Difference in health status of Korean farmers according to gender

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to compare differences in lifestyle diseases, musculoskeletal pain, psychosocial stress, and self-health awareness according to gender in Korean farmers. METHODS: The study population comprised 436 farmers residing in rural areas in Korea. A self-administered questionnaire was used to survey demographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and musculoskeletal pain. The psychosocial well-being index short form (PWI-SF) was used to survey psychosocial stress, and the 12-item short form health survey (SF-12) was used to survey self-health awareness. In addition, a clinical examination was performed for each participant, and lifestyle diseases were identified through a health checkup. RESULTS: Among lifestyle diseases, females showed a significantly higher proportion than males for metabolic syndrome (OR: 4.57 [95% CI, 1.67–12.51]). For musculoskeletal pain, females again showed significantly higher proportion than males for hand pain (OR: 16.79 [95% CI, 3.09–91.30]), and pain in at least one body part (OR: 2.34 [95% CI, 1.16–4.70]). For psychosocial stress, females showed a significantly higher proportion than males for high-risk stress (OR: 3.10 [95% CI, 1.17–8.24]). Among the items in self-health awareness, females showed significantly higher proportion than males for mental component score (MCS) (OR: 3.10 [95% CI, 1.52–6.31]) and total score (OR: 2.34 [95% CI, 1.11–4.90]). CONCLUSIONS: For all items that showed significant differences, females showed higher proportion than males, which indicates that female farmers tended to have poorer overall health than male farmers. Therefore, specialized programs will have to be developed to improve the health of female farmers.

Factors related with quality on sleep of daytime workers

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to identify the sleep status of daytime workers who do not work in shifts. This study analyzed factors affecting sleep duration and sleep quality. METHODS: This study was conducted on 1171 daytime workers at a manufacturing workshop. We used a self-administered questionnaire to investigate demographic variables, work type, working period, musculoskeletal symptoms and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep. Regular health checkup was conducted for the worker’s clinical examination. RESULTS: The mean sleep duration was 6.36 h and the mean score on the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was 4.46. Work type and obesity were related to sleep duration. Age, obesity and musculoskeletal pain were significantly related to sleep quality. The prevalence ratio of researcher group for short sleep duration was 1.27 (95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.58). The prevalence ratio of those aged 50 years and over was 0.47 (0.25–0.91) and of those in their 40s was 0.56 (0.35–0.91) for poor sleep quality compared to those in their 20s. The prevalence ratio of the obesity group for poor sleep quality was 1.53 (1.10–2.12). The prevalence ratio of musculoskeletal pain group for poor sleep quality was 1.92 (1.29–2.84). CONCLUSIONS: Age, obesity and musculoskeletal pain were factors affecting the poor quality on sleep of daytime workers. In addition, work type related to short sleep duration.

Two Cases of Cerebral Aspergillosis Originated from Sphenoid Sinus / 대한이비인후과학회지

Sphenoid aspergillosis is unusual and more aggressive than other paranasal aspergillosis. Intacranial extension of sphenoid aspergillosis may occur via direct spread of invasive disease or along communicating veins despite intact sinus walls. This tends to occur in immunocompromised patients and once this occurs, mortality is high. Recently, itraconazole, a triazole derivatives with a broad antifungal spectrum, is used instead of conventional antifungal agent. We experienced two cases of cerebral aspergillosis, both of which originated from the sphenoid sinus. Of these cases, one resulted in complete resolution through therapy with high dose itraconazole after endoscorpic sinus surgery but the other one case failed to keep up with the high dose itraconazole therapy and was lost in follow-up because of side effects of drug. So, we report the important role and side effects of high dose itraconazole against cerebral aspergillosis with a review of the literature.

The Effects of Saline Solution Irrigation on Nasal Mucus Secretion: in vivo and in vitro Study / 대한이비인후과학회지

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Various saline solution formulae have been used frequently in patients with rhinosinusitis. However, there are not enough scientific evidences supporting the effect of irrigation of the nose with saline solution. We investigated the effects of saline solution on mucus secretion, vascular response, subjective symptoms and nasal cavity air-space volume changes using in vitro and in vivo test. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In vitro study, inferior turbinate mucosa were harvested from patients who had chronic hypertrophic rhinitis. These were incubated with 0.9%, 3%, 6% of saline solutions, and control solution. Concentrations of mucin and lysozyme were measured from them. In vivo study, the nasal cavity of normal control group and patients with septal deviation were irrigated with 0.9%, 3%, 6% of saline solutions. Lavage fluids were collected from the ipsilateral and contralateral sides to measure the concentrations of varies constituents such as mucin, lysozyme, total protein, and albumin. Patients recorded subjective symptoms and nasal cavity air-space volume was assessed by acoustic rhinometry after each irrigations. RESULTS: In vitro study, the concentrations of mucin and lysozyme were increased in the dose-dependent manner by increasing the osmolarity. In vivo study, the sensation of rhinorrhea, pain and nasal blockage were increased as the concentration of saline increased. Furthermore, the concentrations of mucus and total protein also increased by increasing concentration of saline solution at ipsilateral side. However, contralateral reflex-mediated effect were negligible. There was no change in air-space volume. CONCLUSION: The saline solution induced secretion of mucus mignt be through axon reflex mediated neuronal effect. The increased mucus may change the rheology of mucus which, in turn, could increase mucociliary action in the nasal cavity.