A Study on the Risk Factors of Low Back Pain in Computer Terminal Operators / 대한산업의학회지

Low back pain in computer terminal operators is a very common but important symptom. While the occupational risk factors of low back pain were approved obscurely, there have been few studies on analysis or understanding of occupational risk factors. Therefore, we studied occupational risk factors of low back pain, especially for ergonomic factors as well as general characteristics of workers. We selected 98 subjects for this study, computer terminal operators ordinary using computers in Pusan. We calculated the subjective severity of low back pain of each operator by the Low Back Pain Scoring System. The relation of low back pain score to general characteristics of worker was also analyzed. We analyzed the relationship between low back pain score and individual efforts to prevent low back pain. We measured the ergonomic factors of each computer terminal operator - Trunk Jnclination(TI), Arm Flexion(AF), Elbow Angle(EA), Head Tilting(HT), Knee Angle(KA), using of foot plate and gap between the popliteum and chair. The correlations between these ergonomic factors and low back pain score were then analyzed. And the results are as follows: 1. The prevalence rate of low back pain in computer terminal operators was 39.8% in this study, when low back pain score was converted by the low back pain scoring system. 2. According to general characteristics of workers related to low back pain, the scores were higher in the older age group, the married and the longer work carriers. (p < 0.05) 3. In the analysis of the relationship between low back pain score and individual effort to prevent low back pain, regular exercise, history of schooling for prevention of low back pain, and declaration of intention to participate in low back pain education or exercise were stastistically significant(p < 0.05). And the more severe the low back pain, the higher the intention to participate in low back pain education they had in this study. 4. In the analyses of relationships or correlations between low back pain score and each of the 7 categories of ergonomic factors, only head tilting had a weak reverse correlation with low back pain(r=-0.2999, p < 0.01). From now on, cohort studies for the risk factors of low back pain of workers, who have been forced to work in non-ergonomical positioning at the work site, will be necessary. On the background of these ergonomic studies, the occupational health profession should be required to manage ergonomic working conditions.

Chromosome Aberrations and Sister Chromatid Exchanges of Hospital Workers Exposed to Radiation / 예방의학회지

In order to evaluate the cytogenetic hazard among hospital workers potentially exposed to low dose of radiation, the analysis of chromosome aberrations(CA) and sister chromatid exchanges(SCE) in lymphocytes were performed in 79 hospital workers and 79 non-exposed workers. The mean frequency of chromosomal exchange and deletion(respectively, 0.20X10-2/cell and 0.39X10(-2)/cell) in the exposed group were significantly higher than those(0.07X10(-2)/cell and 0.23X10-2/cell) in control group. The frequency of sister chromatid exchanges was 5.04/cell in the control vs. 6.57/cell in the exposed group. There were also significant differences in the mean frequencies of CA and SCE adjusted for age, sex, smoking, drinking between two groups. There were no evidence of significant increase of CA and SCE according to the department or duration of employment. But the frequency of cells having chromosome aberration was significantly higher in the exposed group than in the control group related to duration of employment. There was no dose-effect relationship between the cumulative doses and the frequency of CA and SCE. But in the case of last 1 yr cumulative dose, there were evidence of significant dose-dependant increase of chromosome type CA and percentage of cells with aberration. The result suggest that there is cytogenetic hazard in risk group like hospital workers handling low dose radiation. And the analysis CA and SCE are useful biological indicators for the exposure of low dose level of radiation.

A Study on Serum Lipid Levels of Children in Pusan / 예방의학회지

This is a cross-sectional study to evaluate the serum lipid levels of children living in Pusan in 1996. The distribution of age is from 2 years old to 12 years old. In female children mean total cholesterol is 171.4+/-26.2mg/dl, triglyceride is 104.7+/-50.6mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol is 54.4+/-14.8mg/dl, and LDL-cholesterol is 95.4+/-32.9mg/dl. In male children mean total cholesterol is 167.9+/-25.2mg/dl, triglyceride is 90.6+/-45.5mg/dl, HDL-cholesterol is 55.4+/-11.7mg/dll, and LDL-cholesterol is 94.4+/-23.6mg/dl. The percentile of serum lipid levels is measured in children. The 95th percentile of serum total cholesterol is 210mg/dl in male children, and 214mg/dl in female children. And, the 95th percentile of serum triglyceride is 184mg/dl in male children, and 191mg/dl in female children. And, the 95th percentile of LDL-cholesterol is 133mg/dl in male children, and 135mg/dl in female children. Serum total cholesterol is positively related to age(r=0.18), height(r=0.08), weight(r=0.17), obesity index(r=0.12), and negatively related to father's education level(r=-0.13), mother's education level(r=-0.13). Serum triglyceride is positively related to weight(r=0.23), age(r=0.31) and negatively related to father's education level(r=-0.12), mother's education level(r=-0.18). Serum HDL-C was positively related to mother's education level(r=0.07) and negatively related to height(r=-0.12), weight(r=-0.09). Conclusively, the serum lipid levels of children living in Pusan is generally so high that the family and school must try to control the serum lipid levels.

A Study on obesity pattern and related factors of the doctors / 예방의학회지

The author surveyed overall obesity indicies and factors concerned with obesity such as dietary intake, physical activity, stress and life style with the subject of doctors. The number of subjects was total 508 with 396 men and 112 women. They were subgrouped into surgical part, medical part and service and basic part by speciality. And also subgrouped into intern and resident, pay doctor, and practitioner by working type. The results were as follows. 1) Obesity indices: BMI of total doctor was 23.1+/-2.8, and WHR was 0.87+/-0.08 and overweight prevalence(BMI>25.0) was 23.6 %. It was within normal limit but slightly over the Korean standard. The degree of obesity indices of subgroups by speciality was "surgical part > medical part > service and basic part", and by working type was "practitioner > pay doctor > intern and resident". 2) Dietary intake and Physical activity: Average dietary intake was 2148+/-451 kcal/day. The degree of dietary intake by speciality was "surgical part > medical part > service and basic part". By working type it was "practitioner > pay doctor > intern and resident". Average physical activity was 29+/-5 METs/day. The degree of physical activity also showed similar pattern. But there was no significant difference among each groups. 3) Comparison between over-weight and non-over-weight group: The items that showed significant difference between two groups were dietary intake, skip breakfast, regular exercise, smoking, heavy drinking, chronic disease etc.