• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.81 no.1
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• pp.6-12
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• 2018

The role of the treatment for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) has been underscored in the intermediate tuberculosis (TB) burden countries like South Korea. LTBI treatment is recommended only for patients at risk for progression to active TB-those with frequent exposure to active TB cases, and those with clinical risk factors (e.g., immunocompromised patients). Recently revised National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guideline recommended that close contacts of individuals with active pulmonary or laryngeal TB, aged between 18 and 65 years, should undergo LTBI treatment. Various regimens for LTBI treatment were recommended in NICE, World Health Organization (WHO), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, and superiority of one recommended regimen over another was not yet established. Traditional 6 to 9 months of isoniazid (6H or 9H) regimen has an advantage of the most abundant evidence for clinical efficacy-60%-90% of estimated protective effect. However, 6H or 9H regimen is related with hepatotoxicity and low compliance. Four months of rifampin regimen is characterized by less hepatotoxicity and better compliance than 9H, but has few evidence of clinical efficacy. Three months of isoniazid plus rifampin was proved equivalence with 6H or 9H regimen in terms of efficacy and safety, which was recommended in NICE and WHO guidelines. The clinical efficacy of isoniazid plus rifapentine once-weekly regimen for 3 months was demonstrated recently, which is not yet introduced into South Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.308-315
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• 2019

Objectives: Estimating influenza-associated mortality is important since seasonal influenza affects persons of all ages, causing severe illness or death. This study aimed to estimate influenza-associated mortality, considering both periodic changes and age-specific mortality by influenza subtypes. Methods: Using the Microdata Integrated Service from Statistics Korea, we collected weekly mortality data including cause of death. Laboratory surveillance data of respiratory viruses from 2009 to 2016 were obtained from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After adjusting for the annual age-specific population size, we used a negative binomial regression model by age group and influenza subtype. Results: Overall, 1 859 890 deaths were observed and the average rate of influenza virus positivity was 14.7% (standard deviation [SD], 5.8), with the following subtype distribution: A(H1N1), 5.0% (SD, 5.8); A(H3N2), 4.4% (SD, 3.4); and B, 5.3% (SD, 3.7). As a result, among individuals under 65 years old, 6774 (0.51%) all-cause deaths, 2521 (3.05%) respiratory or circulatory deaths, and 1048 (18.23%) influenza or pneumonia deaths were estimated. Among those 65 years of age or older, 30 414 (2.27%) all-cause deaths, 16 411 (3.42%) respiratory or circulatory deaths, and 4906 (6.87%) influenza or pneumonia deaths were estimated. Influenza A(H3N2) virus was the major contributor to influenza-associated all-cause and respiratory or circulatory deaths in both age groups. However, influenza A(H1N1) virus-associated influenza or pneumonia deaths were more common in those under 65 years old. Conclusions: Influenza-associated mortality was substantial during this period, especially in the elderly. By subtype, influenza A(H3N2) virus made the largest contribution to influenza-associated mortality.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.389-397
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• 2019

The infection status of Clinostomum complanatum metacercariae (CcMc) was broadly surveyed in fishes from water systems of Nakdong-gang (River) in the Republic of Korea (Korea) for 5 years. All 4,468 fishes collected were individually examined by the artificial digestion methods. No CcMc were detected in fishes from Naeseongcheon in Yecheongun, Gigyecheon in Gyeongju-si, Gyeongsangbuk-do, and Hamancheon in Haman-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do. In fishes from Wicheon in Gunwi-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, CcMc were detected in 180 (15.4%) out of 1,168 fishes and their intensity was 5.8 per fish infected. The prevalences with CcMc in positive fish species from 3 other surveyed areas, i.e., Banbyeoncheon in Yeongyang-gun, Nakdong-gang in Sangju-si and Hoecheon in Goryeong-gun, in Gyeongsangbuk-do were 19.3%, 33.3%, and 19.0% and their intensities were 1.5, 17.6, and 2.6 per fish infected respectively. In fishes from Yangcheon in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, CcMc were detected in 811 (45.6%) out of 1,779 fishes examined and their intensity was 9.8 per fish infected. The prevalence was most high in Squalidus spp. (97.7%) and followed by acheilognathinid fish (66.8%), Pungtungia herzi (52.0%), rasborinid fish (39.6%) and Hemibarbus spp. (25.9%) from Yangcheon. The intensity was also most high in Squalidus spp. (27.0). The endemicity with CcMc was very low in fishes from water systems of Nakdong-gang in the east coast of Korea. Conclusively, it is confirmed that various fish species act as the second intermediate hosts of C. complanatum, and the endemicities of CcMc are more or less different by the fish species and group from Yangcheon, in Sancheong-gun, Gyeongsangnam-do, Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.403-410
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• 2010

Objectives: A web-based survey has been administered annually since 2005 throughout Korea to assess the prevalence of adolescent health risk behaviors among middle and high school students. The aim of this study was to evaluate the test-retest reliability of the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey (KYRBWS) questionnaire. Methods: A convenience sample of 2298 middle and high school students participated in self-administered questionnaire surveys twice, approximately two weeks apart, in 2008. The percent agreement, kappa statistics, and prevalence rates at the first and second surveys were computed for the core subset of 39 self-reported health risk behavior indices of the KYRBWS. Results: Among 39 indices, seven indices had kappas $\geq$ 0.81 and all of the indices had kappas $\geq$ 0.41. Based on nonoverlapping 95% confidence intervals, three indices had significantly different prevalence rates between the first and second surveys. In the subgroup analyses by school grade and gender, two indices had significantly different reliability estimates between middle and high school students. There were no significantly different reliability estimates between male and female students, except for one index. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that the reliability estimates for the KYRBWS questionnaire are varied, but generally reliable over time. The indices with low reliability estimates need to be evaluated further in order to determine whether the indices should be modified or deleted from future versions of the KYRBWS.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.23-33
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• 2021

The infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae (ZTM) was surveyed in freshwater fishes from the water systems of Geum-gang (River) in the Republic of Korea (Korea). A total of 1,161 freshwater fishes from 6 local sites of Geum-gang were examined with the artificial digestion method for 4 years (2012-2015). Clonorchis sinensis metacercariae were detected in 122 (37.2%) out of 328 fishes in the positive fish species from 4 surveyed areas, and their mean intensity was 43 per fish infected. Metagonimus spp. metacercariae were found in 432 (51.7%) out of 835 fishes in the positive fish species from all 6 surveyed areas, and their mean intensity was 30 per fish infected. Centrocestus armatus metacercariae were detected in 285 (75.0%) out of 380 fishes in the positive fish species from 6 surveyed areas, and their mean intensity was 2,100 per fish infected. Echinostoma spp. metacercariae were found in 56 (19.7%) out of 284 fishes in the positive fish species from 5 surveyed areas, and their mean intensity was 10 per fish infected. Clinostomum complanatum metacercariae were detected in 98 (57.3%) out of 171 fishes in the positive fish species from only 2 surveyed areas, and their mean intensity was 11 per fish infected. Conclusively, the endemicity of ZTM is not so high in fishes from water systems of Geum-gang in Korea although it is more or less different by fish species, surveyed areas and ZTM species.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.95-98
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• 2011

Head louse infestation (HLI) is one of the most frequently occurring parasitic diseases in children. This study was conducted to investigate the socioeconomic and personal factors influencing HLI in the Republic of Korea. A total of 2,210 questionnaires about various factors related to HLI were obtained from children in 17 primary schools throughout the country. The rate of HLI was significantly lower in children who lived together with mother or in a family where both parents worked. In addition, HLI was lower in children whose fathers or mothers were public officers or teachers. However, HLI was higher in children who had small families and washed their hair less often. Education levels of parents and the number of children in family were not significant. Improvement of socioeconomic factors and personal hygiene will be helpful for reducing HLI.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.95-100
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• 2020

The purpose of the Convergence study is to identify the factors of health-related quality of life for the elderly and provide the basic data needed to improve the quality of life for the elderly. The objects of the study were 1,367 people aged 65 or older living in Korea out of the original data for the 7th National Health and Nutrition Survey by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Year 2017). Multiple regression analyses was performed by using the SPSS/PC 21.0 statistical program for the purpose of the study. According to the study, mental health and then physical activity were the most influential factors in health-related quality of life. Based on these results, we found that health education is highly important to provide customized health care services and to build the correct lifestyle in order to improve the quality of health-related life. Therefore, follow-up research is needed to identify the effectiveness of developing and applying diverse programs to enhance mental health and physical activity of the elderly in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.307-310
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• 2009

Fishborne trematode (FBT) metacercariae were investigated in yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, collected from Shinan-gun and Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do (province), Korea. All collected fishes were examined using the artificial digestion method. In all of 15 gobies from Aphae-myeon in Shinan-gun, metacercariae of Stictodora spp. (334 metacercariae/fish), Heterophyes nocens (153/fish), and Heterophyopsis continua (20/fish) were detected. In 2 of 14 gobies from Jido-myeon in Shinan-gun, 8 Echinostoma hortense metacercariae in total were detected. In 15 gobies from Haeje-myeon in Muan-gun, the metacercariae of H. continua were found in 100%, Stictodora spp. in 86.7%, and H. nocens in 6.7% of fish examined. The average numbers of metacercariae per infected fish were 23.3 (H. continua), 416.0 (Stictodora spp.), and 2.0(H. nocens), respectively. The metacercariae of E. hortense found in gobies were elliptical, with 150 ${\times}$ 138 ${\mu}m$, in average size, and had 27 collar spines on the head crown. The above results suggest that yellowfin gobies from 2 localities may be the potential infection sources of FBT. Moreover, it is proved for the first time that the yellowfin goby, A. flavimanus, acts as a second intermediate host for E. hortense.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.13-25
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• 2012

Objectives: The aim of this study was to measure secular trends in health risk behaviors among middle and high school students in Korea between 2005 and 2009 by using data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey(KYRBS). Methods: The analyses were performed using data from the 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, and 2009 KYRBS, which included a nationally representative sample of middle and high school students. A total of 34 health behavior indices were used for the assessment of secular trends in health risk behaviors. Logistic regression models were used to identify statistically significant secular trends in health risk behaviors, after adjusting for gender and grade. Linear and higher-order time variables were simultaneously entered into the statistical models. Results: There was evidence of small, but statistically significant increasing or decreasing trends in certain health risk behaviors. Secular trends in health risk behaviors varied by gender. Conclusions: This study indicates that between 2005 and 2009, changes in health risk behaviors among Korean adolescents were generally small, but represented statistically significant increases or decreases. Further research should explore why certain health risk behaviors are increasing or decreasing and what types of interventions are most effective.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.285-291
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• 2019

This study was conducted to identify the factors influencing health-related quality of life of urinary incontinent elderly women. The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) was used as baseline data to evaluate how activity limitation, depression experience and subjective health perception influence the health-related quality of life of urinary incontinent elderly women. The urinary incontinent elderly women differed significantly in terms of activity limitation, depression experience, subjective health perception influence and health-related quality of life compared to elderly women without incontinence. In contrast, income and education were not correlated with either of the aforementioned groups. The subjective health perception was identified as the only factor influencing the health-related quality of life of urinary incontinent elderly women. The results of this study will serve as basic data for positive treatment promotion and development of assessment programs for incontinence patients who recognize incontinence symptoms as part of the aging process and are therefore unwilling to receive care.