• 한국미생물·생명공학회지
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• 제49권2호
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• pp.264-268
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• 2021

Tuberculosis (TB) is a major infectious disease that threatens the life and health of people globally. Here, we performed a metabolomic analysis of serum samples from patients with intractable TB to identify biomarkers that might shorten the TB treatment period. Serum samples collected at the commencement of patients' treatment and healthy controls were analyzed using the capillary electrophoresis and time-of-flight mass spectrometry metabolome analysis method. The analysis identified the metabolites cystine, kynurenine, glyceric acid, and cystathionine, which might be useful markers for monitoring the TB treatment course. Furthermore, our research may provide experimental data to develop potential biomarkers in the TB treatment course.

• 의료ㆍ복지 건축 : 한국의료복지건축학회 논문집
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.27-38
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• 2022

Purpose: This study tried to present basic data for establishment of facility guidelines and facility certification standards for the comprehensive prevention of infectious diseases in buildings. Methods: This study examines the concept of architectural countermeasures for the prevention of infectious diseases through literature reviews, and then classifies and organizes the countermeasures by viewing the infectious diseases hospitals as the top-level facility in terms of responding to infectious diseases. Results: At first, this study categorized and organized infection prevention countermeasures of infectious disease hospitals, which are the highest level facilities in terms of response to infectious diseases. And by presenting the concept of step-by-step setting of countermeasures for general buildings such as welfare facilities and multi-use facilities, which are lower-level facilities in the aspect of prevention of infectious diseases, this study tried to present basic data for establishing facility guidelines and facility certification standards for comprehensive prevention of infectious diseases in buildings. Implications: In the future, it is expected that spatial changes for the prevention of infectious diseases will spread to general constructions such as public buildings, private buildings, and multi-use facilities, and comprehensive infection prevention facility guidelines are needed.

• 디지털융복합연구
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• 제20권5호
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• pp.909-918
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• 2022

본 연구는 어린이집 원장을 대상으로 감염병 예방 교육요구도, 자기효능감을 파악하고 감염병 예방 자기효능감에 영향을 미치는 요인을 파악하고자 시행되었다. 연구는 G, J, S시 소재 어린이집 원장 172명을 대상으로 설문지를 이용하여 진행하였다. 수집된 자료는 SPSS 24.0 프로그램을 이용하여 기술통계, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation coefficient, Multiple regression analysis로 분석하였다. 연구 결과, 감염병 예방 교육요구도는 손 씻기 방법 및 시기, 세척과 소독 방법이 높았고, 감염병 예방 자기효능감은 영유아 손 씻기 교육과 시기가 가장 높았다. 감염병 예방 교육요구도와 자기효능감(r=.528, p<.001) 간에는 양의 상관관계가 있는 것으로 나타났다. 감염병 예방 자기효능감에 영향을 미치는 유의한 요인은 감염병 예방 교육요구도(β=.53, p<.001), 감염병 예방 교육의 경험(β=.25, p<.001)로 나타났다. 이러한 연구 결과는 어린이집 원장에 대한 감염병 예방에 대한 교육 요구를 충족시킬 수 있는 프로그램 개발이 필요하다는 것을 보여준다. 이러한 교육을 통해 어린이집 원장의 감염병 예방에 대한 자기효능감이 향상될 것이다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권5호
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• pp.447-455
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• 2021

Vivax malaria incidence in Korea is now decreased and showing a low plateau. Nowadays, vivax malaria in Korea is expected to be successfully eliminated with anti-malaria chemotherapy, primaquine, and vector control. The glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is associated with potential hemolytic anemia after primaquine administration. This inborn disorder has a pivotal polymorphism with genetic variants and is the most prevalent X-chromosome-linked disorder. The prevalence of G6PD deficiency was previously reported negligible in Korea. As the population of multicultural families pertaining marriage immigrants and their adolescents increases, it is necessary to check G6PD deficiency for them prior to primaquine treatment for vivax malaria. The prevalence of G6PD variants and G6PD deficiency in multicultural families was performed in 7 counties and 2 cities of Jeollanam-do (Province), Gyeonggi-do, and Gangwon-do. A total of 733 blood samples of multicultural family participants were subjected to test the phenotypic and genetic G6PD deficiency status using G6PD enzyme activity quantitation kit and PCR-based G6PD genotyping kit. The G6PD phenotypic deficiency was observed in 7.8% of male adolescent participants and 3.2% of materfamilias population. Based on the PCR-based genotyping, we observed total 35 participants carrying the mutated alleles. It is proposed that primaquine prescription should seriously be considered prior to malaria treatment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제59권6호
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• pp.595-605
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• 2021

An understanding of the knowledges, attitudes and perceptions of different populations is key for public health policy makers. Here, a survey was performed on knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions about malaria diagnosis, prevention, control, and treatment. The 407 survey participants included both uninfected inhabitants and patients from 2 cities (Gimpo- and Paju-si) of Northern Gyeonggi-do, known as high-risk areas for vivax malaria. We used community-based study design and non-probability sampling method using the primary data. Association between variables were tested using χ²-tests. In general, the information on malaria reported by the participants in this study was unsystematic and included inaccurate details. The knowledge of malaria symptoms, identified as headache, chills and fever, was high, but the surveyed community lacks knowledge of the specific medications used for malaria treatment, with a large number of respondents having no knowledge of any form of medication. Survey questions with high correct answer rates included questions about easy treatment of malaria in Korea, the high daytime activity of malaria-borne mosquitoes, and the infection risk posed by outdoor activities. However, a large portion of the respondents was unable to provide simple medical and biological information about the disease. This study aimed to comprehensively evaluate the knowledge, attitude, and practical behavior of the surveyed community with respect to malaria and the implications reported here could be applicable to other malaria endemic areas in Korea.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.33.1-33.13
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• 2023

Vaccination against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been acknowledged as an effective mean of preventing infection and hospitalization. However, the emergence of highly transmissible SARS-CoV-2 variants of concern (VOCs) has led to substantial increase in infections among children and adolescents. Vaccine-induced immunity and longevity have not been well defined in this population. Therefore, we aimed to analyze humoral and cellular immune responses against ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine in healthy adolescents. Although vaccination induced a robust increase of spike-specific binding Abs and neutralizing Abs against the ancestral and SARS-CoV-2 variants, the neutralizing activity against the Omicron variant was significantly low. On the contrary, vaccine-induced memory CD4⁺ T cells exhibited substantial responses against both ancestral and Omicron spike proteins. Notably, CD4⁺ T cell responses against both ancestral and Omicron strains were preserved at 3 months after two shots of the BNT162b2 vaccine without waning. Polyfunctionality of vaccine-induced memory T cells was also preserved in response to Omicron spike protein. The present findings characterize the protective immunity of vaccination for adolescents in the era of continuous emergence of variants/subvariants.

• 한국학교보건학회지
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• 제37권1호
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• pp.12-21
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to provide basic data for future infectious disease prevention educational programs targeting preschoolers by verifying the effects of the 2023 Home-visiting Infectious Disease Prevention Class Project for Preschoolers. Methods: The study is a descriptive survey that analyzed educational satisfaction of kindergarten teachers and the activity reports of visiting teachers. The effectiveness of the education on the children's side was evaluated with a quasi-experimental approach using pre- and post-test design. Data collection was conducted from September 6 to November 10, 2023. The data from 96 kindergarten teachers, 100 activity reports written by visiting teachers, 56 children in the experimental group, and 50 children in the control group were analyzed. Results: As a result of analyzing the satisfaction survey results of the kindergarten teachers and the activity reports submitted by the visiting teachers, all questions received a very positive evaluation with 4 or more out of 5 points. In addition, the children in the experimental group showed statistically significant positive changes both in hand-washing accuracy and their awareness of immunity. Conclusion: The Home-visiting Infectious Disease Prevention Class Project for Preschoolers is of great educational significance and is expected to be a useful educational intervention that can improve infection prevention behaviors and show practical preventive effects in preschoolers so that they can be prepared for various infectious diseases in the future.

• 한국보육지원학회지
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• 제19권3호
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• pp.1-17
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to provide empirical data on epidemic management measures and childcare teacher education in centers. It examines the relationship between infectious disease knowledge, health control knowledge, and self-efficacy in relation to the practice of preventive behaviors among infant and toddler teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: The study involved 300 teachers from Seoul and Gyeonggi Province. Data were collected through questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS 23.0. Results: The study found that there is a positive relationship between childcare teachers' knowledge of infectious diseases and their engagement in preventive behavior. Additionally, internal control among the health care factors of childcare teachers also showed a positive relationship. Furthermore, the study revealed that the self-efficacy of childcare teachers is positively associated with their practice of preventive behavior. Overall, infectious disease knowledge, internal control measures, and self-efficacy were all found to have positive relationships with preventive behavior. Conclusion/Implications: This study proposes a new direction for future teacher education by highlighting the effectiveness of psychological factors, specifically health control materials and self-efficacy, in addition to focusing on improving infectious disease knowledge.

• 환경위생공학
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.41-49
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• 1994

Water- borne infectious diseases can be acquired by contact with contaminated water or by ingestion of contaminated water. There are many water- borne infectious agents such as bacteria, virus, and parasite. Among many of water- borne infectious diseases, health authorities of Korean government has particularly intensified to prevent and control typhoid fever(class I ), shigellosis(class I ), cholera(class I ), paratyphoid fever(class I), amebiasis(class II ) and leptospirosis(euivalent to class II ) under the communicable disease control law. Water- borne disease Prevention and control guideline itself has been also well provided by the health authorities. However, in practical public health point of view, there are still many problems remained to be solved out; no prospective investigation project to survey water borne infectious diseases under the national disease prevention and control programmes, incredible statistic data of annual notifiable disease report frequent appearance and varieties of drug resistance water- borne infectious agents, little cooperation and information- exchange system in between the related government authorities( the health authorities, the environment sanitation authorities and the food hygiene authorities) which should be closely collaborated, lack of health consciousness of the people, necessity of evaluation and Hndification on to the outcomes of performed health activities and programmes, neglect activities for water quality investigation, shortage of expertise and human resources in the related field, and poor investment of the government budget to develope and improve public health and sanitation field. In order to prevent and control water- borne infectious diseases effectively, it is emphasized that all the above indicated should be considered and performed to improve under the national health and sanitation development programmes.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제55권3호
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• pp.77-82
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• 2012

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.