• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.62 no.1
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• pp.53-63
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• 2024

The intracellular parasite Babesia microti is among the most significant species causing human babesiosis and is an emerging threat to human health worldwide. Unravelling the pathogenic molecular mechanisms of babesiosis is crucial in developing new diagnostic and preventive methods. This study assessed how priming with B. microti surface antigen 1 (BHSA 1) and seroreactive antigen 5-1-1 (BHSA 5-1-1) mediate protection against B. microti infection. The results showed that 500 ㎍/ml rBMSA1 and rBMSA5-1-1 partially inhibited the invasion of B. microti in vitro by 42.0±3.0%, and 48.0±2.1%, respectively. Blood smears revealed that peak infection at 7 days post-infection (dpi) was 19.6%, 24.7%, and 46.7% in the rBMSA1, rBmSA5-1-1, compared to the control groups (healthy mice infected with B. microti only), respectively. Routine blood tests showed higher white blood cell, red blood cell counts, and haemoglobin levels in the 2 groups (BMSA1 and BMSA5 5-1-1) than in the infection control group at 0-28 dpi. Moreover, the 2 groups had higher serum interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α and Interleukin-17A levels, and lower IL-10 levels than the infection control group throughout the study. These 2 potential vaccine candidate proteins partially inhibit in vitro and in vivo B. microti infection and enhance host immunological response against B. microti infection.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.1
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• pp.17-23
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• 2024

Background: Honey bees play a crucial role in pollination and ecological balance. Apis mellifera L. colonies, especially those located in specific geographic regions, such as the palm garden in Eastern Thailand, are susceptible to potential threats from microbial contaminants. Understanding and detecting microbial organisms in these beehives is essential for the preservation of bee health, honey production, and the broader ecosystem. However, the problem of microbial infection and antibiotic-resistant bacteria is more severe and continuously increasing, resulting in a health, economic, and social crisis. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence of microorganisms in A. mellifera beehives in palm gardens in Rayong province, Eastern Thailand. Results: Ten swabs in transport media were swabbed and obtained from different parts of each beehive (1 swab per beehive), for a total of 10 hives. Traditional microbial culture-based methods, biochemical tests, and antimicrobial susceptibility (disc-diffusion) tests were used to detect microbial organisms and antibiotic resistance in bacteria. The swab tests from nine beehives resulted in the detection of Gram-positive bacteria (63.64%), Gram-negative bacteria (27.27%), and fungi/yeast (9.09%). These microorganisms are classified as a group of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus spp. and made up 40.91% of the bacteria discovered. Other bacteria found were Coryneform bacteria (13.64%), Pantoea spp. (13.64%), Bacillus spp. (9.09%), yeast (9.09%), glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative bacilli (9.09%), and Pseudomonas spp. (4.55%). However, due to the traditional culture-based and 0biochemical tests usually used to identify the microbial organisms in clinical specimens and the limitation of identifying some environmental microbial species, the results of the antimicrobial susceptibility test cannot reveal if the organism is resistant or susceptible to the drug. Nevertheless, drug-sensitive inhibition zones were formed with each antibiotic agent. Conclusions: Overall, the study supports prevention, healthcare, and public health systems. The contamination of microorganisms in the beehives may affect the quality of honey and other bee products or even the health of the beekeeper. To avoid this kind of contamination, it is therefore necessary to wear personal protective equipment while harvesting honey and other bee products.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.84 no.3
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• pp.627-637
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• 2023

Purpose To investigate the effect of patient positioning on tendinosis grade, visible range, and infraspinatus tendon (IST) thickness, and to determine the feasibility of internal rotation (IR) position to assess IST on ultrasound (US). Materials and Methods This study included 52 shoulders of 48 subjects who were evaluated for IST in three different positions: neutral position (N), IR, and position with the ipsilateral hand on the contralateral shoulder (HC). Two radiologists retrospectively graded IST tendinosis from grade 0 to grade 3 and the visible range from grade 1 to grade 4. The thickness of the IST was measured by another radiologist with a short-axis view. A generalized estimating equation was used for statistical analysis. Results The tendinosis grades were higher in the HC position than in the IR position, with a cumulative odds ratio of 2.087 (p = 0.004, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.268-3.433). The tendinosis grades in the HC position (p = 0.370) and IR position (p = 0.146) were not significantly different from those in the N position. The overall difference in IST thickness was significant (p < 0.001), but the visible range (p = 0.530) was not significantly different according to position. Conclusion Patient positioning significantly affected the grade of tendinosis and thickness but not the visible range of the IST. The IR position is a feasible position for assessing the IST on US.

• Phonetics and Speech Sciences
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.59-69
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• 2024

Due to differences in singing styles and voice production between classical and popular music singers, their knowledge and practice regarding vocal hygiene may differ. This study compared the knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene among 121 university undergraduate students (58 classical and 63 popular music vocal majors). Additionally, the correlation between the level of knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene and the subjective voice evaluation was examined. The results revealed that both knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene were significantly higher in classical than popular music vocal majors, and that vocal hygiene practice was significantly higher than knowledge in the entire group. In addition, there was a weak positive correlation between knowledge and practice of vocal hygiene; and a weak negative correlation between vocal hygiene practice and subjective voice evaluation. This study suggests that popular music vocal majors have relatively lower levels of knowledge and practice in vocal hygiene than classical music vocal majors. It also highlights the need to provide tailored vocal hygiene education programs for both classical and popular music vocal majors, as they show low levels of knowledge and practice in certain aspects of vocal hygiene.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.714-726
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• 2024

Researchers have developed various algorithms utilizing artificial intelligence (AI) to automatically and objectively diagnose patterns and extent of pulmonary emphysema or interstitial lung diseases on chest CT scans. Studies show that AI-based quantification of emphysema on chest CT scans reveals a connection between an increase in the relative percentage of emphysema and a decline in lung function. Notably, quantifying centrilobular emphysema has proven helpful in predicting clinical symptoms or mortality rates of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the context of interstitial lung diseases, AI can classify the usual interstitial pneumonia pattern on CT scans into categories like normal, ground-glass opacity, reticular opacity, honeycombing, emphysema, and consolidation. This classification accuracy is comparable to chest radiologists (70%-80%). However, the results generated by AI are influenced by factors such as scan parameters, reconstruction algorithms, radiation doses, and the training data used to develop the AI. These limitations currently restrict the widespread adoption of AI for quantifying pulmonary emphysema and interstitial lung diseases in daily clinical practice. This paper will showcase the authors' experience using AI for diagnosing and quantifying emphysema and interstitial lung diseases through case studies. We will primarily focus on the advantages and limitations of AI for these two diseases.

• Journal of Dental Anesthesia and Pain Medicine
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• v.24 no.5
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• pp.351-360
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• 2024

Background: This study aimed to evaluate and compare the efficacy of oral premedication with ibuprofen on the anesthetic efficacy of inferior alveolar nerve block (IANB) using 2% lignocaine and 1:100000 epinephrine in tobacco-chewing (TC) and non-tobacco-chewing (NTC) patients with symptomatic irreversible pulpitis (SIP) during nonsurgical endodontic intervention (NEI). Methods: This multicenter, prospective, double-blind, two-arm parallel-group randomized controlled trial involving 160 patients was conducted for a period of 9 months. The patients were classified into the study (TC patients) and control (NTC patients) groups, which were subdivided into two subgroups 1 hour before the procedure based on oral premedication with tab ibuprofen 600 mg. Nicotine dependence was assessed using the Modified Fagerstrom Tolerance Nicotine Scale. Patients were administered an IANB injection of 2% lignocaine containing epinephrine 1:100000 after premedication. Pulpal anesthesia before NEI was confirmed using electric pulp testing and cold spraying. Patients rated their pain on the 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) during NEI thrice at the dentin, pulp, and instrumentation levels. No pain at each level indicated the success of anesthesia. Results: The success and failure rates did not differ between the premedication and non-premedication subgroups in the TC or NTC groups (P > 0.05). However, the success rate was higher in the premedication subgroup of the NTC group (52.5%) than in the TC group (45%). Most patients with premedication experienced failure at the instrumentation level, whereas patients in the non-premedication group experienced pain at the dentin level. Failure rates of IANB did not differ significantly at different levels between the groups (P > 0.05). The mean VAS scores differed significantly at the dentin level in both groups, with lower values in the premedication group (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The efficacy of ibuprofen premedication with IANB during NEI did not differ significantly between the TC and NTC patients with SIP. The effect of premedication was more significant in the NTC group than in the TC group. A causal relationship between nicotine consumption and the success of premedication could not be established, and further studies are required to validate the results of the present study.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.1061-1066
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• 2007

Purpose : Early identification of developmental disabilities allows intervention at the earliest possible point to improve the developmental potential. The Ages and Stages Questionnaire (ASQ), a parent- completed questionnaire, can be used as a substitute for formal screening tests. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the validity of the Korean version of the ASQ (K-ASQ) as a screening tool for detecting developmental delay of young Korean children in the setting of a busy pediatric outpatient clinic. Methods : Parents completed the K-ASQ in the waiting room of the pediatric outpatient clinic of St. Mary's Hospital, Catholic University Medical College. Out of 150 completed the ASQ, 67 who were born term and had no previous diagnosis of developmental delay, congenital anomalies, or neurological abnormalities were enrolled. The cut-off values of less than 2 standard deviations (SD) below the mean for the ASQ were used to define a "fail", and children who failed in one or more domains tested were classified as "screen-positive". Diagnosis of developmental delay was made when the developmental indices fell below -1 SD of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development-II. Results : (1) The mean age of children was $16.4{\pm}7.4$ months. Ten children (14.9%) were small-for- gestational age infants. The mean birth weight and gestational age were $3.1{\pm}0.6kg$ and $38.8{\pm}1.4$ weeks. Nine children (13.4%) were twins and 33 (49.0%) were male. The mean maternal education in years was $13.6{\pm}2.4$, and 31.3% had full-time jobs. The time for completing the ASQ was $10.2{\pm}3.0$ minutes. (2) Seventeen children (25.4%) were classified as screen-positive, four of them were delayed in development. Among eight children diagnosed with developmental delay, four were screen-positive and the other four were screen-negative by the ASQ. (3) The test characteristics of the ASQ were as follows: sensitivity (50.0%); specificity (78.0%); positive predictive value (23.5%); negative predictive value (92.0%). Conclusion : The high negative predictive value of the K-ASQ supports its use as a screening tool for developmental delay in the setting of a pediatric outpatient clinic.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.11
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• pp.1097-1103
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• 2007

Purpose : Acute symptomatic seizure is defined as a temporary seizure together with acute systemic, metabolic, or toxic insult in association with an acute central nervous system insult. And unprovoked seizure is defined as seizure without provocating factors. We studied the risk factors of unprovoked seizures after acute symptomatic seizure in children. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed the records of one hundred and ten children with acute symptomatic seizures who were admitted to the pediatric department of Chungbuk National University Hospital between January, 1998 and December, 2003. We analyzed overall risk factors of unprovoked seizures after acute symptomatic seizures involving etiology, incidence, type of seizure, duration and neuroimaging. Results : We analyzed records of 110 children with acute symptomatic seizures aged from 1 month to 17 years. 24 children had unprovoked seizures (21.8%) after acute symptomatic seizures. Causes in order of frequency were encephalopathy, central nervous system infection, brain tumor, cerebrovascular disease. The risk of unprovoked seizure was significantly greater for those with status epilepticus (68.4%) than without status epilepticus, with partial seizure (64.7%) than generalized seizure. And the risk of unprovoked seizure was strongly associated with abnormal finding of electroencephalogram (79.1%) and neuroimaging (41.6%). Conclusion : In conclusion, the leading cause of subsequent unprovoked seizure in children with acute symptomatic seizure was encephalopathy and age specific incidence was high in the group aged 24-72 months. The risk for subsequent unprovoked seizure was greater for those with partial seizure, status epilepticus, abnormal finding of neuroimaging and electroencephalography.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.509-513
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• 2007

Parametric and nonparametric coupled with bootstrap simulation technique were used to reevaluate previously defined reference intervals of serum chemistry parameters. A population-based study was performed in 100 clinically healthy dogs that were retrieved from the medical records of Kangwon National University Animal Hospital during 2005-2006. Data were from 52 males and 48 females(1 to 8 years old, 2.2-5.8 kg of body weight). Chemistry parameters examined were blood urea nitrogen(BUN)(mg/dl), cholesterol(mg/dl), calcium(mg/dl), aspartate aminotransferase(AST)(U/L), alanine aminotransferase(ALT)(U/L), alkaline phosphatase(ALP)(U/L), and total protein(g/dl), and were measured by Ektachem DT 60 analyzer(Johnson & Johnson). All but calcium were highly skewed distributions. Outliers were commonly identified particularly in enzyme parameters, ranging 5-9% of the samples and the remaining were only 1-2%. Regardless of distribution type of each analyte, nonparametric methods showed better estimates for use in clinical chemistry compare to parametric methods. The mean and reference intervals estimated by nonparametric bootstrap methods of BUN, cholesterol, calcium, AST, ALT, ALP, and total protein were 14.7(7.0-24.2), 227.3(120.7-480.8), 10.9(8.1-12.5), 25.4(11.8-66.6), 25.5(11.7-68.9), 87.7(31.1-240.8), and 6.8(5.6-8.2), respectively. This study indicates that bootstrap methods could be a useful statistical method to establish population-based reference intervals of serum chemistry parameters, as it is often the case that many laboratory values do not confirm to a normal distribution. In addition, the results emphasize on the confidence intervals of the analytical parameters showing distribution-related variations.

• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.33-39
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• 2013

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the clinical result of intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus (AO type C) in elderly osteoporotic patients treated with double tension band osteosynthesis. Materials and Methods: From January 2006 to December 2010, 10 elderly osteoporotic patients(1 male, 9 females) with intra-articular fractures of the distal humerus (AO type C) were treated with double tension band osteosynthesis. The mean age of patients at the time of surgery was 74.6(66~84) years and the mean follow-up period was 39.2(20~74) months. The fracture union and complications were assessed and the functional result was evaluated by the rating system of Jupiter et al. and the Mayo elbow performance index. Results: Bone union was achieved in all patients with no secondary displacement. The mean time for union was 16.6(13~22) weeks. The average postoperative arc of elbow flexion was 119(100~140) degrees with a mean flexion contracture of 8.5(0~15) degrees. The recovery in two patients was rated as excellent, in 7 as good, and in 1 as fair in terms of the Mayo elbow performance index with average value of 82(70~90) points. Seven patients were rated as excellent, 1 as good, and 2 as fair in terms of the rating system of Jupiter et al. Changing tension band wiring was performed in one patient as skin irritation was noticed due to tension band knots. Heterotopic ossification developed in one patient but had no symptom. Conclusion: Double tension band osteosynthesis in intra-articular fractures of distal humerus (AO type C) in elderly osteoporotic patients can provide sufficient and secure stability to allow early rehabilitation.