We evaluated the status of Clonorchis sinensis infection and potential risk factors among residents of riverside areas (Geumgang) in Muju-gun, Jeollabuk-do (Province), Korea. From January to February 2010, a total of 349 (171 males, 178 females) stool samples were collected and examined by the formalin-ether concentration technique. Also, village residents were interviewed using questionnaires to obtain information about C. sinensis infection-related risk factors. Overall egg-positive rate of C. sinensis was 13.2%. Egg-positive rates were significantly higher in males, farmers, and residents who had lived there more than 20 years, and in residents who had eaten raw freshwater fish than in opposite groups, respectively. However, there was no significant difference between age groups, education levels, cigarette smoking, alcohol drinking, health status, past history of infection, and experience of clonorchiasis medication and examination. Logistic regression analysis was performed to determine risk factors for clonorchiasis. On univariate analysis, the odds ratios for males, farmers, those who had lived there more than 20 years, and who had eaten raw freshwater fish were 2.41, 4.44, 3.16, and 4.88 times higher than those of the opposites, respectively. On multivariate analysis, the odds ratio of residents who had eaten raw freshwater fish was 3.2-fold higher than that of those who had not. These results indicate that residents living in Muju-gun, along the Geum River, Korea, have relatively high C. sinensis egg-positive rates, and the habit of eating raw freshwater fish was the major factor for the maintenance of clonorchiasis.

This study was performed to determine the levels of quality of life(QOL) according to the grade of long-term care service in the elderly people who affiliated from long-term care insurance, and to reveal its association with socio-demographic characteristics, health status and health related behaviors. The interviews were performed, during the period from March 1st, to May 31th, 2009, to 410 elderlies in rural areas. As a results, the levels of QOL were lower in the group of higher grade of long-term care insurance. In hierarchial multiple regression analysis, the factors influencing on the level QOL were age, Living status, Subjective health status, Bed ridden status, Disability of body, Urinary incontinence, Amnesia and Frequency of going out. Especially, the health status variables were higher related with QOL than other variables.

= ABSTRACT =Objectives: This study was conducted to find out the frequency of urinary incontinence among the rural elderly people and its related factors. Methods:Informations have been obtained through interviews from the 464 rural residents of advanced age over 65 years on September 1st through November 30th, 2007, in Chungnam Province. Results:As for the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence, the group with the experience rate of 「every day」were 9.5% and 「occasionally」35.5%, with the total of 45.0%. The higher rates of urinary incontinence were in the elderly women(58.5%) than in the elderly men (29.8%), in the more advanced in age, in the higher educated, and in the groups with higher monthly income. Based on life styles, the rate of experiencing urinary incontinence was significantly higher in smoking groups and non-drinking groups. Based on subjective senses of health, it was more highly associated with the groups who reported that they were not healthy, that they concerned themselves about health, that they had physical disability, that they had forgetfulness, and they needed assistance in terms of activity of daily living(ADL) and instrumental activity of daily living(IADL) than their respective counterparts. By the result of multiple logistic regression, sex, age, smoking status, anxiety, physical disability, amnesia, and IADL was indicated the affecting factors to the prevalence of urinary incontinence. Conclusions:The above results reveal that the rate of urinary incontinence was higher in the elderly women than the elderly men, and in more advanced age. Moreover, its rate increases in the groups with undesirable life styles or lower senses of subjective and physical health conditions. It is highly suggested that efforts to manage urinary incontinence of the elderly need to be narrowed to the more advanced, especially those with lower standards of health conditions.

This study was performed to determine the suicide ideation and its association with hopelessness, psychosocial stress and depression among some middle school students. The survey was administered to 975 middle school students in Gyeongin area during the period, May 1 st to June 30 th , 2013. Structured self-administered questionnaires were delivered and collected without the respondents' personal information. As a result, concerning the correlation of depression with various factors, the level of suicide ideation was positively correlated with hopelessness, psychosocial stress and depression. Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the factors influencing the suicide ideation included sex distinction, experience of alcohol drinking, hobbies and leisure life, subjective health status, grade, school violence experience, hopelessness, psychosocial stress and depression. An analysis of the covariance structure, hopelessness (BHOP) was more influential on the suicide ideation than psychosocial stress (PWI) and depression (CES-D). The study found that higher hopelessness, severe distress and higher depression tends to increase the suicide ideation.

Since alveolar macrophages play an important role in the clearance of inhaled dust from air-ways, these cells have been used as a target for various toxic chemicals. Alveolar macrophages obtained from bronchoalveolar lavage of Syrian golden hamsters were concurrently exposed in vitro to Fe(3)O(4), as an indicator for magnetometry, and various concentrations of cadmium oxide (CdO) in this study. A rapid decrease of the remnant magnetic field, called relaxation, was observed after the cessation of an external magnetic field stimulus in macrophages concurrently exposed to phosphate-buffered saline or CdO at 0.1 microg/ml, while relaxation was delayed in those concurrently exposed to 1, 25, or 50 microg/ml CdO. Therefore, the concentration of CdO affecting relaxation in vitro was estimated at between 0.1 and 1 microg/ml. Release of LDH activity from CdO-exposed macrophages into the medium significantly increased at levels of 25 and 50 microg/ml CdO. Apoptosis was not detected in macrophages exposed to CdO by the DNA ladder detection method or morphological observations. Electron-microscopic examination revealed severe membrane damage and vacuolar changes in macrophages exposed to CdO. Since delayed relaxation is thought to occur by (1). disrupted cytoskeleton-driven random rotation of phagosomes containing iron oxide particles, (2). significant lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity release, and (3). detachment of cell membranes, CdO is considered to affect macrophage functions.