• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2023

A recent understanding of the dynamic continuous spectrum of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection has led to the recognition of incipient tuberculosis, which refers to the latent infection state that has begun to progress to active tuberculosis. The importance of early detection of these individuals with a high-risk of progression to active tuberculosis is emphasized to efficiently implement targeted tuberculosis preventive therapy. However, the tuberculin skin test or interferon-γ release assay, which is currently used for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection, does not aid in the prediction of the risk of progression to active tuberculosis. Thus, a novel test is urgently needed. Recently, simultaneous and systematic analysis of differentially expressed genes using a high-throughput platform has enabled the discovery of key genes that may serve potential biomarkers for the diagnosis or prognosis of diseases. This host transcriptional investigation has been extended to the field of tuberculosis, providing promising results. The present review focuses on recent progress and challenges in the field of blood transcriptional signatures to predict progression to active tuberculosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.272-275
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• 2019

The 2018 National Guideline for Tuberculosis Control, which was published by the Korea Centers for Diseases Prevention and Control (KCDC), mandates conducting an epidemiological survey among close contacts of active tuberculosis patients at public institutions such as schools. In the procedure for these surveys, the tuberculin skin test (TST) is mandated as the screening test for latent tuberculosis infection in elementary school students. However, several guidelines recommend using the interferon-gamma releasing assay (IGRA) for contacts aged over 5 years with a Bacillus Calmette-$Gu{\acute{e}}rin$ vaccination history. The main reason for this is that IGRA has a higher specificity and lower false positive rate than TST. In addition, IGRA requires only a single visit to draw blood and the results are available within 24 hours. These advantages could promote cooperation from both parents and students in conducting these surveys. Thus, these findings regarding the benefits of IGRA for surveys of close contacts at elementary schools should be incorporated into the KCDC guideline.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.34 no.3
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• pp.122-127
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• 2021

A mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone and 1,2-indanedione (PVP-IND) is known to be the best reagent for developing latent fingerprints deposited on the surface of a thermal paper. However, no study has evaluated whether PVP-IND could enhance fingerprints in blood deposited on the surface of thermal paper. Therefore, in this study, the ability of PVP-IND to enhance the fingerprints in blood was investigated. Furthermore, aqueous amido black solution, which is known to be the best reagent for enhancing fingerprints in blood deposited on the surface of thermal paper, was used for comparison with PVP-IND. Therefore, while enhancing the fingerprints in diluted blood, PVP-IND enhanced the quality of fingerprints compared to aqueous amido black solution. The ridge diffused when the undiluted fingerprints in blood were enhanced with PVP-IND because PVP reacted with amino acids in blood; however, amido black solution yielded better results. When treated with PVP-IND, it is presumed that the ridge diffused due to the reaction of PVP and amino acids contained in the blood.

• The Journal of Korean Medicine Ophthalmology and Otolaryngology and Dermatology
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.106-122
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• 2022

Objectives : In this study, we aimed to analyze the latest knowledge of pityriasis rosea(PR) through oriental-western medical review on PR. Methods : We searched Pubmed, CNKI, and OASIS to select papers related to the cause, mechanism, diagnosis, classification, treatment, and herbal treatment of PR. Results : The results are as follows. 1. Although the exact cause of PR is not known, it has recently been found that reactivation of latent human herpesvirus-6 and human herpesvirus-7 infection is a possible etiology. Most patients require emollients, antihistamines, topical steroids, and macrolides. Acyclovir, and narrow-band UVB therapy are also used. 2. The cause and mechanism of PR in Chinese and Korean medicine can be mainly summarized as wind-heat, blood heat, and blood deficiency and wind-dryness. Most of the herbal medicine used have the effects of clearing heat, cooling the blood, detoxifying, dispelling wind, relieving itching, nourishing blood, and moistening dryness. Conclusions : In Chinese and Korean medicine, it is necessary to organize the representative prescriptions according to pattern identification, and it is also necessary to study the atypical types of PR and its treatment methods. It is thought that research on oriental and western combination therapy should be continuously conducted, and efforts to develop Korean medicine formulations are needed to revitalize clinical research in Korea.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.211-216
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• 2011

To study the effects of ethanol extract of the Rhodiola Sachalinensis on the anti-oxidation and blood pressure and skeletal muscles contractility in rats. The ethanol extracts and fractions of Rhodiola Sachalinensis were determinated the anti-oxidation effects by DPPH(1,1-dipenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) method and comparing with the BHA (Butylated hydroxyanisole) and AA(Ascorbic acid). The gastrocnemius and soleus muscle contractility were observed by stimulating the sciatic nerve with electricity after affusing stomach with ethanol extract of the 200 mg/kg dosage of Rhodiola Sachalinensis for 4 weeks. The ethanol extract of the Rhodiola Sachalinensis could shorten latent period, increase maximal contractive extent and time and relaxative time at the twitch and complete tetanus of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. The ethanol extract of the Rhodiola Sachalinensis shows high anti-oxidation effect and can enhance skeletal muscles contractility in rats.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2011

While the crime scene investigation, evidences are found to search with the naked eyes and to use science equipments. Crime evidences, which are used as judgement, have various things: blood, sperm, saliva, hair, fingerprint, fiber, soil, paint, and so on, especially, fingerprints could take through crime scene investigation, and in there, it could distinguish individually. In this case study, sort of leathers: a wallet, a belt, and a sofa, which are needed special identification even thought people experience easily in usual day, are tried many of the identification tests. As a result, using fluorescent magnetic powder method or fluorescent powder method as identification of many leathers is most efficient.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.588-595
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• 2016

IFN-γ release assays (IGRAs) have been developed as viable alternative diagnostic tools for detecting latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). A customized homogeneous sandwich luminescent oxygen channeling immunoassay (LOCI) was used to quantify IFN-γ levels in IGRAs. Samples were collected from healthy volunteers (n = 40) who were T-Spot-negative and T-Spot-positive patients (n = 32) at rest. Then the amount of IFN-γ in the supernatant of IGRAs was measured by LOCI. The results demonstrated a low background, and high sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and reproducibility, and a short assay time (only 30 min) with LOCI for IFN-γ. The recovery range was 81.63-102.06%, the coefficients of variation were below 5%, and the limit of detection was 19.0 mIU/ml. Excellent agreement between LOCI IFN-γ and the T-SPOT.TB test was obtained (97.2% agreement, κ = 0.94). The LOCI IFN-γ concentrations were significantly higher in T-Spot-positive patients than in the healthy group (p < 0.001). Moreover, as observed for the comparative LOCI IFN-γ assay, IFN-γ concentrations were related to the numbers of T-SPOT.TB spots. We have established an in vitro blood test for LTBI diagnosis, defined as LOCI IFN-γ. A high level of agreement between the LOCI IFN-γ method and T-SPOT.TB assay was observed in clinical studies that showed the LOCI IFN-γ method could determine LTBI. This study shows acceptable performance characteristics of the LOCI IFN-γ assay to diagnose LTBI.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.6
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• pp.256-261
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• 2016

Purpose: Latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) in young children may progress to severe active tuberculosis (TB) disease and serve as a reservoir for future transmission of TB disease. There are limited data on interferon-${\gamma}$ release assay (IGRA) performance in young children, which our research aims to address by investigating the usefulness of IGRA for the diagnosis of LTBI. Methods: We performed a tuberculin skin test (TST) and IGRA on children who were younger than 18 years and were admitted to Chung-Ang University Hospital during May 2011-June 2015. Blood samples for IGRA were collected, processed, and interpreted according to manufacturer protocol. Results: Among 149 children, 31 (20.8%) and 10 (6.7%) were diagnosed with LTBI and active pulmonary TB, respectively. In subjects lacking contact history with active TB patients, TST and IGRA results were positive in 41.4% (29 of 70) and 12.9% (9 of 70) subjects, respectively. The agreement (kappa) of TST and IGRA was 0.123. The control group, consisting of non-TB-infected subjects, showed no correlation between age and changes in interferon-${\gamma}$ concentration after nil antigen, TB-specific antigen, or mitogen stimulation in IGRAs (P=0.384, P=0.176, and P=0.077, respectively). In serial IGRAs, interferon-${\gamma}$ response to TB antigen increased in IGRA-positive LTBI subjects, but did not change considerably in initially IGRA-negative LTBI or control subjects. Conclusion: The lack of decrease in interferon-${\gamma}$ response in young children indicates that IGRA could be considered for this age group. Serial IGRA tests might accurately diagnose LTBI in children lacking contact history with active TB patients.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.11 no.10
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• pp.139-146
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• 2020

Kastle-Meyer (KM) test is one of presumptive tests used to detect latent blood in crime scenes. While this method is more sensitive than others, false positive reaction can be shown where blood does not exist. In this study, we tried to suggest a new application method to solve this problem. Reaction time and aspect of reaction of this new method was compared with two conventional methods in order to identify the effectiveness and identifiability. As a result, there was no statistically significant difference in sensitivity between the methods. In addition, in case of blood with a dilution ratio of 5000:1 or less, positive reaction showed immediately, making it easy to distinguish the reaction from false positive reaction. However, it became difficult to distinguish them with the reaction time as the dilution ratio increased, and this phenomenon could be supplemented observing aspect of the reaction when using the new method. Therefore, this study suggested a new method for KM test that can be used more accurately in the field.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.89-96
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• 2010

In general, three types of fingerprints could be found at the crime scene: visible, plastic, and latent fingerprints. Examples of visible fingerprint include those made by blood, paint or ink. Plastic fingerprint are made from an impression of the finger on soft material as soap, wax, etc. Latent fingerprint are those of the invisible one to the human eye. Oil-contaminated fingerprints remained in the evidence, that are contaminated with the soybean oil, engine oil, lubricating oil or grease. Oil-contaminated fingerprints are special types of fingerprint evidence but the research for developing method regarding oil-contaminated fingerprints is a few. In this study, ultraviolet light source was employed for untreated oil-contaminated prints and the freeze-dry method with liquid nitrogen for freeze oil residue on the surfaces with sequence of developing oil-contaminated fingerprints with black and magnetic powders, cyanoacrylate (CA) fuming, Basic Yellow 40. The types of oil chosen for the experiment were soybean oil, LSA oil, engine oil and material surfaces selected for the experiment were glass, plastic aluminum plates. The aims of this study were to determine the appropriate developing methods for oil-contaminated fingerprints.