Particulate matter concentration effects on attention to environmental issues: a cross-sectional study among residents in Korea's Pohang Industrial Complex.

Background: With modernization, air pollution has become increasingly serious, and its effects on health have been revealed. As a result, public interest in environmental pollution has become critical for regulating air pollution. In our study, we aim to evaluate the impact of air pollution levels on public attention to environmental issues and examine whether awareness of the residential environment's impact on health acts as a mediator in this relationship.

Assessment of phthalate exposure at a fire site in Korean firefighters.

To determine phthalate exposure in 32 firefighters, the concentrations of urinary phthalate metabolites, immediately (exposure day) and three weeks (control day) after fire suppression, were compared. Mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate, mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate, mono-n-butyl phthalate (MBP), mono-n-benzyl phthalate (MBzP), and total phthalates (∑phthalates) levels, and creatinine-adjusted levels of MBP, MBzP, and ∑phthalates were significantly higher on exposure day than on control day. Phthalate concentration was significantly higher in firefighters who performed the fire extinguishing tasks (geometric mean [GM], 149.

The effect of blood cadmium levels on hypertension in male firefighters in a metropolitan city.

Background: This study investigated the effect of dispatch frequency on blood cadmium levels and the effect of blood cadmium levels on hypertension in male firefighters in a metropolitan city.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective longitudinal study of male firefighters who completed the regular health checkups, including a health examination survey and blood cadmium measurements. We followed them for 3 years.

Health effects of sodium hypochlorite: review of published case reports.

Sodium hypochlorite is widely used as the main component of cleaners and has an excellent bleaching and sterilizing effect in living and medical environments. In addition to bleaching, it is used for wastewater treatment and for sterilization in food factories, and also for disinfectants during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study analyzed reports of the health effects of sodium hypochlorite and classified them by toxicity along the exposure pathway.

Related factors for preserving firefighter's pulmonary function.

Background: Firefighters are constantly exposed to harmful substances in the respiratory tract and require management measures. We comprehensively compared factors affecting the lung function of firefighters to identify management measures that can reduce the deterioration of lung function.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in 1,108 male firefighters.

The effect of earplug training on noise protection.

Background: Noise-induced hearing loss is an occupational disease, and workplace noise exposure is a major hazard in Korea. Although hearing protectors effectively reduce a worker's exposure to noise, their success is compromised by the wearer's inability to fit the protectors correctly, and there are no proper training methods for using hearing protectors in small-scale industries. This study aims to evaluate the effect of earplug training on hearing protection using field microphone-in-real-ear (F-MIRE) and prevent noise-induced hearing loss.

Factors that determine the Work Ability Index of street cleaners.

Background: Korea has shown a rapid pace of aging and has become an aged society in a shorter period than Western countries. Therefore, it is important that middle-aged workers maintain their ability to work in the industrial field at the maximum level while maintaining their health. The purpose of this study was to analyze the factors affecting work ability and to use this data to maintain the working ability of middle-aged workers in the future.

Proteomics approach to identify serum biomarkers associated with the progression of diabetes in Korean patients with abdominal obesity.

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disease with a group of metabolic derangements and inflammatory reactants in the serum. Despite the substantial public health implications, markers of diabetes progression with abdominal obesity are still needed to facilitate early detection and treatment. In this study, we performed a proteomic approach to identify differential target proteins underlying diabetes progression in patients with abdominal obesity.

Plasma sphingomyelins increase in pre-diabetic Korean men with abdominal obesity.

Abdominal or visceral obesity is a well-known risk factor for metabolic diseases. However, whether abdominal obesity significantly affects plasma lipid profile during the development of type 2 diabetes has not been fully elucidated. We investigated the differences in plasma lipid concentrations in 63 participants categorized into six groups (middle-aged Korean men); Normal, Pre-diabetes (pre-DM), and Diabetes mellitus (DM) with or without abdominal obesity (AO or lean).

Pneumoconiosis in a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) spray worker: a case report with an occupational hygiene study.

Background: Using analysis of air samples from the workplace, we report on one case of pneumoconiosis in an individual who has been working in a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) spraying process for 28 years.

Case Presentation: The patient was diagnosed with granulomatous lung disease caused by PTFE using computed tomography (CT), lung biopsy and electron microscopy. To assess the qualitative and quantitative exposure to PTFE in workplace, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were performed on air samples from the workplace.

Spatial analysis between particulate matter and emergency room visits for conjunctivitis and keratitis.

Background: The concentration of particulate matter in the air varies depending on the region because it is lightweight and generated from a variety of sources. To assess the relationship between particulate matter and eye disease, this study analyzes the concentration data obtained from spatial analysis of particulate matter and emergency visit data.

Methods: The study included 769 residents of Daegu, Korea who had visited an emergency room for the problem of conjunctivitis or keratitis.

The Association of Workplace Psychosocial Factors and Musculoskeletal Pain Among Korean Emotional Laborers.

Background: Many studies have reported negative psychological or physical effects of emotional labor. Relationship between work-related musculoskeletal disorder and psychosocial factors has been reported. To manage organizational and psychosocial factors of musculoskeletal disorder with work place intervention among emotional laborers, the factors contributing to musculoskeletal pain must be identified and clarified.

Cadmium Exposure Is Associated with Monocyte Count and Monocyte to HDL Ratio, a Marker of Inflammation and Future Cardiovascular Disease in the Male Population.

Cadmium is a heavy metal that humans can be exposed to the in environment and occupation, and its relationship with cardiovascular diseases has been reported. in various reports. Epidemiological studies have also been associated with various inflammatory markers of cardiovascular diseases.

Association of arsenobetaine with beta-cell function assessed by homeostasis model assessment (HOMA) in nondiabetic Koreans: data from the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2008-2009.

Background: Arsenic is known as an endocrine disruptor that people are exposed to through various sources such as drinking water and indigestion of marine products. Although some epidemiological and animal studies have reported a correlation between arsenic exposure and diabetes development, there are limited studies regarding the toxic effects of organic arsenic including arsenobetaine on the human body. Here, we analyzed the association between urine arsenobetaine and the homeostasis model assessment of β-cell function (HOMA-β), which is an index for predicting diabetes development and reflecting the function of pancreatic β-cells.

Relationship between postural instability and subcortical volume loss in Alzheimer's disease.

The relationship between postural instability and subcortical structure in AD has received less attention. The aims of this study were to assess whether there are differences in the ability to control balance between Alzheimer's disease (AD) and controls, and to investigate the association between subcortical gray matter volumes and postural instability in AD.We enrolled 107 consecutive AD patients and 37 controls.

Effectiveness of participatory training for the promotion of work-related health and safety among Korean farmers.

This study was conducted to explore the effectiveness of participatory training for promoting farmer's health and reducing agricultural work-related injuries. Candidates for this study included 595 farmers in 8 rural villages of South Korea. The one-day course participatory training was administered to 217 (36.

Discrepancy between frequency domain optical coherence tomography and intravascular ultrasound in human coronary arteries and in a phantom in vitro coronary model.

Background: This purpose of this study is to evaluate, concomitantly with quantitative coronary angiography (QCA), the potential discrepancy between frequency domain optical coherence tomography (FD-OCT) and intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) measurements in a phantom coronary model and in human coronary arteries within and outside stented segments.

Methods: FD-OCT and IVUS images sequentially obtained from a phantom coronary model and 57 stented human coronary arteries were compared between each other and with QCA.

Results: Lumen area (LA) by IVUS was 10.

Factors related to heart rate variability among firefighters.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with heart rate variability in firefighters working in a metropolitan city in South Korea.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires including Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) as well as surveys collecting socio-demographic characteristics and work-related factors were given to 962 firefighters. After exclusion for missing data, 645 firefighters were included, and analysis of covaiance adjusted for the general risk factors and job characteristics were used to assess the relationship between heart rate variability and associated factors.

Current approach to diagnosis and treatment of delirium after cardiac surgery.

Delirium after cardiac surgery remains a common occurrence that results in significant short- and long-term morbidity and mortality. It continues to be underdiagnosed given its complex presentation and multifactorial etiology; however, its prevalence is increasing given the aging cardiac surgical population. This review highlights the perioperative risk factors, tools to assist in diagnosing delirium, and current pharmacological and nonpharmacological therapy options.

Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory as related factor for post traumatic stress disorder symptoms according to job stress level in experienced firefighters: 5-year study.

Objectives: As first responders to an increasing number of natural and manmade disasters, active-duty firefighters are at increased risk for physical and psychiatric impairment as reflected by high rates of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Because little is known about related factor with PTSD according to job stress level among firefighters, we assessed utility of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) using 5-year medical surveillance.

Methods: Data were analyzed from 185 male firefighters without psychiatric disease history and who at assessments in 2006 and 2011 completed all questionnaires on personal behaviors (including exercise, drinking and smoking habits) and job history (including job duration and department).

Usefulness of combined intravascular ultrasound parameters to predict functional significance of coronary artery stenosis and determinants of mismatch.

Aims: Efficacy of combined intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) parameters in functional significance prediction and discrepancy between IVUS and fractional flow reserve (FFR) have not been well defined. This study therefore aimed to: 1) evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of combined IVUS parameters, namely minimal lumen area (MLA) and percent plaque burden (%PB), in functional significance prediction of coronary artery stenosis; and 2) define factors that affect the relation between FFR value and IVUS parameters.

Methods And Results: At 11 international centres, IVUS and FFR measurements were concurrently performed in 945 major epicardial coronary artery lesions (886 patients).

Characteristics of function-anatomy mismatch in patients with coronary artery disease.

Background And Objectives: Coronary lesions with mismatched functional and anatomical significance are not uncommon. We assessed the accuracy and predictors of mismatch between fractional flow reserve (FFR) and quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) analyses in patients with coronary lesions.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 643 lesions with pre-interventional FFR and QCA measurements were consecutively enrolled and divided into four groups using FFR ≤0.

Long-term outcomes of simple crossover stenting from the left main to the left anterior descending coronary artery.

Background/aims: Although complex bifurcation stenting in patients with non-left main (LM) bifurcation lesions has not yielded better clinical outcomes than simpler procedures, the utility of complex bifurcation stenting to treat LM bifurcation lesions has not yet been adequately explored.

Methods: In the present study, patients who underwent LM-to-left anterior descending (LAD) coronary artery simple crossover stenting to treat significant de novo distal LM or ostial LAD disease, in the absence of angiographically significant ostial left circumflex (LCX) coronary artery disease, were consecutively enrolled. The frequencies of 3-year major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs; cardiac death, myocardial infarction, and target lesion revascularization), were analyzed.

Factors Related to Sleep Disorders among Male Firefighters.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with sleep disorders in male firefighters working in a metropolitan city in South Korea.

Methods: Self-administered questionnaires including the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire, Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form, Psychosocial Well-Being Index-Short Form, Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index, and Beck-Depression Inventory-2 as well as surveys collecting socio-demographic characteristics and work-related factors were given to 730 male firefighters. After exclusion for missing data, 657 male firefighters were included, and logistic regression analysis adjusted for the work-related factors, psychosocial factors, and general risk factors were used to assess the relationship between sleep disorders and associated factors.

Pulmonary function decline in firefighters and non-firefighters in South Korea.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare changes to pulmonary function among firefighters and non-firefighters who were exposed to harmful substances in their work environments.

Methods: Firefighters (n = 322) and non-firefighters (n = 107) in Daegu who received a pulmonary function test in 2008 and 2011 as well as a regular health examination were included. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed to evaluate the pulmonary function of the two groups over the three-year period.