• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.317-322
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• 2019

Gastroenteritis with diarrhea is one of the most infectious diseases in the world following respiratory infections. Notably, diarrhea-causing viruses (DVs) cause more than 70% of such cases. In this study, 3,065 stool specimens from patients with diarrhea (median age, 1.1 years; range, 0.0-91.1 years), who were admitted to the DanKook University Hospital, were examined using multiplex reverse transcription PCR (mRT-PCR). The target viruses were astrovirus (AstV), enteric adenovirus (EAdV), group A rotavirus (RotV), norovirus GI (NoV-GI), and norovirus GII (NoV-GII). The mRT-PCR results were analyzed based on various factors such as seasonality, age, presence of co-infection, and analyzed trends. The detection rate of the DVs during the study period was found to be 30.8% (n = 943/3,065). When the detection rate was analyzed monthly, the DV detection rate was found to be highest between December to January. Of the detected DVs, NoV-GII was the most common, accounting for 45.5% of the detected viruses (n = 446/980). Notably, 86.5% (n = 848/980) of the pathogens were detected in individuals who were less than 5 years of age. During the study period, NoV-GII and RotV showed alternating trends. In addition, both the number and rate of co-infections increased.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.11-19
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• 2018

Objectives : The aim of this study is to investigate the current research trend of herbal medicine based on the published articles in pharmacoepidemiologic journals. Methods : A total of 3 electronic journals, Pharmacoepidemiology and Drug Safety(PDS), Drug Safety and Journal of Pharmacoepidemiology and Risk Management(JPERM) from January 2013 to August 2018 were used for searching articles about herbal medicine. Selected articles were reviewed and classified under 5 categories-collection of adverse events in herbal medicine, statistical modeling and methodology, pharmaco-epidemiologic outcome study, drug utilization review(DUR), risk management system and regulation. Results : A total of 8 articles were finally included for analysis. 2 articles were categorized in collection of adverse events in herbal medicine, 1 was statistical modeling and methodology, 2 were pharmacoepidemiologic outcome study and 3 were risk management system and regulation. There was no article in DUR. And then pharmacoepidemiologic research trends of herbal medicine were summarized in classification of 5 categories. Conclusions : To sum up with these 8 articles of herbal medicine in pharmacoepidemiologic journals, herbal medicine was of interesting concern among researchers. The need for research on safety and risk management of herbal medicine is steadily increasing, pharmacoepidemiologic research about herbal medicine must be activated in Korea.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.155-161
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• 2019

This study was to identify the effects of home visit intervention program for Holistic Healthcare of multi-culture Couples. It used a non-equivalent control group pretest-posttest design quasi-experimental research. The subjects of this study consist of 20 couples for experimental and control groups. Multi-cultural couples comprised of foreign women married to Korean men in farm and fishery areas. The research tools were used stress index by SA-3000P (Medicare co. Ltd. KOREA), Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D), and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-Bref). The experimental group of the wives had lower stress index than the control group, the experimental group of the husband showed lower stress index than the control group, (t=-3.14, p=.002). The wife (t=-3.75, p=.001) and husband (t=-4.20, p=.001) of the experimental group showed lower depression scores than the control group. Both the wife (t=3.86, p=.001) and husband (t=5.28, p=.001) showed higher scores for quality of life compared to the control group. It was found that this holistic healthcare home visit program is an effective program to make improvements on stress, depression and quality of life for multi-cultural couples. Therefore, as the intervention program developed in this study is home visits for the holistic health of multi-cultural couples, and it is judged that it can be implemented at the local social health centers or healthcare centers.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.210-218
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• 1999

Purpose : As several epidemics of aseptic meningitis had been reported in Korea since 1990, the need of epidemiologic study about enteroviral infections was recognized. We studied epidemiologic and clinical features of enteroviral infections in children. Methods : We analyzed the seasonal occurrence of enteroviral infections and age, sex and clinical diagnosis of the children admitted to five branch hospitals of Hallym University and diagnosed to have enteroviral infections by culture from January 1996 to December 1998. Results : Enterovirus was isolated in 126 out of 245(51.4%) stools, 15 out of 89(16.8%) nasopharyngeal aspirates and 195 out of 1,835(10.6%) cerebrospinal fluids. There were 273 echoviruses(Echo)(197 Echo 30, 46 Echo 9, 17 Echo 6, 13 unclassified), 24 coxsackieviruses B(CB)(11 CB 2, 2 CB 5, 11 unclassified), 7 coxsackieviruses A 24 and 32 unclassified enteroviruses. Yearly number of isolates was 65(46 Echo 9) in 1996, 239(197 Echo 30) in 1997 and 32(15 CB: 9 CB 2) in 1998. Epidemics of enteroviruses occurred mainly during the months May to October. The mean age of the infected children was $62.1{\pm}38.0$ months and 74.6% of the patients were younger than 7 years of age. There were 203 boys and 100 girls and 79.3% of the patients were diagnosed as aseptic meningitis. Conclusions : We confirmed that enteroviral infections occurred in epidemics from late spring to fall during the study period. Enteroviral infections occurred predominantly in boys and the preschool children. Aseptic meningitis was the main illness in the hospitalized children.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.246-256
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• 1983

As epidemiological parameters of human paragonimiasis, the positive rates of intradermal test and the sputum/stool ekaminations have long been employed in population surveys. However, both the specificity of the intradermal test and the sensitivity of sputumjstool examination have been gradually declined as the endemicity was lowered; thus the gap between above two parameters widened. In such context, the development of a new epidemiologic parameter or tool which makes it possible to accurately discriminate the active paragonimiasis cases was necessary. In the present study, the detection rate of Paragonimus-speclac IgG antibody by micro-ELISA was evaluated as an indicator of epidemiologic status of human paragonimiasis in a population. A total of 4, 285 students and inhabitants living in Bukpyeong Myeon and Bukil Myeon, Haenam Gun, Jeonlanam Do was surveyed in October, 1983 by intradermal test first. Out of them, 244 cases (5.7%) were found positively reacted to VBS antigen of F. westermani. Out of 168 positive reactors, 7 cases (4.2%) were egg positive either by two times of sputum examination or by one stool examination. That indicated that only 0. 16% of total surveyed were confirmed as active paragonimiasis by egg detection. When sera collected from 239 positive reactors of Intradermal test were tested by micro-ELISA for their specific IgG antibody, 40 cases(16.7%) were found to be positive. All of 7 egg positive cases were again positive for specific IgG antibody. Among remaining 232 intradermal test positive cases, 33 cases were positive for IgG antibody. In contrast to those, none of 42 positive reactors to intradermal test for Cloncrchis and of 128 intradermal test negative cases showed positive for Paragcnimus-specIfic IgG antibody. The rate of specific IgG antibody as detected by micro-ELISA appeared to be increased with the wheal size of the intradermal test. When the wheal sixte was over 13mm in diameter, about 50% of them were positive for specific IgG antibody. Thirty-one specific antibody positive cases were clinically evaluated by laboratory examinations (repeated sputum examination, peripheral eosinophil count and chest roentgenogram) and by history taking. Out of them 24 cases were associated with one or more positive laboratory findings: thus considered as active paragonimiasis cases. Out of 7 lab. finding-free cases 3 revealed past history of typical paragonimiasis symptoms, suggesting that they were in chronic or in convalescent stages. The remaining 4 cases were considered as either mild or ectopic infection cases; the possibility of cross-reaction with other helminthiases could not be ruled out. From the above results, it was inferred that the detection of Paragonimus-specIfic IgG antibody by micro-ELISA was very much helpful in detecting the active cases as well as in proper evaluation of the endemicity of human paragonimiasis in a population. The convenience of mass haildling of sera in micro-ELISA was considered another superiority as an epidemiologic tool.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.88-95
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• 1998

Purpose : Varicella is a common contagious illness and vaccine against it has been used in healthy Korean children. We studied clinical and epidemiologic features of varicella and the effect of vaccination. Methods : We analyzed clinical and epidemiologic features of varicella and vaccination effect against it in children treated in Hangang Sacred Heart Hospital from March 1994 to December 1996. Results : 1) Total 73 cases of varicella, 46 male and 27 female patients were included. Annual incidence was 31, 20 and 22 cases from '94 to '96 respectively, with an increase during the period June to July and December to January. 2) Mean age was $46{\pm}37.2$ months and 84.9% of the patients were younger than 7 years old including 16.4% of infants. 3) Varicella occurred after a contact with varicella patients in 40(54.8%) patients. 4) Fever developed in 44(60%) patients with mean $38.4{\pm}0.8^{\circ}C$ and persisted for mean $3{\pm}2.4$ days. Nine(12.3%) patients had complications and eighteen(25%) patients were admitted for mean $4{\pm}2.1$ days but all recovered. 5) Twenty(27.8%) patients were affected despite preceding vaccination against varicella but the number of vesicles decreased significantly in vaccinees(P<0.01). 6) The rate of secondary cases in healthy siblings was 27 out of 35(77.1%) and was not affected by preceding vaccination. Conclusion : Varicella occurred mainly in children younger than 7 years old and showed seasonality. Because 27.8% of cases developed despite preceding vaccination and the rate of secondary cases was not affected by vaccination, further study for vaccine efficacy is necessary.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.118-122
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• 2005

An epidemiological study was performed on zoophilic dermatophytes. The number of patients with zoophilic dermatophytes diagnosed on clinical findings and culture at the Catholic Dermatological Clinic in Daegu City were 1,339 for 10 years from January 1995 to December 2004. Species of zoophilic dermatophytes isolated from 47,925 patients with dermatophytes were as follows; Trichophyton(T.) rubrum was isolated from 43,702 (91.2%), T. interdigitale 2,660 (5.6%), Epidermophyton(E.) floccosum 43 (0.1%), T. tonsurans 131 (0.3%), T. mentagrophytes 625 (1.3%), T. verrucosum 56 (0.2%), Microsporum(M.) canis 658 (1.4%), and M. gypseum 50 (0.1%). Zoophilic dermatophytes infections were chiefly Tinea facial in the cases of T. mentagrphytes and Tinea corporis in the cases of T. verrucosum, but Tinea capitis in the cases of M. canis. Number of patients with zoophilic dermatophytes by site and age were as follows; Most patients with infected scalps were young people under 15 years old. Infection of the trunk area (neck,chest,back) and extremities (arms, legs, hands, feet) were relatively high in those patients over 15 years old. M. canis were most frequently isolated in autumn and winter, and T. mentagrophyts and T. verrucosum were mostly in spring and winter.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.478-486
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• 2005

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the influencing factors on health-related quality of life of physically disabled persons. Method: Data was collected from 96 persons with a physical disability in three cities in Korea from June to September, 2003. Social support and depression were measured by a Social Support Questionnaire 6 ($SSQ_6$) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression questionnaire (CES-D). The Rosenberg Self-esteem Scale was used to measure self-esteem. Health-related quality of life (HRQOL) was measured using Smith Kline Beecham Quality of Life Scale (SBQOL). The SPSS WIN 11.0 version program was used for data analysis. Result: There were significant differences of HRQOL according to monthly income and economic status. All subjects had a high level of depression and low self-esteem. Conclusion: The findings of this study show that self-esteem and the size of the social support network are significant influencing variables on HRQOL in physically disabled persons. Nursing intervention and counseling programs which improve self-esteem and increase the size of a social support network are needed to promote HRQOL in physically disabled persons.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.31
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• pp.18.1-18.8
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• 2016

Objectives This study aimed to evaluate the risk factors associated with depression and suicidal ideation in a rural population. Methods A survey was conducted with 543 farmers from Chungcheongnam-do Province using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) for depression, Lubben Social Network Scale (LSNS) for social support, Swedish Q16 for neurotoxicity symptoms and a survey tool for farmer's syndrome. Results After adjusting for socioeconomic factors using logistic regression analysis, poor self-rated health, low social support and neurotoxicity were positively associated with the risk of depression (odds ratio [OR], 15.96; 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.11 to 81.97; OR, 3.14; 95% CI, 1.26 to 7.82; and OR, 3.68; 95% CI, 1.08 to 12.57, respectively). The risk of suicidal ideation significantly increased with low social support, neurotoxicity and farmer's syndrome (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.18 to 4.40; OR, 6.17; 95% CI, 2.85 to 13.34; and OR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.51 to 9.07, respectively). Conclusions Given the overall results of this study, there is a need to establish programs which can improve the health and social relationships of farmers. Also, when farmers have neurological symptoms from pesticide exposure and characteristic symptoms of farmer's syndrome, a monitoring system for depression and suicide must be made available.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.189-201
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• 1997

The primary purpose of this study is to develop a measure of tracking by using a modified kappa statistic. Understanding tracking phenomena in epidemiologic studies is quite important, because precautionary measure can be made in the early stage of the outcome event. Several authors proposed measures of tracking. Among them we compared ours against McMahan's using a simulation study. Finally we applied our procedure and McMahan's to real data. We may conclude that our statistic is adequate in explaining and detecting the tracking phenomenon.