• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.132-137
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• 2007

Patients with febrile illness and skin rashes need full and immediate attention. In general, these diseases show mild manifestations and good prognosis. However, causalities of some diseases with fever and rash may be life threatening or trivial. So, the differential diagnosis for those patients is extensive. A through history, a careful physical examination and close observation of clinical progress are very helpful and essential to confirming the diagnosis. Histories of recent travel, drug or specific food ingestion, exposure to human or an animal source of infection may be useful to discover the cause. Although laboratory tests can be useful in making the diagnosis, laboratory results usually are not available immediately. Knowledge and experiences of such diseases may be helpful to reduce the differential diagnosis to a few major possibilities. Rashes can be categorized as petechial, maculopapular, vesicular, urticarial and erythematous. Potential causes include infectious pathogens such as virus, bacteria, rickettsiae, spirohetes, connective tissue diseases, allergic diseases and heamto-oncologic diseases. Because the severity of these diseases can vary mild to life threatening, physicians must perform prompt management decisions regarding empirical therapies. In this article, the differential etiological diagnosis of each type rash is reviewed and discussed, and with emphasis on intensive care of life threatening febrile diseases with rashes that are seen in our country.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.339-344
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• 2016

The genus Sarcocystis is not usually considered as an important enteric pathogen in immune compromised patients. It might be expected that species for which humans are the final host (Sarcocystis hominis and Sarcocystis suihominis as well as possibly others) would be encountered increasingly often in immunodeficient persons. This study aimed to address how to detect and differentiate Sarcocystis oocysts and/or sporocysts from enteric protozoans in the diarrheal samples of immunodeficient patients in Shiraz, Iran. Diarrheal samples of 741 immunodeficient patients with recurrent persistent or chronic diarrhea were examined by microscopy and molecular biological analysis. Oocysts-positive samples were 68 Cryptosporidium spp., 9 Cystoisospora belli (syn. Isospora belli), 2 Cyclospora cayetanensis, and 15 microsporidia (Enterocytozoon bieneusi). Sarcocystis-like sporocysts found from a woman were identified as Sarcocystis cruzi through 18S rDNA amplification and phylogenetic analysis. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of S. cruzi from a human.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.190-201
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• 2024

This study examined the effect of the distance Infection Control Education Program (ICEP), developed based on the ADDIE model, on infection control knowledge, attitude, and performance among care workers in long-term care facilities nationwide. The program, developed based on the ADDIE model, was applied to 173 care workers directly responsible for nursing care of elderly residents in lomg-term care facilities. The distance ICEP for care workers was conducted through the website and lasted 30 minutes for each of the eight topics. To determine the effectiveness of the education, infection control knowledge, attitude, performance, and satisfaction were surveyed before and four weeks after the program. Differences in infection control knowledge, attitude, and performance before and after the distance ICEP were assessed by a t-test. A significant difference was observed in knowledge and infection control performance after the distance ICEP was administered to care workers. In the sub-domains of infection control performance, overall understanding of infection, regular infection control education, infection control by special pathogen (multidrug-resistant bacteria, tuberculosis, tick-borne infectious diseases), and detailed infection control education by infection site (pressure ulcers and urinary tract infections) were significantly improved. Infection control knowledge and performance improved through the distance ICEP applied to care workers. Satisfaction also displayed high scores on most items and indicated that it was helpful for infection control in facilities, confirming the effectiveness of infection control education. Based on the survey of care workers nationwide, the infection education program can be effectively used for care workers in the future.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.21 no.5
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• pp.675-683
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• 2021

Objectives: This study aimed to verify the relations of COVID-19 infection-related knowledge, dental infection control performance, and psychosocial health of dental hygienists. Methods: From the data was analyzed through the frequency analysis, t-test, one way ANOVA, and pearson's correlation analysis with a total of 198 dental hygienists using SPSS Statistics 21.0. Results: The correct answer rate for knowledge about COVID-19 was higher with a bachelor's degree or higher. Thus, when the level of education was higher, the performance was also high (p<0.01). COVID-19 infection control performance was highly shown in case of high age (4.43) (p<0.05) and the married (4.42) (p<0.01). Infection control performance was high when they had an educational experience of COVID-19 infection control (4.46), and when the infection control guidebooks were equipped in their workplaces (p<0.001). Degree of psychosocial health of research subjects was shown in the order of potential stress (60.6%), high-risk stress (23.7%), and healthy (15.7%). Infection control performance was higher, the psychosocial health was healthy. Conclusions: For the response to COVID-19 infectious disease and the preparation for mutated viruses and new infectious diseases in the future, it would be necessary to establish the concrete measures for establishing the strict infection control system for dental clinics and also enhancing the psychosocial health of dental hygienists.

• Journal of Korean Academic Society of Home Health Care Nursing
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.69-78
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• 2014

Purpose: This study aimed at providing guidelines and educational manuals on infection control for the home care environment, by assessing the knowledge and performance among the caregivers in home care. Methods: Data were collected from January to March 2013. Participants were 172 caregivers who were registered in the home nursing center of university hospitals. Results: The total score on the level of knowledge of infection control was 13.28 points (${\pm}3.49$) out of 20 points. Secondly, 4.15 points were obtained for individual hygiene management, 4.14 points for hand wash, and 3.86 points for environment management. Lastly, the relationship between the knowledge and performance of infection control showed a significant positive correlation (r=0.37, p<.001). Conclusion: In many instances, the caregivers in the home environment provide nursing care for patients with chronic diseases and make use of various invasive devices. This study recommends the development of a manual or educational guidelines on infection control that can be used by caregivers at the home.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.3
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• pp.216-225
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• 2023

Background: Tuberculosis (TB)-related stigma has been well-documented. Since the emergence of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), different organizations have been alerted to the fact that stigma could arise again. Due to stigma's negative effects, this qualitative study aimed to explore the stigma felt by patients by evaluating the following: COVID-19 stigma and its temporal progression through the pandemic; stigma perceived by different patients with TB before and during COVID-19 pandemic; and difference perceived by individuals who contracted both diseases. Methods: A semi-structured interview was developed according to the available literature on the theme. It was performed individually in 2022 upon receiving signed informed consent. Participants were recruited with a purposive sampling approach by searching medical records. Those who currently or previously had pulmonary TB and/or COVID-19 were included. Data were subjected to thematic analysis. Results: Nine patients were interviewed, including six (66.7%) females. The median age of patients was 51±14.7 years. Four participants (44.4%) had completed high school and four (44.4%) were never smokers. Three had both TB and COVID-19. Four only had TB and two only had COVID-19. Interviews identified eight main themes: knowledge and beliefs, with several misconceptions identified; attitudes towards the disease, varying from social support to exclusion; knowledge and education, assumed as of extreme importance; internalized stigma, with self-rejection; experienced stigma, with discrimination episodes; anticipated stigma, modifying actions for avoiding stigma; perceived stigma, with judgment by others prevailed; and temporal evolution of stigma. Conclusion: Individuals expressed strong stigma for both diseases. De-stigmatization of respiratory infectious diseases is crucial for limiting stigma's negative impact.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.110-114
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• 2006

From the start of the residency trainingship in 1963, the residency training programs have been contributed much on the establishment and development of preventive medicine in Korea. But these programs are now have several problems to update the changes in health service needs of the population that were caused by a rapid epidemiologic transition from the acute infectious diseases to chronic diseases in last a few decades. Strengthening in medical practice, not just in knowledge is urgently required. Must have more concentrate on preventive service for the individual, as in clinical preventive medicine. Training residents by the systematic and well scheduled programs, not just 'teacher' assistant' in the academic facilities. Trying the change in the system of Specilty of Preventive Medicine to the well established several subspecialty, so more specific competency can be gained through the training. These approach and reformation may not only contribute for the better future of the preventive medicine, but also improve in disease prevention and health promotion, which required by the society in Korea.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.191-198
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• 2015

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is responsible for approximately 350 million chronic infections worldwide and is a leading cause of broad-spectrum liver diseases such as hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer. Although it has been well established that adaptive immunity plays a critical role in viral clearance, the pathogenetic mechanisms that cause liver damage during acute and chronic HBV infection remain largely known. This review describes our current knowledge of the immune-mediated pathogenesis of HBV infection and the role of immune cells in the liver injury during hepatitis B.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.377-383
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a novel virus that causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). To understand the identity, functional characteristics and therapeutic targets of the virus and the diseases, appropriate infection models that recapitulate the in vivo pathophysiology of the viral infection are necessary. This article reviews the various infection models, including Vero cells, human cell lines, organoids, and animal models, and discusses their advantages and disadvantages. This knowledge will be helpful for establishing an efficient system for defense against emerging infectious diseases.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.59-65
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• 2022

Background: Healthcare workers' attitudes toward vaccination have been widely described in the literature, but a restricted amount of studies assessed healthcare students' knowledge, attitudes, and opinions on this issue. This study aimed to estimate the influence of a degree course on knowledge and immunization behavior among healthcare students and to compare medical students with students from other health profession degree programs to identify possible differences. Methods: A multicenter, cross-sectional study was performed in 2018 in 14 Italian Universities (3,131 students were interviewed). A validated questionnaire was used to assess knowledge, attitudes, and opinions toward vaccinations, with a specific focus on influenza vaccine and attitudes toward mandatory vaccination policies. Statistical software STATA® 14 was used. Results: Significant differences were recorded between medical students and other healthcare students. The intention to get vaccinated against influenza during the next season and having been vaccinated in the previous season was higher in the medical group (p < 0.001). In the group of students of other health professions, we registered a lower probability of identifying themselves as a high-risk group for contracting infectious diseases as a consequence of their profession and health status (aOR 0.49; CI95%: 0.40-0.60) and an increased likelihood of defining their level of knowledge on vaccine-preventable diseases and related vaccinations as "insufficient/sufficient/fair" (aOR 1.31; CI95%: 1.11-1.56). Conclusions: Results show several differences between medical students and students of other health professions when it comes to vaccination knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions, as well as a general low tendency to be vaccinated against influenza.