• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.849-863
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• 2009

Objectives : This study was to study dental hygiene department students' management of infection and their attitude toward infection. Methods : This study was conducted from August 24, 2009 to September 20, 2009. 269 sophomore and junior college students enrolled in the department of dental hygiene from schools located in Gyeonggi-do and Gangwon-do participated in the study. A self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted. Results : 1. As for dental hygiene department students' recognition of the causes of infectious diseases, 80.7% of the respondents said hepatitis B was the infectious disease highly likely to occur in laboratories. 35.3% was correct about the antecedent variables of infection in the workshop, 24.9% about the oral symptoms of HIV and 18.6% about the diseases induced by HBV. The recognition rates were generally low. 2. About whether the respondents ask patients questions about infectious diseases, 80.7% of them answered Yes, but only 56.2% of them said they do so every time, and 17.8% of them said they never do so. 3. As far as washing hands to prevent infectious diseases is concerned, 97.4% of the respondents said hand washing helps prevent infection. 72.5% of them said they wash their hands every time before they practice on a patient, while 84.0% of them said they washed their hands after the lab practice. 90.7% said they use liquid soap containing anti-microbial agents, and 81.8% of them said they use paper towels. 4. With regard to protective gear for prevention of infectious diseases, 98.9% of the respondents said it is desirable to use disposable protective gear for each patient. When it comes to what they actually used as protective gear, 91.1% said aprons, 89.2% gloves, and 87.7% masks. However, a low percentage of the respondents actually use goggles and replace masks when they got damp, 11.2% and 24.2% respectively. Conclusions : As for treating the surface of equipments to prevent infectious diseases, most of the respondents exhibited a high recognition rate. Relative fewer respondents actually treat the surface of equipments than those respondents who are aware of the need to do so. A high percentage of the respondents also said they use alcohol sponge to treat the surface of each equipment in order to prevent infectious diseases.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.81-90
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• 2010

Several studies have suggested the possibility of airborne transmission of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis, pandemic influenza. because the number of patients increases explosively, if infectious disease had a high basic reproduction number, pharmaceutical interventions such as vaccination, chemoprophylaxis in the early stage of epidemic. Thus, non-pharmaceutical interventions such as mask-wearing, installing air cleaners, school closure are important to control and prevent the infectious diseases. However, the current technology on the mask, air cleaning, ventilation, and etc., seems to be not originated from the understanding of infection via airborne transmission. It is important to estimate the aerodynamic behavior of saliva droplets by coughing or speaking in order to understand the phenomena of airborne infection. In addition, the prediction of transmission of infectious diseases through the air is critical to prevent or minimize the damage of infection. In this review, we reviewed the recent studies on the airborne infection by focusing on the aerodynamic characteristics of saliva droplets and modeling of airborne transmission.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.335-341
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• 2019

Background: Inflammation is a host-defensive innate immune response to protect the body from pathogenic agents and danger signals induced by cellular changes. Although inflammation is a host-defense mechanism, chronic inflammation is considered a major risk factor for the development of a variety of inflammatory autoimmune diseases, such as rheumatic diseases. Rheumatic diseases are systemic inflammatory and degenerative diseases that primarily affect connective tissues and are characterized by severe chronic inflammation and degeneration of connective tissues. Ginseng and its bioactive ingredients, genocides, have been demonstrated to have antiinflammatory activity and pharmacological effects on various rheumatic diseases by inhibiting the expression and production of inflammatory mediators. Methods: Literature in this review was searched in a PubMed site of National Center for Biotechnology Information. Results: The studies reporting the preventive and therapeutic effects of ginseng and ginsenosides on the pathogenesis of rheumatic diseases were discussed and summarized. Conclusion: Ginseng and ginsenosides play an ameliorative role on rheumatic diseases, and this review provides new insights into ginseng and ginsenosides as promising agents to prevent and treat rheumatic diseases.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.125-134
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• 2015

Objective: In this review we discuss the health effects among office workers. Background: Even if office workers are not exposed hazardous or harmful environment frequently, some problems could be happened to the office workers. Although serious occupational diseases rarely occur to the office workers, it is important to consider occupational risk factors for the office worker because the portion of the office workers is relatively high in all industries. Method: We divided possible health effects for the office workers into three categories; musculoskeletal disorders, indoor environment, and cerebro-cardiovascular diseases. We reviewed related articles, textbooks, and statistical materials non-systematically and described risk factors, related illnesses, and prevention strategies on each category. Results: Office workers have various musculoskeletal disorders to be intervened. By medical treatment, improving working environment, and ergonomic intervention, office workers can be prevented from musculoskeletal injuries. Poor indoor environment can cause many building-related illnesses or sick building syndrome. Although the etiology of some problems by poor indoor environment is not clear, it helps to maintain adequate humidity, temperature, and clarity of indoor air. Cerebro-cardiovascular diseases are a rising issue because office workers in Korea tend to work for a lot of time. To prevent the diseases, it is needed to work for adequate time, lengthen activity level, and manage other medical risk factors for the diseases. Conclusion: There is no distinct occupational disease for office workers. However, there are some aspects to consider the health effects of office workers and it is important to prevent the possible health problems. Application: A strategy against occupational diseases among office workers can be established by reviewing this article.

• The Korean Nurse
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• v.13 no.3 s.71
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• pp.59-68
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• 1974

Although many communicable diseases have been treated successfully since the advent of the antibiotic era and explosive epidemics have become less frequent in Korea as a result of continuous efforts to prevent the communicable diseases, the incidence of s

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.46 no.3
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• pp.172-182
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• 2022

Background: The coronavirus problem is an ecological problem stemming from a sudden change in the relationship between parasites and hosts. Ecologists judge organisms that are established out of their original territory as exotic species. Unlike in their original habitat, these exotic species become very aggressive in their newly settled habitat. Coronavirus infection damage was bigger in Europe or the United States than that in the country of its origin, China, and its neighboring countries. Therefore, coronavirus infection damage resembles the damage due to the invasive species. Results: Exotic species are found in places with similar environmental conditions to those of their origin when introduced to other ecological regions. However, there are few ecological ill effects in their place of origin, while the damage is usually severe in the ecological regions in which it is introduced. According to historical records, exotic infectious diseases, such as European smallpox and measles, also showed a similar trend and caused great damage in newly established places. Therefore, it is expected that measures to manage exotic species could be used for the prevention of exotic infectious diseases such as the coronavirus. Conclusions: Prevention comes first in the management of exotic species, and in order to come up with preventive measures, it is important to collect information on the characteristics of related organisms and their preferred environment. In this respect, ecosystem management measures such as exotic species management measures could be used as a reference to prevent and suppress the spread. To put these measures into practice, it is urgently required to establish an international integrated information network for collecting and exchanging information between regions and countries. Furthermore, a systematic ecosystem-management strategy in which natural and human environments could continue sustainable lives in their respective locations may serve as a countermeasure to prevent infectious diseases.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.107-123
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• 2008

It has now been well documented in a variety of models that T regulatory T cells (Treg cells) play a pivotal role in the maintenance of self-tolerance, T cell homeostasis, tumor, allergy, autoimmunity, allograft transplantation and control of microbial infection. Recently, Treg cell are isolated and can be expanded in vitro and in vivo, and their role is the subject of intensive investigation, particularly on the possible Treg cell therapy for various immune-mediated diseases. A growing body of evidence has demonstrated that Treg cells can prevent or even cure a wide range of diseases, including tumor, allergic and autoimmune diseases, transplant rejection, graft-versus-host disease. Currently, a large body of data in the literature has been emerging and provided evidence that clear understanding of Treg cell work will present definite opportunities for successful Treg cell immunotherapy for the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. In this Review, I briefly discuss the biology of Treg cells, and summarize efforts to exploit Treg cell therapy for autoimmune diseases. This article also explores recent observations on pharmaceutical agents that abrogate or enhance the function of Treg cells for manipulation of Treg cells for therapeutic purpose.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.99-107
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• 2011

Objectives: The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationship between health promotion behaviors and chronic disease prevalence of Korean elderly and to provide information for preventing chronic diseases and improving health conditions of the elderly. Methods: A subset of 584 cases in the fourth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey was used for secondary analysis. Chi square test was used to compare chronic diseases prevalence by general characteristics and health promotion behaviors. Logistic regression analysis was used to identify the factors associated with chronic diseases. Results: Gender, occupation, subjective health status, smoking, and alcohol drinking have significant association with chronic diseases. Conclusions: Gender-specific health education for the elderly should be implemented at the health center, and opportunities for social participation can be enhanced through job creation for the elderly. Active campaigns on smoking cessation and moderate drinking are needed to prevent and manage chronic diseases of the elderly.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.388-397
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• 2008

Purpose: This study aimed to analyze the relationship between psychosocial factors and subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal diseases. Methods: This study analyzed the data of '2001 National Health and Nutrition Survey' conducted by the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs. Results: When examining the complaining rate of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal diseases according to body region, the rate was highest (6.0%) in the knee region, which was followed by the finger lesion (3.4%), the wrist regions (2.3%) and the elbow region (2.1%). All the regions of elbow, wrist, finger and knee had a high complaining rate of subjective symptoms such as stress, sad or depressed mood, and attempted suicide. Conclusion: From the results of this study, it is identified that psychosocial factors such as stress, depression, and attempted suicide have significant influence on the complaining rate of subjective symptoms of musculoskeletal diseases. Consequently, in order to prevent and treat musculoskeletal diseases, we need to manage stress and to prevent feeling depression.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.175-189
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• 2018

Objectives: In this study, we analyze statistics on industrial accidents caused by chemical skin contact and provide skin toxicity hazard information on the related domestic system and circulation volumes. Methods and Results: We analyzed occupational fatalities and skin diseases caused by chemical leaks and contact from 2007 to 2016(10 years) and surveyed data on occupational skin diseases using the 2014 work environment survey data. The NIOSH Skin Notation Profiles for 57 chemical substances, which are provided to prevent occupational skin diseases, were searched and hazard information on skin contact with chemical substances was classified. In order to identify skin toxicity information among domestically distributed and legally regulated substances and to investigate skin-toxic substances, MSDS basic data on 19,740 chemical substances provided on the homepage of Korea Occupational Safety & Health Agency were searched. Acute toxicity(dermal) category 1-4 substances totaled 1,020, and the number of chemical substances classified as category 1 and 2 substances were 135 and 137, respectively. In the chemical substances prescribed by the Ministry of Employment and Labor, 173 substances were classified into acute toxicity(dermal) categories 1-4, 58 of which correspond to category 1 or 2. Conclusions: Within the present range of industrial accidents, the proportion of skin diseases due to contact with chemicals is not high. However, there is always a risk of occupational skin diseases due to increasing chemicals and due to the use of new chemicals. It is hoped that this information will be used by workplace safety and health officials and health and safety experts to prevent acute toxity(dermal) due to chemical skin contact.