• BMB Reports
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• v.54 no.8
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• pp.425-430
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• 2021

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) induces coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and may increase the risk of adverse outcomes in lung cancer patients. In this study, we investigated the expression and function of mucin 1 (MUC1) after SARS-CoV-2 infection in the lung epithelial cancer cell line Calu-3. MUC1 is a major constituent of the mucus layer in the respiratory tract and contributes to pathogen defense. SARS-CoV-2 infection induced MUC1 C-terminal subunit (MUC1-C) expression in a STAT3 activation-dependent manner. Inhibition of MUC1-C signaling increased apoptosis-related protein levels and reduced proliferation-related protein levels; however, SARS-CoV-2 replication was not affected. Together, these results suggest that increased MUC1-C expression in response to SARS-CoV-2 infection may trigger the growth of lung cancer cells, and COVID-19 may be a risk factor for lung cancer patients.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.86 no.2
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• pp.94-101
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• 2023

A recent understanding of the dynamic continuous spectrum of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection has led to the recognition of incipient tuberculosis, which refers to the latent infection state that has begun to progress to active tuberculosis. The importance of early detection of these individuals with a high-risk of progression to active tuberculosis is emphasized to efficiently implement targeted tuberculosis preventive therapy. However, the tuberculin skin test or interferon-γ release assay, which is currently used for the diagnosis of latent tuberculosis infection, does not aid in the prediction of the risk of progression to active tuberculosis. Thus, a novel test is urgently needed. Recently, simultaneous and systematic analysis of differentially expressed genes using a high-throughput platform has enabled the discovery of key genes that may serve potential biomarkers for the diagnosis or prognosis of diseases. This host transcriptional investigation has been extended to the field of tuberculosis, providing promising results. The present review focuses on recent progress and challenges in the field of blood transcriptional signatures to predict progression to active tuberculosis.

• Molecules and Cells
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• v.43 no.11
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• pp.953-963
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• 2020

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), is an infectious disease with multiple severe symptoms, such as fever over 37.5℃, cough, dyspnea, and pneumonia. In our research, microRNAs (miRNAs) binding to the genome sequences of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV), Middle East respiratory-related coronavirus (MERS-CoV), and SARS-CoV-2 were identified by bioinformatic tools. Five miRNAs (hsa-miR-15a-5p, hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-195-5p, hsa-miR-16-5p, and hsa-miR-196a-1-3p) were found to commonly bind to SARS-CoV, MERS-CoV, and SARS-CoV-2. We also identified miRNAs that bind to receptor proteins, such as ACE2, ADAM17, and TMPRSS2, which are important for understanding the infection mechanism of SARS-CoV-2. The expression patterns of those miRNAs were examined in hamster lung samples infected by SARS-CoV-2. Five miRNAs (hsa-miR-15b-5p, hsa-miR-195-5p, hsa-miR-221-3p, hsa-miR-140-3p, and hsa-miR-422a) showed differential expression patterns in lung tissues before and after infection. Especially, hsa-miR-15b-5p and hsa-miR-195-5p showed a large difference in expression, indicating that they may potentially be diagnostic biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.139-143
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• 2010

A 2-month-old male Jeju native black calf with respiratory distress was died and requested to the Veterinary Pathology Laboratory of Jeju National University for diagnosis. Grossly, lungs were focally attached to the pleura and heart with fibrin. Purple red sublobar consolidations were distributed in both apical and cardiac lobes of lungs. Histopathologically, diffuse severe bronchointerstitial pneumonia characterized by multifocal necrotizing bronchiolitis, formation of numerous multinucleated syncytial cells in bronchiolar and alveolar lumens, and diffuse alveolar wall thickening were observed in lungs. Eosinophilic intracytoplasmic inclusions were observed in bronchiolar epithelial cells and syncytial cells. According to reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), bovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) was detected in the lung of calf. Based on the histopathologic findings and RT-PCR, this calf was diagnosed as BRSV infection. In our best knowledge, this is the first case of BRSV infection in Jeju native black calf.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.4
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• pp.366-370
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• 2015

Although influenza A (H1N1) virus leads to self-limiting illness, co-infection with bacteria may result in cases of severe respiratory failure due to inflammation and necrosis of intra-airway, as pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis. Pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis is usually developed in immunocompromised patients, but it can also occur in immunocompetent patients on a very rare basis. We report a case of pseudomembranous tracheobronchitis complicated by co-infection of inflenaza A and Staphylococcus aureus, causing acute respiratory failure in immunocompetent patients.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.4
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• pp.131-137
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• 2019

Purpose: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection can cause various neurological complications. This study aimed to investigate the RSV-associated neurologic manifestations that present with seizures. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients aged less than 15 years with laboratory-confirmed RSV infections and seizures between January 2011 and December 2016 in a regional hospital in South Korea. Results: During this period, 1,193 patients with laboratory-confirmed RSV infection were identified. Of these, 35 (35 of 1,193, 2.93%; boys, 19; girls, 16; mean age: $20.8{\pm}16.6months$) presented with seizure. Febrile seizure was the most common diagnosis (27 of 35, 77.1%); simple febrile seizures in 13 patients (13 of 27, 48.1%) and complex febrile seizures in 14 (14 of 27, 51.9%). Afebrile seizures without meningitis or encephalopathy were observed in 5 patients (5 of 35, 14.3%), seizures with meningitis in 2 (2 of 35, 5.7%), and seizure with encephalopathy in 1 (1 of 35, 2.9%) patient. Lower respiratory symptoms were not observed in 8 patients. In a patient with encephalopathy, brain diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging revealed transient changes in white matter, suggesting cytotoxic edema as the mechanism underlying encephalopathy. Most patients recovered with general management, and progression to epilepsy was noted in only 1 patient. Conclusion: Although febrile seizures are the most common type of seizure associated with RSV infection, the proportion of patients with complex febrile seizures was higher than that of those with general febrile seizures. Transient cytotoxic edema may be a pathogenic mechanism in RSV-related encephalopathy with seizures.

• The Korean Journal of Emergency Medical Services
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• v.24 no.3
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• pp.161-169
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• 2020

Purpose: This study aims to identify changes in patients' transport time and chief complaints visiting the emergency room via emergency medical services from the "pre-COVID-19 period" compared to the "COVID-19 early-stage period". Methods: This retrospective observational study analyzed the emergency medical services reports at two time periods defined by the COVID-19 virus outbreak in Korea. The study was conducted in Busan, the Republic of Korea, from January 19 through May 6, 2019. Results: The transfer time of patients transported during the "COVID-19 early-stage period" was significantly delayed compared to the "pre-COVID-19 period" (p<.05). We found a significant increase in transport time for patients complaining of respiratory infections compared to patients without symptoms (p<.05). During the "COVID-19 early-stage period", there was a significant increase in the number of patients with respiratory infections and patients complaining of general symptoms compared to the "COVID-19early-stage period" (p<.05). Conclusion: The spread of the COVID-19 virus infection delayed patient transport and increased the number of patients reporting respiratory infection symptoms. Emergency medical services will need administrative and economic support to transport the increased number of patients requiring services.

• Journal of Korean Society of Health-System Pharmacists
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• v.35 no.4
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• pp.400-408
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• 2018

Background : Palivizumab is an intravenous monoclonal antibody which is used in the prevention of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. It is currently recommended for infants who are at high-risk for RSV infections due to preterm birth or other medical conditions such as congenital heart disease. Palivizumab is a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against an epitope in the antigenic site A of the protein F of RSV particles. Palivizumab is given once a month via intramuscular (IM) injection throughout the duration of the RSV season. Since palivizumab is known to have preventive effects against RSV infection for children with older siblings, the insurance coverage for palivizumab was expanded in October 2016. Methods : The electronic medical records of children under 2 years old who have older siblings who visited or were admitted to the Severance Hospital from October 2015 to May 2016 and from October 2016 to May 2017 were reviewed retrospectively. The data were then divided into two groups depending on the pilivizumab administration. Results : A total of 67 patients were enrolled in this study. The effectiveness in the reduction of hospitalization was statistically significant (p=0.009). Palivizumab decreased respiratory symptoms such as cough, rhinorrhea, and fever in patients with older siblings (p 0.05). Conclusions : In this study, palivizumab administration was effective in preventing RSV infection in infants with older siblings. Expanding palivizumab-prophylaxis administration to infants with older siblings may be effective in the prevention of upper respiratory infections.

• Journal of The Korea Institute of Healthcare Architecture
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.51-60
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• 2021

Purpose: Tuberculosis(TB) care unit in public health center should be carefully considered to be re-designed as an infection safety environment for both patient and healthcare workers. So, for the enhancement, this study analyses the facility requirements for co-using the screening clinic as a TB and other respiratory disease care unit. Methods: Not only screening clinic facility guidelines from "A Study for Standard Triage Design and Construction Document" but also the guidelines of TB care and related medical facility are reviewed; KDCA, CDC, ECDC and WHO as a TB care, and FGI and NHS for facility. The facility requirements are summarized space, approach, and mechanical requirement in order. By comparing the summary and screening clinic facility guidelines, supplementations are proposed for TB care unit setting. Results: The result of this study shows that both the space program and mechanical requirement of the screening clinic and that of TB care unit are almost identical and could be share, which include direct airflow or negative air pressure in an exam room. To increase functional and economical efficiency, however, it is necessary to consider a multi-functional negative pressured room, So care process may be re-designed based on a room type; face-to-face room or glass wall inbetween. Implications: The facility guidelines for TB care unit of a public health center should be developed to build a safe environment for infection control by reflecting its medical plan and budget.

• Journal of the korean veterinary medical association
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.65-73
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• 1989