• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.3
• /
• pp.323-330
• /
• 2009

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) are a major cause of opportunistic infections in immunocompromised patients, making the reliable and rapid identification of NTM to the species level very important for the treatment of such patients. Therefore, this study evaluated the usefulness of the novel target genes tuf and tmRNA for the identification of NTM to the species level, using a PCRrestriction fragment length polymorphism analysis (PRA). A total of 44 reference strains and 17 clinical isolates of the genus Mycobacterium were used. The 741 bp or 744 bp tuf genes were amplified, restricted with two restriction enzymes (HaeIII/MboI), and sequenced. The tuf gene-PRA patterns were compared with those for the tmRNA (AvaII), hsp65 (HaeIII/HphI), rpoB (MspI/HaeIII), and 16S rRNA (HaeIII) genes. For the reference strains, the tuf gene-PRA yielded 43 HaeIII patterns, of which 35 (81.4%) showed unique patterns on the species level, whereas the tmRNA, hsp65, rpoB, and 16S rRNA-PRAs only showed 10 (23.3%), 32 (74.4%), 19 (44.2%), and 3 (7%) unique patterns after single digestion, respectively. The tuf gene-PRA produced a clear distinction between closely related NTM species, such as M. abscessus (557-84-58) and M. chelonae (477-84-80-58), and M. kansasii (141-136-80-63-58-54-51) and M. gastri (141-136-117-80-58-51). No difference was observed between the tuf-PRA patterns for the reference strains and clinical isolates. Thus, a diagnostic algorithm using a tuf gene-targeting PRA is a promising tool with more advantages than the previously used hsp65, rpoB, and 16S rRNA genes for the identification of NTM to the species level.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.10 no.1
• /
• pp.87-94
• /
• 2003

Purpose : Respiratory viruses are one of the most infectious agent in human. Acute lower respiratory tract infection(ALRTIs) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality in children. This study is performed to investigate the etiologic organism, age and sex distribution, clinical manifestations and seasonal occurrence of ALRTIs in children. Methods : Viral agent was evaluated with nasopharyngeal aspirates, rhinorrhea and saliva collected from 568 patients. We confirmed viral agents in 54 patients who were younger than 15 year old. They had visited Maryknoll Hospital, Busan in Korea from January, 2002 to December, 2002 for ALRTIs. Results : The viral pathogens identified were Influenza A virus(59.3%), Enterovirus(33.3%), Adenovirus(5.6%), and Influenza B virus(1.9%). Parainfluenza virus and Respiratory syncytial virus were not detected. The occurrence of acute lower respiratory infections was high between 3 & 6 years old. The clinical patterns include pneumonia(51.9%), bronchitis(31.5%), croup(9.3%), bronchiolitis(7.4%). The respiratory viral agents had their characteristic seasonal patterns. Conclusion : Influenza A virus was the most common cause of acute lower respiratory tract infections in Busan area during the 2002. ALRTIs had high occurrence between 3 to 6 years old. And the most common clinical patterns were pneumonia and bronchitis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Laryngology, Phoniatrics and Logopedics
• /
• v.30 no.2
• /
• pp.95-100
• /
• 2019

Background and Objectives For patients with polyps and cysts, glottal gaps resulting from their lesions have negative respiratory effects when they vocalize. Phonatory Aerodynamic System is clinically used, but is often limited in the measurement of vowels. So the researchers attempted to verify the usefulness of Phonatory Aerodynamic System by comparing differences in respiratory characteristics and patterns which can be measured by the level of connected speech. Materials and Method Among the subjects who were diagnosed through a stroboscopy, there were 33 patients with polyps and 23 patients with cysts. Then, 36 subjects who were found to have no specific findings through a stroboscopy and perceptual test were selected to the normal group. We compared respiratory characteristics and patterns. And compared vocal polyps and cysts before and after laryngeal micro surgery (LMS). Results First, difference in respiratory patterns between the normal group and the patients with polyps and cysts were examined to show that breath groups, breath group syllables, and expiratory·inspiratory volume were significantly higher in the polyp/cyst group than those in the normal group, indicating that precision was lowered during the conversation, due to reduction in speech intelligibility and interruption of communication. Second, there were significant differences in maximum phonation time, mean flow rate, and subglottal pressure among respiratory characteristics, breath groups, breath group syllables, and inspiratory volume before and after LMS, which appeared to be similar to the normal group. Conclusion The understanding of respiratory characteristics and patterns produced by patients in connected speech which is most similar to natural speech was found to be the objective and useful method for examining characteristics of the subjects.

• Journal of Radiation Protection and Research
• /
• v.47 no.1
• /
• pp.8-15
• /
• 2022

Background: We developed a machine vision technology program that tracks patients' real-time breathing and automatically analyzes their breathing patterns. Materials and Methods: To evaluate its potential for clinical application, the image tracking performance and accuracy of the program were analyzed using a respiratory motion phantom. Changes in the stability and regularity of breathing were observed in healthy adult volunteers according to whether the breathing pattern mirrored the breathing guidance. Results and Discussion: Displacement within a few millimeters was observed in real-time with a clear resolution, and the image tracking ability was excellent. This result was consistent even in the sections where breathing patterns changed rapidly. In addition, the respiratory gating method that reflected the individual breathing patterns improved breathing stability and regularity in all volunteers. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that this technology can be used to set the appropriate window and the range of internal target volume by reflecting the patient's breathing pattern during radiotherapy planning. However, further studies in clinical populations are required to validate this technology.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
• /
• v.21 no.2
• /
• pp.133-139
• /
• 2004

Bacterial pathogens were isolated from 36 dogs with respiratory signs, that were submitted to Veterinary Clinics in Jeju, including Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital in Cheju National University. Of 36 isolates, 16 (44.4%) bacterial pathogens were Gram-positive and 20 (55.6%) were Gram-negative. Gram-positive bacteria identified with API Staph were 12 S. intermedius (33.3%), 2 S. aureus (5.6%), 1 S. haemolyticum (2.8%), and 1 S. xylosus (2.8%). Gram-negative organisms identified with API 20E or API NE included 8 Bordetella bronchiseptica (22.2%), 6 Escherichia coli (16.7%), 4 Pasteurella spp. (11.1%), 1 Enterobacter intermedius (2.8%), and 1 Oligella ureolytica (2.8%). Both Staphylococcus spp. isolates and Gram-negative pathogens were resistant to one or more antibiotics, including ampicillin (AM), amoxicillin/clavulanic acid (AMC), chloramphenicol (C), cefazolin (CZ), erythromycin (E), gentamicin (GM), kanamycin (K), lincomycin (L), oxacillin (OX), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (SXT), and tetracycline (TE). All Staphylococcus spp. were susceptible to AMC, OX and VA, while many isolates were highly resistant to L (87.5%), E (68.8%), P (62.5%), and AM (56.3%). Antibiotic-resistant patterns of staphylococcal isolates were shown ranges from single to 9-resistant patterns. Resistant rates to antibiotics of Gram-negative bacteria were usually higher than those of Staphylococcus spp. in this study. Most Gram-negative bacteria were highly resistant to L (90.0%), AM (85.0%), E (85.0%), P (85.0%), OX (80.0%), and CZ (75.0%). B. bronchiseptica isolates showed 5 to 8 antibiotics-resistant patterns and Pasteurella spp., 2 to 8-resistant patterns. In particular, all 6 E. coli isolates were resistant to more than 9 different kinds of antibiotics, including one strain resistant to all antibiotics tested.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.32 no.1
• /
• pp.27-32
• /
• 2009

We studied the seroprevalence of four respiratory pathogens in Korean swine farms located in Chungnam, Chungbuk, Gyeongnam and Gyeongbuk provinces during the period of spring of 2007 to winter of 2008. Serological tests were performed using commercial ELISA kits. A total of 530 serum samples were tested for the antibodies against porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (M. hyo) and Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (APP). Seroprevalence for four respiratory pathogens were estimated by ELISA-positive rates of the submitted samples. The overall seropositive rates of PRRSV, APP, M. hyo and PCV2 were 32.6%, 10.6%, 38.4% and 88.5%, respectively. By production stage, the seropositive rate for PRRSV was highest in nursery pig populations (46.2%). In contrast, the highest seropositive rates of APP and M. hyo were observed in sow and growing pigs. However, the seroprevalence of PCV2 was ranged from 85.7% to 89.6%, showing no significant difference among the production stages. In the seroprevalence by season, PRRSV, APP and M. hyo infections revealed typical seasonal patterns that the peaks of the seropositive rates were observed between early winter and late spring. In case of PCV2, no particular seasonal patterns were noticed. The pig herds in Gyeongbuk province where PMWS was endemic during the period of survey showed the highest seropositive rates for PRRSV (44.6%), M. hyo (47.5%), and PCV2 (92.7%). Seropositive rates for APP of four provinces were approximately 10%. These results might be valuable for control and prevention of the respiratory diseases and helpful to define strategies related to vaccine applications.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.77 no.4
• /
• pp.172-177
• /
• 2014

Background: Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection is particularly associated with progressive and ultimately chronic recurrent respiratory infections in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, bronchiectasis, chronic destroyed lung disease, and cystic fibrosis. Its treatment is also very complex because of drug resistance and recurrence. Methods: Forty eight cultures from 18 patients with recurrent P. aeruginosa pneumonia from 1998 to 2002 were included in this study. Two or more pairs of sputum cultures were performed during 2 or more different periods of recurrences. The comparison of strains was made according to the phenotypic patterns of antibiotic resistance and chromosomal fingerprinting by pulsed field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) using the genomic DNA of P. aeruginosa from the sputum culture. Results: Phenotypic patterns of antibiotic resistance of P. aeruginosa were not correlated with their prior antibiotic exposition. Fifteen of 18 patients (83.3%) had recurrent P. aeruginosa pneumonia caused by the strains with same PFGE pattern. Conclusion: These data suggest that the most of the recurrent P. aeruginosa infections in chronic lung disease occurred due to the relapse of prior infections. Further investigations should be performed for assessing the molecular mechanisms of the persistent colonization and for determining how to eradicate clonal persistence of P. aeruginosa.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.961-977
• /
• 2016

Objectives: This study was designed to analyze the treatment effects of Eunhwayeongyo-tang through retrospective chart reviews. We also checked the correlation between each pair of variables of the symptoms and curative rates of patients with cough. Methods: Thirty-three patients with cough who had satisfied the selection criteria were retrospectively reviewed through their basic medical records, nasal endoscopy, and questionnaires about cough on their first and second visits. The questionnaires used were "The questionnaire on clinical symptoms of cough & sputum", Leicester Cough Questionnaire Korean Version (LCQ-K), Total Nasal Symptom Scores (TNSS), Visual Analog Scale (VAS), and "Cold-heat patterns". The improvement rate, calculated by "The questionnaire on clinical symptoms of cough & sputum" was considered to be clinically effective if reduction of symptoms scored more than 30%. The state of nasopharyngeal mucosa was assessed to categorize the cold-heat patterns of the upper respiratory tract and for diagnosis. Results: According to this study, cough and sputum improved by $57.22{\pm}37.76%$. Most patients (76%) improved significantly after $12.18{\pm}6.59days$ of taking Eunhwayeongyo-tang. The cure rates of 26 patients among the 33 patients were judged as effective. All the mean scores of the questionnaires and the anterior nasal cavity states were significantly improved on the patients' second visits. After $18.39{\pm}15.68days$, 30 patients were completely cured and ended treatment. The nasopharyngeal mucosa states of all patients were categorized as heat patterns. Conclusions: The conditions of the patients with nasopharyngitis significantly improved after taking Eunhwayeongyo-tang. All of the patients had pharyngitis or rhinitis. The cold-heat pattern of nasopharyngeal mucosa was a significant indicator of upper respiratory inflammation diagnosis.

• Journal of Korean Academy of Fundamentals of Nursing
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.210-219
• /
• 2018

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of emergency setting visitors' knowledge and behavior patterns in relation to prevention of respiratory tract infections. Methods: A descriptive survey was used. The participants were visitors to the emergency service in 'D' general hospital in 'D' city, and the data were collected from July 1 to September 1, 2016. The collected data were analyzed using frequency analysis, t-test, ANOVA, $Scheff{\acute{e}}$ test, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multiple regression analysis. Results: Factors influencing prevention of respiratory tract infections were visitors' education level, methods of dissemination of prevention information, and participants' knowledge with regard to preventive methods. The explanatory power was found to be 35% in the regression model. Conclusion: The findings indicate that visitors' education level, knowledge of infection prevention, and the dissemination of information regarding infection prevention by the hospital play an important role in the prevention of respiratory tract infections in emergency services in the hospital. These results highlight the need for a customized education program for prevention of respiratory tract infections in emergency settings. Programs should take into consideration the educational background of visitors, and provide them with appropriate information regarding infection prevention.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.11 no.3
• /
• pp.248-253
• /
• 2001

The outbreak patterns of the internal and external and external patients in the 20 designated hospitals and in 16 health centers were monitored to investigate and the characteristics of the virus isolates were as follows. Two hundreds and thirteen strains of influenza virus were isolated from the oral specimens of 1,686 patients with respiratory disease in Pusan. 1999. Among these isolates, 203 strains were A-type and the rest were B-type. The outbreak patterns for sex and age group were as follows. The male outbreak was similar to the female outbreak: male outbreak, 45.5% and female outbreak, 54.5%. Most of the patients were less than 10 days old. The monthly influenza outbreak was consistent from Jan. to Dec in 1999. The 96 strains from the A-type isolates were A/Sydney/05/97(H3N2)-like, the 107 strains were A/Beijing/262/95(H1N)-like, and all of the 10 B-type isolates were B/Harbin/07/94-like.