• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.12 no.3
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• pp.209-215
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• 2006

The mutability and frequency of genetic reassortment characteristic of rotavirus and resultant antigenic changes make the rotavirus formidable challenges for control efforts such as the vaccine development. An alternative approach to overcome these difficulties in development of the rotavirus vaccine is to develop effective inhibitors of the virus infection. As an effort to achieve this, effects of glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), which is an active component of glycyrrhizin, on MA-14 cell infection were examined by employing the human rotavirus isolated from Korea, K-21. The data obtained showed that MA-104 cell infection of the K-21 rotavirus was greatly influenced by the presence of both $18{\alpha}-Ga\;and\;18{\beta}-GA$. Both types of GA have inhibited more than 60% of the rotaviral infection at the concentration of 7.68mM. This inhibition effect became much more evident at the higher concentrations of GA. However, the type of GA did not make much differences on the inhibition effect of the drug. Although GA has to be used in high concentrations to exhibit anti-viral activity and to be virostatic, a long history of safe and high dose usage of licoriece in clinical settings in the Far East makes the GA as an attractive inhibitor of the rotaviral infection.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.120-128
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• 2003

Purpose: Recently, while the authors were experiencing that the epidemic period of rotaviral infection happened more in the early spring, we tried to find out how the outbreaks of rotaviral infection are changing in detail depending on the weather condition since it has something to do with the climate factors and PM10. Methods: Fourteen hundreds seventy nine patients who were proved to be positive to rotavirus were chosen among children less than 5 years old from January 1995 to June 2003. Among various climate factors, monthly average temperature, humidity, rainfall and PM10 were selected. Results: Rotaviral infection was most active in 2002 as 309 (20.9%) patients. It has been the spring that is the most active period of rotaviral infection since 2000. The temperature (RR=0.9423, CI=0.933424~0.951163), rainfall (RR=1.0024, CI=1.001523~1.003228) and PM10 (RR=1.0123, CI=1.009385~1.015248) were significantly associated with the monthly distribution of rotaviral infection. Conclusion: Through this study we determined that the epidemic period of rotaviral infection is changed to spring, which is different from the usual seasonal periods such as late fall or winter as reported in previous articles. As increased PM10 which could give serious influence to the human body, and changing pattern of climate factors such as monthly average temperature and rainfall have something to do with the rotaviral infection, we suppose that further study concerning this result is required in the aspects of epidemiology, biology and atmospheric science.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.9
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• pp.859-862
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• 2010

Transient magnetic resonance (MR) signal changes in the splenium of the corpus callosum (SCC) arise from many different conditions, including encephalopathy or encephalitis caused by infection, seizures, metabolic derangements, and asphyxia. Few case reports exist on reversible SCC lesions associated with rotavirus infection. A benign convulsion with mild gastroenteritis (CwG) is frequently associated with rotaviral infections. This entity is characterized by normal laboratory findings, electroencephalogram, neuroimaging, and good prognosis. We report a case of a 2.5-year-old Korean girl with rotavirus-associated CwG demonstrating a reversible SCC lesion on diffusion-weighted MR images. She developed 2 episodes of brief generalized tonic-clonic seizure with mild acute gastroenteritis without any other neurologic abnormality. Stool test for rotavirus antigen was positive. Brain MRI done on the day of admission showed a linear high signal intensity and decreased apparent diffusion coefficient values on the SCC. The lesion completely disappeared on follow-up MRI 6 days later. The patient fully recovered without any sequelae.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.153-161
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• 2006

Purpose: This study was designed to investigate rotavirus infection by comparing the clinical characteristics in neonates and infants. Methods: We enrolled 104 neonates and 250 infants wiht gastroenteritis and a rotazyme test positive reaction at the Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital from February 2001 to January 2003. Results: The seasonal peaks of infection in infants occurred from February to June. However, in neonates, it occurred from October to December due to nursery outbreaks. Diarrhea, vomiting, fever and convulsions were significant symptoms in infants; however, metabolic acidosis with dehydration, jaundice, irritability, apnea, bloody stool, gastric residual, grunting, poor oral intake, lethargy as well as fever and diarrhea were more common in the neonates. Upper respiratory infection, pneumonia and bronchitis were present in the infants; however, necrotizing enterocolitis was more commonly observed in the in neonates. Among the patients with rotaviral infection, formula feeding was more popular than breast milk feeding in both the neonates and infants; however, this finding was not statistically significant. Conclusion: Rotavirus can be a significant pathogen in neonates as well as infants. Neonates suffering from fever, poor oral intake, lethargy and apnea should be investigated for rotaviral infection. A new vaccine, rotaviral specific immunoglobulin and treatment guidelines are needed for eradicating rotavirus infection. Further studies on isolation, infection pathway, immune response and treatment of rotavirus are needed.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.4
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• pp.453-457
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• 2009

Purpose : Our aim was to describe the clinical features of noroviral gastroenteritis in children. Methods : This study included 22 children with noroviral gastroenteritis, as confirmed by stool RT-PCR, who were admitted to Bundang CHA Hospital between July 2006 and June 2008. Their medical records were reviewed and compared with those of 45 children with rotaviral gastroenteritis. Results : In the norovirus group, 19 (86.4%) children showed vomiting and 21 (95.5%) children showed diarrhea, while all children in the rotaviral group showed both vomiting and diarrhea. The duration of vomiting was not different in the two groups, but mean episodes of vomiting/24 h were higher in the norovirus group than in the rotavirus group. The duration of diarrhea was longer and mean episodes of diarrhea/24 h were higher in the rotavirus group. The Vesikari Scale was not different in the two groups. Frequency and duration of fever did not show a significant difference. Most children in both groups were below 2 years of age. Conclusion : Clinical features of noroviral gastroenteritis were largely similar to those of rotaviral gastroenteritis, but vomiting was more severe in noroviral infection, and diarrhea was more severe and prolonged in rotaviral infection. With regard to noroviral infection, further epidemiologic investigations and preventive efforts are essential.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.5
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• pp.454-458
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• 2003

Purpose : Rotavirus is the main cause of infantile diarrheal disease worldwide. The purpose of this study is to assess the difference between clinical manifestations and feeding or delivery methods in healthy full-term neonates and those with nosocomially-acquired rotaviral infection. Methods : The study was conducted on 348 babies who were delivered in Dongguk University Kyongju Hospital from Jan 1 to June 30 in 2001. Stool specimens were collected from clinically symptomatic neonates. We studied the rate of positive stool rotazyme ELISA tests and positive symptoms. We compared the frequency of clinical manifestations according to the feeding methods [breast feeding(BF) or formula feeding(FF)] and the delivery methods[normal vaginal delivery(NVD) or Cesarean section(C/sec)]. Results : Rotavirus was detected in 152 of 348 babies. The rate of positive rotazyme ELISA test was 43.7% in healthy full-term symptomatic neonates. The most common symptom of rotaviral enteritis was mild fever; the others were watery diarrhea, abdominal distension, vomiting, delayed weight gain, irritability, poor oral intake and dehydration. Compared with FF neonates, BF neonates have lower frequency of symptoms, especially watery diarrhea, delayed weight gain and poor oral intake. The symptomatic frequency was higher in FF and NVD neonates than BF and C/sec. Conclusion : The symptoms of rotaviral enteritis were less frequent in BF or C/sec delivered neonates. BF appeared to alleviate the rotaviral enteritis but further studies are needed. The cause of the lower frequency of symptoms in C/sec delivered neonates was unknown.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.21 no.3
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• pp.174-180
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was performed to assess the clinical and epidemiological changes after the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in Korea, as well as to determine the efficacy of the rotavirus vaccine among hospitalized rotaviral gastroenteritis patients over the past two years. Methods: We analyzed yearly and seasonal patterns of 1,165 inpatients who were hospitalized for rotaviral gastroenteritis under the age of 5 years between 2006 and 2013. We also conducted a survey among 460 gastroenteritis patients who were hospitalized between 2012 and 2013 regarding the rotavirus vaccination and the symptoms of gastroenteritis. Among those individuals surveyed, clinical indices were analyzed for 124 patients who were tested positive for the rotavirus antigen. Results: The incidence of Rotaviral gastroenteritis have decreased significantly by year 2010. After the introduction and widespread dissemination of the rotavirus vaccine, the onset of the disease and the seasonal peak have been delayed. Overall, the vaccinated group showed a lower rate of positivity than the unvaccinated group. Among the hospitalized rotaviral gastroenteritis patients, the vaccinated group had a shorter hospitalization period, less severe clinical symptoms of gastroenteritis, and better laboratory test results. Conclusions: After introduction of the rotavirus vaccine in Korea, there were two main trends observed: 1) the overall level of disease incidence was reduced; 2) the severity of rotaviral gastroenteritis cases also decreased. Based on this data, more children should receive vaccination in order to prevent the rotavirus infection and decrease the severity of rotaviral gastroenteritis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.1
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• pp.173-186
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• 2000

This experiment was carried out to investigate the tendency of incident diseases in pre- and post- weaning piglets which ages were 1 to 7 weeks old by laboratory diagnosis and in order to minimize death in preweaning piglets and of stunted growth in postweaning piglets. The result of this experiment used as the basic data for the preventive programs in pre- and post- weaning piglets and were as follows: 23 different diseases diagnosed in 331 cases were studied in relation to age, season, and etiology. The most prevelent diseases of pre- and post- weaning piglet were Colibacillosis(79 case, 23.9%) and the major diseases were Salmonellosis(44 cases, 13.3%), Anemia(37 cases, 11.2%). Unknown viral disease(20 case, 6.1%), Rota viral infection(19 case, 5.8%), Porcine reproductive & respiratory syndrome(PRRS; 15 case 4.5%), Transmissible gastroenteritis(TGE; 12 case, 3.6%). The gastrointestinal disease, such as Colibacillosis, Salmonellosis, Swine dysentery, Clostridial infection, Rotaviral infection, TGE, Porcine epidemic diarrhea(PED) and Ballantidiosis occured pro- dominently in the period of pre- and post- weaning, which were 178 cases(53.8%) and not related to occurrence according to age and season. The respiratory diseases were Atrophic rhinitis(AR), Swine enzootic pneumonia, Pneumonic pasteurellosis, Pleuropneumonia, Branchopneumonia, PRRS and which were 48 cases(14.5%) and higher prevalent in spring and summer. The viral diseases was 73 cases(22.1%) that occurred in the period of 5 weeks piglet and prevalent mainly in spring. The bacterial diseases were 188 cases(56.8%) that were not related to occurrence according to age and season. Salmonellosis was prevalent in 3 to 5 weeks piglet and mainly occurred in summer. Viral septicemia and rotaviral infection occurred after 5 weeks piglets intensively and 3 to 5 weeks, respectively. And the both occurred without relation with season. PRRS occurred after 4 weeks piglet and prevalent in summer. TGE occurred 1 to 7 days old piglets and prevalent in spring and winter. Hematologic values of anemia was decrease in number of Red Blood Cell, concentration of Hemoglobin and Hematocrit. Amikacin, cephalothin, colistin, norfloxacin were effective to E coli, and amikacin, cephalothin, nortloxacin, neomycin were effective to Salmonellra spp. but clindamycin, erythromycin, penicillin, sulfonamides were resistant to E coli and Salmonella spp.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.120-125
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• 2016

Purpose: Viral gastroenteritis among children is mainly caused by rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, or adenovirus strains. However, changing socioeconomic conditions and a rotavirus vaccination program may be affecting the prevalence of these viral infections. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the season-specific trends in viral infections for facilitating prophylaxis and surveillance in our region. Methods: We evaluated 345 pediatric patients (203 males, 142 females; age, 1 month to 16 years) who visited the CHA Bundang Medical Center because of gastroenteric symptoms between June 2014 and May 2015. The specimens were simultaneously tested for norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus via multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The most common virus was norovirus, followed by rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus. Of all viral infections, 45.2% occurred mainly between 6 and 24 months of age; in particular, norovirus infection mostly occurred in all age groups except those below 6 months of age, when rotavirus was most prevalent. In addition, seasonal variation was observed, such as norovirus infection from December to February, rotavirus infection from February to April, and adenovirus infection from July to October. Conclusion: Our results showed that the most common cause of acute pediatric viral gastroenteritis had changed from rotavirus to norovirus in our patients, because of effective rotaviral vaccination. We recommend the management of food and personal hygiene in accordance with age or seasons as well as active vaccination for preventing viral gastroenteritis.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-19
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• 1982

Fifty two infants and young children hospitalized in the pediatric department of Hanyang University Hospital with acute gastroenteritis from February through April 1982 were examined for the evidence of infection with rotavirus by electron microscopic technique and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). Of 52 patients examined, rotaviruses were detected in stools of 11 patients(21%) by EM technique and 16 patients(31%) by ELISA. But there was no significant statistical difference between the two methods(Z=1.2<2). During the study period, rotaviruses were detected in stools of 6(38%) of 16 patients in February, 10(30%) of 33 patients in March, and none of 3 patients in April. The age of the 16 patients who shed the rotaviruses in their stools ranged from 3 months to 6 years, and 12 patients(75%) were between 6 and 24 months. Our study suggests that the rotaviral gastroenteritis of infants and young children in Korea might have similar frequency, seasonal variation, and age distribution with other countries in temperate zone.