Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory ; COVID-19/therapy* ; Cardiac Rehabilitation ; Cardiovascular Diseases/therapy* ; Communicable Disease Control ; Contact Tracing ; Health Literacy ; Health Services Accessibility ; Healthcare Disparities ; Humans ; Internet Access ; Poverty ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Singapore ; Social Class ; Social Conditions ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Telemedicine ; Telerehabilitation ; Transients and Migrants

BACKGROUND: Mine workers in South Africa face challenges relating to poor health and safety, including fatigue risks, and poor socioeconomic and living conditions. Fatigue results in impaired mental and physical performance. The aim of this study was to assess contributors to fatigue of mine workers in South Africa. METHODS: Data collection took place at four gold mines and one platinum mine in South Africa. A total of 21 focus groups were held with individuals in management, union representatives, and mine workers, and 564 questionnaires were completed by mine workers to gather information about fatigue and potential contributors to fatigue at these mines. RESULTS: Qualitatively (through focus groups), fatigue was attributed to extended working hours, harsh working conditions, high workloads, production pressure, and resource constraints, along with aspects relating to demographic and socioeconomic factors, living conditions, lifestyle, health, and wellness. Greater fatigue was significantly associated with younger age, indebtedness, a lack of exercise, poor nutrition, less sleep, increased alcohol use, poor self-reported health, more sick leave, higher stress, and lower job satisfaction. CONCLUSION: The aim of the study was achieved; numerous work-, sociodemographic-, lifestyle-, and wellness-related factors were linked to fatigue in the participating mine workers. Contributors to fatigue should be addressed to improve health, safety, and sustainability in the industry.
Data Collection ; Environment and Public Health ; Fatigue ; Focus Groups ; Job Satisfaction ; Life Style ; Miners ; Mining ; Platinum ; Sick Leave ; Social Conditions ; Socioeconomic Factors ; South Africa

Excavation (2008–2014) carried out under the Uffizi Gallery (Florence, Italy) led to the discovery of 75 individuals, mostly buried in multiple graves. Based on Roman minted coins, the graves were preliminarily dated between the second half of the 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE. Taphonomy showed that this was an emergency burial site associated with a catastrophic event, possibly an epidemic of unknown etiology with high mortality rates. In this perspective, paleoparasitological investigations were performed on 18 individuals exhumed from 9 multiple graves to assess the burden of gastrointestinal parasitism. Five out of eighteen individuals (27.7%) tested positive for ascarid-type remains; these are considered as “decorticated” Ascaris eggs, which have lost their outer mammillated coat. Roundworms (genus Ascaris) commonly infest human populations under dire sanitary conditions. Archaeological and historical evidence indicates that Florentia suffered a period of economic crisis between the end of 4th and the beginning of the 5th centuries CE, and that the aqueduct was severely damaged at the beginning of the 4th century CE, possibly during the siege of the Goths (406 CE). It is more than plausible that the epidemic, possibly coupled with the disruption of the aqueduct, deeply affected the living conditions of these individuals. A 27.7% frequency suggests that ascariasis was widespread in this population. This investigation exemplifies how paleoparasitological information can be retrieved from the analysis of sediments sampled in cemeteries, thus allowing a better assessment of the varying frequency of parasitic infections among ancient populations.
Ascariasis ; Ascaris ; Burial ; Cemeteries ; Eggs ; Emergencies ; Humans ; Italy ; Mentha ; Mortality ; Numismatics ; Ovum ; Social Conditions

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to investigate the social perceptions of the baby box and infant abandonment. METHODS: The study included a survey on social perceptions of infant abandonment, including the baby box and permissiveness of infant abandonment. F-tests and t-tests were performed to clarify the differences in permissiveness of infant abandonment based on general characteristics. RESULTS: First, it was found that awareness of the baby box was high, and positive perceptions were slightly higher than negative perceptions due to the value placed on the abandoned child's life and safety, the unavoidable reasons for not rearing a child, and the child's quality of life after abandonment. However, the reasons for negative attitudes toward the baby box included the increase in infant abandonment and the decrease in parental responsibility toward the child. Second, the permissiveness of infant abandonment was generally low; however, the level of permissiveness differed according to age, education level, status, and marital status. For people who are in their 30s or older, hold a graduate or higher level degree, are employed, and are married, the permissiveness of infant abandonment was lower than that of others. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that the current support policy for unmarried mothers should be changed to improve the economic and social conditions of child care. Furthermore, we must strive to improve the social perceptions of various family structures, including unmarried parents and their children.
Child ; Child Abuse ; Child Care ; Education ; Humans ; Illegitimacy ; Infant ; Marital Status ; Parents ; Permissiveness ; Quality of Life ; Single Person ; Social Conditions ; Social Perception

Despite recent advances, there is little research on factors associated with emotional abuse among Korean older adults. The present study investigated the relationships between depression and emotional abuse among community-dwelling Korean older adults. We analyzed the dataset from the Survey of Living Conditions and Welfare Needs of Korean Older Persons conducted by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs in 2011. Older adults (aged >65 years, n=10674) were randomly selected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to investigate factors associated with emotional abuse in terms of sociodemographic, health-related, and psychological variables, including depression using the short version of the Geriatric Depression Scale. In our study, 9.4% of the older adults reported experiencing emotional abuse in the previous year. In addition, 44.0% of those experiencing emotional abuse suffered from depression. Multiple logistic regression modeling showed that depression in older adults was independently associated with emotional abuse [odds ratio (OR)=1.788, p < 0.001]. Along with depression, poor social support (OR for no social support=1.712, p < 0.001) and having chronic illnesses (OR for more than 3=1.481, p < 0.005) were associated an increased risk of emotional abuse. Our results showed that emotional abuse among older adults in Korea is prevalent. Our findings suggest that depression, poor social support, and having chronic illnesses are significant factors associated with emotional abuse among the Korean older adult population. Addressing these factors with preventive interventions could have significant public health implications. Further studies are warranted to gain a better understanding of emotional abuse in older Korean adults.
Adult* ; Chronic Disease ; Dataset ; Depression* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Public Health ; Social Conditions

BACKGROUND: Muscle mass and muscle function are related to depressed mood in studies of adults. Like adults, Korean students are highly likely to suffer from decreased muscle mass due to social conditions. In this study, we evaluated the muscle mass status of Korean adolescents and assess the effect of muscle on depressive mood. METHODS: A total of 1,233 adolescent boys and girls participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were enrolled in our study. Participants underwent dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry for assessment of appendicular muscle mass and completed questionnaires regarding depressed mood, stress, suicidal ideations, and attempts. RESULTS: There was no difference in depressive mood according to muscle mass among boys (P = 0.634); girls with decreased muscle mass had a greater tendency for depressed mood compared to girls with optimal muscle mass (P = 0.023). After adjusting for age, waist circumference-to-height ratio, smoking status, alcohol consumption, frequency of physical activity, self-reported obesity, weight-loss efforts, and monthly household income, girls with low muscle mass (LMM) were 2.60 times more at risk of developing depression than girls with normal muscle mass (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05–6.49; P = 0.040). This trend was similar for girls with LMM with obesity (95% CI, 1.00–11.97; P = 0.049). CONCLUSION: Adolescent girls who have insufficient muscle mass are more likely to report depressed mood than girls who have ideal muscle mass. Interventions for maintaining proper muscle mass are required.
Absorptiometry, Photon ; Adolescent Psychiatry ; Adolescent* ; Adult ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Composition ; Cross-Sectional Studies* ; Depression ; Family Characteristics ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mood Disorders ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Conditions ; Suicidal Ideation

Soil-transmitted helminthiases (STH) are now no longer public health problems in the Republic of Korea (South Korea), but their status are unavailable in the residents of North Korea (NK) despite the expectation of large scale traffic and future reunification of the Korean Peninsula. A total of 20 female refugees from NK who had been admitted to the Division of Gastroenterology, Dankook University Hospital, were subjected in this study. Among them, 15 refugees were examined by the colonoscopy and 10 ones were examined with the stool examination (formalin-ether sedimentation). Both diagnostic methods were commonly adopted in 5 patients. Eggs of Trichuris trichiura were detected in 7 out of 10 refugees in the stool examination. In the colonoscopy, T. trichiura worms were found in 6 (40.0%) out of 15 refugees. Total 9 (45.0%) peoples were confirmed to be infected with human whipworms. Additionally, 1 case of clonorchiasis was diagnosed in the stool examination and a worm of Ascaris lumbricoides was discovered from a trichuriasis case. These findings suggested that STH is highly prevalent in NO, in which living conditions are not so good in the aspect of general hygiene and medical care.
Ascaris lumbricoides ; Clonorchiasis ; Clonorchis sinensis ; Colonoscopy ; Democratic People's Republic of Korea ; Eggs ; Female ; Gastroenterology ; Helminthiasis ; Helminths ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Ovum ; Public Health ; Refugees ; Republic of Korea ; Social Conditions ; Trichuriasis ; Trichuris

This study is to review the emergence of new psychiatrists, scientific rationalization, and popular internalization to reorganize the formation process of modern psychological medicine system. Unlike eugenic psychiatry from the Japanese Colonial Era, the social conditions and contexts forming autonomous system of psychiatry of Korea in the 1960s and 1970s have been concentrated. The discussion approach has been tried to secure two perspectives-treatment and criticism-at the same time and to expand the time and scope of study through the extensive texts such as newspapers, magazines, books, advertisements, and others in the 1960s and 1970s. Through formation of subject, rationalization, and popularization, this study has surveyed the characteristics of psychiatry in the 1960s and 1970s to accentuate complicated conditions and kinetic steps to systemize psychiatry as scientific field to promote treatment of patients by deviating from mental hygiene approaching national mental health from cleanliness and removal. The characteristics are summarized as follows. First, as the ethical models of good doctors, medical paternalistic doctors, and non-authoritarian symmetric doctors have been proposed as good psychiatrists by new medical specialists with experience of globality, a new subject emerges. However, there has been illegalization process of unlicensed medical practitioner excluded by the regulatory authority called “clearness.” Second, the rationalization of psychiatry has been accelerated through the dispute of enactment of Mental Hygiene Law, segmentalization of concept of mental illness, and scientific characteristics. Especially, the disputes over enactment of Mental Hygiene Law focused on criminalization of mental patients brought a result to regulate the patients as the target of humanistic treatment and potential criminals at the same time. Third, popularization of psychiatry has embraced invisible mental illness into popular daily life through visual measure called medicine advertisement, and through the discussion about social neurosis, a new paradigm for diagnosis of Korean society has been proposed. Moreover, by focusing on autobiographical works with voices of patients, this article reveals a new doctor-patient relationship.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Criminals ; Diagnosis ; Dissent and Disputes ; Humans ; Jurisprudence ; Korea* ; Mental Health* ; Mentally Ill Persons ; Periodicals ; Periodicals as Topic ; Psychiatry ; Rationalization ; Social Conditions ; Specialization ; Voice

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Recent living condition improvements, changes in dietary habits, and reductions in physical activity are contributing to an increase in metabolic syndrome symptoms including diabetes and obesity. Through such societal developments, humankind is continuously exposed to metabolic diseases such as diabetes, and the number of the victims is increasing. This study investigated Cordyceps militaris water extract (CMW)-induced glucose uptake in HepG2 cells and the effect of CMW treatment on glucose metabolism. MATERIALS/METHODS: Colorimetric assay kits were used to determine the glucokinase (GK) and pyruvate dehydrogenase (PDH) activities, glucose uptake, and glycogen content. Either RT-PCR or western blot analysis was performed for quantitation of glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2), hepatocyte nuclear factor 1 alpha (HNF-1α), phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3k), protein kinase B (Akt), phosphorylated AMP-activated protein kinase (pAMPK), phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, GK, PDH, and glycogen synthase kinase 3 beta (GSK-3β) expression levels. The α-glucosidase inhibitory activities of acarbose and CMW were evaluated by absorbance measurement. RESULTS: CMW induced glucose uptake in HepG2 cells by increasing GLUT2 through HNF-1α expression stimulation. Glucose in the cells increased the CMW-induced phosphorylation of AMPK. In turn, glycolysis was stimulated, and glyconeogenesis was inhibited. Furthermore, by studying the mechanism of action of PI3k, Akt, and GSK-3β, and measuring glycogen content, the study confirmed that the glucose was stored in the liver as glycogen. Finally, CMW resulted in a higher level of α-glucosidase inhibitory activity than that from acarbose. CONCLUSION: CMW induced the uptake of glucose into HepG2 cells, as well, it induced metabolism of the absorbed glucose. It is concluded that CMW is a candidate or potential use in diabetes prevention and treatment.
Acarbose ; alpha-Glucosidases* ; AMP-Activated Protein Kinases ; Blotting, Western ; Cordyceps* ; Food Habits ; Glucokinase ; Glucose Transport Proteins, Facilitative ; Glucose* ; Glycogen ; Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 ; Glycolysis ; Hep G2 Cells* ; Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 1-alpha ; Hypoglycemic Agents ; Liver ; Metabolic Diseases ; Metabolism* ; Motor Activity ; Obesity ; Oxidoreductases ; Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase ; Phosphoenolpyruvate ; Phosphorylation ; Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-akt ; Pyruvic Acid ; Social Conditions ; Water*

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to report on the mortality of nonagenarians who underwent surgical treatment for a hip fracture, specifically in regards to preexisting comorbidities. Furthermore, we assessed the effectiveness of the Deyo score in predicting such mortality. METHODS: Thirty-nine patients over the age of 90 who underwent surgical repair of a hip fracture were retrospectively analyzed. Twenty-six patients (66.7%) suffered femoral neck fractures, while the remaining 13 (33.3%) presented with trochanteric type fractures. Patient charts were examined to determine previously diagnosed patient comorbidities as well as living arrangements and mobility before and after surgery. RESULTS: Deyo index scores did not demonstrate statistically significant correlations with postoperative mortality or functional outcomes. The hazard of in-hospital mortality was found to be 91% (p = 0.036) and 86% (p = 0.05) less in patients without a history of congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic pulmonary disease (CPD), respectively. Additionally, the hazard of 90-day mortality was 88% (p = 0.01) and 81% (p = 0.024) less in patients without a history of dementia and CPD, respectively. The hazard of 1-year mortality was also found to be 75% (p = 0.01) and 80% (p = 0.01) less in patients without a history of dementia and CPD, respectively. Furthermore, dementia patients stayed in-hospital postoperatively an average of 5.3 days (p = 0.013) less than nondementia patients and only 38.5% returned to preoperative living conditions (p = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Nonagenarians with a history of CHF and CPD have a higher risk of in-hospital mortality following the operative repair of hip fractures. CPD and dementia patients over 90 years old have higher 90-day and 1-year mortality hazards postoperatively. Dementia patients are also discharged more quickly than nondementia patients.
Aged, 80 and over* ; Comorbidity ; Dementia ; Femoral Neck Fractures ; Femur ; Heart Failure ; Hip Fractures* ; Hip* ; Hospital Mortality ; Humans ; Lung Diseases ; Mortality* ; Residence Characteristics ; Retrospective Studies ; Social Conditions