Background
: Recently, inflammation has been associated with insulin resistance and the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus. We investigated the relationship between white blood cell (WBC) count and the incidence of hyperglycemia and the interactive effects of smoking and elevated WBC count on hyperglycemia.

Methods : We prospectively examined 6,734 Korean males without IFG (fasting plasma glucose concentration of ≥ 110 mg/dL) or type 2 diabetes mellitus from 1994 to 2002. We divided WBC counts into 4 groups: 2.9∼5.9 (reference quartile), 6.0∼6.9, 7.0∼8.1, 8.2∼16.5 (×10³ cells/μL), respectively. The odds ratios were calculated by multiple logistic regression according to WBC quartiles after adjusting for predictive risk factors of type 2 diabetes mellitus. Also the odds ratios were calculated after stratification according to smoking status.

Results : Compaired to reference quartile, the odds ratio for hyperglycemia was 1.09 (95% CI, 0.91∼1.30), 1.17 (95% CI, 0.99∼1.40), 1.34 (95% CI, 1.12∼1.60) (P value for trend=0.0009), respectively. And the odds ratio for IFG or type 2 diabetes mellitus was 1.08 (95% CI, 0.83∼1.42), 1.16 (95% CI, 0.89∼1.50), 1.28 (95% CI, 1.00∼1.65) (P value for trend=0.0395) among the current smoking group, respectively.

Conclusion : Our findings demonstrate that an elevated WBC count is associated with an increased risk of hyperglycemia, particularly in current and former smokers. These results support our hypothesis that inflammation increases the risk of hyperglycemia.

Background
: Previous studies reported an increased risk of pancreatic cancer among diabetes patients, and fasting blood glucose level is widely used to determine the presence of diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of fasting blood glucose level on pancreatic cancer death by a large, prospective cohort study in Korean population.

Methods : A total of 1,306,476 participants in the Korean Cancer Prevention Study (KCPS) were enrolled. A health examination including fasting blood glucose level and life style questionnaire was done as a baseline examination from 1993 to 1995, and they were followed up to 2002. Pancreatic cancer death outcome for 10 years according to the fasting blood glucose level was explored.

Results : At the beginning 63,510 (4.9%) participants had diabetes mellitus. In multivariate Cox proportional hazards models, controlling for age and current smoking, the presence of diabetes increased the risk of mortality for pancreatic cancer excluding those who died of pancreatic cancer within 1 year (Men: HR 1.7; 95% CI, 1.4∼2.1, P＜0.0001, Women: HR 1.8; 95% CI, 1.3∼2.6, P=0.0003). As fasting blood glucose level, elevated the pancreatic cancer risk was increased. Men with fasting blood glucose level≥140 mg/dL had a higher risk of pancreatic cancer than those with FBG＜100 mg/dl. (Men: HR 2.0; 95% CI, 1.6∼2.5, P＜0.0001, Women: HR 2.1; 95% CI, 1.4∼3.1, P=0.0002).

Conclusion : Elevated fasting blood glucose level increased the risk of pancreatic cancer death among Koreans.

Background
: The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between 7 health habits and health-related quality of life using the SF-36 questionnaire.

Methods : The subjects for this study were 550 workers in Seongnam City, Kyonggi Province, Korea. Data were collected by using constructed questionnaires from 11 September 2004 to 25 September 2004. Statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS.

Results : There were positive relationships of favorable health habits as indicated by Alameda 7 to health-related quality of life. After controlling for the effects of confounding cofactors that included age, sex, diseases, and other health habits, multiple regression analysis indicated as follows. 1) The item of 'eating breakfast everyday' were significantly related to the grade of social function (SF) and bodily pain (BP). 2) The item of 'sleeping for 7∼8 hours a day' were significantly related to all domains of the SF-36 except physical function (PF). 3) The item of 'normal Body Mass Index' were significantly related to the grade of Role limitations-emotional (RE). 4. The item of 'regular physical exercise' were significantly related to the grade of general health (GH), physical function (PF), vitality (VT), and mental health (MH). Other health habits like not snacking between meals, never smoking, and low alcohol consumption were not associated with any of the SF-36 profiles.

Conclusion : There were positive relationships of favorable health habits to health-related quality of life. It is important to have favorable health habits for good health-related quality of life.

Background
: It is well-known that a decline in the prevalence of smoking among physicians has preceded a decline in the general population. For the purpose of finding out the reason for lower smoking rate in Korean medical doctors than that of general population whether it is due to knowledge of toxicity related to smoking perceived as health professionals or as the only leader group in society this study was investigated. We selected lawyers as a representative of other professional groups. We investigated smoking rate, habits and attitudes towards smoking in Korean lawyers and compared the smoking rate and attitudes towards smoking in lawyers with those of medical doctors.

Methods : This study investigates smoking rate, habits and attitudes towards smoking in Korean lawyers. An anonymous self-administered postal survey was used. One-third of registered lawyers were sampled according to stratified random sampling. Among 1,401 target population, 463 (38.3%) responded.

Results : Among male lawyers, 38.0% were current smokers, 38.9% were ex-smokers and 23.1% were non-smokers, while 7.7% were ex-smokers and 92.3% were non-smokers among female lawyers. The direct age-adjusted smoking rate among Korean male lawyers was 42.1%.

Conclusion : In comparison of the direct age-adjusted smoking rate among male lawyers, medical doctors and general population in Korea, the rate in lawyers was 42.1%, medical doctors 34.9%, and general population 67.6%. The smoking rate of lawyers was found to be higher than that of medical doctors, but considerably lower than that of general population. In comparison of the attitudes towards smoking between lawyers and medical doctors, the lawyers were found to have a lower level of support in questions of the knowledge about the harmful effects of smoking and smoking bans on health than medical doctors.