• Horticultural Science & Technology
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.153-158
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• 2001

Leaf spots in Saintpaulia leaves are caused by temperature drop shock (TDS). This TDS-mediated leaf injury has not been reported in other plants besides Saintpaulia. To investigate how many and what kinds of plants are susceptible to temperature drop shock, Gesneriaceae and Acanthaceae plants were treated with TDS (from $30^{\circ}C$ to $15^{\circ}C$ or $5^{\circ}C$). Yellow or brown spots were found in 26 species or cultivars of 10 genuses of Gesneriaceae plants and in 8 species or cultivars of 7 genuses of Acanthaceae plants. Morphologically and anatomically no similarity was observed among the plants susceptible to TDS. Some plants have very thin and hard leaves, whereas other plants have thick and soft leaves. In spite of this non-similarity, the injury was restricted only to palisade cells as those of Saintpaulia leaves. Also the rapid and irreversible reduction of chlorophyll fluorescence was observed soon after TDS treatment in those plants. These results indicate that leaf injury induced by TDS is a more widespread leaf injury than has previously been thought.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.403-409
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• 2000

This paper is about to simulate the defibrillation situations using 3D FE(finite element) thorax model and describes the effects of three clinical electrodes' positions and size and organ's resistivity used in simulation on the characteristics of current density distribution over myocardium. The model was constructed with a eillipsoidal cylinder for the thorax and the 2D Visible Human images for remains. And, the distributions of current density were computed by a commercial program ANSYS 5.4. The electrical shock of the AP(anterior-posterior ) electrode provided more current flows with heart than the others and that of the LL(lateral-lateral) electrode showed the most uniform current density distribution. However, the electrode size had little effect on the current density distribution. In the evaluation of model's sensitivity to tissue resistivity variation, the variation of the myocardium's resistivity most affected the minimum, average and maximum current densities.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.259-268
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• 2019

Dengue virus is a typical mosquito-borne virus, and the half of the world's population is exposed to infection. Dengue virus causes relatively mild symptoms such as dengue fever. However, when not treated properly, it is known to cause severe symptoms such as dengue hemorrhagic fever and dengue shock syndrome with a mortality rate of over 20%. Development of dengue virus detection technology is very important because it is reported that early diagnosis of dengue fever can lower the mortality rate to less than 1%. In this study, patent search related to dengue virus detection technology was conducted in Korea, USA, Europe, Japan, and China. The quantitative analysis of 69 validated patents from the searched patents was conducted by country, year, and patent holder. In addition, in-depth analysis was carried out by classifying into three categories: molecular diagnostics, immuno-diagnostics, and cell culture-based diagnostics from all validated patents. From these results, we analyzed the patent trend related to dengue virus detection and dengue fever diagnosis technology and discussed the features and limitations of molecular diagnostics and immuno-diagnostics at present level. Furthermore, we discussed the direction of technology development and future prospects to overcome limitations.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.66-81
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• 2021

The coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic has been continuously spreading throughout the world. As of July 15, 2021, there have been more than 188 million confirmed cases and more than 4.06 million deaths. Although the incidence of severe infections is relatively low in children and adolescents compared to adults, a complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C) may occur in some cases at approximately 2-6 weeks after severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. MIS-C can be seen in patients of various ages, from young infants to adolescents, and may present with diverse clinical manifestations. While fever present in a great majority of patients, symptoms suggesting the involvement of the digestive or nervous system and the skin and mucous membranes (Kawasaki disease-like symptoms) also appear in many cases. Cardiac involvement may also be observed, including left ventricular dysfunction, myocarditis, coronary artery dilatation, and coronary aneurysm. In some cases, hypotension or shock can occur, and mechanical ventilation or treatment in the intensive care unit may be necessary. Fortunately, recovery is generally reported after appropriate treatment. MIS-C is a rare but important complication of SARS-CoV-2 infection in children and adolescents. As such, it is important to recognize the clinical symptoms and provide appropriate treatment at an early stage. In this review, the epidemiology, clinical symptoms, suggested pathophysiology, diagnostic approach, and treatment of MIS-C will be discussed.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.5
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• pp.548-553
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• 2006

Background : Alcoholic ketoacidosis(AKA) is a metabolic disturbance that is caused by prolonged and excessive alcohol consumption. Though the prognosis is reportedly good, its outcome is unclear in some cases that are combined with multi-organ failure. There are few reports of an analysis of cases admitted to an intensive care unit(ICU) Method: Cases of AKA admitted to the ICU over the last 5 years were retrospectively analyzed. Severe AKA was characterized by multi-organ failure that required treatment in an ICU Results : All patients were males with a history of excessive alcohol consumption. Five of them (50%) mainly complained of gastrointestinal symptoms (nausea, vomiting, diarrhea), showing metabolic acidosis with an increased asmolar and anion gap. Rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure was the most common combined organ failure. Mechanical ventilation was performed in 80%. Six patients died and 4 patients survived. In the surviving patients, the arterial blood gas analysis(ABGA) was normalized within 12 hours after admission. Conclusion : In severe AKA patients, rhabdomyolysis with acute renal failure was the most common complication. The mortality rate was high and death from shock occurred within 3 days.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.5
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• pp.389-397
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• 2007

Background B-type natriuretic peptide (BNP) has been shown to be strong mortality predictors in a wide variety of cardiovascular syndromes. Little is known about BNP in patients with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). We studied whether BNP can predict mortality in patients with ARDS. Method Echocardiographic study was done to all patients with ARDS, and we excluded patient with low ejection fraction (less than 50%) or showing any features of diastolic dysfunction. 47 patients were enrolled between December, 2003 and February, 2006. Parameters including BNP were obtained within 24h hours at the time of enrollment. Result Mean BNP concentrations and APACHE II scores differed between the survivors and nonsurvivors (BNP, $219.5{\pm}57.7pg/mL$ vs $492.3{\pm}88.8pg/mL$; p=0.013, APACHE II score, $17.4{\pm}1.6$ vs $23.1{\pm}1.3$, p=0.009, respectively). With the use of the threshold value for BNP of 585 pg/mL, the specificity for the prediction of mortality was 94%. The threshold value for APACHE II of 15.5 showed sensitivity of 87%. 'APACHE II + $11{\times}logBNP$' showed sensitivity 63%, and specificity 82%, using threshold value for 46.14. Conclusion BNP concentrations and APCHE II scores were more elevated in nonsurvivors than survivors in patients with ARDS who have normal ejection fraction. BNP can predict mortality. Further study should be done.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.44 no.5
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• pp.1072-1082
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• 1997

Background : To characterize the clinical features and determine the prognostic factors of severe community-acquired pneumonia. This study is the first of its kind in Korea. Methods : Recruited were 40 patients diagnosed as severe community-acquired pneumonia in Hallym University Hospital from January 1, 1989 through July 31, 1996. Patients were analysed retrospectively for age, sex, underlying disease, respiration rate, hypoxemia, requirement of mechanical ventilation, involvement on chest radiograph, shock, and the serum concentration of BUN and albumin. All parameters were compared between survived and dead group. Results : Male to female ratio was 2.07 : 1. The mean age was $63.1{\pm}17.5$years(range 25~90years) with 65% of patients aged equal to or more than 60. The major underlying diseases were old pulmonary tuberculosis(12.5%), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease(7.5%), bronchial asthma(5%), bronchiectasis(2.5%), and diabetes mellitus(22.5%). Microbiologic diagnosis was made in 26 out of 40 patients(65%). The most common causative organism was S. pneumoniae(17.5%, 7/40) followed by S. aureus(15.0%, 6/40), K. Pneumoniae(12.5%, 5/40), M. tuberculosis(7.5%, 3/40), H. influenzae(2.5%, 1/40), coagulase negative staphylococcus(2.5%, 1/40), P. aeruginosa(2.5%. 1/40), E. cloaceae(2.5%, 1/40), and E. coli(2.5%, 1/40). M. pneumoniae was detected in no patient. The most frequent drugs administered in single or combination therapy were aminoglycosides(75%, 30/40), second- and third-generation cephalosporin(40%, 16/40 and 27.5%, 11/40), macrolides(27.5%, 11/40), and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid(22.5%, 9/40). Of the 40 patients, 14 died of severe community-acquired pneumonia(37.5%). Among them, seven patients (50%) expired within 72h of hospital arrival. According to multivariate analysis, mortality was significantly associated with requirement of mechanical ventilation, bilateral pulmonary involvement, and serum albumins$\leq$3.0g/dl. Conclusion : An understanding of the clinical characteristics and prognostic factors in severe community-acquired pneumonia identified in this study will optimize therapeutic approach in this disease and help decreasing its notorious mortality rate.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.38 no.1 s.246
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• pp.56-62
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• 2005

Because of high morbidity and mortality, traumatic diaphragm injury remains a diagnostic challenge. In this study, we evaluate that some factors and scores can be used as predictors. Material and Method: From May 1995 to June 2003, 23 patients with traumatic diaphragm injury were enrolled. We examined the clinical features of patients. RTS, TRISS, ISS and APACHE II scores for each patient are calculated for analyzing the relationship of mortality and ICU duration. Result: The study identified 15 men $(65.2{\%})$ and 8women $(34.8{\%})$. There are right sided diaphragmatic injury in 11 patients $(47.8{\%})$, left sided in 11 $(47.8{\%})$, and both sided in 1 ($0.4{\%}$). Plain X-ray, CT, upper GI contrast study and esophagogastroscopy were used as diagnostic tools. Age, hemodynamic status, early diagnosis are not associated with outcome. As prognostic factor, RTS and ISS are associated with mortality and there was negative relationship between RTS and ICU duration (r=0.737, p=0.026). Conclusion: An early diagnosis of traumatic diaphragm injury can frequently be missed in the acute trauma setting. So high index of suspicion and a careful examination are important in multiple trauma patients. An RTS can probably be used effectively as a predictor for the severity and prognosis in patients with traumatic diaphragm injury.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.261-267
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• 2016

The present study examined the effect of the dietary administration of a halophilic bacterium Bacillus sp. Mk22 on the growth improvement of black tiger shrimp, Penaeus monodon, and reduced shrimp infection by Vibrio parahaemolyticus and white spot syndrome virus (WSSV). The shrimp were fed 45 days using three experimental diets: no addition (control), commercial probiotic, and Bacillus sp. Mk22. The shrimp treated with the halophilic bacterium Mk22 showed a significant improvement of growth (7.1 ± 0.21 g), survival (94.3 ± 0.58%), weight gain (178 ± 4.93 g), and reduced feed conversion rate (0.8 ± 0.03 g) compared with the shrimp in the other groups. The shrimp treated with Bacillus sp. Mk22 also showed a lower Vibrio count (0.02 ± 0.01 × 10² CFU/ml) in the shrimp culture water compared with the other groups. The shrimp in the three groups were challenged with either Vibrio or WSSV. For the Vibrio infection, no mortality was observed from water infection or oral feeding infection in the commercial probiotic group and Mk 22 group. For the WSSV infection, a 68% survival rate from water infection and 20% survival rate from oral feeding infection was observed on day 45 in the Mk22 group, while 100% mortalities were recorded at a much earlier time in both the control and commercial probiotic groups. The antioxidant enzyme activities, indicators of oxidative stress, such as catalase and superoxide dismutase, significantly decreased in both the Vibrio and WSSV-infected Mk22 groups compared with the other groups, indicating that Bacillus sp. Mk22 was effective in reducing oxidative stress, possibly due to the reduced infection.

• Applied Biological Chemistry
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• v.49 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2006

EDTA is known to have bacteriocidal effect on Vibrio vulnificus, pathogen of septicemia by osmotic shock in seafoods. Attempts were made to elucidate the bacteriocidal effect of phytic acid (PA) as a substitute for EDTA against V. vulnificus and its inhibition effect on the septicemia, which induces liver damage of the mice by the pathogen. Viable cells of V. vulnificus with the initial titre of $1.7{\times}10^6$ c.f.u. $ml^{-1}$ decreased by 90.6% after 1 min and 99.6% after 5 min in distilled water. The titre decreased by 65.9% and 94.5% in 2 mM solution of $Mg^{2+}$. In 0.1 mM solution of PA, the rate of decrease in titre was 97.4% after 1 min of incubation and 99.8% after 5 min, compared to 95.7% and 99.8% in 0.1 mM solution of EDTA. The bacteriocidal effect of PA solution at a concentration of 1 mM was marked: the rate of decrease in titre was 99.9% after 1 min. In relation to the bacteriocidal effect, PA was evaluated as a potential therapeutic agent for V. vulnificus septicemia in mouse. When the survival periods of mice were investigated by PA and EDTA treatment after the pathogen injection, the group of mice which infected by a low concentration of the strain survived longer than that inoculated at high concentration; also, the ratio of survival was 1.3 times higher in PA than in EDTA, showing that the fatal rate depended on the inoculation concentration. Although survival periods of mice induced with liver damage by carbon tetrachloride and then inoculated with the strain showed a similar trend, the fatal rate of mice was 2 times faster than those inoculated with only pathogen into normal liver, These results indicate that the infection by V. vulnificus was more fatal to those with liver disease. Also, symptoms of hemorrhage and inflammation on the mice with induced liver damage were reduced in case there was phytic acid treatment at each concentration.