Background: As the impact of climate change intensifies, exposure to heat stress will grow, leading to a loss of work capacity for vulnerable occupations and affecting individual labor decisions. This study estimates the future work capacity under the Representative Concentration Pathways 8.5 scenario and discusses its regional impacts on the occupational structure in the Republic of Korea. Methods: The data utilized for this study constitute the local wet bulb globe temperature from the Korea Meteorological Administration and information from the Korean Working Condition Survey from the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute of Korea. Using these data, we classify the occupations vulnerable to heat stress and estimate future changes in work capacity at the local scale, considering the occupational structure. We then identify the spatial cluster of diminishing work capacity using exploratory spatial data analysis. Results: Our findings indicate that 52 occupations are at risk of heat stress, including machine operators and elementary laborers working in the construction, welding, metal, and mining industries. Moreover, spatial clusters with diminished work capacity appear in southwest Korea. Conclusion Although previous studies investigated the work capacity associated with heat stress in terms of climatic impact, this study quantifies the local impacts due to the global risk of climate change. The results suggest the need for mainstreaming an adaptation policy related to work capacity in regional development strategies.

Objectives: There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of lifestyle changes on cardiovascular events and mortality among individuals with prehypertension or prediabetes. Methods: This was a serial retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort. The primary outcome considered in the study was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: A higher risk of MACE was found in men with prehypertension whose unhealthy lifestyle deteriorated (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.23; P=0.004), those who gained weight (HR, 1.15;95% CI, 1.03–1.28; P=0.010), and those who began smoking (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P<0.001).Conversely, a reduced risk of MACE was observed in men with prehypertension who improved their unhealthy lifestyle, quit smoking, reduced alcohol consumption, or increased the frequency of physical activity. In men with prediabetes, the risk of MACE was higher in those whose unhealthy lifestyle worsened (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12–1.35; P<0.001), those who gained weight (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06–1.33; P=0.003), those who started smoking (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.22–1.64; P<0.001), and those who decreased their physical activity frequency (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09–1.35; P<0.001). Conclusion Preventive lifestyle changes reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, particularly in men at risk of developing hypertension or type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of lifestyle changes on cardiovascular events and mortality among individuals with prehypertension or prediabetes. Methods: This was a serial retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort. The primary outcome considered in the study was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: A higher risk of MACE was found in men with prehypertension whose unhealthy lifestyle deteriorated (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.23; P=0.004), those who gained weight (HR, 1.15;95% CI, 1.03–1.28; P=0.010), and those who began smoking (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P<0.001).Conversely, a reduced risk of MACE was observed in men with prehypertension who improved their unhealthy lifestyle, quit smoking, reduced alcohol consumption, or increased the frequency of physical activity. In men with prediabetes, the risk of MACE was higher in those whose unhealthy lifestyle worsened (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12–1.35; P<0.001), those who gained weight (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06–1.33; P=0.003), those who started smoking (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.22–1.64; P<0.001), and those who decreased their physical activity frequency (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09–1.35; P<0.001). Conclusion Preventive lifestyle changes reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, particularly in men at risk of developing hypertension or type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of lifestyle changes on cardiovascular events and mortality among individuals with prehypertension or prediabetes. Methods: This was a serial retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort. The primary outcome considered in the study was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: A higher risk of MACE was found in men with prehypertension whose unhealthy lifestyle deteriorated (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.23; P=0.004), those who gained weight (HR, 1.15;95% CI, 1.03–1.28; P=0.010), and those who began smoking (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P<0.001).Conversely, a reduced risk of MACE was observed in men with prehypertension who improved their unhealthy lifestyle, quit smoking, reduced alcohol consumption, or increased the frequency of physical activity. In men with prediabetes, the risk of MACE was higher in those whose unhealthy lifestyle worsened (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12–1.35; P<0.001), those who gained weight (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06–1.33; P=0.003), those who started smoking (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.22–1.64; P<0.001), and those who decreased their physical activity frequency (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09–1.35; P<0.001). Conclusion Preventive lifestyle changes reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, particularly in men at risk of developing hypertension or type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of lifestyle changes on cardiovascular events and mortality among individuals with prehypertension or prediabetes. Methods: This was a serial retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort. The primary outcome considered in the study was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: A higher risk of MACE was found in men with prehypertension whose unhealthy lifestyle deteriorated (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.23; P=0.004), those who gained weight (HR, 1.15;95% CI, 1.03–1.28; P=0.010), and those who began smoking (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P<0.001).Conversely, a reduced risk of MACE was observed in men with prehypertension who improved their unhealthy lifestyle, quit smoking, reduced alcohol consumption, or increased the frequency of physical activity. In men with prediabetes, the risk of MACE was higher in those whose unhealthy lifestyle worsened (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12–1.35; P<0.001), those who gained weight (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06–1.33; P=0.003), those who started smoking (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.22–1.64; P<0.001), and those who decreased their physical activity frequency (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09–1.35; P<0.001). Conclusion Preventive lifestyle changes reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, particularly in men at risk of developing hypertension or type 2 diabetes.

Objectives: There is limited knowledge regarding the impact of lifestyle changes on cardiovascular events and mortality among individuals with prehypertension or prediabetes. Methods: This was a serial retrospective cohort study utilizing data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service Health Screening Cohort. The primary outcome considered in the study was major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE). Results: A higher risk of MACE was found in men with prehypertension whose unhealthy lifestyle deteriorated (hazard ratio [HR], 1.13; 95% CI, 1.04–1.23; P=0.004), those who gained weight (HR, 1.15;95% CI, 1.03–1.28; P=0.010), and those who began smoking (HR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P<0.001).Conversely, a reduced risk of MACE was observed in men with prehypertension who improved their unhealthy lifestyle, quit smoking, reduced alcohol consumption, or increased the frequency of physical activity. In men with prediabetes, the risk of MACE was higher in those whose unhealthy lifestyle worsened (HR, 1.23; 95% CI, 1.12–1.35; P<0.001), those who gained weight (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.06–1.33; P=0.003), those who started smoking (HR, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.22–1.64; P<0.001), and those who decreased their physical activity frequency (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.09–1.35; P<0.001). Conclusion Preventive lifestyle changes reduce cardiovascular events and mortality, particularly in men at risk of developing hypertension or type 2 diabetes.

Purpose: Hereditary parkinsonism genes consist of causative genes of familial Parkinson’s disease (PD) with a locus symbol prefix (PARK genes) and hereditary atypical parkinsonian disorders that present atypical features and limited responsiveness to levodopa (non-PARK genes). Although studies have shown that hereditary parkinsonism genes are related to idiopathic PD at the phenotypic, gene expression, and genomic levels, no study has systematically investigated connectivity among the proteins encoded by these genes at the protein-protein interaction (PPI) level. Materials and Methods: Topological measurements and physical interaction enrichment were performed to assess PPI networks constructed using some or all the proteins encoded by hereditary parkinsonism genes (n=96), which were curated using the Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man database and literature. Results: Non-PARK and PARK genes were involved in common functional modules related to autophagy, mitochondrial or lysosomal organization, catecholamine metabolic process, chemical synapse transmission, response to oxidative stress, neuronal apoptosis, regulation of cellular protein catabolic process, and vesicle-mediated transport in synapse. The hereditary parkinsonism proteins formed a single large network comprising 51 nodes, 83 edges, and three PPI pairs. The probability of degree distribution followed a power-law scaling behavior, with a degree exponent of 1.24 and a correlation coefficient of 0.92. LRRK2 was identified as a hub gene with the highest degree of betweenness centrality; its physical interaction enrichment score was 1.28, which was highly significant. Conclusion Both PARK and non-PARK genes show high connectivity at the PPI and biological functional levels.

Currently, no vaccine or established therapeutic agents are available for coronavirus disease 2019. The sharp increase in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) necessitates an improvement in the protective efficacy of PPE. We evaluated the potential antimicrobial and antiviral effects of a surface-coating disinfectant (3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, Si-QAC) when applied onto PPE. Si-QAC-pre-coated PPE was artificially contaminated with either influenza virus or Salmonella. The results showed significantly reduced influenza and Salmonella titers in Si-QAC-coated PPE; these antimicrobial effects lasted 7 days. This suggests that this surface-coating disinfectant effectively reduces pathogen contamination of PPE, enabling their safe and long-term use.

Currently, no vaccine or established therapeutic agents are available for coronavirus disease 2019. The sharp increase in demand for personal protective equipment (PPE) necessitates an improvement in the protective efficacy of PPE. We evaluated the potential antimicrobial and antiviral effects of a surface-coating disinfectant (3-(trimethoxysilyl)propyldimethyl octadecyl ammonium chloride, Si-QAC) when applied onto PPE. Si-QAC-pre-coated PPE was artificially contaminated with either influenza virus or Salmonella. The results showed significantly reduced influenza and Salmonella titers in Si-QAC-coated PPE; these antimicrobial effects lasted 7 days. This suggests that this surface-coating disinfectant effectively reduces pathogen contamination of PPE, enabling their safe and long-term use.

PURPOSE: Circumferential pulmonary (PV) vein isolation (CPVI) is the most important treatment strategy for atrial fibrillation (AF). While understanding left atrial wall thickness around PVs (PVWT) prior to catheter ablation is important, its clinical implications are not known. This study aimed to evaluate PVWT characteristics according to underlying disease and to identify associations between PVWT and reconnections of PV potentials (PVPs) in redo ablation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 28 patients who underwent redo-AF ablation, PVWT and reconnected PVPs were evaluated at 12 sites (1–12 o'clock) around each PV. Clinical characteristics including stroke and CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores were analyzed according to the PVWT. RESULTS: The PVWT was thicker in males than females (p<0.001) and in those with diabetes (p=0.045) or heart failure (p=0.002) than in those without. Patients with strokes or high CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores (≥3) had significantly thinner PVWTs than those without strokes or low CHA₂DS₂-VASc scores (p<0.001). In redo-ablation, reconnected PVPs were detected in 60 (53.6%) of 112 PVs, and the PVs were thicker (p<0.001) and had more reconnected PVs (p=0.009) than right PVs. A PVWT of >0.6 mm predicted PV reconnections with a sensitivity of 76.7% and specificity of 52.2% with an area under the curve of 0.695. CONCLUSION: Thick PVWs were associated with diabetes and heart failure, and also showed significant inverse correlations with stroke and the CHA₂DS₂-VASc score. Thick PVWs were associated with reconnected PVPs after the CPVI, which were related to AF recurrence.
Atrial Fibrillation* ; Catheter Ablation ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Male ; Pulmonary Veins* ; Recurrence ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Stroke* ; Veins