This study tried to develop a basis for quantitative index of working postures associated with WMSDs (Work-related Musculoskeletal Disorders) that could overcome realistic restriction during application of typical checklists for WMSDs evaluation. The baseline data(for a total of 603 jbs) for this study was obtained from automobile manufacturing company. Specifically, data for back posture was analyzed in this study to have a better and more objective method in terms of job relevance than typical methods such as OWAS, RULA, and REBA. Major statistical tools were clustering, logistic regression and so on. The main results in this study could be summarized as follows; 1) The relationship between working posture and WMSDs symptom at back was statistically significant based on the results from logistic regression, 2) Based on clustering analysis, three levels for WMSDs risk at back were produced for flexion as follows: low risk(< 18.5°), medium risk(18.5°～ 36.0°), high risk(> 36.0°), 3) The sensitivities on risk levels of back flexion was 93.8% while the specificities on risk levels of back flexion was 99.1%. The results showed that the data associated with back postures in this study could provide a good basis for job evaluation of WMSDs at back. Specifically, this evaluation methodology was different from the methods usually used at WMSDs study since it tried to be based on direct job relevance from real working situation. Further evaluation for other body parts as well as back would provide more stability and reliability in WMSDs evaluation study.

본 연구는 직무 스트레스와 근골격계질환과의 관련성을 알아보기 위하여 단순작업과 반복 작업이 빈번하게 발생하는 전자제품 제조업에 대하여 고용 규모 30인 미만과 300인 이상의 사업장을 구분하여 실시하였다. 연구 대상자 311명은 근골격계질환 관련 자각증상과 한국인 직무 스트레스(KOSS)에 대해 설문 조사 방법을 이용하여 분석하였으며, 그 결과 한국인 직무스트레스(KOSS)영역에서 30인 이하의 사업장이 물리적환경, 직무요구, 직무자율성결여, 직무불안정, 조직체계, 보상부적절, 직장문화의 영역에서 불만족도가 300인 이상사업장에 비하여 스트레스가 높게 나타났다. 근골격계질환 관련 신체 부위별 증상자를 살펴보면 신체부위 목, 허리에 대한 증상 호소자가 가장 많은 것으로 나타났으며, 근로자들이 근무중 회사와의 갈등으로 격는 한국인 직무스트레스(KOSS)에서는 물리적환경, 직무요구, 직무자율성결여, 직무불안정, 조직체계, 보상부적절, 직장문화에 대하여 30인 미만 사업장 소속 근로자들의 스트 레스 노출정도가 높았다. 다만 KOSS부분에서 근로자들의 개인적인 성향을 나타내는 관계갈등부분은 약간의 차이로 300인 이상 고용사업장의 근로자에 대한 스트레스 노 출정도가 높았다. 이에 30인 미만 사업장과 같은 영세업종 근로자들에게 정신사회적 스트레스의 해소를 위한 예방 프로그램이 마련되어야 할 것이다.

The psychosocial stress and musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs) have been one of major health problems for hospital workers. This study tried to understand the relationship between symptoms associated with MSDs and risk factors such as working posture, job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. A total number of 655 hospital workers participated in this study. Specifically, REBA was applied for evaluating working posture and a checklist prepared by KOSHA(Korean Occupational Safety and Health Agency) was used for symptom survey. A questionnaire from KOSHA was also used for collecting data associated with job stress, psychosocial stress and fatigue. All these data were formulated and modeled by path analysis which was one of major statistical tools in this study. Specifically, path analysis for the data we collected came up with several major findings. The risk scores from working posture based on REBA had indirect effects via fatigue factor(MFS) as well as direct effects on symptoms. The factors associated with job stress(KOSS) and psychosocial stress(PWI-SF) had significant effects on symptoms. Specifically, indirect effect of job stress factors via fatigue factors(MFS) had bigger than that of direct effect of job stress on symptom.

Background: Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley was investigated as a potential natural source of antioxidants and antiinflammatory agents. Methods and Results: The yields from Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley water and ethanol extract were 17.69% and 25.77%, respectively. The antioxidant activity of Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley extracts was confirmed by various methods including assayss of 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2-azino-bis-(3-ethylbenzo thiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS), nitrite radical scavenging, and Fe3+ to Fe2+ reducing power activity. The ethanol extract of Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley showed improved DPPH, ABTS and nitrite radical scavenging activity compared with the water extract. After treatment of RAW264.7 cells with Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley ethanol extracts, the cell viability compared with the control was 92.82%, even at a concentration of 3,000 ㎍/㎖. The ethanol extract inhibited reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation in RAW264.7 cells stimulated with H2O2, even at low concentrations. In addition, the ethanol extract showed an inhibitory effects on the production of lipopolysaccharide-induced nitric oxide (NO) in RAW264.7 cells. Conclusions: This study suggests that the extract of Ganoderma lucidum cultured on hulled barley is a potential source of natural antioxidants and anti-inflammatory agents.

Background : Constipation is can refer to bowel movements that are rare or hard for pass. Constipation is common symptom in current people and the treatment of constipation focused on the use of medicines or physical intervention. The aim of this study are investigates the effects of modified-extracts of Salicornia herbacea (S. herbacea) L. on constipation model. Methods and Results : To investigate the effect of these extracts on constipation model with Sprague-Dawley rats by loperamide administration, we orally administered various dosage of modified-extracts of S. herbacea. L. Then, we checked constipation-related parameters such as fecal number, colon weight, colonic transmit length, colon length as compared to the controls and ameliorated in a dose dependent manner. The results indicated that modified-extracts of S. herbacea. L. was ameliorated constipation in SD rat model. Conclusion : Based on the results, modified-extracts of S. herbacea L. and its many ingredients were considered to have effects on constipation.

Background : Lactuca sativa (LS) is a member of lactuca genus and the Asteraceae family. To its usual purpose as an edible leafy vegetable, lettuce has had a number of uses in ancient times as a medicinal herb. Depending on the variety, lettuce is an excellent source vitamin K and vitanin A. Methods and Results : The objective of this study is to find out the antioxidant and oxidative DNA damage prevention capacity of LS for both water and ethanol extract. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents have been estimated in this study. The extracts have been tested to assess the 1, 1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH), 2,2ʹ -azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) and nitrite scavenging activity. We have also evaluated the reducing power activity of LS. LS extracts showed a good radical scavenging activity on DPPH and ABTS free radical as concentration dependent manner. The IC50 values on DPPH radical scavenging activity were 0.75 mg/mL and 0.54 mg/mL for water and ethanol extract respectively. ABTS radical scavenging activity ranges from 38-89 % for water extract and 33-96% for ethanol extract. Although ethanolic extract showed a higher radical scavenging activity as compared to the water extracts. All the extracts exhibited reducing power activity, dose dependently. Moreover, when the DNA was treated with the extracts, supercoiled DNA was restored in a concentration-dependent manner. Conclusion : According to the results, we suggest that LS contains considerable amount of phenolic and flavonoid content and could be used as a source of natural antioxidant substances and oxidative DNA damage preventer.

Background : Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJ) is a perennial herb with a wide distribution in East Asia including Korea, China, and Japan, and it is mainly used as a medicinal plant. In Korea, AJ has been widely used to control pain and improve symptoms in OA patients. AJ contains several important phytochemicals such as saponins, inokosterone, ecdysterone, and oleanolic acid bisdesmoside. Methods and Results : The aim of this work was to investigate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of fermented and ethanol extracts of Achyranthes japonica Nakai (AJ). The extracts showed strong reductive power and nitrite scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging, superoxide radical scavenging, and DNA damage prevention activities. Treatment of RAW 264.7 macrophages with AJ inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NO secretion and iNOS expression without affecting cell viability. AJ also inhibited cyclooxygenase 2 (COX-2) expression, leading to the suppression of COX-2-derived prostaglandin E2 production. These inhibitory effects of AJ were accompanied by reduced production of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukins (IL)-1β, -6, and -10. Furthermore, AJ suppressed LPS-induced phosphorylation of extracellular signal regulated kinase, c-Jun N-terminal kinase, and p38. Moreover, AJ inhibited malondialdehyde production and myeloperoxidase activity in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells. Conclusion : The antioxidant activity of plants is closely related to their medicinal properties and is widely used as a parameter to determine the bioavailability of medicinal plants. The antioxidant and biological activities of AJ extracts might be due to the synergistic actions of multiple bioactive compounds. It can be concluded that AJ extracts are a potential source of biologically important drug candidates.

Background : ROS produced by oxidative stress damaged endothelial cells, and cause a variety of vascular complications. In diabetic hyperglycemia state, ROS increase. The polyol pathway occur in diabetic complications, the excess glucose is absorbed into the polyol pathway when aldose reductase increased, NADPH changes it to sorbitol. Glutathione (GSH) removes ROS. GSH level is reduced by glutathione reductase, using NADPH as an electron donor. Activation of the polyol pathway decrease NADPH, and GSH also reduced. As a result, ROS is increased. In diabetic hyperglycemia state, Glycolysis increases. Effects of increased glycolysis, protein kinase C (PKC) is increased. NAD(P)H oxidase, stimulated by PKC-dependent pathway, increases ROS in the cell. In this study, we measured the ROS scavenging activity of 5 natural products (Lycii fructus, Astragalus membranaceus, Cassia Tora, Polygonatum odoratum, Rubus Coreanus), to confirm the efficacy as diabetic antioxidants. Methods and Results : We extracted 5 natural product by distilled water and ethanol. DPPH radical scavenging activity was significantly higher in Lycii fructus, Rubus coreanus. ABTS radical scavenging activity was better Rubus coreanus, Lycii fructus, Cassia Tora. In addition to, Rubus coreanus, Cassia Tora, Lycii fructus was comparatively higher reducing power activity than other natural products. And total phenolic and flavonoid contents were much higher in Rubus coreanus compared with other extracts. Conclusion : These results suggest that Lycii fructus, Rubus coreanus can be applied as diabetic antioxidant that prevent vascular complications caused by ROS.

This study was conducted to evaluate effects of chopped and non-chopped rice straw on characteristics of silage-basedtotal mixed ration (TMR) according to the particle size, laceration, and in situ dry matter (DM) degradation. The threerice straw silages as low moisture unchopped (LMUC; 32.75% of moisture, unchopped), high moisture unchopped(HMUC; 42.05% of moisture, unchopped), and high moisture chopped (HMC; 44.71% of moisture, chopped to 30cmlengths) were tested. Samples were collected at every 5 minutes from 10 min of pre-mixing to 50 min. The percentageof >19mm in LMUC and HMC was decreased to 7.23% and 7.74% (p<0.05), respectively, and the percentage of 8mm>was increased to 5.81% and 5.24%, respectively. Furthermore, the laceration of forage by a TMR mixer showed that therewas little change in the reduction of 1.26% in HMC, but was reduced to 7.53% and 16.06% in LMUC and HMUC,respectively. The peNDF>8 was maintained 17~18.5% of the optimal requirement level for 15 to 45 min mixing in LMUCand for 30 to 50 min mixing in HMC, but it exceeded the level of peNDF>8 in the range of 21.49 to 22.53% for 50minmixing in HMUC. However, ruminal in situ DM degradation appeared as LMUC>HMUC>HMC. Therefore, theseresults suggest that the rice straw silage may be useful for high-yielding lactating cows, if it can be supplied with theadequate peNDF, and the limiting factor on DMI and DM degradation was reduced by crushing of the plant tissue, althoughthe rice straw silage was concerned to low quality forage.