• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.165-175
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• 2016

Objectives: The present study was undertaken to study the maternal risk factors for preterm birth (PTB) and low birth weight (LBW) with a special emphasis on assessing the proportions of maternal genitourinary and periodontal infections among Indian women and their association with adverse pregnancy outcomes. Methods: A hospital-based prospective study comprising 790 pregnant women visiting the obstetrics clinic for a routine antenatal check-up was undertaken. Once recruited, all study participants underwent clinical and microbiological investigations for genitourinary infections followed by a dental check-up for the presence of periodontitis. The study participants were followed up until their delivery to record the pregnancy outcomes. Infectious and non-infectious risk factors for PTB and LBW were assessed using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. Independent risk factors for PTB and LBW were reported in terms of adjusted relative risk (ARR) with the 95% confidence interval (CI). Results: Rates of PTB and LBW in the study population were 7.6% and 11.4%, respectively. Previous preterm delivery (ARR, 5.37; 95% CI, 1.5 to 19.1), periodontitis (ARR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.9), Oligohydramnios (ARR, 5.23; 95% CI, 2.4 to 11.5), presence of Nugent's intermediate vaginal flora (ARR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.4 to 5.1), gestational diabetes mellitus (ARR, 2.91; 95% CI, 1.0 to 8.3), and maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.1 to 4.1) were risk factors for PTB, while periodontitis (ARR, 3.38; 95% CI, 1.6 to 6.9), gestational hypertension (ARR, 3.70; 95% CI, 1.3 to 10.8), maternal height <1.50 m (ARR, 2.66; 95% CI, 1.3 to 5.1) and genital infection during later stages of pregnancy (ARR, 2.79; 95% CI, 1.2 to 6.1) were independent risk factors for LBW. Conclusions: Our study findings underscore the need to consider screening for potential genitourinary and periodontal infections during routine antenatal care in developing countries.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• 제60권2호
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

The zoonotic transmission of viral diseases to humans is a serious public health concern. Pigs are frequently a major reservoir for several zoonotic viral diseases. Therefore, periodic surveillance is needed to determine the infection rates of zoonotic diseases in domestic pigs. Hepatitis E virus (HEV), rotavirus, sapovirus (SaV), and norovirus (NoV) are potential zoonotic viruses. In this study, 296 fecal samples were collected from weaned piglets and growing pigs in 13 swine farms, and the viral RNA was extracted. Partial viral genomes were amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or nested-PCR using virus-specific primer sets under different PCR conditions. HEV-3, rotavirus A, and SaV genogoup 3 were detected from 11.5, 2.7, and 3.0% of the samples, respectively. On the other hand, NoV was not detected in any of the samples. Genetic analysis indicated that the nucleotide sequences of swine HEV-3 and rotavirus A detected in this study were closely related to those of human isolates. However, swine SaV was distant from the human strains. These results suggest that HEV-3 and rotavirus A can be transmitted from pigs to humans. Therefore, strict preventive measures should be implemented by workers in the swine industry to prevent infections with HEV-3 and rotavirus A excreted from pigs.

• Korean Journal of Soil Science and Fertilizer
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.105-111
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• 2013

The experiments were carried out to investigate the biocontrol potential of Lysobacter capsici YS1215 on root-knot nematode and to characterize its lytic enzyme activities. L. capsici YS1215 showed chitinase and gelatinase activities on the medium containing 0.5% chitin or 0.5% gelatin as substrates. Cell growth of L. capsici YS1215 was highest at 6 days, and the highest activities of chitinase (4.0 unit $ml^{-1}$) and gelatinase (7.43 unit $ml^{-1}$) were observed on 3 and 5 days after incubation, respectively. To investigate the effect of L. capsici YS1215 on tomato growth and nematode infection, the plants in pot trial were treated with bacterial culture (BC), half of bacterial culture (HBC), only bacterial medium (BM), tap water (TW) and commercial nematicide (CN). HBC treatd plants showed the higher shoot fresh weight and dry weight on $5^{th}$week after incubation while BM, HBC and BC had consistently higher values than TW at $9^{th}$ week. HBC appeared to be the highest shoot fresh length at $9^{th}$ week. Both CN and BC showed lower number of egg mass, root gall, and population of juveniles in soil compared to BC, HBC, BM and TW. These results suggest that L. capsici YS1215 with its strong ability of lytic enzyme production can be one of the most significant candidates for biocontrol agents against root-knot nematodes.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.267-278
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• 1991

The natural killer (NK) cell activity of splenocytes and recycling capacity of NK cells were observed by combining the $^{51}Cr-release$ cytotoxicity assay and single cell cytotoxicity assay against YAC-1. The ICR mice were infected intranasally with Naegleria fewleri, that is a pathogenic free-living amoeba. The mice infected with $1{\times}10^5$ trophosoites showed mortality rate of 76.7% and mean survival time of 12. 9 days. The cytotoxic activity of NK cells in infected mice was significantly higher than that of non-infected mice during the period between 12 hours and day 3 after infection, and highest on day 1. The target-binding capacity of NK cells in infected mice was not different from that of non-infected ones. Maximal killing potential and maximal recycling capacity were remarkably increased in infected mice as compared with the control. The results obtained in this observation indicated that elevated NK cell activity in mice infected with N. fowieri was not due to target-binding capacity of NK cells but due to the increased activity of NK cells and increased recycling capacity of individual NK cells.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권6호
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• pp.671-680
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• 2019

Cathepsin D (CatD, EC 3.4.23.5) is a member belonging to the subfamily of aspartic endopeptidases, which are classified into the MEROPS clan AA, family A1. Helminth parasites express a large set of different peptidases that play pivotal roles in parasite biology and pathophysiology. However, CatD is less well known than the other classes of peptidases in terms of biochemical properties and biological functions. In this study, we identified 2 novel CatDs (CsCatD1 and CsCatD2) of Clonorchis sinensis and partially characterized their properties. Both CsCatDs represent typical enzymes sharing amino acid residues and motifs that are tightly conserved in the CatD superfamily of proteins. Both CsCatDs showed similar patterns of expression in different developmental stages of C. sinensis, but CsCatD2 was also expressed in metacercariae. CsCatD2 was mainly expressed in the intestines and eggs of C. sinensis. Sera obtained from rats experimentally infected with C. sinensis reacted with recombinant CsCatD2 beginning 2 weeks after infection and the antibody titers were gradually increased by maturation of the parasite. Structural analysis of CsCatD2 revealed a bilobed enzyme structure consisting of 2 antiparallel β-sheet domains packed against each other forming a homodimeric structure. These results suggested a plausible biological role of CsCatD2 in the nutrition and reproduction of parasite and its potential utility as a serodiagnostic antigen in clonorchiasis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제22권3호
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• pp.136-142
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• 2015

The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases (KSPID) has participated in the task force team consisting of government authorities as well as civil medical experts and facilities to block the spread of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome in 2015. KSPID posted the "Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) Pop-up" in the homepage of The Korean Pediatric Society and The Korean Society of Pediatric Infectious Diseases. KSPID also released the "Guidelines for testing for MERS in children and adolescents" and the "Instructions for the Operation of National Safe Hospital" for children and adolescents in a timely manner. Such actions were aimed to prevent unnecessary anxieties, studies and isolation of pediatric patients with respiratory symptoms and signs caused by other common microbial etiologies as being suspected for MERS patients. This strategy relieved the doctors and parents from unnecessary fear and prevented the loss of unnecessary health care costs, and has proven to be a well-judged guideline and management protocol as evaluated after the final end of MERS outbreak. KSPID and its members should support the presence of pediatric infectious disease (PID) specialists in every medium size hospitals in Korea by developing the need for consultation fees for PID consultation in the hospital based practice and promoting the potential for cost savings related to prevention of health care associated infections and optimal prescription of antimicrobial agents. KSPID and its members need to approach and develop a communication plan to political decision makers to demonstrate and convince them of the importance of a PID specialist service.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제22권6호
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• pp.41.1-41.14
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• 2021

Background: Our previously prepared ceftiofur (CEF) hydrochloride oily suspension shows potential wide applications for controlling swine Streptococcus suis infections, while the irrational dose has not been formulated. Objectives: The rational dose regimens of CEF oily suspension against S. suis were systematically studied using a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model method. Methods: The healthy and infected pigs were intramuscularly administered CEF hydrochloride oily suspension at a single dose of 5 mg/kg, and then the plasma and pulmonary epithelial lining fluid (PELF) were collected at different times. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimal bactericidal concentration, mutant prevention concentration (MPC), post-antibiotic effect (PAE), and time-killing curves were determined. Subsequently, the area under the curve by the MIC (AUC_0-24h/MIC) values of desfuroylceftiofur (DFC) in the PELF was obtained by integrating in vivo pharmacokinetic data of the infected pigs and ex vivo pharmacodynamic data using the sigmoid E_max (Hill) equation. The dose was calculated based on the AUC_0-24h/MIC values for bacteriostatic action, bactericidal action, and bacterial elimination. Results: The peak concentration, the area under the concentration-time curve, and the time to peak for PELF's DFC were 24.76 ± 0.92 ㎍/mL, 811.99 ± 54.70 ㎍·h/mL, and 8.00 h in healthy pigs, and 33.04 ± 0.99 ㎍/mL, 735.85 ± 26.20 ㎍·h/mL, and 8.00 h in infected pigs, respectively. The MIC of PELF's DFC against S. suis strain was 0.25 ㎍/mL. There was strong concentration-dependent activity as determined by MPC, PAE, and the time-killing curves. The AUC_0-24h/MIC values of PELF's DFC for bacteriostatic activity, bactericidal activity, and virtual eradication of bacteria were 6.54 h, 9.69 h, and 11.49 h, respectively. Thus, a dosage regimen of 1.94 mg/kg every 72 h could be sufficient to reach bactericidal activity. Conclusions: A rational dosage regimen was recommended, and it could assist in increasing the treatment effectiveness of CEF hydrochloride oily suspension against S. Suis infections.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• 제53권6호
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• pp.756-760
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• 2021

Frankincense has been used as a traditional medicine for treating rheumatoid arthritis, dermatitis, and muscle pain. In this study, the anti-tuberculosis effects of Frankincense were evaluated in immune responses of macrophages. Frankincense methanol extract was not cytotoxic to the host. The 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide reduction assay using human macrophage (THP-1) cells did not show cytotoxic effects or morphological changes with treatments of 31.3, 62.5, and 125 ㎍/mL Frankincense methanol extract (FRM). Inhibitory effects of Frankincense methanol extract on the growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in human macrophages were investigated. The immune response was measured by monitoring the levels of TNF-α and IL-1β in THP-1 cells with or without M. tuberculosis infection under Frankincense methanol extract treatment. Inflammatory cytokine levels and M. tuberculosis numbers were reduced in THP-1 cells treated with Frankincense methanol extract. Therefore, Frankincense methanol extract could be used as a potential anti-tuberculosis agent.

• Journal of Marine Life Science
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• 제4권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2019

Fucoidan is a physiologically functional ingredient extracted from seaweed brown algae, which is a sulfated polysaccharide containing fucose as a main molecule backbone. Fucoidan has a variety of immune-modulating or -stimulating effects, including promoting antigen uptake and enhancing anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-tumor effects. In addition, recent studies have suggested the possibility of use of fucoidan as a vaccine adjuvant in the field of human vaccine. Use of fucoidan as supplementary feeds have already been studied, but the development of fucoidan as an adjuvant of fish vaccine is still premature. However, the intracellular uptake of fucoidan differs depending on the molecular weight of fucoidan, and there is a limit to the study on specific immune response including the production of antibodies to fish caused by an artificial infection of pathogen. Although the safety of fucoidan has been demonstrated in animal cells, there is a need to confirm the safety of fucoidan in fish. Therefore, active research in this field is needed to use fucoidan as a vaccine adjuvant. This study discussed the effects of fucoidan on immune stimulation, humoraland cellular- immunity including humans and animals. The prospect of fucoidan as a vaccine adjuvant in fisheries also reviewed.

• Journal of Animal Science and Technology
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• 제61권2호
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• pp.55-60
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• 2019

Colibacillosis is one of the major health problems in young piglets resulting in poor health and death caused by Escherichia coli producing F18 pili and Shiga toxin 2e. It is pivotal to reduce colibacillosis in weaned piglets to enhance production performance. In this study, we evaluated synbiotics as the gut health improvement agents in the mouse model challenged with Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) isolated from piglets. Prebiotic lactulose was formulated with each $5.0{\times}10^6CFU/mL$ of Pediococcus acidilactici GB-U15, Lactobacillus plantarum GB-U17, and Lactobacillus plantarum GB 1-3 to produce 3 combinations of synbiotics. A total of 40 three weeks old BALB/c mice were randomly assigned to 4 groups (n = 10): a control group and 3 synbiotics treated groups. Each treatment groups were daily administrated with $5.0{\times}10^6CFU/mL$ of one synbiotics for the first week, and every 3 days during the second week. All the mice were challenged with $8.0{\times}10^8CFU/mL$ of STEC 5 days after animals began to receive synbiotics. Mice treated with synbiotics based on Pediococcus acidilactici GB-U15 and Lactobacillus plantarum GB-U17 significantly improved daily weight gain compared to mice in other groups. While mice treated with GB-U15 showed better fecal index, no significant differences were observed among groups. Gross lesion and histopathological evaluations showed that mice treated with GB-U15 moderately improved recovery from STEC infection. In conclusion, our results suggest that the synbiotics formulated with lactulose and Pediococcus acidilactici GB-U15 have potential benefits to prevent and improve colibacillosis in weaned piglets.