• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권3호
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• pp.275-283
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• 2012

Background: Healthy individuals who develop nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease are likely to have specific susceptibility factors which can lead to a NTM infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying innate immune responses, including the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), in Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. Methods: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK expression in monocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by Western blot analysis after stimulation by Mycobacterium avium in five patients with M. abscessus lung disease and seven healthy controls. A M. avium-induced cytokine assay was performed after inhibition of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways. Results: Mycobacterium avium induced p38 and ERK1/2 expression in monocytes from healthy controls and subsequently upregulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 production. In monocytes from patients with M. abscessus lung disease, however, induction of p38 and ERK1/2 expression, and the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly lower. Conclusion: Decreased activity of MAPK and cytokine secretion in monocytes from patients with M. abscessus lung disease may provide an explanation regarding host susceptibility to these uncommon infections.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제47권6호
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• pp.735-746
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• 1999

연구배경: 폐 비결핵항산균증은 최근 빈도가 급증하고 있으며 이에 따라 그 진단과 치료에 있어서 많은 변화와 발전이 이루어지고 있다. 최근의 증례 증가에도 불구하고 이에 대한 국내 임상연구는 매우 드문 실정이어서 본 연구를 시행하였다. 방 법: 1990년 1월부터 1998년 8월까지 서울대병원에서 검사한 호흡기검체에서 비결핵항산균이 배양되었던 57예 중 1997년 개정된 미국 흉부학회 진단기준에 적합한 27예를 대상으로 임상상, 방사선소견, 치료 및 임상경과를 후향적으로 분석하였다. 결 과: 남자 15명, 여자 12명이였고 평균연령은 51.5세였다. 20명(74.1%)에서 선행 폐질환이 있었고 이 중 19명(70.4%)은 폐결핵의 기왕력이 있었다. 방사선 소견상 16명(59.2%)에서 공동이 있었고, 추적관찰시 대부분에서 1년이상에 걸쳐 서서히 변화하는 양상을 보였다. 항결핵제에 대한 감수성검사상 INH 100%, RMP 72.2%, EMB 81.5%, PZA 92.6%의 내성율을 보였고, 2차 항결핵제에 대해서도 평균 66.1%의 높은 내성율을 보였다. 약물치료는 21명(77.8%)에서 시행되었고 11명은 호전, 10명은 악화되었다. 치료하지 않은 6명(22.2%)은 1명만이 호전, 5명은 악화되었다. 임상경과에 영향을 미치는 요인을 분석하였을 때 공동이 있거나 사용된 감수성 약제수가 3제미만인 경우 치료반응이 유의하게 나빴다. 결 론: 우리나라의 폐 비결핵항산균증은 최근 증가하고 있으며 선행 폐질환이 있는 중년이상의 환자에서 많이 발생하고 선행 폐질환으로는 과거의 결핵병변이 압도적으로 많다. 기존의 항결핵제로는 치료성적이 좋지 않으므로 새로운 약제를 중심으로 하는 감수성검사와 이에 따른 치료약제의 변화가 시급히 필요하리라 생각된다. 또한, 앞으로 많은 수의 환자를 대상으로 하는 임상연구를 통하여 우리나라자체의 진단과 치료지침이 세워져야 할 것이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제72권1호
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• pp.82-87
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• 2012

In 2005, a group of mycolic acid-containing bacteria was characterized as belonging to a novel genus, Segniliparus with species Segniliparus rugosus and S. rotundus. We report a case of the S. rugosus isolated from a 54-year-old woman with radiologic features mimicking that of non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTM). When the patient first visited our hospital, an acid-fast bacteria (AFB) smear tested positive and Mycobacterium tuberculosis polymerase chain reaction (TB PCR) was negative in the bronchoalveolar lavage sample. After 2 months, the growing colonies were reported as NTM, but could not be identified because they had died. One year after the initial visit, induced sputum samples showed the same results, positive AFB smear and negative TB PCR. At this point, the growing colonies were identified as S. rugosus. Therefore, we should consider Segniliparus genus as a differential diagnosis for AFB in respiratory specimens in addition to the genus Mycobacterium.

• Korean Journal of Radiology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.101-111
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• 2022

Objective: Familial intracranial aneurysms (FIAs) are found in approximately 6%-20% of patients with intracranial aneurysms (IAs), suggesting that genetic predisposition likely plays a role in its pathogenesis. The aim of this study was to identify possible IA-associated variants using whole exome sequencing (WES) in selected Korean families with FIA. Materials and Methods: Among the 26 families in our institutional database with two or more IA-affected first-degree relatives, three families that were genetically enriched (multiple, early onset, or common site involvement within the families) for IA were selected for WES. Filtering strategies, including a family-based approach and knowledge-based prioritization, were applied to derive possible IA-associated variants from the families. A chromosomal microarray was performed to detect relatively large chromosomal abnormalities. Results: Thirteen individuals from the three families were sequenced, of whom seven had IAs. We noted three rare, potentially deleterious variants (PLOD3 c.1315G>A, NTM c.968C>T, and CHST14 c.58C>T), which are the most promising candidates among the 11 potential IA-associated variants considering gene-phenotype relationships, gene function, co-segregation, and variant pathogenicity. Microarray analysis did not reveal any significant copy number variants in the families. Conclusion: Using WES, we found that rare, potentially deleterious variants in PLOD3, NTM, and CHST14 genes are likely responsible for the subsets of FIAs in a cohort of Korean families.

• 대한전기학회논문지
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• 제35권8호
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• pp.309-315
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• 1986

We proposed a preliminary Data Flow Machine Model(DNL1) operating on the basis of Node Label. In this model, all the PMs(Processing Modules) were synchronized with the content of LC(Level Counter) and were not implemented dy the processing cability on conditional nodes. This paper presents an architecture of a concurrent multiprocessor system which was developed from DNL1 with two additional types of memories, CF(Control Flag) and ETF (Enabled Token Flag). The CF memory holds the control condition flag ('1' or '0') to be referenced to when a node is fired and the ETF represents the firability of a certain node. Firable nodes are fetched to the PU(Processing Unit) and processed. This Data Flow system can be extended hierarchically by a network of simple modules. The principle working elements of the machine are a set of PMs, each of which performs the execution of the data flow procedures held in a local memory, NTM(Node Token Memory) within the PM.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제75권6호
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• pp.238-243
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• 2013

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the "diagnosis changed" rate in patients notified as tuberculosis (TB) on the Korean TB surveillance system (KTBS). Methods: A total of 1,273 patients notified as TB cases on the KTBS in one private tertiary hospital in 2011 were enrolled in the present study. Patients were classified into three groups: "diagnosis maintained", "diagnosis changed" (initially notified as TB, but ultimately diagnosed as non-TB), and "administrative error" (notified as TB due to administrative errors). Results: Excluding 17 patients in the "administrative error" group, the "diagnosis maintained" and "diagnosis changed" groups included 1,097 (87.3%) and 159 patients (12.7%), respectively. Common causes of "diagnosis changed" were nontuberculous mycobacterial (NTM) disease (51.7%, 61/118), and pneumonia (17.8%) in cases notified as pulmonary TB, and meningitis (19.5%, 8/41) and Crohn's disease (12.2%) in cases notified as extrapulmonary TB. Being older than 35 years of age (odds ratio [OR], 2.18) and a positive acid-fast bacilli stain (OR, 1.58) were positive predictors and a TB-related radiological finding (OR, 0.42) was a negative predictor for a "diagnosis changed" result via multivariate logistic regression analysis in pulmonary TB cases. Conclusion: Because of a high "diagnosis changed" rate in TB notifications to the KTBS, the TB incidence rate measured by the KTBS may be overestimated. Considering the worldwide trend toward increased NTM disease, the "diagnosis changed" rate may increase over time. Thus, when reporting the annual TB notification rate in Korea, the exclusion of "diagnosis changed" cases is desirable.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.171-176
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• 2019

BACTEC MGIT 960 system의 mycobacteria growth indicator tube (MGIT) 오염 제거과정의 효율성을 평가하기 위하여 기존 3% Ogawa media와 마이코박테리아의 배양 양상을 비교하였다. 검체는 5% sodium hydroxide (NaOH)과 0.5% N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NALC)를 처리하여 MGIT와 Ogawa media에 접종하였다. 배양된 마이코박테리아는 결핵균(mycobacterium tuberculosis, TB) 항원 kit로 동정하였다. 만약 MGIT에서 5일 이내에 오염균 배양되면 오염제거 과정을 반복하였다. BACTEC MGIT 960 system에 장착한 MGIT 4,790건 중 1,190건(24.8%)이 배양 양성의 결과를 보였고 이중 278건을 재처리 하였다. MGIT와 Ogawa media 사이의 결과를 비교하였을 때 불일치 결과(weighted kappa value: 0.283)를 보였고, 특히 TB 1건과 nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) 10건이 재처리한 MGIT에서만 배양되었다. 비록 소수이지만 재처리 과정으로 검출할 수 없었던 마이코박테리아를 검출하였다. 이는 마이코박테리아 검출을 위하여 MGIT와 Ogawa media을 동시에 시행할 뿐 아니라 MGIT에서 위양성을 보이는 경우, 검체의 재처리 과정을 추가하는 것이 필요하다 생각된다.

• Wind and Structures
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• 제38권1호
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• pp.1-13
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• 2024

In order to effectively simulate nonstationary stochastic turbulent wind fields, four separation hybrid (SEP-H) models are proposed in the present study. Based on the assumption that the lateral turbulence component at one single-point is uncorrelated with the longitudinal and vertical turbulence components, the fluctuating wind is separated into 2nV-1D and nV1D nonstationary stochastic vector processes. The first process can be expressed as double proper orthogonal decomposition (DPOD) or proper orthogonal decomposition and spectral representation method (POD-SRM), and the second process can be expressed as POD or SRM. On this basis, four SEP-H models of nonstationary stochastic turbulent wind fields are developed. In addition, the orthogonal random variables in the SEP-H models are presented as random orthogonal functions of elementary random variables. Meanwhile, the number theoretical method (NTM) is conveniently adopted to select representative points set of the elementary random variables. The POD-FFT (Fast Fourier transform) technique is introduced in frequency to give full play to the computational efficiency of the SEP-H models. Finally, taking a long-span bridge as the engineering background, the SEP-H models are compared with the dimension-reduction DPOD (DR-DPOD) model to verify the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed models.

• East Asian Economic Review
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• 제25권1호
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• pp.33-71
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• 2021

Many different approaches and databases have been developed for the evaluation of non-tariff measures (NTMs) and free trade agreements (FTAs). This paper is devoted to the EU-South Korea agreement, which is the first 'second-generation' FTA of the EU, addressing a wide array of non-tariff policies. We review the evolution of NTM types applicable to the EU-South Korea trade relationship and the role of NTMs in ex-ante and ex-post analyses of the agreement. Subsequently a structural gravity model is employed to assess the value added of information on different aspects of FTAs and types of NTMs by evaluating their ability to predict the trade effects of the EU-South Korea FTA. Our results show that, when accounting for information on the components common in modern deep trade agreements, no additional trade effect is attributable to the EU-South Korea FTA. The evolution of NTMs differs considerably across indicators used, but trade predictions are hardly affected. Most specifications point towards a negative effect of bilateral differences in the number of technical barriers to trade (TBT) applied and sanitary and phytosanitary measures (SPS) against which trading partners issued complaints at the WTO.

• 무역학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.101-118
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• 2020

This study aims to quantify the effects of non-tariff measures (NTMs) on exports in the Korean manufacturing industry. To do this, we employ product-level export data that includes information about whether or not a product is affected by NTMs. One of the main results is that NTMs (SPS/TBT) on average led to reduction in Korean exports. However, the effects of NTMs differed depending on the income level of the NTM-imposing country. The NTMs imposed by high-income countries, such as U.S.A. and Japan, were found to impede Korean exports, whereas the export effect of NTMs imposed by low-income countries such as China was found to not be statistically significant. In addition, the results analyzed based across industries, income level, and types of NTMs are as follows. First, NTMs imposed on textile-related products generally hindered exports regardless of the type of NTMs, but its negative impact on exports was noticeable in the case of NTMs originating from high-income countries. On the other hand, chemical product-related NTMs were found to lead to an increase in Korean exports, and it had a positive effect in the case of SPS imposed by low-income countries. In other industries except for textile- and chemical-related products, the effects of NTMs on exports were either statistically insignificant or showed inconsistent patterns.