Publications by authors named "Baeg-Ju Na"

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is a new infectious disease with a high mortality rate and increased incidence in Republic of Korea since the first case was reported in 2013. The average mortality rate varies by region and year but remains high in Asia. This study aimed to evaluate the spatial and temporal patterns of SFTS cases reported to the national Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA).

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Objectives: We examined the associations of individual and regional-level perceived stress and depression with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in Korean adults.

Methods: We used data from the 2017 Korea Community Health Survey, which included 216,713 adults living within 254 municipal districts. As individual-level independent variables, perceived stress (higher vs.

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Background: Following the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in Wuhan, China, a total of 637 patients had been diagnosed with the disease in Seoul as of May 2, 2020. Our study aimed to describe the impact of the 3T strategies (preemptive testing, prompt tracing and proper treatment) on the epidemiological characteristics of COVID-19 in Seoul.

Methods: The descriptive and explanatory analysis was carried out on critical indicators such as epidemiological characteristics and key duration of patient status change from January 24 to May 2 in Seoul before and after preemptive testing for patients under investigation associated with COVID-19 clusters.

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Objectives: To estimate time-variant reproductive number (Rt) of coronavirus disease 19 based on either number of daily confirmed cases or their onset date to monitor effectiveness of quarantine policies.

Methods: Using number of daily confirmed cases from January 23, 2020 to March 22, 2020 and their symptom onset date from the official website of the Seoul Metropolitan Government and the district office, we calculated Rt using program R's package "EpiEstim". For asymptomatic cases, their symptom onset date was considered as -2, -1, 0, +1, and +2 days of confirmed date.

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At least 246 cases of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) have been linked to nightclubs in Seoul, South Korea. During the April 30-May 5 holiday, young adults from across the country who visited nightclubs in Seoul contracted COVID-19 and spread it nationally. Nightclubs were temporarily closed to limit COVID-19 spread.

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We describe the epidemiology of a coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak in a call center in South Korea. We obtained information on demographic characteristics by using standardized epidemiologic investigation forms. We performed descriptive analyses and reported the results as frequencies and proportions for categoric variables.

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There is a paucity of data regarding the differentiating characteristics of patients with laboratory-confirmed and those negative for Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in South Korea. This hospital-based retrospective study compared MERS-CoV-positive and MERS-CoV-negative patients. A total of seven positive patients and 55 negative patients with a median age of 43 years (P = 0.

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Public health physicians (PHPs) are certified physicians who are serving in a public health center or subcenter in a rural village, instead of serving in the military. However, the PHP program has recently become the subject of a profound debate, over 30 years after its adoption. In this study, we attempted to ascertain physicians' perspectives on the PHP program, including: whether the PHP policy should continue; if they agree on changing the role of PHPs in healthcare; what would be the desired role of PHPs; and what resources would be required and what possible barriers would be anticipated under the changes.

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Background: Public Service Advertising (PSA) is a public interest message disseminated in the form of an advertisement communication and its main purpose is to promote public behavioral changes regarding a social issue. Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) has been delivering PSA by various media. However, the effect of PSAs has never been evaluated.

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Purpose: This study aimed to understand why mothers do not utilize the prenatal care and delivery services at their local hospital supported by the government program, the Supporting Program for Obstetric Care Underserved Area (SPOU).

Methods: We conducted a focus group interview by recruiting four mothers who delivered in the hospital in their community (a rural underserved obstetric care area) and another four mothers who delivered in the hospital outside of the community.

Results: From the finding, the mothers were not satisfied with the quality of services that the community hospital provided, in terms of professionalism of the obstetric care team, and the outdated medical device and facilities.

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Problem: We investigated the therapeutic effect of intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in women with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL).

Method Of Study: This was a retrospective observational study. Total 189 RPL women who experienced ≥2 miscarriages were enrolled and investigated conventional etiologies, thrombophilia, and cellular immunity.

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Purpose: Feedback in medical education is as important as developing the curriculum and choosing the right method of instruction. This study measured three overarching areas: student satisfaction rates with academic feedback, the type and helpfulness of the feedback, and the types of feedback that students want.

Methods: In December 2013, 166 students answered a student survey that consisted of 26 items.

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"The Supporting Program for Obstetric Care Underserved Areas (SPOU)" provides financial aids to rural community (or district) hospitals to reopen prenatal care and delivery services for regions without obstetrics and gynecology clinics or hospitals. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early stage effect of the SPOU program. The proportion of the number of birth through SPOU was calculated by each region.

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Problem: Th17 cells and Foxp3(+) regulatory T (Treg) cells have been proposed as new risk factors for recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). Intravenous immunoglobulin G (IVIG) was reported to modulate various immune cells. In this study, we investigated the effect of IVIG on the levels of Th17 and Treg cells and pregnancy outcome in women with RPL.

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Problem: Dysregulated natural killer (NK) immunity and T-cell immunity are associated with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL). We aim to define clinically relevant NK and T-cell parameters for RPL and determine their cutoff values.

Methods Of Study: Ninety-five women with RPL (>3) including 42 idiopathic and 53 known-etiology RPL, and 29 age-matched fertile controls were enrolled.

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Regulatory T (Treg) cells interact with B, natural killer (NK), and dendritic cells in addition to other T cells. In this study, we aimed at determining whether Foxp3(+) T cells and subpopulations have any correlation with other lymphocyte subsets and their functions in a systemic immune environment. Peripheral blood was drawn from 22 nonpregnant healthy women.

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Objectives: The incidence of clinical hepatitis A has increased in young Korean adults since the mid-1990s. Although hepatitis A vaccinations have been administered in private clinics over the past 10 yr, no data exist on the vaccination rate and relating factors.

Methods: In 2005, a population-based survey of 12-35-month-old children was carried out in Nonsan, Korea.

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Objective: This study was conducted to investigate the relationship between the intention of smoking and its related factors in high school students.

Methods: Our study subjects were 1,203 high school students who resided in one city and in one county region. We conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey from June 7 to June 19, 2004.

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Objectives: This study was aimed at investigating the medical service utilization pattern of patients who use public medical aid compared to those who have health insurance.

Methods: We selected every patient between the age of 18 and 69 who used public medical aid from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2001, in Gwangju metropolitan city, South Korea. For comparison, a list of patients with health insurance was gathered for same period.

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