• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.349-358
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• 2003

Objectives : Aseptic meningitis is a major cause of Korean childhood morbidity late spring and early summer. However, the nationwide incidences of the disease have not been reported. This study was conducted to evaluate the availability of National Health Insurance data (NHID) for the study of an epidemiological trend in the surveillance of aseptic meningitis in children. Methods : All the claims, under A87, A87.8, and A87.9 by ICD-10, among children below 15 years of age, to the National Health Insurance Corporation, between January and December 1998, were extracted. A survey of the medical record of 3,874 cases from 136 general hospitals was peformed. The availability of the NHID was evaluated by the three following methods: 1) The diagnostic accuracy (the positive Predictive value : proportion of the confirmed aseptic meningitis among the subjects registered as above disease-codes in NHID) was evaluated through a chart review, and according to age, gender, month and region of disease-occurrence. 2) The distribution of confirmed cases was compared with the distribution of total subjects from the NHID, for subjects in General hospitals, or the subjects surveyed. 3) The proportion of confirmed CSF test was confirmed, and the relating factor, which was the difference in CSF-test rate, analyzed. Results : Among 3,874 cases, CSF examinations were peformed on 1,845 (47.6%), and the CSF-test rates were different according to the medical utility (admission vs. OPD visit) and the severity of the symptoms and signs. The diagnostic accuracy for aseptic meningitis, and during the epidemic (May-Aug) and sporadic (Sept-Apr) periods, were 85.0 (1,568/1,845), 86.0 (1,239/l,440) and 81.2% (329/405), respectively. The distributions by age, sex, month or period (epidemic/sporadic) and region, in the confirmed cases, were similar to those in the NHID, in both the subjects at General hospitals and in those surveyed, to within ${\pm}7%$. Conclusions : In this paper, the NHID for the subjects registered with an aseptic meningitis disease-code might be available for an epidemiological study on the incidence-estimation of childhood aseptic meningitis, as the NHID could include both the probable and definite cases. On the basis of this result, further studies of time-series and secular trend analyses, using the NHID, will be peformed.

• Ocean and Polar Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.121-133
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• 2019

Natural variability associated with a variety of large-scale climate modes causes regional differences in sea level rise (SLR), which is particularly remarkable in the Pacific Ocean. Because the superposition of the natural variability and the background anthropogenic trend in sea level can potentially threaten to inundate low-lying and heavily populated coastal regions, it is important to quantify sea level variability associated with internal climate variability and understand their interaction when projecting future SLR impacts. This study seeks to identify the dominant modes of sea level variability in the tropical Pacific and quantify how these modes contribute to regional sea level changes, particularly on the two strong El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ events that occurred in the winter of 1997/1998 and 2015/2016. To do so, an adaptive data analysis approach, Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), was undertaken with regard to two datasets of altimetry-based and in situ-based steric sea levels. Using this EEMD analysis, we identified distinct internal modes associated with El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) varying from 1.5 to 7 years and low-frequency variability with a period of ~12 years that were clearly distinct from the secular trend. The ENSO-scale frequencies strongly impact on an east-west dipole of sea levels across the tropical Pacific, while the low-frequency (i.e., decadal) mode is predominant in the North Pacific with a horseshoe shape connecting tropical and extratropical sea levels. Of particular interest is that the low-frequency mode resulted in different responses in regional SLR to ENSO events. The low-frequency mode contributed to a sharp increase (decrease) of sea level in the eastern (western) tropical Pacific in the 2015/2016 El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$ but made a negative contribution to the sea level signals in the 1997/1998 El $Ni{\tilde{n}}o$. This indicates that the SLR signals of the ENSO can be amplified or depressed at times of transition in the low-frequency mode in the tropical Pacific.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.191-199
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• 1999

Objectives: To examine the relationship between air pollution exposure and mortality in Seoul for the years of 1991-1995, Methods: Daily counts of death were analyzed by general additive Poisson model, with adjustment for effects of secular trend, seasonal factor, day of the week, heat wave, temperature, and humidity. Pollution variables were ozone, nitrogen dioxide, total suspended particles(TSP), and sulfur dioxide. Results: Daily death counts were associated with ozone(1 day before), nitrogen dioxide(1 day before), TSP(2 days before), sulfur dioxide(2 days before). The association with ozone was most statisfically significant and independent of other air pollutants. Increase of 100 ppb in ozone was associated with 0%(95% Cl= 2%-10%) increase in the daily number of death, This effect was greater in persons aged 65 and older. The relative risks of death from respiratory disease and cardiovascular disease were greater than for all-cause mortality in each pollutant. After ozone level exceeds 25 ppb, the dose-response relationship between mortality and ozone was almost linear. However, the effect of TSP, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide on mortality might be confounded with each other. Conclusion: Daily variations in air pollution within the range currently occurring in Seoul might have an adverse effect on daily mortality.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.115-141
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• 2003

The aim of this paper is to describe a long-term trend toward earlier retirement and its reversal since 1985 in the United States, together with changes in socioeconomic conditions and social-policy programs which have contributed to this new development. The American people's recent propensity to retire at relatively younger ages was mainly a result of secular increase in individual wealth that had made it possible for them to enjoy higher standard of living without their participation in labor market activities at older ages. In addition to the introduction of compulsory retirement system, both social security retirement pension program and corporate pension system have also contributed significantly to the declining retirement age and its reversal around the mid-1980s. This paper pays full attention to the set of social policy programs which are currently being used to sustain the recent reversal in ages at retirement. The basic question to be raised here, however, is about whether or not the U. S. government will ave to continue to implement the social policies and programs used to discourage the elderly from retiring at relatively younger ages in the future. In this paper, it is argued that labor productivity growth and improvement in work attitude prior to retirement will help the elderly find little difficulties in having higher standard of living, despite their further lengthening of life expectancy at birth and post-retirement survival chances, the latter being often called the "third life". Most American people hope that the social-policy programs that have promoted early retirement will remain unchanged in the first part of the 21st century while they will put significant financial burden on their future descendants who have to work in the paid labor market. Taking this observation in consideration, this paper concludes that the U. S. government has to focus more on developing the programs that improve work propensity and labor productivity among the currently working-age population rather than continuing to implement the programs that sustain the recent reversal in retirement ages.ment ages.

• Journal of Conservation Science
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.223-229
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• 2013

It is not known in details for the A.D. period as the archaeomagnetic dating method to be fully facilitated in Korea but it has prepared for the revised shape of standard curve to trace the geomagnetic field variation, and there were cases to increase the survey on relics on the B.C. period to find out for the detailed archaeomagnetic field variation on the Bronze Age to the Early Iron Age. Furthermore, the survey cases on the relics on the Neolithic Age began to emerge a little by little archaeomagnetic field variation of the Neolithic Age through 34 pieces of the archaeomagnetic measurement data as making active advancement around mid-western region. Data is insufficient yet that it is difficult to find out the detailed trend of modification but it is estimated for approximate appearance. The archaeomagnetic field variation of the Neolithic Age made changes without breaking away from the scope of changes in the A.D. period as in the same way with the Bronze Age, and comparing to the variation of archaeomagnetic field for the Bronze Age, the magnetic inclination shifted within the scope of having almost no difference, but the declination is shown to skewed toward the east in its overall appearance. In addition, the comparison was made with the data of the Jomon Age in Japan and the archaeomagnetic measurement data of Korea has a little bit more depth for while the declination is skewed toward the east for 10 degree or more compared to those of Japan. However, in the part where the data is concentrated most intensely, the data for both countries has significant part to overlap to each other that the archaeomagnetic field variation of the Neolithic Age of Korea showed overall similar variation with certain partial changes when compared to those of Japan.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.58 no.9
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• pp.336-340
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• 2015

Purpose: The mean adult height of Koreans has increased since nationwide anthropological measurements began in 1967. The objective of this study was to evaluate differences in heights of Korean late adolescents and young adults within and between the Second and Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys (KNHANES II and V). Methods: Koreans aged ${\leq}22$ years with available measurements of height were enrolled from the KNHANES surveys (KNHANES II: n=3,372 [1,732 males and 1,640 females]; KNHANES V: n=6,190 [3,198 males and 2,992 females]). Differences in the height of KNHANES respondents within and between surveys were evaluated according to age and sex. Results: In KNHANES II, there was no significant difference in height between males aged 17-19 years and those aged 20-22 years ($174.3{\pm}0.5cm$ vs. $174.3{\pm}0.6cm$, P=0.995). Females aged 20-22 years were taller than those aged 17-19 years ($159.8{\pm}0.4cm$ vs. $161.0{\pm}0.4cm$, P=0.017). Females aged 17-19 years were significantly taller in KNHANES V than in KNHANES II ($161.2{\pm}0.3cm$ vs. $159.8{\pm}0.4cm$, P=0.004). Respondents aged 20-22 years were taller in KNHANES V than in KNHANES II, although not significantly so; the difference was $0.3{\pm}0.8cm$ in males (P=0.721) and $0.5{\pm}0.6cm$ in females (P=0.386). Conclusion: Koreans appear to continue growing even in their late adolescence and early twenties. Consequently, it may be necessary to expand the reference age ranges of the Korean growth chart. Additionally, a longitudinal growth survey is needed to determine growth patterns and secular trend in height among Koreans.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.101-108
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• 1987

A total of 213 rabbits was investigated from July 1981 to June 1986, for the survey on the incidence of Cysticercus pisiformis infections and the morphological characteristics were observed for the descriptions on the scolexes of the cysts collected. The results obtained were summarized as follows; The overall infection rate was revealed as high as 21.6% and it increased annually with the secular trend equation Y=7.45X+5.87 when, Y=infection rate estimated, X=year 0(1981) to 5 (1986). The incidence was no relation with the sexes of the host, but it was higher in the short-haired New Zealand White than in the long-haired Angola. It was also revealed that the liver was the most parasitized organ (39.1%) and that 48 cases were double infections in two organs, such as the mesentery, the stomach or the kidney. The mean size of the cysts measured was 7.04mm in length and 4.62mm in width. There were four suckers and a rostellum on the top of the scolex identified inside the cyst. The hooks were arranged in two rows, the large-type inner hooks (mean $250{\mu}m$ in length) and the small-type outer hooks (mean $150{\mu}m$ in length).

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.52 no.2
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• pp.206-216
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• 2019

Purpose: Management of the metabolic risk factors in diabetes patients is essential for preventing or delaying diabetic complications. This study compared the levels of the metabolic risk factors in diabetes patients according to the income levels, and examined the secular trends in recent decades. Methods: The data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1998 ~ 2014 were used. The diabetes patients were divided into three groups based on their household income levels. General information was obtained through self-administered questionnaires, and the blood biomarkers and blood pressure data were obtained from a health examination. Multivariable linear regression models were used to compare the metabolic biomarker levels according to the household income levels, adjusting for potential confounding factors. Results: The fasting blood glucose, hemoglobin A1c, and blood lipid (total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, and triglyceride) levels were similar in the three groups. During the survey period of 16 years, the blood pressure showed a significant decreasing trend with time in all groups (p < 0.001). In contrast, the fasting blood glucose (p = 0.004), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), and LDL-cholesterol levels (p = 0.007) decreased significantly, and the HDL-cholesterol level (p < 0.001) increased significantly in the highest-income groups. In the lowest-income group, the fasting blood glucose (p = 0.02), total cholesterol (p < 0.001), and triglyceride (p = 0.003) levels showed a significant decreasing trend over time. On the other hand, the middle-income group showed no significant change in any of the metabolic risk factors except for blood pressure. Conclusion: The level of management of metabolic risk factors according to the income level of Korean diabetes patients was similar. On the other hand, the highest- and lowest-income groups showed positive trends of management of these factors during 16 years of observation, whereas the middle-income group did not show any improvement.

• Current Research on Agriculture and Life Sciences
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• v.4
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• pp.141-153
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• 1986

This study intends to document the existing cyclical fluctuations of garic and onion price at farm gate level during the period of 1966-1986 in Korea. The existing patterns of such cyclical fluctuations were estimated systematically by removing the seasonal fluctuation and irregular movement as well as secular trend from the original price through the moving average method. It was found that the cyclical fluctuations of garic and onion prices repeated six and seven times respectively during the same period, also the amplitude coefficient of cyclical fluctuations showed speed up in recent years. It was noticed that the cyclical fluctuations of price in onion was higher than that of in garic.