The impact of long working hours on daily sodium intake.

Background: Long working hours are associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, yet the underlying mechanism(s) remain unclear. The study examines how occupational factors like working hours, shift work, and employment status correlate with dietary choices and sodium intake, impacting hypertension risk.

Methods: This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey conducted between 2013 and 2020.

Differences of nutritional intake habits and Dietary Inflammatory Index score between occupational classifications in the Korean working population.

Background: Human nutrient intake is closely related to the conditions of their workplace.

Methods: This study used data from the Korean National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted between 2016 and 2020. The study population comprised individuals aged 19 to 65 years who were engaged in paid work, excluding soldiers (total = 12,201, male = 5,872, female = 6,329).

Association between long working hours and unmet dental needs in wage workers.

Background: Many previous studies on the reasons behind unmet dental needs focus on economic issues. However, in this research, we aimed to investigate the relationship between long working hours and unmet dental needs while considering the influence of occupational factors in wage workers.

Methods: This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2012-2018) and analyzed a sample of 12,104 wage workers.

Long working hours and increased risks of lean non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among Korean men and women.

Despite the increasing prevalence of lean nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), its risk factors are not well established. We examined the association between long working hours and incident NAFLD in lean Korean workers with emphasis on sex-based effect modification. This cohort study involved 46,113 non-overweight (BMI < 23 kg/m) and NAFLD-free Korean workers (mean age, 35.

The effect of first- and third-generation prophylactic antibiotics on hospitalization and medical expenditures for cardiac surgery.

Background: This study investigated the efficacy of first-generation (cefazolin) and third-generation (ceftizoxime) prophylactic antibiotics in patients undergoing cardiac surgery and the incidence of surgical site infections, hospitalizations, and medical costs.

Methods: All adult patients (≥ 20 years) undergoing cardiac surgery at one hospital from January 01, 2009, to December 31, 2016, were included in this study. A single prophylactic antibiotic was administered at a dose of 1 g within one hour of the surgical incision and for three days after surgery at eight-hour intervals.

Pregnancy loss and Income in the Republic of Korea using National Health Insurance Service Data, 2008-2014.

Background: Although unintentional pregnancy loss is common, national representative statistics are lacking in high-income East Asian countries undergoing rapid demographic changes. It is necessary to confirm the income inequality of pregnancy loss even in universal national health insurance.

Method: Using National Health Insurance Service data between 2008 and 2014, the annual prevalence of pregnancy loss was enumerated, and differences in pregnancy loss according to age and income levels were assessed by multivariable Poisson regression.

Parkinson's disease in a worker exposed to insecticides at a greenhouse.

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a rare, neurodegenerative disease with various occupational and environmental risk factors. Exposure to specific pesticides contributes significantly to the incidence of PD. However, it is difficult to measure the level of pesticide exposure in workers.

Socio-demographic factors and lifestyle associated with symptomatic hemorrhoids: Big data analysis using the National Health insurance Service-National Health screening cohort (NHIS-HEALS) database in Korea.

Objective: The prevalence of hemorrhoids has been reported to be 7-14%. However, there have been no large-scale studies. This study aims to investigate the incidence of hemorrhoids in Korea by analyzing big data and to find the associated risk factors.

Clinical effects of slim-diet, with lifestyle modification for childhood obesity in community-based healthcare program: A case series.

Rationale: Although there are several reports on the effect of herbal medicine on weight loss in adults, evidence supporting its efficacy and safety in obese pediatrics is insufficient. Herein, we clinically investigated the preliminary experience of community-based healthcare program in cases of childhood obesity treated with an herbal complex, Slim-diet (SD), along with lifestyle modification.

Patient Concerns: Seventeen subjects with childhood obesity participated in a community-based healthcare program, which consisted of twice-a-week play type physical activity and dietary counseling program with simultaneous twice-a-day administration of SD for 4 weeks.

Descriptive analysis of prevalence and medical expenses of cancer, cardio-cerebrovascular disease, psychiatric disease, and musculoskeletal disease in Korean firefighters.

Background: Firefighters are exposed to many dangerous working conditions. Many studies have identified the risk of disease for firefighters, but only a few studies have addressed the medical expenses of firefighters, which represents a concrete scale of disease. Our purpose in this study was to determine the medical expenditures of firefighters to assess the overall scale of disease in Korea.

The Fourth Industrial Revolution and Its Impact on Occupational Health and Safety, Worker's Compensation and Labor Conditions.

The "fourth industrial revolution" (FIR) is an age of advanced technology based on information and communication. FIR has a more powerful impact on the economy than in the past. However, the prospects for the labor environment are uncertain.

A case of acute organic solvent poisoning during epoxy coating.

Background: In the construction industry, maintaining health and safety of workers often challenging. Among the workers at construction sites, painters are at particular risk of respiratory diseases and neurotoxicity. However, in Korea there is weak enforcement of workers' health and safety practices in the construction industry in Korea.

The relationship between hormone replacement therapy and periodontal disease in postmenopausal women: a cross-sectional study the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2007 to 2012.

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and periodontal disease in postmenopausal women using data from the 4th and 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).

Methods: The study included data from 5,482 postmenopausal women aged 45-74 years in the 2007-2012 KNHANES. The use of female HRT for at least one month was reclassified as HRT+/HRT-.

Risk of olfactory dysfunction of the workers in the automobile repair, printing, shoemaking and plating industries in Korea: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: The present study was performed to investigate the prevalence of olfactory dysfunction in workers exposed to hazardous substances in a variety of occupations in Korea.

Methods: We designed a cross-sectional study. The exposed group (n=296) consisted of Korean workers in the automobile repair, printing, shoemaking and plating industries and was compared with office workers (non-exposed group, n=99).

Correction to: Guidelines for recognition of occupational cancers in Korea: the results of scientific review by Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2013-2016).

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1186/s40557-018-0223-2.].

The standards for recognition of occupational cancers related with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Korea.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are organic compounds containing carbon and hydrogen. PAHs have carcinogenicity in human. Cancers related with PAHs include cancers of lung, skin, bladder, and others.

Guidelines for recognition of occupational cancers in Korea: the results of scientific review by Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (2013-2016).

This thematic collection includes the articles to review eleven occupational cancer related risks or working conditions and to propose the guidelines of S. Korea.

The relationship between night work and breast cancer.

Background: Since the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified shift work that involves circadian disruption as "probably carcinogenic to humans," there has been growing concern on the relationship between night work and breast cancer. In Korea, about 10-15% of workers are engaged in night-shift work, and breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in women. The purpose of this study was to review epidemiologic evidence on the relationship between night work and breast cancer.

Does formaldehyde have a causal association with nasopharyngeal cancer and leukaemia?

Background: The South Korean criteria for occupational diseases were amended in July 2013. These criteria included formaldehyde as a newly defined occupational carcinogen, based on cases of "leukemia or nasopharyngeal cancer caused by formaldehyde exposure". This inclusion was based on the Internal Agency for Research on Cancer classification, which classified formaldehyde as definite human carcinogen for nasopharyngeal cancer in 2004 and leukemia in 2012.

A case of laryngeal cancer induced by exposure to asbestos in a construction site supervisor.

Background: Construction site supervisors are exposed to many chemicals, dusts, and metals including asbestos. Asbestos is a hazardous chemical that is carcinogenic. Laryngeal cancer is not a rare disease in Korea.

Enhanced optical output power of InGaN/GaN light-emitting diodes grown on a silicon (111) substrate with a nanoporous GaN layer.

We report the growth of InGaN/GaN multiple quantum wells blue light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on a silicon (111) substrate with an embedded nanoporous (NP) GaN layer. The NP GaN layer is fabricated by electrochemical etching of n-type GaN on the silicon substrate. The crystalline quality of crack-free GaN grown on the NP GaN layer is remarkably improved and the residual tensile stress is also decreased.

Work-Related Asthma in Korea - Findings from the Korea Work-Related Asthma Surveillance (KOWAS) program, 2004-2009.

Purpose: To determine the incidence and epidemiological characteristics of work-related asthma in Korea.

Methods: During 2004-2009, the Korea Work-Related Asthma Surveillance (KOWAS) program collected data on new cases of work-related asthma from occupational physicians, allergy and chest physicians, regional surveillance systems, and workers' compensation schemes. The incidence was calculated on the basis of industry, occupation, sex, age, and region.