• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.33-40
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• 1985

Two cases of human Erhinostoma hortense infection and their probable infection source were identified by prasiqantel (Distocide) treatment of the patients and by examining two kinds of fresh water fish which were eaten raw by them. The result of the research can be summarized as follows: 1. The patients, each aged 31 and 30, were residing in the same house in Wonju City, Kangwon Province. The first case was hospitalized due to epidemic hemorrhagic fever (E.H. fever) and the second case was healthy but had slight degree of abdominal pain and diarrhea from time to time. In the stool examination, eggs of 5. hortense ($114.3{\times}71.0{\mu\textrm{m}}$) average from the first case and $119.1{\times}68.3{\mu\textrm{m}}$ average from the second) were found. By administering single dose of praziquantel (10~15mg/kg) and purgation with magnesium salt to them. sin adults of 5. hortense were collected from the diarrheal stools of the second case. 2. By examining 8:k Moroco oxycephalus and 20 Carassius carassius which were captured at the place where the two patients had captured and eaten the fresh water fish, the metacercariae of Echinostoma sp. were found from 3 (3.5%) M. oxycephalus. 3. After the experimental infection of 3 isolated metacercariae to one albino rat three adults of 5. hortense were recovered. By the present study, the two patients revealing the echinostomatid eggs in their stools were proven to be infected with 5. hortense and to be the second and third human cases of this luke infection in Korea. Mcroco oxycephalus harboured the metacercariae of E. hortense and appeared to be a new second intermediate host.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Surveying, Geodesy, Photogrammetry and Cartography
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.231-242
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• 2016

As of late, air quality information has been actively gathered and investigated in order to find possible environmental risk factors that may affect the onset of cardiovascular disease. Nevertheless, existing studies are limited in the detailed analysis because they take advantage of the air quality information of the macro statistics divided into administrative districts. This paper proposes the construction of distance-based air quality dataset using a domestic hospital’s geographical location information as a reliable data gathering step for a more detailed analysis of environmental risk factors. For the construction of the dataset, air quality information was obtained by utilizing the geographical location of a hospital—in which a patient with cardiovascular disease had been admitted—and then matching the hospital with a meteorological and air pollution station in its vicinity. An air quality acquisition system based on GMap.net was devised for the purpose of data gathering and visualization. The reliability of the experiment was confirmed by evaluating the matching rate and error of air quality values between the acquired dataset with existing area-based air quality datasets from matched distances. Therefore, this dataset, which considers geographical information, can be utilized in multidisciplinary research for the discovery of environmental risk factors that can affect not only cardiovascular diseases but also potentially other epidemic diseases.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.6
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• pp.137-146
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to derive and analyze the hub facilities that occupy major positions in the vehicle movement networks of livestock facilities. For this purpose, this study used the KAHIS data provided by Animal and Plant Quarantine Agency. The hub facilities were derived from the degree centrality & betweenness centrality. The analysis results are summarized as follows. First, in a livestock facility's vehicle movement network, there are a small number of hub facilities with very high centrality indicator values compared to other facilities. Second, the hub facilities based on the degree centrality are the feed factory, the milk collecting center, slaughterhouse, slaughterhouse for chicken, and livestock markets. Third, the hub facilities based on the betweenness centrality are the livestock markets, the feed factory, and slaughterhouse. Fourth, hub facilities based on the degree centrality are concentrated in a particular area, but the hub facilities based on betweenness centrality are distributed relatively evenly.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.37-43
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• 2017

Purpose: Pertussis can be prevented with a vaccine. Despite this, there have been an increasing number of cases worldwide, and also in Korea. This study aimed to investigate the epidemiology and clinical characteristics of the recent outbreak in the Changwon area. Methods: Patients who visited Changwon Fatima Hospital from July 2015 to March 2016 with respiratory symptoms, including spasmodic cough, cough induced vomiting, inspiratory 'intake' sound (whooping), and a night-time cough for >1 week were included in this study. Respiratory specimens were collected from patients and a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and detected anti-pertussis immunoglobulin G enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kit test were performed. Patients with underlying diseases, or those who had received a DTaP or Tdap vaccination in recent 1 year were excluded. Results: Pertussis was diagnosed in 37 of 50 patients, two patients were positive according to the PCR, and 37 patients were positive according to serologic tests. The age distribution of the patients was 1 month to 15 years. After administering antibiotics, all patients recovered without complications. Conclusions: A pertussis outbreak occurred in Changwon in 2015 and 2016. This data can provide the basis for further study on the epidemiology of pertussis in Korea.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.46 no.2
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• pp.107-117
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• 2006

This paper described the epidemiological characteristics of 2002 outbreak of classical swine fever (CSF) in Korea. A total of thirteen CSF-infected farms could be classified into two clusters according to the location and time of outbreak. Two farms located in the same county of Gangwon province and 11 farms located in several different districts of Incheon metropolitan/Gyeonggi province were identified as CSF-infected from April 16 to 30 and from October 7 to December 21 in 2002, respectively. As the result of epidemiological analysis, the two clusters of outbreaks were turned out to be independent epidemics which had different sources of virus introduction. Three farms were found to have been infected primarily; one located in Cheolwon county of Gangwon province and two located in Kangwha county of Incheon metropolitan area. The most likely factors of virus introduction into these primary infected farms were considered to be direct or indirect contact by foreign workers and/or owners of the infected farms who had come back from traveling in China before outbreaks. This was supported by the genetic typing of CSF viruses isolated from the pigs of infected farms. All the virus isolates of 2002 outbreak were found to be genetic type 2, whereas the viruses isolated before 2000 were type 3 and the reference strains, such as attenuated live vaccine virus (LOM strain) and high virulent challenge virus (ALD strain), were type 1. Accordingly, we concluded that the 2002 CSF outbreak must have been caused by a newly introduced virus from overseas and the type 3 virus must have been eradicated after the last outbreak of 1999 by the national CSF eradication campaign which were implemented since 1996. Based on the combined analysis of epidemiological data and genetic typing, the transmission routes of classical swine fever virus were found to be the movement of vehicles (60%) and persons (10%), neighbourhood spread (20%) and unknown (10%). It is expected that the analyzed data and findings of classical swine fever outbreak epidemic could be very useful to establish the disease control and eradication program for the country in the future.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2017

Measles virus is a highly contagious, exanthematic virus, preventable by the use of an effective live-attenuated vaccine. However, measles virus remains endemic in many area of the world causing nearly 200,000 deaths per year and still a major cause of child mortality, mostly in developing countries. In March 2014, Republic of Korea was certified as a 'national measles elimination' by the WHO as a result of a high-quality case-based surveillance system and population immunity, which was achieved by a high vaccination rate (>95.0% since 1996). But, since the beginning of 2014, the Gyeonggi province has experienced a resurgence of measles cases. In this study, we investigated the characteristics of measles viruses isolated from confirmed measles in Gyeonggi province during January 1, 2014 ~ July 31, 2014, 60 isolates were obtained from 72 confirmed measles specimens. Genotypic distributions and genetic diversities of isolated measles virus were analyzed by sequencing of nucleoprotein (N) gene. 58 (96.7%) imported cases were identified. The predominant genotype was B3, which reflects the circulating measles virus in adjacent countries. The sequences of nucleoprotein (N) gene of isolated MeV were showed that the strains characterized showed the highest degree of identity (99%) with the Philippine related strains in 2013-2014. Therefore, infected traveler returning from the Philippines transmitted secondary infection in Korea.

• Journal of Korean Society of Rural Planning
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.121-129
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• 2016

A disaster can be defined in many ways based on perspectives, in addition, its types are able to classify differently by various standards. Considering the different perspectives, the disaster can be occurred by natural phenomenon that is like typhoon, earthquake, flood, and drought, and by the accident that is like collapse of facilities, traffic accidents, and environmental pollution, etc. Into the modern society, moreover, the disaster includes the damages by diffusion of epidemic and infectious disease in domestic animals. The disaster was defined by natural and man-made hazards in the past. As societies grew with changes of paradigm, social factors have been included in the concept of the disaster according to new types unexpected by new disease and scientific technology. Change the concept of social disasters, Ministry of Public Safety and Security (MPSS) has provided the regional safety index, which measures the safety level of a local government. However, this regional safety index has some limitation to use because this index provides the information for city unit which is a unit of administrative districts of urban. Since these administrative districts units are on a different level with urban and rural areas, the regional safety index provided by MPSS is not be able to direct apply to the rural areas. The purpose of this study is to determine the regional safety index targeting rural areas. To estimate the safety index, we was used for 3 indicators of the MPSS, a fire, a crime, and an infectious disease which are evaluable the regional safety index using an accessibility analysis. For determining the regional safety index using accessibility from community centers to public facilities, the safety index of fire, crime, and infectious disease used access time to fire station, police office, and medical facility, respectively. An integrated Cheongju, targeting areas in this study, is mixed region with urban and rural areas. The results of regional safety index about urban and rural areas, the safety index in rural area is relatively higher than in the urban. Neverthless the investment would be needed to improve the safety in the rural areas.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.363-375
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• 2021

Trends in the developing era to discover and design peptide-based treatments throughout an epidemic infection scenario such as COVID-19 could progress into a more efficient and low-cost therapeutic environment. However, the weakening of proteolysis is one downside of natural peptide drugs. But, peptidomimetics may help resolve this issue. In this review, peptide and peptide-based drug discovery were summarized to target one key entry mechanism of severe coronavirus pulmonary emboli syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), which encompasses the association of the host angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) receptor and viral spike (S) protein. Furthermore, the benefits of proteins, peptides and other possible actions that have been studied for COVID-19 through new peptide-based treatments are discussed in the review. Lastly, an overview of the peptide-based drug therapy environment is comprised of an evolutionary viewpoint, structural properties, operational thresholds, and an explanation of the therapeutic area.

• The Korean Journal of Ecology
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• v.28 no.5
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• pp.335-345
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• 2005

A study on changes on the distribution of vascular hydrophytes and the growth pattern of Schenoplectus triqueter (Scirpus triqueter) was undertaken at the Nakdong River estuary from 2002 to 2004. The change was due to physical alteration of the estuary for the past 25 years. These plant species are the major food sources for winter waterfowl. A total of 32 species of vascular hydrophytes from 17 families were found in the West Nakdong River (freshwater), the main channel of Nakdong River (freshwater) and the Nakdong River Estuary (brackish water). After the construction of the barrage on the estuary in 1987, the number of hydrophytes has remarkably increased to 17 species (5 species in 1985) in the main channel of the River. In particular, a community of Eurale ferox was found at the backwater wetland of the Daejeo side of the main channel. The introduced species of Eichhornia crassipes and Pistia stratiotes that were epidemic in 2001 at West Nakdong River was not found any more. The other species such as Nymphoides indica, Myriophyllum spicatum, Ruppia spp. were rediscovered. The large area (about 1,300ha) of Zostera spp. was the main sources of food for swans, but disappeared because of direct and indirect impacts of reclamation in the River estuary. Currently, there remains a small patch of Zostera spp. and about 250ha of S. triqueter. Schenoplectus triqueter grew mostly between April-September and tuber formed, between September-October. The growth of S. triqueter up to $60\sim80cm$ in length was observed in 5 sites out of the 7 sites in brackish area. Tubers of S. triqueter were eaten by waterfowls such as swans as winter food. In five sites, tubers took $44\sim57%$ of total biomass in October. Tubers were found in deep layers; $5\sim15cm$ (9%), $15\sim25cm$ (28%), $25\sim40cm$ (55%), below 40cm $(6\sim7%)$. The distribution of vascular hydrophytes has remarkably changed in the Nakdong River Estuary due to the reclamation of the area. In order to determine the extent of changes of the distribution of these plants and the carrying capacity of the area for waterfowl, an intensive research is urgently needed.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.218-224
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• 2000

Purpose : In Korea, vivax malaria has been reemerged since 1993 after being abscent for more than 10 years. There are several possibilities of casuality of recent epidemic, although it is still unclear. The epidemiologic studies including case analysis and entomological reseach have been undertaken for a successful control measure. But, unfortunately those studies have been rarely dealt with cases of children. Therefore, this study was designed to figure out the characteristics of epidemiolgic and clinical features in children with indigenous vivax malaria. Methods : The study 21 cases below 15 years of age, who were diagnosed as vivax malaria and resided in kyounggi-do province area during 1998. 9~1999. 8. We retrospectively analyzed epidemiologic data concernig with occurrence of vivax, and clinical manifestations, abnormal laboratory findings and outcomes including therapeutic responses. Results : All cases were inhabitants of the endemic areas for vivax malaria in northwestern part of Kyonggi-do or western Kangwon-do, and Paju-gun was the most prevalent. Indigenous malaria cases of this study were more prevalent in children above 10 years old age, and in male. Seasonally, vivax malaria in children occurred throughout the year except January, March and November, and the incidence was the highest in July. Clinical manifestations revealed that 48 hour cyclic fever pattern was the major fever pattern, and other symptoms such as headache, vomiting, poor appetites, chilling, abdominal pain and diarrhea were concomitantly developed. And splenomegaly revealed the main abnormal findings on physical examination, and anemia was the most frequent abnormal finding in laboratory examinations. Young trophozoite was frequently observed on peripheral blood smears. The therapeutic responses of chlorquine were very good in all cases, and no recurrence developed in follow up cases. Conclusion : Geographical and seasonal occurrence distributions of indigenous vivax malaria cases in children were very similar to those of adults as followings; Inhabitants of the endemic region, more prevalent in male, and more common during the summer season. Clinically, 48 hour cyclic fever pattern, splenomegaly and anemia were most frequent and important manifestations in children cases, and clinical courses were not serious. On blood smears, young trophozoite was most dominantly examined in children. Generally, the therapeutic outcomes were excellent, and recurrences were not observed.