• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.2 s.53
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• pp.331-346
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• 1996

Exploring the epidemiological trend of HIV/AIDS is required for making the national AIDS policy. In this study, the trend of HIV/AIDS incidence, rout of transmission and some characteristics of AIDS for the past 11 years in Korea using the reported cases from the national STD screening scheme were reviewed. Based on the results, the trend of main route of transmission according to the year was established by stage and the HIV/AIDS cases in this year was estimated and that to the year 2000 was projected by 'Epimodel' programme. The results were as follows : 1. Of the total infected persons, 76% were in their twenties and thirties, socioeconomically and sexually active age groups. While the transmission by sexual contact overseas was decreasing, the infection through domestic heterosexual and homosexual contact was increasing. 2. In the middle of the 1980's, the infected persons were mainly prostitutes infected through heterosexual contact with the HIV positive foreigner in this county(stage 1). And in the late of the 1980's the main source of infection was the sexual contact overseas and the domestic heterosexual contact(stage 2). Since the early of the 1990's, the infection through the heterosexual contact with non-regular sexual partner in this country has increased rapidly(stage 3), which was the evidence of the possibility of HIV epidemics. After that, it was expected that the infection through the homosexual contacts, the heterosexual contacts with commercial sex workers outside and the non-regular sexual contact inside of this country would increase continuously. In the result, the occurrence of neonatal infection by vertical transmission was expected(stage4). 3. The number of HIV/AIDS was estimated at 572 to 2,313 and the projected number of HIV/AIDS to the you 2000 was around 5,800 including 627 AIDS patients. For the further study on the estimation and projection of HIV/AIDS, it was suggested that the sampling survey on the HIV infection rate in the high risk groups and the sentinel hospital surveillance system should be conducted.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.57 no.3
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• pp.117-124
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• 2014

Purpose: Administration of antiretroviral drugs to mothers and infants significantly decreases mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission; cesarean sections and discouraging breastfeeding further decreases this risk. The present study confirmed the HIV status of babies born to mothers infected with HIV and describes the characteristics of babies and mothers who received preventive treatment. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed medical records of nine infants and their mothers positive for HIV who gave birth at Korea University Ansan Hospital, between June 1, 2003, and May 31, 2013. Maternal parameters, including HIV diagnosis date, CD4+ count, and HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA) copy number, were analyzed. Infant growth and development, HIV RNA copy number, and HIV antigen/antibody test results were analyzed. Results: Eight HIV-positive mothers delivered nine babies; all the infants received antiretroviral therapy. Three (37.5%) and five mothers (62.5%) were administered single- and multidrug therapy, respectively. Intravenous zidovudine was administered to four infants (50%) at birth. Breastfeeding was discouraged for all the infants. All the infants were negative for HIV, although two were lost to follow-up. Third trimester maternal viral copy numbers were less than 1,000 copies/mL with a median CD4+ count of $325{\mu}L$ ($92-729{\mu}L$). Among the nine infants, two were preterm (22.2%) and three had low birth weights (33.3%). Conclusion: This study concludes that prophylactic antiretroviral therapy, scheduled cesarean section, and prohibition of breastfeeding considerably decrease mother-to-child HIV transmission. Because the number of infants infected via mother-to-child transmission may be increasing, studies in additional regions using more variables are necessary.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.228-235
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• 1999

Objectives: Despite the importance of human immunodeficiency virus(HIV) transmission through heterosexual contact, the features of heterosexual transmission has not been well studied in Korea. So we conducted a cross sectional study to determine the transmission rates in married couples and assess risk factors for male to female heterosexual transmission of HIV. Methods: 169 HIV-infected males and their female sex partners were recruited from 1985 to tune 1998. We examined female sex partner's HIV infection status and interviewed male index partners and their female sex partners about demographic characteristics and sexual practices. We analysed heterosexual transmission rate by epidemiologic characteristics, disease status and sexual practices. And we assessed risk factors for HIV infection by univariate and multivariate analysis. Results: 30 female sex partners were infected at enrollment, yielding an transmission rate of 17.8%. Among couples who had used condoms consistently, none of the female sex partners was infected with HIV. In univariate analysis the significant risk factors were full blown AIDS status (OR=4.1, 95% CI: 1.49-11.43) and low CD4 T cell count of index partners at enrollment (OR=7.8, 95% CI: 2.19-27.80). In multivariate analysis HIV-1 RNA levels was significant risk factor when adjusted by CD4 T cell courts and mean sexual contacts per month (OR=19.2, 95% CI: 1.03-357.59) Conclusion: The risk of male to female heterosexual transmission increased with advanced stages of HIV infection in the index male partners.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.85-90
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• 2011

In 2008, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) estimated that about 430,000 children worldwide became infected with HIV, mostly through mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) during pregnancy, labor, delivery, or breastfeeding. The MTCT prevention program proved to be feasible and effective in reduction of perinatal HIV transmission. Three babies born from HIV-infected mothers were admitted to the National Medical Center in 2009. Only two women received antiretroviral (ARV) therapy during pregnancy, labor, and after delivery, and their infants received zidovudine (AZT) for 6 weeks. The outcome, after a follow-up period of 4 months to 16 months, was favorable in all patients. Thus, we emphasize the need for expansion of antenatal HIV screening of pregnant women, implemented for early HIV diagnosis and effective ARV therapy for reduction of perinatal HIV transmission.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.46-62
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• 1995

The purpose of this study was to identify the level of HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitudes of Korean childbering women. The subject were 1152 Korean women who were living in the Seoul area and whose age was between 17-50 years. Data was collected by self reporting with a questionnaire of 57 items developed by the researcher. The reliability of the instrument for the HIV/AIDS related knowledge and attitudes were Cronbach's alpha. .6954 and .7987 respectively. The results were as follows: The mean age of the subjects was 26 years and 46.8% of them were married. The mean score for HIV/AIDS related knowledge was 14.7 out of a possible maximum score of 22. The correct answer rate for HIV/AIDS related knowledge was between 87.0-94.1% for the risk factors. and 36.4-54.8% for the transmission mode. Even though 87% of the subjects knew that homosexuals are risk group for HIV/AIDS. only half(55.8%) of the subjects answered that anal sex is the transmission mode. And only 57% of the subjects knew that HIV/AIDS transmission is possible through heterosexual contact. Their agreement level for attitudes was in order of communal coping (95%). pregnant women protection (94%). Problem appraisal (82%). patients isolation(68%). and disclosure of infection(67%). It was shown that the group who had a pregnancy (t=2.07, p=.039), used contraceptives (t=2.57, p=.OO1). and the group of college level graduates(t=3.61, p=.000) had a higher level of HIV/AIDS related knowledge. The agreement level of pregnant women protection. patient isolation. and problem appraisal were higher in the group of having had a pregnancy, having used contraceptives. and the group over 30 years of age. It was concluded that Korean childbearing women were quite knowledgeable about the risk factors but confused about the transmission mode. especially heterosexual contact. and they showed responsive attitudes to the HIV/AIDS issues considering the 339 infected cases in Korea. They preferred isolation of patients and communal coping as behavioral attitudes. Therefore it can be suggested that a HIV/AIDS prevention program should be focused on transmission mode.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.142-167
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• 2004

The aim of this descriptive study was to investigate the general knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among physical therapists and physical therapy students. Many physical therapists are afraid of AIDS patients bacause they have a little information of AIDS and fear of HIV infection from AIDS patients at work site. The study surveyed by means of a self-administered questionnaire consisted of 271 physical therapists and 378 physical therapy students. This study was carried out from April, 2003 to October, 2003 for collecting data. The findings of this study can be summarized as follows. 1) The physical therapist and physical therapy students were conscious of need for physical therapeutic intervention for complication of HIV/AIDS. 2) The physical therapist and physical therapy students were conscious of need for educational program about HIV/AIDS. 3) The knowledge of transmission mode in sexual intercourse of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of physical therapists to patients with HIV/AIDS. 4) The knowledge of prevention of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of physical therapists to patients with HIV/AIDS. 5) The knowledge of regarding symptom of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of physical therapists to patients with HIV/AIDS. 6) The knowledge of general transmission mode of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of physical therapists and physical therapy students to patients with HIV/AIDS. 7) The knowledge of transmission risk factors in work site of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of physical therapists and physical therapy students to patients with HIV/AIDS. 8) The knowledge of needs for prevention in work site of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of physical therapists to patients with HIV/AIDS. In conclusion, physical therapists and physical therapy students with more knowledge of HIV/AIDS could positively treat HIV/AIDS patients.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.105-122
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• 2009

Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe HIV/AIDS knowledge, attitudes (discrimination towards HIV/AIDS and lives with HIV infected persons) and HIV/AIDS related sexual behaviors among middle school and high school students in Seoul, Korea. Methods: The population of this study was junior and senior high school students in Seoul, Korea. Eight junior high schools and eight senior high schools were randomly selected from Seoul City. Two thousand nine hundred and ninety-six responses from the sixteen schools were analyzed (fifty-nine were excluded). A self-administered questionnaire measuring socio-demographic variables, knowledge of HIV/AIDS, as well as discriminatory attitudes of HIV/AIDS was utilized. Results: The level of HIV/AIDS knowledge was low and the levels of discriminatory attitudes were high. The results indicated that students had considerable misconceptions about HIV transmission as well as stigmatizing attitudes towards HIV-infected people and their lives. The proportions of sexual intercourse were 1.3 % for middle school students and 7.7% for high school students. Only 30.7% of current sexually active subjects were to use condoms at the last step of sexual intercourse. The HIV/AIDS related risk-taking behavior were predicted by gender, school types, parents' marital status, reported academic performances, and attitudes towards to homosexuals. Conclusions: It is important to design HIV prevention strategies that improve in the knowledge of HIV transmission for adolescents in Korea.

• The Journal of Korean Academy of Orthopedic Manual Physical Therapy
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• v.11 no.2
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• pp.26-39
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• 2005

The purpose of this descriptive study is to investigate the general knowledge and attitude about HIV/AIDS among gender in physical therapists and physical therapy students. AIDS a clinical syndrome that involves progressive immune deficiency and consequent development of opportunistic infection, tumors, neurologic disease and systemic wasting with chronic trends. Many medical specialists are afraid of AIDS patients because they have a little information of AIDS and fear of HIV infection from AIDS patients at work site. This study surveyed 649 physical therapists and physical therapy students by means of a self-administered questionnaire. This study was carried out from April, 2003 to October, 2003 for collecting data. The findings of this study can be summarized as follows. 1) The male and female physical therapist and physical therapy students who have an experience of educational program for HIV/AIDS show higher general knowledge about HIV/AIDS. 2) The male physical therapist and physical therapy students were conscious of the need for physical therapeutic intervention for the complication of HIV/AIDS. 3) The male who has higher general knowledge about HIV/AIDS are conscious of the need for educational program about HIV/AIDS. 4) The male and female want to have the choice to accept or reject the HIV/AIDS patients for treatment. 5) The knowledge of transmission mode in sexual intercourse of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of male and female to patients with HIV/AIDS. 6) The knowledge of prevention of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of male and female to patients with HIV/AIDS. 7) The knowledge of regarding symptom of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of female to patients with HIV/AIDS. 8) The knowledge of general transmission mode of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of male and female to patients with HIV/AIDS. 9) The knowledge of transmission risk factors in work site of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of male and female to patients with HIV/AIDS. 10) The knowledge of needs for prevention in work site of HIV/AIDS influence the attitude of male and female to patients with HIV/AIDS. In conclusion, male and female with more knowledge of HIV/AIDS could positively treat HIV/AIDS patients.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers A
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• v.48 no.2
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• pp.89-95
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• 1999

This study investigates the population model of the spread of HIV/AIDS which the infection is generated by an infectious individual in a population of susceptible. A mathematical model is presented for the transmission dynamics of HIV infection within the communities of homosexual males. The pattern on the epidemic character of HIV, the causative agent of AIDS, was analysed by the mathematical model of AIDS system which is derived according to the ecological relationship between five epidemilogic states of individuals. The computer simulation was performed using real data and the following conclusions are drawn on the basis of the simulations. 1. The model structure and the algorithm described n the thesis is good. 2. In proportion to increase Ro, the population of AIDS patient increases and the time of its widespread reaches earlier. 3. The AIDS patients will be maximum between 7 and 21 years after an attack of AIDS and widespread between 10 and 20 years. 4. Considering the properties of the incubation periods, the maximum number of infected person is increased, and the attack rate is decreased.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2002

Estimated number of adults and children newly infected with HIV-1 during 2001 alone is 5 million in total. An effective vaccine, in addition to education & public health approaches, has been believed to be the best option to stop the HIV-1 transmission, especially for developing countries. Among AIDS vaccine candidates, DNA vaccine is relatively safe and, in a certain extent, mimics some attributes of live attenuated vaccine, with regard to in vivo gene expression & the type of immunity induced. We recently demonstrated that DNA vaccines expressing SIVmac239 structural and regulatory genes, augmented with coadministration of IL-12 mutant induced the strongest T cell responses, resulting in low to undetectable setpoint viral loads, stable $CD4^+$ T cell counts, and no evidence of clinical diseases or mortality by day 420 after challenge. This finding is the second demonstration, following the protective result of live attenuated SIV vaccine in SIVmac-rhesus monkey model, which was known to have safety problem. So, our DNA vaccines could give a significant impact on HIV-1 epidemic by slowing or stopping the spread of HIV-1, leading to eventual eradication of HIV-1 and AIDS in the population.