Low Concentration PM Had No Effect on Nasal Symptoms and Flow in Allergic Rhinitis Patients.

Objectives: Since Korea is geographically close to China (the origin site for Asian sand dust [ASD]) the health influence of ASD event will be still greater in Korea. We aimed to evaluate the effect of PM (particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter <10 μm, below 150 μg/m) on the clinical course of allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: We enrolled 47 healthy volunteers (group A) and 108 AR patients sensitized to house dust mites (group B).

Association of Cigarette Prices with the Prevalence of Smoking in Korean University Students: Analysis of Effects of the Tobacco Control Policy.

Background: Increased pricing of cigarettes might be one of the most effective approaches for reducing the prevalence of smoking. This study aimed to investigate the effects of increasing cigarette prices through taxation by a tobacco intervention policy on the changes in smoking prevalence in Korean university students.

Materials And Methods: The participants in this study were 23,047 healthy university students aged 18-29 years from a health examination in 2011-2015.

The effect of PM10 on allergy symptoms in allergic rhinitis patients during spring season.

Background: Asian sand dust (ASD) that originates in the Mongolian Desert in the spring induces serious respiratory health problems throughout East Asia (China, Korea, Japan). PM10 (particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter <10 μm) is a major air pollutant component in ASD. We studied the effects of PM10 on allergy symptoms in patients with allergic rhinitis during the spring season, when ASD frequently develops.

Glutamine suppresses airway neutrophilia by blocking cytosolic phospholipase A(2) via an induction of MAPK phosphatase-1.

Neutrophils are inflammatory cells that may contribute in a crucial way to the pathophysiology of steroid-resistant severe asthma. We previously reported that the nonessential amino acid l-glutamine (Gln) suppressed the recruitment of neutrophils into the airway in a murine model of asthma. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms by which Gln exerts beneficial effects in airway neutrophilia.

Prospective study of optimal obesity index cutoffs for predicting development of multiple metabolic risk factors: the Korean genome and epidemiology study.

Background: In this prospective cohort study, we estimated the risk of developing more than 1 metabolic risk factor, using different obesity indices. In addition, we investigated the relative usefulness of the obesity indices for predicting development of such risk factors and calculated optimal cutoffs for the obesity indices.

Methods: The cohort comprised 10 038 representative residents of a small city and a rural county who were recruited in 2001-2002.

IgG immune complex induces the recruitment of inflammatory cells into the airway and TNF-mediated late airway hyperresponsiveness via NF-κB activation in mice.

Background: Many of the inflammatory proteins that are expressed in asthmatic airways are regulated, at least partially, by nuclear factor (NF)-κB. Blockade of NF-κB activity has resulted in attenuation of the cardinal features of asthma. Thus, delineating the mechanisms involved in NF-κB activation in asthma might provide an interesting approach to improving the management of asthma.

The burden and characteristics of tuberculosis/human immunodeficiency virus (TB/HIV) in South Korea: a study from a population database and a survey.

Background: Although, in South Korea, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) keeps increasing and tuberculosis(TB) burden is still significant, there have been few reports on TB/HIV cases. In this study, we investigated the burden and characteristics of TB/HIV patients in South Korea, an area with intermediate burden of TB and a low prevalent area with HIV/AIDS.

Methods: We identified patients with TB and cases with HIV between January 1 2001 and December 31 2005, from nationwide reporting system (TBnet and HIV/AIDS registry) through an electronic record linkage method.

A nationwide survey on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections in the Republic of Korea, 2004.

National surveys on the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections have been carried out every 5-7 years since 1971 in the Republic of Korea in order to establish control measures. The present nationwide survey was conducted from June to December 2004. The 10% population sampling data of Population and Housing Census by the Korean government in 2000 was used as the survey population.

The incidence of tuberculosis after a measles outbreak.

Among 53,974 cases of measles that occurred during the 2000-2001 outbreak in Korea, the incidence of tuberculosis following measles was 47 cases per 214,949.6 person-years, which was significantly lower than that in the general population (standardized incidence ratio, 0.73; 95% confidence interval, 0.

Chemoprophylaxis and the epidemiological characteristics of re-emergent P. vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea.

Objective: In the Republic of Korea (ROK), soldiers stationed where there is a risk of contracting malaria have received antimalarial chemoprophylaxis since 1997. However, chemoprophylaxis may facilitate the development of drug resistance, and late primary attacks in individuals who have received chemoprophylaxis are becoming more frequent. We investigated the association between chemoprophylaxis and the epidemiological characteristics and effectiveness of treatment for re-emergent Plasmodium vivax malaria, using a nationwide malaria database.

[Opportunities and challenges for both national and international public health area--the public health sector in government--].

To inform choices about the future of people who study public health and preventive medicine, the current status of public health is examined in terms of the public health sector in government. After tracing the major achievements of public health in the modern era, this paper explores the potential of public health and its core functions, which is realized by public health professionals working in the government sector. Finally, this article highlights the international dimension of public health, which is becoming increasingly important and therefore attracting many people who would like to take part.

[Analysis of behavioral stage in pap testing by using transtheoretical model].

Objective: To evaluate the relationships among sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, levels of pros and cons and stages of change in Pap testing for uterine cervical cancer.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was performed on 560 randomly sampled people who were assigned to participate in a Pap testing program by the 'National Cancer Screening Project in 2003' between 25 September and 10 October in Gyeonggi, Korea. Data about the behaviors and intentions of Pap testing, sociodemographic characteristics, health behaviors, and levels of acknowledged benefit (pros) and barrier (cons) for Pap testing was collected.

Normal serum aminotransferase concentration and risk of mortality from liver diseases: prospective cohort study.

Objective: To examine the relation between the normal range of serum aminotransferase concentration and mortality from liver disease.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Korea Medical Insurance Corporation study with eight years' follow up.

Survival of Korean Cancer Patients Diagnosed in 1995.

Purpose: To produce the nationwide 5-year survival rates of Korean cancer patients by primary cancer site.

Materials And Methods: The study subjects were cancer patients diagnosed in 1995, as documented by the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) Program. This data was collected in 120 (93%) of 129 nationwide intern- and resident-training hospitals and 75 (94%) of the 80 Korean university hospitals.