• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.365-373
• /
• 2018

Objective: This study aims to analyze the relationship between employment status and the prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) for manufacturing and construction workers. Methods: Subjects, who had or have worked as temporary workers in manufacturing or construction worksites for the longest career years, were extracted from the KNHANES(2007-2009) database. Characteristics of demographical, socio-economic, and smoking history were treated as independent variables. Considering that smoking experience and age are significantly influential in the prevalence of COPD, logistic regressions were analyzed after stratifying subjects according to their smoking experience and age. A two-stage stratified systematic sampling method was applied for the logistic regression analysis. Results: Age, gender, and household income level were associated with the prevalence of COPD in both smoking and non-smoking groups. However, employment status was only significant among smoking group. Smoking experience and age were significantly related to the prevalence of COPD among all age groups. In addition, employment status and household income level were also associated with the prevalence of COPD in young aged group. But gender was the only significant factor among the elder group. Conclusions: This study confirmed that employment status was a major social factor which may be related to the prevalence of COPD. Proper supports such as providing safety measures should be provided to temporary workers to manage their respiratory health.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.255-262
• /
• 2023

Caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) is an endemic but not well-studied disease of Korean native goats (KNG) in Korea. Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is the causative agent of the contagious and chronic CLA found in goats. This study aimed to validate the potential risk factors associated with CLA and assess its seasonal prevalence to mitigate this disease in KNG. Data were collected through a questionnaire from four high- and four low-prevalence farms randomly selected based on a prior investigation. The monthly assessments of CLA were conducted in a goat abattoir located in Jeonnam Province, Korea, to evaluate its seasonal prevalence. The associated risk factors for CLA in KNG herds imply that herd size, scratching against pillars, pipes, or walls in the herd, and disinfection of goat herds are potential risk factors for CLA (P<0.05). The type of floor and entry of new goats into the herd, which are potential risk factors, affected CLA prevalence in the KNG herd (P<0.2). The prevalence of CLA in KNG was significantly higher in spring (29.34%) than in autumn (14.61%), summer (15.31%), and winter (19.48%) (P<0.05). Based on the risk factor assessment, attention should be to establishing accurate preventive measures by avoiding these identified potential risk factors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.9-17
• /
• 2010

Objectives: Parkinson's disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly population. In order to estimate the prevalence of Parkinson's disease in the community, the application of a good screening tool is essential. We evaluated the validity and reliability of a Parkinson's disease screening questionnaire and propose an alternative measure to improve its validity for use in community surveys. Methods: We designed the study in a three-phase approach consisting of a screening questionnaire, neurologic examination, and confirmatory examination. A repeated survey was administered to patients with disease detected in the community and on 150 subjects. We examined internal consistency using Cronbach's alpha test, test-retest reliability using the kappa statistic, and validity using sensitivity, specificity, and ROC curves. Unadjusted odds ratios were utilized for the estimation of weights for each questionnaire item. Results: The Cronbach's alpha of the questionnaire was 0.708. The kappa statistic for test-retest reliability was good to generally fair in most of the items. When newly proposed weighting scores were used, the optimum cut-off value was 7/8. When cut-off value was 5/6 for surveying prevalence in a community, the sensitivity was 0.98, and the specificity was 0.61, with simultaneous improvement in reliability. Conclusions: We recommend 5/6 as the ideal cut-off value for the survey of PD prevalence in community. This questionnaire designed for the Korean community could help future epidemiologic studies of PD.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.259-262
• /
• 2012

We assessed the prevalence of Enterobius vermicularis infection and changes in the egg positive rate (EPR) over 1-year time, using the adhesive cellophane-tape perianal swab method in 2,347 preschool children in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, Republic of Korea in 2008 and 2009. The overall EPR for E. vermicularis was 4.1% in 2008 and 4.5% in 2009. A study population of 389 children was repeatedly examined for 2 years. Within this group, the EPR in 2009 was twice higher than in 2008, and the EPR of the group of 5-7-year-old children was significantly higher than that of other age groups. Moreover, in the group of 5-7-year-old children in 2009, the rates of positive and negative conversion were significantly higher and lower, respectively, than in other age groups. Conclusively, enterobiasis was prevalent during 2008-2009 among preschool children in Muan-gun, Jeollanam-do, and the increased EPR in 2009 was due to an increase in newly acquired infections among 5-7-year-old children.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.15 no.11
• /
• pp.4411-4416
• /
• 2014

Breast cancer is the most common cancer in females all over the world with approximately one million new cases each year as well as one of second leading causes of death among females. In Pakistan, the most frequently diagnosed cancer among females is also breast cancer, accounting for nearly one in nine female patients. Its incidence in Pakistan is 2.5 times higher than that in neighboring countries like Iran and India. The risk factors associated with breast cancer are age, family history, early menarche, intake of combined estrogen and progestin menopausal hormones, alcohol consumption, physical inactivity, low socioeconomic status and lack of awareness regarding the disease. This mini-review article aims to provide awareness about breast cancer as well as an updated knowledge about the prevalence, risk factors and disease knowledge of breast cancer in Pakistan.

• Sleep Medicine and Psychophysiology
• /
• v.15 no.2
• /
• pp.67-70
• /
• 2008

Overlap syndrome can be defined as a coexistence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (SAHS). The association of COPD and SAHS has been suspected because of the frequency of both diseases. Prevalence of COPD and SAHS is respectively 10 and 5% of the adult population over 40 years of age. However, a recent study has shown that the prevalence of SAHS is not higher in COPD than in the general population. The coexistence of the two diseases is only due to chance. SAHS does not affect the pathophysiology of COPD and vice versa. Prevalence of overlap syndrome is expected to occur in about 0.5% of the adult population over 40 years of age. Patients with overlap syndrome have a more profound hypoxemia, hypercapnia, and pulmonary hypertension when compared with patients with SAHS alone or usual COPD patients without SAHS. To treat the overlap syndrome, nocturnal noninvasive ventilation (NIV) or nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) can be applied with or without nocturnal oxygen supplement.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
• /
• v.8 no.5
• /
• pp.489-494
• /
• 1995

Sero-epidemiological study was carried out to observe the prevalence of brucellosis in 500 slaughtered as well as in 500 healthy animals in Peshawar district of N.W.F.P. All serum samples were subjected to four serological tests i.e. Standard Plate Test (SPT), Standard Tube Test (STT), Rivanol Test (RV) and 2, Mercapto-Ethanol Test (2, ME). The incidence of disease in 500 healthy animals tested by standard plate test, standard tube test, rivanol test and 2, Mercapto-ethanol test, was 2.8%, 1.8%, 1.6% and 1.2% respectively. While the incidence of brucellosis in 500 slaughter animals from Peshawar abattoir was 3.0%, 2.2%, 2.00% and 1.2% by standard plate test, standard tube test, rivanol test and 2, Mercapto-ethanol test The disease prevalence was higher in slaughtered animals as compared to healthy animals. The disease was more common in goats than sheep, also more prevalence in aged female than younger stocks. The efficacy of SPT was found more effective as compared to STT, RV, and 2, ME tests both in slaughtered as well as apparently healthy animals at Peshawar district. Standard Plate test detected 2.9%, Standard Tube test 2.0%, Rivanol test 1.8% and 2, Mercapto-ethanol test detected 1.2% positive cases in slaughtered as well as in healthy animals. So the Standard Plate Test was found to be more reliable, sensitive, and easy to performed.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
• /
• v.41 no.1
• /
• pp.113-121
• /
• 2001

Beagle is one of the most popular laboratory animal in a dog. We investigated the incidence of spontaneous ophthalmic disease in Beagles in order to make basic data for quality control of Beagles in Korea. We surveyed 389 beagles from 3 different farms. The average prevalence rate of ophthalmic diseases was 19.3%. The prevalence rate of cataracts was higher than any other ophthalmic diseases, 7.5% and then in order of corneal scar(2.1%), retinal hemorrhage(1.5%), post-inflammatory retinal change(1.5%), cherry eye(1.0%), distichiasis(0.8%), entropion(0.8%), hypoplastic optic disc(0.8%), conjunctivitis(0.5%), retinal dysplasia(0.5%), asteroid hyalosis(0.3%), congenital eye anomaly(0.3%), corneal lipidosis(0.3%), conjunctival hemorrhage(0.3%), lens capsule pigmentation(0.3%), persistent hyperplastic primary vitreous (0.3%), posterior synechia(0.3%), eyelid tumor(0.3%) and uveal cyst(0.3%) were diagnosed. There was a slight difference between male(24.8%) and female(17.4%) in prevalence rate of ophthalmic disease. The incidence of spontaneous ophthalmic disease was increased with age. These data would be useful for using Beagles as laboratory animals and standard reference for quality control of dogs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.36 no.2
• /
• pp.147-150
• /
• 2013

This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of honeybee (Apis mellifera) disease in cheonan and asan area. From September to November in 2012, 33 samples were collected from 33 apiculture farms in the regions and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was conducted. Among 33 samples, prevalence rate was 42% in Sac Brood Virus (SBV), 52% in Nosema, 21% in American foulbrood (AFB), 70% in European foulbrood (EFB), 97% in Stonebrood, 3% in Chalkbrood. The result indicate that stonebrood was most prevalent disease in apiculture farms in cheonan and asan area.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.43 no.3
• /
• pp.113-128
• /
• 2020

For estimating the prevalence of bovine infectious disease agents, the pathogens were classified as follows: the digestive disease agents, respiratory disease agents, reproductive disease agents, and tick-borne disease agents. This study covered 81 published papers regarding bovine infectious diseases in Korea that determined the presence of diverse pathogens or the antibodies elicited by the infectious agents in cattle from 2010 to 2019. In total, 59,504 cows were involved in the papers reporting the causative agents in their cases. The disease prevalence for the digestive, respiratory, reproductive, and tick-borne cases was 9.0%, 13.4%, 10.4%, and 7.8%, respectively. Bovine viral diarrhea virus, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Eimeria spp were more significantly prevalent in the cows under one-year age than over one-year age. Bovine viral diarrhea virus, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis, and Anaplasma spp. were more significantly prevalent in Hanwoo than dairy cattle. Coxiella burnetii, Neospora caninum, and Theilieria spp. were more significantly prevalent in dairy cattle than Hanwoo. Tick-borne disease agents were more prevalent in cows grazing than the case in housing. Our analytic data obtained from this study emphasize the need for more studies on the occurrence of these pathogens according to the breed, age, and the region, to come up with bovine infectious disease control measures in Korea.