• Korean journal of aerospace and environmental medicine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.75-79
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• 2020

This study focuses on the comparative and quantitative analysis of the epidemiologic trends and aspects of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) outbreaks between Korea and Japan from 2013 to 2017. The following factors were analyzed; cumulative incidence rate (CIR), cases-fatality rate (CFR), and the epidemic aspects, including cases related to gender, male-to-female morbidity ratio (MFMR), age, seasonal, and geographical distributions. We observed 607 SFTS cases with CIR in Korea during the period 2013 to 2017 were as 0.24 per 100,000 populations and with a 127 fatal-cases (F.C.s), corresponding to a CFR of 20.9%, respectively. During the same period in Japan, 319 SFTS cases with a CIR of 0.05 and with 60 F.C.s to a CFR of 18.8% observed. When compared, the CIR of SFTS in Korea was significantly higher than in Japan (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences levels of the CFR and MFMR between Korea and Japan. Also, a higher incidence of SFTS was observed in people aged over 50-years or elders in Korea and those of 60-years or elders in Japan (P<0.01). The seasonal distribution of SFTS outbreak cases showed that the incidence in summer through autumn in Korea (92.4% of total cases) was higher than in Japan (65.2%), while the outbreaks of SFTS in spring was much higher in Japan (31.0%) than in Korea (7.4%), (P<0.01). The regional distribution revealed no significant difference between the eastern area (44.8%) and the western area (46.8%) of the Korean peninsula except Jeju-island (8.4%). However, in Japan, the incidence only occurred in Chubu-Kinki-Chugoku (30.3%), Shikoku (25.7%), Kyushu (42.6%) and Okinawa (0.3%), which are the western and southern areas of Japan. These differences in SFTS occurrence may reflect the influences of vector/hosts, climate, and geographical and cultural characteristics between the two countries.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.349-354
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• 2004

It is impossible to overestimate the importance of the medical examination. The medical examination and treatment method is composed of Mang(inspection)-Moon(listening)-Moon(anammesis & question)-Jeol(pulse feeling, precussion etc.). Among these 4 methods, the Diagnosis of the Abdominal Region, which is one of the JeolJin, is regarded as the most important method along with pulse feeling. The Diagnosis of the Abdominal Region, which includes the examination of the symptoms and their changes in stomach area to understand the pathological progress of the JangFu, Meridian and Qi-Blood, has been highly emphasized in Western and Eastern Medical Science. External trouble, for instance a cold, can be detected by examining pulse, Internal trouble, for instance indigestion, by Diagnosis of the Abdominal Region. Though the Diagnosis of the Abdominal Region was the important part of the JeolJin, it was often devaluated. The Diagnosis of the Abdominal Region will also be composed of 4 kinds of method on Mang-Moon-Moon-Jeol. We thought that the first of the Abdominal Region Diagnosis is a Mangjin(inspection). So we present the new viewpoint of the abdomen of a diagnosis through emphasizing the importance of Mangjin(inspection).

• Journal of Acupuncture Research
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.177-185
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• 2006

Objectives : To observe the effect of acupuncture treatment and western medical treatment on frozen shoulder patients. Methods : 39 voluntary patients were randomly assigned to the Eastern treatment group(E group, n=22) and the Western treatment group(W group, n=17). The E group received acupuncture treatment on LI15, TE14, GB21 and Master Dong's acupuncture points, Shin-gwan and Gyun-joong, twice a week for 4 weeks. The W group received suprascapular nerve block, subacromial injection and trigger point injection, twice a week for 4 weeks. Both groups were instructed to practice self exercise during their daily lives. Evaluations were made before treatment and after treatment using Constant Shoulder Assessment(CSA), Shoulder Pain and Disability Index(SPADI) and the patient's satisfaction concerning the treatment was measured by Visual Analogue Scale(VAS). The obtained data were analyzed and compared. Results : The E group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) according to the CSA and SPADI. The patient's satisfaction scored 5.67 on a scale of 10. The W group showed significant improvement(p<0.05) according to the CSA and SPADI. The patient's satisfaction scored 7.73. But the difference between the two groups were insignificant according to CSA and SPADI. Conclusion : Both acupuncture and nerve block treatment significantly improved frozen shoulder. But the difference of the two treatments was insignificant.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.94-98
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• 2009

Listeria monocytogenes (L. monocytogenes) is a foodborne anaerobic gram-positive rod and the third most common pathogen for neonatal meningitis. Although the mortality and morbidity of L. monocytogenes infections are high, thus causing serious problems in Western populations, neonatal listeriosis is relatively rare in Eastern countries, including Korea. Possible routes for intrauterine infection or vertical transmission of L. monocytogenes include infected placentas and the reproductive tract. Intrauterine infections may cause chorioamnionitis, preterm labor, spontaneous abortion, stillbirth, or neonatal infection. A high index of suspicion and early empirical antibiotic treatment are critical to achieve a favorable prognosis for neonatal listeriosis. We managed a case of L. monocytogenes sepsis and pneumonia in a premature neonate born at 26 weeks of gestational age from an asymptomatic mother with culture-proven placental infection. The neonate was successively treated with ampicillin and gentamicin.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Embryo Transfer Conference
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• 2002.11a
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• pp.56-62
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• 2002

The International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) considers the western/lowland bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus eurycerus to be a threatened species, and the eastern/mountain bongo Tragelaphus eurycerus isaaci an endangered species［1］. Although extinction is considered by many biologists to be a natural process during evolution, the exponential growth of the human population has drastically and prematurely reduced the numbers and genetic diversity of many species［2］. Species have evolved to adapt to a specific habitat or environment that meet their survival needs. Alteration or destruction of their habitat results in a species becoming incapable of adapting and hence becoming threatened with extinction. A widespread scientific and public consensus has emerged suggesting that governments should assign high priority to the maintenance of biological diversity via habitat preservation and management far species conservation［3］. Unfortunately, the loss of biological diversity far surpasses the available conservation resources and species are lost forever on a daily basis［4］. Notwithstanding the focus on habitat preservation and wildlife management, conservation biologists have also become increasingly interested in using the technologies of reproductive and developmental biology to help manage or rescue endangered species［5］.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.243-248
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• 2013

Q fever is a rickettsial infection caused by Coxiella burnetii that is transmitted from animals to humans. Modes of transmission to humans include inhalation, tick bites and ingestion of unpasteurized milk or dairy products. This survey was aimed at monitoring the seroprevalence of C. burnetii in bulk-tank milk (BTM) in Gyeongbuk province. In addition, the seroprevalence of C. burnetii was investigated at the herd level of dairy cattle in eastern Gyeongbuk province in which many dairy cattle are reared. Among 324 BTM samples collected from 20 country areas, 175 (54%) BTM samples from 15 (75%) country areas were positive for C. burnetii by ELISA. By regions, the seroprevalence of BTM samples in eastern, central, western and northern areas of Gyeongbuk province were 62.7%, 48.4%, 45.1%, and 41.4%, respectively. When analyzed in the dairy cattle reared in the eastern area where high seroprevalence occurred in BTM samples, 119 (24.2%) out of 492 dairy cattle were positive for C. burnetii. Seroprevalence of C. burnetii in dairy cattle was increased with daily milk yield of farm (P<0.05) and age (P<0.001). Since seroprevalence of C. burnetii is relatively high in both BTM samples and dairy cattle reared in Gyeongbuk province, further studies on the high risk farms and herds are needed to evaluate infection status and appropriate control programs in this region.

• Advances in Traditional Medicine
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.310-318
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• 2010

Verbena officinalis (Verbenaceae) has been used as herbal medicine or health supplement in both Western and Eastern countries for centuries. In the present study, we examined the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities of the methylene chloride fraction of V. officinalis (VMC). To elucidate the anti-inflammatory properties of VMC, we investigated the inhibition effects of nitric oxide production in interferon-gamma (IFN-$\gamma$) and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated mouse peritoneal macrophages. VMC suppressed nitric oxide production, inducible nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase-2 expression dose-dependently without notable cytotoxicity. In various radical scavenging assays, VMC exhibited strong scavenging effect on DPPH radical, superoxide radical, nitric oxide radical and 2,2'-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid) radical. VMC also showed potent reducing power. These findings strongly suggest that VMC may be beneficial in oxidative stress-mediated inflammatory disorders.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.45 no.7
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• pp.896-901
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• 2002

Purpose : The aim of this study was to determine the epidemiology of Kawasaki disease in the Kyung Nam area and to evaluate whether the results of this epidemiological study could support infectious etiology. Methods : We sent a questionnaire to three training hospitals in the Kyung Nam area and retrospectively reviewed their medical records of Kawasaki disease from Jun. 1995 to Dec. 1999. Results : The total number of patients was 717 cases, with little differences of annual prevalence during the five years. In all cases, the monthly prevalence of Kawasaki disease was high in Apr. and Jul. At the eastern of Kyung Nam, the monthly prevalence was high in Apr. and Jul. in 1995 and 1996, Jul. in 1997, Apr. in 1998 and Apr. and Jul. in 1999. In the central area of Kyung Nam, the monthly prevalence was high in Apr. in 1995 and 1996, Apr. and Jul. in 1997 and Jul. in 1998 and 1999. In the western Kyung Nam, the monthly prevalence was high in Nov. in 1995, Aug. in 1996, Oct. in 1997, Dec. in 1998 and Nov. in 1999. Conclusion : In the eastern and central areas of Kyung Nam, the monthly prevalence of Kawasaki disease was similarly high in Apr. and Jul. However, in the western district, the prevalence was high in late fall and winter. We could not prove the hypothesis that Kawasaki disease occurred with the spread of single infectious agent, but the a nnually similar prevalence in eastern and central Kyung Nam supported the infection theory for the etiology of the disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.5
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• pp.461-470
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• 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to map the incidence of acute respiratory infections (ARIs) among under-5 children in Indonesia, address the triple burden of malnutrition, and analyze the impact of malnutrition on ARIs, taking into account the environmental and wealth disparities in Indonesia. Methods: This study utilized an ecological design, analyzing aggregate data from the Indonesia Nutrition Survey, 2022. It encompassed 33 provinces and 486 districts/cities, involving a total of 334 878 children under 5 years of age. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was employed to investigate the relationships among wealth, environment, malnutrition (stunting, wasting, and underweight), and ARIs. Results: The proportion of ARI cases in Indonesia was generally concentrated in central Sumatra, the western and eastern parts of Java, and eastern Papua. In contrast, the northern part of Sumatra, central Kalimantan, central Sulawesi, and central Papua had a higher proportion of malnutrition cases compared to other regions. Negative associations were found between malnutrition and ARIs (path coefficient=-0.072; p<0.01) and between wealth and environment (path coefficient=-0.633; p<0.001), malnutrition (path coefficient=-0.399; p<0.001), and ARIs (path coefficient=-0.918; p<0.001). Conclusions: An increasing wealth index is expected to contribute to reducing ARIs, malnutrition and environmental burdens in the future. This study emphasizes the necessity for focused strategies that address both immediate health challenges and the underlying socioeconomic determinants to improve child health outcomes in the Indonesian context.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.331-340
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• 1993

This study investigate the epidemiological feature of Metagonimus infection in Kangwon-do (province). The average Infection rate of the surveyed inhabitants was 7.8% (83 positives out of 1, 067 examinees) by stool examination; male, 11.4% and female, 3.2%, respectively. The egg positive rate in residents in the Som river area was 7.3%, that of the Chuchon river area 6.3%, the Pyongchang river area 12.8%, the Tong river area 3.8%, the Hongchon river area 9.8%, and the Ohsip stream area of Samchok 8.0%,respectively. The average metacercarial infection rate of genus Metagonimus in the fish was 81.0% (256 positives out of 318 fish). The infected fleshes were Zacco platypus. Zacco teminki, Opswiichthys biens, Squdidis sp., Corqssius carassius, etc. in western Kangwon-do Meanwhile, in the Ohsip stream area of Samchok-gun, eastern costal Kangwon-do, the infected fish were Plecoglossus altivelis and Tribolodon hokonensis. The rats and dogs are infected with the metcercanae obtained from Zacco platypus and Opsariichthys biens, adult worms collected were Miyata type of Metagonimus with some M. takahashii. When infected with metacercariae from Plecoglossus ltivelis, Metagonimus yokogowai was only found. M. yoogawai and Metagonimus Mlyata type were fecund together in Tribolodon hakonenis in Ohsip stream area of Samchok, in the eastern Kangwon-do. The intestinal flukes of genus Metogonimus in western Kangwon-do were Miyata type of MetQnonimuT and M. takahashii transmitting mainly by Zacco platypus and Opsariichtys bidens as a source of infection. In the eastern part of Kangwon province (Ohsip stream area of Samchok), M. yokogowai was mainly distributed by P. altivelis and T. hakonesis, but some T. hakonensis harbored the metacercariae of Miyata type of Metagonimus with those of M. yokogawai.