• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.477-487
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Risk factors for progression to critical illness in hospital-acquired coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) remain unknown. Here, we assessed the incidence and risk factors for progression to critical illness and determined their effects on clinical outcomes in patients with hospital-acquired COVID-19. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed patients admitted to the tertiary hospital between January 2020 and June 2022 with confirmed hospital-acquired COVID-19. The primary outcome was the progression to critical illness of hospital-acquired COVID-19. Patients were stratified into high-, intermediate-, or low-risk groups by the number of risk factors for progression to critical illness. Results: In total, 204 patients were included and 37 (18.1%) progressed to critical illness. In the multivariable logistic analysis, patients with preexisting respiratory disease (OR, 3.90; 95% CI, 1.04-15.18), preexisting cardiovascular disease (OR, 3.49; 95% CI, 1.11-11.27), immunocompromised status (OR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.11-9.16), higher sequential organ failure assessment (SOFA) score (OR, 1.56; 95% CI, 1.28-1.96), and higher clinical frailty scale (OR, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.62-4.13) showed significantly increased risk of progression to critical illness. As the risk of the groups increased, patients were significantly more likely to progress to critical illness and had higher 28-day mortality. Conclusions: Among patients with hospital-acquired COVID-19, preexisting respiratory disease, preexisting cardiovascular disease, immunocompromised status, and higher clinical frailty scale and SOFA scores at baseline were risk factors for progression to critical illness. Patients with these risk factors must be prioritized and appropriately isolated or treated in a timely manner, especially in pandemic settings.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.42-53
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• 2024

Purpose: Conduct a systematic review of case reports and case series regarding the development of acute abdomen following coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, to describe the possible association and the clinical and demographic characteristics in detail. Materials and Methods: This study included case report studies and case series that focused on the development of acute abdomen following COVID-19 vaccination. Systematic review studies, literature, letters to the editor, brief comments, and so forth were excluded. PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, and Web of Science databases were searched until June 15, 2023. The Joanna Briggs Institute tool was used to assess the risk of bias and the quality of the study. Descriptive data were presented as frequency, median, mean, and standard deviation. Results: Seventeen clinical case studies were identified, evaluating 17 patients with acute abdomen associated with COVID-19 vaccination, which included acute appendicitis (n=3), acute pancreatitis (n=9), diverticulitis (n=1), cholecystitis (n=2), and colitis (n=2). The COVID-19 vaccine most commonly linked to acute abdomen was Pfizer-BioNTech (messenger RNA), accounting for 64.71% of cases. Acute abdomen predominantly occurred after the first vaccine dose (52.94%). All patients responded objectively to medical (88.34%) and surgical (11.76%) treatment and were discharged within a few weeks. No cases of death were reported. Conclusion: Acute abdomen is a rare complication of great interest in the medical and surgical practice of COVID-19 vaccination. Our study is based on a small sample of patients; therefore, it is recommended to conduct future observational studies to fully elucidate the underlying mechanisms of this association.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.480-489
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• 2024

Objectives: Excess deaths, an indicator that compares total mortality rates before and during a pandemic, offer a comprehensive view of the pandemic's impact. However, discrepancies may arise from variations in estimating expected deaths. This study aims to compare excess deaths in Korea during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic using 3 methods and to analyze patterns using the most appropriate method. Methods: Expected deaths from 2020 to 2022 were estimated using mortality data from 2015-2019 as reference years. This estimation employed 3 approaches: (1) simple average, (2) age-adjusted average, and (3) age-adjusted linear regression. Excess deaths by age, gender, and cause of death were also presented. Results: The number of excess deaths varied depending on the estimation method used, reaching its highest point with the simple average and its lowest with the age-adjusted average. Age-adjusted linear regression, which accounts for both the aging population and declining mortality rates, was considered most appropriate. Using this model, excess deaths were estimated at 0.3% for 2020, 4.0% for 2021, and 20.7% for 2022. Excess deaths surged among individuals in their 20s throughout the pandemic, largely attributed to a rise in self-harm and suicide. Additionally, the results indicated sharp increases in deaths associated with "endocrine, nutritional, and metabolic diseases" and "symptoms, signs, and abnormal clinical and laboratory findings, not elsewhere classified." Conclusions: Substantial variations in excess deaths were evident based on estimation method, with a notable increase in 2022. The heightened excess deaths among young adults and specific causes underscore key considerations for future pandemic responses.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.52 no.3
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• pp.284-295
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• 2020

In December 2019, the first coronavirus disease- 2019 (COVID-19) patient was reported in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Since then, the number of patients who suffered severe acute respiratory syndrome caused by the novel Coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2 or 2019-nCoV) has increased dramatically in Korea. This new variant virus induces pulmonary diseases, including cough, sore throat, rhinorrhea, dyspnea, and pneumonia. Because SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, real-time reverse-transcriptase PCR has been used widely to diagnose COVID-19. As the Korea Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (KCDC) and Ministry of Food & Drug Safety (MFDS) approved emergency use authorization, clinical specimens collected from COVID-19 patients and even healthy people have been clinically diagnosed by laboratory medicine. Based on a literature search, this paper reviews the epidemiology, symptoms, molecular diagnostics approved by KCDC, a current diagnosis of COVID-19 in the laboratories, the difference between molecular and serological diagnosis, and guidelines for clinical specimens. In addition, the Korean guidelines of biosafety for clinical laboratory scientists are evaluated to prevent healthcare-associated infection. The author's experience and lessons as clinical laboratory scientists will provide valuable insights to protect the domestic and international health community in this COVID-19 pandemic around the world.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the viral load dynamics in children with underlying malignancies diagnosed with symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of patients <19 years old with underlying hemato-oncologic malignancies that were diagnosed with their first symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 infection during March 1 to August 30, 2022. Review of electronic medical records and telephone surveys were undertaken to assess the clinical presentations and transmission route of the patients. Thresholds of negligible likelihood of infectious virus was defined as E gene reverse transcription (RT)-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value ≥25. Results: During the 6-month study period, a total of 43 children with 44 episodes of COVID-19 were included. Of the 44 episodes, the median age of the patients included was 8 years old (interquartile range [IQR], 4.9-10.5), and the most common underlying disease was acute lymphoid leukemia (n=30, 68.2%), followed by patients post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n=8, 18.2%). Majority of the patients had mild COVID-19 (n=32, 72.7%), and three patients (7.0%) had severe/critical COVID-19. Furthermore, 2.3% (n=1) died of COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. The largest percentage of the patients showed E gene RT-PCR Ct value ≥25 between 15-21 days (n=13, 39.4%), followed by 22-28 days (n=10, 30.3%). In 15.2% (n=5), E gene RT-PCR Ct value remained <25 beyond 28 days after initial positive PCR. Refractory malignancy status (β, 67.0; 95% confidence interval, 7.0-17.0; P=0.030) was significantly associated with prolonged duration of E gene RT-PCR <25. A patient with prolonged duration of E gene RT-PCR Ct value <25 was suspected to have infectivity shown by the transmission of the virus to his mother at day 86 after his initial positive test. Conclusions: Children that acquire symptomatic COVID-19 during refractory malignancy state are at a high risk for prolonged shedding warranting PCR-based transmission precautions in this cohort of patients.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Applied Entomolohy Conference
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• 2006.09a
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• pp.39-44
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• 2006

국제적으로 생물다양성 협약('92. 6) 및 생물다양성 협약총회('02. 4)에서 생물자원의 국가소유 권리 인정 후 생물주권 확보를 위한 국가 간 경쟁이 날로 치열해 지고 있다. 하지만 우리나라의 경우 10만종으로 추정되는 국내 생물종(種) 중 약 3만여종만 기록되어 있으며, 한반도 고유종도 2,322종만 문헌으로 확인되는 등 조사연구가 미흡한 상황에 있다. 또한 확보된 생물자원도 관리가 매우 미흡한 상태에 있다. 따라서 국가 생물자원 주권 확보 및 체계적인 생물자원 보전 관리를 위해 국가차원의 생물자원보전 종합대책을 수립하였다. 환경부는 동 종합대책을 통해 대한민국 영토에 분포 서식하고 있는 생물자원 정밀 탐색 조사를 통해 모든 생물의 표본을 수집 연구하여 자생생물의 총체를 확인하며, 자생생물의 분류분포생태 정보를 종합 정리한 한반도 생물지를 발간할 예정이다. 자생생물의 DB 구축 등 과학적인 생물자원 관리체계를 확립하고, 생물자원의 국외반출 관리를 강화할 예정이며, 생물분류 전문인력 육성, 권역별 생물자원과 설립, 생물자원 보전 연구시설 지원 등 생물자원 관리 인프라 구축을 추진할 예정이다. 또한 최근 급증하는 야생동물 질병(SARS, 조류독감 등)에 대한 조사 연구를 실시하며, 야생동물 구조 치료센터를 시 도별로 설립할 예정이며, 외래종의 관리를 더욱 강화하고, 멸종위기종의 보호복원을 체계적이고 지속적으로 추진할 예정이다. 동 종합대책은 생물자원 조사발굴 분야의 11개 과제, 생물자원보전 관리체계 확립 분야의 11개 과제, 생물자원보전 추진체계 구축 분야의 6개 과제 등 총 3개 분야 28개 세부추진과제로 구성되어 있다. 동 대책은 2013년까지 국비 2,960억원, 지방비 1,800억원 등 총 4,760억을 투자할 계획이다. 곳도 많아 온난화조건에서도 지역별 정밀기후 추정과 이에 근거한 최적품종의 선택, 이앙기 및 수확기 등 생육기간의 조절이 온난화 대응기술로서 유효할 것으로 기대된다.결과를 분석한 데이터를 차기 메일 발송에 꾸준히 적용함으로써 성공적인 이메일 마케팅 결과를 얻을 수 있을 것으로 기대된다.여 수평적인 의견도출과 각자 역할의 확대 및 변화를 시도할 수 있는 제작흐름이 되도록 고안된 제작구조이다.성을 환기시켜 객관적이고 비판적인 의식을 환기시키는 브레히트의 '소격화'의 효과가 소비자의 관심을 환기시켜 특정한 목적을 달성하려는 광고에 효율적으로 적용된 예 인 것이다. 재미, 기타 독특한 체험을 통해 소비자에게 유희라는 쾌락적 경험을 제공하고자 한다.고도로 통계적 유의차(p<0.001)가 있었다. 즐기는 음료로는 ${\ulcorner}$콜라${\lrcorner}$가 가장 많았으며(46.8%), 그 다음은 사이다, 주스 등의 순으로 나타났으나, 남 여 대학생간에는 유의성있는 차이는 없었다. 음식의 먹는 시기는 점심과 저녁사이의 ${\ulcorner}$간식${\lrcorner}$이 가장 많았으며(42.2%), 남 여 대학생간에는 유의한 차이는 없었다. 패스트푸드는 많은 사람들이 ${\ulcorner}$맛${\lrcorner}$이 좋기 때문에 이용하며(62.8%), 남 여 대학생간에는 통계적 유의성(p<0.05)이 인정되었다. 5. ${\ulcorner}$입맛의 서구화(36.4%)와 외식을 선호(29.1%)${\lrcorner}$ 하기 때문에 패스트푸드를 이용하게 된 것으로 응답 하였으며, 남 여 대학생간에

• KOREAN JOURNAL OF CROP SCIENCE
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.56-60
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• 1997

In order to investigate the relationships between the responses of four crops (rice, soybeans, potatoes, and red pepper) to acid rain, the simulated acid rain(SAR) of pH 1.8, 2.3, and 2.8 and normal rain of pH 6.0 were applied from 30 days after emergence to harvest at the two-week interval for rice, soybeans and red pepper and at a week interval for potatoes. SAR of pH 1.8 and 2.3 caused brown spots in the leaves of rice, soybeans, and red pepper and the damages were severer as the pH of SAR lowered, while no visual damages were observed in potatoes. The SARs did not affect chlorophyll content of rice and potatoes, while chlorophyll content of soybeans and red pepper decreased as the pH of SAR lowered. Photosynthetic activity was not significantly different among the pHs of SAR in rice, while decreased as pHs of SAR lowered from pH 2.8 to 1.8 in soybeans, potatoes, and red pepper. Yield of rice, soybeans, and potatoes was not affected by the pHs of SAR, but in red pepper the length, diameter, and weight of a fruit, the number of fruits per plant, and total matured fruit yield decreased as the pHs of SAR lowered. In rice and potatoes visual damages caused by SAR did not correlated with other observed traits. However, visual damages were negatively correlated with chlorophyll content and photosynthetic activity of soybeans and photosynthetic activity and yield of red pepper.

• The Korean Journal of Pesticide Science
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.32-36
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• 2000

A series of synthesized N-(2-fluoro-4-chloro-5-alkyloxyphenyl)-3,4-dimethyl-2-arylthio-5-oxo-2,5-dihydropyrrole derivatives as substrates were found to selectivity significantly with both rice plant (Oryza sativa L.) and weeds, barnyard grass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and bulrush (Scriptus juncoides) for those herbicidal activities at a rate of 0.1 kg/ha with post emergence under submerged conditions. The structure activity relationships (SARs) on herbicidal activity of $SR_{2}$=2-arylthio substituents on the pyrrole ring were analysized. From the results, the relative contribute orders of the $SR_{2}$ with phenyl group on the activity are meta > para > ortho-substituents. Among these compounds, the $R_{1}=propargyl$ (IA) subsrituents, $1{\sim}12$ showed higher activity than the $R_{1}$=2-chloro-2-propenyl (IB) substituents, $13{\sim}16$. The $SR_{2}$ groups of IA substituents shown that the optimal steric constant, $(Es)_{opt.}=3.25$ and m-phenylthio substituents were found to be -contribute the activity against barnyard grass. But the herbicidal activity of IB substituents against bulrush would depend upon the molar refractivity, $M_{R}$ constant of $SR_{2}$ group.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.44-51
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• 2010

Contamination of groundwater from point and non-point sources is one of major problems of water resource manangement in Jeju island. This study characterized groundwater and soil contamination in Hallim area which is one of the areas of significantly contaminated soil and groundwater in Jeju Island. The amount of loaded contaminant (ALC) of Jeju area was estimated as 13,212 ton N/yr and 3,210 ton P/yr, The ALC of Hallim area was amounted to 2,895 ton N/yr and 1,102 ton P/yr, which accounted for 21.9% and 34.3% of the Jeju's ALC, respectively. The soil pH values (5.6-5.9) were not much different in land use areas. By contrat, average cation exchange capacity (CEC) of 14.1 $cmol^+/kg$ was high comparing to the nationwide range of 7.7-10.9 $cmol^+/kg$. Further, Sodium adsorption ratios (SARs) of horse ranch, pasture, and cultivating land for livestock were as high as 0.19, 0.17, and 0.16 respectively, comparing to the other landuse areas. Nitrate nitrogen at 22.2% of total groundwater wells exceeded 10 mg/L (the criteria of nitrate nitrogen for drinking water), averaginged 6.62 mg/L with maximum 28.95 mg/L. Groundwater types belonged to Mg-$HCO_3$, Na-$HCO_3$, Ca-$HCO_3$, and Na-Cl, among which Mg-$HCO_3$ type occupied more than 70% of the total samples, indicating the presence of anthropogenic sources. The concentration of nitrate nitrogen was negatively related to altitude and well depth, and positively related to the concentration of Ca, Mg, and $SO_4$ which might originate from chemical fertilizer. The ratio of nitrogen isotopes was estimated as an average of 8.10$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$, and the maximum value of 17.9$^{\circ}/_{\circ\circ}$. According to the nitrogen isotope ratio, the most important nitrogen source was assessed as chemical fertilizer (52.6%) followed by sewage (26.3%) and livestock manures (21.1%).

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 1995

New twenty 2-(n-octyl)-3-(n-propyl)isothiourea derivatives(S) were synthesized which is modified from the insecticidal Buprofezine (Applaud) in the selective insecticidal activities in-vitro against Diamond-Back moth (Plutella Xylostella Linnaeus). The structure activity relationships(SAR) between the insecticidal activity$(pI_{50})$ and a various physicochemical parameters of the substituent(Z) of S were analyzed by the multiple regression technique. The activities would depend largely on the MR, ${\pi}$ and $L_1$ parameters. The SAR was rationalized by parabolic function of MR, ${\pi}$ and $L_1$ constant, where the optimal values of the constants were $L_1=5.22{{\AA}}$, $MR=15.70\;Cm^3/mol$ and ${\pi}=1.60$, respectively. The steric effects play an important role in determining insecticidal activity. The SAR suggest that the S derivatives having a substituents with a small breadth and an appropriate length as Z group showed potent activity. From the results, the iso-propyl group(Z) substituent (5) with three carbon atom was the most effective compound.