BACKGROUND: Phthalate is a chemical that is commonly used as a plasticizer in processing plastic products and as a solvent in personal care products. Although previous experimental studies have reported that phthalate metabolites are associated with obesity, epidemiological study results have been inconsistent and insufficient. The objective of the present study was to investigate the association between urinary phthalate metabolites and obesity in adult Korean population. METHODS: The present study selected 4,752 Korean adults aged 19 years or older from the 2012–2014 Korean National Environmental Health Survey data. The concentrations of urinary di-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate (DEHP) metabolites—i.e., mono-(2-ethyl-5-hydroxyhexyl) phthalate (MEHHP), mono-(2-ethyl-5-oxohexyl) phthalate (MEOHP) and mono-(2-ethyl-5-carboxypentyl) phthalate—mono-benzyl phthalate (MBzP) and mono-n-butyl phthalate (MnBP) were adjusted using the urinary creatinine. We used logistic regression analysis to investigate the association between urinary phthalate metabolite concentration and body mass index (BMI) with respect to sex and age. RESULTS: Among women, urinary MEHHP and DEHP concentrations were found to have statistically significantly positive associations with obesity (Q4 versus Q1; odds ratio (OR): 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.19–2.49 for MEHHP and OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.04–2.21 for DEHP). Among men, urinary MnBP concentration was found to have statistically significantly negative association with obesity (Q4 versus Q1; OR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.50–0.99). In the analysis stratified by sex and age, women aged ≥ 50 years showed statistically significantly positive associations between the concentrations of urinary DEHP metabolites, DEHP, MBzP, and obesity (Q4 versus Q1; OR: 1.94, 95% CI: 1.28–2.94 for MEHHP, OR: 1.88, 95% CI: 1.21–2.94 for MEOHP, OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.31–3.18 for DEHP, and Q3 versus Q1; OR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.02–2.05 for MBzP). Meanwhile, men aged ≥ 50 years showed no significant associations between urinary phthalate concentrations and obesity. CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, we found differences in the associations between urinary phthalate metabolites and BMI according to sex and age. However, because the present study was cross-sectional in nature, additional support through prospective studies is needed to estimate the causal associations.
Adult ; Body Mass Index ; Creatinine ; Diethylhexyl Phthalate ; Environmental Health ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity ; Odds Ratio ; Plastics ; Prospective Studies

BACKGROUND: Female firefighters are exposed to hazardous environmental (chemical and physical) and working (shift work, psychological, and ergonomic factors) conditions that have reported or are suspected of adverse effects on reproductive health. However, no previous studies have reported on pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium outcomes (PCPOs) in female firefighters. METHODS: The present study compared hospital admissions for PCPOs, based on 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes, among Korean female firefighters with those of the general Korean population. Standardized admission ratios (SARs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The study population included 1,766 female firefighters. Total follow-up duration was 9,659 person-years. Compared to the general female population, the female firefighters' SARs were higher in all admissions for PCPOs (SAR, 1.92; 95% CI: 1.79–2.05); pregnancy and abortive outcomes (SAR, 1.56; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12); other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy (SAR, 2.65; 95% CI: 1.99–3.46); maternal care related to the fetus, amniotic cavity, and possible delivery problems (SAR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.74–2.57); labor and delivery complications (SAR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); delivery (SAR, 1.94; 95% CI: 1.80–2.08); and complications predominantly related to puerperium (SAR, 4.68; 95% CI: 2.02–9.23). CONCLUSION The results of this study showed high SARs in all and specific subcategories of PCPOs in female firefighters.

BACKGROUND: Female firefighters are exposed to hazardous environmental (chemical and physical) and working (shift work, psychological, and ergonomic factors) conditions that have reported or are suspected of adverse effects on reproductive health. However, no previous studies have reported on pregnancy, childbirth, and puerperium outcomes (PCPOs) in female firefighters. METHODS: The present study compared hospital admissions for PCPOs, based on 10th revision of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10) codes, among Korean female firefighters with those of the general Korean population. Standardized admission ratios (SARs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. RESULTS: The study population included 1,766 female firefighters. Total follow-up duration was 9,659 person-years. Compared to the general female population, the female firefighters' SARs were higher in all admissions for PCPOs (SAR, 1.92; 95% CI: 1.79–2.05); pregnancy and abortive outcomes (SAR, 1.56; 95% CI: 1.12–2.12); other maternal disorders predominantly related to pregnancy (SAR, 2.65; 95% CI: 1.99–3.46); maternal care related to the fetus, amniotic cavity, and possible delivery problems (SAR, 2.13; 95% CI: 1.74–2.57); labor and delivery complications (SAR, 1.55; 95% CI: 1.15–2.06); delivery (SAR, 1.94; 95% CI: 1.80–2.08); and complications predominantly related to puerperium (SAR, 4.68; 95% CI: 2.02–9.23). CONCLUSION The results of this study showed high SARs in all and specific subcategories of PCPOs in female firefighters.

Due to the significant methodological problems in the empirical part of the paper and the very selective literature review, the conclusions of the paper are mostly unsupported.

BACKGROUND: Night shift work induces physiological and psychological stress by altering sleep and biological rhythms and is associated with hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases. Few studies have been conducted on the control of hypertension and diabetes. This study aimed to examine the effect of night shift work on the control rate of hypertension and diabetes. METHODS: Subjects comprised workers aged 20–65 years who underwent specific health examination at a single facility in seven different affiliated examination centers from 1 January to 31 December 2016. Workers were categorised into day workers and night shift workers. Demographic and medical history were taken, and physical examination was done. Blood pressure (BP) and fasting glucose were measured. The control rate of each disease was evaluated based on treatment goals presented in the treatment guidelines of the Korean Society of Hypertension and the Korean Diabetes Association (systolic BP < 140 mmHg and diastolic BP < 90 mmHg; fasting glucose ≤ 130 mg/dL). RESULTS: Among 631,418 subjects, 11.2% (70,450) were night shift workers. Of whom 6.1% (4,319) were taking antihypertensive medication and 2.5% (1,775) were taking diabetes medication. Among patients taking antihypertensive medications, the proportion of those whose BP was controlled to suit treatment goals was 81.7% (26,635) of day workers and 77.4% (3,343) of night shift workers, which was significantly different (p < 0.001). Among patients taking diabetes medications, the proportion of those whose blood glucose was controlled to suit treatment goals was 37.4% (4,489) of day workers and 36.5% (647) of night shift workers, but the difference was not significant. The control rates for patients taking antihypertensive medications (odds ratio [OR]: 0.74, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.68–0.80) were lower among night shift workers than day workers with adjustment for age, sex, smoking history, alcohol consumption, exercise, and obesity. However, there were no differences in control rates for patients taking diabetes medications (OR: 0.99, 95% CI: 0.87–1.10) between day workers and night shift workers. CONCLUSIONS: Night shift work can have an effect on the uncontrolled BP in workers taking antihypertensive medications. Therefore, additional efforts for disease control are necessary for night shift workers with hypertension.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Obesity ; Periodicity ; Physical Examination ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Stress, Psychological ; Treatment Outcome

Female ; Fetus ; Firefighters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; International Classification of Diseases ; Korea ; Parturition ; Postpartum Period ; Pregnancy ; Reproductive Health

The pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN) is located in the dorso-lateral part of the ponto-mesencephalic tegmentum. The PPN is composed of two groups of neurons: one containing acetylcholine, and the other containing non-cholinergic neurotransmitters (GABA, glutamate). The PPN is connected reciprocally with the limbic system, the basal ganglia nuclei (globus pallidus, substantia nigra, subthalamic nucleus), and the brainstem reticular formation. The caudally directed corticolimbic-ventral striatal-ventral pallidal-PPN-pontomedullary reticular nuclei-spinal cord pathway seems to be involved in the initiation, acceleration, deceleration, and termination of locomotion. This pathway is under the control of the deep cerebellar and basal ganglia nuclei at the level of the PPN, particularly via potent inputs from the medial globus pallidus, substantia nigra pars reticulata and subthalamic nucleus. The PPN sends profuse ascending cholinergic efferent fibers to almost all the thalamic nuclei, to mediate phasic events in rapid-eye-movement sleep. Experimental evidence suggests that the PPN, along with other brain stem nuclei, is also involved in anti-nociception and startle reactions. In idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD) and parkinson plus syndrome, overactive pallidal and nigral inhibitory inputs to the PPN may cause sequential occurrences of PPN hypofunction, decreased excitatory PPN input to the substantia nigra, and aggravation of striatal dopamine deficiency. In addition, neuronal loss in the PPN itself may cause dopamine-r esistant parkinsonian deficits, including gait disorders, postural instability and sleep disturbances. In patients with IPD, such deficits may improve after posteroventral pallidotomy, but not after thalamotomy. One of the possible explanations for such differences is that dopamine-resistant parkinsonian deficits are mediated to the PPN by the descending pallido-PPN inhibitory fibers, which leave the pallido-thalamic pathways before they reach the thalamic targets.
Animal ; Basal Ganglia/cytology ; Human ; Mesencephalon/physiology* ; Mesencephalon/cytology ; Movement Disorders/etiology* ; Pons/physiology* ; Pons/cytology ; Thalamus/cytology

Purpose: We evaluated the residual vascular and adipose tissue inflammation in patients with chronic coronary artery disease (CAD) using positron emission tomography (PET). Methods: Our study population consisted of 98 patients with known CAD and 94 control subjects who had undergone 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET due to non-cardiac reasons. Aortic root and vena cava superior 18F-FDG uptakewere measured to obtain the aortic root target-to-background ratio (TBR). In addition, adipose tissue PET measurements were done in pericoronary, epicardial, subcutaneous, and thoracic adipose tissue. Adipose tissue TBR was calculated using the left atrium as a reference region. Data are presented as mean ± standard deviation or as median (interquartile range). Results: The aortic root TBR was higher in CAD patients compared to control subjects, 1.68 (1.55–1.81) vs. 1.53 (1.43–1.64), p < 0.001. Subcutaneous adipose tissue uptake was elevated in CAD patients 0.30 (0.24–0.35) vs. 0.27 (0.23–0.31), p < 0.001. Metabolic activity of CAD patients and control subjects was comparable in the pericoronary (0.81 ± 0.18 vs. 0.80 ± 0.16, p = 0.59), epicardial (0.53 ± 0.21 vs. 0.51 ± 0.18, p = 0.38) and thoracic (0.31 ± 0.12 vs. 0.28 ± 0.12, p = 0.21) adipose tissue regions. Aortic root or adipose tissue 18F-FDG uptake was not associated with the common CAD risk factors, coronary calcium score, or aortic calcium score (p value > 0.05). Conclusion Patients with a chronic CAD had a higher aortic root and subcutaneous adipose tissue 18F-FDG uptake compared to control patients, which suggests residual inflammatory risk.

OBJECTIVES: The association between obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and mortality or serious cardiovascular events over a long period of time is not clearly understood. The aim of this observational study was to estimate the clinical effectiveness of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment on an outcome variable combining mortality, acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and cerebrovascular insult (CVI) during a follow-up period of 15.5 years (186 ± 58 months). METHODS: The data set consisted of 978 patients with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) ≥5.0. One-third had used CPAP treatment. For the first time, a data-driven causal Bayesian network (DDBN) and a hypothesis-driven causal Bayesian network (HDBN) were used to investigate the effectiveness of CPAP. RESULTS: In the DDBN, coronary heart disease (CHD), congestive heart failure (CHF), and diuretic use were directly associated with the outcome variable. Sleep apnea parameters and CPAP treatment had no direct association with the outcome variable. In the HDBN, CPAP treatment showed an average improvement of 5.3 percentage points in the outcome. The greatest improvement was seen in patients aged ≤55 years. The effect of CPAP treatment was weaker in older patients (>55 years) and in patients with CHD. In CHF patients, CPAP treatment was associated with an increased risk of mortality, AMI, or CVI. CONCLUSIONS: The effectiveness of CPAP is modest in younger patients. Long-term effectiveness is limited in older patients and in patients with heart disease (CHD or CHF).
Bayes Theorem ; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure* ; Coronary Disease ; Dataset ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Mortality ; Myocardial Infarction ; Observational Study ; Outcome Assessment (Health Care) ; Patient-Specific Modeling ; Sleep Apnea Syndromes* ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive ; Treatment Outcome