Association between Rheumatoid Arthritis and Poor Self-Perceived Oral Health in Korean Adults

Background and objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and oral health problems have been reported as specific disease units; however, this study was conducted to evaluate the association between RA and comprehensive oral health status. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the association between RA and oral health using self-perceived oral health (SPOH) variables that can determine the oral health status in Korean adults using representative national data. Methods: Data from 40,186 selected participants were collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2007 and 2018. The prevalence relative risk (PRR) was estimated using Poisson regression analysis to obtain the risk ratio of the SPOH according to RA. Results: The risk of SPOH depending on the RA status was statistically significant (odds ratio [OR] = 1.108, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.005–1.222). In addition, the risk of SPOH depending on the RA status was higher in the group with diabetes mellitus (DM) (OR = 1.205, 95% CI 0.966–1.503) than in the group without DM (OR = 1.088, 95% CI 0.976–1.214). Conclusions: In this study, a significant association was identified between RA and SPOH. Oral health experts should identify the factors affecting the oral health of patients with RA and provide correct oral health care; however, additional research is needed

Association between Obesity and Anemia in a Nationally Representative Sample of South Korean Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study

Anemia is associated with physical, cognitive, and developmental problems. Given that there are limited studies on anemia prevalence among obese Asian adolescents and that past evidence is controversial, this study investigated the relationship between obesity and anemia in a nationally representative sample of South Korean adolescents. Data were obtained from the 2007–2019 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Overall, 10,231 subjects were included in the analysis. Multiple logistic regression was performed to determine the relationship between obesity and anemia. Compared with the non-obesity group, the adjusted odds ratio (OR; 95% confidence interval [CI]) of anemia was 1.00 (0.66–1.50) in the obesity group. However, in the early adolescent subgroup of 10–13 years (adjusted OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 1.20–6.95), the risk of anemia was significantly higher in the obese group than in the non-obese group. Obesity was associated with an increased risk of anemia in early adolescents. Obese adolescents aged 10–13 require special care, especially through regular examination and management for anemia

A Three-Dimensional Microstructure Reconstruction Framework for Permeable Pavement Analysis Based on 3D-IWGAN with Enhanced Gradient Penalty

Owing to the increasing use of permeable pavement, there is a growing need for studies that can improve its design and durability. One of the most important factors that can reduce the functionality of permeable pavement is the clogging issue. Field experiments for investigating the clogging potential are relatively expensive owing to the high-cost testing equipment and materials. Moreover, a lot of time is required for conducting real physical experiments to obtain physical properties for permeable pavement. In this paper, to overcome these limitations, we propose a three-dimensional microstructure reconstruction framework based on 3D-IDWGAN with an enhanced gradient penalty, which is an image-based computational system for clogging analysis in permeable pavement. Our proposed system first takes a two-dimensional image as an input and extracts latent features from the 2D image. Then, it generates a 3D microstructure image through the generative adversarial network part of our model with the enhanced gradient penalty. For checking the effectiveness of our system, we utilize the reconstructed 3D image combined with the numerical method for pavement microstructure analysis. Our results show improvements in the three-dimensional image generation of the microstructure, compared with other generative adversarial network methods, and the values of physical properties extracted from our model are similar to those obtained via real pavement samples

A Feasibility Study on the Use of Injection Molding Systems for Mass Production of 100W Class Wind Turbine Blades

A feasibility study on the mass production of a small wind turbine blade using an injection molding process was conducted. The blade was divided into three sections suitable for injection molding, and the mold was designed and analyzed using Moldflow CAE S/W. The optimal feedstock material was selected through comparison and analysis of three candidate materials. A mold was manufactured to test the injection molding process and evaluate related parameters. The resulting blade was assembled with other components, and a generator was installed to assess its durability, safety, and performance under various conditions. The results indicated the feasibility of producing a blade for a small wind turbine through injection molding, which predicted higher productivity and lower costs compared to traditional manufacturing methods that rely heavily on manual labor

The Health Status of Informal Waste Collectors in Korea

Background: A broad, holistic approach was performed among informal waste collectors (IWCs) in Korea to understand their complex multidimensional health and safety problems. Methods: In the quantitative study, a survey of IWCs was conducted at four junk shops in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, and survey data were used to calculate age-standardized prevalence rates based on comparisons with the general population in Korea. A qualitative study was also performed to provide more details on IWCs’ occupational and musculoskeletal injuries and depression. Results: In the quantitative study, the age-standardized prevalence rate (aSPR) of occupational injury was higher than that of the general standard population (aSPR: 10.42, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.19–18.64) and that of blue-collar workers (aSPR: 4.65, 95% CI 2.32–8.32). Regarding musculoskeletal problems, compared to employed populations, the aSPRs of shoulder pain (aSPR: 2.63, 95% CI 1.60–4.06), wrist pain (aSPR: 3.33, 95% CI 1.33–6.86), knee pain (aSPR: 1.51, 95% CI 1.01–2.17), and ankle pain (aSPR: 3.54, 95% CI 1.14–8.26) were higher. Regarding psychological problems, depression (aSPR: 2.55, 95% CI 1.27–4.56) and suicidal or self-harm ideation (aSPR: 2.09, 95% CI 1.11–3.58) were higher compared to general populations. Through the qualitative study and case study on muscular problems, more details on the work environment problems of IWCs were obtained. Conclusions: IWCs are exposed to various occupational hazards and lack proper protection. They show a high prevalence of occupational injury, musculoskeletal disease, and depression

Occupational Lead Exposure and Brain Tumors: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

(1) Background: Due to inconsistencies in epidemiological findings, there has been uncertainty regarding the association of lead compounds with brain tumors. We performed a meta-analysis of published case-control and cohort studies exploring lead compound exposure and brain tumor risk. (2) Methods: We searched PubMed, Embase®, and Cochrane to find eligible studies. Eighteen studies were selected for assessment of occupational exposure to lead compound and brain tumor. Pooled estimates of odds ratios (ORs) were obtained using random effects models. We assessed the differences through subgroup analysis according to tumor type, study design, measurements of exposure, and tumor outcome. Statistical tests for publication bias, heterogeneity, and sensitivity analysis were applied. (3) Results: Our systematic review and meta-analysis showed a not significant association with lead exposure and risk of benign and malignant brain tumors (pooled OR = 1.11, 95% Confidence Interval (CI): 0.95–1.29). Including only malignant brain tumors, the risk of brain tumor was significantly increased (pooled OR = 1.13, 95% CI: 1.04–1.24). (4) Conclusions: This meta-analysis provides suggestive evidence for an association between lead compound exposure and brain tumor. In future studies, it will be necessary to identify the effect of lead compounds according to the types of brain tumor

Occupational Characteristics and Health Status of Vietnamese Male Migrant Workers in the Republic of Korea

Background: The objective of this study is to identify the working conditions and health status of Vietnamese male migrant workers in Republic of Korea, in comparison to the Korean general population. Methods: We conducted our survey through the Migrant People Center, and we received completed questionnaires from 87 male Vietnamese migrant workers. The questionnaire employed was identical to those used in the Korean Working Conditions Survey and the 2020 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The collected data from the Vietnamese migrant workers was then compared with the Korean reference population using indirect age-standardization. Results: Vietnamese male workers demonstrated a higher prevalence of health problems including hearing problems (age-standardized prevalence ratio (aSPR) 13.22, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.07–20.4), skin problems (aSPR 13.49, 95% CI: 8.07–20.4), and low back pain (aSPR 8.40, 95% CI: 6.50–10.69). Elevated exposure to workplace hazards such as chemicals (aSPR 2.36, 95% CI: 1.51–3.51), organic solvents (aSPR 2.22, 95% CI: 1.44–3.28), handling of heavy objects (aSPR 1.67, 95% CI: 1.24–2.21), and high temperatures (aSPR 1.96, 95% CI: 1.46–2.57) was observed among them. Additionally, they faced a higher risk of no personal protective equipment (aSPR 2.53, 95% CI: 1.26–4.52) and a greater prevalence of unmet medical needs (aSPR 7.14, 95% CI: 4.74–10.32). Conclusion: Our findings highlight the elevated workplace hazards, health problems, and unmet medical needs among Vietnamese male workers compared to the Korean reference population. These findings underscores the urgency for enhanced scrutiny over working conditions and protective equipment provision, coupled with efforts to improve healthcare accessibility and worker education