• Journal of Life Science
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.275-279
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• 2004

Gene polymorphisms of cytokines and their receptors are attractive candidates as genetic factors in the pathogenesis of immune-mediated diseases and have been reported to be associated with disease susceptibility to autoimmune, inflammatory and infectious diseases. IL-29 is one of important candidate genes for complex trait of genetic diseases but there is no published survey of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in this gene. In this study, for the first time, we have examined the full genomic sequence of IL-29 including the promoter regions to identify SNPs. We examined the frequencies of genotypes and alleles at the SNP site of IL-29 in allergic rhinitis patients and non-allergic rhinitis controls using the direct sequencing method to determine whether this IL-29 SNP is associated with allergic rhinitis in Korean population. We identified one novel SNP (1184C＞A) in the intron 2 and one novel variation site (-1842_-1841dupGA) in the promoter region of human IL-29 gene. The P values of SNP or variation site were not significant between the healthy controls and allergic rhinitis patients. Our results suggest that the 1184C＞A polymorphism and -1842_-1841dupGA variation site in human IL-29 gene were not associated to allergic rhinitis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.83-90
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• 2010

Purpose : Although the incidence of polymicrobial bloodstream infection (PBSI) has increased, only a few studies have so far focused on children. Therefore, in an effort to prevent more serious situations in pediatric patients, we analyzed the clinical features, organisms, and laboratory results of PBSI. Methods : We performed a retrospective review of the case records of 97 patients with polymicrobial bloodstream infection in the Severance hospital, from 2001 to 2008. Using t-test and chi-square test, we analyzed the underlying medical conditions, clinical characteristics, organisms, and laboratory results of those patients. Results : Annual incidence of polymicrobial bloodstream infection increased from 1.4 % in 2001 to 10.9% in 2008 in pediatric patients. Immunocompromised hemato-oncological malignancy was found in 31 (31.9%) patients, and was the most common underlying medical condition; cardiovascular disease was found in 15 patients (15.4%), neurologic disease in 10 patients (10.3%), and so on. Gram positive organisms were recovered in 143 cases and gram negative organisms were recovered in 101 cases of PBSI. Staphylococcus epidermidis was the most common organism. Factors affecting mortality included underlying medical disease, immune status, nosocomial infection, and central catheter-related infection, for which the rate of mortality showed a greater increase (P<0.05). Conclusion : Due to the close connection between PBSI and fatal conditions or high mortality, it requires more aggressive management. Compared with previous studies, we discovered that immunocompromised hemato-oncological malignancy was the most common underlying medical condition and that frequency of gram-positive bacteria and fungus isolated has increased.

• Journal of Hospice and Palliative Care
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.4-13
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• 2001

Purpose : Since the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) was first recognized in the United States in the summer of 1981, the number of these patients has been increasing in the world. But do not find out a cure and a vaccine for ARS (5). And so, the best treatment for AIDS is the prevention. People can find out accurate knowledge about AIDS, and they can prevent themselves from AIDS approximately 100%. In this study, we investigate with AIDS knowledge and attitudes in unmarried young men (<24 age) and suggest accurate preventive education for AIDS and good sexual behaviors. Methods : Un-married young soldiers and college students who were not diagnosed as AIDS until June 30, 2000 were included in the study. The study included a total of 923 men. A self evaluation questionnaire, included questions on 36 items(the part of demographic data - 9; the part of knowledge - 20; the part of attitudes - 8), was drawn up by three physicians. The demographic data, AIDS knowledge and attitudes were analyzed by chi-square analysis, and the total score of AIDS knowledge - comparison according to demographic factors and attitudewere analyzed by one-way ANOVA test. Results : In demographic characteristics, as for the first recognized time of AIDS, most of men knew it when they were in their middle school, as for sources of information on AIDS, most of them knew it through the TV-media, and as for the educational need about AIDS, most of them agreed with it. In AIDS knowledge, mean scores were $14.0{\pm}1.8$ (70.3%). Items of the misconceptions concerning AIDS, reported as less than 50% correct answers, were 6 among 20 items (30%). In AIDS attitudes, as for the item about that if I will be an AIDS patient, I will have an AIDS treatment, it showed that the number of men agreed with 759 (82.2%), and as for the item about that I will help for AIDS patient even though I don't know him, it showed that the number of them agreed with 412 (45.8%). In correlation of AIDS knowledge and demographic factors, the mean scores of knowledge of men with higher than college degree were higher than them of others. The mean scores of knowledge of men with total income of family with more than US$1667 were higher than them of others. The mean scores of knowledge of men with sources of information on AIDS through the TV-media were higher than them of others. And the mean scores of knowledge of men with past medical history of STD(sexually transmitted disease) were higher than them of others. Conclusions : The higher the knowledge he has, the lower the possibility of risk and the more positive the attitude he has. And then we think that the education program for AIDS will be included as a regular part of the curriculum in high school, and young men must be effectively educated by it.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.323-327
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• 2008

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a multisystem disorder where the etiology is not clearly known. Symptomatic chronic interstitial pneumonitis is an uncommon manifestation, with a reported prevalence of 3~13%. Achalasia is rare disease that presents with failure in the relaxation of the esophagus sphincter. A 22-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever, cough and dyspnea. The patient had a history of pericardial effusion and Raynaud's phenomenon. The results of laboratory tests indicated the presence of lymphopenia and included positive antibody tests for antinuclear antibody and anti Sm antibody. A chest X-ray demonstrated the presence of peribronchial infiltration on both lung fields. A Chest CT image showed interlobar septal thickening, ground-glass opacity and a honeycomb appearance in both lung fields and esophageal dilatation with air fluid level. An esophagogram showed the presence of dilated esophagus ends that represented the non-relaxed lower esophageal sphincter. Manometry demonstrated incomplete sphincter relaxation. The case was diagnosed as systemic lupus erythematosus associated with interstitial pneumonia and achalasia.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.22 no.1 s.25
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• pp.65-70
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• 1989

To examine the association between serum HBeAg status and tuberculosis infection, we reviewed medical records of 579 inpatients who had serum HBeAg test with RIA method at the Department of Nuclear Medicine of Kyungpook University Hospital from January 1, 1985 to December 31, 1987. HBeAg positive patients had lower tuberculosis infection rate(5.0%) than that of HBeAg negative patients(9.8%) and the odds ratio of HBeAg associated with tuberculosis was 0.48(95% C.I.:0.22-1.08). Similar relationship was found in the patients of hepatobiliary diseases; tuberculosis infection rate was 4.4% in HBeAg positive patients, 8.1% in HBeAg negative patients, and the odds ratio was 0.52(95% C.I.:0.17-1.35). Although the association did not reach the statistical significance level of 0.05, the negative association was consistent with other study done on Southeast Asian population of Philadelphia. A cohort study in general population is warranted to confirm above findings because of the limitations on hopital-based data.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.42-46
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• 2014

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis that can affect many organ systems. Renal manifestations include pyuria, hematuria, proteinuria, tubulointerstitial nephritis, acute renal failure, hemolytic uremic syndrome, or renal scarring. Although its precise pathogenesis remains unknown, it is considered an autoimmune disease. In the literature, it has been reported that KD may develop in conjunction with urinary tract infections. However, many of these previous studies did not use imaging methods such as renal sonograms, dimercaptosuccinic acid renal scans, and voiding urethrocystograms. We report a case of an 8-month old male infant with high grade vesicoureteral reflux, who developed incomplete KD after recurrent pyelonephritis. Acute pyelonephritis can be an early manifestation of KD. Such cases require the evaluation of urinary tract anomalies according to the guidelines for the management of urinary tract infections.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.83 no.3
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• pp.737-743
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• 2022

Aspergillus tracheobronchitis, an uncommon form of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis, is characterized by the development of a pseudomembrane, ulcers, or an obstruction that is predominantly confined to the tracheobronchial tree. Pseudomembranous Aspergillus tracheobronchitis is the most severe form of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis, and only a few cases have been reported in Korea. We report the characteristic chest CT findings in a patient diagnosed with pseudomembranous Aspergillus tracheobronchitis after bronchoscopy and successfully treated by proper antifungal treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.61 no.3
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• pp.239-247
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• 2006

Background: Culture filtrate proteins secreted by mycobacteria are thought to play an important role in inducing protective immunity and to develop new methods for diagnosing tuberculosis. Methods: A culture filtrate protein of M. avium that was strongly reactive with goat antiserum against M. intracellulare was constructed. Its homologous protein (TB-14) in M. tuberculosis was cloned, expressed and purified. The inductions of IFN-${\gamma}$ stimulated with $10{\mu}g$ of TB-14 recombinant protein and $10{\mu}g$ PPD were estimated by using whole bloods from seven PPD (-) subjects, seven PPD (+) healthy volunteers and nine tuberculosis patients. Results: M. avium culture filtrate protein was confirmed as a hypothetical protein that was termed contig 116. A novel 14-kDa recombinant protein (TB-14) of M. tuberculosis was composed of 148 amino acids, including 30 amino acids of the signal peptide, and it showed 78% homology with M. avium. In the PPD (+) healthy volunteers, recombinant TB-14 protein strongly induced the secretion of IFN-${\gamma}$ in whole blood cultures. Conclusion: These results suggest that TB-14 recombinant protein might play an important role in inducing cell-mediated immunity against tuberculosis. Furthermore, TB-14 protein antigen and its antiserum will be available for the development of new diagnostic tools for tuberculosis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.602-609
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• 1993

Lymphocytic interstitial pneumonitis (LIP) is one of parenchymal pulmonary infiltrative diseases first described at 1966 by Carrington and Liebow. In LIP, there is a predominance of mature small lymphocytes in the interstitium of the lung which form germinal centers. The disease process surrounds, but dose not invade lung parenchyme, tracheobronchial tree and vascular structures. The etiology remains still unknown and the clinical features of this disorder have not been clearly defined. Therefore, the therapeutic modality is obscure. Development of LIP association with AIDS is often reported currently and possibility of progress to malignant lymphoma is emphasized. We experienced a case of primary LIP with pnemomediastinum. She was adimitted due to chest and anterior nuchal pain with chronic coughing, and diagnosed as pneumomediastinum with LIP. Medication with steroid was begun and some improvement of symptoms was observed, but an X-ray film of the chest remained same without improvement. We report above case with review of the literatures.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.39 no.1
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• pp.18-26
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• 2022

The present study aimed to evaluate the effect of Eucommia ulmoides extracts on rheumatoid arthritis biomarker in a CIA-induced DBA/1 mice. For evaluation, Eucommia ulmoides extracts was administered orally at dose of 100 mg/kg/day for 4 weeks after production of an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis and we confirmed the treatments' effects based on serum biomarker, radiological, structural parameter analysis. Compared to the negative control group, the Eucommia ulmoides extracts treatments significantly reduced the serum level of inflammation and immunoglobulin markers (i.e., TNF-α, IgG, and hs-CRP), and significantly decreased the monocyte count of white blood cells. Furthermore, the Eucommia ulmoides extracts treatments effectively preserved the joint destruction, and little the joint deformation. Moreover, compared to the negative control group, the Eucommia ulmoides extracts treatments increased the bone volume, and significantly decreased bone inflammation. The results indicate that the Eucommia ulmoides extracts improved rhrumatoid arthritis symptoms. Thus, the Eucommia ulmoides extracts may be a novel therapeutic option for the management of rheumatoid arthritis.