• Applied Microscopy
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.81-87
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• 2008

Alkaline reduced water (ARW) has been used for drinking widely in several countries of Asia. The safety and clinical effects of ARW has been reported including anti-oxidative effect and intestinal abnormal fermentation. To confirm the effect of ARW on DSS-induced acute inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) mouse model, we observed the length of total large intestine and the histopathological changes after supplying mineral induced-ARW (MARW) for 2 weeks and oral administration of 4% DSS (dextran sulfate sodium). As the result, the length of total large intestine and the disease scores by macro and microscopical access in the ARWsupplied group showed no significant differences compared with those in the control group. This result suggests that the supply of ARW for 2 weeks exerted no effect on amelioration in the DSS-induced acute IBD model. However, in consideration of the effect of ARW on the improvement of intestinal environment and gastrointestinal disease, this result seems that acute IBD animal model is not suitable or the period of ARW supply is not enough to prove the effect of ARW. The ameliorative effect of ARW on the intestinal abnormal fermentation has been confirmed by some researchers, but the precise mechanism also remain unclear. In conclusion, although MARW had no effect on the DSS-induced acute experimental colitis model, further studies on the verification of the effects of ARW by using other intestinal disease model and by long-term supply of ARW will be required. Also, It needs to clear the mechanism of ARW on the intestinal environment.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.50 no.10
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• pp.931-937
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• 2007

The hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is a rare disease of microangiopathic hemolytic anemia, low platelet count and renal impairment. HUS usually occurs in young children after hemorrhagic colitis by shigatoxin-producing enterohemorrhagic E. coli (D+HUS). HUS is the most common cause of acute renal failure in infants and young children, and is a substantial cause of acute mortality and morbidity; however, renal function recovers in most of them. About 10% of children with HUS do not reveal preceding diarrheal illness, and is referred to as D- HUS or atypical HUS. Atypical HUS comprises a heterogeneous group of thrombomicroangiopathy (TMA) triggered by non-enteric infection, virus, drug, malignancies, transplantation, and other underlying medical condition. Emerging data indicate dysregulation of alternative complement pathway in atypical HUS, and genetic analyses have identified mutations of several regulatory genes; i.e. the fluid phase complement regulator Factor H (CFH), the integral membrane regulator membrane cofactor protein (MCP; CD46) and the serine protease Factor I (IF). The uncontrolled activation of the complement alternative pathway results in the excessive consumption of C3. Plasma exchange or plasma infusion is recommended for treatment of, and has dropped the mortality rate. However, overall prognosis is poor, and many patients succumb to end-stage renal disease. Clinical presentations, response to plasma therapy, and outcome after renal transplantation are influenced by the genotype of the complement regulators. Thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP), another type of TMA, occurs mainly in adults as an acquired disease accompanied by fever, neurologic deficits and renal abnormalities. However, less frequent cases of congenital or hereditary TTP associated with ADAMTS-13 (a disintegrin and metalloprotease, with thrombospondin 1-like domains 13) gene mutations have been reported, also. Recent advances in molecular genetics better allow various HUS to be distinguished on the basis of their pathogenesis. The genetic analysis of HUS is important in defining the underlying etiology, predicting the genotype-related outcome and optimizing the management of the patients.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.80-90
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• 2017

Initial discovery on sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) as an intracellular second messenger was faced unexpectedly with roles of S1P as a first messenger, which subsequently resulted in cloning of its G protein-coupled receptors, $S1P_{1-5}$. The molecular identification of S1P receptors opened up a new avenue for pathophysiological research on this lipid mediator. Cellular and molecular in vitro studies and in vivo studies on gene deficient mice have elucidated cellular signaling pathways and the pathophysiological meanings of S1P receptors. Another unexpected finding that fingolimod (FTY720) modulates S1P receptors accelerated drug discovery in this field. Fingolimod was approved as a first-in-class, orally active drug for relapsing multiple sclerosis in 2010, and its applications in other disease conditions are currently under clinical trials. In addition, more selective S1P receptor modulators with better pharmacokinetic profiles and fewer side effects are under development. Some of them are being clinically tested in the contexts of multiple sclerosis and other autoimmune and inflammatory disorders, such as, psoriasis, Crohn's disease, ulcerative colitis, polymyositis, dermatomyositis, liver failure, renal failure, acute stroke, and transplant rejection. In this review, the authors discuss the state of the art regarding the status of drug discovery efforts targeting S1P receptors and place emphasis on potential clinical applications.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.56 no.6
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• pp.260-264
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• 2013

Dapsone (4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone, DDS), a potent anti-inflammatory agent, is widely used in the treatment of leprosy and several chronic inflammatory skin diseases. Dapsone therapy rarely results in development of dapsone hypersensitivity syndrome, which is characterized by fever, hepatitis, generalized exfoliative dermatitis, and lymphadenopathy. Here, we describe the case of an 11-year-old Korean boy who initially presented with high fever, a morbilliform skin rash, generalized lymphadenopathy, hepatosplenomegaly, and leukopenia after 6 weeks of dapsone intake. Subsequently, he exhibited cholecystitis, gingivitis, colitis, sepsis, aseptic meningitis, disseminated intravascular coagulation, syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone secretion, pneumonia, pleural effusions, peritonitis, bronchiectatic changes, exfoliative dermatitis, and acute renal failure. After 2 months of supportive therapy, and prednisolone and antibiotic administration, most of the systemic symptoms resolved, with the exception of exfoliative dermatitis and erythema, which ameliorated over the following 4 months. Agranulocytosis, atypical lymphocytosis, aseptic meningitis, and bronchiectatic changes along with prolonged systemic symptoms with exfoliative dermatitis were the most peculiar features of the present case.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.48-51
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• 2016

Milk-alkali syndrome (MAS), a triad of hypercalcemia, metabolic alkalosis, and renal failure, is associated with ingestion of large amounts of calcium and absorbable alkali. MAS is the third most common cause of hypercalcemia in hospital, after primary hyperparathyroidism and malignant neoplasm. MAS is not often reported in the Korean literature. We describe MAS secondary to intake of calcium citrate for the treatment of osteoporosis with thoracic spine compression fracture. A 70-year-old man presented to our hospital with a 1-week history of general weakness and lethargy. He was found with acute kidney injury (serum creatinine, 4.6 mg/dL), hypercalcemia (total calcium, 14.8 mg/dL), and alkalosis. Laboratory evaluation excluded both hyperparathyroidism and malignancy. Mental status and serum calcium level was normalized within a week after proper hydration and intravenous administration of furosemide. However, he developed aspiration pneumonia, pseudomembranous colitis, and sepsis with multi-organ failure. Despite intensive treatment including inotropics, mechanical ventilation, and renal replacement therapy, he expired with no signs of renal recovery on the 28th hospital day.

• KSBB Journal
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.210-219
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• 2014

Sayuksan has been widely applied to treat a variety of diseases such as acute hepatitis, gastritis, and colitis. Sayuksan consists of medicinal herbs such as Glycrrhizae uralensis Fischer, Paeonia lactiflora Pallas, Bupleurum falcatum Linne, and Poncirus trifoliata Rafinesqul. Methanol extracts (1 mg/mL) from the four kinds of medicinal herbs did not show antibiotic activities against general test strains and multi-drug resistant strains. The antibacterial activity of fermented medicinal herbs extracts with Lactobacillus spp. strain was confirmed as Gram-positive bacteria which are higher than Gram-negative bacteria. Extracts of Glycrrhizae uralensis Fischer fermented with Lb. casei KCTC 3109 displayed inhibitory diameters of 16 mm against Pseudomonas aeruginosa P01828. Superoxide dismutase (SOD)-like activity of the medicinal herb extracts was not determined, but the extract of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas fermented with six strains of Lactobacillus spp. had the highest antioxidant activity. SOD-like activity of Paeonia lactiflora Pallas extracts fermented by Lb. brevis KCTC 3498 was $41.4{\pm}0.8%$, which was the highest antioxidant activity among the fermented extracts with the other medicinal herbs.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.1-8
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• 2018

${\mu}MT$ knockout mice are genetically deficient in the transmembrane domain of mu chain of the immunoglobulin M (IgM) heavy chain, resulting in the absence of mature B cells. ${\mu}MT$ knockout mice is an in vivo model system used to clarify the role of B cells in various diseases. Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) induces acute and chronic diarrheal disease, especially in children of developing countries. The formation of attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion is a prominent pathogenic factor in the intestinal epithelium of EPEC infection. The A/E lesion is modulated by genes located on the pathogenic island locus of enterocyte effacement (LEE) which encode a type III secretion system (T3SS) and A/E lesion-related effector proteins. Citrobacter rodentium is a murine pathogen utilized in studying the pathogenic mechanisms of EPEC in human infections. Citrobacter rodentium produce A/E lesion to attach to intestinal epithelium, thus providing a murine model pathogen to study EPEC. Several studies have investigated the pathogenesis of Citrobacter rodentium in the ${\mu}MT$ knockout mice. In this review, we introduce the ${\mu}MT$ murine model in the context of C. rodentium pathogenesis and describe in detail the role of B cells and antibodies in this disease.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.38 no.2
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• pp.117-124
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• 2005

Before twentieth centuries and during early twentieth centuries, communicable diseases were the major cause of morbidity and mortality in Korea. But reliable data are not available. After 1975, the overall morbidity and mortality from communicable diseases, rapidly declined. Recently many new pathogenic microbes were recognized: L. monocytogenes, Hantaan virus, Y. pseudotuberculosis, P. multocida, L. pneumophilia, Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), G. seoi, H. capsulatum, C. burnetii, V. cholerae O139, C. parvum, F. tularensis, E. coli O157:H7, B. burgdorferi, S. Typhimurium DT104, Rotavirus, hepatitis C virus and so on. Since the first HIV infection recognized in 1985, the reported cases of infection and deaths from HIV/AIDS have been steady increased each year. Legionnaire's disease, E. coli O157:H7 colitis, listeriosis and crytosporidiasis have been occurring just sporadically among immunocompromized cases. Many re-emerging communicable diseases were occurred in Korea: leptospirosis, malaria, endemic typhus, cholera, tsutsugamushi disease, salmonellosis, hepatitis A, shigellosis, mumps, measles, acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis, brucellosis and so on. Leptospirosis and tsutsugamushi diseases have been noticed as major public health problems since 1980s. The malaria that had been virtually disappeared for a decade has reappeared from 1993 with striking increase of patients in recent 3-4 years. The distributions of salmonella and shigella serotypes have been changed a lot in recent few decades. Furthermore rapid emergence of antibiotic-resistant bacterial strains induces more difficult and complex problems in control of communicable diseases. We must recognize on the importance of environment and ecosystem conservation and careful prescription of anti-microbial agent in order to prevent communicable diseases.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.13-16
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• 2015

Portal vein gas and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis are uncommon conditions and have been associated with poor prognosis. They are most commonly caused by necrotizing enterocolitis but may have other causes, and they can be associated with necrotizing and ischemic colitis, intra-abdominal abscess, small bowel obstruction, diverticulitis, colon cancer, and acute pancreatitis. With the more frequent use of computed tomography (CT) scans, portal vein gas and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis have been increasingly detected in recent years. Because of its high mortality rate, necrotizing enteritis with portal vein gas and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis may be treated with emergent exploratory laparotomy. We report a case of necrotizing enteritis with portal vein gas and pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis in a 47-year-old man treated with intensive medical management and delayed operation due to unstable condition and surgical mortality. He had good clinical results without complications after the delayed operation.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.33 no.5
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• pp.559-573
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• 2023

Shiga toxin (Stxs)-producing enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) and Shigella dysenteriae serotype 1 are major causative agents of severe bloody diarrhea (known as hemorrhagic colitis) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) associated with extraintestinal complications such as acute renal failure and neurologic impairment in infected patients under 9 years of age. Extreme nephrotoxicity of Stxs in HUS patients is associated with severe outcomes, highlighting the need to develop technologies to detect low levels of the toxin in environmental or food samples. Currently, the conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) or immunoassay is the most broadly used assay to detect the toxin. However, these assays are laborious, time-consuming, and costly. More recently, numerous studies have described novel, highly sensitive, and portable methods for detecting Stxs from EHEC. To contextualize newly emerging Stxs detection methods, we briefly explain the basic principles of these methods, including lateral flow assays, optical detection, and electrical detection. We subsequently describe existing and newly emerging rapid detection technologies to identify and measure Stxs.