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Objective:To determine the level of vitamin D and to identify the association between vitamin D and depressive symptoms in apparently healthy Korean male adults.Design:A retrospective study design. Among 43 513 participants between 1 March and 30 November 2018, after eliminating participants with a history of depression or vitamin D deficiency, 9058 were included. To determine the level of vitamin D, serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] was measured. To assess the level of depression, the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was used.Setting:South Korea.Participants:Male adults who underwent routine health check-ups.Results:The average vitamin D level was 22·31 ± 7·09 ng/ml as 25(OH)D, while the number of subjects in the vitamin D insufficiency group with a finding of Conclusions:A total of 41·8 % of apparently healthy male adults had vitamin D levels

Maternal stress during pregnancy exposes fetuses to hyperglucocorticoids, which increases the risk of metabolic dysfunctions in offspring. Despite being a key tissue for maintaining metabolic health, the impacts of maternal excessive glucocorticoids (GC) on fetal brown adipose tissue (BAT) development and its long-term thermogenesis and energy expenditure remain unexamined. For testing, pregnant mice were administered dexamethasone (DEX), a synthetic GC, in the last trimester of gestation, when BAT development is the most active. DEX offspring had glucose, insulin resistance, and adiposity and also displayed cold sensitivity following cold exposure. In BAT of DEX offspring, Ppargc1a expression was suppressed, together with reduced mitochondrial density, and the brown progenitor cells sorted from offspring BAT demonstrated attenuated brown adipogenic capacity. Increased DNA methylation in Ppargc1a promoter had a fetal origin; elevated DNA methylation was also detected in neonatal BAT and brown progenitors. Mechanistically, fetal GC exposure increased GC receptor/DNMT3b complex in binding to the Ppargc1a promoter, potentially driving its de novo DNA methylation and transcriptional silencing, which impaired fetal BAT development. In summary, maternal GC exposure during pregnancy increases DNA methylation in the Ppargc1a promoter, which epigenetically impairs BAT thermogenesis and energy expenditure, predisposing offspring to metabolic dysfunctions.

Key points Maternal exercise improves the metabolic health of maternal mice challenged with a high-fat diet. Exercise intervention of obese mothers prevents fetal overgrowth. Exercise intervention reverses impaired placental vascularization in obese mice. Maternal exercise activates placental AMP-activated protein kinase, which was inhibited as a result of maternal obesity. Abstract More than one-third of pregnant women in the USA are obese and maternal obesity (MO) negatively affects fetal development, which predisposes offspring to metabolic diseases. The placenta mediates nutrient delivery to fetuses and its function is impaired as a result of MO. Exercise ameliorates metabolic dysfunction resulting from obesity, although its effect on placental function of obese mothers has not been explored. In the present study, C57BL/6J female mice were randomly assigned into two groups fed either a control or a high-fat diet (HFD) and then the mice on each diet were further divided into two subgroups with/without exercise. In HFD-induced obese mice, daily treadmill exercise during pregnancy reduced body weight gain, lowered serum glucose and lipid concentration, and improved insulin sensitivity of maternal mice. Importantly, maternal exercise prevented fetal overgrowth (macrosomia) induced by MO. To further examine the preventive effects of exercise on fetal overgrowth, placental vascularization and nutrient transporters were analysed. Vascular density and the expression of vasculogenic factors were reduced as a result of MO but were recovered by maternal exercise. On the other hand, the contents of nutrient transporters were not substantially altered by MO or exercise, suggesting that the protective effects of exercise in MO-induced fetal overgrowth were primarily a result of the alteration of placental vascularization and improved maternal metabolism. Furthermore, exercise enhanced downstream insulin signalling and activated AMP-activated protein kinase in HFD placenta. In sum, maternal exercise prevented fetal overgrowth induced by MO, which was associated with improved maternal metabolism and placental vascularization in obese mothers with exercise.

BACKGROUND Suicide is the leading cause of death in young adults in Korea. Stress in the workplace affects the suicide rate; young female workers are particularly vulnerable to adverse work environments. We investigated the relationships of shift work, sleep, and work stress to suicidal ideation. METHODS This study used data from 508 female workers aged 22-40 years in an electronics company. Data on baseline characteristics, work patterns, sleep quality (using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index), and work stress levels using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale (KOSS) were obtained from questionnaires. We examined associations between suicidal ideation and shift work, sleep quality, and KOSS scores. RESULTS Suicidal ideation was significantly higher among shift workers (odds ratio [OR], 2.38; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.31-4.32), those with poor sleep (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.68-4.84), and those with high work stress (OR, 3.30; 95% CI, 1.82-6.00). Both 3 × 12 h shift workers (OR, 2.98; 95% CI, 1.35-6.57) and 4 × 8 h shift workers (OR, 2.14; 95% CI, 1.03-4.45) had increased suicidal ideation. High work stress (OR, 11.55; 95% CI, 2.93-45.48) had stronger associations with suicidal ideation than poor sleep (OR, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.21-12.33) in shift workers. The combined effect of poor sleep and high KOSS on suicidal ideation was stronger in shift workers (OR, 13.39; 95% CI, 3.22-55.62) than day workers (OR, 4.31; 95% CI, 1.03-18.01). CONCLUSIONS Shift workers are more vulnerable than day workers to the combination of work stress and poor sleep quality as well as to work stress alone.

SUMMARY Although maternal exercise (ME) becomes increasingly uncommon, the effects of ME on offspring muscle metabolic health remain largely undefined. Maternal mice are subject to daily exercise during pregnancy, which enhances mitochondrial biogenesis during fetal muscle development; this is correlated with higher mitochondrial content and oxidative muscle fibers in offspring muscle and improved endurance capacity. Apelin, an exerkine, is elevated due to ME, and maternal apelin administration mirrors the effect of ME on mitochondrial biogenesis in fetal muscle. Importantly, both ME and apelin induce DNA demethylation of the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator-1α (Ppargc1a) promoter and enhance its expression and mitochondrial biogenesis in fetal muscle. Such changes in DNA methylation were maintained in offspring, with ME offspring muscle expressing higher levels of PGC-1α1/4 isoforms, explaining improved muscle function. In summary, ME enhances DNA demethylation of the Ppargc1a promoter in fetal muscle, which has positive programming effects on the exercise endurance capacity and protects offspring muscle against metabolic dysfunction., In Brief Son et al. demonstrate that maternal exercise facilitates fetal muscle development, which improves muscle function and exercise endurance in offspring. Maternal administration of apelin, an exerkine, mirrors the beneficial effects of maternal exercise on mitochondrial biogenesis and fetal muscle development. These findings suggest apelin and its receptor as potential drug targets for improving fetal muscle development of sedentary mothers., Graphical Abstract

Background During muscle regeneration, excessive formation of adipogenic and fibrogenic tissues, from their respective fibro/adipogenic progenitors (FAPs), impairs functional recovery. Intrinsic mechanisms controlling the proliferation and differentiation of FAPs remain largely unexplored. Methods Here, we investigated the role of retinoic acid (RA) signalling in regulating FAPs and the subsequent effects on muscle restoration from a cardiotoxin-induced injury. Blockage of retinoic acid receptor (RAR) signalling was achieved through dominant negative retinoic acid receptor α (RARα403) expression specific in PDGFRα+ FAPs in vivo and by BMS493 treatment in vitro. Effects of RAR-signalling on FAP cellularity and muscle regeneration were also investigated in a high-fat diet-induced obese mice model. Findings Supplementation of RA increased the proliferation of FAPs during the early stages of regeneration while suppressing FAP differentiation and promoting apoptosis during the remodelling stage. Loss of RAR-signalling caused ectopic adipogenic differentiation of FAPs and impaired muscle regeneration. Furthermore, obesity disrupted the cellular transition of FAPs and attenuated muscle regeneration. Supplementation of RA to obese mice not only rescued impaired muscle fibre regeneration, but also inhibited infiltration of fat and fibrotic tissues during muscle repair. These beneficial effects were abolished after blocking RAR-signalling in FAPs of obese mice. Interpretation These data suggest that RAR-signalling in FAPs is a critical therapeutic target for suppressing differentiation of FAPs and facilitating the regeneration of muscle and other tissues. Funding This study was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (R01-HD067449 and R21-AG049976) to M.D.

Maternal exercise epigenetically programs brown/beige adipose tissue development and thermogenesis in offspring mice., The obesity rate is rapidly increasing, which has been attributed to lack of exercise and excessive energy intake. Here, we found a previously unidentified explanation, due to lack of maternal exercise. In this study, healthy maternal mice were assigned either to a sedentary lifestyle or to exercise daily, and fetal brown adipose tissue (BAT) development and offspring metabolic health were analyzed. Compared to the sedentary group, maternal exercise enhanced DNA demethylation of Prdm16 promoter and BAT development and prevented obesity of offspring when challenged with a high-energy diet. Apelin, an exerkine, was elevated in both maternal and fetal circulations due to exercise, and maternal administration of apelin mimicked the beneficial effects of exercise on fetal BAT development and offspring metabolic health. Together, maternal exercise enhances thermogenesis and the metabolic health of offspring mice, suggesting that the sedentary lifestyle during pregnancy contributes to the obesity epidemic in modern societies.

Background Since the 1980s, restructuring, which includes downsizing, closures, mergers, and privatization, has expanded worldwide, and various studies have investigated its effect on health. However, previous studies have mainly focused on restructuring accompanied by massive lay-offs, and the effect of a merger on workers’ health is still controversial. This study aims to investigate changes in worker depression and job stress after a merger without downsizing, which is unusual in Korea. Methods Repeated surveys were done in April 2014, April 2015, and April 2016 involving the participation of 209 subjects. Participants were divided into two groups, which were comprised of blue-collar workers (104) and white-collar workers (105). Sociodemographic characteristics, including age, education level, job tenure, gender, marital status, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, were measured via a survey. To determine the level of depression, the Korean version of the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) was employed, and to investigate job stress, the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) was used. For statistical analyses, Pearson’s chi-square test, the Student’s t-test, and repeated measure analysis of variance (ANOVA) were performed. Results The results showed that depression (CES-D, F[2, 400] = 0.466, p = 0.628) was changed but without significance and job stress (KOSS-SF, F[1.899, 379.831] = 3.192, p = 0.045) were significantly different. The between-group difference in the CES-D score between the blue- and white-collar workers by survey administration time was not statistically significant (F = 0.316, p = 0.574). The interaction between the survey time and occupational group was also not statistically significant (F = 0.967, p = 0.381). The between-group difference in the KOSS-SF total score was not statistically significant (F = 1.132, p = 0.289), and the interaction between the survey administration time and occupational group was also not significant (F = 0.817, p = 0.437). In the job stress subgroup analyses Job insecurity and Lack of reward showed a significant difference by survey administration time. Conclusion This study showed that a merger without massive downsizing can cause negative health effects such as an changes in depression and increase in job stress. To improve the health of workers, both the immediate negative effects on health, and the long-term effects or their resolution over time should be considered prior to the merger.

Introduction Exercise-induced apelin as a myokine is believed to play a role in the improvement of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and capillarization. In this study, we evaluated the association between exercise-induced apelin and muscle capillarization. Methods Zucker rats underwent a treadmill exercise program. Body composition, muscle strength, muscle size, muscle capillarization, and insulin resistance (homeostatic model assessment [HOMA-IR]) were measured. Apelin levels of skeletal muscle and plasma were then analyzed. Results Exercise improved body composition (P

Background This study assessed the association between shift work and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), in female workers in electronics manufacturing services (EMS). Methods Female EMS workers who received special medical examinations for workers in Gyeongnam, Korea between January 2017 and December 2017 were enrolled in this study. Their age, marital status, education level, alcohol consumption, smoking habit, regular exercise, quality of sleep, work stress, and depression were investigated, and blood tests were conducted. The t- and χ2 tests were conducted to compare the general and biochemical characteristics between daytime and shift worker groups. Age-adjusted partial correlation analysis was performed to examine the linear relationship between hs-CRP level and other risk factors for CVDs. In addition, the difference in hs-CRP levels according to work schedule was analyzed by ANCOVA after adjusting for variables that could affect the hs-CRP level. Results Although the average hs-CRP levels did not differ significantly between daytime and shift workers (0.92 ± 1.87 and 1.07 ± 2.20 mg/dL, respectively), shift workers tended to show a higher hs-CRP level (p = 0.067). After adjusting for variables that can affect the hs-CRP level, the estimated average hs-CRP level was significantly higher in shift workers (1.325 ± 0.156 mg/dL) than that in daytime workers (0.652 ± 0.350 mg/dL) (p = 0.003). Conclusions The results of this study identified a relationship between shift work and hs-CRP level increase in women. Because multiple studies have reported associations between increased hs-CRP and CVD, follow-up of hs-CRP may help early detection of CVD in shift workers.

Background Periodic revision of assessment tools is essential to ensure risk assessment reliability and validity. Despite the recent revision of the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency (KOSHA) 2018, there is no evidence showing that the revision is superior to other cardio-cerebrovascular diseases (CVDs) risk-assessment tools for workplace health management. We conducted a comparative analysis using the Framingham risk score (FRS) as a gold standard to identify the most relevant CVDs risk-assessment tool for workplace health management. Methods We included 4,460 shipyard workers who had undergone a workers' health examination during January-December 2016. Risk levels for CVDs were calculated based on the FRS, KOSHA 2013, KOSHA 2017, KOSHA 2018 (2 methods), National Health Screening Program health risk appraisal (NHS HRA) 2017, and NHS HRA 2018. Study participants were categorized into low-risk, moderate-risk, or high-risk groups. Sensitivity, specificity, correlation, and agreement of each risk-assessment tool were calculated compared with the FRS as a gold standard. For statistical analyses, Spearman's rank correlation coefficient and the linearly weighted kappa coefficient were calculated. Results Sensitivity of the risk assessments was highest in the KOSHA 2018 (health risk appraisal [HRA]). The FRS showed correlation coefficients of 0.354 with the KOSHA 2013, 0.396 with the KOSHA 2017, 0.386 with the KOSHA 2018, 0.505 with the KOSHA 2018 (HRA), 0.288 with the NHS HRA 2017, and 0.622 with the NHS HRA 2018. Kappa values, calculated to examine the agreement in relation to the KOSHA 2013, KOSHA 2017, KOSHA 2018, KOSHA 2018 (HRA), NHS HRA 2017, and NHS HRA 2018 with the FRS, were 0.268, 0.322, 0.352, 0.136, 0.221, and 0.559, respectively. Conclusions The NHS HRA 2018 risk calculation method is a useful risk-assessment tool for CVDs, but only when appropriate classification criteria are applied. In order to enhance the risk-group identification capability of the KOSHA guideline, we propose to apply the classification criteria set in this study based on the risk group definition of the 2018 Korean Society of Hypertension guidelines for the management of hypertension instead of the current classification criteria of the KOSHA 2018.

The novel myokine irisin has been reported as a therapeutic target for metabolic disease. The objective of this study is to reveal the effects of aerobic training (AT) and resistance training (RT) on circulating irisin levels and their associations with change of body composition in overweight/obese adults. Twenty eight overweight/obese adults (BMI>23 kg/m2) were included in this study and compared before and after 8 weeks of exercise program (60 min/day, 5 times in a week). The subjects, in both aerobic and resistance training, showed significant improvement in anthropometric parameters and exercise capacities including maximal oxygen uptake and muscle strength. Interestingly, the circulating irisin was significantly increased in resistance training group (p=0.002) but not in aerobic training (p=0.426) compared to control group. In addition, we found the positive correlation between change of the circulating irisin and muscle mass (r=0.432, p=0.022) and the negative correlation between change of the circulating irisin and fat mass (r=−0.407, p=0.031). In the present pilot study, we found that circulating irisin level was increased by 8 weeks of resistance training in overweight/obese adults, suggesting that resistance training could be the efficient exercise type in overweight/obese considering positive change of body composition concomitant with increase of irisin levels.

INTRODUCTION Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) is associated with skeletal muscle atrophy. Here we examined possibility that resistance training could regulate SPARC expression in muscle atrophy in an immobilized hindlimb model. METHODS Sprague-Dawley rats underwent resistance ladder training and hindlimb immobilization. Cross sectional area and grip strength were measured. SPARC protein levels in the plantaris and soleus, and serum after exercise and immobilization were then analyzed. RESULTS Resistance training decreased body weight (P

Myokines, known to mediate metabolism, inflammation, and other pathophysiological conditions, have been widely investigated, including myokines induced by exercise. However, among published literature, there is substantial inconsistency in the quantification of exercise-induced myokines. Here, we summarized and compared published data regarding the effects of exercise on commonly studied myokines including apelin, Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), Interleukin-15 (IL-15), irisin, and Secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) during the last decade and discussed possible reasons for discrepancy in these reports.A search on PubMed for original articles published in this decade was conducted, focusing on the impacts of exercises on myokines and metabolic and age-related disorders. Beneficial relationship between skeletal muscle plasticity and myokines due to exercise is also discussed.Based on these analyses, exercise induces the secretion of a number of myokines, which has positive effects on metabolic diseases or age-related muscle atrophy (sarcopenia). However, among published reports, there is wide discrepancy in the quantification of myokines induced by exercise, which could be due to timing of sample collection, pre-analytic sample processing, analytical method, and calculation and other factors. Thus, these factors need to be considered in future studies on exercise induced myokines.

Introduction Physical activity is beneficial for preventing metabolic diseases. Here, the circulatory level of apelin, one of the myokines, was assessed in patients with obesity to examine the effects of body composition, metabolic parameters, and physical fitness on apelin secretion following an exercise program. Methods A total 60 subjects [34 women (21 lean and 13 overweight/obese) and 26 men (8 lean and 18 overweight/obese)], age 30–59 years, with body mass index (BMI) of 18–30 kg/m2 were recruited based on the guidelines for Korean obesity therapy in a clinical trial. Body composition, biochemical parameters, and physical fitness test were conducted. A single bout of exhaustive exercise was performed following Bruce protocol. Relationships among exercise-induced apelin, metabolic factors, and physical capacity were then analyzed. Independent/paired t-test between groups/time points and Pearson correlations were performed. Results There were significant positive correlations in post-exercise apelin and lean mass (P = 0.006), homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR; P = 0.004), HOMA insulin secretion (HOMA-%B; P = 0.005), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; P = 0.002), grip strength (P = 0.004), and isokinetic knee flexion and extension tests in 60° and 240°/s (all variables, P Conclusion Acute exercise increased circulating apelin, which was more effective in obese compared to healthy men, while no effect in women regardless of obesity status. Thus, apelin secretion after a single exercise is dependent on gender and metabolic status of subjects.

Background Although recent studies have investigated the influence of vitamin D on sleep patterns, there is a lack of research on the relationship between vitamin D and sleep patterns in Korean workers. This study focused on the relationship between serum vitamin D levels and sleep in fixed day indoor field workers in the electronics manufacturing industry in Korea. Methods The 1472 subjects who were included in this study were selected from fixed day workers in the electronics manufacturing industry who had received a worker’s special health examination at a hospital in Changwon, South Gyeongsang Province between January 2015 and December 2015. Nighttime workers and those who showed symptoms of depression were excluded from this study. The sociodemographic and lifestyle variables of the participants were investigated, including age, sex, marital status, level of education, body mass index, smoking habits, alcohol consumption habits, and regular exercise. Work-related factors were evaluated, such as employee tenure and occupational stress. Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D was measured as an indicator of vitamin D levels, and quality of sleep was evaluated using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) translated into Korean. Results The subjects had a mean serum vitamin D level of 13.70 ± 5.93 ng/mL. Vitamin D deficiency, defined as a serum vitamin D level of

Background This study investigated the relationship between weekly working hours and the occurrence of cerebro-cardiovascular diseases using a case-crossover study design. Methods We investigated average working hours during the 7 days before the onset of illness (hazard period) and average weekly working hours between 8 days and 3 months before the onset of cerebro-cardiovascular diseases (control period) for 1,042 cases from the workers’ compensation database for 2009. Results Among all subjects, the odds ratio by conditional logistic regression for the risk of cerebro-cardiovascular diseases with a 10 hr increase in average weekly working hours was 1.45 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.22–1.72), a significant association. Conclusions An increase in average weekly working hours may trigger the onset of cerebro-cardiovascular disease. Am. J. Ind. Med. 60:753–761, 2017. © 2017. Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

We compare comprehensive quantitative profiling of lipids at the molecular level from skeletal muscle tissues (gastrocnemius and soleus) of Zucker diabetic fatty rats and Zucker lean control rats during treadmill exercise by nanoflow liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Because type II diabetes is caused by decreased insulin sensitivity due to excess lipids accumulated in skeletal muscle tissue, lipidomic analysis of muscle tissues under treadmill exercise can help unveil the mechanism of lipid-associated insulin resistance. In total, 314 lipid species, including phospholipids, sphingolipids, ceramides, diacylglycerols (DAGs), and triacylglycerols (TAGs), were analyzed to examine diabetes-related lipid species and responses to treadmill exercise. Most lysophospholipid levels increased with diabetes. While DAG levels (10 from the gastrocnemius and 13 from the soleus) were >3-fold higher in diabetic rats, levels of most of these decreased after exercise in soleus but not in gastrocnemius. Levels of 5 highly abundant TAGs (52:1 and 54:3 in the gastrocnemius and 48:2, 50:2, and 52:4 in the soleus) displaying 2-fold increases in diabetic rats decreased after exercise in the soleus but not in the gastrocnemius in most cases. Thus, aerobic exercise has a stronger influence on lipid levels in the soleus than in the gastrocnemius in type 2 diabetic rats.

Shift work is closely related with workers' health. In particular, sleep is thought to be affected by shift work. In addition, shift work has been reported to be associated with the type or direction of shift rotation, number of consecutive night shifts, and number of off-duty days. We aimed to analyze the association between the night shift rotation interval and the quality of sleep reported by Korean female shift workers.In total, 2,818 female shift workers from the manufacturing industry who received an employee physical examination at a single university hospital from January to August in 2014 were included. Subjects were classified into three groups (A, B, and C) by their night shift rotation interval. The quality of sleep was measured using the Korean version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Descriptive analysis, univariate logistic regression, and multivariate logistic regression were performed.With group A as the reference, the odds ratio (OR) for having a seriously low quality of sleep was 1.456 (95% CI 1.171-1.811) and 2.348 (95% CI 1.852-2.977) for groups B and C, respectively. Thus, group C with the shortest night shift rotation interval was most likely to have a low quality of sleep. After adjustment for age, obesity, smoking status, alcohol consumption, exercise, being allowed to sleep during night shifts, work experience, and shift work experience, groups B and C had ORs of 1.419 (95% CI 1.134-1.777) and 2.238 (95% CI 1.737-2.882), respectively, compared to group A.Our data suggest that a shorter night shift rotation interval does not provide enough recovery time to adjust the circadian rhythm, resulting in a low quality of sleep. Because shift work is influenced by many different factors, future studies should aim to determine the most optimal shift work model and collect accurate, prospective data.

[Purpose] In the present study, we investigated the effect of exercise and arginine on the inflammatory makers and Cu-Mn superoxide dismutase (SOD) expression in the aortas of high-fat-induced obese rats. [Methods] Fifty 6-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly assigned as follows: HF-Con: high-fat diet, HF-Ex: high-fat diet and exercise, HF-Ex+A: high-fat diet and combined exercise and arginine, HF-A: high-fat diet and arginine. The high-fat diet was fed for 12 weeks following 1 week of environmental adaptation with mixed solid chow. The rats performed treadmill exercise 6 times per week for 12 weeks at20 m/min for 60 min. L-argininewas mixed with saline and orally administered at 150 mg/kg once a day. Expressions of inflammatory markers (including NF- κB, TNF-α, COX-2) and SOD were evaluated using western blotting. [Results] NF-κB expression decreased significantly (p

Background: Physical inactivity and reduced energy expenditure lead to increase in obesity among office workers. In this study, we investigated how 10 weeks of high intensity circuit training and working environment improvement can change body composition, physical strength and markers of metabolic syndrome. Methods: A total of 83 employees at risk for metabolic syndrome participated in 10 weeks program of one-hour circuit training (30 minutes twice weekly) and workplace improvement program, which consisted of dynamic stretching twice daily for all weekdays. Body composition, anthropometry, blood test, muscle strength/endur- ance and cardiopulmonary function of participants were assessed at the baseline and after 10 weeks. Results: At the end of 10 weeks, significant increases in levels of body composition, serum lipids, muscle strength and cardiopulmonary were observed in metabolic syndrome risk factor group. In body composition, significant improvements of body weight, body mass index, lean body mass, %body fat, visceral adipose tissue, waist and hip circumference and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure were observed in metabolic syndrome risk factor group. In lipids, hemoglobin A1c and high density lipoprotein were increased significantly in metabolic syndrome risk factor group. In muscle strength and endurance, significant increases were found. Also, there was a significant difference in cardiovascular function of maximal oxygen uptake and total running time among the groups. Conclusions: These intensive 10 weeks of high intensity circuit training and workplace improvement program were effective in improving body composition, muscle strength/improvement and cardiopulmonary function. Therefore, based on this study result, workplace improvement programs might be more developed and applied for high-risk employees to improve their metabolic syndrome. Korean J Health Promot 2016;16(2):134-143

Background Although the association between metabolic syndrome and intraocular pressure is well known, the relationship between the intraocular pressure and different combination of the components of metabolic syndrome has not been actively researched yet. The study aimed to investigate the relationship between the intraocular pressure and metabolic syndrome components with their different combinations. Methods Thirty-one thousand two hundred seventy one healthy people aged 19–79 who attended a community hospital for a health check-up between January 2011 and December 2013 were enrolled in the study. Subjects with a history of intraocular disease, at least in one eye and those receiving medical treatment for glaucoma were excluded. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed following the criteria defined in Circulation 2009. Results Subjects with combination of three metabolic syndrome components of triglycerides, abdominal obesity, and fasting glucose had the highest intraocular pressure. And subjects with the combination of four components of blood pressure, high-density lipoproteins, triglycerides, fasting glucose had a significantly higher intraocular pressure than ones with the combination of all five metabolic syndrome components. Conclusions The difference in the risk of high intraocular pressure according to the different combination of the metabolic syndrome components could be confirmed. If additional follow-up studies are conducted, the findings can be used as an indicator for predicting intraocular pressure increases in patients with metabolic syndrome.

The rapid aging trend in South Korea will cause a growing shortage of labor and decreasing quality of the labor force. The purpose of this commentary is to recommend a health care strategy to maintain and promote the work ability of employees in an aging Korea. Strategies to promote the work ability require the collaboration of governmental agencies at the central and local levels. First, the common goal should be the reinforcement of follow-up measure in general medical examinations and the promotion of healthy lifestyles for workers. Second, collaborating activities should be performed among the Worker's Health Center, the Health Promotion Center, and community health centers. In conclusion, health care strategies for ensuring the work ability in an aging Korea require the collaboration of governmental agencies at the central and local levels.