• Infection and chemotherapy
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• v.50 no.4
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• pp.301-310
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• 2018

Backgroud: Influenza vaccination is recommended for adults aged ${\geq}65$ years as they are at high risk of significant morbidity and mortality. This open-label, multicenter, post-marketing surveillance study assessed the safety of the MF59-adjuvanted trivalent inactivated subunit influenza vaccine, which is marketed as $FLUAD^{(R)}$ and $VANTAFLU^{(R)}$, in South Korean subjects aged ${\geq}65$ years. Materials and Methods: Solicited local and systemic adverse events (AEs) were collected from day 1 to 4 of the study. All unsolicited AEs and serious AEs (SAEs) were recorded from day 1 until study termination (day 29). Results: Of the 770 subjects enrolled ($FLUAD^{(R)}$, n = 389; $VANTAFLU^{(R)}$, n = 381), 39% overall experienced any solicited AE. Local AEs were reported by 33% of subjects overall; with the most common events being injection-site pain (30%) and tenderness (27%). Systemic AEs were reported by 19% of subjects overall with the most common events being myalgia (11%) and fatigue (8%). Conclusion: These results show that the MF59-adjuvanted influenza vaccine known as $FLUAD^{(R)}$ or $VANTAFLU^{(R)}$ had acceptable safety profiles in older adults (aged ${\geq}65$ years) in South Korea.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.313-319
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• 2022

Environmental exposure to air pollution is known to have adverse effects on various organs. Air pollution has greater effects on the pulmonary system as the lungs are directly exposed to contaminants in the air. Here, we review the associations of air pollution with the development, morbidity, and mortality of pulmonary diseases. Short-and long-term exposure to air pollution have been shown to increase mortality risk even at concentrations below the current national guidelines. Ambient air pollution has been shown to be associated with lung cancer. Particularly long-term exposure to particulate matter with a diameter <2.5 ㎛ (PM_2.5) has been reported to be associated with lung cancer even at low concentrations. In addition, exposure to air pollution has been shown to increase the incidence risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and has been correlated with exacerbation and mortality of COPD. Air pollution has also been linked to exacerbation, mortality, and development of asthma. Exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) has been demonstrated to be related to increased mortality in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Additionally, air pollution increases the incidence of infectious diseases, such as pneumonia, bronchitis, and tuberculosis. Furthermore, emerging evidence supports a link between air pollution and coronavirus disease 2019 transmission, susceptibility, severity and mortality. In conclusion, the stringency of air quality guidelines should be increased and further therapeutic trials are required in patients at high risk of adverse health effects of air pollution.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.528-533
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• 2004

The immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents that exist in the environment and from other noxious insults. The immune system has two functional divisions: the innate and the acquired. Both components involve various factors such as cytokines. A number of methodologies exist to assess aspects of immune function. There are large inter-individual variations in many immune functions even among the healthy. Genetics, age, gender, smoking habits, habitual levels of exercise, alcohol consumption, diet, stage in the female menstrual cycle, stress, history of infections and vaccinations, and early life experiences are likely to be important contributors to the observed variation. While it is clear that individuals with immune responses significantly below 'normal' are more susceptible to infectious agents and exhibit increased infectious morbidity and mortality, it is not clear how the variation in immune function among healthy individuals relates to variation in susceptibility to infection. Oriental medicine is an important factor contributing to immune competence. The author investigated the immune enhancement effects of Bojungikkitanggami-bang (BITB). The forced swimming test (FST) has been used as a screening model for new immune enhancement agents. In the present study, the author investigated the effects of BITB on FST and blood biochemical parameters related to fatigue, glucose (Glc); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); lactate dehydrogenase (LDH); creatinine; and total protein (TP). The author found that BITB (1 g/kg) significantly reduced the immobility time in the FST compared to the control. In addition, the contents of Glc, LDH, BUN, TP in the blood serum were increased in BITB (1g/kg)-fed group. Also, the author investigated the effects of BITB on the production of cytokines in human T-cell line, MOLT-4 cells. BITB (1 mg/ml) significantly increased the interferon (IFN)-vproduction compared with media control (about 2.2-fold for IFN-γ) at 24 h. However, BITB has not affect the production of IL-2 and IL-4. In addition, BITB increased the protein expression level of IFN-γ in MOLT-4 cells. Thus, BITB may have therapeutic value in generating or enhancing immune function in a clinical setting.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.521-532
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• 2008

The prevalence of major calf disease was investigated in 117 Holstein dairy calves in Chonnam area. All of them were moved in the College experimental farm which is operated in intensive units. clinical signs were daily examined throughout two months after the introduction of the College farm. Among calves, 92 cases(78.6%) died in the two months after the introduction in it. Outbreaks of respiratory and alimentary diseases were their main causes of their fatality. The incidence of respiratory disorders during the full period of the experiment was up to 42.8%, and the alimentary diseases were occurred 35.9% of the herd. Most of the mortality was related with respiratory(59.9%) and alimentary(52.1%) pathogens. Also calf mortality by combined infection claimed 6.6% among 100 morbidity cases. Principle pathogens to cause mortality were Pasteurella spp(44.4%), E coli(29.9%), bovine viral diarrhea virus(16.2%), IBRV(12.0%), respectively. Viruses also played as an important role in increasing calf morbidity to secondary respiratory bacterial pathogens. Pasteurella infection combined with infectious bovine rhinotracheitis virus(11 cases), parainfluenza virus type-3(9 cases), or bovine respiratory syncytial virus(7 cases) was appeared as major pattern to mortality. colibacillosis in causing enteritis was concurrently infected with BVD(19 cases), bovine coronavirus infection(14 cases), salmonellosis(5 cases), coccidiosis(5 cases) and clostridial infection(4 cases). Ninty-two cases to death were appeared to have 100% neutralizing antibodies to BCV; Among them, 73.8% had the neutralizing antibody level higher than 64. Calves with neutralizing antibodies higher than 16 to BVDV were 50%. The cases with neutralizing antibody level lower than 8 to BEFV were 89.4% that means the necessity of appropriate vaccination.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.114-132
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• 1988

Aiming to appraise student's health status and recommend improvement and strengthening of the school health services, statistical analysis of the results of health examination were done with summarized data which were collected nation-wide through the Ministry of Education. After analysis of data obtained, the results of the study summarized as follows; 1) Requested Adequate care Requested Adequate care showed from 5 % to 3% in 1962 and 1984 respectively. In sexes, Requested Adequate in girls (2.8%) more apparent than in boys (2.5%) 2) Eyes i) Weak vision, abnormal refraction of eyes (myopia, hypermetropia and astigmatism), eye diseases (trachoma, others) were found as shown in the Table 2, Figure 3. Weak vision and abnormal refraction of eyes showed from 2 % (Elementary), 5 % ( Secondary) to 4 % (Elementary), 14 % (Secondary) in 1962 and 1984 respectively. In both sexes, the older the age of students the more weak vision and abnormal refraction of eyes had rapidly increased especially in over 15-year old. ii) Eye diseases (trachoma, others) showed from 2% to age of students the more diseases had students. 3) Ear, nose and pharynx Hearing disturbance, ear diseases (otitis mediae, others), nose (empyema, hypertrophy) and pharynx diseases were found as following 1) Hearing disturbance was found from 0.3%(Elementary), 1 %(Secondary) to 0.05 % (Elementary), 0.4 % (Secondary) in 1962 and 1984 respectively, however, recently the older the age of students the more had students. ii) Ear diseases showed from 1.7 % (Elementary) 1.0 % (Secondary) to 0.3 %(Elementary), 0.5%(Secondary) in 1962 and 1984 respectively. iii) In diseases of the nose and pharynx, tonsilitis showed from 2.5% (Elementary), 3.5 % (Secondary) to 1.8 % ( Elementary). 2.5% (Secondary) in 1962 and 1984 respectively. 4) Skin Infectious skin diseases and other skin diseases were found from 1.5% to 0.6% in 1962 am 1984 respectively. 5) Teeth Dental caries (in milk and permanent teeth) and otner oral diseases are shown from 12 % (Elementary), 8%(Secondary) to 75%( Elementary), 25% (Secondary) in 1962 and 1984 respectively. 6) Other defects and diseases A relatively higher morbidity was shown in the tubercular diseases, in anemia, and in heart diseases among the tuberculous diseases, nodular diseases, Pleurisy, heart diseases, anemia, beriberi, hernia, neurasthenia, speech difficulty, mental disorders, bone dysformity, motion difficulty of extremities. In both sexes, tuberculous diseases were found almost equally in both sexes and anemia in girls was more apparent than in boys. Trying to provide more effective health services in schools : i) A better and more effective physical examination should be carried out in each school and prior to the physical examination, the qualified daily observation of children by teacher should be keenly practiced. ii) According to the results of the required annual physical examination the leading cause of morbidity were dental caries, myopia, angina and otitis mediae and fore these diseases follow up should be carried out. iii) For prevention and treatment of diseases and defects health education for students in the classroom as well as to parents is urgently requested.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.71 no.6
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• pp.459-463
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• 2011

Pulmonary complications occur in 40~60% of patients who receive hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) and are a source of substantial morbidity and mortality. Acute eosinophilic pneumonia (AEP) is an uncommon, non-infectious pulmonary complication occurring in HSCT recipients. We now report the case of a 52-year-old man with AEP who was treated with allogenic HSCT due to acute myeloid leukemia. He complained of fever, cough and dyspnea 390 days after allogenic HSCT. He also had skin and hepatic graft versus host disease (GVHD). Hypoxemia, diffuse pulmonary infiltrates on a chest x-ray and eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid were also noted in several tests. His symptoms, pulmonary infiltrates, hepatic dysfunction and skin lesions rapidly improved after treatment with corticosteroid therapy. Our case supports the idea that AEP is a late phase non-infectious pulmonary complication and one of the manifestations of chronic GVHD.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.87-94
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• 2003

Purpose : Respiratory viruses are one of the most infectious agent in human. Acute lower respiratory tract infection(ALRTIs) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. This study is performed to investigate the etiologic organism, age and sex distribution, clinical manifestations and seasonal occurrence of ALRTIs in children. Methods : Viral agent was evaluated with nasopharyngeal aspirates, rhinorrhea and saliva collected from 568 patients. We confirmed viral agents in 54 patients who were younger than 15 year old. They had visited Maryknoll Hospital, Busan in Korea from January, 2002 to December, 2002 for ALRTIs. Results : The viral pathogens identified were Influenza A virus(59.3%), Enterovirus(33.3%), Adenovirus(5.6%), and Influenza B virus(1.9%). Parainfluenza virus and Respiratory syncytial virus were not detected. The occurrence of acute lower respiratory infections was high between 3 & 6 years old. The clinical patterns include pneumonia(51.9%), bronchitis(31.5%), croup(9.3%), bronchiolitis(7.4%). The respiratory viral agents had their characteristic seasonal patterns. Conclusion : Influenza A virus was the most common cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in Busan area during the 2002. ALRTIs had high occurrence between 3 to 6 years old. And the most common clinical patterns were pneumonia and bronchitis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.101-106
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• 1999

Purpose : Tuberculosis, a major public health problem, is an important cause of childhood infectious diseases. To decrease the tuberculosis morbidity rate, BCG vaccination and chemoprophylaxis are performed. Recently 2TU PPD skin test was introduced as a diagnostic method for tuberculous infection. We studied the positive conversion rate of 2TU PPD test after percutaneous multiple puncture BCG vaccination. Methods : Four hundred seventy six infants from well baby clinic of Samsung Cheil Hospital were enrolled. They were immunized with percutaneous multiple puncture technique BCG(Japan BCG laboratory, Japan) at 1 month of age. Approximately 6 months later, tuberculin skin test using RT23 2TU PPD was performed. Induration size, family history of tuberculosis and number of BCG scars were evaluated. Induration greater than or equal to 5mm was defined as positive conversion. Results : Among 476 infants, 248(52.1%) were male and 228(47.9%) were female. PPD skin tests were performed $6.2{\pm}0.5$($mean{\pm}S.D.$) months after BCG vaccination. Mean induration size was $7.3{\pm}3.2mm$ and positive conversion rate was 85.5%. Total number of BCG scars was $15.5{\pm}3.2$. Conclusion : The seroconversion rate by 2TU PPD test after percutaneous multiple puncture BCG vaccination was high. But, more comparative studies with various age groups may be needed for 2TU PPD test used as diagnostic method of tuberculosis in the hospitals.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.7
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• pp.239-250
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• 2020

The novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is spreading globally. Although its etiologic agent is discovered as severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), there are many unsolved issues in COVID-19 and other infectious diseases. The causes of different clinical phenotypes and incubation periods among individuals, species specificity, and cytokine storm with lymphopenia as well as the mechanism of damage to organ cells are unknown. It has been suggested that in viral pneumonia, virus itself is not a direct cause of acute lung injury; rather, aberrant immune reactions of the host to the insults from viral infection are responsible. According to its epidemiological and clinical characteristics, SARS-CoV-2 may be a virus with low virulence in nature that has adapted to the human species. Current immunological concepts have limited ability to explain such unsolved issues, and a presumed immunopathogenesis of COVID-19 is presented under the protein-homeostasis-system hypothesis. Every disease, including COVID-19, has etiological substances controlled by the host immune system according to size and biochemical properties. Patients with severe pneumonia caused by SARS-CoV-2 show more severe hypercytokinemia with corresponding lymphocytopenia than patients with mild pneumonia; thus, early immunomodulator treatment, including corticosteroids, has been considered. However, current guidelines recommend their use only for patients with advanced pneumonia or acute respiratory distress syndrome. Since the immunopathogenesis of pneumonia may be the same for all patients regardless of age or severity and the critical immune-mediated lung injury may begin in the early stage of the disease, early immunomodulator treatment, including corticosteroids and intravenous immunoglobulin, can help reduce morbidity and possibly mortality rates of older patients with underlying conditions.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.1-14
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• 2011

Tuberculosis is a disease with high morbidity and mortality in children worldwide. Despite the decrease in the incidence of tuberculosis in Korea, more than 30,000 new patients are diagnosed each year. Active tuberculosis is less frequent in children compared to adults but the risk of miliary tuberculosis and CNS tuberculosis is much higher. The diagnosis of tuberculosis in children and adolescents is difficult due to the nonspecific symptoms upon presentation. Diagnostic work up is based on the confirmation of tuberculosis infection by tuberculin skin test, abnormal radiologic findings, and contact with an adult with active tuberculosis. Anti-tuberculosis medications are prescribed according to the drug susceptibility of the index patient. Latent tuberculosis infection plays an important role in adult tuberculosis by reactivation. Thus, it is critical to accurately diagnose latent tuberculosis in children to prevent reactivation in adulthood. Korean guidelines for diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis in children and adolescents provide evidence based recommendations in the optimal diagnosis and treatment for active and latent tuberculosis in children and adolescents based on the current Korean situation.