OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relationship of serum uric acid to cardiovascular risk factors in Korean male workers. METHODS: We screened 522 male workers at an electrical manufacturing company by a periodic health examination and a questionnaire survey in 2000. We collected data relating to age, smoking status, alcohol drinking status, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure, serum lipid, fasting blood glucose and serum uric acid. The data were analyzed using a variety of methods, including ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and multivariate regression analyses, to examine the association between uric acid and cardiovascular risk factors with a cross-sectional study design. RESULTS: The concentration of serum uric acid showed positive associations with BMI, total cholesterol, triglyceride, and LDL-cholesterol; it was also significantly correlated to systolic and diastolic blood pressures. Life-style characteristics, such as smoking and alcohol drinking showed no significant association. From the multivariate regression analyses, BMI, total cholesterol and fasting blood glucose levels were found to be independent positive predictors of uric acid; while age, blood pressure and smoking status give no independent contribution explaining the variability of serum uric acid levels. Conclusions : This study demonstrates that serum uric acid level have a significant association with cardiovascular risk factors, such as BMI, total cholesterol and blood glucose in some Korean male workers.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Fasting ; Humans ; Male* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Triglycerides ; Uric Acid*

This study conducted to evaluate the association of work posture with cervical spine abnormality toward 106 microwave-oven assemblers. A self-administered questionnaire was used to obtain a general characteristics and a work history of workers. The posture of neck and shoulder joint of workers were measured with video tape recording and the simple X-ray of cervical spine was checked-up to observe the X-ray abnormality including degenerative change, curvature abnormality, disc space narrowing or disc canal narrowing. The result were as follows. 1. The prevalence of degenerative change among cervicobrachial disorder workers was 44.3%(47 persons), curvature abnormality was 43.4%(46 persons), disc space narrowing was 21.7%(23 persons), and disc canal narrowing was 21.7%(23 persons). 2. The prevalence of degenerative change at cervical spine was increased with the degree of neck flexion(flexed versus neutral; odds ratio (OR)=2.7), the total work posture of neck(mild or severe awkward versus neutral; OR=1.2, 3.4). 3. The prevalence of degenerative change at cervical spine was increased with the degree of the right shoulder flexion, the heaviness of the materials carried by the right hand and the degree of awkwardness at the total work posture of right shoulder(p<0.05). 4. There was no evidence of association between curvature abnormality, disc space narrowing, disc canal narrowing and work posture. In conclusion the awkward work posture was related with degenerative change of cervical spine among microwave oven assembling workers and the further study in these field must be made to prove the association objectively.
Hand ; Microwaves ; Neck ; Odds Ratio ; Posture* ; Prevalence ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Shoulder ; Shoulder Joint ; Spine* ; Videotape Recording

BACKGROUND: Korea Academy of Family Medicine recommands HBsAb and HBsAb test in youth health promotion program. Adequate management are necessary for prevention of vertical transmission at perinatal period, especially girls' high school students as a future's conceivable woman. Health examination program for the first grade students of high school which was established by the Educational Ministry has been acted since 1998. So, through the students health examination we'd like to find an adequate method of prevention and management in hepatitis B. METHODS: Our study examines HBs Ag/Ab about girls' high school students at two high schools in a city. According to the results of hepatitis B, active intervention in carrier group, passive intervention in candidate were done. And then a year later, hepatitis B management was investigated through the questionnaire. RESULTS: In active intervention group, regular check up of hepatitis B is 21.4%, hepatitis B blood test in family is 39.3% and in passive intervention group, hepatitis B vaccination rate after health examiantion is 9.1%. CONCLUSION: More active intervention such as mass vaccination are required in health examination for the purpose of hepatitis B management at youth.
Adolescent ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Hematologic Tests ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea ; Mass Vaccination ; Vaccination ; Surveys and Questionnaires

This study was performed to find the prevalence and the associated risk factors with low back pain(LBP) of the staffs in a university at Kwang-ju city. The data were collected by a questionnaire including SDS(Self-rating depression Scale) battery from September 1st to October 15th, 1996. The results were as follows; 1. The prevalence rate of LBP during lifetime was 73.1%, 53.1% for the last one year, and 23.6% for the last one week. 2. Statistically significant factors related to LBP during lifetime were sex and satisfaction with job. Sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, occupation, work posture, forward bending of trunk and satisfaction with job were selected as significant factors related to LBP during the last one year. The significant determinants related with LBP during the last one week were sex, smoking, alcohol drinking, occupation, forward bending of trunk and satisfaction with job. 3. Through the analysis of self-rating depression scores according to LBP during lifetime were selected to be female(OR=2.63, 95% CI: 1.08~6.40), dissatisfaction with job(OR=2.16, 95% CI: 1.16~4.15), those for the last one year were chosen to be female(OR=2.30, 95% CI: 1.03~5.12), forward bending of trunk(OR=2.18, 95% CI: 1.26~3.79), dissatisfaction with job(OR=1.84, 95% CI: 1.06~3.21), and those for the last one week were female(OR=3.00, 95% CI: 1.17~7.69), forward bending of trunk(OR=2.85, 95% CI: 1.38~5.88). In conclusion, for effective prevention of the LBP at work site, appropriate improvement of work posture and various psychological factors should be considered.
Alcohol Drinking ; Depression ; Gwangju ; Low Back Pain* ; Occupations ; Posture ; Prevalence ; Psychology ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Workplace

No abstract available.
Neuroectodermal Tumor, Melanotic

The majority of the crab louse is found in pubic hairs, but some of them will colonize axillary hairs, eyelashes, eyebrows and occasionally scalp hairs. In children crab louse may colonize the eyelashes and scalp hairs. The authors found a crab louse, Phthirus pubis and their nits on the eyelashes and scalp hiars of 25-months-old female who complained of foreign body and itching sensation of her right upper lid. Treatment is accomplished by careful mechanical removal of the louse and nits followed by the epilation and application of antibiotic eyedrops or ointments. We report a case of Phthiriasis palpebrarum in children.
Child* ; Colon ; Eyebrows ; Eyelashes ; Female ; Foreign Bodies ; Hair ; Hair Removal ; Humans ; Ointments ; Ophthalmic Solutions ; Pediculus ; Phthiraptera ; Phthirus ; Pruritus ; Scalp ; Sensation

BACKGROUND: Bilateral interruption of the upper thoracic sympathetic chain at T2 level represents a selective cure for essential hyperhidrosis. Following the surgical sympathectomy, significant changes in pulmonary function has been observed. Our hypothesis was that thoracic sympathectomy may increase airway resistance during mechanical ventilation and which may be attenuated by the anticholinergics. METHODS: 21 patients with essential hyperhidrosis in ASA physical status class 1 under going thoracoscopic sympathectomy, they were randomizely divided into two groups: glycopyrrolate premedication group (n=13) and non-premedication, control group (n=9). Glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg was administered 30 minutes before the induction of anesthesia. Blood pressure, heart rate, peak airway pressure, plateau pressure were measured at before and immediate after sympathectomy. Respiratory compliance and resistance were calculated. RESULTS: After thoracoscopic sympathectomy, there was significant increase in mean peak airway pressure (15 +/- 3 vs 18 +/- 3 cmH2O, P<0.05) and decrease in respiratory compliance (52 +/- 12 vs 45 +/- 10 ml/cmH2O, P<0.05) compared to baseline. However there was no significant difference between glycopyrolate premedication group and non-premedication group. Conclusion: Thoracoscopic upper dorsal sympathectomy in patients with essential hyperhidrosis causes increase peak airway pressure and decrease the compliance of respiratory system during mechanical ventilation.
Airway Resistance ; Anesthesia ; Blood Pressure ; Cholinergic Antagonists ; Compliance ; Glycopyrrolate ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Hyperhidrosis* ; Premedication ; Respiration, Artificial ; Respiratory System ; Sympathectomy*

BACKGROUND: Most episodes of acute diarrhea are self-limiting. Most patients require neither a stool culture nor antibiotic therapy. This study was designed to investigate the predictors of a stool-culture positivity and indicators for antibiotic therapy in acute infectious diarrheal patients. METHODS: Medical records of 139 adult cases were retrospectively reviewed during the 12 months between January 1999 and December 1999. We used the Chisquare-test to analyze the data for statistical significance. RESULTS: Fecal leukocytes were examined in 104 cases; 30 tested positive (28.8%). Eighty-five stool cultures were taken, and 24 yielded enteric pathogens, such as Salmonella, Shigella, V. Cholera and V. Parahaemolyticus. Cultures from patients treated between August and October, with fever above 37.6degrees C, or with symptoms of abdominal pain had higher yields(44.2% vs 11.9%, p=0.001, correlation coefficient=0.359; 36.8% vs 10.7%, p=0.012, correlation coefficient=0.273;, 38.1% vs 18.6%, p=0.046, correlation coefficient=0.216 ; respectively) and when combined with fecal leukocytes had a sensitivity of 100% and a specificity of 90.1-95.1%. CONCLUSION: The primary variables (season, fever, and abdominal pain) were excellent predictors of stool culture positivity and indicators for antibiotic therapy, especially when combined with fecal leukocytes
Abdominal Pain ; Adult ; Cholera ; Diarrhea* ; Fever ; Humans ; Leukocytes ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Salmonella ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Shigella

BACKGROUND: Hyperhomocysteinemia as a risk factor for cerebrovascular disease is well known. Our aim of this study was to demonstrate positive association between elevated homocysteine levels and cerebrovascular diseases in Koreans. METHODS: With a case-control design, 186 stroke (infarction 134, hemorrhage 52) patients, diagnosed by brain CT or MRI and 359 control patients were evaluated. We used multiple logistic regression analyses conditioned on the matching variables (sex, age, hypertension, DM, smoking, hyperlipidemia, hyperhomocysteinemia) and calculated odds ratio and 95% CIs. RESULTS: Multivariated adjusted odds ratios (OR) for cerebrovascular diseases associated with hypertension compared with normal blood pressure were 2.45 (95% CI, 1.16 to 5.15) in prehypertension and 3.33 (95% CI, 1.56 to 7.10) in stage 1 hypertension and 3.77 (95% CI, 1.32 to 10.74) in stage 2 hypertension. OR for cerebrovascular diseases associated with hyperhomocysteinemia compared with <10micromol/L were 2.06 (95% CI, 1.09 to 3.91) in 13.0 to 16.9micromol/L and 3.17 (95% CI, 1.70 to 5.90) in > or =17 micromol/L. CONCLUSION: Not only hypertension but also hyperhomocysteinemia was a significant risk factor for cerebrovascular diseases in Koreans.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Blood Pressure ; Brain ; Case-Control Studies ; Hemorrhage ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Hyperhomocysteinemia* ; Hyperlipidemias ; Hypertension ; Logistic Models ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Odds Ratio ; Prehypertension ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stroke

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the association between the social support and blood pressure(BP) in a rural community. METHODS: A cross-sectional survey, comprising a health examination including BP, height and weight and a questionnaire-based interview which investigated social support, demographic factors, smoking, drinking, and etc. was performed between February 10th and March 5th, 1998. The survey included 318 persons who were over than 30-year-old in the rural community of Kwangju, Republic of Korea. We excluded persons who taking antihypertensive medications or who provided incomplete information; we subsequently analyzed the data from 284 persons. In order to test the hypothesis of an association between BP and social support controlling confounders such as age, educational level, working time, body mass index, smoking and drinking, the data was analyzed using multiple linear regression analysis. RESULTS: The subjects were composed of 109(38.4%) males and 175(61.6%) females with mean ages of 62.0 years and 61.1 years, respectively. The hypertension prevalence was 41.3% among males and 45.1% among females. In the correlation analysis, higher total social support scores correlated significantly with lower systolic BP in both males and females. The hypertension prevalence increased significantly with the decreasing of the social support in males. In multiple regression analysis, systolic and diastolic blood pressure showed a negative association with social support in both males and females, although this was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Larger and broader studies are required in the future in order to identify the association between the social support and BP.
Adult ; Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Drinking ; Female ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Linear Models ; Male ; Prevalence ; Republic of Korea ; Rural Population ; Smoke ; Smoking