OBJECTIVETo compare fatalities and injuries in road traffic crashes (RTC) in Iran with other countries.

METHODSData were obtained from national health sources of Iran. These data included population number, registered motor-vehicles number, number of RTCs and consequent fatalities and injuries from 1997 to 2006.

RESULTSRTC fatality and injury rates increased from 1997 to 2005, but decreased in 2006. The overall men/women ratio in the RTC fatalities was 4.2:1. High RTC fatality rate of 39 per 100 000 population in Iran was almost the same as some other developing countries. In Iran, RTC fatalities in recent years were almost twice as much as the highest rate among the European countries.

CONCLUSIONSThis investigation shows that in spite of reduction of RTC fatality in Iran in 2006, it is still one of the highest in the world. Moreover, this paper describes the state of RTC-related parameters in a developing country in comparison with the developed countries.

Accidents, Traffic ; statistics & numerical data ; Developed Countries ; Developing Countries ; Female ; Humans ; Iran ; epidemiology ; Male ; Wounds and Injuries ; epidemiology ; mortality

OBJECTIVES: We reviewed applications of big data analysis of healthcare and social services in developed countries, and subsequently devised a framework for such an analysis in Korea. METHODS: We reviewed the status of implementing big data analysis of health care and social services in developed countries, and strategies used by the Ministry of Health and Welfare of Korea (Government 3.0). We formulated a conceptual framework of big data in the healthcare and social service sectors at the national level. As a specific case, we designed a process and method of social big data analysis on suicide buzz. RESULTS: Developed countries (e.g., the United States, the UK, Singapore, Australia, and even OECD and EU) are emphasizing the potential of big data, and using it as a tool to solve their long-standing problems. Big data strategies for the healthcare and social service sectors were formulated based on an ICT-based policy of current government and the strategic goals of the Ministry of Health and Welfare. We suggest a framework of big data analysis in the healthcare and welfare service sectors separately and assigned them tentative names: 'health risk analysis center' and 'integrated social welfare service network'. A framework of social big data analysis is presented by applying it to the prevention and proactive detection of suicide in Korea. CONCLUSIONS: There are some concerns with the utilization of big data in the healthcare and social welfare sectors. Thus, research on these issues must be conducted so that sophisticated and practical solutions can be reached.
Australia ; Delivery of Health Care* ; Developed Countries ; Korea ; Public Health Surveillance ; Singapore ; Social Welfare ; Social Work ; Statistics as Topic* ; Suicide ; United States

Cesarean Section ; statistics & numerical data ; trends ; Developed Countries ; Female ; Humans ; Obstetrics ; methods ; trends ; Physician's Role ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications ; diagnosis ; therapy

OBJECTIVES: This study aimed to examine the association between public social expenditure (PSE) and suicides in the 27 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) from 1980 to 2003. METHODS: The age-standardized suicide rates and their annual change (%) were obtained from the OECD Health Data 2007. As a measure of social protection, the PSE (% GDP) was used. The covariates included the annual divorce rate (/100,000 population), fertility rate (number of children/woman aged 15 to 49 years), GDP per capita (US$PPP), male unemployment rate (%), life expectancy (years) and alcohol consumption (liter/capita) for each country, which were all obtained from the OECD Health Data 2007 and the OECD Social Indicators 2006. Using hierarchical linear models that included these covariates, the effects of PSE on suicides (Model 1) and the annual percent change (Model 2) were examined (Model 3). Also, sub-sample analyses were done for six countries that experienced political/economic transition. RESULTS: We could not find significant effects of PSE on suicides (Model 1), but we observed significantly negative effects on the annual percent change for men and women (Model 2). Such findings were replicated in the sub-sample analysis, and moreover, the effect size was much larger (Model 3). CONCLUSIONS: Our finding suggests that social welfare protection can be a pivotal factor for suicide epidemiology, and especially in countries experiencing a social crisis or transition.
Developed Countries/*statistics & numerical data ; Health Expenditures/*statistics & numerical data ; Health Status ; Humans ; *Public Policy ; Social Welfare ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Suicide/prevention & control/*statistics & numerical data

There has been a growing concern about obesity worldwide. We performed a review on the prevalence and trends of obesity among adults and children. We reviewed the data on the prevalence of adult obesity and being overweight from the Global Database on Body Mass Index on the World Health Organisation (WHO) Website and prevalence of children being overweight from the International Obesity Task Force website. Various databases were also searched for relevant reviews and these include PubMed, EMBASE, NHS CRD databases and Cochrane. The prevalence of obesity is high in many parts of the world. Generally, there is an increasing trend of prevalence of adult obesity with age. The peak prevalence is reached at around 50 to 60 years old in most developed countries and earlier at around 40 to 50 years old in many developing countries. Obesity is a major health concern. Appropriate strategies need to be adopted to tackle obesity which itself brings about significant disability and premature deaths. Further observation may be needed to see if the trend of prevalence abates or increases in the near future.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Developed Countries ; statistics & numerical data ; Developing Countries ; statistics & numerical data ; Disease Outbreaks ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Obesity ; epidemiology ; Prevalence ; Rural Population ; Urban Population ; Young Adult

OBJECTIVES: OCT(Point-of-Care Test), often translated as "Bedside laboratory", is a testing method used in most developed countries to conduct medical research. It is known to extract rapid results that can be applied in the intensive care unit. This study was conducted to investigate the correlation of the i-STAT(TM) POCT analyzer with the traditional test in the neonatal intensive care units. METHODS: 60 babies(birth weight > or =1.0kg) who were admitted to neonatal intensive care unit from June, 2000 to June, 2001 at Asan Medical Center requiring blood samples for the testing of arterial blood gas analysis(ABGA), electrolytes, hemoglobin(Hb), hematocrit(Hct), were included in the study. Blood samples were taken simultaneously to be tested by the traditional laboratory method and by i-STAT(TM) (i-STAT Co. USA) POCT analyzer. The data used for comparison analyzation included pH, pCO2, pO2, HCO3, Na, K, Hb, and Hct. RESULTS: 245 measurements of ABGA and 195 measurements of Na, K, Hb, Hct from 60 babies were used for comparison. Good correlation of data was found between i-STAT(TM) POCT analyzer and traditional laboratory method obtained from the central laboratory(correlation coefficient: pH 0.954, pCO2 0.944, pO2 0.941, HCO3 0.880, Na 0.713, K 0.860, Hb 0.864, Hct 0.880). CONCLUSION: This study showed that i-STAT(TM) POCT analyzer provided accurate analytic results when compared with traditional laboratory method used in the neonatal intensive care units.
Chungcheongnam-do ; Developed Countries ; Electrolytes ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Infant, Newborn ; Intensive Care Units ; Intensive Care Units, Neonatal* ; Intensive Care, Neonatal* ; Statistics as Topic

OBJECTIVES: Different factors are responsible for the silent epidemic of diabetes mellitus in developing and developed countries. This study aimed to determine the role of demographic factors, lipid profile, family history (the estimation of genetic association) and anthropometric factors on diabetes onset. METHODS: Data from the enrolment phase of the Tabari Cohort study was applied for this study and included 10,255 participants aged between 35–70 years. Anthropometric variables were measured by trained staff using standard tools. Blood specimens were collected for lipid profile and blood glucose measurements. Data analyses were performed using SPSS version 24, with univariate and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus was estimated to be 17.2% in the cohort population, 15.6% in men, and 18.3% in women. The adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for age groups 40–49, 50–59 and over 60 were 2.58 (2.20–3.69), 5.80 (4.51–7.48) and 8.72 (6.67–11.39), respectively. In addition, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for 2 (or more), and 1 affected family member were 4.12 (3.55–4.90) and 2.34 (2.07–2.65), respectively. Triglyceride concentrations more than 500, and abnormal high-density lipoprotein levels increased the odds of diabetes mellitus by 3.29- and 1.18-fold, respectively. CONCLUSION: The current study showed that old age and a family history were strong predictors for diabetes mellitus.
Blood Glucose ; Body Mass Index ; Cohort Studies ; Demography ; Developed Countries ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Female ; Humans ; Lipoproteins ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Statistics as Topic ; Triglycerides

Asthma, a chronic inflammatory disorder of the airway, has features of both heritability as well as environmental influences which can be introduced in utero exposures and modified through aging, and the features may attribute to epigenetic regulation. Epigenetic regulation explains the association between early prenatal maternal smoking and later asthma-related outcomes. Epigenetic marks (DNA methylation, modifications of histone tails or noncoding RNAs) work with other components of the cellular regulatory machinery to control the levels of expressed genes, and several allergy- and asthma-related genes have been found to be susceptible to epigenetic regulation, including genes important to T-effector pathways (IFN-γ, interleukin [IL] 4, IL-13, IL-17) and T-regulatory pathways (FoxP3). Therefore, the mechanism by which epigenetic regulation contributes to allergic diseases is a critical issue. In the past most published experimental work, with few exceptions, has only comprised small observational studies and models in cell systems and animals. However, very recently exciting and elegant experimental studies and novel translational research works were published with new and advanced technologies investigating epigenetic mark on a genomic scale and comprehensive approaches to data analysis. Interestingly, a potential link between exposure to environmental pollutants and the occurrence of allergic diseases is revealed recently, particular in developed and industrialized countries, and endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) as environmental hormone may play a key role. This review addresses the important question of how EDCs (nonylphenol, 4 octylphenol, and phthalates) influences on asthma-related gene expression via epigenetic regulation in immune cells, and how anti-asthmatic agents prohibit expression of inflammatory genes via epigenetic modification. The discovery and validation of epigenetic biomarkers linking exposure to allergic diseases might lead to better epigenotyping of risk, prognosis, treatment prediction, and development of novel therapies.
Acetylation ; Aging ; Animals ; Anti-Asthmatic Agents ; Asthma ; Biomarkers ; Developed Countries ; Endocrine Disruptors ; Environmental Pollutants ; Epigenomics ; Gene Expression ; Histones ; Hypersensitivity ; Interleukin-13 ; Interleukins ; Methylation ; Prognosis ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Statistics as Topic ; Tail ; Translational Medical Research

Poliomyelitis was first described in medical literature in 1789 by Underwood, an English physician. In 1909, Landsteiner and Popper confirmed the etiology of the poliomyelitis from a virus. Thereafter with clinical application of Salk and Sabin vaccinations, and marked improvements in control of poliomyelitis, the incidence of this disease has markedly decreased in developed nations. In Korea, Miyoshi was the first to report an epidemic of poliomyelitis in Dae Goo in 1939. Statistical analysis is presented of 752 cases of the late effects of the poliomyelitis who were admitted to Orthopedic Department of the Severance Hospital during the ten year period from Jan. 1961 to Dec. 1971. Results of this study are as follows: 1. The incidence in males was greater than in females (males 59.3%, females 40.7%). 2. 95.3% of the 752 cases were found to occur under the age of four years, and highest peak by age occurred between 12 and 24 months (38.7%) 3. The peak duration of deformities was from 3 years to 5 years (29.1%) 4. Difference between the incidences of the city and of the rural areas was not determined. There was no difference between the age distribution of the onset in Seoul, in the medium-sized cities and in rural areas. 5. Paralytic poliomyelitis was observed even in vaccinated children 2.5% of total cases after one injection of Salk vaccine, 1.6% after two injections of Salk vaccine, and 1.3% after three injections of Salk vaccine, and 0.2% followed a combination of Salk and Sabin vaccination. 6. Deformity of the upper extremity was only 1.2% of that of the total body. But deformity of the lower extremity was 93.9% of the total. There was no difference between the deformities in both sides. In deformities of the lower extremities, deformities of the foot were most common (29.3% of the total), those of the knee 21.3%, those of the hip 10.9%, those of the toes 8.6% and those of the legs were 8.0% Deformities of the spines were 4.4% and those of the pelvis were 0.5%. In individual deformities, discrepancy in leg length was most common (15.8% of the total), equinovalgus 7.9%, external tibial torsion 7.7%, claw toe 6.8%, equnovarus 6.2%, knock knee 5.6% and combination of flexion, abduction and external rotation of the hip was 5.4%. 7. The locations of the paralyses were found to be 90.7% in the lower extremities, 7.6% in the upper extremities, 1.5% in the trunk and 0.2% in the neck. In involvement of the upper extremities, the most frequent were in the Triceps brachii (0.5% of involvements of the total body muscles), Deltoideus (0.5%) & Biceps brachii (0.4%). In the involvement of the lower extremity, Tibialis anterior was found to be the most frequent (6.1% of invelvements of the total body muscles), Iliopsoas 6.1%, Quadriceps 6.1% and Tibialis posterior was 6.0%. Generally, the muscles of the upper extremity were more frequently affected in mild involvement than in severe involvement except that the Opponens pollicis was slightly more frequently affected in severe involvement than in mild involvement. However the muscles of the lower extremities were slightly more frequently affected in severe involvement than in mild involvement. Especially the Tibialis anterior, Quadriceps, Tibialis posterior, and hip adductors were more frequently affected in severe involvement than in mild involvement. Generally in the muscles of the upper and lower extremities, the proximal muscles were involved more frequently than that of the distal. There was no difference between the frequencies of the invelvements of right and left sides. 8. Taking associated paralysis into account it was shown that certain muscles that receive nerve supply from the same segment were paralysis or weakened together. Tibialis anterior and Tibialis posterior, Quadriceps and hip adductors, Quadriceps and hip flexors were the most numerous combinations of the associated paralysis. 9. Looking at spinal segment innervation in relation to miId affection of muscles, the highest incidence was found in the first lumbar segment. In segment incidence of severe paralysis the highest incidence was found in the second and third lumbar segments.
Age Distribution ; Child ; Congenital Abnormalities ; Daegu ; Developed Countries ; Female ; Foot ; Genu Valgum ; Hammer Toe Syndrome ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Knee ; Korea ; Leg ; Lower Extremity ; Male ; Muscles ; Neck ; Orthopedics ; Paralysis ; Pelvis ; Poliomyelitis ; Poliovirus Vaccine, Inactivated ; Seoul ; Spine ; Statistics as Topic ; Toes ; Upper Extremity ; Vaccination