Relationship between organophosphate and pyrethroid pesticides and metabolic syndrome in Korean farmers.

Background: The global use of pesticides steadily increased until the early 2010s. Pesticides play a significant role in agriculture in Korea. Metabolic syndrome is more prevalent in rural areas than in urban areas.

Effect of night shift work on the reduction of glomerular filtration rate using data from Korea Medical Institute (2016-2020).

Background: Shift work increases the risk of chronic diseases, including metabolic diseases. However, studies on the relationship between shift work and renal function are limited. The aim of this study was to investigate the association between shift work and a decreased glomerular filtration rate (GFR).

Reliability of the TT-TG Index Versus TT-TG Distance on MRI: Morphometric Analyses in Asian Children and Adolescents.

Background: The tibial tuberosity-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distance measured on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is commonly used to decide the treatment for patellar instability; however, the patient's joint size is not considered in this measurement. The TT-TG index has been proposed as a knee size-adjusted measurement for tibial tuberosity location.

Purpose: To evaluate the reliability of the TT-TG index compared with the TT-TG distance by analyzing variations in measurement according to age and sex in a pediatric Asian population.

Instructor factors associated with medical students' lecture evaluation: a longitudinal analysis.

Purpose: This study identified factors that affect lecture evaluation by analyzing sophomores from Dankook University, examining each cluster's characteristics, and comparing differences among trajectories.

Methods: This study identified factors that affect lecture evaluation by analyzing sophomores from Dankook University, examining each cluster's characteristics, and comparing differences among trajectories.

Results: The lecture evaluation score decreased as the teaching hours per instructor in a year increased by an hour, and the number of instructors per lecture increased by one individual.

Impact of Long Working Hours and Shift Work on Unmet Health Care Need Among Korean Workers.

Background: This study aimed to identify work-related risk factors, including long working hours and night/shift work, for unmet health care need using data of a representative panel of Korean adults.

Methods: Associations between work-related factors and unmet health care need were analyzed using data of 3,440 participants (10,320 observations) from the 2011-2013 Korean Health Panel Study. A generalized estimating equation was used for the analysis of repeated measures.

The relevant factors of work-related fatigue for occupational vibration-exposed employees.

Background: To date, little is known about the effects of factors linked to work-related fatigue on vibration-exposed workers. Thus, the purpose of this study was (1) to assess the effects of vibration exposure time per week and work-related fatigue on workers and (2) to identify factors associated with work-related fatigue caused by long-term exposure to occupational vibration.

Methods: This study used data collected from the 5th Korean Working Conditions Survey.

Maternal working hours and smoking and drinking in adolescent children: based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI and VII.

Background: Adolescent smoking and drinking are influenced by parental supervision. This study aimed to investigate the gap in adolescent smoking and drinking experience rates and age at initiation according to maternal working hours.

Methods: Data from 1,580 adolescents aged 12-18 years and 1,172 working mothers of double-parent or single-mother households were selected from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) VI & VII data.

The expression of substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide is associated with the severity of tendon degeneration in lateral epicondylitis.

Background: In this study, we investigated whether substance P (SP) or calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) expression is associated with tendon degeneration in patients with lateral epicondylitis.

Methods: Twenty-nine patients who underwent surgical treatment for lateral epicondylitis were enrolled in the final analyses. Extensor carpi radialis brevis tendon origins were harvested for histological analysis.

Environmental and Occupation Factors Associated with Vitamin D Deficiency in Korean Adults: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010-2014.

While exposure to sunlight is a well-documented primary source of vitamin D supply, factors leading to vitamin D deficiency vary according to population characteristics. Using nationwide data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), we aimed to investigate a diverse range of potential factors in association with vitamin D deficiency. Overall, 21,208 participants aged ≥20 years were selected from KNHANES conducted between 2010 and 2014.

Convolutional-neural-network-based diagnosis of appendicitis via CT scans in patients with acute abdominal pain presenting in the emergency department.

Acute appendicitis is one of the most common causes of abdominal emergencies. We investigated the feasibility of a neural-network-based diagnosis algorithm of appendicitis by using computed tomography (CT) for patients with acute abdominal pain visiting the emergency room (ER). A neural-network-based diagnostic algorithm of appendicitis was developed and validated using CT data from three institutions who visited the ER with abdominal pain and underwent abdominopelvic CT.

MRI features and texture analysis for the early prediction of therapeutic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy and tumor recurrence of locally advanced rectal cancer.

Objectives: This study aimed to evaluate the efficiency of imaging features and texture analysis (TA) based on baseline rectal MRI for the early prediction of therapeutic response to neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (nCRT) and tumor recurrence in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).

Methods: Consecutive patients with LARC who underwent rectal MRI between January 2014 and December 2015 and surgical resection after completing nCRT were retrospectively enrolled. Imaging features were analyzed, and TA parameters were extracted from the tumor volume of interest (VOI) from baseline rectal MRI.

Effect of night shift work on the control of hypertension and diabetes in workers taking medication.

Background: Night shift work induces physiological and psychological stress by altering sleep and biological rhythms and is associated with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have been conducted on the control of hypertension and diabetes. This study aimed to examine the effect of night shift work on the control rate of hypertension and diabetes.

Association between the return-to-work hierarchy and self-rated health, self-esteem, and self-efficacy.

Purpose: This study aimed to examine whether change of employer and/or job upon return-to-work after work-related injuries and diseases is related to health outcomes; self-rated health, self-esteem, and self-efficacy were used as indicators.

Methods: Data from the Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance in Korea were used. A total of 1,610 workers who had returned to work after work-related injuries and diseases were included.

The Relationship between Free Press and Under-Reporting of Non-Fatal Occupational Injuries with Data from Representative National Indicators, 2015: Focusing on the Lethality Rate of Occupational Injuries among 39 Countries.

The epidemiology of occupational injuries is reported worldwide, but suspicions of under-reporting prevail, probably associated with free press. We examined the association between freedom of the press and lethality rate of occupational injuries based on the most comprehensive International Labour Organization database on labour statistics (ILOSTAT) among 39 countries. The occupational injury indices, national indicators, and information on freedom of the press in 2015 were sourced from ILOSTAT, World Bank open data, World Health Organization and Freedom House.

Dermal and neural toxicity caused by acrylamide exposure in two Korean grouting workers: a case report.

Background: Peripheral neuritis caused by acrylamide is well-known, and many Korean grouting workers are frequently exposed to acrylamide in grouting agents that are injected into cracked concrete. We recently encountered two cases of dermal and neural toxicity in Korean grouting workers with exposure to grouting agents that contained a high concentration of acrylamide.

Case Presentation: The first case involved a 44-year-old man with 8 years of waterproofing experience.

The relationship between spontaneous abortion and female workers in the semiconductor industry.

Background: This study investigated the relationship between job type and the risk for spontaneous abortion to assess the reproductive toxicity of female workers in the semiconductor industry.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to current female workers of two semiconductor manufacturing plants in Korea. We included female workers who became pregnant at least 6 months after the start of their employment with the company.

The relationship between emotional labor status and workplace violence among toll collectors.

Background: This study aimed to identify the emotional labor and workplace violence status among toll collectors by assessing and comparing the same with that in workers in other service occupation. It also aimed to analyze the relationship between emotional labor and workplace violence.

Methods: This study examined emotional labor and workplace violence status in 264 female toll collectors from August 20 to September 4, 2015.

The association between subjective socioeconomic status and health inequity in victims of occupational accidents in Korea.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the health inequity of victims of occupational accidents through the association between socioeconomic status and unmet healthcare need.

Methods: Data from the first and second Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance were used, which included 1,803 participants. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals for the unmet healthcare needs of participants with a lower socioeconomic status and other socioeconomic statuses were investigated using multivariate regression analysis.

Physical Activity and Blood Lead Concentration in Korea: Study Using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2008-2013).

Physical activity normally has a positive influence on health, however it can be detrimental in the presence of air pollution. Lead, a heavy metal with established adverse health effects, is a major air pollutant. We evaluated the correlation between blood lead concentration and physical activity using data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Hospital Qualities Related to Return to Work from Occupational Injury after Controlling for Injury Severity as Well as Occupational Characteristics.

We examined associations between hospital quality in the workers' compensation system and injured patients' return to work after controlling for injury severity, occupational factors, and demographic factors. Return to work data of injured workers were constructed from 2 datasets: 23,392 patients injured in 2009-2011 from the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service and return to work data from Korea Employment Information Services. After de-identifying the data, quality scores were matched for each hospital that cared for injured patients.

The association between low blood lead levels and the prevalence of prehypertension among nonhypertensive adults in Korea.

Objectives: Low-level lead exposure has been associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) and impairment of the cardiovascular system. Prehypertension is not categorized as a disease currently; however, individuals with untreated prehypertension are known to be at increased risk of progression to hypertension and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease. We investigated the association between blood lead levels below the threshold for the harmful effects of lead and the prevalence of prehypertension in Korean adults.

Return-to-work according to impairment type among occupationally injured workers in Korea.

This study examined the association between return-to-work and impairment type. Database of the Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service was used to identify disabled persons; and return-to-work information was obtained from the Korea Employment Information Services database. The study participants were 79,328 persons who received Workers' compensation and who were confirmed as disabled during 2009-2011.

Working hours and cardiovascular disease in Korean workers: a case-control study.

Objectives: Long working hours can negatively impact a worker's health. The objective of this study was to examine the association between working hours and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and compare the degree of risk based on CVD subtypes in Korean workers.

Methods: This study was a case-control study of the patients registered in the Occupational Cardiovascular Diseases Surveillance 2010.

A new disability rating method according to the job using the Korean Academy of Medical Science disability guideline.

The purpose of this study was to develop a disability rating scale according to job classification using the Korean Academy of Medical Society (KAMS) guidelines. All jobs were categorized based on their level of physical activity and professional skills. The KAMS guidelines were used for the impairment rating.

Current situation and issue of Industrial Accident Compensation insurance.

Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI) has a history of about 50 yr, and is the oldest social insurance system in Korea. After more than 20 times of revision improvements in benefits, its contents and claim systems have been upgraded. It became the protector of injured workers and their families, and at the same time became the system which could cope with both financial burden of employers and their responsibilities.