• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제25권4호
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• pp.526-536
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• 2015

Leptospirosis is a worldwide zoonotic disease caused by pathogenic Leptospira, a genus of which more than 250 serovars have been identified. Commercial bacterin vaccines are limited in that they lack both cross-protection against heterologous serovars and long-term protection. This study investigated in mice the immunogenicity of an anti-leptospirosis vaccine, using the outer membrane proteins LipL32 and Loa22 as antigens. The immunogenicity of this vaccine formulation was compared with those induced by vaccines based on LipL32 or Loa22 alone. A DNA-encapsulated chitosan nanoparticle was used for in vivo DNA delivery. Using a unique DNA plasmid expressing both lipL32 and loa22 for vaccination, higher antibody responses were induced than when combining plasmids harboring each gene separately. Therefore, this formulation was used to test the immunogenicity when administered by a heterologous prime (DNA)-boost (protein) immunization regimen. The specific antibody responses against LipL32 (total IgG and IgG1) and Loa22 (IgG1) were higher in mice receiving two antigens in combination than in those vaccinated with a single antigen alone. Although no significant difference in splenic CD4⁺ T cell proliferation was observed among all groups of vaccinated mice, splenocytes from mice vaccinated with two antigens exhibited higher interferon-γ and IL-2 production than when using single antigens alone upon in vitro restimulation. Taken together, the immunogenicity induced by LipL32 and Loa22 antigens in a heterologous primeboost immunization regimen using chitosan as a DNA delivery system induces higher immune response, and may be useful for developing a better vaccine for leptospirosis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제18권2호
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• pp.124-134
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• 2011

Purpose : We have tried to search all concerning data on the policies of hepatitis B vaccination or surveillance of medical equipments that can transmit blood mediated diseases, including disposable syringe, in Republic of Korea, to propose references to other medical professionals. Methods : Data from domestic journals, government websites, computerized newspapers, etc. were reviewed. The data were arranged into four categories (governmental policies on hepatitis B control, hepatitis B mass immunization program in school, using process of hepatitis B vaccine, and policies on medical equipments surveillance, including disposable syringes, which is considered as source of blood mediated infection), and the periodic changes on each subjects in policies were reviewed. Results : Due to growing social concerns on hepatitis B in early 1980s, swift introduction and production of hepatitis B vaccine was made. After establishment of "5 year project for eradication of hepatitis B" in late 1983, number of vaccinated population jumped up to 6 million within 2 years (1984-85). However, since the immunization targets were mainly adult, not infant, this project was annulled in late 1985. Following this project, hepatitis B mass immunization program in school was carried out. In year 1995, hepatitis B vaccine was included in national immunization program. The use of disposable syringe was recommended from year 1980 but legislated in year 1985, finally. Conclusion : The mainstay in controlling hepatitis B in Republic of Korea was coordination of prompt introduction of vaccine, mass immunization, high vaccination coverage rate, or use of disposable syringes. However, since there is lack of official data available, it is urgent to arrange and computerize all government data related to infectious diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제52권1호
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• pp.68-74
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• 2009

Purpose : We assessed about the measles elimination in Korea according to analyzing national data on measles cases for 2002-2007. Methods : We estimated the effective reproduction number according to the proportion of imported cases and outbreak size. Results : Eleven cases, thirteen cases, six cases, six cases, 25 cases (60.0% were linked to 1 outbreak of 15 cases), and 180 cases (55.6% were linked 11 outbreaks of 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 5, 9, 9, 12, 50 cases) were reported in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007, respectively. In 2002-2007, R is 0.95 by imported case and 0.43 by outbreak sizes. In 2007, multiple chains of transmission occurred in hospital. Most of cases were below 4 ages and unvaccinated. We didn't find most of the infection source. Conclusion : We should prevent outbreak of susceptibility pocket like nosocomial infection, conduct reliable routine surveillance and epidemiological investigation to solve a problem of the measles elimination.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• 제26권3호
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• pp.515-530
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• 1996

A descriptive study was conducted to describe the content of nursing interventions and incoming telephone calls from the parents whose child was discharged to home or who has planned immunization during the period from March 15, 1995 to November 30, 1995. Detailed notes on 145 telephone calls and 243 nursing interventions were recorded by head nurses on pediatiric nursing units were entered to data collection and content analysis. The results of the study are as follows : 1. Six analysis categories for the records on incoming telephone calls were identified judgement-dependence, dependent -coping, self-initiated coping, support, adjustment and intermediation need. 2. Five analytic categories for the records on telephone interventions were identified : guidance, mediation, facilitating self -care abilities, support, instrumental use. 3. Problems related to physical signs and symptoms, medication, immunization, and vital signs were most often cited as concerns by parents and caregivers. 4. Instruction, suggestion, provision knowledge and information, reassurance related to physical problems, medication, immunization and clinic visits were most often used as an nursing interventions by head nurses on pediatric nursing units. In spite of the fact that the telephone calls were initiated by the parents, dependency of parents during the telephone calls was remarkable. The dependency of parents on judgement and decision making of the pediatric nurses should be understood in terms of the psychosocial content as well as cultural characteristics. Therefore, it is suppested that telephone interventions focus on facilitating the self-care ability of the parents whose children have chronic conditions. The results of this study will be useful as an essential reference in providing effective for children and their families after discharged from the hospital. The results can also be used as reliable data for extended pediatric nursing service in the health care delivery system as well as for the development of telephone intervention service program in responding to the current health care environment.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.173-185
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• 2019

Objective: To gather inputs from clinical experts on selecting and prioritizing research topics, to address unmet vaccine safety needs. Methods: A questionnaire containing 15 vaccine safety assessment research proposals was sent to 28 vaccine experts chosen from various domestic medical association boards, and the rationale for each of the proposals was provided by presenting the following information: 1) a brief summary of the clinical safety studies on the vaccine, conducted by the Clinical Immunization Safety Assessment (CISA) project group, supervised by the United States Center for Disease Control (U.S. CDC), and 2) a summary of recently published studies that address vaccine safety issues. The experts were instructed to select and rank 5 topics in the order of preference, and the preference score for each proposed topic was calculated by assigning points on a scale of 1 to 5. Results: All 28 experts responded to the questionnaire, and the following topics were selected according to their calculated preference scores: 1) Human papillomavirus vaccine safety profile in the Korean female adolescents; 2) A signal detection of adverse events following Influenza vaccination: comparison between the US and South Korea; 3) Incidence of anaphylaxis following National Immunization Program vaccines between 2008 and 2017; 4) Safety of quadrivalent influenza vaccines compared to trivalent influenza vaccines; and 5) Pneumococcal vaccine safety profile in the general population. Conclusion: Five research topics addressing vaccine safety were selected, for which well-constructed research protocols need to be promptly developed to address current unmet vaccine safety needs in South Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.58-66
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• 2020

Purpose: HPV vaccination is important for the prevention of cervical cancer and genital warts and it is recommended that females be vaccinated against HPV before having sexual contact. Although the national HPV immunization has recently started in Korea, the vaccination rate is still not high. This is a relevant study attempting to investigate the factors affecting the vaccination status of female adolescents in the target age groups focusing on mothers' knowledge and health beliefs of HPV vaccines. Methods: Participants were 206 mothers who had daughters at the target age for the national HPV vaccination program living in a metropolitan city. Data were collected using a self-reported questionnaire about HPV knowledge and health beliefs of HPV vaccines, consisting of perceived susceptibility seriousness, benefits, barriers, and cues to action. Results: The participants' knowledge of HPV was significantly correlated with the overall health beliefs. The factors influencing mothers regarding the HPV vaccination status of their adolescent daughters were found to be perceived barriers, advice on vaccination from medical staff, and perceived benefits. Conclusion: There is a need to organize subject-specific education programs focusing on correcting misinformation about the side effects and benefits of HPV vaccines. When operating education programs, it is recommended that participants include both students and their parents, that various approaches be implemented such as formal health classes, home correspondence and online education, and that medical personnel be also involved as education providers.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.489-499
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• 2019

Subunit vaccines are safer and more stable than live vaccines although they have the disadvantage of eliciting poor immune response. To develop a subunit vaccine, an effective delivery system targeting the key elements of the protective immune response is a prerequisite. In this study, oxidized carbon nanospheres (OCNs) were used as a subunit vaccine delivery system and tuberculosis (TB) was chosen as a model disease. TB is among the deadliest infectious diseases worldwide and an effective vaccine is urgently needed. The ability of OCNs to deliver recombinant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) proteins, Ag85B and HspX, into bone marrow derived macrophages (BMDMs) and dendritic cells (BMDCs) was investigated. For immunization, OCNs were mixed with the two TB antigens as well as the adjuvant monophosphoryl lipid A (MPL). The protective efficacy was analyzed in vaccinated mice by aerosol Mtb challenge with a virulent strain of Mtb and the bacterial burdens were measured. The results showed that OCNs are highly effective in delivering Mtb proteins into the cytosol of BMDMs and BMDCs. Upon immunization, this vaccine formula induced robust Th1 immune response characterized by cytokine profiles from restimulated splenocytes and specific antibody titer. More importantly, enhanced cytotoxic $CD8^+$ T cell activation was observed. However, it did not reduce the bacteria burden in the lung and spleen from the aerosol Mtb challenge. Taken together, OCNs are highly effective in delivering subunit protein vaccine and induce robust Th1 and $CD8^+$ T cell response. This vaccine delivery system is suitable for application in settings where cell-mediated immune response is needed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제22권2호
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• pp.69-74
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• 2015

Purpose: In this study, doctors were surveyed with a questionnaire to determine whether they performed simultaneous vaccination and whether there were any concerns about safety or anxiety. The purpose of this study was to determine any problems associated with doctors readily performing simultaneous vaccination. Methods: A trained surveyor visited 241 doctors from every institution registered with the National Immunization Program (NIP) located within six districts (gu) in the City of Busan (Dongnae-gu, Geumjeong-gu, Yeonje-gu, Suyeong-gu, Busanjin-gu, Haeundae-gu); a total of 155 (64%) valid responses were obtained. Results: Of the 155 respondents, 144 (93%) were already performing simultaneous immunizations and 141 (91%) had a positive view of the practice. However, among the 144 doctors performing simultaneous immunizations, 67 (47%) were not confident about its safety; side effects were seen after simultaneous immunization by 86 doctors, 35 (41%) of whom believed that the frequency or possibility of side effects in simultaneous immunizations was higher than that in sequential immunizations. Conclusions: The use of simultaneous immunization is expanding quickly. However, among the doctors performing simultaneous immunizations, a high percentage had concerns over its unproven safety and potential side effects, indicating the need for academic societies or government institutions to present evidence to address such concerns.

• Health Policy and Management
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• 제12권2호
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• pp.76-91
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• 2002

This study aimed to assess the educational need for management of communicable disease prior to developing curriculum for Field Epidemiology Specialist Training Program on Infectious Disease. We sent questionnaires(72 items) to two personnels who were related to communicable disease in each public health center through e-mai and 300 were returned(62.0% of response rate). The subject for education which showed the highest educational need was management(2.31 point), followed by immunization(2.30 point), and the lowest was surveillance(2.10 point). Generally, the educational need was higher in the aspect of attitude or practice than in that of knowledge. The subject which showed the differences in educational need by job titles were immunization(p<0.01), outbreak investigation(p<0.01), and case management and sanitation(p<0.01). There was negative correlation between communicable disease management-working duration and educational need. Considering this result, the curriculum should be focused on strengthening the ability for problem-solving especially in management and immunization.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.241-251
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• 2007

Purpose: To identify the effects on tuberculosis mortality of a tuberculosis control program conducted at 108 community health centers in terms of structure and process. Methods: The dependent variable was tuberculosis mortality, and the independent variables were the structure(type of centers, staff, nurses, doctors, budget) and process(chest X-ray checking, immunization, case detection, health education, patients registering & managing) of the tuberculosis control programs at the community health centers. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis and stepwise regression analysis. Result: Tuberculosis morality was positively correlated with type of centers(rural area)(p<0.01), but negatively correlated with type of centers(large cities) (p<0.01), (middle cities)(p<0.05), staff FTE(p<0.05), and number of nurses(p<0.05). Regression analysis indicated that type of centers(rural area)($\beta$=0.457) and case detection($\beta$=0.234) had a significant effect on tuberculosis mortality. Conclusion: Ultimately, this study will provide information to improve the effectiveness of tuberculosis control programs in community health centers.