Biological variation and reference change values of serum Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi).

Background: Limited data are available with regard to biological variations of the Mac-2-binding protein glycosylation isomer (M2BPGi), a liver fibrosis biomarker.

Methods: Long-term biological variation of M2BPGi was investigated using longitudinally measured M2BPGi test results from healthy Korean adult subjects. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) tests were used to calculate the reference change value (RCV) of M2BPGi based on biological variation estimates.

Comparing SARS-CoV-2 with SARS-CoV and influenza pandemics.

The objective of this Personal View is to compare transmissibility, hospitalisation, and mortality rates for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with those of other epidemic coronaviruses, such as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and pandemic influenza viruses. The basic reproductive rate (R) for SARS-CoV-2 is estimated to be 2·5 (range 1·8-3·6) compared with 2·0-3·0 for SARS-CoV and the 1918 influenza pandemic, 0·9 for MERS-CoV, and 1·5 for the 2009 influenza pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 causes mild or asymptomatic disease in most cases; however, severe to critical illness occurs in a small proportion of infected individuals, with the highest rate seen in people older than 70 years.

COVID-19-We urgently need to start developing an exit strategy.

Aim: The purpose of this perspective is to review the options countries have to exit the draconian "lockdowns" in a carefully staged manner.

Methods: Experts from different countries experiencing Corona Virus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) reviewed evidence and country-specific approaches and the results of their interventions.

Results: Three factors are essential: 1.

Tools to implement the World Health Organization End TB Strategy: Addressing common challenges in high and low endemic countries.

Aim: The purpose of this viewpoint is to summarize the advantages and constraints of the tools and strategies available for reducing the annual incidence of tuberculosis (TB) by implementing the World Health Organization (WHO) End TB Strategy and the linked WHO TB Elimination Framework, with special reference to Oman.

Methods: The case-study was built based on the presentations and discussions at an international workshop on TB elimination in low incidence countries organized by the Ministry of Health, Oman, which took place from September 5 to September 7, 2019, and supported by the WHO and European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ESCMID).

Results: Existing tools were reviewed, including the screening of migrants for latent TB infection (LTBI) with interferon-gamma release assays, clinical examination for active pulmonary TB (APTB) including chest X-rays, organization of laboratory services, and the existing centres for mandatory health examination of pre-arrival or arriving migrants, including examination for APTB.

Tuberculosis Notification Completeness and Timeliness in the Republic of Korea During 2012-2014.

Objectives: Completeness and timeliness are key attributes of accurate disease surveillance. This study aimed to evaluate the completeness and timeliness of tuberculosis (TB) notification in the Republic of Korea, by comparing notification data from the Korean National Tuberculosis Surveillance System and reimbursement data from the National Health Insurance.

Methods: We evaluated reimbursement data from 103,075 cases (2012-2014) and surveillance data from 215,055 cases (2011-2015); cases were matched using Resident Registration Numbers.

Management of latent Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection: WHO guidelines for low tuberculosis burden countries.

Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) is characterised by the presence of immune responses to previously acquired Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection without clinical evidence of active tuberculosis (TB). Here we report evidence-based guidelines from the World Health Organization for a public health approach to the management of LTBI in high risk individuals in countries with high or middle upper income and TB incidence of <100 per 100 000 per year. The guidelines strongly recommend systematic testing and treatment of LTBI in people living with HIV, adult and child contacts of pulmonary TB cases, patients initiating anti-tumour necrosis factor treatment, patients receiving dialysis, patients preparing for organ or haematological transplantation, and patients with silicosis.

2009-2010 novel influenza A (H1N1) vaccination coverage in the Republic of Korea.

This study aimed to assess vaccination coverage for novel influenza A (H1N1) in Korea using a immunization registry system as the data source. Vaccination coverage was found to be 26.1% for the total population and 54.

Outbreak of measles in the Republic of Korea, 2007: importance of nosocomial transmission.

Background: From 2002 through 2006, Republic of Korea conducted extensive measles elimination activities and declared elimination in 2006. An outbreak of measles involving 180 confirmed cases occurred during 2007.

Methods: An outbreak investigation was performed and enhanced surveillance was implemented.

Immunization decision-making in the Republic of Korea: the structure and functioning of the Korea Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices.

The Korea Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (KACIP), established by law in the early 1990s, makes recommendations on a range of issues related to the National Immunization Program. The Committee consists of 15 members and always includes the two government officials who belong to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Korea Food and Drug Administration. Other members usually come from affiliated organizations and serve for 2-year terms.

The comparative evaluation of expanded national immunization policies in Korea using an analytic hierarchy process.

The purpose of this paper is to propose new evaluation criteria and an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model to assess the expanded national immunization programs (ENIPs) and to evaluate two alternative health care policies. One of the alternative policies is that private clinics and hospitals would offer free vaccination services to children and the other of them is that public health centers would offer these free vaccination services. Our model to evaluate the ENIPs was developed using brainstorming, Delphi techniques, and the AHP model.

Measurement characteristics of anal cytology, histopathology, and high-resolution anoscopic visual impression in an anal dysplasia screening program.

Background: The study aims were (1) to estimate agreement between consecutive anal cytologic examinations, between concurrent cytologic examination and histopathology, and between high-resolution anoscopy (HRA) visual impression and histopathology and (2) to estimate the prevalence of severe dysplasia by concurrent cytologic category.

Methods: Prospective study of HIV-infected patients receiving anal dysplasia screening as part of routine care. Agreement between measures was estimated by weighted kappa-statistics.

Sero-epidemiology of measles and mumps in Korea: impact of the catch-up campaign on measles immunity.

A catch-up campaign targeting children aged 8-16 years using measles-rubella (MR) vaccine was conducted during 2001 in Korea. To evaluate the impact of the campaign and assess mumps immunity, human IgG antibodies were detected using ELISA for measles (5826 samples) and mumps (5890 samples) in a national sample of opportunistically collected sera from a population aged 0-34 years. The measles immunity increased by 5-10% following the catch-up campaign in the targeted age group.