• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.62 no.1
• /
• pp.30-41
• /
• 2024

The dense granule protein of Toxoplasma gondii, inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (IST) is an inhibitor of signal transducer and activator of transcription 1 (STAT1) transcriptional activity that binds to STAT1 and regulates the expression of inflammatory molecules in host cells. A sterile inflammatory liver injury in pathological acute liver failures occurs when excessive innate immune function, such as the massive release of IFN-γ and TNF-α, is activated without infection. In relation to inflammatory liver injury, we hypothesized that Toxoplasma gondii inhibitor of STAT1 transcription (TgIST) can inhibit the inflammatory response induced by activating the STAT1/IRF-1 mechanism in liver inflammation. This study used IFN-γ and TNF-α as inflammatory inducers at the cellular level of murine hepatocytes (Hepa-1c1c7) to determine whether TgIST inhibits the STAT1/IRF-1 axis. In stable cells transfected with TgIST, STAT1 expression decreased with a decrease in interferon regulatory factor (IRF)-1 levels. Furthermore, STAT1 inhibition of TgIST resulted in lower levels of NF-κB and COX2, as well as significantly lower levels of class II transactivator (CIITA), iNOS, and chemokines (CLXCL9/10/11). TgIST also significantly reduced the expression of hepatocyte proapoptotic markers (Caspase3/8/9, P53, and BAX), which are linked to sterile inflammatory liver injury. TgIST also reduced the expression of adhesion (ICAM-1 and VCAM-1) and infiltration markers of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) induced by hepatocyte and tissue damage. TgIST restored the cell apoptosis induced by IFN-γ/TNF-α stimulation. These results suggest that TgIST can inhibit STAT1-mediated inflammatory and apoptotic responses in hepatocytes stimulated with proinflammatory cytokines.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.516-521
• /
• 2003

The Aspergillus species produces metabolic products that play a significant role in the destructive processes in the lung. We experienced a case of chronic necrotizing pulmonary aspergillosis caused by an Aspergillus niger infection, which contained numerous calcium oxalate crystals in the necrotic lung tissue. A 46-year-old man, who had a history of pulmonary tuberculosis, presented with high fever, intermittent hemoptysis and pulmonary infiltrations with a cavity indicated by the chest radiograph. Despite being treated with several antibiotics and anti-tuberculosis regimens, the high fever continued. The sputum cultures yielded A. niger repeatedly, and intravenous amphotericin B was then introduced. The pathological specimen obtained by a transbronchial lung biopsy revealed numerous calcium oxalate crystals in a background of acute inflammatory exudates with no identification of the organism. Intravenous amphotericin B was continued at a total dose of 1600 mg, and at that time he was afebrile, although the intermittent hemoptysis continued. On the $63^{rd}$ hospital day, a massive hemoptysis (about 800 mL) developed, which could not be controlled despite embolizing the left bronchial artery. He died of respiratory failure the next day. It is believed that the oxalic acid produced by A. niger was the main cause of the patient's pulmonary injury and the ensuing massive hemoptysis.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
• /
• v.23 no.2
• /
• pp.299-308
• /
• 1990

A review of 50 patients with primary mediastinal tumors or cysts has been done to evaluate clinical and pathological behavior of this heterogeneous group of tumors proved by either excision or biopsy from January 1980 to August 1989 at the cardiovascular department of surgery in Kyungpook National University Hospital. There were 30 males and 20 females in this series. The ages of patients ranged from 4 months to 64 years. The mean age of subjects was 30.4 years. Neurogenic tumors [14 cases, 28%] and teratoma [14 cases, 28%] were most frequently encountered and followed by thymoma [10 cases, 20%] and benign cysts [4 cases, 8%]. The anatomic location of the primary mediastinal tumors or cysts was classified as anterior mediastinum and middle or visceral mediastinum and paravertebral or costovertebral mediastinum on the basis of the Shields’ proposition. In 32 patients[64%], the tumors or cysts were located in anterior mediastinum and in 13 patients[26%], the tumors or cysts were located in paravertebral or costovertebral mediastinum. And the rest 5 patients[10%] had middle or visceral mediastinal tumors or cysts. One of the characteristic features of primary mediastinal tumors or cysts is that some mediastinal tumors or cysts have their own preferred location in the mediastinum. In our series, all of the 14 patients with teratoma and 10 patients with thymoma had the anterior mediastinal location, while 13 of the 14 patients with neurogenic tumors had the paravertebral mediastinal location. 14 patients[28%] were asymptomatic and they all were discovered via so-called “Routine” chest x-ray examination. 39 of 50 patients[78%] were benign. 11 patients[22%] were malignant and they were all symptomatic. 40 patients[80%] were treated with complete resection. 5 patients[10%] were treated with partial resection : 2 of malignant thymoma, 3 of lipoma, neuroblastoma, primary squamous cell carcinoma. The rest 5 patients[10%] were only biopsied: 2 of undetermined malignancy and 3 of hemangioma, lymphoma, primary squamous cell carcinoma. 4 of the 10 patients were treated with combination of irradiation and chemotherapy. Postoperative complications were as followings: Horner’s syndrome [4cases, ado], respiratory failure [3 cases, 6%], pleural effusion[3 cases, 6%], Wound infection[2 cases, 4%] and bleeding, pneumothorax, empyema. There were 5 postoperative deaths [10%]. One patient with neuroblastoma died from intraoperative massive bleeding, 3 patients died early postoperatively from respiratory failure with undetermined malignancy died late postoperatively from congestive heart failure due to direct invasion of the tumor to the heart.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.59 no.1
• /
• pp.86-92
• /
• 2005

Goodpasture's syndrome is a disease that is characterized by hemoptysis, anemia, and glomerulonephritis with renal failure. Goodpasture reported a case of a young man who expired as a result of a pulmonary hemorrhage and glomerulonephritis at the recovery phase after an influenza infection in 1919. In 1958, Stanton et al. described a combined case of these two diseases as Goodpasture's syndrome. Since then, antiglomerular basement membrane antibody(anti-GBM Ab) has been confirmed to play an important role in the mechanism of this syndrome, and it was reported that this syndrome was an autoimmune disease. The triad of alveolar hemorrhage, glomerulonephritis and circulating anti-GBM Ab forms the basis of a diagnosis of Goodpasture's syndrome. When patients are affected by disease, the relief of symptoms can be accomplished by eliminating the anti-GBM Ab from the circulatory system through hemodialysis, plasmapheresis and immunoabsorption. However, the patients usually die from a massive pulmonary hemorrhage when the diagnosis or treatment is delayed. The incidence of Goodpasture's syndrome is common in the western world, but it is extremely rare in Korea with only five cases being reported. In three of these cases, pulmonary hemorrhage and renal failure was the initial manifestation. Therefore, hemodialysis or plasmapheresis were absolutely essential treatments. We report a case of Goodpasture's syndrome in Korea with a normal renal function.

• Journal of the Society of Disaster Information
• /
• v.1 no.1
• /
• pp.3-26
• /
• 2005

In recent years, there is growing concern about the potential use of biological agents in war or acts of terrorism accompanied an increased realization that rapid preparedness and response are needed to prevent or treat the human damage that can be caused by these agents. The threat is indeed serious, and the potential for devastating numbers of casualties is high. The use of agents as weapons, even on a small scale, has the potential for huge social and economic disruption and massive diversion of regional and national resources to combat the threat, to treat primary disease, and to clean up environmental contamination. Biological weapons are one of weapons of mass destruction (or mass casualty weapons, to be precise. since they do not damage non-living entities) that are based on bacteria, viruses, rickettsia, fungi or toxins produced by these organisms. Biological weapons are known to be easy and cheap to produce and can be used to selectively target humans, animals, or plants. Theses agents can cause large numbers of casualties with minimal logistical requirements (in wide area). The spread of disease cannot be controlled until there is awareness of the signs of infection followed by identification of agents; and if the organism is easily spread from person to person, as in the case of smallpox, the number of casualties could run into the tens of thousands. Biological weapons could be used covertly, there can be a lot of different deployment scenarios. A lot of different agents could be used in biological weapons. And, there are a lot of different techniques to manufacture biological weapons. Terrorist acts that make use of Biological Agents differ in a number of ways from those involving chemicals. The distinction between terrorist and military use of Biological Weapon is increasingly problematic. The stealthy qualities of biological weapons further complicate the distinction between terrorism and war. In reality, all biological attacks are likely to require an integrated response involving both military and civilian communities. The basic considerations when public health agencies establish national defence plan against bioterrorism must be 1) arraying various laws and regulations to meet the realistic needs, 2)education for public health personnels and support of concerned academic society, 3)information collection and cooperative project with other countries, 4)Detection and surveillance(Early detection is essential for ensuring a prompt response to biological or chemical attack, including the provision of prophylactic medicines, chemical antidotes, or vaccines) and 5) Response(A comprehensive public health response to a biological or chemical terrorist event involves epidemiologic investigation, medical treatment and prophylaxis for affacted persons, and the initiation of disease prevention or environmental decontamination measures). The purpose of this paper is providing basic material of preparedness and response for biological terrorism in modern society.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
• /
• v.54 no.1
• /
• pp.24-30
• /
• 2018

Norovirus infection is a leading cause of nonbacterial gastroenteritis outbreaks. New variants of GII.4 have emerged approximately every 2~3 years and have caused norovirus gastroenteritis pandemics globally. In this study, analysis and molecular genetic characteristics of the norovirus gastroenteritis outbreaks 2,917 samples in Gyeonggi-Do from 2014 to 2015. As a result, 247 samples out of 2,917 samples are positive for norovirus. Norovirus molecular genetic characteristics of the GI 8 types (GI-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 14), GII 10 types (GII - 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14, 16, 17). Genome sequences of isolated noroviruses were similar to those of new GII.17 Kawasaki 2014 variants with 96.6 identity, suggesting that these viruses were imported from overseas. 44% of virus incidence was originated from school meal service. Therefore, a continuous monitoring and school sanitation should be required for preventing a massive virus outbreak.

• Journal of fish pathology
• /
• v.34 no.2
• /
• pp.185-199
• /
• 2021

Vibriosis is an important septicemic bacterial disease that affects a variety of commercial fish species, including cultured Dicentrarchus labrax. Nanotechnology has become an important modern tool for fish diseases prevention. Furthermore, nanomaterials have the ability to prevent and treat fish diseases. The current study was aimed to identify the causative agent of massive mortality of D. labrax commercial farm in Alexandria, Egypt. Experimental infection and the median lethal dose (LD50) of pathogenic isolate were assessed. Also, the effect of ginger nanoparticles (GNPs) and Sacchromyces cerevisiae as feed additives for prevention of vibriosis in D. labrax was carried out. Similarly, the tissue immunstimulant genes, IL-1β and TLR2 were measured in the spleen of feeding groups. The clinical signs of naturally diseased D. labrax showed corneal opacity and paleness of gills with excessive mucous secretion. The post-mortem abnormalities were severe hemorrhage and adhesion of internal organs. After bacteriological isolation and identification, the causative agent of mortality in the current study was Vibrio alginolyticus. The LD₅₀ of V. alginolyticus was 1.5×10^5.4 CFU/ml. The experimentally infected D. labrax showed ulceration, exophthalmia and skin hemorrhages. The post-mortem findings of the experimentally infected D. labrax revealed internal hemorrhage, spleen darkness and paleness of liver. There is no mortality and 100% RPS in groups fed GNPs then injected with V. alginolyticus, in those fed a combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae and a group fed normal diet then injected with physiological saline (control negative), respectively. Contrarily, there was 10% mortality and 87.5 RPS in the group fed S. cerevisae then injected with V. alginolyticus. On the other hand, the control positive group showed 79% mortality. The spleen IL-1β and TLR2 immunostimulant genes were significantly increased in groups of fish fed GNNP, S. cerevisiae and a combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae, respectively compared to control group. The highest stimulation of those immunostimulant genes was found in the group fed a combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae, while fish fed S. cerevisiae had the lowest level. Dietary combination of GNPs and S. cerevisiae was shown to be efficient in preventing of vibriosis, with greatest stimulation of spleen IL-1β and TLR2 immunostimulant genes.

• Journal of Clinical Nutrition
• /
• v.10 no.2
• /
• pp.45-50
• /
• 2018

Purpose: Intense multidisciplinary team effort is required for the intestinal rehabilitation of patients afflicted with the short bowel syndrome (SBS). These include enteral and parenteral nutrition (PN) support, monitoring of complications related to treatment, and considering further medical or surgical options for intestinal adaptation. Methods: In the Intestinal Rehabilitation Team (IRT) at the Samsung Medical Center, we have experienced 20 cases of adult SBS requiring multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation. This study is a retrospective review of the collected medical records. Results: Of the 20 subjects treated, 12 patients were male and 8 patients were female. At the time of referral to the IRT, the mean age was 51.5 years, and the mean body weight was 50.1 kg, which was 90% of the usual body weight. The diseases or operative managements preceding massive bowel resection were malignancy in 11 cases, cardiac surgery in 2 cases, trauma in 2 cases and one case, each of tuberculosis, corrosive esophagitis, atrial fibrillation, simultaneous pancreas and kidney transplantation, and perforated appendicitis. Of these, there were 14 survivals and 6 mortalities. The fatalities were attributed to progression of disease, intestinal failure-associated liver disease, and sepsis (unrelated to intestinal failure) (2 cases each). Among the 14 surviving patients, 8 patients have been weaned off PN, whereas 6 are still dependent on PN (mean PN dependence 36%). Conclusion: This paper reports the results of multidisciplinary intestinal rehabilitation of adult short bowel patients treated at the Samsung Medical Center. Further studies are required to improve survival and enteral tolerance of these patients.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.112-117
• /
• 2019

Eikenella corrodens rarely causes invasive head and neck infections in immunocompetent children. We report a case of epidural abscess caused by E. corrodens in a previously healthy 13-year-old boy who presented with fever, headache, and vomiting. On physical examination upon admission, there was no neck stiffness, but discharge from the right ear was observed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed approximately 4.5-cm-sized epidural empyema on the right temporal lobe as well as bilateral ethmoid and sphenoid sinusitis, right mastoiditis, and right otitis media. During treatment with vancomycin and cefotaxime, purulent ear discharge aggravated, and on follow-up brain MRI, the empyema size increased to $5.6{\times}3.4cm$ with interval development of an abscess at the right sphenoid sinus. Burr hole trephination was performed, and foul-smelling pus was aspirated from the epidural abscess near the right temporal lobe. Pus culture yielded E. corrodens. Endoscopic sphenoidotomy was also performed with massive pus drainage, and the same organism was grown. The patient was treated with intravenous cefotaxime for 3 weeks and recovered well with no other complications. Therefore, E. corrodens can cause serious complications in children with untreated sinusitis.

• International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
• /
• v.21 no.12spc
• /
• pp.664-674
• /
• 2021

The relevance of this scientific research is determined by the negative impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the current trends and dynamics of world tourism development. This article aims to identify patterns of development of the modern tourist market, analysis of problems and prospects of development in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. Materials and methods. General scientific methods and methods of research are used in the work: analysis, synthesis, comparison, analysis of statistical data. The analysis of the viewpoints of foreign and domestic authors on the research of the international tourist market allowed us to substantiate the actual directions of tourism development due to the influence of negative factors connected with the spread of a new coronavirus infection COVID-19. Economic-statistical, abstract-logical, and economic-mathematical methods of research were used during the process of study and data processing. Results. The analysis of the current state of the tourist market by world regions was carried out. It was found that tourism is one of the most affected sectors from COVID-19, as, by the end of 2020, the total number of tourist arrivals in the world decreased by 74% compared to the same period in 2019. The consequence of this decline was a loss of total global tourism revenues by the end of 2020, which equaled $1.3 trillion. 27% of all destinations are completely closed to international tourism. At the end of 2020, the economy of international tourism has shrunk by about 80%. In 2020 the world traveled 98 million fewer people (-83%) relative to the same period last year. Tourism was hit hardest by the pandemic in the Asia-Pacific region, where travel restrictions are as strict as possible. International arrivals in this region fell by 84% (300 million). The Middle East and Africa recorded declines of 75 and 70 percent. Despite a small and short-lived recovery in the summer of 2020, Europe lost 71% of the tourist flow, with the European continent recording the largest drop in absolute terms compared with 2019, 500 million. In North and South America, foreign arrivals declined. It is revealed that a significant decrease in tourist flows leads to a massive loss of jobs, a sharp decline in foreign exchange earnings and taxes, which limits the ability of states to support the tourism industry. Three possible scenarios of exit of the tourist industry from the crisis, reflecting the most probable changes of monthly tourist flows, are considered. The characteristics of respondents from Ukraine, Germany, and the USA and their attitude to travel depending on gender, age, education level, professional status, and monthly income are presented. About 57% of respondents from Ukraine, Poland, and the United States were planning a tourist trip in 2021. Note that people with higher or secondary education were more willing to plan such a trip. The results of the empirical study confirm that interest in domestic tourism has increased significantly in 2021. The regression model of dependence of the number of domestic tourist trips on the example of Ukraine with time tendency (t) and seasonal variations (Turˆt = 7288,498 - 20,58t - 410,88∑5) it forecast for 2020, which allows stabilizing the process of tourist trips after the pandemic to use this model to forecast for any country. Discussion. We should emphasize the seriousness of the COVID-19 pandemic and the fact that many experts and scientists believe in the long-term recovery of the tourism industry. In our opinion, the governments of the countries need to refocus on domestic tourism and deal with infrastructure development, search for new niches, formats, formation of new package deals in new - domestic - segment (new products' development (tourist routes, exhibitions, sightseeing programs, special rehabilitation programs after COVID) -19 in sanatoriums, etc.); creation of individual offers for different target audiences). Conclusions. Thus, the identified trends are associated with a decrease in the number of tourist flows, the negative impact of the pandemic on employment and income from tourism activities. International tourism needs two to four years before it returns to the level of 2019.