• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.310-318
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• 2022

The fruits of Paulownia tomentosa (Thunb.) (PT) Steud. have been reported to exert a variety of biological activities. A previous study confirmed that compounds isolated from PT fruits (PTF) exerted anti-inflammatory effects on TNF-α-stimulated airway epithelial cells. However, there is no report on the protective effects of PTF on acute lung injury (ALI). Here, we examined the ameliorative effects of PTF in an experimental animal model of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced ALI. In ALI mice, increased levels of inflammatory cell influx were confirmed in the lungs of mice, and an increase of microphage numbers, TNF-α, IL-6 and MCP-1 production and protein content were detected in mouse bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. However, these increases were significantly reversed with PTF pretreatment. In addition, PTF inhibited the increased expression of iNOS and COX-2 in the lungs of ALI mice. Furthermore, the upregulation of MAPK and NF-κB activation was decreased in the lungs of ALI mice by PTF. In the in vitro experiment, PTF pretreatment exerted an anti-inflammatory effect by inhibiting the secretion of nitric oxide, TNF-α and IL-6 in LPS-stimulated RAW264.7 macrophages. Collectively, these results indicated that PTF has ameliorative effects on airway inflammation in an experimental animal model of ALI.

• Journal of Interdisciplinary Genomics
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• v.4 no.2
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• pp.35-38
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• 2022

Background: Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a complex genetic disease associated with growth impairment, severe obesity and metabolic dysfunctions. High proportion of PWS patients are born small for gestational age (SGA) than normal children, which also increase the risk of growth impairment and metabolic dysfunction in PWS. We aimed to compare growth outcome and metabolic profiles between SGA and appropriate for gestational age (AGA) PWS patients. Methods: Data of 55 PWS children and adults aged more than 2 years old (32 male and 23 female, age 2-18.8 years) from single center were studied. Only patients who were treated with GH were included. The clinical characteristics and laboratory findings were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Among 55 subjects, 39 had 15q11-13 deletion and 16 had uniparental disomy (UPD). Twenty (36.3%) were born SGA. All patients received GH treatment, and 11 (20%) discontinued GH treatment. Mean age at GH treatment initiation was 2.5 (range 0.3-12.4) years, and mean duration of treatment was 6.3 (range 1.0-11.3) years. Current height-SDS (-0.36 vs -0.16) and BMI-SDS (1.44 vs 1.33) did not differ between AGA and SGA group. Two patients in SGA group, but none in AGA group had diabetes mellitus. Mean glucose level was also higher in SGA group (100.1 vs 114.4 mg/dL). Conclusion: Our report gives an overview of growth profile and metabolic dysfunctions recorded in GH treated PWS patients. Growth profile did not differ between AGA and SGA group. Glucose level was higher in SGA group, so more careful monitoring and prevention for DM will be required in SGA group.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.127-131
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• 2022

Feline hemotropic mycoplasmosis (hemoplasmosis) is an infection of the red blood cells caused by the Mycoplasma haemofelis (Mhf), Candidatus Mycoplasma haemominutum (CMhm), and Candidatus Mycoplasma turicensis (CMt). The existence of Mhf, CMhm, and CMt has been demonstrated in feral cats in Korea using molecular methods, but no clinical cases have yet been reported. This study reports 2 clinical cases of hemotropic mycoplasmosis caused by CMhm and CMt in 2 anemic cats. The first case was a client-owned intact female domestic shorthair cat that presented with fever, pale mucous membranes, and normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia. Prior to referral, an immunosuppressive prednisolone dose was administered at the local veterinary clinic for 1 month. The cat was diagnosed with high-grade alimentary lymphoma. Organisms were found on the surface of the red blood cells on blood smear examination. The second case was of a rescued cat that presented with dehydration and fever. The cat had normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia. Necropsy revealed concurrent feline infectious peritonitis. Polymerase chain reaction assay targeting 16S rRNA revealed CMhm infection in case 1 and dual infection of CMhm and CMt in case 2. Normocytic normochromic non-regenerative anemia was observed in both cats before and during the management of the systemic inflammation. This is the first clinical case report in Korea to demonstrate CMhm and CMt infections in symptomatic cats.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.23 no.5
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• pp.73.1-73.8
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• 2022

Background: Lumpy skin disease (LSD), a disease transmitted by direct and indirect contact with infected cattle, is caused by the Lumpy skin disease virus (LSDV). The disease affects cattle herds in Africa, Europe, and Asia. The clinical signs of LSD range from mild to the appearance of nodules and lesions in the skin leading to severe symptoms that are sometimes fatal with significant livestock economic losses. Objectives: This study aimed to characterize LSDV strains in the blood of infected cattle in Thailand based on the GPCR gene and determine the phylogenetic relationship of LSDV Thailand isolates with published sequences available in the database. Methods: In total, the blood samples of 120 cattle were collected from different farms in four provinces in the northeastern part of Thailand, and the occurrence of LSDV was examined by PCR based on the P32 antigen gene. The genetic diversity of LSDV based on the GPCR gene was analyzed. Results: Polymerase chain reaction assays based on the P32 antigen gene showed that 4.17% (5/120) were positive for LSDV. All positive blood samples were amplified successfully for the GPCR gene. Phylogenetic analysis showed that LSDV Thailand isolates clustered together with LSDVs from China and Russia. Conclusions: The LSD outbreak in Thailand was confirmed, and a phylogenetic tree was constructed to infer the branching pattern of the GPCR gene from the presence of LSDV in Thailand. This is the first report on the molecular characterization of LSDV in cattle in Thailand.

• Journal of Genetic Medicine
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.22-26
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• 2022

Cerebrotendinous xanthomatosis (CTX) is a rare genetic disease caused by a deficiency of enzymes for the synthesis of bile acid, resulting in the accumulation of cholestanol with reduced chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA) production and causing various symptoms such as chronic diarrhea in infancy, juvenile cataracts in childhood, tendon xanthomas in adolescence and young adulthood, and progressive neurologic dysfunction in adulthood. Because oral CDCA replacement therapy can effectively prevent disease progression, early diagnosis and treatment are critical in CTX. This study reports the case of CTX in a 10-year-old male who presented with Achilles tendon xanthoma and mild intellectual disability. Biochemical testing showed normal cholesterol and sitosterol levels but elevated cholestanol levels. Genetic testing showed compound heterozygous variants of CYP27A1, c.379C>T (p.Arg127Trp), and c.1214G>A (p.Arg405Gln), which confirmed the diagnosis of CTX. The patient had neither cataracts nor other focal neurologic deficits and showed no abnormalities on brain imaging. The patient received oral CDCA replacement therapy without any adverse effects; thereafter, the cholestanol level decreased and no disease progression was noted. The diagnostic possibility of CTX should be considered in patients with tendon xanthoma and normolipidemic conditions to prevent neurological deterioration.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.104-110
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• 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) mainly causes respiratory symptoms such as fever, cough, sputum, and rhinorrhea, as well as digestive symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain in children. In this report, we describe a case of a child with a SARS-CoV-2 infection who presented with epigastric pain and was subsequently diagnosed with acute pancreatitis without any concomitant infections in other organs. The epigastric pain was relieved with goal-directed vigorous fluid therapy for acute pancreatitis for 24 hours, and the serological and radiological findings normalized after two months. Acute pancreatitis should be considered as a differential diagnosis when a child with a history of COVID-19 visits the hospital with epigastric pain.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.39 no.5
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• pp.494-503
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• 2023

Xanthomonas campestris pv. campestris (Xcc) is a plant pathogen of Brassica crops that causes black rot disease throughout the world. At present, 11 physiological races of Xcc (races 1-11) have been reported. The conventional method of using differential cultivars for Xcc race detection is not accurate and it is laborious and time-consuming. Therefore, the development of specific molecular markers has been used as a substitute tool because it offers an accurate and reliable result, particularly a quick diagnosis of Xcc races. Previously, our laboratory has successfully developed race-specific molecular markers for Xcc races 1-6. In this study, specific molecular markers to identify Xcc race 7 have been developed. In the course of study, whole genome sequences of several Xcc races, X. campestris pv. incanae, X. campestris pv. raphani, and X. campestris pv. vesicatoria were aligned to identify variable regions like sequence-characterized amplified regions and insertions and deletions specific to race 7. Primer pairs were designed targeting these regions and validated against 22 samples. The polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that three primer pairs specifically amplified the DNA fragment corresponding to race 7. The obtained finding clearly demonstrates the efficiency of the newly developed markers in accurately detecting Xcc race 7 among the other races. These results indicated that the newly developed marker can successfully and rapidly detect Xcc race 7 from other races. This study represents the first report on the successful development of specific molecular markers for Xcc race 7.

• Mycobiology
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.452-462
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• 2023

Opportunistic infections due to Cryptococcus neoformans and C. gattii species complexes continue to rise unabated among HIV/AIDS patients, despite improved antifungal therapies. Here, we collected a total of 20 environmental and 25 presumptive clinical cryptococcal isolates from cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of 175 patients enrolled in an ongoing clinical trial Ambition 1 Project (Botswana-Harvard Partnership). Identity confirmation of the isolates was done using MALDI-TOF MS and PCR. We describe the diversity of the isolates by PCR fingerprinting and sequencing (Oxford Nanopore Technology) of the intergenic spacer region. Mating types of the isolates were determined by amplification of the MAT locus. We report an unusual prevalence of 42.1% of C. neoformans × C. deneoformans hybrids Serotype AD (n = 16), followed by 39.5% of C. neoformans Serotype A (n = 15), 5.3% of C. deneoformans, Serotype D (n = 2), 7.9% of C. gattii (n = 3), and 5.3% of C. tetragattii (n = 2) in 38 representative isolates that have been characterized. Mating type-specific PCR performed on 38 representative environmental and clinical isolates revealed that 16 (42.1%) were MATa/MAT𝛼 hybrids, 17 (44.7%) were MAT𝛼, and five (13.2%) possessed MATa mating type. We used conventional and NGS platforms to demonstrate a potential link between environmental and clinical isolates and lay a foundation to further describe mating patterns/history in Botswana.

• Journal of Trauma and Injury
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.376-384
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• 2023

Purpose: The Armed Forces Trauma Center of Korea was established in April 2022. This study was conducted to report our 1-year experience of treating soldiers with open fractures of the lower extremity. Methods: In this case series, we reviewed the medical records of 51 Korean soldiers with open fractures of the lower extremity between April 2022 and March 2023 at a trauma center. We analyzed patients with Gustilo-Anderson type II and III fractures and reported the duration of transportation, injury mechanisms, injured sites, and associated injuries. We also presented laboratory findings, surgery types, intensive care unit stays, hospital stays, rehabilitation results, and reasons for psychiatric consultation. Additionally, we described patients' mode of transport. Results: This study enrolled nine male patients who were between 21 and 26 years old. Six patients had type II and three had type III fractures. Transport from the accident scene to the emergency room ranged from 75 to 455 minutes, and from the emergency room to the operating room ranged from 35 to 200 minutes. Injury mechanisms included gunshot wounds, landmine explosions, grenade explosions, and entrapment by ship mooring ropes. One case had serious associated injuries (inhalation burn, open facial bone fractures, and hemopneumothorax). No cases with serious blood loss or coagulopathies were found, but most cases had a significant elevation of creatinine kinase. Two patients underwent vascular reconstruction, whereas four patients received flap surgery. After rehabilitation, six patients could walk, one patient could move their joints actively, and two patients performed active assistive movement. Eight patients were referred to the psychiatry department due to suicidal attempts and posttraumatic stress disorder. Conclusions: This study provides insights into how to improve treatment for patients with military trauma, as well as medical services such as the transport system, by revising treatment protocols and systematizing treatment.

• Journal of Dental Rehabilitation and Applied Science
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.168-175
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• 2023

Long-term use of inappropriate prosthesis often results in habitual closure or irregular mandibular movements. In that case, guide to the stable centric position is difficult. Therefore, by using a treatment denture, the muscles and TMJ should be stabilized and the jaw relation should be acquired with the treatment position. Compared to the conventional method, digital technology in fabrication complete denture has the advantage of reproducing a stable tooth arrangement in cases of difficult tooth alignment, minimizing laboratory errors and reducing denture fabrication time. Therefore, in this case, the final denture was fabricated by digitally reproducing the stable treatment position, vertical dimension, and lip support with a treatment denture, and satisfactory results were obtained.