BACKGROUND: Harassment means systemic and repeated unethical acts. Research on workplace harassment have been conducted widely and the NAQ-R has been widely used for the researches. But this tool, however the limitations in revealing differended in sub-factors depending on the culture and in reflecting that unique characteristics of the Koren society. So, The workplace harassment questionnaire for Korean finace and service workers has been developed to assess the level of personal harassment at work. This study aims to develop a tool to assess the level of personal harassment at work and to test its validity and reliability while examining specific characteristics of workplace harassment against finance and service workers in Korea. METHODS: The framework of survey was established based on literature review, focused-group interview for the Korean finance and service workers. To verify its reliability, Cronbach’s alpha coefficient was calculated; and to verify its validity, items and factors of the tool were analyzed. The correlation matrix analysis was examined to verify the tool’s convergent validity and discriminant validity. Structural validity was verified by checking statistical significance in relation to the BDI-K. RESULTS: Cronbach’s alpha coefficient of this survey was 0.93, which indicates a quite high level of reliability. To verify the appropriateness of this survey tool, its construct validity was examined through factor analysis. As a result of the factor analysis, 3 factors were extracted, explaining 56.5 % of the total variance. The loading values and communalities of the 20 items were 0.85 to 0.48 and 0.71 to 0.46. The convergent validity and discriminant validity were analyzed and rate of item discriminant validity was 100 %. Finally, for the concurrent validity, We examined the relationship between the WHI-KFSW and pschosocial stress by examining the correlation with the BDI-K. The results of chi-square test and multiple logistic analysis indicated that the correlation with the BDI-K was satatisctically significant. CONCLUSION: Workplace harassment in actual workplaces were investigated based on interviews, and the statistical analysis contributed to systematizing the types of actual workplace harassment. By statistical method, we developed the questionare, 20 items of 3 categories.
Humans ; Korea ; Methods ; Reproducibility of Results*

Carcinogenicity of asbestos has been well established for decades and it has similar approval standards in most advanced countries based on a number of studies and international meetings. However, Korea has been lagging behind such international standards. In this study, we proposed the approval standards of an occupational cancer due to asbestos through intensive review on the Helsinki Criteria, post-Helsinki studies, job exposure matrix (JEM) based on the analysis of domestic reports and recognized occupational lung cancer cases in Korea. The main contents of proposed approval standards are as follows; (1) In recognizing an asbestos-induced lung cancer, diagnosis of asbestosis should be based on CT. In addition, initial findings of asbestosis on CT should be considered. (2) High Exposure industries and occupations to asbestos should be also taken into account in Korea (3) An expert's determination is warranted in case of a worker who has been concurrently exposed to other carcinogens, even if the asbestos exposure duration is less than 10 years. (4) Determination of a larynx cancer due to asbestos exposure has the same approval standards with an asbestos-induced lung cancer. However, for an ovarian cancer, an expert's judgment is necessary even if asbestosis, pleural plaque or pleural thickening and high concentration asbestos exposure are confirmed. (5) Cigarette smoking status or the extent should not affect determination of an occupational cancer caused by asbestos as smoking and asbestos have a synergistic effect in causing a lung cancer and they are involved in carcinogenesis in a complicated manner.
Asbestos* ; Asbestosis ; Carcinogenesis ; Carcinogens ; Diagnosis ; Judgment ; Korea* ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; Lung Neoplasms ; Occupations ; Ovarian Neoplasms ; Smoke ; Smoking

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has led to a decrease in face-to-face classes worldwide, affecting the mental health of children and their parents. The global pandemic has increased children’s overall use of electronic media. This study analyzed the effect of children’s screen time on problematic behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: A total of 186 parents from Suwon, South Korea, were recruited to participate in an online survey. The mean age of the children was 10.14 years old, and 44.1% were females. The questionnaire included questions on children’s screen time, problematic behaviors, and parental stress. Children’s behavioral problems were evaluated using the Behavior Problem Index, whereas the Parental Stress Scale was used to estimate parental stress. Results: The mean smartphone usage frequency of the children was 5.35 days per week, and the mean smartphone screen time was 3.52 hours per day. Smartphone screen time (Z=4.49, p<0.001) and usage frequency (Z=2.75, p=0.006) were significantly correlated with children’s behavioral problem scores. The indirect effect of parental stress on this relationship was also statistically significant (p=0.049, p=0.045, respectively). Conclusion This study suggests that children’s smartphone screen time has affected problematic behaviors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Furthermore, parental stress is related to the relationship between children’s screen time and problematic behaviors.

Background: Postoperative pain is affected by preoperative depression. If the risk of postoperative pain associated with depression can be predicted preoperatively, anesthesiologists and/or surgeons can better manage it with personalized care. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of Patient Health Questionnaire-2 (PHQ-2) depression screening tool as a predictor of postoperative pain. Methods: A total of 50 patients scheduled for elective laparoscopic cholecystectomy with an American Society of Anesthesiologists grade of 1 or 2 were enrolled. They answered the PHQ-2, which consists of two questions, under the supervision of a researcher on the day before the surgery. The numerical rating scale (NRS) scores were assessed at post-anesthesia care unit (PACU), at 24, and 48 postoperative hours, and the amount of intravenous patient-controlled analgesia (IV-PCA) administered was documented at 24, 48, and 72 postoperative hours. At 72 h, the IV-PCA device was removed and the final dosage was recorded. Results: The NRS score in PACU was not significantly associated with the PHQ-2 score (correlation coefficients: 0.13 [P = 0.367]). However, the use of analgesics after surgery was higher in patients with PHQ-2 score of 3 or more (correlation coefficients: 0.33 [P = 0.018]). Conclusions We observed a correlation between the PHQ-2 score and postoperative pain. Therefore, PHQ-2 could be useful as a screening test for preoperative depression. Particularly, when 3 points were used as the cut-off score, the PHQ-2 score was associated with the dosage of analgesics, and the analgesic demand could be expected to be high with higher PHQ-2 scores.

BACKGROUND: In the present study, the resistance mechanisms against carbapenems and aminoglycosides for 23 strains of multi-drug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii isolated at a university hospital were investigated. METHODS: The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined via broth microdilution or Etest. The genes encoding OXA-type carbapenemases and 16S rRNA methylase were identified using multiplex PCR, and the amplified products were sequenced. Conjugation experiments were conducted, and an epidemiologic study was performed using enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus (ERIC)-PCR. RESULTS: In the isolates, the MICs of the tested aminoglycosides, including arbekacin, were >1024 microg/mL; the MICs of aztreonam, cefepime, ceftazidime, and ciprofloxacin ranged from 64 to 128 microg/mL; and the MICs of carbapenem ranged from 32 to 64 microg/mL, as determined through the broth microdilution test. According to the E-test, the MICs of ampicillin/sulbactam and colistin were 8 and 0.25 to 0.38 microg/mL, respectively. Sequence analysis confirmed that all of the isolates expressed carbapenemases OXA-23 and OXA-66, as well as armA 16S rRNA methylase. In addition, ISAba1 was identified upstream of the gene encoding OXA-23. OXA-23 and armA were not transferred to Escherichia coli J53 cells in the transconjugation experiments. ERIC-PCR molecular fingerprinting produced a single pattern in all cases. CONCLUSION: The co-production of OXA-23 and armA 16S rRNA methylase may be attributed to the multidrug resistance of the A. baumannii isolates in the present study. Stricter surveillance and more rapid detection are necessary to prevent the spread of this type of resistance in the future.
Acinetobacter ; Acinetobacter baumannii ; Aminoglycosides ; Aztreonam ; Carbapenems ; Ceftazidime ; Cephalosporins ; Ciprofloxacin ; Colistin ; Consensus ; Dermatoglyphics ; Dibekacin ; Drug Resistance, Multiple ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Escherichia coli ; Methyltransferases ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUND: This study was designed to investigate the prevalence of the menisci lesions in national park workers and work factors affecting this prevalence. METHODS: The study subjects were 698 workers who worked in 20 Korean national parks in 2014. An orthopedist visited each national park and performed physical examinations. Knee MRI was performed if the McMurray test or Apley test was positive and there was a complaint of pain in knee area. An orthopedist and a radiologist respectively read these images of the menisci using a grading system based on the MRI signals. To calculate the cumulative intensity of trekking of the workers, the mean trail distance, the difficulty of the trail, the tenure at each national parks, and the number of treks per month for each worker from the start of work until the present were investigated. Chi-square tests was performed to see if there were differences in the menisci lesions grade according to the variables. The variables used in the Chi-square test were evaluated using simple logistic regression analysis to get crude odds ratios, and adjusted odds ratios and 95 % confidence intervals were calculated using multivariate logistic regression analysis after establishing three different models according to the adjusted variables. RESULTS: According to the MRI signal grades of menisci, 29 % were grade 0, 11.3 % were grade 1, 46.0 % were grade 2, and 13.7 % were grade 3. The differences in the MRI signal grades of menisci according to age and the intensity of trekking as calculated by the three different methods were statistically significant. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed for three models. In model 1, there was no statistically significant factor affecting the menisci lesions. In model 2, among the factors affecting the menisci lesions, the OR of a high cumulative intensity of trekking was 4.08 (95 % CI 1.00–16.61), and in model 3, the OR of a high cumulative intensity of trekking was 5.84 (95 % CI 1.09–31.26). CONCLUSION: The factor that most affected the menisci lesions among the workers in Korean national park was a high cumulative intensity of trekking.
Knee* ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Odds Ratio ; Parks, Recreational* ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors*

PURPOSE: Previous reports demonstrated that nitric oxide (NO) plays immuno-regulatory role in immune responses including allograft rejection response. However, its possible role in xenograft rejection has not been examined. The purpose of this study is to elucidate possible immunoregulatory role of NO in skin xenograft rejection by determining the expressions of chemokines and cytokines in the presence or absence of iNOS inhibitors. METHODS: C57BL/6J mice were grafted with Lewis rat tail skin. The mice were injected intraperitoneally with potent inhibitor of iNOS, aminoguanidine (AMG, 200 mg/kg). Graft survival was monitored and cytokine and chemokine mRNA expressions were measured by real-time RT-PCR in context with iNOS expression on day 3, 5, 7 and 9. These data were compared with those of control mice (saline injected). RESULTS: Compared with the control mice, the AMG treated mice showed delayed xenograft rejection by approximately 3 days (8.9+/-0.7 days vs 11.7+/-1.2 days). Infiltrations of CD11b+, MOMA-2+ cells and neutrophils were significantly reduced but not CD4+ and CD8+ cells in AMG treated graft. The expression of cytokines such as IL-1beta, IL-2, IL-6, IL-12, IFN-gamma in AMG treated graft significantly decreased (P<0.01) whereas IL- 10, TNF-alpha and TGF-beta1 were not changed or enhanced. Additionally, the expression of CC-chemokines such as RANTES and MIP-1alpha significantly reduced (P<0.01) whereas CXC-chemokines such as IP-10 and MIG did not change. CONCLUSION: These data imply that NO suppression by iNOS inhibitor may prolong rat to mouse skin xenograft survival through a selective inhibition of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines. The possible role of NO in transplant rejection can be, therefore, extended to regulation of cytokine and chemokine expressions.
Allografts ; Animals ; Chemokine CCL3 ; Chemokine CCL5 ; Chemokines ; Cytokines ; Graft Rejection ; Graft Survival ; Heterografts* ; Interleukin-12 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Mice ; Neutrophils ; Nitric Oxide ; Rats ; RNA, Messenger ; Skin* ; Tail ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Transplantation, Heterologous ; Transplants ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

BACKGROUND: Sedation by dexmedetomidine, like natural sleep, often causes bradycardia. We explored the nature of heart rate (HR) changes as they occur during natural sleep versus those occurring during dexmedetomidine sedation. METHODS: The present study included 30 patients who were scheduled to undergo elective surgery with spinal anesthesia. To assess HR and sedation, a pulse oximeter and bispectral index (BIS) monitor were attached to the patient in the ward and the operating room. After measuring HR and BIS at baseline, as the patients slept and once their BIS was below 70, HR and BIS were measured at 5-minute intervals during sleep. Baseline HR and BIS were also recorded before spinal anesthesia measured at 5-minute intervals after dexmedetomidine injection. RESULTS: During natural sleep, HR changes ranged from 2 to 19 beats/min (13.4 ± 4.4 beats/min), while in dexmedetomidine sedation, HR ranged from 9 to 40 beats/min (25.4 ± 8.5 beats/min). Decrease in HR was significantly correlated between natural sleep and dexmedetomidine sedation (R2 = 0.41, P < 0.001). The lowest HR was reached in 66 min during natural sleep (59 beats/min) and in 13 min with dexmedetomidine sedation (55 beats/min). The time to reach minimum HR was significantly different (P < 0.001), but there was no difference in the lowest HR obtained (P = 0.09). CONCLUSIONS: There was a correlation between the change in HR during natural sleep and dexmedetomidine sedation. The bradycardia that occurs when using dexmedetomidine may be a normal physiologic change, that can be monitored rather than corrected.
Anesthesia, Spinal ; Bradycardia ; Dexmedetomidine ; Heart Rate ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypnotics and Sedatives ; Operating Rooms

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The optimal strategy for anticoagulation treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has not been established. We evaluated the efficacy and bleeding risk of warfarin and antiplatelet agents in patients with AF and ESRD. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 256 patients with AF and ESRD and included 158 patients (age, 63.7 ± 12.2 years; male sex, n = 103) with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 1 who were taking warfarin (n = 53) or an antiplatelet agent (n = 105). RESULTS: During the follow-up period (31.0 ± 29.4 months), 10 ischemic events and 29 major bleeding events occurred. The thromboembolic event rate did not significantly differ between the warfarin and antiplatelet groups (1.9% and 8.6%, respectively; p = 0.166). However, the rate of major bleeding events was significantly higher in the warfarin group than it was in the antiplatelet group (32.1% and 11.4%, respectively; p = 0.002). Cox's regression analysis indicated that warfarin was related to an increased risk of major bleeding events (hazard ratio [HR], 3.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60–7.36; p = 0.001). Conversely, warfarin was not related to a decreased risk of thromboembolic events (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.04–2.70; p = 0.306). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with AF and ESRD, warfarin use was associated with an increased risk of bleeding events, compared with antiplatelet agents.
Anticoagulants ; Atrial Fibrillation ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Male ; Medical Records ; Platelet Aggregation Inhibitors ; Retrospective Studies ; Warfarin

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The optimal strategy for anticoagulation treatment in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) has not been established. We evaluated the efficacy and bleeding risk of warfarin and antiplatelet agents in patients with AF and ESRD. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 256 patients with AF and ESRD and included 158 patients (age, 63.7 ± 12.2 years; male sex, n = 103) with a CHA2DS2-VASc score ≥ 1 who were taking warfarin (n = 53) or an antiplatelet agent (n = 105). RESULTS: During the follow-up period (31.0 ± 29.4 months), 10 ischemic events and 29 major bleeding events occurred. The thromboembolic event rate did not significantly differ between the warfarin and antiplatelet groups (1.9% and 8.6%, respectively; p = 0.166). However, the rate of major bleeding events was significantly higher in the warfarin group than it was in the antiplatelet group (32.1% and 11.4%, respectively; p = 0.002). Cox's regression analysis indicated that warfarin was related to an increased risk of major bleeding events (hazard ratio [HR], 3.44; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.60–7.36; p = 0.001). Conversely, warfarin was not related to a decreased risk of thromboembolic events (HR, 0.34; 95% CI, 0.04–2.70; p = 0.306). CONCLUSIONS In patients with AF and ESRD, warfarin use was associated with an increased risk of bleeding events, compared with antiplatelet agents.