• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.89-92
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• 2011

The routine identification and differentiation of Brucella species is a time-consuming and labor-intensive process, which frequently places personnel at risk of laboratory-acquired infection. Here, we describe the development of a rapid multiplex PCR assay for the confirmation of presumptive Brucella isolates. The assay was able to identify and differentiate major human pathogens, namely B. abortus, B. melitensis, and B. suis, in a single test of less than an hour and a half.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.347-358
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• 2017

Background: The recent revision of South Korea's Mental Health Law emphasizes the role of the Mental Health Review Board. For this study, we examined the current status of continuing hospitalization judgement in Mental Health Review Board at the national level and aimed to determine the directions of improvement. Methods: Using a qualitative case study as the research method, we interviewed 30 Mental Health Review Board members and analyzed the results. Results: Each municipality had very different continuing hospitalization judgement methods. In our systematic review, which consisted of document inspection, we identified reliability problems due to limitations in Mental Health Review Board's operating systems, discharge orders, etc. Additionally, continuing hospitalization judgement needs to improve the objectivity, fairness, and effectiveness of their screening examinations. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, we suggest policy proposals to improve these systems, such as standardizing examination processes, strengthening on-site inspections, increasing the independence and neutrality of judgment in Mental Health Review Board, building community mental health infrastructures, and establishing integrated management systems.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.365-374
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• 2020

This study was conducted to monitor the residual pesticides on a total of 320 stalk and stem vegetables from January 2019 to December 2019 in the Incheon metropolitan area. Pesticide residues in samples were analyzed by the multi-residue method for 373 pesticides using GC-MS/MS, LC-MS/MS, GC-ECD, GC-NPD and HPLC-UVD. Risk assessment was also carried out based on the amount of stalk and stem vegetables consumed. The linearity correlation coefficient for the calibration curve was 0.9951 to 1.0000, LOD 0.002 to 0.022 mg/kg, LOQ 0.005 to 0.066 mg/kg and recovery was 82.0 to 108.0%. According to the monitoring of pesticides, 36 (11.3%) of 320 were detected with pesticide residues and 3 (0.9%) samples exceeded the maximum residual limit. The detection frequency for Chinese chives and Welsh onion was higher than that for other stalk and stem vegetables. The frequently detected pesticides were etofenprox, procymidone, fludioxonil, and pendimethalin. As a tool of risk assessment through the consumption of pesticide detectable agricultural products, the ratio of estimated daily intake (EDI) to acceptable daily intake (ADI) was calculated in the range of 0.0062-24.1423%. These results indicate that there is no particular health risk through consumption of commercial stalk and stem vegetables detected with pesticide residues.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.302-312
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• 2002

This descriptive exploratory study was conducted to analyze the results of developmental screening test using DDST and the follow-up diagnostic evaluation in one public health center, and to evaluate the feasibility of developmental screening in nursing. Samples were 373 children under 6 years who visited the public health center. Mothers' satisfaction on the developmental clinic was also determined. Summaries of the results were as follows:v 1. 0.5% of children in height and 1.9% of children in weight were included in below 3 percentile of Korean children's growth chart, but none of them showed developmental delay. 2. The results of DDST showed 92.1% of subjects were classified as normal, 3.7% as abnormal, and 4.2% as questionable among 354 children. 3. Most of children who showed the abnormal development at the first DDST were confirmed having the developmental delay at the follow-up diagnostic evaluation. On the other hand, most of children who showed the questionable development at the first DDST revealed having the normal development in follow-up screening test. 4. The result of the DDST was influenced by the birth order of the subject and delivery type. 5.The mean satisfaction score by mothers on developmental clinic was 4.35 in 5 Likert scale. In conclusion, we could certain the feasibility and usefulness of developmental screening in community and child care nursing. To fulfil the increasing needs of mothers with infants on the child development, nurses have to provide anticipatory guidance and parent education in addition to the developmental screening test. We hope to expand the developmental screening in nursing field not only of clinical setting but also of community.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.20
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• pp.8719-8724
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• 2014

Background: Breast cancer incidence is increasing among South Asian migrants to the United States (US). However, their utilization of cancer screening services is poor. This study characterizes attitudes of South Asians towards breast health and screening in a community sample. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey based on the Health Belief Model (HBM) was conducted among South Asians (n=124) in New Jersey and Chicago. The following beliefs and attitudes towards breast cancer screening were assessed-health motivation, breast self-examination confidence, breast cancer susceptibility and fear, and mammogram benefits and barriers. Descriptive statistics and Spearman rank correlation coefficients were computed for HBM subscales. Findings: Mean age of participants was 36 years with an average 10 years stay in the US. Most women strived to care for their health ($3.82{\pm}1.18$) and perceived high benefits of screening mammography ($3.94{\pm}0.95$). However, they perceived lower susceptibility to breast cancer in the future ($2.30{\pm}0.94$). Conclusions: Increasing awareness of breast cancer risk for South Asian women may have a beneficial effect on cancer incidence because of their positive attitudes towards health and breast cancer screening. This is especially relevant because South Asians now constitute one of the largest minority populations in the US and their incidence of breast cancer is steadily increasing.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.53-61
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• 2012

Objectives: Improving public capability to obtain, understand, and use health information is important for decision-making and communication. This study attempts to measure adults' literacy of the information provided by a public health institution. Factors affecting different health literacy level are also investigated. The relation between public risk perception and health literacy is examined as well. Methods: A total of 800 korean adults were surveyed. To provide the participants health literacy questions, health messages of heavy metals released by KFDA as well as literacy questions developed by NIKL were used. A total of eight questions were developed to measure health literacy. The dimensions of risk perception proposed by Brewer et al.(2008) were modified to measure risk perception. Results: The average percentage of correct answer for all literacy questions was only 65.57%. Individuals at the older age, and with lower education/ income level were more likely to be low literate. In addition, health literacy was strongly associated with risk perception. Conclusions: Public literacy of health information is influenced by socio demographic factors. This study suggested a possibility that low health literacy may affect unrealistically high risk perception. Further studies with sophisticated methodologies to measure health literacy need to be developed.

• Osong Public Health and Research Perspectives
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• v.9 no.6
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• pp.362-362
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• 2018

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.433-442
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• 2009

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify factors affecting on the successful cessation of smoking for six months in the smoking cessation clinic of a public health center. Methods: The subjects of this study were 568 adult smokers who had registered in the smoking cessation clinic of a public health center in B City. Data were analyzed through $x^2$-test, t-test, and logistic regression using the SPSS/WIN 12.0 program. Results: Identified factors affecting the successful cessation of smoking for six months were service type, number of counseling, alcohol problem, previous quit-smoking trial, dependency on nicotine, CO level in expiration at the first visit time, self-reevaluation, helping relationship, negative/affective situational temptation, and Cons. Conclusion: Trans-theoretical Model variables were confirmed as factors affecting the success of smoking cessation. Based on the results of this study, a smoking cessation program was suggested, which uses Trans-theoretical Model variables affecting smoking cessation for six months in a public health center.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.315-324
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• 2002

Objectives : This study was conducted to explore the relating factors with the delivery of low-birth-weight infants in Pyungtaek city. Methods : A questionnaire survey was obtained from 51 mothers with low-birth-weight babies and 90 mothers with full-term normal babies from April to October in 2001. Questionnaire consisted of demographic characteristics, dietary habits including alcohol. drugging, and smoking, past and present disease, prenatal risk factors and prenatal check-up, and complications related to labor and delivery. Results : 1. In the low-birth-weight infants group, father's education level and mother's height were significantly lower, and proportion of old age mothers was significantly higher than those of the normal infant group. 2. Mothers with low-birth-weight infants experienced more premature rupture of membrane, placenta previa, ecclampsia, and twin pregnancy than mothers with normal infants. Gestational period of mothers with low-birth-weight infants was significantly shorter than that of mothers with normal infants. 3. No differences were found in eating habit, alcohol and drug ingestion, smoking, exposing to dangerous materials in two groups, but both groups were highly exposed to indirect smoking, although mothers rarely smoke. Conclusion : The findings of this study indicate that high risk group such as less educated, or older mothers need more prenatal health assessment and support from public health services. Addition to determine the risk factors related to the delivery of low-birth-weight infants, public health nurses pay more attention and develop efficient management system for vulnerable women and infants.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.5
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• pp.135-149
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• 2018

Growth charts are curves or tables that facilitate the visualization of anthropometric parameters, and are widely used as an important indicator when evaluating the growth status of children and adolescents. The latest version of the Korean National Growth Charts released in 2007 has raised concerns regarding the inclusion of data from both breastfed and formula-fed infants, higher body mass index (BMI) values in boys, and smaller 3rd percentile values in height-for-age charts. Thus, new growth charts have been developed to improve the previous version. The 2006 World Health Organization Child Growth Standards, regarded as the standard for breastfed infants and children, were introduced for children aged 0-35 months. For children and adolescents aged 3-18 years, these new growth charts include height-for-age, weight-for-age, BMI-for-age, weight-for-height, and head circumference-for-age charts, and were developed using data obtained in 1997 and 2005. Data sets and exclusion criteria were applied differently for the development of the different growth charts. BMI-for-age charts were adjusted to decrease the 95th percentile values of BMI. Criteria for obesity were simplified and defined as a BMI of ${\geq}95th$ percentile for age and sex. The 3rd percentile values for height-for-age charts were also increased. Additional percentile lines (1st and 99th) and growth charts with standard deviation lines were introduced. 2017 Korean National Growth Charts are recommended for the evaluation of body size and growth of Korean children and adolescents for use in clinics and the public health sector in Korea.