• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.108-111
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• 2017

A 3-month-old asymptomatic infant presented with bilateral extensive consolidation of the lungs, which was diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis. Evaluation of the baby for tuberculosis was initiated because of a history of contact with a known tuberculosis patient. This case is interesting because the baby rarely showed symptoms during the whole course of the disease.

• Journal of Fisheries and Marine Sciences Education
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.1184-1193
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• 2015

Monitoring for megalocytivirus infection was conducted for ten months from March to December in 2013 in 15 aquatic farms culturing, red sea bream, rock bream, rock fish and black sea bream around Tongyoung coastal area in Korea, to assess spatial and temporal variability of detection prevalence, and to explore possible links with seawater temperature. In nested-PCR targeted major capsid protein (MCP) gene, asymptomatic megalocytivirus infection was detected in the externally healthy farmed fish with a significant prevalence in range from 0 to 58.3% for ten months. Higher prevalence of megalocytivirus (46.7% - 57.1%) was observed in high water temperature season from September to November than that in other months with lower prevalence of 0.0% to 20.0%. Even though an acute infection of megalocytivirus was occurred in rock bream (positive in the first PCR) with high mortality in one of fifteen farms, there was no expansion or transmission of the disease to the rock fish and red sea bream culturing in net cage just proximal to the rock bream cage in which disease outbreaked. Nucleotide sequence analysis of the cloned MCP gene isolated asymptomatically infected rock fish revealed that the megalocytivirus in this study was clustered together with the rock bream iridovirus (RBIV) under the subgroup II of the genus megalocytivirus (Iridoviridae), which is known to be the major megalocytivirus strain in Korea. The typical histopathological signs were not found in the spleen of rock fish asymptomatically infected by megalocytivirus. Experimental infection of rock bream with the spleen homogenate of the rock fish infected asymptomatically did not induce any mortality unlike the homogenate of infected rock bream with hih mortlity. However, these results may suggest that the asymptomatic infection of megalocytivirus in other fish species can be a potential risk threatening aquaculture industries as a transmission factor of megalocytivirus to susceptible fish species, especially rock bream.

• The Korean journal of internal medicine
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• v.33 no.6
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• pp.1084-1092
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• 2018

Background/Aims: There has been no evidence for the necessity of endoscopy in asymptomatic young men with iron deficiency anemia (IDA). To determine whether endoscopy should be recommended in asymptomatic young men with IDA, we compared the prevalence of gastrointestinal (GI) lesions between young men (< 50 years) with IDA and those without IDA. Methods: We conducted a case-control study on asymptomatic young men aged < 50 years who underwent both esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) and colonoscopy as part of a health checkup between 2010 and 2014. Results: Of 77,864 participants, 128 (0.16%) had IDA and 512 subjects without IDA were matched for several variables including age. Young men with IDA had a significantly higher proportion of colorectal cancer (CRC) (0.8% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.045), villous adenoma (0.8% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.045), and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD; 2.3% vs. 0.4%, p = 0.025) than those without IDA. Additionally, the prevalence of advanced colorectal neoplasia (ACRN) tended to be higher in subjects with IDA than in those without IDA (3.1% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.084). The prevalence of significant lower GI lesions including ACRN and IBD was higher in subjects with IDA than in those without IDA (5.5% vs. 1.4%, p = 0.011). Regarding upper GI lesions, a positive association with IDA was observed only for gastric ulcer (4.7% vs. 1.0%, p = 0.011). Conclusions: GI lesions including CRC, villous adenoma, IBD, and gastric ulcer were more common in asymptomatic young men with IDA. Our results suggest that EGD and particularly colonoscopy should be recommended even in asymptomatic young men with IDA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.42 no.2
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• pp.226-230
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• 1995

Effusions arising from acute pancreatitis are usually small, left sided and self limiting. The incidence of pleural effusions in acute pancreatitis is reported between 3% and 17%. In chronic pancreatitis, as a consequence of fistula and pancreatitic pseudocyst formation or by spontaneous rupture of a pancreatic psudocyst directly into thoracic cavity, extremely large effusions may be seen. When the underlying pacreatic disease is asymptomatic, the diagnosis is made by measuring the amylase content of the pleural fluid. We experience a case of left sided pleural effusions caused by pancreatico-pleural fistula associated with pancreatic pseudocyst. The diagnosis was made by measuring of pleural fluid amylase level(80000U/L). Abdominal CT scan revealed pancreatic pseudocyct and pancreatitis with extension to left pleural space through esophageal hiatus and extension to left subdiaphragmatic space. Left pleural effusions were decreased after fasting, total parenteral nutrition and percutaneous pleural fluid catheter drainage. We reported a case of pleural effusions and pacreatico-pleural fistula asssociated with asymptomatic pancreatic disease with review of literatures.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.64 no.12
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• pp.652-660
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• 2021

Background: Viral load and shedding duration are highly associated with the transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. However, limited studies have reported on viral load or shedding in children and adolescents infected with sudden acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the natural course of viral load in asymptomatic or mild pediatric cases. Methods: Thirty-one children (<18 years) with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection were hospitalized and enrolled in this study. Viral loads were evaluated in nasopharyngeal swab samples using real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (E, RdRp, N genes). cycle threshold (Ct) values were measured when patients met the clinical criteria to be released from quarantine. Results: The mean age of the patients was 9.8 years, 18 (58%) had mild disease, and 13 (42%) were asymptomatic. Most children were infected by adult family members, most commonly by their mothers. The most common symptoms were fever and sputum (26%), followed by cough and runny nose. Nine patients (29%) had a high or intermediate viral load (Ct value≤30) when they had no clinical symptoms. Viral load showed no difference between symptomatic and asymptomatic patients. Viral rebounds were found in 15 cases (48%), which contributed to prolonged viral detection. The mean duration of viral detection was 25.6 days. Viral loads were significantly lower in patients with viral rebounds than in those with no rebound (E, P=0.003; RdRp, P=0.01; N, P=0.02). Conclusion: Our study showed that many pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) experienced viral rebound and showed viral detection for more than 3 weeks. Further studies are needed to investigate the relationship between viral rebound and infectiousness in COVID-19.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.196-205
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• 2001

Purpose : Membranous glomerulopathy is a glomerular disease characterized by the presence of subepithelial immune deposits with thickening of the capillary wall of the glomerulus without inflammatory change. The pathogenesis of membranous glomerulopathy is still unknown. Its incidence is higher in males, and it is rarely found in infants and adolescents. Among the clinical manifestations proteinuria is most common, while edema and hematuria are present. According to reports from other countries, among few patients diagnosed with membranous glomerulopathy by renal biopsy, show isolated microscopic hematuria without the clinical manifestations. Little research in this area has been performed in Korea, and so we conducted retrograde studies on membranous glomerulopathy associated with isolated microscopic hematuria. Materials and Methods : We analyzed retrogradely 109 cases of asymptomatic isolated microscopic hematuria that were diagnosed as membranous glomerulopathy by renal biopsy at Yonsei University Severance hospital from January, 1992 to July, 2001. Results : In 87 of the 109 cases patients were over 15 years old while in 22 cases patients were under 15 at the time of dignosis. Only three patients showed isolated microscopic hematuria without the clinical manifestations and abnormal laboratory findings and they were all male patients under 15 years old. Conclusion : Few cases of the membranous glomerulopathy show only asymptomatic isolated microscopic hematuria However, since membranous glomerulopathy can be found in patients who present with asymptomatic isolated microscopic hematuria only, if adequate indication for renal biopsy is present, we conclude that renal biopsy must be aggresively pursued in order to find the underlying disease. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2001 ; 5 : 196-205)

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.15-20
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• 2005

Purpose : Nutcracker syndrome must be considered when hematuria or proteinuria occurs in a healthy child. The purpose of this study is to investigate the prevalence of nutcracker syndrome among children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria, and to obtain the ratios of the peak velocity of the left renal vein between the aortomesenteric portion and the hilar portion in children with asymptomatic hematuna or protelnuria in which nutcracker syndrome was excluded and to observe whether the ratios are affected by sex, age or urinalysis findings. Methods : Using Doppler ultrasonography, we measured the flow velocity and obtained the peak velocity ratios of the left renal vein at the aortornesenteric portion and at the hilar Portion of the left kidney in children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria who visited the Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Severance Hospital from May 2001 to March 2004. Results : Of 304 children with asymptomatic hematuna or proteinuria, 107 children(35.2%) were diagnosed with nutcracker syndrome. For 197 children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria excluding nutcracker syndrome, the mean ratio of the peak velocity was 2.54 $\pm$0.73, which was not affected by sex, age or urinalysis findings. Conclusion : Nutcracker syndrome was the major cause of asymptomatic hematuria or proteinurla In children, comprising 35% of all cases. Doppler ultrasonography was helpful in the screening of nutcracker syndrome and prevention of its complications. For children with asymptomatic hematuria or proteinuria excluding nutcracker syndrome, the peak velocity ratio of the left renal vein did not differ from that of normal children and was not affected by sex, age or urinalysis findings. (J Korean Soc Pediatr Nephrol 2005;9:15-20)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.9
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• pp.334-339
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• 2019

Kawasaki disease (KD) is a systemic vasculitis in infants and young children. However, its natural history has not been fully elucidated because the first case was reported in the late 1960s and patients who have recovered are just now entering middle age. Nevertheless, much evidence has raised concerns regarding the subclinical vascular changes that occur in post-KD patients. KD research has focused on coronary artery aneurysms because they are directly associated with fatality. However, aneurysms have been reported in other extracardiac muscular arteries and their fate seems to resemble that of coronary artery aneurysms. Arterial strokes in KD cases are rarely reported. Asymptomatic ischemic lesions were observed in a prospective study of brain vascular lesions in KD patients with coronary artery aneurysms. The findings of a study of single-photon emission computed tomography suggested that asymptomatic cerebral vasculitis is more common than we believed. Some authors assumed that the need to consider the possibility of brain vascular lesions in severe cases of KD regardless of presence or absence of neurological symptoms. These findings suggest that KD is related with cerebrovascular lesions in children and young adults. Considering the fatal consequences of cerebral vascular involvement in KD patients, increased attention is required. Here we review our understanding of brain vascular involvement in KD.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.58 no.6
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• pp.609-617
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• 2020

Plasmodium vivax reemerged in 1993. It has been sustained for more than 25 years and become one of the important indigenous parasitic diseases in northern and western parts of the Republic of Korea near the demilitarized zone. In particular, relapse is a significant concern for the control of malaria, as short- and long-term incubation periods vary among those infected in Korea. In this study, the prevalence of asymptomatic carriers was examined among residents of high endemic areas of vivax malaria during nonseasonal transmission of mosquitoes. Blood samples from 3 endemic regions in northwestern Korea were evaluated by microscopic examination, rapid diagnostic testing, and nested PCR to identify asymptomatic patients carrying malaria parasites in the community. However, no positive malaria case among residents of endemic areas was detected. Additionally, serological analysis was carried out to measure antibodies against 3 antigenic recombinant proteins of P. vivax, merozoite surface protein 1-19, circumsporozoite surface protein-VK210, and liver-stage antigen (PvLSA-N), by the protein array method. Interestingly, seropositivity of sera between previous exposure and samples without exposure to malaria was significantly higher using the PvLSA-N antigen than the other antigens, suggesting that PvLSA-N can be used as a serological marker to analyze the degree of exposure for malaria transmission in endemic areas. This indicates a very low asymptomatic carrier prevalence during the nonmalaria season in the endemic areas of Korea.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.51-54
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• 2019

Castleman disease is a relatively rare disease, characterized by well-circumscribed benign lymph-node hyperplasia. The disease may develop anywhere in the lymphatic system, but is most commonly reported as unicentric Castleman disease in the mediastinum along the tracheobronchial tree. It is usually asymptomatic and detected on plain chest radiography as an incidental finding. We report an incidentally detected case of Castleman disease in the paravertebral space that was preoperatively diagnosed as a neurogenic tumor and treated by complete surgical resection.