• 동의생리병리학회지
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• 제20권4호
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• pp.799-806
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• 2006

Fungi cause a number of plant and animal diseases. Because fungi are more chemically and genetically similar to animals than other organisms, this makes fungal diseases very difficult to treat. Human fungal infections are uncommon in normally healthy persons, being confined to conditions such as candidiasis (thrush) and dermatophyte skin infections such as athlete's foot. However, in the immunocompromised host, a variety of normally mild or nonpathogenic fungi can cause potentially fatal infections. Furthermore, the relative ease with which people can now visit 'exotic' countries provides the means for unusual fungal infections to be imported into this country. Fungal infections or mycoses are classified depending on the degree of tissue involvement and mode of entry into the host. These are Cutaneous, Subcutaneous, Systemic, and Opportunistic. As listed above, in superficial mycoses infection is localised to the skin, the hair, and the nails. An example is 'ringworm' or 'tinea', an infection of the skin by a dermatophyte. Ringworm refers to the characteristic central clearing that often occurs in dermatophyte infections of the skin. Dermatophyte members of the genera Trycophyton, Microsporum and Epidermophyton are responsible for the disease. Tinea can infect various sites of the body, including the scalp (tinea capitis), the beard (tinea barbae) the foot (tinea pedis: 'athlete's foot') and the groin (tinea cruris). All occur in the United Kingdom although tinea infections, other than pedis, are now rare. Candids albicans is a yeast causing candidiasis or 'thrush' in humans. As a superficial mycoses, candidiasis typically infects the mouth or vagina. C. albicans is part of the normal flora of the vagina and gastrointestinal tract and is termed a 'commensal' However, during times of ill health or impaired immunity the balance can alter and the organism multiplies to cause disease. Antibiotic treatment can also alter the normal bacterial flora allowing C. albicans to flourish. If we study mycoses of the orient medicine, we can improve the medical skills about mycoses.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권5호
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• pp.543-547
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• 2019

Toxoplasma gondii can infect humans worldwide, causing serious diseases in pregnant women and immunocompromised individuals. T. gondii rhoptry protein 13 (ROP13) is known as one of the key proteins involved in host cell invasion. In this study, we generated virus-like particles (VLPs) vaccine expressing T. gondii rhoptry ROP13 and investigated VLPs vaccine efficacy in mice. Mice immunized with ROP13 VLPs vaccine elicited significantly higher levels of T. gondii-specific IgG, IgG1, IgG2a, and IgA antibody responses following boost immunization and challenge infection, whereas antibody inductions were insignificant upon prime immunization. Differing immunization routes resulted in differing antibody induction, as intranasal immunization (IN) induced greater antibody responses than intramuscular immunization (IM) after boost and challenge infection. IN immunization induced significantly higher levels of IgG and IgA antibody responses from feces, antibody-secreting cells (ASCs), $CD4^+$ T, $CD8^+$ T cells and germinal center B cell responses in the spleen compared to IM immunization. Compared to IM immunization, IN immunization resulted in significantly reduced cyst counts in the brain as well as lesser body weight loss, which contributed to better protection. All of the mice immunized through either route survived, whereas all na?ve control mice perished. These results indicate that the ROP13 VLPs vaccine could be a potential vaccine candidate against T. gondii infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권2호
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• pp.197-200
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• 2019

Cryptosporidium is a common intestinal protozoan that can lead to diarrhea in humans and dogs. The predominant species of infection are C. hominis and C. parvum in humans, and C. canis in dogs. However, C. canis can infect immunocompromised humans. Considering the close contact with humans, dogs have the potential to be reservoirs for human cryptosporidiosis. Breeding kennels are the major supply source of puppies for pet shops. The present study is to determine the molecular prevalence and characteristics of Cryptosporidium spp. found in breeding kennel dogs. A total of 314 fecal samples were collected from young and adult dogs kept in 5 breeding kennels. A polymerase chain reaction targeting the small subunit rRNA gene was employed for the detection of Cryptosporidium spp. To determine the species, the DNA sequences were compared to GenBank data. Overall, 21.0% of the fecal samples were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. infection. Cryptosporidium spp. was detected in all 5 facilities. A sequencing analysis demonstrated that all isolates shared 99-100% similarity with C. canis. The results suggest that Cryptosporidium spp. infection is present at a high-level in breeding kennel dogs. However, because dominant species in this survey was C. canis, the importance of breeding kennel dogs as reservoirs for Cryptosporidium spp. transmission to humans is likely to be low in Japan.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.124-131
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• 2021

Cryptococcus neoformans는 주로 면역이 저하된 환자에서 기회 감염을 일으키는 진균이다. 그러나 면역이 정상인 환자에서도 다양한 감염을 일으킬 수 있다. 림프절을 침범한 폐 크립토코쿠스증은 정상 면역을 가진 사람에서는 상대적으로 드물게 발생한다. 고열과 지속적인 기침을 주소로 병원에 온 17세 여자 청소년이 가슴X선 영상검사 및 컴퓨터단층촬영에서 전방 종격동에서 우측 쇄골하 부위까지 침범된 종괴를 보여 초음파 유도하 총생검 검사로 크립토코쿠스증을 진단하였다. 각종 면역 검사에서는 이상 소견이 발견되지 않았다. 환자는 2주간 암포테리신 B와 플루시토신으로 치료 후 8개월간 플루코나졸로 치료하였고 완쾌되었다. 본 증례를 통해 크립토코쿠스증의 특징을 이해하고 정상 면역 환자에게서도 크립토코쿠스증이 발생할 수 있음을 염두에 두고 진단을 내리는 것이 바람직하겠다.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권2호
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• pp.228-237
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• 2022

In this study, the effects of the immune stimulator Euglena gracilis (Euglena) in cyclophosphamide (CCP)-induced immunocompromised mice were assessed. The key component β-1,3-glucan (paramylon) constitutes 50% of E. gracilis. Mice were orally administered Euglena powder (250 and 500 mg/kg body weight (B.W.)) or β-glucan powder (250 mg/kg B.W.) for 19 days. In a preliminary immunology experiment, ICR mice were intraperitoneally injected with 80 mg of CCP/kg B.W. during the final 3 consecutive days. In the main experiment, BALB/c mice were treated with CCP for the final 5 days. To evaluate the enhancing effects of Euglena on the immune system, mouse B.W., the spleen index, natural killer (NK) cell activity and mRNA expression in splenocytes lungs and livers were determined. To detect cytokine and receptor expression, splenocytes were treated with 5 ㎍/ml concanavalin A or 1 ㎍/ml lipopolysaccharide. The B.W. and spleen index were significantly increased and NK cell activity was slightly enhanced in all the experimental groups compared to the CCP-only group. In splenocytes, the gene expression levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interferon-γ, interleukin (IL)-10, IL-6, and IL-12 receptor were increased in the E. gracilis and β-glucan groups compared to the CCP-only group, but there was no significant difference. Treatment with 500 mg of Euglena/kg B.W. significantly upregulated dectin-1 mRNA expression in the lung and liver compared to the CCP-only group. These results suggest that Euglena may enhance the immune system by strengthening innate immunity through immunosuppression.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제29권1호
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• pp.54-60
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• 2022

살모넬라 수막염은 소아청소년에서 흔하지 않은 병이나 심각한 신경학적 합병증을 일으킬 수 있다. 영아, 특히 3개월 미만의 연령과 악성 종양, 말라리아 감염, 인체면역결핍바이러스 감염과 같은 면역 저하 상태는 살모넬라 수막염의 위험인자로 알려져 있다. 본 증례에서는 고열과 구토, 의식 변화를 주소로 내원한 이전 특이병력 없던 건강한 8세 여아의 살모넬라 수막염 증례를 소개한다. 환자의 뇌척수액에서 D군 살모넬라가 배양되었으며, 뇌 자기공명영상 소견은 정상이었다. 면역 글로불린 수치와 림프구 수는 정상 범위였고, 차세대 염기서열 분석에서 원발성 면역결핍 질환을 일으키는 유전자 변이는 검출되지 않았다. 3세대 세팔로스포린 투약으로 환자의 증상은 빠르게 호전되었으며 합병증이나 후유증은 발생하지 않았다. 비장티푸스 살모넬라균은 면역이 정상인 소아에서 수막염을 일으킬 수 있으며 조기에 항생제를 투여하면 성공적으로 치료할 수 있다.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.397-404
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• 2022

Background Excessive use of corticosteroids therapy along with gross immunocompromised conditions in the novel coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has raised the risks of contracting opportunistic fungal infections. Here, we describe our experience with the implementation of a surgical protocol to treat and reconstruct rhino-orbital-cerebral mucormycosis. Methods A retrospective review of our prospectively maintained database was conducted on consecutive patients diagnosed with mucormycosis undergoing immediate reconstruction utilizing our "Mucormycosis Management Protocol." All patients included in this study underwent reconstruction after recovering from COVID-19. Wide local excision was performed in all cases removing all suspected and edematous tissue. Reconstruction was done primarily after clear margins were achieved on clinical assessment under a cover of injectable liposomal amphotericin B. Results Fourteen patients were included. The average age was 43.6 years and follow-up was 24.3 days. Thirteen patients had been admitted for inpatient care of COVID-19. Steroid therapy was implemented for 2 weeks in 11 patients and for 3 weeks in 3 patients. Eight patients (57.1%) had a maxillectomy and mucosal lining resection with/without skin excision, and six patients (42.8%) underwent maxillectomy and wide tissue excision (maxillectomy and partial zygomatic resection, orbital exenteration, orbital floor resection, nose debridement, or skull base debridement). Anterolateral thigh (ALT) flaps were used to cover defects in all patients. All flaps survived. No major or minor complications occurred. No recurrence of mucormycosis was noted. Conclusion The approach presented in this study indicates that immediate reconstruction is safe and reliable in cases when appropriate tissue resection is accomplished. Further studies are required to verify the external validity of these findings.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• 제21권6호
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• pp.88.1-88.13
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• 2020

Background: Listeria monocytogenes is a gram-positive bacterium that causes listeriosis mainly in immunocompromised hosts. It can also cause foodborne outbreaks and has the ability to adapt to various environments. Peptide uptake in gram-positive bacteria is enabled by oligopeptide permeases (Opp) in a process that depends on ATP hydrolysis by OppD and F. Previously a putative protein Lmo2193 was predicted to be OppD, but little is known about the role of OppD in major processes of L. monocytogenes, such as growth, virulence, and biofilm formation. Objectives: To determine whether the virulence traits of L. monocytogenes are related to OppD. Methods: In this study, Lmo2193 gene deletion and complementation strains of L. monocytogenes were generated and compared with a wild-type strain for the following: adhesiveness, invasion ability, intracellular survival, proliferation, 50% lethal dose (LD₅₀) to mice, and the amount bacteria in the mouse liver, spleen, and brain. Results: The results showed that virulence of the deletion strain was 1.34 and 0.5 orders of magnitude higher than that of the wild-type and complementation strains, respectively. The function of Lmo2193 was predicted and verified as OppD from the ATPase superfamily. Deletion of lmo2193 affected the normal growth of L. monocytogenes, reduced its virulence in cells and mice, and affected its ability to form biofilms. Conclusions: Deletion of the oligopeptide transporter Lmo2193 decreases the virulence of L. monocytogenes. These effects may be related to OppD's function, which provides a new perspective on the regulation of oligopeptide transporters in L. monocytogenes.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.160-167
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• 2021

비장티푸스 살모넬라균에 의한 화농성 척추염은 면역이 정상인 소아청소년에서는 매우 드문 질환으로, 주로 면역저하자나 낫적혈구병과 같은 혈색소병을 가진 환자들이 이 질환의 위험군으로 알려져 있다. 본 증례는 발열과 우상복부 통증으로 내원한 정상 면역을 가진 건강한 13세 청소년에서 대변 배양 검사를 통하여 비장티푸스 살모넬라균을 확인하고, 지속된 발열에 대하여 추가 영상 검사를 통하여 화농성 척추염이 합병되었음을 확인한 증례로, 불명열의 검사로 배양 검사의 중요성을 인식하게 하고, 일반적이지 않은 살모넬라증의 임상경과를 보이는 경우에는 장외 국소감염의 합병증에 대하여 철저하게 조사하는 것이 중요함을 보여준다.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제28권3호
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• pp.181-188
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• 2021

신장이식 환자에서 만성 빈혈은 치료 과정 중 발생하는 합병증으로 바이러스 감염, 적혈구형성호르몬결핍, 출혈, 면역억제제의 부작용 등과 관련이 있다. 신장이식 환자에서 파르보바이러스 B19에 의한 빈혈은 초감염 혹은 기존 감염의 재활성화로 발생할 수 있으며, 아직 이에 대한 치료법은 정립이 되어 있지 않다. 특히, 소아청소년 신장이식 환자에 대한 보고나 자료는 더욱 드물다. 저자들은 소아청소년 신장이식 환자에서 발생한 심각한 빈혈을 파르보바이러스 B19 PCR 검사법으로 진단하고, 정맥내글로불린으로 재발 없이 성공적으로 치료한 두 증례와 문헌 고찰을 보고하는 바이다.