• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.4
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• pp.550-557
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• 2011

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of depression among school girls in Korea and identify factors influencing the tendency to depression. Methods: A self-report survey was conducted with South Korean middle schoolgirls who were in the 8th and 9th grades. Four hundred and one schoolgirls were included in the study. The instruments utilized in this study were the Center for Epidemiologic Studies - Depression Scale and Social Problem Solving Inventory-Revised. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation and multiple logistic regression with SPSS WIN 14.0 program. Results: The average depression score of the participants was 20.68, which indicates moderate levels of depression. About 35% of the schoolgirls in this study reported a tendency to depression. Significant predictors for depression were 'decreased problem-solving abilities', 'no family members with whom they can discuss their concern', 'decreased satisfaction in relationship with friends', and 'increased negative self-perception of body-image'. Conclusion: The study findings suggest that schoolgirls require special concern regarding the risk of developing depression. Regular depression screening could be beneficial for early detection of depression in schoolgirls and enhancing problem-solving ability could be considered as an effective strategy to reduce the risk of depression among schoolgirls.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.11 no.1
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• pp.27-39
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• 2010

Objectives: This study was conducted to find out caries preventive effect on permanent teeth among children who brush teeth with fluoride-containing toothpaste by supervised weekly fluoride mouthrinsing program in elementary schools. Methods: The epidemiologic dental survey was performed on the elementary schoolchildren of supervised weekly fluoride mouthrinsing program (FMR) with 0.2 percent neutral sodium fluoride solution and control group in 2007. Caries preventive effect on permanent teeth by fluoride mouthrinsing program were calculated by DMFT index and DMFS index between FMR group and control group. Results: By DMFT index between FMR group and control group, caries rates on permanent teeth of the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade children participating in FMR program were 34.1%, 40.8% and 31.5%, respectively. By the DMFS index between FMR group and control group, caries preventive rates on permanent teeth of the fourth-, fifth- and sixth-grade children participating in FMR program were calculated 25.4%, 37.7% and 33.5%, respectively. Conclusions: We suggest that fluoride mouthrinsing program should be developed to all elementary schools to prevent dental caries.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.13 no.6
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• pp.2695-2698
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• 2012

Introduction: Design and implementation of screening programs in each country must be based on epidemiological data. Despite the relatively high incidence of CRC, there is no nationwide comprehensive program for screening in Iran. This study was designed to investigate national CRC data and help to determine guidelines for screening. Methods: Incidence data used in this study were obtained from Iranian annual of National Cancer Registration report. Age standardized rates (ASR)were calculated using world standard population and were categorized by age, sex, anatomic subsite and morphology of tumor. Data were analyzed using SPSS.V.13 and Open Source Epidemiologic Statistics for Public Health software (OpenEpi v.2.3.1). Results: A quarter of cases were less than 50 years of age. The majority of tumors were detected in the colon. The overall ASR in the four years period was 38.0 per 100000 and was higher for men compared women (P<0.05). Incidence rate of colorectal cancer increased with age. Conclusion: Results of present study indicated that incidence of colorectal cancer is relatively high in Iran. Incidence of CRC in people under 50 years and in rectum were reported higher than other countries that related etiologic factors should be investigate in further studies. According to the increasing of ASR after age 50 years, it seems that onset of screening at age 50 would be appropriate.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.57-65
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• 2012

Objectives: For our survey of the incidence of norovirus infections and the genogroup distribution of norovirus in Seoul, Republic of Korea, we evaluated through regular surveillance the prevalence of norovirus infections in patients with acute gastroenteritis occurring in Seoul from January 2007 to July 2011. Methods: For norovirus detection, we conducted epidemiological analyses on the basis of the junction of ORF1 and ORF2 (approximately 314 bp). 11,202 fecal specimens were collected from patients in Seoul with acute gastroenteritis between January 2007 and July 2011 and then tested for the presence of NoV via reverse transcription (RT) - polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results: 16.6% (1,861/11,202) of the fecal specimens were determined to be positive for noroviruses. The incidences of norovirus infection in Seoul in the case of acute gastroenteritis with regular surveillance were 28.0% in 2007, 14.6% in 2008, 9.1% in 2009, 14.1% in 2010, and 12.9% in 2011, which shows that noroviruses constituted a major causative agent of acute gastroenteritis. Also, the incidence of noroviral infection in patients with acute gastroenteritis increased after the large-scale new influenza in 2009. Conclusions: The genetic characteristics of norovirus and the epidemiologic patterns of a viral pathogen in acute gastroenteritis patients may provide potentially effective data for epidemiological studies in Seoul, Korea.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.189-196
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• 2005

Objectives: An outbreak of shigellosis occurred among students and staff of S primary and middle school, Seongju-gun, in 2003. This investigation was carried out to institute an effective counterplan, and study the infection source and transmission of the shigellosis. Methods: The authors conducted a questionnaire survey among 235 students and staff from S preschool, primary and middle school relating to the ingestion of school lunch and the manifestation of symptoms. Also, the author investigated the drinking water, feeding facility and reconstructed cooking process of the food presumed to be the cause of the shigellosis. The diarrhea cases were defined as confirmed cases and those cases who had had diarrhea more than one time, accompanied with symptoms such as fever, vomiting and tenesmus. Results: From rectal swabs 20 people, between June 28 and July 4, 2003, were confirmed with shigellosis. The diarrhea attack rate was 40.0%. Those who had ingested tomatoes and cubed radish kimchi had significantly higher diarrhea attack rates (p<0.05), with the relative risk of tomatoes being 2.69 (95% CI: 0.98-7.42). The major cause of shigellosis was presumed to be from contaminated tomatoes due to cooking with rubber gloves containing holes. Conclusion: The cooks in charge of school lunches must make doubly sure to not only attend to their sanitation, but also to manage the table wear and items used in providing school lunches. The health care authority should introduce higher-leveled criteria for health care among cooks, so that they cannot cook when the have a case of any infectious disease.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.239-246
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• 2010

Among 203 avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) isolated from poultry with colibacillosis in korea, 14 isolates were selected from total 68 isolates transferred R plasmid and classified into 5 groups on the basis of antimicrobial minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) pattern, farm source and O serotype. An association between clonal origin and R plasmid of them was investigated by R plasmid profile, restriction endonuclease analysis and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The strains that showed the same or very similar antimicrobial MIC pattern, but different farm source and O serotype, revealed different PFGE pattern, which seemed to be different clonal origin. And the strains that showed the same MIC pattern and O serotype, revealed different PFGE pattern, seemed to be originated from different clone. Also the strains showing the same MIC pattern and farm source, but different O serotype, revealed to be different clonal origin. The strains that showed the same or similar MIC pattern, farm source, and O serotype, revealed identical or similar PFGE pattern, which seemed to belong to be one clone. Meanwhile, horizontal transfer of R plasmid seems to be common in APEC with regardless of O serotype and clone of the strains. These results indicate that rapid and accurate epidemiological survey of APEC can be possible by the combination of O serotyping, plasmid profiling and PFGE analysis following the classification of them into groups of antimicrobial drug resistance pattern.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.470-477
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• 2010

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the levels of depression and predictors of depression in middle-school girls. Method: A self-report survey was conducted with 2nd and 3rd grade students in a girls'middle school (N=401) in Pusan. Data were analyzed with descriptive statistics, Pearson correlation, and simultaneous multiple regression using the SPSS program. Results: The mean score for the Center for Epidemiologic Studies-Depression Scale (CES-D) was 20.63. The level of depression was negatively related to problem-solving ability, self-esteem, total household income, school achievement, self-perception of body-image, and satisfaction in relationships with siblings, parents, and friends. A multivariate approach showed that predictors explained 61% of variance in depression. Significant predictors of depression were self-esteem (${\beta}$=-.38), problem-solving ability (${\beta}$=-.34), and satisfaction in relationships with friends (${\beta}$=-.14) and parents (${\beta}$=-.08). Conclusion: The findings suggest that it is important to develop educational programs to increase self-esteem and problem-solving abilities in middle school girls. Considering the high levels of depression in middle school girls, school nurses play an important role in detecting and reducing emotional tension among these students. Nursing interventions, including art therapy, problem-solving counseling, and bibliotherapy could be useful in enhancing self-esteem, problem-solving abilities, and satisfaction in relationship with friends, siblings and parents.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.270-279
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• 2020

Objective: The aim of this study was to propose revision of the occupational exposure limit(OEL) for 1-Bromopropane(1-BP) following a review of the appropriateness of the standard in light of increasing epidemiological data and handling risk. Materials and Methods: The results of toxicity and epidemiologic investigations for 1-BP and agencies' OELs were compared and reviewed through a literature review. In order to investigate the status of 1-BP handling in South Korea, data from work environment actual condition survey results and work environment measurement results were used. Results: The toxicity of 1-BP, such as central nervous system(CNS) damage, peripheral neuropathy, hematological adverse effects, and developmental and reproductive toxicity(male and female) has been reported. ACGIH recommends 0.1 ppm as a TLV-TWA value, but the OEL of South Korea stands at 25 ppm, which is 250 times higher than the TLV-TWA. Although 1-BP is a specially managed substance under the Industrial Safety and Health Law, the currently applied OEL cannot be said to be a safe level based on the results of epidemiological studies to date. In a work environment measurement in 2017, the total number of samples was 626, which were derived from 78 industries, and the average concentration was 1.173 ppm(standard deviation 2.88). Conclusions: To protect the health of workers handling 1-BP, estimated to be 780 in South Korea, it is necessary to strengthen the OEL(TWA) to a level of 0.3 ppm(lower than the 0.34 ppm with known toxic effects), which is believed to be safe as a result of epidemiological investigation. "Skin" notation should be recommended.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.457-464
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• 2005

Objectives : An outbreak of salmonellosis occurred among the student s and staff of D primary school in Yeongcheon-si, 2004. This investigation was carried out to prevent any recurrence of this outbreak and to study the infection source and transmission of the salmonellosis. Methods : The authors conducted a questionnaire survey among 1,205 students and staff members from D primary school about the ingestion of the school lunch and drinking water, and the manifestation of their symptoms. The author examined rectal swabs, the tap water and microorganism cultures, and we also investigated the dining facility and water supply facility. Results : The diarrheal cases were defined as the confirmed cases or the persons who had diarrhea more than one time with symptoms such as fever, vomiting and tenesmus. The diarrheal attack rate was 28.0%. Ingestion of fried bean curd with egg had a significantly high association with the diarrheal attack rate (p<0.05), and the relative risk of the fried bean curd with egg was 10.68 (95% CI=3.88-29.41), as was determined by logistic regression analysis. The bacterial counts in the tap water of the food preparation room and toilet (first floor) exceeded the maximum permissible counts. S. Enteritidis bacteria were only cultured from the fried bean curd with egg of all the supplied foods on September 3, 2004. Conclusions : The major cause of salmonellosis was presumed to be the contaminated bean curd via contaminated tap water due to a water leak of a school water pipe. This contaminated bean curd was under prepared, which allowed the S. Enteritidis to survive and multiply prior to its ingestion.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.26 no.3 s.43
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• pp.321-331
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• 1993

This survey was conducted to investigate Farmers' Syndrome and its related factors in Chonnam province. 5,920 (men 6,148, women 6,722) persons in urban area and 12,870 (men 6148, women 6,722) persons in rural area were selected in stratified cluster sampling manner, and interviewed individually with structured questionnaire in April, 1992. The results were summarized as follows : 1 In rural area of Chonnam province, the prevalence of Farmers' syndrome positive was 283 per 1,000 persons (203 in male, 355 in female). In urban area of Chonnam province, control area, the prevalence of Farmers' syndrome positive was 113 (72 in male, 145 in female). The prevalence of Farmers' syndrome positive in rural area was 2.5 times higher than that of urban area, and the prevalence in female was 1.7 times higher than that of male. The prevalence in total respondents was 256. 2. In rural area of Chonnam province, the age standardized prevalence of Farmers' syndrome positive was 209 per 1,000 persons (140 in male, 267 in female). In urban area of Chonnam province, control area, the age standardized prevalence of Farmers' syndrome positive was 122(79 in male, 158 in female). The age standardized prevalence in total respondents was 194. 3. The associated factors with Farmers' syndrome in univariate analysis were having illness during recent 15 days, age, sex, occupation, area, monthly income, education, medical security status, family size and duration of farming. 4. When applying multiple logistic regression for Farmers' syndrome, the significant variables were having illness during recent 15 days, area, sex, age, education, medical security status, family size and duration of farming.