• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.551-555
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• 2014

Trichomonas vaginalis, a causative agent of trichomoniasis, may trigger symptomatic or asymptomatic non-gonococcal urethritis and chronic prostatitis in men. Despite the availability of highly sensitive diagnostic tests, such as nucleic acid amplification tests, including PCR, few prospective studies present data on male T. vaginalis infection in South Korea. In the present study, the prevalence of T. vaginalis and associated clinical conditions were evaluated in 201 male patients from a primary care urology clinic in South Korea. The prevalence of T. vaginalis infection in our cohort was 4% (8/201) by PCR. T. vaginalis infection was common in men older than 40 years (median age, 52 years). Among the 8 Trichomonas-positive patients, 87.5% (7/8) had prostatic diseases, such as prostatitis and benign prostatic hyperplasia, and 25.0% (2/8) and 12.5% (1/8) were coinfected with Chlamydia trachomatis and Mycoplasma genitalium, respectively. Our results suggest that T. vaginalis infection is not rare in men attending primary care urology clinics in South Korea, especially in those older than 40 years, in whom it may explain the presence of prostatic disease. The possibility of T. vaginalis infection should be routinely considered in older male patients with prostatic diseases in South Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.285-287
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• 2016

Background: The efficacy of standard treatment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is declining because of antibiotic resistance. Clarithromycin resistance is also increasing in many Asian countries. The aim of this study was to determine the antibiotic susceptibility patterns of H. pylori infection and clinical association in Laos. Materials and Methods: A total of 329 Lao dyspeptic patients who underwent gastroscopy at Mahosot Hospital, Vientiane, Laos during December 2010-March 2012 were enrolled in this study. During gastroscopy, 4 biopsies were collected (2 each from the antrum and body) for CLO-test and histopathology. Only the positive CLO-test gastric tissues was stored at $-80^{\circ}C$ in a freezer until DNA was extracted and a GenoType$^{(R)}$HelicoDR test was conducted for detecting mutations in the rrl gene encoding 23S rRNA (clarithromycin resistance) and mutations in gyrA gene (fluoroquinolone resistance). Results: Of the total, 119 Lao patients (36.2%) were infected with H. pylori including 59 males (49.6%) and 60 females (50.4%) with a mean age of 46 years. Clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone resistance of H. pylori infection was demonstrated in 15 (12.6%) and 16 strains (13.4%) respectively. In clarithromycin resistance, the number of patients who had education above primary school and $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$ were significantly higher than those who had education below primary school and BMI<$25kg/m^2$ (23.1% vs 7.5%, P-value= 0.036 and 20.5% vs 8%, P-value= 0.048, respectively). In fluoroquinolone resistance, the number of lowland Lao was significantly higher than those of non-lowland (highland and midland) Lao ethnic groups (16.7% vs 0%, P-value= 0.039). Conclusions: H. pylori infections remain common in Laos. Clarithromycin and fluoroquinolone resistance with H. pylori infection are growing problems. Education above primary school and $BMI{\geq}25kg/m^2$ might be predictors for clarithromycin resistance and lowland Lao ethnicity might be predictors for fluoroquinolone resistance with H. pylori infection in Laos.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.17
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• pp.7803-7807
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• 2015

Opisthorchis viverrini infection is a serious public health problem in Southeast Asia especially in the northeast and north of Thailand. Therefore, a cross-sectional survey using multistage sampling was conducted from the rural communities of Surin province, Thailand, during September 2013 to July 2014. O. viverrini infection was determined using Kato's thick smear technique. Socio-demographic, information resources, and history data were collected using predesigned semi-structured questionnaires. A total of 510 participants completed interviews and had stools collected. Some 32 (6.47%) participants were infected with O. viverrini. The rate was slightly higehr in males (6.61%) than females (6.32%). High frequencies were found in the age groups 61-70 (19.4%) and 71-80 years (19.4%), those involved in agriculture (10.5%), and in primary school (10.3%). The distribution of high infection was found in Tha Tum (16.7%) and Sankha district (16.7%), followed by Samrong Thap (13.3%), Si Narong (13.33%), and Buachet district (13.33%). Chi-square testing indicated that age (61-70 and 71-80 year old), education (primary school) and occupation (agriculture), were significantly associated with O. viverrini infection (p-value<0.05). Of 72.6% participants who had past histories with stool examination, 17.0% of them had been infected with O. viverrini and 43.2% treated with praziquantel. This finding confirmed that O. viverrini is still a problem in Surin province, Thailand, and therefore, interventions are urgently required for mass treatment and health education implementation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.5-11
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• 2008

Primary rotavirus gastroenteritis infection usually occurs in infants under 2 years of age worldwide regardless of level of hygiene, quality of water, food or sanitation or type of behavior. In Korea, the disease mostly occurred in infants under 2 year old, and usually in late fall to early winter with the highest incidence shown in November until early 1990s. However, since then, relatively the age incidence of this infection has increased in children over 2 years old, and it has mainly occurred in late winter to early spring with the highest incidence shown between February and March. And rotavirus gastroenteritis serotypes varied year to year as well as varied by year within the same region in our country. The comparison of severity scores between age groups in Korea showed that severity score was lowest in infants less than 3 months and highest in infants more than 6 months and less than 12 months, and hospitalization period between age groups was longest in infants older than 3 months and less than 3 months and highest in infants more than 6 months and less than 12 months and less than 6 months. In this aspect, rotavirus vaccines should be given to infants less than 2 years of age in whom the incidence of rotavirus gastroenteritis is the highest, and vaccination should be ideally started before 3 months considering hospitalization period and severity of rotavirus gastroenteritis. However, It should be careful for the introduction of new rotavirus vaccine, and the effectiveness of rotavirus vaccines should be assessed by long-term post marketing surveillance. And we guess an multivalent vaccine may be an ideal rotavirus vaccine to prevent primary infection caused by variable rotavirus strains in Korea. In addition, clinical epidemiology studies on rotavirus gastroenteritis which evaluate the age and serotypes related severity should be continuously conducted in various regions.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.2973-2977
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• 2016

Opisthorchis viverrini is still a serious problem in Northeastern and Northern Thailand. Active surveillance is required to determine updated data for further prevention and control planning. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the prevalence and risk factors for O. viverrini in three provinces, Northeastern Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was conducted during October 2015 to March 2016 at Kaeng Sanam Nang district of Nakhon Ratchasima province, Waeng Noi district of Khon Kaen province, and Khon Sawan district of Chaiyaphum province, Thailand. Stool samples were examined by using a modified Kato-Katz Thick smear technique. From a total of 978 participants screened, O. viverrini infection was found in 1.74%, the majority opf positive cases being male (6.62%), age group 51-60 years old (4.21%), educated at primary school (8.43%), occupied with agriculture (9.62%),having an income <4,000 baht per month (4.82%), and living in Khon Sawan district (8.43%). Participants had a high knowledge level (42.43%), good attitude level (34.76%), and fair level (38.04%). The present study indicates the O. viverrini infection rate is low, but elderly males with primary school education involved in agriculture are still frequently effected particularly in Khon Sawan district. Therefore, this risk group requires behavior modification and continued monitoring.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.6 no.1
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• pp.5-12
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• 1981

Paragonimus infection is prevalent in Korea, establishing several endemic foci. Kim(1969) reported an endemic area in Hyeonbuk Myeon. Yangyang-Gun, but thereafter no further epidemiologic study of Paragonimus infection was performed in the Gangweon-Do. Hoengseong-Gun is mountainous area which is located in the southwestern part of Gangweon-Do and borders with Hongcheon-Gun on the east, with Pyeongchang-Gun on the east, with Yeongweol-Gun and Weonseong-Gun on the south, and with Yangpyeong-Gun on west. The author carried out an epidemiologic study of Paragonimus infection by intradermal test with V.B.S antigen, and of intermediate host (crayfish) in Hoengseong-Gun, Gangweon-Do. The results are summarized as follows: 1. The positive skin test reaction to Paragonimus antigen was 14.5% from 2,807 examiness; 16.0% in male and 11.6% in female and no sex or age difference on the skin test positive reactions was noticed among the villages. 2. The positive skin test reactions were 31.3% in Gapcheon-Myeon, 20.5% in Cheongil-Myeon and 19.8% in Woocheon-Myeon. Primary school children in Byeongjibang-ri, Gapcheon-Myeon showed positive in 36.4%. 3. The prevalence by skin test reaction by social strata was 16.1% (226 out of 1,408) in primary school children, 12.8% out of 725) in middle school, 6.4% (11 out of 172) in high school students, and 15.3% (77 out of 502) in inhabitants of Heongseong-Gun. 4. Metacercarial positives of Paragonimus in crayfish were 20.9%. Through the survey results, it is postulated that Heongseong-Gun, Gangweon-Do is to be categorized as an endemic area of Paragonimus infection.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.25 no.5
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• pp.422-431
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• 2022

Purpose: At the beginning of the Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) epidemic, physicians paid close attention to children with chronic diseases to prevent transmission or a severe course of infection. We aimed to measure the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody levels in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases to analyze the risk factors for infection and its interaction with their primary disease. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed SARS-CoV-2 antibody levels in patients with gastrointestinal and liver diseases (n=141) and in healthy children (n=48) between January and February 2021. Results: During the pandemic, 10 patients (7%) and 1 child (2%) had confirmed COVID-19 infection (p=0.2). The SARS-CoV-2 antibody test was positive in 36 patients (25.5%) and 11 children (22.9%) (p=0.7). SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity was found in 20.4%, 26.6%, 33.3%, and 33.3% of patients with chronic liver diseases, chronic gastrointestinal tract diseases, cystic fibrosis, and liver transplantation recipients, respectively (p>0.05, patients vs. healthy children). Risk factors for SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity were COVID-19-related symptoms (47.2% vs. 14.2%, p=0.00004) and close contact with SARS-CoV-2 polymerase chain reaction-positive patients (69.4% vs. 9%, p<0.00001). The use, number, and type of immunosuppressants and primary diagnosis were not associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody positivity. The frequency of disease activation/flare was not significant in patients with (8.3%) or without (14.2%) antibody positivity (p=0.35). Conclusion: SARS-CoV-2 antibodies in children with chronic gastrointestinal and liver diseases are similar to that in healthy children. Close follow-up is important to understand the long-term effects of past COVID-19 infection in these children.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.156-164
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• 1985

To elucidate the effect of splenectomy on the development of experimental primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in mice, the death rate and survival time of mice infected intranasally with Naegleria fowleri trophozoites $5{\times}10^4$ cultivated in CGVS medium were compared according to the mouse age when splenectomy was done, and post-operation until experimental infection. Immunodigusion was undergone to detect the presence of serum antibod). due to N, fowleri infecttion in mice. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis was done to compare the protein fractions of mouse serum in each experimental groups. In experiment I, splenectomy was done 3 weeks and infection 4 weeks after birth, the death rate of control, sham operated and splenectomized group were 100%, 85% and 95%, and the mean survival time after infection 7.3 days, 7.5 days and 7.8 days, respectively. In experiment II, splenectomy was undergone 3 weeks and infection 6 weeks after birth, the death rate of of control, sham operated and splenectomized group were 95%, 95% and 95%, and the mean survival time after infection 12.1 days, 11.5 days and 11.5 days, respectively. In experiment III, splenectomy was done 5 weeks and infection 6 weeks after birth, the death rate of control, sham operated and splenectomized group were 95%, 90% and 95%, and the mean survival time after infection 8.1 days, 8.3 days and 8.5 days, respectively. By Ouchterlony immunodigusion, anti-JV. fowleri antibody in the serum of mouse with primary amoebic meningoencephalitis was detected against a N. fowleri antigen, which was prepared by ultrasonication of N, fowleri trophozoites, each reacting two lines of precipitation. The patterns of serum fractions by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis were different between control and sham operated groups from splenectomized group in fraction II, III and V, the sera of which were collected after N. fowleri infection. This results may be summarized as that splenectomy has no effect on the development of primary amoebic meningoencephalitis in mice.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.2
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• pp.52-59
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• 2013

Cardiomyopathy (CMP) is a heterogeneous disease caused by a functional abnormality of the cardiac muscle. CMP is of 2 major types, dilated and hypertrophic, and is further classified as either primary or secondary. Secondary CMP is caused by extrinsic factors, including infection, ischemia, hypertension, and metabolic disorders. Primary CMP is diagnosed when the extrinsic factors of secondary CMP are absent. Furthermore, the World Health Organization, American Heart Association, and European Cardiology Association have different systems for clinically classifying primary CMP. Primary CMP is rare and associated with a family history of the disease, implying that genetic factors might affect its incidence. In addition, the incidence of CMP varies widely according to patient ethnicity. Genetic testing plays an important role in the care of patients with CMP and their families because it confirms diagnosis, determines the appropriate care for the patient, and possibly affects patient prognosis. The diagnosis and genetic identification of CMP in patients' families allow the possibility to identify novel genes that may lead to new treatments. This review focuses on the epidemiology, pathophysiology, diagnosis, and treatment of CMP, with the aim of providing pediatricians with insights that may be helpful in the early identification and management of idiopathic CMP in children.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.7 no.1
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• pp.66-73
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• 1982

Paragonimus westermani is one of the most popular endemic parasitic diseases in Korea. The nation-wide prevalence survey were carried out by Gobayashi (1921) with sputum examination and by Walton and Chyu (1959) with the intradermal skin test respectively. Recent studies showed the decline of positive rate in intradermal skin test of the local inhabitants and also showed the less distribution of intermediate host. The fact seemed that caused by economic improvement of village people, decrease of intermediate host by increasing use of pesticides, becoming lower water level at streams and rivers and better irrigation and finally by better community health education etc. Gangwha area of Gyeonggi-Do was found out as an endemic area of Paragonimus westermani through some studies in the past, however, in the vicinity area of Gangwha, the study in Kyodong island (myon) was carried out in 1965 by Yun et al. Therefore author carried out the intradermal skin test for 2,380 students of primary, middle and high school in Kyodong island and Samsan island. The results showed as follows : 1) The positive rate of intradermal test for paragonimus westermani infection showed positive in 152 among 1,845 students (8.2%) in Kyodong island, and 21 among 637 students (3.3%) in Samsan island respectively. 2) According to grade levels, 49 among 973 students (5.0%) in primary school, 62 among 962 students (6.4%) in middle school and 53 among 445 students (11.9%) in high school showed positive rate. This showed the higher grade the higher positive rate. 3) Among these total 164 positive cases in the intradermal skin test, only in 3 cases eggs were found in sputum. 4) Finding out the intermediate host, only 28 crayfishes from Kyodong island and 12 from Samsan island were collected and examined for metacercaria infection, however, none of metacercaria was found. 5) As a control group, 2 primary schools from the main island were selected. In these schools from the sixth grade students showed positive rate of 4.8% in Naega primary school and 0% in Hajeom Primary school respectively. Those results showed much decrease than studies carried out in the past. 6) The survey for food habit showed that 15 among 1,274 students (1.2%) had experiences of eating raw intermediate host(crayfish) and 266 among 988 students (27.0%) ate cooked.