Sustained abnormal liver function is closely associated with chronic hepatitis in Korea with high prevalence of hepatitis B infection. Follow up about AST and ALT on 839 adults(male 727, female 112) was executed with interval of at least 6 months for 2 years to evaluate the factors contribute to the progression of chronic hepatitis. HBsAg, HBsAb, anti-HCV, body mass index(BMI), total cholesterol, fasting blood sugar(FBS), Clonorchis sinensis in stool(Cs), fatty liver on abdominal sonogram and alcohol habit were also checked. We defined abnormal liver function as both of AST 35 U/L and ALT 50 U/L. As the result of first time liver function test(LFT), the frequency of abnormal liver function was 13.6%(114/839). The positive rate of HBsAg and HBsAb was 7.0% and 73.9%, respectively, and the positive rate of anti-HCV and Cs was 0.7% and 1.3%. As the result of the follow up, 6.2%(52/839) in total has a tendency of chronic hepatitis with sustained abnormal LFT. Among abnormal LFT, 45.6%(52/114) was sustained LFT abnormality, and 12.8%(93/725) was aggravated LFT abnormality from normal LFT at the first check. From these results, male and hepatitis B infection were evaluated as important factors for the progression of chronic hepatitis. HBsAb considered that has a protective effect to the progression of chronic hepatitis. Therefore, even though no symptoms or sign, periodic examination for hepatitis B marker and LFT is important to control the chronic hepatitis, especially for male. Furthermore, because only 25%(13/52) of sustained abnormal LFT was HBsAg positive, it suggests that further study for evaluating the factors except hepatitis B infection would be needed for the control of chronic hepatitis.
Cholesterol ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Fasting ; Fatty Liver ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hepatitis B ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis, Chronic* ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Prevalence ; Transaminases*

OBJECTIVES: To assess the association between the occurrence of cerebrovascular disorders and a medication adherence in diabetes mellitus patients. METHODS: Medical records from 1,114 new patients with diabetes mellitus were collected and the occurrence of cerebrovascular disorders was observed. Data was gathered from the health examination records of diabetes mellitus patients registered at the Korean Metabolic Syndrome Research from 1996 to 2005, medication records from the National Health Insurance Corporation and death data from the National Statistics Office from 1997 to 2007. Hazard ratios were analyzed using the Cox proportional hazard model to test the association between the occurrence of cerebrovascular disorders and the level of medication adherence. Medication adherence was calculated using Continuous measure of Medication Acquisition (CMA). RESULTS: Of 1,114 diabetes mellitus patients, cerebrovascular disorders occurred in 67 cases (6.1%). The mean duration for the development of a cerebrovascular disorder was 3.82 yr. Medication adherence (> or =0.8 vs. <0.5: HR, 3.26; 95% CI, 1.47-7.21, > or =0.8 vs. 0.5-0.7 HR, 0.99; 95% CI, 0.33-2.95) was an independent factor associated with the occurrence of cerebrovascular disorders in diabetes mellitus. CONCLUSION: Increased medication adherence is necessary to prevent the occurrence of cerebrovascular disorders in diabetes mellitus patients. Furthermore we propose that CMA be considered as a method for monitoring medication adherence in clinics.
Cerebrovascular Disorders ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Medication Adherence ; National Health Programs ; Proportional Hazards Models

OBJECTIVES: To compare the self-rated health in chronic disease patients with depression, chronic disease patients, and depression patients, and to observe the related factors to the self-rated health of people age 65 and older. METHODS: The subjects were 2,549 elderly people, over 65 years old in Busan Metropolitan City who participated in 2009 community health survey. Association between self-rated health and general characteristics, life style and disease status were observed. Depressive symptoms were measured using the Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Analysis of complex sample was done with SAS (ver. 9.2), using chi2-test and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: Among total 2,549, there were 740 normal people (29.8%), 50 people with depression (1.8%), 1,495 people with other chronic diseases (58.2%), and 264 people with the comobidity of depression and other chronic diseases (10.1%). Good self-related health accounted for 20.3% for the whole, 33.4% for normal, 16.7% for chronic disease, 16.1% for depression, and 3.2% for chronic diseases with depression. Disease, gender, education, income, alcohol drinking, regular exercise and regular walking were independent factors associated with the good self-related health. CONCLUSIONS: It is suggested that when the chronic disease control program for the elderly is developed, depression care should be considered along with the program. This program should be given priority to the women and the vulnerable classes and should also be related to the regular walking.
Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Chronic Disease ; Depression ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Life Style ; Phenothiazines ; Walking

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to suggest a proper method for the detection of heaptitis B surface antibody(anti-HBs) in a screening program for hepatitis B vaccination. METHODS: Sensivitity, specificity and predictive values were compared between Immunochromatographic assay (ICA) and passive hemagglutination(PHA) in 978 subjects(565 males, 413 females, 19-78 years ranging in age, mean 46.5 years old). EIA was used as a standard method for the detection of HBsAb. RESULTS: Sensitivity in the detection of anti-HBs of PHA and ICA was 88.7% and 94.9%, specificity was 94.3% and 96.6%, negative predictive value was 96.5% and 98.0%, and positive predictive value was 82.3% and 91.3%, respectively. False negative rate(11.3%) of PHA was higher than that(5.1%) of ICA. The higher the titer of anti-HBs in EIA was, the lower the false negative rate was. There was no false negative result in the cases with 101mIU/ml or more in EIA. CONCLUSION: We suggest that ICA should be the choice of screening method in the detection of anti-HBs in Hepatitis B vaccination program.
Female ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Immunochromatography ; Korea* ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Vaccination*

Pneumoconiosis is one of the most important occupational disease in Korea. In Pusan, most of pneumoconiosis is welders' pneumoconiosis developed in shipyard. With clinical (including interview with every patients) and radiological (chest radiographs) methods, author purposed to know the factors related to development of pneumoconiosis in shipyard welders and to apply the results to the concept for health care (management) of shipyard welders. The prevalence rate of welders' pneumoconiosis was calculated by the means of reading of chest radiographs of 547 shipyard welders. The prevalence rate of welders' pneumoconiosis (including suspected pneumoconiosis, category 0/1) was 7.9%. It was lower than that (8.9%) in same area studied in 1989. Prevalence rate increased as total welding duration increased and the welding work began early. It was higher in welders who did not use antidust mask. Probability of the occurance of welder's pneumoconiosis was related with the time that the welder began welding work. Sixteen cases among the 37 who were diagnosed as pneumoconiosis returned normal in the follow-up chest radiographs. There was no case aggrevated. The pertinent management for the personnels and their working environment contributed to the decrease of incidence of the welders' pneumoconiosis and the improvement of the disease. To prevent the occurance of the pneumoconiosis in shipyard welders, it seems to be necessary for the company to be supervised under the any legislation and to educate the welder to use the protective apparatus. It is suggested that considerate and continuous observation under the adequate management is preferable to the immediate conversion of the working department for the pneumoconiotic welders.
Busan ; Delivery of Health Care ; Follow-Up Studies ; Incidence ; Korea ; Masks ; Occupational Diseases ; Pneumoconiosis* ; Prevalence ; Radiography, Thoracic ; Welding

OBJECTIVES: To determine the prevalence and related factors of work related musculoskeletal symptoms in hairdressers. METHODS: Informations on general characteristics, job strain, and musculoskeletal symptoms were obtained by a self-administered questionnaire, through adopting NIOSH instrument and JCQ(Job content questionnaire), from 267 hairdressers, between March and May, 2000. RESULTS: The symptom prevalence by NIOSH surveillance criteria in total was high as 94.4%; shoulder (61.0%), neck (59.9%), low back (53.2%), hand and wrist (41.6%), etc. In multiple logistic regression, significant factors affecting the symptoms by body region; job insecurity on neck' gender, alcohol, decision latitude on low back; alcohol on hand and wrist; smoking on thigh and knee,' smoking, decision latitude on ankle and foot; job insecurity on upper back. CONCLUSIONS: Musculoskeletal symptoms of hairdresser were highly prevalent, and associated with job strain and their health habits. This is a basic data of work related musculoskeletal disorders among hairdressers who are not the subjects of occupational health service at the present time in Korea.
Ankle ; Body Regions ; Foot ; Hand ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Neck ; Occupational Health Services ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Shoulder ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Thigh ; Wrist

OBJECTIVES: The objective of the present study was to identify the factors that influence the happiness index of community residents, by considering personal and regional aspects, and to use as evidence of efforts for improvement of the happiness index. METHODS: The study was conducted based on information from 16,270 participants who met the data requirement among those who participated in the 2011 South Gyeongsang Community Health Survey. Of the factors that can influence the happiness index, socioeconomic characteristics, health behavior, morbidity, and healthcare use, social contact, and participation in social activities were classified as personal factors; for regional factors, data from the 2010 census were used to extrapolate the regional deprivation indices at the submunicipal-level (eup, myeon, and dong) in South Gyeongsang Province. The happiness index for each characteristic was compared to that for others via t-test and ANOVA, and multilevel analysis was performed, using four models: a basic model for identification of only random effects, model 1 for identification of personal factors, model 2 for identification of regional factors, and model 3 for simultaneous consideration of both personal and regional factors. RESULTS: The mean happiness index was 63.2 points (64.6 points in males and 62.0 points in females), while the mean deprivation index was -1.58 points. In the multilevel analysis, the regional-level variance ratio of the basic model was 10.8%, confirming interregional differences. At the personal level, higher happiness indices were seen in groups consisting of males with high educational level, high income, high degree of physical activity, sufficient sleep, active social contact, and participation in social activities; whereas lower happiness indices were seen in people who frequently skipped breakfast, had unmet healthcare needs, and had accompanying diseases, as well as those with higher deprivation index. CONCLUSIONS: The study confirmed that the happiness index of community residents was influenced by not only personal aspects but also various regional characteristics. To increase the happiness index, interests at both personal and regional levels, as well as community emphasis on creating social rapport and engaging in selective efforts, are needed in vulnerable regions with relatively high deprivation index.
Breakfast ; Censuses ; Delivery of Health Care ; Happiness* ; Health Behavior ; Health Surveys ; Humans ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Multilevel Analysis*

BACKGROUND: Oral mucositis during radiotherapy which is harmful to the patients with head and neck is suggested to be related to the oral hygiene and health. Therefore, we evaluated the oral health status in relation to the occurrence of mucositis among patients with head and neck cancer during radiotherapy. METHODS: Tooth plaque index (PI), periodontal depth, and oral mucositis in 50 patients with head and neck cancer were examined by a dentist for 8 weeks after radiotherapy initiation. Cancer type and site were recorded based on the patients’ medical records. In addition, we assessed oral health-related quality of life. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 56.3 ± 11.6 years, with patients aged > 60 years comprising the largest proportion of the mucositis group. The median (range) of the PI index were 0 (0–3) and 1 (0–3) among participants with mucositis and those without, respectively, with no significant difference (P = 0.761). The median (range) of the total Oral Health Impact Profile score were 54 (42–58) and 41 (14–70) among participants without mucositis and those with mucositis, respectively (P = 0.037). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that patients who developed mucositis during radiotherapy had lower oral health-related quality of life than those who did not. However, there was no difference in oral health status according to mucositis.
Dentists ; Head and Neck Neoplasms ; Head ; Humans ; Medical Records ; Mucositis ; Neck ; Oral Health ; Oral Hygiene ; Quality of Life ; Radiotherapy ; Stomatitis ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to find an independent relationship between waist circumference/waist-to-hip ratio which estimates abdominal fat and fasting insulin/atherogenic index which is a predictor of coronary heart disease in obese women. METHODS: The subjects were 80 obese (BMI > or = 25 kg/m2) women. Whole body fat was estimated by body fat mass, % body fat using bioelectrical impedence, and by BMI. Abdominal fat was measured by waist circumference (WC) and waist-to-hip ratio. Fasting insulin was examined and atherogenic index was defined asthe ratio of serum total cholesterol to HDL-cholesterol. Independent association between abdominal fat and insulin/AI was analyzed using partial correlation, multiple regression and Hotelling t-test. RESULTS: Among subjects, 85.7% of obese women had WC greater or equal to 80 cm. The mean BMI was 30.3 kg/m2. The partial correlations between whole body fat and insulin/AI were not significantly different from the partial correlations between abdominal fat and insulin/AI. When age and height were adjusted, partial correlations between abdominal fat and insulin were 0.38 and 0.39. The partial correlations were reduced to 0.15-0.29 after further adjusting for whole body fat. Age and height-adjusted partial correlations between abdominal fat and AI were 0.34 and 0.36. The partial correlations were reduced to 0.11-0.17 when whole body fat was additionally adjusted. Whole body fat explained 9.9-13.7% for variability of insulin; abdominal fat explained 14.2% and 15.9%. Whole body fat explained 12.5-12.8% for variability of AI and abdominal fat explained 11.9%. CONCLUSION: Most of the obese women showed abdominal obesity. Abdominal fat did not seem to be independently associated with fasting insulin and atherogenic index.
Abdominal Fat* ; Adipose Tissue ; Cholesterol ; Coronary Disease ; Fasting ; Female* ; Humans ; Insulin* ; Obesity ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

OBJECTIVES: To propose the referential data to evaluate the health impacts of Vietnam veterans' children whose father were exposed to herbicides in Vietnam War. METHODS: Vietnam veterans who visited to Pusan Veteran Hospital for medical care were recruited from April to October, 1998. They were 71 and asked about their own combat history, symptoms and illness, and health status of their 182 children. The informations were collected by direct and phone interview. Exposure estimation was also performed as exposure score depending on year and unit of participation, and personal episodes related to exposure to herbicide in the war. It classified into three groups; lower(<18.0), moderate(18-53), high(> or =53) exposure group. RESULTS: The mean age and the period into the combat of the veterans were 52.8 years and 15.0 months. The mean exposure score was 18.1+/-9.9, and mainly distributed in lower (46.5%) and moderate(52.1%) exposure group. Most(90.1%) of them were diagnosed as sequelae(21 cases) and suspected sequelae(43 cases) of the herbicides by Korean veteran's hospital diagnostic criteria. The major sequelae was peripheral neuropathy 13 cases, chloracne 5 cases, and the major suspected sequelae was hypertension 20 cases, diabetes mellitus 18 cases, liver disease 12 cases, central neuropathy 11 cases, etc. About birth, 42.2% and 16.9% experienced spontaneous abortion and stillbirth, respectively. The mean exposure score was higher in stillbirth experience group(p<0.05). About half of the children(90 cases, 49.5%) hold the abnormal health status: those were skin pigmentation 38 cases, rash 23 cases, congenital anomaly 15 cases, general weakness 12 cases, purpura 8 cases, visual disturbance 8 cases, etc. These health problems had no association with father's exposure level(p>0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These results were depend on their own answers, and expectation for compensation did not excluded, therefore, this study may have limitations: inaccuracy of informations due to recall bias and response bias. Nevertheless, through this study, we could image the fundamental aspect for health impacts of Vietnam veterans' children for preparing the national control program and policy. A large scale epidemiologic study with valid exposure assessment on the health impacts of Vietnam veterans' children is recommneded.
Abortion, Spontaneous ; Bias (Epidemiology) ; Busan* ; Child* ; Chloracne ; Compensation and Redress ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Exanthema ; Fathers ; Female ; Herbicides ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Liver Diseases ; Parturition ; Peripheral Nervous System Diseases ; Pregnancy ; Purpura ; Surveys and Questionnaires* ; Skin Pigmentation ; Stillbirth ; Veterans* ; Vietnam*