ABSTRACT
Purpose@#To observe and compare the trends in epidemic aspects of imported shigellosis (Sg) cases from overseas travelers (OTs) in Korea and Japan between 2016 and 2020. @*Methods@#We analyzed the raw data of imported Sg cases from the Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan between 2016 and 2020. @*Results@#In Korea, there were a total of 596 Sg infections, including 353 cases from overseas travel-associated imported cases, with a cumulative incidence rate (CIR) of 0.23 per 100,000 populations. The CIR of imported Sg cases was 0.32 per 100,000 OTs. In Japan, during the same period, there were a total of 757 Sg cases, including 388 imported cases, with a CIR of 0.12 per 100,000 populations. The CIR of imported Sg cases was 0.50 per 100,000 OTs. The CIR of total Sg cases in Korea was higher than in Japan, but the CIR of imported cases in Korea was lower than in Japan (P<0.01).Additionally, the imported-to-domestic cases ratio of Sg in Korea (1.45) was higher than in Japan (1.05) (P<0.05). @*Conclusion@#Based on the trends in the epidemiological aspects of domestic and imported Sg infection cases in both countries, a robust information system is needed to provide effective warnings and preventive measures for travelers visiting high-risk areas.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#Melioidosis is a zoonosis that can infect humans or animals. The disease is caused by the bacteria Burkholderia pseudomallei, which is found in contaminated soil and water. We investigated the epidemiological aspects of melioidosis cases among oversea travelers in Korea and Japan during 2011 to 2020. @*Methods@#Raw data were obtained from the website of melioidosis cases from the Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, and the National Institute of infectiousDiseases in Japan, 2011−2020. @*Results@#There were 26 cases of melioidosis cases in Korea and 14 cases in Japan between 2011 and 2020. Cumulative incidence rate per 1,000,000 oversea travelers (OTs) of Korea (0.14) did not substantially differ that of Japan (0.09), respectively.The incidence of melioidosis in males (96.2% of total 26 cases) was much more common than in females (3.8%) in OTs of Korea (P<0.01), while there were significant differences level between males (85.7% of total 14 cases) and females (14.3%) in OTs of Japan (P<0.01). On the other hand, the distribution by adjusted-age groups for melioidosis cases were statistically similar distribution between Korean and Japanese that total cases occurred in the over 40-years old age, clearly showing a more infected of melioidosis (P<0.05). @*Conclusion@#This study demonstrates that there is a similar pattern of imported melioidosis cases in Korea and Japan. Therefore, to prevent melioidosis infections, greater attention should be paid to individuals who are planning to travel to the presumptive regions of melioidosis.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#Zika virus (ZIKV) infection is a mosquito-borne Flavivirus disease. we investigated the epidemiological aspects and status of imported ZIKV infection cases in Korea (Republic of) and Japan during 2016–2020. @*Methods@#Raw data of ZIKV infection cases from the Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, and the National Institute of infectious Diseases in Japan, 2016– 2020. @*Results@#There were 33 cases of ZIKV infection in Korea and 21 cases in Japan between 2016 and 2020. Cumulative incidence rate per 1,000,000 overseas travelers (OTs) of Korea (0.30) did not substantially differ that of Japan (0.27), respectively.We observed the ZIKV infected cases of male (69.7% of total cases) were much more than that for female (30.3%) in OTs of Korea (P<0.05). However, while there was none significant differences level between males (52.4%) and females (47.6%) in OTs of Japan. On the other hands, the distribution by adjusted-age groups for ZIKV infections were similar between Korean and Japanese that total cases occurred in the over 20 to 59-years old age, clearly more showing a higher infected of ZIKV (P<0.01). The presumptive origin imported ZIKV infection cases in Korean were as follows; Southeast Asia (81.8% of total cases) and Central & South Americas (18.2%), and those in Japan, these were Southeast Asia (42.9%) and Central & South Americas (42.9%) and Oceania (4.7%), respectively. @*Conclusion@#This study demonstrates that there is a similar pattern of imported ZIKV disease cases in Korea and Japan. Therefore, to prevent ZIKV infections, greater attention should be paid to individuals who are planning to travel to the presumptive regions of ZIKV.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#The purpose of this paper is to study the epidemiologic series of Tsutsugamushi disease (TD), also known as scrub typhus in the Republic of Korea (Korea) and Japan. @*Methods@#We investigated raw data of TD outbreaks from the National Notifiable Disease Surveillance System of the Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency in Korea, and the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan, 2016 to 2020. @*Results@#There were 36,785 cases of TD with a cumulative infectious rate (CIR) of 14.3 per 100,000 populations in Korea from 2016 to 2020. During the same period in Japan, there were 2,350 cases with a CIR of 0.4. When compared, Korea was much higher than that in Japan (P<0.01). In Korea, more females (60.2% of total cases) were infected than males (39.8%), while there was a significant difference between males (58.8%) and females (41.2%) in Japan, respectively (P<0.01). @*Conclusion@#These differences in TD risk factors reflect differences of vectors/hosts, climate, and geographical and cultural characteristics between the two countries. The surveillance of TD, primarily a zoonotic disease, should be continued in order to obtain a better understanding of its current status. Moreover, guidelines for the prevention of TD, and its control measures should be more established.
ABSTRACT
Purpose@#Hepatitis E outbreaks are a serious public health concern in the world. The pilots or air traffic controllers can be incapacitated by severe hepatitis symptoms. If the symptoms of acute hepatitis do not improve, it is not suitable for aviation duties.In this study, we compare of incidence status of hepatitis E virus (HEV) infections, and epidemic aspects between South Korea (from here on, ‘Korea’) and Japan. @*Methods@#The raw data on confirmed of HEV infection cases were obtained from the National Notified Disease Surveillance System of Korea Diseases Control and Prevention Agency, the Ministry of Health and Welfare in Korea, and the National Epidemiological surveillance of Infectious Diseases surveillance system, administered by the National Institute of Infectious Diseases in Japan. Statistically significant differences between the epidemiological aspects and risk factors were determined using the Pearson’s chi-squared test or paired t-test. All data analyses were performed in Microsoft Excel 2010 (Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA). @*Results@#There were 191 cases of HEV infected cases with a prevalence rate (PR) of 0.37 per 100,000 populations of Korea in 2020. During the same year in Japan, there were 454 cases with a PR of 0.36. When compared, there is statistically none significantly differences. Moreover, both PR per 100,000 populations of HEV infections in habitat of two countries were compared, in the provinces (0.39) of Korea were much higher than that in capital city of Seoul (0.27; P<0.01), but that in Japan were capital city of Tokyo (0.84) was higher than that of the provinces (0.30; P<0.01). Male to female morbidity ratio was 1.65 and 3.78 in Korea and Japan, respectively. The distribution by the age adjusted groups were similar in Korea and Japan that the total cases occurred in the over 40-years-old age bracket, clearly showing a higher incidence in the elderly. @*Conclusion@#We believed that the HEV are a zoonotic virus, and human occurs mainly through the fecal contamination of water and consumption of contaminated meat from infected animals. In addition, HEV infection can be a problem for pilots and air traffic controllers as well, requiring further investigation and research.
ABSTRACT
Background@#Obesity is a major public health problem that is causally related to serious medical conditions. In this study, the public health implications of obesitybased on body mass index (BMI) with anthropometric measures among adults in theRepublic of Korea and Japan in 2019 were compared. @*Methods@#A simple cross-section, nationally representative of the raw data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey in 2019 between Korea and Japanwere used. We analyzed the data of those categorized as obese with a BMI of ≥25 kg/m 2 according to the World Health Organization Expert Consultation. @*Results@#The average values of BMI based on body height and body weight amongmales and females in Korea were 24.6±0.08 and 23.3±0.09, respectively; those in Japan were 23.9±0.08 and 22.6±0.08, respectively. The measured anthropometric values were obviously higher in Korean than in Japan (P<0.01). The prevalence rates(PRs) of obesity by sex in Korea were 41.4% among males and 27.3% females; thosein Japan were 32.5% among males and 22.0% among females. The statistically significant results showed that the total obesity rate was higher in males than in females in both countries (P<0.01). The PRs of obesity in Korea were 41.4% in malesand 27.3% in females; those in Japan were 32.5% in males and 22.0% in females. Thestatistically significantly PR of total obesity among Korean adults was greater than that among Japanese adults (P<0.01). @*Conclusion@#The PR of obesity in Korea relative to that in Japan showed a gradually increasing trend. Obesity is a major problem, especially in the pilot group. Reducing the prevalence of obesity among pilots is important for reducing in-flight medical incapacitation and ensuring flight safety. Obesity management is necessary to prevent obesity-related diseases and promote pilot health.
ABSTRACT
This study focuses on the comparative and quantitative analysis of the epidemiologic trends and aspects of severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) outbreaks between Korea and Japan from 2013 to 2017. The following factors were analyzed; cumulative incidence rate (CIR), cases-fatality rate (CFR), and the epidemic aspects, including cases related to gender, male-to-female morbidity ratio (MFMR), age, seasonal,and geographical distributions. We observed 607 SFTS cases with CIR in Korea during the period 2013 to 2017 were as 0.24 per 100,000 populations and with a 127 fatal-cases (F.C.s), corresponding to a CFR of 20.9%, respectively. During the same period in Japan, 319 SFTS cases with a CIR of 0.05 and with 60 F.C.s to a CFR of 18.8% observed. When compared, the CIR of SFTS in Korea was significantly higher than in Japan (P<0.01), but there were no significant differences levels of the CFR and MFMR between Korea and Japan. Also, a higher incidence of SFTS was observed in people aged over 50-years or elders in Korea and those of 60-years or elders in Japan (P<0.01). The seasonal distribution of SFTS outbreak cases showed that the incidence in summer through autumn in Korea (92.4% of total cases) was higher than in Japan (65.2%), while the outbreaks of SFTS in spring was much higher in Japan (31.0%) than in Korea (7.4%), (P<0.01). The regional distribution revealed no significant difference between the eastern area (44.8%) and the western area (46.8%) of the Korean peninsula except Jeju-island (8.4%). However,in Japan, the incidence only occurred in Chubu-Kinki-Chugoku (30.3%), Shikoku (25.7%),Kyushu (42.6%) and Okinawa (0.3%), which are the western and southern areas of Japan.These differences in SFTS occurrence may reflect the influences of vector/hosts, climate, and geographical and cultural characteristics between the two countries.
ABSTRACT
In 2019, the Aerospace Medical Association of Korea celebrated its 30th anniversary. On the other side of the world, it was also the 62nd anniversary of Russian launch Sputnik 1 of the world’s first artificial satellite on October 4, 1957. In additionally, the world, especially the United States was shocked, when on November 3, 1957, Sputnik 2 blasted into Earth orbit with a dog named “Laika”; it was the role of veterinarian’s activities for aerospace medical research and exploration. Veterinarians (Vets) are responsible for the health of all the animals for aerospace medicine whether on the ground or in space. Vets can enhance animal and public health and this knowledge of Vets and astronauts can extend their mission durations, go to nearby Earth Asteroids, Mars and other heavenly bodies to study their living and non-living characteristics. This review article is the brief history of the original growth of the veterinarian’s activities for the aerospace medical research, in order to stimulate future strategies for improvements in the space life sciences and exploration.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND/AIMS: To compare the epidemiological aspects of enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) between Korea and Japan by analyzing the current state of EHEC infection outbreaks and related risk factors. METHODS: We investigated the epidemiological aspects of EHEC infection cases between Korea and Japan from 2006 to 2010. The following factors were analyzed: national prevalence rate (PR), regional prevalence rate, epidemic aspects (i.e., Cases related to gender), male to female morbidity ratio, age, and seasonal distribution. RESULTS: In total, there were 254 cases of EHEC with an average PR of 0.11 per 100,000 populations in Korea from 2006 to 2010. During the same period in Japan, there were 20,883 cases of EHEC with an average PR of 3.26 per 100,000 populations. The PR in Japan was significantly higher than that in Korea (p 50%) observed for individuals younger than 9 years. EHEC is an emerging zoonosis and may be caused by consumption of raw or undercooked meat products from ruminants. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides a quantitative analysis of the epidemiological aspects and risk factors of EHEC infections in Korea and Japan and will provide insight on effective future strategies to reduce these infections.
Subject(s)
Female , Humans , Male , Disease Outbreaks , Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli , Epidemiologic Studies , Incidence , Japan , Korea , Meat Products , Prevalence , Risk Factors , Ruminants , SeasonsABSTRACT
In the present study, the outbreak patterns of bovine brucellosis in Korea from 2000 to 2011 were analyzed to understand the epidemiological evolution of this disease in the country. A total of 85,521 brucella reactor animals were identified during 14,215 outbreaks over the 12-year study period. The number of bovine brucellosis cases increased after 2003 and peaked in 2006 before decreasing thereafter. The majority of the bovine brucellosis cases were Korean native cattle, Han Woo. The numbers of human brucellosis cases and cattle outbreaks increased and decreased in the same pattern. The correlation coefficient for human and bovine cases per year was 0.96 (95% confidence interval = 0.86~0.99; p < 10(-3)). The epidemiological characteristics of bovine brucellosis appeared to be affected by the intensity of eradication programs that mainly involved a test-and-slaughter policy. Findings from the present study were based on freely available statistics from web pages maintained by government agencies. This unlimited access to information demonstrates the usefulness of government statistics for continually monitoring the health of animal populations.
Subject(s)
Animals , Cattle , Humans , Brucellosis/epidemiology , Brucellosis, Bovine/epidemiology , Disease Outbreaks/veterinary , Republic of KoreaABSTRACT
This study describes the epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the past 10 yr (2001-2010) in Korea. During this period, a total of 3,953 HFRS patients and an average prevalence rate of 0.81 per 100,000 population were recorded, with a total of 40 fatal cases, corresponding to a case fatality rate of 1.01%. More HFRS cases were found in men than in women (57% vs 43%), and a higher prevalence rate of HFRS was observed in patients older than 40 yr (82.1%). The highest numbers of HFRS cases were found amongst farmers (35.6%). The majority of HFRS cases (71.3%) occurred in the last quarter of the calendar year (October to December). More HFRS cases occurred in the western part than in the eastern part of Korea (68.9% vs 31.1%). The incidence of HFRS was significantly higher (P < 0.001) in rural areas than in urban areas (80.3% vs 19.7%). HFRS still occurs commonly among men, in autumn, and in western rural area of Korea.
Subject(s)
Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome/epidemiology , Prevalence , Republic of Korea/epidemiology , SeasonsABSTRACT
PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to ascertain the stability of the implant by comparing the effects of the change of implant diameter, length and design on implant stability quotient. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To remove the variable due to the difference of bone quality, the uniform density (0.48 g/cm3) Polyuretane foam blocks (Sawbones(R), Pacific Research Laboratories Inc, Vashon, Washington) were used. Implants (Implantium(R), Dentium, Seoul, Korea) were placed with varying diameters (phi3.8, phi4.3 and phi4.8) and length (8 mm, 10 mm and 12 mm), to assess the effect on implant stability index (ISQ). Also the influence of the design of the submerged and the non-submerged (SimplelineII(R), Dentium, Seoul, Korea) on ISQ was evaluated. To exclude the influence of insertion torque, a total of 60 implants (n = 10) were placed with same torque to 35 N. Using Osstell(TM) mentor (Integration Diagnostic AB, Sweden) ISQ values were recorded after measuring the resonant frequency, one-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD test results were analyzed. (alpha=0.05). RESULTS: 1. The change of the diameter of the implant did not affect the ISQ (P>.05), but the increase of implant length increased the ISQ(P<.001). 2. The change in implant design were correlated with the ISQ, and the ISQ of submerged design was significantly higher than that of the non-submerged design(P<.05). CONCLUSION: In order to increase implant stability, the longer implant is better to be selected, and on the same length of implant, submerged design is thought to be able to get a higher ISQ than the non-submerged.
Subject(s)
Humans , Mentors , TorqueABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In recent years in Korea, human brucellosis (HB) and human leptospirosis (HL) have become the major zoonoses with a dramatic increased cases of incidence in man; we analyzed the current state and epidemiological aspects of related risk factors from 2001 to 2008. METHODS: Based on the surveillance data of HB and HL, most are confirmed cases in Korea from the Annual Reports of HB and HL in the Disease Web Statistics System, Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDCP). RESULTS: The incidence of HB in Korea from 2001 to 2008 was 596 cases, and that of HL was 1,025 cases. When both prevalence rates were compared during the same period, the HB was lower than that of HL. The seasonal distribution of HB cases showed that the incidence from spring to summer were higher than that of HL (P<0.01), while the outbreaks of HL in autumn was much more than that of HB (P<0.01). Geographical distribution HB cases were western and central regions of the rural (60.4% of total) in the Korean peninsula, showing higher outbreaks than other areas, while HL occurred in easterly regions (72.7%). Significantly more males were infected in both HB (84.2%) and HL (58.9%) than those of females in both HB (13.1%) and HL (41.1%), respectively (P<0.01). The distribution by age groups were different between HB and HL, while the outbreaks over 62.8% of the cases of HB occurred in 40 to 59 year-old age group, and that of HL was clearly showing a high incidence in the elderly age over-60-year-old (60.8%) (P<0.01). In both diseases, elderly people especially in farmers showed a very high prevalence rate (62.8% of HB and 60.8% of HL), which is possibly due to increased outdoor activities and a decreased number of young people in those areas. The occupational distribution of HB cases were farmers, veterinarians, dairyman and others, and those of HL cases were broad. CONCLUSION: The difference in HB and HL risk factors reflects the different influences of hosts/vector, climate, and geographical and environmental characteristics in the epidemiological patterns.
Subject(s)
Aged , Female , Humans , Male , Brucellosis , Climate , Disease Outbreaks , Incidence , Korea , Leptospirosis , Prevalence , Public Health , Risk Factors , Seasons , Veterinarians , ZoonosesABSTRACT
No abstract available.
Subject(s)
Disease Outbreaks , Epidemiology , Foodborne Diseases , Japan , Korea , MortalityABSTRACT
It Is known that free radical is produced by many environmental factors and leads to a variety of pathophysiological lesions often resulting in metabolic Impairment and cell death. Many researches have been performed to limit production of the tree radical. The superoxide dismutase (SOD) has been known to cure of disease relevant to oxygen poisoning. The bis-carboxylethylgemanium sesquioxide (Ge-132) has been suggested to show scavenging activity to precent oxygen damage from lesions. In this study, bioeffects of SOD and Ge-132 for dismutation and scavenging ol the harmful free radical were investigated in Sprague-Dawely rats exposed to the hyperbaric oxygen (HBO 100% oxygen) and hyperbaric ambient air (HAA) under 3.0 atmospheres absolute (ATA) for 180 minutes. When rats were treated with SOD alone anti SOD plus Ge-132 after exposed to HBO, concentrations of potassium and sodium tended to significantly decrease to those in control at levels of p<0.05 and p<0.01, respectively. In contrast, when rats were treated with the SOD only and the SOD only Ge-132 after HBO exposure, creatine phosphokinase significantly increased to the normal level in control. To see whether the SOD anti SOD plus Ge-132 could heal lesions due 4o the tree radicals, rats were exposed to the HBO environment and treated with the SOD alone and SOD plus Ge-132 and then those lung tissues were histopathologically observed using transmission electron microscope (TEM). Lung In exposure to the HAA environment was congested and its alveolar sac was filled with several erythrocytes. Lung to the HBO environment was filled with more erythrocytes than in the HAA. In addition, there were severe lesions of cellular necrosis, hemorrhage, infiltration of inflammatory leucocytes. When rats in exposure to HBO were treated with SOD alone or SOD plus Ge-132, no pathological changes in the lung were observed in comparison with control group. These data indicated that the Ge-132 may synergistically Influence the SOD to remove the tree radicals harmful to tissue.
Subject(s)
Animals , Rats , Atmosphere , Cell Death , Creatine Kinase , Erythrocytes , Estrogens, Conjugated (USP) , Hemorrhage , Lung , Necrosis , Oxygen , Poisoning , Potassium , Sodium , Superoxide DismutaseABSTRACT
The authors made a study on the species and distribution of helminths in Korean native cattle. The feces and internal organs from 1,755 heads were examined in slaughter plants of Taejon district. The results are summarized as follows. Distribution and infestation rate of helminths among the collected samples are, Paramphistomum spp. 68.4 per cent, Fasciola spp. 48 per cent, Eurytrema spp. 23.5 per cent, Moniezia spp. 8 per cent, Dictyocaulus spp. 3.5 per cent, Trichostrongylus spp. 12.4 per cent, and other species 26.8 per cent, respectively. In 33.4 per cent of ths cases, single infestation was seen and in 31.5 per cent, 18.0 per cent, and 14.0 per cnet mixed infestation of double, triple, and quadruple or more species were seen, respectively. Geographical analysis of infested helminths in the native cattle indicates: Among the trematoda order, Paramphistomum spp. and Fasciola spp. showed high rate of infestation throughout all districts of the country, especially Cheju island with a significant higher rate. Central district (Taejon) was higher in number of native cattle infested with Fasciola spp. than any other district of the country investigated. The rate of infestation with cestoda also showed to be higher in Cheju island than any other district of main land, but the rate of infestation with other nematoda showed no geographical difference.