Objective: Glufosinate-containing herbicide is being used increasingly in agriculture. Its poisoning is a worldwide concern. This study assessed the ability of the Poison Severity Score (PSS), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scoring systems, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score to predict mortality in intensive care unit patients poisoned with glufosinate. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted from January 2001 to January 2019. The demographic factors, hemodynamic variables, and laboratory variables were compared in survivors and non-survivors. Using multivariate logistic analysis, the data for the total population were analyzed retrospectively to determine the factors associated with mortality. Significant predictive variables, PSS, APACHE II scoring system, and SOFA score were compared by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Two hundred seventy-six patients (mean age, 56 years) were enrolled in this study. Of the 276 patients, 240 (87.0%) survived, and 36 (13.0%) died. The factors associated with mortality were a decreased mean arterial blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale, partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen, HCO3-, pH, and HCO3-, and an increased lactate, ammonia, C-reactive protein, PSS, SOFA score, and APACHE II score. Dyspnea, use of vasopressors, and application of mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality. In multivariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Scale<9, HCO3- <15.8 mmol/L, lactate>5.2 mmol/L, use of vasopressors, and application of mechanical ventilation were predictive of mortality. The areas under the curve and 95% confidence intervals for these indicators were 0.920 (0.834-0.981), 0.865 (0.792-0.923), and 0.824 (0.752-0.897) for the PSS, APACHE II, and SOFA, respectively. Conclusion The PSS can be used to predict in-hospital mortality and stratify the risk among glufosinate-poisoned patients.

Objective: Glufosinate-containing herbicide is being used increasingly in agriculture. Its poisoning is a worldwide concern. This study assessed the ability of the Poison Severity Score (PSS), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scoring systems, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score to predict mortality in intensive care unit patients poisoned with glufosinate. Methods: This was a retrospective cohort study conducted from January 2001 to January 2019. The demographic factors, hemodynamic variables, and laboratory variables were compared in survivors and non-survivors. Using multivariate logistic analysis, the data for the total population were analyzed retrospectively to determine the factors associated with mortality. Significant predictive variables, PSS, APACHE II scoring system, and SOFA score were compared by analyzing the receiver operating characteristic curves. Results: Two hundred seventy-six patients (mean age, 56 years) were enrolled in this study. Of the 276 patients, 240 (87.0%) survived, and 36 (13.0%) died. The factors associated with mortality were a decreased mean arterial blood pressure, Glasgow Coma Scale, partial pressure of arterial oxygen/fraction of inspired oxygen, HCO3-, pH, and HCO3-, and an increased lactate, ammonia, C-reactive protein, PSS, SOFA score, and APACHE II score. Dyspnea, use of vasopressors, and application of mechanical ventilation were associated with mortality. In multivariate analysis, Glasgow Coma Scale<9, HCO3- <15.8 mmol/L, lactate>5.2 mmol/L, use of vasopressors, and application of mechanical ventilation were predictive of mortality. The areas under the curve and 95% confidence intervals for these indicators were 0.920 (0.834-0.981), 0.865 (0.792-0.923), and 0.824 (0.752-0.897) for the PSS, APACHE II, and SOFA, respectively. Conclusion The PSS can be used to predict in-hospital mortality and stratify the risk among glufosinate-poisoned patients.

Background: Our purpose in this study was to evaluate any deficiency of protein intake for different types of sarcopenia, including osteosarcopenia and sarcopenic obesity and to establish a cut-off value for the relationship between malnutrition, sarcopenia, and osteosarcopenia. Methods: The cross-sectional study was performed using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 4,020 participants (men, 1,698 and women, 2,322) were analyzed in the present study. Sarcopenia is defined according to the criteria for the Asia Working Group for Sarcopenia. To evaluate the adequacy of protein intake, the value obtained by dividing the amount of protein consumed through food by the daily recommended protein amount (50 g/day) of Korean males was defined as the nutrient intake ratio. Results: Total protein (P<0.001 in men, P<0.001 in women) and low dietary intake protein (P<0.001 in men, P=0.046 in women) were significantly lower in the sarcopenia group than in the normal group, and were significantly lower in the osteosarcopenia group than in the normal group for both men and women. The cut-off value of the adjusted weight of protein intake for sarcopenia was 0.58 g/kg/day in men and 0.98 g/kg/day in women. The cut-off value for adjusted weight of protein intake for osteo-sarcopenia was 0.8 g/kg/day in men and 0.5 g/kg/day in women. Conclusions A comprehensive dietary assessment to detect nutritional deficits that predispose one to or aggravate muscle atrophy is important for establishing a treatment plan for patients with malnutrition.

OBJECTIVES: Reduced heart rate variability (HRV) is one of the serious risk factors for heart diseases. We evaluated the acute and chronic effects of work-related factors on HRV. METHODS: The five-minute HRV of 85 male workers from an automobile assembly factory were measured at 9 A.M. (before-work) and at 5 P.M. (after-work). The workplace noise, temperature and physical workload levels were measured as work-related factors. We postulated that the HRV measured at beforework represents the chronic effects and the HRV measured at after-work represents the acute effects of work-related factors. We used generalized linear regression analysis with adjusting for the general characteristics and/or the morning HRV. RESULTS: The subjects exposed to noise or a hot environment showed increased HRV in the afternoon and decreased HRV in the morning. Machine oil and interpersonal conflict decreased the HRV in the morning, but other chemicals did not show any effect on the HRV. A physical workload decreased the HRV in both the morning and afternoon. CONCLUSION: The physical and chemical environment, psychosocial stress and a physical workload may affect the autonomic nerve system.
Automobiles ; Autonomic Pathways ; Heart ; Heart Diseases ; Heart Rate ; Humans ; Linear Models ; Male ; Noise ; Risk Factors

Cadmium ; Electronic Cigarettes ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tobacco ; Tobacco Products

Background: The International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) as a known carcinogen. This study aimed to investigate the association between exposure to secondhand smoke (SHS) and NNAL concentrations in non-smokers. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study based on data from the 2016 to 2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Urine NNAL concentrations were categorized into tertiles of 3,615 study participants who were non-smokers. All sampling and weight variables were stratified, and analyses to account for the complex sampling design were conducted. Results: The overall, male, and female percentages of SHS exposure among non-smokers were 22.4%, 29.2%, and 20.4%, respectively. The geometric means of urine NNAL concentrations were 1.896±0.098 pg/mL and 1.094±0.028 pg/mL in the SHS exposure and non-exposure groups, respectively. After adjusting for confounding variables, in the total group, the geometric mean of urine NNAL concentrations was significantly higher in the SHS exposure group than in the SHS non-exposure group (adjusted P-value <0.001). Compared with the non-exposure group, the adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest NNAL tertile group of overall SHS exposure in the total, men, and women groups were 2.44 (1.95–3.05), 1.65 (1.08–2.53), and 2.73 (2.11–3.52), respectively, after full adjustment. Conclusion The urine NNAL concentration in the SHS exposure group was significantly higher than that in the non-exposure group. Exposure to SHS was associated with a higher risk of elevated urine NNAL concentrations in non-smokers.

Background: Few studies have reported on the trends in influenza vaccination rates among cancer survivors in Korea. We investigated these trends over a recent 11-year period (2005–2015). Methods: Data were obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) III– VI (2005–2015). After excluding individuals younger than 40 years of age, the participants included 2,210 cancer survivors (861 men and 1,349 women). We categorized these study participants into four groups according to age and sex. Results: The influenza vaccination rate decreased significantly among male cancer survivors, with rates of 74.8, 64.7, 56.2, and 55.2% (β coefficient=-0.257, P for trend <0.001) in KNHANES III, VI, V, and VI, respectively. While influenza vaccination rates decreased significantly among older male cancer survivors (≥65 years) (β coefficient=-0.359, P for trend=0.017), they increased among older female cancer survivors (β coefficient=0.375, P for trend=0.011) from 2005 to 2015. Conclusion Influenza vaccination rates in older cancer survivors significantly decreased in men but increased in women in successive KNHANES phases. Efforts are needed to improve immunization education and awareness, especially in older male cancer survivors.

BACKGROUND: We investigated the association between blood concentration of cadmium and smoking status including use of electronic cigarettes (E-cigars). METHODS: We used data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Survey 2013 and 2016. A total of 4,744 participants (2,162 men and 2,582 women) were included and were categorized into five groups (Non-smokers, E-cigar non-users in past-smokers, E-cigar users in past-smokers, E-cigar non-users in cigarette-smokers and E-cigar users in cigarette-smokers). Cadmium blood concentration was categorized into tertiles. All sampling and weight variables were stratified, and analysis to account for the complex sampling design was conducted. RESULTS: In both genders, the geometric cadmium concentration was significantly different according to smoking status (both genders, analysis of variance P value < 0.001). In men, E-cigar users were significantly higher than the non-smokers (P value = past-smokers, 0.017; cigarette-smokers, < 0.001) when fully adjusted. Compared with non-smokers, fully-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for the highest cadmium tertiles of E-cigar non-users in cigarette-smokers and E-cigar users in cigarette-smokers were 6.56 (3.55–12.11) and 5.68 (1.96–16.50) in men and 2.74 (1.42–5.29) and 1.29 (0.10–17.44) in women. CONCLUSION Conventional cigarette smoking in men and women and E-cigar use in men are associated with higher risk of elevated blood cadmium level. Preventive management of cadmium exposure monitoring in conventional cigarette-smokers and E-cigar users may be needed.

Background: The 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a metabolite of tobacco-specific lung carcinogen that can be found in both smokers and non-smokers.Particularly, NNAL levels of children with a history of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) are higher than those of adults. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between SHS exposure and urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII. Overall, 648 never-smoking adolescents (425 boys and 223 girls) aged 12 to 18 were included in this study. Logistic regression analyses identified the relationship between SHS exposure and elevated urine NNAL levels. Results: The mean urine NNAL levels of the no exposure and exposure group in boys were 1.39 and 2.26 ng/mL, respectively, whereas they were 1.01 and 2.45 ng/mL in girls, respectively (P < 0.001). Among the adolescents exposed to SHS, the confounder-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for elevated urine NNAL levels according to exposure area as overall, home, and public area were 2.68 (1.58–4.53), 31.02 (9.46–101.74), and 1.89 (1.12–3.17) in boys;and 6.50 (3.22–13.11), 20.09 (7.08–57.04), and 3.94 (1.98–7.77) in girls, respectively. Conclusion SHS exposure was significantly associated with elevated urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents, particularly in female adolescents and in those with home exposure.These findings remind us of the need to protect adolescents from SHS.

Background: The 4-(methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL) is a metabolite of tobacco-specific lung carcinogen that can be found in both smokers and non-smokers.Particularly, NNAL levels of children with a history of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) are higher than those of adults. Thus, we aimed to investigate the association between SHS exposure and urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents. Methods: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VII. Overall, 648 never-smoking adolescents (425 boys and 223 girls) aged 12 to 18 were included in this study. Logistic regression analyses identified the relationship between SHS exposure and elevated urine NNAL levels. Results: The mean urine NNAL levels of the no exposure and exposure group in boys were 1.39 and 2.26 ng/mL, respectively, whereas they were 1.01 and 2.45 ng/mL in girls, respectively (P < 0.001). Among the adolescents exposed to SHS, the confounder-adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence intervals) for elevated urine NNAL levels according to exposure area as overall, home, and public area were 2.68 (1.58–4.53), 31.02 (9.46–101.74), and 1.89 (1.12–3.17) in boys;and 6.50 (3.22–13.11), 20.09 (7.08–57.04), and 3.94 (1.98–7.77) in girls, respectively. Conclusion SHS exposure was significantly associated with elevated urine NNAL levels in Korean adolescents, particularly in female adolescents and in those with home exposure.These findings remind us of the need to protect adolescents from SHS.