This study was conducted to understand health status by general characteristic, and to find out relationship between social support and worker's health status. Health status was measured using SF-36(Medical Outcome Study Short Form 36), a 36 item self administered Instrument. The finding of this study were as follow; Mean scores of health status by sex were higher in male. The younger worker reported good health on physical functioning and role limitation-physical than did the older worker, but the older worker reported good health on social functioning and mental health. Mean scores of health status were higher in high income and white worker. When the relationship between social support and health status, social functioning, role limitation-emotion, mental health, vitality, general health were significantly related. Therefore we reviewed the evidence that socio-economic condition are associated with health status in this study, and that the strength of the social support was a important to maintain health.
Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care)

Aneurysms of the superior mesenteric artery are rare, accounting for 8% of visceral artery aneurysms. About 60% of all superior mesenteric artery aneurysms have a mycotic origin. The only helpful clinical manifestations are episodes of previous abdominal pain and a history of valvular heart disease. In this case, a 66-year-old female patient with mitral regurgitation and aortic regurgitation presented with pain in the upper abdominal area. A superior mesenteric artery aneurysm was diagnosed at the time of impending rupture. Since excellent collateral circulation was present, an aneurysmectomy without revascularization was performed, and no ischemic symptom occurred. The patient presented no major complications during the postoperative course.
Abdominal Pain ; Aged ; Aneurysm ; Aneurysm, Infected* ; Aortic Valve Insufficiency ; Arteries ; Collateral Circulation ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Heart Valve Diseases ; Humans ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior* ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Rupture

The p53 gene is a tumor suppressor gene and mutations in this gene play an import-ant role in the development of many human malignancies. The purpose of this study was to investigate the overexpression of p53 protein as a prognostic factor in invasive cervical cancer. Forty-three formalin fixed, paraffin wax embedded blocks of invasive cervical can-cers were examined using immunohistochemical staining with a monoclonal antibody against p53. The result were as follows : 1. Immunostaining for p53 consistent with overexpression was seen in 23.8%(5 of 21) of stage I cancers and in 13.7%(4 of 22) of stage II cancers. 2. Immunostaining for p53 consistent with overexpression was seen in 21.6%(8 of 37) of squamous cell carciomas and in 0%(0 of 6) of adenocarcinomas. 3. The incidence of p53 overexpression was 25.0%(1 of 4) in cases with lymph node metastasis, compared with 17.9%(7 of 39) in cases without lymph node metastasis. 4.. The incidence of p53 overexpression was 20.0%(8 of 40) in cases with less than 4 cm, compared with 0%(0 of 3) in cases with equal to or larger than 4cm. In conclusion, p53 overexpression was not associated with stage, histologic type, and tumor size. However, there were trend for p53 overexpression to increase in patients with lymph node metastasis.
Adenocarcinoma ; Formaldehyde ; Genes, p53 ; Genes, Tumor Suppressor ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lymph Nodes ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Paraffin ; Staphylococcal Protein A ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms*

A growing body of literature has documented that job stress is associated with the development of cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, the pathophysiological mechanism of this association remains unclear. The purpose of this study is to elucidate the relationship between job stress, heart rate variability, and metabolic syndrome. The study design was cross-sectional, and a total of 169 industrial workers were recruited. A structured-questionnaire was used to assess the general characteristics and job characteristics (work demand, decision latitude). Heart rate variability (HRV) was recorded using SA-2000 (medi-core), and was assessed by time-domain and by frequency-domain analyses. Time domain analysis was performed using SDNN (Standard Deviation of normal to normal interval), and spectral analysis using low-frequency (LF), high-frequency (HF), and total frequency power. Metabolic syndrome was defined on the basis of risk factors being clustered when three or more of the following cardiovascular risk factors were included in the fifth quintile: glucose, systolic blood pressure, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (bottom quintile), triglyceride, and waist-hip ratio. The results showed that job characteristics were not associated with cardiovascular risk factors. Compared to the lower strain group (low strain+passive+active group), the high strain group had a less favorable cardiovascular risk profile with higher levels of blood pressure, glucose, homocysteine, and clotting factor, but the difference was not statistically significant. The SDNN of HRV was significantly lower in the high strain group than in the low strain group. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in the lower strain group and high strain group was 13.2% and 23.8%, respectively. In the high strain group, the metabolic syndrome was significantly related to a decreased SDNN. However, we could not find a significant association in LF/HF ratio. This result suggests that decreased HRV found in the high-strain group are not a direct indicator of disease. However, it can induce cardiovascular abnormalities or dysfunctions related to the onset of heart disease among high risk groups.
Adult ; Aged ; *Heart Rate ; Humans ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*physiopathology ; Middle Aged ; Occupational Diseases/*physiopathology ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Stress, Psychological/*physiopathology

PURPOSE: It is essential to know the functional and morphologic changes of the larynx in the evaluation of laryngeal lesions. Conventional CT which has relatively long examination time is not suitable for this aim. The purposes of this study are to evaluate the capability of spiral CT in the dynamic study of the larynx and to know whether this new technique can replace conventional laryngography or not. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Five healthy volunteers and 20 patients with laryngeal lesions underwent spiral dynamic CT scans with 3-dimensional reconstruction of the mucosal surface. A series of spiral CT scans were done while the volunteers performed various laryngeal positions to obtain the functional and morphologic information. The maneuvers used were:quite breathing, "E" phonation, Valsalva maneuver, modified Valsalva maneuver, and a new method of our own, "modified breath holding" technique. The patients were scanned when in quite breathing. Additioal scans were obtained by using the "modified breath holding" technique. RESULTS: The dynamic study with spiral CT could provide high resolutional images which nicely depicted the mobility of vocal cords and the mucosal changes of the laryngeal cavity in both healthy volunteer and patient groups. In patient group, the new "modified breath holding" technique was easier and more reproducible than other maneuvers. CONCLUSION: Spiral CT allows a dynamic study of the larynx and can be a new alternative of laryngography.
Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Larynx* ; Phonation ; Respiration ; Tomography, Spiral Computed* ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Valsalva Maneuver ; Vocal Cords ; Volunteers

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between serum ferritin and the metabolic syndrome (MS). METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,444 adults over age 40 and under age 70 that lived in a rural area and participated in a survey conducted as part of the Korean Rural Genomic Cohort Study (KRGCS). The MS was defined as the presence of at least three of the followings: elevated blood pressure, low high density lipoprotein cholesterol, elevated serum triglycerides, elevated plasma glucose, or abdominal obesity. After adjustment for age, alcohol intake, menopausal status, body mass index (BMI), high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), odds ratios (ORs) for the prevalence of the MS by sex were calculated for quartiles of serum ferritin using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The MS was more common in those persons with the highest levels of serum ferritin, compared to persons with the lowest levels, in men (37.1% vs. 22.4%, p=0.006) and women (58.8% vs. 34.8, p<0.001). In both sexes, the greater the number of MS components presents, the greater the serum ferritin levels. After adjustment for age, alcohol intake, and menopausal status, the OR for metabolic syndrome, comparing the fourth quartile of ferritin with the first quartile, was 2.21 (95% confidence interval ; CI=1.26-3.87; p-trend=0.024) in men and 2.10 (95% CI=1.40-3.17; p-trend=0.001) in women. However, after further adjustment for BMI, hs-CRP, and ALT, the ORs were statistically attenuated in both sexes. CONCLUSIONS: Moderately elevated serum ferritin levels were not independently associated with the prevalence of the MS after adjusting for other risk factors. Further studies are needed to obtain evidence concerning the association between serum ferritin levels and the MS.
Adult ; Aged ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weights and Measures ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Ferritins/*blood ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology ; Middle Aged ; Risk Factors ; *Rural Health

In order to test scaling assumption, and to assess the validity, reliability, and acceptability of the Short Form 36(SF-36) health survey questionnaire, we conducted a survey. Samples were 296 workers who had been employed in small sized companies. All scale passed for item internal consistency(100% sucess rate) and item discriminant validity(100% success rate). Reliability coefficients were ranged from a low of 0.51 to a high of 0.85. For 87.5% of the total workers, inconsistent responses were not observed. Only 3.0% of the total workers failed two or more checks. Factor analysis was performed using principal axis factor method and quartimax rotation. In this survey, the SF-36 retained available psychometric properties even when used in a generally healthy worker group. But further study with some consideration to develope health status measurement is expected ; first, the definition of health status should be rationalized. Second, the measurement of outcome is an important consideration in evaluations of quality of care. But ambiguities hinder understanding of this important topic. Third, internal consistency should be interpreted with caution as an indication reliability because it ignores potentially important sources of variation that can occur over time.
Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Health Surveys ; Psychometrics ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results*

It may be difficult to establish laboratory information system(LIS) on radioimmunoassay works, which may result in many technical problems on computerization. Recently we have developed integrated information system in the radioimmunoassay works of endocrine laboratory in Kyung Hee Medical center. We have used VAX-6510 with 64 MB main memory and VAX-6210 with 32 MB main memory (DEC; Digital Equipment INC) which are main computers of the hospital. Additional devices were only 4 terminals and 4 printers in the laboratory and the office. This system has measurably changed the allocation of technologists' time and effort, the number of the clerical support staff in the laboratory and the speed and accuracy of laboratory response. And physicians could easily obtain and compare the patients' current and past laboratory results with computerization. In this article we have focused on experience gained in the automation of radioimmunoassay works of endocrine laboratory. The authors suggest that this computerized system of endocrine laboratory could provide a progressive approach to total LIS and it could serve as a model for other hospitals.
Automation ; Clinical Laboratory Information Systems* ; Information Systems ; Memory ; Radioimmunoassay*

In this study the relationship between occupational lead exposure and minor hearing impairment was investigated in a cross-sectional design with 50 lead exposed workers from January to April 1994, The data were collected from the interview with the structured questionnaire which included sociodemographic variables and medical histories especially ear disease and occupational histories. Lead exposure indices which were blood lead, urine lead, zinc protoporphyrin in urine, and delta-aminolevulinic acid in urine were analyzed, Also study subjects were examined pure-tone hearing test. The results were as follows ; 1. There were significant differences in lead indices between lead-exposed workers and non-exposed workers. 2. The duration of lead exposure did not affect the hearing impairment among lead exposed workers. 3. Minor hearing impairment were higher in lead-exposed workers than non-exposed workers, but there were not statisticatly significant. The result from this study indicated that lead exposed workers should be monitored to prevent hearing impairment and would be needed health education.
Aminolevulinic Acid ; Ear Diseases ; Health Education ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing Tests ; Hearing* ; Questionnaires ; Zinc

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and its related characteristics among healthy adults in some Korean rural areas. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the data from 1352 adults who were over the age 40 and under the age 70 and who were free of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular diseases and other diseases and who participated in a survey conducted as part of the Korean Rural Genomic Cohort Study. IFG was defined as a serum fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL. RESULTS: The prevalence of IFG was 20.4% in men, 15.5% in women and 12.7% overall. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent risk factors for IFG were male gender, having a family history of DM, the quartiles of gamma glutamyltransferase and high sensitive C-reactive protein and the waist circumference. The homeostatis model assessment for insulin resistance was very strongly associated with IFG. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and MS components was higher in the subjects with IFG then in those with normal fasting glucose (NFG). CONCLUSIONS: The result of study could supply evidence to find the high risk population and to determine a strategy for treating IFG. Further research is needed to explain the causal relationship and mechanisms of IFG.
Adult ; Aged ; Body Weights and Measures ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Fasting ; Female ; Glucose Intolerance/*epidemiology ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Rural Population ; Sex Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors