Effectiveness of Heterologous COVID-19 Vaccine Booster in Korean Elderly Population, 2022

We conducted a cohort study to assess vaccine effectiveness (VE) of coronavirus disease 2019 vaccine combinations on severe acute respirator y syndrome coronavirus 2 critical infection and death among elderly population in Korea. From Januar y to August 2022, VE against death for 4 doses mRNA recipients was 96.1%, whereas 1-dose viral vector + 3-dose mRNA recipients had VE of 90.8%.

JYNNEOS vaccine safety monitoring in the Republic of Korea, 2022: a cross-sectional study

Objectives@#With the recent global mpox outbreak, the JYNNEOS vaccine (Modified VacciniaAnkara-Bavarian Nordic) was developed as a third-generation smallpox vaccine and initiallyfavored for mpox immunization. Vaccine-associated side effects contribute to vaccinehesitancy. Consequently, tracking adverse events post-immunization is crucial for safety management. This study used data from the national active vaccine safety surveillance conducted in Korea from August 25 to November 24, 2022 to detect potential safety signals and adverse events. @*Methods@#Data on health conditions following vaccination were gathered from web-based surveys and reported via active surveillance through the Immunization Registry Information System. This follow-up system functioned via a text message link, surveying adverse events and health conditions beginning on the second day post-vaccination. Information aboutspecific adverse events, including both local and systemic reactions, was collected. @*Results@#The study included 86 healthcare workers who had received at least 1 dose of the JYNNEOS vaccine. Among the respondents, 79.1% reported experiencing at least 1 adverse event, with the majority being local reactions at the injection site. The incidence of adverse events was higher following the first dose (67.9%) than after the second dose (34.4%). The most frequently reported adverse event for both doses was mild pain at the injection site. @*Conclusion@#The study provides crucial information on the safety of the JYNNEOS vaccine, demonstrating that most adverse events were manageable and predominantly localized to the injection site. Nonetheless, additional research is needed on the safety of various vaccineadministration techniques and the vaccine’s effects on broader demographics.

Comparative Effectiveness of COVID-19 Bivalent Versus Monovalent mRNA Vaccines in the Early Stage of Bivalent Vaccination in Korea: October 2022 to January 2023

Background@#This retrospective observational matched-cohort study of 2,151,216 individuals from the Korean coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine effectiveness cohort aimed to evaluate the comparative effectiveness of the COVID-19 bivalent versus monovalent vaccines in providing additional protection against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection, critical infection, and death in Korea. @*Methods@#Among individuals, those vaccinated with COVID-19 bivalent vaccines were matched in a 1:1 ratio with those who were vaccinated with monovalent vaccines (bivalent vaccines non-recipients) during the observation period. We fitted a time-dependent Cox proportional-hazards model to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of COVID-19 outcomes for infection, critical infection, and death, and we defined vaccine effectiveness (VE) as 1–HR. @*Results@#Compared with the bivalent vaccination group, the incidence proportions in the monovalent vaccination group were approximately three times higher for infection, nine times higher for critical infection, and 11 times higher for death. In the early stage of bivalent vaccination, relative VE of bivalent vaccine against monovalent vaccine was 42.4% against SARS-CoV-2 infection, 81.3% against critical infection, and 85.3% against death. In addition, VE against critical infection and death according to the elapsed period after bivalent vaccination was maintained at > 70%. @*Conclusion@#The bivalent booster dose provided additional protection against SARS-CoV-2 infections, critical infections, and deaths during the omicron variant phase of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Monkeypox Vaccination in the Republic of Korea: Identifying the High-Risk Target Group

In June 2022, the first monkeypox case was reported as imported into Korea. The general public asked whether they should get vaccinated against monkeypox because of the recent COVID-19 vaccination experience. As of the current monkeypox outbreak situation, a ring vaccination strategy for the high-risk group is more appropriate than the mass population vaccination with smallpox vaccines. Therefore, identifying the proper target group by available vaccines based on the risk and benefit analysis is a key issue of the vaccination program. In addition, the target group should be reviewed by the epidemiological situation of the jurisdiction along with the updated evidence of the monkeypox virus on transmission dynamics, severity, and fatality.

Regional Distribution of Hepatitis C Virus Infection in the Republic of Korea, 2007-2011

BACKGROUND/AIMS: In Korea, hepatitis C is included as an infectious disease in a sentinel surveillance system. Recently, a large variation in hepatitis C incidence between different regions in Korea has been noticed. The current study verified the nationwide distribution of hepatitis C infection for effective prevention and management. METHODS: We counted the number of hepatitis C patients who visited a hospital per county using the National Health Insurance database from 2007 to 2011. The age-adjusted prevalence ratio was used, and the age adjustment method was used as an indirect standardization method. Disease mapping and spatial analysis were conducted using a geographic information system. RESULTS: The annual prevalence of diagnosed hepatitis C was approximately 0.12% to 0.13% in Korea. The age-adjusted prevalence ratios in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam were high (1.75, 1.4, and 1.3, respectively). The three regions in the southern coastal area of the Korean Peninsula were identified as a high-prevalence cluster (Moran's index, 0.3636). CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that hepatitis C infection has very large regional variation, and there are several high-risk areas. Preventive measures focusing on these areas should be applied to block the transmission of hepatitis C and reduce the disease burden.

Comparison of the 3D Digital Photogrammetry and Direct Anthropometry in Unilateral Cleft Lip Patients

BACKGROUND: In cleft lip patients, the necessity of a thorough preoperative analysis of facial deformities before reconstruction is unquestioned. The surgical plan of cleft lip patient is based on the information gained from our preoperative anthropometric evaluation. A variety of commercially available three-dimensional (3D) surface imaging systems are currently introduced to us in plastic surgery for these use. However, few studies have been published on the soft tissue morphology of unrepaired cleft infants described by these 3D surface imaging systems. METHODS: The purpose of this study is to determine the accuracy of facial anthropometric measurements obtained through digital 3D photogrammetry and to compare with direct anthropometry for measurement in unilateral cleft lip patients. We compared our patients with three measurements of dimension made on both sides: heminasal width, labial height, and transverse lip length. RESULTS: The preoperative measurements were not significantly different in both side of labial height and left side of heminasal width. Statistically significant differences were found on both side of transverse lip length and right side of heminasal width. Although the half of preoperative measurements were significantly different, trends of results showed average results were comparable. CONCLUSION: This is the first study in Korea to simultaneously compare digital 3D photogrammetry with traditional direct anthropometry in unilateral cleft lip patients. We desire this study could contribute the methodological choice of the many researchers for proper surgical planning in cleft lip reconstruction field.

Directed Causal Network Construction Using Linkage Analysis with Metabolic Syndrome-Related Expression Quantitative Traits

In this study, we propose a novel, intuitive method of constructing an expression quantitative trait (eQT) network that is related to the metabolic syndrome using LOD scores and peak loci for selected eQTs, based on the concept of gene-gene interactions. We selected 49 eQTs that were related to insulin resistance. A variance component linkage analysis was performed to explore the expression loci of each of the eQTs. The linkage peak loci were investigated, and the "support zone" was defined within boundaries of an LOD score of 0.5 from the peak. If one gene was located within the "support zone" of the peak loci for the eQT of another gene, the relationship was considered as a potential "directed causal pathway" from the former to the latter gene. SNP markers under the linkage peaks or within the support zone were searched for in the database to identify the genes at the loci. Two groups of gene networks were formed separately around the genes IRS2 and UGCGL2. The findings indicated evidence of networks between genes that were related to the metabolic syndrome. The use of linkage analysis enabled the construction of directed causal networks. This methodology showed that characterizing and locating eQTs can provide an effective means of constructing a genetic network.

Assessment of Applicability of Standardized Rates for Health State Comparison Among Areas: 2008 Community Health Survey / 예방의학회지

OBJECTIVES: This study shows the issues that should be considered when applying standardized rates using Community Health Survey(CHS) data. METHODS: We analyzed 2008 CHS data. In order to obtain the reliability of standardized rates, we calculated z-score and rank correlation coefficients between direct standardized rate and indirect standardized rate for 31 major indices. Especially, we assessed the change of correlations according to population composition (age and sex), and characteristics of the index. We used Mantel-Haenszel chi-square to quantify the difference of population composition. RESULTS: Among 31 major indices, 29 indices' z-score and rank correlation coefficients were over 0.9. However, regions with larger differences in population composition showed lower reliability. Low reliability was also observed for the indices specific to subgroups with small denominator such as 'permanent lesion from stroke', and the index with large regional variations in age-related differences such as 'obtaining health examinations'. CONCLUSIONS: Standardized rates may have low reliability, if comparison is made between areas with extremely large differences in population composition, or for indicies with large regional variations in age-related differences. Therefore, the special features of standardized rates should be considered when health state are compared among areas.

Effect of Residential Environment on the Health Status in Apartment Inhabitants / 農村醫學 地域保健

OBJECTIVES: WHO insisted on that we should study about association between residential environment and health status and make 'health city' concept as practical motto. This study analyzed about that how community environment affected their health. METHODS: We surveyed residential environment satisfaction and health status of a apartment complex residents. We transformed Chun's index about housing environment study and social capital index of WHO and used as community health survey. We analyzed the association between health status and related factor by using principal compound analysis and logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: We found out that the perceived health status 1 years ago was highly related to the residential environment and also extracted five residential environment component (APT maintenance, House, APT complex, Neighbor, APT building) by principal component analysis. After residential environment component, demographic and socioeconomic variable were controlled, the high satisfaction group of APT complex and neighbor relationship was in lower risk of perceived health status 1 years ago than the low satisfaction group. CONCLUSIONS: Recently, the importance of residential environment and neighborhood is shaped as community capacity. Therefore, social relationship and residential environment should be the core variable for health promotion of community. After all, we should know the relationship of residential environment and perceived health status 1 years ago. This helps the concept of health city clearly.

Relation of First Aid associated with Complications after Snake Bites

PURPOSE: There have been local wound complications in patients who have received first aid after venomous snake bites. Yet first aid in relation to local wound complications has not been well studied. METHODS: We conducted a 5-year retrospective study of 111 snake bite patients who visited the emergency departments of several medical centers between January 2004 and December 2008. We categorized the patients into those who had complications with inadequate first aid, those who had complications without first aid and those who had complications with adequate first aid. We compared the general characteristics and the laboratory and clinical findings of the three groups. RESULTS: The male to female ratio was 1.36. The most common bite site was fingers. The most common systemic symptom was dizziness (6.3%) and the most common complication was rhabdomyolysis (23.4%). The inadequate first aids group had more local complications (cellulitis, skin necrosis) than did the group with adequate first aid or the group with no first aids. CONCLUSION: Inadequate first aid after snake bite leads to local complications, so we must be careful to administer first aid after snake bite and evaluate this first aid in relation to local complications