• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.231-238
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• 2022

This study aimed to analyze the Influence of workplace spirituality on job stress and infection control performance of dental hygienists in the COVID-19 pandemic situation Questionnaire was conducted for 149 dental hygienists from February to March 2021. COVID-19 knowledge and practice of infection control, job stress. and workplace spirituality. Survey data were analyzed t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation using statistical programs of PASW Statistics ver. 21.0. Workplace spirituality was investigated to increase infection control performance and reduce job stress in a pandemic situation. The group with high infection control knowledge and performance showed low levels of job instability, organizational system, and stress. As for job stress, those with less than 2 years of experience reported relationship conflict, those with 3 to 5 years of experience showed high levels of job instability, organizational system, inadequate compensation, and workplace culture. In a pandemic situation, workplace spirituality was investigated to increase infection control performance and reduce job stress, so a plan to improve the quality of medical care was required for holistic and systematic organizational operation in preparation for the post-coronavirus.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.875-884
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• 2023

Objective: The purpose of this study is to report the clinical improvement of aggravated functional dyspepsia due to COVID-19 with Korean medicine treatment. Methods: To assess treatment outcomes, we used the GIS (Gastrointestinal Symptom Score), European Quality of Life-5 Dimensions (EQ-5D) scale, and Numeral Rating Scale (NRS). Results: After treatment, the patient's clinical symptoms improved, as indicated by GIS, EQ-5D, and NRS scores. Conclusions: Korean medicine treatment improved late complications in COVID-19 patients. This finding suggests the possibility of Korean medicine treatment for long-term COVID infections.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.84-90
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• 2023

Purpose: Infants aged ≤90 days with fever are susceptible to severe infections. This study aimed to analyze the clinical features of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection in this particular age group. Methods: Infants aged ≤90 days who were diagnosed with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and hospitalized between March 1, 2020, and May 1, 2022 were included. Medical records of patients were retrospectively reviewed. Results: A total of 105 infants with COVID-19 were included; 27 (25.7%) neonates aged <28 days, and 48 (45.7%) and 30 (28.6%) infants aged 28-59 days and 60-90 days, respectively. Five (4.7%) patients remained asymptomatic and 68 (62.8%) were febrile, with a median fever duration of 2 days. The most common symptoms were respiratory including cough (66.6%), nasal stuffiness (51.4%), and rhinorrhea (40.9%). Blood cultures were performed in 10 infants but no organisms were detected. Cultures of bag-collected urine specimens from 8 infants were grown, resulting in positive growth for 2 without pyuria. Nine (8.6%) infants were treated with empirical antibiotics for a median duration of 2.3 days (range, 1-7 days). All 105 infants showed improvement without any complications, and there were no fatal cases. Conclusions: In this study, most infants aged ≤90 days with COVID-19 presented with mild symptoms and none of those evaluated had documented bacterial co-infection. The favorable prognosis among young infants with SARS-CoV-2 may aid clinicians in tailoring their approach to evaluation and management during outbreaks.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.373-379
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• 2010

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the epidemiologic and clinical features of 13 respiratory viruses in children with acute lower respiratory tract infections (ALRIs). Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates were prospectively obtained from 325 children aged 15 years or less from May 2008 to April 2009 and were tested for the presence of 13 respiratory viruses by multiplex real-time-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results : Viruses were identified in 270 children (83.1%). Co-infections with ${\geq}2$ viruses were observed in 71 patients (26.3 %). Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) was the most common virus detected (33.2%), followed by human rhinovirus (hRV) (19.1%), influenza virus (Flu A) (16.9%), human metapneumovirus (hMPV) (15.4%), parainfluenza viruses (PIVs) (8.3%), human bocavirus (hBoV) (8.0%), adenovirus (ADV) (5.8%), and human coronavirus (hCoV) (2.2%). Clinical diagnoses of viral ALRIs were bronchiolitis (37.5%), pneumonia (34.5%), asthma exacerbation (20.9%), and croup (7.1%). Clinical diagnoses of viral bronchiolitis and pneumonia were frequently demonstrated in patients who tested positive for RSV, hRV, hMPV, or Flu A. Flu A and hRV were most commonly identified in children older than 3 years and were the 2 leading causes of asthma exacerbation. hRV C was detected in 14 (4.3%) children, who were significantly older than those infected with hRV A ($mean{\pm}SD$, $4.1{\pm}3.5$ years vs. $1.7{\pm}2.3$ years; P =0.009). hBoV was usually detected in young children ($2.3{\pm}3.4$ years) with bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Conclusion : This study described the features of ALRI associated with 13 respiratory viruses in Korean children. Additional investigations are required to define the roles of newly identified viruses in children with ALRIs.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 2007

Purpose : Acute viral respiratory tract infection is the most common illness among children. Involved organisms are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, etc. The objective of the present study is to determine epidemiology of each viral infection in Busan, South Korea between January 2004 and December 2006. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the results of clinical samples of throat and nasal swab collected from Busan city, South Korea between January 2004 and December 2006. We collected these samples from the children with acute respiratory illness. Viruses were detected by virus culture Results : The identified pathogens were influenza A in 131 cases (46.6 percent), RSV in 40 cases (14.2 percent), influenza B in 37 cases (13.2 percent), adenovirus in 23 cases (8.2 percent), enterovirus in 37 cases (13.2%) [coxsackie virus in 20 cases (7.1 percent), atypical enterovirus in 9 cases (3.2 percent), poliovirus in 4 cases (1.4 percent), echovirus in 4 cases (1.4 percent)], rhinovirus in 9 cases (3.2 percent), parainfluenza virus in 2 cases (0.7 percent), coronavirus and bocavirus in each 1 case (0.4 percent). Influenza A were detected every year, mostly in December through April and RSV in October through February. Adenovirus were detected through out the year. Bocavirus occurred in December, 2006. Conclusion : We analyzed epidemiologic characteristics of viruses to cause the respiratory disease that prevailed at Busan area for recent three years, and from now on, a further continuous study will be necessary.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.101-109
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• 2021

Purpose: Common human coronaviruses (HCoVs) are relatively understudied due to the mild nature of HCoV infection. Given the lack of local epidemiology data on common HCoVs, we aimed to describe clinical and epidemiological characteristics of common HCoVs in children. Methods: Respiratory viral test results from 9,589 respiratory samples from Seoul National University Children's Hospital were analyzed from January 2015 to December 2019. Viral detection was done by the multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Demographics and clinical diagnosis were collected for previously healthy children tested positive for HCoVs. Results: Of the 9,589 samples tested, 1 or more respiratory viruses were detected from 5,017 (52.3%) samples and 463 (4.8%) samples were positive for HCoVs (OC43 2.8%, NL63 1.4%, 229E 0.7%). All 3 types co-circulated during winter months (November to February) with some variation by type. HCoV-OC43 was the most prevalent every winter season. HCoV-NL63 showed alternate peaks in late winter (January to March) and early winter (November to February). HCoV-229E had smaller peaks every other winter. Forty-one percent of HCoV-positive samples were co-detected with additional viruses; human rhinovirus 13.2%, respiratory syncytial virus 13.0%, influenza virus 4.3%. Common clinical diagnosis was upper respiratory tract infection (60.0%) followed by pneumonia (14.8%), croup (8.1%), and bronchiolitis (6.7%). Croup accounted for 17.0% of HCoV-NL63-positive children. Conclusions: This study described clinical and epidemiological characteristics of common HCoVs (OC43, NL63, 229E) in children. Continuing surveillance, perhaps by adding HKU1 in the diagnostic panel can further elucidate the spectrum of common HCoV infections in children.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.53 no.6
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• pp.387-396
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• 2020

Objectives: The lack of advance planning in a public health emergency can lead to wasted resources and inadvertent loss of lives. This study is aimed at forecasting the needs for healthcare resources following the expansion of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in the Republic of Kazakhstan, focusing on hospital beds, equipment, and the professional workforce in light of the developing epidemiological situation and the data on resources currently available. Methods: We constructed a forecast model of the epidemiological scenario via the classic susceptible-exposed-infected-removed (SEIR) approach. The World Health Organization's COVID-19 Essential Supplies Forecasting Tool was used to evaluate the healthcare resources needed for the next 12 weeks. Results: Over the forecast period, there will be 104 713.7 hospital admissions due to severe disease and 34 904.5 hospital admissions due to critical disease. This will require 47 247.7 beds for severe disease and 1929.9 beds for critical disease at the peak of the COVID-19 outbreak. There will also be high needs for all categories of healthcare workers and for both diagnostic and treatment equipment. Thus, Republic of Kazakhstan faces the need for a rapid increase in available healthcare resources and/or for finding ways to redistribute resources effectively. Conclusions: Republic of Kazakhstan will be able to reduce the rates of infections and deaths among its population by developing and following a consistent strategy targeting COVID-19 in a number of inter-related directions.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.61-67
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• 2011

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the epidemiologic characteristics of human bocavirus (HBoV)-associated lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs) in children. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirate samples were obtained from 658 children who had been hospitalized for LRTIs in Seoul National University (SNU) Children's Hospital and SNU Bundang Hospital from March 2000 to September 2005. Multiplex RT-PCR was performed to detect 11 respiratory viruses including respiratory syncytial virus, adenovirus, rhinovirus, parainfluenza viruses 1 and 3, influenza viruses A and B, human metapneumovirus, HBoV, human coronavirus (HCoV) OC43/ 229E, and HCoV-NL63. Clinical data were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Overall, respiratory viruses were detected in 325 (49.4%) among 658 patients. HBoV was detected in 62 cases (9.4%) and was responsible for 19.1% of virus-positive cases. HBoV was prevalent among infants and young children aged from 3 months to 5 years with the mean age of 25.3 months. Co-detection of HBoV and other respiratory viruses was observed in 37.1% which is significantly higher than average co-detection rate (12.3%) among overall virus-positive cases (P=0.000). HBoV was identified mainly in late spring and early summer from May to July. Conclusion : This study describes epidemiologic features of HBoV in Korean children compared with those associated with other respiratory viruses. HBoV was prevalent among LRTIs in childhood, especially in late spring and early summer season in Korea.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1928-1936
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• 2018

Recently, human infections caused by severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV), which can lead to fatality, have dramatically increased in East Asia. With the unavailability of vaccines or antiviral drugs to prevent and/or treat SFTSV infection, early rapid diagnosis is critical for prevention and control of the disease. Here, we report the development of a simple, rapid and sensitive portable detection method for SFTSV infection applying reverse transcription-loop mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) combined with one-pot colorimetric visualization and electro-free reaction platform. This method utilizes a pocket warmer to facilitate diagnosis in a resource-limited setting. Specific primers were designed to target the highly-conserved region of L gene of SFTSV. The detection limit of the RT-LAMP assay was approximately $10^0$ viral genome copies from three different SFTSV strains. This assay exhibited comparable sensitivity to qRT-PCR and 10-fold more sensitivity than conventional RT-PCR, with a rapid detection time of 30 to 60 minutes. The RT-LAMP assay using SFTSV clinical specimens has demonstrated a similar detection rate to qRT-PCR and a higher detection rate compared to conventional RT-PCR. Moreover, there was no observed cross-reactive amplification of other human infectious viruses including Japanese Encephalitis Virus (JEV), Dengue, Enterovirus, Zika, Influenza and Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV). This highly sensitive, electro- and equipment-free rapid colorimetric visualization method is feasible for resource-limited SFTSV field diagnosis.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.674-683
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• 2021

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the changes in the pattern of crimes caused by the spread and slowdown of coronavirus infections and to devise preventive and countermeasures against various crimes in the future. Method: In order to find out the characteristics of each crime in the non-face-to-face and face-to-face environment, the results of previous prior research and data officially released by the National Police Agency and the prosecution office were compared and analyzed. Result: In the early epidemic of infectious diseases, overall crime has decreased, and civil life-related crimes and crimes targeting the socially disadvantaged are increasing. In the second half of the infectious disease, unlike the first half, the prolonged corona caused the economic recession and unemployment, deepening the damage from illegal private finance and significantly increasing illegal gambling game crimes. Conclusion: According to the time of the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the quarterly crime characteristics showed that there was a difference in crime type and crime increase and decrease rate, and that crime response measures should be changed accordingly.