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 / 대한치과교정학회지

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 microm 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.

Depressive Symptoms and Their Association with Sleep Quality, Occupational Stress and Fatigue Among Small-Scaled Manufacturing Male Workers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To determine the depressive symptoms and their association with sleep quality, occupational stress and fatigue among small-scale manufacturing male workers. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaire was distributed to 856 workers employed in 62 work places under 50 members of manufacturing industries from April 1st to June 30th, 2010. The questionnaire survey included sociodemographic and health-related characteristics, job-related characteristics, sleep quality (PSQI), occupational stress (KOSS), fatigue symptoms (MFS) and depressive symptoms (CES-D). RESULTS: Among all subjects, 44.3% were in the depression group (21 points and over in the CES-D score), and it was positively correlated with occupational stress, fatigue and quality of sleep. The adjusted odds ratios for the effect of depression on sleep quality, occupational stress and fatigue were significantly increased in the high risk group compared to that in the normal group. Hierarchial multiple regression analysis revealed that the following factors of influence had combined explanatory powers of 49.3% on depression: marital status, BMI, subjective status of health, leisure time, job position, job tenure, sense of satisfaction in work, quality of sleep, occupational stress and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: The study results revealed a very complicated influence exerted on the level of depression by variable factors, as well as sociodemographic characteristics, health related characteristics and job-related characteristics, particularly quality of sleep, occupational stress and fatigue. Especially, the level of depression was more influenced by occupational stress than by quality of sleep and fatigue factors.

Relationship Between Status of Physical and Mental Function and Quality of Life Among the Elderly People Admitted from Long-Term Care Insurance / 예방의학회지

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).

Analysis of the Influence of Job Stress and Psychosocial Factors on Self Perceived Fatigue in White Collar Male Workers Using the Structural Equation Model / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the self-perceived fatigue and its association with job stress and psychosocial factors among white collar male workers. METHODS: The self-administered questionnaires were given to 872 workers employed in 42 work places located in Daejeon City and Chungnam Province during the period from February 1st to April 30th, 2009. The questionnaire surveys included socio-demographic characteristics, job-related characteristics, health-related behaviors, a Job Content Questionnaire (JCQ), psychosocial factors (type A behavior pattern, locus of control, self-esteem) and the Multidimensional Fatigue Scale (MFS). RESULTS: Concerning the correlation of self-perceived fatigue with various factors, while the level of self-perceived fatigue was positively correlated with the job demands, a type A behavior pattern and self-esteem, it was negatively correlated with job autonomy and supervisor support. With the analysis of the covariance structure, JCQ (job demand, job autonomy, supervisor support and coworker support) had more of an influence on the level of self-perceived fatigue than the psychosocial factors (type A behavior pattern, locus of control, self-esteem). The inter-relational effects were that the higher the JCQ and psychosocial factors, the higher the level of self-perceived fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: The study results indicated that the level of self-perceived fatigue was more influenced by the JCQ than the psychosocial factors. Thus, an effective strategy for fatigue reduction among workers requires additional programs that will focus on innovated job specifications and managed psychosocial factors.

Prevalence of Urinary Incontinence and Its Related Factors among the Rural Residing Elderlies / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to find out the frequency of urinary incontinence among the rural elderly people and its related factors. METHODS: Informations have been obtained through interviews from the 464 rural residents of advanced age over 65 years on September 1st through November 30th, 2007, in Chungnam Province. RESULTS: As for the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence, the group with the experience rate of 'every day' were 9.5% and 'occasionally' 35.5%, with the total of 45.0%. The higher rates of urinary incontinence were in the elderly women(58.5%) than in the elderly men (29.8%), in the more advanced in age, in the higher educated, and in the groups with higher monthly income. Based on life styles, the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence was significantly higher in smoking groups and non-drinking groups. Based on subjective senses of health, it was more highly associated with the groups who reported that they were not healthy, that they concerned themselves about health, that they had physical disability, that they had forgetfulness, and they needed assistance in terms of activity of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living(IADL) than their respective counterparts. By the result of multiple logistic regression, sex, age, smoking status, anxiety, physical disability, amnesia, and IADL was indicated the affecting factors to the prevalence of urinary incontinence. CONCLUSIONS: The above results reveal that the rate of urinary incontinence was higher in the elderly women than the elderly men, and in more advanced age. Moreover, its rate increases in the groups with undesirable life styles or lower senses of subjective and physical health conditions. It is highly suggested that efforts to manage urinary incontinence of the elderly need to be narrowed to the more advanced, especially those with lower standards of health conditions.

Factors Related to Depressive Symptoms Among the Elderly in Urban and Rural Areas / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the levels of depression symptoms among the community elderlies and to reveal its related factors, specifically aimed at revealing psycho-social factors such as social support net-work, sense of self-esteem, state anxiety, interpersonal behavior trait and locus of control. METHODS: The interviews were performed during the period from April 1st to June 30th, 2007 to the 790 elderlies in urban and rural areas. RESULTS: The mean scores of depression (CES-D) among all subjects were 16.65+/-10.97(urban: 18.81+/-10.31, rural: 14.49+/-11.20) and they were higher in urban than rural. The level of depression symptoms was influenced by the variables of educational level, with or without spouse, bear for living expenses, sense of satisfaction in daily life. As for health related behaviors, they were influenced by the variables of with or without regular exercise. As for health status, they were influenced by the subjective health status, with or without disability of body, visual acuity, hearing ability, ability of food mastication, urinary incontinence, with or without help in activity of daily living (ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living (IADL). As for social support net-work and social activities, they were influenced by number of offspring, frequency of offspring contents, frequency of going out and activity of hobbies. As for psycho-social factors, they were influenced by sense of self-esteem, state anxiety and social support, especially, the level of depression symptoms was higher influenced by the variables of psycho-social factors than other variables. CONCLUSIONS: Lower of the level of depression symptoms among the community elderlies would require development and application of programs to keep under management psycho-social factors as well as looking for ways to promoting the present health status.

Factors Related to Psychosocial Distress and Fatigue Symptoms among Clerical Public Officers / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: We evaluated the level of psychosocial stresses and fatigue symptoms among clerical public officers and its related factors. METHODS: The self-administered questionnaires were performed, during the period between Dec. 5th, 2005 and Jan. 31st, 2006, to 1,005 individuals in the service of general administration located in Daejeon Metropolitan City. The survey items included subjects' socio-demographic and job-related characteristics, health-related behavior, degree of job demand, job autonomy, social support in work, type A behavior pattern, locus of control, sense of self-esteem, psychosocial distress and degree of fatigue. RESULTS: The study results indicated that the level of stress or fatigue is so complicatedly influenced by variable factors as well as job-related characteristics such as socio-demographic characteristics, rank in work, or job career, to a greater extent, by job specifications and personality traits(type A) like whether performing health-related behavior or not, job demand, job autonomy, social support in work, or sense of self-esteem. CONCLUSIONS: Thus the effective strategy for psychosocial distress and fatigue symptoms reduction among governmental employees requires additional programs focusing on innovated job specifications and managed personality trait.

Effects of Quality of Sleep and Related Factors for Fatigue Symptoms of Nurses in an University Hospital / 성인간호학회지

PURPOSE: The present study was intended to measure fatigue symptoms according to the quality of sleep among nurses working for an university hospital and to reveal its related factors. METHODS: The self-administered questionnaires were given to 397 nurses employed in an university hospital located in Daejeon City during the period from June 1st to July 31st, 2007. RESULTS: The group with higher quality of sleep accounted for 78.1% of all the subjects and the one with lower quality, 21.9%. According to qualities of sleep, the fatigue symptom was determined to be significantly higher in the group with lower quality of sleep than its counterpart. On adjustment for quality of sleep, the level of fatigue symptom was significantly higher in the groups, than in each respective counterparts, who don't take regular exercises, who have few leisure time, who have lower level of subjective health status, who range> or = 1 and < 10 years in job careers, who work in shifts, who reported that it is hard to get physical burden of work, who are satisfied with the job, who find themselves unfit to the job, who are considering quitting the job, who have higher job demand, who have lower job control, who have higher level of supervisor support, who have type A behavior pattern. CONCLUSION: The study results may explain that the fatigue symptom of nurses is highly associated with the quality of sleep independently of other variables and also with job-related characteristics independently of the sleep quality. In conclusion, to reduce the fatigue symptom of nurses, strategic efforts should be directed for programs to improve the quality of sleep and a proper job analysis.

Psychosocial Distress and Its Related Factors among Clerical Public Officers / 대한산업의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to determine the levels of psychosocial distress among clerical public officers to reveal the various related factors. METHODS: A self-administered questionnaires was administered between Dec. 5th, 2005 and Jan. 31st, 2006, to 1,005 individuals in the service of general administration located in Daejeon City. The survey items included the subjects'socio-demographic and job-related characteristics, health-related behavior, degree of job demand, job autonomy, social support in work, type A behavior pattern, locus of control, sense of self-esteem, and psychosocial distress. RESULTS: The results showed that 24.8% of subjects were categorized as high risk stress, 64.9% as latent stress, and 10.3% as normal. The level of psychosocial distress was influenced by various sociodemographic characteristics, such as personality traits (type A behavior pattern, locus of control, selfesteem) and whether performing health-related behavior or not, as well as according to job-related characteristics such as rank in work, job career, job specifications, job demand, job autonomy, social support in work. CONCLUSIONS: The effective strategy for stress reduction among governmental employees requires additional programs focusing on innovated job specifications and managed personality traits.

Comparison of Depression and Cognitive Function between Elderly Welfare Recipients and Non-Elderly Welfare Recipients in a Public Health Center / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to provide the fundamental data available in the field of the elderly health of the low-income bracket by researching and comparing related factors for the assessment of the degree of depression and cognitive function between elderly welfare recipients and non-elderly welfare recipients. METHODS: The study subjects, 402 elderly person over 65-year-old in Daejeon were interviewed, during the two-month from May to June 2006, about their general characteristics, depression and cognitive function. RESULTS: elderly welfare recipients was higher than non-elderly welfare recipients in degree of depression on the other hand, in cognitive function is lower. Also, the depression and cognitive function were related with not only socio-demographic characteristics like the age, the degree of education, the presence of spouse or not and the health status but also health behavior characteristics like the sleeping time, the drinking and the exercise. CONCLUSIONS: The project of health promotion and programs that can improve the related factors to the depression and cognitive function for elderly welfare recipients should be developed and practiced.

Relationship between Job Stress Contents, Psychosocial Factors and Mental Health Status among University Hospital Nurses in Korea / 예방의학회지

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.

Influence of alcoholic's insight on their abstinent outcomes for one year after discharge

BACKGROUND: This study was intended to present the importance of insight status concerning the abstinence of alcoholics. METHODS: The 214 subjects, who participated in insight improving programs during hospitalization in an alcohol treatment center, were followed up for their abstinent status during the 12 month period after discharge. The relation between their abstinence results and insight status was investigated. To find out the influence of other factors upon abstinence, stepwise multiple regression was performed over variables including disease severity, sociodemographic, therapeutic and familial features. RESULTS: The 73 individuals (34.1%) had 'no remission', 110 (51.4%) 'early full remission', and 31 (14.5%) 'sustained full remission'. The insight degree was significantly correlated with both 'initial consecutive months of sobriety'(IMS) after discharge and 'total months of sobriety'(TMS) during the follow up. The 153 subjects (71.5%) relapsed within four months after discharge, and the rate of continuous abstinence at each month differed significantly among three insight groups. On the inter group shifts during hospitalization, the abstinent months were greater in the group whose insight changed from 'poor ' to 'good insight' than the one from 'fair ' to 'good insight'. By stepwise multiple regression analysis, the higher insight scores, older age and shorter hospital days, in a decreasing order of association, the longer IMS and TMS, while absence of religion and lower MAST scores was associated only with IMS, with their overall R2 value of 18.5% and 20.8%, respectively. CONCLUSION: The insight degree was related to the length of abstinence and thus it is necessary to develop insight improving programs which can be of help to recovering patients.

Concentration of Urinary Cotinine and Frequency of Sister Chromatid Exchange in Lymphocytes among Male Adolescents / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the internal burden and hazardous effects associated with smoking in middle and high school students. METHODS: We analysed urinary cotinine (U-cotinine) concentrations and the frequency of Sister Chromatid Exchanges (SCE). A comparison was done of U-cotinine concentrations and the frequency of SCE in peripheral lymphocytes across school levels (middle vs. high) and smoking types (direct: daily & occasional smoking, indirect: usual indirect & non-smoking), in 122 males. RESULTS: The middle school student group comprised 6.8% daily smokers, 15.9% occasional smokers, 40.9% daily indirect smokers, and 35.4% nonsmokers, while the high school student group comprised 18.0%, 20.5%,39.7%, and 21.8%, respectively. The U-cotinine concentration and the frequency of SCE among the middle school students were 79.11 microgram/literand 2.0 per cell, respectively, which were significantly lower than the 146.85 microgram/liter (p=0.078) and 2.6 per cell (p=0.005) of the high school students. Among the 40 direct smokers, these two biomarkers were 235.66 microgram/literand 2.59 per cell, significantly higher than the 67.33 microgram/liter (p=0.0001) and2.1 per cell (p=0.003) among indirect smoking groups. The variation in individual U-cotinine concentration ranged widely in both the indirect and direct smoking groups. CONCLUSION: Urinary cotinine concentrations and the frequency of Sister Chromatid Exchange seem to objectively and effectively evaluate student exposure whether it was direct or indirect smoking. Consequently, these biomarkers may be useful in monitoring the objective efficacy of anti-smoking programs in adolescent populations.

Statistical Analysis of Diseases with Discharge Data Set / 대한의료정보학회지

This study was performed to investigate the factors concerning the structures of diseases in Korea. The data were collected from the 11 tertiary referral hospitals and the number of investigated patients were 242.038 and the diagnoses were based on 21 chapters of Korean Standard Classification of Diseases(KCD-3). The results were as fellows: 1. The number of investigated patients were 242,038 Among them male(51.1%) was a little more than female 48.9%). In age distribution, the group of 45-64 was the highest(25.5%) and 30-49year age group was 20.9%. under l4year age group was 20.3%. and above 65years age group was the lowest( 15.3%). 2. In single diagnosis group division by 21 chapters of KCD-3. diseases of the respiratory system were the highest(11.3%) , injury. poisoning and the next were certain other consequences of external causes( l0.39% ) and neoplasms(10.0%) . The low est were diseases of the blood and blood-forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism(0.7%). in single diagnosis group, sex, age. season, region and operation and procedures were statistically significant in the x2-test analysis. 3. In multiple diagnoses group. neoplasms were the highest (17.0%). and the next were pregnancy, chirdbirth and the puerperium(l0.6%) and the diseases of the circulatory systems(9.2%). The lowest was diseases of the blood and blood forming organs and certain disorders involving the immune mechanism(0.6%). In multiple diagnoses group, sex. ace. season, region and operation and procedures were statistically significant iii the x2-test analysis.

Squamous Cell Carcinoma Arising from Mature Cystic Teratoma of the Ovary: A report of three cases

Malignant transformation develops in a little less than 2% of mature cystic teratomas. A wide variety of malignant tumors may arise within benign mature cystic teratomas, and the most common of these is squamous cell carcinoma, which account for 75~85%. In general, the tumors are in an advanced stage and the prognosis is poor as most patients die within a year. However, when the tumor is confined to the ovary, they have a good prognosis and the 5-year survival rate is 63~83%. We experienced three cases of squamous cell carcinoma arising in mature cystic teratoma. Two of the carcinomas occurred in postmenopausal women: 58-(case 1) and 66-(case 2) year-old, and were confined to the ovaries. They were alive 37 months and 18 months after the operation, respectively. The third case was a 45-year-old premenopausal woman who had an extraovarian extension of the tumor and early recurrence within two months. Histologically, cases 1 and 3 were conventional well to moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinomas and case 2 showed a well-differentiated squamous cell carcinoma with exuberant proliferating trichilemmal tumor-like areas.

In Vitro Magnetometric Evaluation for Toxicity to Alverolar Macrophage of Arsenic Compounds / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to evaluate the cytotoxicity of gallium arsenide(GaAs), indium phosphide(InP) and indium arsenide(InAs) all of which are used as the semiconductor eletments in semiconductor industry. METHODS: Cytotoxicity in the alveolar macrophage was evaluated by the measurement of in vitro magnetometry, LDH release assay and histological examination. RESULTS: The relaxation curves by the in vitro magnetometry showed that GaAs has the cytotoxicity for the alveolar macrophage which is more significant in the higher dosages, while this cytotoxicity is not appeared in the groups added with InP or InAs or PBS. In the decay constant for two minutes after magnetization, GaAs-added groups showed a significant decrease with increasing doses, but both InP- and InAs-added groups did not show any significance. The LDH release assay showed a dose-dependent increasing tendency in the GaAs-, InP- and InAs-added groups. In terms of cellular morphological changes, GaAs-added groups revealed such severe cellular damages as prominent destructions in cell membranes and their morphological changes of nucleus, while InP- and InAs-added groups remained intact in intracellular structures, except for cytoplasmic degenerations. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that GaAs is more influential to cytotoxicity of alveolar macrophages than InP and InAs.

Study on the Exposure Levels of Organic Solvents and Subjective Symptoms of Dry-cleaning Workers / 예방의학회지

To investigate the exposure levels of organic solvents and subjective symptoms of dry-cleaning workers, 77 male and 52 female dry-cleaning workers who had been worked in a small city of Chungnam province, and a large city, Taejon were selected for the study group. Air concentrations of organic solvents in the working environment were analyzed, and subjective symptoms of dry-cleaning workers were surveyed, from July to August 1996. The results obtained were as follows: 1. The concentrations of organic solvents in the working environment were within permissible TLV-TWA limits. 2. For the 13 symptom clusters, the most frequently complained symptom clusters were fatigue as 71.3%, and followed by depression and urinary disturbances as 53.5% and 51.9%. Other symptom clusters complained were below 50%. 3. Positive response rates of subjective symptoms were significantly higher in worker groups such as lived in a large city, female, higher education level, more frequently alcohol drinking, higher concentration of organic solvent in working environment, work in alone. 4. Workers who had used solvent B showed 2.3 point higher scores of subjective symptoms than those of solvent A. Of the subjective symptoms scores, amnesia and nervousness were higher in solvent B user group than solvent B user group. 5. As a result of factor analysis, 3 factors such as depression, urinary disturbance and neurologic disturbance were selected. 6. As a result of the logistic regression analysis, sex, the number of fellow workers, working time, region, job tenure, smoking, alcohol drinking, ventilating system, concentration of organic solvent in working environment and place of residence were selected for the related variables For the conclusion, even though the concentrations of organic solvents in the working environments of dry-cleaning workers were within permissible limit of TLV-TWA, many dry-cleaning workers complained symptoms, such as fatigue, depression, urinary disturbances and so on. And the factors affecting to the symptoms of dry-cleaning workers were the number of fellow workers, work hours, region, job tenure, smoking and alcohol drinking.

Characteristics of Traffic Accident for the Primary School Students and Its Affecting Factors / 예방의학회지

For the purpose to analysis the characteristics of traffic accidents(TA) and investigate the relationship between traffic accidents and children attention problem rating scale(CAP) and, family environment scale(FES), this questionnaire survey was conducted to the 16 primary school students in Taejon from July 14 to August 26, 1997. The number of study subjects who had an experience of traffic accidents from July 1, 1996 to June 30, 1997 were 195, and the number of control subjects were 512. The main results were as follows; 1. The traffic accident rates was 0.9% as a whole, but those were 1.4% in boys, 0.7% in girls, 1.3% in low (1st-3rd) grade, and 0.8% in high (4th-6th) grade. 2. The rates of traffic accidents were high in spring, friday, afternoon and a driveway around home. TA occurred during walking with friends most frequently. 3. In CAP the score of inattention was lower in TA group than control group, and hyperactivity was higher in TA group but they didn't showed significantly different. In FES, cohesion score was higher in TA group than control group, but Conflict score and Expressiveness score were in control group, but they didn't showed significantly different. 4. In CAP the odds ratio of inattention score for TA group was 0.84, but that of hyperactivity score was 1.15. In FES, the odds ratio of cohesion score was 1.06, but that of expression score and conflict score was 0.94 and 0.96, respectively. In conclusion, the relationships between TA and CAP, TA and FES in this study were not clear to explain personal characteristics and environmental conditions.

The Correlation of Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Hearing Loss / 대한산업의학회지

To investigate the effects of cardiovascular risk factors on hearing loss, hearing threshold and cardiovascular risk factors such as blood pressure, hematologic values, and serum lipid levels of 3,827 persons who visited the Health Center of a University Hospital in Kumi for health examination from January 1, 1995 to July 31, 1997 were analysed. The results were summarized as follows ; 1. Hearing threshold was shifted highly in both sex groups with age increased. Smoking did not influence increase of hearing loss, but drinking alcohol amount increased hearing threshold when sex was adjusted. The most highly increased hearing threshold showed among farmers group, but next was blue collars group. Hearing threshold increasing basis with BMI increased. 2. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure and hematocrit value increased the hearing threshold in both sex groups, but hemoglobin value did not related to the hearing threshold. 3. Total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, and atherosclerosis index were significantly increased with the grade of hearing lose increased, when age was adjusted. 4. In the logistic regression analysis, the atherosclerosis index, age, and hematocrit value revealed risk factors which contributed in that orders, though the values were small they showed statistical significances, but the risks were lowered when hemoglobin values increased, in both sex groups. Consequently, hyperlipidemia was significantly related to the hearing loss when age was adjusted.