• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제24권12호
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• pp.1728-1735
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• 2014

Scrub typhus, caused by infection with Orientia tsutsugamushi, is a mite-borne zoonotic disease endemic to the Asian-Pacific region. In Korea, the incidence of this disease has increased with climate changes, and over 10,000 cases of infection were reported in 2013. Although this infection is treatable with antibiotics such as doxycycline and azithromycin, an effective prophylactic vaccine against O. tsutsugamushi would be more desirable for preventing scrub typhus in endemic areas. In this study, we investigated the 56-kDa type-specific antigen (TSA56), which is a major outer membrane protein of O. tsutsugamushi, as a vaccine candidate. Intranasal immunization of recombinant TSA56 (rec56) induced a higher level of TSA56-specific IgG than that induced by intramuscular immunization of tsa56-expressing DNA (p56). Both types of immunization induced a cell-mediated immune response to TSA56, as demonstrated by the splenic cell proliferation assay. Mice immunized with p56, followed by rec56 plus heat-labile enterotoxin B subunit from E. coli, had a stronger protection from a homologous challenge with the O. tsutsugamushi Boryong strain than with other combinations. Our preliminary results suggest that an effective human vaccine for scrub typhus can include either recombinant TSA56 protein or tsa56-expressing DNA, and provide the basis for further studies to optimize vaccine performance using additional antigens or different adjuvants.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제27권8호
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• pp.1539-1548
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• 2017

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. aeruginosa) is an opportunistic pathogen that commonly causes fatal infections in cystic fibrosis and burn patients as well as in patients who are hospitalized or have impaired immune systems. P. aeruginosa infections are difficult to treat owing to the high resistance of the pathogen to conventional antibiotics. Despite several efforts, no effective prophylactic vaccines against P. aeruginosa are currently available. In this study, we investigated the activity of the CIA06 adjuvant system, which is composed of alum and de-O-acylated lipooligosaccharide, on a P. aeruginosa outer membrane protein (OMP) antigen vaccine in mice. The results indicated that CIA06 significantly increased the antigen-specific IgG titers and opsonophagocytic activity of immune sera against P. aeruginosa. In addition, the antibodies induced by the CIA06-adjuvanted vaccine exhibited higher cross-reactivity with heterologous P. aeruginosa strains. Finally, mice immunized with the CIA06-adjuvanted vaccine were effectively protected from lethal P. aeruginosa challenge. Based on these data, we suggest that the CIA06 adjuvant system might be used to promote the immunogenicity and protective efficacy of the P. aeruginosa OMP vaccine.

• 수산해양교육연구
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• 제27권1호
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• pp.13-17
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• 2015

Oxytetracycline (OTC) has been widely used in aquaculture field as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent because of its broad-spectrum activity against gram-positive and negative bacteria. Residual oxytetracycline (OTC) was studied after spray treatment of cultured abalone, Haliotis discus hannai. Muscle concentration of OTC was determined after spray treatment ( 4,000, 7,000, 10,000 ppm) in the abalone. Muscle samples were taken at 0, 1, 3, 7, 14, 21 30, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, 300, 330 and 360 day post-dose. OTC analyses were carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). In 4000, 7000 and 1000 ppm treatment for small size abalones, OTC levels at 1 day post-dose, have been dramatically decreased by 8.34, 3.35 and 4.47 ug/g, respectively. For medium size abalones, concentration were measured as 7.58, 15.62 and 7.8 ug/g, respectively. Those of large size abalones also were observed as 11.31, 12.38 and 15.28 ug/g, respectively, at 1 day post-dose. No significant differences in residual OTC depletion in muscles were observed between the size of abalones. More than 0.2 mg/kg of OTC was detected in muscle tissues and the residues were found over 60 days after treatment. It is expected that these results would contribute to improve recommended withdrawl periods of OTC for a safer seafood supply.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• 제32권3호
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• pp.156-162
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• 2014

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of topically applied recombinant human epidermal growth factor (rhEGF) for the prevention of radiation-induced dermatitis in cancer patients. Materials and Methods: From December 2010 to April 2012, a total of 1,172 cancer patients who received radiotherapy (RT) of more than 50 Gy were prospectively enrolled and treated with EGF-based cream. An acute skin reaction classified according to the Radiation Therapy Oncology Group 6-point rating scale was the primary end point and we also assessed the occurrence of edema, dry skin, or pruritus. Results: The percentage of radiation dermatitis with maximum grade 0 and grade 1 was 19% and 58% at the time of 50 Gy, and it became 29% and 47% after completion of planned RT. This increment was observed only in breast cancer patients (from 18%/62% to 32%/49%). Adverse events related to the EGF-based cream developed in 49 patients (4%) with mild erythema the most common. Skin toxicity grade >2 was observed in 5% of the patients. Edema, dry skin, and pruritus grade ${\geq}3$ developed in 9%, 9%, and 1% of the patients, respectively. Conclusion: Prophylactic use of an EGF-based cream is effective in preventing radiation dermatitis with tolerable toxicity. Further studies comparing EGF cream with other topical agents may be necessary.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제35권1호
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• pp.31-34
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• 2009

Purpose: This study compared the frequency of postoperative infections in patients for a closed mandibular fracture with that without the postoperative antibiotic prophylaxis. Patients and Methods: 48 patients without any specific medical history were divided into two groups depending on whether or not antibiotics had been applied after the surgery. The 24 patients in group 1 received only a second-generation cephalosporin ($Cefotetan^{(R)}$) intravenously from admission to immediate after the surgery. Likewise, 24 patients in group 2 received 1.0g of $Cefotetan^{(R)}$ twice daily longer than the third day after surgery. The mean (SD) duration of antibiotics administration after surgery was 6.9 (${\pm}3.56$). The patients were evaluated after surgery for any postoperative infections according to the criteria: purulent drainage from a wound, spontaneous wound dehiscence accompanied by swelling, pain, and fever around the wound. Results: Postoperative infections were encountered in 2 out of 24 patients in group 1, who received antibiotic medication until shortly after surgery, and in 3 out of the 24 patients in group 2, in whom the medication was continued even after the surgery. There was no sig nificant difference in the incidence of postoperative infections between the two groups. Conclusion: From this study, postoperative use of antibiotics seems to be unnecessary with view of the little significance of the factors that could affect the wound infection.

• 구강회복응용과학지
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• 제33권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2017

보툴리눔 독소 주사는 이마, 눈가 주름치료 등 미용성형분야 뿐만 아니라 만성 편두통(chronic migraine), 근육긴장이상(dystonia), 경직(spasticity), 측두하악장애의 치료 등에 사용되어 왔다. 특히 보툴리눔 독소 주사는 만성편두통환자의 예방적 치료요법으로 현재까지 유일하게 승인된 요법이다. 기존에 잘 알려진 운동신경에서의 마비효과와는 달리, 편두통에 대한 작용기전은 감각신경에서 말초감작과 신경원성염증과 관련되는 substance P, CGRP, glutamate 등 비콜린성 신경전달물질의 유리를 차단하여 통증신호를 차단하는 역할을 한다는 가설이 제기되고 있다. 본 논문에서는 보툴리눔독소가 갖는 진통효과에 대한 고찰과 함께 이를 통하여 추후 만성편두통환자에 대한 주사법 개발에 대한 방향성을 제시하고자 한다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제80권3호
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• pp.265-269
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• 2017

Background: The first line of anti-tuberculosis (TB) drugs are the most effective standard of drugs for TB. However, the use of these drugs is associated with hepatotoxicity. Silymarin has protective effects against hepatotoxicity of anti-TB drugs in animal models. This study aims to investigate the protective effect of silymarin on hepatotoxicity caused by anti-TB drugs. Methods: This is a prospective, randomized, double-blind and placebo-controlled study. Patients were eligible if they were 20 years of age or order and started the first-line anti-tuberculosis drugs. Eligible patients were randomized for receiving silymarin or a placebo for the first 4 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who showed elevated serum liver enzymes more than 3 times the upper normal limit (UNL) or total bilirubin (TBil) > $2{\times}UNL$ within the first 8 weeks of anti-TB treatment. Results: We enrolled a total of 121 patients who silymarin or a placebo to start their anti-TB treatment, for the first 8 weeks. The proportions of elevated serum liver enzymes more than 3 times of UNL at week 2, week 4, and week 8 did not show any significant difference between the silymarin and placebo groups, at 0% versus 3.6% (p>0.999); 4.4% versus 3.6% (p>0.999); and 8.7% versus 10.8% (p=0.630), respectively. However, patients with TBil >$2{\times}UNL$ at week 8 were significantly low in the silymarin group (0% versus 8.7%, p=0.043). Conclusion: Our findings did not show silymarin had any significant preventive effect on the hepatotoxicity of anti-TB drugs.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• 제11권1호
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• pp.1-6
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• 2011

Gastric cancer is the most common malignancy and the incidence is steadily increasing in Korea. The principal treatment modality for gastric cancer is surgical extirpation of tumor along with draining lymph nodes. Gastrectomy with D2 lymph node dissection has been well established as a standard of surgery and improved the survival of gastric cancer patients. Recently, technological advances are drastically reshaping the landscape of surgical treatment of gastric cancer. One of the most notable trends is that minimal access surgery becomes dominating the treatment of early stage diseases. For advanced diseases, the standard access surgery is considered a reference treatment. Although there is a pilot study underway to evaluate the feasibility of the application of minimal access surgery to advanced gastric cancer (AGC), the evidence for oncological safety is not yet provided sufficiently. Based on the recent randomized controlled trials, the extent of surgery for AGC has re-defined as para-aortic lymph node dissection dose not add any survival benefit while increasing surgery-related morbidities. In addition, it is now accepted as a standard operation omitting unnecessary procedures such as splenectomy and/or distal pancreatectomy for prophylactic lymph node dissection. Conceptual and technical innovation has contributed to decreasing morbidity and mortality without impairing oncological safety. All these recent advances in the field of gastric cancer surgery would be concluded in maximizing therapeutic index for gastric cancer while improving quality of life.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권2호
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• pp.147-154
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• 2013

To control coccidiosis without using prophylactic medications, a DNA vaccine targeting the gametophyte antigen Gam56 from Eimeria maxima in chickens was constructed, and the immunogenicity and protective effects were evaluated. The ORF of Gam56 gene was cloned into an eukaryotic expression vector pcDNA3.1(zeo)+. Expression of Gam56 protein in COS-7 cells transfected with recombinant plasmid pcDNA-Gam56 was confirmed by indirect immunofluorescence assay. The DNA vaccine was injected intramuscularly to yellow feathered broilers of 1-week old at 3 dosages (25, 50, and $100{\mu}g/chick$). Injection was repeated once 1 week later. One week after the second injection, birds were challenged orally with $5{\times}10^4$ sporulated oocysts of E. maxima, then weighed and killed at day 8 post challenge. Blood samples were collected and examined for specific peripheral blood lymphocyte proliferation activity and serum antibody levels. Compared with control groups, the administration of pcDNA-Gam56 vaccine markedly increased the lymphocyte proliferation activity (P<0.05) at day 7 and 14 after the first immunization. The level of lymphocyte proliferation started to decrease on day 21 after the first immunization. A similar trend was seen in specific antibody levels. Among the 3 pcDNA-Gam56 immunized groups, the median dosage group displayed the highest lymphocyte proliferation and antibody levels (P<0.05). The median dosage group had the greatest relative body weight gain (89.7%), and the greatest oocyst shedding reduction (53.7%). These results indicate that median dosage of DNA vaccine had good immunogenicity and immune protection effects, and may be used in field applications for coccidiosis control.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.179-183
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• 2011

영아때 방광요관역류 환아로 진단된 남아중 2세가 넘어 후천적으로 신반흔이 급격히 악화되는 경우는 드물다. 본 증례는 생후 4개월 때 첫 열성 요로감염으로 입원하여, 왼쪽 5등급 방광요관역류로 진단되었고, 부모가 수술을 원치 않아 2년간 예방적 항생제 요법만 시행받았다. 생후 29개월 때 열성 요로감염이 한 차례 재발하였고, 이후 3년간 추적관찰되지 않았다. 이 후, 5세 때 본원을 방문하여 신장초음파, DMSA 신스캔, 배뇨성 방광요도조영술을 재시행받았다. 추적 DMSA 신스캔에서 왼쪽 신상대섭취율이 생후 2세경 38%였으나, 8%까지 떨어졌으며, 왼쪽 방광요관역류는 4등급으로 남아있었다. 현재 방광요관역류의 수술적 요법이 신기능의 예후와 관련이 없다고 알려져 있으나, 이런 증례를 볼 때, 아직은 신반흔을 동반한 고등급의 방광요관역류 환자들에게 수술적 요법을 권유하는 것이 임상의들에겐 타당하다고 볼 수 있으며, 어떤 치료요법이 선택되어지든 상관없이 첫 요로감염 이후 환자를 장기적인 추적 관찰하는 것이 중요하다고 사려된다.