• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2012

Hepatitis A virus (HAV) is an epidemiologically important virus with a worldwide distribution. It causes acute hepatitis in humans. HAV infection is often subclinical or asymptomatic in children; however, symptomatic acute infections become more common with age. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of anti-HAV among hospital workers in Jeonbuk province. 447 (127 males, 320 females) persons were included in the study from January to June, 2011. Anti-HAV (total and IgM) in the sample serum was measured by VIDAS Hepatitis A (bioMerieux, France), and IgM positive samples were tested in terms of their serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) levels by a HITACHI 7600-010 automatic analyzer (HITACHI, Japan). The overall prevalence of total anti-HAV was 45.9% (205/447), and rate for males (60.6%) was higher than that for females (40%). According to the age group, the prevalence rates of total anti-HAV were 20% (1/5) in those under 20 years old, 11.3% (18/160) in those 20-29 years, 49.7% (71/143) in those 30-39 years, 86.5% (83/96) in those 40-49 years, 92.9% (26/28) in those 50-59 years, and 40% (6/15) in those over 60 years old. The total prevalence of anti-HAV IgM was 0.8% (4/447), and rate for males (1.6%) was higher than that for females (0.6%). Through this study, we determined the prevalence of anti-HAV among hospital workers in Jeonbuk province. The prevalence of the HAV antibody overall was low in hospital workers under 40 years old and in those over 60 years old. Therefore, an improvement in sanitary conditions and hygiene and vaccinations against HAV in this population are recommended.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.8
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• pp.338-342
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• 2013

Purpose: Allergic disease and its comorbidities significantly influence the quality of life. Although the comorbidities of allergic diseases are well described in adult populations, little is known about them in preschool children. In the present study, we aimed to assess the prevalence and comorbidity of allergic diseases in Korean preschool children. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study comprising 615 Korean children (age, 3 to 6 years). Symptoms of allergic diseases were assessed using the Korean version of the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaire that was modified for preschool children. Comorbidities of allergic diseases were assessed by 'In the last 12 months, has your child had symptoms?'. Results: The prevalence of symptoms of asthma, allergic rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis as recorded using the ISAAC questionnaire, within the last 12 months was 13.8%, 40.7%, and 20.8%, respectively. The symptom rates of allergic conjunctivitis, food allergy, and drug allergy were 14.8%, 10.4%, and 0.8%, respectively. The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in children with asthma was 64.3% and that of asthma in children with allergic rhinitis was 21.6%. The prevalence of rhinitis in children with conjunctivitis was 64.8% and that of conjunctivitis in children with rhinitis was 23.6%. Conclusion: The prevalence of current rhinitis in our preschool children is shown to be higher than that previously reported. Allergic conjunctivitis is closely associated with asthma and allergic rhinitis. However, further studies are warranted to determine the prevalence and effects of these comorbidities on health outcomes in preschool children.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.369-375
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• 2009

This study was attempted to survey the prevalence of heartworm infection among 253 dogs (male 167, female 86) on the 16 breeding farms in southern Gyeongnam area in May to December 2007. The results obtained from this experiment were summarized as follows; Fifty seven (22.5%) of the 253 examined dogs were heartworms-antigen positive, while twenty five dogs were Microfilaria positive by the modified Knott's method. The regional infection rates were of 25% in Tongyeong and 21% in Goseong, and on the breeding environment aspects, infection rates were lower in rural area than urban area farms. The infection rates were higher in female (26/86, 30.2%) than male dog (31/167, 18.6%). The infection rates by breeding size of farms were 31% (11/35) at <20 head, 26%(35/135) at 20~50 head and 13% (11/82) at >50 head. The infection rates of heartworm in examined dogs at the age of <2, 2~4 and >5 were 10.7% (8/75), 26% (40/154) and 37.5% (9/24), respectively. In the microfillaria-infected 25 dogs, identified Dirofilaria immitis of 21 (84%) using PCR. The dogs infected with heartworm showed the increased number of eosinophil.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.49-61
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• 2008

The objective of this study is to survey the risk factors of greenhouse vegetables farmers' work-related musculoskeletal disorders(MSDs). To offer the fundamental data for agricultural improvement of greenhouse vegetable farms, the questionnaire of MSDs and heath condition were carried out. A group of 736 workers(males=492, females=244) in 6 branches constitutes the population and database for the analysis between 2004 and 2005. The sample branch was chosen based on paper are watermelon, strawberry, tomato, melon, cucumber, lettuce. The results are as follows: 1. Smoking rates in cucumber and tomato is the highest. 2. Drinking rates in strawberry, cucumber and lettuce is the highest in males, watermelon and melon are the highest in females. 3. Regular exercise rates in melon are the highest. 4. Physical and mental fatigue in females is higher than that of males in most crops except melon. That of strawberry and tomato is the highest. 5. The prevalence rates of medical diagnosed diseases are higher in order of osteoarthritis, herniated nucleus pulposus(HNP), and hypertension. That of strawberry, melon, and cucumber is high in case of osteoarthritis; Strawberry, melon, and watermelon are high in case of HNP. 6. Prevalence rates of musculoskeletal symptoms among the various pain areas are higher in order of low back, knees, and shoulders. That of tomato and watermelon is high in case of low back; strawberry and tomato are high in case of knees. These results can be used practically for agricultural improvement of greenhouse vegetables farms to prevent MSDs.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.177-185
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• 1997

This study was performed to investigat the prevalence rates disease in industrial workers (16, 453) in Pusan city from Jan. 1, 1993 to Dec. 31, 1995. The results were as follows: The male to female ratio was 1.9:1.0 and average age was 43$\pm$17 in male, 38$\pm$15 in female of subjects. The percentage value of patients was 14.0% in male, 7.4% in female of total patients 1, 932 (11.0%). The prevalence raters of pulmonary tuberculosis, hepatic disease, and occupational hearing loss were significantly increased in male than females (p<0.001). But anaemia and organic solvent poisonings significantly increased in females than males (p<0.001). The prevalence rates of hepatic disease increased significantly in below 29, 30-39 and 40-49 age groups, that of cardiovascular disease increased significantly in the age group over 50 years (p<0.001). According to industrial types, the prevalence rate of cadiovascular disease increased in electricity and constration and shoes and rubber in disease, there of hepatic disease increased in primary metal, transportation and maintenance and other industrial, those of occupational hearing loss in drink and food and machinery. The prevalence rate of disease increased significantly long working duration in all diseases except lead poisoning.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.421-430
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• 2020

This study aimed to investigate whether mass drug administration (MDA) intervention has an equivalent effect on reducing the prevalence and intensity of Schistosoma haematobium infection regardless of the baseline values. A repeated cross-sectional survey was performed targeting students of 12 primary schools in Al Jabalain and El Salam districts of White Nile State, Sudan, at both 1 week before and 8 months after the MDA. Prior to the baseline survey, schoolaged children in Al Jabalain had received MDA interventions twice in 4 years, while those in El Salam had not. The baseline prevalence was 9.1% in Al Jabalain and 35.2% in El Salam, which were reduced to 1.8% and 5.5% at 8 months after the MDA, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 80.3% and 84.4%, not significant difference between both districts. However, changes in the geometric mean intensity (GMI) of egg counts were significantly different between both districts. The baseline GMIs were 14.5 eggs per 10 ml of urine (EP10) in Al Jabalain and 18.5 EP10 in El Salam, which were reduced to 7.1 and 11.2 EP10 after treatment, respectively. The corresponding reduction rates were 51.0% and 39.5%. In conclusion, MDA interventions were found to bring about similar relative reduction in prevalence regardless of the baseline value; however, the relative reduction in infection intensity was more salient in the district with a low baseline value for both prevalence and intensity. This clearly points to the importance of repeated MDA interventions in endemic areas, which will eventually contribute to schistosomiasis elimination.

• Journal of the Korea Safety Management & Science
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.11-21
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• 2004

Objectives: The aim of this study is to determine prevalence and related factors of musculoskeletal symptoms in electronics assembly line workers. Method: A questionnaire survey was performed on 350 workers in In-chon city. The questionnaire consisted of questions on the general characteristics, work duration, working hours, hobby activity hours, housekeeping activity hours and standardized descriptions of NOISH on musculoskeletal symptoms. Result: Complaint rates of musculoskeletal symptoms by anatomical site were as follows: shoulder, 67% : neck, 40.4% : waist, 28.7% : wrist and hand, 27.1% : foot and leg, 14.4% : arm and elbow, 11.2%. Significantly higher prevalence of shoulder musculoskeletal symptom was found women than men, married than unmarried, less than 1hours housekeeping activity than over 1hours housekeeping activity. Multiple logistic regression analysis identified gender, marital status and housekeeping activity as the main affecting factors for shoulder musculoskeletal symptoms. Conclusions: The most prevalence of musculoskeletal symptoms was shoulder site. It was higher in married women and over 1hours housekeeping activity in a day. It is recommended that married women should be reduce housekeeping activity time.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.172-176
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• 2003

As a baseline study for the establishment of bovine leukemia virus(BLV)-free herd in Korea, the prevalence of anti-BLV antibody was determined in the present study. Sera from Korean native cows of 8 provinces and from dairy cattle of 9 provinces were subjected to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Anti-BLV antibodies were positive in two (0.14%) of 1,413 Korean native cows. In contrast. 54.2% of 2,415 dairy cows were positive for anti-BLV antibodies, and their seropositive herd rate was 86.8%. And no differences were found in the sero-positive rates with age. The results indicate that the BLV infection rate has been increased continuously in Korea and that the establishment of BLV-free herd is imminent.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.181-182
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• 2011

This study was performed to investigate the prevalence of Toxocara canis in local districts in North West Bank of Palestine. Fecal samples from 132 dogs were collected in Nablus, Tulkarm, and Jenin cities from September 2008 to April 2009 and examined for T. canis eggs with the floating technique. The overall infection rate of toxocariasis in dogs was 36.4%. The dogs less than 6 months old showed higher infection rates than those older than 12 months (p=0.04). Vigorous interventions are necessary, such as routine coprological examinations of dogs and prescription of anthelmintics to infected dogs.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.55-57
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• 2010

Torque teno virus (TTV), a species of Anellovirus, is a non-enveloped single stranded DNA virus with a wide range of animal hosts. The incidence of TTV is quite ubiquitous throughout the world. A total of 235 serum samples obtained from 137 pigs and 98 cattle at slaughterhouses in Korea during April 2005 to May 2005 were tested by TTV-specific PCR as to monitor prevalence of TTV among swine and cattle. As a result, the prevalent rates of TTVs in pigs and cattle were 43.1% and 4.1%, respectively. It seems that TTV infection is quite prevalent in swine population.