Publications by authors named "Yeong Jun Song"
Article Synopsis
- A study in Korea from 2011 to 2019 analyzed syphilis seasonality by sex and age group, a topic not previously researched.
- The study found the highest rates of primary and secondary syphilis among individuals aged 20 to 29 and 13 to 19, while congenital syphilis was most prevalent across all age groups.
- Seasonality analysis revealed that secondary syphilis peaked in summer for males, indicating a need for targeted public health interventions to address rising syphilis rates.
Results of contact tracing for SARS-CoV-2 Omicron sub-lineages (BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75) and the household secondary attack risk.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
June 2023
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed the contact tracing outcomes of three Omicron sub-lineages (BA.4, BA.5, BA.2.75) in South Korea to gather essential data for future variant responses.
- A total of 79 BA.4, 396 BA.5, and 152 BA.2.75 cases were investigated, revealing varying instances within specific timeframes, with only one severe case reported for BA.5 and none for the others.
- The secondary attack risk among household contacts was found to be similar across the sub-lineages, indicating no significant differences in transmissibility or severity, prompting continued monitoring and improvements in disease control efforts.
The effectiveness of Paxlovid treatment in long-term care facilities in South Korea during the outbreak of the Omicron variant of SARS-CoV-2.
Osong Public Health Res Perspect
December 2022
Article Synopsis
- Pfizer's Paxlovid was found to significantly reduce hospitalization and death risks for patients with COVID-19 as announced on November 5, 2021.
- In a study involving over 2,200 individuals in South Korea during the Omicron outbreak, Paxlovid was associated with a 51% lower rate of severe illness or death compared to those who did not receive the treatment.
- Fully vaccinated individuals (three doses) had even better outcomes, with a 71% reduction in severe illness or death, and a 65% lower death rate compared to unvaccinated patients.
Article Synopsis
- Manganese dioxide (MnO) nanoparticles are effective T contrast agents for MRI, as they reduce toxicity and enhance cancer detection accuracy.
- The study introduces histidine-modified hyaluronic acid (HA-His) to quickly produce stable HA-His/MnO nanoparticles with good water-dispersibility.
- These nanoparticles are responsive to the tumor microenvironment and show specific accumulation in tumor tissues, making them promising for MRI tumor imaging.
Facile Fabrication of Oxygen-Releasing Tannylated Calcium Peroxide Nanoparticles.
Materials (Basel)
September 2020
Article Synopsis
- This study introduces a new method for creating calcium peroxide (CaO) nanoparticles using tannic acid (TA) to connect calcium ions.
- The nanoparticles, called tannylated-CaO (TA/CaO), were synthesized by mixing calcium chloride with hydrogen peroxide in an ethanol solution with varying amounts of TA.
- The nanoparticles were sized between 25-31 nm, with the 10 mg TA variant showing the best efficiency for generating oxygen, especially in acidic conditions.
Article Synopsis
- The study analyzed health inequalities related to socioeconomic status (SES) among 17,292 participants in South Korea, focusing on 12 health problems from the KNHANES data.
- Results showed that socioeconomic disparities were prevalent in non-communicable diseases, particularly affecting women, and in mental health issues affecting both genders, indicating a strong link between SES and health outcomes.
- The findings suggest that mental health should be prioritized for intervention due to significant SES-related disparities, while other health issues like injuries and HBV infection showed minimal associations with socioeconomic factors.
The Epidemiological Influence of Climatic Factors on Shigellosis Incidence Rates in Korea.
Int J Environ Res Public Health
October 2018
Article Synopsis
- The study examines the impact of temperature and precipitation on shigellosis cases in Korea from 2002 to 2010, focusing on the unique winter seasonality pattern of the disease's incidence.
- Results indicate an overall incidence rate of 7.9 cases per million people, with older adults (65+) experiencing higher rates during the winter months.
- The research predicts that for each 1 °C rise in temperature and a 1 mm increase in precipitation, shigellosis incidence may rise by approximately 13.6% and 2.9%, respectively, highlighting the need for public health measures to address disease increases tied to climate change.
Article Synopsis
- - A serologic study investigated the rate of asymptomatic MERS coronavirus infection among healthcare and non-healthcare workers, focusing on individuals exposed to MERS patients during the 2015 outbreak.
- - Out of 1,610 contacts tested, only 7 were found ELISA-positive, leading to an overall asymptomatic infection rate of 0.060%, with just one case confirmed through additional testing.
- - The confirmed asymptomatic case involved a hospitalized individual with pre-existing health conditions and highlights the importance of expanding serologic studies to include asymptomatic hospital contacts.
Mental health status of people isolated due to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome.
Epidemiol Health
February 2017
Article Synopsis
- The study investigated the impact of isolation during the MERS epidemic on mental health, focusing on anxiety and anger symptoms both during isolation and four to six months after.
- Out of 1,692 isolated individuals, 7.6% reported anxiety and 16.6% reported anger during isolation, while lower percentages (3.0% for anxiety and 6.4% for anger) were observed months later.
- Key risk factors for ongoing anxiety and anger included prior MERS symptoms, inadequate supplies during isolation, lack of social interactions, history of psychiatric issues, and financial difficulties; highlighting the importance of mental health support and resource provision post-isolation.
We previously observed 80.7% seropositivity and a significant interaction between gender and hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccine type (Havrix vs. Epaxal) on the seropositivity approximately 11 months after single-dose HAV vaccinations in Korean young adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFArticle Synopsis
- * Overall, HCV infection rates among adults rose from 0.14% to 0.18% during the period, with the highest rates found in Busan, Jeonnam, and Gyeongnam, particularly noted in specific towns like Jindo and Namhae.
- * Findings indicate regional disparities in HCV prevalence, suggesting the need for targeted prevention strategies and enhanced surveillance in high-risk areas to curb future infections.
Background/aims: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Busan, Gyeongnam, and Jeonnam Provinces in Korea is more than twice the national average. This study aimed to examine whether demographic and lifestyle characteristics are associated with HCV infection in these areas.
Methods: A case control study was performed at three study hospitals.
Objectives: The symptoms of fungal infections vary from minor to severe. According to recent reports, fungal infection prevalence is increasing due to increases in the aging population and in patients with compromised immune systems. However, the total prevalence of fungal infections in South Korea is unknown.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFPurpose: Assessing the immunogenicity of a single dose of hepatitis A virus (HAV) vaccines is important because some people receive only a single dose. However, previous studies have shown variable results and have not examined the effects of demographic characteristics other than gender. This study was performed to examine the immunogenicity of a single dose of HAV vaccine according to the vaccine type and demographic characteristics in young adults.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFSpontaneous Oscillatory Rhythm in Retinal Activities of Two Retinal Degeneration (rd1 and rd10) Mice.
Korean J Physiol Pharmacol
December 2011
Article Synopsis
- * The study recorded RGC spikes and local field potential (LFP) in rd10 mice using an 8×8 microelectrode array, revealing a ~5 Hz phase-locking between bursting RGC spikes and OFP that is less consistent than in rd1 mice.
- * The differences in phase-locking frequencies between rd1 and rd10 retinas suggest that their responses to electrical stimulation will vary, indicating the need to define criteria for effective stimulation of rd10 ganglion cells.
Comparison of basal oscillatory rhythm of retinal activities in rd1 and rd10 mice.
Annu Int Conf IEEE Eng Med Biol Soc
June 2012
Article Synopsis
- * Using an 8 × 8 multi-electrode array, researchers recorded electrical signals from the retinas of both mouse models at various ages to analyze the differences in RGC spikes and slow wave components (SWC).
- * Findings indicate that while rd1 mice show no significant statistical differences in oscillatory rhythms over time, rd10 mice exhibit notable differences between the frequencies of RGC spikes and SWC as they age, suggesting different neural coding strategies in these models.