A cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the effect of long term noise exposure on blood pressure among steel mill workers. The workers participated in periodic medical examinations performed from August 27 to September 6 in 1990. Examined were 1,034 workers with high-level noise exposure(average 91.8+/-5.2 dB{AA)), and 390 workers with low-level noise exposure(average 75.2+/-4.6 dB(A)). No significant difference was found in systolic or diastolic blood pressure between the two exposure groups. Prevalence of hypertension (> or = 160 mmHg systolic or > or = 100 mmHg diastolic) was higher in a younger age group (< or = 40 years old) of high-level noise exposure than of low-level noise exposure. However, the difference was not statistically significant. Furthermore, in younger ages, prevalence of. hypertension appeared to be higher in the hearing loss group (> or = 25dB at 1000 Hz or > or = 40 dB at 4000 Hz in at least one ear) than in the normal hearing group. From multiple regression analysis, hearing loss, body mass index, age, alcohol and family history of hypertension were proven to be predictors of diastolic blood pressure (p<0.02). When regression was performed for each age group, hearing loss was a strong predictor of diastolic pressure in the younger age group (p<0.01).
Blood Pressure* ; Body Mass Index ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Hearing Loss* ; Hearing* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Noise* ; Prevalence ; Steel*

In the plywood manufacturing factory established in 1979, female 3 workers who had exposed to adhesives containing formaldehyde for more than 48 months of duration suffered from eye, nasal, oral, throat and skin irritation and dyspnea as chief complaints. The actual level of the exposure to formaldehyde were not estimated when the exposed workers started to have above symptoms. The environmental monitoring of workplace was measured on April 25, 1990, and the concentration of formaldehyde revealed 0.2 ppm, however the exhaustive ventilatory system was already installed at that time. Twenty six subjects from entire factory were examined by questionnaire, physical examination and spirometry, etc. on August 22, 1990. Significant difference was observed in symptoms and signs of nasal, oral and throat irritation between teh exposed group with longer duration and that with short duration. When the exposed group with longer duration was compared to the group of nonexposed, symptoms and signs of nasal, oral, throat and skin irritation, chest tightness and dullness were significantly increased in the former group. The results of the spirometric test showed that the forced vital capacity and the forced expiratory volume at 1 second were decreased amont the exposed group with longer duration but not significant.
Adhesives ; Dyspnea ; Environmental Monitoring ; Female ; Forced Expiratory Volume ; Formaldehyde* ; Humans ; Pharynx ; Physical Examination ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Skin ; Spirometry ; Thorax ; Vital Capacity

POSCO Health Care Center has collected health and environmental data using computerized system since 1987. One of the important roles of Industrial Health Care Center is to provide a comprehensive occupational health care, including therapeutic medical care, periodic medical examination and industrial hygiene control for the prevention of work-related illness. To strengthen the functions of an occupational health surveillance system since May, 1992, and it is scheduled to be completed by March, 1994. The modified POSCO Computerized Occupational Health Surveillance System (PCOHESS) contains three major area: health care, environmental monitoring, and personal information. The linkage among three area, lacking in the previous system, was emphasized in PCOHESS. The area of health care assists the management of preplacement examination data as well as the diseased and disabled data, and it will facilitate the preplacement for new employees and will enable an efficient care for the diseased and disabled. Environmental and personal sampling data, and personal information data, such as age, education and jobcode etc, that are linked to each employees, can assist the health care professionals to decide the type and time of medical examination and to periodically supply proper protectors. Data collected from the time of one's employment until his/her retirement can be used for the epidemiologic surveillance which will enable to evaluate the employee's health status related to his/her work environments, and to indentify the places that are necessary to be improved.
Delivery of Health Care ; Education ; Employment ; Environmental Monitoring ; Epidemiological Monitoring ; Gyeongsangbuk-do* ; Humans ; Iron* ; Occupational Health* ; Retirement ; Steel*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Although the antioxidative effects of lycopene are generally known, the molecular mechanisms underlying the anti-inflammatory properties of lycopene are not fully elucidated. This study aimed to examine the role and mechanism of lycopene as an inhibitor of inflammation. METHODS/MATERIALS: Lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated SW 480 human colorectal cancer cells were treated with 0, 10, 20, and 30 µM lycopene. The MTT assay was performed to determine the effects of lycopene on cell proliferation. Western blotting was performed to observe the expression of inflammation-related proteins, including nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), inhibitor kappa B (IκB), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK), c-jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK), and p38 (p38 MAP kinase). Real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to investigate the mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2). Concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) were determined via enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. RESULTS: In cells treated with lycopene and LPS, the mRNA expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, iNOS, and COX-2 were decreased significantly in a dose-dependent manner (P < 0.05). The concentrations of PGE2 and NO decreased according to the lycopene concentration (P < 0.05). The protein expressions of NF-κB and JNK were decreased significantly according to lycopene concertation (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Lycopene restrains NF-κB and JNK activation, which causes inflammation, and suppresses the expression of TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, COX-2, and iNOS in SW480 human colorectal cancer cells.
Blotting, Western ; Cell Proliferation ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Cyclooxygenase 2 ; Dinoprostone ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans* ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-1beta ; Interleukin-6 ; Nitric Oxide ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type II ; Phosphotransferases ; Protein Kinases ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Messenger ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

A study for seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HBeAg and Anti-HBe) by EIA method and the Liver Function Test(SGOT and SGPT) using kinetic method was carried :out from January; to October 1995 :among male workers of a .major iron and steel manufacturing company, located,,in Pohang. The results were as follows; 1. The distribution of hepatitis B virus markers showed that the proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-), HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) 'and HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (+) were 8.1%, 60.5% and 0.1%, respectively. The positive rate of HBsAg in all subjects was 8.2% whereas that of anti-HBs was 60.6%. 2. The proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) increased significantly with age. While the distribution of hepatitis B virus markers exhibited no significant differences among the groups classified by educational background or work type. 3. The proportion of drinkers in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) (73; 9%) was significantly lower than those of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (+) (84.6% and 85.7% respectively). The proportions of smoking for the three groups of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs(+),-HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) were 54.3%, 53.7% and 53.0%, respectively (p<0.01). The proportion of the subjects with abnormal liver function test in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) was 40.1%, whereas those in HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) were 21.9% and 18.4%, respectively. 4. The distribution of e Ag markers among HBsAg (+) subjects showed that the proportions of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-), HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) and HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(+) were 31.3%, 55.0% and 1.6%, respectively. The proportion of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-) decreased significantly with age and those of HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(-) and HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) increased with age. The positive rate of HBeAg among HBsAg (+) subjects was 32.9%. In conclusion, as a screening method, EIA is. recommended to test hepatitis B virus markers, especially when examining Anti-HBs more sensitively. For the workers of the iron and steel manufacturing company studied, liver diseases caused by other than hepatitis B should be given a special care including an education avoiding alcohol drinking.
Alcohol Drinking ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Iron ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel*

A study for seroprevalence of Hepatitis B virus markers (HBsAg, Anti-HBs, HBeAg and Anti-HBe) by EIA method and the Liver Function Test(SGOT and SGPT) using kinetic method was carried :out from January; to October 1995 :among male workers of a .major iron and steel manufacturing company, located,,in Pohang. The results were as follows; 1. The distribution of hepatitis B virus markers showed that the proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-), HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) 'and HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (+) were 8.1%, 60.5% and 0.1%, respectively. The positive rate of HBsAg in all subjects was 8.2% whereas that of anti-HBs was 60.6%. 2. The proportions of HBsAg(+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) increased significantly with age. While the distribution of hepatitis B virus markers exhibited no significant differences among the groups classified by educational background or work type. 3. The proportion of drinkers in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) (73; 9%) was significantly lower than those of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (+) (84.6% and 85.7% respectively). The proportions of smoking for the three groups of HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs(+),-HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) were 54.3%, 53.7% and 53.0%, respectively (p<0.01). The proportion of the subjects with abnormal liver function test in HBsAg (+)/Anti-HBs (-) was 40.1%, whereas those in HBsAg (-)/Anti-HBs (-) and HBsAg(-)/Anti-HBs (+) were 21.9% and 18.4%, respectively. 4. The distribution of e Ag markers among HBsAg (+) subjects showed that the proportions of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-), HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) and HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(+) were 31.3%, 55.0% and 1.6%, respectively. The proportion of HBeAg(+)/Anti-HBe(-) decreased significantly with age and those of HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(-) and HBeAg(-)/Anti-HBe(+) increased with age. The positive rate of HBeAg among HBsAg (+) subjects was 32.9%. In conclusion, as a screening method, EIA is. recommended to test hepatitis B virus markers, especially when examining Anti-HBs more sensitively. For the workers of the iron and steel manufacturing company studied, liver diseases caused by other than hepatitis B should be given a special care including an education avoiding alcohol drinking.
Alcohol Drinking ; Education ; Epidemiology ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hepatitis B e Antigens ; Hepatitis B Surface Antigens ; Hepatitis B virus* ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Iron ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Liver Function Tests ; Male ; Mass Screening ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Steel*

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to investigate symptom frequency and symptom discomfort in liver, kidney and heart transplant recipients. METHODS: This descriptive, comparative study included 191 subjects (86 liver, 81 kidney, 24 heart: 135 male, 56 female). The symptom frequency and distress questionnaires were used to examine the symptom experience of the subjects. RESULTS: The most frequent and distressing symptom was fatigue. Increased hair, increased appetite, poor concentration and poor vision were frequently reported and poor vision, poor concentration, muscle weakness, and headache were causing high distress. Women reported a significantly higher level of symptom frequency and discomfort than men. Heart recipients reported a significantly higher level of symptom frequency and discomfort than renal or liver recipients. Significant (P<0.05) differences were found in symptom frequency and discomfort depending on transplant organs, numbers of immunosuppressants genders, age and types of drug and time after transplantation. Most of symptoms were related to the side effects of cyclosporine or corticosteroids. CONCLUSION: The results provide a basis for patient and family education and for symptom management. Further investigation of the symptom experience of the transplant patients is needed, especially in relation to quality of life.
Adrenal Cortex Hormones ; Appetite ; Cyclosporine ; Education ; Fatigue ; Female ; Hair ; Headache ; Heart ; Humans ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Kidney ; Liver ; Male ; Muscle Weakness ; Quality of Life ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Transplantation ; Transplants*

3T3-L1 preadipocyte were differentiated to adipocytes, and then treated with 0, 10, 20, and 40 microg/mL of peanut sprout ethanol extract (PSEE). The main component of PSEE is resveratrol which contained 5.55 mg/mL of resveratrol. The MTT assay, Oil-Red O staining, glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) activity, and the triglyceride concentration were determined in 3T3-L1 cells. MMP-2 and MMP-9 activities as well as mRNA expressions of C/EBP beta and C/EBP alpha were also investigated. As the concentration of PSEE in adipocytes increased, the cell proliferation was decreased in a dose-dependent manner from 4 days of incubation (P < 0.05). The GDPH activity (P < 0.05) and the triglyceride concentration (P < 0.05) were decreased as the PSEE treatment concentration increased. The mRNA expression of C/EBPbeta in 3T3-L1 cells was significantly low in groups of PSEE-treated, compared with control group (P < 0.05). The MMP-9 (P < 0.05) and MMP-2 (P < 0.05) activities were decreased in a dose-dependent manner as the PSEE concentration increased from 20 microg/mL. In conclusion, it was found that PSEE has an effect on restricting proliferation and differentiation of adipocytes.
3T3-L1 Cells ; Adipocytes ; Animals ; Cell Proliferation ; Ethanol ; Fibroblasts ; Glycerolphosphate Dehydrogenase ; Matrix Metalloproteinases ; Mice ; RNA, Messenger ; Stilbenes

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate the effect of a corn silk extract on improving benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). MATERIALS/METHODS: The experimental animals, 6-week-old male Wistar rats, were divided into sham-operated control (Sham) and experimental groups. The experimental group, which underwent orchiectomy and received subcutaneous injection of 10 mg/kg of testosterone propionate to induce BPH, was divided into a Testo Only group that received only testosterone, a Testo+Fina group that received testosterone and 5 mg/kg finasteride, a Testo+CSE10 group that received testosterone and 10 mg/kg of corn silk extract, and a Testo+CSE100 group that received testosterone and 100 mg/kg of corn silk extract. Prostate weight and concentrations of dihydrotestosterone (DHT), 5α-reductase 2 (5α-R2), and prostate specific antigen (PSA) in serum or prostate tissue were determined. The mRNA expressions of 5α-R2 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) in prostate tissue were also measured. RESULTS: Compared to the Sham group, prostate weight was significantly higher in the Testo Only group and decreased significantly in the Testo+Fina, Testo+CSE10, and Testo+CSE100 groups (P < 0.05), results that were consistent with those for serum DHT concentrations. The concentrations of 5α-R2 in serum and prostate as well as the mRNA expression of 5α-R2 in prostate were significantly lower in the Testo+Fina, Testo+CSE10, and Testo+CSE100 groups than that in the Testo Only group (P < 0.05). Similarly, the concentrations of PSA in serum and prostate were significantly lower in the Testo+Fina, Testo+CSE10, and Testo+CSE100 groups (P < 0.05) than in the Testo Only group. The mRNA expression of PCNA in prostate dose-independently decreased in the Testo+CSE-treated groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: BPH was induced through injection of testosterone, and corn silk extract treatment improved BPH symptoms by inhibiting the mRNA expression of 5α-R2 and decreasing the amount of 5α-R2, DHT, and PSA in serum and prostate tissue.
Animals ; Dihydrotestosterone ; Finasteride ; Humans ; Injections, Subcutaneous ; Male ; Models, Animal* ; Orchiectomy ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Prostate ; Prostate-Specific Antigen ; Prostatic Hyperplasia* ; Rats* ; Rats, Wistar ; RNA, Messenger ; Silk* ; Testosterone ; Testosterone Propionate ; Zea mays*

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Corn silk (CS) extract contains large amounts of maysin, which is a major flavonoid in CS. However, studies regarding the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism is limited. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine the effect of CS extract on cholesterol metabolism in C57BL/6J mouse fed high-fat diets. MATERIALS/METHODS: Normal-fat group fed 7% fat diet, high-fat (HF) group fed 25% fat diet, and high-fat with corn silk (HFCS) group were orally administered CS extract (100 mg/kg body weight) daily. Serum and hepatic levels of total lipids, triglycerides, and total cholesterol as well as serum free fatty acid, glucose, and insulin levels were determined. The mRNA expression levels of acyl-CoA: cholesterol acyltransferase (ACAT), cholesterol 7-alpha hydroxylase (CYP7A1), farnesoid X receptor (FXR), lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT), low-density lipoprotein receptor, 3-hyroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMG-CoA reductase), adiponectin, leptin, and tumor necrosis factor α were determined. RESULTS: Oral administration of CS extract with HF improved serum glucose and insulin levels as well as attenuated HF-induced fatty liver. CS extracts significantly elevated mRNA expression levels of adipocytokines and reduced mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR. The mRNA expression levels of CYP7A1 and LCAT between the HF group and HFCS group were not statistically different. CONCLUSIONS: CS extract supplementation with a high-fat diet improves levels of adipocytokine secretion and glucose homeostasis. CS extract is also effective in decreasing the regulatory pool of hepatic cholesterol, in line with decreased blood and hepatic levels of cholesterol though modulation of mRNA expression levels of HMG-CoA reductase, ACAT, and FXR.
Adipokines ; Adiponectin ; Administration, Oral ; Animals ; Blood Glucose ; Cholesterol* ; Diet ; Diet, High-Fat* ; Fatty Liver ; Glucose ; Homeostasis ; Insulin ; Leptin ; Metabolism* ; Mice* ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphatidylcholine-Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; Receptors, Lipoprotein ; RNA, Messenger ; Silk* ; Sterol O-Acyltransferase ; Triglycerides ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha ; Zea mays*