• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.113-121
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• 2000

This study was aimed to provide an epidemiologic study so that we could accommadate their orthodontic needs adequately and to obtain the reliable quantitative information regarding the characteristics of orthodontic patients who visited the Department of pediatric dentistry, Chonnam National University Hospital from 1986 to 1999, October. The results were as follows. 1 The total number of orthodontic patients were 1,381(male 658, female 723) and the number of annual patients showed irregular trend and the number of male were slightly higher than that of female. 2. According to the investigation made by age group, the group of under 5 years, 6 to 7, 8 to 9, 10 to 11, 12 to 13 and above 14 years showed 8.4%, 29.6%, 34.3%, 21.2%, 5.7% and 0.8%, respectively. 3. The patients corresponding to primary dentition were 15.7% of total patients and mesial step, distal step and flush terminal plane were 83%, 4.6% and 12.4% respectively. By the way 82% of mesial step had anterior crossbite at the same time. 4. The patients corresponding to Angle classification were 84.3% of total patients and Class I malocclusion, Class II div. 1, Class II div. 2 and Class III was 34.7%, 34.6%, 2.1% and 28.6%, respectively.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.91-104
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• 2007

An epidemiologic investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence of symptoms of temporomandibular disorders in college students that aged 19-31 years. 460 students were investigated with a questionnaire from September to December 2006. The obtained results were as follows : 1. The prevalence of symptoms of temporomandibular disorders was 80.6%. 2. The most frequently complained symptom was headache and joint sound was the next one without distinct difference between men and women. 3. While the rate of occurrence of symptom of acute malocclusion decreased with age in men, that of TMJ pain during chewing or speech increased with age in women. 4. Symptoms including TMJ pain during mouth opening, chewing or speech, TMJ fatigue and acute malocclusion occurred significantly more frequently in women than in men. Contributing factors including resting cheeks on hands, stressful state, gum chewing, insomnia and clenching occurred significantly more frequently in women than in men. 5. There was a highly significant relationship between symptoms and contributing factors including resting cheeks on hands, stressful state, unilateral chewing, insomnia and clenching. 6. There was a highly significant relationship between symptoms and general personality.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.312-321
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• 2013

Objective: In May 2011, an interview with three United States Forces Korea veterans revealed that chemicals believed to be 'Agent Orange' were buried at Camp Carroll (situated in Waegwan, Chilgok-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Korea) in 1978. Many hazardous chemicals, such as perchloroethylene (PCE), trichloroethylene (TCE), and organochlorines were subsequently found in a joint US-ROK environmental investigation, although dioxins or burial evidence related to 'Agent Orange' have been not uncovered. This study was carried out to investigate the relevance of hazardous chemical exposure and health effects of the residents around Camp Carroll. Methods: The authors conducted a health questionnaire survey among residents around Camp Carroll regarding Waegwan groundwater ingestion, length of residence in Waegwan, and physician-diagnosed disease history (such as cancer, hypertension, diabetes and etc.). Logistic regression was performed to identify the associations between hazardous chemical exposure and physician-diagnosed diseases. Results: Among the 5,320 residents, excluding those living outside the Waegwan area, 3,430 subjects age 30 and over were analyzed. Among females, upon correction of age, smoking history and Camp Carroll working history, a higher distribution in the Waegwan groundwater ingestion group was demonstrated for patients with physician-diagnosed cancer and hypertension. The odds ratios have a tendency to increase with increased length of Waegwan groundwater ingestion. Conclusions: This study may be limited by not adopting a cohort study for the evaluation of factors that may confound environmental exposure. Yet it is meaningful that the correlation between Waegwan groundwater ingestion and chronic diseases were found through regression analysis in female; and further, this outcome may be used as a sampling basis for a secondary epidemiologic study.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.17 no.5
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• pp.660-670
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• 2016

This cross-sectional descriptive investigation attempted to identify the relationship among the symptoms, spiritual well-being, and depression experienced by patients undergoing hemodialysis. Data were collected from 146 patients at 6 hemodialysis clinics from October 15th, 2014 to January 15th, 2015. The Dialysis Symptom Index (DSI) was used to measure symptom experience, spiritual well-being was measured using the Spiritual Well-being Scale, and depression was assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). The data were analyzed using ANOVA, the t-test, Scheffe's test, Pearson correlation, and hierarchical regression analysis. The mean score of the symptom experience was 26.43 (range: 0~85), the mean spiritual well-being score was 47.79 (range: 20~80), and the mean depression score was 10.56 (range: 0~35). It was found that greater existential well-being leads to lower depression (r=-.23, p=.004) and symptom experience (r=-.17, p=.045). Greater physical (B=.09) and emotional (B=.64) symptom experience leads to higher depression and the explanatory power of these factors was 52.1% (F=18.54, p<.001). Therefore, a comprehensive nursing intervention that can help reduce the symptom experience and increase the existential well-being in hemodialysis patients is needed to reduce their depression.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.295-304
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• 2002

Objectives : This study was carried out to investigate the cause, magnitude and transmission route of the cholera outbreak in 2001 Methods : The study population were those persons who ingested foods at the restaurant, were confirmed as cholera patients, had symptoms of diarrhea and sewed as workers at the restaurant. A questionnaire survey and microbiological examinations on the microbes isolated from rectal swabs were conducted. Of the cases, 316 food histories were surveyed by an analysis of the restaurant menu. Results : There were 139 confirmed cases of cholera reported in Korea in 2001. Of these, 104 were related to the restaurant. By region, Gyeongsangbuk-do had the highest incidence with 91 cases. Of these 91 cases, 74 had ingested foods at the restaurant, 2 were employees and 3 were secondary infection cases within the families. The results of the odds ratio analysis of the 316 persons having ingested foods at the restaurant were as follows: sandwiches 5.07 (95% CI, 1.85-14.59), soybean curd 2.45 (95% CI, 1.09-5.56), noodles 2.34 (95% CI, 1.24-4.42), steamed squid 2.01 (95% CI, 1.17-3.47) and vinegared rice 1.82 (95%, CI, 1.08-3.09). It was certain the restaurant in question was the cause of the 2001 outbreak. Conclusions : We suspected that more than one restaurant employee contaminated foods served at the restaurant. In addition, eating raw fishes purchased at the Pohang Fisheries infected the employees of the restaurant. There is a possibility that these raw fishes were themselves contaminated by cholera bacilli in the sea.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-22
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• 2017

'The worstest environment disaster', 'World's first biocide massacre', 'Home-based Sewol ferry disaster' are all phrases attached to the recent humidifier disinfectant disaster. In the spring of 2011, four of 8 pregnant women including 1 adult man passed away at a university hospital in Seoul due to breathing failure. Epidemiologic investigation conducted by the Korean CDC soon revealed the inhalation of humidifier disinfectant, which had been widely used in Korea during the winter, to be responsible for the disease. As well as lung fibrosis hardening of the lungs, other diseases including asthma, rhinitis, skin disease, liver disease, fetal disease or cancers have been researched for their relation with exposure to the products. By February 9, 2017, 5,342 cases had registered for health problems and 1,131 of them were already dead (20.8% mortality rate). Based on studies by government agencies and a telephone survey of the general population by Seoul National University and civic groups, around 20% of the general public of Korea has used these products. Since the market release of the first product by SK Chemical in 1994, over 7.1 million items from around 20 brands were sold up to 2011. Most of the products were manufactured by well-known large conglomerates such as SK, Lotte, Samsung, Shinsegye, LG, and GS, as well as some European companies including UK-based Reckitt Benckiser and TESCO, the German firm Henkel, the Danish firm KeTox, and an Irish company. Even though this disaster was unveiled in 2011 by the Korean government, the issue of the victims was neglected for over five years. In 2016, an unexpected but intensive investigation by prosecutors found that Reckitt Benckiser manipulated and concealed animal tests for its own brand and brought several university experts and company employees to court. The matter was an intense social issue in Korea from May to June with a surge in media coverage. The prosecutor's investigation and a nationwide boycott campaign organized by victims and environmental groups against Reckitt Benckiser, whose product had been used by more than 70% of victims, led to the producer's official apology and a compensation scheme. A legislative investigation organized after the April 2016 national election revealed the producers' faults and the government's responsibility, but failed to meet expectations. A special law for the victims passed the National Assembly in January 2017 and a punitive system together with a massive environmental epidemiology investigation are expected to be the only solutions for this tragedy. Sciences of medicine, toxicology and environmental health have provided decisive evidence so far, but for the remaining problems the perspectives of social sciences such as sociology and jurisprudence are highly necessary, similar to with the Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon events. It may not be easy to follow this issue using unfamiliar terminology from medical and chemical science and the long, complicated history of the event. For these reasons the author has attempted to write this article in a question and answer format to render it easier to follow. The 17 questions are: Q1 What is humidifier disinfectant? Q2 What kind of health problems are caused by humidifier disinfectant? Q3 How many victims are there? Q4 What is the analysis of the 1,112 cases of death? Q5 What is the problem with the government's diagnostic criteria and the solution? Q6 Who made what brands? Q7 Has there been a recall? What is still on sale? Q8 Was safety not checked by any producers? Q9 What are the government's responsibilities? Q10 Is it true that these products were sold only in Korea? Q11 Why and how was it unveiled only in 2011 after 17 years of sales? Q12 What delayed the resolution of the victim issue? Q13 What is the background of the prosecutor's investigation in early 2016? Q14 Is it possible to report new victim cases without evidence of product purchase? Q15 What is happening with the victim issue? Q16 How does it compare with the cases of Minamata disease and Wonjin Rayon? Q17 Are there prevention measures and lessons?

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.30
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• pp.5.1-5.8
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• 2015

Objectives We aimed to assess the radiation exposure for epidemiologic investigation in residents exposed to radiation from roads that were accidentally found to be contaminated with radioactive cesium-137 ($^{137}Cs$) in Seoul. Methods Using information regarding the frequency and duration of passing via the $^{137}Cs$ contaminated roads or residing/working near the roads from the questionnaires that were obtained from 8875 residents and the measured radiation doses reported by the Nuclear Safety and Security Commission, we calculated the total cumulative dose of radiation exposure for each person. Results Sixty-three percent of the residents who responded to the questionnaire were considered as ever-exposed and 1% of them had a total cumulative dose of more than 10 mSv. The mean (minimum, maximum) duration of radiation exposure was 4.75 years (0.08, 11.98) and the geometric mean (minimum, maximum) of the total cumulative dose was 0.049 mSv (<0.001, 35.35) in the exposed. Conclusions An individual exposure assessment was performed for an epidemiological study to estimate the health risk among residents living in the vicinity of $^{137}Cs$ contaminated roads. The average exposure dose in the exposed people was less than 5% of the current guideline.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.162-170
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• 2018

Non-typhoidal Salmonella is one of the main pathogens causing food-borne illness in humans, with up to 20% of cases resulting from consumption of pork products. Over the gastroenteritis signs, multidrug resistant Salmonella has arisen. In this study, pan-susceptible phenotypic strains of Salmonella enterica serotype Weltevreden recovered from pig production chain in Chiang Mai, Thailand during 2012-2014 were chosen for analysis. The aim of this study was to use whole genome sequencing (WGS) data with an emphasis on antimicrobial resistance gene investigation to assess their pathogenic potential and genetic diversity determination based on whole genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (wgMLST) to expand epidemiological knowledge and to provide additional guidance for disease control. Analyis using ResFinder 3.0 for WGS database tracing found that one of pan-susceptible phenotypic strain carried five classes of resistance genes: aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, phenicol, sulfonamide, and tetracycline associated genes. Twenty four and 36 loci differences were detected by core genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (cgMLST) and pan genome Multilocus Sequence Typing (pgMLST), respectively, in two matching strains (44/13 vs A543057 and A543056 vs 204/13) initially assigned by conventional MLST and Pulsed-field Gel Electrophoresis (PFGE). One hundread percent discriminant ability can be achieved using the wgMLST technique. WGS is currently the ultimate molecular technique for various in-depth studies. As the findings stated above, a new of "gold standard typing method era" for routine works in genome study is being set.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.182-188
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• 2005

Objectives: This study was undertaken to investigate the source of infection and mode of transmission of shigellosis, which occurred sporadically among residents and students in a subcounty of Cheongwon county, Chungbuk province, Korea, from June 4 to July 3 2003. Methods: 692 subjects completed a questionnaire and provided a swab for microbiological examinations,and 7 environmental specimens were examined for bacterial organisms. PFGE (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) and fingerprinting were performed to find the genetic relationship among the temporally associated sporadic isolates. Results: A total of 29 patients had symptoms consistent with the case definition, with 13 confirmed and 16 suspected cases. The frequency of diarrhea was 6 times or more a day (80.8%), with a duration of 1 to 4 days (88.5%) in most cases. The most common symptoms accompanying the diarrhea were fever (80.9%) followed by abdominal pain (76.9%), headache (65.4%), chill (61.5%), vomiting (46.2%) and tenesmus (15.4%). The epidemic curve was characteristic of a person-to-person transmission. The PFGE and fingerprinting demonstrated identical or similar DNA patterns among the 3 Shigella sonnei isolates (A51, A53 and A61 types) found in this outbreak. Conclusion: A genetically identical strain of S. sonnei was estimated to be the cause of this outbreak, and the mode of transmission was most likely person-to-person.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.25-31
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• 2006

Purpose: In the year of 2005, it enforced the basic study for establishing program of Poison Control Center by National Institute of Toxicologic Research. The object of our survey is to analyze the characteristics of intoxication from the City of Goyang by same protocol. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the data of medical records of the intoxication patient in the two hospitals of the Goyang from 2004 June 1st to 2005 May 31th. The investigation protocol applied the TESS report form which was used from the Basic study for establishing program of Poison Control Center. Results: The intoxication patients were total 269 persons, the patients of A hospital were 184 persons, B hospital were 185 persons. The most common intoxication materials were medicines, in afterwords it was an agricultural chemical. The most common place of intoxication was the home. The intentional suicidal attempts in the reason of intoxication were 51.2%. The rate of the patients who discharges from the emergency department was 50.4% and death rate was 4.3%. Conclusion: We concluded that the continuous and systemic report and analysis should be accomplished from the Goyang area.