• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.53-61
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• 2019

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is a successful surgical treatment for both patients with chronical lameness and dogs who are nonresponsive to medical treatments, providing excellent joint function for returning dogs to the normal gait in 80% to 98% of hip dysplasia (HD) patients. The THA surgical implant system manufactured by BioMedtrix and Kyon are today widely accepted. When comparing the BioMedtrix biological fixation (BFX) system to the BioMedtrix cemented fixation (CFX) system, the many advantages of BFX, which include longer potential implant life, decreased risk of postoperative or later infection, and better implant stability, become evident. However, BFX implies a greater risk of femoral fracture during reaming and requires a more precise surgical technique to achieve good implant fit, given the press-fit nature of cementless THA. The purposes of this study are to both describe the mistakes and complications during stem implantation for beginner surgeons with both the BFX and the CFX systems and to document the initial result of 12 implantations in canine cadavers. Given the detailed evaluations of 3 specialists, who are Diplomate American College of Veterinary Surgeons (DACVS), only 3 of 11 stems were appropriately sized. Specifically, 6 stems were anteverted rather than being retroverted; further, although 7 stems were coaxial with the femoral long axis in the frontal plane, the other stems were in the varus at the frontal plane, with the proximal medial stem adjacent to the medial femoral cortex. Moderate angulation from the cranial to the caudal directions was found in 4 cases in the sagittal plane. Additionally, 1 case of femoral fissure and 1 case of perforated femoral cortex were reported. It is not easy for surgeons performing cementless THA for the first time to achieve a good result, even though they completed an educational course about it and given that catastrophic complications often occurred during early surgical clinical cases. Therefore, ex-vivo studies are sincerely required to get an expertise by rehearsing the preparation of the femoral envelop in isolated bones. Further studies should be conducted to achieve both highly accurate implant size and correct orientation during the preoperative planning. Additionally, surgeons' learning curve should be examined in future investigations.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.36 no.1
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• pp.7-14
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• 2019

In South Korea, six large outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) have occurred since the first confirmation in 2003 from chickens. For the past 15 years, HPAI outbreaks have become an annual phenomenon throughout the country and has extended to wider regions, across rural and urban environments. An understanding of the spatial epidemiology of HPAI occurrence is essential in assessing and managing the risk of the infection; however, local spatial variations of relationship between HPAI incidences in Korea and related risk factors have rarely been derived. This study examined whether spatial heterogeneity exists in this relationship, using a geographically weighted Poisson regression (GWPR) model. The outcome variable was the number of HPAI-positive farms at 252 Si-Gun-Gu (administrative boundaries in Korea) level notified to government authority during the period from January 2014 to April 2016. This response variable was regressed to a set of sociodemographic and topographic predictors, including the number of wild birds infected with HPAI virus, the number of wintering birds and their species migrated into Korea, the movement frequency of vehicles carrying animals, the volume of manure treated per day, the number of livestock farms, and mean elevation. Both global and local modeling techniques were employed to fit the model. From 2014 to 2016, a total of 403 HPAI-positive farms were reported with high incidence especially in western coastal regions, ranging from 0 to 74. The results of this study show that local model (adjusted R-square = 0.801, AIC = 954.5) has great advantages over corresponding global model (adjusted R-square = 0.408, AIC = 2323.1) in terms of model fitting and performance. The relationship between HPAI incidence in Korea and seven predictors under consideration were significantly spatially non-stationary, contrary to assumptions in the global model. The comparison between global Poisson and GWPR results indicated that a place-specific spatial analysis not only fit the data better, but also provided insights into understanding the non-stationarity of the associations between the HPAI and associated determinants. We demonstrated that an empirically derived GWPR model has the potential to serve as a useful tool for assessing spatially varying characteristics of HPAI incidences for a given local area and predicting the risk area of HPAI occurrence. Considering the prominent burden of HPAI this study provides more insights into spatial targeting of enhanced surveillance and control strategies in high-risk regions against HPAI outbreaks.

• Journal of Platform Technology
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.3-17
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• 2021

Advanced persistent threat (APT) attacks are attacks aimed at a particular entity as a set of latent and persistent computer hacking processes. These APT attacks are usually carried out through various methods, including spam mail and disguised banner advertising. The same name is also used for files, since most of them are distributed via spam mail disguised as invoices, shipment documents, and purchase orders. In addition, such Infostealer attacks were the most frequently discovered malicious code in the first week of February 2021. CDR is a 'Content Disarm & Reconstruction' technology that can prevent the risk of malware infection by removing potential security threats from files and recombining them into safe files. Gartner, a global IT advisory organization, recommends CDR as a solution to attacks in the form of attachments. There is a program using CDR techniques released as open source is called 'Dangerzone'. The program supports the extension of most document files, but does not support the extension of HWP files that are widely used in Korea. In addition, Gmail blocks malicious URLs first, but it does not block malicious URLs in mail systems such as Naver and Daum, so malicious URLs can be easily distributed. Based on this problem, we developed a 'Dangerzone' program that supports the HWP extension to prevent APT attacks, and a Chrome extension that performs URL checking in Naver and Daum mail and blocking banner ads.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.49-59
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• 2021

This study investigated the use of real-time PCR melting curves for the diagnosis of blaKPC and blaNDM genes among the most frequently detected carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in Korea. As a means of addressing the shortcomings of phenotype tests and conventional PCR. The modified Hodge test confirmed positivity in 25 of 35 strains, and carbapenemase inhibition testing confirmed positivity in 14 strains by meropenem+PBA or meropenem+EDTA. PCR analysis showed amplification products in 25 strains of Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemases (KPC), 10 of K. pneumoniae, 5 of E. coli, 5 of A. baumannii, 4 of P. aeruginosa, and 1 of P. putida. New Delhi metallo β-lactamase (NDM) identified amplification products in 8 strains, that is, 2 K. pneumoniae, 3 E. coli, 1 P. aeruginosa, 1 E. cloacae, and 1 P. retgeri strains. Real-time PCR melting curve analysis confirmed amplification in 25 strains of KPC and 8 strains of NDM, and these results were 100% consistent with PCR results. In conclusion, our findings suggest early diagnosis of carbapenem resistant Enterobacteriaceae by real-time PCR offers a potential means of antibacterial management that can prevent and control nosocomial infection spread.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2022

Purpose: During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, we conducted a Delphi survey that included the experts from the field of COVID-19 immunization in children aged 5-11 years. The aim was to organize collective expert opinions on COVID-19 vaccination in young children in the Republic of Korea, and so thus assist the vaccination policy. Methods: The panels included pediatric infectious disease specialists, preventive medicine experts, infectious disease physicians, and COVID-19 vaccine experts consulting the Ministry of Health and Welfare. The Delphi survey was conducted online using a questionnaire from February 14 to February 27, 2022. Results: The Delphi panels agreed that children were vulnerable to COVID-19, and the severity of illness was modest. Furthermore the panels reported that children with chronic illness were more susceptible to a worsening clinical course. There were generally positive opinions on the effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years, and experts gathered a slightly positive opinion that the adverse events of pediatric COVID-19 were not numerous. The benefits of COVID-19 vaccination were evaluated at a level similar to the potential risks in children. Currently, the only approved mRNA platform vaccine in children seemed to be sustainable; however, the recombinant protein platform COVID-19 vaccines were evaluated as better options. Conclusions: Due to the surge of the Omicron variant and an increase in pediatric cases, the COVID-19 vaccination in young children may have to be considered. Panels had neutral opinions regarding the COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years. Thus monitoring of the epidemiology and the data about the safety of COVID-19 vaccination should be continued.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.16 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2022

This study aims to evaluate the feasibility of the disinfection of clinical ultrasound probes using the vapor fumigation method, which can quickly achieve high-level disinfection. Upon the inspection of the microbial contamination level of clinically used ultrasound probes, nine different types of bacteria were detected. The disinfection efficacy of 7.5% and 35% hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) was comparatively tested for the detected microbes. The 35% H₂O₂ demonstrated superior efficacy per disinfection duration. No significant change was observed in the rubber component of the ultrasound probes as a result of the 35% H₂O₂ disinfection treatment. The probes were contaminated with the microbes detected in the microbial contamination level inspection and subsequently disinfected using the novel medical disinfector that utilizes the vapor fumigation method. As a result, the disinfection using the novel device achieved 100% eradication of the microbes from the probes.This study demonstrates that the novel vapor fumigation method-based disinfector provides a faster and more powerful means of disinfection than the conventional disinfection methods. Therefore, the novel disinfector has the potential to be used as a convenient ultrasound probe disinfector in clinical settings.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.23-35
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• 2022

Recently, passengers using public transport are concerned about the effects of COVID-19 and fine dust. Therefore, from February 2020 to February 2021, we investigated whether SARS-CoV-2 RNA was detected even after disinfection in 55 public transportation places visited by confirmed patients in Seoul. 34 air samples and 702 object surface samples were collected and tested with RT-PCR, one surface sample was positive. In addition, preemptive investigations were conducted in 22 subway trains that passengers were being on board at that time. 1,018 preemptive tests were performed, and all were negative. Although PM-2.5 is dangerous in itself, it can be a potential carrier of viruses. It seemed that a solution was needed as one line continuously exceeded the criteria of PM-2.5. Through this study, it is judged that cluster infection in public transportation can be prevented if efforts to reduce the concentration of fine dust, appropriate disinfection management, and personal disinfection such as wearing a mask in public transportations.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.5
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• pp.310-320
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• 2022

This study aimed to identify the change in the public perception of "bats" after the outbreak of the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. Text mining and network analysis were conducted for blog posts, the largest social network in Korea. We collected 9,241 Naver blog posts from 2019 to 2020 just before the outbreak of COVID-19 in Korea. The data were analyzed with Python and NetMiner 4.3.2, and the public's perception of bats was examined through the relationship of keywords by period. Findings indicated that the frequency of bat keywords in 2020 increased more than 25 times compared to 2019, and the centrality value increased more than three times. The perception of bats changed before and after the outbreak of the pandemic. Prior to COVID-19, bats were highly recognized as a species of wildlife while in the first half of 2020, they were strongly considered as a threat to human society in relation to infectious diseases and health. In the second half of 2020, it was confirmed that the area of interest in bats expanded as the proportion of ecological and cultural types ofresearch increased. This study seeks to contribute to the expansion and direction of future research in bats by understanding the public's interest in the potential impact of the species as disease hosts post the COVID-19 pandemic.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.429-435
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• 2023

Epidemiological studies suggest that maternal infection, maternal stress, and environmental risk factors during pregnancy increase the risk of brain development abnormalities associated with cognitive impairment in the offspring and increase susceptibility to schizophrenia and autism spectrum disorder. Several animal models have demonstrated that maternal immune activation (MIA) is sufficient to induce abnormal brain development and behavioral defects in the fetus. When polyinosine:polycytodylic acid (poly I:C) or lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which is commonly used in maternal immune activation animal models, was introduced into a pregnant dam, an increase in pro-inflammatory cytokines and microglial activity was observed in the offspring's brain. Microglia are brain-resident immune cells that play a mediating role in the central nervous system, and they are responsible for various functions, such as phagocytosis, synapse formation and branching, and angiogenesis. Several studies have reported that microglia are activated in MIA offspring and influence offspring behavior through interactions with various cytokines. In addition, it has been reported that they play an important role in brain circuits through interactions with neurons and astrocytes. However, there is controversy concerning whether microglia are essential to brain development or lead to behavioral defects, and the exact mechanism remains unknown. Therefore, for the potential diagnosis and treatment of brain developmental disorders, a functional study of microglia should be conducted using MIA animal models.

• Journal of the korean academy of Pediatric Dentistry
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.1-12
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• 2023

Function of salivary gland and saliva composition can be an indicator of individual's health status. Recently, saliva has been thought to have a high potential for usage in the biomedical field to diagnose, evaluate, and prevent systemic health due to the technological advances in analyzing and detecting small elements such as immunological and metabolic products, viruses, microorganisms, hormones in saliva. As a diagnostic specimen, saliva has some useful advantages compared to serum. Because of simple non-invasive method, saliva sampling is quite comfort for the patient, and it doesn't require specialists to collect samples. The possibility of infection during the collection process is also low. For this reason, proteins, genetic materials, and various biomarkers in saliva are actively being utilized on studying stress, microbiomics, genetics, and epigenetics. For the research on collecting big data related to systemic health, the needs on biobank has been focused. Regeneration of salivary gland based on tissue engineering has been also on advancement. However, there are still many issues to be solved, such as the standardization of sample collection, storage, and usage. This review focuses on the recent trends in the field of saliva research and highlight the future perspectives in biomedical and other applications.