Educational disparities in labor market participation among middle-aged Koreans with chronic diseases: evidence from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Elderly Employment.

Background: As South Korea experiences rapid population aging, preventing early retirement has become a critical concern. Ill health contributes to early retirement, and educational level moderates this relationship. Although well-studied in Europe, it remains less explored in Northeast Asia, where labor markets and educational attainment differ significantly.

Effects of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy-Based Educational Intervention Addressing Fine Particulate Matter Exposure on the Mental Health of Elementary School Children.

: This study assessed the effectiveness of a cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)-based fine dust education program, grounded in the Health Belief Model (HBM), on elementary students' fine dust knowledge, related behaviors, and mental health (depression, anxiety, stress, sleep quality). : From September to November 2024, 95 students (grades 4-6) living near a coal-fired power plant in midwestern South Korea were assigned to either an intervention group (n = 44) or a control group (n = 51). The intervention group completed a three-session CBT-based education program; the control group received stress management education.

Comparing the Health Impacts of Fixed Night and Rotating Shift Work: An Umbrella Review of Meta-Analyses.

Despite abundant research on the health risks of shift work, studies directly comparing fixed night work and rotating-shift work are relatively rare. This study systematically reviewed and synthesised recent meta-analytic findings to assess how fixed night work and rotating-shift work influence health outcomes. An umbrella review of meta-analyses was conducted, including studies published until December 2024 from PubMed, Embase and Web of Science.

Discrimination Between Mechanical and Functional Ankle Instability, and Copers: A Questionnaire-Based Analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to differentiate subgroups of chronic ankle instability (CAI), including mechanical ankle instability (structural damage), functional ankle instability (FAI: neuromuscular deficits), Copers (individuals who recovered functional stability without recurrent symptoms), and controls (healthy individuals), using a validated questionnaire set (Cumberland ankle instability tool [CAIT], identification of functional ankle instability [IdFAI], ankle instability instrument [AII], foot and ankle ability measurement [FAAM]/Activities of Daily Living, FAAM/Sports). Additionally, we sought to present a standardized scoring system to classify CAI, Copers, and control participants.

Design: Case-control study.

Occupational disease monitoring by the Korea Occupational Disease Surveillance Center: a narrative review.

This review examines the challenges associated with occupational disease surveillance in Korea, particularly emphasizing the limitations of current data sources such as the Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI) statistics and special health examinations. The IACI system undercounts cases due to its emphasis on severe diseases and restrictions on approvals. Special health examinations, although they cover a broad workforce, are constrained by their annual scheduling, which leads to missed acute illnesses and subclinical conditions.

Long-term exposure to air pollution and incident Alzheimer's disease among older adults: evidence from a large-scale retrospective cohort in Korea.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease that predominantly affects older individuals. Although several studies have been conducted on the relationship between air pollution and AD, inconsistencies remain. This study explored the relationship between long-term exposure to air pollution and AD incidence among older adults in Korea using a large-scale retrospective cohort derived from the Korean National Health Information Database (NHID), a nationwide database covering the Korean population that enables temporal tracking of exposure and outcomes over a 10-year follow-up period, unlike cross-sectional studies.

Status of Psychosocial Safety Climate in the Korean Workforce: A Nationwide Survey.

This study investigated status of psychosocial safety climate (PSC) among Korean workers. Data were collected from 5,064 wage earners as part of the 4th wave of the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study. PSC was measured using the validated 4-item PSC questionnaire.

Synergistic Effect of (Thunb.) Decne Fruit and Leaf on RAW 264.7 Osteoclast and MC3T3-E1 Osteoblast Differentiation.

(Thunb.) Decne (SH) is known for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, antioxidant, and anti-osteoporotic properties. This study investigated the composition of SH leaves and fruits and assessed their individual and combined effects in an in vitro osteoporosis model.

Mortality burden attributable to long-term exposure to fine particulate matter among older adults in Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the association between long-term exposure to particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <2.5 μm (PM2.5) and cause-specific mortality among older adults in Korea, providing insights into the evolving public health burden in an aging society.

The Impact of Comorbid Insomnia and Sleep Apnea (COMISA) on Work Ability: Results From Population-Based Panel Data in Korea.

This study aimed to investigate the impact of comorbid insomnia and sleep apnea (COMISA) on work ability (WA) in the Korean workforce using data from a nationwide panel study. Data were derived from the Korean Work, Sleep, and Health Study (KWSHS), conducted from 2022 to 2024. Participants included 10,086 workers aged 19-70 years, with repeated measures collected across three survey waves.

Relationship between long-term PM2.5 exposure and myopia prevalence in adults: analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey-Air Pollution Linked Data, 2020.

Background: PM2.5 (particulate matter less than 2.5 μm) causes various health problems.

Sex-specific effects of prenatal exposure to phthalates and bisphenol A on adverse birth outcomes: Results from The Korean CHildren's ENvironmental health Study (Ko-CHENS).

Objectives: Although previous epidemiological studies have reported the effects of fetal exposure to phthalates and phenols on birth outcomes, evidence is still limited. The objective of this study was to investigate whether prenatal exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals [EDCs; phthalates and bisphenol A (BPA)] is associated with birth outcomes and whether there are sex-specific effects.

Methods: We used data from the Korean CHildren's ENvironmental health Study (Ko-CHENS) cohort.

Association between humidifier disinfectant use duration and lung cancer development in Korea.

Objectives: This study was conducted to assess the association between the duration of humidifier disinfectant use and lung cancer development.

Methods: We analyzed data from 3,605 applicants registered for compensation from the Korean government due to health conditions related to humidifier disinfectant exposure. Among these individuals, 121 were diagnosed with lung cancer at least 4 years after their initial exposure (through December 2021).

Suppressing Metal Dissolution in Multi-Grained Catalysts Through Intragrain Atomic Ordering for Stable Fuel Cells.

Rational design of catalytic nanomaterials is essential for developing high-performance fuel cell catalysts. However, structural degradation and elemental dissolution during operation pose significant challenges to achieving long-term stability. Herein, the development of multi-grained NiPt nanocatalysts featuring an atomically ordered NiPt phase within intragrain is reported.

Corrigendum to "Ambient particulate matter and surrounding greenness in relation to sleep quality among pregnant women: A nationwide cohort study" [Heliyon 10 (5) (March 2024) e26742].

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.

Uniform Molecular Alignment on Ag-Doped Nickel Oxide Films.

This study presents the uniform alignment of liquid crystal (LC) molecules on silver (Ag)-doped nickel oxide (NiO) films. The films were fabricated using a solution brush coating process, with Ag doping concentrations of 0, 10, and 20 wt%. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirmed the successful formation of the films, while atomic force microscopy revealed nano/microgroove anisotropic structures, attributed to brush hair movement during coating.

Paradox of long working hours: how income levels and satisfaction modify health outcomes.

This study investigates how household income levels and satisfaction with income impact the relationship between long working hours and self-rated health (SRH) among Korean workers. We analysed data from the Korean Labour & Income Panel Study spanning 2018 to 2022, including 8,954 to 10,079 wage workers annually. Weekly working hours and SRH were the primary variables, with equivalized household income levels classified into quartiles.

Hydrogel-based microneedles for the delivery of catalase protein.

Transdermal microneedles (MNs) have emerged as a powerful new technique for medicine and drug delivery. MNs are highly bioavailable, biocompatible, and non-invasive drug delivery systems. Catalase is one of the antioxidant enzymes that decomposes hydrogen peroxide to overcome oxidative damage.

Association of weight and dietary habits with high blood mercury levels in Korean adolescents: data from the KoNEHS cycle 4, 2018-2020.

Background: Humans are exposed to mercury primarily in its highly toxic form, methyl mercury, which is known to have adverse effects on various organs and systems. The negative impact of mercury exposure on the growth, development, and mental health of children, from infancy to adolescence, is well-documented. However, there are no internationally standardized safe limits for mercury exposure.

Expression of kiwifruit-derived actinidin in leaves.

Kiwifruit ()-derived actinidin, a cysteine protease, is renowned for its meat-tenderizing and milk-clotting activities. Despite its potential in various biotechnological applications, an efficient expression platform for actinidin production has not yet been developed. Instead, actinidin has traditionally been purified directly from the fruits of various plants.

Characterization of Tick-Borne Encephalitis Virus Isolates from Ticks Collected During 2020 in Selenge, Mongolia.

Tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) causes neurological disease in humans, with varied clinical severity influenced by the viral subtype. TBEV is endemic to Mongolia, where both Siberian and Far-Eastern subtypes are present. is considered the main vector of TBEV in Mongolia; although, the virus has also been detected in species.

Targeting signals required for protein sorting to sub-chloroplast compartments.

Chloroplasts, distinctive subcellular organelles found exclusively in plant species, contain three membranes: the outer, inner, and thylakoid membranes. They also have three soluble compartments: the intermembrane space, stroma, and thylakoid lumen. Accordingly, delicate sorting mechanisms are required to ensure proper protein targeting to these sub-chloroplast compartments.

Microplastic particles in human blood and their association with coagulation markers.

Recent studies have indicated potential health risks associated with microplastics (MPs) exposure, including alterations in blood coagulation homeostasis. This cross-sectional study aimed to quantitatively examine MPs in human blood and assess their association with coagulation markers. We recruited 36 healthy adults, collected whole blood samples, and analyzed MPs using Fourier-transform infrared (µ-FTIR) spectroscopy.