• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.704-713
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• 2014

The highly pathogenic avian influenza A (HPAI) viruses of the H5N1 subtype infect poultry and have also been spreading to humans. Although new antiviral drugs and vaccinations can be effective, rapid detection would be more efficient to control the outbreak of infections. In this study, a phage-display library was applied to select antibody fragments for HPAI strain A/Hubei/1/2010. As a result, three clones were selected and sequenced. A hemagglutinin inhibition assay of the three scFvs revealed that none exhibited hemagglutination inhibition activity towards the H5N1 virus, yet they showed a higher binding affinity for several HPAI H5N1 strains compared with other influenza viruses. An ELISA confirmed that the HA protein was the target of the scFvs, and the results of a protein structure simulation showed that all the selected scFvs bound to the HA2 subunit of the HA protein. In conclusion, the three selected scFVs could be useful for developing a specific detection tool for the surveillance of HPAI epidemic strains.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.42 no.4
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• pp.237-242
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• 2009

Objectives : The incidence of zoonoses in Korea has increased recently. However, the study of high risk groups for zoonoses has not been conducted to date in Korea. Thus, we did this study to obtain data on brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers in Korea. Methods : We evaluated the structure of slaughterhouses and the process of slaughtering by reviewing the relevant literature and doing field studies. We visited 73 slaughterhouses and 62 residual products handle houses across the country. In addition, we conducted a questionnaire survey of the work activities, and obtained blood samples in order to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of brucellosis. The titers of brucellosis antibodies were measured using the standard tube agglutination test SAT). We diagnosed subjects as seropositive for Brucellosis if the titers were more than 1:160. The data collected was evaluated using SPSS ver. 17.0. Results : We included 1,503 subjects and obtained 1,482 blood samples among them: 849 workers involved in slaughtering, 351 handlers of residual products, 190 inspectors and their assistants, and 92 grading testers and their assistants. The seroprevalence of brucellosis among the slaughterhouse workers was 0.8% (95% CI=0.4-1.5). Broken down, the seroprevalence of brucellosis among the workers involved in slaughtering was 0.7% (95% CI=0.3-1.6), the handlers of residual products was 1.7% (95% CI=0.7-3.9) respectively. Risk factors for contracting brucellosis among slaughterhouse workers were being splashed with cattle blood around the mouth, cattle secretions around the body and not putting on protective apron while at work. Conclusions : An educational program is needed for high risk groups on zoonoses about the prevention of infection. Thus, effective working guidelines for workers who participate in the slaughter of animals must be developed in order to protect them from zoonoses.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.218-227
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• 2020

Background: The national Public-Private Mix (PPM) tuberculosis (TB) control project provides for the comprehensive management of TB patients at private hospitals in South Korea. Surveillance and monitoring of TB under the PPM project are essential toward achieving TB elimination goals. Methods: TB is a nationally notifiable disease in South Korea and is monitored using the surveillance system. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention quarterly generates monitoring indicators for TB management, used to evaluate activities of the PPM hospitals by the central steering committee of the national PPM TB control project. Based on the notification date, TB patients at PPM hospitals were enrolled in each quarter, forming a cohort, and followed up for at least 12 months to identify treatment outcomes. This report analyzed the dataset of cohorts the first quarter of 2016 through the fourth quarter of 2017. Results: The coverage of sputum, smear, and culture tests among the pulmonary TB cases were 92.8% and 91.5%, respectively. The percentage of positive sputum smear and culture test results were 30.7% and 61.5%, respectively. The coverage of drug susceptibility tests among the culture-confirmed cases was 92.8%. The treatment success rate among the smear-positive drug-susceptible cases was 83.2%. The coverage of latent TB infection treatment among the childhood TB contacts was significantly higher than that among the adult contacts (85.6% vs. 56.0%, p=0.001). Conclusion: This is the first official report to analyze monitoring indicators, describing the current status of the national PPM TB control project. To sustain its effect, strengthening the monitoring and evaluation systems is essential.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2947-2951
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• 2016

A quasi-experimental study was conducted to develop a health education modification program based on self-efficacy and motivation regarding liver flukes and cholangiocarcinoma development in Keang Sanam Nang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, Thailand. A total of 36 individuals were invited to participate in the program and were screened for population at risk of liver fluke infection and cholangiocarcinoma using SUT-OV-001 and SUT-CCA-001. Development of health education modification program regarding liver fluke and cholangiocarcinoma prevention included 3 steps: (1) preparation, (2) health education program, and (3) follow-up and evaluation. The study was implemented for 10 weeks. Pre-and-post-test knowledge was measured with questionnaires, Kuder-Richardson-20: KR-20 = 0.718,and Cronbach's Alpha Coefficient = 0.724 and 0.716 for percection and outcome expectation questionnaires. Paired and independent t-tests were applied for data analysis. The majority of the participants were female (55.6%), aged between ${\leq}50$ and 60 years old (36.1%), married (86.1%), education level of primary school (63.9%), agricultural occupation (80.6%), and income <4,000 Baht (44.4%). The results revealed that after the health education program, the experimental group had a mean score of knowledge, perception, and outcome expectation regarding liver fluke and cholangiocarcinoma prevention significantly higher than before participation and in the control group. In conclusion, this successful health education modification program for liver fluke and cholangiocarcinoma, therefore may useful for further work behavior modification in other epidemic areas.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.194-207
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify the trends regarding diet and exercise intervention studies for Korean obese children between 2010 and 2017. Methods: This study was synthesized and reviewed systematically by meta-analysis. In addition, a total of thirty nine studies were investigated. The random effect model was used for meta-analysis. Results: Most studies used single interventions and that their theoretical frameworks still required improvement. In addition, on-line education programs still need to increase their number over that of off-line ones. Regarding the dependent variables for understandings the influences obesity may have on Korean children, most studies took advantage of biological indicators. In terms of the effects of obesity management programs, multiple interventions have gained a competitive edge over single ones for Korean obese children's diet and exercise. In a similar vein, healthy eating habits and adequate physical activities would have more positive effects on Korean children' obesity management programs. Conclusion: Further various studies will be needed for the early detection and prevention of obese children through varied interventions and qualitative improvement of studies.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.651-659
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• 2012

In this paper we developed a statistical model for circular data with noises. In this case, model fitting by single circular model has a lack-of-fit problem. To overcome this problem, we consider some mixture models that include circular uniform distribution and apply an EM algorithm to estimate the parameters. Both von Mises and Wrapped skew normal distributions are considered in this paper. Simulation studies are executed to assess the suggested EM algorithms. Finally, we applied the suggested method to fit 2008 EHFRS(Epidemic Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome) data provided by the KCDC(Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention).

• Archives of Pharmacal Research
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.215-228
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• 2002

It is now more than two decades since the AIDS epidemic began with a cluster of Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia (PCP) in a community of homosexual men. Since then, many other infections have been characterized as opportunistic infections secondary to HIV infection. These include, but are not limited to, infections with Toxoplasma gondii, Cytomegalovirus (CMV), Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC), and Cryptococcus neoformans. Over the last two decades, there have been dramatic improvements in diagnosis, prevention and treatment of all these infections. As a result, in North America and Western Furope the rates of opportunistic infections secondary to AIDS have decreased substantially. We will review these common opportunistic infections below.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.641-650
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• 2012

Spatial time series data can be viewed as a set of time series simultaneously collected at a number of spatial locations. This paper studies Bayesian inferences in a spatial time bilinear model with a Gibbs sampling algorithm to overcome problems in the numerical analysis techniques of a spatial time series model. For illustration, the data set of mumps cases reported from the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention monthly over the years 2001~2009 are selected for analysis.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.27
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• pp.2.1-2.4
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• 2012

Objectives: This study is a cross-sectional study to investigate the frequency of humidifier and humidifier disinfectant usage in the general population. Methods: A questionnaire was applied to 94 subjects (46 male, 48 female) from the general population of Gyeonggi Province. The questionnaire consisted of 3 scales (general characteristics, 5 items about humidifier usage, 5 items about humidifier disinfectant usage). Results: Thirty-five (37.2%) of the 94 subjects use a humidifier and humidifier disinfectant usage was found to be 18.1%. The frequency of humidifier usage is 4.8 times per a week and the humidifier disinfectant usage is 2.4 times per a week. Humidifier usage rate was highest in January. and then tended to rise gradually from October. Conclusions: Although this study population was not representative, we can say that approximately 50 percent of the humidifier users use a humidifier disinfectant and the trend of using a humidifier has shown seasonality.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.94-103
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• 1996

Given the global impact of the AIDS pandemic, it is necessary to take every measure to prevent an epidemic of this disease in Korea. The only available strategy is prevention. Considering college students as a potential risk group, this study examined their knowledge of, and attitudes toward AIDS. In this study, a self-report questionnaire was administered to 167 students from three colleges in Taegu and Kyungbook province area. Findings indicated that most of the students had lacked knowledge about the AIDS. While knowledge about the modes of transmission and prevention improved, some respondents still believed that AIDS could be transmitted by sharing cups (17.4%), by coughing or sneezing(29.3%), and by moskito (25.7%). About 10% of the students reported that they had received some instruction about AIDS, and 87.3% indicated a desire to know more about the disease. Most of the students reported that they obtained AIDS information from media devices such as TV and newspaper. To the questions designed to examine attitude towards AIDS patients, the students showed a tendency to view AIDS patients as responsible for their own illness (85.6%). Interestingly, they showed sympathy to their imaginary friends and relatives suffering from AIDS (78.4%-90.2%). Eighty percercent of the respondents felt that they personally were not at risk. The study findings suggest a need for the development of AIDS educational programs for college students.