• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.211-218
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• 2001

The $M_r$ 63,000 glycoprotein (GP63) and lipophosphoglycan (LPG) of Leishmania donovani were evaluated as vaccine candidates against visceral leishmaniasis. Mice were immunized with liposomeencapsulated GP63 and/or LPG that were purified from the soluble extract of L. donovani promastigotes, and were challenged with virulent amastigotes. Mice immunized with GP63/LPG in liposomes plus BCG resulted in a 27.4% reduction of amastigotes in the liver compared to the control group (liposomes plus BCG), and mice immunized with liposome-GP63 plus BCG failed to induce a protective immune response against the challenge infection. Immunization of mice with GP63 fused to the Schistosoma japonicum glutathione S-transferase (GP63-GST) plus BCG also failed to elicit protective immunity. To analyze the cause of failure to induce protection, cytokine release from the spleen cells of immunized mice and Leishmania-specific serum antibodies were analyzed. Spleen cells from mice immunized with GP63-GST plus BCG that were exposed to soluble extract of L. donovani in vitro produced 10-fold greater quantities of IFN-gamma and 3-fold greater quantities of IL-5 than cells from mice receiving BCG only or saline. Western blot analysis revealed that sera from these mice had Leishmania-specific antibodies recognizing 1 to 3 antigens of L. donovani with M. W. of 60-65 kDa. Although immunization of mice with GP63-GST induced a strong Th1 response, this study indicated that GP63-GST simultaneously elicited the Th2 response of the CD4+ T-cell, which was known to abrogate the protective immune response conferred by the Th1 effector function.

• Journal of the Society of Cosmetic Scientists of Korea
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• v.36 no.2
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• pp.151-156
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• 2010

Investigation of secondary bioactive metabolites from the fruiting bodies of Lactarius hatsudake led to the isolation of four azulene derivatives by means of repeated column chromatography and preparative HPLC, and they were identified as 1-formyl-4-methyl-7-isopropyl azulene (1), lactaroviolin (2), 4-methyl-7-isopropyl-azulene-1-carboxylic acid (3), and 1-formyl-4-methyl-7-(1-hydroxy-1-methylethyl) azulene (4) by their physico-chemical properties and spectroscopic analysis. The isolated compounds were evaluated for the effects on modulation of cytokines in natural killer cell line (NK92 cells). Compounds 1 and 4 strongly inhibited IFN-$\gamma$ production in a dose-dependent manner, corresponding to 101.3 % and 92.7 % inhibition at 400 ${\mu}M$, and 11.9 % and 24.1 % at 100 ${\mu}M$, respectively, whereas compounds 2 and 3 showed weak inhibitory effect on INF-$\gamma$ production, corresponding to 45.9 % and 18.0 % inhibition at 400 ${\mu}M$.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.82 no.6
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• pp.1524-1533
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• 2021

Purpose To investigate the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in healthcare workers (HCWs) with positive interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) results based on chest X-ray (CXR) and CT findings and determine the role of imaging in the diagnosis of TB. Materials and Methods Among 1976 hospital personnel screened for TB using IGRA, IGRApositive subjects were retrospectively investigated. Clustered nodular and/or linear streaky opacities in the upper lung zone were considered positive on CXR. The CT findings were classified as active, indeterminate, inactive, or normal. The active or indeterminate class was considered CT-positive. Results IGRA was positive in 255 subjects (12.9%). CXR and CT were performed in 249 (99.2%) and 113 subjects (45.0%), respectively. CXR- and CT-positive findings were found in 7 of 249 (2.8%) and 9 of 113 (8.0%) patients, respectively. Among the nine CT-positive subjects, active and indeterminate TB findings were found in 6 (5.3%) and 3 (2.7%) patients, respectively. Microbiological tests, including acid-fast bacilli staining, culture, and polymerase chain reaction for TB, were negative in all nine CT-positive subjects. Empirical anti-TB medications were administered to 9 CT-positive subjects, and 3 of these nine subjects were CXR-negative for pulmonary TB.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.2
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• pp.79-90
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• 2008

국내에서 아직 잠복결핵 치료 대상 및 치료 방법에 대한 명확한 지침이 부족한 실정이며 이를 위해서는 잠복감염의 재활성화 혹은 새로운 감염이 어느 정도 결핵 발병의 원인이 되는지에 대한 연구가 선행되어야 한다. 그렇지만 발병의 위험이 높은 군을 선정하여 잠복결핵의 치료 대상으로 정하는 것이 타당할 것이며, 현재는 HIV 감염자, 전염성 결핵환자 가족 중 6세 미만의 아동, 중학생 및 고등학생에서의 집단 발병시 감염된 것으로 판정된 학생 및 종양괴사인자(tumor necrosis factor, TNF) 길항제 사용 예정인 잠복결핵 환자가 잠복결핵의 치료 대상으로 제한되어 있다. 향후에는 잠복결핵 치료 대상자의 확대가 필요할 것으로 생각되며, 치료방법 또한 isoniazid (INH) 단독 요법 이외에 rifampicin (RMP)을 포함하는 단기 요법의 사용도 고려하여야 하겠다. 현재 외국에서 잠복결핵의 치료법으로 권고되고 있는 것은 INH 6~9개월, RMP 4~6개월, INH/RMP 3개월 등이다. 과거부터 잠복결핵의 진단에 사용되어 온투베르쿨린 검사 외에 체외 인터페론감마 검사가 새로이 개발되면서 잠복결핵의 진단이 더 정확해진다면 이에 따라 잠복결핵 치료 방침도 수정될 가능성이 있으므로 새로운 검사법을 이용한 꾸준한 연구가 필요할 것이다.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.22-30
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• 2011

Apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidative properties. This study was designed to investigate whether apoA-I affects apoptosis and cytokine production of human blood neutrophils in an in vitro culture system. Spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils was significantly delayed by apoA-I. In addition, high density lipoprotein containing apoA-I also delayed apoptosis of neutrophils. Apoptosis of neutrophils was inhibited by anti-scavenger receptor type B-I antibodies. The amounts of interleukin-8, interferon (IFN)-inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and tumor necrosis factor-$\alpha$ (TNF-$\alpha$) in the supernatants of cultured neutrophils treated with apoA-I were significantly increased. Combined treatment of neutrophils with IFN-$\gamma$ and apoA-I produced higher amounts of IP-10 and TNF-$\alpha$ than did treatment with IFN-$\gamma$ or apoA-I alone. The present study reveals that apoA-I activates neutrophils to produce cytokines and delays spontaneous apoptosis of neutrophils. These findings suggest that apoA-I, although a well-known negative acute-phase protein, has a pro-inflammatory effect in neutrophils.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.68 no.3
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• pp.155-161
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• 2010

Background: The tuberculin skin test (TST) has limitations in diagnosing a latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The interferon-gamma release assay (IGRA) was introduced to middle- and high-school students since 2009 by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The aim was to evaluate the utility of IGRA in diagnosing LTBI in middle- and high-school students. Methods: From August 2007 to July 2009, among suspected LTBI students showing TST induration with a 10 mm diameter and over with a normal chest x-ray in school students of Jeju city, 341 students underwent a Quanti FERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT-IT) test to confirm LTBI. Results: From 348 students showing a positive TST, a QFT-IT test was carried out on 341 students. The positive QFT-IT rate was 52.8% (=180/341). The positive QFT-IT rate was higher in high-school boys with a 15~19 mm diameter of induration in TST. Conclusion: With the introduction of IGRA for diagnosing LTBI in middle- and high-school students, approximately 47% of students who show a TST induration with a 10 mm diameter and over can avoid taking unnecessary preventive chemotherapy. These results suggest that IGRA is useful for diagnosing and controlling LTBI in Korean students.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.71-78
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• 2018

Bovine tuberculosis (bTB) is a wide-spread zoonotic disease in cattle, which is casued by Mycobacterium bovis that is a part of Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex (MTC). This study describes a field trial conducted in 42 herds with the history of prevalence bovine tuberculosis. Two cell-mediated immunity tests, the gamma-interferon (${\gamma}-IFN$) assay and the single intradermal tuberculin test (SIT) were applied for the diagnosis of bovine tuberculosis in 5,289 animals. The ${\gamma}-IFN$ assay presented 144 (2.7%) head of cattle with the positive result, and 112 (2.1%) head of cattle were shown to be bTB-positive by the SIT. The positive concordance was 45.5%, and the negative concordance was 98.2%. The ${\gamma}-IFN$ assay showed more positive results in younger cattle, especially between 12 and 23 months of age. It is shown that the strategic combination of both cell-mediated immunity test methods is more efficient for the detection of bTB to reduce the number of false positive individuals which are being slaughtered.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.1
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• pp.52-58
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• 2008

Purpose : Whole blood interferon-$\gamma$ assay was developed and many studies showed its usefulness in diagnosing tuberculosis (TB) including latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). However, assessment in children has been limited. This study was undertaken to evaluate the usefulness of QuantiFERON-TB Gold for the diagnosis of LTBI in children exposed to pulmonary TB. Methods : Children who visited Seoul National University Bundang Hospital with a history of TB exposure were enrolled from January 2006 to December 2007. They were evaluated with chest x-rays, tuberculin skin test (TST) and QuantiFERON-TB Gold test. TST was retested 3 months later for those with initial negative reactivity. Definition of LTBI was made on the basis of the TST reactivity. Results : Among the 103 children with a history of TB exposure, 49 children were tested with chest x-ray, TST, and QuantiFERON-TB Gold. Twenty-two were males. Median age was 7.5 years (range; 3 months to 14.7 years). According to TST reactivity, LTBI was in 8 (19%), no infection was in 21 (50%), possible LTBI was in 13 (31%). QuantiFERON-TB Gold test was positive in 5 of the 49 subjects (10%); 3 of the 13 subjects (23.1%) in unknown status, 1 of the 8 subjects (13%) in LTBI, and 1 of the 21 subjects (5%) without infection. The agreement between the QuantiFERON-TB Gold and the TST was poor (${\kappa}=0.101$). Conclusion : QuantiFERON-TB Gold showed poor sensitivity for the diagnosis of LTBI in children with exposure to TB. QuantiFERON-TB Gold alone does not seem to be useful in the diagnosis of LTBI in children.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.267-277
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• 2020

This study was conducted to assess the effect of highly concentrated onion intake on rodents. The experimental animals were divided two groups as follows; water administered group (CON) and Allium cepa administered group (ACE). The ACE group showed a slightly increases in the number of erythrocytes (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), hematocrit (Hct) levels compared to the control group (p<0.05). Hemoglobin, monocyte, lymphocyte and neutrophil had no significant change (p>0.05) in ACE group and control group. The analysis of glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT) levels showed a significant decrease in ACE group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The blood glucose, total protein, HDL-cholesterol were slightly high in ACE group, while triglyceride, total cholesterol levels were lower in ACE group compared to the control group (p<0.05). The levels of cytokines (interluekin-1α (IL-1α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-10 (IL-10), interferon-γ (INF-γ), interleukin-18 (IL-18), interleukin-2 (IL-2), granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF)) involved in immunity and inflammation in liver tissue and blood have all been confirmed to be within normal range. These findings could be used as basic data to show that highly concentrated dietary onion extract is not toxic to hematological indicators and immune functions.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.4
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• pp.331-337
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• 2009

Background: The whole-blood interferon-gamma release assay (QuantiFERON-TB Gold [QFT-G]: Cellestis, Carnegie, Victoria, Australia) has been studied primarily for the use of diagnosing active pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) or latent TB. In the present study, the usefulness of QFT-G was evaluated for the diagnosis of extra-pulmonary tuberculosis (EP-TB). Methods: From June 2006 to February 2009, we evaluated the usefulness of QFT-G in patients (n=65) suspected with EP-TB, retrospectively. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) of the QFT-G assay were analyzed. Results: EP-TB was diagnosed in 33 (51%) participants. The overall sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of the QFT-G assay for EP-TB were 78%, 79%, 81%, and 77%, respectively. Of the 33 with EP-TB, 14 (42%) were diagnosed with TB pleurisy, 7 (21%) with TB lymphadenitis, 7 (21%) with intestinal TB, and 5 (15%) with EP-TB in other sites. In subgroup analyses according by site of infection, the QFT-G showed 86% sensitivity, 64% specificity, and 78% NPV in TB pleurisy. On the other hand, the sensitivity, specificity, and NPV of the assay were 71%, 83% and 71%, respectively in TB lymphadenitis, and 86%, 100% and 88%, respectively in intestinal TB. Among the patients with suspected alternative site EP-TB, the sensitivity, specificity, and NPV of the assay were 50%, 80% and 67%, respectively. Conclusion: The QFT-G assay showed moderate diagnostic accuracy in EP-TB. However, negative QFT-G assay does not exclude EP-TB because of the low NPV of this assay.