• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.216-221
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• 2017

Purpose: To analyze presence of Helicobacter pylori infection and environmental risk factors among children with and without allergy. Methods: Parents of children at primary health care centres/kindergartens and allergologist consultation were asked to answer a questionnaire and to bring a faecal sample. H. pylori infection was detected by monoclonal stool antigen test. Prevalence of H. pylori infection and risk factors were compared between individuals with and without allergy using ${\chi}^2$ test, ANOVA test and logistic regression. Results: Among 220 children (mean age, 4.7 years; ${\pm}standard$ deviation 2.3 years) H. pylori positivity was non-significantly lower among patients with allergy (n=122) compared to individuals without allergy (n=98): 13.9% (17/122) vs. 22.4% (22/98); p=0.106. In logistic regression analysis presence of allergy was significantly associated with family history of allergy (odds ratio [OR], 8.038; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.067-15.886; p<0.0001), delivery by Caesarean section (OR, 2.980; 95% CI, 1.300-6.831; p=0.009), exclusive breast feeding for five months (OR, 2.601; 95% CI, 1.316-5.142; p=0.006), antibacterial treatment during the previous year (OR, 2.381; 95% CI, 1.186-4.782; p=0.015). Conclusion: Prevalence of H. pylori infection did not differ significantly between children with and without allergy. Significant association of allergy with delivery by Caesarean section and antibacterial therapy possibly suggests the role of gastrointestinal flora in the development of allergy, while association with family history of allergy indicates the importance of genetic factors in the arise of allergy.

• Infection and chemotherapy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.319-327
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• 2018

Background: Lancet-related needlestick injuries (NSIs) occur steadily in clinical practices. Safety-engineered devices (SEDs) can systematically reduce NSIs. However, the use of SEDs is not active and no study to guide the implementation of SEDs was known in South Korea. The lancet-related NSIs may be eliminated to zero incidence using a SED lancet with effective sharp injury protection and reuse prevention features. Materials and Methods: We implemented a SED lancet by replacing a conventional prick lancet in a tertiary hospital in a sequential approach. A spot test of the new SED was conducted for 1 month to check the acceptability in practice and a questionnaire survey was obtained from the healthcare workers (HCWs). A pilot implementation of the SED lancet in 2 wards was made for 1 year. Based on these preliminary interventions, a hospital-wide full implementation of the SED lancet was launched. The incidence of NSIs and cost expenditure before and after the intervention were compared. Results: There were 29 cases of conventional prick lancet-related NSIs for 3 years before the full implementation of SED lancet. The proportion of prick lancet-related NSIs among yearly all kinds of NSIs during two years before the pilot study was average 11.7% (22/188). Pre-interventional baseline incidence of all kinds of NSIs was 7.01 per 100 HCW-years. After the full implementation of SED lancet, the lancet-related NSIs became zero in the 2nd year (P = 0.001). The average direct cost of 18,393 US dollars (USD) per year from device and post-exposure medical care before the intervention rose to 20,701 USD in the 2nd year of the intervention. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was 210 USD per injury avoided. Conclusion: The implementation of a SED lancet could eliminate the lancet-related NSIs to zero incidence. The cost increase incurred by the use of SED lancet was tolerable.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.321-333
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• 2022

Objectives: Extensive evidence links low vitamin D status and comorbidities with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outcomes, but the results of published studies are contradictory. Therefore, we investigated the association of lower levels of vitamin D and comorbidities with the risk of COVID-19 infection. Methods: We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and ClinicalTrials.gov for articles published until August 20, 2021. Sixteen eligible studies were identified (386 631 patients, of whom 181 114 were male). We included observational cohort and case-control studies that evaluated serum levels of vitamin D in COVID-19-positive and COVID-19-negative patients. Mean differences (MDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Results: Significantly lower vitamin D levels were found in COVID-19-positive patients (MD, -1.70; 95% CI, -2.74 to -0.66; p=0.001), but with variation by study design (case-control: -4.04; 95% CI, -5.98 to -2.10; p<0.001; cohort: -0.39; 95% CI, -1.62 to 0.84; p=0.538). This relationship was more prominent in female patients (MD, -2.18; 95% CI, -4.08 to -0.28; p=0.024) than in male patients (MD, -1.74; 95% CI, -3.79 to 0.31; p=0.096). Male patients showed higher odds of having low vitamin D levels (odds ratio [OR], 2.09; 95% CI, 1.38 to 3.17; p<0.001) than female patients (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 0.74 to 1.86; p=0.477). Comorbidities showed inconsistent, but generally nonsignificant, associations with COVID-19 infection. Conclusions: Low serum vitamin-D levels were significantly associated with the risk of COVID-19 infection. This relationship was stronger in female than in male COVID-19 patients. Limited evidence was found for the relationships between comorbidities and COVID-19 infection, warranting large population-based studies to clarify these associations.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.128-137
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• 2024

Objectives: This study was conducted to characterize the symptoms, mental health, quality of life (QoL), and associated factors following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 394 participants previously infected with COVID-19 in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam. Mental health was assessed using the 21-item Depression, Anxiety, and Stress Scale (DASS-21). Participants self-reported health-related QoL was measured with the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L) scale. Results: Among the participants, 76.4% reported experiencing at least one symptom following COVID-19 infection. The most common symptoms were fatigue (42.1%), cognitive dysfunction (42.9%), and hair loss (27.9%). According to the DASS-21 results, the proportions of depression, anxiety, and stress were 28.7%, 26.4%, and 20.6%, respectively. The mean scores on the EQ-5D-5L and the EuroQol Visual Analog Scale were 0.94±0.11 and 84.20±13.11, respectively. Regarding QoL issues, the highest proportion of participants (32.7%) reported experiencing anxiety or depression, followed by pain or discomfort (25.4%). Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that factors associated with the presence of symptoms following COVID-19 infection included female (odds ratio [OR], 2.84; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.65 to 4.91) and having QoL issues (OR, 3.25; 95% CI, 1.71 to 6.19). Conclusions: The study investigated the prevalence rates of various symptoms following COVID-19 infection. These findings underscore the need to prioritize comprehensive care for individuals recovering from COVID-19 and to implement strategies to mitigate the long-term impact of the disease on mental health and QoL.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.408-417
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• 2017

This study was conducted to examine the influence of the nurse staffing level on the level of in-hospital death and infection in cancer patients who received surgery. Secondary data were used and the subjects of this study were 24,510 patients who received surgery for six types of cancer with a high postoperative mortality rate in the first half of 2012 at 260 hospitals. Simple logistic and GEE multiple logistic regression analyses were used. After adjusting for the patient and hospital characteristics, a greater likelihood of dying was found in the nurse staffing level 2-3 group (odds ratio [OR], 1.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.00-2.11) and in the level 6-7 group (OR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.87-5.74) compared to the level 0-1 group. The likelihood of in-hospital infection increased with each additional bed per nurse, being 6.63 times higher (95% CI, 3.00-14.62) in the level 2-3 group, 5.79 times higher (95% CI, 1.88-17.78) in the level 4-5 group, and 8.4 times higher (95% CI, 1.82-38.84) in the level 6-7 group, as compared to the level 0-1 group. A lower nurse staffing level was associated with higher in-hospital death and infection levels. This shows that an appropriate nurse staffing level is associated with superior postoperative cancer patient outcomes. Policies for providing adequate nurse staffing should be maintained for the sake of ensuring improved care quality and patient safety.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.73-82
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• 2017

Purpose: Since the facility guidelines for National Designated Isolation Unit wards(NDIUs) had been edited since 2016, all hospital who want to expand or install NDIU should adapt the new guidelines. Instead of providing area requirement, by the way, only essential or optional facility requirements are suggested except patient bedroom in the guidelines. So, as analyze area and area composition of the NDIUs, it could be expected that this study has a role as an area planing reference for not only NDIU but also another airborne infection isolation room. Methods: For the area analysis, 18 sample hospitals are selected among 2016 year applicants. All rooms in NDIUs are grouped as zones whether those are negative air pressurized or not and programed room or not. At the end, area of the zones are summarized and analysed a relationship between area increase and bed number by both correlation analysis and regression analysis. In addition, department usable and gross area per bed, N/G ratio, G/N ratio, and average area ratio of each zone is calculated. Results: First of all, rooms in none negative air pressurized zone of the NDIUs haven't shown a regular installation so that only those in negative air pressurized zone are targeted for the area analysis. Second of all, patient room unit(0.92) and support area(0.79), by correlation analysis, are correlated with total net area. Patient room unit(0.94) and total net area(0.79) are also shown a correlation with bed number. Department usable area($R^2=0.63$, y=36.278x + 102) and patient room unit area($R^2=0.89$, y= 27.993x - 0.8924) has a relationship with bed number by regression analysis. Average N/G is shown as 0.85 and G/N 1.36. Average area ratio of circulation, doffing area, patient room unit, and support area are 25.4%, 9.1%, 50.9%, and 14.6% in order. Implications: This study is a basic research for exploring the NDIUs guidelines to find resonable evidence to develop it for its practical use. Still, it is possibly expected that the guideline is to be developed by post occupancy evaluation in the area of where minimum requirement or facility grade needs to be defined, and by further studies with various perspectives.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 1996

Purpose : Adenoviruses(Ad) have been shown to play an important role in the etiology of severely acute respiratory diseases, particulary in infants and young children, and the occurrence of fatal outcome and chronic pulmonary sequelae in association with adenoviral infection has been a cause of great interest and concern. This report presents the resul of a retrospective analysis on 30 cases of lower respiratory infection from which adenovirus was isolated. Patients & Methods : The 30 patients in this study represent all detected cases of adenovial infection out of 240 children who were admitted to Sang Sung Medical Center between February to June 1996 showing signs and symptoms of lower respiratory tract infection. The diagnosis of adenovirus infection was based on microscopic visualization of typical cytopathic effect in HEp-2 tissue culture and used monoclonal Ab with nasopharyngeal aspiration. Results : The male/female ratio was 2:1 and the majority of age range was below 36months. Clinical diagnoses in all 30 patients were pneumonia(n=21), bronchitis and Bronchiolitis(n=5) and ARDS(n=4). We recieved the most of patients in the month of May. The chief complaints were fever(93.3%) and cough(80%) and extrapulmonary symptoms were diarrhea(n=5), seizure(n=4), abdominal pain(n=1). The mean duration of fever was $11.95{\pm}6.54$days. Physical examination on admission were crackles(73.3%), coarse breathing sounds(60%), hepatosplenomegaly(33.3%), decreased brething sounds(30%). In WBC counts, 8cases were below $4000/mm^3$ and 14 cases were above $10,000/mm^3$. In platelets counts, 4cases were below $150,000/mm^3$ and 10 cases were above $450,000/mm^3$. 21 cases were above 1 in CRP. GOT and GPT were abnormal in some cases. Chest X-ray revealed diffuse pulmonary infiltration(n=15), pleural effusion(n=6), consolidation(n=4) and hyperaeration(n=3). Seven patients were treated at the peditric intensive care unit with respiratory support and high dose of gammaglobulin. However, one patients died even through he was treated with NO ventilation and high frequency ventilation. Conclusion : Those with adenoviral pneumonia and respiratory infection having long fever duration and symptoms like bacterial pneumonia must be carefully differentiated in order to provide proper treatement and preventive measures due to possible fatal outcome.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.275-284
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• 2005

The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of Eimeria infection according to anti-coccidiosis drugs treatment in 1,300 slaughtered chickens from 130 farms in Gyeongnam, Jeonnam, Jeonbuk, Gyeongbuk and Chungnam during the period from October 2002 to August 2003. The prevalence of Eimeria infection by drug administration for treatment and prevention or non-administration was shown $71.4\%,\;82.6\%\;and\;72.3\%$, respectively, and so infection rate of chicken farms was similar independent on drug administration or not. The prevalence of Oocysts infection level of chicken farms by administrated drug for treatment was shown lower $(25.3\%)$ than for prevention $(35.4\%)$ and non-treatment $(36.2\%)$. The prevalence of Oocysts infection level by drug administration under 2 days for treatment was shown higher infection rate $(32.2\%)$ than over 3 days $(20\%)$ and also under 2 days for prevention has similar tendency of that of treatment and so, it was conclusion that administration of drug over 3 days has the effect for treatment and prevention of Eimeria infection. The prevalence of Oocysts infection level by age for prevention has various level from $48.8\%\;to\;22.9\%$ but on $22\~25$ days was shown the most higher ratio $(48.8\%)$ and on $19\~21$ days was shown the lowest rate $(22.9\%)$ among the all age groups.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.119-121
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• 1975

The effect of mecadox, trade name of carbodox, in the treatment of colibacillosis and in the prevention of experimental Salmonella infection in swine was studied throughout the experimental period of four weeks using a total of 70 piglets. The results obtained are as followings. 1. Mecadox was found moderately effective as a therapeutic for colibacillosis of piglets when administered orally as pig doser or added to the feed at the ratio of 50 ppm with or without the addition of vitamin A and $D_3$. 2. In the prevention of experimental infection with Sal. choleraesuis, mecadox was found highly effective. As judged by clinical symptoms such as diarrhea and fever together with the confirmation of excretion of the causative organisms in the feces, the best result was obtained with mecadox pig doser followed by mecadox (50ppm) with vitamin A and $D_3$, and mecadox (50 ppm) without the vitamins in the descending order of effectiveness.

• The Korean Journal of Pharmacology
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• v.10 no.2
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• pp.25-29
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• 1974

The present clinical trial was performed to evaluate the anthelminthic effect and tolerance of Oxantel pamoate, a new antiwhipworm agent, in the treatment of T. trichiurus infection. Oxantel pamoate oral suspension was administered as a sing1e dose of 10 mg per kg. body weight to a total of 46 T. trichiurus infected cases selected out of 64 positives, by examining 89 fecal specimens collected from the soldiers and in-patients of xx Armed Forces General Hospital. For the evaluation, the negative conversion rate (cure rate) and the egg reduction rate were assessed 22 days after the treatment. The result obtained were as follows: 1. The prevalence rate of T. trichiurus infection in this study was 71.9%, while the mean E.P.G. of 46 treated cases was 126. 2. The egg negative conversion rate was 91.3%, and 98.4% of egg reduction rate was obtained. 3. From the observation of 107 worms expelled during 3 consecutive days after the treatment, it was known that sex ratio of male and female was about 1 : 2 and that average worm burden per capita was 2.3. 4. In all treated cases, the medication was readily accepted and well tolerated. On the hemograms, urinalysis and liver function tests, no significant differences were noted before and after the drug administration. There was also no detectable objective and subjective side effect.