A cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the association between perceived occu-pational psychosocial stress at work and the work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WRMSD) among employees using video display terminals. The study included 111 female telecommunication employees from three companies at ChungBuk province. Cases of WRMSD were defined using symptom questionnaire and physical examination conducted by rehabilitation specialist. Information on demographics, individual factors, and perceived psychosocial stress, were obtained by self-administered questionnaire. For assessing perceived psychosocial stress, we used variables from 'job strain model' proposed by Karasek. Associations between perceived psychosocial stress and WRMSD were assessed by multiple logistic regression models. Forty nine (44% to the total) subjects met our operational definition for WRMSD. Age, seniority, housing load were not associated with WRMSD. Perceived psychosocial stress was associated with WRMSD [odds ratio=3.28, 95% confidence interval: 1.05-10.19]. This study suggests that perceived occupational psychosocial stress is related to the prevalence of WRMSD.
Chungcheongbuk-do ; Computer Terminals* ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Demography ; Female ; Housing ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Physical Examination ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Rehabilitation ; Specialization ; Telecommunications

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the difference in nutrient intake between normotensive workers and hypertensive workers to obtain basic data for developing a program of effective hypertension care at work. METHODS: The subjects were 338 male workers. We measured physical data by medical examination and collected lifestyle data by questionnaire survey. Dietary intakes were collected using a food frequency questionnaire. We classified the subjects into normal, prehypertension, and hypertension groups, and compared the results of age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (BP), lifestyles and energy nutrients and lipids intake. RESULTS: There were significant differences in both weight and BMI between the hypertension group and the other two groups (p<0.05). The smoking levels of the prehypertension group and hypertension group were significantly higher than that of the normal group (p<0.05). The three groups also showed significant differences in drinking amount (p<0.05). There were significant differences in carbohydrate and protein intakes and the ratio of carbohydrate, protein, and fat intake (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, there was a significant difference in carbohydrate intake between normotensive and hypertensive workers, and the intake of energy nutrients and fatty acids in the prehypertension group and hypertension groups was unbalanced. Therefore, early diagnosis of workers with hypertension and prehypertension is necessary to improve lifestyles particularly food habit.
Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Drinking ; Early Diagnosis ; Fatty Acids ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Male* ; Prehypertension ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of 3-month nutrition education (First Time Intervention, FI) + additional 3-month nutrition education (Repeated Intervention, RI) which was performed after the 8-month follow-up. FI was conducted during 0-3 months and RI for 11-14 months. Ninety-two subjects completed FI program, and 38 out of 92 subjects who received FI finished the RI. Anthropometric data, dietary assessment (24hr recall) and fasting blood analysis were measured at 0 month, 3 months, 11 months and 14 months time points. After FI (3 mo), waist circumference, triglycerides, total cholesterol were significantly decreased. At 11 month follow-up, body weight, BMI, hip circumference, SBP, DBP were significantly rebounced and HDL cholesterol was significantly decreased. Therefore, the effect of short-term nutrition education was not being sustained. After the secondary nutrition intervention (14 mo), waist circumference and hip circumference were again significantly decreased. Total diet quality index-international (DQI-I) score was significantly increased in both FI group and RI group. The changes in DQI-I scores were significantly correlated with the changes in body weight (r = -0.129, p < 0.05) and counts of nutrition education (r = 0.159, p < 0.05), indicating that effective nutrition education helps improve the diet quality leading to a possible role in CVD prevention among male workers. Although a short-term intervention seems to be a success, the effect was not retained in this study. Therefore, we suggest incorporating nutrition education as a routine program for male worker at worksite.
Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Diet ; Fasting ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hip ; Humans ; Male ; Triglycerides ; Waist Circumference ; Workplace

PURPOSE: This Study was conducted to estimate the prevalence rate, and related factors,of fatty liver in male industrial workers. METHOD: Fatty liver was diagnosed using ultrasonography. The data for abdominal ultrasonography, BMI, smoking, alcohol drinking, exercise, liver enzymes, and lipid profiles were collected in 4,604 male who were examined with a health screening program in 2005. Prevalence rate and associated factors of fatty liver were analyzed using SPSS v. 12.0. RESULTS: Overall prevalence of fatty liver was 34.1% and higher in the 30-39 year male group. Age, body mass index(BMI), hypertriglyceridemia, hypercholesterolemia, HDL cholesterol, r-GTP level were independently associated factors with presence of fatty liver in logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of fatty liver and tendency of associated factors were similar to those in the western world. To prevent development of this hepatic disorder, which may result in end-stage liver disease, risk factors such as obesity and dyslipidemia must be monitored and controlled within normal levels. The results of this study suggested maintenance of a healthy lifestyle, including diet, exercise, and behavioral change, as fundamental rehabilitation nursing implications.
Alcohol Drinking ; Cholesterol, HDL ; Diet ; Dyslipidemias ; Fatty Liver* ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Life Style ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Male* ; Mass Screening ; Obesity ; Prevalence* ; Rehabilitation Nursing ; Risk Factors* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Ultrasonography ; Western World

A 70-year-old female who was diagnosed as myxoid chondrosarcoma by fine needle aspiration of a pleural mass is described. She presented with left chest discomfort of 4 months' duration and aggravating dyspnea and chest pain for 2 months. Chest X-ray and CT scan revealed a large lobulated low density mass invading chest wall at the left pleural cavity and massive pleural fluid. Fine needle aspiration was done under the impression of mesothelioma or metastatic cancer. The aspirates from the mass were very cellular and composed of isolated or clustered forms of large plump cells. Abundant cytoplasm was bluish opaque and the margin was rounded in the isolated cells, whereas clustered cells show ill-defined cell borders and aggregating tendency. The nuclei were eccentric, round to ovoid, and had fine chromatin pattern and multiple small nucleoli. Cellular pleomorphism or mitotic figure was not definite. These findings were consistent with cytologic features of chondrosarcoma. Final diagnosis was confirmed as myxoid chondrosarcoma by mediastinoscopic biopsy and the tumor showed strong positivity for S-100 protein.
Aged ; Biopsy ; Biopsy, Fine-Needle ; Chest Pain ; Chondrosarcoma ; Chromatin ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Dyspnea ; Eosinophils* ; Female ; Humans ; Mesothelioma ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Pleural Cavity ; S100 Proteins ; Thoracic Wall ; Thorax ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

The incidence of chronic disease is continuously increasing in Korea. Especially, office workers have higher risk of chronic disease because of their dietary habit and lifestyle. The study aimed to investigate the effect of tailored nutrition counseling on improving chronic disease risk factors. Ninety-nine male workers (age 46.9 +/- 7.0 yrs) volunteered for 12 weeks of nutrition program containing dietary intake and physical activity adjustment. Five individualized programs were performed with the main theme of weight loss (WL, n = 16), blood pressure lowering (BL, n = 34), normalizing blood glucose (GL, n = 21), lipid lowering (LL, n = 13) and reducing MS risk factors (ML, n = 15). Anthropometric data, blood-pressure, self-reported questionnaire, blood profiles were measured before and after 12weeks of nutrition education. The education program included 5 times of 1:1 interview. Compared to 0 week, anthropometric data (weight, BMI, fat, visceral fat, waist, SBP, DBP) were significantly decreased after 12 weeks (p < 0.001). Fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol were decreased (p < 0.05). The primary outcomes with individually tailored programs showed to be more effective than one general nutrition program.
Blood Glucose ; Blood Pressure ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Counseling ; Fasting ; Food Habits ; Humans ; Incidence ; Intra-Abdominal Fat ; Korea ; Life Style ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Weight Loss

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of nutrition counseling on improving metabolic syndrome (MS) risk factors. Sixty-eight subjects were grouped according to their numbers of MS risk factors. Subjects who have three or more risk factors of MS were defined as "High risk", subjects who have two risk factors of MS were defined as "low risk", and subjects who have below two risk factors of MS were defined as "no risk" group. All groups finished nutrition counseling every three weeks for 12 weeks. Anthropometric, dietary assessments (24 hr-recall) and blood samples were measured at 0 and 12 weeks nutrition counseling. After 12 weeks of intervention, anthropometric data (weight, BMI, body fat (%), and waist/hip ratio) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) in all groups. Daily consumption of calorie was decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the group of low risk and high risk. Blood level of fasting plasma glucose was significantly decreased (p < 0.001) in all groups after 12 weeks of intervention. Significantly, the fasting plasma glucose level was returned to normal range in the high risk group. The number of people who have three or more risk factors of MS (high risk group) was decreased from 25 to 12. Sum of MS Criteria decreased from 85 to 52 in the group of MS and decreased from 143 to 99 in all groups. These results indicate that nutrition counseling for male workers at the worksite proved to be helpful by reducing the risk factors of MS and thereby reducing the risk of cardiovascular disease. Continuing and systematic nutritional management programs should be developed and implemented for male workers at the worksites.
Adipose Tissue ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Counseling ; Fasting ; Glucose ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Male ; Plasma ; Reference Values ; Risk Factors ; Workplace

Effective nutrition educations for prevention of chronic diseases for the general population are of great importance these days. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of nutrition education for cardiovascular risk factor reduction by e-mail education in male workers. The participants were divided into three groups by age; 28-39 age group, 40-49 age group, and 50-59 age group who got regular checkups for anthropometry and biochemistry. The 1 year program consisted of 15 topics containing information about metabolic syndrome (MS) and healthy eating behavior (intake of salt, fat and alcohol). Seven hundred thirty nine participants volunteered for the study [28-39 age group, n = 240; body mass index (BMI) = 24.9 +/- 2.7 kg/m2: 40' group, n = 276; BMI = 24.8 +/- 2.6 kg/m2: 50' group, n = 223; BMI = 24.9 +/- 2.7 kg/m2]. Percentage body fat (p<0.05) and percentage of abdominal fat (p<0.05), total cholesterol (p<0.05), systolic blood pressure (p<0.05), and diastolic blood pressure (p<0.05) were significantly decreased in all participants after the 1 year program. The total number of participants who had MS was decreased from 216 to 199 and especially the incidence of MS was decreased 27% in the group of subjects who were under the age 39. The e-mail worksite nutrition education program shows a substantial contribution to the development of effective CVD and chronic disease control and lifestyle nutrition educations that are applicable to and attractive for the large population at risk.
Abdominal Fat ; Adipose Tissue ; Anthropometry ; Biochemistry ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Chronic Disease ; Electronic Mail ; Feeding Behavior ; Humans ; Incidence ; Life Style ; Male ; Population Characteristics ; Risk Factors ; Workplace

Adipocytokines (adiponectin, leptin and resistin) are known to play a major role in development of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and intervention program is effective in reducing CVD risk factors. However, intervention program to improve the CVD risk factors including adipocytokines has been less studied. This study investigated the effects of 12-weeks worksite intervention program on cardiovascular risk factors, adipocytokines and nutrients intakes in industrial workers. 157 industrial male workers (32 metabolic syndrome (MS) subjects, 125 healthy subjects using age-matched stratified random sampling) received 5 face-to-face counseling based on their health profiles. Anthropometry, biochemical parameters and nutrients intakes were measured. The diagnosis of MS was adapted from modified NCEP-ATP III criteria (2001) and Asia-Pacific definition criteria (2000) for waist circumference (WC). After the intervention program, WC, BMI, SBP, insulin, leptin and intakes of total energy and fiber were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), while adiponectin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in MS subjects. The WC, BMI, SBP, total cholesterol, LDL and HDL-cholesterol, HbA1c, leptin and intakes of total energy, protein and fat were significantly decreased (p < 0.05) and adiponectin was significantly increased (p < 0.05) in normal subjects. Multiple linear regression revealed that adiponectin was positively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.01). Leptin was positively correlated with WC (p < 0.01), and resistin was positively correlated with HbA1c (p < 0.05) and intakes of total energy (p < 0.05), and negatively correlated with HDL-cholesterol (p < 0.05). The results of the 12 weeks intervention showed a positive impact on adipocytokines and nutrients intakes of industrial workers to reduce cardiovascular risk factors. Further research is needed to verify a tailored long-term worksite intervention program including adipocytokines as a protective factor for the CVD.
Adipokines ; Adiponectin ; Anthropometry ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol, LDL ; Counseling ; Humans ; Insulin ; Leptin ; Linear Models ; Male ; Resistin ; Risk Factors ; Waist Circumference ; Workplace

OBJECTIVES: Plasma lipid profiles and Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) are established risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD). The knowledge of lipid profile may estimate the potential victims of cardiovascular disease before its initiation and progression and offers the opportunity for primary prevention. The most common ApoE polymorphism has been found to influence plasma lipid concentrations and its correlation with CVD has been extensively investigated in the last decade. METHODS: The ApoE polymorphism and its influence on plasma lipid were investigated in healthy woman workers. The information on confounding factors was obtained through a self-administered questionnaire and ApoE polymorphism was investigated using PCR. RESULTS: The relative frequencies of alleles E2, E3 and E4 for the study population (n=305) were 0.127, 0.750 and 0.121, respectively. ApoE polymorphism was associated with variations in plasma HDL-cholesterol lipid profile. In order to estimate the independent effects of alleles E2 and E4, as compared with E3, on lipid profile, multiple regression was performed after adjustment for confounding variables such as age, BMI, blood pressure, education status, insulin, fasting glucose, HOMA-IR, menopause. ApoE2 had a negative association with HDL cholesterol and ApoE4 had a positive association with LDL cholesterol. CONCLUSIONS: This study identified that the ApoE and CVD risk factors contribute to the lipid profiles, similar to other studies. The analysis including dietary intake and other gene in further studies may help to identify clear effects on lipid profiles as risk factor for CVD.
Adult ; Apolipoproteins E/blood/*genetics/metabolism ; Cardiovascular Diseases/epidemiology/prevention & control ; Cholesterol, HDL/genetics ; Female ; *Genotype ; Humans ; Lipid Metabolism/*genetics ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Primary Prevention