• 지역사회간호학회지
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.85-96
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to identify job competencies and needs for job education perceived by new community health practitioners. Methods: This study used a qualitative research design. Eight new community health practitioners participated in this study. Data were collected through in-depth interviews and analyzed using content analysis. Results: Five job competencies were identified in this study, including primary care, public health management, interpersonal relationship, teaching and counseling, and leadership. The contents of job education that they needed were management of major symptoms and chronic diseases, understanding and prescription of medications, emergency responses and care, management of endemic diseases, planning and management of public health programs, writing official documentsand computer works, and leadership training. The learning methods they preferred were connecting theory and practice, situation- or case-based learning, skill- or practice-based learning, and increased opportunities of clinical practice. Conclusion: The findings of this study provided the direction of job education for new community health practitioners. Job education for new community health practitioners needs to consider the job competencies and educational needs identified in this study.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권3호
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• pp.225-227
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• 2012

The seroepidemiological status of toxoplasmosis was surveyed among the residents of Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do by means of ELISA using a crude extract antigen of Toxoplasma gondii. The sera of 1,661 adult residents (866 males and 795 females) were collected and checked for IgG antibody titers, which showed 17.0% positive rate (282 sera). The positive rate was significantly different between the sex; 20.6% for males and 13.1% for females (P<0.05). The positive rates were higher in fifties of males (28.7%) and forties of females (20.0%). This positive rate of toxoplasmosis in Cheorwon-gun residents is regarded as the highest among the surveys of different geographical regions of Korea. This high positive rate may due in part to peculiar geographical locality of the surveyed area near the naturally well preserved demilitarized zone (DMZ) or presumably consumption of the pork imported from high endemic nations. Therefore, it is necessary to study further the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in Cheorwon-gun.

• Toxicological Research
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• 제6권2호
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• pp.159-166
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• 1990

The ability of many toxigenic fungi to invade and develop in a wide variety of raw ingredients of human diet renders human exposure to mycotoxing very difficult to avoid. Most of the energy-rich commodities, such as cereal grains, oil seeds, tree nuts, and dehydrated fruits, are susceptible to mycotoxin contamination. Mycotoxins therefare have been recognized as an important class of hazardous substances in the human food chain. Although human exposure to mycotoxins is largely through ingestion, inhalation and skin contact may also be significant under conditions other than consumption of foods. Human ingestion of mycotoxins is due to consumption of contaminated dietary ingredients and the edible tissues and products of domestic animals that have been exposed to mycotoxins in moldy feed. Large scale acute human mycotoxicoses, such as ergotism in France, alimentary toxic aleukia in Russia, yellow rice syndrome in Japan, endemic nephropathy in Balkan countries, and acute aflatoxin poisonings in India and Taiwan, have been well documented, indicating that mycotoxicosis is a global problem. In some incidents, hundreds of victims were killed and many more became seriously ill. The mycotoxins that have been implicated in the etiology of these human diseases include aflatoxins, citreoviridin, cyclopiazonic acid, ergot alkaloids, moniliformin, ochratoxin A, trichothecenes, tenuazonic acid, and zearalenone. Among these, aflatoxins have been also implicated in the etiology of human primary liver cancer in those high-incidence countries in Africa and southeast Asia. It is well recognized that cause-effect relationship between mycotoxins and human diseases is very difficult to establish, especially for the cancer connection. Careful risk assessment must be performed to determine whether a mycotoxin indeed warrants costly regulatory actions.

• 한국어병학회지
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• 제28권1호
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• pp.1-7
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• 2015

In 2009 outbreaks of an emerging disease in shrimp farms were first reported in China. The disease was known as early mortality syndrome (EMS), or acute hepatopancreatic necrosis disease (AHPND). Since 2009, the disease has been spread to Vietnam, Malaysia, Thailand and Mexico. The causative agent of the disease was identified as Vibrio parahaemolyticus. It is a common seawater inhabitant bacterium, and the pathogen can sometimes contaminate seafood. The disease has caused mass mortality of cultivated shrimp, and huge economic losses in the countries named above. In order to prevent the introduction and establishment of AHPND, emergency measures, such as strengthening of import conditions and even import bans, were put in place by many other countries. In Korea, on the other hand, there are large quantities of shrimp imports from countries, such as Thailand and Vietnam. Transportation of live and fresh dead shrimp is highly likely, and could be a transmission pathway if the shrimp are sourced from populations in AHPND endemic areas. It is important to recognize that importing countries may provisionally adopt sanitary or phytosanitary measures on the basis of available pertinent information, including that from the relevant international organizations, as well as from sanitary or phytosanitary measures applied by other countries based on "Agreement on Application of Sanitary and Phytosanitary Measures". It is pertinent that Korea also takes proper emergent measures to keep out diseases and provide safe seafood.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제60권1호
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• pp.97-101
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• 2006

Coccidioidomycosis is a rare systemic fungal infection in Korea. However, the incidence of coccidioidomycosis has recently begun to increase due to the increasing incidence of people traveling overseas to endemic areas. In previously reported cases of coccidioidomycosis in Korea, the radiographic findings usually showed a solitary pulmonary nodule, pleural effusion, cavitation, and hilar lymphadenopathy, but no miliary nodules. We report a case of disseminated coccidioidomycosis with miliary nodules in an immunocompetent patient. A 32 year old male, who had traveled in Corona, New Mexico, USA, was admitted for an evaluation of persistent cough with fever. Chest radiography revealed initially diffuse multiple small nodules that appeared to be miliary tuberculosis. However, a subsequent evaluation revealed that he had disseminated coccidioidomycosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권5호
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• pp.561-569
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• 2015

Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are widespread diseases of public health importance in Tanzania. A study on perceptions and practices related to schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections was undertaken among a community population of Kome Island in Sengerema District, north-western Tanzania, where intestinal schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections are endemic. Schistosomiasis and intestinal worm-related perceptions and practices were assessed before and 3 years after implementation of a participatory hygiene and sanitation transformation (PHAST) intervention as a control measure. Data were obtained from baseline and post-intervention knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) questionnaire surveys conducted twice in 2009 and 2012 among 82 individuals aged ${\geq}15years$. We found significant increases in respondents' knowledge of the cause, transmission, symptoms, health consequences, and prevention of schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections after PHAST intervention. The increase in respondents' knowledge on almost all aspects of the said infections was translated into actions to control schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections. This has not been achieved by chance, but due to well-designed and locally-adapted PHAST intervention. We conclude that despite criticisms, PHAST approach is still useful in empowering communities to control water, sanitation, and hygiene related infectious diseases such as schistosomiasis and intestinal worm infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제61권3호
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• pp.304-309
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• 2023

Intestinal parasitic infections are a public health burden and a major cause of illness in developing countries. The diseases lead to various health threats, including growth retardation and mental health-related disorders, especially in children. We assessed the risk factors for intestinal parasitic infections among children aged 12-59 months residing in Nyamasheke District, Rwanda. A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted using secondary data from 1,048 children aged 12-59 months whose stool samples were examined for the presence of intestinal parasites and whose results were registered in the laboratory information system in 2020. The prevalence of intestinal parasites in children aged 12-59 months was 53.2%. The dominant parasites were Ascaris lumbricoides (13.1%), followed by Giardia lamblia (10.9%), Entamoeba histolytica (7.9%), Trichuris trichiura (6.5%), hookworms (1.7%), and Taenia species (1.4%). A significant association was observed between intestinal parasites and the literacy of mothers or children's caregivers (odds ratio (OR)=5.09, P<0.001). Children from farming households were 2.8-fold more likely to contract intestinal parasitic infections than those from nonfarming households (OR=2.8, P<0.001). A significant association was also observed between intestinal parasites and food safety (OR=4.9, P<0.001). Intestinal parasitic infections were significantly associated with hand hygiene practices after using the toilet and washing fresh fruits before eating (P<0.001). The information gathered will help public health providers and partners develop control plans in highly endemic areas in Rwanda.

• 한국전자통신학회논문지
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.545-554
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• 2023

현대 산업에서 위성항법시스템(Global Navigation Satellite System : GNSS)은 PNT 정보(측위(P : Positioning), 항법(N : Navigation), 시각동기(T : Timing))가 항상 제공되어야 하고, 그 정보를 기반으로 정밀한 위치추정이 요구되는 다양한 분야에 활용되고 있다. 특히, 2019년부터 시작된 COVID-19 펜데믹 상황에 대한 감염 예방 및 확산 방지를 위해 정밀한 위성항법시스템 기술과 이를 보조하는 다양한 기술들이 사용되어 왔고, 전 세계의 적극적인 방역과 감염 확산 억제 노력으로 엔데믹 상황으로의 전환을 앞두고 있다. 질병, E-health 분야는 감염병의 추적 및 감시와 더불어 원격 의료 서비스 제공을 위해 이용자의 위치정보가 반드시 필요한데, 위성항법시스템이 정확한 위치정보 제공에 주도적인 역할을 하고 있다. 본 논문은 이러한 위성항법시스템 기술이 질병 및 E-health 분야에 활용된 최신 연구 동향에 대해 조사한 결과를 제시하고 그 결과를 분석한다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제61권2호
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• pp.216-224
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• 2023

In several schistosomiasis-endemic countries, the prevalence has remained high in some areas owing to reinfection despite repeated mass drug administration (MDA) interventions; these areas are referred to as persistent hot spots. Identifying hotspots is critical for interrupting transmission. This study aimed to determine an effective means of identifying persistent hot spots. First, we investigated the differences between Schistosoma haematobium and Schistosoma mansoni prevalence among school-aged children (SAC) estimated by a community-based survey, for which local key informants purposively selected communities, and a randomly sampled school-based survey. A total of 6,225 individuals residing in 60 villages in 8 districts of North Kordofan, Blue Nile, or Sennar States, Sudan participated in a community-based survey in March 2018. Additionally, the data of 3,959 students attending 71 schools in the same 8 districts were extracted from a nationwide school-based survey conducted in January 2017. The community-based survey identified 3 districts wherein the prevalence of S. haematobium or S. mansoni infection among SAC was significantly higher than that determined by the randomly sampled school survey (e.g., S. haematobium in the Sennar district: 10.8% vs. 1.1%, P<0.001). At the state level, the prevalence of schistosomiasis among SAC, as determined by the community-based survey, was consistently significantly higher than that determined by the school-based survey. Purposeful selection of villages or schools based on a history of MDA, latrine coverage, open defecation, and the prevalence of bloody urine improved the ability for identifying persistent hot spots.

• BMB Reports
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• 제49권11호
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• pp.590-597
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• 2016

Parasitic diseases remain an unarguable public health problem worldwide. Liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis is a high risk pathogenic parasitic helminth which is endemic predominantly in Asian countries, including Korea, China, Taiwan, Vietnam, and the far eastern parts of Russia, and is still actively transmitted. According to the earlier $8^{th}$ National Survey on the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in 2012, C. sinensis was revealed as the parasite with highest prevalence of 1.86% in general population among all parasite species surveyed in Korea. This fluke is now classified under one of the definite Group 1 human biological agents (carcinogens) by International Agency of Research on Cancer (IARC) along with two other parasites, Opisthorchis viverrini and Schistosoma haematobium. C. sinensis infestation is mainly linked to liver and biliary disorders, especially cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). For the purposes of this mini-review, we will only focus on C. sinensis and review pathogenesis and carcinogenesis of clonorchiasis, disease condition by C. sinensis infestation, and association between C. sinensis infestation and CCA. In this presentation, we briefly consider the current scientific status for progression of CCA by heavy C. sinensis infestation from the food-borne trematode and development of CCA.