• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.51-59
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• 2019

Purpose: The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between cytokine and chemokine levels and the clinical severity of Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of clinical and laboratory parameters were performed. Serum levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-18, interferon-${\gamma}$-inducible protein-10 (IP-10), macrophage inflammatory $protein-1{\beta}$, and tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$ were measured. The severity of patients' clinical course and radiologic findings were also assessed. Results: Seventy-two patients (35 males and 37 females) with a median age of 3.9 years (range, 1-16 years) were enrolled. Patients with lobar pneumonia (n=29) had significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP), erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR), and IL-18 values than those with broncho-interstitial pneumonia (n=43). However, the cytokine and chemokine values did not differ between the group that was treated with corticosteroids (n=31) and the one that was not (n=41). The CRP, ESR, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), IL-18, and IP-10 values showed positive correlations with fever duration prior to admission. The CRP and ESR values were positively correlated with IL-18, and LDH, with IP-10 levels. Conclusions: CRP, ESR, LDH, IL-18, and IP-10 values were associated with the severity of the disease, manifesting lobar pneumonia or prolonged fever duration prior to admission.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1379-1385
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• 2018

Glycans are attached to proteins as in glycoproteins and proteoglycans. They are found on the exterior surface of cells. O- and N-linked glycans are very common in eukaryotic cells but may also be found in prokaryotes. The interaction of cell surface glycans with complementary glycan binding proteins located on neighboring cells, other cell types, pathogens like virus, or bacteria is crucial in biologically and biomedically important processes like pathogen recognition, cell migration, cell-cell adhesion, development, and infection. Their implication in pathological condition, suggests an important role for glycans as disease markers. In addition, a great amount of research has been shown that appropriate glycosylation of a recombinant therapeutic protein is critical for product solubility, stability, pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics, bioactivity, and safety. Besides, cancer-associated glycosylation changes often involve sialic acid in glycan branch which play important roles in cell-cell interaction, recognition and immunological response. This review aims at giving a comprehensive overview of the glycan's biological function and describing the relevance among the glycosylation, disease diagnosis and treatment methods. Furthermore, the high-throughput analytic methods available to measure the profile changing patterns of glycan in the blood serum as well as possible underlying biochemical mechanisms.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.181-190
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to acquire the active compounds of Anisi stellati fructus (ASF) and to analyze the genes and diseases it targets, focusing on its antibacterial effects using a system pharmacological analysis approach. Active compounds of ASF were obtained through the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology (TCMSP) Database and Analysis Platform. This contains the pharmacokinetic properties of active compounds and related drug-target-disease networks, which is a breakthrough in silico approach possible at the network level. Gene information of targets was gathered from the UnitProt Database, and gene ontology analysis was performed using the David 6.8 Gene Functional Classification Tool. A total of 201 target genes were collected, which corresponded to the nine screened active compounds, and 47 genes were found to act on biological processes related to antimicrobial activity. The representative active compounds involved in antibacterial action were luteolin, kaempferol, and quercetin. Among their targets, Chemokine ligand2, Interleukin-10, Interleukin-6, and Tumor Necrosis Factor were associated with more than three antimicrobial biological processes. This study has provided accurate evidence while saving time and effort to select future laboratory research materials. The data obtained has provided important data for infection prevention and treatment strategies.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.22-31
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• 2019

Purpose: Campylobacter species are common causes of bacterial enteritis. There is limited knowledge on its prevalence and clinical features because of its fastidious culture conditions. The purpose of this study was to identify the clinical features of Campylobacter enteritis in children. Methods: We obtained stool specimens from patients diagnosed with acute gastroenteritis in the Department of Pediatrics, Nowon Eulji Medical Center (NEMC) and identified the pathogens by performing cultures or polymerase chain reactions (PCR). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with Campylobacter enteritis at NEMC between January 2012 and December 2017. Results: Overall, 123 patients were diagnosed with Campylobacter enteritis (60 by culture and PCR in EnterNet and 110 by multiplex PCR). The median (interquartile range [IQR]) age of patients was 12 years (IQR, 8 to 16 years). The disease occurred all year round, but 69.9% from June to September. Symptoms included diarrhea (97.6%), fever (96.7%), abdominal pain (94.3%), vomiting (37.4%), and headache (34.1%). Compared with other treatments, treatment with azithromycin was associated with a shorter hospitalization period (P<0.05). Conclusions: Campylobacter enteritis is common during summer and mostly infects adolescent patients. It causes severe abdominal pain and fever preceding the onset of diarrhea. Prompt diagnosis and appropriate use of antibiotics reduces the duration of the disease.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.42-50
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• 2019

Purpose: We investigated the clinical features and epidemiology of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome (SSSS) from year 2006 to 2015 in Changwon city, Korea. Methods: We reviewed medical records of 69 patients diagnosed with SSSS from year 2006 to 2015. Antibiotic susceptibility testing was performed by agar dilution method. Methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was phenotypically identified by oxacillin susceptibility testing and genotypically confirmed by the existence of the mecA gene. Results: The median age of patients was 2.0 years (range 0.2-6 years). Three (4.3%), 53 (76.8%), and 13 (18.9%) patients showed the generalized type, the intermediate type, and the abortive type, respectively. Patients occurred throughout the year, but most patients occurred between July and October. MRSA was isolated from 54 of the 60 patients regardless of the clinical types. All patients recovered without any complications. Conclusions: There was a constant occurrence of SSSS patients caused by MRSA in Changwon area during 2006 and 2015. It is needed to constantly monitor the occurrence of patients with SSSS.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.147-157
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• 2020

Purpose: We investigated the trend of antibiotic susceptibility of Haemophilus influenzae over 5 consecutive years. Methods: We analyzed the antibiotic susceptibility of H. influenzae isolated from children aged <18 years, who were admitted to the Asan Medical Center Children's Hospital from March 2014 to April 2019. Antibiotic susceptibility of H. influenzae was determined by the disk diffusion test according to the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing guidelines. Results: Excluding duplicates, 69 isolates were obtained over the past 5 years. The median age of the patients was 5 years (range, 2.8-8.6 years). The antibiotic susceptibility patterns were as follows: ampicillin (AMP)-susceptible/amoxicillin-clavulanate (AMC)-susceptible (AS/ACS; n=15 [21.7%]), AMP-resistant/AMC-susceptible (AR/ACS; n=21 [30.4%]), and AMP-resistant/AMC-resistant (AR/ACR; n=33 [47.8%]). The prevalence of isolates with AR/ACR phenotype tended to increase from 42.1% in 2014-2015 to 54.5% in 2018-2019 (P=0.342). Compared to 2014-2015, the resistance rates to cefuroxime and ceftriaxone in 2018-2019 increased from 31.6% to 77.3% and from 0.0% to 59.1%, respectively (P=0.003 and P<0.001, respectively). Conclusions: Over the last 5 years, H. influenzae isolates with AR/ACR phenotype and ceftriaxone resistance were frequently observed at our institute. The incidence of resistance to cefuroxime and ceftriaxone has increased significantly.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.198-204
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• 2020

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease is rare in children who receive anticancer chemotherapy and have no history of stem cell transplantation (SCT). We report a case of CMV retinitis that developed during maintenance chemotherapy for acute leukemia. A 7-year-old boy developed decreased visual acuity and persistent pancytopenia during maintenance chemotherapy. Laboratory investigations initially showed significant CMV antigenemia (51 positive cells/200,000 leukocytes); however, antiviral therapy was not deemed necessary in this patient who had no history of SCT. CMV antigenemia worsened to 170 positive cells/200,000 leukocytes over 3 weeks. Ophthalmological examination revealed multiple bilateral retinal infiltrates and granular lesions. He was diagnosed with CMV retinitis and was treated with a 4-week course of intravenous ganciclovir and intravitreal injection of ganciclovir 6 times, followed by a 1-month course of orally administered valganciclovir. A CMV antigenemia assay showed negative results, and follow-up fundoscopy revealed lesser retinal infiltration after the sixth intravitreal ganciclovir injection. Future studies should focus on the development of standardized screening methods and preemptive therapeutic strategies for CMV disease in high-risk children.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.1-11
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• 2021

In this review, recent foodborne outbreaks caused by viruses in the Republic of Korea (2010-2019) were analyzed. The human norovirus was found to be the major foodborne virus causing an average of 94.9% of the viral outbreaks. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with electrophoresis has been widely used to detect viruses, but several rapid detection methods, including real-time PCR, multiplex PCR, and quantum dot assay, have also been suggested. For norovirus inactivation studies, surrogates such as murine norovirus and feline calicivirus have been widely used to identify the reduction rate owing to the limitations in laboratory cultivation. Conversely, direct cell infection studies have been conducted for other foodborne viruses such as adenovirus, astrovirus, rotavirus, and hepatitis A or E virus. Moreover, virucidal mechanisms using various physical and chemical treatments have been revealed. These recent studies suggest that rapid in situ detection and effective control are valuable for ensuring food safety against viral infections.

• Animal Bioscience
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• v.36 no.6
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• pp.851-860
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• 2023

Objective: This study aims to evaluate the target genes of gga-miR-20a-5p and the regulated immune responses in the chicken macrophage cell line, HD11, by the exosome-mediated delivery of miR-20a-5p. Methods: Exosomes were purified from the chicken macrophage cell line HD11. Then, mimic gga-miR-20p or negative control miRNA were internalized into HD11 exosomes. HD11 cells were transfected with gga-miR-20a-5p or negative control miRNA containing exosomes. After 44 h of transfection, cells were incubated with or without 5 ㎍/mL poly(I:C) for 4 h. Then, expression of target genes and cytokines was evaluated by quantitative realtime polymerase chain reaction. Results: Using a luciferase reporter assay, we identified that gga-miR-20a-5p directly targeted interferon gamma receptor 2 (IFNGR2), mitogen-activated protein kinase 1 (MAPK1), mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 5 (MAP3K5), and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 14 (MAP3K14). Moreover, the exosome-mediated delivery of gga-miR-20a-5p successfully repressed the expression of IFNGR2, MAPK1, MAP3K5, and MAP3K14 in HD11 cells. The expressions of interferon-stimulated genes (MX dynamin like GTPase 1 [MX1], eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A [EIF2A], and oligoadenylate synthase-like [OASL]) and proinflammatory cytokines (interferon-gamma [IFNG], interleukin-1 beta [IL1B], and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNFA]) were also downregulated by exosomal miR-20a-5p. In addition, the proliferation of HD11 cells was increased by exosomal miR-20a-5p. Conclusion: The exosome-mediated delivery of gga-miR-20a-5p regulated immune responses by controlling the MAPK and apoptotic signaling pathways. Furthermore, we expected that exosomal miR-20a-5p could maintain immune homeostasis against highly pathogenic avian influenza virus H5N1 infection by regulating the expression of proinflammatory cytokines and cell death.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1581-1588
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• 2021

Electronic cigarette (e-cigarette) or vaping product use-associated lung injury (EVALI) has emerged as a social issue as e-cigarette use is rapidly increasing worldwide and is related to many deaths in the United States. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of EVALI in South Korea of a 24-year-old man with acute respiratory symptoms and a history of e-cigarette use. Chest CT revealed diffuse bilateral ground-glass opacities with subpleural sparing, airspace consolidation, and centrilobular micronodules as typical patterns of EVALI with organizing pneumonia and diffuse alveolar damage. Infection was excluded with meticulous laboratory examinations, and the patients' illnesses were not attributed to other causes. EVALI was diagnosed by meeting the diagnostic criteria with consistent clinico-radiologic findings through a multidisciplinary approach. Radiologists should have good knowledge of EVALI radiologic findings and play a cardinal role in the proper diagnosis and management of EVALI.