• Korean Journal of Pharmacognosy
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.82-86
• /
• 2000

To evaluate anti-influenza virus activity of 113 specimens of Korean traditional medicine both water and methanol extracts were examined using haemagglutination inhibition test. The water extract from Citrus junos was found to inhibit influenza virus A/Taiwan/l/86(H1N1). The survival rates of virus were determined by in situ cellular enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The water extract of Citrus junos was fractionated by chromatographic separating using Amberlite XAD-4, 40% MeOH and 60% MeOH layer had antiviral activity. The half inhibition concentration $(IC_{50})$ of 40% MeOH layer on survival of influenza virus was $MIC>361.5{\mu}g/ml$ and $IC_{50}$ value of fr. 40-4 fractionated from 40% MeOH layer was $677.19{\mu}g/ml$. These results suggested that the fractions of Citus junos have potent anti-influenza A virus activity.

• Food Science of Animal Resources
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.512-516
• /
• 2008

To search for anit-H5N1 influenza virus agent, the anti-viral activity of methanol and aqueous extracts from thirty medicinal plants were examined in this study. The plant material (30 g) was extracted with methanol (300 mL) for 24 hr at room temperature. Methanol extracts were filtered and evaporated, then freeze-dried. Aqueous extracts were prepared with dried plant material (30 g) and hot distilled water (300 mL). After 3 hr, the aqueous extracts were filtered and evaporated, then lyophilized. Extracts prepared from different plants were tested the antiviral activity against influenza viruses [A/vietnam/1194/04 (H5N1)-NIBRG-14] using the hemagglutination (HA) assay. Among the test plants, Asarum sieboldii was found to be a potent inhibitor of H5N1 influenza virus in MDCK cell culture. Virus titers were 7 log, whereas with methanol extract of Asarum sieboldii for 48 hr titers were 3 log, indicating that methanol extract of Asarum sieboldii inhibited the H5N1 influenza viruses from the infected cells.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.61-70
• /
• 2011

Purpose: To identify factors associated with children's discriminatory attitudes towards fully recovered children who contracted the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1), in order to provide fundamental information to improve health education for children. Methods: Cross-sectional data were collected from the entire 6th grade classes (N=2,323) of 11 elementary schools randomly selected from 11 school districts in the Seoul Metropolitan Area of South Korea. Questionnaires were used to assess participants' knowledge of and attitudes towards the Influenza A (H1N1) virus. Results: Multiple regression analyses were used to investigate the factors associated with children's discriminatory attitudes toward fully recovered children who had contracted the 2009 Influenza A (H1N1). Multiple regression analysis revealed that perceived risk of contracting and knowledge of 2009 influenza A (H1N1) were significant factors in predicting a child's attitude toward fully recovered Influenza A (H1N1) patients, after controlling for socioeconomic variables. Conclusion: The findings suggests that perceived risk and knowledge play important roles in formulating children's appropriate attitudes towards Novel influenza A (H1N1) patients who are fully recovered from the disease. To promote and maximize children's attitudes in this area, health education needs to be directed at children to reduce excessive concern about contracting the virus and to improve their overall health knowledge.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.5
• /
• pp.308-315
• /
• 2019

Objectives: Estimating influenza-associated mortality is important since seasonal influenza affects persons of all ages, causing severe illness or death. This study aimed to estimate influenza-associated mortality, considering both periodic changes and age-specific mortality by influenza subtypes. Methods: Using the Microdata Integrated Service from Statistics Korea, we collected weekly mortality data including cause of death. Laboratory surveillance data of respiratory viruses from 2009 to 2016 were obtained from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After adjusting for the annual age-specific population size, we used a negative binomial regression model by age group and influenza subtype. Results: Overall, 1 859 890 deaths were observed and the average rate of influenza virus positivity was 14.7% (standard deviation [SD], 5.8), with the following subtype distribution: A(H1N1), 5.0% (SD, 5.8); A(H3N2), 4.4% (SD, 3.4); and B, 5.3% (SD, 3.7). As a result, among individuals under 65 years old, 6774 (0.51%) all-cause deaths, 2521 (3.05%) respiratory or circulatory deaths, and 1048 (18.23%) influenza or pneumonia deaths were estimated. Among those 65 years of age or older, 30 414 (2.27%) all-cause deaths, 16 411 (3.42%) respiratory or circulatory deaths, and 4906 (6.87%) influenza or pneumonia deaths were estimated. Influenza A(H3N2) virus was the major contributor to influenza-associated all-cause and respiratory or circulatory deaths in both age groups. However, influenza A(H1N1) virus-associated influenza or pneumonia deaths were more common in those under 65 years old. Conclusions: Influenza-associated mortality was substantial during this period, especially in the elderly. By subtype, influenza A(H3N2) virus made the largest contribution to influenza-associated mortality.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.31.1-31.14
• /
• 2020

The effectiveness of current influenza vaccines is considered suboptimal, and 1 way to improve the vaccines is using adjuvants. However, the current pool of adjuvants used in influenza vaccination is limited due to safety concerns. Aloe vera, or aloe, has been shown to have immunomodulatory functions and to be safe for oral intake. In this study, we explored the potential of orally administered processed Aloe vera gel (PAG) as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines in C57BL/6 mice. We first evaluated its adjuvanticity with a split-type pandemic H1N1 (pH1N1) Ag by subjecting the mice to lethal homologous influenza challenge. Oral PAG administration with the pH1N1 Ag increased survival rates in mice to levels similar to those of alum and MF59, which are currently used as adjuvants in influenza vaccine formulations. Similarly, oral PAG administration improved the survival of mice immunized with a commercial trivalent influenza vaccine against lethal homologous and heterologous virus challenge. PAG also increased hemagglutination inhibition and virus neutralization Ab titers against homologous and heterologous influenza strains following immunization with the split-type pH1N1 Ag or the commercial trivalent vaccine. Therefore, this study demonstrates that PAG may potentially be used as an adjuvant for influenza vaccines.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.172-177
• /
• 2020

Influenza viruses cause respiratory diseases in humans and animals with high morbidity and mortality rates. Conventional anti-influenza drugs are reported to exert side effects and newly emerging viral strains tend to develop resistance to these commonly used agents. Fritillaria thunbergii (FT) is traditionally used as an expectorant for controlling airway inflammatory disorders. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of FT extracts against influenza virus type A (H1N1) infection in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. In the post-treatment assay, FT extracts showed high CC50 (7,500 ㎍/ml), indicating low toxicity, and exerted moderate antiviral effects compared to oseltamivir (SI 50.6 vs. 222) in vitro. Antiviral activity tests in ovo revealed strong inhibitory effects of both FT extract and oseltamivir against H1N1 replication in embryonated eggs. Notably, at a treatment concentration of 150 mg/kg, only half the group administered oseltamivir survived whereas the FT group showed 100% survival, clearly demonstrating the low toxicity of FT extracts. Consistent with these findings, FT-administered mice showed a higher survival rate with lower body weight reduction relative to the oseltamivir group upon treatment 24 h after viral infection. Our collective results suggest that FT extracts exert antiviral effects against influenza H1N1 virus without inducing toxicity in vitro, in ovo or in vivo, thereby supporting the potential utility of FT extract as a novel candidate therapeutic drug or supplement against influenza.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
• /
• 2003.10a
• /
• pp.146.1-146
• /
• 2003

Transgenic Nicotiana benthmiana plants harboring and expressing coat protein (CP) gene of Zucchini green mottle mosaic virus (ZGMMV) were generated for both virus-resistant screening and complementation analysis of related viruses and environmental safety assessment (SA) of living modified organism (LMO) purposes. Transformation of leaf disc of N. benthamiana was performed using Agrobacterium-mediated method and the pZGCPPGA748 containing the ZGMMV CP and NPTII genes. Two kinds of transgenic homozygous groups, virus-resistant and -susceptible lines, were obtained by screening of challenging homologous virus for T1 generations. Complementation of CP-deficient related virus was analyzed using the susceptible line of ZGMMV. These two pathologically different lines can be useful for host-virus interactions and LMO environmental SA.

• Safety and Health at Work
• /
• v.2 no.1
• /
• pp.83-86
• /
• 2011

New epidemics of infectious diseases often involve health care workers. In this short communication we present a case report of a health care professional who became the first case of influenza H1N1 virus to be notified in the United Arab Emirates. There are several issues related to workplace considerations and general public health, including preventive measures, the need for isolation of the patient, dealing with contacts, return to work, and communication with the workforce.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
• /
• v.48 no.3
• /
• pp.260-265
• /
• 2005

Purpose : During epidemics, influenza induces a high mortality and morbidity, and when influenza is prevalent, it is revealed by increased pneumonia, hospitalization due to influenza-like illness, and mortality in community. We aimed at the isolation of influenza virus and prevalence period in Busan from 2000 to 2002. Methods : For 3 years from 2000 to 2002, we analyzed the patterns of influenza virus, the occurrence distribution of influenza by age and sex and the prevalence period after cultivating the examined materials from throat smears and snivel, collected from patients in St. Benedict Hospital Pediatrics Department, from 10 monitoring hospitals, and from 16 public health centers. Results : For three years, a total of 209 strains of influenza virus were isolated. In 2000, there were A/sydney/05/97(H3N2)-like, A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1)-like and B/Harbin/07/94-like. In 2001, there were A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2)-like and A/Newcaledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like. In 2002, there were A/Panama/2007/99(H3N2)-like, A/Newcaledonia/20/99(H1N1)-like, B/Beijing/243/97, B/Honkong/22/2001 and B/Sichuam/379/99. The occurrence distribution by sexes were 14 males and 25 females in 2000, 23 males and 33 females in 2001, 57 males and 57 females in 2002. As for the occurrence distribution by ages, 0-10 years made up 48.4 percent in 2000, 11-20 years 33.93 percent in 2001, and below 10 years was 64.91 percent in 2002. As for the occurrence distribution by month, the rate was once high in January and somewhat high in April and by June, when there happened to be various viruses, though there was a low rate in 2000. On the other hand, the virus was concentrated in February and March in 2001. And in 2002, it happened high twice, in March and November. Conclusion : Influenza virus revealed frequent antigenic changes and infect children, especially those below 10 years of age from late fall to early spring. So we should consider appropriate prevention in children.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.9 no.5
• /
• pp.570-574
• /
• 1999

Investigate the epidemics for influenza outbreaks. The outbreak pattern of the internal patients housed in the 10 designated hospitals was monitered to investigate and the characteristics of the virus isolates are as follows. 232 strains of influenza virus was isolated from the oral specimen of 1,320 respiratory disease patients in Pusan from Oct. 1998 to Jun. 1999. Among these isolates, 222 strains were A-type and the rest were B-type. The outbreak pattern for sex-and age-groups is as follows. The male outbreak was similar to the female outbreak: male outbreak, 47.4% and female outbreak, 52.5%. Most of the patients were less than 10 years old. The monthly influenza outbreak was consistent from Dec. 1998 to Apr. 1999. and The 113 strains from the A-type isolates were A/ Sydney/05/97(H3N2)-like, the 109 strains were A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1)-like, and all of the 10 B-type isolates were B/Harbin/07/94-like.