Trend of nontuberculous mycobacteria species and minimal inhibitory concentration in a referral laboratory in Korea from 2013 to 2019.

Background: This study investigated the trends of nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) isolates and the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of antimicrobial agents in Korea.

Methods: Data from 2013 to 2019 were collected from 69 medical institutions through 12 branches of the Korean Institute of Tuberculosis. NTM identification was conducted using the Advansure Mycobacteria Genoblot assay.

Effect of Practicing Health Behaviors on Unmet Needs among Patients with Chronic Diseases: A Longitudinal Study.

With the growing prevalence of chronic diseases, the proportion of unmet needs is increasing. In this study, we investigated the effect of practicing health behaviors on unmet needs among patients with chronic diseases, using data from the Korea Health Panel Survey conducted between 2014-2017. Participants ( = 4069) aged 19 or older, with at least one chronic disease (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia, or arthrosis) and with existing follow up data were selected.

Accident prevention activity and accident experience in the Republic of Korea military.

Introduction: According to data released by the Korea National Statistical Office, the number of accidents has been decreasing since 2012. However, a considerable number of deaths related to safety accidents (23-46 deaths) are still reported annually. This study aimed to observe the correlation between accident prevention activities in the Republic of Korea (ROK) military and the incidence of safety accidents.

Association between sitting time and non-alcoholic fatty live disease in South Korean population: a cross-sectional study.

Background: To examine the association between sitting time and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease among South Koreans aged ≥20 years.

Methods: Data from the 2016-2018 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were used for the analysis. Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease was diagnosed according to a hepatic steatosis index of > 36.

Annual Disease Experience by Type and Correlations with Unmet Healthcare Needs among ROK Military Personnel.

Introduction: The National Statistical Yearbook of Defense 2018 issued by the Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense reported that the number of patients using military hospitals steadily increased from 2008 to 2017. However, in the outpatient clinic statistics for years 2015-2017 from the ROK Armed Forces Medical Command, the amount of medical care received from some medical departments, such as the infection medicine, surgery, and anesthesiology departments, decreased. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to observe the differences in incidence of military personnel's unmet healthcare needs according to number of diseases by type.

Associations between earplug use and hearing loss in ROK military personnel.

Introduction: The easiest way to prevent noise-induced hearing loss (NIHL) is to wear earplugs. The Republic of Korea (ROK) Ministry of National Defense (MND) is supplying earplugs to prevent NIHL, but many patients still suffer from this. We speculated that earplugs would have a high NIHL rate, depending on the rate of use of earplugs, regardless of the rate of supply.

The Relationship between Sleep Duration and Perceived Stress: Findings from the 2017 Community Health Survey in Korea.

Sleep is exceedingly important for our physical, physiological, psychological, and social health. Currently, few Koreans get the recommended daily amount of sleep. Stress can also have a major impact on our physiological, neurological, and mental health.

The Association between Eating-Out Rate and BMI in Korea.

Previous research suggests that adult men consume larger amounts of calories while eating-out than when eating meals prepared at home. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between the daily eating-out rate and body mass index (BMI) in the Korean population. The study used data from 18,019 individuals aged ≥19 years who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2013 to 2016.

The Effects of Intense Physical Activity on Stress in Adolescents: Findings from Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (2015-2017).

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between intense physical activity and stress in Korean adolescents. The study used data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-Based Survey (KYRBWS), 2015-2017, that included 170,359 responses from Korean adolescents. Intense activity and stress were measured by self-diagnosis.

Comparative evaluation of the Omniplex-HPV and RFMP HPV PapilloTyper for detecting human papillomavirus genotypes in cervical specimens.

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is a major cause of cervical neoplasia development. HPV screening is very important because early treatment can prevent cervical cancer. Omniplex-HPV is a polymerase chain reaction followed by Luminex xMAP bead microarray technology that is designed for detecting 40 HPV genotypes.

MYH9 nephropathy.

MYH9-related disorder is an autosomal dominant disease caused by a mutation in the MYH9 gene, which encodes nonmuscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMMHC-IIA). This disease is characterized by giant platelets, thrombocytopenia, granulocyte inclusion bodies, proteinuria, and high-pitch sensorineural deafness. Nephropathy has been observed in 30% of patients with MYH9-related disorder.

Evaluation of peptide nucleic acid probe-based real-time PCR for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and nontuberculous mycobacteria in respiratory specimens.

Background: A peptide nucleic acid (PNA) probe-based real-time PCR (PNAqPCR™ TB/NTM detection kit; PANAGENE, Korea) assay has been recently developed for the simultaneous detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTBC) and nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) in clinical specimens. The study was aimed at evaluation of the performance of PNA probe-based real-time PCR in respiratory specimens.

Methods: To evaluate potential cross-reactivity, the extracted DNA specimens from Mycobacterium species and non-mycobacterial species were tested using PNA probe-based real-time PCR assay.

Association between IL17A/IL17RA Gene Polymorphisms and Susceptibility to Alopecia Areata in the Korean Population.

Background: Alopecia areata is marked by autoimmune assault on the hair follicle resulting in hair loss. T helper 17 cell subset has important roles in protecting the host against extracellular pathogens, however, also promotes inflammatory pathology in autoimmune disease, and it expresses both interleukin (IL)-17A and IL-17F, which can signal via the IL-17 receptor A.

Objective: To investigate the significance of IL17A and IL17RA gene polymorphisms in the susceptibility to alopecia areata.

Evaluation of peptide nucleic acid array for the detection of hepatitis B virus mutations associated with antiviral resistance.

A major problem of long-term antiviral therapy in chronic hepatitis B patients is the emergence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) mutations associated with drug resistance. Recently, a new array using peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), which are synthetic nucleic acid analogues, was developed for the detection of HBV mutations at six different codon positions associated with lamivudine (LAM) and adefovir (ADV) resistance. We compared the PNA array with direct sequencing and reverse hybridization (INNO-LiPA) in 73 samples obtained from chronic hepatitis B patients.

Comparative analysis of the multiple test methods for the detection of Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus.

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus (H1N1 2009) infection is important for the prevention and control of influenza epidemics and the timely initiation of antiviral treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of several diagnostic tools for the detection of H1N1 2009. Flocked nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 254 outpatients of suspected H1N1 2009 during October 2009.

Evaluation of new rapid antigen test for detection of pandemic influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus.

We evaluated the SD Bioline Influenza Ag A/B/A(H1N1) Pandemic test kit and compared it with real-time reverse transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) for its ability to detect H1N1 2009. The sensitivity and specificity of the test kit for H1N1 2009 were 77% and 100%, respectively.

Prognostic value of serum s100 protein by elecsys s100 immunoassay in patients with spontaneous subarachnoid and intracerebral hemorrhages.

Objective: The serum S100 protein has been known to reflect the severity of neuronal damage. The purpose of this study was to assess the prognostic value of the serum S100 protein by Elecsys S100 immunoassay in patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) and intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and to establish reference value for this new method.

Methods: Serum S100 protein value was measured at admission, day 3 and 7 after bleeding in 42 consecutive patients (SAH : 20, ICH : 22) and 74 healthy controls, prospectively.

High prevalence of ceftazidime-resistant Klebsiella pneumoniae and increase of imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acinetobacter spp. in Korea: a KONSAR program in 2004.

A nationwide antimicrobial resistance surveillance has been conducted since 1997 in Korea. In this study, susceptibility test data generated in 2004 by KONSAR group hospitals were analyzed and compared to those at a commercial laboratory. In hospitals, the rank orders of organisms in 2004 were identical to those in 2003.