Status In Korea Research Articles

A national cross-sectional study for poliovirus seroprevalence in the Republic of Korea in 2012: implication for deficiency in immunity to polio among middle-aged people.

BackgroundA worldwide poliomyelitis eradication program was initiated in 1988; however, strains of wild poliovirus (WPV) are still endemic in some countries. Until WPV transmission is eradicated globally, importation and outbreaks of WPV are alarming possibilities. This study is the first report to document the polio immunity after 2004, when an inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) was introduced in the Republic of Korea.MethodsA total of 745 serum samples from randomly selected patients ranging from 6 to 84 years of age were used for neutralization tests, performed in the World Health Organization polio national reference laboratory.ResultsAmong the 745 tested sera, 439 (58.9%) were seropositive and 19 (2.6%) were seronegative to all PV serotypes. In all age groups, PV3 showed the lowest level of seroprevalence, at 509 cases (68.3%), compared to 616 (82.7%) for PV1 and 685 (91.9%) for PV2. In the 6–10-year age group, which included IPV-immunized children, the highest seropositive rate was observed and the difference in seroprevalence between PV3 and other serotypes was the lowest compared to the other age groups immunized with oral PV vaccines (OPV). In addition, the seronegative rates of all three PV types in children aged 6–10 in this study were found to be lower than those in OPV-immunized children reported in a previous study from the Republic of Korea. Meanwhile, middle-aged subjects (41–60 years) had the lowest seroprevalence and geometric mean titer.ConclusionsThis study indicates a deficiency in immunity to PV in middle-aged individuals, and low seroprevalence to PV3 in all age groups. In addition, due to the ongoing risk of importing PV, middle-aged people should consider PV vaccination before visiting a PV-endemic country. Our findings provide data to assist those involved in deciding future national polio vaccination strategies for the maintenance of a polio-free status in Korea.

Antibiotic Susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus in Atopic Dermatitis: Current Prevalence of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus in Korea and Treatment Strategies.

BackgroundStaphylococcus aureus is a well-known microbe that colonizes or infects the skin in atopic dermatitis (AD). The prevalence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) in AD has recently been increasing.ObjectiveThis study aimed to determine the antimicrobial susceptibility patterns in AD skin lesions and evaluate the prevalence of MRSA in Korea. We also recommend proper first-line topical antibiotics for Korean patients with AD.MethodsWe studied S. aureus-positive skin swabs (n=583) from the lesional skin of infants, children, and adults who presented to our outpatient clinic with AD from July 2009 to April 2012.ResultsS. aureus exhibited high susceptibility against most antimicrobial agents. However, it exhibited less susceptibility to benzylpenicillin, erythromycin, clindamycin, and fusidic acid. The prevalence of MRSA was 12.9% among 583 S. aureus isolates, and the susceptibility to oxacillin was significantly lower in infants in both acute and chronic AD lesions.ConclusionS. aureus from AD has a high prevalence of MRSA and multidrug resistance, especially in infants. In addition, the rate of fusidic acid resistance is high among all age groups, and mupirocin resistance increases with age group regardless of lesional status. This is the first study comparing the antimicrobial susceptibility rates of S. aureus isolates from AD cases with respect to age and lesion status in Korea.

Comparison of Calcium Intake Status by Region and Socioeconomic Status in Korea: The 2011-2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

BackgroundCalcium is an essential element nutrient in our body, and insufficient calcium intake is very common in Korean. Socioeconomic status (SES) is known to be associated with quality of diet and health. The purpose of this study was to compare between calcium intake by region and SES.MethodsThis study used data from a nationally represented sample of Koreans (n=19,249) from 2011 to 2013 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. We were divided into six regions: Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, Gangwon-do, Chungcheong-do, Jeolla-do, Gyeongsang-do, and Jeju-do. Daily calcium intake and dietary quality based on 24 hr recall data was calculated and analyzed by the sex, age, SES.ResultsThe regions with the highest calcium intakes in both males and females were Seoul and Gyeonggi-do. The age groups with a significant difference in calcium intake, nutrient adequacy ratio, and nutrient density by region were 14 to 19, 20 to 29, and ≥65 years. Calcium intake and dietary quality were lowest in the low household income group. In terms of being a recipient of the dietary life supply, the calcium intake and dietary quality of the recipient group was low.ConclusionsWe found that daily calcium intake was very different by region and was significantly lower in region with lower SES. The findings of this study suggest social inequalities in calcium intake by region can be addressed in the development and implementation of tailored nutritional interventions to promote calcium nutritional status of Koreans.

Current Status of Huntington's Disease in Korea: A Nationwide Survey and National Registry Analysis.

ObjectiveHuntington’s disease (HD) is a rare neurological disorder, and its current status in Korea is not well investigated. This study aims to determine the prevalence and incidence of HD and to investigate the clinical features of HD patients in Korea.MethodsWe estimated the crude prevalence and annual incidence of HD based on the databases of the Rare Diseases Registry (RDR) and the National Health Insurance (NHI). The clinical data of genetically confirmed HD patients was collected from 10 referral hospitals and analyzed.ResultsThe mean calculated annual incidence was 0.06 cases per 100,000 persons, and the mean calculated prevalence was 0.38 based on the NHI database. The estimated crude prevalence based on the RDR was 0.41. Of the sixty-eight HD patients recruited, the mean age of onset was 44.16 ± 14.08 years and chorea was most frequently reported as the initial symptom and chief complaint. The mean CAG repeat number of the expanded allele was 44.7 ± 4.8 and correlated inversely with the age of onset (p < 0.001). About two-thirds of the patients have a positive family history, and HD patients without positive family history showed a delay in onset of initial symptoms, a prolonged interval between initial symptom onset and genetic diagnosis and a delay in the age of genetic diagnosis.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to estimate the prevalence and incidence of HD in Korea and the largest HD series in the Asian population. Our analyses might be useful for further studies and large-scale investigations in HD patients.

Global data repository status and analysis: based on Korea, China and Japan

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to collect the global status data of digital repositories automatically and analyzed it by building a database. For analysis criteria the following were utilized: first, China, Japan and Republic of Korea (CJK) repository operational status; second, language of the repository content; third, repository type, fourth, repository of CJK by subject area; fifth, the amount of repository content; and sixth, repository software. Design/methodology/approach – OpenDOAR and ROAR services were used as the sources to obtain the information on the digital repository. Those sources are representative services that provide the digital repository registration services and are used as sources in a variety of studies. A six kinds of data analysis criteria: first, CJK repository operational status; second, language of the repository content; third, repository type; fourth, repository of CJK by subject area; fifth, the amount of repository content; and sixth, repository software were utilized. Findings – First, CJK is operating 288 repositories (8 percent compared to the world, 42.2 percent compared to Asia). Second, the repositories that provide Japanese, Chinese and Korean contents are 5.57 percent, 4.14 percent and 0.72 percent, respectively. Third, the repository operated by the government is inadequate in Asia. Fourth, in Korea and Japan, the repositories in the field of humanities and social sciences appeared all in the top 10. Fifth, Korea provides 1,342,845 cases of contents (0.81 percent compared to the global). Sixth, the “DSpace” software is most widely utilized as a repository system and it is the same in CJK. Originality/value – This results of this study can be used to identify the repository status in Korea compared to global and to CJK, and can be utilized as a basis to determine the direction of the repository promotion and policy in Korea and also to administer the national R&amp;D budget.

Family Caregivers’ Awareness of Illness and Attitude Toward Disclosure During Chemotherapy for Advanced Cancer

ABSTRACT Aim: We investigated family caregivers’ awareness of disease status and attitude toward disclosure of disease progression compared with those of cancer patients and explored the potential association between family caregivers’ attitudes and patients’ Quality of Life (QOL). Methods: We carried out a survey using self-administered questionnaires answered by pairs of family caregivers and patients diagnosed with advanced cancer (n = 136 pairs). To assess patients’ QOL, we used the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire. Results: More than half of family caregivers (54%) did not have full knowledge of patients’ advanced stage and goal of therapy. Positive attitudes toward disclosure were less common in family caregivers than in patients (59.4% and 85.4%, respectively, p Conclusions: A large portion of family caregivers may not know patients’ exact status in Korea. This study also suggests that the family caregivers’ attitudes may differ from patients’ and may be associated with patients’ QOL. Disclosure: All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

(Korea's Multilateral Aid: Recent Developments and Future Challenges)

(Korea's Multilateral Aid: Recent Developments and Future Challenges)

Blood cadmium levels are associated with a decline in lung function in males

BackgroundCadmium exposure was found to cause a decline in lung function among the general population, but these findings were limited to smokers and gender differences were not explored. ObjectivesTo examine the relationship between cadmium and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) according to gender and smoking status in Korea. MethodsCross-sectional data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2008 to 2011 were analyzed. COPD was defined by a pre-bronchodilator forced expiratory volume in 1s divided by forced vital capacity of <0.70. A logistic regression model was used to elucidate the association between blood cadmium levels and COPD according to gender and smoking status. ResultsAmong 3861 eligible participants, 3622 were included in the analysis. The prevalence of COPD demonstrated an increasing trend in males (P for trend<0.001), but not in females (P for trend=0.67). After adjusting for covariates, a higher blood cadmium level, but within the normal range, was associated with COPD in males, including those who had never-smoked (P for trend <0.001 and P for trend=0.008). However, a higher blood cadmium level was not significantly associated with COPD in females, including those who had never smoked (P for trend=0.39 and P for trend=0.43). ConclusionsA higher blood cadmium level, within the normal range, was associated with COPD in males, including those who had never smoked. However, there was no significant association between blood cadmium levels and COPD in females.

Mothers' dietary behaviors are associated with nutritional status in their children (1019.25)

The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of mothers’ dietary behaviors on children’s nutritional status in Korea. Women aged 蠅19 years were selected and their children were matched using the household information (2,588 mother‐child pairs) in the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES). Four indicators of mothers' dietary behaviors were included: eating‐out frequency, family meal frequency, meal skipping status and breakfast intake with family. The nutritional status in children was evaluated by serving intake of six food groups in the Food Guidance System and their distribution of nutrient intakes below the Estimated Average Requirement (EAR) by children’s age group (6‐11 and 12‐18 years). Results showed that intake of grains and vegetables were significantly higher in children aged 6‐11 years when mothers reported to be following healthier dietary behaviors; having regular family meals (p=0.0018, p=0.0068), having not skipped any of the six meals in the past two days (p=0.0005, p=0.0002), and having breakfast with family (p=0.0008, p=0.0004). Eating‐out frequency did not have a significant impact on food group intake. Distribution of children’s nutrient intake below EAR was reduced for the same variables aforementioned with iron and niacin nutrients in particular showing improvement in intake status in children of both age groups. This study suggests that healthy dietary behaviors in mothers may have a positive effect on children’s overall dietary quality. More studies exploring the relationship between dietary behaviors of mothers and their children’s dietary patterns as well as health outcome are encouraged in the future.

보안수준관리모형에 기반한 인적자원 요구사항에 관한 연구

A SLMM (Security Level Management Model) contains various items in various areas, and some items related to human resources are included in managemental side requirements. SLMM is prepared for international standards, and will be modified to be selected as a Korean domestic standards. However, most items in SLMM were made by considering foreign environments, items should be re-considered according to special status in Korea. In this paper, author summarized and analyzed some items related to human resources before applying them to Korean domestic environments.

Epidemiology of lower urinary tract symptoms: emphasis on the status in Korea.

A comprehensive and correct understanding of epidemiologic finding about lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) is important for several reasons. First, LUTS are highly prevalent in both genders all around the world and are expected to be a major concern to physicians in the near future because of the rapid rise in the elderly population. Second, it is crucial to observe trends in prevalence when national health care policy is established. By using a Medline search with various terms related to LUTS and prevalence, a review of epidemiologic studies was undertaken with an emphasis on the status in Korea. Despite the suggestions made by the International Continence Society, the lack of uniform definitions and the lack of a unified threshold of symptoms are the biggest obstacles in epidemiologic study with regard to LUTS. Most Korean epidemiologic studies on LUTS have been reported since 2000 and reveal that the prevalences of specific clinical conditions, such as LUTS, benign prostatic hyperplasia, overactive bladder, and detrusor underactivity, are in line with prevalences in Western counties. However, the prevalence of nocturia is somewhat different from that in Western countries. Many epidemiologic studies of LUTS have provided us with valuable information and a better understanding of the clinical conditions. Given that the impact of these clinical conditions on quality of life and health care cost will be emphasized more in the near future, more studies on optimal management approaches to LUTS are needed on the basis of this knowledge.

A study of the relationship between socioeconomic status and synthetic environmental indices

Background: Many studies on environmental inequities have proved unequal distribution of environmental pollution, but results remain inconclusive. Aims: The present study analyzed the relationship between socioeconomic status and overall air pollution status in Korea. Methods: Concentrations of NO2, CO, SO2, PM10 and O3 in the air were aggregated into overall air pollution status. Socioeconomic status indices include individual’s data on income, education, number of household members, job, National Basic Livelihood Act recipients and neighborhood index. Neighborhood index of each district was calculated by standardizing and aggregating the district level data of number of families receiving National Basic Livelihood Act, proportion of people engaged in elementary occupation, population density and number of service industries. Regression analysis was conducted while adjusting for the effects of sex, smoking status, age and location. Results: People who graduated elementary school (ß=-0.18, p=0.02), middle school (ß=-0.20, p=0.01) and high school (ß=-0.39, p&lt;0.00) live in more air-polluted districts compared to people with the education of college and higher. However, people with no education live in less air-polluted districts compared to people with education of college and higher (ß=0.73, p&lt;0.00). People engaged in agriculture and fisheries live in districts with less air pollution compared to people engaged in administration (ß=-4.43, p&lt;0.00), office jobs (ß=-4.06, p&lt;0.00), sales service (ß=-3.77, p&lt;0.00), elementary occupation (ß=-4.35, p&lt;0.00) and others (ß=-4.06, p&lt;0.00). People who earn less (ß=-4.35, p&lt;0.00), are with lower neighborhood index (ß=-0.04, p&lt;0.00), live with many household members (ß=-0.18, p&lt;0.00) live in districts with more air pollution. However, National Basic Livelihood Act recipients (ß=0.38, p=0.00) tend to live in districts with less air pollution. Conclusions: This study gives strength to the idea that environmental discrimination exists among different socioeconomic groups.

Chronological trends of emission, environmental level and human exposure of POPs over the last 10 years (1999–2010) in Korea: Implication to science and policy

Despite the first comprehensive reviewing on POPs status in Korea, a previous review chapter (Departments in Environmental Science, Volume 7, Chapter 2) could not discuss and evaluate the temporal trends and the effect of the efforts and policies invested in POPs control and management, since most data were based on individual research results of academic groups in which POPs could not be systematically monitored in terms of time and space. Recently, we have collected monitoring data long enough in time (over 10years) and wide enough in space (covering various land-use patterns and the Korean peninsula), which were produced at national monitoring stations under the governmental programs. This study aimed to elucidate the temporal trends of POPs emissions, concentrations in multiple compartments (air, water, soil, sediment, organisms, and marine products), and human exposure. The chronological data available for all the subjects investigated were present only for PCDDs/DFs and coPCBs. Their emission reduction with half-lives of ~2years was followed by contemporaneous decrease of contamination levels in inland compartments, while a considerably slow or slight reduction occurred in human exposure and its related compartments (fishes and shellfishes as foodstuffs consumed, and marine compartments). The findings prove that a lag-time is present for the efforts of emission reduction to be so much effective as to be reflected directly in human exposure, and such a lag-time can be related with the fates connecting inland and marine environments. PCBs showed faster reduction in human exposure than dioxin-like compounds. As for other POPs, chronological trends and half-lives could not be determined owing to low detection frequencies of PCBs and OCPs in environmental compartments, the absence of monitoring data for OCPs in human exposure, and data limitation for emerging POPs present in recent a few years. Monitoring strategies are also recommended based on this meta-analysis.

셰익스피어 비극 『코리올레이너스』의 서구공연과 이현우공연의 비교 연구

Among Shakespeare’s tragedies, Coriolanus has been unpopular to the audience in its performance. However, T. S. Eliot evaluated it as the “most assured artistic success” in spite of its low number of performances. This political tragedy deals with an authoritative general of Rome, Marcius, who won the war with Volscian soldiers and received the title of ‘Coriolanus.’ However, he used to ignore the citizens due to his arrogant pride by which he cursed the disgusting smell from their mouths. Even though the Senators agreed to recommend him as a consul member, he would not admit the citizens’ demand for ‘humbleness ceremony’ wearing tattered clothes. Furthermore, he dared to insult them with haughty curses, for which he came to be expelled from Rome by the manipulation of plebeians. They were the representatives to restrain the dictatorship of the governors under the republican influence of the era. The western performances can be divided into two tendencies: the one is to describe Coriolanus with “haughty dignity of demeanor, the same energy of will, and unbending sternness of temper” which led him to save his country from the invasion of the enemy, but he faces his fatal destruction owing to his tragic flaw, that is to say, extreme courage and pride. Terry Kemble belongs to this group. The other, Dominic Dromgoole’s interpretation, describes the citizens positively who tried to revolt against the dictatorship of the aristocrats so that as a director, he compares Coriolanus’s war to the Iraq War and Coriolanus to Bush and Blare. Aldo Billingslea experiments in his performance with the method of trans-gender. Jonathan Kent invents a temporary unique setting for his performance in which he uses a gymnasium as the stage for actors’ efficient movements during the war. Hyonu Lee directed this drama first in Korea at the ‘Liberty Theatre’ located in the Seoul Art Center. He tried to stand in the middle of two sides: Coriolanus as the courageous savior for his country with tragic flaw on the one side and the democratic citizens who revolt against dictatorship of the hero on the other. He suggests that Shakespeare was objective in dealing with this conflict of both sides. He invents his creative methods of direction. He shows the images of revolting citizens in Korea, by means of 15 monitors, who demanded democracy against military dictators. He induces the audience to feel the spontaneity of the citizens’ movement by comparing the situation of Rome to that of Korea. He also uses the entire auditorium as the stage in which actors and actresses can mix with the audience. His artistic achievement in performance can be evaluated as the new frontier that can level up the status of Korea in Shakespeare performances in the future.

A Modern History of Women Taekwondo in Korea since the Second World War

The founding of the Korean Women Taekwondo Federation means the fetal movement of women taekwondo in Korea and it can be said to have been quite significant in that it increased women's confidence in their statuses and activities in the environments of the times when women's social activities were increasing. The development of women taekwondo competitions began in earnest when the first women taekwondo hall in the world was opened as a result of passionate activities of early female taekwondo practitioners and the first taekwondo club was established in Ehwa Woman's University. Women's aspiration towards the challenge to the Olympic Games as well as international competitions is gradually increasing through the expansion of the base of women taekwondo. The status of women taekwondo in Korea that has been enhanced through challenges to various international competitions thus far beginning with the single taekwondo championship of foreigners in Korea in 1968 can be said to have contributed to the enhancement of the status of Korea as the birthplace of taekwondo and it is considered that women taekwondo could have continuously developed through diverse taekwondo championships by age held with women's steady effort and the expansion of the base of women taekwondo instructors.

Mechanical Bowel Preparation and Prophylactic Antibiotic Administration in Colorectal Surgery: A Survey of the Current Status in Korea

PurposeThe usefulness of mechanical bowel preparation (MBP) in colon surgery was recently challenged by many multicenter clinical trials and meta-analyses. The objectives of this study were to investigate current national opinions about MBP and prophylactic antibiotics (PA) and to provide preliminary data for developing future Korean guidelines for MBP and PA administration in colorectal surgery.MethodsA questionnaire was mailed to 129 colorectal specialists. The questionnaires addressed the characteristics of the hospital, the MBP methods, and the uses of oral and intravenous antibiotics.ResultsA total of 73 questionnaires (56.6%) were returned. First, in regard to MBP methods, most surgeons (97.3%) used MBP for a mean of 1.36 days. Most surgeons (98.6%) implemented whole bowel irrigation and used polyethylene glycol (83.3%). Oral antibiotic use was indicated in over half (52.1%) of the responses, the average number of preoperative doses was three, and the mean time of administration was 24.2 hours prior to the operation. Finally, the majority of responders stated that they used intravenous antibiotics (95.9%). The responses demonstrated that second-generation cephalosporin-based regimens were most commonly prescribed, and 75% of the surgeons administered these regimens until three days after the operation.ConclusionThe results indicate that most surgeons used MBP and intravenous antibiotics and that half of them administered oral PA in colorectal surgery preparations. The study recommends that the current Korean guidelines should be adapted to adequately reflect the medical status in Korea, to consider the medical environment of the various hospitals, and to establish more accurate and relevant guidelines.

Robot Assisted Gastrectomy in Korea - Current Status in Korea & Concepts from Personal Experience -

Robot Assisted Gastrectomy in Korea - Current Status in Korea & Concepts from Personal Experience -

Socioeconomic inequalities in health status in Korea

167 c Korean Medical Association This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons. org/licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Focused Issue of This Month·건강 불평등 J Korean Med Assoc 2013 March; 56(3): 167-174 http://dx.doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2013.56.3.167 pISSN: 1975-8456 eISSN: 2093-5951 http://jkma.org

Socioeconomic inequalities in health risk factors in Korea

Tackling socioeconomic inequalities in health risk factors is an important pathway for alleviating health inequalities. The aim of this study was to analyze the current state of inequality in health risk factors by socioeconomic status in Korea through a literature review of recently published studies and description of secondary data from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (KNHANES). We evaluated the extent and trends of socioeconomic inequalities in health behavior (smoking, high-risk alcohol drinking, moderate exercise, and nutritional deficiency) and clinical risk factors (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, and obesity) with 1998 to 2010 KNHANES data based on socio-economic status. Furthermore, we summarized the impact of several distal health determinants like income, education and occupation, and childhood period on health inequalities in Korea. The results showed that a wide range of health risk factors including more distal causes were socio-economically patterned to varying degrees. In order to reduce health inequalities by socioeconomic status, more comprehensive monitoring and measures, and well-designed studies are required for promoting the understanding of the causal pathway and developing interventional strategies.

Cancer Screening Status in Korea, 2011: Results from the Korean National Cancer Screening Survey

This study was conducted to determine the use of screening for stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers, which are included in the Korean National Cancer Screening Programme. In 2011 the National Cancer Centre in Korea conducted a nationwide, population-based, cross-sectional interview survey using multi-stage random sampling. Participants included 4,100 cancer-free men 40 years and over of age and women over 30 years of age. The lifetime screening rates for stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers were 76.2%, 54.3%, 56.1%, 79.0%, and, 74.8%, respectively. The rates of recommended screening for stomach, liver, colorectal, breast, and cervical cancers were 64.6%, 22.9%, 35.3%, 60.4%, and 62.4%, respectively. More than 70% of all screening was attributed to organised cancer screening programmes. The main reason given for non attendance was 'no symptoms'. A greater effort is needed to increase screening rates, especially for liver and colorectal cancers.