• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 2011

Objects: In July 2 2010, a diarrhea outbreak occurred among the workers in a company in Gyeungju city, Korea. An epidemiological investigation was performed to clarify the cause and transmission route of the outbreak. Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey among 193 persons, and we examined 21 rectal swabs and 6 environmental specimens. We also delegated the Daegu Bukgu public health center to examine 3 food service employees and 5 environmental specimens from the P buffet which served a buffet on June 30. The patient case was defined as a worker of L Corporation and who participated in the company meal service and who had diarrhea more than one time. We also collected the underground water filter of the company on July 23. Results: The attack rate of diarrhea among the employees was 20.3%. The epidemic curve showed that a single exposure peaked on July 1. The relative risk of attendance and non-attendance by date was highest for the lunch of June 30 (35.62; 95% CI, 2.25 to 574.79). There was no specific food that was statistically regarded as the source of the outbreak. $Bacillus$ $cereus$ was cultured from two of the rectal swabs, two of the preserved foods and the underground water filter. We thought the exposure date was lunch of June 30 according the latency period of $B.$ $cereus$. Conclusions: We concluded the route of transmission was infection of dishes, spoons and chopsticks in the lunch buffet of June 30 by the underground water. At the lunch buffet, 50 dishes, 40 spoons, and chopsticks were served as cleaned and wiped with a dishcloth. We thought the underground water contaminated the dishes, spoons, chopsticks and the dishcloth. Those contaminated materials became the cause of this outbreak.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.32 no.6
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• pp.455-459
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• 2017

Norovirus (NoV) is the most common cause of acute gastroenteritis in all age groups worldwide. In this study, prevalence of asymptomatic norovirus infection was investigated in food handler being employed at food catering facilities in South Korea. A total of 2,729 fecal specimens from asymptomatic food handlers were analyzed, and 1.06% of food handlers (29/2,729) had asymptomatic NoV infection. Of these, 17.2% (5/29) were positive for NoV GI and 82.7% (24/29) were positive for NoV GII. Especially, sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that GII-4 was the most prevalent genotype and a large number of asymptomatic food handlers were infested with norovirus GII-4 strains. The results of this study show that asymptomatic food handlers may be potential transmission sources for NoV infection. These results emphasize the need for training of food catering employees about norovirus prevention. Asymptomatic norovirus infection should receive more attention.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.12
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• pp.5287-5294
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• 2016

Background: Breast cancer is a worldwide public health concern and is the most prevalent type of cancer in women in the United States. This study concerned the best fit of statistical probability models on the basis of survival times for nine state cancer registries: California, Connecticut, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, New Mexico, Utah, and Washington. Materials and Methods: A probability random sampling method was applied to select and extract records of 2,000 breast cancer patients from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database for each of the nine state cancer registries used in this study. EasyFit software was utilized to identify the best probability models by using goodness of fit tests, and to estimate parameters for various statistical probability distributions that fit survival data. Results: Statistical analysis for the summary of statistics is reported for each of the states for the years 1973 to 2012. Kolmogorov-Smirnov, Anderson-Darling, and Chi-squared goodness of fit test values were used for survival data, the highest values of goodness of fit statistics being considered indicative of the best fit survival model for each state. Conclusions: It was found that California, Connecticut, Georgia, Iowa, New Mexico, and Washington followed the Burr probability distribution, while the Dagum probability distribution gave the best fit for Michigan and Utah, and Hawaii followed the Gamma probability distribution. These findings highlight differences between states through selected sociodemographic variables and also demonstrate probability modeling differences in breast cancer survival times. The results of this study can be used to guide healthcare providers and researchers for further investigations into social and environmental factors in order to reduce the occurrence of and mortality due to breast cancer.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.101-111
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• 2006

Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) is a collective term embrassing a number of clinical problems that involve the masticatory musculature, the Temporomandibular joint and associated structures, or both. The prevalence of signs and symptoms associated with TMD can be best appreciated by examining epidemiologic studies. But domestic epidemiologic studies about sex, history, chief complaint, diagnosis were not sufficient comparing with foreign countries. The results obtained as follow. 1. The number of visiting patients were 6500 and mean age was 34.06 year (Male's mean age was 33.15, Female's 34.62). In the age of patients, there was no significant difference between sex. 2. There are most patients who were referred by dentist (80.07%). Most diagnostic group was arthrogenous TMD group and followed by myogenous TMD, soft tissue disease. 3. There was strong interaction between diagnostic groups and chief complaint. 4. There was little pain difference between right and left sides. Male mainly had pain onset under 6 month, but female had pain onset more than 6 month. 5. The number of patients who had joint sound history were 3445 (53.15%). There was no significant difference of pain onset between sex. Clicking sound was most among joint sounds which happened to patients. 6. In analyzing the parafunctional habit, male mainly had bruxism, but female had clenching habit.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.133-141
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• 2009

We reviewed retrospectively the medical records of 600 elderly patients, over 65 years old who visited oral medicine. The ratio of the age group was composed of 65${\sim}$74 years old group was 63.7%, 75${\sim}$84 years old group was 32.2%, over 85years old group was 4.2%, and the patients were mostly females. The main chief complaint was composed of oral soft tissue problem(44.1%) and oromaxillofacial pain(39.0%). The majority of systemic diseases was composed of diseases of the circulatory system(30.1%), diseases of the musculoskeletal system and connective tissue(16.8%), endocrine, nutritional and metabolic diseases, and diseases of the digestive system(10.1%). The numerous pateints were diagnosed as soft tissue disease(32.0%), arthrogenous disease(24.1%), and myogenous disease(18.1%) of temporomandibular disease.Principally medication(43.9%), physical therapy(24.2%) were performed. 14.2% of all patients visited oral medicine with a letter of request written by other medical departments or local dental clinics, or referred from other departments in Chosun university dental hospital. These findings indicate epidemiologic characteristics on the elderly patients visited oral medicine. We hope that this study will play a basis in the future research about the elderly patients.

• Diabetes and Metabolism Journal
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• v.42 no.6
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• pp.496-512
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• 2018

Background: This study aimed to investigate the association between the presence and severity of cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy (CAN) and development of long-term glucose fluctuation in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: In this retrospective cohort study, subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus who received cardiovascular autonomic reflex tests (CARTs) at baseline and at least 4-year of follow-up with ${\geq}6$ measures of glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) were included. The severity of CAN was categorized as normal, early, or severe CAN according to the CARTs score. HbA1c variability was measured as the standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation, and adjusted SD of serial HbA1c measurements. Results: A total of 681 subjects were analyzed (294 normal, 318 early, and 69 severe CAN). The HbA1c variability index values showed a positive relationship with the severity of CAN. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that CAN was significantly associated with the risk of developing higher HbA1c variability (SD) after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, diabetes duration, mean HbA1c, heart rate, glomerular filtration rate, diabetic retinopathy, coronary artery disease, insulin use, and anti-hypertensive medication (early CAN: odds ratio [OR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.12 to 2.43) (severe CAN: OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.47 to 5.56). This association was more prominent in subjects who had a longer duration of diabetes (>10 years) and lower mean HbA1c (<7%). Conclusion: CAN is an independent risk factor for future higher HbA1c variability in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Tailored therapy for stabilizing glucose fluctuation should be emphasized in subjects with CAN.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.47
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• pp.292.1-292.10
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• 2018

Background: We investigated the incidence of active tuberculosis among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) treated with tumor necrosis factor (TNF) inhibitors, with or without latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). Methods: The study was performed at a Korean tertiary referral center between January 2011 and June 2017. In total, 740 patients with IBD who underwent LTBI screening tests and were followed-up for ${\geq}1$ year after TNF inhibitor treatment initiation were enrolled. LTBI was detected on the basis of tuberculin skin test results, interferon-gamma release assay results, chest X-ray findings, and previous tuberculosis treatment history. The patients were classified into LTBI (n = 84) or non-LTBI (n = 656) group. The risk of developing tuberculosis in each group was assessed on the basis of standardized incidence ratio (SIR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for active tuberculosis. Results: Mean patient age was 33.1 years, and patients with Crohn's disease were predominant (80.7%). Within 1 year after the initiation of TNF inhibitor treatment, 1 patient in the LTBI group (1/84; 1.2%) and 7 patients in the non-LTBI group (7/656; 1.1%) developed active tuberculosis. The overall 1-year incidence of tuberculosis among the patients was significantly higher than that among the general population (SIR, 14.0; 95% CI, 7.0-28.0), and SIR was not affected by LTBI status (LTBI group: 14.5, 95% CI, 2.0-102.6; non-LTBI group: 14.0, 95% CI, 6.7-29.4). Conclusion: Patients with IBD undergoing TNF inhibitor treatment showed a higher 1-year incidence of tuberculosis than the general population irrespective of LTBI status.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.289-297
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• 2019

Objectives: To identify the positive rate of and the risk factors associated with latent tuberculosis infection(LTBI) in mine workers, the objectives of the present study evaluated those among former mine workers. Methods: Between January 2015 and May 2017, former male mine workers who had been subjects for epidemiology research for work-related chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(COPD) and had received QuantiFERON-$TB^{(R)}$ Gold In-Tube(QFT-GIT) from the Institute of Occupation and Environment(IOE) under Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service(KCOMWEL) were selected as the study subjects. To identify significant variables for increased risk of LTBI, logistic regression analysis was performed. Results: A total of 736 male former mine workers were selected as study subjects. The positive rate of LTBI among subjects was 69.2%(509/736). The current smoking[odds ratio(OR), 2.3; 95% confidence interval(CI), 1.1-4.9], COPD(OR, 1.4; 95% CI, 0.9-2.3), department loading(OR, 1.8; 95% CI, 0.9-3.4) and mining(OR, 1.5; 95% CI, 0.9-2.5), and working duration of over 20(OR, 1.6; 95% CI, 0.9-3.1) and over 30 years(OR, 2.2; 95% CI, 0.9-4.9) were associated with increased risk of LTBI. The interferon-gamma(IFN-${\gamma}$) level after stimulation with Mycobacterium tuberculosis(MTB)-specific antigens showed a significantly negative correlation with age(r=-0.126). Conclusions: The present study determined that the high positive rate of LTBI among mine workers was associated with not only the host factors but also the occupational exposure to mine dust.

• The Journal of Korean Society for School & Community Health Education
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.69-82
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• 2017

Objectives: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between general characteristics and oral health behavior, oral health knowledge, and oral health literacy for adult workers. Methods: This study chose some adult workers located D City by convenience sampling method, and accepted those who understood the purpose of the study and agreed with a survey as subjects. The final study subjects were 297 except 24 with unsound questionnaires among a total of 321 questionnaires. The contents of a survey were demographic characteristics, oral health behavior, oral health knowledge, and oral literacy, and the survey was done by a self-administered questionnaire. Results: In the verbal oral health literacy distribution based on REALM standard of the subjects, a scale of 7-8, 45-60 points by score was the highest with 62.0%. In average monthly household income and oral health knowledge level of general characteristics, oral health literacy was statistically significant, and was statistically significant according to oral health literacy, monthly income of house hold, and marital status as well, and was statistically significant in oral health knowledge and oral health literacy level according to oral health behavior and in the oral health knowledge level depending on a regular checkup. And In experience existence and nonexistence of oral health education and understanding and misunderstanding of dentistry and dental health education, and main body of the decision of dental treatment, verbal oral health literacy of oral health knowledge and oral health literacy was significant. It can be seen that based on correlation among general characteristics, oral health knowledge level, verbal oral health literacy, and functional oral health literacy, there is a correlation among gender and education level, age and average monthly income, and age and marital status. Conclusions: This study presented the need for oral health literacy along with the oral health knowledge of oral health behavior affecting adult workers' oral health, and tried to establish the connection among them. Accordingly, it is thought that an improvement plan of oral health literacy for the prevention and promotion of adult workers' dental disease in the future.

• KIPS Transactions on Software and Data Engineering
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• v.8 no.11
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• pp.433-440
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• 2019

Recently, machine learning and data mining have been used for many disease prediction and diagnosis. Chronic diseases account for about 80% of the total mortality rate and are increasing gradually. In previous studies, the predictive model for chronic diseases use data such as blood glucose, blood pressure, and insulin levels. In this paper, world's first research, verifies the relationship between dyslipidemia and facial characteristics, and develops the predictive model using machine learning based facial characteristics. Clinical data were obtained from 5390 adult Korean men, and using hypertriglyceridemia and facial characteristics data. Hypertriglyceridemia is a measure of dyslipidemia. The result of this study, find the facial characteristics that highly correlated with hypertriglyceridemia. FD_43_143_aD (p<0.0001, Area Under the receiver operating characteristics Curve(AUC)=0.652) is the best indicator of this study. FD_43_143_aD means distance between mandibular. The model based on this result obtained AUC value of 0.662. These results will provide a basis for predicting various diseases with only facial characteristics in the screening stage of disease epidemiology and public health in the future.