Association of Polymorphisms in Monocyte Chemoattractant Protein-1 Promoter with Diabetic Kidney Failure in Korean Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is suggested to be involved in the progression of diabetic nephropathy. We investigated the association of the -2518 A/G polymorphism in the MCP-1 gene with progressive kidney failure in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). We investigated -2518 A/G polymorphism of the MCP-1 gene in type 2 DM patients with progressive kidney failure (n=112) compared with matched type 2 DM patients without nephropathy (diabetic control, n=112) and healthy controls (n=230). The overall genotypic distribution of -2518 A/G in the MCP-1 gene was not different in patients with type 2 DM compared to healthy controls. Although the genotype was not significantly different between the patients with kidney failure and the diabetic control (p=0.07), the A allele was more frequent in patients with kidney failure than in DM controls (42.0 vs. 32.1%, p=0.03). The carriage of A allele was significantly associated with kidney failure (68.8 vs. 54.5%, OR 1.84, 95% CI 1.07-3.18). In logistic regression analysis, carriage of A allele retained a significant association with diabetic kidney failure. Our result shows that the -2518 A allele of the MCP-1 gene is associated with kidney failure in Korean patients with type 2 DM

Associations between health risk behaviors and perceived health status among individuals with serious mental illness (SMI)

Individuals with Serious Mental Illness (SMI) suffer from chronic medical problems and have greater mortality rates than the general population. The combination of four health-risk behaviors (i.e., physical inactivity, poor diet, smoking, and excessive alcohol intake) may contribute to decreased health status. This study aims to investigate associations between four health risk behaviors and perceived health status of individuals with SMI, so as to provide a better understanding of the attribution of each health-risk behavior to perceived health status. A secondary data analysis of the 2013–2014 California Health Interview Survey was utilized. A total of 1,277 adults were selected based on the criteria of the Kessler Psychological Distress Scale. Hierarchical logistic regression analyses revealed that individuals with SMI who had unhealthy dietary behaviors and were physically inactive were more likely to rate their health status as poor, compared with their counterparts (OR = 0.23, 95% CI [0.10, 0.56] and OR = 0.31, 95% CI [0.10, 0.96], respectively). However, individuals with SMI who had episodes of binge drinking were less likely to rate their perceived health status as poor, but the counterparts tend to rate their health status as more than fair (OR = 2.56, 95% CI [0.10, 0.56])

Moderating Effects of Physical Activity on the Relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences and Health-Related Quality of Life

The effects of adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) and their associations with physical activities (PA) are well-documented. However, the specific effects of different types of ACEs (e.g., child abuse and household dysfunction) on HRQOL and the role of PA are inconclusive. The purpose of this study is to find the buffering role of PA as a moderator that may reduce the negative impact of ACEs in general and the specific effects of different types of ACEs on HRQOL, perceived physical health, and mental health over time. The 2019 Behavioral Risk Fact Surveillance System (BRFSS), a state-based surveillance system supported by the CDC in the U.S., was used for this study. A total of 127,370 respondents from 17 states were selected for this study. First, descriptive statistics were generated and correlation analyses were conducted to find the association among variables and examine the possible predictors of HRQOL. Moderation models were then tested using Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). HRQOL in adults is negatively associated with ACEs, but is positively associated with PA. We found buffering effects of physical activity in the following relationships: (1) child abuse and HRQOL, (2) child abuse and perceived physical health, (3) ACEs and perceived mental health, (4) child abuse and perceived mental health, and (5) household dysfunction and perceived mental health. Our findings suggest that improvement of PA level is a significant predictor of improved HRQOL of adults with ACEs

Determinants of COVID-19 vaccine Hesitancy: 2020 California Health Interview Survey

Although the COVID-19 vaccine is a key intervention against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, vaccine hesitancy is a barrier to vaccination coverage, leading to a higher risk of COVID-19-related morbidity and mortality. To reduce vaccine hesitancy, the factors affecting it must be addressed. Based on the determinants of health approach, this study aimed to investigate whether the distribution of determinants of health differed between the vaccine hesitancy group and the vaccine acceptance group and to identify determinants of participants’ hesitancy to receive the COVID-19 vaccine if it was available. This study utilized the 2020 California Health Interview Survey Data collected between May and December 2020. Data were collected using a population-based web and telephone health survey. Data from 21,949 participants in California were included, and 4,183 (23.4 %) showed vaccine hesitancy. The following determinants were positively associated with vaccine hesitancy: female sex, Black and American Indian/Alaskan Native ethnicity, smoking, poverty, U.S.-born citizen, frequent use of social media, food insecurity, and limited healthcare access. Older age, not having severe psychological distress, not having diabetes, and high perceived safety in the neighborhood were negatively associated with COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. This study also found that higher use of social media potentially threatened vaccine uptake, whereas frequent internet use was negatively associated with vaccine hesitancy. Public health and other relevant service providers should address the determinants of vaccine hesitancy and develop effective strategies and interventions for vaccine-hesitant groups

Reliability and Validity of the Korean Version of Hospital Social Work Self-Efficacy Scale

A total of 280 medical social workers in medical institutions in South Korea participated to an online survey from December 2021 to March 2022. Translation and adaptation of items of the Korean version of HSWSE followed the suggested process by the World Health Organization. To ensure privacy of study participants, the popular mobile messaging app for smartphones in South Korea was utilized. The two-fold strategy involved the recruitment of medical social workers working in hospital settings; a recruitment message was sent to the regional representatives of The Korean Association of Medical Social Workers, and the message was forwarded to their members. Various correlation and confirmatory factor analyses were conducted for data analysis. The evaluation of the psychometric properties of the Korean version of HSWSE indicated that it is a valid and reliable population-based and working environment-focused instrument. Study findings will enable the Korean version of HSWSE to be usefully utilized to improve the task performance of medical social workers, and evaluate the factors influencing their education and training. Study findings shed a light on the needs for developing and verifying culturally responsive instruments, and furthermore if its validity and reliability of the Korean version of HSWSE can be transferable internationally

Trends and Spatio-Temporal Variability of Summer Mean and Extreme Precipitation across South Korea for 1973–2022

Climate change has altered the frequency, intensity, and timing of mean and extreme precipitation. Extreme precipitation has caused tremendous socio-economic losses, and severe impacts on human life, livelihood, and ecosystems. In recent years, heavy rainfall events occurred during the boreal summer (June-to-August) frequently and sporadically over South Korea. Given that its severity, a call for an urgent investigation of summer extreme rainfall is needed. Although many previous studies have addressed daily extreme precipitation, hourly extreme rainfall still needs to be thoroughly investigated. Therefore, in this study, we investigated the trends, spatio-temporal variability, and long-term variations in mean and extreme precipitation over South Korea during the boreal summertime using daily and hourly observational data through various analysis methods. During the past 50 years (1973–2022), there has been a notable escalation in maximum hourly precipitation, although the boreal summer mean precipitation has increased only marginally. Regionally, an increase in mean and extreme rainfall occurred in the northern part of the central region and the southern coast of the Korean peninsula. Moreover, the increase in intensity and frequency of extreme precipitation as well as in dry day have contributed more to the total summer precipitation in recent years. Our findings provide scientific insights into the progression of extreme summer precipitation events in South Korea. © 2023, The Author(s) under exclusive licence to Korean Meteorological Society and Springer Nature B.V.11Nsciescopuskc

Skills and Wages of Public Employees: Investigating Korean Bureaucracy through PIAAC

Korea’s public employees have made significant contributions to the country’s rapid economic growth and social development. In recent years, however, there has been growing concern that the competitiveness of Korea’s public employees is lagging behind Korea’s private sector employees as well as the public employees of other countries. This paper uses the OECD PIAAC (Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies) data to empirically analyze Korean public employees’ skill level, skill-use, and learning, with emphasis on comparison with public employees of OECD countries and the domestic private sector. Also, we analyze the skill-wage gap and the returns to skills of public employees to observe whether the wage system of public employees provides sufficient incentives for human capital investment