Low Concentration PM10 Had No Effect on Nasal Symptoms and Flow in Allergic Rhinitis Patients

OBJECTIVES: Since Korea is geographically close to China (the origin site for Asian sand dust [ASD]) the health influence of ASD event will be still greater in Korea. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PM₁₀ (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter 100 μg/m³) RESULTS: There was no significant difference between group A and B in nasal symptoms and PNIF during the 120-day period. Changes in nasal symptoms and PNIF were not statistically significant before or after a PM₁₀ concentration rise above 100 μg/m³. CONCLUSION: Low concentration PM10 does not have significant effect on nasal symptoms and PNIF in AR patients.

The Effects of Adherence and Hypertension Control on Complication among Newly Diagnosed Hypertension Patients / 보건행정학회지

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to research on how adherence and blood control could make a difference when it comes to develop complications. METHODS: The study's subjects were 255,916 patients who were newly diagnosed with hypertension in 2009 using data collected by National Health Insurance Cooperation. Patients are considered as a group under adherence if visit days and prescription days are more than 300 days. Patients are considered to have successfully controled their hypertension based on actual value measured by National Health Insurance Cooperation and the study takes a look at whether they were diagnosed with complications of cerebrocardiovascular disease in 2012. Chi-square test and logistic regression was used to analyze. RESULTS: Patients who were able to control their hypertension show 0.80 times chance of developing cerebrovascular disease, and 0.89 times chance of developing cardiocerebrovascular disease. The group of adherence shows lower chance of developing complication in general than the group of non-adherence. CONCLUSION: The study revealed that hypertension's constant treatment could control the blood pressure and prevent complications. It is important that encourages patients to effort for persistent treatment for reducing complication.

Suggestions for establishing a sustainable risk communication platform for carcinogenic factors / 한국역학회지

No abstract available.

Effects of Chronic Disease Management Based on Clinics for Blood Pressure or Glycemic Control in Patients with Hypertension or Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to examine the effects of chronic disease management program based on clinics for blood pressure control or glycemic control in patients with hypertension or type 2 diabetes mellitus in Incheon. METHODS: An observational follow up study was done on 11,501 patients registrated at clinics from January 1st to December 31st, 2010 in Incheon. Experience of education and mandatory laboratory tests were assessed with the registration data and income status was identified by National Health Insurance data. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals were derived from logistic regression models. RESULTS: The experience of education has a positive effect for blood pressure control in the non-control group with hypertension at the time of registration (Odds ratio 1.357, confidence intervals: 1.112~1.655). The experience of mandatory laboratory tests has a positive effect for blood pressure control in the control group with hypertension at the time of registration (Odds ratio 1.738, confidence intervals: 1.387~2.178). But the effects of the experience of education and mandatory laboratory test in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were not identified. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed the relationship between the experience of education or mandatory laboratory testing and blood pressure control in patients with hypertension.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Dry Eye Syndrome in the Incheon Area

PURPOSE: To investigate the prevalence, clinical manifestations, and risk factors of dry eye syndrome (DES) among people over 50 years old in the Incheon area. METHODS: A cross-sectional prevalence study was performed on 462 people over 50 years old in Dong-gu, Incheon. DES was defined as the constant or frequent presence of symptoms of both dryness and irritation. Symptoms and past medical history were assessed by a survey. Eye examination included slit lamp examination, Schirmer test, and tear break-up time (T-BUT). Age, sex, living habits, systemic and eye diseases were also analyzed to determine the risk factors of DES. RESULTS: The prevalence of DES was 26.2%. The major symptoms were as follows in descending order: dryness (77.9%), tearing (75.2%), and sandiness (72.7%). An average of 12.1 +/- 6.0 mm in the Schirmer test and 6.7 +/- 2.4 seconds in the T-BUT were significantly different in the DES group from the normal group (p < 0.001). Variables such as age, sex, living habits, and eye diseases were not related to the diagnosis of DES, whereas diabetes was the only risk factor of DES with statistical significance (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS: In the present study, the prevalence of DES among people over 50 years old in the Incheon area was 26.2%. Schirmer test and T-BUT were considered to be helpful tools for the diagnosis of DES, and diabetes was a significant risk factor of DES.

Evaluation of the Current Status of Malaria Elimination Project in the Republic of Korea and Suggestion for Improvement of Its Efficacy / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Vivax malaria had spread rapidly in areas adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone to reach more than 4,000 cases in 2000 in the Republic of Korea (ROK). After year 2000, annual cases decreased rapidly to reach less than 1,000 cases in 2004. However, the number increased again since 2005. Epidemiological characteristics of vivax malaria in the ROK are different before and after 2000. This article was aimed to evaluate the current status of malaria elimination project in the ROK for providing suggestions for its improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the total reported malaria cases during 2005 to 2007 and reviewed the record on the malaria eradication project performed by the authorizations including the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: During 2005 to 2007, 45% of all the vivax malaria occurred in patients living in the non-prevalent areas; the interval between first symptom onset and diagnosis was longer in the non-prevalent areas compared to that in the prevalent areas. Education and publicity on malaria has not been properly performed in the non-prevalent areas. The military didn't take part in the control of the malaria infected discharged soldiers, most of whom might have been infected with malaria during their military service. CONCLUSION: For the efficient control of malaria and thus improving the effectiveness of the elimination project, education and publicity on malaria in the non-prevalent areas should be strengthened and cooperation between private and military sector regarding the ex-soldiers infected with malaria is essential. In addition, there should be bilateral communication among malaria-related teams within the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and also among all the malaria-related sectors. Furthermore, a common database on malaria patients and vector mosquitoes should be formed to grant access to all the malaria-related sectors. Improvement on report and surveillance system is also necessary.

Evaluation of the Current Status of Malaria Elimination Project in the Republic of Korea and Suggestion for Improvement of Its Efficacy / 감염과화학요법

BACKGROUND: Vivax malaria had spread rapidly in areas adjacent to the Demilitarized Zone to reach more than 4,000 cases in 2000 in the Republic of Korea (ROK). After year 2000, annual cases decreased rapidly to reach less than 1,000 cases in 2004. However, the number increased again since 2005. Epidemiological characteristics of vivax malaria in the ROK are different before and after 2000. This article was aimed to evaluate the current status of malaria elimination project in the ROK for providing suggestions for its improvement. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analyzed the total reported malaria cases during 2005 to 2007 and reviewed the record on the malaria eradication project performed by the authorizations including the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: During 2005 to 2007, 45% of all the vivax malaria occurred in patients living in the non-prevalent areas; the interval between first symptom onset and diagnosis was longer in the non-prevalent areas compared to that in the prevalent areas. Education and publicity on malaria has not been properly performed in the non-prevalent areas. The military didn't take part in the control of the malaria infected discharged soldiers, most of whom might have been infected with malaria during their military service. CONCLUSION: For the efficient control of malaria and thus improving the effectiveness of the elimination project, education and publicity on malaria in the non-prevalent areas should be strengthened and cooperation between private and military sector regarding the ex-soldiers infected with malaria is essential. In addition, there should be bilateral communication among malaria-related teams within the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and also among all the malaria-related sectors. Furthermore, a common database on malaria patients and vector mosquitoes should be formed to grant access to all the malaria-related sectors. Improvement on report and surveillance system is also necessary.

A Nationwide Survey on the Prevalence of Intestinal Parasitic Infections in the Republic of Korea, 2004

National surveys on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections have been carried out every 5-7 years since 1971 in the Republic of Korea in order to establish control measures. The present nationwide survey was conducted from June to December 2004. The 10% population sampling data of Population and Housing Census by the Korean government in 2000 was used as the survey population. One sample was selected randomly from each of the 22,858 registered subjects, and a total of 20,541 people were ultimately included in this survey. Fecal examinations were performed by the cellophane thick smear and saturated brine flotation techniques. Pinworm infection was examined by cello-tape anal swab method. This survey also included a questionnaire study for a socioeconomic analysis. The total helminth egg positive rate was 3.7%, and the estimated total positive number among nationwide people was 1,780,000. The rates in urban and rural areas were 3.1% and 6.8%, respectively. As the total egg positive rate in the 6th survey in 1997 was 2.4%, the present survey showed that there was a considerable degree of increase in the prevalence rate of intestinal parasitic infections over the 7-year period following the 6th survey. The largest increases occurred in the egg positive rates of Clonorchis sinensis and heterophyids including Metagonimus yokogawai.

Impact of Registration Program after Hypertensive or Diabetic Patient Detection through Community Partnership on Compliance and Blood Pressure or Blood Sugar Control / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: Incheon metropolitan city has set a model program of community partnership for hypertensive or diabetic patients detection and follow-up since 2005. This study examines the effects of the model on the compliance and the control of blood pressure or blood sugar level METHODS: Telephone-surveys were done for 140 persons selected from 408 patients who were detected newly as hypertensive or diabetic patients at Gangwha-Gun and Seo-Gu in Incheon between January 1st and August 31th in 2006, and finally completed in 110 patients(78.6%). Survey questionnaires included socio-demographic(age, gender, and educational level), health behavioral (smoking, drinking, physical activity, and diet), and therapy-related (registration state, compliance, blood pressure or blood sugar control) variables. Odds ratio and 95% CI were derived from logistic regression model. RESULTS: Registered group exhibited high compliance and well managed blood pressure or blood sugar level. The odds ratio of registration were 5.55(95% CI:1.83~16.89) for compliance and 3.78(95% CI:1.43~9.99) for blood pressure or blood sugar control after adjusting for age, gender, disease, and area CONCLUSIONS: It is independently related to compliance and blood pressure or blood sugar control whether the patient is registered or not. To control hypertension or diabetes mellitus in terms of compliance and control state, a community-based registration program through community partnership could be a powerful tool.

Association of Educational Level and Socioeconomic Status with Glucose Metabolism / 당뇨병

BACKGROUND: The objective of the present study was to examine the association of educational level and socioeconomic status with glucose metabolism including prediabetes. METHODS: This cross-sectional study subjects were 882 (mean age: 51.0 +/- 13.4 years, M:F = 241:641) without diabetes, aged more than 20 years and residing in Whasu 2 dong in Incheon. We classified them into three levels according to their educational level: primary (illiterate or up to elementary school), secondary (middle school or high school) and tertiary (university), and into three levels according to their socioeconomic status by self reported questionnaire: low, middle and high. Subjects were diagnosed as three groups (normal, prediabetes and diabetes) by American Diabetes Association criteria using 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The association of educational level and socioeconomic status with glucose metabolism was analyzed. RESULTS: The number of normal group was 300 (34.0%), that of prediabetes was 470 (53.3%) and that of diabetes was 112 (12.7%). In women, the proportion of primary educational group was larger than that of secondary educational group in diabetes (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-3.51) and larger than that of tertiary educational group in prediabetes ([OR] = 2.00; [CI]: 1.06-3.78). But socioeconomic status did not have the statistical association with glucose metabolism in women. Also both educational level and socioeconomic status had no statistical association with glucose metabolism in men. CONCLUSIONS: The proportion of low educational level is larger in prediabetes and diabetes compared with normal group in women.

A Study on the Drug Susceptibility Test of Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis Patients / 한국역학회지

Multi-drug resistant tuberculosis is an emerging threat to humans. Despite steady efforts of the national tuberculosis control program, current prevalence of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis rate is increasing in Korea. In Korea, it is effective to both improve the medical transfer system on tuberculosis, and also to make a new tuberculosis patient control system with integrated public-private sector. Improvement focused on the new medical transfer system is a suitable model considering current situation of the Korean medical system. This model can be achieved by replacing the traditional drug susceptibility test method, which requires a long turnaround time, with rapid molecular biological method, and improving the overall process of specimen transport system, report system, and guidelines for tuberculosis, as well. Using such model, doctors can discover multi-drug resistant tuberculosis patients at an earlier stage, prescribe appropriate drugs at the right time, and effectively support directly observed treatment short course strategy. Therefore, this new model for improvement of multi-drug resistant tuberculosis control program, medical transfer system-focused public-private integrated system, can present an effective tool for enhancing and modifying functions of the current national tuberculosis programme in Korea.

National Cancer Control Programes: The Review of the National Cancer Screening Program

No abstract available.

Survival of Korean Cancer Patients Diagnosed in 1995 / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: To produce the nationwide 5-year survival rates of Korean cancer patients by primary cancer site. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study subjects were cancer patients diagnosed in 1995, as documented by the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) Program. This data was collected in 120 (93%) of 129 nationwide intern- and resident-training hospitals and 75 (94%) of the 80 Korean university hospitals. Follow-up was performed by obtaining information upon vital status (i.e., whether living or dead) from the government administered whole population files. Cumulative observed survival rate (OSR) was calculated by using the life table method and the relative survival rate (RSR) was computed using the life-time table for the years 1995, 1997, and 1999. RESULTS: Of the 55,042 study subjects, the OSR for all Korean cancer patients was 61.4% at 1 year and 38.1% at 5 years. The RSR for all cancers was 62.5% at 1 year and 41.4% at 5 years, and the 5-year RSRs for all cancers in men and women were 32.6% and 53.2%, respectively. CONCLUSION: This is the first nationwide report upon 5-year cancer survival by primary site in Korea. Men showed a lower survival rate than women in most malignancies. Pancreatic and thyroid cancer had the lowest and highest 5-year survival rates, respectively.

Cancer Incidence in Korea / Journal of the Korean Cancer Association, 대한암학회지

PURPOSE: We estimated the incidence of cancer in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The indicence of cancer was estimated using national mortality data, and the incidence data from four frontier regional cancer registries, including Kangwha, Seoul, Busan and Deagu. These four registries served a population about seventeen million, which is almost 38% of entire population in Korea. RESULTS: The overall age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were 287.0 and 163.1 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively. Among males, stomach cancer was the most frequent (ASR 69.6), followed by lung cancers, including bronchus cancer (ASR 54.5), liver cancer (ASR 47.0) and colo-rectal cancer (ASR 25.2). The most frequent sites of cancer in females, by rank order, were stomach (ASR 26.8), breast (ASR 20.1), uterine cervix (ASR 18.0), colo-rectum (ASR 15.9), lung (ASR 13.0) and liver (ASR 12.0). CONCLUSION: It is hoped that these results will provide valuable leads for cancer research and cancer control in Korea.

National Medical Policy and Goverment Request for University Hospitals / 한국의학교육

No abstract available.

Epidemiological Trend of Japanese Encephalitis in Korea / 예방의학회지

The following facts have been identified as a result of epidemiogical trend and characteristic of Japanese Encephalitis in Korea for the last 20 years. First: The Epidemiological period which was ten-year and three-year in the past has been disappeared following the start of immunization program at 1970. Second: The incidence rate was much higher in the south and West areas than northeast area of Korea. City and province with the highest incidence rate was Chungcheong Nam Province and Cholla Buk Province. Third: Regardless of scope of prevalence, the main season that 90 percent of total incidence occurs in one month from mid-September. Fourth: The number of case by age was that 80 percent of total patients is children aged 3-15. Recently there is an increase in the number of patients who are elderly people. Fifth: The study on the ecological conditions of mosquito including wintering and effectiveness of immunization for Japanese Encephalitis and duration on antibody should be done. Sixth: There has been no case of Japanese Encephalitis during last three years since 1984 mainly due to disinfecting to eradicate mosquitos, immunization for vulnerable group of people aged 3-15, individual precaution not to be bitten by mosquito, improvement sanitation. While there has been no case of Japanese Encephalitis during last three years, there is possibility that Japanese Encephalitis becomes prevalent again anytime since its virus has been isolated continuously from the natural reservoirs.

The Determinants of Length of Stay in a University Hospital

Since nationwide compulsory health insurance started in 1977, shortage of hospital beds has become apparent and this is related in part to the length of hospital stay. To determine the factors which affect the length of stay a total of 1,003 in-patients medical records for appendectomy, cholecystectomy, and Cesarean section discharged in 1965, 1970, 1975 and 1980 from a university hospital were studied. The major findings are as follows; The average length of stay showed a statistically significant difference by year among the cholecystectomy and Cesarean section patients. For the appendectomies no statistically significant difference was found. Complications after surgical operation explained the length of stay mostly in all three procedures; the next factors were age, character of surgery, day of the week of surgery, and multiple diagnoses in this order for appendectomy; day of the week of surgery, age, type of accommodation, route of admission in this order for cholecystectomy; and day of the week of surgery, multiple diagnoses, residential area and type of accommodation in Cesarean section respectively.

Charges in Hospital Service Pattern Before and After the Deligated Review System / 예방의학회지

To identify the changes in professional services pattern after introducing the deligated system of claims review started in 1982, a university hospital under this system was examined. For comparison, claims of the hospital to Federation of Korean Medical Insurance Societies, where this system is not accepted, were reviewed. A total of 600 cases each were studied operated at the Departments of General Surgery & Orthopedic Surgery in 1981 and 1983. The results are summarized as follow: 1. Percentages of hospital changes for basic care was decreased by 10.2% and that for medical service increased by 8.4% in 1983. 2. After the introduction of the deligated review system, percentages of cutting off the claims was decreased by 12.4% for basic care and increased by 3.8% for medical services. 3. Percentage of testing liver function, and the frequency of administering high cost intravenous fluid injection, applicating Robinul as anesthetic premedication were decreased respectively after introducting the deligated services system.

Determinants of Length of Hospital Stay by Insured and Non-insured Patients / 예방의학회지

In order to determine the factors affecting the length of stay by pay status, a total of 961 in-patients medical records with appendectomy, cholecystectomy and Cesarean section discharged from the January 1979 to December 1981 from the University hospital were reviewed. Average length of stay showed no statistically significant difference by year between the insured and the non-insured patients, however multiple diagnoses and surgical complication were significantly different from single diagnosis and non-complicated cases. Surgical complication explained the length of stay mostly, and physician in discharge, multiple diagnoses, and accommodation in order for insured patients. Surgical complication, admission route, physician in charge and age in order explained the length of stay for non-insured patients.

Study on Applicability of Predictive Equations of Subjective Symptoms of Workers Using Organic Solvents in Certain Factory / 예방의학회지

For the study of the applicability of predictive equation of subjective symptoms of workers using organic solvents, 67 male workers using organic solvents were selected. The predictive equation was quotated from previous Cheon's study. All the datas of necessary variables were gained. The predictive values and observed values were compared. The results were summarized as below; 1. The difference between predictive values and observed values were characteristically large. The coefficient of determination between the two values was 0.0024. 2. The R2 value of multiple stepwise regression equation derived from present study was 0.2827.