Ongoing outbreak of human adenovirus-associated acute respiratory illness in the Republic of Korea military, 2013 to 2018.

Background/aims: Human adenovirus type 55 (HAdV-55), an emerging epidemic strain, has caused several large outbreaks in the Korean military since 2014, and HAdV-associated acute respiratory illness (HAdV-ARI) has been continuously reported thereafter.

Methods: To evaluate the epidemiologic characteristics of HAdV-ARI in the Korean military, we analyzed respiratory virus polymerase chain reaction (RV-PCR) results, pneumonia surveillance results, and severe HAdV cases from all 14 Korean military hospitals from January 2013 to May 2018 and compared these data with nationwide RV surveillance data for the civilian population.

Results: A total of 14,630 RV-PCRs was performed at military hospitals.

Sleepiness while driving and shiftwork patterns among Korean bus drivers.

Background: Sleepiness while driving has been regarded as a major cause of death due to traffic accidents. We compared the degree of sleepiness across five different working time periods (first, morning, post-lunch, afternoon, and last) among Korean bus drivers with different shift types (Daily two shift/Alternating day shift).

Method: We interviewed 332 bus drivers with two shift types (Daily two shift, 128; Alternating day shift, 204).

Plasma ghrelin level and plasma ghrelin/obestatin ratio are related to intestinal metaplasia in elderly patients with functional dyspepsia.

Background: Whether plasma ghrelin/obestatin levels are associated with Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection, subtypes of functional dyspepsia (FD), and gastric mucosal histology has not yet been established in elderly patients.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine whether plasma ghrelin and obestatin levels are related to gastric mucosal histology, H.

Lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and related factors in Korean firefighters.

Objectives: The job of firefighting can cause lumbar burden and low back pain. This study aimed to identify the association between age and lumbar intervertebral disc degeneration and whether the association differs between field and administrative (non-field) firefighters.

Methods: Subjects were selected using a stratified random sampling method.

Risk factors associated with mortality from pneumonia among patients with pneumoconiosis.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with increased risk of mortality from pneumonia among patients with pneumoconiosis.

Methods: Medical records of 103 pneumoconiosis patients hospitalized for pneumonia were investigated. Seven patients who had lung cancer or other malignancy and 13 patients with insufficient medical record were excluded.

The education and practice program for medical students with quantitative and qualitative fit test for respiratory protective equipment.

Tuberculosis infection is prevalent in Korea and health care workers are vulnerable to tuberculosis infection in the hospital. The aims of this study were to develop and validate an education program that teaches senior medical students how to wear and choose the proper size and type of respiratory protective equipment (RPE), which may help reduce the risk of contracting Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) from patients. Overall, 50 senior medical students participated in this education program.

The association between psychiatric disorders and work-related problems among subway drivers in Korea.

Objectives: This study aimed to find the prevalence and occupational risk factors for major psychiatric disorders among subway drivers in South Korea.

Methods: Of all 998 current subway drivers, 995 participated in this study. The Korean version of the Composite International Diagnostic Interview (K-CIDI 2.

Allopurinol-induced DRESS syndrome mimicking biliary obstruction.

An 84-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with fever, jaundice, and itching. He had been diagnosed previously with chronic renal failure and diabetes, and had been taking allopurinol medication for 2 months. A physical examination revealed that he had a fever (38.

Workers' experiences with compensated sick leave due to musculoskeletal disorder: a qualitative study.

Objectives: The most common occupational disease that is compensated by Industrial Accident Compensation Insurance (IACI) in Korea is musculoskeletal disease (MSD). Although complaints about the workers' compensation system have been raised by injured workers with MSD, studies that examine workers' experiences with the Korean system are rare. This paper is a qualitative study designed to examine injured workers' experiences with the workers' compensation system in Korea.

Endobronchial Mycobacterium avium Infection in an Immunocompetent Patient.

Although Mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) is the most common pathogen in nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) pulmonary diseases, endobronchial lesions caused by MAC infections are very rare even in an immunocompromised host. Herein, we describe the case of a 59-year-old, HIV-negative and non-immunocompromised woman who developed multifocal pulmonary infiltrations with endobronchial lesion caused by M. avium.