• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.34 no.6
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• pp.555-559
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• 1999

The 38 kDa protein of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which was known previously as antigen 5, has been extensively used in the serodiagnosis of tuberculosis. In an attempt to develop and evaluate a serodiagnostic test using the antigen, we expressed the 38 kDa protein in BCG and its seroreactivity was compared to that expressed in Escherichia coli. The coding region of the 38 kDa protein was amplified by PCR, and the gene was cloned into a Mycobacterium-E. coli shuttle expression vector pYMC-his and pQE30 expression vector and expressed in BCG and E. coli, respectively. Both recombinant 38 kDa proteins showed strong seroreactivity against pooled serum from tuberculosis patients. There was no significant difference in seroreactivity between the two recombinant antigens in sera from the far advanced tuberculosis patients. However, of 25 tuberculosis patients graded as "minimal" by chest X-ray, 5 (20.0%) were seropositive by r38 kDa expressed in E. coli, while 8 (32.0%) by that expressed in BCG. Likewise, higher seroreactivity by r38 kDa expressed in BCG was found in sera from the moderately advanced tuberculosis. This study thus indicates that the recombinant 38 kDa expressed in BCG is more effective than that expressed in E. coli in detecting antibodies to the native 38 kDa protein of M. tuberculosis in sera from minimally affected tuberculosis patients.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.3
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• pp.1813-1817
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• 2013

Background: Multiple etiologic factors are suspected to cause gastric cancer, the most important of which is infection with virulent types of Helicobacter pylori. Materials and Methods: We have compared 102 gastric cancer patients with 122 non-ulcer, non-cancer dyspeptic patients. Gastric specimens were evaluated for H. pylori infection by tissue-based detection methods. Patient sera underwent antigen-specific ELISA and western blotting using a Helicoblot 2.1 kit and antibody responses to various H. pylori antigens were assessed. Results: The absolute majority (97-100%) of both groups were H. pylori seropositive. Multivariate regression analysis demonstrated serum antibodies to the low molecular weight 35kDa protein to be protective and reduce the risk of gastric cancer by 60% (OR:0.4; 95%CI:0.1-0.9). Conversely, seroreactivity to the 89kDa (VacA) protein was significantly higher in gastric cancer patients (OR:2.7; 95%CI:1.0-7.1). There was a highly significant association (p<0.001) between seroreactivity to the 116kDa (CagA) and 89kDa (VacA) proteins, and double positive subjects were found at nearly five fold (OR:4.9; 95%CI:1.0-24.4) enhanced risk of gastric cancer as compared to double negative subjects. Conclusions: Seroreactivity to H. pylori low (35kDa) and high (116kDa/89kDa) molecular weight antigens were respectively revealed as protective and risk indicators for gastric cancer.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.50 no.3
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• pp.195-200
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• 2017

Objectives: Q fever is a zoonotic disease that occurs worldwide; however, little is known about its prevalence in South Korea. We attempted to determine the prevalence of Q fever seroreactivity among Korean slaughterhouse workers and the risk factors for seroreactivity according to the type of work. Methods: The study was conducted among 1503 workers at a total of 73 slaughterhouses and 62 residual-product disposal plants. During the study period, sites were visited and surveys were administered to employees involved in slaughterhouse work, and serological tests were performed on blood samples by indirect immunofluorescence assays. Serological samples were grouped by job classification into those of slaughter workers, residual-product handlers, inspectors and inspection assistants, and grading testers and testing assistants. Employee risk factors were analyzed according to the type of work. Results: Out of 1481 study subjects who provided a blood sample, 151 (10.2%) showed reactive antibodies. When these results were analyzed in accordance with the type of work, the result of slaughter workers (11.3%) was similar to the result of residual-product handlers (11.4%), and the result of inspectors and assistants (5.3%) was similar to the result of grading testers and assistants (5.4%). Among those who answered in the affirmative to the survey question, "Has there been frequent contact between cattle blood and your mouth while working?" the proportions were 13.4 and 4.6%, respectively, and this was identified as a risk factor that significantly varied between job categories among slaughterhouse workers. Conclusions: This study found a Q fever seroreactivity rate of 10.2% for slaughterhouse workers, who are known to be a high-risk population. Contact with cattle blood around the mouth while working was the differential risk factor between job categories among slaughterhouse workers.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.16 no.9
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• pp.1291-1296
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• 2003

Effects of feeding of 9.95 mg free gossypol/kg live weight through cottonseed meal (CSM) were studied in 20 intact male calves fed barley or sorghum as source of cereal during the experimental duration of 210 days. Serum concentration of total protein, albumin, globulin and their ratio did not vary because of protein (gossypol) or cereal sources. Serum level of cholesterol and urea were lower (p<0.05) in sorghum than barley fed calves. Feeding of gossypol through CSM enhanced (p<0.05) serum cholesterol. An interaction between protein and period was observed with respect to serum concentrations of urea, creatinine and alanine transferase. The levels of serum creatinine and alanine transferase increased (p<0.05) following 120 days of experimental feeding in calves fed CSM diets compared to the control animals fed groundnut meal diets. No effect of feeding gossypol was, however, evident on the serum enzymes viz. alanine and aspartate transferases and alkaline phosphatase. Moreover, the source of cereal and protein did not appear to influence the metabolic profile of the calves. Humoral immune response, measured through antibody titre against Brucella abortus S99 innoculation, revealed a delayed and depressed seroreactivity indicative of immunocompromisation because of the phytotoxin gossypol. In conclusion, the feeding of gossypol at the designated levels, although had no deleterious clinico-biochemical manifestations, affected the humoral immune response of the calves.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.44 no.1
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• pp.1-10
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• 2019

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the status of Scrub typhus, Leptospirosis and HFRS(hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome) among farmers with febrile illness. Methods: We involved a total of 841 farmers who had febrile illness(508 and 333 village residents were, respectively, three and four district of Gyeongju city) selected during autumn of 2014 and 2015. Data were collected by survey questionnaires and blood sample examination. Results: Serum response rate for Scrub typhus and Leptospirosis was 1.5% each and 1.9% for HFRS. Serum response rate for Scrub typhus was significantly higher for tick-bite cases(38.5%), while Leptospirosis was significantly higher for those who were in fruit-planting work(23.1%). Similarly, serum response rate was significantly higher for HFRS who were working in venyl green house work(25.0%). Conclusions: Government authority should develop effective and efficient preventive strategies to create awareness of infectious diseases among farmers. Extending information, education and communication be reached to farmers that could change their perception and help early diagnosis and treatment and reduce the disease burden and its complication.