• Korean Journal of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
• /
• v.54 no.5
• /
• pp.668-675
• /
• 2021

The infection status of domestic farmed eels Anguilla japonica, Anguilla bicolor and Anguilla marmorata with Japanese eel endothelial cell-infecting virus (JEECV) and anguillid herpesvirus 1 (AnHV) was examined at the major eel farming areas in Korea. These viruses were detected in all areas examined, regardless of the eel species or age. Any farm with a history of viral infection in adult fish confirmed the infection to be transmitted to stocked fry within 3 to 5 months. It is proposed that both viruses are horizontally transmitted within a given farm. The primary symptoms and histopathological lesions produced by the two viral infections are similar, making it difficult to distinguish the two diseases through clinical symptoms. Both viruses displayed 100% detection in the gills, suggesting that the gills are an optimal tissue for JEECV and AnHV monitoring. This study concluded that JEECV and AnHV were prevalent on eel farms across the country and caused very high mortality when the two viruses co-infected fry. Additional studies, including experimental infections, are needed to clearly understand the pathogenicity of each virus and the risk of co-infection.

• The Journal of the Korean dental association
• /
• v.58 no.10
• /
• pp.615-626
• /
• 2020

The outbreak of COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 infection, has spread worldwide and resulted in a pandemic for health systems. The disease is transmitted via respiration as droplets or aerosol. Due to the nature of dental treatment, aerosols, including body fluid, blood, and saliva, are frequently produced in dental hospitals. The present study investigated the potential risk of nosocomial infection of COVID-19 in dental hospitals to provide recommendations in clinical situations. The Seoul National University Dental Hospital in Korea established a countermeasure to cope with the clinical situation based on The Guidelines of Korean Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (KCDC) for dental practitioners and the available literature. Notably, numerous considerations for patient reservation and schedule management are required for space separation in the hospital, including infection control. Experiences in dental hospitals in Korea would be referable for other dental hospitals facing this infectious respiratory disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.5
• /
• pp.569-573
• /
• 2017

The present study was performed to reveal the current status and risk factors of Strongyloides stercoralis infections in the villages of Kenethao district, Xayaburi Province, Lao PDR. Fecal specimens were collected and examined for S. stercoralis using Koga-agar plate culture technique. Among 516 individuals, the prevalence of S. stercoralis and hookworm infection was 44.2% and 17.1%, respectively. Co-infection was detected in 13.2% of the cases. The prevalence did not significantly differ between males and females (P=0.193). However, the prevalence of S. stercoralis infection increased significantly with age (P=0.041). Of the risk factors examined, both performing farming activities (P=0.001) and walking barefoot when going outside of the house (P=0.003) showed significant correlations with S. stercoralis infections. Our results suggest that S. stercoralis is highly endemic in this area. The National Helminth Control Program of Lao PDR should take actions to control S. stercoralis infection. In addition, provision of health education about the benefits of wearing shoes would be important for reducing infection in the study area. Moreover, the application of high-sensitivity diagnostic approaches is needed to obtain the true impact of S. stercoralis infections in all rural communities in order to provide surveillance activities in Lao PDR.

• Korean Journal of Poultry Science
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.249-253
• /
• 2019

Various factors negatively affect poultry production, including a multitude of avian pathogens. Among them, Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) and Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) cause world-wide economic losses in the poultry industry. Although respectively, MG and MS induce chronic respiratory disease and synovitis in poultry, these pathogens often manifest as clinically inapparent infections and many countries are therefore having difficulties effectively eradicating them. In this study, five broiler breeder farms in Korea were investigated for the presence of Mycoplasma infection from 2016 to 2018. Serum samples were collected for detection of antibodies to mycoplasma species using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit. Additionally, the production index and feed conversion rate of broilers were recorded. According to this investigation, broiler breeder farms in 2018 were serologically negative for Mycoplasma infection with broilers exhibiting a high production index and low feed conversion rate. Thus, eradicating mycoplasma in poultry farms is critical for improving chick quality and overall poultry production.

• Genomics & Informatics
• /
• v.20 no.3
• /
• pp.31.1-31.15
• /
• 2022

A pandemic of respiratory disease named coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by a novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). It is reported prostate cancer patients are susceptible to COVID-19 infection. To understand the possible causes of prostate cancer patients' increased vulnerability and mortality from COVID-19 infection, we focused on the two most important agents, transmembrane protease serine subtype 2 (TMPRSS2) and the C-X-C motif 10 (CXCL10). When SARS-CoV-2 binds to the host cell via S protein-angiotensin-converting enzyme-2 receptor interaction, TMPRSS2 contributes in the proteolytic cleavage of the S protein, allowing the viral and cellular membranes to fuse. CXCL10 is a cytokine found in elevated level in both COVID-19 and cancer-causing cytokine storm. We discovered that TMPRSS2 and CXCL10 are overexpressed in prostate cancer and COVID-19 using the UALCAN and GEPIA2 datasets. The functional importance of TMPRSS2 and CXCL10 in prostate cancer development was then determined by analyzing the frequency of genetic changes in their amino acid sequences using the cBioPortal online portal. Finally, we used the PANTHER database to examine the pathology of the targeted genes. We observed that TMPRSS2 and CXCL10, together with their often co-expressed genes, are important in the binding activity and immune responses in prostate cancer and COVID-19 infection, respectively. Finally, we found that TMPRSS2 and CXCL10 are two putative biomarkers responsible for the increased vulnerability and fatality of prostate cancer patients to COVID-19.

• Korean Journal of Plant Resources
• /
• v.27 no.2
• /
• pp.194-201
• /
• 2014

This study was carried out to investigate the characteristics and infection effects of AMF with soil samples collected at some sites in Gyeonggi province, Korea. AMF spore and characteristics of infection structure in upland plant root were observed as wet sieving and staining method, growth of Capsicicum annum was compared between treatment and non treatment. AMF spores isolated from each soil sample were ellipse or circle type and the colors were soft yellow and white. The colonization rate of AMF with soil infection of Zea mays roots was 13.3~83.3%, the rate of infected soil collected from Z. mays was higher on average. When compared to the growth of C. Annum with control after infection on C. annum, it wasn't showing many differences in fresh weight, dry weight and height, but the yield of fruit of C. annuum showed double than the control group.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.29 no.2
• /
• pp.99-106
• /
• 2013

Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) has become a significant threat to public health. Although broad-spectrum antibiotic therapy is the primary treatment option for CDI, its use has evident limitations. Probiotics have been proved to be effective in the treatment of CDI and are a promising therapeutic option for CDI. In this study, 4 strains of lactic acid bacteria (LAB), namely, Lactobacillus rhamnosus (LR5), Lactococcuslactis (SL3), Bifidobacterium breve (BR3), and Bifidobacterium lactis (BL3) were evaluated for their anti-C. difficile activity. Co-culture incubation of C. difficile ($10^6$ and $10^{10}$ CFU/ml) with each strain of LAB indicated that SL3 possessed the highest antimicrobial activity over a 24-hr period. The cell-free supernatants of the 4 LAB strains exhibited $MIC_{50}$ values between 0.424 mg/ml (SL3) and 1.318 (BR3) mg/ml. These results may provide a basis for alternative therapies for the treatment of C. difficile-associated gut disorders.

• Journal of Mycology and Infection
• /
• v.23 no.4
• /
• pp.105-110
• /
• 2018

Background: Otomycosis is a fungal infection that comprises 7~10% of outer ear infections. Although the occurrence is higher in humid climates, relatively few studies have investigated otomycosis occurrences in humid environments. While recurrent chronic otitis media discharge in the ear creates a milieu in which otomycosis is likely to occur, investigations of otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media have been rare. Objective: To examine the characteristics of patients with otomycosis co-occurring with chronic otitis media and identify causative fungi. Methods: The study included 60 patients with chronic otitis media who presented typical otomycosis findings in the outer ear canal and the presence of fungi. Patients were treated in the department of otolaryngology, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, between July 2011 and June 2018. Results: The mean patient age was 57.77 years, and our study included 20 men and 40 women (p=0.010). The lesion was on the right in 39 patients and on the left in 21 (p=0.020). Ear discharge was the most common chief complaint at diagnosis. Of the 54 patients over age 19, 10 had diabetes (18.5%). Aspergillus was causative in 29 patients and Candida in 31. Aspergillus niger was identified in 15 patients, Aspergillus sp. in 14, Candida parapsilosis in 12, Candida sp. in six, and Candida albicans in five. Conclusion: Otomycosis and chronic otitis media co-occurrences increase with age. The Aspergillus and Candida genera were similar in proportion. A. niger was the most common Aspergillus species, while C. parapsilosis was the most common Candida.

• Toxicological Research
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.13-19
• /
• 2003

GX-12 is a naked DNA vaccine developed by the DongA Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. and Genexine for the treatment of HIV infection. This study was peformed to evaluate the biodistribution and expression of GX-12 mRNA in gonadal tissues, and to investigate the histopathological changes after the repeated intramuscular injection. GX-12 (400 $\mu\textrm{g}$/head) was injected into the left anterior tibialis once a week for four weeks. On day 1, 5, 15, 30 and 45 after the final administration, gonadal tissues (testes, epididymis, seminal vesicles, penis, prostate glands, ovaries, vagina, uterus) and the injection site (muscle) were harvested and examined for the expression of mRNA by RT-PCR. In addition, histopathological examination was peformed at each time point. At the injection site, mRNA expression of GX-12 was detected only at early time points (1 ~ 15 days after injection) but not thereafter. However, in gonadal tissues, mRNA expression was not identified at all time points both in male and female rats. There were no histopathological changes in all reproductive organs and muscle. Based on these results, it is unlikely that the plasmid DNAs of GX-12 was distributed to- and expressed in gonadal tissues, suggesting that the chance of germline integration and transmission is negligible.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
• /
• v.21 no.1
• /
• pp.209-213
• /
• 2007

In the recent, increased concern has been focused on the pharmacology and clinical utility of herbal extracts and derivatives as a drug or adjunct to chemotherapy and immunotherapy. Salicis Radicis Cortex, A decoction has been mainly used for improvement of ozena and a diuretic effect in oriental medicine, but there was no study on the molecular mechanism of Salicis Radicis Cortex as an immunomodulator. Here we investigated the role of the aqueous extract of Salicis Radicis Cortex in the expression of inflammatory mediators, surface molecule, and related receptors in vitro and in vivo. In murine macrophage RAW 264.7 cells and peritoneal macrophages of C57BL/6N mice, water extract of Salicis Radicis Cortex increased the production of secretary TNF-alpha and Nitric oxide, and the expression level of CD14, LPS co-receptor and CD86, co-stimulatory molecule compared to negative natural extract ex vivo. Moreover, i.p. injection of water extract of Salicis Radicis Cortex significantly increased the secretion level of IFN-gamma and TNF-alpha, IL-2, IL-4 and IL-5 in serum of mice in vivo. Taken together, these results suggest that Salicis Radicis Cortex may regulate the immune response by secreting Th1 and Th2 types of cytokines in vivo and the possibility of its as natural immunostimulator.