• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2022

Background: Although it is known that inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use may increase the risk of respiratory infection, its influence on the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between ICS use and the positivity of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Nationwide data of 44,968 individuals with chronic respiratory diseases tested for SARS-CoV-2 until May 15, 2021 were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea. The positivity of SARS-CoV-2 infection was retrospectively analysed according to the prescription, type, and dose of ICS taken one year before SARS-CoV-2 test. Results: Among 44,968 individuals tested, 931 (2.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 7,019 patients (15.6%) were prescribed ICS one year prior to being tested for SARS-CoV-2. Low, medium, and high doses of ICS were prescribed in 7.5%, 1.6%, and 6.5% of total cases, respectively. Among types of ICS, budesonide, fluticasone, beclomethasone, and ciclesonide were prescribed in 3.7%, 8.9%, 2.3%, and 0.6% of total cases, respectively. A multivariate analysis showed no significant increase in infection with ICS use (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-1.03). Moreover, there were no associations between the positivity of infection and the dose or type of ICS prescribed. Conclusion: Prior ICS use did not increase the positivity for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, different doses or types of ICS did not affect this positivity.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.14
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• pp.5749-5754
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• 2015

Cervical carcinoma is the main cause of cancer-related mortality in women and is correlated with more than 15 risk cofactors, including infection of cervical cells with high-risk types of HPV (hrHPV). Indeed, both aberrant methylation of the RASSF1A promoter and hrHPV infection are often observed in cervical carcinomas. The purpose of our meta-analysis was to evaluate the role of RASSF1A promoter methylation and hrHPV infection in cervical cancer. Our meta-analysis involved 895 cervical cancer patients and 454 control patients from 15 studies. Our results suggested that RASSF1A promoter hypermethylation increased the risk of cervical cancer (OR=9.77, 95%CI=[3.06, 31.26], P=0.0001, $I^2=78%$). By grouping cases according to cancer subtypes, we found that HPV infection was higher in cervical squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) than in cervical adenocarcinomas/adenosquamous cancers (ACs/ASCs) (OR=4.00, 95%CI=[1.41, 11.30], P=0.009, $I^2=55%$). Interestingly, HPV infection tended to occur in cervical cancers with relatively low levels of RASSF1A promoter methylation (OR=0.59, 95%CI=[0.36, 0.99], P=0.05, I2=0%). Our study provides evidence of a possible interaction between HPV infection and RASSF1A promoter methylation in the development of cervical cancers.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.2
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• pp.163-167
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• 2015

This study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and to identify risk factors associated with Neospora spp. infection in horses in Jordan. Management related data were collected from each farm and individual horses. Sera from 227 horses from 5 of 6 climatic regions in Jordan were analyzed for the presence of antibodies to Neospora spp. by ELISA kit. The study was performed during spring of 2010. The association between seropositivity and risk factors was analyzed. A total of 7 (3%) of 227 sera had antibodies for Neospora spp. There was a significant regional difference (P=0.018) between the 5 climatic regions. Positive cases were located in Amman and Irbid, while the other regions (Zarqa, Jordan Valley, and Wadi Mousa) had zero prevalence. The use of anthelmintics at least once a year resulted in a significant reduction of the seroprevalence to Neospora spp. (1.6% vs 9.8%). However, this might be a phenomenon by chance and a better hygiene since owners can invest in anthelmintics. Other risk factors such as age, gender, breed, usage, body condition score, grazing, presence of other animals mixed with the horses in the same property, and a history of previous diseases were not significantly associated with the seroprevalence to Neospora spp. infection. This is the first study to report on the presence of Neospora seropositive horses in Jordan. Further studies are warranted to better understand the role of certain risk factors in the transmission of Neospora spp. among horse population and to determine which Neospora spp. are responsible for the infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.8
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• pp.4131-4136
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• 2016

Background: The population in northeast Thailand continues to present with hepatobiliary abnormalities, particularly periductal fibrosis (PDF) which is the result of chronic infection with liver fluke (Opisthorchis viverini; OV) and may lead to the development of cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). Although the prevalence of OV infection has been decreased due to a liver fluke control program over decades, the prevalence of PDF remains high. This study aimed to investigate demographic factors associated with PDF risk based on ultrasonography (US) screening. Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study is part of the Cholangiocarcinoma Screening and Care Program (CASCAP), a prospective cohort study. Multiple logistic regression was used for data analysis. Results: In 55,246 subjects, the overall prevalence of PDF was 33.0% (95%CI: 32.6 - 33.4). Males (33.9 %) were at higher risk for developing PDF than females (32.2 %) (ORcrude = 0.93; 95%CI: 0.89 - 0.96; p-value < 0.001). Factors associated with an increased PDF risk, in addition to OV infection, included old age (${\geq}70$ years) (ORadj = 1.28, 95% CI: 1.14 - 1.44, p < 0.001) and hepatitis B infection (ORadj = 1.31, 95% CI: 1.11 - 1.55, p = 0.001). In contrast, number of praziquantel treatments (> 2 times) (ORadj = 0.54, 95% CI: 0.47 - 0.63, p < 0.001) and diabetes mellitus (ORadj = 0.57, 95% CI: 0.49 - 0.65, p < 0.001) were significantly associated with a decreased PDF risk. Conclusions: Future US screening should closely examine older people and hepatitis B subjects for the purpose of PDF surveillance among high risk groups for CCA. However, the results of inverse associations require further investigation in order to confirm our findings.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.102-110
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become a major health burden worldwide, with over 600 million confirmed cases and 6 million deaths by 15 December 2022. Although the acute phase of COVID-19 management has been established, the long-term clinical course and complications due to the relatively short outbreak is yet to be assessed. The current COVID-19 pandemic is causing significant morbidity and mortality around the world. Interestingly, epidemiological studies have shown that fatality rates vary considerably across different countries, and men and elderly patients are at higher risk of developing severe diseases. There is increasing evidence that COVID-19 infection causes neurological deficits in a substantial proportion to patients suffering from acute respiratory distress syndrome. Furthermore, lack of physical activity and smoking are associated with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) susceptibility. We should therefore explore why lack of physical activity, smoking, etc causing a population more susceptible to SARS-CoV-2 infection, and mechanism involved. Thus, in this review article, we summarize epidemiological evidence related to risk factors and lifestyle that affect COVID-19 severity and the mechanism involved. These risk factors or lifestyle interventions include smoking, cardiovascular health, obesity, exercise, environmental pollution, psychosocial social stress, and diet.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.106-112
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• 2023

Background: Most international bodies recommended against musculoskeletal steroid injection during the COVID-19 pandemic, fearing that the immunosuppressive effects of the steroid could worsen COVID-19 infection, thus prolonging the suffering of patients with severe musculoskeletal disease. The authors' aim is to analyze the risk of COVID-19 infection after musculoskeletal injections. Methods: This is a retrospective study of patients who visited a sports medicine clinic and received musculoskeletal steroid injections between January 1, 2020 and February 28, 2021. The collected data was compared with the national COVID-19 registry to identify positive COVID-19 patients. The patients were only considered positive for COVID-19 following corticosteroid injection within 3 months after injection. Results: Out of 502 steroid injections; 79.7% (n = 400) received a single injection in one day, 19.1% (n = 96) received steroid injections at 2 sites in one day, and 1.2% (n = 6) received steroid injections at 3 sites in one day. Using the Fisher's exact test, there was no statistically significant association of COVID-19 infection between the steroid group and control group (relative risk, 1.44; 95% confidence interval, 0.9-23.1, P = 0.654). Only one patient contracted mild COVID-19 with no post COVID complications. Conclusions: The authors recommend the use of musculoskeletal steroid injections in clinically indicated situation without having increased risk of COVID-19.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.14
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• pp.5861-5865
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• 2014

High risk forms of the human papilloma virus (HPV) are generally accepted as necessary causative agents for cervical cancer. Recently, a possible relation between HPV and oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has also been noticed. The present study was conducted to investigate the prevalence of HPV infection in OSCCs in Wuhan city. DNA samples were collected from fresh tissues in 200 patients with OSCC and 68 normal controls. The polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing were used to identify the HPV types in the samples. The prevalence of HPV of all types in the OSCC group was higher than in the control group (55/200 vs 2/68, OR=11.5, 95% CI=2.6-50.2). HPV16 and HPV18 were the main types detected, with HPV6 was the only low-risk type identified. High-risk HPV types HPV16 and HPV18 are prevalent in OSCC patients and may participate in the development of OSCC with traditional risk factors, tobacco and alcohol, possibly exerting synergistic effects. The results of multinomial logistic regression showed that those who smoked, consumed alcohol and with HPV infection have the highest risk of developing oral cancer (OR=13.3, 95% CI=3.1-56.8). Adjusted for age, smoking and alcohol use, HPV infection was independently associated with oral squamous cell carcinoma.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.4 no.3
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• pp.149-155
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• 2004

Purpose: According to the recent studies, it is shown that the polymorphism of Interleukin $1\beta$ gene is associated with the incidence of gastric cancer caused by the Helicobacter pylori infection. Interleukin $1\beta$ is a cytokine markedly inhibiting gastric acid secretion. Interleukin $1\beta$ production associated with Helicobacter pylori gastric infection may exacerbate mucosal damage including chronic gastritis and atrophic gastritis, may induce eventual neoplasia. Among these Interleukin $1\beta$ gene polymorphisms, polymorphisms at -31 portion and -511 portion may associated with these processes, eventually increase the risk of gastric cancer. We investigated the risk of gastric cancer according to the Helicobacter pylori infection and genetic polymorphism of Interleukin $1\beta$ in gastric cancer patients. Materials and Methods: 176 individuals with gastric cancer and 40 healthy controls were analyzed. Each group was divided into two groups whether they infected with Helicobacter pylori or not. DNA was extracted from the peripheral blood in all groups. The PCR-RFLP method was used for investigating the distribution of genotype of C/C, C/T, T/T at -31 portion and -511 portion. Results: T/T genotype at -511 portion was $19.3\%$ in gastric cancer cases and $10\%$ in controls, which was statistically significant. (P=0.0432) The risk of gastric cancer was increased 4.86 ($1.26\∼18.77$) in group which had T/T genotype. In gastric cancer cases, C/C genotype at 31 portion was $27.6\%$ in group with Helicobacter pylori infection and $12.8\%$ in group without infection, which was statistically significant. (P=0.0047) The risk of gastric cancer was increased 4.82 ($1.81\~12.81$) in group which had C/C genotype. Conclusion: T genotype at -511 portion among the Interleukin $1\beta$ genetic polymorphisms may be the risk factor of gastric cancer. And, with Helicobacter pylori infection, C genotype at -31 portion may be the risk factor of gastric cancer.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.11 no.sup2
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• pp.44-49
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• 2008

The prevalence of symptomatic Hepatitis A has inclined significantly during the last several years in Korea. The average age at infection has increased, resulting in more clinically severe infections. Efforts to promote good personal hygiene have not been successful in interrupting outbreaks of hepatitis A. Vaccination is the most effective means of preventing HAV transmission among persons at risk for infection. Hepatitis A vaccination is recommended for all children at age 1 year, for persons who are at increased risk for infection, for persons who are at increased risk for complications from hepatitis A, and for any person wishing to obtain immunity.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.113-120
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• 2005

Purpose: To identify risk factors for surgical site infections in patients undergoing general surgery, to analyze the prolonged hospital stay and extra cost for antibiotics, and to provide basic data for control of surgical site infections. Method: Surgical site infection was defined using the definition of the CDC and the data were analyzed by $x^2$-test and unpaired t-test. Results: The prevalence of surgical site infections was 9.7%, and it was related to wound class, duration of operation, number of operations, whether the operation was an emergency, trauma, drains, preoperative stays, presence of remote infection during operative period, and previous history of recent surgery. The mean duration for post-operative stay when a surgical site infection occurred was 9.5 days and in 56.9 % of the patients the surgical site infection appeared 7 days after the operation. Post-operative stays for infected patients were 20.3 days longer than that of uninfected patients. The mean cost of antibiotics for infected patients was higher than that for uninfected patients by 561,067 won per person. Conclusion: Surgical site infection results in an increased length of stay and extra-cost, thus, hospitals need to create strategies to reduce nosocomial infections through effective infection surveillance and by considering factors related to surgical site infections.