• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.8
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• pp.886-891
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• 2008

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is characterized by diverse symptoms including rheumatoid arthritis, scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, and dermatomyositis, associated with high titers of antibodies to extractable nuclear antigen (ENA), especially anti-ribonucleoprotein (anti-RNP) antibody. Since the first report of 25 cases with MCTD in adults, there have been only a few cases of MCTD reported in children. Here, we report a rare childhood case of MCTD in a 7-year-old girl presenting initially with Raynaud's phenomenon, swollen hands, and ulceration of the right index finger tip followed by alopecia and arthritis during follow-up.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.79-94
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• 2022

Due to the highly contagious nature and severity of the respiratory diseases caused by COVID-19, economical and accurate tests are required to better monitor and prevent the spread of this contagion. As the structural and molecular properties of SARS-CoV-2 were being revealed during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic, many manufacturers of COVID-19 diagnostic kits actively invested in the design, development, validation, verification, and implementation of diagnostic tests. Currently, diagnostic tests for SARS-CoV-2 are the most widely used and validated techniques for rapid antigen, and immuno-serological assays for specific IgG and IgM antibody tests and molecular diagnostic tests. Molecular diagnostic assays are the gold standard for direct detection of viral RNA in individuals suspected to be infected with SARS-CoV-2. Antibody-based serological tests are indirect tests applied to determine COVID-19 prevalence in the community and identify individuals who have obtained immunity. In the future, it is necessary to explore technical problems encountered in the early stages of global or regional outbreaks of pandemics and provide future directions for better diagnostic tests. This article evaluates the commercially available and FDA-approved molecular and immunological diagnostic assays and analyzes their performance characteristics.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.85-92
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• 1994

A seroepidemiologic observation of anti-Spirometrc erinacei plerocercoid (sparganum) antibody (IgG) in serum was made in normal adult and epileptic patients in Korea from february, 1987 to September, 1990. Sera were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for anti-sparganum antibody together with anti-Taenic soEiun metacestode, and anti-Parusonimus westermcni antibodies. Sera reacted positively to sparganum antigen only were considered. Positive rate for anti-sparganum antibody in 850 normal adults was 1.9% (standardized rate by provincial population was 1.7%). In 2,667 randomly selected patients of epilepsy at 28 local centers of the Changmi Club, positive rate was 2.5% (standardized rate: 2.3%). In both normal adult and patient groups, the higher antibody rates were observed in Kangwon and Chonnam Provinces. Positive rates were 10 times higher in male than in female in normal adults and 4.5 times in male epileptic patients. The rates were elevated especially with age over 30-year. odd ratio of the antibody was 1.32 which indicated an ambiguous etiologic factor for epilepsy.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.2 no.1
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• pp.50-59
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• 1998

Purpose : Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection has been involved in several forms of immune-related glomerulopathy but the pathogenic role of HBV infection is not clear. To evaluate the clinicopathological features of HBV-associated glomerulopathy, a clinicopathological analysis and immunohistochemical stain for HBs Ag and HBe Ag were done. Methods : Clinicopathological features of HBV-associated glomerulopathy were analyzed with renal biopsies in 28 HBsAg seropositive patients from April 1990 to February 1997 at Pusan Paik Hospital, and immunohistochemical evaluation for HBsAg and HBeAg was done in renal tissues. Light microscopic, immunofluorescent and electron microscopic examination and immunohistochemical staining for HBsAg (DAKO) and HBeAg (BIONIKE) of renal tissue were performed. Result ; 1. The age distribution was 6 to 73 years old, and eight were children and 20 were adults. Male : female ratio was 3:1. Nineteen (67.9%) and 21 (75.0%) of 28 cases showed hematuria and proteinuria, respectively at the time of biopsy. Sixteen (57.2%) of them had nephrotic syndrome. 2. Liver function test was performed in 11 patients and seven (63.6%) of them showed increased AST and ALT levels. Liver biopsy was done in three patients and revealed findings of chronic active hepatitis. 3. HBV-associated glomerulopathy was membranous glomerulonephritis (MGN) in 10 (35.7%), mesangiopathy in 8 (28.6%), membranoproliferative glomerulonephritis (MPGN) in 7 (25.0%) and minimal change disease in 3 (10.7%) out of 28 cases. 4. Ultrastructurally HBV-associated MGN showed conspicuous subepithelial deposits with intramembranous, mesangial and subendothelial deposits and proliferation of mesangial cells and matrix, which were suggestive of MPGN. In HBV-associated MPGN, intramembranous and subepithelial deposits were scattered. 5. Immunohistochemical staining revealed no expression for HBsAg, but positive reaction for HBeAg along capillary wall in 8 cases (28.6%), of which 3 cases were checked for serum HBeAg, all showed positivity. Conclusion : HBV-associated glomerulopathy showed a wide morphologic spectrum and overlapping ultrastructural features in MGN and MPGN, and the activity of hepatitis B virus may be related to the development of HBV-associated glomerulopathy but further studies are recommended to confirm this relationship.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the status of Scrub typhus, Leptospirosis and HFRS(hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) among farmers with febrile illness. Methods: We involved a total of 841 farmers who had febrile illness(508 and 333 village residents were, respectively, three and four district of Gyeongju city) selected during autumn of 2014 and 2015. Data were collected by survey questionnaires and blood sample examination. Results: Serum response rate for Scrub typhus and Leptospirosis was 1.5% each and 1.9% for HFRS. Serum response rate for Scrub typhus was significantly higher for tick-bite cases(38.5%), while Leptospirosis was significantly higher for those who were in fruit-planting work(23.1%). Similarly, serum response rate was significantly higher for HFRS who were working in venyl green house work(25.0%). Conclusions: Government authority should develop effective and efficient preventive strategies to create awareness of infectious diseases among farmers. Extending information, education and communication be reached to farmers that could change their perception and help early diagnosis and treatment and reduce the disease burden and its complication.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.52-60
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• 2005

Purpose : The aim of this study is to know seasonal distribution of group A streptococci obtained from one center using emm genotyping and T serotyping in Masan from 2003 through 2004. Methods : Among children who visited the Changwon Fatima Hospital at Masan, Korea from June 2003 through February 2004, 100 patients who had clinical findings of acute pharyngitis, scarlet fever, and cellulitis were confirmed as GAS by culture, and were enrolled in our study. All obtained GAS were sent to the WHO Collaborative Center for Reference and Research on Streptococci, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis for T serotyping and emm genotyping. We classified these results again according to seasonal and disease's entities. Results : 19 different T serotypes was typed. T4(27.5%), T1(17.6%), T6(13.7%), and T12(13.7%) serotypes were relatively common in summer, while T4(28.3%), T12(15.2%), and T12/B3264(8.7%) were common in winter. T4 and T12 were persistent all year around. Distribution of T serotypes in 89 patients with pharyngotonsillitis were T4(26.7%), T12(14.0%), T1(12.8%), and T6(11.6%) in order of frequency. 15 different emm genotypes was typed. The number of emm 1, emm 6, emm 9, and emm 44 genotypes decreased or disappeared in winter, and the number of emm 3, emm 12, and emm 89 genotypes increased or reappeared in winter. Conclusion : Because T serotyping and emm genotyping are useful tools for evaluating epidemiology and pathogenesis of group A streptococci, we should monitor these strains every year, and should serotype and genotype GAS obtained from the invasive streptococcal infections.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.14 no.9
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• pp.4320-4325
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• 2013

This study was investigated the correlation between thyroid fine needle aspiration biopsy and serological test's concentrations. I examined fifty patients who were diagnosed with thyroid cancer from June 2012 to December 2012 in Pathology of a certain university hospital. Healthy fifty people were selected as a control group. Thyroid function tests were used as variables. In conclusion, The thyroglobulin and autoantibody was showed positive correlations in cancer groups. also Thyroglobulin Ab was showed a little correlation. If we examine this study items, we will get help in early diagnosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.168-180
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• 1987

This study was performed to observe histopathological changes and serological reactions in chronic anisakiasis of rabbits. Each rabbit was infected per os with 30 larvae of Anisakis type I. Their sera were collected chronologically and the rabbits were killed for histopathological examination, 3, 13, 20, 30, 60, 90 and 150 days after the infection. The results were summarized as below. 1. Most of the larvae were recovered from the stomach, but a few from the omentum, intestine, mesentery and abdominal wall. The recovery rates and distribution of worms by organ were not differed by duration of infection. 2. Histologically the lesion was abscess type on 13 days, i.e., the dead worms were surrounded by fibrinous exudate, histiocytes and thick zone of numerous inflammatory cells. After 30 days, histiocytes were found to invade the worms and the lesion was changing into abscessgranulomatous type. Also a calcified worm was found on the 30th day. After then the worms were observed to be dissolved slowly until 90 days. On 150 day, only one calcified worm was observed. 3. The levels of serum IgG antibody by ELISA reached their maximum 30 days after the infection. After then, it decreased slowly until 150 days after the infection. Above serological and histopathological findings indicated that antigenic stimulation from degenerating Anisakis larvae was the greatest during the first 30 days after infection. This period was corresponding with the beginning of worm resolution or calcification. Serologic test by ELISA would be a valuable tool for confirming chronic anisakiasis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.79-89
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• 1998

Purpose: Though many antiviral or immunomodulatory agents have been used in patients with chronic HBV hepatitis, interferon is considered to be the only effective therapeutic agent so far. Among immunomodulatory agents, thymodulin, the oral form of thymosin, is currently in clinical trial. We compared the efficacy of alfa-interferon therapy alone with a combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin in children with chronic active hepatitis B. Method: Twenty three children aged 4.4~13.7 years who were known to be positive for HBsAg and HBeAg in serum for at least 6 months and who had biopsy-proven chronic active hepatitis were given either combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin or alfa-interferon alone, and all children were HBV DNA positive in their serum at the beginning. Follow-ups have been done for at least 1 year after a 6 month course of therapy and clearance of viral replication markers has been evaluated. Results: 1) During follow up period, 11 (48%) children were seroconverted to anti-HBe and were cleared of HBV DNA from their serum. However, 2 of them relapsed after discontinuance of interferon therapy. 2) Seroconversion occurred more frequently among those who had not been vertically transmitted, had elevated serum ALT levels and low HBV DNA levels before interferon therapy. 3) There was no significant advantage of the combined therapy with thymodulin compared to interferon therapy alone. Conclusion: Combined therapy of alfa-interferon and thymodulin failed to demonstrate synergistic effect. We think that combination therapies of alfa-interferon with other antiviral or immunomodulatory agents need to be studied in order to achieve better therapeutic responses.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.765-772
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• 1997

제주지역 돼지에서 각종 전염성 질병 원인체에 대한 항체를 조사하여 그간 전염성 병원체에 대한 역학조사가 미진하였던 부분을 보완하여 질병의 분포를 파악하고자 1995년부터 1996년에 걸쳐 제주도 전역에서 돼지의 혈청을 채취하여 각종 병원체에 대한 항체 분포율을 조사하였다. 본 연구에서 검사한 돼지 혈청 시료에서는 돼지 오제스키병 바이러스에 대한 항체는 전혀 검출되지 않았다. 돼지 콜레라바이러스에 대한 항체는 기대 수준 이하로 낮아 백신접종이 원활히 수행되고 있지 않음을 시사하였으며 특히 농장에 따라 항체 보유돈과 항체 음성돈이 혼재하는 농장과 항체가 전혀 검출되지 않는 농장 등 돼지 콜레라 방역의 사각지대가 존재할 가능성이 있음을 보여주었다. 유 사산 원인체인 돼지 파보바이러스 및 뇌심근염에 대한 항체가가 다양하게 나타나 일부 문제가 있을 것으로 사료되었다. 돼지 생식기호흡기증후군(PRRS) 바이러스에 대한 항체 분포율은 내륙 보다 다소 낮게 나타났고, 돼지 influenza virus, 위축성 비염, 흉막 폐염 등 각종 세균성 질환에 대한 항체수준도 다양하게 나타났다. 본 혈청학적인 연구결과는 제주지역에서의 양돈방역 정책수립 및 질병방제의 기초자료로 유용하게 이용될 것으로 사료된다.