Prevalence and risk factors of clonorchiasis among residents of riverside areas in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Korea.

We evaluated the status of Clonorchis sinensis infection and potential risk factors among residents of riverside areas (Geumgang) in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do (Province), Korea. From January to February 2010, a total of 349 (171 males, 178 females) stool samples were collected and examined by the formalin-ether concentration technique. Also, village residents were interviewed using questionnaires to obtain information about C. sinensis infection-related risk factors. Overall egg-positive rate of C. sinensis was 13.2%. Egg-positive rates were significantly higher in males, farmers, and residents who had lived there more than 20 years, and in residents who had eaten raw freshwater fish than in opposite groups, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between age groups, education levels, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, health status, past history of infection, and experience of clonorchiasis medication and examination. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors for clonorchiasis. On univariate analysis, the odds ratios for males, farmers, those who had lived there more than 20 years, and who had eaten raw freshwater fish were 2.41, 4.44, 3.16, and 4.88 times higher than those of the opposites, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of residents who had eaten raw freshwater fish was 3.2-fold higher than that of those who had not. These results indicate that residents living in Muju-gun, along the Geum River, Korea, have relatively high C. sinensis egg-positive rates, and the habit of eating raw freshwater fish was the major factor for the maintenance of clonorchiasis.

Biologic stability of plasma ion-implanted miniscrews.

OBJECTIVE: To gain basic information regarding the biologic stability of plasma ion-implanted miniscrews and their potential clinical applications. METHODS: Sixteen plasma ion-implanted and 16 sandblasted and acid-etched (SLA) miniscrews were bilaterally inserted in the mandibles of 4 beagles (2 miniscrews of each type per quadrant). Then, 250 - 300 gm of force from Ni-Ti coil springs was applied for 2 different periods: 12 weeks on one side and 3 weeks contralaterally. Thereafter, the animals were sacrificed and mandibular specimens including the miniscrews were collected. The insertion torque and mobility were compared between the groups. The bone-implant contact and bone volume ratio were calculated within 800 µm of the miniscrews and compared between the loading periods. The number of osteoblasts was also quantified. The measurements were expressed as percentages and analyzed by independent t-tests (p < 0.05). RESULTS: No significant differences in any of the analyzed parameters were noted between the groups. CONCLUSIONS: The preliminary findings indicate that plasma ion-implanted miniscrews have similar biologic characteristics to SLA miniscrews in terms of insertion torque, mobility, bone-implant contact rate, and bone volume rate.

The viability to a wall shear stress and propagation of Bifidobacterium longum in the intensive membrane bioreactor.

Bifidobacterium longum grew at 65 L pilot scale of the membrane bioreactor (MBR), externally fitted with ceramic membrane (0.7 m2). Cell mass at the MBR reached 22.18 g L(-1) as dry cell weight in 12 h, which is 8.44 times higher than cell mass attained at the vial culture. The growth rate in the vial culture was µ = 0.385 h- and at the batch culture was µ = 1.13 h- in the exponential period and µ = 0.31 h(-1) in the stationary period. In the fed-batch mode was µ = 1.102 h(-1) for 6 h with inoculation and declined to µ = 0.456 h(-1) with feeding of feed medium. The growth rate at the MBR was µ = 0.134 h(-1). The number of viable cells was 6.01 × 10(12) cfu L(-1) at the batch culture, but increased to 1.15 × 10(14) cfu L(-1) at the MBR culture. The specific growth rate of viable cell number (colony-forming units per liter, per hour) improved by 6.01 times from the batch to the MBR culture. The wall shear stress mainly generated by the pump, and the membrane incorporated into the MBR was controlled during the cultivation at the MBR. The viability of B. longum declined to under 10% in the first 2 weeks of the 4-week stability test (40° C) as B. longum was exposed to over wall shear stress 713 Pa, but the viability improved to 30-40% in wall shear stress of 260 Pa or STR culture. The loss in the cell viability can be saved by managing with wall shear stress during the cultivation at the MBR.

[Relationship between status of physical and mental function and quality of life among the elderly people admitted from long-term care insurance].

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the levels of quality of life (QOL) according to the grade of long-term care service for the elderly people who were admitted from long-term care insurance, and to reveal its association with the physical and mental functioning such as the Activity of Daily Living (ADL), the Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL), the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D), and the Mini-Mental State Examination-Korean version (MMSE-K). METHODS: The interviews were performed during the period from March 1 to May 31, 2009, for 958 elderly people in urban and rural areas. The questionnaire items included various indices such as the ADL, IADL, CES-D, and MMSE-K, as independent variables and the index of QOL, as the dependent ones. For statistical analysis, t-tests were used for the mean scores of QOL according to gender and the grade of long-term care services, and Spearman's correlation was used for each variable. The effects of physical and mental functioning for QOL were assessed by covariance structure analysis. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The mean scores of QOL among all the subjects was 55.4 ± 15.62 (Grade I: 49.7 ± 14.17, Grade II: 56.8 ± 14.62, Grade III: 59.4 ± 16.36), and it was lower according to the higher grade of long-term care insurance. In terms of the correlation matrix of the QOL and the physical and mental function factors, the QOL showed positive correlation with the ADL, IADL and MMSE-K, while it had negative correlation with depression. On the analysis of covariance, mental functioning (depression and the MMSE-K) had a greater influence on the level of QOL than the physical functioning (ADL and IADL). CONCLUSIONS: The level of the QOL in the elderly people who were admitted from long-term care insurance was lower according to higher the grade of long-term care insurance. Also, the mental functioning (depression and MMSE-K) was more influential on the level of the QOL than the physical functioning (ADL and IADL).

[Relationship between job stress contents, psychosocial factors and mental health status among university hospital nurses in Korea].

OBJECTIVES: The present study was intended to assess the mental health of nurses working for university hospitals and to establish which factors determine their mental health. METHODS: Self-administered questionnaires were given to 1,486 nurses employed in six participating hospitals located in Daejeon City and Chungnam Province between July 1st and August 31st, 2006. The questionnaire items included sociodemographic, job-related, and psychosocial factors, with job stress factors (JCQ) as independent variables and indices of mental health status (PWI, SDS and MFS) as dependent variables. For statistical analysis, the Chi-square test was used for categorical variables, with hierarchical multiple regression used for determining the factors effecting mental health. The influence of psychosocial and job-related factors on mental health status was assessed by covariance structure analysis. The statistical significance was set at p<0.05. RESULTS: The factors influencing mental health status among subject nurses included sociodemographic characteristics such as age, number of hours of sleep, number of hours of leisure, and subjective health status; job-related characteristics such as status, job satisfaction, job suitability, stresses such as demands of the job, autonomy, and coworker support; and psychosocial factors such as self-esteem, locus of control and type A behavior patterns. Psychosocial factors had the greatest impact on mental health. Covariance structure analysis determined that psychosocial factors affected job stress levels and mental health status, and that the lower job stress levels were associated with better mental health. CONCLUSIONS: Based on the study results, improvement of mental health status among nurses requires the development and application of programs to manage job stress factors and/or psychosocial factors as well as sociodemographic and job-related characteristics.

[The usefulness of obesity indices for the coronary risk factors in an urban inhabitants].

OBJECTIVES: To determine obesity for the screening of individuals at high risk of coronary heart disease in urban areas. METHODS: Data were obtained from 4,137 adults between 19 and 85 years of age (2,372 males, 1,765 females), not recognized as taking medicines for cardiovascular diseases, who underwent a health check-up at the health promotion center of university hospitals in cities between Jan. 2003 and Dec. 2004. The variables studied were divided into two broad categories, and their relationships examined: obesity indices and risk factors for coronary heart disease. To reveal the relation between each of the obesity indices and the proportion of individuals at risk of coronary heart disease, the obesity indices were stratified and odds ratios obtained after age adjustment. RESULTS: From a gender comparison of anthropometric measures, men were found to have significantly greater heights, weights, and waist and hip circumferences than women. From a gender comparison by the obesity indices, women were found to have significantly higher BMI, %Fat, waist to hip and waist to stature ratios than men. As obesity indices, the waist to stature ratio and the waist circumference were strongly correlated with coronary risk factors, both in men and women. The age-adjusted odds ratio of coronary risk factors increased significantly with increasing waist circumference, BMI, %fat, waist to hip and waist to stature ratios, and were highest specifically for the waist to stature ratio and the waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: The study results showed that the waist to stature ratio and the waist circumference, as obesity indices, were most closely correlated with coronary risk factors. It is suggested that the waist to stature ratio and, specifically, the waist circumference can be effectively used in the field of health management for screening those with high levels of coronary risk factors.

[Relationships between mental health and psychosocial factors with single-child high school students in an urban city of Korea].

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the mental health of high school students, and specifically that of children with no siblings in urban areas, and we aimed at revealing the various potential influences of different psycho-social factors. METHODS: The participants were, 514 high school students who were the 1st- to 3rd-graders in Daejon City; they were, given self-administered questionnaires that required no signature during the period of March through June 2005. The analyzed items included the general character of the subjects, the symptoms of stress and depression for mental health, self-esteem as a psychological component, anxiety, dependent behavioral traits and, social support of family members and friends. RESULTS: The study results suggested that the group of urban high school children with no siblings had a higher tendency for stress and depression than did the urban high school children with siblings. The mental health and psychosocial factors were found to be influenced by friends, a sense of satisfaction at school and home life, and emotional support as well. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, emotional support by the family members can improve mental health by reducing anxiety, stress and depression.

Magnetometric evaluation of cadmium oxide-induced toxicity to pulmonary alveolar macrophages of Syrian golden hamsters.

Since alveolar macrophages play an important role in the clearance of inhaled dust from air-ways, these cells have been used as a target for various toxic chemicals. Alveolar macrophages obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage of Syrian golden hamsters were concurrently exposed in vitro to Fe(3)O(4), as an indicator for magnetometry, and various concentrations of cadmium oxide (CdO) in this study. A rapid decrease of the remnant magnetic field, called relaxation, was observed after the cessation of an external magnetic field stimulus in macrophages concurrently exposed to phosphate-buffered saline or CdO at 0.1 microg/ml, while relaxation was delayed in those concurrently exposed to 1, 25, or 50 microg/ml CdO. Therefore, the concentration of CdO affecting relaxation in vitro was estimated at between 0.1 and 1 microg/ml. Release of LDH activity from CdO-exposed macrophages into the medium significantly increased at levels of 25 and 50 microg/ml CdO. Apoptosis was not detected in macrophages exposed to CdO by the DNA ladder detection method or morphological observations. Electron-microscopic examination revealed severe membrane damage and vacuolar changes in macrophages exposed to CdO. Since delayed relaxation is thought to occur by (1). disrupted cytoskeleton-driven random rotation of phagosomes containing iron oxide particles, (2). significant lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity release, and (3). detachment of cell membranes, CdO is considered to affect macrophage functions.