• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.56 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2018

Toxoplasma gondii is a ubiquitous protozoan parasite responsible for causing toxoplasmosis. Preventive measures for toxoplasmosis are currently lacking and as such, development of novel vaccines are of urgent need. In this study, we generated 2 virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccines expressing T. gondii rhoptry protein 4 (ROP4) or rhoptry protein 18 (ROP18) using influenza matrix protein (M1) as a core protein. Mice were intranasally immunized with VLPs vaccines and after the last immunization, mice were challenged with ME49 cysts. Protective efficacy was assessed and compared by determining serum antibody responses, body weight changes and the reduction of cyst counts in the brain. ROP18 VLPs-immunized mice induced greater levels of IgG and IgA antibody responses than those immunized with ROP4 VLPs. ROP18 VLPs immunization significantly reduced body weight loss and the number of brain cysts in mice compared to ROP4 VLPs post-challenge. These results indicate that T. gondii ROP18 VLPs elicited better protective efficacy than ROP4 VLPs, providing important insight into vaccine design strategy.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.420-422
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• 2012

Cerebral aspergillosis is rare and usually misdiagnosed because its presentation is similar to that of a tumor. The correct diagnosis is usually made intra-operatively. Cerebral abscess with fungal infection is extremely rare and few cases have been reported, but it carries a poor prognosis. A 73 year-old man presented with decreased visual acuity and paresis of the right cranial nerve III. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a mass in the right cavernous sinus, extened to the anterior crainial fossa and the superior orbital fissure. During surgery, a well encapsulated pus pocket was found, and histopathological examination of the mass resulted in the diagnosis of aspergillosis. Despite appropriate anti-fungal treatment, the patient eventually died from fatal cerebral ischemic change and severe brain swelling. The correct diagnosis of cerebral aspergillosis can only be achieved by histopathological examination because clinical and radiological findings including MRI are not specific. Surgical intervention and antifungal therapy should be considered the optimal treatment. Early diagnosis and aggressive antifungal treatment provide good results.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.149-152
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• 2016

We report a case of a 5-year-old girl who developed left hemiparesis and left facial palsy, 6 days after the initiation of fever and respiratory symptoms due to pneumonia. Chest radiography, conducted upon admission, showed pneumonic infiltration and pleural effusion in the left lung field. Brain magnetic resonance imaging showed acute ischemic infarction in the right middle cerebral artery territory. Brain magnetic resonance angiography and transfemoral cerebral angiography revealed complete occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery. Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection was identified by a 4-fold increase in IgG antibodies to M. pneumoniae between acute and convalescent sera by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Fibrinogen and D-dimer levels were elevated, while laboratory exams in order to identify other predisposing factors of pediatric stroke were all negative. This is the first reported pediatric case in English literature of a M. pneumoniae-associated cerebral infarction involving complete occlusion of the right middle cerebral artery.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.94-100
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• 1996

Streptococcal pneumoniae is the second most coomon cause of meningitis in infancy and a major respiratory pathogen. It is the one of the most common cause of acquired pneumonia and otitis media in childhood. Intracranial extesion of acute otitis media occur somewhat more often from poorly pneumatized than from well-pneumatized temporal bones and in ears with a history of previous attacks of otitis media. We experienced a case of pneumococcal meningitis with 3 time recurrences in a 6 year-old male patient who had hospitalized with high fever, headache, vomiting and stupor mental state. He was diagnosed as CSF study and brain CT. Brain CT showed poorly pneumatized right mastoid region of temporal bone at that time. We report a case of pneumococcal meningitis with 3 time recurrences due to poorly pnematized mastoid region of temporal bone. A review of literatures was also presented briefly.

• Proceedings of the Korean Institute of Surface Engineering Conference
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• 2017.05a
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• pp.81-81
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• 2017

Nanotechnology is of great importance to molecular biology and medicine because life processes are maintained by the action of a series of molecular nanomachines in the cell machinery. Recent advances in nanoscale materials that possess emergent physical properties and molecular organization hold great promise to impact human health in the diagnostic and therapeutic arenas. In order to be effective, nanomaterials need to navigate the host biology and traffic to relevant biological structures, such as diseased or pathogenic cells. Moreover, nanoparticles intended for human administration must be designed to interact with, and ideally leverage, a living host environment. Inspired by nature, we use peptides to transfer biological trafficking properties to synthetic nanoparticles to achieve targeted delivery of payloads. In this talk, development of nanoscale materials will be presented with a particular focus on applications to three outstanding health problems: bacterial infection, cancer detection, and traumatic brain injury. A biodegradable nanoparticle carrying a peptide toxin trafficked to the bacterial surface has antimicrobial activity in a pneumonia model. Trafficking of a tumor-homing nanoprobes sensitively detects cancer via a high-contrast time-gated imaging system. A neuron-targeted nanoparticle carrying siRNA traffics to neuronal populations and silences genes in a model of traumatic brain injury. Unique combinations of material properties that can be achieved with nanomaterials provide new opportunities in translational nanomedicine. This framework for constructing nanomaterials that leverage bio-inspired molecules to traffic diagnostic and therapeutic payloads can contribute on better understanding of living systems to solve problems in human health.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.67-71
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• 2013

Neonatal infection caused by Cronobacter species can result in serious illnesses such as bacteremia, septicemia, meningitis, and death in at-risk infants who are orally fed contaminated reconstituted powdered infant formulas. The objective of this study was to compare the virulence among three Cronobacter species strains by using an animal model for human neonatal Cronobacter species infections. We acquired timed-pregnant ICR mice and all owed them to give birth naturally. On postnatal day 3, each pup was administered orally a total dose of $1{\times}10^7$ CFU Cronobacter species strain 3439, CDC 1123-79, and 3231. Mice were observed twice daily for morbidity and mortality. At postnatal day 10, the remaining pups were euthanized, and brain, liver, and cecum were excised and analyzed for the presence of Cronobacter species. Cronobacter species were isolated from cecum and other tissues in inoculated mice. In the tissues of Cronobacter species infected mice, meningitis and gliosis were detected in the brain. In this study, we identified the virulence among Cronobacter species strains by using a neonatal mice model which was a very effective animal model for human neonatal Cronobacter species infections.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.466-472
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• 2012

The loss of mandibular continuity due to trauma, neoplasm, or infection results in major esthetic and biologic compromise. The reconstruction of the mandibular bone defect still poses a challenge to oral and maxillofacial surgeons. There have been a number of variety graft materials. Among them, free block bone graft with rigid fixation has been widely used. However, cases using free block bone grafts may lead to a marked invasion of the donor site, mal-union, and absorption of the block bone. In this respect, particulate cortical bone using a titanium mesh tray can be an effective alternative option in order to achieve a proper bone contour and good oral rehabilitation. We have developed an intraoral approach for the mandibular reconstruction method using a titanium mesh tray with autogenous particulate cortical bone graft.

• Archives of Craniofacial Surgery
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• v.20 no.5
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• pp.332-335
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• 2019

Cellulitis, one of most common diseases of everyday life, is often overlooked for its significance. Although cellulitis does not cause or lead to serious problems usually, its possibility to cause lifethreatening problem should be known. In present case, a patient who had received acupuncture treatment a week earlier presented to the clinic with symptoms of facial cellulitis. The disease resolved within few weeks under empirical antibiotic treatment but recurred after 3 months. Under close history review of the patient, we found out that the patient had received craniectomy 20 years ago. The patient had blunt headache with no other neurological symptoms that could suspect cranial infection, but considering the risk originating from the patient's surgical history, brain computed tomography (CT) was taken. CT images revealed abscess formation in the subgaleal and epidural spaces. Craniotomy with abscess evacuation was done promptly. With additional antibiotic treatment postoperatively, the disease resolved, and the 1-month postoperative followup brain CT showed no signs of abscess formation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.201-206
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• 2019

The roles of mast cells in allergic diseases and helminth infections are well known. However, the roles of mast cells in T. gondii infection is poorly understood. This study was focused on the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines ($TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4), chemokines (CXCL8, MCP-1) and nitric oxide (NO) by mast cells in response to soluble lysate of T. gondii tachyzoites. Production of CXCL8 (IL-8), MCP-1, $TNF-{\alpha}$ and IL-4 were measured by RT-PCR and ELISA. Western blot were used for detection of CXCR-1 and CXCR2. Our results showed that T. gondii lysates triggered mast cells to release CXCL8, MCP-1, $TNF-{\alpha}$, IL-4 and to produce NO. This suggests that mast cells play an important role in inflammatory responses to T. gondii.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.3 no.3
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• pp.235-241
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• 2003

Background: The protective immunity against tuberculosis (TB) involves both CD4+ T cells and CD8+ T cells. In our previous study, we defined four Mycobacterium tuberculosis derived peptide epitopes specific for HLA-$A^*0201$ restricted CD8+ T cells ($ThyA_{30-38}$, $RpoB_{127-135}$, $85B_{15-23}$, $PstA1_{75-83}$). In this study, we investigated the immune responses induced by these peptide specific CD8+ T cells in latently and chronically infected people with TB. Methods: We characterized these peptide specific CD8+ T cell population present in PBMC of both TB patients and PPD+healthy people using IFN-${\gamma}$elispot assay, intracellular staining and HLA-A2 dimer staining. Results: The frequency of peptide specific CD8+ T cell was in the range of 1 to 25 in $1.7{\times}10^5$ PBMC based on ex vivo IFN-${\gamma}$ elispot assay, demonstrating that these peptide specific CD8+ T cell responses are induced in both TB patients and PPD+ people. Short term cell lines (STCL) specific for these peptides proliferated in vitro and secreted IFN-${\gamma}$ upon antigenic stimulation in PPD+ donors. Lastly, HLA-$A^*0201$ dimer assays indicated that $PstA1_{75-83}$ specific CD8+ T cell population in PPD+ healthy donors is heterogeneous since approximately 25~33% of $PstA1_{75-83}$ specific CD8+ T cell population in PPD+ healthy donors produced IFN-${\gamma}$ upon peptide stimulation. Conclusion: Our results suggest that MHC class I restricted CD8+ T cell mediated immune responses to M. tuberculosis infection are induced in both TB patients and PPD + people; however, the CD8+ T cell population is functionally heterogeneous.