Soon Duck Kim

Physical activity might not be the protective factor for health risk behaviours and psychopathological symptoms in adolescents

Aim:  This study aims to examine the effect of physical activity (PA) intensity on tobacco or alcohol abuse, suicide behaviours and psychopathological symptoms in junior and senior high school students in China.

Epidemiology of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome in endemic area of the Republic of Korea, 1995-1998.

We conducted an epidemiologic study to understand temporal and spatial patterns of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) in the Republic of Korea (ROK). We estimated the incidence among civilians in endemic areas through the active surveillance system during the major epidemic periods, from September to December, between 1996 and 1998. We also estimated the prevalence among Korean military personnel from 1995 to 1998. In addition, we assessed seroprevalence, subclinical infection rate, and vaccination rates in both civilians and military personnel. The incidence in civilians ranged from 2.1 to 6.6 per 100,000 person-months. The annual prevalence in the military personnel was 40-64 per 100,000 military populations, and remained generally constant throughout the study period with seasonal variation. This is the prospective epidemiologic data set on HFRS in the ROK since the inactivated Hantaan virus vaccine was licensed for use in the late 1990s. These results will be invaluable in establishing a national immunization program against HFRS.

Pesticide poisonings in South Korea: Findings from the National Hospital Discharge Survey 2004-2006

Objectives: Pesticide poisoning stands as a major public health issue worldwide. The objective of this study was to examine the epidemiologic characteristics of pesticide-related hospitalizations in South Korea. Methods: Data from the Korea National Hospital Discharge Survey were analyzed to describe the epidemiologic characteristics of pesticide poisoning among hospitalized patients from 2004 through 2006. Pesticide-related hospitalizations were identified using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. National estimates of pesticide-related hospitalizations were calculated using sampling weights for number of hospitalizations. Results: A total of 25,982 pesticide-related hospitalizations were estimated during the years 2004–2006, yielding an average annual pesticide-related hospitalization rate of 17.8 per 100,000 population in South Korea. Age-specific rates for pesticide-related hospitalization increased with age, with the highest rate noted among those aged 70 or above. The majority of pesticide-related hospitalization was cases of intentional poisoning in rural areas. Seasonal variation in the rate was observed, with summer being the highest among both men and women. Conclusions: Pesticide-related hospitalization is prevalent and demonstrates demographic and seasonal and regional variations. More effective strategies to reduce pesticide-related hospitalizations are required in South Korea.

Prevalence of antibodies to the circumsporozite protein of Plasmodium vivax in five different regions of Korea.

Malaria has recently re‐emerged in the Republic of Korea (ROK), but only few malaria seroprevalences were reported. We obtained 1014 serum samples from inhabitants of five regions of ROK during the high transmission season between June and August in 2001. The levels of anti‐circumsporozoite protein (CSP) antibody were assessed in samples using an indirect enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The highest IgG seroreactivity against Plasmodium vivax recombinant CSP antigen was found among male residents of Cheolwon gun (13.5%), then Incheon (4.7%). The IgG seroreactivity from other regions ranged from 0.0% to 2.0%. These epidemiological data of seroprevalence in five regions of Korea showed a similar pattern to the annual incidence of malaria in these respective regions. The prevalence of antibodies increased with age, suggesting that the age and area‐related prevalence patterns reflected differences in the inoculation rates between age groups and geographic regions. Seroprevalence and annual incidence were positively correlated in some areas of Korea.

Trend of Mortality Rate and Injury Burden of Transport Accidents, Suicides, and Falls.

Objectives Recently injury has become a major world-wide health problem. But studies in Korea about injuries were very few. Thus, this study was conducted to analyze the trend of major injuries from 1991 to 2006 and to provide basic data for preventing injuries. Methods This study was based on the National Statistical Office data from 1991 to 2006 and calculated to estimate the burden of major injuries by using the standard expected years of life lost (SEYLL) and total lost earnings equation. Results For transport accidents, mortality, SEYLL and total lost earnings were increased from 1991 to 1996 and decreased from 2000 to 2006. On the other hand, for suicides, these were increased gradually. Since 2003, falls were included in ten leading causes of death. This study showed that injury causes major social and economical losses. Conclusions We could reduce injury related premature death through active interest in injury prevention program.

Trans-Cranial Doppler and Peripheral Sensory Threshold Tests for Carbon Disulfide Poisoning

Trans‐Cranial Doppler and Peripheral Sensory Threshold Tests for Carbon Disulfide Poisoning: Eunil Lee, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Korea University—Trans‐cranial doppler (TCD) and sensory threshold (vibration, pain and discrimination) tests, which are safe and inexpensive techniques, were applied to detect cerebral vasoreactivity or neuropathic changes between carbon disulfide (CS2) poisoning cases and two control groups respectively. The cases were 31 male CS2poisoning workers, and the first control group for the TCD test consisted of eight healthy men, and the second group for the threshold test were 21 healthy male workers. In the TCD test, the blood flow velocity in both middle cerebral arteries and the CO2 content of expired air were measured to evaluate CO2 reactivity. The vibration and pain perception threshold were measured on both the 2nd and 5th fingers. The CS2 poisoning cases showed higher rates of abnormal CO2 reactivity above the cut‐off value than healthy controls (80.081.8% vs 0%). Among the threshold tests, the proportions of abnormal pain threshold of both the 2nd and 5th fingers were higher in poisoning cases than in the controls (77.8%‐88.9% vs 11.1‐33.3%) among over 45 yr old subjects. CO2 reactivity and pain threshold test showed the possibility to detect changes in cerebral vessels and the sensory threshold in CS2 exposure cases, but there should be further study to apply these tests to workers exposed to CS2 before the development of CS2 poisoning, with large number of control subjects.