• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.29 no.6
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• pp.571-581
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• 2021

Towards the end of 2019, an atypical acute respiratory disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) was identified in Wuhan, China and subsequently named Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). The rapid dissemination of COVID-19 has provoked a global crisis in public health. COVID-19 has been reported to cause sepsis, severe infections in the respiratory tract, multiple organ failure, and pulmonary fibrosis, all of which might induce mortality. Although several vaccines for COVID-19 are currently being administered worldwide, the COVID-19 pandemic is not yet effectively under control. Therefore, novel therapeutic agents to eradicate the cause of the disease and/or manage the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 should be developed to effectively regulate the current pandemic. In this review, we discuss the possibility of managing the clinical symptoms of COVID-19 using natural products derived from medicinal plants used for controlling pulmonary inflammatory diseases in folk medicine. Diverse natural products have been reported to exert potential antiviral effects in vitro by affecting viral replication, entry into host cells, assembly in host cells, and release. However, the in vivo antiviral effects and clinical antiviral efficacies of these natural products against SARS-CoV-2 have not been successfully proven to date. Thus, these properties need to be elucidated through further investigations, including randomized clinical trials, in order to develop optimal and ideal therapeutic candidates for COVID-19.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.84 no.1
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• pp.13-21
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• 2021

Several clinical trials are being conducted worldwide to investigate the protective effect of the bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine against death in healthcare providers who are working directly with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. Clinical studies suggested that certain live vaccines, particularly the BCG vaccine, could reduce the mortality due to other diseases caused by non-targeted pathogens, most probably through the nonspecific effects (heterologous effects). By the end of May 2020, the available information on the COVID-19 pandemic indicated the great effect of the BCG vaccine in reducing the number of COVID-19 death cases. The occurrence of death due to COVID-19 was found to be 21-fold lower in countries with a national BCG vaccination policy than in countries without such a policy, based on the medians of COVID-19 death case per 1 million of the population in these two groups of countries (p<0.001, Mann-Whitney test). Therefore, it can be concluded that the early establishment of a BCG vaccination policy in any country is a key element in reducing the number of COVID-19 and tuberculosis death cases.

• The Journal of Korean Academic Society of Nursing Education
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.296-304
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• 2022

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the association of COVID-19 vaccine attitudes and cognitions of COVID-19-related stigma with vaccine hesitancy among college students. Methods: This cross-sectional study using a web-based survey was conducted with 242 college students in April 2021 before Korea's national COVID-19 vaccination program had begun. Data were analyzed using multinominal logistic regression analyses. Results: Of the participants who were unsure of their intention to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, 66.0% had less experience with flu vaccinations and were 1.43 times more likely to report a mistrust of vaccine benefits (OR=1.43, CI=1.22, 1.68). Those with no intention of receiving the vaccine were 25.0% less likely to be aware of COVID-19 stigma (OR=0.75, CI=0.65, 0.86), 2.08 times more likely to mistrust vaccine benefits (OR=2.08, CI=1.62, 2.68), and 1.53 times more likely to worry about an unforeseen future negative side effects from vaccination (OR=1.53. CI=1.16, 2.00). Conclusion: Nurses could play an important role in educating college students about vaccination benefits, including reviewing vaccines' side effects with evidence, to reduce vaccine hesitancy. College students who have less empathy for others regarding COVID-19 infection might have higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Accordingly, explaining to students the necessity of their vaccination in preventing transmission to the surrounding community and vulnerable populations is critical.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.82-84
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• 2023

There were growing reports of herpes zoster reactivation after the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination, including a more severe form, herpes zoster ophthalmicus (HZO). A 35-year-old male presented HZO in his left V1 dermatome 10 days after his COVID-19 vaccine booster with Moderna (messenger RNA-1273). He had no history of chronic disease, immunocompromised, autoimmune, malignancy, or long-term immunosuppressive drug use. The rash improved without any further complications after being treated with oral valacyclovir for 7 days. This was a unique case of HZO after the COVID-19 vaccine in a booster setting in healthy younger adults. The association of herpes zoster after a COVID vaccine remained inconclusive and potentially coincidental, especially without the known risk factor. However, we would like to add a report to increase awareness among physicians and the general population, for early recognition and treatment with an antiviral.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.12 no.8
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• pp.179-186
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• 2021

Among the Covid-19 vaccine platforms, mRNA-platform vaccines are summarized qualitatively in this paper. Manufacturing mRNA vaccines consist of serial processes; the preparation process of DNA template, the transcription of mRNA, nanoemulsion process, and the fill and finish unit combined with formulation stages. It is noticeable that major players are collaborated for producing mRNA vaccines. In particular, the nanoemulsion process is recognized to the key process requiring formulated lipid materials to protect modified mRNA until they arrive in intracellular cytosol. It is known that the nanoemulsion process adapts well-designed microfluidic devices. We expect that the nanoemulsion process will stimulate pharmaceutical industries to develop diverse applications.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.260-261
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• 2023

• The Journal of Asian Finance, Economics and Business
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.121-129
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• 2022

This study intends to analyze the impact of the country of origin on the intention to ingest COVID-19 vaccinations by measuring Vietnamese people's perceptions of India in the manufacture of COVID-19 vaccines. The research is done using a quantitative method, and primary data was obtained using a conventional manner based on the willingness of the research respondents, who are Vietnamese persons aged 18 and up, to contribute information. The findings revealed that perceived brand association and perceived brand quality directly positively impact the COVID-19 vaccine's consumption intention and willingness. Meanwhile, while the perceived country image component has no direct effect on consumption intention, it does have a positive indirect effect on consumption intention through perceived brand linkage and perceived brand quality. The findings also emphasize the importance and significance of a country's image in brand association and quality perception. The study's findings imply that to increase consumers' willingness to buy India's COVID-19 vaccination, the country should develop communication initiatives to improve consumer perceptions of the country's image, the perceived value of the brand association, and brand quality.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.165-172
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• 2021

The COVID-19, the most infectious pandemic disease arising due to SARS-CoV-2 (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2) has caused huge issues globally. In this review, we discuss the impact of COVID-19 on the immune system of the human body and the protective mechanisms of the host immune system opposing viral infections. Here, we summarize the effect of the pandemic of the novel coronavirus disease on the immune system such as sleep and Behavioral Immune System (BIS) together with consideration of researcher's observation points of view. We draw particular attention to recent up-to-date reports concerning COVID-19 drugs as well as information about the landscape document for COVID-19 vaccines released by WHO (World Health Organization), and some adverse events of COVID-19 vaccination. Additionally, can take part in the preventive appraise in opposition within this pandemic severe COVID-19 infections disease may affect some outcome in physical exercise, physical movement, healthy diets, and good nutrition are significant for supporting the immune systems and summarize AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) Indian medicinal systems guidelines for immunity boosting procedures during COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.35 no.3
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• pp.384-400
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• 2021

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate COVID-19 vaccination intention among college students in Korea and verify the factors influencing vaccination. Methods: From April 28 to May 3, 2021, an online survey was conducted on a total of 323 college students. Measures included the 5C scale and the vaccine literacy scale. A logistic regression analysis was performed to identify the factors associated with COVID-19 vaccination intention among students. Results: Among the respondents, 47.7% had the intention to receive the vaccine following the government vaccination plan. Influencing factors of intention to COVID-19 vaccination included the higher level of confidence and collective responsibility and the lower level of constraints and calculation. However, vaccine literacy, socio-demographics, the influence of others, the contents and main source of information about the COVID-19 vaccine, health status and COVID-19-related experiences did not influence the intention to vaccination. The content analysis on self-reported reasons for the decreased vaccination intention resulted in three main categories, including "anxiety about the vaccine", "distrust in the government" and "no need of vaccination." Conclusion: In order to increase COVID-19 vaccination acceptance among college students and form herd immunity, it is necessary to increase the trust in vaccines and emphasize the importance of herd immunity.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.44 no.6
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• pp.392-400
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• 2021

It has been more than a year since severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) first emerged. Many studies have provided insights into the various aspects of the immune response in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Especially for antibody treatment and vaccine development, humoral immunity to SARS-CoV-2 has been studied extensively, though there is still much that is unknown and controversial. Here, we introduce key discoveries on the humoral immune responses in COVID-19, including the immune dynamics of antibody responses and correlations with disease severity, neutralizing antibodies and their cross-reactivity, how long the antibody and memory B-cell responses last, aberrant autoreactive antibodies generated in COVID-19 patients, and the efficacy of currently available therapeutic antibodies and vaccines against circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants, and highlight gaps in the current knowledge.