• 한국환경보건학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국환경보건학회 2005년도 국제학술대회
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• pp.45-72
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• 2005

C. neoformans-associated cryptococcosis is primarily a disease of immunocompromised persons, has a world-wide distribution, and is often spread by pigeons in the urban environment. In contrast, C. gattii causes infection in normal hosts, has only been described in tropical and semi-tropical areas of the world, and has a unique niche in river gum Eucalyptus trees. Cryptococcosis is acquired through inhalation of the yeast propagules from the environment. C. gattii has been identified as the cause of an emerging infectious disease centered on Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada. No cases of C. gattii-disease were diagnosed prior to 1999; the current incidence rate is 36 cases per million population. A search was initiated in 2001 to find the ecological niche of this basidiomycetous yeast. C. gaftii was found in the environment in treed areas of Vancouver Island. The highest percentage of colonized-tree clusters were found around central Vancouver Island, with decreasing rates of colonization to the north and south. Climate, soil and vegetation cover of this area, called the Coastal Douglas fir biogeoclimatic zone, is unique to British Columbia and Canada. The concentration of airborne C. gattii was highest in the dry summer months, and lowest during late fall, winter, and early spring, months which have heavy rainfall. The study of the emerging colonization of this organism and subsequent cases of environmentally acquired disease will be informative in planning public health management of new routes of exposure to exotic agents in areas impacted by changing climate and land use patterns. Cryptococcosis is an infection associated with an encapsulated, basidiomycetous yeast Cryptococcus neoformans. The route of entry for this organism is through the lungs, with possible systemic spread via the circulatory system to the brain and meninges. There are four cryptococcal serogroups associated with disease in humans and animals, distinguished by capsular polysaccharide antigens. Cryptococcus neoformans: variety grubii (serotype A), variety neoformans (serotype D), and variety gattii (serotypes B and C) (Franzot et at. 1999). C. neoformans variety gattii has recently been elevated to species status, C. gattii. C. neoformans val. grubii and var. neoformans have a world-wide distribution, and are particularly associated with soil and weathered bird droppings. In contrast, C. gattii (CG) is not associated with bird excrement, is primarily found in tropical and subtropical climates, and has a restricted environmental niche associated with specific tree species. (Ellis & Pfiffer 1990) Ellis and Pfeiffer theorize that, as a basidiomycete, CG requires an association with a tree in order to become pathogenic to mammals. In Australia, CG has been found to be associated with five species of Eucalypts, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. tereticornis, E. blakelyi, E. gomphocephala, and E. rudis. Eucalypts, although originally native to Australia, now have a world-wide distribution. CG has been found associated with imported eucalypts in India, California, Brazil, and Egypt. In addition, in Brazil and Columbia, where eucalypts have been naturalized, native trees have been shown to harbour CG (Callejas et al. 1998; Montenegro et al. 2000). In British Columbia, Canada, since the beginning of 1999, there have been 120 confirmed cases of cryptococcal mycoses associated with CG in humans, including 4 fatalities (data from British Columbia Centre for Disease Control), and over 200 cases in animal pets in BC (data from Central Laboratory for Veterinarians). What is remarkable about the BC outbreak of C. gattii-cryptococcosis is that all of the cases have been residents of, or visitors to, a narrow area along the eastern coast of Vancouver Island, BC, from the tip of the island in the south (Victoria) to Courtenay on the north-central island as illustrated in Figure 1. Of the first 38 human cases, 58% were male with a mean age of 59.7 years (range 20 - 82): 36 cases (95%) were Caucasian. Ten cases (26%) presented with meningitis, the remainder presented with respiratory symptoms. Cultures recovered from cases of cryptococcosis associated with the outbreak were typed as serogroup B, which is specific to CG (Bartlett et al. 2003). This was the first reported outbreak of CVG in Canada, or indeed, the world. Where infection with CG is endemic, for example, Australia, the incidence of cryptococcosis ranges from 1.8 - 4.7 per million between the southern and northern states (Sorrell 2001). However, the overall incidence of cryptococcosis in immunocompenent individuals has been estimated at 0.2 per million population per year (Kwon-Chung et al. 1984). The population of Vancouver Island is approximately 720,000,consequently, even if the organism were endemic, one would expect a maximum of 0.15 cases of cryptococcal disease annually.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제23권2호
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• pp.243-250
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• 1998

This study was analyzed through the reports which published on the subject matter of Su Dong-Myun from 1994 to 1997 and the medical record of patient in Su-Dong Myun health subcenter. The result are as follow: 1. The number of population in Su-Dong Myun(study area) was 5,475 in 1994, 5,707 in 1995, 6,079 in 1996 and 6,253 in 1997. In composition rate of population, "65 and over" of age group only showed markedly increasing tendancy from 9.8% in l995 to 10.2% in 1997. However, the rest of all age group showed decreasing tendancy. 2. Annual utilization rate showed decreasing tendancy, such as 247 in 1994. 203 in 1995, 146 in 1996, and 140 in 1997 per 1000 population. But visiting time is increasing tendency, such as 3.1 in 1994, 2.8 in 1995. 2.4 in 1996 and 3.4 in 1997 per disease case. 3. Age specific annual utilization rate, all age showed decreasing tendancy in the age group of "0-14", "15-44" and "45-64", however showed increasing tendency in the age group of "65 and over" from 1994 to 1997. 4. The major disease were disease of Respiratory system. Gastrointestinal system. Musculoskeletal system and Connective tissue. Skin and Subcutaneous tissue and Circulatory system The disease of Musculoskeletal system and Connective tissue and Circulatory system are increasing.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.14.1-14.17
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• 2021

Scrub typhus develops after the individual is bitten by a trombiculid mite infected with Orientia tsutsugamushi. Since it has been reported that pneumonia is frequently observed in patients with scrub typhus, we investigated whether intranasal (i.n.) vaccination with the outer membrane protein of O. tsutsugamushi (OMPOT) would induce a protective immunity against O. tsutsugamushi infection. It was particular interest that when mice were infected with O. tsutsugamushi, the bacteria disseminated into the lungs, causing pneumonia. The i.n. vaccination with OMPOT induced IgG responses in serum and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid. The anti-O. tsutsugamushi IgA Abs in BAL fluid after the vaccination showed a high correlation of the protection against O. tsutsugamushi. The vaccination induced strong Ag-specific Th1 and Th17 responses in the both spleen and lungs. In conclusion, the current study demonstrated that i.n. vaccination with OMPOT elicited protective immunity against scrub typhus in mouse with O. tsutsugamushi infection causing subsequent pneumonia.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제25권2호
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• pp.49-63
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• 2022

Anti-cholinesterase (ChE)s are commonly prescribed as the symptomatic treatment of Alzheimer's disease. They are applied to prevent the breakdown of neurotransmitter acetylcholine (ACh) that bind to muscarinic and nicotinic receptors in the synaptic cleft. Seaweeds are one of the richest sources of bioactive compounds for both nutraceuticals and pharmacognosy applications. This study aimed to determine the anti-ChEs activity of Gracilaria manilaensis, one of the red seaweeds notables for its economic importance as food and raw materials for agar production. Methanol extracts (GMM) of G. manilaensis were prepared through maceration, and further purified with column chromatography into a semi-pure fraction. Ellman assay was carried out to determine the anti-acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and anti-butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE) activities of extracts and fractions. Lineweaver-Burk plot analysis was carried out to determine the inhibition kinetic of potent extract and fraction. Major compound(s) from the most potent fraction was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS). GMM and fraction G (GMMG) showed significant inhibitory activity AChE with EC₅₀ of 2.6 mg/mL and 2.3 mg/mL respectively. GMM and GMMG exhibit mixed-inhibition and uncompetitive inhibition respectively against AChE. GMMG possesses neuroprotective compounds such as cynerine A, graveolinine, militarinone A, eplerenone and curumenol. These findings showed a promising insight of G. manilaensis to be served as a nutraceutical for neuronal health care in the future.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제53권3호
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• pp.265-270
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• 2015

Hemoglobinopathy and malaria are commonly found worldwide particularly in malaria endemic areas. Thalassemia, the alteration of globin chain synthesis, has been reported to confer resistance against malaria. The prevalence of thalassemia was investigated in 101 malaria patients with Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax along the Thai-Myanmar border to examine protective effect of thalassemia against severe malaria. Hemoglobin typing was performed using low pressure liquid chromatography (LPLC) and ${\alpha}$-thalassemia was confirmed by multiplex PCR. Five types of thalassemia were observed in malaria patients. The 2 major types of thalassemia were Hb E (18.8%) and ${\alpha}$-thalassemia-2 (11.9%). There was no association between thalassemia hemoglobinopathy and malaria parasitemia, an indicator of malaria disease severity. Thalassemia had no significant association with P. vivax infection, but the parasitemia in patients with coexistence of P. vivax and thalassemia was about 2-3 times lower than those with coexistence of P. falciparum and thalassemia and malaria without thalassemia. Furthermore, the parasitemia of P. vivax in patients with coexistence of Hb E showed lower value than coexistence with other types of thalassemia and malaria without coexistence. Parasitemia, hemoglobin, and hematocrit values in patients with coexistence of thalassemia other than Hb E were significantly lower than those without coexistence of thalassemia. Furthermore, parasitemia with coexistence of Hb E were 2 times lower than those with coexistence of thalassemia other than Hb E. In conclusion, the results may, at least in part, support the protective effect of thalassemia on the development of hyperparasitemia and severe anemia in malaria patients.

• 대한예방한의학회지
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• 제20권3호
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• pp.83-91
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• 2016

Objectives : The Levator Ani Muscles Training(LAMT) is one of the well known very effective prevention and treatment method of some specific diseases in the anal organs, digestion system, urinary organs and genital organs, which means LAMT could be considered as an independent exercise. Methods : Chinese databases were searched and found one good source named CNKI(China National Knowledge Infrastructure) where there were downloaded 154 articles, out of which were finally selected 82 used for the introduction of the historical background, health-effectiveness, working mechanism, training methods, etc. Results : LAMT as an independent exercise, is considered very effective for the prevention of diseases in the anal organs, e.g. hemorrhoids, anal fissure, rectal prolapse; urinary organs, e.g. urinary incontinence, frequent micturition; digestion system, e.g. visceroptosis, diarrhea, chronic enteritis; genital organs, e.g. prostatitis, impotence, premature ejaculation, feminine vaginal relaxation, sexual indifference, etc. It is also told LAMT is effective for coronary heart disease, hyperyension and varicose veins of lower extremity to a certain degree. LAMT is also very similar to the Kegel exercise in couple of aspects. They are equally effective for the urinary incontinence and impotence. Conclusions : LAMT as an independent exercise has developed and become more and more health-effective, especially through the combination with the Qigong exercise, and thus many training methods have been introduced. There are not many scientific research and development with very limited accomplishments even in China. It is strongly required to strengthen the research and development activities so that LAMT will become one of the very effective natural healing soonest possible.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제36권2호
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• pp.110-114
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• 2004

Apolipoprotein E is the major lipid-carrier protein in the brain, and several studies provided evidence that apolipoprotein E(ApoE) epsilon4 allele can be considered a genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease(AD). Inheritance of the APOE gene has three alleles: ${\varepsilon}2$, ${\varepsilon}3$ and ${\varepsilon}4$. There are six possible genotypes: ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}2$, ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}3$, ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$, ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}3$, ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}4$, ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$. AD is characterized by a progressive loss of function and death of nerve cells in several areas of the brain. The ${\varepsilon}4$ allele is associated with a risk for developing AD. People with the ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype have the highest risk, but people with the ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}4$ or ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotypes are also likely to develop the disease. 64.3% of people carry the is ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}3$ genotype, 22.1% carry the second ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype but, ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}2$ genotype is not usually found of people carry the 3.6% is ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype in a total of a test group of 140 people. The ratio of ${\varepsilon}4/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype related directly with AD is less than the ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}3$ genotype, but the ${\varepsilon}2/{\varepsilon}4$ and ${\varepsilon}3/{\varepsilon}4$ genotype ratio of indirect AD risk is 25.7% in the group of people, regardless. Thus, we have referred to the benefit from the treatment of AD through apoE genotype diagnosis.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제21권1호
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• pp.4.1-4.18
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• 2021

The global outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is still threatening human health, economy, and social life worldwide. As a counteraction for this devastating disease, a number of vaccines are being developed with unprecedented speed combined with new technologies. As COVID-19 vaccines are being developed in the absence of a licensed human coronavirus vaccine, there remain further questions regarding the long-term efficacy and safety of the vaccines, as well as immunological mechanisms in depth. This review article discusses the current status of COVID-19 vaccine development, mainly focusing on antigen design, clinical trials in later stages, and immunological considerations for further study.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권3호
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• pp.259-265
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• 2018

To investigate the infection status of zoonotic trematode metacercariae in yellowfin goby, Acanthogobius flavimanus, from coastal areas of the Republic of Korea (Korea), we examined total 344 gobies from 21 localities with an artificial digestion method from 2013 to 2017. The metacercariae of Stictodora lari were most frequently detected in 45.3% goby from 7 localities, i.e., Taean-gun (Chungcheongnam-do), Gochang-gun (Jeollabuk-do), Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Haenam-gun (Jeollanam-do), Hadong-gun and Goseong-gun (Gyeongsangnam-do). Their infection rates were 90.0%, 66.7%, 46.7%, 8.0%, 3.3%, 26.7%, and 86.7% and intensities were 1,090, 6.2, 1.6 1.0, 2.0, 2.0, and 7.2 metacercariae per fish infected respectively. Heterophyopsis continua metacercariae were found in 38.2% goby from 6 localities, i.e., Gochang-gun, Muan-gun, Shinan-gun, Gangjin-gun, Boseong-gun (Jeollanam-do) and Goseong-gun, and their intensities were relatively low, 1-21 metacercariae. Stictodora fuscata metacercariae were detected in 61.3% goby from 4 localities, i.e., Taean-gun, Gochang-gun, Hadong-gun and Goseong-gun. Their infection rates were 90.0%, 53.3%, 5.9%, and 73.3% and intensities were 1,081, 3.1, 3.0, and 10.2 metacercariae per fish infected respectively. Heterophyes nocens metacercariae were found in 55.0% goby from Muan-gun and Shinan-gun. Total 3 metacercariae of Isthmiophora hortensis were detected in 2 (8.0%) gobies from Shinan-gun. Total 15 metacercariae of Centrocestus armatus were detected in 5 gobies (33.3%) from Gyeongpo-ho (ho means lake) in Gangneung-si, Gangwon-do. The present study suggests that yellowfin goby, A. flavimanus, acts as the infection sources of zoonotic intestinal flukes in western and southern coastal areas than in eastern coastal areas of Korea.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제16권9호
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• pp.1247-1253
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• 2003

Selection for increased milk production in dairy cows has often resulted in a higher incidence of disease and thus incurred a greater health costs. Considerable interests have been shown in breeding dairy cattle for disease resistance in recent years. This paper discusses the limitations of breeding dairy cattle for genetic resistance in six parts: 1) complexity of disease resistance, 2) difficulty in estimating genetic parameters for planning breeding programs against disease, 3) undesirable relationship between production traits and disease, 4) disease as affected by recessive genes, 5) new mutation of the pathogens, and 6) variable environmental factors. The hidden problems of estimating genetic and phenotypic parameters involving disease incidence were examined in terms of categorical nature, non-independence, heterogeneity of error variance, non-randomness, and automatic relationship between disease and production traits. In light of these limitations, the prospect for increasing genetic resistance by conventional breeding methods would not be so bright as we like. Since the phenomenon of disease is the result of a joint interaction among host genotype, pathogen genotype and environment, it becomes essential to adopt an integrated approach of increasing genetic resistance of the host animals, manipulating the pathogen genotypes, developing effective vaccines and drugs, and improving the environmental conditions. The advances in DNA-based technology show considerable promise in directly manipulating host and pathogen genomes for genetic resistance and producing vaccines and drugs for prevention and medication to promote the wellbeing of the animals.