• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• v.15 no.3
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• pp.233-239
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• 2012

Hematological analysis can provide crucial information for monitoring the health of fish. However, there is no current information available regarding hematological changes in olive flounder following infection by Vibrio scophthalmi. In this study, hematological and biochemical alterations were determined in olive flounder infected by the high virulence strain (HVS) and low virulence strain (LVS) of V. scophthalmi. Survival in serum, skin mucus, and macrophages of olive flounder was also compared between the HVS and LVS. The results demonstrated that the hematocrit value in infected fish declined from 23.4% at 0 h to 18.0% at 168 h post infection. The total protein concentration in fish infected with the HVS was significantly higher than in fish infected with the LVS and a non-infected control. Lysozyme activity was significantly different between infected and control fish. The HVS survived in serum and cell numbers increased substantially, while cell numbers of the LVS in serum decreased. These changes in hematological characteristics in fish infected by V. scophthalmi can be used as an effective and sensitive index to monitor the physiological and pathological conditions of fish. The survival and reproduction of V. scophthalmi in host serum, skin mucus, and macrophages play a major role in systemic infection and can serve as a virulence indicator for different strains.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.53
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• pp.348.1-348.6
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• 2018

We report a case of Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection in a 61-year-old businessman returning from Kuwait. The patient arrived there on August 16, 2018, developed watery diarrhea on August 28 (day 0), and came back to Korea on September 7 (day 10) as his condition worsened. Upon arrival, he complained of diarrhea and weakness, but denied any respiratory symptoms, and he directly went to visit an emergency room. Chest radiography revealed interstitial infiltrates in the lungs, and he was immediately transferred to an isolation unit. Quantitative real-time PCR analysis of sputum samples taken on day 11 returned positive for MERS-CoV. No secondary MERS-CoV infection was identified among people who had close contact with him. This case underscores the importance of a high index of suspicion of MERS-CoV infection in any febrile patients who present after a trip to the Middle East.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.168-177
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• 2016

A forecast model for estimating the infection risk of bacterial canker caused by Pseudomonas syringae pv. actinidiae on kiwifruit leaves in Korea was developed using the generic infection model of Magarey et al. (2005). Two-way contingency table analysis was carried out to evaluate accuracy of forecast models including the model developed in this study for estimating the infection of bacterial canker on kiwifruit using the weather and disease data collected from three kiwifruit orchards at Seogwipo in 2015. All the tested models had more than 80% of probability of detection indicating that all the tested models could be effective to manage the disease. The model developed in this study showed the highest values in proportion of correct (51.1%), probability of detection (90.9%), and critical success index (47.6%). It indicated that the model developed in this study would be the best model for estimating the infection of bacterial wilt on kiwifruit leaves in Korea. The model developed in this study could be used for a part of decision support system for managing bacterial wilt on kiwifruit leaves and help growers to reduce the loss caused by the disease in Korea.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.49-76
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• 2006

The aim of this study was to explore the effects of a computerized review program which was introduced in August 1, 2003, using claims data for acute respiratory infection related diseases. National Health Insurance (NHI) claims data on respiratory infection related diseases before and after the introduction, with six month intervals respectively, were used for the analysis. Clinic was the unit of observation, and clinics with only one physician whose specialty was internal medicine, pediatrics, otorhinolaryngology and family medicine and clinics with a general practitioner were selected. The final sample had 7,637 clinics in total. Indices used to measure practice pattern was prescription rates of antibiotics, prescription rates of injection drug per visit, treatment costs per claim, and total costs per claim. Changes in the number of claims for major disease categories and upcoding index for disease categories were used to measure claiming behavior. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis, t-test for indices changes before and after the introduction, analysis of variance (ANOVA) for practice pattern change for major disease categories, and multiple regression analysis to identify whether new system influenced on provider' practice patterns or not. Prescription of antibiotics, prescription rates of injection drug, treatment costs per claim, and total costs per claim decreased significantly. Results from multiple regression analysis showed that a computerized review system had effects on all the indices measuring behavior. Introduction of the new system had the spillover effects on the provider's behavior in the related disease categories in addition to the effects in the target diseases, but the magnitude of the effects were bigger among the target diseases. Rates of claims for computerized review over total claims for respiratory diseases significantly decreased after the introduction of a computerized review system and rates of claims for non target diseases increased, which was also statistically significant. Distribution of the number of claims by disease categories after the introduction of a computerized review system changed so as to increase the costs per claims. Analysis of upcoding index showed index for 'other acute lower respiratory infection (J20-22)', which was included in the review target, decreased and 'otitis media (H65, H66)', which was not included in the review target, increase. Factors affecting provider's practice patterns should be taken into consideration when policies on claims review method and behavior changes. It is critical to include strategies to decrease the variations among providers.

• Journal of the Korean Burn Society
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• v.22 no.2
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• pp.38-44
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• 2019

Purpose: The immature granulocyte count has been reported to be a marker of infection and sepsis. The difference in leukocyte subfractions (delta neutrophil index, DNI) in ADVIA 2120 reflects the fraction of circulating immature granulocytes in the blood. This study evaluated the clinical utility of DNI as a severity and prediction marker in critically ill patients with burn sepsis. Methods: One hundred and sixty nine patients admitted to the burn care unit were studied. DNI (the difference in leukocyte subfractions identified by myeloperoxidase and nuclear lobularity channels) was determined using a specific blood cell analyzer. Results: Seventy one patients (42 %) were diagnosed with burn sepsis. DNI was significantly higher in patients with burn sepsis than in patients without (P<0.01). Delta neutrophil index was a better indicator of burn sepsis than C-reactive protein, lactate, white blood cell count, HCO3, base excess, lactate, procalcitonin (odds ratio, 6.31; confidence interval 2.36~16.90; P<0.01). And the receiver operating characteristic curves showed that delta neutrophil index, AUC 0.795 (95% confidence interval, 0.721~0.869; P<0.05) was a better predictor of burn sepsis than lactate, procalcitonin, white blood cell, base excess and abbreviated burn severity index. Conclusion: Delta neutrophil index may be used as a early marker of patients with burn sepsis.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.5
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• pp.1007-1013
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• 2019

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to report the treatment of a patient suffering from $Sj{\ddot{o}}gren^{\prime}s$ Syndrome with influenza A virus infection with Korean medicine. Methods: We used herbal medicine, acupuncture, and moxibustion to treat a patient during hospitalization. We observed the changes in symptoms using the European League against Rheumatism $Sj{\ddot{o}}gren^{\prime}s$ Syndrome Patient Reports Index (ESSPRI) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). Results: After treatment for 17 days, the patient's symptoms showed improvement in joint pain, dry eye, and dry mouth. The ESSPRI score was decreased from 10 to 5.3. The VAS for dry mouth and dry eye were decreased from 10 to 6 and from 10 to 5, respectively. Conclusion: This clinical case study suggests that Korean medicine treatment that includes Insamyangyoung-tang-gami could be effective in the treatment of $Sj{\ddot{o}}gren^{\prime}s$ Syndrome.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.15 no.4
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• pp.158-161
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• 1999

We determined threshold environmental factros to initiate infection of pepper plants by Botrytis cinerea, a fungal pathogen of pepper gray mold, in two greenhouse conditions. A new efficient spore-trapping method was developed to estimate population density of airborne conidia in the greenhouses, and spore release was measured using a Kerssies' selective medium. At a given day, spores were released greater during daytime (mostly from 7:30 am to 10:30 am and at 4:30 pm) than nighttime. Diurnal and nocturnal temperatures in the greenhouse-1 were about $25^{\circ}$ and $17^{\circ}$,and relative humidity was 100% for prolonged 24 h due to rain on December 17, 1997. Population density of air-borne conidia was 3.0$\times$103 conidia/ $0.5\textrm{m}^3$ after two days, and the initial infection occurred in ten days. During the same period of time in the greenhouse-2, diurnal temperature was about $25^{\circ}$ and nocturnal temperature was below $15^{\circ}$, and population density of air-borne conidia was 104 conidia/ $0.5\textrm{m}^3$. Under these conditions, the initial infection started in three days. This indicates that the early infection occurs under which diurnal temperature is approximately $25^{\circ}$, nocturnal temperature is maintained below $15^{\circ}$, and population density of air-borne conidia is 104 conidia/ $0.5\textrm{m}^3$ at saturated relative humidity condition.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.398-405
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• 2020

Nutrient manipulation is a promising strategy for controlling plant diseases in sustainable agriculture. Although many studies have investigated the relationships between certain elements and plant diseases, few have comprehensively explored how differing mineral nutrition levels might affect plant-fungal pathogen interactions, namely plant susceptibility and resistance. Here, we systematically explored the effects of the seven mineral elements that plants require in the greatest amounts for normal development on the susceptibility of soybean plants (Glycine max) to Fusarium oxysporum infection in controlled greenhouse conditions. Nitrogen (N) negligibly affected plant susceptibility to infection in the range 4 to 24 mM for both tested soybean cultivars. At relatively high concentrations, phosphorus (P) increased plant susceptibility to infection, which led to severely reduced shoot and root dry weights. Potassium (K), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), and iron (Fe) induced plant resistance to infection as their concentrations were increased. For K and Ca, moderate concentrations had a positive effect on plant resistance to the pathogen, whereas relatively high doses of either element adversely affected plant growth and promoted disease symptoms. Further experiments were conducted, assessing disease suppression by selected combinations of macro-elements and Fe at screened concentrations, i.e., K (9 mM) plus Fe (0.2 mM), and S (4 mM) plus Fe (0.2 mM). The disease index was significantly reduced by the combination of K plus Fe. In conclusion, this systematic investigation of soybean plant responses to F. oxysporum infection provides a solid basis for future environmentally-friendly choices for application in soybean disease control programs.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.56 no.3
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• pp.255-263
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• 2023

Objectives: The study investigated the association between indoor air pollution (IAP) and risk factors for acute respiratory infection (ARI) symptoms in children under 5 years of age. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using data derived from Indonesia Demographic and Health Survey in 2017. Binary logistic regression modeling was employed to examine each predictor variable associated with ARI among children under 5 years of age in Indonesia. Results: The study included a total of 4936 households with children. Among children under 5 years old, 7.2% reported ARI symptoms. The presence of ARI symptoms was significantly associated with the type of residence, wealth index, and father's smoking frequency, which were considered the sample's socio-demographic characteristics. In the final model, living in rural areas, having a high wealth index, the father's smoking frequency, and a low education level were all linked to ARI symptoms. Conclusions: The results revealed that households in rural areas had a substantially higher level of reported ARI symptoms among children under 5 years old. Furthermore, the father's smoking frequency and low education level were associated with ARI symptoms.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2002

Purpose; Dysregulation of gastric epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis are important in development of ulcer, atrophy and neoplasia in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of infection of H. pylori on gastric epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis in children. Methods: Histological grading by updated Sydney system, PCNA immunostaining and TUNEL method were performed in H. pylori positive (N=58) and negative (N=40) gastric biopsy specimens. Results: In H. pylori positive children, there were significantly higher grade of polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (P=0.000), chronic inflammation (P=0.000), epithelial damage (P=0.000) and lymphoid follicles (P=0.000) than in H. pylori negative children. Intestinal metaplasia was not seen in H. pylori positive children. PCNA index was significantly different between H. pylori positive children ($67.8{\pm}18.13$) and H. pylori negative children ($54.8{\pm}14.46$, P=0.000). There was positive correlation between PCNA index and H. pylori density (r=0.277, P=0.007), polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (r=0.280, P=0.007) and chronic inflammation (r=0.284, P=0.006). Apoptosis index of H. pylori positive children ($0.44{\pm}0.447$) was significantly higher than of H. pylori negative children ($0.14{\pm}0.196$, P=0.000). There was positive correlation between apoptosis index and H. pylori density (r=0.472, P=0.000), polymorphonuclear neutrophil activity (r=0.370, P=0.001) and chronic inflammation (r=0.483, P=0.000). There was positive correlation between PCNA index and apoptosis index (r=0.353, P=0.003). Conclusion: The PCNA and apoptosis index in H. pylori positive children were significantly higher than in H. pylori negative children. This study suggested that gastric epithelial cell proliferation and apoptosis are important to pathogenesis of H. pylori infection in children.