• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.46 no.2
• /
• pp.219-222
• /
• 2010

In this study, we evaluated Vi-passive hemagglutination (Vi-PHA), SD Salmonella Typhi IgG/IgM ($SD^{(R)}$ kit) and Widal test for the rapid laboratory diagnosis of typhoid fever patients. A total of 36 serum samples from febrile patients in Korea from 2005 to 2006 were used. Among 36 patients, 27 were fever patients without typhoid, 9 were typhoid fever. Vi-PHA showed 8 positive results out of 9 typhoid fever patients (sensitivity 88.9%) and 1 positive and 26 negative results out of 27 febrile patients without typhoid (specificity 96.3%). The sensitivity and the specificity of $SD^{(R)}$ kit were 100% and 92.6%, respectively. However, the sensitivity and the specificity of Widal O & H tests were 88.9%, 100%, and 77.8%, 70.4%, respectively. Consequently, Widal H and $SD^{(R)}$ kit showed higher sensitivity and Vi-PHA showed higher specificity. To efficient diagnosis, Vi-PHA may be sufficient diagnosis method in acute cases and $SD^{(R)}$ kit and Widal test may be sufficient in sporadic area and high risk group.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.26 no.9
• /
• pp.999-1006
• /
• 2016

This paper studies an infection of norovirus and astrovirus in outbreaks in Korea. In March 2016, gastroenteritis outbreaks occurred in Busan. 522 students of three departments at university D had meeting at a restaurant near the university. Some of them had symptom such as diarrhea, vomiting. Epidemiological, laboratory and environmental investigations were performed to identify the agents of the outbreaks. Fecal specimens were collected from 35 students and 7 food handlers to identify causative viral agents. Norovirus genogroup GI and GII were detected from diarrhea patients. Astrovirus was also detected from some of them. In particular, these outbreaks were the first occurrence associated with astrovirus in Busan. Total of 42 samples were collected, and 24 samples resulted in positive to norovirus (16 cases) and astrovirus (8 cases). To identify the molecular genetic information of norovirus, we carried out sequences analysis of the detected strains. Norovirus genotypes were classified into GI.3, GI.4, GII.4, GII.13, GII.17 and GII.21. Astrovirus genotypes were seven astrovirus type 5 and one astrovirus type 2. We performed environmental investigation about water at the kitchen, but norovirus and astrovirus were not detected. The statistical analysis was conducted to evaluate the association between illness and risk factors. The results of this study may contribute to accumulate more the epidemiological data and develop the public health and hygiene.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.55 no.8
• /
• pp.280-285
• /
• 2012

Purpose: The authors analyzed the trend from the birth-related statistics of high birth weight infants (HBWIs) over 50 years in Korea from 1960 to 2010. Methods: We used 2 data sources, namely, the hospital units (1960's to 1990's) and Statistics Korea (1993 to 2010). The analyses include the incidence of HBWIs, birth weight distribution, sex ratio, and the relationship of HBWI to maternal age. Results: The hospital unit data indicated the incidence of HBWI as 3 to 7% in the 1960's and 1970's and 4 to 7% in the 1980's and 1990's. Data from Statistics Korea indicated the percentages of HBWIs among total live births decreased over the years: 6.7% (1993), 6.3% (1995), 5.1% (2000), 4.5% (2000), and 3.5% (2010). In HBWIs, the birth weight rages and percentage of incidence in infants' were 4.0 to 4.4 kg (90.3%), 4.5 to 4.9 kg (8.8%), 5.0 to 5.4 kg (0.8%), 5.5 to 5.9 kg (0.1%), and >6.0 kg (0.0%) in 2000 but were 92.2%, 7.2%, 0.6%, 0.0%, and 0.0% in 2009. The male to female ratio of HBWIs was 1.89 in 1993 and 1.84 in 2010. In 2010, the mother's age distribution correlated with low (4.9%), normal (91.0%), and high birth weights (3.6%): an increase in mother's age resulted in an increase in the frequency of low birth weight infants (LBWIs) and HBWIs. Conclusion: The incidence of HBWIs for the past 50 years has been dropping in Korea. The older the mother, the higher was the risk of a HBWI and LBWI. We hope that these findings would be utilized as basic data that will aid those managing HBWIs.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
• /
• v.18 no.6
• /
• pp.453-460
• /
• 2018

This study was to identify the prevalence rate of the limitation of activity, the reasons for activity limitation, association with activity limitation and general characteristics among older adults in Korea's population. Data were extracted from the $7^{th}$ Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The number of participants were 1,578 older adults who aged 65 years over. SPSS program (version 18.0) was used for analyzing on frequency, Chi-square test, and logistic regression analysis of the data. The total prevalence rate of activity limitation among Korea's population was 19.6% in 2016. The prevalence rate of the reasons for activity limitation in Korea was highest for neck and back problems(19.8%), followed by arthritis and rheumatism(17.1%). The prevalence rate of activity limitation was statistically significant associated with age and education level, respectively. In conclusion, Age, educational level, and musculoskeletal diseases such as problems related to back and neck, arthritis and rheumatism could be significant risk factors for activity limitations in older adults who aged 65 years over. These findings could be useful as evidence-based data for relieving the prevalence rate of activity limitation and the prevention and management of activity limitations in Korea population.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.11 no.1_2
• /
• pp.19-29
• /
• 1996

Human exposure to volatile compounds in tap water can occur from inhalation and dermal absorption as well as direct ingestion. The relative contribution to total human exposure from these pathways has been considered to be important especially for VOC's (volatile organic compounds). In an attempt to reduce the uncertainty of the risk assessment, it has been suggested that the exposure assessment process could be significantly improved by adopting Monte-Carlo simulation. However, there is no actual data in Korea for each exposure parameter to determine the level of exposure, and the distributional pattern. Therefore, we surveyed water use patterns and behavior related to multi-route exposure to VOC's in household tap water in Korea, and compared these values to the those in western countries. In the first survey, we calculated daily water intake using data from a sample of 1322 persons of several cities in Korea. In the second survey, we obtained questionnaire data on exposure time for showering, bathing and household activities, and tap water intake from 851households in Korea. In the last survey, we measured the exposure parameters (exposure time, water use rate etc.) related to showers, baths, toilets, dish washing, washing and cooking, and tap water intake was surveyed. Also, the subjects were measured their body weight, height and tidal volume, etc. A diary, a flow meter and a measuring cup were used to measure these values as precisely as possible. Average daily water intake was ranged 0.79-1.71 L/day for adults in three surveys. Tap water intake measured by log-sheet during one week in third survey was 1.26 (average), 1.98 L/day (90 percentlie), respectively. These results were comparable with results from EPA (1.4, 2L/day). The average amount of water used by housewives in the third survey was 515.0 $\pm$ 564.6L/day. In usual activity, the amount of water used in the bathroom, the laundry and the kitchen was 140.0 $\pm$ 538.9, 148.0 $\pm$ 174.5, 229.3 $\pm$ 205.4 L/day, respectively. Exposure parameters such as water intake rate, exposure duration, body weight, inhalation rates in surveyed data of Korean people differed from those published from western countries. This could be attributed to variations in lifestyle, dietary habits and physiological characteristics.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Marine Environment & Energy
• /
• v.8 no.2
• /
• pp.78-82
• /
• 2005

Fishermen have higher risk of occupational injuries and disease due to frequent machine usage and direct contact to live biological materials. Moreover, growing elderly workers makes the susceptibility to occupational injuries and disease higher. This study was performed to investigate the occupational safety and health status among fishermen. The interview was carried out at Jumunjin and Geojin ports which were representative port at North East side of Korea. The structured questionnaire were used to interview the fishermen from AM 6:00 to PM 11:00 and total respondent were 97 workers. The results were followed; 7 fishermen of all respondents experienced occupational injuries during their work, 5 fishermen were needed to admission longer than 4 days. The injury types were contusion(4 persons), fracture(1 persons) and amputation(2 persons). The cause of injury might be the lack of caution and the unstability of working condition. These results suggested the ergonomical evaluation of working condition and proper management. But there was limited concern and studies on the policy on occupational safety and health on fishermen. So, further study was required to establish the sound policy of fishermen's occupational safety and health.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
• /
• v.37 no.3
• /
• pp.509-515
• /
• 2020

The purpose of this study was to analyze the correlation between passive ankle movement range and knee joint kinetic variables during squat movement. In this study, a total of 27 subjects participated in this study, 19 men and 8 women, who had no history of the musculoskeletal system of the lower extremity. To verify the correlation between the ankle joint flexibility and the knee joint kinetic variables during deep squat, it was performed pearson's correlation coefficient and variables showing statistically significant correlation were performed by simple regression analysis at a significant level of α .05. Through this study, the relationship between the peak joint moment and joint reaction force factors that determine ankle joint flexibility and knee joint pressure was confirmed. Therefore, when applying an exercise that can generate a lot of load on the knee joint such as deep squats during strength training, checking the degree of flexibility of the ankle joint among physical characteristics to the individual may reduce the stability of the body and the risk of injury to the knee joint. It is expected to be helpful in setting the intensity of exercise that can be done.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.35-54
• /
• 2004

This study was intended to provide basic data of nutrition education to a prevention of obesity and living patterns of elementary school students. Through the measurment of the actual obesity rate of children for students who were in the fifth and sixth grades of elementary school as well as their mothers, and by analyzing obesity-related factors. Children have started to have the characteristics obesity and obesity problems. 1. There were total 234 children including 133 boys (56.8％) and 101 girls (43.2％) for the study. There were 80 children in the fifth grade (34.2％) and 154 children in the sixth grade (65.8％). 2. Among the subjects 20.1％ were obese. By gender, the obesity rate of boys (27.1％) was higher than that of girls (l0.9％)(p＜0.01). By grade, children in the fifth grade (26.3％) had higher obesity rate than children in the sixth grade (l6.9％)(p＜0.05). 3. In terms of the educational level of parents, the obesity rate of children of parents who received university and／or higher education was 27.5％ (p＜0.05). 44.1％ of parents answered ‘I almost never give snack’s’(p＜0.01). 4. There was 32.8％ for an irregular quantity of meal. There was no obese child who under-ate (p＜0.05). In terms of impulse eating, ‘I eat.’ and ‘I don't eat.’ were 24.4％ and 25.9％ respectively. The obesity rate of the case of ‘I eat only food I like.’ was 10.6％ (p＜0.05). In terms of the obesity rate based on the daily average meal frequency, there was the highest rate of 26.1％ for I average meal frequency per day, 13.0％ for 2 daily average meal frequency, and 7.4％ for over 3 average meal frequency per day (p＜0.05). For a degree of a physical activity, the group of active physical activity (p＜0.05) and the group which liked the physical exercise showed a lower obesity rate (p＜0.001). The obesity rate of children who had regular exercise was 11.8％. It was lower than the obesity rate (24.8％) of children who didn't exercise (p＜0.01). The higher exercise frequency per week was, the lower the obesity rate was(p＜0.01). In terms of the exercise time, there was 8.3％ for over 60 minutes and 28.9％ for less 15 minutes. The group which had the long exercise time showed a lower obesity rate(p＜0.05). As the result, the education for obesity must enable students to recognize the warning signs for obesity and control their own weight with proper living patterns, by modifying behaviors considering the degree of obesity. Obesity must be controlled by the prevention and education connected with the family for all students as one of the school health programs. There must be also the development of a program through individual consultation considering the degree of obesity.

• KSCE Journal of Civil and Environmental Engineering Research
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.729-738
• /
• 2017

With the signing of the Paris Agreement, which is the new climate change agreement at the end of 2015, it will have a great impact on Korea environmental policy. The construction industry, which accounts for 42% of Korea's total $CO_2$ emissions, has been implementing various policies to improve the environmental problems. However, it is only applying passively to other projects except eco-friendly building certification. This is because most of the eco-related systems are based on building facilities. Therefore, there is a need for a new eco - friendly design evaluation model that can be widely applied not only to architecture but also to civil engineering facilities. In this study, a new model is developed based on the existing VE model, which adds new factors to evaluate the environmental friendliness, potential environmental pollution concept and environmental risk of facilities. This model is an eco-friendly design evaluation model that enables decision makers to effectively select alternative environmental criteria at the design stage. As a result of the case analysis of the block retaining wall and the alternative retaining wall, the value of the eco - friendly value of the alternative was 1.026 times higher than the original one. If this model is used at the design stage, it is expected to contribute not only to the construction of environmentally friendly facilities but also to the reduction of carbon emissions.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
• /
• v.9 no.4
• /
• pp.472-482
• /
• 2004

This study was performed to investigate the effect of vitamin C and E supplementation on blood pressure, plasma lipids, folate, and homocysteine levels in smokers and non-smokers of college male students in Gyeonggi Area. The nutrient intakes were determined by a 24hr-recall method. The subjects were divided into six groups: vitamin C sup-plementation group (n: smokers = 10, nonsmokers = 10), vitamin E supplementation group (n: smokers = 10, nonsmokers = 10), vitamin C and E supplementation group (n: smokers = 10, nonsmokers = 10), respectively. There were no significant differences between the smokers and nonsmokers in terms of anthropometric measurements. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure were significantly higher (p < 0.05) in smokers than that of non-smokers. There was no significant difference in energy and other nutrients intakes between smokers and non-smokers. In plasma lipids levels, smokers had higher plasma triglyceride, LDL-cholesterol, VLDL-cholesterol, total cholesterol concentration than that of non-smokers (p < 0.05). HDL-cholesterol level of smokers had a tendency to be lower than that of non-smokers. In smokers, AI, TPH, LPH were significantly higher than that of non-smokers (p < 0.01). Plasma folate, homocysteine levels were not significantly different between smokers and non-smokers. The effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation in smokers: In vitamin C supplementation group, HDL-cholesterol level was significantly in-creased (p < 0.01) and AI, TPH, LPH were significantly decreased (p < 0.01). In vitamin E supplementation group, HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased (p < 0.05). In vitamin C and E supplementation group, LPH was significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The effect of antioxidant vitamins supplementation in non-smokers: HDL-cholesterol level was significantly increased (p <0.05) and AI, TPH, LPH were significantly decreased (p <0.05) by vitamin C supplementation group. Plasma homocysteine level was decreased by vitamin E supplementation group in non-smokers (p < 0.01). The results of this study showed that smoking had a tendency to increase plasma lipids levels that factor into the risk of coronary heart disease. It is considered that antioxidant vitamin supplementation in smokers had a tendency to decrease cardiovascular disease than in nonsmokers.