• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.34 no.11
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• pp.87.1-87.6
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• 2019

We report 17 patients with human granulocytic anaplasmosis between January 2015 and September 2018 at two tertiary university hospitals in Korea. Monthly incidence peaked in May and June. Among these patients, we identified three who were co-infected with scrub typhus, and one patient with hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.59 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2021

Leptotrombidium scutellare is one of the 6 main vectors of scrub typhus in China. It has been found in more than 15 provinces of China. Especially in Yunnan, it was found to be mainly distributed in some mountainous areas with high altitude, low temperature and low precipitation. Rodents and some other small mammals were the most common hosts of L. scutellare. To date, more than 40 host species of L. scutellare have been recorded with very low host specificity, and the main hosts varied in different geographical regions. L. scutellare had a strong resistance against the cold environment, and the temperature and humidity were 2 important factors affecting its growth and development. Among different individuals of their rodent hosts, L. scutellare mites often showed an aggregated distribution pattern, which reflected the interspecific cooperation of the mites. The chromosome karyotype of L. scutellare was 2n=16 and all the 8 pairs of chromosomes were short rod-shaped with metacentric or sub-metacentric types. The isozyme spectrum supported that L. scutellare, L. deliense and L. rubellum were in the same species group. Based on the natural infection, experimental transmission and epidemiological evidence, L. scutellare has been eventually confirmed as the second major vector of scrub typhus in China, which is second only to L. deliense.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the risk factors for mechanical ventilation in the patients with scrub typhus admitted to intensive care unit (ICU) at a university hospital. Methods: We retrospectively selected and analyzed clinical data from the medical records of 70 patients (32 men, 38 women) admitted to the ICU with scrub typhus between 2004 and 2014. The patients had a mean${\pm}$standard deviation age of $71.2{\pm}11.1years$ and were evaluated in two groups: those who had been treated with mechanical ventilation (the MV group, n=19) and those who had not (the non-MV group, n=51). Mean ages of the MV group and the non-MV group were $71.2{\pm}8.3years$ and $71.2{\pm}11.1years$, respectively. Results: Significant differences between the two groups were observed with respect to acute respiratory failure (p=0.008), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) II score (p=0.015), Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score (p=0.013), death (p=0.014), and ICU duration (p<0.01). Multivariate analysis indicated that the following factors were significantly associated with mechanical ventilation: acute respiratory failure (p=0.011), SOFA score (p=0.005), APACHE II score (p=0.011), platelet count (p=0.009), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) (p=0.011). Conclusion: Thus, five factors-acute respiratory failure, SOFA score, APACHE II score, platelet count, and LDH-can be the meaningful indicators for mechanical ventilation for the patients with scrub typhus admitted to ICU.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.591-604
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• 1996

The surgical hand scrub (SHS) is the single most important procedure in the prevention of post-operative wound infections and yet it remains the most violated of all infection control procedures. The purpose of this study was to gain an overview of SHS habits in operative th atre personnel and to determine knowledge and attitudes to identify whether there is a need for improvement. The subjects for this study included 79 doctors and 94 nurses working in the operative th atres of four hospitals in Incheon City and Kyungki Province. Related data were collected from July 25 to August 10, 1995 by the author. The data were analyzed using descriptive stat-istics and Chi-squre test. The results of the study are summarized as follows : 1. Nurses felt that they conducted SHS for a longer period of time than doctors did(X=20.1, P=.005). 2. Nurses and doctors had some knowledge of slip-ping rings off fingers and the length of nails, but they lacked knowledge on the duration of SHS, handwashing after an operation and on manicure. 3. There were many reasons given for insufficient SHS included : 1) because they were so busy (38%). 2) brushes were too harsh(19.7%). 3) operations were very simple(18.7%). 4) surgical latex gloves provide functional barrier(11.6%). 5) SHSs were troublesome(7.4%) 6) there were no clocks near the sinks(2.5%) and 7) the operative patients were administered antibiotics after operartion(2.1%). 4. Most of nurses and doctors considered SHS to be important in prevention against post operative infections. 5. Nurses were found to do a thorough SHS, but residents were found to neglect SHS. 6. Considering prevention against postoperative infections, most nurses and doctors considered aseptic techniques, environment-sanitary management and SHS more important than the use of antibiotics, the resistance of patients or the method of operation. 7. Half of the nurses and doctors(54.3%) considered surgical latex gloves to function well as a barrier. 8. Half of the nurses (56.4%) and doctors(51.9%) learned SHS as part of the curriculum in their school education and the rest(nurses : 95.7%, doctors : 74.7%) learned SHS as part of their In Service Education. In conclusion, these findings suggest a need to develop an educational program on surgical hand scrub and hospital infection control for surgical personnels, to install clocks near the hand scrub sinks, to consider a violation report for negligent surgical hand scrubs, and to develop a soft brush for hand scrubs in order to increase performance of the surgical hand scrub.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the status of Scrub typhus, Leptospirosis and HFRS(hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) among farmers with febrile illness. Methods: We involved a total of 841 farmers who had febrile illness(508 and 333 village residents were, respectively, three and four district of Gyeongju city) selected during autumn of 2014 and 2015. Data were collected by survey questionnaires and blood sample examination. Results: Serum response rate for Scrub typhus and Leptospirosis was 1.5% each and 1.9% for HFRS. Serum response rate for Scrub typhus was significantly higher for tick-bite cases(38.5%), while Leptospirosis was significantly higher for those who were in fruit-planting work(23.1%). Similarly, serum response rate was significantly higher for HFRS who were working in venyl green house work(25.0%). Conclusions: Government authority should develop effective and efficient preventive strategies to create awareness of infectious diseases among farmers. Extending information, education and communication be reached to farmers that could change their perception and help early diagnosis and treatment and reduce the disease burden and its complication.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.65-70
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• 2003

This research aims to classify wetland types and evaluate functions of a wetland created by abandoned rice paddies. The case study area is Ja-un wetland in Daejeon Metropolitan City. In this study, wetland types were classified based on the basic elements of wetlands such as hydrology, vegetation, and soil conditions. This study was carried out based upon field surveys, drawing maps and publication, and modified-RAM which can evaluate the general functions and conservation values of wetlands. The analysis shows that several types of wetlands were identified, such as Palustrine/ Perennial/ Hydrophytes, Palustrine/ Perennial/ Openwater, Palustrine/ Seasonal/Herbal, Palustrine/ Seasonal/ Shrub and Scrub, Palustrine/ Seasonal/ Hydrophye, and Riparian/ Seasonal/ Shrub and Scrub in the Ja-un wetland. The average level of functions of the wetlands is very "HIGH", and it is recommended that prompt conservation measures should be taken.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.232-235
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• 2005

Transcripts levels of superoxide dismutases increase slightly following infection of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells(HMEC-1) by the obligae intracellular bacterium Orientia tsutsugamushi, the causative agent of scrub typhus. In addition, fluorescence-activated cell sorter analysis demonstrates significant intracellular peroxide activity in infected cells within 5 hr after exposure to O. tsutsugamushi. Furthermore, infected cells experienced a significant depletion of glutathiones. These results support hypothesis that cells infected by this intracellular bacterium experience oxidant-mediated injury.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.84-88
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• 2018

The aim was to evaluate different results from using crude incidence rate (CIR) instead of agestandardized incidence rate (AIR) when comparing groups having different age structures. After selecting a report using CIRs, AIRs and their 95% confidence intervals(CI) was calculated from the raw data. The statistically significant difference between CIR and AIR was decided based on AIR's 95% CI. Comparing with CIRs, AIRs were under-estimated. In addition, there were no statistical significance of annual trends(P=0.59). These findings are an additional evidence using AIR when comparing level of occurring infectious diseases on groups with different age structures.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.305-309
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• 2021

Microsurgical procedures are time-consuming and sometimes fatigue-inducing. However, a skilled assistant and scrub nurse can help surgery be performed more smoothly and rapidly. Three microsurgical simulation courses were held for perioperative nurses at our institution. Each course consisted of two lectures and two practice microsurgical sessions, and was evaluated with a post-course survey. The respondents all felt that their knowledge of microsurgical instruments, sutures, microscope set-up, and microsurgical skills had improved following the course. Many felt that their ability to predict what the surgeon would request during a microsurgical case improved, and that they were able to handle instruments and sutures better. The nurses also reported improved confidence in assisting with microsurgical procedures and tolerance of the long operative time in some microsurgical cases. Based on our experience, a basic microsurgery course for nurses can play a significant role in training effective and competent microsurgical scrub nurses.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.5
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• pp.436-444
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• 2010

Objectives: Infectious diseases are known to be affected by climate change. We investigated if the infectious diseases were related to meteorological factors in Korea. Methods: Scrub typhus, hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), leptospirosis, malaria and Vibrio vulnificus sepsis among the National Notifiable Infectious Diseases were selected as the climate change-related infectious diseases. Temperature, relative humidity and precipitation were used as meteorological factors. The study period was from 2001 through 2008. We examined the seasonality of the diseases and those correlations with meteorological factors. We also analyzed the correlations between the incidences of the diseases during the outbreak periods and monthly meteorological factors in the hyper-endemic regions. Results: All of the investigated diseases showed strong seasonality; malaria and V. vulnificus sepsis were prevalent in summer and scrub typhus, HFRS and leptospirosis were prevalent in the autumn. There were significant correlations between the monthly numbers of cases and all the meteorological factors for malaria and V. vulnificus sepsis, but there were no correlation for the other diseases. However, the incidence of scrub typhus in hyper-endemic region during the outbreak period was positively correlated with temperature and humidity during the summer. The incidences of HFRS and leptospirosis had positive correlations with precipitation in November and temperature and humidity in February, respectively. V. vulnificus sepsis showed positive correlations with precipitation in April/May/July. Conclusions: In Korea, the incidences of the infectious diseases were correlated with meteorological factors, and this implies that the incidences could be influenced by climate change.