Association between Occupational Noise Exposure and Insomnia among Night-Shift Production Workers: A 4-Year Follow-up Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate whether occupational noise exposure is a risk factor for insomnia among male night-shift production workers.

Methods: This study followed 623 male night-shift production workers at a tire manufacturing factory without insomnia for 4 years. Insomnia was evaluated based on the insomnia severity index at baseline and at 4-year follow-up.

Usual Interstitial Pneumonia Associated With Crystalline Silica Exposure in Pneumoconiosis: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objective: We aimed to identify a relation between the level of silica exposure and the associated increase in the risk of radiologic usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) pattern.

Methods: We selected data of 796 individuals with pneumoconiosis who had undergone a chest computed tomography (CT). We estimated the silica exposure by comparing their occupational history with the data silica dust exposure.

Collective exposure to lead from an approved natural product-derived drug in Korea.

Background: In Asian countries, including Korea, lead poisoning caused by traditional herbal medicines is often observed in the clinic. However, there have been no reports thus far of lead poisoning caused by drugs that were approved by the Korea Food and Drug Administration (KFDA). Here, we describe seven patients who ingested a problematic natural product-derived drug (NPD).

Night shiftwork and prostate-specific antigen level in a tire manufacturing factory.

Background: Recent studies suggest that night shiftwork may increase the risk of prostate cancer and elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level. The purpose of this study was to verify whether rotating night shiftwork affects serum PSA level.

Methods: This study included 3,195 male production workers who work in a large tire manufacturing factory.

Blood lead level and infection in a healthy population: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to investigate whether elevated blood lead level (BLL) is a risk factor for infection. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was performed on 2,625 subjects who visited a university hospital for general health examination. infection was detected using histologic examination with Giemsa staining, and BLLs were measured.

The menstrual cycle associated with insomnia in newly employed nurses performing shift work: a 12-month follow-up study.

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate whether insomnia among newly-employed shift-working nurses is associated with menstrual cycle irregularity.

Methods: We followed 287 nurses employed between 2015 and 2016 for 12 months. An Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) was completed to determine levels of insomnia 6 months after beginning work.

Mercury poisoning in a fisherman working on a pelagic fishing vessel due to excessive tuna consumption.

Objective: To report the case of a fisherman who developed chronic mercury poisoning due to excessive consumption of tuna while working on a pelagic fishing vessel.

Case Report: A 48-year-old male deep-sea fisherman developed paresthesia and pain in both legs while working at sea. He continued working for over 4 months on a pelagic fishing vessel but was eventually unable to function normally as his condition deteriorated.

Insomnia and hearing impairment among occupational noise exposed male workers.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between insomnia and hearing impairment among workers exposed to occupational noise.

Methods: This study included 809 male workers exposed to occupational noise. The participants underwent audiometric testing, and their insomnia was examined based on the Insomnia Severity Index test.

Comparison of anxiety and depression status between office and manufacturing job employees in a large manufacturing company: a cross sectional study.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate whether type of work is associated with anxiety and depression using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Additionally, we investigated the impact of number of working hours on anxiety and depression.

Methods: A total of 1774 workers participated and completed the HADS to determine their levels of anxiety and depression.

Coronary artery atherosclerosis associated with shift work in chemical plant workers by using coronary CT angiography.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate whether shift work is related to elevated risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) by determining the coronary artery calcium (CAC) score and the presence of coronary artery stenosis by using coronary artery CT angiography (CCTA).

Methods: In this study, 110 male workers participated and underwent a CCTA examination for CAC scoring, which represents coronary artery plaque, and were evaluated for luminal stenosis. All of the participants were working in the same chemical plant, of whom 70 worked day shifts and 40 worked rotating shifts.

Serum prostate-specific antigen levels and type of work in tire manufacturing workers.

Objectives: This study measures serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in tire-manufacturing workers, and attempts to find occupational or non-occupational factors that related to their PSA levels.

Methods: A total of 1,958 healthy male workers (1,699 were production workers and 259 were office workers) took PSA measurement for analysis.

Results: After adjusting for age, body mass index, hypertension, regular exercise, alcohol drinking and smoking, which were significantly related to serum PSA levels or known related factors of serum PSA levels, the geometric mean PSA levels were significantly high in the office workers (p = 0.