• Journal of Menopausal Medicine
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• 제23권3호
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• pp.139-145
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• 2017

Bacterial vaginosis (BV) and complicated vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) are frequently occurring vaginal infections in postmenopausal women, caused by an imbalance in vaginal microflora. Postmenopausal women suffer from decreased ovarian hormones estrogen and progesterone. A normal, healthy vaginal microflora mainly comprises Lactobacillus species (spp.), which act beneficially as a bacterial barrier in the vagina, interfering with uropathogens. During premenopausal period, estrogen promotes vaginal colonization by lactobacilli that metabolizing glycogen and producing lactic acid, and maintains intravaginal health by lowering the intravaginal pH level. A lower vaginal pH inhibits uropathogen growth, preventing vaginal infections. Decreased estrogen secretion in postmenopausal women depletes lactobacilli and increases intravaginal pH, resulting in increased vaginal colonization by harmful microorganisms (e.g., Enterobacter, Escherichia coli, Candida, and Gardnerella). Probiotics positively effects on vaginal microflora composition by promoting the proliferation of beneficial microorganisms, alters the intravaginal microbiota composition, prevents vaginal infections in postmenopausal. Probiotics also reduce the symptoms of vaginal infections (e.g., vaginal discharge, odor, etc.), and are thus helpful for the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC. In this review article, we provide information on the intravaginal mechanism of postmenopausal vaginal infections, and describes the effectiveness of probiotics in the treatment and prevention of BV and VVC.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제50권4호
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• pp.376-380
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• 2007

목 적 : 중추 신경계를 제외한 기타 경미한 감염의 경우에 유발성 경련 및 열성 경련과의 연관성에 대해 조사하였고, 또한 이러한 경련 환아들을 추적해 보았을 때 비유발성 경련으로의 발현과는 어떠한 관련성을 보이는가에 관해 통계적으로 분석하고자 하였다. 방 법 : 첫 경련을 주소로 내원한 환아 중에서 중추 신경계에 관련된 감염을 제외한 경미한 감염을 원인으로 하는 경우를 대상으로 하였고, 이를 유발성 경련과 열성 경련으로 구분하여 이에 따른 원인별 비교 및 역학적 조사를 실시하였다. 또한 이러한 유발성 경련과 열성 경련 환아를 대상으로 1년 이상의 추적 관찰을 시행하여 비유발성 경련으로의 이행 여부를 조사하고 통계 분석을 실시하였다. 결 과 : 총 120명의 환아들 중에서 유발성 경련은 36명, 열성 경련은 84명이었고, 여러 원인들 가운데 위장관염과 호흡기계 감염이 대부분을 차지하여 두 원인 군에 따른 비교 분석을 시행하였다. 유발성 경련의 경우는 위장관염이 가장 많은 원인을 차지하였고, 열성 경련의 경우는 호흡기계 감염이 많은 원인을 차지하였으며 이러한 경미한 감염원인 인자들과 경련과의 분포 차이는 통계적으로 유의하게 나타났다. 그러나 경련에 따른 비유발성 경련으로의 이행의 차이는 통계적으로 유의하지 않은 것으로 나타나 향후 보다 장기적인 추적관찰이 시행되어져야 할 것으로 사료된다. 결 론 : 소아에서 감염에 관련된 이러한 경련의 경우는 중추 신경계에 관련된 경우보다 경련에 대한 주의와 신속한 대처가 상대적으로 미흡했다고 볼 수 있다. 그러나 앞으로는 이러한 경미한 감염이 있는 경우에도 세심한 관찰과 주의가 필요하다고 보여지며 향후 비유발성 경련 발현에 대한 지속적인 추적관찰이 필요하다고 생각된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제74권2호
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• pp.63-69
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• 2013

Background: Aiming to improve outcome of lung transplantation (LTx) patients, we reviewed risk factors and treatment practices for the LTx recipients who experienced respiratory infection in the late post-LTx period (>1 month after LTx). Methods: We analyzed the clinical data of 48 recipients and donors from 61 LTx, who experienced late respiratory infections. Late respiratory infections were classified according to the etiology, time of occurrence, and frequency of donor-to-host transmission or colonization of the recipient prior to transplantation. Results: During the period of observation, 42 episodes of respiratory infections occurred. The organisms most frequently involved were gram (-) bacteria: Acinetobacter baumannii (n=13, 31.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=7, 16.7%), and Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=4, 10.0%). Among the 42 episodes recorded, 14 occurred in the late post-LTx period. These were bacterial (n=6, 42.9%), fungal (n=2, 14.3%), viral (n=4, 28.5%), and mycobacterial (n=2, 14.3%) infections. Of 6 bacterial infections, 2 were from multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii and one from each of MDR P. aeruginosa, extended spectrum ${\beta}$-lactamase (+) K. pneumoniae, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Streptococcus pneumoniae. Infection-related death occurred in 6 of the 14 episodes (43%). Conclusion: Although the frequency of respiratory infection decreased sharply in the late post-LTx period, respiratory infection was still a major cause of mortality. Gram (-) MDR bacteria were the agents most commonly identified in these infections.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제16권8호
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• pp.1180-1184
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• 2006

The capsule that surrounds Yersinia pestis cells is composed of a protein-polysacchride complex; the purified protein component is fraction I (F1) antigen. We report the cloning of the cafl gene and its expression in Escherichia coli using the vector pETl02/D-TOPO and the F1-specific monoclonal antibody. The recombinant F1 (rF1) antigen had a molecular size of 17.5 kDa, which was identical to that of the F1 antigen produced by Y. pestis. Recombinant F1 protein was found to react to polyclonal antiserum to Y. pestis Fl. Recombinant F1 was purified by ProBond purification system and induced a protective immune response in BALB/c mice challenged with up to 10$^5$ virulent Y. pestis. Purified rF1 protein was used in an ELISA to evaluate the ability of a method to detect antibodies to Y. pestis in animal sera. These results strongly indicated that the rF1 protein is a suitable species-specific immunodiagnostic antigen and vaccine candidate.

• 농촌의학ㆍ지역보건
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• 제15권1호
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• pp.49-55
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• 1990

Zoonoses are those diseases and infections that are naturally transmitted between vertebrate animals and man. At present, approximately 175 diseases caused by virus, rickettsia, bacteria, protozoa and helminthes as well as some of arthropods and the number is continually increasing. Although zoonoses are generally recognized as significant health problems, the actual prevalence and incidence of zoonotic infections is difficult to determine. Medical services in a rural area are scarce and ill persons may have little chance to see a physician. Furthermore, a lack of physician awareness and of appropriate diagnostic support is made often misdiagnosis. In rural Korea, parasitic disease is still important subject in the field of zoonotic infections considering its number and morbidity. Recently there was conspicuous reduction of soil-transmitted parasitic diseases (i.e. ascariasis. hookworms, trichuriasis), but clonorchiasis. intestinal trematodiases and taeniasis are a considerable problem. This is often significantly related to human behavioral patterns based on socio-economic and cultural conditions and linked with the local biologic and physical environment. The most of all parasitic zoonoses to man and animals are the food-transmitted parasitic diseases, and domestic animals such as dog, cat, pig, as well as fat and some mammals, ruminants and birds are act as reservoir hosts. In the present topics, current problems of parasitic zoonoses caused by protozoan infections (i. e. toxoplasmosis, pneumocystosis and cryptosporidiosis) which are the most common opportunistic in AIDS or immunocompromised persons, trematode infections (i.e. clonorchiasis, paragonimiasis and some intestinal tremadodiases). cestode infections such as cysticercosis and sparganosis, and some nematode infections of anisakiasis, thelaziasis and strongyloidiasis, are discussed here those on the occurrence in man and animals and the source of transmission as well as prevention and control measures in Korea.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제60권4호
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• pp.112-117
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• 2017

Purpose: The aims of this study were to compare serum procalcitonin (PCT) levels between febrile children with Kawasaki disease (KD) and those with bacterial or viral infections, and assess the clinical usefulness of PCT level in predicting KD. Methods: Serum PCT levels were examined in febrile pediatric patients admitted between August 2013 and August 2014. The patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: 49 with KD, 111 with viral infections, and 24 with bacterial infections. Results: The mean PCT level in the KD group was significantly lower than that in the bacterial infection group ($0.82{\pm}1.73ng/mL$ vs. $3.11{\pm}6.10ng/mL$, P=0.002) and insignificantly different from that in the viral infection group ($0.23{\pm}0.34ng/mL$, P=0.457). The mean erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) and C-reactive protein (CRP) level in the KD group were significantly higher than those in the viral and bacterial infection groups (P<0.001 and P<0.001 for ESR, P<0.001 and P=0.005 for CRP, respectively). The proportion of patients in the KD group with PCT levels of >1.0 ng/mL was significantly higher in the nonresponders to the initial intravenous immunoglobulin treatment than in the responders (36% vs. 8%, P=0.01). Conclusion: PCT levels may help to differentiate KD from bacterial infections. A combination of disease markers, including ESR, CRP, and PCT, may be useful for differentiating between KD and viral/bacterial infections.

• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.799-806
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• 2006

Fungi cause a number of plant and animal diseases. Because fungi are more chemically and genetically similar to animals than other organisms, this makes fungal diseases very difficult to treat. Human fungal infections are uncommon in normally healthy persons, being confined to conditions such as candidiasis (thrush) and dermatophyte skin infections such as athlete's foot. However, in the immunocompromised host, a variety of normally mild or nonpathogenic fungi can cause potentially fatal infections. Furthermore, the relative ease with which people can now visit 'exotic' countries provides the means for unusual fungal infections to be imported into this country. Fungal infections or mycoses are classified depending on the degree of tissue involvement and mode of entry into the host. These are Cutaneous, Subcutaneous, Systemic, and Opportunistic. As listed above, in superficial mycoses infection is localised to the skin, the hair, and the nails. An example is 'ringworm' or 'tinea', an infection of the skin by a dermatophyte. Ringworm refers to the characteristic central clearing that often occurs in dermatophyte infections of the skin. Dermatophyte members of the genera Trycophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton are responsible for the disease. Tinea can infect various sites of the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis), the beard (tinea barbae) the foot (tinea pedis: 'athlete's foot') and the groin (tinea cruris). All occur in the United Kingdom although tinea infections, other than pedis, are now rare. Candids albicans is a yeast causing candidiasis or 'thrush' in humans. As a superficial mycoses, candidiasis typically infects the mouth or vagina. C. albicans is part of the normal flora of the vagina and gastrointestinal tract and is termed a 'commensal' However, during times of ill health or impaired immunity the balance can alter and the organism multiplies to cause disease. Antibiotic treatment can also alter the normal bacterial flora allowing C. albicans to flourish. If we study mycoses of the orient medicine, we can improve the medical skills about mycoses.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• 제14권2호
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• pp.117-126
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• 2020

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Vitamin D and zinc are recognized for their roles in immune-modulation, and their deficiencies are suggested to be important risk factors for childhood infections. This study, therefore, undertook to assess the occurrence of infections in rural Indian schoolchildren, subsequent to daily supplementation with vitamin D-calcium or zinc for 6 months. SUBJECTS/METHODS: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial in apparently healthy 6-12 year-old rural Indian children, recruited to 3 study arms: vitamin D arm (1,000 IU D3 - 500 mg calcium, n = 135), zinc arm (10 mg, n = 150) and placebo arm (n = 150). The infection status was assessed using a validated questionnaire, and the biochemical parameters of serum 25(OH)D and serum zinc were measured by ELISA and colorimetry, respectively. The primary outcome variable was occurrence of infections (upper respiratory and total infections). RESULTS: Serum 25(OH)D concentration in the vitamin D arm improved significantly by 34%, from 59.7 ± 10.9 nmol/L to 80 ± 23.3 nmol/L (P < 0.0001), but no improvement was observed for serum zinc concentration. While there was significant increase in the percentage of children reporting no or mild upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) and total infections (TI) in all three groups, improvements in the supplemented groups were similar to the placebo group. However, the vitamin D arm reported lower URTI and TI status in the vitamin D sufficient versus insufficient children. Also, URTI and TI status were found to be significantly (P < 0.0001) lower in children with improved 25(OH)D versus unchanged 25(OH)D. CONCLUSIONS: Vitamin D-calcium supplementation helped to improve the vitamin D status but exerts no effect on the occurrence of infections when compared to the placebo group. Improvement in the serum 25(OH)D concentrations and attainment of vitamin D sufficiency may exert a beneficial effect on the infection status and needs to be investigated further. To evaluate the efficacy of zinc supplementation, higher dosages need to be administered in future studies.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제19권2호
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

목적: 본 연구는 단일 기관에서 소아암 환자의 2009 인플루엔자 A(H1N1) [A(H1N1)pdm09] 감염 양상을 조사하고 이전의 계절 인플루엔자 감염과 비교 분석하고자 하였다. 방법: 삼성서울병원에서 2009년 8월부터 2010년 2월까지 A(H1N1)pdm09 감염, 2000년 1월부터 2009년 5월까지 계절 인플루엔자 A 감염이 확진된 소아암 환자의 의무기록을 후향적으로 분석하였다. 결과: 82명의 소아암 환자에서 A(H1N1)pdm09 감염이 확진되었다. 10명(12.2%)의 환자에서 하기도 감염증 또는 호흡기 외 감염이 발생하였다. 3명(3.7%)의 환자가 사망하였고 그 중 2명은 A(H1N1)pdm09 기여 사망이었다. 합병된 감염증과 관련하여 유의성을 가지는 위험인자는 감염의 시점(2009년 44-45주)과 병원 내 감염이었다. 이전의 계절 인플루엔자 A 감염과 비교하였을 때 임상적 특성에는 유의한 차이가 없었으나 A(H1N1) pdm09 감염에서 적극적인 항바이러스제 치료가 시행되었다. 결론: 소아암 환자에서 A(H1N1)pdm 감염은 경증부터 중증까지 다양한 임상 경과를 보였으며 이전의 계절 인플루엔자와 비교했을 때 임상 양상의 유의한 차이는 없었다.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제38권4호
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• pp.275-277
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• 2000

The status of intestinal parasite infections was investigated in two rural villages (Chitrasar, Jerona) in Chitwan District, Nepal in 1999. Stool examination was performed with a total of 300 specimens from schoolchildren by formalin-ether sedinentation technique. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite infections in the surveyed areas was 44.0%. The prevalence rate in Jerona was slightly higher than that in Chitrasar. The prevalence rate of intestinal parasite infections in female was slighly higher than that in male without statistically significant difference. Entamoeba coli was the most commonly found protozoan parasite (21.0%) followed by Giardia lamblia (13.7%) and others (5.3%). Hookworm was the most prevalent intestinal helminth (13.0%) followed by Trichuris trichiura (3.0%) and others (5.0%). forty-three specimens (14.3%) Showed mixed infections. It is necessary to implement large-scale treatment with anthelminthics, health education and sanitary improvement for intestinal parasite control in the surveyed areas.