Association between Vitamin D Deficiency and Serologic Response to Hepatitis B Virus Vaccination among Heavy Industry Workers.

Introduction: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) vaccination has decreased the overall incidence of HBV infection; however, approximately 5 to 10% of people are non-responders to the vaccination. This study investigated the factors associated with non-response to HBV vaccination, with an emphasis on vitamin D deficiency (VDD).

Methods: This retrospective observational study focused on adult workers in a single heavy industry.

Association between serum perfluoroalkyl substances concentrations and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among Korean adults: a cross-sectional study using the National Environmental Health Survey cycle 4.

Background: Perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are widely used in industry and daily life due to their useful properties. They have a long half-life, accumulate in the body, and there is evidence that they are associated with biomarkers of lipid metabolism and liver damage. This may suggest non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) caused by PFAS.

The relationship between shift work pattern and thyroid stimulating hormone in female workers.

Background: Shift work is known to cause changes in the circadian rhythm of the human body and adversely affect not only physical health but also mental health. Some studies have demonstrated the correlation between shift work and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH), a hormone that changes according to the diurnal rhythm, but few studies have reported the different TSH levels according to the shift work type. This study aimed to investigate changes in TSH according to the shift work type.

Association between shift work and inflammatory markers in workers at an electronics manufacturing company.

Background: Shift work is known to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD). It has been found that inflammatory reactions are involved in the onset and progression of CVD. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between shift work and inflammatory markers.

Association between coronavirus disease 2019-related workplace interventions and prevalence of depression and anxiety.

Background: Although coronavirus disease 2019 is causing a variety of psychological problems for workers, there are few longitudinal studies on changes in workers' mental health by workplace intervention. This study aimed to evaluate the change in the prevalence of depression and anxiety according to the active involvement of the workplace.

Methods: This study was conducted on 1,978 workers at a workplace who underwent a health screening from January 2019 to August 2020, and classified depression and anxiety disorders using a self-report questionnaire.

Distribution of Lung-RADS categories according to job type in a single shipyard workers.

Background: Recently, lung cancer screenings based on age and smoking history using low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) have begun in Korea. This study aimed to evaluate the distribution of lung imaging reporting and data system (Lung-RADS) categories in shipyard workers exposed to lung carcinogens such as nickel, chromium, and welding fumes according to job type, to provide basic data regarding indications for LDCT in shipyard workers.

Methods: This study included 6,326 workers from a single shipyard, who underwent health examinations with LDCT between January 2010 and December 2018.

Validity of Breast Cancer Symptom Questionnaire and Its Relationship With Breast Ultrasonography in Young Female Night Workers.

Background: This study aimed to identify the validity of breast cancer symptom questionnaire of worker's special health examination and its relationship with breast ultrasonography findings in young female night workers.

Methods: The breast cancer symptom questionnaire data of worker's special health examination and breast ultrasonography results in young female shift workers who worked in one electronic manufacture company were collected from 2014 to 2018.

Results: Of the 857 workers, 18 had a Breast Imaging Reporting and Database System category 4 or higher.

Association between serum vitamin D and depressive symptoms in apparently healthy male adults undergoing routine health check-ups at a single centre.

Objective: To determine the level of vitamin D and to identify the association between vitamin D and depressive symptoms in apparently healthy Korean male adults.

Design: A retrospective study design. Among 43 513 participants between 1 March and 30 November 2018, after eliminating participants with a history of depression or vitamin D deficiency, 9058 were included.

Relationship of shift work with endoscopic gastritis among workers of an electronics company.

Objectives The current study aimed to examine the cross-sectional association between shift work and gastritis using endoscopic evaluation. Methods We collected questionnaire data from 964 non-shift workers and 290 shift workers aged 22-40 years at an electronics company, comprising age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, physical activity, occupational stress, and gastrointestinal symptoms. We performed a gastroendoscopy of participants.

The effect of shift work on high sensitivity C-reactive protein level among female workers.

Background: This study assessed the association between shift work and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), in female workers in electronics manufacturing services (EMS).

Methods: Female EMS workers who received special medical examinations for workers in Gyeongnam, Korea between January 2017 and December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Their age, marital status, education level, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, regular exercise, quality of sleep, work stress, and depression were investigated, and blood tests were conducted.

Comparison of risk-assessment tools for cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) in male shipyard workers: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Periodic revision of assessment tools is essential to ensure risk assessment reliability and validity. Despite the recent revision of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) 2018, there is no evidence showing that the revision is superior to other cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) risk-assessment tools for workplace health management. We conducted a comparative analysis using the Framingham risk score (FRS) as a gold standard to identify the most relevant CVDs risk-assessment tool for workplace health management.

Changes of depression and job stress in workers after merger without downsizing.

Background: Since the 1980s, restructuring, which includes downsizing, closures, mergers, and privatization, has expanded worldwide, and various studies have investigated its effect on health. However, previous studies have mainly focused on restructuring accompanied by massive lay-offs, and the effect of a merger on workers' health is still controversial. This study aims to investigate changes in worker depression and job stress after a merger without downsizing, which is unusual in Korea.

The relationship between serum vitamin D levels and sleep quality in fixed day indoor field workers in the electronics manufacturing industry in Korea.

Background: Although recent studies have investigated the influence of vitamin D on sleep patterns, there is a lack of research on the relationship between vitamin D and sleep patterns in Korean workers. This study focused on the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and sleep in fixed day indoor field workers in the electronics manufacturing industry in Korea.

Methods: The 1472 subjects who were included in this study were selected from fixed day workers in the electronics manufacturing industry who had received a worker's special health examination at a hospital in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province between January 2015 and December 2015.

Erratum to: The relationship between quality of sleep and night shift rotation interval.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40557-015-0084-x.].

Association between serum vitamin D and depressive symptoms among female workers in the manufacturing industry.

Background: Vitamin D has been known to maintain the body's balance of calcium and phosphorus as well as skeletal health. There has been increasing emphasis on the importance of vitamin D as recent studies have been reporting the specific functions of vitamin D in the cerebral nervous system and the association between the level of serum vitamin D and depressive symptoms. However, there is currently a paucity of research investigating the association between serum vitamin D and depressive symptoms in Korean subjects.

The relationship between quality of sleep and night shift rotation interval.

Background: Shift work is closely related with workers' health. In particular, sleep is thought to be affected by shift work. In addition, shift work has been reported to be associated with the type or direction of shift rotation, number of consecutive night shifts, and number of off-duty days.

Macular degeneration in an arc welder.

A male welder who had been working in an industrial machine plant for more than 20 years experienced acute intense pain in his left eye with continuous lacrimation while performing arc welding in 1997. Later in 1997, at the age of 39 yr, macular edema was found in his left eye. He was diagnosed with macular degeneration (MD) of the left eye in 2002, and with right eye MD in 2004.

Occupational hand-arm vibration syndrome in Korea.

Objectives: It is suspected that there is a large number of patients suffering from hand-arm vibration syndrome (HAVS) in Korea. However, no cases have been reported since 1992. This study was conducted to identify HAVS cases and determine the characteristics of the syndrome.