• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제47권3호
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• pp.227-233
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• 2009

Local malaria transmission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to an end in 1997. Nevertheless, UAE has been subjected to substantial importation of malaria cases from abroad, concerning both UAE nationals and immigrants from malarious countries with a total number of 2,119 cases in 2007. To evaluate a new DNA extraction technique using nested PCR, blood samples were collected from 132 individuals who presented to Infectious Diseases Department in Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and Central Department of Malaria Control with fever and persistent headache. Giemsa-stained blood films and ELISA test for malaria antibodies were carried out for detection of Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium infections were identified with the genus-specific primer set and species differentiation using nested PCR. A rapid procedure for diagnosis of malaria infections directly from dried blood spots using for the first time DNA extract from FTA Elute cards was evaluated in contrast to extraction techniques using FTA classic cards and rapid boiling technique. Our new simple technique for DNA extraction using FTA Elute cards was very sensitive giving a sensitivity of 100% compared to 94% using FTA classic cards and 62% in the rapid boiling technique. No complex preparation of blood samples was required prior to the amplification. The production cost of DNA isolation in our PCR assay was much less incomparable to that of other DNA extraction protocols. The nested PCR detected plasmodial infection and could differentiate P. falciparum from P. vivax, and also detected the mixed infection.

• 생약학회지
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• 제42권4호
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• pp.348-353
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• 2011

The aim of the present study is to investigate the cytokine production inhibitory effect of a Dictamni Radicis Cortex (DRC). DRC has been commonly used as important medicinal herb in China and it used to control eczema, atopic dermatitis, fever and inflammatory diseases. Inflammation, such as a bacterial infection in vivo metabolites, such as external stimuli or internal stimuli to the defense mechanisms of the biological tissue a variety of intracellular regulatory factors deulin inflammatory TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6, IL-8, such as proinflammatory cytokines, prostagrandin, lysosomal enzyme, free radicals are involved in a variety of mediators. The present study was designed to determine the effect of the DRC on proinflammatory factors such as NO, iNOS expression and TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) - stimulated RAW264.7 cells. The cell toxicity was determined by MTS assay. To evaluate of anti-inflammatory effect of DRC, amount of NO was measured using the NO detection kit and the iNOS expression was measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). And proinflammatory cytokines were measured by ELISA kit. As a result, the DRC reduced NO, iNOS expression and TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-$1{\beta}$, IL-6 production without cytotoxicity. Our results suggest that the DRC may have an anti-inflammatory property through suppressing inflammatory mediator productions.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제55권1호
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• pp.55-60
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• 2017

Fascioliasis is a foodborne zoonotic parasitic disease. We report 4 cases occurring in the same family, in whom diagnosis of acute fascioliasis was established after series of tests. One case was hospitalized with fever, eosinophilia, and hepatic lesions. MRI showed hypodense changes in both liver lobes. The remaining 3 cases presented with the symptom of stomachache only. Stool analysis was positive for Fasciola eggs in 2 adult patients. The immunological test and molecular identification of eggs were confirmed at the National Institute of Parasitic Diseases, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Shanghai, China. The results of serological detection were positive in all the 4 patients. DNA sequencing of PCR products of the eggs demonstrated 100% homology with ITS and cox1 of Fasciola hepatica. The conditions of the patients were not improved by broad-spectrum anti-parasitic drugs until administration of triclabendazole.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권5호
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• pp.477-485
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• 2018

Arthropod-borne viruses (Arboviruses) are transmitted by arthropods such as Culicoides biting midges and cause abortion, stillbirth, and congenital malformation in ruminants, apparently leading to economic losses to farmers. To monitor the distribution of Culicoides and to determine their relationship with different environmental conditions (temperature, humidity, wind speed, and altitude of the farms) on 5 cattle farms, Culicoides were collected during summer season (May-September) in 2016 and 2017, and analyzed for identification of species and detection of arboviruses. About 35% of the Culicoides were collected in July and the collection rate increased with increase in temperature and humidity. The higher altitude where the farms were located, the more Culicoides were collected on inside than outside. In antigen test of Culicoides against 5 arboviruses, only Chuzan virus (CHUV) (2.63%) was detected in 2016. The Akabane virus (AKAV), CHUV, Ibaraki virus and Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) had a positive rate of less than 1.8% in 2017. In antigen test of bovine whole blood, AKAV (12.96%) and BEFV (0.96%) were positive in only one of the farms. As a result of serum neutralization test, antibodies against AKAV were generally measured in all the farms. These results suggest that vaccination before the season in which the Culicoides are active is probably best to prevent arbovirus infections.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• 제21권2호
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• pp.75-80
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• 2017

Purpose: To investigate the frequency, presentation, management, and outcome of cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in pediatric patients who underwent renal transplantation. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of 70 patients under the age of 18, who underwent renal transplantation between January 1990 and November 2014. A diagnosis of CMV infection was based on serology, molecular assays, antigenemia assays, and culture. CMV infection was defined as detection of virus and CMV disease was diagnosed when clinical signs and symptoms were present. Results: The number of patients with CMV infection was 18 (25.7% of renal transplant recipients). Twelve were male (66.7%), and the $mean{\pm}standard$ deviation (SD) age at infection was $13.3{\pm}3.9$ years. Median time of infection after renal transplantation was 4 months (range 1.0-31.0 months). Pretransplantation CMV status in the infected group was as follows: donor (D)+/recipient (R)+, 11 (61.1%); D+/R-, 7 (38.9%); D-/R+, 0; and D-/R- 0. Nine patients had CMV disease with fever, leukopenia, thrombocytopenia, or organ involvement such as enteritis, hepatitis, and pneumonitis. The age of disease occurrence was $13.1{\pm}3.9$ years and the median time to disease onset after renal transplantation was 8 months (range 1.0-31.0). Immunosuppressive agents were reduced or discontinued in 14 patients (77.8%), antiviral agents were used in 11 patients (61.1%), and all patients with CMV infection were controlled. Conclusions: A quarter of the patients had CMV infection about 4 months after renal transplantation. CMV infection was successfully treated with reduction of immunosuppressants or with antiviral agents.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제13권12호
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• pp.1775-1778
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• 2000

Oxytetracycline has been widely used in the cattle industry to control pneumonia, shipping fever, foot rot, bacterial enteritis, and uterine infections. Extensive use of antibiotics in veterinary clinics has resulted in residues in tissue and bacterial resistance to antibiotics. To prevent unwanted drug residues from entering the human food chain, extensive control measures have been established by both government authorities and industries. The demands for reliable, simple, sensitive, rapid and low-cost methods for residue analysis of foods are increasing. In this study, we established a rapid test for tissue residues of oxytetracycline in cattle. The recommended therapeutic dose of oxytetracycline (withdrawal time, 14 days) was administered to 10 cattle. Blood samples were collected from each cow before drug administration and during the withdrawal period. The concentration of oxytetracycline in plasma, determined by a semi-quantitative ELISA, was compared to that of the internal standard, 10 ppb. The absorbance ratio of internal standard to sample (B/Bs) was employed as an index to determine whether the residues in cattle tissues were negative or positive. That is, a B/Bs ratio less than 1 was considered as residue positive and that greater than 1 as negative. Based on this criterion, all plasma samples from cattle were negative to oxytetracycline at pre-treatment. Oxytetracycline could be detected in the plasma treated cattle until day 14 post-treatment. The present study showed that the semi-quantitative ELISA could be easily adapted in predicting tissue residues for oxytetracycline in live cattle.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• 제59권sup1호
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• pp.133-138
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• 2016

Anti-N-methyl D-aspartate receptor (anti-NMDAR) encephalitis, recently recognized as a form of paraneoplastic encephalitis, is characterized by a prodromal phase of unspecific illness with fever that resembles a viral disease. The prodromal phase is followed by seizures, disturbed consciousness, psychiatric features, prominent abnormal movements, and autonomic imbalance. Here, we report a case of anti-NMDAR encephalitis with initial symptoms of epilepsia partialis continua in the absence of tumor. Briefly, a 3-year-old girl was admitted to the hospital due to right-sided, complex partial seizures without preceding febrile illness. The seizures evolved into epilepsia partialis continua and were accompanied by epileptiform discharges from the left frontal area. Three weeks after admission, the patient's seizures were reduced with antiepileptic drugs; however, she developed sleep disturbances, cognitive decline, noticeable oro-lingual-facial dyskinesia, and choreoathetoid movements. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis was confirmed by positive detection of NMDAR antibodies in the patient's serum and cerebrospinal fluid, and her condition slowly improved with immunoglobulin, methylprednisolone, and rituximab. At present, the patient is no longer taking multiple antiepileptic or antihypertensive drugs. Moreover, the patient showed gradual improvement of motor and cognitive function. This case serves as an example that a diagnosis of anti-NMDAR encephalitis should be considered when children with uncontrolled seizures develop dyskinesias without evidence of malignant tumor. In these cases, aggressive immunotherapies are needed to improve the outcome of anti-NMDAR encephalitis.

• 생약학회지
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• 제49권1호
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• pp.76-83
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• 2018

A traditional herbal formula, Gyeji-tang has been used to treat the early colds, headache, chills, and fever in Asian countries. In this study, we were performed simultaneous determination of the 14 bioactive marker compounds, gallic acid, spinosin, paeoniflorin, albiflorin, liquiritin apioside, liquiritin, 6'''-feruloylspinosin, liquilitigenin, coumarin, cinnmamic acid, benzoylpaeoniflorin, cinnamaldehyde, glycyrrhizin, and 6-gingerol in Gyeji-tang using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization-mass spectrometry (UPLC-ESI-MS/MS). Analytical column was used a Waters Acquity UPLC BEH $C_{18}$ analytical column ($2.1{\times}100mm$, $1.7{\mu}m$) and maintained at $45^{\circ}C$ with a flow rate of 0.3 mL/min. The mobile phase consists of 0.1% (v/v) formic acid in water and acetonitrile with gradient elution. The MS analysis was conducted using multiple reaction monitoring in the positive and negative modes by a Waters ACQUITY TQD LC-MS/MS system. The calibration curves of 14 bioactive marker compounds showed linearity with correlation coefficients ${\geq}0.9798$. The limits of detection and quantification values were in the range of 0.11-6.66 ng/mL and 0.34-19.99 ng/mL, respectively. As a result of the analysis using the established LC-MS/MS method, the amounts of tested 14 compounds in the lyophilized Gyeji-tang sample were detected up to $85.7{\mu}g/g$. These results may be useful for quality assessment of a traditional herbal formulas.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제57권3호
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• pp.233-242
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• 2019

Detailed description of malaria in low transmission areas is crucial for elimination. The current study aimed to provide a comprehensive description for malaria transmission in Jazan, a low transmission district, southwestern Saudi Arabia. Patients at a tertiary care hospital were recruited in our study between August 2016 and September 2018. Malaria diagnosis was performed through a species-specific nested polymerase chain reaction (nested PCR), microscopy and Paramax-$3^{TM}$ rapid detection test (RDT). Malaria was detected in 30 patients by the PCR, with point prevalence of 10.9%. Of these malaria infections, 80% was imported, 26.6% was asymptomatic and 23.3% was sub-microscopic. Malaria was reported throughout the year, with February/March and September/October peaks. Infection was significantly more in males than in females (P=0.01). Likewise, infections were detected more in febrile than in non-febrile patients (P=0.01). Adult aged 15-24 years, fever and travel were identified as high-risk factors. Malaria was primarily attributed to Plasmodium falciparum mono-infections, followed by P. vivax mono-infections and lastly to falciparum/vivax mixed infections accounting 76.6%, 16.6%, and 6.6% of PCR-confirmed malaria cases, respectively. The nested PCR was superior to the smear microscopy (sensitivity 76.6%; specificity 100%) and the RDT (sensitivity 83.3%, specificity 94.2%). The overall percent agreement between microscopy and the RDT was 92.7% (kappa=0.63). High proportion of imported malaria including sub-microscopic and sub-patent cases were described. We suggest that incorporation of molecular tool into the conventional malaria diagnosis is beneficial in Jazan district.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• 제26권2호
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• pp.118-123
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• 2019

감염 후 사구체신염(postinfectious glomerulonephritis, PIGN)은 주로 Streptococcus pyogenes에 의해 발생하지만, 다른 병원체와 관련된 PIGN도 문헌에서 확인된다. 기침, 발열, 우측 흉통을 주소로 내원한 6세 남아에서 폐구균 및 인플루엔자 A 바이러스의 감염이 확인되었고 항생제와 항바이러스제가 투약되었다. 입원 중 전신 부종, 혈뇨, 단백뇨, 혈압의 상승이 관찰되었고, 따라서 이뇨제가 투약되었다. 환자는 육안적 혈뇨가 관찰되는 상태로 퇴원하였고, 퇴원 후 14주에 현미경적 혈뇨까지 사라졌다. 폐구균 또는 인플루엔자 A 바이러스 감염이 확인된 환아에서 신염의 증상이 보이는 경우 감염 후 사구체신염의 조기발견을 위해 소변검사 및 혈압의 측정이 이루어져야 한다. 본 저자들은 폐구균 및 인플루엔자 A 바이러스에 의한 감염 후 사구체신염 사례를 경험하였기에 이를 보고하는 바이다.