• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.29 no.11
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• pp.1817-1829
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• 2019

Porcine deltacoronavirus (PDCoV) is an emerging swine enteric coronavirus that causes diarrhea in neonatal piglets. Like other coronaviruses, PDCoV encodes at least three accessory or species-specific proteins; however, the biological roles of these proteins in PDCoV replication remain undetermined. As a first step toward understanding the biology of the PDCoV accessory proteins, we established a stable porcine cell line constitutively expressing the PDCoV NS7 protein in order to investigate the functional characteristics of NS7 for viral replication. Confocal microscopy and subcellular fractionation revealed that the NS7 protein was extensively distributed in the mitochondria. Proteomic analysis was then conducted to assess the expression dynamics of the host proteins in the PDCoV NS7-expressing cells. High-resolution two-dimensional gel electrophoresis initially identified 48 protein spots which were differentially expressed in the presence of NS7. Seven of these spots, including two up-regulated and five down-regulated protein spots, showed statistically significant alterations, and were selected for subsequent protein identification. The affected cellular proteins identified in this study were classified into functional groups involved in various cellular processes such as cytoskeleton networks and cell communication, metabolism, and protein biosynthesis. A substantial down-regulation of α-actinin-4 was confirmed in NS7-expressing and PDCoV-infected cells. These proteomic data will provide insights into the understanding of specific cellular responses to the accessory protein during PDCoV infection.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.229-243
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• 1997

Especially in NICU(Neonatal Intensive Care Unit), handwashing is an important factor in decresing nosocomial infections due to reduced immunity, prematurity and various invasive procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate the basic characteristics related to handwashing by NICU nurses. It was composed of three parts ; questionnaire survey I (genoral characteristics of handwashing), questionnaire survey II(the awareness degree of handwashing importance) and actual performance. This study was performed from Oct. 8 to 14 in 1994. The results of this study were as follows ; 1. Frequency of handwashing were different by shift of working about 47.1% of the respondents. They were washing most frequently during day-shift about 75% of above. According to self evaluation to handwashing frequency, 64.7% of the respondents said their frequency of handwashing was inadequate, because of being too busy.(45.1%), bothering caused by detergent or disinfectant(17.6%), and too far from handwashing facilities(17.6%). 2. The most common handwashing agent was soap(88.2%), 52.9% of the subjects experienced adverse effects after handwashing ; rough hand(44.5%), dryness(33.3%) All subjects washed their hands with running water, and 70.6% of the subjects washed upto wrist. In duration of handwashing, 52.9% of subjects washed hands 5 to 10 seconds, 29.5% of them did 11 to 15 seconds. 3. 29.4% among subjects had participated to take in the handwashing educational program. About 60% responded they would like to take the course of handwashing if possible. 4. The important nursing activities that need handwashing were chaning of caring ostomy, suctioning, chaning IV dressing site. On the other hand, they responded handwashing was not essential before dealing with omitus, before and after transfering machine, before chaning diaper(stool) 5. Handwashing performance was 61.7%. Among seven nursing activities, suctioning(73.4%) was the highest, the next was dealing with discharge or sampling(71.1%), the lowest was bathing(34.6%). The performance was better after(70.2%) nursing activities that before(52.5%), and day(63.6%) or evening(68.3%) shift than night(56.7%)

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.51 no.5
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• pp.503-510
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• 2013

Toxoplasma gondii is an apicomplexan parasite with a broad host range of most warm-blooded mammals including humans, of which one-thirds of the human population has been infected worldwide which can cause congenital defects, abortion, and neonatal complications. Here, we developed a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) for T. gondii infection. Antigenic N-terminal half of the major surface antigen (SAG1) was linked with intrinsically unstructured domain (IUD) of dense granule protein 2 (GRA2). The recombinant GST-GRA2-SAG1A protein was successfully expressed and purified as 51 kDa of molecular weight. Furthermore, antigenicity and solubility of the rGST-GRA2-SAG1A protein were significantly increased. The overall specificity and sensitivity of GST-GRA2-SAG1A loaded RDT (TgRDT) were estimated as 100% and 97.1% by comparing with ELISA result which uses T. gondii whole cell lysates as the antigen. The TgRDT tested with Uganda people sera for field trial and showed 31.9% of seroprevalence against T. gondii antibody. The TgRDT is proved to be a kit for rapid and easy to use with high accuracy, which would be a suitable serodiagnostic tool for toxoplasmosis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.289-295
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• 1998

Group B Streptococcal sepsis and/or meningitis is one of the most serious and common diseases in the neonatal period with high mortality and frequent complications. We have experienced a case of late onset type group B streptococcal sepsis and meningitis with a complication of subclavian vein catheterization catheterization. This 29-day-old male neonate was admitted to intensive care unit with the presentation of fever and septic shock. He was born with Cesarean delivery at 36 weeks and 3 days of gestational age. He showed multiple episodes of seizure after admission and group B streptococcus was isolated from blood. CSF profiles 10 days after admission showed the features of bacterial meningitis without organism isolated. Diffuse cerebral infarction was detected on brain CT 24 days after admission. In the 13th hospital day, the complication of subclavian vein catheterization occurred; Guide wire was cut during insertion and the distal portion of it(2.5cm) was retained in the left subclavian vein. We removed the retained guide wire with goose-neck snare catheter via right femoral vein. This case was presented with a brief review of the literatures.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.63 no.2
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• pp.48-51
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• 2020

Background: The etiopathogenesis of late preterm (LPT) birth is undetermined. Placental histopathology, which reflects an adverse intrauterine environment and is reportedly associated with preterm labor and neonatal morbidities, has not been studied in LPT infants. Purpose: We investigated placental pathological lesion as markers of an adverse intrauterine environment during LPT labor. Methods: This retrospective case-control study compared placental histopathological and clinical variables between LPT and term neonates. Placental variables included chorioamnionitis, funisitis, hemorrhage, abruption, infarction, calcification, and syncytial knots. Maternal variables included age, substance abuse, pregnancyassociated diabetes mellitus and hypertension, duration of rupture of membrane, antibiotic use, and magnesium sulfate, whereas, those of neonates included gestational age, birth weight, race, sex, and Apgar scores. Standard statistical proedures were applied to analyze the data. Results: Chorioamnionitis (50% vs. 17.8%, P<0.001) and funisitis (20% vs. 4.4%, P=0.002) were more common in term infants. Placental infarction rate was insignificantly higher in LPT infants (25.6% vs. 14.3%, P=0.08). The mothers in the LPT group were older (30.4 years vs. 28.1 years, P=0.05; odds ratio [OR], 1.06; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.998-1.12, P=0.056) and more often suffered from hypertension (28.9 vs. 12.9 %, P=0.02), and received magnesium sulfate (48.9 vs. 20%, P< 0.001; OR, 2.86; 95% CI, 1.12-7.29, P<0.05). Duration of rupture of membrane was higher in term infants (13.6 hours vs. 9.1 hours, P<0.001). Chorioamnionitis (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.13-0.79; P<0.05) was associated with a lower risk of LPT delivery. Conclusion: Placental infection is not a risk factor for LPT births. There is a nonsignificant predominance of vascular anomalies in LPT placentas. Higher maternal age, magnesium sulfate therapy, and maternal hypertension are clinical risk factors for LPT labor.

• Journal of Oriental Neuropsychiatry
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.137-149
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• 2001

Cytokines are polypeptides which possess various biological properties affecting. host defense function and response to disease. Inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis $factor-{\alpha}$(TNF-${\alpha}$), interleukin(IL)-1 and IL-6 induce inflammation, fever, hypotension and pain when injected into animals or human subject. When glial cell cultures were prepared from neonatal mice or rats, astrocytes were reported to produce these inflammatory cytokines to viral infection, lipopolysaccharide(LPS), or cytokines. The purpose of this study was to investigate the regulatory effect of these cytokines secretion from primary cultures of rat astrocytes. Substance P(SP) can stimulate secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ from astrocytes stimulated with LPS. Sesim-Tang significantly inhibited the TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion by astrocytes stimulated with SP and LPS. IL-1 has been shown to elevate TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion from LPS-stimulated astrocytes while having no effect on astrocytes in the absence of LPS. We therefore also investigated whether IL-1 mediated inhibition of TNF-${\alpha}$ secretion from primary astrocytes by Sesim-Tang. Treatment of Sesim-Tang to astrocytes stimulated with both LPS and SP decreased IL-1 secretion significantly. The secretion of TNF-${\alpha}$ by LPS and SP in astrocytes was progressively inhibited with increasing amount of IL-1 neutralizing antibody. Furthermore Sesim-Tang inhibited the IL-6 secretion by astrocytes stimulated with SP and LPS. The inhibitory effect of inflammatory cytokines by Sesim-Tang, observed in this study, might reflect an antiinflammatory activity and a reduction of various-type pains, fever etc. in the central nervous system.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.8 no.3
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• pp.344-356
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• 2002

This study was conducted to analyse the current clinical education of pediatric nursing in baccalaurate nursing program, then to give basic data for enhancing the quality of future clinical education of pediatric nursing. Data were collected through self-reported questionnaire by mail from December 2001 to February 2002. The subjects were 29 schools of 50 baccalaurate nursing education programs. The data were analysed by double raters, researcher and assistant researcher. The results were summarized as follows: 1. Twenty-eight schools had the objectives of the clinical education of pediatric nursing, and 28 schools in pediatric ward, 23 schools in nursery, 22 schools in neonatal intensive care unit(NICU), 15 schools in objectives related to profession by clinical site. 2. Credits on clinical education of pediatric nursing were most 15 schools of 3 credits. 3. The clinical sites were mainly the hospital that sick children were admitted in. 4. The clinical teacher were 9 types including pediatric professor and field nurse. 5. On teacher's role, the professor instructed the case study and conference, and field nurse instructed the patient assignment and nursing procedures. 6. All of schools used explanation and conference as a method of clinical education, 1 or 2 schools used PBL or role play or field study. 7. On clinical education content, most of school included Apgar scoring system, physical examination in newborn assessment, respira- tion maintenance, temperature maintenance, infection prevention, nutrition, and bath in newborn care. 8. On clinical education content, most of school included care of incubator, phototheraty, infusion, gavage feeding and how to use the instruments in NICU. Eighteen schools included attachment promotion, and 20 schools case study. 9. On clinical education content, most of school included a checklist of nursing procedures, case study, assessment of growth and development in pediatric ward and other sites. 10.There were various evaluation types in scores, measuring items. In conclusion, the results of this study revealed that there were some discrepancy in the objectives and contents, clinical sites on hospital focused, teacher's role, and diversity of measurement items and ratings in clinical education of pediatric nursing. There is a need for a standardization of content, clinical site, and evaluation tool to improve a quality of clinical education of pediatric nursing based on this study.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.246-252
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• 2016

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to obtain a natural antibiotic from Phenol-rich compounds; for the dressing and the treatment of chronic wounds. Methods: The Phenol-rich compound sweet gel was prepared by blending four natural herbal extracts, Acacia catechu (L.F.), Momia (Shilajit), Castanea sativa, and Ephedra sinica stapf, with combination of a sweet gel medium, including honey, maple saps, Phoenix dactylifera L. (date), pomegranate extract and Azadirachta indica gum as a stabilizer. The combinations were screened by using a well-diffusion assay with cloxacillin as a control. Pseudomonas spp. was tested with our novel antimicrobial compound. The zones of inhibition in agar culture were measured for each individual component and for the compound, and the results were compared with those of the control group which had been treated with cloxacillin. Data were expressed as means ${\pm}$ standard deviations. Quantitative analyses were performed using the paired t-test. Results: The antibiotic effect of the Phenol-rich compound sweet gel was statistically shown to be more significant than that of cloxacillin against Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Our novel approach to fighting the antibiotic resistance of Pseudomonas proved to be successful. The Phenol-rich compound sweet gel was found to be suitable for use as an alternative medicine and bioactive dressing material, for the treatment of patients with various types of wounds, including burns, venous leg ulcers, ulcers of various etiologies, leg ulcers on the feet of diabetic, unhealed graft sampling sites, abscesses, boils, surgical wounds, necrotic process, post-operative and neonatal wound infection, and should be considered as an alternative to the usual methods of cure.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.605-610
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• 2015

Toxoplasmosis is considered as an important risk factor for bad obstetric history (BOH) and one of the major causes of congenitally acquired infections. The present study aimed to estimate the seropositivity of T. gondii infection and associated risk factors among the attendees of high risk pregnancy and low risk antenatal care clinic of Minia Maternity and Pediatric University Hospital, Minia, Egypt. The study was carried out from April 2013 to April 2014 through 2 phases, the first phase was case-control study, and the second phase was follow-up with intervention. A total of 120 high risk pregnant and 120 normal pregnant females were submitted to clinical examinations, serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma IgM and IgG antibodies by ELISA, and an interview questionnaire. Seropositive cases were subjected to spiramycin course treatment. The results showed that the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in high-risk pregnancy group was 50.8%, which was significantly different from that of normal pregnancy group (P<0.05). Analysis of seropositive women in relation to BOH showed that abortion was the commonest form of the pregnancy wastage (56.5%). The high prevalence of T. gondii seropositive cases was observed in the age group of 21-30 years. Post-delivery adverse outcome was observed in 80.3% of high-risk pregnancy group compared to 20% of normal pregnancy group. There was a statistically significant relationship between seropositivity and living in rural area, low socioeconomic level, and undercooked meat consumption (P<0.05). Serological screening for anti-Toxoplasma antibodies should be routine tests especially among high-risk pregnant women.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.33 no.3
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• pp.195-201
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• 2023

Background: Hematocrit is usually measured from venous blood collected by invasive venipuncture. This study was performed to determine hematocrit accurately and precisely using minimally invasive volumetric absorptive microsampling (VAMS) technique. Such technique is to be applied to determining hematocrit in various clinical settings for the care, including therapeutic drug monitoring, of neonatal or epileptic patients, or patients with high risk of infection or bleeding. Methods: The study was performed using 31 VAMS samples obtained from 21 pancreatic cancer patients. Hematocrit was determined using the values of potassium concentrations obtained from blood in VAMS tips (Hct_VAMS). Hct_VAMS was compared with hematocrit measured from blood collected by venipuncture (Hct_VP). The accuracy and precision of Hct_VAMS in comparison to Hct_VP were evaluated using Bland-Altman plot, Deming regression and mountain plot. Results: Bland-Altman plot displayed a random scattering pattern of the differences between Hct_VAMS and Hct_VP with the mean bias of -0.010 and the 95% limit of agreement ranging from -0.063 to 0.044. Deming regression for Hct_VAMS and Hct_VP line demonstrated very small proportional and constant biases of 1.04 and -0.003, respectively. Mountain plot exhibited a narrow and symmetrical distribution of the differences with their median of -0.011 and central 95% range from -0.049 to 0.033. Conclusion: Hematocrit was accurately and precisely determined using less invasive VAMS technique. Such technique appears to be applicable to determining hematocrit in situations that venipuncture is not favorable or possible.