• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.4
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• pp.431-443
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• 2020

Echinostoma mekongi n. sp. (Digenea: Echinostomatidae) is described based on adult flukes collected from humans residing along the Mekong River in Cambodia. Total 256 flukes were collected from the diarrheic stool of 6 echinostome egg positive villagers in Kratie and Takeo Province after praziquantel treatment and purging. Adults of the new species were 9.0-13.1 (av. 11.3) mm in length and 1.3-2.5 (1.9) mm in maximum width and characterized by having a head collar armed with 37 collar spines (dorsal spines arranged in 2 alternative rows), including 5 end group spines. The eggs in feces and worm uterus were 98-132 (117) ㎛ long and 62-90 (75) ㎛ wide. These morphological features closely resembled those of Echinostoma revolutum, E. miyagawai, and several other 37-collar-spined Echinostoma species. However, sequencing of the nuclear ITS (ITS1-5.8S rRNA-ITS2) and 2 mitochondrial genes, cox1 and nad1, revealed unique features distinct from E. revolutum and also from other 37-collar-spined Echinostoma group available in GenBank (E. bolschewense, E. caproni, E. cinetorchis, E. deserticum, E. miyagawai, E. nasincovae, E. novaezealandense, E. paraensei, E. paraulum, E. robustum, E. trivolvis, and Echinostoma sp. IG). Thus, we assigned our flukes as a new species, E. mekongi. The new species revealed marked variation in the morphology of testes (globular or lobulated), and smaller head collar, collar spines, oral and ventral suckers, and cirrus sac compared to E. revolutum and E. miyagawai. Epidemiological studies regarding the geographical distribution and its life history, including the source of human infections, remain to be performed.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.196-204
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• 2018

Objectives: To determine urinary mercury levels in e-waste workers in Southern Thailand and the airborne mercury levels in the e-waste shops where they worked, to describe the associations between urinary and airborne mercury levels, and to evaluate the prevalence of mercury exposure-related health effects among e-waste workers. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted by interviewing 79 workers in 25 e-waste shops who lived in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, Thailand. Information on general and occupational characteristics, personal protective equipment use, and personal hygiene was collected by questionnaire. Urine samples were collected to determine mercury levels using a cold-vapor atomic absorption spectrometer mercury analyzer. Results: The e-waste workers' urinary mercury levels were $11.60{\mu}5.23{\mu}g/g$ creatinine (range, 2.00 to $26.00{\mu}g/g$ creatinine) and the mean airborne mercury levels were $17.00{\mu}0.50{\mu}g/m^3$ (range, 3.00 to $29.00{\mu}g/m^3$). The urinary and airborne mercury levels were significantly correlated (r=0.552, p<0.001). The prevalence of self-reported symptoms was 46.8% for insomnia, 36.7% for muscle atrophy, 24.1% for weakness, and 20.3% for headaches. Conclusions: Personal hygiene was found to be an important protective factor, and should therefore be stressed in educational programs. Employers should implement engineering measures to reduce urinary mercury levels and the prevalence of associated health symptoms among e-waste workers.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.191-204
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• 1996

The characterization of the 5 Korean isolates (K96P10, K94P05, K91P55, K87P39, and K82P01) of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) was compared with JE virus prototype Nakayama-NIH (NKY-NIH) using prM/M and envelope gene sequences of the JEV genome and phylogenetic analysis. The antigenic analysis of these viruses were done by the cross-hamagglutination inhibition (HI) test using polyclonal antibodies against Korean isolates and NKY-NIH. The sequence homology of the Korean isolates and NKY-NIH ranged between 87.4 % - 95.6 % at the nucleotide level and between 98.2 % - 97.2 % at the amino acid level over the E nucleotides compared. Alignment of E protein amino acid sequences revealed that residue positions E89, E129, E221, E244, E327, E366, E459, and E477 characterized the Korean strains. According to phylogenetic analysis bases on the E nucleotide, there are at least 2 genetic types of JEV existing in Korea and Korean strains were distinct from NKY-NIH. However, the cross HI test results of all the Korean isolates were serologically no different from NKY-NIH strain.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.111-119
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• 2013

The aim of this study was to investigate the isolation frequency and antimicrobial resistance of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and Enterococcus spp. from domestic beef and pork on sale in Seoul, Korea. A total of 106 (10.4%) E. coli and 114 (11.2%) Enterococcus spp. from 635 domestic beef and 381 pork samples were isolated and examined for susceptibility to 15 and 11 antimicrobial agents, respectively. The most frequent antimicrobial resistance observed in E. coli isolates was to ampicillin (38.6%), followed by streptocmycin (34.9%) and tetracycline (32.0%). The most frequent antimicrobial resistance in E. faecium isolates was to erythromycin (53.8%) and rifampin (46.1%), and in E. faecalis isolates was to tetracycline (55.7%) and rifampin (55.0%). Among the isolates, multi-drug resistant (MDR) E. coli and Enterococcus spp. strains showing resistances to more than two antimicrobial agents tested were 10.4% and 11.2%, respectively. As a result, appropriate protocols for antimicrobial agents and strategies to reduce antimicrobial resistance will be needed in future.

• Proceedings of the Korea Contents Association Conference
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• 2006.05a
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• pp.489-492
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• 2006

We analyzed twelve representative oversea's e-health related web-sites for assessing satisfaction degree for information confidence criteria. We find out that what criteria are important for giving confidence of information to medical consumers in these web-sites. In the results, we give guidance of criteria to domestic e-health information related web-sites for maintaining confidence of information.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.5
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• pp.483-493
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine trends in dietary vitamin E intakes and contributing food groups among Korean adults. Methods: This study included 66,695 subjects aged ${\geq}19years$ who completed a nutrition survey as part of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1998, 2001, 2005, 2007~2009, 2010~2012, 2013~2015). We estimated individual daily intakes of ${\alpha}-$, ${\beta}-$, ${\gamma}-$, ${\delta}-tocopherol$, and total vitamin E by linking food consumption data with a vitamin E database of commonly consumed foods. Results: Daily vitamin E intake significantly increased from $6.4mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 1998 to $7.7mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 2013~2015 (p for trend < 0.0001) among men as well as from $5.4mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 1998 to $6.5mg\;{\alpha}-TE/d$ in 2013~2015 among women (p for trend < 0.0001). However, the intake of vitamin E was lower than the adequate intake (AI) of Dietary Reference Intakes for Koreans 2015 (2015 KDRI). In 2013~2015, men consumed 6.5 mg/d of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, 0.5 mg/d of ${\beta}-tocopherol$, 6.0 mg/d of ${\gamma}-tocopherol$, and 3.9 mg/d of ${\delta}-tocopherol$, whereas women consumed 5.7 mg/d of ${\alpha}-tocopherol$, 0.4 mg/d of ${\beta}-tocopherol$, 4.8 mg/d of ${\gamma}-tocopherol$, and 2.8 mg/d of ${\delta}-tocopherol$. The major food groups contributing to vitamin E intake were vegetables (men: 23.3%, women: 22.7%), grains (men: 14.5%, women: 13.9%), and eggs (men: 13.0%, women: 12.5%). Conclusion: This study provides scientific evidence for vitamin E intake in Korean adults. Since the current intake of vitamin E was lower than the reference intakes set by 2015 KDRI, dietary vitamin E intake should be monitored regularly among Korean adults.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Plant Engineering
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.85-92
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• 2018

With the increasing use of chemicals in domestic businesses, the possibility of fire explosion and poisonous material leakage accidents is also increasing. Accordingly, the Korea Occupational Safety and Health Agency(KOSHA) has implemented the process safety management (PSM) system for a long time. However, process safety report submission has been providing and operating e-PSM since 2016 to address these problems as it is difficult to increase budget spending due to the need for professional capabilities and commissioning the report to consulting institutions. Therefore, this study conducts questionnaires on whether e-PSM system that is well utilized in the field, focusing on existing PSM business sites. In order to find out the activation method that can solve the deficiency factors by analyzing various inconveniences and problems accurately, we propose three improvement methods as educational aspect, promotional direction of e-PSM system, and institutional aspect.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.157-162
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• 2008

Enterobacter sakazakii was initially referred to as yellow-pigmented Enterobacter cloacae and reclassified in 1980. E. sakazakii infection cause life-threatening meningitis, septicemia, and necrotizing enterocolitis in infants. Powdered infant formula (PIF) and baby foods may be the important vehicle of E. sakazakii infection. It has been reported that E. sakazakii was isolated from PIF and sunsik ingredients produced in Korea. Some infants have been fed sunsik as a weaning diet. Therefore, it is necessary that this organism should be inactivated on preparing PIF and sunsik at homes and in hospitals. The cocktail of three Korean E. sakazakii strains (human, sunsik and soil isolates) were used to investigate the inactivation of this organism with hot water at 50, 60, 65, 70 and $80^{\circ}C$ and microwave heating for 60, 75, 90, 105 and 120 sec. Reconstituted PIF and sunsikwere inoculated with cocktailed vegetative cells of E. sakazakii at 6 log CFU/mL. Thermal inactivation of vegetative cells of E. sakazakii were achieved by reconstituted PIF and sunsik with hot water at $60^{\circ}C$ or greater and with microwave heating at 2,450 MHz for 75 sec or longer. Considering that biofilm formation of E. sakazakii was adapted to survive the dry environment that is PIF and sunsik and thermal resistance increased, it is suggested that inactivation of E. sakazakii was used by hot water at $70^{\circ}C$ or greater and microwave heating for 90 sec or longer. Reconstituted PIF and sunsik were inoculated with cocktailed vegetative cells of E. sakazakii at 2 to 3 log CFU/mL to investigate the growth curve of this organism and stored at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 and $35^{\circ}C$. Viable counts slightly changed at 5, $10^{\circ}C$ during 48 h but grew at $15^{\circ}C$ or greater. Considering that E. sakazakii is able to grow in infant formula milk at refrigerator temperature, reconstituted PIF and sunsik that are not immediately consumed should be discarded or stored at refrigeration temperatures within 24 h.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.102-120
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• 2001

This paper examines the current situation and major impacts of e-business on healthcare industry: hospital, pharmaceutical, medical device and health-related internet sectors. Of the 137 samples collected with mail survey, the utilization rate of B2C e-commerce is 31.4% and B2B is 13.1%. And 74.5% of respondents remains the first development stage which represents the simple advertisement such as the one-way information offering. The key obstacle of expansion of health care e-commerce turns out to be the illogical and outdated medical-related law and institution. Finally, policy recommendations are proposed based on the evaluation of the current policy implemented by government.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.41 no.5
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• pp.402-413
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• 2008

This study was performed to investigate Apolipoprotein E phenotypes and the relationship among lipid levels, nutrient intakes, lifestyles and risk factors between subjects with and without hyperlipidemic risk. The data were collected from 675 industrial male workers who had completed annual medical examination. Compared to the normal group, the hyperlipidemic risk group in Apo E3 and E4 had significantly higher BMI (p < 0.05) and showed significantly higher body fat (%), waist circumference and WHR in all types of Apo E (p < 0.05). In addition, the hyperlipidemic risk group had significantly higher total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, triglyceride and AI than the normal group in all types of Apo E (p < 0.05). Intakes of protein, calcium, phosphorus, iron, vitamin A, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, vitamin C and niacin in Apo E3 were significantly lower in the hyperlipidemic risk group than in the normal group (p < 0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, after adjustment for other factors, Apo E2 + E4, waist and WHR were the significant risk factors associated with hyperlipidemia, but protein intakes were associated with significantly lower risks of hyperlipidemia (p < 0.05). In conclusion, genetic factor (Apo E2 or Apo E4), anthropometric index and nutrient intake seem to influence hyperlidemic risk. Further studies and efforts will be needed to evaluate the independent relationships among hyperlipidemic risk factors.