PURPOSE: This study is aimed at obtaining the information on the physical fitness level of female flight attendants at a local airline. METHODS: The subjects are 2,409 female flight attendants who have had medical examination and physical fitness tests at an airline medical center from January 2 to December 30, 2008. The independent variables include socio-demographic & behavioral characteristics, and medical examination results, whereas the dependent variable is their physical strength score representing their fitness level. RESULTS: Factors that affect the fitness strength score are age, flight hours per year, and fasting blood sugar level. It is found that physical fitness level is higher when the subjects are over 35, on board for over 850 hours per year and their fasting blood sugar level is over 100 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that for the improvement of flight attendants' health, more exercise to develop cardio-respiratory endurance and muscular strength is needed, and further study needs to be done to develop fitness enhancement programs considering flight attendants' job characteristics, working years, and flight hours per year, and programs for those returning to their workplace after a long-term leave, and new employees.
Blood Glucose ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Physical Fitness

This study was conducted to test the effect of a diabetic camp program on the fasting blood sugar in type 2 diabetic patients. The subjects of the study consisted of 33 diabetic patients who had participated with a diabetic camp program in the YangPung area from August 12 to August 15, 1998. Wilcoxon signed rank test was used for the significance of the differences between values before and after the diabetic camp program. The fasting blood glucose level, before of the closing day at the diabetic camp, was lower than that of the opening day. When comparing the blood glucose levels before meals, between the early and later part of the diabetic camp, fasting blood glucose levels before breakfast by the 4th day in the later part of the diabetic camp were lower than those of the 2nd day in the early part. Blood glucose level before lunch by the 4th day, in the later part of the diabetic camp, were lower than those of the 2nd day in the early part. Blood glucose levels before dinner by the 3rd day, in the later part of the diabetic camp, were lower than those of the 1st day in the early part. Blood glucose levels before sleep by the 3rd day, in the later part of the diabetic camp, were lower than those of the 1st day in the early part.
Blood Glucose* ; Breakfast ; Fasting* ; Humans ; Lunch ; Meals

Serum lipoperoxide level was measured in 103 normal Koreas by TBA method. Concomitantly serum cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood sugar were measured for determinining correlationship to serum lipoperoxide. The mean value of serum lipoperoxide level in normal Koreans was 2.41+/-0.45 nmoles MDA/ml. Age and serum triglyceride level were significantly correlated with serum lipoperoxide level (r=0.51, 0.25, p<0.001, p<0.02), whereas serum cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and fasting blood sugar were not.
Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol ; Fasting ; Korea ; Triglycerides

The authors investigated macular circulation in a group of 27 patients(54 eyes) with diabetes melitus to evaluate the change of macular blood flow according to the grade of retinopathy, the status of glucose control and the duration of diabetes. Blood volume, flow and velocity on macular area were measured by Heidelberg Retinal Flowmeter(HRF, Heidelberg Engineering). Paticents with moderate or severe diabetic retinopathy showed a significant increase in macular blood flow than patients with less degree of diabetic retinopathy(502.45+/-223.58 AU vs, 355.19+/-123.84 AU, p=0.003). Both blood volume and velocity were also significantly increased in the patients with more advanced diabetic retinopathy. Macular blood flow was increased in the patients with higher fasting blood glucose, although the statistical significance was in borderline(473.12+/-238.57 AU vs, 362.14+/-103.22 AU, p=0.066). These results show that macular blood flow increases in the diabetic patients with more advanced diabetic retinopathy, suggesting that the increase in the macular blood flow may play a role in the development of diabetic macular microangiopathy.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Volume ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Retinaldehyde

Blood sugar and blood gas analysis changes caused by a 10 hour fast and a 15 hour fast were studied in sixtythree patients. In the 10 hour fast group, mean blood sugar level was 79.58+/-8.77mg/dl compared with the 15 hour fast group was 77.22+/-14.93 mg/dl. There were no remarkable changes on blood gas analysis for both the 10 hour fast group and 15 hour fast group. Neither age nor sex had any significant influence on blood sugar level or blood gas analysis. Thus, in order to make preoperative recommendations as well as to give appropriate intravenous fluids during and following operation, the anesthesiologist must be acquainted with the physiology of fasting.
Blood Gas Analysis* ; Blood Glucose* ; Fasting* ; Humans ; Physiology

BACKGROUND: Routine renal function tests are not sensitive enough to detect early renal complication of diabetes. To detect the complication as soon as possible, we measured urine N-Acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) and evaluated in comparison with microalbumin and beta2-microglobulin(beta2-MG). METHODS: 87 patients with type II diabetes visited Catholic University Hospital of Taegu Hyosung during the period October 1995 to March 1996. We collected 24 hour urine samples and measured NAG, albumin excretion rate (AER), beta2-MG. urinalysis, BUN, creatinine(Cr) Cr clearance(CrCl), fasting and 2 hour postprandial blood sugar and hemoglobin A1c. RESULTS: The average age of the patients was 53+/-15 years old and their average disease duration was 5.8+/-5.0 years. Abnormal rates of each renal function tests were as follows : NAG/gCr 52.1%, AER 51.7%, CrCl 42.5%, BUN 18.4%, beta2-MG 13.8% and creatinine 6.9% in order. From 36 patients whose AER was within normal limit, 13 of them(36.1%) showed increased level of NAG/gCr. Of 38 patients with increased NAG/gCr results, the 31 patients (81.6%) recorded abnormal results of renal function tests. Among 87 patients studied 60 patients(68.5%) showed increased level of NAG/gCr or AER results. Compared with AER test alone. the combined tests with NAG/gCr increased 16.8% of detection rates of renal complication in type II diabetes. CONCLUSION: Urine NAG/gCr and AER tests were very useful for detecting the early renal complication of type n diabetes. As increase of NAG/gCr suggest the proximal tubule damage, it is necessary to have further evaluation about the proximal tubule damage of renal complication in type II diabetes.
Acetylglucosaminidase* ; Blood Glucose ; Creatinine ; Daegu ; Fasting ; Humans ; Urinalysis

PURPOSE: To evaluate the correlation between the severity of diabetic retinopathy, decrease of corneal sensitivity and conjunctival impression cytology. METHODS: 150 eyes of 75 patients were enrolled. The patients were divided into two groups. The study group is 110 eyes of 55 patients with diabetic retinopathy and the control group is 40 eyes of 20 patients without diabetic retinopathy. The hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and fasting plasma glucose (FPG) were measured for the index of diabetic control. Corneal sensitivity was measured with Cochet-Bonnet aesthesiometer, and conjuctival impression cytology and fundus examination were done in two groups after topical anesthesia instillation. The classification of diabetic retinopathy was based on the ETDRS. RESULTS: In corneal sensitivity, the study group was 3.8 +/- 3.6 g/mm2, the control group 1.1 +/- 2.16 g/mm2, showing statistically significant difference (p<0.05). The severity of diabetic retinopathy had negative correlation with corneal sensitivity (R2=0.26, p<0.05). Conjunctival impression cytology had negative correlation with corneal sensitivity (R2=0.41, p<0.05), and positive correlation with retinopathy (R2=0.26, p<0.05). Corneal sensitivity was affected by the hemoglobin A1C (p<0.01), but fasting plasma glucose (p=0.7). CONCLUSIONS: Conjucntival impression cytology had negaitive correlation with corneal sensitivity and positive correlation with diabetic retinopathy. It can be thought that corneal sensitivity is affected by chronic glycemic control.
Anesthesia ; Blood Glucose ; Classification ; Diabetic Retinopathy* ; Fasting ; Humans

A review has been made of 500 cases of which had been undertaken fundoscopic and slit lamp examination. Senile cataract in diabetics tends to be associated with diabetes of long duration. They were analyzed according to sex, age, duration, fasting blood sugar level, visual acuity and fundus findings. The results are obtained as follows. 1. Incidence of cataract among 500 cases of diabetics is 41%. 2. Prevalence of cataract is significantly associated with duration of diabetes(P<0.005). 3. Prevalence of cataract is significantly associated with age over 40. 4. Prevalence of cataract is significantly correlated with FBS level with duration of diabetes of under 5 years(r=0.8). 5. prevalence of cataract is significantly associated with visual acuity(p<0.005). 6. Diabetic Retinopathy was found in 50% of those with cataract
Blood Glucose ; Cataract* ; Diabetic Retinopathy ; Fasting ; Incidence ; Prevalence ; Visual Acuity

Poorly controlled diabetes is associated with development of various diabetic complications. Large controlled clinical trials have demonstrated that intensive glycemic control can significantly decrease the development and/or progression of microvascular complications of diabetes. Until recently, the goal of treatment in diabetic subjects has been reducing HbA1c level, with a strong emphasis on fasting plasma glucose. Although control of fasting hyperglycemia is necessary, that alone is not sufficient to obtain optimal glycemic control. Recently, a growing body of evidence has suggested that postprandial hyperglycemia has greater impact on diabetes complications than does average blood glucose as measured by HbA1c or fasting plasma glucose. This report briefly reviews the measurement and treatment goal of postprandial glucose.
Blood Glucose ; Diabetes Complications ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Hyperglycemia ; Plasma

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The structural significance of the inappropriateness of left ventricular mass (iLVM) is known to be an important prognostic factor for cardiovascular events; however, the functional changes associated with iLVM have not been established. This study was performed to determine if diastolic dysfunction is associated with iLVM using a tissue Doppler technique. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Three hundred sixty consecutive subjects, including 221 hypertension patients from the echocardiography database, were analyzed. Regarding the appropriateness of left ventricular (LV) mass, an observed/predicted ratio of LV mass (OPR) >130% was defined as inappropriate. Echocardiographic parameters, including early diastolic peak velocity (E)/late diastolic peak velocity (A), deceleration time (DT), isovolumetric relaxation time (IVRT), and E/early mitral annulus velocity (E'), were compared between the appropriate LV mass (aLVM) group and the iLVM group. RESULTS: Among transmitral flow parameters, only the E velocity was negatively correlated with the OPR when adjusted for age (adjusted r=-0.107, p=0.04). Based on multiple regression analysis, the OPR (beta=0.163, p=0.003), as well as age (beta=0.286, p=0.0001), systolic blood pressure (beta=0.120, p=0.019), fasting blood glucose (beta=0.098, p=0.042), and male gender (beta=0.157, p=0.002) were independent factors determining E/E'. The cholesterol level was not an independent factor (beta=-0.059, p=0.355). In the iLVM group (n=105), the adjusted E/E' was higher than in the aLVM group (n=255; 11.7+/-3.4 vs. 10.8+/-3.1, p=0.02), while the peak E flow velocity was significantly lower than in the aLVM group (70.9+/-15.1 vs. 75.5+/-17.6, p=0.03). CONCLUSION: Inappropriateness of LV mass is independently associated with increased E/E'. Thus, E/E' may be a useful parameter for the evaluation of diastolic dysfunction.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Deceleration ; Echocardiography ; Fasting ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertrophy ; Male ; Relaxation