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Background: Thus far, human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B ∗ 58:01 has been recognized as the most important risk factor for allopurinol induced severe cutaneous adverse reactions (SCARs)., Objective: To determine the usefulness of prospective screening for the HLA-B ∗ 58:01 allele to identify Korean individuals at risk for SCARs induced by allopurinol treatment., Methods: We prospectively enrolled 542 patients with chronic renal insufficiency (CRI) from 10 hospitals nationwide and performed DNA genotyping to determine whether they carried the HLA-B ∗ 58:01 allele. Of these, 503 HLA-B ∗ 58:01-negative patients (92.8% of total) were treated with allopurinol, and 39 HLA-B ∗ 58:01-positive patients (7.2%) were treated with febuxostat, an alternative drug. The patients then were followed up biweekly for 90 days using a telephone survey to monitor symptoms of adverse drug reactions, including SCARs. As a control, we used the historical incidence rate of allopurinol-induced SCARs in 4002 patients with CRI from the same hospitals who were enrolled retrospectively., Results: Nineteen patients in the prospective cohort developed mild and transient adverse reactions but none showed allopurinol-induced SCARs. By contrast, we identified 38 patients with allopurinol-induced SCARs (0.95%) in the historical control. The difference in the incidence of allopurinol-induced SCARs between the prospective cohort and historical control was statistically significant (0% vs 0.95%, respectively; P = .029)., Conclusions: The present study demonstrated the clinical usefulness of the HLA-B ∗ 58:01 screening test before allopurinol administration to prevent allopurinol-induced SCARs in patients with CRI., (Copyright © 2018 American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and its related characteristics among healthy adults in some Korean rural areas., Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study using the data from 1352 adults who were over the age 40 and under the age 70 and who were free of diabetes mellitus (DM), cardiovascular diseases and other diseases and who participated in a survey conducted as part of the Korean Rural Genomic Cohort Study. IFG was defined as a serum fasting glucose level between 100 and 125 mg/dL., Results: The prevalence of IFG was 20.4% in men, 15.5% in women and 12.7% overall. Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the independent risk factors for IFG were male gender, having a family history of DM, the quartiles of gamma glutamyltransferase and high sensitive C-reactive protein and the waist circumference. The homeostatis model assessment for insulin resistance was very strongly associated with IFG. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MS) and MS components was higher in the subjects with IFG then in those with normal fasting glucose (NFG)., Conclusions: The result of study could supply evidence to find the high risk population and to determine a strategy for treating IFG. Further research is needed to explain the causal relationship and mechanisms of IFG.

Objective: To investigate the association between level of physical activity and poor self-rated health in Korean adults., Study Design: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 7,800 adults aged > or =19 years who completed the Health Interview and the Health Behavior Surveys, issued during the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2005)., Methods: The association between self-rated health and physical activity was tested using Chi-squared test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to calculate the odds ratios of poor self-rated health for different levels of physical activity after adjusting for physical and chronic medical conditions., Results: The prevalence of poor self-rated health was significantly lower as the level of physical activity increased, and odds ratios for poor self-rated health were significantly lower for higher levels of physical activity after adjusting for age, marital status, educational status, smoking, alcohol consumption, and the number of physical impairments and chronic medical conditions. The association was similar in different age groups and among healthy respondents and respondents with physical impairments or chronic medical conditions., Conclusions: Physical activity was positively associated with self-rated health in Koreans. The independent association between a lower level of physical activity and poor self-rated health supports public health programmes that encourage regular physical activity.

Objective: To assess any association between cigarette smoking and heavy drinking and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among boys and girls in a nationally representative sample of Korean adolescents., Method: The analysis was performed using data from the 2006 Korea Youth Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance study, which included a representative sample of middle and high school students in Korea. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to examine whether smoking and drinking were associated with suicidal behavior among boys and girls, controlling for demographic characteristics, perceived stress, perceived sadness/hopelessness, and chronic disease., Results: Of the 70,486 study subjects, 23.3% (19.1% of boys and 27.9% of girls) reported suicidal ideation and 5.3% (4.6% of boys and 6.1% of girls) reported having attempted suicide during the previous 12 months. Cigarette smoking and heavy drinking were found to be significantly associated with suicidal ideation and suicidal attempts among boys and girls., Conclusion: Smoking and heavy drinking among adolescents are important factors related to suicidal ideation and attempting suicide in boys and girls. Further research is needed to clarify any causal connection between cigarette smoking and heavy drinking and suicidal ideation and suicide attempts.

Objectives: The purposes of this study were to examine the health-related quality of life(HRQoL) and to identify its related factors for a group of rural adults., Methods: The study subjects were 1,901 adults who were aged 40-70 years and who were living in Naju City, Jeollanamdo. The sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behavior, health status and global self-rated health were collected for statistical analysis. The health related quality of life was measured by the Euroqol EQ-5D instrument. The differences on the EQ-5D index between the groups were assessed with t-test, ANOVA and hierarchical multiple regression analysis., Results: Overall, the mean value of the EQ-5D index was 0.884 +/- 0.140 and this score was significantly different according to the socioeconomic characteristics, the health related behavior, the health status and the global self-rated health. According to the results from the hierarchical multiple regression analysis, the HRQoL was significantly reduced for females, older subjects, and other subjects with no spouse and the subjects with osteoporosis, obesity, mental distress or poorer global self-rated health., Conclusions: The HRQoL for rural adults was related to the socioeconomic characteristics, the health status and the global self-rated health. A better understanding of the factors related to the HRQoL would help to improve the rural adults' quality of life.

Objectives: This study was performed to assess the association between high sensitivity C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP) and hypertension., Methods: We evaluated the relationship between hsCRP with hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors, using a cross-sectional survey of 202 people over the age of 50, living in a rural area. A logistic regression analysis was used to study the association between hsCRP and hypertension. The hsCRP levels were divided in quartiles, and the odds ratios (OR), with 95% confidence intervals 95% CI), calculated, using the lowest quartile as a reference., Results: The subjects consisted of 37.1% men and 62.9% women, with a mean (SD) hsCRP level of 1.9(+/-3.0) mg/l. The overall prevalence of hypertension was 61.4%. The prevalence of hypertension according to the hsCRP quartile was not statistically significant. After adjustment for confounding variables, the prevalence of hypertension according to the subjects in the 2nd, 3rd and 4th hsCRP quartiles were 1.418 (95% CI=0.554-3.628), 1.124 (95% CI=0.392-3.214) and 0.892 (95% CI=0.312-2.547) times higher, respectively, compared to those in the 1st quartile., Conclusions: The results showed that the level of hsCRP was not a risk factor for hypertension among adults aged over 50 years, living in a rural area. A further study should be performed to find the association between hsCRP and hypertension.

Background: This study examined whether job stress (work demand and decision latitude) is associated with smoking, blood pressure, lipid level (total cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol), and homocystein as risk factors for cardiovascular disease in Korean male workers., Methods: Study subjects of this study were recruited from a sample of 1,071 workers in 20 companies of W city and H counties, and they were grouped into four categories (high strain group, active group, passive group, and low strain group) based on the postulation of Karasek's Job Strain Model. Of them, we invited 160 male workers (40 people each subgroup) using a stratified sampling, and finally, 152 eligible participants were analyzed., Results: In multivariate analyses, we found that decision latitude was associated with cholesterol, triglyceride, and homocystein and that work demand was related to smoking and systolic blood pressure. Job strain (the combination of high work demand with low decision latitude) was significantly related to higher levels of homocystein after controlling for age, BMI, smoking, and social support at workplace., Conclusions: These results indicate that job stress is associated with cardiovascular risk factors and might contribute to the development of cardiovascular disease. Some considerations for the future research were discussed.

Objective: To elucidate the correlates of self-rated fatigue in Korean employees., Methods: The data for 10,176 (men, 7984; women, 2192; mean age, 34.2; SD: 8.8) employees recruited from a nation-wide sample were examined. A structured questionnaire was used to measure the participants' fatigue, sociodemographics (sex, age, education, and marital status), job-related characteristics (work duration, grade at work, work hours, shiftwork, employment type, and magnitude of workplace), and health-related habits (smoking, drinking, coffee intake, and exercise). Two types of measurement for fatigue were used to evaluate the magnitude of fatigue: self-rated question and a standardized measurement tool (Multidimensional Fatigue Scale: MFS)., Results: According to the self-rated fatigue, 32% of employees reported that they felt fatigue for the past two weeks, and 9.6% of males and 8.7% of females had experienced excessive fatigue (6 months or more). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that fatigue measured by MFS was more common in women, younger, college or more graduated, single, and employees who do not regularly exercise. Fatigue was also associated with long work hours, and the size of the workplace (< 1000 employees)., Conclusions: These results suggest that fatigue has been considered as a common complaint, and that it is affected by job-related factors like work hours and the workplace size as well as sociodemographics or health-related behaviors. Further research is needed to clarify the effects of fatigue on adverse health,outcomes, work performance, work disability, sick absence and medical utilization, and to examine the relationship of job characteristics (e.g.: work demand, decision latitude) to fatigue.

Objective: To estimate the magnitude of psychosocial distress and examine eligible factors associated with the development of psychosocial distress in Korean employees, using a nationwide sample., Methods: A total of 6977 workers were recruited from 245 companies. A structured questionnaire was used to assess sociodemographics, health-related behaviors, job characteristics, social support at work, personality traits (locus of control, type A behavior pattern), self-esteem, and psychosocial distress., Results: The results showed that 23% of workers were categorized as high stress, 73% as moderate, and 5% as normal. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that psychosocial distress was more common in younger workers, both male and female. Regular exercise was negatively associated with increase of psychosocial distress. In job characteristics, as expected, low decision latitude, high job insecurity, and low social support at work were related to high psychosocial distress. Personality traits such as locus of control and type A behavior pattern, and self-esteem were more powerful predictors of psychosocial distress than general characteristics, health-related behavior, and job characteristics. There were some gender differences. While men who are less educated and single (unmarried, divorced, and separated) experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who are educated and married, women who feel high job demand experienced higher levels of psychosocial distress than those who feel low job demand., Conclusions: The proportion of the high stress group was higher than expected, and psychosocial factors like social support and personality characteristics (e.g. locus of control, type A behavior pattern and self-esteem) were more significant factors for psychosocial distress than other variables. This finding suggests that some psychosocial factors, especially inadequate social support, low self-esteem and lack of internal locus of control for the development of psychosocial distress, will also operate as an intervention strategy in the worksite stress reduction program. It is strongly required that worksite stress reduction programs should be established in at both occupational and level as well as in individual levels.