• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.37 no.5
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• pp.494-501
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• 2021

Pseudomonas cichorii secretes effectors that suppress defense mechanisms in host plants. However, the function of these effectors, including avirulence protein E1 (AvrE1), in the pathogenicity of P. cichorii, remains unexplored. In this study, to investigate the function of avrE1 in P. cichorii JBC1 (PcJBC1), we created an avrE1-deficient mutant (JBC1^ΔavrE1) using CRISPR/Cas9. The disease severity caused by JBC1^ΔavrE1 in tomato plants significantly decreased by reducing water soaking during early infection stage, as evidenced by the electrolyte leakage in infected leaves. The disease symptoms caused by JBC1^ΔavrE1 in the cabbage midrib were light-brown spots compared to the dark-colored ones caused by PcJBC1, which indicates the role of AvrE1 in cell lysis. The avrE1-deficient mutant failed to elicit cell death in non-host tobacco plants. Disease severity and cell death caused by JBC1^ΔavrE1 in host and non-host plants were restored through heterologous complementation with avrE1 from Pseudomonas syringae pv. tomato DC3000 (PstDC3000). Overall, our results indicate that avrE1 contributes to cell death during early infection, which consequently increases disease development in host plants. The roles of PcJBC1 AvrE1 in host cells remain to be elucidated.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.32 no.5
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• pp.396-406
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• 2016

Continuous supplementation of mineral nutrients and salicylic acid (SA) as foliar application could improve efficacy in controlling basal stem rot (BSR) disease in oil palm seedling. It is revealed from the results that the highest disease severity index (58.3%) was recorded in T8 treatments at 9 months after inoculation. The best disease control was achieved by T7 treatments (calcium/copper/SA [Ca/Cu/SA]) (5.0%) followed by T1 (5.5%), T5 (5.8%), T3 (8.3%), T6 (8.3%), T4 (13.3%), and T2 (15.8%) treatments. Continuous supplementation of Ca/Cu/SA was found to be the most effective in controlling the disease and the high performance liquid chromatography results showed the detection of ergosterol at very low concentration in the treated samples. Moreover, the transmission electron microscopy analysis results clearly indicated that T7 treatment was also enhancing lignification, which was responsible for the thickness of the secondary cell walls and middle lamella compared to untreated samples. It was therefore, concluded that continuous supplementation of minerals nutrients and SA could effectively suppress disease severity by reducing ergosterol activity and also improve the process of lignification in the treated plants. Furthermore, this treatment also managed to delay the onset of BSR symptoms and promote the growth of the seedlings and eventually suppress the BSR disease.

• Korean Journal Plant Pathology
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• v.13 no.2
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• pp.95-99
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• 1997

To obtain a basic information of breeding for resistance to clubroot in Chinese cabbage, disease incidence, pathogenicity, and varietal response to the pathogen were studied. Incidence of clubroot was observed at 3 districts in Gyeonggi-Do, 2 districts in Kangwon-Do, and 1 district each in Gyeongnam, Geongbuk and Jeonbuk, respectively. Disease infection rate and diseased ara were most severe in northern part of Gyeonggi-Do. The isolates of clubroot collected from 8 different districts were not different in their virulence one another in view of their infection rate and disease severity in Chinese cabbage. The clubroot fungus had a wide host range for the cruciferous vegetables. Disease severity was high in rape, turnip and mustard, moderate in Chinese cabbage and broccoli, and low in kale and cauliflower. All of Korean hybrids of Chinese cabbage tested were highly susceptible to clubroot, but Japanese varieties were resistant to the highly pathogenic isolate (EJ-93) which was isolated from the Chinese cabbage in Korea. The hybrid(F1) between clubroot resistant line(930WG) and the susceptible line(332MS) showed completely resistant reaction, which indicated that clubroot resistance was governed by a dominant gene.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.3
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• pp.168-174
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• 2015

Purpose: Recent studies have suggested that decreased serum potassium level may contribute to various metabolic disorders in adult patients including nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to study the correlation between serum potassium levels and the histologic severity of NAFLD in children. Methods: Pediatric patients with biopsy-proven NAFLD were included in this study. Demographic, clinical, and histopathological data were obtained. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess whether potassium levels are associated with the presence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) or fibrosis after adjusting for possible confounders. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: Among 125 biopsies, 49.6% (62) had evidence of NASH while 66.4% (83) had some degree of fibrosis (stage 1-3). Mean serum potassium was significantly lower in NASH group as compared to non-NASH group ($4.4{\pm}0.42mmoL/L$ vs. $4.8{\pm}0.21$, p<0.001). Higher potassium level had negative correlation with presence of steatosis, ballooning, lobular inflammation, fibrosis and NAFLD activity score (p<0.05). On multivariable analysis and after adjusting for the metabolic syndrome and insulin resistance, higher potassium level was significantly associated with lower likelihood of having a histological diagnosis of NASH on biopsy (odds ratio [OR], 0.12; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 0.05-0.28; p<0.001). Similarly, the likelihood of having fibrosis decreases by 76% for every 0.5 mmoL/L increase in potassium (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.11-0.54; p<0.001). Conclusion: Our study shows an inverse relationship between serum potassium levels and the presence of aggressive disease (NASH and fibrosis) in children with NAFLD.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.11
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• pp.126-136
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to develop a severity-adjustment model for predicting mortality in acute stroke patients using machine learning. Using the Korean National Hospital Discharge In-depth Injury Survey from 2006 to 2015, the study population with disease code I60-I63 (KCD 7) were extracted for further analysis. Three tools were used for the severity-adjustment of comorbidity: the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), the Elixhauser comorbidity index (ECI), and the Clinical Classification Software (CCS). The severity-adjustment models for mortality prediction in patients with acute stroke were developed using logistic regression, decision tree, neural network, and support vector machine methods. The most common comorbid disease in stroke patients were hypertension, uncomplicated (43.8%) in the ECI, and essential hypertension (43.9%) in the CCS. Among the CCI, ECI, and CCS, CCS had the highest AUC value. CCS was confirmed as the best severity correction tool. In addition, the AUC values for variables of CCS including main diagnosis, gender, age, hospitalization route, and existence of surgery were 0.808 for the logistic regression analysis, 0.785 for the decision tree, 0.809 for the neural network and 0.830 for the support vector machine. Therefore, the best predictive power was achieved by the support vector machine technique. The results of this study can be used in the establishment of health policy in the future.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.23.1-23.12
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• 2022

Natural infection with severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 or vaccination induces virus-specific immunity protecting hosts from infection and severe disease. While the infection-preventing immunity gradually declines, the severity-reducing immunity is relatively well preserved. Here, based on the different longevity of these distinct immunities, we develop a mathematical model to estimate courses of endemic transition of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Our analysis demonstrates that high viral transmission unexpectedly reduces the rates of progression to severe COVID-19 during the course of endemic transition despite increased numbers of infection cases. Our study also shows that high viral transmission amongst populations with high vaccination coverages paradoxically accelerates the endemic transition of COVID-19 with reduced numbers of severe cases. These results provide critical insights for driving public health policies in the era of 'living with COVID-19.'

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.23 no.3
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• pp.173-178
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• 2020

Objectives: Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a prevalent and chronic, pruritic inflammatory skin condition that can influence all age groups. AD is associated with a poor health-related quality of life. This randomized clinical trial was performed to compare the effectiveness of Olivederma (combination of aloe vera and virgin olive oil) or betamethasone regarding disease severity, quality of life, serum IgE and eosinophil count. Methods: Thirty-six AD patients were randomly allocated to topical Olivederma or betamethasone, and were followed for 6 weeks. Results: Total SCORAD severity scores showed significant decrease in both groups, while it was more prominent in Olivederma group (64.5% improvement in Olivederma vs. 13.5% improvement in Betamethasone, p-value < 0.001). Quality of life (DLQI questionnaire) of AD patients was significantly improved after 6 weeks treatment with Betamethasone (22.3%, p < 0.001) and Olivederma (60.7%, p-value < 0.001). Olivederma group showed a significantly lower DLQI score in comparison with Betamethasone treated patients after 6 weeks of therapy (p < 0.001). Improvements in eosinophil count and serum IgE was observed. Conclusion: In summary, this study shows that Olivederma is superior to topical Betamethasone after 6 weeks of therapy with regard to disease severity, quality of life and eosinophil count.

• 한국균학회소식:학술대회논문집
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• 2015.05a
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• pp.49-49
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• 2015

Over the past decade, clubroot has emerged as a major constraint to canola (Brassica napus) production in central Alberta, Canada. The number of fields with confirmed P. brassicae infestations in Alberta has increased steadily from 12 in 2003 to nearly 2,000 in 2014. Management of clubroot on canola has focused on sanitization of field equipment, soil amendments to reduce viable pathogen populations, long rotations out of susceptible crops and cropping of resistant cultivars. Clubroot resistance is the most effective and economical method of disease mitigation, but the recent identification of isolated P. brassicae populations with novel virulence phenotypes capable of overcoming resistance in most canola cultivars highlights the variable nature and adaptability of the pathogen. Recent studies have shown slight reductions in pathogen populations through crop rotations, but much more substantial reductions in spore populations in heavily infested areas near field entrances using fumigants such as Vapam (metam-sodium) or Basamid (dazomet). Greenhouse trials showed that seedling emergence, plant height and root weight increased, while primary and secondary infection and disease severity decreased with increased Basamid dosage. However, field trials showed some phytotoxicity. Application of Vapam at rates of 0.4 to $1.6mL\;L^{-1}$ soil resulted in 12-16 fold reductions in clubroot severity and primary and secondary infection. Vapam also was effective in reducing clubroot severity and improving canola seed yield under field conditions. These studies underscore the need for good resistance stewardship and for the integration of multiple products and practices for successful management of clubroot on canola.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.249-254
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• 2014

Allergic asthma is a chronic pulmonary inflammatory disease characterized by reversible airway obstruction, hyperresponsiveness and eosinophils infiltration. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) signaling are closely associated with asthma and have emerged as a novel therapeutic target in allergic disease. The functions of TLR3 and TLR4 in allergic airway inflammation have been studied; however, the precise role of TIR-domain-containing adapter-inducing interferon-${\beta}$ (TRIF), the adaptor molecule for both TLR3 and TLR4, is not yet fully understood. To investigate this, we developed a mouse model of OVA-induced allergic airway inflammation and compared the severity of allergic airway inflammation in WT and $TRIF^-/^-$ mice. Histopathological assessment revealed that the severity of inflammation in airway inflammation in TRIF-deficient mice was comparable to that in WT mice. The total number of cells recovered from bronchoalveolar lavage fluid did not differ between WT and TRIF-deficient mice. Moreover, TRIF deficiency did not affect Th1 and Th2 cytokine production in lung tissue nor the level of serum OVA-specific IgE, $IgG_1$ and $IgG_{2c}$. These findings suggest that TRIF-mediated signaling may not be critical for the development of allergic airway inflammation.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.148-154
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• 2011

Purpose: We aimed to study the distribution of rotavirus genotypes (VP7 and VP4) and disease severity of rotavirus gastroenteritis prevalent in our community. Methods: Stool samples were collected from 156 children who were hospitalized with rotavirus gastroenteritis from December 2007 to June 2008. The disease severity of all patients was scored using the Vesikari scale. After extraction of ds-RNA of the rotavirus, cDNA synthesis using reverse transcription and polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and multiplex PCR was performed. Following this, the final identification of genotypes was performed. Results: Of the 156 samples, VP7(G) and VP4(P) genotypes were identified in 147 (94.2%) and 140 (89.7%) samples, respectively. G1 (116 of 147 samples; 78.9%) and P[8] (137 of 140 samples; 97.9%) were the most prevalent, respectively. Of the 138 samples identified of combination types of VP7 and VP4, G1P[8] (111 samples; 80.4%) was the most prevalent. Other combination types varied with very low distribution rates. 9.4% of genotypes were not included in the new vaccines. The disease severity score was $11.8{\pm}3.3$ ($mean{\pm}2SD$). The distribution of disease severity was mild or moderate in 37.8% and severe in 62.2% of patients. Conclusion: The most prevalent genotype combination of rotavirus was G1P[8] and genotypes not included in the vaccines represented 9.4% in our community. Disease severity distribution of hospitalized children with rotavirus gastroenteritis was higher in the severe than in the mild and moderate categories.