• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.4
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• pp.241-246
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• 2022

Felids are the unique definitive host of Toxoplasma gondii. The intestine of felid is the only site for initiating Toxoplasma gondii sexual reproduction. T. gondii excretes millions of infectious oocysts from the intestine, which are the primary source of infection. There are many difficulties in developing vaccines and drugs to control oocyst excretion due to the lack of an appropriate experimental model. Here, we established an in vitro feline intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) infection system and an efficient animal model of T. gondii Chinese 1 genotype, Wh6 strain (TgCtwh6). The Kunming mice brain tissues containing TgCtwh6 cysts were harvested 42-day post-infection. The bradyzoites were co-cultured with cat IECs in vitro at a ratio of 1:10. Five 3-month-old domestic cats were orally inoculated with 600 cysts each. The oocysts were detected by daily observation of cat feces by microscopy and polymerase chain reaction. We found that the parasite adhered and invaded cat IECs in vitro, transformed into tachyzoites, and then divided to form rose-like structures. These parasites eventually destroyed host cells, escaped, and finished the asexual reproduction process. Schizonts associated with sexual reproduction have not been observed during development in vitro cultured cells. However, schizonts were detected in all infected cat intestinal epithelial cells, and oocysts were presented in all cat feces. Our study provides a feasible cell model and an efficient infection system for the following studies of T. gondii sexual reproduction, and also lays a foundation to develop drugs and vaccines for blocking excretion and transmission of oocysts.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.84-91
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• 2022

Purpose: The aim of this study was to analyze by age group the characteristics of patients with dog bite injuries, as well as determine which factors were associated with wound infections in those patients. Methods: We reviewed patients with dog bite injuries who presented to Gachon University Gil Medical Center in Incheon, Korea from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2018. They were classified by age group: children (0-18 years), adults (19-59 years), or elderly (≥60 years). Event profiles, wound characteristics, and infections were compared across these age groups. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with wound infections. Results: Of the total 972 dog bite injuries, 272 (28.0%) were in children, 606 (62.3%) were in adults, and 94 (9.7%) were in the elderly. The median age was 30 years (interquartile range, 16-48 years) and the majority of patients (60.5%) were female. The most common place of injury was at home (73.8%) and indoors (77.0%). In children, the head and neck were the most frequent sites of injury (43%), while the most frequent site in adults and the elderly (50.8% and 59.6%, respectively) was the upper extremity. The odds ratio (OR) for wound infection was 3.997 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.279-12.491; P=0.017) for head and neck injuries and 3.881 (95% CI, 1.488-10.122; P=0.006) for lower extremity injuries. The OR for wound infection was 4.769 (95% CI, 2.167-10.494; P<0.001) for significant injuries. Elderly patients had a higher risk for wound infection than other age groups (OR, 2.586; 95% CI, 1.221-5.475; P=0.013). Conclusions: When analyzing patients with dog bite injuries, differences across age groups were found, with the elderly at the highest risk for significant injury and wound infection. It is recommended that age-specific approaches and strategies be used to prevent dog bite wound infections.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2023

Objective : During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, hospital avoidance had a significant impact on public health. We investigated the factors associated with hospital avoidance and explored practical strategies hospitals could employ to address this phenomenon. Methods : We conducted a patient experience survey in a general hospital in Korea during the COVID-19 pandemic. Between July 6, 2020, and July 20, 2020, a total of 842 patients who had previously visited hospitals before the COVID-19 outbreak participated. Self-reported hospital avoidance, factors associated with hospital avoidance, and satisfaction with the hospital's infection control policies were the main outcomes. Binary logistic regression analysis was used to identify associated factors. Results : Data indicated that 29.9% (n=252) of the respondents avoided visiting the hospital after the COVID-19 outbreak. Satisfaction with the hospital infection control policy (odds ratio [OR]=2.297, p<0.001), female sex (OR=1.619, p<0.05), and higher educational level (OR=1.884, p<0.001) were associated with hospital avoidance. The "entrance body temperature check" was the most satisfactory policy among the hospital's infection control policies. Conclusion : To manage hospital avoidance during an infectious disease crisis, targeted policies for at-risk groups and hospital policies to reassure and satisfy patients are needed.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.454-462
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• 1999

Corticosteroids have long been used for anti-inflammatory, anti-rheumatoid and other purposes in hospital. These effects may be due to inhibit immune reaction. So the animal given corticosteroids was more susceptible to infection because of immunosuppressive effect of corticosteroids. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of prednisolone on the lymphocyte subset in the spleen, immunoglobulin in serum, spleen weight, thymus weight and total WBC in peripheral blood. Mice were randomized into 3 groups. Each group has 24 mice. The small dosage group were given by 4 mg/kg/day of prednisolone for 4 days and the large dosage group were given by 8 mg/kg/day respectively. Prednisolone was suspended in saline and orally administered. Mice in control group were given saline alone. Eight mice in each group were sacrificed every week after administration of predisolone. The weight of thymus and spleen were mesured immediately. Lymphocytes were taken from spleen and these cells were analysed by flow cytometry. Also the concentration of total immunoglobulins in serum were assayed by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). T cell, T-helper cell and T-cytotoxic cell were all significantly (P<0.05) decreased at 1 week after administration of predisolone and at 2 weeks they recovered similarly to that of control. Population of B cell showed various distribution. The concentration of total immunoglobulins in serum was not changed significantly. The weight ratio of spleen to body decreased significantly (P＜0.05) during predisolone administration but increased at 1 week later, Eventually the weight ratio was recovered to that of control at 2 weeks. The weight ratio of thymus to body decreased significantly (P<0.05) by prednisolone and recovered gradually up to normal ratio 2 weeks later.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.379-388
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• 1995

This study was based on a series of 369 patients with Oral and Maxillofacial injuries treated at Kumi Hospital, College of Medicine, Soon-Chun-Hyang University from Jan. 1992 to Dec. 1994. The results obtained were as follows : 1. The number of male patient was 310 and that of female was 59, leading to 5.3 : 1 of male-female ratio, and the 3rd decade was the highest age group in incidence. 2. Weekly incidence was the highest in Sun. & Sat. and monthly incidence was the highest in Nov.& Oct. 3. Causes as follows : traffic accident 41.9%, slip& fall down 25.4%, human trouble 16.5%, industrial accident 7.5%, sports 6.7%, etc. 4. Site distribution as follows : mandible fracture 32.3%, maxilla fracture 4.8%, zygoma fracture 21.4%, nasal bone fracture 34.1%, orbital& ethmoidal fracture 4.6%. 5. The most common site of mandible was symphysis & angle, and the ratio of OR & CR was 1.3 : 1. 6. The most common site of maxilla was Le Fort 1, 2, and the ratio of OR & CR was 3 : 1. 7. The most common site of zygoma was body, the ratio of OR & CR was 3.3 : 1. 8 . The mean period of intermaxillary fixation was 4.33weeks. 9. Combined injury in facial fracture was 35.8% : The facial fracture were most frequently combind with head & neck(47.0%), upper extremities and abdomen(9.8%). 10. The mean elapsed time from injury to hospital was 1.9days, and that to operation was 5.1days. 11. The mean number of combined teeth injury was 0.6, and percent of combined soft tissue injury of face was 51.3%. 12. Post-operative complication occurred in 4 out of 323 cases. all of that was infection.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.10
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• pp.4665-4669
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• 2016

Purpose: To evaluate the legitimacy of a diagnosis of ASC-H in 5 cases which were followed up monthly for over 2 years with both cytology and HPV testing. Methods: Some 5 cases out of a total of 25.0 self-sampled Pap test patients diagnosed as ASC-H provided 119 specimens over 2 years, with HPV-DNA testing perormed using a E6 primer. Results: Cases 1, 2 and 3 showed SIL after the ASC-H diagnosis, while cases 4 and 5 showed and maintained NILM. Cases 1, 2 and 3 were further characterized by small atypical compressed binucleated cells, in which HPV was detected by in situ PCR. Case 4 showed a high N/C ratio in cells in sheets with a mild increase in chromatin. Case 5 demonstrated a high N/C ratio in small cells with no increase in chromatin. Conclusion: The finding of a compressed binucleated cells can define the difference between degenerated endocervical columnar cells and small atypical cells suggestive of HSIL. When small compressed binucleated squamous cells are detected, there may be a chance of continuing HPV infection and undetected SIL.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.12 no.4
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• pp.403-410
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• 1979

A Clinical analysis of 64 patients of thoracic empyema was done who received surgical intervention at Dept. of Thoracic Surgery of the Chosun University Hospital in the period of 3 years from September 1976 to October 1979. Following was the results: 1. Seven cases [10.9%] were under the age of 15 years, 16 cases [25%] was between 15-30 years and 41 cases [64.1%] was above the age of 30 years. A proportion of children and adult was 1:8. 2. Male and female ratio was 3:1. Right and left side pleural cavity ratio was 2.4:1. 3. Predisposing factors were pneumonia [35.9%] and pulmonary tuberculosis [28.1%]. 4. Most frequently encountered symptoms were dyspnea, cough, chest pain and fever in order. 5. Etiologic organisms were confirmed in 39 cases [86.7%] which requested in 45 cases. Staphylococcal infections were 11 cases and streptococcal, pneumococcal pseudomonas infection was infected in order. 6. Pneumothorax was associated with empyema on 21 cases [32.8%]; among those 13 cases [61.9%] were tuberculous in nature. 7. Sensitivity test was revealed that Minocin was most very sensitive drug, and next Erythromycin, Gentamycin and Penbrex in order. But most resistant drugs were Penicillin, Kanamycin, Streptomycin and Tetracycline in order. 8. Treatments were combined with antibiotics therapy and several surgical procedures for empyema. 26 cases [40.6%] were treated with closed thoracotomy drainage, 17 cases [26.6%] with open thoracotomy tube drainage and 9 cases decortication and 9 cases thoracoplasty. 9. 2 death cases occurred in 64 cases of thoracic empyema, and 79.7% cases were discharged with recovery and improvement.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.39 no.4
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• pp.267-283
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• 2001

In endemic areas of Taenia tapeworms in Korea, most of the reports showed that T. saginata was dominant over T. solium, but eating pigs is the dominant habit over eating cattle. Why do they have more T saginata despite lower consumption of beef This problem actually has long been recognized but until recently there has been no intensive trial to give a scientific explanation on this epidemiological enigma. By summing up the data published between the years 1963 and 1999, the ratio of armed versus unarmed tapeworms in humans was estimated at approximately 1 :5. The ratio of pig-eaters versus cattle-eaters, however, was approximately 5: 1. This inconsistency could be explained with the recently described T. asiatica, which infects humans through the eating of pig's viscera. We re-evaluate the importance of the consumption of visceral organ of pigs, leading us to an improved epidemiological understanding of the T. asiatica infection together with co-existing T. saginata and T. solium in Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.430-437
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• 1990

We clinically evaluated 121 cases of ventricular septal defect which we operated from April, 1986 to December, 1989 at Inha General Hospital, Seong-Nam, Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, College of Medicine, Inha University. These patients were occupied 54.8% of all congenital heart diseases operated on its same period. Of the 121 patients, 63 patients were male[52.1%] and 58 patients were female[47.9i]. The two most common symptoms were frequent upper respiratory infection and dyspnea on exertion. By Kirklin s anatomical classification, type I constituted 34.7%, type II 61.98%, type III 0.03% and type IV not occupied. Associated cardiac anomalies were found in 34 cases, and PDA was most common associated anomaly, occupied in 22 cases. On the cardiac catheterization data, there were statistically significant correlation between VSD size[cm2 /BSAm2] and systolic pulmonary arterial pressure[sPAP], pulmonary to systemic flow ratio[Qp/Qs] & pulmonary to systemic pressure ratio[Pp/Ps] respectively, Type II [r=0.53, p<0.01] was more correlated than type I [r=0.49, p<0.05] between VSD size and Qp /Qs. We could not found the correlationship between age and Qp/Qs [Type I; r=0.16, Type II; r=-0.15] All cases were operated under cardiopulmonary bypass and 58 cases[46.3%] were operated through the right atrial approach, and 34 cases[28.1%] through the pulmonary arterial approach. Operative mortality rate was 4.13%[5 cases].

• Journal of Sensor Science and Technology
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• v.30 no.5
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• pp.337-341
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• 2021

In this paper, we describe the fabrication of a paper-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to detect polygalacturonase (PG), which is used as a biomarker to determine whether a plant is infected with a disease. The proposed paper-based ELISA can analyze the concentration of PG in a short time using a small sample compared to the traditional ELISA, which is generally performed using a well plate. To increase the resolution of the sensor, we optimized the dilution ratio of the HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG antibody and the dilution ratio of the anti-PG and HRP-conjugated goat anti-rabbit IgG antibodies. Furthermore, for quantitative analysis of PG concentration, Delta RGB analysis was conducted to detect color changes in the sensing window displayed by the PG samples at various concentrations. Based on the experiment, the fabricated paper-based ELISA could measure at least 0.25 ㎍ of PG and the measurement range was 0.25-2 ㎍. Therefore, the paper-based ELISA for detecting PG is expected to be able to determine the presence or absence of disease in crops at the infection stage in the future.