• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.117-124
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• 2014

Purpose: Administration of antiretroviral drugs to mothers and infants significantly decreases mother-to-child human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) transmission; cesarean sections and discouraging breastfeeding further decreases this risk. The present study confirmed the HIV status of babies born to mothers infected with HIV and describes the characteristics of babies and mothers who received preventive treatment. Methods: This study retrospectively analyzed medical records of nine infants and their mothers positive for HIV who gave birth at Korea University Ansan Hospital, between June 1, 2003, and May 31, 2013. Maternal parameters, including HIV diagnosis date, CD4+ count, and HIV ribonucleic acid (RNA) copy number, were analyzed. Infant growth and development, HIV RNA copy number, and HIV antigen/antibody test results were analyzed. Results: Eight HIV-positive mothers delivered nine babies; all the infants received antiretroviral therapy. Three (37.5%) and five mothers (62.5%) were administered single- and multidrug therapy, respectively. Intravenous zidovudine was administered to four infants (50%) at birth. Breastfeeding was discouraged for all the infants. All the infants were negative for HIV, although two were lost to follow-up. Third trimester maternal viral copy numbers were less than 1,000 copies/mL with a median CD4+ count of $325{\mu}L$ ($92-729{\mu}L$). Among the nine infants, two were preterm (22.2%) and three had low birth weights (33.3%). Conclusion: This study concludes that prophylactic antiretroviral therapy, scheduled cesarean section, and prohibition of breastfeeding considerably decrease mother-to-child HIV transmission. Because the number of infants infected via mother-to-child transmission may be increasing, studies in additional regions using more variables are necessary.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• 제24권2호
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• pp.7.1-7.19
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• 2024

Viral load and the duration of viral shedding of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) are important determinants of the transmission of coronavirus disease 2019. In this study, we examined the effects of viral doses on the lung and spleen of K18-hACE2 transgenic mice by temporal histological and transcriptional analyses. Approximately, 1×10⁵ plaque-forming units (PFU) of SARS-CoV-2 induced strong host responses in the lungs from 2 days post inoculation (dpi) which did not recover until the mice died, whereas responses to the virus were obvious at 5 days, recovering to the basal state by 14 dpi at 1×10² PFU. Further, flow cytometry showed that number of CD8+ T cells continuously increased in 1×10² PFU-virus-infected lungs from 2 dpi, but not in 1×10⁵ PFU-virus-infected lungs. In spleens, responses to the virus were prominent from 2 dpi, and number of B cells was significantly decreased at 1×10⁵ PFU; however, 1×1² PFU of virus induced very weak responses from 2 dpi which recovered by 10 dpi. Although the defense responses returned to normal and the mice survived, lung histology showed evidence of fibrosis, suggesting sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings indicate that specific effectors of the immune response in the lung and spleen were either increased or depleted in response to doses of SARS-CoV-2. This study demonstrated that the response of local and systemic immune effectors to a viral infection varies with viral dose, which either exacerbates the severity of the infection or accelerates its elimination.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.73-83
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• 2023

목적: 본 연구의 목적은 혈액종양 기저질환으로 치료 중 유증상 코로나바이러스감염증-19(COVID-19)으로 확진 된 소아청소년에서 바이러스 부하(viral load)의 변화를 확인하고자 하였다. 방법: 후향적 종단 코호트연구(retrospective longitudinal cohort study)로, 19세 미만 소아청소년 중 악성 빈혈, 혈액암, 또는 고형암으로 치료 중인 상태에서 2022년 3월 1일부터 8월 30일 사이에 SARS-CoV-2 PCR 양성으로 유증상 코로나바이러스감염증-19가 확진 된 환자를 대상으로 하였다. 환자들의 의무 기록과 전화 문진으로 임상 증상과 전파경로, 그리고 증상의 경과에 대한 자료를 얻었고, 서울성모병원에서 시행했던 SARS-CoV-2 PCR titer 값을 분석하였다. 확진 이후 E gene RT-PCR Ct value ≥25을 전파가능성이 낮은 상태로 정의하였다. 결과: 6개월의 연구 기간 동안 총 43명의 환자에서 44번의 COVID-19 확진 사례가 포함되었다. 환자의 평균 연령은 8세(interquartile range, 4.9-10.5)였으며, 가장 흔한 기저 질환은 급성 림프구성 백혈병(n=30, 68.2%)이었고, 다음으로 조혈모세포이식 후(n=8, 18.2%) 상태인 환자들이었다. 대부분 경증 COVID-19 (n=32, 72.7%)에 해당이 되었고, 3명의 환자(7.0%)는 중증/위중증 COVID-19에 해당되어 산소 치료를 받았다. 2.3% (n=1)는 COVID-19 관련 급성 호흡곤란 증후군으로 사망하였다. 확진 이후 E gene RT-PCR Ct값이 ≥25을 도달한 시점이 15-21일인 환자는 총 39.4%(n=13)이었고, 22-28일에 도달한 환자는 30.3% (n=10)이었다. 15.2% (n=5)의 환자에서는 확진 후 28일이 지난 시점에서도 Ct값 <25를 유지하였다. E gene Ct값이 <25 장기간 지속되는 위험인자로 난치성 악성 종양 상태(β, 67.0; 95% CI, 7.0-17.0; P=0.030)가 유의한 관련이 있었다. 한 환자는 확진 후 Ct 값이 <25으로 유지되던 중, 확진 후 86일 째 보호자로 상주하던 어머니에게 바이러스를 전파하였다. 결론: 난치성 악성 종양 상태에서 유증상 COVID-19에 확진 되는 경우 바이러스를 장기간 배출 할 수 있기 때문에, 이런 환자군에서는 PCR 기반 바이러스 전파 예방 조치가 도움이 될 수 있다.

• Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery
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• 제29권3호
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• pp.262-267
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• 2007

Implantation of allografts has increased widely with not only the availability of many allogenic bone but also allogenic soft tissues. The aim of tissue banking is to provide surgeons with safe tissues compatible with their intended clinical application. The incidence of tissue transplant-transmitted infection is unknown and can only be inferred from prospective studies. The possibility of donor-to-recipient disease transmission through soft tissue transplantation can be considered by reviewing the risk associated with other transplanted hard tissues. Viral, bacterial, and fungal infections have been transmitted via transplantation of soft tissue allografts such as skin, cornea, dura, pericardium. fascia lata, and heart valves. Corneas have transmitted rabies, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD), hepatitis B (HBV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex virus (HSV), bacteria, and fungi. Heart valves have been implicated in transmitting tuberculosis, hepatitis B. HIV-1 and CMV. CJD has been transmitted by dura and pericardium transplants. Skin has transmitted CMV, bacteria, and fungi. Cadaveric skin, pericardium, dura, and fascia lata have been used in dental patients with intra-oral soft tissue injuries and GBR. This study is review of the considering transmission of infectious disease in allogenic soft tissues and guidelines of reducing the risk. Prior to use, many tissues are exposed to antibiotics, disinfectants, and sterilants, which further reduce or remove the risk of transmitted disease. Because some soft tissue grafts cannot be subjected to sterilization steps, the risk of infectious disease transmission remains and thorough donor screening and testing is especially important.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제23권4호
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• pp.311-318
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• 2020

Chronic hepatitis B viral (HBV) infection remains a major health threat, especially in high-prevalence areas. Most infants infected by mother-to-infant HBV transmission become chronic carriers. In Taiwan, many important preventive interventions have been implemented to block the perinatal transmission of HBV in the past 35 years. The first nationwide universal HBV vaccination program was launched in Taiwan in July 1984. The three-dose HBV vaccine completion rate reached 98.1% in 2018. The prevalence of Hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) decreased from 9.8% in pre-vaccinated period in 1984 to 0.5% in the vaccinated cohort in 2014. The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children aged 6-9 years significantly declined from 0.52 to 0.13 per 100,000 children born before and after 1984, respectively. Furthermore, we have performed a maternal HBV screening program during pregnancy since 1984, with the screening rate peaked at 93% in 2012. The HBsAg- and HBeAg-seropositive rate in pregnant women declined from 13.4% and 6.4% in 1984-1985 to 5.9% and 1.0% in 2016, respectively. To closely control perinatal HBV infection, we have administered hepatitis B immunoglobulin immediately after birth and checked the serum level of HBsAg and anti-HBs in high-risk babies born to HBsAg-seropositive mothers, irrespective of their HBeAg status, since July 2019. We have also adopted short-term antiviral treatments such as tenofovir 300 mg daily in the third trimester for highly viremic mothers and reduced the perinatal infection rates from 10.7 to 1.5%. Through all these efforts, we expect to meet the global goal of eliminating HBV infection by 2030.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제60권2호
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• pp.61-68
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• 2020

The zoonotic transmission of viral diseases to humans is a serious public health concern. Pigs are frequently a major reservoir for several zoonotic viral diseases. Therefore, periodic surveillance is needed to determine the infection rates of zoonotic diseases in domestic pigs. Hepatitis E virus (HEV), rotavirus, sapovirus (SaV), and norovirus (NoV) are potential zoonotic viruses. In this study, 296 fecal samples were collected from weaned piglets and growing pigs in 13 swine farms, and the viral RNA was extracted. Partial viral genomes were amplified by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or nested-PCR using virus-specific primer sets under different PCR conditions. HEV-3, rotavirus A, and SaV genogoup 3 were detected from 11.5, 2.7, and 3.0% of the samples, respectively. On the other hand, NoV was not detected in any of the samples. Genetic analysis indicated that the nucleotide sequences of swine HEV-3 and rotavirus A detected in this study were closely related to those of human isolates. However, swine SaV was distant from the human strains. These results suggest that HEV-3 and rotavirus A can be transmitted from pigs to humans. Therefore, strict preventive measures should be implemented by workers in the swine industry to prevent infections with HEV-3 and rotavirus A excreted from pigs.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제36권4호
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• pp.845-858
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• 1996

The purpose of this study was to establish early diagnostic methods for the detection of Aujeszky's disease viral antigens and nucleic acid in nasal cells, and buffy coats from experimentally infected living pigs by a combination of immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization with digoxigenin(DIG)-labled probe and electron microscopy. Forty days old piglets were inoculated intranasally with $10^{7.0}TCID_{50}$ of Aujeszky's disease virus (ADV, NYJ-1-87 strain). The viral antigens and nucleic acid of ADV were detected in nasal cells, and buffy coat for 20 days after inoculation by immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization with DIG-labeled probe and electron microscopical method. The results were compared with conventional methods such as a porcine Aujeszky's disease serodiagnostic(PAD) kit, neutralization test(NT) and virus isolation. 1. The viral antigens, nucleic acids and capsids of ADV were detected in nasal cells, buffy coats from 3 days to 20 days after inoculation by immunocytochemistry, in situ hybridization with DIG-labeled probe and electron microscopy, respectively. 2. When viral antigens were detected by the immunocytochemical technique, a diffuse brown deposit was observed in the nucleus and cytoplasm of nasal cells, buffy coats and PK-15 cells under a microscope. 3. DIG-labeled DNA probe was prepared by amplification of conserved sequence of recombinant ADV-gp50 clone with polymerase chain reacction. When ADV-DNA was detected by ISH with DIG-labeled probe, purplish blue pigmentation were observed in the nuclei and cytoplasms of ADV-infected cells under a microscope. Positive signals were observed in nasal cells and in the buffy coat and PK-15 cells at the first day after inoculation. 4. Where ADV-capsids were detected by transmission electron microscopical method, aggregation of capsids was observed in the nuclei and cytoplasms of nasal cells, buffy coats and PK-15 cells. The results suggested that these methods were considered as the highly sensitive and reliable tools for rapid and confirmative diagnosis of Aujeszky's disease in living pigs.

• Advances in pediatric surgery
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• 제5권1호
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• pp.69-74
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• 1999

Condyloma acuminata, an uncommon disease m the pediatric patients, is being reported with increasing frequency in both adults and children. During the last 10 years, we managed 11 children with condyloma acuminata of the anogenital area. The patients' age at presentation varied from 9 months to 11 years, and boys outnumbered girls by a ratio of 2 : 1. The lesions were found in the perianal area in 9 patients and the genital area in 2. No history of sexual contact or abuse could be elicited. Although the exact mode of transmission of human papillomavirus(HPV) couldn't be defined, maternal-infant transmission at birth and close nonsexual family contact were the main possible causes of HPV infection in our patients. Our experience suggest that fulguration of the warts and concomitant excision with scissors of the larger lesions are the most satisfactory method of treatment in children. However, condyloma acuminata have high recurrence rate despite these treatments. Viral typing and careful epidemiological investigation on a larger series of patients may clarify the causative factors and effective modalities of treatment in childhood anogenital condyloma acuminata.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• 제33권4호
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• pp.424-428
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• 2017

Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV) infection of the common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) has been reported, but soybean (Glycine max) has not previously been identified as a TYLCV host. Five cultivars of white soybean were agro-inoculated using an infectious TYLCV clone. At 30 days post-inoculation, they showed infection rates of 25% to 100%. Typical TYLCV symptoms were not observed in any inoculated plants. To examine whether TYLCV was transmitted in soybean seeds, DNA was isolated from bundles of five randomly selected seeds from TYLCV-inoculated soybean plants and amplified with a TYLCV-specific primer set. With the exception of one bundle, all bundles of seeds were verified to be TYLCV-infected. Virus dissemination was also confirmed in three of the 14 bunches. Viral replication was also identified in seeds and seedlings. This is the first report demonstrating that soybean is a TYLCV host, and that TYLCV is a seed-transmissible virus in white soybean.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권9호
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• pp.1098-1102
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• 2022

The placenta is a captivating multifunctional organ of fetal origin and plays an essential role during pregnancy by intimately connecting mother and baby. This study explicates placental pathology and information about 25 placentas collected from the mothers infected with novel coronavirus (SARS-COV-2). So far, congenital transmission of SARS-CoV-2 seems to be remarkably uncommon in spite of many cases of COVID-19 during pregnancy. Out of the 25 placental tissue samples collected, none has shown gene expression of SARS-CoV-2 when confirmed by RT-PCR. At the same time, nasal and throat swab samples collected from newborns of SARS-CoV-2-positive mothers correspondingly tested negative by RT-PCR. The shielding properties of placental barriers against viral infections from mothers to newborns remains a mystery. Major histopathological findings have been recorded as choriodecidual tissue with necrosis, intramural fibrin deposition, chorionic villi with fibrosis, and calcification. Moreover, although recent findings are insufficient to prove direct placental transmission of COVID-19, the abundance of angiotensin-converting enzymes-2 (ACE-2) on the placental surface could potentially contribute to unpleasant outcomes during pregnancy as SARS-CoV-2 gains access to human cells via ACE-2. Finally, the significance of these findings is vague and needs further study.