Association of Changes in Sitting Time with the Risk of Developing Diabetes:A Community-Based Cohort Study / 대한스포츠의학회지

Purpose@#The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between changes in sitting time (ST) with the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. @*Methods@#This study examined 2,814 adults aged 40 to 69 years who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study, a community-based cohort study, for a total of 10 years. Changes in ST were assessed using the results obtained from physical activity questionnaires completed during the baseline and follow-up surveys. The diagnosis of metabolic syndrome was classified according to the criteria established by the International Diabetes Federation. We conducted survival analysis by the multivariate extended Cox regression model. The significance level for all analyses was set at p＜ 0.05. @*Results@#We compared the newly ST group with ST less than 7 hours in the baseline and more than 7 hours in the first follow-up to the consistently non-ST group with ST less than 7 hours in both the baseline and the first follow-up. In this comparison, we found that the hazard ratio (HR) for the incidence of metabolic syndrome increasedby 33% (HR, 1.33; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.74) for changes in total daily sedentary time and by 47% (HR, 1.47; 95% CI, 1.13–1.92) for changes in weekday sedentary time in the newly ST group. @*Conclusion@#Changes in ST are associated with the risk of developing metabolic syndrome. These findings can serve as fundamental data for further research on the relationship between changes in ST, and the occurrence of metabolic syndrome.

The Association between Psychosocial Stress and Type of Physical Activity in Middle Aged Adult: A Community-based Cohort Study / 대한스포츠의학회지

Purpose@#The purpose of this study was to identify the associations between type of moderate-vigorous physical activities (MVPA) and psychological stress in South Korean, based on the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. The subjects of this study were 2,891 Korean men and women aged 40 to 69, who completed health examination from 2011 to 2012. @*Methods@#The type of MVPA was measured by using self-reported physical activity questionnaire. A high psychological stress was determined by scoring Psychological Well-being Index Short Form (≥ 27). Logistic regression analysis, adjusting other confounding factors, was conducted to identify the association of type of MVPA level with psychological stress (p＜ 0.05). @*Results@#Participants who leisure-related MVPA of ≥ 150 min/week was less likely have to high psychological stress than ＜ 150 min/week (odds ratio [OR], 0.72; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.57–0.92). From the analysis of gender, leisure-related (OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.35–0.72) and work-related (OR, 0.63; 95% CI, 0.41–0.97) MVPA of ≥ 150min/week were associated with low psychological stress in men, but women was not significantly associated. From the analysis of age, leisure-related MVPA of ≥ 150 min/week were associated with low psychological stress in middle age group (OR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.53–0.92), but elderly group was not significantly associated. Differences inpsychological stress OR according to type of MVPA time were observed about classification of occupations. @*Conclusion@#High level of leisure related physical activity were independently associated with reducing risk for psychological stress. Also, encouraged MVPA by gender, age, classification of occupations could help to improve psychological stress levels in middle-aged or older adults.

Joint Association of Relative Grip Strength and Resting Heart Rate with the Risk of Developing Diabetes in Middle-Aged Adults / 대한스포츠의학회지

Purpose@#Our primary aim was to elucidate the association between relative grip strength levels and the risk of developing diabetes, utilizing longitudinal data. @*Methods@#A total of 1,935 participants in this study comprised general adults aged 51 to 81 years, who had engagedin the survey both in 2013–2014 and during the subsequent follow-up in 2019–2020. The criteria for diagnosingdiabetes included receiving a diabetes diagnosis and treatment. grip strength was converted into relative grip strength by dividing it by body mass index. To validate the relationship between the interaction of relative grip strength and resting heart rate and its impact on risk of developing diabetes, a proportional hazards Cox regression model was used.Subsequently, we computed the hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for risk of developing diabetes. @*Results@#After adjusting for various confounding variables, we observed a significant 46% reduction in the risk of developing diabetes in the high relative grip strength group compared to the low relativegrip strength group (HR,0.54; 95% CI, 0.36–0.80). However, upon additional adjustment for waist circumference, no significant findings couldbe yielded. Furthermore, we found significant differences the relationship between relative grip strength, resting heart rate, and the risk of developing diabetes among different groups. @*Conclusion@#This study investigates the relationship between relative grip strength and incidence of diabetes, attributed to the accumulation of body fat. Notably, both resting heart rate and relative grip strength emerge as predictive indicators for assessing the risk of diabetes development.

Workers' Exposure to Indium Compounds at the Electronics Industry in Republic of Korea

Objectives@#The aim of this study was to provide baseline data for the assessment of exposure to indium and to prevent adverse health effects among workers engaged in the electronics and related industries in Republic of Korea. @*Methods@#Total (n = 369) and respirable (n = 384) indium concentrations were monitored using personal air sampling in workers at the following 19 workplaces: six sputtering target manufacturing companies, four manufacturing companies of panel displays, two companies engaged in cleaning of sputtering components, two companies dedicated to the cleaning of sputtering target, and five indium recycling companies. @*Results@#The level of exposure to total indium ranged from 0.9 to 609.3 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; from 0.2 to 2,782.0 μg/m3 for the panel display companies and from 0.5 to 2,089.9 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The level of exposure to respirable indium was in the range of 0.02 to 448.6 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; 0.01 to 419.5 μg/m3 for the panel display companies; and 0.5 to 436.3 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The indium recycling companies had the most samples exceeding the exposure standard for indium, followed by sputtering target companies and panel display companies. @*Conclusions@#The main finding from this exposure assessment is that many workers who handle indium compounds in the electronics industry are exposed to indium levels that exceed the exposure standards for indium. Hence, it is necessary to continuously monitor the indium exposure of this workforce and take measures to reduce its exposure levels.

Workers' Exposure to Indium Compounds at the Electronics Industry in Republic of Korea

Objectives@#The aim of this study was to provide baseline data for the assessment of exposure to indium and to prevent adverse health effects among workers engaged in the electronics and related industries in Republic of Korea. @*Methods@#Total (n = 369) and respirable (n = 384) indium concentrations were monitored using personal air sampling in workers at the following 19 workplaces: six sputtering target manufacturing companies, four manufacturing companies of panel displays, two companies engaged in cleaning of sputtering components, two companies dedicated to the cleaning of sputtering target, and five indium recycling companies. @*Results@#The level of exposure to total indium ranged from 0.9 to 609.3 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; from 0.2 to 2,782.0 μg/m3 for the panel display companies and from 0.5 to 2,089.9 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The level of exposure to respirable indium was in the range of 0.02 to 448.6 μg/m3 for the sputtering target companies; 0.01 to 419.5 μg/m3 for the panel display companies; and 0.5 to 436.3 μg/m3 for the indium recycling companies. The indium recycling companies had the most samples exceeding the exposure standard for indium, followed by sputtering target companies and panel display companies. @*Conclusions@#The main finding from this exposure assessment is that many workers who handle indium compounds in the electronics industry are exposed to indium levels that exceed the exposure standards for indium. Hence, it is necessary to continuously monitor the indium exposure of this workforce and take measures to reduce its exposure levels.

A case of acute organic solvent poisoning during epoxy coating

BACKGROUND: In the construction industry, maintaining health and safety of workers often challenging. Among the workers at construction sites, painters are at particular risk of respiratory diseases and neurotoxicity. However, in Korea there is weak enforcement of workers' health and safety practices in the construction industry in Korea. Poisonings frequently occur at (semi)closed construction sites. In this study, we report a case of acute organic solvent poisoning during construction site painting. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old man was found unconscious at a construction site and immediately transferred to the emergency room. The consciousness level was 'stupor state' and the body temperature was hypothermic, at 32 degrees (Celsius). There were no acute brain or cardiac lesions that would have accounted for the faintness. In addition, blood and urine tests did not indicate a cause of loss of consciousness. He had been painting epoxy to waterproof the basement floor before fainting. According to exposure simulation, the patient was overexposed to various organic solvents, such as approximately 316–624 ppm toluene during the work before fainting. Considering the ventilation status of the workplace and the status of no protection, it is considered that exposure through the respiratory tract was considerable. CONCLUSIONS: The patient in this case lost consciousness during the epoxy coating in a semi-enclosed space. It can be judged as a result of acute poisoning caused by organic solvent exposure and considered to be highly related to work environment.

The Association between Muscle Strength and Hyperuricemia in the Healthy Middle-aged Adult in Yangpyeong Province / 대한스포츠의학회지

PURPOSE: This study aimed to examine the prevalence of hyperuricemia in association with relative grip strength and leg strength in Korean Elderly. METHODS: We studied cross-sectional analysis with 1,894 rural adults (40–88 years old), who were surveyed for 7 years from 2007 to 2014. Grip strength was measured by using Takei grip strength dynamometer. Leg strength was measured by using Takei leg strength dynamometer. Hyperuricemia was defined by examining serum uric acid concentration (male ≥7 mg/dL, female ≥6 mg/dL). Logistic regression was conducted to evaluate the association of grip strength and leg strength with hyperuricemia (p < 0.05). RESULTS: Subjects who reported high level of relative grip strength had a significantly lower odds ratio (OR) of hyperuricemia than subjects who reported low level of relative grip strength (OR, 0.37; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.16–0.84). When it comes to sex, subjects both high relative muscle strength are significantly lower multivariate-adjusted OR of hyperuricemia than subjects both low relative muscle strength in male (OR, 0.52; 95% CI, 0.29–0.95) and female (OR, 0.47; 95% CI, 0.26–0.95). Additionally, senior group (age ≥65 years), who have low relative grip strength and high relative leg strength, was only significantly associated with the prevalence of hyperuricemia (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.19–0.98). CONCLUSION: The relationship between hyperuricemia and relative grip strength may be mediated through decreased estimated glomerular filtration ratio. Therefore, muscle strength is important factor in prevention of renal vascular dysfunction which is a risk factor of hyperuricemia, and resistance exercise is needed to improve muscle strength.

Advanced Korean Industrial Safety and Health Policy with Risk Assessment

This article describes a systematic roadmap master plan for advanced industrial safety and health policy in Korea, with an emphasis on. Since Korean industries had first emergence of industrial safety and health policy in 1953, enormous efforts have been made on upgrading the relevant laws in order to reflect real situation of industrial work environment in accordance with rapid changes of Korean and global business over three decades. Nevertheless, current policy has major defects; too much techniques-based articles, diverged contents in less organization, combined enforcement and punishments and finally enforcing regulations full of commands and control. These deficiencies have make it difficult to accommodate changes of social, industrial and employment environment in customized fashion. The approach to the solution must be generic at the level of paradigm-shift rather than local modifications and enhancement. The basic idea is to establish a new system integrated with a risk assessment scheme, which encourages employers to apply to their work environment under comprehensive responsibility. The risk assessment scheme is designed to enable to inspect employers' compliances afterwards. A project comprises four yearly phases based on applying zones; initially designating and operating a specified risk zone, gradually expanding the special zones during a period of 3 years (2010-2012) and the final zone expanded to entire nation. In each phase, the intermediate version of the system is updated through a process of precise and unbiased validation in terms of its operability, feasibility and sustainability with building relevant infrastructures as needed.

Advanced Korean Industrial Safety and Health Policy with Risk Assessment

This article describes a systematic roadmap master plan for advanced industrial safety and health policy in Korea, with an emphasis on. Since Korean industries had first emergence of industrial safety and health policy in 1953, enormous efforts have been made on upgrading the relevant laws in order to reflect real situation of industrial work environment in accordance with rapid changes of Korean and global business over three decades. Nevertheless, current policy has major defects; too much techniques-based articles, diverged contents in less organization, combined enforcement and punishments and finally enforcing regulations full of commands and control. These deficiencies have make it difficult to accommodate changes of social, industrial and employment environment in customized fashion. The approach to the solution must be generic at the level of paradigm-shift rather than local modifications and enhancement. The basic idea is to establish a new system integrated with a risk assessment scheme, which encourages employers to apply to their work environment under comprehensive responsibility. The risk assessment scheme is designed to enable to inspect employers' compliances afterwards. A project comprises four yearly phases based on applying zones; initially designating and operating a specified risk zone, gradually expanding the special zones during a period of 3 years (2010-2012) and the final zone expanded to entire nation. In each phase, the intermediate version of the system is updated through a process of precise and unbiased validation in terms of its operability, feasibility and sustainability with building relevant infrastructures as needed.