• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.242-254
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• 2018

Defensins are antimicrobial peptides that participate in the innate immunity of hosts. Humans constitutively and/or inducibly express ${\alpha}$- and ${\beta}$-defensins, which are known for their antiviral and antibacterial activities. This review describes the application of human defensins. We discuss the extant experimental results, limited though they are, to consider the potential applicability of human defensins as antiviral agents. Given their antiviral effects, we propose that basic research be conducted on human defensins that focuses on RNA viruses, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), influenza A virus (IAV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and dengue virus (DENV), which are considered serious human pathogens but have posed huge challenges for vaccine development for different reasons. Concerning the prophylactic and therapeutic applications of defensins, we then discuss the applicability of human defensins as antivirals that has been demonstrated in reports using animal models. Finally, we discuss the potential adjuvant-like activity of human defensins and propose an exploration of the 'defensin vaccine' concept to prime the body with a controlled supply of human defensins. In sum, we suggest a conceptual framework to achieve the practical application of human defensins to combat viral infections.

• Progress in Superconductivity and Cryogenics
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.20-24
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• 2024

Over the past four years, as the COVID-19 pandemic has struck the world, cold chain of COVID-19 vaccination has become a hot topic. In order to overcome the pandemic situation, it is necessary to establish a cold chain that maintains a low-temperature environment below approximately 203K (-70℃), which is the appropriate storage temperature for vaccines, from vaccine suppliers to local hospitals. Usually, cryocoolers are used to maintain low temperatures, but it is difficult for small-scale local distribution to have cryocooler due to budget and power supply issues. Accordingly, in this paper, a cryogenic TSU (Thermal storage unit) system for vaccination cold chain is designed that can maintain low temperatures below -70℃C for a long time without using a cryocooler. The performance of the TSU system according to the energy storage material for using as TSU is experimentally evaluated. In the experiments, four types of cold storage materials were used: 20% DMSO aqueous solution, 30% DMSO aqueous solution, paraffin wax, and tofu. Prior to the experiment, the specific heat of the cold storage materials at low temperature were measured. Through this, the thermal diffusivity of the materials was calculated, and paraffin wax had the lowest value. As a result of the TSU system's low-temperature maintenance test, paraffin wax showed the best low-temperature maintenance performance. And it recorded a low-temperature maintenance time that was about 24% longer than other materials. As a result of analyzing the temperature trend by location within the TSU system, it was observed that heat intrusion from the outside was not well transmitted to the low temperature area due to the low thermal conductivity of paraffin wax. Therefore, in the TSU system for vaccine storage, it was experimentally verified that the lower the thermal diffusivity of the cold storage material, the better low temperature maintenance performance.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.563-573
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• 2000

Periodic outbreaks of Newcastle disease (ND) caused by velogenic viscerotropic ND virus (vvNDV) has become a major concern in Korea nowadays. Throughout last epidemic, the winter season in 2000, most chicken flocks infected early, under 2-4 weeks of age, showed high mortality up to 50-100%. Serum samples collected from 201 breeder, 284 layer and 112 broiler chicken flocks were examined to evaluate the efficacy of various vaccination methods and programs routinely used for mass vaccination in the field poultry farms. Despite repeated live vaccination, most poultry flocks vaccinated by drinking water route using nipple water supply system failed to produce solid active immune response to NDV during the growing time. In the present study, we applied the spray vaccination technique using Ulvavac or Desvac sprayer to the experimental poultry flocks and examined the efficacy of live vaccination effects induced by it under field condition. Measurable antibody to NDV as well as early protection against vvNDV challenge were found in poultry flocks vaccinated by spray route. Further, we did not found significant post vaccination reactions caused by spray vaccination if properly administered. These data indicate that the spray vaccination will be safe and reliable mass vaccination method for the prevention of ND.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Intelligent Systems
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.169-174
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• 2003

The trial and success of malicious cyber attacks has been increased rapidly with spreading of Internet and the activation of a internet shopping mall and the supply of an online, or an offline internet, so it is expected to make a problem more and more. The goal of intrusion detection is to identify unauthorized use, misuse, and abuse of computer systems by both system insiders and external penetrators in real time. In fact, the general security system based on Internet couldn't cope with the attack properly, if ever. other regular systems have depended on common vaccine softwares to cope with the attack. But in this paper, we will use the positive selection and negative selection mechanism of T-cell, which is the biologically distributed autonomous system, to develop the self/nonself recognition algorithm and AIS (Artificial Immune System) that is easy to be concrete on the artificial system. For making it come true, we will apply AIS to the network environment, which is a computer security system.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.26 no.1
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• pp.71-79
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• 2019

Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) is the most common causative agent of community-acquired pneumonia in school-aged children. An 8-year-old boy who had been diagnosed with autism looked severely ill when he presented to our hospital due to dyspnea and lethargy. He had fever and cough 7 days prior to hospitalization. He had signs and symptoms of severe respiratory distress. The percutaneous oxygen saturation was 88% at high oxygen supply. Chest radiography showed diffusely increased opacity with moderate pleural effusion. He was intubated immediately and admitted to the intensive care unit. Under the clinical impression of mycoplasmal pneumonia, intravenous clarithromycin was started. Laboratory findings showed leukocytosis, hepatitis, decreased renal function, and presence of serum MP immunoglobulin (Ig) M (+) IgG (+) and sputum MP polymerase chain reaction (+). On hospital day 2, the patient developed multiple organ failure with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) was performed with continuous renal replacement therapy (CRRT) and was weaned successfully. This is the first reported case of an ARDS due to MP infection complicated by multiple organ failure that was successfully treated with ECMO and CRRT in South Korea.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.54-62
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• 1987

This study was performed as a part of survey for the operation and interim evaluation of the on-going pilot project of community health in Jeomdong-Myon, Yeoju-Gun, Kyunggi-Province since 1982. Seven Villages (Ri) were selected purposively for the survey from a total of 26 villages in Jeomdong-Myon, target area, under the consideration of the socio-economic background and the distribution of health resources. The target population was the women in age group of 15-44 years in that area and a total of 156 women were interviewed. This study was done by the interview survey using questionnaire which was composed with questions about MCH and FP. The results were as follows; 1) ln the status of maternal health, (1) the proportion of receiving antenatal care was relatively high (67.1%) in this area, but the starting time of antenatal care was delayed to 7 months or more of gestational period in 22 percent. Therefore some intervention would be necessary for advancing the time of antenatal care. (2) The proportion of home delivery was decreased according to the rank of birth-order. And more than 50 percent of delivery attendants were mothers-in-law or neighbors. The fact indicates that the health education for non-professional delivery attendents would be necessary for improving home delivery and the content of education would be preferable to focussing to the method of hygienic delivery attending. (3) The comprehensive health service and education would be recommended for the postnatal care, because of the extremely low rate of postnatal care in this area. 2) In the status of child health, (1) the pro-portion of breast feeding was 90.2 percent, and the weaning started after 12 months of birth in 12.7 percent. This indicates the necessity of education about the weaning program. (2) The proportion of completed basic vaccination was 39.6% and the main reason of missing vaccination was poor accessibility in terms of time. For that, the supply of vaccine to primary health care units (health subcenters) should be continuous, not infrequent nor occassional. 3) The proportion of respondants who were using contraceptive methods currently was 79.8 percent and in 44.7 percent they accepted the permanent contraceptive methods. Those results are distinct in this area. But it seems a serious health problem that 53.2 percent of respondants were experienced the induced abortion for birth control.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.145-153
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• 1996

The incidence of Adenovirus(AV) pneumonia in children is estimated at 8%. Long-term complications reported with type 7 include hyperleucent lung syndrome, bronchiolitis obliterans and may require several months to recover. We reviewed 8 case of AV pnemonia confirmed by AV culture and sero-diagnosis among selected 19 AV pneumonia suspicious cases who were admitted to the Sanggye Paik Hospital of Inje University due to clinical pneumonia from May to July 1996. From 19 children, nasal aspirates or trachial aspirates were collected: viral agents were detected by virus isolation and virus antigen was detected by indirect immunofluorescent staining. Serologic diagnosis for type-specific AV antibody was done by neutralisation test. The results are as follows: 1) Age of the patients ranged from 6 months to 47 months with a mean of $24{\pm}9$ months. 6 were male and 2 were female(M:F= 3:1). 2) Monthly distribution showed 4 cases on June, 2 cases on May and July, respectively. 3) The mean duration of admission was 20.4 days and mean duration of fever was 11.3 days 4) Peripheral leukocyte counts were elevated in 4 cases(50%) and findings of shift to left were showed in 4 cases(50%) and serum aminotransferase activities were elevated in 6 case(75%). 5) Radiologic findings include linear and streaky infiltration(1/8 cases), patchy and lobar consolidation (7/8 cases), pleural effusion(2/8 cases) and hyperleucency was seen in 3/8 cases at time of admission and increased to 6/8 cases on hospital discharge. 6) The AV serotypes were type 7, type 3, and type 1. 7) Oxygen supply was done in 4 cases(50%) and all 8 patients include 2 cases of type 7 treated with artificial ventilator were survived. In conclusion, the serotypes of AV pneumonia outbreaks in early summer of 1996 were type 7, 3, 1 and, as showed severe clinical course, continued follow up surveillance is necessary to the long term pulmonary complications.