• Journal of The Korean Ophthalmological Society
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• v.59 no.12
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• pp.1114-1121
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• 2018

Purpose: We report the clinical outcomes of patients undergoing additional widening of the limbal incision to prevent disease recurrence after conjunctivo-limbal autograft combined with pterygial excision. Methods: We retrospectively compared 95 eyes with primary and 12 eyes with recurrent pterygia randomized to treatment via two surgical methods: conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone and combined with widening of the limbal incision to allow for pterygial removal. We widened the limbal incisions by 1 mm on both the superior and inferior limbal margins and removed the pterygia. The outcomes were compared between 39 eyes undergoing conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone and 68 eyes undergoing conjunctivo-limbal autograft with widening of the limbal incision. Results: The mean overall postoperative follow-up period was $29.6{\pm}10.5months$ and conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone group was $27.4{\pm}11.5months$, combined with widening of the limbal incision group was $30.7{\pm}9.7months$. Six pterygia (15.4%; four primary and two recurrent) developed in those undergoing conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone and two (2.9%; one primary and one recurrent) in those undergoing additional widening of the limbal incision; the recurrence rate differed significantly between the two groups (p < 0.05). In the group treated with conjunctivo-limbal autograft alone, the mean time to development of a new primary pterygium was $6.3{\pm}3.4months$ and that to development of a recurrent pterygium $4.3{\pm}2.5months$; the respective values for the group undergoing additional widening of the limbal incision were $12.1{\pm}2.6$ and $8.4{\pm}4.6months$; the recurrence rates differed significantly (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Conjunctivo-limbal autograft with additional widening of the limbal incision used to treat both new primary and recurrent pterygia was more effective in terms of reducing pterygial recurrence than conjunctivo-limbal aAutograft alone.

• Journal of agriculture & life science
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.111-119
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• 2010

Salmonella spp. are one of major pathogens for zoonosis in worldwide, and can replicate within host cells and generally cause enterocolitis and foodborne poisoning which represents a considerable public health burden. The present study was designated to investigate the safty for host cells, antibacterial effects of Saururus chinensis Baill water extract (SCWE) on pure culture and infection with Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium (S. typhimurium) in murine derived macrophage RAW 264.7 cells. The different treatment of SCWE concentration (1, 10 or $100{\mu}g/ml$) did not show any cytotoxic effect to RAW 264.7 cells for 24 h incubation. In determination of antibacterial activity of SCWE against S. typhimurium, bacterial viability was markedly decreased compared to SCWE-untreated control. In RAW 264.7 cells, SCWE significantly induced morphological change (p<0.05). In infection assay of S. typhimurium in RAW 264.7 cells pretreated with $100{\mu}g/ml$ of SCWE, which are non-cytotoxic concentration, bacterial uptake ability of macrophage was increased corresponding with morphological change, whereas bacterial survival rates within macrophage was markedly reduced comparing to that of SCWE-untreated control. Furthermore, nitric oxide (NO) production in SCWE-treated cells was slightly decreased until 24 h post infection. Taken together, these findings demonstrated that SCWE have the antibacterial activity for S. typhimurium and the protective effects against S. typhimurium infection through activating murine macrophage independent on NO, suggesting that SCWE were beneficial on the disease caused by intracellularly replicating pathogens as a safe alternatives of conventional chemotherapies.

• Korea journal of population studies
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.209-232
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• 2012

The purposes of this study is to calculate the gender-based Life Expectancy and Disability Free Life Expectancy of 65-year-olds in accordance with the regions of 16 in Korea based on the years 2005 and 2010 by using the Sullivan method. We used the Census in 2005, 2010, the Korea National Statistical Office(10% sample). We also reviewed examining the changes in LE and DFLE and understanding the relevance between the DFLE of 65-year-olds of the year 2010 and related factors. As a result of this study, it was shown that the LE of the group of all 65-year-old in Korea increased from 18.15 years in 2005 to 19.75 years in 2010 and DFLE increased from 11.41 years in 2005 to 11.64 years in 2010. Regionally, the highest LE for total of 65-year-olds was found to be the entire Jeju area and DFLE was the highest in the city of Seoul. And the highest LE and the highest DFLE for 65-year-old male were found to be in the city of Seoul. Regarding the regional LE of 65-year-old female, both in 2005 and 2010 Jeju area was seen to be the highest. The results of a correlation analysis showed that the DFLE of 65-year-olds in 2010 was found to be increasing with high LE and high population density and in regions with low average temperatures, low number of beds and low age standardized death rates of malignant neoplasms and circulatory disease.

• Journal of dental hygiene science
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• v.18 no.6
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• pp.357-366
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of dental hygienist job according to judgment standard of medical practice in medical law. In this study, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey to evaluate the validity of dental hygienist job for 12 professors of dental college in Gangneung-Wonju National University from November 10 to 20, 2017. We investigated whether the dental hygienist job conforms to the three criteria of medical practice such as disease prevention and treatment, patient care, and health hazard. The response rates were scored and classified into four categories according to the final score. As a result of this study, dental hygienist job are classified into four categories according to judgment standard of medical practice. The higher the level of the category, the higher the degree of difficulty, and the higher the level of expertise and skills required. More than 50% of respondents answered that measuring the gingival pocket, bleeding on probing, professional tooth cleaning, oral health education, counseling after dental treatment are all three criteria for medical treatment. And these were classified into Level 4 group which requires the difficulty and expertise in the final score 4.3. It is necessary to develop and utilize standardized guidelines on the level of knowledge, education, and qualification standards required for dental practice in order to effectively allocate work among the dental personnel while ensuring the health rights of patients in the dental clinic field in Korea. In addition, there is a need to evaluate the various aspects of cost effectiveness, dental health service productivity, and health promotion contribution to dental hygienist jobs, And based on this evidence, it is necessary to continue to expand and adjust the dental hygienist job and to reorganize the dental workforce system.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.272-278
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• 2020

The severe lettuce damage caused by Paratylenchus projectus was first reported in 2019 in Korea. To find high-value rotation crops for the control of P. projectus, nine vegetables, Brassica juncea (leaf mustard), B. rapa subsp. nipposinica (kyona), B. oleracea var. italica (broccoli), B. rapa subsp. chinensis (bok choy), B. oleracea var. viridis (kale), B. oleracea var. gongylodes (kohlrabi), Cichorium endivia (endive), C. intybus (chicory), Ipomoea aquatica (morning glory) were planted in d-10-cm clay pots in greenhouse. The growth of vegetables was compared between inoculated with 3,000 P. projectus per 100 ㎤ of soil and non-inoculated. Treatments were replicated 10 times. After 100 days, the reduction of fresh top weight was 30.4% in C. intybus, 35.1% in I. aquatica, 36.9% in B. oleracea var. acephala, 40.5% in C. endivia, 42.1% in B. rapa, 47.5% in B. rapa subsp. nipposinica, 50.4% in B. oleracea var. gonglodes, 56.3% in B. oleracea var. italica, and 66.0% in B. juncea. Nematode multiplication rates (Pf/Pi) were lower in I. aquatica (0.64) and C. endivia (1.1), but higher in B. oleracea var. gongylodes (2.54). Considering these results, I. aquatica is suitable for the rotation crop with lettuce until better rotation crops developed.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.127-136
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• 2022

Objectives : The study aimed to identify factors associated with suicidal attempt in Korean adults experiencing thoughts of suicide. Methods : This study analyzed outcomes of suicidal behavior in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2015, 2017, and 2019. This survey was administered by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The suicidal idea group was divided into individuals who had attempted suicide (n=92) and those who had not (n=831). Complex samples crosstabs analysis was conducted to compare the two groups' sociodemographic, psychiatric, and clinical characteristics. In addition, factors related to attempted suicide were investigated using complex samples logistic regression analysis. Results : The attempted suicide group had significantly higher rates of depression, recent psychiatric counseling, and suicidal plan (p<0.001) than the non-attempting group. In addition, the groups differed significantly in the frequency of binge drinking and smoking (p<0.05). Adjusted multivariate analysis revealed that the presence of a suicidal plan (Odds ratio [OR]=8.46, 95% Confidential Intervals [CI]=4.72-15.00), daily binge drinking (OR=3.14, 95% CI=1.26-7.84), psychiatric counseling within the past year (OR=3.03, 95% CI=1.75-5.23), low income level (OR=2.89, 95% CI=1.17-7.10), and history of depression (OR=2.39, 95% CI=1.29-4.42) were significantly associated with suicidal attempt. Conclusions : Factors associated with suicidal attempt among suicidal ideators in the general Korean population were identified across all sociodemographic, psychiatric, and clinical variables. Assessment of and intervention in suicidal plan, binge drinking, income level, and depression might prevent progression to suicidal attempt among those contemplating suicide.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.276-285
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• 2023

This work investigated the viral infection in jujube plants in Korea. A total of 61 samples with the symptoms of putative viral infection were collected from experimental fields and orchards. Thereafter, the samples were subjected to metatranscriptome analysis, Reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis, and nucleotide sequence analysis. These analyses identified the presence of two DNA viruses, jujube-associated badnavirus (JuBV), jujube mosaic-associated virus (JuMaV), and one RNA virus, jujube yellow mottle-associated virus (JYMaV). All samples collected were confirmed to be infected by at least one of the three viruses, with most showed multiple infections. The detection rates of JuBV, JYMaV, and JuMaV were 100%, 90.2%, and 8.2%, respectively. Only three combinations of viral infections were found: 9.8% of samples showed single infection of JuBV, 82.0% showed double infection of JuBV+JYMaV, and 8.2% showed triple infection of JuBV+JYMaV+JuMaV. Sequence analysis of the three viruses showed very high homology with respective virus isolates reported in China. This study is predicted to provide fundamental data to produce virus-free jujube seedlings and represents the first report of JuBV and JuMaV infection in Korea.

• Laboratory Medicine Online
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.26-34
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• 2011

Background: Laboratory diagnosis of new influenza A (H1N1) is crucial for managing patients and establishing control and prevention measures. We compared the diagnostic accuracies of the real time RT-PCR (rRT-PCR) test recommended for the confirmation of the new flu and the viral culture method used conventionally for viral disease with that of the rapid antigen test (RAT). Methods: We performed RAT, R-mix culture, and real-time PCR by using 861 respiratory samples collected from December 2009 to January 2010 and evaluated the abilities of these methods to detect new influenza A. The relationship among the positive rates of RAT, grades of culture, and the cycle threshold (Ct) values of rRT-PCR was also evaluated. Results: Of the 861 patients, 308 (35.8%) were diagnosed with new influenza A. The sensitivities, specificities, positive predictive values, and negative predictive values of the tests were respectively as follows: 59.7%, 99.5%, 98.4%, and 81.6% for RAT; 93.2%, 100%, 100%, and 96.3% for R-mix culture; and 95.8%, 100%, 100%, and 97.7% for rRT-PCR. Samples with weak positive grade in culture and those with Ct values of 30-37 in rRT-PCR showed positivities as low as 25.3% and 2.3% in RAT, respectively. The hospitalization rate and death rate of the confirmed patients were 3.2% and 0.3%, respectively, and gastrointestinal symptoms were observed in 7.2% of the patients. Conclusions: R-mix culture and rRT-PCR tests showed excellent reliability in the diagnosis of new influenza A and could be very useful, especially for samples with low viral load.

• Journal of the Korea Organic Resources Recycling Association
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.29-39
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• 2023

In this study, an analysis of medical waste generation characteristics was conducted, differentiating between ordinary situation and the outbreaks of massive infectious diseases. During ordinary situation, prediction models for medical waste quantities by type, general medical waste(G-MW), hazardous medical waste(H-MW), infectious medical waste(I-MW), were established through regression analysis, with all significance values (p) being <0.0001, indicating statistical significance. The determination coefficient(R2) values for prediction models of each category were analyzed as follows : I-MW(R2=0.9943) > G-MW(R2=0.9817) > H-MW(R2=0.9310). Additionally, factors such as GDP(G-MW), the number of medical institutions (H-MW), and the elderly population ratio(I-MW), utilized as influencing factors and consistent with previous literature, showed high correlations. The total MW generation, evaluated by combining each model, had an MAE of 2,615 and RMSE of 3,353. This indicated accuracy levels similar to the medical waste models of H-MW(2,491, 2,890) and I-MW(2,291, 3,267). Due to limitations in accurately estimating the quantity of medical waste during the rapid and outbreaks of massive infectious diseases, the generation unit of I-MW was derived to analyze its characteristics. During the early unstable stage of infectious disease outbreaks, the generation unit was 8.74 kg/capita·day, 2.69 kg/capita·day during the stable stage, and an average of 0.08 kg/capita·day during the reduction stage. Correlation analysis between generation unit of I-MW and lethality rates showed +0.99 in the unstable stage, +0.52 in the stable stage, and +0.96 in the reduction period, demonstrating a very high positive correlation of +0.95 or higher throughout the entire outbreaks of massive infectious diseases. The results derived from this study are expected to play a useful role in establishing an effective medical waste management system in the field of health care.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.384-389
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• 2023

Milling can affect the distribution of mycotoxins in small grains. To investigate the effects on barley, seven hulled barley and three naked barley samples naturally contaminated with trichothecenes and zearalenone were obtained and milled at commonly used rates. Both barleys were simultaneously contaminated with deoxynivalenol and its acetyl derivatives (98.1-2,197.8 ㎍/kg), nivalenol and its acetyl derivative (468.5-3,965.1 ㎍/kg), and zearalenone (4.1-274.2 ㎍/kg). Milling hulled barleys at a rate of 67% reduced the mycotoxins in the grain by 90.9% for deoxynivalenol, 87.7% for nivalenol, and 93.2% for zearalenone. The reduction in naked barleys (milled at a rate of 70%) was slightly lower than in hulled barleys, with 88.6% for deoxynivalenol, 80.2% for nivalenol, and 70.1% for zearalenone. In both barleys, the acetyl derivatives of deoxynivalenol and nivalenol were reduced by 100%. However, barley bran had significantly higher mycotoxin concentrations than the pre-milled grains: bran from hulled barley had a 357% increase in deoxynivalenol, 252% increase in nivalenol, and 169% increase in zearalenone. Similarly, bran from naked barley had a 337% increase in deoxynivalenol, 239% increase in nivalenol, and 554% increase in zearalenone. These results show that mycotoxins present in the outer layers of barley grain can be effectively removed through the milling process. As milling redistributes mycotoxins from the grain into the bran, however, it shows that advance monitoring of barley bran is recommended when using barley bran for human or animal consumption.