• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.70 no.4
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• pp.307-314
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• 2011

Background: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major cause of death and disability worldwide and one of the most prevalent diseases in Korea. We examined trends and risk factors of health care utilization for COPD in Korea. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the database of Patient Surveys from 1990 through 2008, which were nationwide surveys of health services utilization through outpatient department (OPD) visits and hospitalization. Physician-diagnosed COPD patients whose ages were 45 years and older were included. Results: OPD visits and hospitalization of COPD patients between 1990 and 2008 were estimated to be 68,552 and 17,774 persons, respectively. Trends in OPD visits and hospitalization for COPD significantly increased from 1990 through 2008 (p=0.019, p=0.001, respectively). The increment rate for OPD visits was 2.0 fold over those years; for hospitalization it was 3.3 fold. Risk factors for OPD visits for COPD were male gender (odd ration [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39~1.43), those aged 65 years and older (OR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.47~1.53), residential area other than a metropolis (OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 1.07~1.010) and access to a physician's office (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.14~1.21). Risk factors for hospitalization were male gender (OR, 2.15; 95% CI, 2.07~2.23), those aged 65 year and older (OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 2.72~3.00), residential area other than a metropolis (OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.90~2.07) and access to a hospital (OR, 2.88; 95% CI, 2.59~3.22) (p<0.001, both). Conclusion: Health care utilization for COPD subjects increased from 1990 to 2008. Risk factors for the utilization were male gender, older age, and residential area other than a metropolis.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.154-159
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• 2007

The objective of this retrospective study was to investigate the prevalence of retinal diseases in dogs presented to the Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, Seoul National University from April 2004 to December 2005. Sixty-five dogs (120 eyes) with retinal diseases involving blindness were included in this study. Age, breed, and gender data for all breeds were collected from medical records documenting vision loss. Generalized progressive retinal atrophy (gPRA) was the most common manifestation. Other prevalent findings included sudden acquired retinal degeneration (SARD) and retinal detachment (RD). Bilateral gPRA was found in 32 dogs with a female-to-male ratio of 1 : 1. The mean $age{\pm}SD$ of all dogs in this group was $4.66{\pm}2.30$ years with a range of 3 to 12 years. Breeds with highest prevalence of gPRA were Miniature Schnauzer (24/32, $mean{\pm}SD$ age: $3.79{\pm}0.78$ yr) and Poodle (2/32, $6.50{\pm}0.71$ yr). Twelve dogs (24 eyes) were diagnosed with SARD bilateraly, ranging from 3 to 13 years of age ($mean{\pm}SD:\;6.91{\pm}2.61$ yr). There were no abnormalities in fundus of 11 dogs at presentation. Electroretinography (ERG) without anesthesia was performed in 7 dogs, and all response was totally extinguished. Retinal detachment was identified in 21 dogs (32 eyes): 11 bilateral and 10 unilateral (7 right eye, 3 left eye). The most common breed was Shih Tzu (15/21, $mean{\pm}SD$ age: $4.39{\pm}3.24$ yr). Four other breeds comprised the remaining 6 cases (8 eyes). The everall mean age of the group was: $4.18{\pm}2.89$ years (range 0.8 to 14 years) with a female-to-male ratio of 1 : 1.1 (10 females, and 11 males).

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 2023

Public sewage treatment facilities are a necessary infrastructure for public health that treat sewage generated in cities and basin living areas and discharge it into rivers or seas. Recently, the role of public sewage treatment is receiving attention as a place of use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), which analyzes human specific metabolic emissions or biomarkers present in sewage to investigate the environment to which the population is exposed in the water drain. WBE is mainly applied to investigate legal and water-law drug use or to predict and analyze the lifestyle of local residents. WBE has also been applied to predict and analyze the degree of infectious diseases that are prevalent worldwide, such as COVID-19. Since sewage flowing into public sewage treatment facilities includes living information of the population living in the drainage area, it is easy to collect basic data to predict the confirmation and spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new role of public sewage treatment facilities as an infrastructure necessary for WBE that can obtain information on the confirmation and spread of infectious diseases other than the traditional role of public sewage treatment. In South Korea, the sewerage supply rate is about 95.5% and the number of public sewage treatment facility is 4,209. This means that the infrastructure of sewerage is fully established. However, to successfully drive for WBE , research on monitoring and big-data analysis is needed.

• Journal of the Korean BIBLIA Society for library and Information Science
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• v.34 no.4
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• pp.29-54
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• 2023

This study aimed to analyze the research trends of journal articles published by medical schools representing Korean modern. A total of 682 were selected from two journals published by Medical College in Keijo and Keijo Imperial University Medical Faculty. In results, the affiliations of authors who participated in Acta Medicinalia in Keijo included various schools and hospitals, and the authors' major was found to be similar in basic medicine and clinical medicine. In The Keijo Journal of Medicine, only school-affiliated authors participated, and 96.33% of the authors were majors in basic medicine. Co-occurrence network analysis was conducted on MeSH terms from the title of the article using MeSH on Demand, and the keyword that derived in both journals was 'erythrocytes', which analyzed the condition of red blood cells according to organs and diseases. In frequency analysis, a common area of research in both journals was the study focusing on blood and blood cells, and the study of anemia and tuberculosis, which were prevalent diseases at the time. As for comparing each journal, Acta Medicinalia in Keijo has focused on inflammatory diseases and clinical pathological studies in humans, and The Keijo Journal of Medicine has focused on anatomical studies on animals and pharmacological studies on medicines. Through this study, it was possible to identify the research topics and major keywords in two medical schools with different founding goals.

• Clinical Endoscopy
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• v.55 no.2
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• pp.215-225
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• 2022

Background/Aims: The Thai Association for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy published recommendations on safe endoscopy during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. This study aimed to assess the practicality and applicability of the recommendations and the perceptions of endoscopy personnel on them. Methods: A validated questionnaire was sent to 1290 endoscopy personnel globally. Of these, the data of all 330 responders (25.6%) from 15 countries, related to the current recommendations on proper personal protective equipment (PPE), case selection, scope cleaning, and safety perception, were analyzed. Ordinal logistic regression was used to determine the relationships between the variables. Results: Despite an overwhelming agreement with the recommendations on PPE (94.5%) and case selection (95.5%), their practicality and applicability on PPE recommendations and case selection were significantly lower (p=0.001, p=0.047, p<0.001, and p=0.032, respectively). Factors that were associated with lower sense of safety in endoscopy units were younger age (p=0.004), less working experience (p=0.008), in-training status (p=0.04), and higher national prevalence of COVID-19 (p=0.003). High prevalent countries also had more difficulty implementing the guidelines (p<0.001) and they considered the PPE recommendations less practical and showed lower agreement with them (p<0.001 and p=0.008, respectively). A higher number of in-hospital COVID-19 patients was associated with less agreement with PPE recommendations (p=0.039). Conclusions: Using appropriate PPE and case selection in endoscopic practice during a pandemic remains a challenge. Resource availability and local prevalence are critical factors influencing the adoption of the current guidelines.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.66 no.2
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• pp.116-121
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• 2009

Background: Tsutsugamushi, leptospirosis and hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) are the prevalent diseases among the acute febrile illnesses in Korea. Pulmonary involvement in the patients with these diseases remains poorly recognized in endemic regions, and this is despite reports of recent outbreaks and epidemic episodes. Pulmonary involvement and a higher CRP level as clinical manifestations show a more severe form of infection. The aim of this study is to analyze the correlation of pulmonary involvement and the CRP level in patients with acute febrile illnesses. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical records of 105 patients who were diagnosed with tsutsugamushi, HFRS and leptospirosis from January 2002 to May 2008 in Chuncheon Sacred Heart Hospital. The radiographic images were retrospectively analyzed by two radiologists. We analyzed the pulmonary complications of the patients with these febrile diseases and we checked the CRP level at admission. Results: The study included 105 patients who were diagnosed with febrile diseases. Of these patients, 32 patients had hantaan, 10 patients had leptospirosis and 63 patients had tsutsugamushi disease. 42 (40%) patients had pulmonary complications, 20 patients had pulmonary edema, 20 patients had pleural effusion and 2 patients had interstitial pneumonitis. The patients with pulmonary involvement showed a more severe form of infection and a higher CRP level than that of those patients without pulmonary involvement (p=0.0073). Conclusion: Pulmonary involvement in patients with acute febrile diseases might be correlated with a higher CRP level. Identification of this factor on admission might provide useful selection criteria for the patients who need early intensive care.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.8 no.2
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• pp.168-174
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• 2001

Purpose : There was an epidemic of aseptic meningitis in Korea for 3 years from 1996 to 1998. In this study, we reported the time of outbreak, age and sex distribution, clinical manifestations, laboratory data, and complications of the children with aseptic meningitis. Methods : We reviewed clinical records of 192 aseptic meningitis patients who had been admitted to Pohang St. Mary's Hospital from 1996 to 1998. Results : Aseptic meningitis occurred most frequently in July and August. The ratio of male to female was 1.91 : 1, and the most prevalent age was 1 to 5 years of age. The main symptoms were fever, vomiting, headache in this order of frequency. Peripheral blood showed leukocytosis(WBC > $10,000/mm^3$) in 44.3% of the cases. CSF examination showed WBC count were less than $500/mm^3$ in 88.0%, protein levels less than 40 mg/dL in 61.5%, and glucose levels more than 40 mg/dL in 94.3% of the cases. We did not isolate the causative viral agents. Conclusion : Aseptic meningitis was prevalent in children in the Pohang area from 1996 to 1998. Clinical manifestations and CSF profiles of aseptic meningitis patients showed no great difference compared to other reported.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.109-115
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• 1984

In order to estimate the recent patterns of intestinal helminth infections among the residents in Taegu City, Korea, a survey based on discovery of helminth eggs by formalin-ether sedimentation and modified Graham's scotchtape anal swab techniques, were performed during the period from March to September in 1983. A total of 1, 697 fecal specimens were collected from 854 male and 843 female residents from 5 village (Dong), each of whom were selected randomly to represent 1, 000 persons referred to the census in 1982. Among the specimens examined, one or more species of helminth parasites were found in 473, revealing the overall positive rate of 27.9 per cent. Of them, Trichuris trichiura was found most frequently, in 13.2 percent, followed by Enterobius vermicularis in 7.0 per cen t. Hookworm was the least prevalent. The sex-specific rate of overall helminth infections was a little higher in females than in males, while in cases of Clonorchis sinensis, Metagonimus yokogawai and Taenia species, the infection rates in males was higher than in females. T. trichiura was most prevalent in the 20~29 age group and showed about the same prevalence in males and females of all age groups. C. sinensis infection rate increased with age while those of Ascaris lumbricoides decreased. Single infections were 82.5 per cent of all positive cases. Of these, T. trichiura revealed the highest prevalence in 31.7 per cent, followed by E. vermiculasis in 20.1 per cent and A. lumbricoides in 14.8 per cent. Of the double infections, the percentage of T. trichiura in combination with other intestinal helminths was higher than that of A. lumbricoides. It was concluded that although the infection rates of intestinal helminths among the residents in Taegu City, Korea is still high, eradication of these parasitic diseases seems to be possible with twice-a-year administration of specific anthelmintics, in combination with extensive public health education and improvement of the dietary life.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2011

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV)-associated lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were obtained from 658 children who had been hospitalized for LRTIs in Seoul National University (SNU) Children's Hospital and SNU Bundang Hospital from March 2000 to September 2005. Multiplex RT-PCR was performed to detect 11 respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3, influenza viruses A and B, human metapneumovirus, HBoV, human coronavirus (HCoV) OC43/ 229E, and HCoV-NL63. Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Overall, respiratory viruses were detected in 325 (49.4%) among 658 patients. HBoV was detected in 62 cases (9.4%) and was responsible for 19.1% of virus-positive cases. HBoV was prevalent among infants and young children aged from 3 months to 5 years with the mean age of 25.3 months. Co-detection of HBoV and other respiratory viruses was observed in 37.1% which is significantly higher than average co-detection rate (12.3%) among overall virus-positive cases (P=0.000). HBoV was identified mainly in late spring and early summer from May to July. Conclusion : This study describes epidemiologic features of HBoV in Korean children compared with those associated with other respiratory viruses. HBoV was prevalent among LRTIs in childhood, especially in late spring and early summer season in Korea.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.447-453
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• 2015

The infection status of fishborne zoonotic trematode (FZT) metacercariae was investigated in fishes from 2 localities of Lao PDR. Total 157 freshwater fishes (17 species) were collected in local markets of Vientiane Municipality and Champasak Province in December 2010 and July 2011, and each fish was examined by the artificial digestion method. Total 6 species of FZT metacercariae, i.e., Opisthorchis viverrini, Haplorchis taichui, Haplorchis yokogawai, Haplorchis pumilio, Centrocestus formosanus, and Procerovum varium, were detected in fishes from Vientiane Municipality. The metacercariae of O. viverrini were detected in 50 (49.5%) out of 101 fishes (6 species), and their average number was 154 per fish infected. The remaining 5 species of heterophyid metacercariae were detected in 36.8%, 65.8%, 9.4%, 23.9%, and 5.1% fishes examined, and their average densities were 12, 1,038, 4, 15, and 13 per infected fish, respectively. In fishes from Champasak Province, 3 species of FZT metacercariae, i.e., O. viverrini, H. taichui, and H. yokogawai, were detected. Only 2 O. viverrini metacercariae were found in only 1 Barbonymus schwanefeldi. The metacercariae of H. taichui and H. yokogawai were detected in 60.0% and 50.0% of fishes examined, and their average densities were 47 and 28 per fish infected. By the present study, it has been confirmed that several species of FZT metacercariae are prevalent in fishes from Vientiane Municipality, with P. varium being a new member of FZT in Lao PDR. In comparison, FZT metacercariae are less prevalent in fishes from Champasak Province.