• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.1109-1114
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• 2021

Chlamydia pneumoniae is a type of pathogenic gram-negative bacteria that causes various respiratory tract infections including asthma. Chlamydia species infect humans and cause respiratory infection by rupturing the lining of the respiratory which includes the throat, lungs and windpipe. Meanwhile, the function of interleukin-4 (IL-4) in Ch. pneumoniae respiratory infection and its association with the development of airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in adulthood and causing allergic airway disease (AAD) are not understood properly. We therefore investigated the role of IL-4 in respiratory infection and allergy caused by early life Chlamydia infection. In this study, Ch. pneumonia strain was propagated and cultured in HEp-2 cells according to standard protocol and infant C57BL/6 mice around 3-4 weeks old were infected to study the role of IL-4 in respiratory infection and allergy caused by early life Chlamydia infection. We observed that IL-4 is linked with Chlamydia respiratory infection and its absence lowers respiratory infection. IL-4R α2 is also responsible for controlling the IL-4 signaling pathway and averts the progression of infection and inflammation. Furthermore, the IL-4 signaling pathway also influences infection-induced AHR and aids in increasing AAD severity. STAT6 also promotes respiratory infection caused by Ch. pneumoniae and further enhanced its downstream process. Our study concluded that IL-4 is a potential target for preventing infection-induced AHR and severe asthma.

• Journal of Practical Engineering Education
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.449-457
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• 2023

The purpose of this descriptive research study was to investigate health beliefs and self-efficacy in respiratory infection management as factors that affect the respiratory infection prevention behavior of college students. The subjects were 178 students attending a university in K city of Gyeongsangbuk-do. Data were collected with a structured questionnaire from September 1st to October 16th of 2020. The results of this study are as follows; Health belief was significantly different from participant's gender (t=-2.86, p=.005), major classification (F=2.95, p=.034), and taking any medications (t=2.18, p=.030). Self-efficacy in respiratory infection management was significantly different from university students' gender (t=-3.56, p=<.001) and major classification (F=4.59, p=.004). Health belief (r=.276, p<.001) and self-efficacy in respiratory infection management (r=.660, p<.001) had a positive correlation with respiratory infection preventive behavior. Multiple regression analysis results show that self-efficacy in respiratory infection management (β=.66, p<.001) significantly affected respiratory infection preventive behavior. The model had an explanatory power of 43%. The findings demonstrate that the major factor influencing the respiratory infection preventive behavior of university students is self-efficacy in respiratory infection management. Therefore, in order to promote behavior to prevent respiratory infection in college students, a program that can strengthen self-efficacy in respiratory infection management should be developed.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.397-413
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• 1999

The purpose of study is to prevent Nosocomial Respiratory Infection after understand the Correlation about Recognition and Performance of Critical Nurses. Data were collected from Critical Nurses 300 persons who has worked in 14 Subsidary Hospitals of University in Seoul and the collection periode is from Nov. 1st, 1997 to Jul. 14th. 1998. There are 40 questions and constructed by 6 Domains which Hand Washing, Suction Management, Airway Management, Respiratory Instrument. Ventilation and Respiratory Intervention. Also, the Data were analized with SPSS program. The obtained results are as follows : (1) The Mean of Recognition for Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection is 4.649 and by Domains, Respiratory Intervention(4.758), Suction Management (4.669), Airway Management(4.660), Hand Washing(4.651), Ventilation(4.605) and Respiratory Instrument(4.561) according to the Mean. (2) The Mean of Performance for Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection is 3.991 and by Domains, Respiratory Intervention(4.498), Airway Management (4.107), Hand Washing(4.084), Suction Management(3.898), Respiratory Instrument(3.860) and Ventilation(3.690) according to the Mean. (3) In the Correlation of Recognition and Performance for the Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection, Hand Washing(r=0.755, p=0.000), Airway Management(r=0.724, p=0.000), Respiratory Intervention(r=0.693, p=0.000) are mentioned significant correlation level. The Performance is good whenever the Recognition is high for Respiratory Instrument(r=0.143, p=0.054) but it's not significant level and Suction Management and Ventilation has no Correlation. (4) In Normal Properties, The Recognition is good(p<.05) when Nurses has plenty Clinical Career, Attendance of the Education and Exclusive Nurse for the Respiratory Infection is in Hospital. The Age is not significant correlation level statistically but represent a little correlation. The Performance is good(p<.05) when Elder Age, Attendance of the Education and the plenty Clinical Career is not significant correlation level statistically but represent a little correlation. Another properties has no menas. According to the results, Suggestion is as follows ; (1) Required Education to advance Recognition and Performance about Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection for a little clinical career of Nursing and younger Nurses. (2) It needs to analyze Performance about Prevention of Nosocomial Respiratory Infection by observation of research worker.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.80-88
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• 2022

Background: Although it is known that inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) use may increase the risk of respiratory infection, its influence on the risk of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection remains unknown. Thus, the aim of this study was to investigate the association between ICS use and the positivity of SARS-CoV-2 infection among patients with chronic respiratory diseases. Methods: Nationwide data of 44,968 individuals with chronic respiratory diseases tested for SARS-CoV-2 until May 15, 2021 were obtained from the Ministry of Health and Welfare and Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service in Korea. The positivity of SARS-CoV-2 infection was retrospectively analysed according to the prescription, type, and dose of ICS taken one year before SARS-CoV-2 test. Results: Among 44,968 individuals tested, 931 (2.1%) were positive for SARS-CoV-2. A total of 7,019 patients (15.6%) were prescribed ICS one year prior to being tested for SARS-CoV-2. Low, medium, and high doses of ICS were prescribed in 7.5%, 1.6%, and 6.5% of total cases, respectively. Among types of ICS, budesonide, fluticasone, beclomethasone, and ciclesonide were prescribed in 3.7%, 8.9%, 2.3%, and 0.6% of total cases, respectively. A multivariate analysis showed no significant increase in infection with ICS use (odds ratio, 0.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.66-1.03). Moreover, there were no associations between the positivity of infection and the dose or type of ICS prescribed. Conclusion: Prior ICS use did not increase the positivity for SARS-CoV-2 infection. Moreover, different doses or types of ICS did not affect this positivity.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.53 no.1
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• pp.11-18
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• 2021

Respiratory viruses (RVs) cause infections in hospital environments through direct contact with infected visitors. In infection control, it causes major problems of acquired infections in hospitals by respiratory viruses. The surveillance data derived from clinical laboratories are often used to properly allocate medical resources to hospitals and communities for treatment, consumables, and diagnostic product purchases in the institutions and public health sectors that provide health care. An early diagnosis is essential in infection with respiratory viruses, and methods that can be used in diagnostic methods using respiratory samples include virus culture, molecular diagnosis, and analysis. A microchip provides a new strategy for developing a more diverse and powerful technology called point-of-care testing. The importance of the respiratory system should be applied strictly to the infection control guidelines to ensure the occupational health and safety of health care workers. Evidence of clinical efficacy, including this study, is challenging the long-standing paradigm for infection propagation. Additional assistance will be needed for frequent tests to detect respiratory viruses in inpatients who have begun to show new respiratory symptoms indicating infections requiring efforts to control the infection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.2
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• pp.267-273
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• 2013

Multiplex RT-PCR was used to detect respiratory viruses in 5,318 clinical samples referred to the laboratory of a tertiary teaching hospital from December 2006 to November 2010. The acquired data were analyzed with respect to types, ratio, and co-infection trends of infected respiratory viruses. Trends in respiratory viral infection according to sex, age, and period of infection were also analyzed. Of the 5,318 submitted clinical samples, 3,350 (63.0%) specimens were positive for at least one respiratory virus. The infection rates were 15.8% for human rhinovirus, 14.4% for human respiratory syncytial virus A, 9.7% for human respiratory syncytial virus B, 10.1% for human adenovirus, 5.4% for influenza A virus, 1.7% for influenza B virus, 4.7% for human metapneumovirus, 2.3% for human coronavirus OC43, 1.9% for human coronavirus 229E/NL63, 3.7% for human parainfluenza virus (HPIV)-1, 1.1% for HPIV-2, and 5.3% for HPIV-3. The co-infection analysis showed 17.1% of double infections, 1.8% of triple infections. The median age of virus-positive patients was 1.3 years old, and the 91.5% of virus-positive patients were under 10 years old. Human respiratory syncytial virus was the most common virus in children < 5 years of age and the influenza A virus was most prevalent virus in children over 5 years of age. These results help in elucidating the tendency of respiratory viral infections.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.322-334
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• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to identify factors related to compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors including hand washing, cough etiquette, and oral hygiene of older adults. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with a convenience sample of 100 older adults (mean age: $76.11{\pm}6.35$ years, female: 86.0%). Data were collected from a community senior center through face to face interviews by using instruments including measuring knowledge, perceived threat, self-efficacy, compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors. Results: The mean score of knowledge was 7.52 out of 13 in total. The compliance with hand washing with soap was 6.0% for 8 or more times per day. Among the participants, 12.0% adhered to the cough etiquette. Sixty-two older adults (62.0%) didn't use interdental brushes or floss at all. The stepwise linear regression indicated that age and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant factors and explained 24.0% of the compliance with hand washing and the cough etiquette. Education level, cancer diagnosis, and self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors were significant predictors of oral hygiene. The factor with the greatest effect was self-efficacy in the two models. Conclusion: The findings suggest that it is necessary to improve compliance with respiratory infection preventive behaviors among older adults using senior centers. In order to enhance the compliance, it is necessary to develop nursing programs based on the self-efficacy for respiratory infection preventive behaviors in the senior centers.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.188-198
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• 2024

This study was conducted to understand the level of compliance and influencing factors to respiratory infection prevention among the college students who experienced the COVID-19 pandemic. An online survey was conducted on 200 college students from December 15, 2023 to January 5, 2024, and the data of 199 people who responded faithfully were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, and multiple regression through SPSS 18.0. According to the result, the compliance level of respiratory infection prevention was 32.95±6.05 points on average out of 48 points. The general characteristics, which showed differences in the compliance level of respiratory infection prevention, and the characteristics related to respiratory infections were identified to be major (t=-2.59, p=.010), education on respiratory infection prevention (t=1.99, p=.048), influenza vaccination of the year (t=-2.10, p=.037), COVID-19 vaccination of the year (t=3.56, p<.001), and mask wearing in crowded places (t=4.96, p<.001). As for the factors influencing the compliance to respiratory infection prevention, major (β=0.31, p<.001), influenza vaccination of the year (β=-0.15, p=.046), and mask wearing in a crowded places (β=-0.31, p<.001) were identified as a significant variable in the multiple regression analysis. In conclusion, since respiratory infections continue to occur even after the termination of COVID-19 epidemic, it is necessary to make efforts to promote compliance to respiratory infection prevention practice, and it is expected that the factors identified in this study can be used as the basic data when developing a respiratory infection prevention program targeting college students.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.20 no.6
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• pp.51.1-51.17
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• 2020

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes severe pulmonary disease in infants, young children, and the elderly. Formalin inactivated RSV (FI-RSV) vaccine trials failed due to vaccine enhanced respiratory disease, but the underlying immune mechanisms remain not fully understood. In this study, we have used wild type C57BL/6 and CD4 knockout (CD4KO) mouse models to better understand the roles of the CD4 T cells and cellular mechanisms responsible for enhanced respiratory disease after FI-RSV vaccination and RSV infection. Less eosinophil infiltration and lower pro-inflammatory cytokine production were observed in FI-RSV vaccinated CD4KO mice after RSV infection compared to FI-RSV vaccinated C57BL/6 mice. NK cells and cytokine-producing CD8 T cells were recruited at high levels in the airways of CD4KO mice, correlating with reduced respiratory disease. Depletion studies provided evidence that virus control was primarily mediated by NK cells whereas CD8 T cells contributed to IFN-γ production and less eosinophilic lung inflammation. This study demonstrated the differential roles of effector CD4 and CD8 T cells as well as NK cells, in networking with other inflammatory infiltrates in RSV disease in immune competent and CD4-deficient condition.

• The Korean Journal of Health Service Management
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• v.13 no.4
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• pp.121-132
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• 2019

Objectives: This study analyzed the prescription antibiotics characteristics of Acute respiratory infection outpatients. It provides a basis for establishing the correct evaluation project on appropriate prescribing indicators. Methods: The research data were collected from the National Health Insurance Corporation's 2014 sample cohort for Internal Medicine, Pediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology, Family Medicine and General practitioner clinics classification of diseases codes J00-J06, J20-J22, J40 outpatients. Results: The antibiotic prescription rate on the evaluation project for appropriate prescribing indicators of Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service was 43.54%, whereas in this study it was about 10% higher because the analysis targeted the entire acute respiratory infection diagnosis. Conclusions: There is a need to identify the correct antibiotic prescription by expanding the current assessment standard. Such standard must include acute lower respiratory infections and minor diagnosis because current evaluation projects on appropriate prescribing indicators targets only the major diagnosis of acute upper respiratory infection.