36.76) in the first day after the accident and significantly more likely to report abdominal pain(OR 3.86 95% CI=1.02-14.59 for Ethylbenzene, OR 6.70 95% CI=1.82-24.62 for Xylene) during the 1st through 4th days following the accident. Conclusions : This study suggests that exposure to BTEX from an oil spill is correlated with an increased risk of health effects among pregnant women. This implies the need to take proper measures, including the development of a national policy for environmental health emergencies and a plan for studying the short- and long-term chronic health effects associated with such spills.

• Journal of radiological science and technology
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• v.32 no.3
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• pp.285-291
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• 2009

The aim of the present study was undertaken to investigate the association between diagnostic indices of metabolic syndrome(MetS) with carotid intima-media thickness using ultrasonography. The participants in the study were 315 male employees without carotid atherosclerosis and other cardiovascular disease. This study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute. Written informed consent for the participants in this study was obtained from all individuals. Anthropometric parameters and biochemical characteristics were done using each specific equipments and the NCEP-ATP III criteria were used to define MetS. They were examined by B-mode ultrasound to measure the carotid intima-media thickness(carotid IMT) at the near and far walls of common carotid and bifurcation(bulb). The mean carotid IMT was $0.739{\pm}0.137\;mm$ and it's thickness significantly increased with the increase in age. Also, amounts of systolic and diastolic blood pressure, triglyceride and fasting glucose were significantly increased with the increase in age. Carotid IMT were significantly correlated with BMI(r=0.170, p=0.004), systolic(r=0.148, p=0.011) and diastolic blood pressure(r=0.123, p=0.036) and HDL-cholesterol(r=-0.164, p=0.005). On multiple logistic regression analysis for the diagnostic indices of MetS, carotid IMT were significantly associated with blood pressure(OR=4.220, p<0.01) and MetS(OR=1.301, p<0.05). The results indicate that blood pressure and MetS are important risk factors for carotid atherosclerosis.