• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.56 no.1
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• pp.21-27
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• 2014

Objective : Infectious spinal disease is regarded as an infection by a specific organism that affects the vertebral body, intervertebral disc and adjacent perivertebral soft tissue. Its incidence seems to be increasing as a result of larger proportion of the older patients with chronic debilitating disease, the rise of intravenous drug abuser, and the increase in spinal procedure and surgery. In Korea, studies assessing infectious spinal disease are rare and have not been addressed in recent times. The objectives of this study are to describe the epidemiology of all kind of spinal infectious disease and their clinical and microbiological characteristics as well as to assess the diagnostic methodology and the parameters related to the outcomes. Methods : A retrospective study was performed in all infectious spinal disease cases presenting from January 2005 to April 2010 to three tertiary teaching hospitals within a city of 1.5 million in Korea. Patient demographics, risk factors, clinical features, and outcomes were assessed. Risk factors entailed the presence of diabetes, chronic renal failure, liver cirrhosis, immunosuppressants, remote infection, underlying malignancy and previous spinal surgery or procedure. We comparatively analyzed the results between the groups of pyogenic and tuberculous spinal infection. SPSS version 14 statistical software was used to perform the analyses of the data. The threshold for statistical significance was established at p<0.05. Results : Ninety-two cases fulfilled the inclusion criteria and were reviewed. Overall, patients of tuberculous spinal infection (TSI) and pyogenic spinal infection (PSI) entailed 20 (21.7%) and 72 (78.3%) cases, respectively. A previous spinal surgery or procedure was the most commonly noted risk factor (39.1%), followed by diabetes (15.2%). The occurrence of both pyogenic and tuberculous spondylitis was predominant in the lumbar spine. Discs are more easily invaded in PSI. At initial presentation, white cell blood count and C-reactive protein levels were higher in PSI compared to TSI (p<0.05). Etiological agents were identified in 53.3%, and the most effective method for identification of etiological agents was tissue culture (50.0%). Staphyococcus aureus was the most commonly isolated infective agent associated with pyogenic spondylitis, followed by E. coli. Surgical treatment was performed in 31.5% of pyogenic spondylitis and in 35.0% of tuberculous spondylitis cases. Conclusion : Many previous studies in Korea usually reported that tuberculous spondylitis is the predominant infection. However, in our study, the number of pyogenic infection was 3 times greater than that of tuberculous spinal disease. Etiological agents were identified in a half of all infectious spinal disease. For better outcomes, we should try to identify the causative microorganism before antibiotic therapy and make every effort to improve the result of culture and biopsy.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.25 no.8
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• pp.1246-1256
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• 2015

Chlamydophila psittaci is an important intracellular pathogen. Persistent infection is an important state of the host-parasite interaction in this chlamydial infection, which plays a significant role in spreading the organism within animal populations and in causing chronic chlamydiosis and serious sequelae. In this study, a C. psittaci persistent infection cell model was induced by penicillin G, and real-time quantitative PCR was used to study the transcriptional levels of 10 C. psittaci genes (dnaA, dnaK, ftsW, ftsY, grpE, rpsD, incC, omcB, CPSIT_0846, and CPSIT_0042) in acute and penicillin-G-induced persistent infection cultures. Compared with the acute cultures, the penicillin-G-treated cultures showed a reduced chlamydial inclusion size and a significantly decreased number of elementary body particles. Additionally, some enlarged aberrant reticulate body particles were present in the penicillin-G-treated cultures but not the acute ones. The expression levels of genes encoding products for cell division (FtsW, FtsY) and outer membrane protein E encoding gene (CPSIT_0042) were downregulated (p < 0.05) from 6 h post-infection onward in the persistent infection cultures. Also from 6 h post-infection, the expression levels of DnaA, DnaK, IncC, RpsD, GrpE, and CPSIT_0846 were upregulated (p < 0.05); however, the expression level of OmcB in the persistent infection was< almost the same as that in the acute infection (p > 0.05). These results provide new insight regarding molecular activities that accompany persistence of C. psittaci, which may play important roles in the pathogenesis of C. psittaci infection.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.2
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• pp.201-209
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• 2017

Background: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infection is a severe and life-threatening disease in patients with community-onset (CO) pneumonia. However, the current guidelines lack specificity for a screening test for MRSA infection. Methods: This study was retrospectively conducted in elderly patients aged ${\geq}65years$, who had contracted CO-pneumonia during hospitalization at the Jeju National University Hospital, between January 2012 and December 2014. We analyzed the risk factors of MRSA in these patients and developed a scoring system to predict MRSA infection. Results: A total of 762 patients were enrolled in this study, including 19 (2.4%) with MRSA infection. Healthcare-associated pneumonia (HCAP) showed more frequent MRSA infection compared to community-acquired pneumonia (4.4% vs. 1.5%, respectively; p=0.016). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, admissions during the influenza season (odds ratio [OR], 2.896; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.022-8.202; p=0.045), chronic kidney disease (OR, 3.555; 95% CI, 1.157-10.926; p=0.027), and intensive care unit admission (OR, 3.385; 95% CI, 1.035-11.075; p=0.044) were identified as predictive factors for MRSA infection. However, the presence of HCAP was not significantly associated with MRSA infection (OR, 1.991; 95% CI, 0.720-5.505; p=0.185). The scoring system consisted of three variables based on the multivariate analysis, and showed moderately accurate diagnostic prediction (area under curve, 0.790; 95% CI, 0.680-0.899; p<0.001). Conclusion: MRSA infection would be considered in elderly CO-pneumonia patients, with three risk factors identified herein. When managing elderly patients with pneumonia, clinicians might keep in mind that these risk factors are associated with MRSA infection, which may help in selecting appropriate antibiotics.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.277-282
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• 2013

Purpose: This study was performed to evaluate the effectiveness of self-home dressing with nanocrystalline silver dressing method on the treatment of chronic ulcer wounds of the foot. Material and Methods: One hundred-nine patients with chronic foot ulcer due to various causes were treated with nanocrystalline silver dressing material. Dressing was done by themselves in their home. Dressing changes were performed every 2 to 3 days until complete reepithelization. Results: One hundred two cases of all cases had a complete reepithelization. It took 49 days to have a complete reepithelization on average. Seven cases failed to complete reepithelization because of infection. There was no silver intoxication in any cases. Conclusion: Using nanocrystalline silver is a useful dressing method for various superficial chronic ulcer and it can be done by themselves at their home. Thus it is considered to be more comfortable to both patients and doctors.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.697-708
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• 2019

Objective: The aim of this study was to introduce gastric dysmotility as a common cause in patients with concurrent functional dyspepsia and chronic atrophic gastritis. Method: Dyspeptic symptoms, the Rydoraku score, gastric motility (electrogastrography, bowel sound analysis), gastric mucosa (gastroendoscopy), and blood and blood chemistry were all evaluated. For the treatment method, Pyengwi-san (solution) and Banwhasashim-tang (extract) were used as herbal drugs. Both ST36 electrical stimulation and simple immersion stimulation of CV11, 12, and 13 in the abdomen were applied. Results: Dyspeptic symptoms including indigestion, headache, and insomnia were all relieved. Gastric myoelectrical activity and gastric pyloric function were additionally improved. The condition of the gastric mucosa was changed from atrophic to erosive. Other side-effects of the treatment were not noted. Conclusion: The traditional Korean treatment showed effectiveness in the relief of dyspeptic symptoms and mucosal improvement of chronic atrophic gastritis. Gastric dysmotility is a common cause of the condition being concurrent with both functional dyspepsia and chronic atrophic gastritis without Helicobacter pylori infection.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.242-251
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• 2010

Purpose: This study investigated the factors of C. sinensis infection among the residents in vicinity of the Nakdong River and the infection status of fishes in the stream with C. sinensis maetacercaria. Methods: Selected five regions of the Nakdong River and collected freshwater fishes from the stream to examine their metacercarial infections; and studied the status and causes of C. sinensis infection in 552 residents living within 5 kilometers from the river. Results: Among the 552 residents studied, 13.8% were infected with C. sinensis, and among 379 freshwater fishes of 20 species collected from the five regions, 41 fishes of 8 species were infected with C. sinensis metacercaria. Conclusion: In order to prevent human C. sinensis infection and transition to chronic liver ions, we need to develop and apply good programs such as continuous health education, personal hygiene improvement, active medical treatment for those infected with C. sinensis, and residents’ voluntarily stop of eating freshwater fishes in the raw state.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.14 no.4
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• pp.836-843
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• 2004

Nontypeable H. influenzae (NTHi), a Gram-negative obligate human pathogen, causes pneumonia, chronic bronchitis, and otitis media, and the respiratory epithelium is the first line of defense that copes with the pathogen. In an effort to identify transcriptional responses of human respiratory epithelial cells to infection with NTHi, we examined its differential gene expression using high density cDNA microarrays. BEAS-2B human bronchial epithelial cells were exposed to NTHi for 3 hand 24 h, and the alteration of mRNA expression was analyzed using microarrays consisting of 8,170 human cDNA clones. The results indicated that approximately 2.6% of the genes present on the microarrays increased in expression over 2-fold and 3.8% of the genes decreased during the 24-h infection period. Upregulated genes included cytokines (granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor 2, granulocyte chemotactic protein 2, IL-6, IL-10, IL-8), transcription factors (Kruppel-like factor 7, CCAAT/enhancer binding protein $\beta$, E2F-1, NF-$\kappa$B, cell surface molecules (CD74, ICAM-1, ICAM-2, HLA class I), as well as those involved in signal transduction and cellular transport. Selected genes were further confirmed by reverse-transcription-PCR. These data expand our knowledge of host cellular responses during NTHi infection and should provide a molecular basis for the study of host-NTHi interaction.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.243-253
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• 1986

In recent years much attention has been paid to swine respiratory infection caused by Haemophilus(H.) Pleuropneumoniae with rapid expansion of pork industry in Korea. The organism may cause an acute respiratory infection with high morbidity and mortality, or it may also cause chronic persistent infection, resulting in loss of body weight. The present study was performed to observe the etiologic situation of H. Pleuropneumoniae infection by evaluating bacteriological, serological examinations with the lungs and sera collected from slaughtered pigs in Daegu city, respectively. In addition, antibiotic susceptibility test was carried out against the isolated strains of H. Pleuropneumoniae. The results obtained are summarized as follows : 1. Only 10 strains of H. Pleuropneumoniae were isolated from the 120 cases of swine lungs examined, and biological and biochemical characteristics of the isolates were identical with that of standard strains(serovar 1 to 6). 2. Out of 336 swine sera examined, 108(32.1%) were shown to be positive against H. Pleuropneumoniae by latex agglutination test. 3. Antibiotic susceptibility test revealed that 10 isolates of H. Pleuropneumoniae were sensitive to 16 kinds of antibiotic such as ampicillin, benzylpenicillin, piperacillin, cephalothin, cefazolin, cefamandol, cefoperagon, lactomoxycefa, tetracycline, minocycline, chloramphenicol, gentamicin, kanamycin, amikacin, colistin and nalidixic acid, whereas cloxacillin, erythromycin, kitasamycin, lincomycin, oleand-amycin, and bacitracin were resistent.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.7-18
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• 1969

Researches to determine the infectious status on the pancreatic fluke, Eurytrema pancreaticum(Janson 1889) Looss, 1907, were made into several slaughter hauses at four different districts through seven years from 1963 to 1969. The infection rate showed 2962 positive of 5974 heads (49.6%) of cattle at the Seoul first slaughter hause in Seoul, 881 positive of 1021 heads (86.3%) in Cheju, and six(6) positive of 56 heads (11.1%) at Suwon, 58 positive of 306 heads(19.0%)at Joenju. The infection rate 53.1%, (2907 positive heads of total 7357 heads exammed) is the representative infection rate at the cattle eurytremiasis in Korea. It showed little variation through a year and was increased as compared with those of the past period, from 1915 to 1945. Fecal examinations in order to find out the local distribution of the pancreatic fluke were conducted on cattle, sheep, and goats raised in four districts, showing two(2) of 269 heads (0.7%) in Kyonggi-do, 41 of 212 heads (19.3%) in Cheju-do, and negative in both Chungnam-do and Joenbuk-do. When an artificial infection wss performed on rabbits and goats with metacercaria of the pancreatic fluke, Parenchyma of their pancreas were degenerated and the ducts were dilated. When cattle and sheep were infected naturally, the pancreatic ducts were also dilated, the wall was thickened, and adenomatous and epithelial hyperplasia was appeared. The conclusion, putting the foregoing pathological changes, has been arrived at chronic hyperplastic pancreatitis in the eurytremiasis of cattle, sheep, goats and rabbits.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.181-186
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• 2002

To examine the fate of Strongyloides venezuelensis, Mongolian gerbils (Meriones unguicalatus) were orally infected with 1,000 $L_{3}$ larvae per animal. Altogether, 50 gerbils divided into 5 groups of 10 each were monitored for a period of 570 days to document the kinetics of faecal egg output, adults worm population, morphological development, fecundity, and hematological changes including peripheral blood eosinophilia. This study chronicled a life long parasitism of S. venezuelensis in the gerbil host, and showed that S. venezuelensis infection was quite stable throughout the course of infection and the worms maintained their normal development as evidenced by their body dimension. A progressive loss of body condition of the infected gerbils was observed as the level of infection advanced. However, no detectable pathological changes were observed in the gastrointestinal tract. The present findings indicate that an immunocompetent host, such as the Mongolian gerbil, can serve as a life long carrier model of S. venezuelensis if the worms are not expelled within 570 days after infection.