BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to identify the sleep status of daytime workers who do not work in shifts. This study analyzed factors affecting sleep duration and sleep quality. METHODS: This study was conducted on 1171 daytime workers at a manufacturing workshop. We used a self-administered questionnaire to investigate demographic variables, work type, working period, musculoskeletal symptoms and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep. Regular health checkup was conducted for the worker’s clinical examination. RESULTS: The mean sleep duration was 6.36 h and the mean score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was 4.46. Work type and obesity were related to sleep duration. Age, obesity and musculoskeletal pain were significantly related to sleep quality. The prevalence ratio of researcher group for short sleep duration was 1.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.58). The prevalence ratio of those aged 50 years and over was 0.47 (0.25–0.91) and of those in their 40s was 0.56 (0.35–0.91) for poor sleep quality compared to those in their 20s. The prevalence ratio of the obesity group for poor sleep quality was 1.53 (1.10–2.12). The prevalence ratio of musculoskeletal pain group for poor sleep quality was 1.92 (1.29–2.84). CONCLUSIONS: Age, obesity and musculoskeletal pain were factors affecting the poor quality on sleep of daytime workers. In addition, work type related to short sleep duration.
Education ; Musculoskeletal Pain ; Obesity ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVETo assess the effects of traditional herbal formulae Sijunzi Decoction (, Sagunja-tang, SJZD), Siwu Decoction (, Samul-tang, SWD), Bawu Decoction (, Palmul-tang, BWD) and Shiquan Dabu Decoction (, Sipjeondaebo-tang, SDD) on the activities of human cytochrome P450 (CYP450), a drug-metabolizing enzyme.

METHODSHerbal formula water extracts were filtered and lyophilized after the powder extracts were dissolved in distilled water. The activities of major human CYP450 isozymes (CYP3A4, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP2E1) were measured using in vitro fluorescence-based enzyme assays. The inhibitory effects of the herbal formulas on the activities of CYP450 were characterized as half maximal inhibition concentration (IC) values.

RESULTSAll the tested herbal formulae inhibited CYP2C19 activity (IC: SJZD, 83.28 μg/mL; SWD, 235.54 μg/mL; BWD, 166.82 μg/mL; SDD, 178.19 μg/mL); SJZD (IC= 196.46 μg/mL), SWD (IC= 333.42 μg/mL) and SDD (IC= 163.42 μg/mL) inhibited CYP2E1-mediated metabolism; whereas BWD exhibited comparatively weak inhibition of CYP2E1 (IC= 501.78 μg/mL). None of the four herbal formulas significantly affected CYP3A4 or CYP2D6.

CONCLUSIONSThese results suggest that SJZD, SWD, BWD and SDD could potentially inhibit the metabolism of co-administered synthetic drugs whose primary route of elimination is via CYP2C19. In addition, clinically relevant pharmacokinetic interactions could occur when SJZD, SWD or SDD is co-administered with drugs metabolized by CYP2E1. Our findings provide information for the safety and effective clinical use of these four classic herbal formulas.

Cytochrome P-450 Enzyme System ; metabolism ; Drugs, Chinese Herbal ; pharmacology ; Hot Temperature ; Humans ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Isoenzymes ; metabolism ; Plant Extracts ; pharmacology ; Water ; chemistry

It is well established that TGF-beta1 and retinoic acid (RA) cause IgA isotype switching in mice. We recently found that lactoferrin (LF) also has an activity of IgA isotype switching in spleen B cells. The present study explored the effect of LF on the Ig production by mouse peritoneal B cells. LF, like TGF-beta1, substantially increased IgA production in peritoneal B1 cells but little in peritoneal B2 cells. In contrast, LF increased IgG2b production in peritoneal B2 cells much more strongly than in peritoneal B1 cells. LF in combination with RA further enhanced the IgA production and, interestingly, this enhancement was restricted to IgA isotype and B1 cells. Similarly, the combination of the two molecules also led to expression of gut homing molecules alpha4beta7 and CCR9 on peritoneal B1 cells, but not on peritoneal B2 cells. Thus, these results indicate that LF and RA can contribute to gut IgA response through stimulating IgA isotype switching and expression of gut-homing molecules in peritoneal B1 cells.
Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; Immunoglobulin G ; Lactoferrin* ; Mice ; Spleen ; Transforming Growth Factor beta1 ; Tretinoin*

Aluminum hydroxide (alum) is the most widely used adjuvant in human vaccines. Nevertheless, it is virtually unknown whether alum acts on B cells. In the present study, we explored the direct effect of alum on Ig expression by murine B cells in vitro. LPS-activated mouse spleen B cells were cultured with alum, and the level of isotype-specific Ig secretion, IgG1 secreting cell numbers, and Ig germ-line transcripts (GLT) were measured using ELISA, ELISPOT, and RT-PCR, respectively. Alum consistently enhanced total IgG1 production, numbers of IgG1 secreting cells, and GLTgamma1 expression. These results demonstrate that alum can directly cause IgG1 isotype switching leading to IgG1 production.
Alum Compounds ; Aluminum Hydroxide ; Animals ; B-Lymphocytes ; Cell Count ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Enzyme-Linked Immunospot Assay ; Humans ; Hydroxides ; Immunoglobulin Class Switching ; Immunoglobulin G ; Mice ; Spleen ; Vaccines

OBJECTIVE: Capsaicin, a noxious stimulant and main component of the hot flavor of red peppers, has an analgesic effect when administered to humans. We investigated the expression of proopioimelanocortin (POMC) mRNA in the arcuate nucleus of Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats after administering capsaicin, hypothesizing that administering capsaicin activates the central opioid system. METHODS: SD rats were divided randomly into two groups; one group received a saline injection and the other received a capsaicin injection. The POMC mRNA level in the arcuate nucleus of the hypothalamus was measured by the reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction at 0, 20, 40, 60, and 120 minutes after capsaicin administration. RESULTS: Capsaicin administration resulted in a significantly increased POMC mRNA level, compared to that in saline-treated rats at the 20-minute time point (t=-4.445, p=0.001). However, no significant group differences were observed at other times (t=-1.886, p=0.089; t= -0.973, p=0.353; t=-2.193, p=0.053 for 40, 60, and 120 minutes, respectively). CONCLUSION: The analgesic effect of capsaicin might be associated with increased activity of the cerebral opioid system. This finding suggests that capsaicin acted for nociception and analgesia and could affect alcohol-intake behavior, which might further imply that a food culture could affect drinking behavior.
Analgesia ; Animals ; Arcuate Nucleus ; beta-Endorphin ; Capsaicin ; Capsicum ; Drinking Behavior ; Humans ; Hypothalamus ; Nociception ; Pro-Opiomelanocortin ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; RNA, Messenger

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to develop a program applying participatory action-oriented training (PAOT) methods for the management of cardiovascular disease risk factors and to assess its effectiveness in the workplace. METHODS: The cardiovascular disease risk factors of 817 workers in the workplace were assessed, and periodic health examination was conducted. Sixty-four workers (7.8%) were selected as a moderate-risk group and high risk group, and performed the participatory approach program for cardiovascular disease preventive management. RESULTS: The sixty-four workers who participated in the participatory approach program made a total of 246 action plans, 3.8 action plans per person and 115 action plans were achieved after three months, so that 46.7% of action plans have been achieved. In the intervention group that participated in the program, the rate of smoking decreased from 36.2% to 8.6% and systolic and diastolic blood pressure significantly decreased from 140.0+/-9.4 mmHg to 134.2+/-12.3 mmHg and from 92.6+/-7.1 mmHg to 80.0+/-9.8 mmHg respectfully. In addition, risk factor score also decreased by 0.3, whereas the control group who did not participate in the program also showed a significant reduction in the mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure. Regular exercise increased from 8.5% to 16.0%. CONCLUSIONS: To improve the effectiveness of the participatory approach program for the management of cardiovascular disease risk factors, the need to continues implementing programs and analysis of the long-term effects are required.
Blood Pressure ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Humans ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVES: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can result in various negative consequences. Nevertheless, few studies have been conducted in Korea to investigate alcohol consumption and factors influencing drinking behavior during pregnancy in Korean women. A survey was therefore conducted on pregnant women to investigate whether they drank alcohol and to identify factors predictive of drinking behavior during pregnancy. METHODS: Pregnant women at less than 30 days before expected delivery were asked to complete a self-report questionnaire. Demographic and obstetric characteristics and smoking history were investigated in addition to their history of alcohol use. RESULTS: Six hundred and sixty five subjects of average age 30.8+/-3.8 years were enrolled. Five hundred fifty five (83.5%) and 163 subjects (24.5%), respectively, consumed alcohol before becoming pregnant and after they were aware of being pregnant. Ninety six (14.4% of 665 subjects) and 20 subjects (3.0% of 665 subjects), respectively, smoked before becoming pregnant and after they were aware of being pregnant. Those who had consumed alcohol before becoming pregnant (OR=12.13, p<0.001), those who smoked before becoming pregnant (OR=2.24, p=0.001) and those with a family history of smoking (OR=1.59, p< or =0.05) were found to be more likely to drink alcohol when pregnant. CONCLUSION: Three factors, alcohol drinking before becoming pregnant, cigarette smoking before becoming pregnant and a family history of cigarette smoking, are predictive of alcohol consumption during pregnancy. These results strongly suggest that an anti-drinking educational program should be devised to target women of child bearing potential and, in particular, those at high risk.
Alcohol Drinking ; Child ; Drinking ; Drinking Behavior ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Pregnancy ; Pregnant Women ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Ursidae

Twin pregnancies are increasing these days due to recent development of the technology in treating infertility and twin pregnancies tend to cause more congenital anomaly than singleton pregnancies do. Although anencephaly is not uncommon, occurring in about one in every 1,000 births, anencephaly developed in a twin pregnancy is very rare. We experienced a twin pregnancy which consisted of an anencephalic fetus and a normal one. This pregnancy was conceived by IVF and ET. This pregnancy was continued without having special problems and was delivered at 36 weeks of gestation by cesarean section due to SROM (spontaneous rupture of membrane). The anencephalic fetus weighed 1,430 gm and was already dead in the uterus. The other weighed 2,660 gm and showed no external anomaly. Its Apgar score was 8 in 1 minute and 9 in 5 minute. The pregnancy resulted in a cesarean section delivery of one dead anencephalic fetus and one normal healthy fetus. We report with a brief review of literature a case of a twin pregnancy, conceived by IVF and ET, in which anencephaly was associated with a normal fetus.
Anencephaly* ; Apgar Score ; Cesarean Section ; Embryo Transfer* ; Embryonic Structures* ; Female ; Fertilization in Vitro* ; Fetus ; Humans ; Infertility ; Parturition ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy, Twin* ; Rupture ; Twins* ; Uterus

PURPOSE: Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1) has been known to regulate the transcriptional activity of thyroid-specific genes. Ki-67 has been known as a marker for indicating tumor growth. This study was designed to campare the expressions of TTF-1 and Ki-67 on non- neoplastic and neoplastic thyroid tissues. METHODS: The surgically resected specimens of various histological types of thyroid tumor, from the files of the Dept. of surgery, Chung-Ang University Pil-Dong Hospital, between January 1998 and June 2002 were reviewed, and 55 cases selected for immunohistochemical studies. The materials consisted of tissues from 10 nodular hyperplasias, 28 papillary carcinomas, 15 follicular adenomas and 12 follicular carcinomas. All specimens were routinely processed, and paraffin blocks were available in all cases. Immunohistochemical stains for TTF-1 and Ki-67 were also performed. RESULTS: In all the cases, including the nodular hyperplasias, papillary carcinomas, follicular adenomas and follicular carcinomas, expressions of the TTF-1 were observed. The properties of the TTF-1 expression, including staining intensity, extent and index were not related to the tumor type. The expression of TTF-1 was inversely correlated with the tumor proliferation fraction, as assessed by the Ki-67 staining index. CONCLUSION: TTF-1 was expressed in almost all the benign lesions and well differentiated carcinomas, and correlated with the tumor proliferation fraction.
Adenoma ; Carcinoma, Papillary ; Coloring Agents ; Hyperplasia ; Paraffin ; Thyroid Gland* ; Thyroid Neoplasms*

BACKGROUND: The students who had traveled in Jeju island developed symptoms of diarrhea at a girls' high school in Busan, June 2000. The goals of this study are to investigate the pattern of shigellosis and to compare drug resistance to S. sonnei with recent studies by reference reports. METHODS: Through epidemiological investigation and stool test of new patients, 993 students were registered from Jun.12 to 17, 2000 in a girls' high school, Busan. 2nd grade students(N=355) who had traveled in Jeju island described a questionnaire of the source of infection. Clinical and bacteriological studies were carried out on 6 cases of patients with S. sonnei. RESULTS: Among total 993 students, 79 patients were considered to have diarrhea. But 54 patients of 2nd grade students developed symptoms of diarrhea(14.7%) and the analysis of associative symptoms showed that it contained abdominal pain(72.2%), headache(61.6%), tenesmus(57.4%). 43 students of 2nd grade students who had traveled in Jeju ate chinese foods. Of them, 40 students showed diarrhea(93.0%) confirmed shigellosis(6 students), probable shigellosis(34 students). S. sonnei was isolated from 6 patients(14.0%). The attack rate of diarrhea was 20.7 times more in the group eating chinese foods than in the group not eating chinese foods(p<0.001). After the 2nd grade students ate chinese foods in Jeju, diarrhea attack day distribution was first day(23.2%), second day(39.7%), and third day(16.3%). The result of drug resistance test to S. sonnei(ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, tetracycline, sulfamethoxazole trimethoprim, and streptomycin) was 100%. CONCLUSION: The 2nd grade patients with shigellosis ate chinese foods in a restaurant, Jeju. The pattern of antibiotic resistance to S. sonnei was different from that of several previous cases of shigellosis in Busan.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Busan* ; Diarrhea ; Drug Resistance ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Dysentery, Bacillary ; Eating ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Humans ; Restaurants ; Shigella sonnei* ; Shigella* ; Sulfamethoxazole ; Tetracycline ; Trimethoprim ; Surveys and Questionnaires