익산시와 서울시 여고생의 식습관 및 영양 섭취 상태에 관한 연구

김인숙,이윤희,김희주 한국조리과학회 2005 한국식품조리과학회지 Vol.21 No.2

This study was carried out to investigate the dietary behaviors and nutrient intake of high school girls in Iksan and Seoul cities. The subjects consisted of 122 students in Iksan city, and 136 students in Seoul city. The proportion of subjects who eat meals irregularly was higher in Iksan (98.4%) than in Seoul (80.9%). The proportion of subjects who skip meals was also higher in Iksan (61.5%) than in Seoul (56.6%), and most of them (69.7%) skipped breakfast, even though they thought that it was the most important meal (86.4%). The subjects vended to overeat at lunch (41.9%) and dinner (55.4%). The main reasons that the subjects skipped a meal were a lack of time (50.7%) and poor appetites (23.7%).Most of the subjects (57.4%) had tried to control their body weight by taking drugs (40.5%), doing exercise (34.5%), and controlling their diet (25%). The average intake of nutrients and energy was significantly higher (P<0.05, P<0.01) in Iksan than in Seoul. The intake was below the RDA recommendations except for phosphorus in Iksan, but was above it except for calcium, iron, and vitamin B2,in Seoul. The indexes of nutritional quality (INQ) of calcium (0.5), iron (0.6), vitamin A (0.8), vitamin B2 (0.7), niacin (0.9), and vitamin C (0.9) were under 1.0 but those of protein (1.0), phosphorus (1.2) and thiamin (1.0) were over 1,0. The INQ of the other nutrients, except protein and vitamin C,was significantly higher in Seoul than in Iksan.

돈지, 들깨유 및 달맞이꽃 종자유의 혼합급이가 흰쥐의 간장, 뇌 및 고환의 지질 성분에 미치는 영향

김성희,김한수,서인숙,정효숙,정승용 慶尙大學校 1992 論文集 Vol.31 No.2

돈지 및 들깨유와 달맞이꽃 종자유등 2종 식물 종자유와의 혼합급이가 흰쥐의 체내 조직의 지질 성분에 미치는 영향을 구명하기 위해 S·D계 숫쥐에게 돈지 2.55및 들깨유와 달맞이꽃 종자유의 혼합비율을 달리하여 4주간 급이 사육한 후 간장,뇌 및 고환의 지질 성분을 분석 검토한 결과는 다음과 같다. 간장의 총콜레스테롤 함량은 D군이 대조군에 비해 유의적으로 낮았으며, 인지질 함량은 각 군간의 유의적인 차이가 없었고, 중성지질 함량은 B및 C군이 대조군에 비해 현저하게 낮았다. 콜레스테롤 급이군의 간장 총콜레스테롤 함량은 대조군에 비해 c,d및 e군이 유의적으로 낮았고, 인지질 및 중성지질의 함량은 b군이 낮게 나타났다. 뇌의 총콜레스테롤 함량은 대조군에 비해 B및 C군이 유의적으로 낮았으며, 인지질 및 중성지질의 함량은 대조군에 비해 전 군이 유의적으로 낮데 나타났다. 콜레스테롤 급이군에 있어 뇌의 총콜레스테롤 함량은 각 군간의 유의적인 차이가 없었고, 인지질 함량은 c군이 중성지질 함량은 e군이 대조군에 비해 낮게 나타났다. 고환의 총콜레스테롤 및 인지질 함량은 각 군간의 유의적인 차이가 없었으나, 중성지질 함량은 대조군에 비해 전 군이 유의적으로 낮았다. 콜레스테롤 급이군은 콜레스테롤 무급이군과 거의 유사한 경향을 나타내었다. In order to observe the effects of the feeds mixed with the lard and two vegetable seed oils, which mixed with 2.5% lard and various level of perilla oil and evening primrose oil were administered to the male rats of Sprague Dawley for 4 weeks on lipid components of liver, brain and testes. In livers , total cholesterol contents were remarkably lower in the D group(2.5% lard+2.5% perilla oil+5.0% evening primrose oil,free cholesterol) than in the control group , and phospholipid contents were not significant difference in each groups. Triglyceride contents were remarkably lower in the B(2.5% lard+7.5% perilla oil+5.0% ,free cholesterol) and C(2.5% lard+5.0% perilla oil+2.5% evening primrose oil,free cholesterol) group than in the control group. In the supplemented cholesterol groups, total cholesterol contents were significantly lower in c(C group+cholesterol diet), d(D group+cholesterol diet) and e(2.5% lard+7.5% evening primrose oil,free cholesterol) group, phhspholipid and triglyceride contents were lower in the b group(B group+cholesterol diet) than in the control groups than in the control group, phospholipid and triglyceride contents in brain were considerably lower in the other groups than in the control group. In the supplemented cholesterol groups, total cholesterol contents were not significant difference in each groups. Phospholipid and triglyceride contents were conspicuously lower in the c and e groups. respectively. In testes, total cholesterol and phospholipid contents were not significant difference in the groups, but triglyceride contents were lower in the all groups except for control group The contents of total cholesterlo, phospholipid and triglyceride were similar between the supplimented cholesterol groups and the nonsupplemented cholesterol groups.

한국인 알코올 의존 환자에서 알코올 대사 효소 유전자형 빈도의 남녀 차이

김성곤,김철민,이덕기,황인복,이현숙,김성연,전은숙,송영상,박제민,최병무,김명정 大韓神經精神醫學會 2005 신경정신의학 Vol.44 No.2

Objectives : There are a number of preceding epidemiological studies reporting gender differences in the genetic etiology of alcohol dependence. The author investigated gender difference in the frequencies of ADH2 and ALDH2 genoypes between the patients with alcohol dependence and normal control. Methods : The subjects were 141 alcohol dependent patients (104 males, 37 females) and 138 normal control (79 males, 59 females). The frequencies of 1/1 and 1/2+2/2 (2+ afterward) genotypes for ADH2 and ALDH2 were investigated in male and female between alcohol dependence and normal control group. DNA was extracted from WBC in peripheral venous blood and PCR-RFLP method was used out for genotyping. Results : First, the frequency of ADH2 1/1 genotype was significantly higher in alcohol dependent patients than normal control in both genders. Second, while there was no gender difference in the frequency of ADH2 1/1 genotype in normal controls, in the patient group however, the frequency was significantly higher in females than males. Third, in male subjects with alcohol dependence, the frequency of ALDH2 1/1 genotype was significantly higher than in male normal control subjects. On the other hand, in female subjects with alcohol dependence, the frequency of ALDH2 2+ genotype was significantly higher than in female normal control subjects. Conclusion : These results suggest that while the risk of alcohol dependence is predominantly affected by ALDH2 1/1 geno-type in male, the female ADH2 1/1 genotype is mainly associated with the risk of alcohol dependence. This means that there are gender differences in the genetic etiology of alcohol dependence.

2009년 인플루엔자 대유행 중 인플루엔자 진료소 방문자의 연령 분포 변화

김백남,곽이경,문치숙,김연숙,김의석,배인규,염준섭,이창섭,허지안 대한감염학회 2010 감염과 화학요법 Vol.42 No.2

The pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) virus, after being introduced in Korea in April, 2009, spread rapidly nationwide in mid-2009. This study was conducted to characterize trend in age distribution of visitors to Flu-clinics during the pandemic. Demographic, clinical and laboratory data of visitors to flu clinic from Week 36 to 52 (August 30 to December 26) of 2009 were retrieved and collected from electronic databases at 9 hospitals. Visitors 0-6, 7-12, 13-18, 19-29, 30-64, and 65 years or more of age were classified into group I to VI, respectively. A total of 107,467 visitors were seen at Flu-clinics for a 17-week study period. Of those, 32,485 were laboratory-confirmed. Antivirals were prescribed for 62,533 visitors. Numbers of visits, prescriptions of antivirals, and laboratory-confirmed cases of the pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) peaked at Week 44. A large number of visits by group II and III were followed by those of group I and V, especially around the peak. Numbers of visits by group VI were lowest in all hospitals. In some hospitals, higher number of visits lasted longer in children than in adults while vice versa in other hospitals depending on the location. In summary, the pandemic influenza (H1N1 2009) was presumed to peak in late October and involved majorly children and students in Korea. Unique age distribution of visitors to flu clinic was observed in some hospitals.

Adult invasive pneumococcal disease in the Republic of Korea: Risk medical conditions and mortality stratified by age group

Kim, Jong Hun,Baik, Seung Hee,Chun, Byung Chul,Song, Joon Young,Bae, In-Gyu,Kim, Hyo Youl,Kim, Dong-Min,Choi, Young Hwa,Choi, Won Suk,Jo, Yu Mi,Kwon, Hyun Hee,Jeong, Hye Won,Kim, Yeon-Sook,Kim, Jeong Elsevier 2018 INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF INFECTIOUS DISEASES Vol.74 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P><B>Objectives</B></P> <P>This study aimed to characterize the risk factors for mortality in adult patients with invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) stratified by age groups, after implementation of the national immunization program of 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) for those aged ≥65 years in the Republic of Korea (ROK).</P> <P><B>Methods</B></P> <P>Clinical data and pneumococcal isolates from adult patients with IPD (≥18 years of age) were collected prospectively from 20 hospitals through the nationwide surveillance program from March 2013 to October 2015.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>A total of 319 patients with IPD were enrolled. Median age was 69 years. Overall in-hospital mortality was 34.2%: 17.1% in those aged 18–49 years, 23.7% in those aged 50–64 years, 33.0% in those aged 65–74 years, and 51.0% in those aged ≥75 years (<I>p<</I> 0.001). In particular, early death within 7days of hospitalization accounted for 60.6% (66/109). While old age (≥65 years), higher Pitt bacteremia score (≥4), and bacteremic pneumonia were independently associated with IPD mortality in all age groups, an additional mortality risk factor of immunocompromised status was identified for patients aged 50–64 years. PPSV23 serotypes accounted for 64.4% (122/189) of the pneumococcal isolates serotyped.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>This study suggests that vaccine-type IPD continues to place a substantial burden on older adults in the ROK, necessitating an effective vaccination strategy for those at higher risk.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> National immunization of the elderly with the 23-valent polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) was implemented in Korea in 2013. </LI> <LI> Overall in-hospital mortality was 34.2% for adult invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and 51.0% for patients ≥75 years of age. </LI> <LI> Mortality risks were older age, higher bacteremia score, and immunocompromised status. </LI> <LI> An effective vaccination strategy for those at higher risk of IPD is needed. </LI> </UL> </P>

Surgical technique for single-port laparoscopy in huge ovarian tumors: SW Kim`s technique and comparison to laparotomy

( Jeong Sook Kim ),( In Ok Lee ),( Kyung Jin Eoh ),( Young Shin Chung ),( Inha Lee ),( Jung-yun Lee ),( Eun Ji Nam ),( Sunghoon Kim ),( Young Tae Kim ),( Sang Wun Kim ) 대한산부인과학회 2017 Obstetrics & Gynecology Science Vol.60 No.2

Objective This study aimed to introduce a method to remove huge ovarian tumors (≥15 cm) intact with single-port laparoscopic surgery (SPLS) using SW Kim`s technique and to compare the surgical outcomes with those of laparotomy. Methods Medical records were retrospectively reviewed for patients who underwent either SPLS (n=21) with SW Kim`s technique using a specially designed 30×30-cm2-sized 3XL LapBag or laparotomy (n=22) for a huge ovarian tumor from December 2008 to May 2016. Perioperative surgical outcomes were compared. Results In 19/21 (90.5%) patients, SPLS was successfully performed without any tumor spillage or conversion to multi-port laparoscopy or laparotomy. There was no significant difference in patient characteristics, including tumor diameter and total operation time, between both groups. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter for the SPLS group than for the laparotomy group (median, 2 [1 to 5] vs. 4 [3 to 17] days; P<0.001). The number of postoperative general diet build-up days was also significantly shorter for the SPLS group (median, 1 [1 to 4] vs. 3 [2 to 16] days; P<0.001). Immediate post-operative pain score was lower in the SPLS group (median, 2.0 [0 to 8] vs. 4.0 [0 to 8]; P=0.045). Patient-controlled anesthesia was used less in the SPLS group (61.9% vs. 100%). Conclusion SPLS was successful in removing most large ovarian tumors without rupture and showed quicker recovery and less immediate post-operative pain in comparison to laparotomy. SPLS using SW Kim`s technique could be a feasible solution to removing huge ovarian tumors.

디자인 대학원 작품논문 표절방지를 위한 교육 체계 및 콘텐츠 개발

김지인(Kim, Ji In),박혜신(Park, Hye Sin),서인숙(Seo, Ihn Sook) 한국디지털디자인협의회 2015 디지털디자인학연구 Vol.15 No.3

연구윤리에 대한 인식이 높아지면서 연구윤리 교육이 확산추세에 있다. 그러나 현재의 연구윤리 교육은 단발성 특강형의 교육 중심으로 실행되고 있으며, 학과 특성에 적합한 교육 체계가 미비하다는 점에서 한계를 가지고 있다. 이에 본 연구는 디자인 석사학위 과정에 있는 학생의 논문 지도에 있어 표절을 미연에 방지할 수 있는 연구윤리 교육체계를 구축하되 특히 예술계에서만 존재하는 작품논문이라는 형식에 적합한 교육체계를 구축하기 위한 목적으로 이루어졌다. 연구는 디자인학부 석사학위 과정학생 10명을 대상으로 총 17개월 걸친 참여관찰을 통해 이루어졌으며 연구윤리 교육 콘텐츠의 제작, 교육 및 자료수집, 교육 결과의 피드백 및 기존 콘텐츠의 수정보완, 수정 보완 된 콘텐츠를 적용한 연구 시행, 결과 분석 총 5단계에 걸쳐 단계적으로 이루어졌다. 각각의 단계에서는 교육을 통한 콘텐츠 활용도 검증, 심층면접을 통한 연구 결과의 학계검증, 연구윤리 교육 참여자들의 논문 작성 및 표절률 검사라는 객관적 검증 장치를 두었다. 연구 과정에서 학술연구윤리 교육 콘텐츠, 디자인 연구윤리 교육 콘텐츠 두 종류의 교육 콘텐츠가 개발되었으며 논문리스트 작성노트, 디자인 연구노트, 인용연습노트 총 3개의 활용 콘텐츠가 개발되었다. 결과적으로 연구주제의 구체화 과정에서 논문리스트 작성노트를 활용한 논문 주제 독창성 검증, 논문 텍스트 작성 과정에서 인용노트 활용을 통한 인용 관련 표절여부 검증 및 디자인 연구노트 활용을 통한 작품 표절여부 검증, 최종적으로 카피검사 시스템 활용을 통한 정량적 표절률 검사의 3단계에 걸친 작품논문의 표절 예방 검증 교육체계가 구축되었다. With the growing awareness of research ethics, the education for it is being disseminated. However, it is having a limitation given that the current education of research ethics is centered on special lectures in short-term period, and department-specific educational system is lack. In respect of teaching students about thesis in graduate school, this study aims to establish an educational system to prevent plagiarism in advance, matching the environment where there is thesis portfolio for graduation only in art school. The research has been conducted with ten graduate school students in design department for 17 months in total through participatory observation, and is consisted of five stages: making educational contents of research ethics, collecting data, giving feedback of the education and evaluating or revising existing contents, conducting a research after applying the correction, and analyzing the result. We put objective verification tools at each stage such as verification of contents utilization through education, academic verification of the research result through in-depth interview, and inspection of thesis portfolio production and plagiarism rate by educational participants in research ethics. In the process of the research, educational contents of academic research and design research ethics were developed and three kinds of utilization contents, thesis list-writing note, design research note, and reference note, were made. As a result, it has become to set up three phases of plagiarism prevention measures: verifying creativity of thesis subject by utilizing thesis list-writing note in the embodiment process, verifying plagiarism relating to reference and artwork by utilizing reference note and design research note in the process of making thesis artwork, and verifying quantitatively through copy inspection system.

폐렴구균의 용혈능 변화와 pneumolysin 유전자의 변이 양상

오원섭,장현하,정숙인,김연숙,이혁,김신우,김성민,백경란,이남용,송재훈 대한화학요법학회 2002 대한화학요법학회지 Vol.20 No.3

목적 : 폐렴구균은 인체에서 폐렴, 수막염 및 패혈증 등을 일으키는 중요한 병원균으로 현재 전 세계적으로 항균제 내성이 큰 문제가 되고 있다. 하지만 폐렴구균의 항균제 내성에 따라 병독성이 어떻게 변화하는지에 대해서는 구체적으로 알려져 있지 않다. 이에 기능적 및 구조적 분석을 통하여 폐렴구균의 주요 병독성 인자인 pneumolysin의 병인론적 역할을 규명하고자 하였다. 방법 : 임상 검체에서 분리된 페니실링 감수성 균주 20주와 내성 균주 20주를 대상으로 하였다. Pneumolysin의 세포 독성의 변화를 관찰하기 위하여 각각의 균주들의 용혈능을 측정하였고, pneumolysin 유전자를 중합효소 연쇄반응으로 증폭한 후 증폭 산물의 유전자 구조를 분석하였다. 결과 : 페니실린 감수성 균주와 내성 균주간의 용혈능은 유의한 차이를 보이지 않았으나, 일부 용혈능이 매우 낮은 균주에서 Lys152→Thr, Thr-172→Ile, Lys-224→Arg와 같은 변이가 관찰되었다. 결론: pneumolysin의 세포 독성의 변화는 항균제 내성 정도와는 무관하였으나, 일부 용혈능이 저하된 균주에서 발견된 pneumolysin 유전자의 변이가 pneumolysin의 세포 독성에 영향을 주는 것으로 보인다. Background : Pnumolysin (Ply) is one of the most important virulence factors of Streptococcus pneumoniae. To investigate the functional and structural variation of Ply, hemolytic activity (HA) and gene sequences of pneumolvsin were determined. Methods : A total of 40 invasive pneumococcal isolated (20 penicillin-susceptible & 20-resistant strains) were analyzed. HA of each isolate was measured in crude extracts (1×10^8 CFU/mL) hourly from the time of inoculation to 9h. Crude extracts (50㎕) and DTT buffer (100㎕) were serially diluted in 96-well plate and mixed with 1% sheep blood (50㎕). HA was represented as the reciprocal of the greatest dilution, which resulted in the complete lysis. Two sets of oligonucleotide primers were used to amplify a 1,474-bp fragment containing the coding region and a 578-bp fragment of upstream region of ply gene, respectively. Amplified products were directly sequenced. Results : HA showed a wide variation from 0 to 87,480 regardiess of penicillin MICs, serotypes or specimen sources. Two bacteremic strains showed completely no hemolytic activity. No significant differences in HA between penicillin-susceptible (Mean± SE : 15,468± 4,693) and penicillin-resistant strains (21,384± 4,087) were found (p > 0.05).Sequencing of the coding region showed unique alterations in amino acids in strains with markedly reduced hemolytic activity (≤ 40): Thr-172-Ile and Lys-224-Arg. However, upstream region of ply gene was highly conserved. Conclusions : Ply activity was not related with antibiotic resistance. Absence of HA in some strains was associated with unique alterations in amino acid sequences in ply gene. Relationnship between genomic alteration and functional changes in pneumolysin should be further investigated.

2003년 국내 중증급성호흡기증후군 진료 현황 및 문제점 분석

이진수,김은실,정문현,백제중,정선화,안주희,최영화,이선희,고철우,김성범,김민자,박승철,기현균,송재훈,최상호,김양수,이상오,조용균,박영훈,정숙인,김연숙,이흥범,손창희,장성희,정희진,김우주 대한감염학회 2004 감염과 화학요법 Vol.36 No.3

목적 : 2002년 말 중국에서 SARS가 발생한 이후 국내에서도 2003년 10월까지 총 3명의 추정환자, 17명의 의심환자가 보고되었다. 향후 추가적인 SARS의 유행이 우려되는 상황에서, 그간의 SARS 환자 진료에 있어서의 실질적인 준비사항, 진료 현황 등에 대한 조사를 통해 문제점을 파악하여, 향후 더 나은 대비가 될 수 있도록 개선점을 제시하고자 하였다. 재료 및 방법 : SARS로 의심되는 환자를 진료 경험이 있는 병원의료진을 대상으로 2003년 10월에 설문조사를 실시하였다. 설문에는 SARS 환자 진료 시의 실질적인 조치, 진료 현황, 병실, 응급실 및 외래에서의 격리 시설과 준비사항, 보건당국의 관리와 지원에 관한 사항을 포함하였다. 결과 : 대상이 되는 22개 병원 중 17개(17/22, 77.2%) 병원이 설문에 응하였다. SARS 환자를 위한 격리실은 응급실, 외래, 일반병실 및 중환자실에서 각각 9개(9/17, 52.9%), 5개(5/17, 29.4%), 15개(15/16, 93.7%), 4개(4/16, 25%) 병원에서 음압처리가 되어있지 않은 일인실 혹은 다인실이 사용되었고, 1개(1/16, 6.3%) 병원에서만 일반병실에서 음압격리실이 운영되었다. 입원환자의 진찰 시 개인보호구의 착용은 거의 모든 의료기관에서 이루어졌다. 보건당국에서 SARS지정병원의 시설 등을 사전에 확인한 곳은 1곳(1/12, 8.3%)이였고, 14개 병원(14/15, 93.3%)에서는 보건당국에 의뢰한 검사결과를 통하 받지 못하였다. 결론 : 의료기관에서 SARS 환자용 격리실뿐만 아니라 기존의 격리실 설비 등이 미흡하였으며, 특히 중환자실 및 외래의 준비가 더욱 부족하였다. 보건당국의 의료기관에 대한 종합적인 지원이 부족하였고, 병원과의 원활한 연계가 잘 이루어지지 않았다. SARS 만이 아닌 격리를 필요로 하는 질환의 적절한 진료를 위해 향후 병원 시설의 정비와 정부차원에서의 보다 구체적이고 실질적인 대책마련이 필요하다. Background : There was an worldwide outbreak of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) originated from China in late 2002. During that period three cases of suspected SARS and 17 cases of probable SARS were reported in Korea. With the concerns about the reemergence of SARS-coV transmission, it is important to be prepared for any possibility. So, this study is aimed to analysis the past measures in managing SARS and propose the amendatory plans to improve the preparedness. Materials & Methods : Questionnaires were collected among clinicians with any experience in managing the probable or suspected SARS cases in Oct. 2003. 17 out of 22 hospitals responded to the questionnaire. The contents in the questionnaire were practical activities, personal equipments, response plans, isolation facilities in emergency centers, outpatient clinics, general wards and intensive care units, and relationship with the public health department. Results : The dedicated isolation rooms in emergency centers, outpatient clinics, general wards, and intensive care units were prepared in 9 (9/17, 52.9%), 5 (5/17, 29.4%), 15 (15/16, 93.7%), and 4 (4/16, 25.0%) hospitals, respectively. Except for one hospital that newly made negative pressure room for SARS, single or multi-bed rooms without airborne infection control were used in all the other hospitals. The personal precaution principles were kept quite well in general wards. Before the designation of SARS hospital by the public health department prior evalution to see if the hospital was suitable for managing SARS was conducted in only 1 (1/12, 8.3%) hospital. The results of laboratory diagnosis were reported back in 1 (1/15, 6.6%) hospital. Conclusions : The isolation facilities which can control airborne infection were almost deficient not only for SARS but also for other respiratory transmissible diseases. For the infection control of transmissible diseases including SARS, more investment is needed on medical facilities and comprehensive support from the public health department required.

Original Article : Geographic difference of epidemiological features of HCV infection in Korea

( Kyung Ah Kim ),( Sook Hyang Jeong ),( Eun Sun Jang ),( Young Seok Kim3 ),( Youn Jae Lee ),( Eun Uk Jung ),( In Hee Kim ),( Sung Bum Cho ),( Mee Kyung Kee ),( Chun Kang ) 대한간학회 2014 Clinical and Molecular Hepatology(대한간학회지) Vol.20 No.4

Background/Aims: The prevalence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection in Korea exhibits significant geographic variation, with it being higher in Busan and Jeonam than in other areas. The reason for this intranational geographic difference was investigated in this study by conducting a comparative analysis of the risk factors related to HCV infection among three geographic areas: the capital (Seoul), Busan, and the province of Jeolla. Methods: In total, 990 patients with chronic HCV infection were prospectively enrolled at 5 university hospitals located in Seoul (n=374), Busan (n=264), and Jeolla (n=352). A standardized questionnaire survey on the risk factors for HCV infection was administered to these three groups of patients, and a comparative analysis of the findings was performed. Results: The analysis revealed significant regional differences in exposure to the risk factors of HCV infection. By comparison with patients in Seoul as a control group in the multivariate analysis, patients in Busan had significantly more experience of invasive medical procedures, acupuncture, cosmetic procedures, and multiple sex partners. In contrast, patients in Jeolla were significantly older, and they had a higher prevalence of hepatocellular carcinoma, a lower prevalence of multiple sex partners, and had experienced fewer invasive procedures. Conclusions: There was a significant geographic difference in the exposure to potential risk factors of HCV infection between patients from the three studied regions. This may explain the regional variation of the prevalence of HCV infection in Korea, and should be taken into account when planning strategies for the prevention and management of HCV infection. (Clin Mol Hepatol 2014;20:361-367)