Reemerging vivax malaria: changing patterns of annual incidence and control programs in the Republic of Korea

Changing patterns of the reemerging Plasmodium vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea (South Korea) during the period 1993 to 2005 are briefly analyzed with emphasis on the control measures used and the effects of meteorological and entomological factors. Data were obtained from the Communicable Diseases Monthly Reports published by the Korea Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and webpages of World Health Organization and United Nations. Meteorological data of Kangwon-do (Province) were obtained from local weather stations. After its first reemergence in 1993, the prevalence of malaria increased exponentially, peaking in 2000, and then decreased. In total, 21,419 cases were reported between 1993 and 2005 in South Korea. In North Korea, a total of 916,225 cases were reported between 1999 and 2004. The occurrence of malaria in high risk areas of South Korea was significantly (P<0.05) correlated with the mosquito population but not with temperature and rainfall. Control programs, including early case detection and treatment, mass chemoprophylaxis of soldiers, and international financial aids to North Korea for malaria control have been instituted. The situation of the reemerging vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea is remarkably improving during the recent years, at least in part, due to the control activities undertaken in South and North Korea.

Nutrients Intake and Complications of Hypertension in a Rural Area. Special Reference to Agricultural Working Days / 日本農村医学会雑誌

This study was carried out to investigate the relationships among the agriculturalworking days, nutrients intake and complications of hypertension in 266 male subjects in a ruralarea. The main findings are as follows.<BR>1. Salt and carbohydrate intake and cereal energy level were higher in the farming group, who engaged in agricultural work for 300 days or over in a year, than in the non-faming group.<BR>2. The hypertensive group with abnormal ECG or fundscopic findings showed a lower protein energy ratio, fat energy ratio and animal protein ratio than the non-hypertensive group with normal ECG and fundscopic findings.<BR>3. The serum total cholesterol level of the farming group was lower than that of the non-farming group. The hypertensive group with abnormal ECG or fundscopic findings showed lower serum total cholesterol level than non-hypertensive group with normal ECG and fundscopic findings.<BR>These results suggest that the complications of hypertension, such as abnormal ECG or funds-copic findings, are aggravated by the dietary habits of the farming group.

Effects of organophosphorus compound, cyanofenphos on the glucose metabolism in rats / 日本農村医学会雑誌

In order to observe the effect of organophosphorus compound, cyanofenphos (0-ethyl 0-4 -cyanophenyl phenylphosphonothioate) (CYP) on the glucose metabolism, 20 mg/kg of CYP was repeatedly administered <I>per</I> os to male Wistar rats, weighing approximately 150g. The supression of the serum and brain cholinesterase activity increased with times of administration, but muscular strength of extremities was not suppressed. The concentration of serum glucose, however, was enhanced in spite of the increase in the concentration of serum insulin. The mechanism of hyperglucosaemia resulted from the supression of the incorporation of glucose into cells in peripheral tissues without the activation of glycogen phosphorylase and suppression of glycogen synthetase activity. It was suggested that the suppression of the incorporation of gulcose into cells resulted from inhibition of insulin receptors or entry sites of glucose in cells by cyanofenphos.<BR>The relation between disturbances of the glucose metabolism and the delayed neurotoxicity was discussed.

Effects of organophosphorus compounds, prothiofos, cyanofenphos and chlorpyrifos on lipid metabolism in rats / 日本農村医学会雑誌

In order to observe the effects of organophosphorus compounds on lipid metabolism, 4mg of prothiofos, cyanofenphos or 1mg of chlorpyrifos were administered per os to different groups of rats, and the results were as follows;<BR>1) Serum cholinesterase activity was significantly suppressed in the experimental group administered these pesticides compared with the control group, administered salad oil only.<BR>2) The lipase activity in the liver was suppressed by administration of prothiofos and that in the kidney was also suppressed by cyanofenphos. There was a close positive correlation between the cholinesterase and lipase activity in epididymal adipose tissues of rats administered prothiofos or cyanofenphos. Furthermore, the positive correlation between the cholinesterase and lipase activity in the kidney was close on day 2 after administration.<BR>3) The acyl CoA synthetase activity in the liver of rats administered cyanofenphos was signifcantly lower than that of the control group, and there was close positive correlation between the cholinesterase and acyl CoA synthetase activity in the rats administered prothiofos.<BR>4) The serum concentration of beta-lipoprotein decreased in the group administered cyanofenphos or chlorpyrifos.<BR>5) The suppression of the lipase and acyl CoA synthetase activity was independent of the serum concentration of immunoreactive insulin.

Annual Studies on Health Conditions of Aged Bedridden Patients at Home in Rural District / 日本農村医学会雑誌

In the present study, we undertook the annual investigation on health conditions of aged bedridden patients at home from 1971 to 1979 in Hiromi Cho, Ehime Prefecture.<BR>The incidence rate of bedridden patients in 1971 was 3.7 % in the population of 65 years old and over, and 0.499 % in the population of Hiromi Cho. Paticularly, the latter rate was very higher than that in urban areas. The bedridden patients had been caused by apoplexy, senility, loss of eyesight, fracture and rheumatoid arthritis. 66.7 % of bed rest were caused by apoplexy. The bedridden age was 70.1±7.1 years in men, 71.2±11.6 years in women. The bedridden age in rheumatoid arthritis women was 41.0±1.0 years. The activity of dayly life in the bedridden patients lowered with the period of bed rest, and was dependent on the original diseases of bedridden. Their mortality rate was about 50 % after 2 years and about 90 % after 8 years. Their relatives mainly cared the bedridden patients. The bedridden patients were not cared in full, because 70 % in their sick nurses had their jobs.<BR>We think that the best plan to bedridden patients is to prevent the diseases causing prolonged bed rest.

Skin Hazards Caused by Pesticides on Farmers in Citrus Fruit Area / 日本農村医学会雑誌

In the present study, we undertook the investigation into skin hazards caused by pesticides on farmers in citrus fruit area in Ehime Prefecture from May to September, 1981.<BR>1) 71.4% in males and 68.5% in females were recognized to have had the contact dermatitis due to pesticides. Dithianone, maneb and manzeb were pesticides which frequently caused skin lesions.<BR>2) The incidence rate of skin hazards caused by spraying pesticides was 0% in males and 3.8% in females in May, 8.2% in males and 13.0% in females in June, and increased to 26.0% in males and 50.0% in females in July.<BR>3) The highest incidence rate on skin lesions due to pesticides in July were observed in farmers who had been engaged in the spraying, and the next dangerous work was the thinning out the superfluous fruits, followed by weeding and so forth.<BR>4) Positive reaction of patch testing was revealed in 0%, 18.8% and 50.0%, with 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.5% preparations of dithianone, and negative reactions were revealed with preparations of thiophanate-methyl, maneb and manzeb, respectively.<BR>These observations suggest that the mechanism of skin lesions due to pesticides was mainly the primary irritating type of contact dermatitis, and that spraying in combination with several pesticides, sweating and hard sunlight take part in skin lesions.

Health Hazards by Spraying Pesticides on Farmers in Citrus Fruit Area / 日本農村医学会雑誌

In the present study, we undertook the investigation into health conditions and subjective symptomes by spraying pesticides on farmers in citrus fruit area in Ehime Prefecture.<BR>65 males and 138 females were examined for their health conditions in August, 1981 and the prevalence rate of anemia was 6.2% in males and 37.0% in females, that of hypertension was 20.0% in males and 20.3% in females, and that of the disturbance of liver function was 17.0% in males and 2.8% in females. There was a serious problem in farmers that the subjects taken these diseases usually sprayed pesticides.<BR>The investigation into subjective symptomes by spraying pesticides was performed for 50 males and 54 females from May to July, 1981. The frequency of spraying pesticides was about 2.5 times per sprayer in May and June, but about 5 times in July. Time of spraying was about 5 hours and dithiocarbamates was most frequently used. The tendency of combinational use with several pesticides was recognized in July than in May and June. The wearing rates of waterproof coat and trausers were high but those of dustproof mask and rubber gloves were low. The incidence rate of subjective symptomes by spraying pesticides was 10.4% in males and 17.0% in females in May, 14.3% in males and 27.8% in females in June, and increased to 42.0% in males and 63.0% in females in July. Skin lesion was the most frequent symptome, excessive sweating and general fatigue followed this. Further studies on skin hazards due to pesticides are necessary.