• Title/Summary/Keyword: Emerging virus

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Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Management of Pneumocystis Pneumonia

  • Tasaka, Sadatomo
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.83 no.2
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    • pp.132-140
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    • 2020
  • In human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients, Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PCP) is a well-known opportunistic infection and its management has been established. However, PCP is an emerging threat to immunocompromised patients without HIV infection, such as those receiving novel immunosuppressive therapeutics for malignancy, organ transplantation, or connective tissue diseases. Clinical manifestations of PCP are quite different between patients with and without HIV infections. In patients without HIV infection, PCP rapidly progresses, is difficult to diagnose correctly, and causes severe respiratory failure with a poor prognosis. High-resolution computed tomography findings are different between PCP patients with HIV infection and those without. These differences in clinical and radiological features are due to severe or dysregulated inflammatory responses that are evoked by a relatively small number of Pneumocystis organisms in patients without HIV infection. In recent years, the usefulness of polymerase chain reaction and serum β-D-glucan assay for rapid and non-invasive diagnosis of PCP has been revealed. Although corticosteroid adjunctive to anti-Pneumocystis agents has been shown to be beneficial in some populations, the optimal dose and duration remain to be determined. Recent investigations revealed that Pneumocystis colonization is prevalent and that asymptomatic carriers are at risk for developing PCP and can serve as the reservoir for the spread of Pneumocystis by airborne transmission. These findings suggest the need for chemoprophylaxis in immunocompromised patients as well as infection control measures, although the indications remain controversial. Because a variety of novel immunosuppressive therapeutics have been emerging in medical practice, further innovations in the diagnosis and treatment of PCP are needed.

News Media's Surveillance and Gatekeeping in Representing Health Risk (언론 건강 위험 보도의 환경 감시 기능과 게이트키핑)

  • You, Myoung-Soon;Ju, Young-Kee
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.43 no.3
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    • pp.279-282
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    • 2010
  • Objectives: This study investigates whether Korean news media pay more attention to emerging diseases than chronic ones, and whether they closely follow the changes in the magnitude of health risks of chronic or well-known diseases. These two features are expected to appear as the result of surveillance function served by health journalism that should be the main source of the public's risk perception. Methods: The number of stories published in 10 newspapers containing the words, 'SARS,' 'Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy,' 'Avian Influenza,' and 'Influenza A virus' was compared with the number of stories on chronic or wellknown diseases. We also counted the annual number of stories, published in a 12-year period, containing following terms: 'cancer,' 'diabetes,' 'hypertension,' 'pneumonia,' and 'tuberculosis.' The number was compared with the actual mortality of each disease. Results: Although cancer represented the primary cause of mortality, the newspapers covered key emerging diseases more than cancer or other well-known diseases. Also, media coverage of 'pneumonia' and 'tuberculosis' did not vary in accordance with changes in the mortality of each disease. However, the news media coverage did vary in accordance with the mortality of 'cancer,' 'diabetes,' and 'hypertension.' Conclusions: Korean health journalism was found to have both strong and weak points. The news media reduced the relative level of attention given to pneumonia and tuberculosis. Bearing in mind the major influence of news coverage on risk perception, health professionals need to be more proactive about helping to improve Korean health journalism.

Vulnerabilities, Threats and Challenges on Cyber Security and the Artificial Intelligence based Internet of Things: A Comprehensive Study

  • Alanezi, Mohammed Ateeq
    • International Journal of Computer Science & Network Security
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    • v.22 no.2
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    • pp.153-158
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    • 2022
  • The Internet of Things (IoT) has gotten a lot of research attention in recent years. IoT is seen as the internet's future. IoT will play a critical role in the future, transforming our lifestyles, standards, and business methods. In the following years, the use of IoT in various applications is likely to rise. In the world of information technology, cyber security is critical. In today's world, protecting data has become one of the most difficult tasks. Different type of emerging cyber threats such as malicious, network based and abuse of network have been identified in the IoT. These can be done by virus, Phishing, Spam and insider abuse. This paper focuses on emerging threats, various challenges and vulnerabilities which are faced by the cyber security in the field of IoT and its applications. It focuses on the methods, ethics, and trends that are reshaping the cyber security landscape. This paper also focuses on an attempt to classify various types of threats, by analyzing and characterizing the intruders and attacks facing towards the IoT devices and its services.

Amebic liver abscesses resulting in diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus infection (아메바 간농양으로 진단에 이른 인간 면역 결핍증)

  • Kim, Seok Weon;Kwon, Hyeok Choon;Nam, Seung Woo;Choi, Jong Kyung;Chung, Joo Won;Jang, Dong Won;Park, Soo Yoen
    • Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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    • v.34 no.1
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    • pp.96-100
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    • 2017
  • Amebic liver abscess (ALA) is the most common extraintestinal manifestation of amebiasis. Amebiasis, a parasitic infection caused by Entamoeba histolytica, used to be a prevalent protozoan disease in Korea, however, with an improving sanitary system, it has been among very uncommon etiology of liver abscess. A recent report suggested that ALA is an emerging parasitic infection in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients even in areas where the disease is not endemic and recommended HIV screening in patients in areas where ALA is not endemic, particularly those without history of travel to a disease-endemic area. We report on two patients who were admitted for treatment of ALA and then diagnosed as HIV infection. We also reviewed the etiology and characteristics of ALA in our hospital during the last 5 years.

Prevalence of fowl adenovirus and chicken anemia virus in Jeonbuk, Korea (전북지역 조류아데노바이러스 및 닭전염성빈혈 감염률 조사)

  • Jeong, Han-Sol;Baek, Kui-Jeong;Koh, Won-Seok;Lee, Jeong-Won
    • Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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    • v.41 no.1
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    • pp.21-27
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    • 2018
  • Fowl adenovirus (FAdV) and chicken anemia virus (CAV) have gained much importance as an immunosuppressive and economically important emerging pathogen of poultry. This study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of FAdV and CAV infection in chickens. The groups were divided into Korean native chickens, broiler, layer hens and broiler breeder and set up groups according to age. As results, 12.5% of the native chicken, 2.5% of broiler and 6.7% of layer chicken were positive, respectively by PCR for FAdV. Serological test showed that 84.8%, 79.0%, 97.7% and 96.1% of chickens were positive for antibody to FAdV in native chickens, broiler, layer hens and broiler breeder. The prevalence of CAV infection were 20.0%, 7.5%, 16.7% and 10.0%, based on CAV gene detection by PCR. In serological test of CAV, 40.6%, 35.9%, 84.8% and 73.9% of chickens were positive in that groups.

Prevalence of hepatitis E virus antibodies in cattle in Burkina Faso associated with swine mixed farming

  • Tialla, Dieudonne;Cisse, Assana;Ouedraogo, Georges Anicet;Hubschen, Judith M.;Tarnagda, Zekiba;Snoeck, Chantal J.
    • Journal of Veterinary Science
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    • v.23 no.3
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    • pp.33.1-33.10
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    • 2022
  • Background: Endemic circulation of human-specific hepatitis E virus (HEV) genotypes 1 and 2 may occult the importance of sporadic zoonotic HEV transmissions in Africa. Increasing numbers of studies reporting anti-HEV antibodies in cattle and the discovery of infectious HEV in cow milk has raised public health concern, but cattle exposure has seldom been investigated in Africa. Objectives: This study aimed at investigating the role of cows in the epidemiology of HEV in Burkina Faso and farmers habits in terms of dairy product consumption as a prerequisite to estimate the risk of transmission to humans. Methods: Sera from 475 cattle and 192 pigs were screened for the presence of anti-HEV antibodies while HEV RNA in swine stools was detected by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Data on mixed farming, dairy product consumption and selling habits were gathered through questionnaires. Results: The overall seroprevalence in cattle was 5.1% and herd seroprevalence reached 32.4% (11/34). Herd seropositivity was not associated with husbandry practice or presence of rabbits on the farms. However, herd seropositivity was associated with on-site presence of pigs, 80.7% of which had anti-HEV antibodies. The majority of farmers reported to preferentially consume raw milk based dairy products. Conclusions: Concomitant presence of pigs on cattle farms constitutes a risk factor for HEV exposure of cattle. However, the risk of HEV infections associated with raw cow dairy product consumption is currently considered as low.

Antiviral Activity of Fritillaria thunbergii Extract against Human Influenza Virus H1N1 (PR8) In Vitro, In Ovo and In Vivo

  • Kim, Minjee;Nguyen, Dinh-Van;Heo, Yoonki;Park, Ki Hoon;Paik, Hyun-Dong;Kim, Young Bong
    • Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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    • v.30 no.2
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    • pp.172-177
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    • 2020
  • Influenza viruses cause respiratory diseases in humans and animals with high morbidity and mortality rates. Conventional anti-influenza drugs are reported to exert side effects and newly emerging viral strains tend to develop resistance to these commonly used agents. Fritillaria thunbergii (FT) is traditionally used as an expectorant for controlling airway inflammatory disorders. Here, we evaluated the therapeutic effects of FT extracts against influenza virus type A (H1N1) infection in vitro, in ovo, and in vivo. In the post-treatment assay, FT extracts showed high CC50 (7,500 ㎍/ml), indicating low toxicity, and exerted moderate antiviral effects compared to oseltamivir (SI 50.6 vs. 222) in vitro. Antiviral activity tests in ovo revealed strong inhibitory effects of both FT extract and oseltamivir against H1N1 replication in embryonated eggs. Notably, at a treatment concentration of 150 mg/kg, only half the group administered oseltamivir survived whereas the FT group showed 100% survival, clearly demonstrating the low toxicity of FT extracts. Consistent with these findings, FT-administered mice showed a higher survival rate with lower body weight reduction relative to the oseltamivir group upon treatment 24 h after viral infection. Our collective results suggest that FT extracts exert antiviral effects against influenza H1N1 virus without inducing toxicity in vitro, in ovo or in vivo, thereby supporting the potential utility of FT extract as a novel candidate therapeutic drug or supplement against influenza.

Development of the Large-Scale Oligonucleotide Chip for the Diagnosis of Plant Viruses and its Practical Use

  • Nam, Moon;Kim, Jeong-Seon;Lim, Seungmo;Park, Chung Youl;Kim, Jeong-Gyu;Choi, Hong-Soo;Lim, Hyoun-Sub;Moon, Jae Sun;Lee, Su-Heon
    • The Plant Pathology Journal
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    • v.30 no.1
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    • pp.51-57
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    • 2014
  • A large-scale oligonucleotide (LSON) chip was developed for the detection of the plant viruses with known genetic information. The LSON chip contains two sets of 3,978 probes for 538 species of targets including plant viruses, satellite RNAs and viroids. A hundred forty thousand probes, consisting of isolate-, species- and genus-specific probes respectively, are designed from 20,000 of independent nucleotide sequence of plant viruses. Based on the economic importance, the amount of genome information, and the number of strains and/or isolates, one to fifty-one probes for each target virus are selected and spotted on the chip. The standard and field samples for the analysis of the LSON chip have been prepared and tested by RT-PCR. The probe's specific and/or nonspecific reaction patterns by LSON chip allow us to diagnose the unidentified viruses. Thus, the LSON chip in this study could be highly useful for the detection of unexpected plant viruses, the monitoring of emerging viruses and the fluctuation of the population of major viruses in each plant.

Flaviviruses Induce Pro-inflammatory and Anti-inflammatory Cytokines from Murine Dendritic Cells through MyD88-dependent Pathway

  • Aleyas, Abi G.;George, Junu A.;Han, Young-Woo;Kim, Hye-Kyung;Kim, Seon-Ju;Yoon, Hyun-A;Eo, Seong-Kug
    • IMMUNE NETWORK
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    • v.7 no.2
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    • pp.66-74
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    • 2007
  • Background: The genus Flavivirus consists of many emerging arboviruses, including Dengue virus (DV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) and West Nile virus (WNV). Effective preventive vaccines remain elusive for these diseases. Mice are being increasingly used as the animal model for vaccine studies. However, the pathogenic mechanisms of these viruses are not clearly understood. Here, we investigated the interaction of DV and JEV with murine bone marrow-derived dendritic cells (bmDC). Methods: ELISA and FACS analysis were employed to investigate cytokine production and phenotypic changes of DCs obtained from bone marrow following flavivirus infection. Results: We observed that these viruses altered the cytokine profile and phenotypic markers. Although both viruses belong to the same family, JEV-infected bmDC produced anti-inflammatory cytokine (IL-10) along with pro-inflammatory cytokines, whereas DV infection induced production of large amounts of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6 and TNF-${\alpha}$) and no IL-10 from murine bmDCs. Both flaviviruses also up-regulated the expression of co-stimulatory molecules such as CD40, CD80 and CD86. JEV infection led to down-regulation of MHC II expression on infected bmDCs. We also found that cytokine production induced by JEV and DV is MyD88-dependent. This dependence was complete for DV, as cytokine production was completely abolished in the absence of MyD88. With regard to JEV, the absence of MyD88 led to a partial reduction in cytokine levels. Conclusion: Here, we demonstrate that MyD88 plays an important role in the pathogenesis of flaviviruses. Our study provides insight into the pathogenesis of JEV and DV in the murine model.

Immunization schedule Recommended by Korean Pediatric Society, 2008 (2008년 대한소아과학회 예방접종 스케줄)

  • Lee, Hoan Jong
    • Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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    • v.15 no.1
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    • pp.1-4
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    • 2008
  • Immunizations are among the most cost-effective and widely used public health interventions. This is a report a revision of recommendation of immunization for children by Korean Pediatric Society. Immunization. Vaccines were divided into 4 groups. 1) Vaccines that are recommended to all infants and children (BCG, hepatitis B vaccine, DTaP, Td, Polio vaccine, Japanese encephalitis vaccine, MMR, varicella vaccine, influenza vaccine [6-23 months of age], H. influenzae type b vaccine), 2) those that can be administered to all infants and children, but decision of administration is made by parents (pneumococcal conjugate vaccine, hepatitis A vaccine, influenza vaccine [healthy children ${\geq}24$ months of age], rotavirus vaccine, human papilloma virus vaccine), 3) those that should be given to high risk group (pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine [high risk patients ${\geq}24$ months of age], influenza vaccine [high risk patients ${\geq}24$ months of age], typhoid vaccine), and 4) those administered for control of outbreaks or prevention of emerging infectious diseases. Immunization schedule recommended by Korean Pediatric Society in 2008 is presented.

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