• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.47 no.4
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• pp.259-266
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• 2015

Cervical cancer is the third most common cancer among women worldwide. Cervical cancer is significantly associated with human papillomavirus (HPV) infection. The prevalence of HPV infection is influenced by geography, immune status, sexual history and genetic factors. For example, geographically, HPV prevalence varies from 1.5% to 39%. However, little is known about the relationship between HPV prevalence and age. An analysis of HPV prevalence by age will help determine when high-risk groups are exposed to HPV. Such an analysis could also demonstrate a correlation between specific HPV genotypes and age. In addition, the analysis might clarify the optimum age for using vaccines. In this study, HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among Korean and Chinese women are analyzed by age. The REBA HPV-ID$^{(R)}$ assay (YD diagnostics, Yong-in, Republic of Korea) was used for detecting HPV genotypes in uterine cervical liquid-based cytology samples from 533 women from Korea and 324 from East China (Western Shandong province. Women with severe dysplasia such as SCC (Squamous cell carcinoma) and HSIL (High-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion) groups were primarily in their 40s and 50s, whereas women with mild and moderate dysplasia (ASCUS and LSIL groups) were primarily in their 30s and 40s. Women with HPV genotype 16 and 18 infections were primarily in their 40s. The results suggest that HPV infection is associated with certain age groups in the Korean population.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.273-282
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• 2011

This study established hazards which may cause risk to human at farm during cultivation stage of paprika. Samples of plants (paprika, leaf, stem), cultivation environments (water, soil), personal hygiene (hand, glove, clothes), work utensils (carpet, basket, box) and airborne bacteria were collected from three paprika farms (A, B, C) located in Western Gyeongnam, Korea. The collected samples were assessed for biological (sanitary indications and major foodborne pathogens), chemical (heavy metals, pesticide residues) and physical hazards. In biological hazards, total bacteria and coliform were detected at the levels of 1.9~6.6 and 0.0~4.610g CFU/g, leaf, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$, while Escherichia coli was not detected in all samples. In major pathogens, only Bacillus cereus were detected at levels of ${\leq}$ 1.5 log CFU/g, mL, hand or 100 $cm^2$, while Staphylococuus aureus, Listeria monocytogenes, E. coli O157 and Salmonella spp. were not detected in all samples. Heavy metal and pesticide residue as chemical hazards were detected at levels below the regulation limit, physical hazard factors, such as insects, pieces of metal and glasses, were also found in paprika farms. Proper management is needed to prevent biological hazards due to cross-contamination while physical and chemical hazards were appropriate GAP criteria.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.49 no.2
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• pp.80-96
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• 2016

Recently, a series of lawsuits were filed in Korea claiming tort liability against tobacco companies. The Supreme Court has already issued decisions in some cases, while others are still pending. The primary issue in these cases is whether the epidemiological evidence submitted by the plaintiffs clearly proves the causal relationship between smoking and disease as required by civil law. Proving causation is difficult in tobacco lawsuits because factors other than smoking are involved in the development of a disease, and also because of the lapse of time between smoking and the manifestation of the disease. The Supreme Court (Supreme Court Decision, 2011Da22092, April 10, 2014) has imposed some limitations on using epidemiological evidence to prove causation in tobacco lawsuits filed by smokers and their family members, but these limitations should be reconsidered. First, the Court stated that a disease can be categorized as specific or non-specific, and for each disease type, causation can be proven by different types of evidence. However, the concept of specific diseases is not compatible with multifactor theory, which is generally accepted in the field of public health. Second, when the epidemiological association between the disease and the risk factor is proven to be significant, imposing additional burdens of proof on the plaintiff may considerably limit the plaintiff's right to recovery, but the Court required the plaintiffs to provide additional information such as health condition and lifestyle. Third, the Supreme Court is not giving greater weight to the evidential value of epidemiological study results because the Court focuses on the fact that these studies were group-level, not individual-level. However, group-level studies could still offer valuable information about individual members of the group, e.g., probability of causation.

• Journal of Society of Preventive Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.11-30
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• 2014

Objective : To compare the differences in health behaviors by chronic diseases of middle-aged living in Seoul's low-income housing Method : Of the 1469 residents aged 35 to 60 living in low-income housing in Seoul's District A, 318 were equal probability of selection method selected. t-test, ANOVA, $x^2$, OR(95% CI, P-value) were selected to analyze the data, and the confidence interval was 5%. Results : There were no significant differences in all health behaviors by vascular and metabolic, But there was a statistically significant difference for gastrointestinal diseases caused by sleep hours(p=0.001), liver diseases caused by smoking, drinking and sleep hours(p=0.004, p=0.001, and p=0.033, respectively), musculoskeletal diseases caused by sleep hours and health exam(p=0.0000 and p=0.002, respectively). Also, statistically significant differences were found for tumors caused by sleep hours(p=0.004), depression by the sleep hours and health exam(p=0.001 and p=0.013, respectively), allergies by in sleep hours(p=0.004), thyroid diseases by smoking and health exam(p=0.013 and p=0.007, respectively). After adjusting for the confounding factors for diseases, OR was obtained for each health behavior. There were no statistically significant differences in all health behaviors for vascular, metabolic, and tumors. However, the OR for gastrointestinal diseases 4.10(1.63-10.36, 0.0028) and 2.96(1.05-8.41, 0.0041) at 5-7 and 7-9 sleep hours. The OR for liver diseases was 3.13(1.03-9.48, 0.0437) at 7-9 sleep hours, the OR values for musculoskeletal diseases were 2.91(1.23-6.88, 0.00149), and 4.46(1.68-11.86, 0.0027) at 5-7 and 7-9 sleep hours. OR for depression were 4.82(1.70-13.66, 0.0031) and 4.13(1.19-14.31, 0.0026) at 5-7 and 7-9 sleep hours. OR for allergy were 2.78(1.22-6.32, 0.0015) and 3.93(1.49-10.39, 0.0058) at 5-7 and 7-9 sleep hours. There were statistical significances for liver diseases for 1-2 times of health exam at 0.35(0.14-0.90, 0.00301), for liver diseases for 1-2 times of health exam at 0.35(0.14-0.90, 0.00301), for musculoskeletal diseases for 3-4 times of health exam at 0.26(0.09-0.79, 0.0175), for depression for 3-4 times of health exam at 0.17(0.04-0.66, 0.0106), for allergies for 1-2 times of health exam at 0.30(0.13-0.70, 0.0055), and for thyroid diseases for 1-2 times and annually of health exam at 0.07(0.01-0.60, 0.00154), 0.09(0.01-0.96, 0.0461). We known significant difference the health behaviors by the diseases. especially in sleep hours and health exam times Conclusion : Only sleep hours and health exam caused statistically significant differences in chronic diseases. but the sleep hours was postitively correlated with the risk of disease, while health exam were inversely related.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.12-18
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• 2012

Purpose : This study attempted to investigate the frequency, duration, and risk factors of antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) in infants hospitalized due to febrile urinary tract infection (UTI). This is a basic research on the probiotics used in the prevention and treatment of AAD in infants. Methods : Medical records of the infants aged 3-6 months hospitalized in Gachon University Gil Hospital from January 2008 to September 2010 due to the febrile UTI were retrospectively reviewed. The episodes of loose or watery stool were investigated for frequency, onset, and duration. Those who had AAD and those who did not (non-AAD) were compared. The antibiotic regimens and the episodes of diarrhea were investigated in AAD group. Result : Total 147 infants were included. Fifty-four (36.7%) showed AAD. Intravenous third-generation cephalosporin ($3^{rd}$ CS) single therapy was used for 102 patients (69.4%), the $3^{rd}$ CS and non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy for 24 (16.3%), and non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy for 21 (14.3%). There was no significant difference in the dose of cefotaxime between AAD and non-AAD group (P=0.601). According to the antibiotic therapies above, in AAD group, there was no significant difference in the onset and duration of diarrhea respectively (P=0.717, P=0.830). Although the frequency of diarrhea was higher for the $3^{rd}$ CS and non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy subgroup with $9.25{\pm}5.30$ times/day than the other two subgroups ($7.58{\pm}2.97$ times/day in $3^{rd}$ CS single therapy subgroup, $6.75{\pm}4.40$ times/day in non-$3^{rd}$ CS combination therapy subgroup), there was no statistical significance (P=0.078). Conclusion : AAD seems common to the infants aged 3-6 months with febrile UTI, regardless of regimen and amount of antibiotics in usual dosage. Further research on the effects of probiotics used in the prevention and treatment of AAD in infants is warranted.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.116-122
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• 2006

Purpose: To determine treatment policy for early stage endometrial carcinoma, we analyzed the results of postoperative radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: From Oct. 1994 to Aug. 2002, 42 patients with FIGO stage I endometrial carcinoma received postoperative radiotherapy. All patients received curative surgery and pelvic lymph node dissection was done in 25 patients. Based on the FIGO staging system, 3 were at stage IA, 21 were at stage IB and 18 were at stage IC. Histologically, there were 14 grade 1, 16 grade 2, and 12 grade 3. Nineteen patients received intracavitary brachytherapy and 23 patients did whole pelvic radiotherapy. The median period of follow-up was 41 months (22 to 100 months). Results: Five-year overall survival, disease-free survival, local control, and regional control rates of all patients were 85.0%, 87.9%, 100%, and 97.5%, respectively. All failures were distant metastases in 5 patients and two patients had simultaneous regional recurrences. There was no intrapelvic failure in patients who received intracavitary radiotherapy. Grade 3 chronic complications were found in 1 patient (4.3%), who received whole pelvic radiotherapy. Conclusion: We achieved high rates of loco-regional control and survival by curative surgery and post-operative radiotherapy. However, we need to select the type of radiotherapy based on the risk factors for recurrence to reduce the treatment-related complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.10 s.255
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• pp.680-684
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• 2005

Background: With the increasing age of the population, coronary artery bypass grafting in the elderly patients is becoming common. Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting (OPCAB) has been proven to be less morbidity and to facilitate early recovery. The elderly patients may have benefits by avoiding the adverse effects of the cardiopulmonary bypass. The purpose of this study is to evaluate our results of OPCAB in elderly patients. Material and Method: A retrospective chart review was carried out for 12 patients aged over 80 years who underwent isolated OPCAB from January 2001 and March 2004. Data were collected risk factors for disease, extent of coronary disease, and in-hospital outcomes. Postoperative graft patiency was evaluated in 9 patients by multi-slice computed tomography. Result: Eleven patients had triple vessel disease or left main disease. Four patients were suffered from preoperative CVA, and 4 patients had chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Two patients had myocardial infarction (MI), among them 1 patient was suffered from pulmonary edema after preoperative MI. There was no perioperative death, perioperative MI, and no ventricular arrhythmia. Also there was no perioperative stroke and renal failure. But there was one deep sternal infection who recovered by treating of muscle flap. Atrial fibrillation was newly developed in 1 patient, but was well controlled by medication. Mean intubation time was $15.9\pm4.4(8\~20hrs)$ hrs and mean ICU stay was $2.9\pm0.8(2\~4 days)$ days. Mean hospital day was $21.6\pm14.3(13\~56 days)$ days. Postoperative mean CK-MS was $11.3\pm14.1\;ng/mL$. Early postoperative graft patency rate was $100\%(24/24)$. Follow-up was completed in all patients. In this time, there was no patients with angina or death. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that OPCAB reduces morbidity and favors hospital outcomes. Therefore, OPCAB is safe, reasonable and might be preferable operative strategy in elderly patients.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.8 s.253
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• pp.545-550
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• 2005

Background: Discrete subaortic stenosis is known to recur frequently even after surgical resection. We retrospectively reviewed the preoperative and postoperative changes in pressure gradient through left ventricular outflow tract, and the recurrence rate. Material and Method: Between September 1984 and December 2004, 34 patients underwent surgical treatment. Mean age of patients was $17.1\pm15.2$ years and 19 patients $(55.9\%)$ were male, 16 patients $(47.1\%)$ had previous operations and associated diseases were aortic regurgitation (11), coarctation of aorta (3), and others. Result: Immediate postoperative peak pressure gradient was significantly lower than preoperative peak pressure gradient (21.8 mmHg vs 75.8 mmHg, p<0.04). Peak pressure gradient measured after 50.3 months of follow up was 20.2 mmHg which was also significantly lower than that of preoperative value but not significantly different from that of immediate postoperative value. There was no surgical mortality but one patient developed cerebral infarction. Mean follow up duration was $69.8\pm54.6\;months$. During this period, 5 patients $(14.7\%)$ had reoperation, 3 $(8.8\%)$ of whom were due to recurred subaortic stenosis. We found no risk factors for recurrence and survival for free from reoperation was $76.4\%$. Conclusion: Excision of subaortic membrane combined with or without myectomy in discrete subaortic stenosis showed sufficient relief of left ventricular outflow tract obstruction with low mortality and morbidity, but careful long term follow up is necessary for recurrence, since it is not predictable.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.142-149
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• 2003

To know the feasibility of the coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) for multivessel coronary artery disease with purely bilateral internal thoracic arteries (ITAs), we analyzed the short-term clinical results and the coronary angiography of the patients. Material and Method: From March 2001 to June 2002, four hundred and five patients underwent CABG. Purely bilateral ITAs were used in 159 patients (39.3%). We analyzed these patients retrospectively The mean age of these patients was $61.2{\pm}8.5$ (range: 30 ~80) years and there were 123 male patients. The preoperative risk factors were as follows: diabetes in 54 patients (34.0%), history of acute myocardiac infarction within 4 weeks in 29 (18.2%), and emergency operation in 6 (3.8%). Off-pump CABG was carried out in 128 patients (80.5%). Associated procedures were mitral valvuloplasty (5), aortic valve replacement (3), Dor procedure (1), and so on. Result: The mean number of distal anastomoses was $3.1{\pm}0.9$ (range: 2~6), the mean duration of hospital stay was $8.4{\pm}4.5$ days. There was one (0.6%) operative death. Except for one early death, no other patients suffered from low cardiac output. The other postoperative complications were occurred as follows: reoperation due to bleeding in 3 patients, perioperative myocardiac infarction in 1, transient cardiac arrest in 2, transient cognitive dysfunction in 7, and transient ischemic attack in 1, and deep sternal wound infection in 1 patient. Recently, early postoperative angiography was performed in 19 patients who had triple vessel disease. The total number of distal anastomosis was 78 (mean $4.1{\pm}0.8$/patient). All distal anastomosis sites were patent, but competition flow was observed at the bypass sites where the native coronary artery stenosis was not significant. Conclusion: The CABG with purely bilateral ITAs for triple vessel disease was performed safely. The early patency rate was relatively good in small number of patients. However the long-term patency rate and the functional study to evaluate the sites where competition flow was observed should be followed.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.36 no.9
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• pp.646-650
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• 2003

Many surgical techniques for ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) have been used with their excellent results and advantages. Here, we report our simple posterior annuloplasty techniques using vascular graft strip with their early results. Material and Method: Twenty two patients (13 male) underwent the operations for IMR (excluding the papillary muscle rupture) from December 2001 to January 2003. Preoperative risk factors were low ejection fraction (<35％, n=9), hypertension (n=13), diabetes (n=9), and renal failure (Cr>2.5, n=4). The wide dissection beneath the both vena cavae and interatrial groove after bicaval cannulation enabled the easy exposure of mitral valve even in the small left atrium. After eight or nine interrupted sutures in posterior annulus for anchoring the 6 mm width vascular graft strip, symmetric (n=8) or asymmetric (n=14) annuloplasty were done. Combined surgeries were CABG (n=21), Dor procedures (n=3), tricuspid valve annuloplasty (n=1), Maze operation (n=1), and aorto-right subclavian artery bypass (n=1). Result: Except for one surgical mortality, all the patients were doing well and the mean grade of regurgitation was decreased from 2.95 to 0.88, however the ejection fraction had not changed significantly just before discharge. Post-operative valve function evaluated before discharge revealed no residual regurgitation in 8 (including 1 patient with mild stenosis due to over reduction), minimal in 11, mild in 2, and mild to moderate regurgitation in 1. One patient who had ischemic cardiomyopathy and renal failure died of the arrhythmia during the hemodialysis. Conclusion: These observations suggest that the annuloplasty with vascular graft strip could be a safe and cost effective techniques for ischemic mitral regurgitation. However, the long term evaluation for the mitral valve function should be defined for the final conclusion.