The risk of insomnia by work schedule instability in Korean firefighters.

Background: Firefighters are exposed to shift work, as well as unpredictable emergency calls and traumatic events, which can lead to sleep problems. This study aimed to investigate the risk of insomnia by work schedule instability in Korean firefighters.

Methods: This study used the Insomnia Severity Index to assess the insomnia in firefighters.

Improving Cardiorespiratory and Muscular Function of Korean Firefighters: A Kinect-Based Mixed Reality Device Exercise Intervention Randomized Control Trial.

Objective: This study addresses declining physical fitness among Korean firefighters due to a low exercise participation rate caused by the absence of exercise instructors. The research explores Virtual Mate (VM), a Kinect-based mixed reality device, as a potential solution, but its capacity to replace training instructors in enhancing physical fitness remains uncertain.

Methods: Twenty Korean male firefighters were divided into two groups: the exercise group received an 8-week intervention using VM, while the control group maintained regular physical activity.

Association Between Parental BMI and Offspring's Blood Pressure by Mediation Analysis: A Study Using Data From the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: This study analyzed the relationship between parental body mass index (BMI; BMI_p) and hypertension in their adolescent offspring (HTN_a), focusing on the mediating effect of adolescents' BMI (BMI_a).

Methods: Utilizing data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including participants aged 12-18, we conducted a mediation analysis while controlling for confounding factors such as age, sex, physical activity, dietary habits, household income quartile, and parents' alcohol and smoking habits.

Results: The study included a total of 5731 participants, of whom 3381 and 5455 participants had data on fathers' and mothers' BMI, respectively.

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.

Validating a Korean Version of the Single-Item Burnout Measure for Evaluating Burnout Among Doctors.

Objective: It is essential to measure the effect of burnout on doctors because burnout can affect doctors' mental health as well as the functioning of medical practice. This study aims to validate a Korean version of the single-item burnout measure (SIBM), which was developed to quickly measure the level of burnout among doctors.

Methods: Through an online survey, a self-report questionnaire was administered to 324 public health doctors in Korea.

The Effect of Prior Mental Health on Persistent Physical Symptoms after Exposure to a Chemical Disaster.

A styrene monomer (SM) oil vapor leak occurred at a chemical plant in Seosan, South Korea on 17 May 2019. A bad odor developed, and many residents complained of various symptoms and visited nearby medical institutions. We analyzed the demographic and clinical characteristics of patients treated at local hospitals and clinics for symptoms related to SM exposure, and identified factors affecting symptom persistence in any organ.

Development of the Korean Firefighter Performance Battery: Job-Related Physical Fitness Assessment.

Objective: The Candidate Physical Capability Test (CPAT) has been used in many countries to assess the fitness levels of firefighters, but it requires a special facility with a space of at least 900 square m 2 and expensive equipment. Because it can be difficult to have both money and space at smaller gas stations, we have developed the Korean Firefighter Performance Battery (KFPB).

Methods: To verify the validity and reliability of the developed KFPB, this study consists of three parts, a validation test, reliability test, and evaluation criterion.

Association between sleep quality and type of shift work in Korean firefighters.

Background: Shift work that interferes with normal sleep patterns, is known to be a cause of sleep disturbance and has been studied through various occupational groups. However, it is not known which shift type is better for sleep health.

Methods: This study included 568 firefighters.

Effects of the Omicron variant on perinatal outcomes in full-term neonates.

Background: Research of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) effects on newborns is ongoing. But the research of specific variant's effects is none. This study analyzed the effects of the Omicron variant on the perinatal outcomes of full-term newborns during the Omicron wave period.

Impact of Wildfire Smoke Exposure on Health in Korea.

Purpose: The characteristic topography and climate often affect the occurrence of large-scale wildfires in the Eastern Gangwon-do region of Korea. However, there are no studies on the health effects of these wildfires in Korea. This study aimed to analyze the differences in medical use between a wildfire-affected area and an adjacent non-affected area before and after a wildfire in 2019 in Gangwon-do, Korea.

Differences in salient beliefs associated with voluntary exercise training among South Korean firefighters before and after COVID-19.

Background: Participating in voluntary exercise training is important to meet occupational requirements as well as firefighters' health and safety. The purpose of this study is to identify salient beliefs associated with voluntary exercise training among firefighters in the pandemic era by comparing outcomes with those from a previous elicitation study, which was carried out before the COVID-19 outbreak.

Methods: A total of 57 firefighters are recruited to participate in an elicitation study.

Network-based integrated analysis for toxic effects of high-concentration formaldehyde inhalation exposure through the toxicogenomic approach.

Formaldehyde is a colorless, pungent, highly reactive, and toxic environmental pollutant used in various industries and products. Inhaled formaldehyde is a human and animal carcinogen that causes genotoxicity, such as reactive oxygen species formation and DNA damage. This study aimed to identify the toxic effects of inhaled formaldehyde through an integrated toxicogenomic approach utilizing database information.

Variation in Genotype and DNA Methylation Patterns Based on Alcohol Use and CVD in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Alcohol consumption can increase the risk of chronic diseases, such as myocardial infarction, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension. We aimed to assess the association between genotype, DNA methylation patterns, alcohol consumption, and chronic diseases in Korean population. We analyzed 8840 subjects for genotypes and 446 for DNA methylation among the 9351 subjects from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Process and Outcome Evaluations of Interventions to Promote Voluntary Exercise Training Among South Korean Firefighters.

The main aim of the present study is to evaluate reach, dose, fidelity, and outcomes of the interventions for promoting voluntary exercise training among South Korean firefighters. Four interventions for promoting voluntary exercise training among firefighters (i.e.

Rheumatoid Arthritis in Silica-Exposed Workers.

Few studies have examined rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk and severity in Korean workers exposed to silica. We compared the hospitalization risk of RA between silica-exposed workers and the general Korean population. The study cohort consisted of male workers exposed to silica who had undergone at least one silica-associated special medical examination between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004 ( = 149,948).

Association Between Low Muscle Mass and Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Diagnosed Using Ultrasonography, Magnetic Resonance Imaging Derived Proton Density Fat Fraction, and Comprehensive NAFLD Score in Korea.

Objectives: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is an increasingly prevalent metabolic disease. Muscle is known to influence NAFLD development. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the relationships among low muscle mass, NAFLD, and hepatic fibrosis using various definitions of low muscle mass and NAFLD diagnostic methods, including magnetic resonance imaging-based proton density fat fraction (MRI-PDFF).

Hospital admissions due to endocrine diseases in Korean male firefighters.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between occupational exposure to various hazards and hospital admission due to endocrine diseases in Korean male firefighters.

Methods: From 2000 to 2008, former and current male firefighters registered in the Korean National Emergency Management Agency were investigated based on their hospitalized health insurance admission data for the same period. Admission data for endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases were obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.

Biological monitoring for exposure assessment of volatile organic compounds by Korean firefighters at the fire site.

The VOCs and metabolites in urine for exposed VOCs were evaluated for firefighters who participated in the actual fire fighting to determine whether firefighters were exposed to hazardous chemicals, which is the basic data on cancer risk of firefighters. When the fire extinguishing time is long, the concentration of benzene, PHEMA, and toluene among VOCs and metabolites in the case of fire suppression, rescue, and fire investigation work, which is estimated that the exposure of hazardous substances generated from the fire site at the time of fire suppression was large, significantly increased. In the case where the number of urination is 2 or less, the concentration of TZCA, toluene, and benzene among VOCs and metabolites was significantly increased compared to the number of urinating more than 2 times.

Does Exposure of Lead and Cadmium Affect the Endometriosis?

This study aimed to investigate the effects of blood lead levels (BLLs) and lead and cadmium exposure on endometriosis (EM). The study cohort consisted of female workers who underwent a lead-associated special medical examination between 1 January 2000 and 31 December 2004 ( = 26,542). The standard admission rate (SAR) and admission odds ratio (OR) for EM were calculated using the general population and noise-exposed groups, respectively, for the same period as the reference standards.

Negative Impacts of Prolonged Standing at Work on Musculoskeletal Symptoms and Physical Fatigue: The Fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Purpose: We aimed to investigate variations in the risk of low back pain (LBP), lower extremity muscle pain, and whole body fatigue according to differences in prolonged standing work hours in relation to risk factor exposure and rest frequency.

Materials And Methods: From the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey data collected in 2017, data for 32970 full-time workers who worked for more than 1 year at their present job were analyzed. We classified the workers according to exposure to fatigue or painful postures, carrying heavy objects, performance of repetitive movements that burden the musculoskeletal system, and how often they took a break.

Formaldehyde exposure and leukemia risk: a comprehensive review and network-based toxicogenomic approach.

Formaldehyde is a widely used but highly reactive and toxic chemical. The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies formaldehyde as a Group 1 carcinogen, based on nasopharyngeal cancer and leukemia studies. However, the correlation between formaldehyde exposure and leukemia incidence is a controversial issue.

The Interaction of Inflammatory Markers and Alcohol-Use on Cognitive Function in Korean Male Firefighters.

Objective: Cognitive functions have been shown to become impaired due to alcoholism. Recently, neuroinflammation gained attention for playing a role in the neurotoxic effect of alcohol. However, there is limited data on the relationship between alcohol and cognitive function, based on the mechanism of inflammation.

The longitudinal effect of leisure time physical activity on reduced depressive symptoms: The ARIRANG Study.

Background: Depression is a serious mental condition and physical activity is known to be effective in alleviating it. This study for rural residents of South Korea investigated whether meeting the recommended amount of physical activity during leisure time (LTPA) can reduce the depressive symptoms.

Methods: A prospective study was conducted with 5,178 participants aged 20 years and over, and we analyzed 1,888 participants excluding those diagnosed with depression at baseline and those with insufficient data after an average of 5.