• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.56-63
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• 2023

In this study, two cases of food poisoning caused by Salmonella that occurred in Gyeongsangnam-do in September 2021 are reported. One of the outbreaks occurred in a school and the other in a company. The molecular epidemiological characteristics of the isolated strains in the two outbreaks were analyzed. In the case of the school outbreak, 29 (4.9%) of 588 individuals experienced diarrhea and abdominal pain. As a result of a test of 36 individuals (patients, n=29; cook workers, n=7), Salmonella enterica serotype Enteritidis was detected in 17 (47.2%) patients, suggesting this serotype was the principal cause. Meanwhile, Salmonella spp. were not detected in 35 food and environmental samples. In the company outbreak, 87 (3.0%) of 2,900 individuals who had intaked from the same source experienced diarrhea, abdominal pain, and fever. In a test of 50 individuals (patients, n=40; cook workers, n=10), S. Enteritidis was detected in 28 patients (56.0%). Also, Vibrio cholerae (NAG) was detected in four patients with S. Enteritidis, and V. cholerae (NAG) only was detected in one patient. Salmonella spp. were not detected in 118 preserved foods, but S. Enteritidis was detected in one eaten food (toast) delivered in group by the company. Through PFGE genetic homology analysis of the isolated strains, all S. Enteritidis detected in patients and consumed foods were the same type. It seems that these S. Enteritidis isolates were the same type as detected in a previous school outbreak and in patients of group food poisoning in other regions, leading to an enhanced problem of food poisoning and epidemiology. Our analytic results can provide data for epidemiological management and food poisoning prevention based on molecular characteristics.

• The Korean Journal of Applied Statistics
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.859-864
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• 2012

Poisson regression and negative binomial regression are usually used to analyze counting data; however, these models are unsuitable for fit zero-inflated data that contain unexpected zero-valued observations. In this paper, we review the zero-inflated regression in which Bernoulli process and the counting process are hierarchically mixed. It is known that zero-inflated regression can efficiently model the over-dispersion problem. Vuong statistic is employed to compare performances of the zero-inflated models with other standard models.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.17-27
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• 2021

Objectives: Deliberate self-poisoning (DSP) is the most common suicide method and can be life-threatening. The purpose of this study was to investigate the factors related to the lethality of DSP and the characteristics of the adolescent group. Methods: A retrospective study was conducted on patients who had visited an academic hospital's regional emergency medical center between 2015 and 2018. The data reviewed through their medical records included sociodemographic factors, clinical variables, and psychiatric treatment. Four groups (Q1-Q4) were categorized by descriptive analysis using the risk-rescue rating scale. Results: A total of 491 patients were enrolled in this study. This study showed that high lethality had statistically significant associations with male sex, older age, admitting suicidal intentions, and the use of herbicides for suicide. Logistic regression analyses showed a significant association between high-lethality and female [odds ratio (OR)=0.50, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.30-0.81, p=0.01], non-psychiatric drugs (over-the-counter drug: OR=2.49, 95% CI=1.08-5.74, p=0.03; herbicide: OR=8.65, 95% CI=3.91-19.13, p<0.01), and denial of suicide intent (OR=0.28, 95% CI=0.15-0.55, p<0.01). Conclusion: This study showed the clinical factors associated with the high lethality of DSP and suggested that efforts were needed to care for and thoroughly examine patients with DSP.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.113-122
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• 1999

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to describe the trends of original research in the Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine, and to evaluate the quality of original articles about lead poisoning. Method: The data for the analysis of trends in preventive medicine research was taker from a total of 829 original articles published in the Korean Journal of Preventive Medicine from 1968 to 1997, The qualitative meta-analysis was measured against a checklist of evaluation criteria, which were divided into 10 categories, with 46 articles on lead poisoning. The evaluation process was performed independently by two evaluators, Results: The number of articles per 100 members over the study period increased by almost 4 pieces in the early 1980s, and by more than 9 pieces in the mid-1990s. In the major classifications of subjects, environmental and industrial health, epidemiology and health statistics, and health policy and management published 370 pieces (44.0%), 137 pisces (16.5%), 322 pieces (38.9%) respectively. In the order of the number of articles, five themes about health significance, including metal exposure (73 pieces), diseases associated with exposure to organic solvents (45 pieces), air pollution (36 pieces), maternal and child health (32 pieces), and occupational health (3D pieces) received consistent attention throughout the years $1968\sim1997$. The overall mean score of article qualify about lead poisoning was 37.8 out of 50. Of the articles any information on the purpose and hypothesis described well, Of those the originality of the subjects, the form of article's (including tables and figures), and the number of inappropriate words of abstracts showed very low score. For multiple regression analyses, the number of joint research institutes and the acceptance of research grants about the article quality were statistically significant. Conclusions: The number of original research reports in the Korean J Prev Med has recently increased and their subjects bave diversified. Of the basis of this study, the articles need improvement in the areas of abstracts, tables and illustrations (figures), etc. The Korean Society for Preventive Medicine will revise contribution regulations for manuscripts submitted to the Korean J Prev Med. Future studies should address these issues and perform the quantitative mata-analysis about the specific subjects including the quality of articles.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.97-100
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• 1992

The optimum condition for the extraction of antimicrobial substance from Lithospermi radix was investigated. For the purpose of obtaining basic data for the development of natural preservatives and for the prevention of food poisoning accidents, its antimicrobial activity was tested against several kinds of saprophytic microbes and food poisoning bacteria. The optimum condition for extraction of antimicrobial substance was to steep Lithospermi radix into 95% ethanol for 24 hours at room temperature. Antimicrobial activity was observed at the pH range $5.0{\sim}8.0$, but its activity became stronger at acidic condition. The result of ion exchange chromatography was showed that the antimicrobial activity of anionic portion was more apparent than that of cationic portion. The antimicrobial activity against Gram positive bacteria was stronger than that of Gram negative bacteria and the growth of food poisoning bacteria such as S. aureus and V. parahaemolyticus was inhibited in the concentration of 0.1% for 48 hours. As for mold and yeast, the growth of some kinds of these organisms was inhibited in the concentration of 0.1 % for 48 hours and the growth of nearly all the fungi was inhibited in the concentration of 0.15% for 96 hours.

• Journal of Distribution Science
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• v.16 no.7
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• pp.25-33
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• 2018

Purpose - This research is to examine how different Korean retailers are from Japanese ones, in terms of taking a social responsibility for product scandals. Through a comparative analysis, the authors will provide some implications for retailers in Korea. Research design, data, and methodology - Based on the existing literature studied how retailers as well as manufacturers responded to food poisoning and product scandals, the authors compared Korea with Japan, in terms of taking a social responsibility. Results - As soon as food safety scandals occurred in Japan, a local government quickly ordered Snow Brand to recall and stop producing problematic milk products. In addition, retailers have stopped displaying them on their store shelves to minimize the number of victims. By stopping selling them, Japanese retailers took a social responsibility for product scandals. Conclusions - The authors found that retailers play a very important role in protecting customer rights. Moreover, customers have become more and more aware of the roles of retailers taking a social responsibility for social issues. The research proposes that a government has to develop the laws to protect customers from food poisoning and product safety issues effectively and that boycott campaigns should be legally protected by a government and promoted by customers.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.10 no.4
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• pp.213-223
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• 2016

Objectives : This study was conducted to examine the educational status and needs of both parents and kindergarten teachers pertaining to the prevention of infectious diseaes in children. Methods : The participants were 280 parents and 147 kindergarten teachers. Data were collected from August 21, 2013 to December 30, 2014. Results : Only 16.7% of parents had educational experience with infectious diseases. The source of their education was broadcast media and their preferred educational method was the internet. Parents reported that the childhood infection about which they should be educated were influenza (30.4%) followed by hand-foot-and-mouth disease (13.9%), food poisoning (6.4%), and so on. About 27.2% of kindergarten teachers had received an education about infectious diseases, and the major source of their education was refresher training. The teachers' preferred educational method was the internet. The teachers wanted to be educated about influenza (22.4%), hand-foot-and-mouth disease (20.4%), food poisoning (20.4%) and so on. Conclusions : Educational programs should be developed and applied to children, parents and kindergarten teachers based on consideration of their educational needs.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.90-95
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• 2004

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the toxicologic characteristics of two groups of patients with acute intoxication for two different time periods and to make recommendations based on the results of this study. Methods: We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of patients with acute intoxication in our emergency center from June 1997 to May 1998 (group A) and from June 2000 to May 2003 (group B), and we evaluated differences in the epidemiologic and the toxicologic characteristics between the two groups. Results: The ratios of the number of patients with acute intoxication to the total numbers of patients who visited our emergency department were $0.49\%$ and $0.52\%$ for groups A and B, respectively. In both groups many poisoned patients visited our emergency center from 4:00 pm to midnight. The interval between the time of intoxication and arrival at the hospital was significantly shorter in group B. The number of patients transferred to our emergency center was larger in group B. Attempted suicide was the major cause of acute intoxication in both groups. Major toxic substances in both groups were centrally active drugs and insecticides. The number of comatose and mechanically ventilated patients was larger in group B. However, there was no statistically significant difference in the mortality rates. Conclusion: Emergency physicians who manage intoxicated patients should recognize regional characteristics and differences in the toxicologic characteristics of poisoning. In addition, the establishment of a poisoning control center in the regional emergency center is necessary to integrate data control and to enhance specialized management of intoxicated patients.

• Proceedings of the Plant Resources Society of Korea Conference
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• 2022.09a
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• pp.112-112
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• 2022

This study aims to confirm the possibility of using the invasive alien plants in Jeju as a functional biomaterial. To achieve this purpose, 70% ethanol extract and solvent fractions were prepared for five invasive alien plants (Hypochaeris radicata, Rumex acetosella, Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc., Solanum viarum, Lactuca scariolar) and their antioxidant, antibacterial anti-inflammatory and anti-obesity effects were investigated. The DPPH radical scavenging activity of ethanol extract from invasive alien plants was shown in the order of Rumex acetosella > Hypochaeris radicata > Humulus japonicus. Antimicrobial activity of ethanol extract against food poisoning bacteria (4 species) and oral cavity-induced microorganisms (6 species) was measured. As a result, the extract of Humulus japonicus showed high antibacterial effects against food poisoning bacteria (E. coli, V. parahaemolyticus) and oral microbes (L. casei, S. epidermidis, E. faecalis). In LPS-induced RAW 264.7 cells, the anti-inflammatory effect of ethanol extract from invasive alien plants was investigated. As a result, the NO production inhibition activity was highest in the Rumex acetosella and the Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc. ethanol extract, and the NO production inhibition activity was concentration-dependent. In addition, the Rumex acetosella and the Humulus japonicus Siebold & Zucc. ethanol extract showed a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on cytokine (IL-6) production. These extracts also showed inhibitory activity of COX-2, an inflammatory protein. This suggests that NO production inhibition activity by the extract of invasive alien plants is the result of inhibition of iNOS and COX-2 expression. Currently, organic solvent fractions of crude extract are manufactured and the investigation of active ingredients is continuing along with evaluation of biological activity such as anti-inflammatory. These results are expected to be a major data for the study on the separation and utilization of active ingredients with antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects using foreign plant crude extract and solvent fractions, and are highly likely to be applied to the development of functional food and cosmetics materials.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.22-32
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• 2012

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the occurrence of toxic exposure cases in Korean emergency centers using a toxic exposure surveillance system-based report form and to provide guidelines for the prevention and treatment of toxic exposures. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of toxic exposure patients who had visited emergency centers from January 2009 to December 2009. Epidemiology data points for the toxic exposure cases included age, gender, type of exposure, number and kind of substances involved, reason and route of poison exposure, management of the patients in the emergency departments, and the clinical outcome. Results: A total of 3,501 patients from 12 emergency departments were enrolled in the study. 50.0% of the total exposure patients were male and 63.0% of the total cases were fatal. Acute intoxication occurred in 91.3% of the total patients and suicidal intent was the most common (43.3%) reason for exposure. The most common route of exposure was ingestion (75.9%). Of the total cases, pesticides were involved in 26.3%, sedatives/hypnotics/antipsychotics were involved in 22.0%, and bites and envenomations were involved in 15.7%. Conclusion: We provided a database of patients who were admitted to emergency departments after poisoning incidents. We recommend that toxicology professionals develop a classification scheme for toxicants which is adequate for Korean domestic circumstances and initiate a toxic surveillance system for all types of exposures. With support of a psychiatric surveillance system for suicidal patients and establishment of social mediation for pesticide poisoning, major reductions in poison exposures can be achieved.