• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.63 no.6
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• pp.515-520
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• 2007

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (M. pneumoniae) is the leading cause of pneumonia in older children and young adults. Normally, it does not progress to a condition requiring hospitalization but improves spontaneously or has a mild clinical course. We report two cases of M. pneumoniae pneumonia with different clinical manifestations from the normal course. The patients were young healthy individuals. The diagnoses were made by serology. However, it could not be determined beforehand that they had M. pneumoniae pneumonia. Based on the empirical treatment strategy of severe community acquired pneumonia, the patients were treated with broad-spectrum antibiotics including cephalosporin, quinolone and macrolide. After administering the antibiotics, they showed a gradually favorable clinical course and recovered without residual complications. A M. pneumoniae infection should be considered as a cause of severe community acquired pneumonia, and empirical treatment targeting this organism might be helpful in treating patients with the severe manifestation.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.3
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• pp.199-204
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• 2009

Background: To examine the recovery rate of nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) from respiratory specimens and the clinical course of NTM pulmonary disease at a 700-bed secondary hospital. Methods: This study analyzed the results of 843 acid-fast bacilli (AFB) culture-positive respiratory specimens from 650 subjects collected between May 2003 and April 2008. In addition, the clinical course of NTM pulmonary disease, diagnosed using criteria established by the American Thoracic Society, was examined. Results: There were 67 (7.9%) NTM isolates recovered from 52 (8.0%) subjects. Among the 535 AFB smear-positive specimens, 34 (6.3%) NTM isolates were recovered. There were 33 (10.7%) NTM isolates were recovered from 308 AFB smear-negative specimens. Of 52 subjects with isolated NTM, M. intracellulare was the most common species at 73.1% (n=33), followed by M. kansassi (n=7), M. abscessus (n=2), M. fortuitum (n=2), and M. avium (n=1). Sixteen (30.8%) patients had NTM pulmonary disease and the most common causative organism was M. intracellulare (n=14, 87.5%). Of these, 6 cases attained negative conversion in culture, 4 cases failed to attain negative conversion because of poor cooperation or expiration from complicated underlying lung disease, and 5 cases were transferred to a higher-grade hospital. Conclusion: The recovery rate of NTM from respiratory specimens was relatively low and the most common species was M. intracellulare. Patients with NTM pulmonary disease showed variable clinical outcomes.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.212-219
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• 2006

The purpose of this study was to develop a assay system of host cell-derived residual proteins in final pharmaceutical products. Accurate and simple assay system for host cell-derived proteins(HCPs) is very important test item in pharmaceutical qualification control. In this study, methods for quantification of residual HCPs in recombinant anti-GPIIbIIIa antibody were developed using a process-specific immunoligand assay which was based on the Enzyme linked Immunosorbent assay(ELISA) system. The assay had a detection limit of 10.8 ng/ml of HCPs with a product concentration of 1 mg/ml. The practical implication of these results is that the developed ELISA system can be used for HCPs qualification control and this system will be applicable to develop another ELISA system of different antibody drug.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.115-128
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• 1986

Hyperthermia can enhance the radiation effect as a synergistic reaction in combined X-ray irradiation and hyperthermia; hyperthermia sensitize radioresistant S-phase cells and inhibit cellular recovery from sublethal damage. We fabricated 100 watts, 2450 MHz microwave applicator for hyperthermia and planned the method and condition of heating and measured the temperature by using Agar phantom as a preliminary test. For biological examination, 102 rats were divided into 4 groups as hyperthermia, X-ray irradiation (6Gy-15Gy), combined X-ray and hyperthermia, and normal control groups. Microscopic examination of the rectum and bladder was done and the results were as followings: 1. The microwave generator with 100 watts, 2450MHz magnetron could be heating up to $40^{\circ}{\sim}50^{\circ}C$ for one hour in living tissue. 2. The thermal distribution in tissue equivalent phantom with microwave can be maintained at $40^{\circ}{\sim}44^{\circ}C$ in area of 3cm in depth and 2-10cm in diameter. 3. In Hyperthermia alone group, there was submucosal edema of the rectum but no histologic change in the urinary bladder was seen. 4. The minimal necrosis of the mucosa was appeared in the rectum and bladder after 15 days of 6 Gy and 8 Gy irradiation respectively. The minimal necrosis of the muscle layer of rectum and bladder was appeared after 15 days of 8Gy and 60days of 10Gy irradiation respectively. 5. In combined group of radiation and hyperthermia, thermal enhancement ratio (calculated at necrosis of mucosa and muscle layer) of rectum and bladder was 1.0, and it suggest that there is no change of tolerance dose of normal rectum and bladder.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between cytokine and chemokine levels and the clinical severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters were performed. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, interferon-${\gamma}$-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory $protein-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ were measured. The severity of patients' clinical course and radiologic findings were also assessed. Results: Seventy-two patients (35 males and 37 females) with a median age of 3.9 years (range, 1-16 years) were enrolled. Patients with lobar pneumonia (n=29) had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and IL-18 values than those with broncho-interstitial pneumonia (n=43). However, the cytokine and chemokine values did not differ between the group that was treated with corticosteroids (n=31) and the one that was not (n=41). The CRP, ESR, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-18, and IP-10 values showed positive correlations with fever duration prior to admission. The CRP and ESR values were positively correlated with IL-18, and LDH, with IP-10 levels. Conclusions: CRP, ESR, LDH, IL-18, and IP-10 values were associated with the severity of the disease, manifesting lobar pneumonia or prolonged fever duration prior to admission.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.177-184
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• 2019

Mycobacteria grow slowly. Therefore, a solid medium should be used for eight weeks and a liquid medium for six weeks. The purpose of this study was to find the growth factors that can grow Mycobacterium rapidly and to help develop a solid medium for rapid identification. Three types of Mycobacterium growth factors were evaluated with 10 Mycobacteria by adding activated charcoal, defibrinated sheep blood, and L-ascorbic acid to $Difco^{TM}$ Mycobacteria 7H11 agar (Becton, Dickinson and Company, Sparks, MD, USA). The time to detection and the distinguishability of a colony were compared with that of the current method. In the rapidly growing Mycobacterium, the difference in detection time between the new media and conventional media confirmed that the new media was faster. M. kansasii and M. intracelluare grew faster in 7H11 C than in 7H11 medium. MTB grew faster than the other media in 7H11 C. This study confirmed that the two growth factors affect fast-growing Mycobacteria and slow-growing Mycobacteria. 7H11 C showed better distinguishability than the conventional media in all 10 Mycobacterium due to the color contrast. In particular, when the MTB was grown, the size of the colonies was larger than with other media, so visualization was easy.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.311-319
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• 2004

Background : It has been well known that bronchiectasis (BE) is a predisposing condition for pulmonary NTM infection, whereas there are some suggestions that BE, especially nodular BE, may be a result of NTM pulmonary infection. This retrospective study was done to investigate the prevalence of NTM pulmonary infection in the patients with BE. Methods : Eight hundred sixty-six patients, who underwent chest CT and sputum AFB examination and had BE detected by chest CT at Asan Medical Center in 2002, were included in this study. They were divided into Group I (bilateral BE, especially in RML, lingular or both lower lobes; 134), Group II (BE accompanied with fibrocavitary lesions commonly found in tuberculosis, usually both upper lobes; 233) and Group III (except Group I, II; 499) according to the radiological findings. Group I was subdivided into Group I+ (62) or Group I- (72) according to the presence or absence of centrilobular nodules, respectively. The sputum AFB examination, clinical and radiological findings were analyzed and compared between groups. Results : The number of patients who had at least one positive NTM culture was significantly higher in Group I+ compared with others (p<0.05); 24.2% in Group I+, 6.9% in Group I-, 9.9% in Group II, 6.0% in Group III and 4.1% in control. The number of patients who had true NTM infection defined by ATS guideline was higher in Group I+ (5, 8.1%) compared with others (p<0.05). In all groups, M. avium-intracellulare comlex was the most common isolates. Conclusion : Even though true NTM pulmonary disease was more prevalent in the patients with nodular BE, especially located in RML, left linguar, or both lower lobes, only a small population of the patients with nodular BE met the ATS diagnostic criteria for NTM pulmonary disease. The other patients in nodular BE group may have subclinical stage of NTM infection or completely different diseases from NTM infection. Long-term clinical studies are needed to clarify this issue.

• Journal of Embryo Transfer
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.133-145
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• 2004

Serum-contain is commoly used for the production of in vitro-derived bovine embryos. However, were biological activity of serum varies from lot to lot, time consuming to choose better serum with good quality and risks of virus, bacteria and mycoplasma infection. This study established serum-free culture systems of in vitro embryo development to efficiently obtain a large number of blastocysts from ovaries of Hanwoo and oocytes maturation, cell number, tlerance of cryopreservation. Secondly, serum-contain medium is suspected of contributing to the large calf size, dystocia, cersarean sections, calf mortality and confirmed these blastocysts are high quality in terms of cyotolerance, high rates of pregancy and normal birth. For these reasons, Culture media (IVMD101 and IVD101) designed specifically for the preimplantation bovine embryo are rather simplistic, being based on salt solutions with additional energy substrates and growth factors. An improved serum-free medium (IVMD101) was developed for bovine oocytes maturation in vitro. Proportions of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage cultured in both IVD101(32.4%) and IVD101(34.5%) serum-free media were higher than in TCM199+10% FBS(12.4%) serumcontaining medium. Futhermore, the cell numbers per blastosyst obtained in the serum-free media were superior to those of blastocysts developed in serum-supplemented medium. Also, cell numbers of blastocysts obtained in the serum-free media were similar with blastocysts derived in vivo. Survival rate blastocysts after 24 hr incubation after thawing, the blastocysts cultured in both IVD101(94.5%) and IVD101(95.8%) serum-free media were higher than in TCM199+10% FBS (52.5%) serum-containing medium. After 72 hr incubation after thawing, hatching rates of blastocysts developed in IVD101(78.4%) and IVMD101(83.7%) were sighnificantly higher than that developed in the serum-supplemented medium(32.0%). The pregnancy rates almost not different between fresh blastocysts(38.2%) and frozen blastocysts(34.9%). The results suggested that the improved serum-free media(IVMD101 and IVD101) offer several advantages over culture in serum-cotaining medium, including increased rates of blastocyst formation and high cel numbers. Additionally, the survival and hatching rates of embryos product in serum-free media after post-thaw culture were superior to those of embryos produced in the serum-containg medium and useful for the production of high quality bovine embryos for cryo-preservation. These improved serum-free media are beneficial not only for the study of the mechanisms of early embryogenesis but also for mass production of good quality embryos for embryo transfer, cloning and transgenesis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.27-35
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• 2002

Background : The paradoxical response refers to an enlargement of old lesions or unexpected new ones during apparently adequate antituberculous therapy. This response has been reported in cases of intracranial tuberculoma, tuberculous lymphadenopathy, tuberculous pleurisy and pulmonary tuberculosis. However, there are few reports on its frequency and clinical characteristics. Materials and Methods : This study enrolled 205 patients who were treated with first line antituberculous agents for more than 6 months. We retrospectively studied 155 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis and 57 patients with pleural tuberculosis (7 patients had both) from July 1998 to March 2000. The patients were divided into the paradoxical response group and the non-paradoxical group. The clinical characteristics of the paradoxical response group and the non-paradoxical group. The clinical characteristics of the paradoxical group were investigated. Statistical analysis was done with an independent sample T-test and Chi-squared test. Results : 29 of the 205 patients(14.1%) had paradoxical response. Among the 29 patients, there were 19 pulmonary tuberculosis, 8 tuberculous pleurisy(2 patients had both). Paradoxical response appeared 32 days (mean 35 days in pulmonary tuberculosis, mean 25 days in tuberculous pleurisy) after the beginning of chemotherapy. The duration to regress less than half of initial chest lesion was 114 days in pulmonary tuberculosis and 124 days in tuberculous pleurisy, respectively. Most common clinical manifestation of paradoxical response patients was coughing in both pulmonary tuberculosis and tuberculous pleurisy. Male sex, high blood WBC count and high level of pleural fluid LDH were related with paradoxical response. Conclusion : These findings suggest that presponse usually appears 1 month and disappears within 4 months after the beginning of anti-tuberculous chemotherapy. Paradoxical response was relatively correlated with male sex, high blood WBC count and high level of pleural fluid LDH.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.5-16
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• 2002

Background : Though mononuclear phagocytes serve as the final effectors in killing intracellular Mycobacterium tuberculosis, the bacilli readily survive in the intracellular environment of resting cells. The mechanisms through which cellular activation results in the intracellular killing is unclear. In this study, we sought to explore an in vitro model of a low-level infection of human mononuclear phagocytes with MAC and $H_{37}Ra$ and determine the extent of the lymphocyte dependent cytotoxicity of human monocytes and alveolar macrophages. Materials and Methods : The peripheral monocytes were prepared using the Ficoll gradient method from PPD positive healthy people and tuberculosis patients. The alveolar macrophages were prepared from PPD positive healthy people via a bronchoalveolar lavage. The human mononuclear phagocytes were infected at a low infection rate (bacilli:phagocyte 1:10) with MAC(Mycobacterium avium) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis $H_{37}Ra$. Non-adherent cells(lymphocyte) were added at a 10:1 ratio. After 1,4, and 7 days culture in $37^{\circ}C$, 5% CO2 incubator, the cells were harvested and inoculated in a 7H10/OADC agar plate for the CFU assay. The bacilli were calculated with the CFU/$1{\times}10^6$ of the cells and the cytotoxicity was expressed as the log killing ratio. Results : The intracellular killing of MAC and $H_{37}Ra$ within the monocyte was greater in patients with tuberculosis compared to the PPD positive controls (p<0.05). Intracellular killing of MAC and $H_{37}Ra$ within the alveolar macrophage appeared to be greater than that within the monocytes of the PPD positive controls. There was significant lymphocyte dependent inhibition of intracellular growth of the mycobacteria within the monocytes in both the controls and tuberculosis patients and within the macrophages in the controls(p<0.05). There was no specific difference in the virulence between the MAC and the $H_{37}Ra$. Conclusion : This study is an in vitro model of a low-level infection with MAC and $H_{37}Ra$ of human mononuclear phagocytes. The intracellular cytotoxicity of the mycobacteria within the phagocytic cells was significantly lymphocyte dependent. During the 7 days culture after the intracellular phagocytosis, the actual confinement of the mycobacteria was observed within the monocytes of tuberculosis patients and the alveolar macrophages of the controls as in the case of adding lymphocytes.