• Health Policy and Management
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.1-26
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• 2009

Objectives : To identify target areas and set priorities among those areas identified for national quality evaluation. Methods : Target areas were identified from: i) analysis of the national health insurance claims data, mortality and prevalence data ii) various group surveys, including representatives from 22 medical specialty associations, 19 physician associations, QI staffs in hospital, civil organizations, and commissioners of Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service(HIRA) ⅲ) literature reviews and RAM(RAND/UCLA appropriateness method). The priority areas for national quality evaluation represented the full spectrum of health care and the entire life span. The criteria for selecting the priority areas were impact, improvability, and measurability. The priority areas were divided into three categories : short-term, mid-term, long-term. Results: Based on the group surveys and the data analysis, 46 candidates were selected as quality evaluation priority areas. 13 areas were selected as having a short-term priority areas: tuberculosis, community acquired pneumonia, stroke, ischaemic heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, chronic lower respiratory disease(asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease), intensive care unit, emergency room, nosocomial infection, use of antibiotics, multiple medication and renal failure. This results suggested that we need to enlarge the target priority areas to the chronic diseases in short-term. Conclusions: The priority areas identified from the study will assist healthcare quality associated institutions as well as HIRA in selecting quality evaluation areas. It is required to develope and implement strategies for improving the quality of care within the next 5 years.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.245-251
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• 2004

This study was experiment on the safety of rat(Sprague-Dawley) exposed to natural herb oil(BM-solution). BM-solution was administered by inhalation to rats with the dose level of low(30 mg/8 min), middle(30 mg/4 min) and high(50 mg/4 min) in an airtight room for 4 weeks, respectively. Each groups, consisting of 5 rats, was examined for body weight changes, hematological analysis, serum biochemical analysis, organ weight, and histopathological findings, respectively. There were, dose-dependently, no changes of body weight and organ weights, no hematological anomalousness, and no other serum biochemical abnormality from the experiments. In addition, BM-solution was shown to have no specific toxicity by gross and histopathological findings. Therefore, it was concluded that BM-solution had no side effects on rats for 4 weeks.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.99-104
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• 2012

Otitis externa (OE) is a frequent disease in the ear canals of dogs. To identify the pathogens causing OE in dogs and to determine their antimicrobial resistances, specimens were collected from animal hospitals in Daejeon. The isolates were examined by morphological and biochemical tests, 16S rRNA analysis and antimicrobial susceptibility tests. We analyzed correlation between the isolated pathogens and external factors of dogs such as breed, age, gender, ear mite, hair in ears and experience with antibiotic therapy. Thirty three strains of bacteria were isolated from 26 of the 68 heads of dogs with OE. The most isolated bacteria were Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) followed by Staphylococcus aureus (Sta. aureus), Sta. pseudointermedius, E. faecium, E. avium and Streptococcus canis (Strep. canis) in order of frequency of occurrence. Isolation frequency of Enterococcus spp. and Staphylococcus spp. were 51.5% and 45.5%, respectively. E. faecalis and E. faecium isolates showed VanB phenotype, which is resistant to vancomycin but sensitive to teicoplanin were 58% and 25%, respectively. Nine isolates among total twelve isolates of E. faecalis were isolated from the dogs treated with antibiotics. There was no methicillin-resistant Sta. aureus (MRSA), but were MR-Sta. pseudointermedius (MRSP) (57.1%) and vancomycin-resistant (VR)-Sta. pseudointermedius (14.3%) (VRSP) showing VanB phenotype. However, vanA, vanB and vanC genes were not detected in VR isolates from the dogs. Taken together, VR-Enterococcus spp. (VRE) is one of the major pathogens in domestic animals, as well as community-and hospital-acquired infection.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.46-49
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• 2012

Purpose: The forehead flap is the workhorse in nasal reconstruction, which provides a similar skin color, texture, structure, and reliability. There are some disadvantages, including donor site morbidities, 2- or 3-stage operations, and postoperative management after initial flap transfer. Furthermore, there has been little attention to the exposed raw surface wound, after the first stage of an operation. This article describes the authors' modification to overcome this problem, using artificial collagen membrane. Methods: An Artificial collagen membrane is composed of an outer silicone membrane and an inner collagen layer. After a forehead flap elevation, the expected raw surface was covered by an artificial collagen membrane with 5-0 nylon suture. A simple dressing, which had been applied to the site, was changed every 2 or 3 days in an outpatient unit. At 3 weeks postprocedure, a second stage operation was performed. Results: With biosynthetic protection of the raw surface, there were no wound problems, such as infection or flap loss. Thus, the patient was satisfied due to an effortless management of the wound and a reduction in pain. Conclusion: The application of an artificial collagen membrane to the raw under-surface of the flap could be a comfortable and a protective choice for this procedure.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.79 no.6
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• pp.359-364
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• 2018

There are two forms of cryptococcal meningitis immune reconstitution inflammatory syndrome (CM-IRIS): paradoxical CM-IRIS and unmasking CM-IRIS. It is important to distinguish paradoxical CM-IRIS and CM relapse because mortality of CM-IRIS is higher than that of CM without IRIS, and paradoxical CM-IRIS and CM relapse requires different treatment. We report a case of paradoxical CM-IRIS that well matches the clinical findings with MR findings during three years follow-up of a HIV infected patient and new MRI finding is also introduced to help distinguish them.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2022

Background: Obesity weakens acquired immunity and causes infection. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between the inflammatory markers in the gingival crevicular fluid and serum and periodontal bacteria in saliva through obesity control for 4 weeks. Methods: Forty-six subjects with a body mass index (BMI) of ≥23 kg/m² stayed in the camp for 4 weeks, followed by exercise and a low salt-low fat diet. Body size measurements, oral examinations, blood, saliva, and gingival crevicular fluid were collected before and after the program. C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, MMP-9, and interleukin (IL)-1β in the gingival sulcus fluid were measured. After extracting bacterial genomic DNA from saliva, the presence of periodontal bacteria were detected using Taq probe. The relationship of each index before and after the program was analyzed through paired t-test and partial correlation analysis. Results: Campylobacter rectus (Cr) increased after the program, and there was no significant change in other bacteria. Serum CRP and Fusobacterium nucleatum (Fn), Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans, Cr, ratio of Fn, and ratio of Cr had a positive relationship at baseline; however, the relationship was not significant after the program. Ratio of Prevotella intermedia had a positive relationship with MMP-9, MMP-8, IL-1β at baseline. Moreover, the ratio of Treponema denticola and the ratio of Tannerella forsythia showed a positive relationship with MMP-8, MMP-9, and IL-1β. The relationship between the ratio of Porphyromonas gingivalis and IL-1β showed a constant positive relationship at baseline and after the program. Conclusion: Obesity control program in subjects with a BMI of ≥23 kg/m² accompanied by diet and exercise did not affect the changes in periodontal bacteria itself, but changes in the relationship between periodontal bacteria and serum CRP, the relationship between the inflammatory index in the gingival crevicular fluid and periodontal bacteria was observed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.140-148
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• 2005

Purpose : To characterize the epidemiology and clinical features of invasive pneumococcal infections in Korean children. Methods : One hundred ninety four cases of invasive pneumococcal infections diagnosed at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital from October 1985 to December 2003 were analysed retrospectively. All isolates were screened for resistance to penicillin by oxacillin disc diffusion test. Serotypes were determined for 125 isolates. Results : The types of infection were bacteremia without focus 84/194(43%), meningitis 36/194(19%), pneumonia with bacteremia 36/194(19%), peritonitis 24/194(12%), other focal infections 3/194(2%). Fifty seven percent(110/194) of the episodes developed in the immunocompromised and 20%(37/194) were nosocomially acquired. The patients younger than 2 years of age was 60% in the immunocompetent patients and 25% in the immunocompromised patients. The overall case fatality rate was 7%. All the isolates by 1988 were susceptible to penicillin screened by oxacillin disk. Penicillin resistance was first detected in 1989(20%), and then increased rapidly; 89% in 1995, 69% in 1996, and 80~100% thereafter. The seven most frequently isolated serotypes were 23F, 19F, 14, 6B, 6A, 9V and 19A, which accounted for 70% of total isolates. Conclusion : S. pneumoniaeis an important cause of morbidity and mortality in children. Invasive infections caused by S. pneumoniae most often occurred in infants and young children, while they are frequent in older immunocompromised children as well. This is the largest case series on invasive pneumococcal infections in Korean children.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.40-47
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• 2005

Purpose : S. pneumoniae is one of major pathogens of community-acquired respiratory infections. The rate of antibiotic resistance to this organism has increased, and resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents in a single strain of S. pneumoniae may compromise the efficacy of empiric antimicrobial treatment commonly used for respiratory infections. We did this study to find out the penicillin resistant distributions and oral antibiotics susceptibility patterns against S. pneumoniae, isolated from pediatric patients with community-acquired respiratory infections in Korea. Methods : One hundred fifty six pneumococcal isolates obtained from pediatric patients with community-acquired respiratory infections such as acute otitis media(AOM), sinusitis and pneumonia between May 2000 to June 2003. And MICs of penicillin and oral antibiotics(amoxicillin, amoxicillin-clavulanate, cefaclor) were performed by broth microdilution methods according to the NCCLS(2003a). Results : Seventy eight percent of the isolates were resistant to penicillin. The isolates, collected from AOM patients showed the highest penicillin resistance(92.7%). The resistant rates of amoxicillin (16.7%) and amoxicillin-clavulanate(9.6%), based on susceptibility breakpoints established by the NCCLS, were markedly lower than these of penicillin. But, the resistant rate of cefaclor was very high, above 95%. Conclusion : We concluded that pneumococci isolated from study cases may be one of the world's highest penicillin resistant rates. But, amoxicillin and amoxicillin-clavulanate can be used as a first-line antibiotics. Finally, we hope that a continuous surveillance study to monitor resistant patterns of pneumococcal respiratory infections will be needed for the standard guidelines of empiric antibiotic treatment.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.12-22
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• 1996

Currently. exchanges of industrial workers between countries are more active than ever. and the problem of AIDS in connection with the operation of preventive educational programs has reached a point where the issue cannot be limited to native people alone any more. Based on such judgement. this research has been carried out to provide basic study materials by grasping the latent factors representing the difference between countries in the levels of right knowledge. attitude and behavior with respect to AIDS maintained by workers who have grown in different social and cultural living background. During the period from Apr. 1. 1995 to Jun. 30. questionnaires. written both in Korean and English, were distributed to Korean and Malaysian employees working at certain Korean video manufacturers. and the results of replies. given by 80 workers who were analyzed through matched sampling· method where ages and sex matched by country. were used as the research materials. The gathered materials were analyzed through the SPSS package t-test. ANOVA. factor analysis and multiple stepwise regression methods. and the following results were obtained. 1. The 2 extracted latent factors could be named 'common. social' knowledge factor and 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factor respectively. 2. The percentile points of 'external. social' knowledge factor. in the case of Korean workers. howed 90.0 at average. a figure 13.75 points higher than those of Malaysian workers. 76.25. On the other hand. the percentile points of the 'in-depth. psychological'knowledge factor showed 70.80 at average in the case of Korean workers. a figure 7.47 points lower than those of Malaysian workers. 78.33. Meanwhile. the difference in percentile points between the 2 latent factors was 8.54 at average. indicating that the points of 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factor was lower than those of the 'external. social' knowledge factor. 3. As for Korean workers. the percentile points of the 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factor showed higher points in office workers than in non-office workers. and such variables exhibited in the position of workers can explain the $7\%$ of the latent factor. The percentile points of the 'in-depth. psychological' knowledge factors. in the case of Malaysian workers. showed higher points in groups who had religion than in groups who did not. and higher points in groups who obtained information from newspapers than in groups who obtained from televisions or other sources; and with these 2 variables. $26\%$ of this latent factor can be explained. The results. of analysis described so far suggest that while Korean workers possessed general level of knowledge on AIDS. they had low level of practical knowledge as far as its depth is concerned. and that they had social prejudice on patients as well as on the AIDS infection route. In addition. because the overall knowledge level of Malaysian workers. is lower than that of Korean workers. it suggests that separate programs intended for Malaysian workers are required prior to executing integrated programs.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.16 no.5
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• pp.3315-3322
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• 2015

Staphylococcus aureus is the major causative organism of nasocomial infection being the important pathogen in the clinic. Appearance of staphylococcus aureus resistant to methicillin (MRSA) is becoming a big problem in clinics and dynamics all over the world acquiring antibiotic resistance with virulence factors as its feature differentiated from other pathogenic bacteria fast. This research intended to compare and analyze the correlation of antibiotics resistance between strains with toxin genes and distribution of toxin genes of MRSA 101 strains acquired from clinical specimen in one general hospital (enterotoxin(se), toxic shock syndrome toxin-1(tst), exfoliative toxin(et), Panton Valentine leukocidin(pvl)). seg gene, isolated the most among toxin genes, was detected in 59 strains (58.4%) and more than two toxin genes were detected in 70 strains (69.3%). As a combination possessing toxin genes, it was detected in 19 strains (18.8%) as seb, sec, seg, sei, tst and the second frequent combination was sec, seg, sei shown in 11 strains (10.9%). 19 strains (18.8%) with combinations of toxin genes same with seb, sec, seg, sei, tst had 100% resistance Ampicillin, Benzylpenicillin, Ciprofloxacin, Clindamycin, Gentamicin, Erythromycin, Telithromycin, Tetracycline antibiotics. Strains with many toxin genes showed high correlation of antibiotic resistance. Afterwards, effective therapy and thorough infection management should be preceded not to spread the resistance of MRSA strain.