A Healthy Diet Rich in Calcium and Vitamin C Is Inversely Associated with Metabolic Syndrome Risk in Korean Adults from the KNHANES 2013-2017.

The association between metabolic syndrome and eating patterns remains unclear. We hypothesized that Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) scores were related to metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk in adults in a gender-dependent manner. We aimed to examine the hypothesis using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-VI (2013-2017) data with a complex sample survey design.

Cardiovascular age of workers with different employment categories.

Introduction: We compared the cardiovascular age (an indicator of cardiovascular disease risk) in workers with different employment status after adjustment for demographic and socioeconomic factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data collected from 2007 to 2017 for the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Study participants were placed into different employment categories based on employment status and work schedule: regular full-time, regular part-time, temporary full-time, temporary part-time, daily full-time, and daily part-time.

Association of Participation in Health Check-ups with Risk Factors for Cardiovascular Diseases.

Background: We compared the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) among Koreans who did and did not participate in national periodic health check-ups, after adjustment for demographic factors, socioeconomic status, and lifestyle factors.

Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2007 to 2018. Study subjects were classified as participants or non-participants in health check-ups, based on attendance at national periodic health check-ups during the previous two years.

Public Interest in Acne on the Internet: Comparison of Search Information From Google Trends and Naver.

Background: Acne vulgaris is a common skin disease primarily affecting young adults. Given that the internet has become a major source of health information, especially among the young, the internet is a powerful tool of communication and has a significant influence on patients.

Objective: This study aimed to clarify the features of patients' interest in and evaluate the quality of information about acne vulgaris on the internet.

Association of the Healthy Eating Index with Estimated Cardiovascular Age in Adults from the KNHANES 2013-2017.

In this paper, we hypothesized that the gap between estimated cardiovascular age (eCV-age) and chronological age had a gender-wise correlation with the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI). We tested the hypothesis in adults aged 20-64 years old using the KNHANES 2013-2017 data. eCV-age was estimated based on the designated risk factors of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and age-gap was calculated by subtracting the eCV-age from the chronological age in 12,317 adults.

Comparison of the physical and mental health problems of unemployed with employees in South Korea.

This study compared the physical and mental health problems of adults with standard and nonstandard employment with those who were unemployed. We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to compare adult males and females with standard and nonstandard employment with those who were unemployed. Relative to adults with standard employment, higher proportions of unemployed individuals were women, older, had low monthly incomes, and had mental health problems.

Trends in the Intake of Fatty Acids and Their Food Source According to Obese Status Among Korean Adult Population Using KNHANES 2007-2017.

Background: Increasing obesity rates are related to energy intake with carbohydrate and fat ratio. Using Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2017 data, we examined the hypothesis that the fat intake and food sources of dietary fats had changed over the last 10 years according to gender and obesity status in adult population ≥19 years.

Methods: The food intake of each participant was collected by the 24-hour recall method, and nutrient intake including different fatty acids was calculated.

Relationship of Occupational Category With Risk of Physical and Mental Health Problems.

Objectives: We evaluated the physical and mental health problems of waged workers in Korea who had different classes of occupation.

Methods: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2017) to examine 22,788 workers who were waged employees and categorized these workers into 5 occupational classes.

Results: "Unskilled manual workers" were more likely to be older, less educated, have lower monthly income, and work fewer hours per week.

Non-Standard Workers Have Poorer Physical and Mental Health Than Standard Workers.

Objectives: To compare the health status of workers who had non-standard and standard employment in Korea.

Methods: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2007 to 2017) were used to compare the health of workers with standard and non-standard employment.

Results: Workers with non-standard employment (rather than standard employment) were more likely to be women, older, have less education, have lower monthly income, perform manual work, and work fewer hours per week.

Changes of Atmospheric and Blood Concentrations of Lead and Cadmium in the General Population of South Korea from 2008 to 2017.

We measured changes in atmospheric and blood levels of lead and cadmium in the South Korean general population during the past decade. Blood data of 16,873 adults were taken from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2008-2017). Atmospheric data were taken from 66 air quality monitoring sites in 16 different regions in South Korea.

Association of Blood Pressure with Blood Lead and Cadmium Levels in Korean Adolescents: Analysis of Data from the 2010-2016 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: We evaluated the association of blood pressure (BP) with blood levels of cadmium, lead, and cadmium and lead together (cadmium + lead) in a representative sample of adolescents from Korea.

Methods: We used 2010-2016 data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. This cross-sectional study enrolled adolescents aged at 10-18 years-old who completed a health examination survey and had blood measurements of lead and cadmium.

Carbohydrate Intake Exhibited a Positive Association with the Risk of Metabolic Syndrome in Both Semi-Quantitative Food Frequency Questionnaires and 24-Hour Recall in Women.

We compared the usual nutrient intake in both the semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire (SQFFQ) and 24-hour recall methods and determined the association between metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk and nutrient intake calculated by both methods in Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES; 2012-2014) data. Adjusted odds ratios for MetS were calculated according to the intake of macronutrients, measured by the 2 methods in 10,286 adults, while controlling for covariates associated with MetS. Fat and carbohydrate intake (energy percent) calculated by 24-hour recall and SQFFQ was significantly different between the MetS and non-MetS groups, particularly in women.

Environmental exposures to lead, mercury, and cadmium among South Korean teenagers (KNHANES 2010-2013): Body burden and risk factors.

Introduction: Limited information is available on the association of age and sex with blood concentrations of heavy metals in teenagers. In addition, factors such as a shared family environment may have an association. We analyzed data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2010-2013) to determine whether blood levels of heavy metals differ by risk factors such as age, sex, and shared family environment in a representative sample of teenagers.

High carbohydrate diets are positively associated with the risk of metabolic syndrome irrespective to fatty acid composition in women: the KNHANES 2007-2014.

We evaluated that carbohydrates and fatty acids intake modifies the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) and we also determined gender-nutrient interaction in 38,766 adults in KNHANES (2007-2014). Carbohydrate intake was positively associated, and fat intake inversely associated, with the incidence of MetS. The association exhibited a gender interaction with the macronutrient intake; this association was significant in females.

Association of Blood Pressure with Exposure to Lead and Cadmium: Analysis of Data from the 2008-2013 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

We examined the association of blood pressure with blood levels of cadmium, lead, and their combination in a representative sample of adults from South Korea (Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008-2013). This cross-sectional study enrolled subjects who were at least 19 years-old, completed a health examination survey, and had blood measurements of lead and cadmium. We estimated the adjusted mean differences in diastolic and systolic blood pressure associated with doubling of blood lead and cadmium by regression of blood pressure against log-transformed blood metals and their tertiles after covariate adjustment.

Very-low-fat diets may be associated with increased risk of metabolic syndrome in the adult population.

Background & Aims: Although fat intake has often been targeted to decrease the prevalence of metabolic syndrome; however decreasing dietary fat intake has not had this result. We studied the association between fat intake and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in adults using KNHANES 2007-2013 data, a representative sample of the non-institutionalized civilian population.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included 34,003 Korean adults aged ≥19 years.

Self-rated Subjective Health Status Is Strongly Associated with Sociodemographic Factors, Lifestyle, Nutrient Intakes, and Biochemical Indices, but Not Smoking Status: KNHANES 2007-2012.

Despite advertised health warnings regarding the deadly hazards of smoking, many people have not heeded recommendations to quit smoking. We examined factors that affect self-rated subjective health status (SRH) scores among lifestyle, nutrient intake and biochemical parameters, and the association of SRH scores and smoking status in a large Korean adult population. Adjusted odd ratios for SRH were calculated for smoking status, selected biochemical data, and food and nutrient intake obtained using the 24-hr recall method after covariate adjustment in the 2007-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (27,534 men and women aged ≥ 20 yr).

Risk factors for fatigue and stress among Korean police officers.

[Purpose] This study investigated factors that affect the health of police officers by analyzing job stress, psychosocial stress, and fatigue faced by police officers in order to provide basic data for the efficient management of police officers and future comparative research. [Subjects and Methods] Police officers admitted to the National Police Hospital from March to May 2013 were surveyed to investigate their degree of stress. The questionnaire consisted of 4 areas related to patient characteristics: general and demographic characteristics factors, job stress, psychosocial stress, and fatigue.

Blood levels related to the Z-score of bone mineral density in young males and females.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the blood levels related to the bone mineral density by using the dual energy X-ray absorption for females before menopause and males younger than 50 years old. [Subjects and Methods] Between August 1, and September 15, 2013, the Z-score was measured in females before menopause and males younger than 50 years old using a bone mineral density measuring instrument. After the measurement, the subjects were classified into two groups, that is, the below expectations and within expectations groups.

Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms among Korean radiation workers.

The first aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms. The second aim was to study the association between musculoskeletal symptoms and factors in radiation workers from the active lists of clinics and hospitals and then to provide basic data for a systematic and effective resource management of radiation workers' musculoskeletal problems in the future. A questionnaire survey was conducted on radiation workers in clinics, general hospitals, and Dong-A university hospitals around the Korean city Buscan from July 10 to 31, 2011.

Exiting root injury in transforaminal endoscopic discectomy: preoperative image considerations for safety.

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical and radiological risk factors for exiting root injuries during transforaminal endoscopic discectomy.

Methods: We retrospectively examined cohort data from 233 patients who underwent percutaneous endoscopic lumbar discectomy for lumbar disc herniation between January 1st, 2010 and December 31st, 2011. We divided the patients into the two groups: those who presented a postoperative exiting root injury, such as postoperative dysesthesia or motor weakness (Group A, n = 20), and those who did not suffer from a root injury (Group B, n = 213).

Serum cystatin C during 30 postnatal days is dependent on the postconceptional age in neonates.

Background: Cystatin C (CysC) is a promising endogenous marker for renal function. However, the reference serum CysC level is not sufficiently studied in neonates. This study was conducted to investigate the reference level of serum CysC for neonates, including very low birth weight infants according to the postconceptional age (PCA).