• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.341-349
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• 2019

Background: A self-assessment questionnaire, the GERD-Questionnaire (GERD-Q) was used to determine the prevalence of GERD in adolescents, describe the related factors, and determine the impact on quality of life (QoL). Methods: The incidence of GERD was evaluated using the GERD-Q in adolescents aged 12-18 years. The Pediatric Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease Symptom Questionnaire and Quality of Life Questionnaire (PGSQ-A) for adolescents were additionally administered. Some factors considered related to GERD were also evaluated. Results: The 520 adolescents were included. The prevalence of suspected GERD, according to a GERD-Q cutoff score of ${\geq}7$ was 32.9%, and those drinking soda were 1.7 times more likely to have GERD (95% confidence interval, 1.3-2.2; p<0.001). However, soda consumption was not a risk factor for development of GERD symptoms. Applying a cutoff score of ${\geq}8$, only 10.9% of the participants had a positive GERD score, but the association with soda consumption persisted. The median PGSQ-A score in subjects suspected of GERD was 8 (range 0-37) on weekends and 1 (range 0-17) during weekdays (p<0.001) compared to those not suspected of GERD, with a median of 2 (range 0-27) during weekends and 0 (range 0-10) during weekdays. Heartburn, regurgitation, and extraesophageal symptoms correlated significantly with QoL (p<0.001). Conclusion: The prevalence of suspected GERD in adolescents was 32.9% or 10.9%, depending on the cutoff score used. There was a statistically significant difference in PGSQ-A scores between the subjects suspected or not of GERD, indicating an impaired QoL.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.137-147
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• 2024

Background/Aims: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is less prevalent in females than males, but it affects mortality in females. There may be sex differences in the clinical characteristics of COPD. Methods: We analyzed the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey dataset from 2007 to 2018. We compared the clinical characteristics and comorbidities in subjects with COPD according to sex. We adjusted the multivariate logistic regression of lung cancer prevalence according to COPD and sex by age and smoking amount. Results: Females with COPD tended to be older than males with COPD (64.1 ± 0.4 yr vs. 62.3 ± 0.2 yr, respectively, p < 0.001). Approximately 89% of males with COPD had a smoking history, while 86% of females with COPD were non-smokers (p < 0.001). Household income was lower (p < 0.001) and asthma and overall malignancy were more prevalent in females with COPD than males with COPD (25.5 vs. 11.6%, respectively, p < 0.001; (6.3 vs. 5.4%, respectively, p < 0.001). However, lung cancer was more common in males with COPD than females with COPD (0.9 vs. 0.1%, respectively, p < 0.001). Lung cancer prevalence increased in males with moderate COPD compared to subjects without COPD (OR, 4.409; 95% CI, 1.741-9.419). Conclusions: Females with COPD had a lower smoking rate, household income, and lung cancer prevalence than males with COPD. More active COPD screening is needed for women of low socioeconomic status, even if they do not smoke.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.254-263
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• 2015

Objectives: The present study assessed the prevalence of the potentially inappropriate medication (PIM) use in Korean elderly patients with Parkinson's disease. In addition, this study examined risk factors that affect PIM use. Method: A retrospective, observational study was conducted using Korean National Health Insurance claims database of 2009. PIM use in Parkinson's disease patients aged 65 years or older was examined based on 2012 Beers Criteria. Multivariable logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors for PIM use. Results: Among 5,277 elderly patients with Parkinson's disease, 88.9% of patients used PIM(s) at least once. The average number of PIM items used per patient was 4.2. PIM use ratio, the proportion of total amount of PIMs to all medications per patient, was 12.6%. Frequently used PIM therapeutic classes were benzodiazepines (32.7%), first-generation antihistamines (19.2%), and prokinetics (17.5%). Individual PIMs most commonly used included chlorpheniramine (11.4%), levosulpiride (10.9%), diazepam (9.0%), and alprazolam (7.6%). Women (odds ratio [OR] 1.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11-1.16), medical aid (OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.15-1.21), and long-term facilities (OR 2.43, 95% CI 2.22-2.65) were shown to be risk factors associated with PIM use. Of particular, wide variation in PIM use was associated with the types of healthcare facility. Conclusion: The PIM prevalence was very high in elderly Parkinson's disease patients. Nationally effective and systematic efforts to identify and prevent PIM use should be made to ensure patient safety and to improve quality of care in the elderly.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2013

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis is the pathogen of paratuberculosis called Johne's disease. Johne's disease is hardly eliminated because of its long latent period and continuous dissemination, so it is found in ruminants worldwide and can cause substantial economic losses in cattle. It has been reported in many studies on the distribution of Johne's disease in some provinces of Korea that not many, but noticeable numbers of infected cows have been detected since the first detection in 1984. The aims of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Johne's disease obtained from slaughtered cattle in central area of Gyeongnam province, Korea. In this study, the ELISA serum antibody test and PCR were employed on a total of 240 blood and ileac substrate samples from slaughtered cattle in two slaughtering and wholesale centers in Gyeongsangnam-do Livestock Veterinary Research Institute Central Branch. Out of the entire 240 blood samples, three (1.3%) were positive by ELISA, while five (2.1%) were suspected cattle. But ileac substrate samples, eight (3.3%) were positive by PCR. By breeds, positive rates of ELISA and PCR in Korean native cattle were 1.3% and 3.5%, respectively, but no positive cows were found in dairy cattle. By provinces, sero-positive rates of Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk were 1.6% and 1.3%, respectively. And PCR positive rates of Gyeongnam, Gyeongbuk and other provinces were 2.4%, 5.0% and 2.8%, respectively. These results indicate that it requires the nationwide monitoring test and measure to deal with subclinically infected slaughtering cows.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.199-201
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• 2008

Toxoplasma gondii is an obligate intracellular zoonotic protozoan with a worldwide distribution. It infects humans as well as a broad spectrum of vertebrate hosts. Cats and wild felidae play crucial roles in the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis. This study was performed to survey the prevalence of T. gondii infection among stray cats in the Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea. A total of 174 stray cat blood samples were collected from Gwacheon-si (n = 20), Bucheon-si (82), and Yangju-si (72). Positive sera for T. gondii were identified in 14 samples (8.1%) exclusively via the latex agglutination test, 28 (16.1%) via ELISA, and 23 (13.2%) via PCR analysis. The overall infection rate of female stray cats (29.2%) presented as higher than that of male cats (24.0%). This study suggests that T. gondii is widespread in the stray cat population of Gyeonggi-do, Korea. It is urgently needed to control urban stray cat population and to reduce the risk of zoonotic transmission of toxoplasmosis to other animal hosts and humans.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.44 no.4
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• pp.315-320
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• 2021

To analyze prevalence of mycotoxins, a total of 74 feedstuff samples were collected from silos (n=37) and hoppers (n=37) in nine pig farms. Six mycotoxins were tested with commercialized ELISA kits. All samples were contaminated with four or more mycotoxins. Zearalenone was detected in all of the tested samples. Ochratoxin, deoxynivalenol and H-2/HT-2 toxin were detected in more than 90% of the samples. And also, fumonisin was positive in 89.2% of the samples from the silos, 75.2% from the hoppers, respectively. On the other hand, aflatoxin was detected in about 40% of the samples. When the behavior of lactating sows was observed, possible mycotoxicosis was suspected. It was confirmed that their feedstuffs were contaminated with high levels of mycotoxins such as ochratoxin and T-2/HT-2 toxin. After cleaning the feedline, the clinical symptoms in sows suspected with mycotoxicosis were disappeared. Although mycotoxin concentration in most of the feedstuffs was below the acceptance level, these data indicate that what are required is more monitoring and continuous management for mycotoxins in pig feedstuffs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.45 no.4
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• pp.285-292
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• 2022

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) cause contagious diseases and have the potential to infect not only birds but also mammals. Wild birds are the natural reservoir of AIVs and spread them worldwide while migrating. Here we collected active AIV surveillance data from wild bird habitats during the 2019 to 2022 winter seasons (from September to March of the following year) in South Korea. We isolated 97 AIVs from a total of 7,590 fecal samples and found the yearly prevalence of AIVs was 0.83, 1.48, and 1.27, respectively. The prevalence of AIVs were generally higher from September to November. These findings demonstrate that a high number of wild birds that carry AIVs migrate into South Korea during the autumn season. The highest virus numbers were isolated from the species Anas platyrhynchos (72%; n=70), followed by Anas poecilorhyncha (15.4%; n=15), suggesting that each is an important host for these pathogens. Twenty-five hemagglutinin-neuraminidase subtypes were isolated, and all AIVs except the H5N8 subtype were found to be low-pathogenic avian influenza viruses (LPAIVs). Active surveillance of AIVs in wild birds could benefit public health because it could help to estimate their risk for introduction into animals and humans. Moreover, considering that 132 cases of human AIV infections have been reported worldwide within the last 5 years, active surveillance of AIVs is necessary to avoid outbreaks.

• Archives of Obesity and Metabolism
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2024

Background: This study investigated the association between obesity and cardiometabolic disease clusters in Korean adults aged 19-39 years. Methods: We included 3,785 participants (1,767 men and 2,018 women) aged 19-39 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2020-2022). The risk factors for cardiometabolic disease were defined as follows: high blood pressure; hypertriglyceridemia; hyperuricemia; and high low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high fasting plasma glucose, elevated alanine aminotransferase levels. Results: The prevalence of participants with ≥ 1, ≥ 2, and ≥ 3 cardiometabolic disease risk factors was 95.2%, 84.2%, and 65.6% in men and 90.0%, 70.5%, and 43.0%, in women with class 2-3 obesity, respectively. Compared to those for young adults with underweight/normal weight, the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the clustering of cardiometabolic risk factors were 17.26 (8.32-35.80) for ≥ 1; 19.43 (12.18-31.00) for ≥ 2; and 22.93 (14.15-37.15) for ≥ 3 factors in men with class 2-3 obesity and 14.67 (8.00-26.91) for ≥ 1; 20.88 (12.15-35.88) for ≥ 2; and 36.26 (20.20-65.09) for ≥ 3 factors in women with class 2-3 obesity. Conclusion: Although the patients were young, the prevalence and ORs for cardiometabolic disease risk factor clusters in young adults with obesity were prominently high. Prevention and management of obesity in young Korean adults are urgently needed at both individual and public levels.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.45 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 2015

Purpose: This study was conducted to examine the prevalence of successful aging and factors influencing successful aging. Methods: This was a secondary analysis study. Data were analyzed from 10,462 elderly people who participated in the 2011 National Elderly Survey. According to the use of community senior facilities, participants were divided into 4 groups: those who used senior centers (group A, n=580), village senior clubs (group B, n=3,240), both of the 2 facilities (group C, n=339), and neither of the 2 facilities (group D, n=6,303). Cross-tabulation and logistic regression were performed. Results: The prevalence of successful aging was highest in group C (20.94%) and lowest in group D (10.41%). The physical & mental function and active engagement domains were highest in group C, while they were lowest in group D. The disease & risk factors domain were highest in group A, while lowest in group B. An educational level of middle-school or higher and income level in the third or higher quintile were significant factors for predicting successful aging in all groups. Conclusion: These results provide a basis for designing prevention and management programs as interventions to increase the prevalence of successful aging in Korean older adults.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.3
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• pp.351-358
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• 2005

Objectives : Dementia has rapidly increased with the prolongation of life expectancy and aging in Korea. This study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of, and find related factors for, dementia in an urban elderly population, using a newly developed screening method. Methods : Seven hundred and six people, aged over 65 years-old, in Dong district of Gwangju, Korea, were recruited using stratified cluster sampling, and completed Korean version of Geriatric Mental State Schedule B3 (GMS B3-K), the Korean version of the Community Screening Interview for Dementia (CSID-K) and modified 10 word list-learning from the Consortium to Establish a Registry of Alzheimer's Disease (CERAD). Dementia was diagnosed by an algorithm derived from all three of these measures. Results : The crude and age adjusted prevalence rates of dementia were 13.0 and 11.5%, respectively. Age, education, marital status and a history of cerebrovascular disease were identified as factors related with dementia. Conclusions : The new instrument, using the GMS B3-K, CSID-K and modified 10 word list-learning from the CERAD, was considered effective as a community screening and diagnostic tool for dementia. The results of this study can also be used to develop a community-based prevention and management system for dementia in the future.