One author's name is misspelled. Correct Seungho Rhu into Seungho Ryu.

Objectives: The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to investigate whether non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) was associated with incident bone mineral density (BMD) decrease. Methods: This study included 4536 subjects with normal BMD at baseline. NAFLD was defined as the presence of fatty liver on abdominal ultrasonography without significant alcohol consumption or other causes. Decreased BMD was defined as a diagnosis of osteopenia, osteoporosis, or BMD below the expected range for the patient’s age based on dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate the hazard ratio of incident BMD decrease in subjects with or without NAFLD. Subgroup analyses were conducted according to the relevant factors. Results: Across 13 354 person-years of total follow-up, decreased BMD was observed in 606 subjects, corresponding to an incidence of 45.4 cases per 1000 person-years (median follow-up duration, 2.1 years). In the model adjusted for age and sex, the hazard ratio was 0.65 (95% confidence interval, 0.51 to 0.82), and statistical significance disappeared after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and cardiometabolic factors. In the subgroup analyses, NAFLD was associated with a lower risk of incident BMD decrease in females even after adjustment for confounders. The direction of the effect of NAFLD on the risk of BMD decrease changed depending on BMI category and body fat percentage, although the impact was statistically insignificant. Conclusions NAFLD had a significant protective effect on BMD in females. However, the effects may vary depending on BMI category or body fat percentage.

It remains unclear as to whether insulin resistance alone or in the presence of wellknown risk factors, such as diabetes or obesity, is associated with gallstones in men. The aim of this study was to determine whether insulin resistance is associated independently with gallstone disease in non-diabetic men, regardless of obesity. Study subjects were 19,503 Korean men, aged 30-69 yr, with fasting blood glucose level <126 mg/dL and without a documented history of diabetes. Gallbladder status was assessed via abdominal ultrasonography after overnight fast. Body mass index and waist circumference were measured. Insulin resistance was estimated by the Homeostasis Model Assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). The prevalence of obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome in the subjects with gallstones were higher than in those without. The prevalence of elevated HOMA (>75 percentile) in subjects with gallstones was significantly higher than in those without, and this association remained even after the obesity stratification was applied. In multiple logistic regression analyses, only age and HOMA proved to be independent predictors of gallstones. Insulin resistance was positively associated with gallstones in non-diabetic Korean men, and this occurred regardless of obesity. Gallstones appear to be a marker for insulin resistance, even in non-diabetic, nonobese men.
Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Body Mass Index ; Gallstones/*etiology ; Humans ; *Insulin Resistance ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity/complications ; Risk Factors

OBJECTIVES: Obesity is considered to be one of the most important risk factors for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but less is known about the role of ethnicity in OSA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the interethnic difference of obesity-related phenotypes in OSA and to reveal the role of ethnicity in OSA. METHODS: We searched MEDLINE, LILACS, Scopus, and the Cochrane Library using the key words "sleep apnea," "body mass index," "neck circumference," "waist circumference," "waist to hip ratio," etc. Inclusion criteria were adults over 18 years of age, and studies that included polysomnography, obesity-related parameters, and a clear demarcation of ethnicity in the patient population. Included studies were reviewed by 2 independent reviewers. The following information was collected for controls and OSA: number, age, gender, country, ethnicity (Asian or Caucasian), study design, apnea-hypopnea index/respiratory disturbance index, body mass index (BMI), neck circumference (NC), waist circumference (WC), and/or waist to hip ratio (WHR). RESULTS: A total of 8,312 publications were retrieved with a subsequent 19 manuscripts that met the selection criteria. A total of 2,966 patients were included for analysis. The main findings were as follows: There was no difference in BMI, WC, and WHR between patients with OSA and controls after accounting for publication bias; Patients with OSA have greater NC than controls (standard mean difference, 0.89; 95% confidence interval, 0.63 to 1.14); and There was no difference in NC between Asian and Caucasians patients (P=0.178). CONCLUSION: OSA might not be related with BMI, WC, and WHR. Only NC demonstrated a strong association with OSA, and this finding was not different between Asians and Caucasians.
Adult ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Body Mass Index ; Hip ; Humans ; Neck ; Obesity ; Patient Selection ; Phenotype ; Polysomnography ; Publication Bias ; Risk Factors ; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive* ; Waist Circumference ; Waist-Hip Ratio

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was carried out to investigate a suspected high prevalence of WRUEMSD (Work related upper-extremity musculoskeletal disorders) in the visual display terminal (VDT) operators of a major telecommunication company in Seoul, Korea. METHOD: The severity of the disorders was assessed by both medical screening examination and questionnaires. All the operators involved in the study were using VDT. A self-administered questionnaire, designed to obtain demographic information, individual factors, and musculoskeletal symptoms of the various body parts was distributed to participating operators. RESULTS: A total of 888 female directory assistance operators (average age 39.7+/-4.6 years old) working at three companies participated in the study. The task was machinepaced, as customer calls were routed to available operators by computer. The number of the workers requiring treatment when symptoms aggravated was 384 (43.2%), and that of the workers needing treatment was 173 (19.5%). WRUEMSD of neck was associated with working during rest time (Odds ratio=1.59), partial finger users (OR=1.87), and that of hand/wrist was associated with adjustability of the height of the chair. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of WRUEMSD in the VDU operators of the a major telecommunication company was high. Current issues and suggestions for future ergonomic studies are addressed.
Female ; Fingers ; Human Body ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Neck ; Prevalence ; Seoul* ; Telecommunications* ; Surveys and Questionnaires

The aim of this study was to examine the association between serum apolipoprotein B (apoB) and the risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) using Framingham risk score (FRS) in healthy Korean men. A total of 13,523 men without medication history of diabetes and hypertension were enrolled in this study. The FRS is based on six coronary risk factors. FRS > or = 10% was defined as more-than-a-moderate risk group and FRS > or = 20% as high risk group, respectively. The logistic regression analyses were conducted. When quartile 1 (Q1) set as a reference, in unadjusted analyses, the Q2, Q3, Q4 of apoB level had increased odds ratio (OR) for the risk of CHD in both more-than-a-moderate risk and high risk group, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, multivariable-adjusted logistic regression analyses showed a strong relationship between the quartiles of apoB level and more-than-a-moderate risk and high risk group, respectively. These associations were attenuated, but still remained statistically significant. ApoB is found to be independently related to the risk of CHD using FRS in healthy Korean men, and the link between apoB and the risk of CHD is dose-depedent.
Adult ; Apolipoproteins B/*blood ; Coronary Disease/*blood/*diagnosis ; Humans ; Male ; Men's Health ; Middle Aged ; Odds Ratio ; Republic of Korea ; Risk Assessment ; Risk Factors

Background/Aims: We aim to compare the remission of erosive esophagitis (EE) among individuals with different phenotypes based on their metabolic health and obesity status and investigate the impact of changes in metabolic health on the EE remission. Methods: Asymptomatic adults (n = 16 845) with EE at baseline, who underwent follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were categorized into 4 groups as follows: metabolically healthy (MH) nonobese, metabolically unhealthy (MU) nonobese, MH obese, and MU obese. EE was defined as grade A or higher mucosal breaks observed using esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Results: During a median follow-up of 2.2 years, the remission rates of EE were 286.4/10 3 , 260.1/10 3 , 201.5/10 3 , and 219.9/10 3 person-years in MH nonobese, MU nonobese, MH obese, and MU obese groups, respectively. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for EE remission among the MH nonobese, MU nonobese, and MH obese groups versus that of the MU obese group were 1.30 (1.23-1.37), 1.17 (1.12-1.23), and 0.98 (0.90-1.06), respectively, whereas those of the persistent MH, progression of MH to MU, and remission of MU to MH compared with the persistent MU group were 1.37 (1.23-1.52), 1.15 (1.01-1.30), and 1.28 (1.12-1.46), respectively.Increased EE remission in the persistent MH group was consistently observed in individuals with and without obesity (or abdominal obesity). Conclusions Metabolic health and nonobesity independently and favorably impact EE remission. Maintaining normal weight and healthy metabolic status may contribute to EE remission.

Background/Aims: We aim to compare the remission of erosive esophagitis (EE) among individuals with different phenotypes based on their metabolic health and obesity status and investigate the impact of changes in metabolic health on the EE remission. Methods: Asymptomatic adults (n = 16 845) with EE at baseline, who underwent follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were categorized into 4 groups as follows: metabolically healthy (MH) nonobese, metabolically unhealthy (MU) nonobese, MH obese, and MU obese. EE was defined as grade A or higher mucosal breaks observed using esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Results: During a median follow-up of 2.2 years, the remission rates of EE were 286.4/10 3 , 260.1/10 3 , 201.5/10 3 , and 219.9/10 3 person-years in MH nonobese, MU nonobese, MH obese, and MU obese groups, respectively. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for EE remission among the MH nonobese, MU nonobese, and MH obese groups versus that of the MU obese group were 1.30 (1.23-1.37), 1.17 (1.12-1.23), and 0.98 (0.90-1.06), respectively, whereas those of the persistent MH, progression of MH to MU, and remission of MU to MH compared with the persistent MU group were 1.37 (1.23-1.52), 1.15 (1.01-1.30), and 1.28 (1.12-1.46), respectively.Increased EE remission in the persistent MH group was consistently observed in individuals with and without obesity (or abdominal obesity). Conclusions Metabolic health and nonobesity independently and favorably impact EE remission. Maintaining normal weight and healthy metabolic status may contribute to EE remission.

Background/Aims: We aim to compare the remission of erosive esophagitis (EE) among individuals with different phenotypes based on their metabolic health and obesity status and investigate the impact of changes in metabolic health on the EE remission. Methods: Asymptomatic adults (n = 16 845) with EE at baseline, who underwent follow-up esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) were categorized into 4 groups as follows: metabolically healthy (MH) nonobese, metabolically unhealthy (MU) nonobese, MH obese, and MU obese. EE was defined as grade A or higher mucosal breaks observed using esophagogastroduodenoscopy. Results: During a median follow-up of 2.2 years, the remission rates of EE were 286.4/10 3 , 260.1/10 3 , 201.5/10 3 , and 219.9/10 3 person-years in MH nonobese, MU nonobese, MH obese, and MU obese groups, respectively. Multivariate-adjusted hazard ratios (95% CI) for EE remission among the MH nonobese, MU nonobese, and MH obese groups versus that of the MU obese group were 1.30 (1.23-1.37), 1.17 (1.12-1.23), and 0.98 (0.90-1.06), respectively, whereas those of the persistent MH, progression of MH to MU, and remission of MU to MH compared with the persistent MU group were 1.37 (1.23-1.52), 1.15 (1.01-1.30), and 1.28 (1.12-1.46), respectively.Increased EE remission in the persistent MH group was consistently observed in individuals with and without obesity (or abdominal obesity). Conclusions Metabolic health and nonobesity independently and favorably impact EE remission. Maintaining normal weight and healthy metabolic status may contribute to EE remission.

OBJECTIVES: This study was performed to assess the level of job and psychosocial stresses in Korean firefighters, and to evaluate the determinants of psychosocial stress. METHODS: The study subjects comprised 1,712 male firefighters working in Seoul, Busan, and Kyungnam in 2006. We collected information about demographic and job-related characteristics, healthrelated behaviors, Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS), and psychosocial Well-being Index (PWI) through self-administered questionnaires. Statistical analyses were done by using the chi-square-test and logistic regression model. RESULTS: The multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that the proportion of high-risk psychosocial stress is significantly higher in the groups with high job stress level in 'lack of rewards' (OR=2.90, 95% CI=2.18-3.85), 'occupational climate' (OR=1.92, 95% CI=1.47-2.51), 'job demand' (OR=1.72, 95% CI=1.32-2.23), 'job insecurity' (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.17-2.01), 'interpersonal conflict' (OR=1.53, 95% CI=1.16-2.01), 'physical environment' (OR=1.45, 95% CI=1.11-1.89), and 'organizational injustice' (OR=1.38, 95% CI=1.04-1.85). CONCLUSIONS: Psychosocial stress might be adversely influenced by job stressors for the most part. Firefighters need job stress management to minimize their psychological problems.
Firefighters ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Questionnaires