• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.564-568
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• 2020

Although studies on Hepatitis A virus (HAV) were crucial in the establishment of the HAV infection prevention programs, no systematic investigation into HAV has been conducted since 1999. We retrospectively analyzed the data between January 2010 to December 2018 from all the patients who underwent HAV antibody tests at the Dankook University Hospital Health Care Center. Data were collected from 56,204 individuals. Overall, 34,834 (62.0%) individuals from this cohort were positive for HAV antibodies and the annual rate of anti-HAV antibody positivity was highest in 2010 (68.5%) and lowest in 2013 (54.8%). The average decline in the antibody positivity rate was 0.62% per year, showing a statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). In the over 40s age group, anti-HAV antibody positivity rates decreased from 89% in 2010 to 64% in 2018 (p < 0.001), with an annual decrease of 3.1%. In the over 30s age group, it decreased from 48.2% in 2010 to 34.7% in 2018 (p < 0.001), with an annual decrease of 1.82%. This study shows that the antibody positivity rate is decreasing across age groups but given that HAV infection poses more significant risks in older patients it is important to expand the evaluations of the current and future antibody positivity rates for HAV in various age groups.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.20-23
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• 2021

Methemoglobin is generated by the oxidation of ferrous iron to ferric iron within a hemoglobin molecule. Methemoglobin is unable to bind and transport oxygen, resulting in methemoglobinemia, which can lead to fatal tissue hypoxia. The most common cause of methemoglobinemia is poisoning by oxidizing agents such as dapsone, benzocaine, and primaquine. However, methemoglobinemia can also be caused by normal dietary sources. We present two cases of methemoglobinemia that developed after a normal diet in two male patients. In this case report, the patients suddenly developed dyspnea and cyanosis after eating the same meal. They had no history of suspected poisoning, such as the use of drugs, exposure to chemicals, or gas inhalation. Their symptoms did not improve even after a high dose of oxygen was administered; further, an abnormal 'oxygen saturation gap' was observed. Because of CO-oximetry, the methemoglobin levels of the patients were 50.0% and 46.6%, respectively. We administered methylene blue (1 mg/kg), and the patients recovered completely without any complications. Emergency physicians should, therefore, be aware that methemoglobinemia can also be caused by normal dietary sources. In addition, if the source and route of contamination are unclear, an epidemiological investigation should be conducted.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.30 no.4
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• pp.431-432
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• 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been going on for nearly a year. As of December 1, 2020, more than 60 million confirmed cases and 1.4 million deaths have occurred in 220 countries and territories. There is no effective treatment for COVID-19 so far, and vaccines are being developed. However, the vaccine of COVID-19 can be freed from COVID-19 only if there are positive answers to some questions: "Aren't there any major side effects from the vaccine?"; "Is the vaccine effective for enough time?"; "Does the vaccine sufficiently reduce the mortality rate?"; and "Does the vaccine sufficiently reduce the reproduction number?" The fight against COVID-19 will continue for a long time. Therefore, we need to respond by developing the evidence for control of COVID-19, the emerging infectious disease. Extensive quarantine measures in the early stages of COVID-19 need to be elaborated through developing the evidence. Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency should establish a database for evidence developing COVID-19 control. In this database, based on more than 3 million tested individuals, epidemiological investigation results, health insurance claims data, and government data such as the Ministry of Public Administration and Security, etc. should be linked. It is necessary to disclose this database to academia, etc. to create the evidences of COVID-19 and manage COVID-19 through these. And through the developed evidences, guidelines for physical health and mental health in the era of Corona 19 should be developed.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.270-276
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• 2022

This study analyzed the epidemiological trends of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) according to age and sex among individuals aged 50 years or older in South Korea from September 2018 to December 2020. We found that the positivity rate for Gardnerella vaginalis was the highest in the study group, followed by the positivity rate for Ureaplasma parvum (UP). Interestingly, the positivity rates for Mycoplasma hominis and UP were higher in female participants than in male participants. The positivity rate for Treponema pallidum was very low in the female participants. During the study period, the positivity rate for herpes simplex virus 2 increased in the female participants, while the positivity rate for Candida increased in the male participants. These results show that the STI positivity rate varies according to age and sex, and a difference was observed in the average age of positive participants according to the type of STIs. We found a clear pattern of infection in the elderly population and according to sex. Our findings are expected to be used as baseline data for future research, education, and prevention of STIs in the elderly population.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.337-345
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• 2024

Soybean (Glycine max L.) is one of the most widely planted and used legumes in the world, being used for food, animal feed products, and industrial production. The soybean mosaic virus (SMV) is the most prevalent virus infecting soybean plants. This study developed a diagnostic method for the rapid and sensitive detection of SMV using a reverse transcription-recombinase polymerase amplification (RT-RPA) technique combined with a lateral flow strip (LFS). The RT-RPA and RT-RPA-LFS conditions to detect the SMV were optimized using the selected primer set that amplified part of the VPg protein gene. The optimized reaction temperature for the RT-RPA primer and RT-RPA-LFS primer used in this study was 38℃ for both, and the minimum reaction time was 10 min and 5 min, respectively. The RT-RPA-LFS was as sensitive as RT-PCR to detect SMV with 10 pg/µl of total RNA. The reliability of the developed RT-RPA-LFS assay was evaluated using leaves collected from soybean fields. The RT-RPA-LFS diagnostic method developed in this study will be useful as a diagnostic method that can quickly and precisely detect SMV in the epidemiological investigation of SMV, in the selection process of SMV-resistant varieties, on local farms with limited resources.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.2 s.26
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• pp.290-301
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• 1989

This is preliminary report on anthrax epidemic occurred in an island with about 100 residents. Since 1982 there had been sudden deaths among all kinds of domestic animals including cattle, dogs, ducks, chicken and goat but only a few among cats in an isolated island about three hours distance away by ferry boat from Mokpo city. From 1986 through 1988 nine human deaths and four patients occurred, which made the government intervene for investigation on June 25 1988. The epidemiological investigation consisted of interview survey and medical examination, medical record analysis, laboratory work to isolate the pathogens under the direction of hypothesis derived from the study and further confirmation of the pathogens by international institute. The summarized results are as followings: 1. According to the interview survey there were many deaths among domestic animals usually in cold and dry season such as January through March and September through November; 36 heads of cattle leaving one head, more than 40 hogs(all), hundreds of chicken leaving few alive, goats that had taken home from mountain and two or three cats out of around 40 had sudden deaths from 1982 till 1985, when the residents stopped to purchase and take them into the island anymore. Also there were eleven persons who had experienced the similar syndrome complex to those of admitted and expired patients and four of them revealed typical chest X-ray findings; from one of these four patients(Rho) B. anthracis is isolated. 2. Medical record on patients who had been admitted, showed common characteristics of the disease course. On admission they had either gastrointestinal or upper respiratory infection symptoms which invariably progressed to septicemic nature with pulmonary interstitial infiltration and mediastinal widening/bulging, and then to deadly acute respiratory distress syndrome. At the end stage chest X-ray revealed multiple bullous emphysema. One of another characteristics was oral ulceration with bleeding occurred in about 50% of the patients. Laboratory test results in common were leukocytosis with left shift and abnormal liver and kidney functions, particularly at the later stage of the illness. 3. Epidemiological characteristics was striking in that both mortality and incidence rates were high: the mortality rate was 8.7% average, male being three times higher than females but there was no distictive clustering by age group. The incidence rate for both sexes was 28.2% and there was no sex difference although a tendency of higher incidence among older ages was noticed. The highest mortality and incidence were observed in Won village where the first death of animal occurred and with the highest frequency among three villages of the island. 4. Among twelve bacilli species isolated from various specimens, two strains, one from patient and the other from soil where the recently died cow is hurried, were confirmed as B. anthracis by Pasteur Institute and CDC of USA(strain from soil). CDC reported that the strain did not produce capsule in bicarbonate media but reacted with the bacteriophage and one of five sera taken from the patients. Mode of transmission as well as incubation period of the agent has not been established yet, which needs further investigation in relation to the antigenic structure of the variant when it is confirmed.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2006

Recently canine parvovirus(CPV) enteritis had been controlled successfully by the use of low-passage high titer modified live CPV vaccines. However, outbreaks of CPV enteritis have been continued in Korea. In this study, we carried out epidemiological investigation on the recent outbreaks of CPV enteritis of dogs and determined the potential prognostic factors affecting the survival of dogs. The total of 140 dogs diagnosed for CPV enteritis were statistically analysed. The majority of dogs were from 6 to 18 weeks of age and were not vaccinated or incompletely vaccinated. There were significant difference in the survival rate between male and female dogs with CPV enteritis and among the age groups(p<0.05). Moreover, there was significant difference in the survival rate of dogs between HI titer <80 group and HI titer 160 group(p<0.05). The majority of dogs had a history of diarrhea, vomiting, lethargy and dehydration. It was considered that recent outbreak of CPV enteritis in Korea caused by the failure of vaccination and/or by the inadequate antibody responses to CPV vaccines. Prophylactic measures should include isolation of young dogs from the dog population until the vaccination can be expected to provide protection.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.93-101
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• 2000

This study was carried out to investigate the epidemiological prevalence of diseases from birth to weaning in 268 Koeran native calves which was delivered from three stock farm in Chonbuk area. We examined body weight gain, incidence rate of diseases and mortality rate in relation to age, season, environmental temperature and rearing management conditions for one year. The results of this experiment were as follows: Birth weight and body weight gain of Korean native calves born of primiparae were lower than those of multiparae. Body weight gain of diseased calves was lower than normal calves. Of 268 delivered calves, 242 calves(90.3%) were affected with gastronistestinal and/or respiratory diseases. The prevalence of the diseases were gastronitestinal disease(54.1%), gastronitestinal and respiratory disease(21.6%), and respiratory disease(14.5%). Of 242 diseased calves, 33 calves(13.6%) were occurred gastronitestinal disease and respiratory disease at different time respectively. Of 268 delivered calves, 126 calves were died(47%). The prevalence of the death were gastronitestinal disease(31.4%), gastronitestinal and respiratory disease(14.5%), and respiratory disease(1.1%). 81% of the diseases and 76.2% of the death were occurred in winter and a change of season(December to May). 59.1% of the diseases and 52.4% of the death were occurred at atmospheric temperatures below 1$0^{\circ}C$. 91.7% of the diseased calves and 96.8% of the dead calves were born of primiparae. 77.2% of the gastronitestinal disease were occurred within 2 weeks old, and the incidence was decreased with increasing age. Whereas the incidence of respiratory disease was incidence with ageing, and 69.2% of the respiratory disease were occurred between 2 weeks and 5 weeks old. And 62% of the gastronitestinal and respiratory disease wre occurred between 1 week and 3 weeks old. 65.1% of the dead calves were died within 2 weeks old. The morbidity and population mortality rate in each farm stock were 56.5%-104.9%, and 14.5%-64.2%, respectively.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.403-415
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• 1974

The author has investigated epidemiological features of human cases of epidemic encephalitis (E. E.) in the Republic of Korea and the status of antibody requisition in pre-and post-epidemic time. And virological and serological studies with regarding the relationship of E. E. infection between human and piglet, and field survey against its vector by means of virus isolation from mosquitoes were carried out. Finally, vaccine field trial against human population has also been evaluated in order to confirm its effectiveness. The results of the studies are summarized as follows : 1. The annual incidence of reported cases during the past 25 years (1949-1973) in the Republic of Korea has shown two patterns, one was typical cyclic incidence and the other one was irregular. Annual average morbidity and mortality rate per 100,000 population were 5.7 and 2.1 and fatality rate was 34.6% in typical cyclic years. 2. With regard to the geographical distribution of E. E., the province of Jeolla-Bug-Do illustrated the highest incidence regardless of the epidemic size. 3. The main epidemic period was between mid-August and mid-September (above 90% of the total number of cases). The first case was reported in middle of July and the epidemic ceased in late of October. 4. An analysis of the age distribution of cases of E. E., has shown that above 90% of the total cases occurred in the age groups under 14 years and it was noted that about its 54% were occurred in the age groups between 5-9 years group. 5. Through the Haemagglutination Inhibition (H-I) test for the laboratory diagnosis of E. E., it was found that higher H-I antibody titer was usually detected in the convalescent phase, 15 days after onset. 6. The H-I antibody survey against 563 healthy population by age groups during the pre-epidemic season showed that 422(75%) were less than H-I titer, 1:20 and 122(21.7%) were positive H-I titer, 1:20. Among the 94 American in Seoul who had not been in E. E. endemic area previously only one person had appeared sero-conversion as a H-I titer of 1:80 after post-epidemic season. 7. The E. E. virus could be isolated from the mosquitos pools-C, tritaeniorhyncus which were caught between late July and middle August. 8. E.E. Virus was also isolated from piglet blood on early August and H-I antibody conversion was occurred mostly on middle of August. 9. H-I antibody sero-conversion rate reached to high level when vaccine purified by mouse brain tissue inoculated, showing 98.9%. Higher antibody titer was acquired when booster inoculation was performed, Four fold rise of H-I add N-T antibodies was confirmed with 93.2% and 82.1% respectively.

• 재활복지
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.47-70
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• 2017

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of the epidemiological factor (depression), the behavioral factor (activities of daily living), the predisposing factor (self-efficacy), reinforcing factors (family support, professional support), and enabling factor (resource availability, accessibility) on quality of life in home-dwelling disabled people in rural areas. The conceptual model for this study was established on the basis of the PRECEDE model which was developed by Green and Kreuter. Data were drawn from the "Preliminary Investigation for Community-centered rehabilitation" conducted by a public health center located in the O province in 2011 and 186 of 190 disabled people who participated in the survey were included in the final analysis. Data were analyzed using Direct effects on quality of life arose from latent variables depicting the epidemiological factor (depression)and reinforcing factor (family support, professional support), while indirect effects arose from the behavioral factor (activities of daily living), the predisposing factor (self-efficacy), and enabling support (resource availability, accessibility). This model explained 85.5% of the variance in quality of life among rural disabled individuals. These findings may have shed some light on the necessity of including strategies to reduce depression and to strengthen supports from family and healthcare professionals when performing rehabilitation programs to improve quality of life in home-dwelling disabled people in rural areas. Furthermore, it suggested that it would be useful to develop specific strategies and tactics which might increase self-efficacy and to expand linkages between public health centers and other professional institutions such as hospitals for community-centered rehabilitation services for individuals with disabilities.