• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• 제19권1호
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• pp.26-29
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• 2022

Cryptococcus neoformans infection usually occurs in patients with advanced human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or with a CD4 T lymphocyte count of <100 cells/µL. Pulmonary and central nervous system infections are the most frequently encountered forms of cryptococcosis; however, colonic cryptococcosis is uncommon. We describe the case of a 41-year-old antiretroviral-naïve man with HIV infection diagnosed eight years prior and intermittent diarrhea for 4 months who presented to the emergency department with a 1-day history of low-grade fever and confusion. Brain magnetic resonance imaging and cerebrospinal fluid analysis revealed normal results; however, he was diagnosed with Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia based on chest computed tomography and bronchoalveolar lavage analysis. Trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole administration was initiated followed by antiretroviral treatment. Although his condition gradually improved, he developed fever and abdominal discomfort, and the diarrhea worsened. Endoscopy revealed a small ulcer in the distal transverse colon. Histopathological examination of a colon tissue sample revealed cryptococcal infection. He improved substantially during liposomal amphotericin B and fluconazole treatment. We encountered a rare case of colonic cryptococcosis that caused chronic diarrhea in a patient with advanced HIV infection. Colonic cryptococcosis should be considered when patients with acquired immune deficiency syndrome present with gastrointestinal symptoms.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
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• 제43권1호
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• pp.29-36
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• 2017

Objectives: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a disease of the human immune system caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). People with AIDS are much more vulnerable to infections, including opportunistic infections and tumors, than people with a healthy immune system. The objective of this study was to correlate oral lesions associated with HIV/AIDS and immunosuppression levels by measuring clusters of differentiation 4 (CD4) cell counts among patients living in the middle western regions of Ghana. Materials and Methods: A total of 120 patients who visited the HIV clinic at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and the Regional Hospital Sunyani of Ghana were consecutively enrolled in this prospective and cross-sectional study. Referred patients' baseline CD4 counts were obtained from medical records and each patient received an initial physician assessment. Intraoral diagnoses were based on the classification and diagnostic criteria of the EEC Clearinghouse, 1993. After the initial assessment, extra- and intraoral tissues from each enrolled patient were examined. Data analyses were carried out using simple proportions, frequencies and chi-square tests of significance. Results: Our study included 120 patients, and was comprised of 42 (35.0%) males and 78 (65.0%) females, ranging in age from 21 to 67 years with sex-specific mean ages of 39.31 years (males) and 39.28 years (females). Patient CD4 count values ranged from 3 to 985 cells/mL with a mean baseline CD4 count of 291.29 cells/mL for males and 325.92 cells/mL for females. The mean baseline CD4 count for the entire sample was 313.80 cells/mL. Of the 120 patients we examined, 99 (82.5%) were observed to have at least one HIV-associated intraoral lesion while 21 (17.5%) had no intraoral lesions. Oral candidiasis, periodontitis, melanotic hyperpigmentation, gingivitis and xerostomia were the most common oral lesions. Conclusion: From a total of nine oral lesions, six lesions that included oral candidiasis, periodontitis, melanotic hyperpigmentation, gingivitis, xerostomia and oral hairy leukoplakia were significantly correlated with declining CD4 counts.

• 한국학교보건학회지
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• 제9권2호
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• pp.249-266
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• 1996

AIDS and the spectrum of Human Immunodeficiency Virus(HIV) infections present a monumental challenge to the health of the Korean public. In response to this special challenge, I think public education and voluntary behavior changes are the most effective measures to fight the spread of the disease. Adolescents represent a critical risk group for prevention and intervention programming. Research indicates sexually active adolescents, homosexual contact, illicit drug use are an gradually increasing. These characteristically adolescent risk-taking behaviors suggest the need for schools and communities to mobilize intervention strategies. Schools are highly efficient ways to reach a majority of young people in Korea with HIV prevention programs. These programs include substantial attention to sexual and drug use behaviors with the long term objective of a multidimensional school health program. Information resulting from risk behavior surveillance activities and guidance on school health curricula is particularly useful. What is needed for adolescents is a revamping of education to give students the critical thinking and analytic skills that allow them to apply knowledge, make decisions, and think independently. The best HIV preventive education provides young people with opportunities to learn and practice just those skills. In the early stages of HIV education were focused solely on information. Providing information is easy but unfortunately, behavior change is not that simple to activate. Information must be combined with values exploration and skilly building, including responsible decision making, negotiation, refusal, and critical thinking skills. The same knowledge, attitudes and skills needed for effective HIV prevention also prevent or reduce other risks, including other sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies, and alcohol or other drug use. The role of other youth serving organizations in HIV prevention is also important: parental and youth involvement is needed; it's important to presidential and governament leadership is essential to prevention education; promote integrated adolescent programs, to enhance health and education sector collaboration; and of course, we need to expand research on adolescent health and engage the media in health promotion. Among these changes, a school-based systematic health education of AIDS is certainly one of the essentials.

• 한국미생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국미생물학회 2008년도 International Meeting of the Microbiological Society of Korea
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• pp.62-64
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• 2008

A major hurdle to the development of RNA interference as therapy for HIV infection is the delivery of siRNA to T lymphocytes which are difficult cells to transfect even in vitro. We have employed a single chain antibody to the pan T cell surface antigen CD7 was conjugated to an oligo-9-arginine peptide (scFvCD7-9R) for T cell-specific siRNA delivery in NOD/SCIDIL2${\gamma}$-/- mice reconstituted with human peripheral blood lymphocytes (Hu-PBL). Using a novel delivery, we first show that scFvCD7-9R efficiently delivered CD4 siRNA into human T cells in vitro. In vivo administration to Hu-PBL mice resulted in reduced levels of surface CD4 expression on T cells. Mice infected with HIV-1 and treated on a weekly basis with scFvCD7-9R-siRNA complexes targeting a combination of viral genes and the host coreceptor molecule CCR5 successfully maintained CD4/CD3 T cell ratios up to 4 weeks after infection in contrast to control mice that displayed a marked reduction in CD4 T cell numbers. p24 antigen levels were undetectable in 3 of the 4 protected mice. scFvCD7-9R/antiviral siRNA treatment also helped maintain CD4 T cell numbers with reduced plasma viral loads in Hu-PBL mice reconstituted with PBMC from donors seropositive for HIV, indicating that this method can contain viral replication even in established HIV infections. Our results show that scFvCD7-9R could be further developed as a potential therapeutic for HIV-1 infection.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제17권1호
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• pp.154-161
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• 2007

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) infections are responsible for a substantial number of deaths annually and represent a significant threat to public health. According to the latest study, the Tat (Transactivator of transcription) protein is essential in transcription and replication of viral genes, and is among the early expression genes involved in the life cycle of HIV. The virion NC (nucleocapsid) plays an important role in early mRNA expression and contributes to the rapid viral replication that occurs during HIV-1 infection. Therefore, we attempted to elucidate the relationship between the Tat protein and nucleocapsid protein. In a comparison of two independently prepared and hybridized samples, flag NC overexpressed HEK 293T cells and pTat overexpressed HEK 293T cells, and hybridization showed the differences in expression in each case. Among the microarray results confirmed with real-time reverse transcriptase assay, twelve genes were identified to be involved according to their gene expression profiles. Of approximately 8,208 human genes that were analyzed, we monitored candidate genes that might have been related to NC and Tat genes from gene expression profiles. Additionally, the pathways could be viewed and analyzed through the use of Pathway Studio software. The pathways from the gene list were built and paths were found among the molecules/cell objects/processes by the curation method.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• 제32권12호
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• pp.1515-1526
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• 2022

Eukaryotic chromatin is highly organized in the 3D nuclear space and dynamically regulated in response to environmental stimuli. This genomic organization is arranged in a hierarchical fashion to support various cellular functions, including transcriptional regulation of gene expression. Like other host cellular mechanisms, viral pathogens utilize and modulate host chromatin architecture and its regulatory machinery to control features of their life cycle, such as lytic versus latent status. Combined with previous research focusing on individual loci, recent global genomic studies employing conformational assays coupled with high-throughput sequencing technology have informed models for host and, in some cases, viral 3D chromosomal structure re-organization during infection and the contribution of these alterations to virus-mediated diseases. Here, we review recent discoveries and progress in host and viral chromatin structural dynamics during infection, focusing on a subset of DNA (human herpesviruses and HPV) as well as RNA (HIV, influenza virus and SARS-CoV-2) viruses. An understanding of how host and viral genomic structure affect gene expression in both contexts and ultimately viral pathogenesis can facilitate the development of novel therapeutic strategies.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제53권2호
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• pp.173-182
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• 2002

배 경 : 한국은 여전히 HIV 감염률이 낮고, 결핵의 유병률이 높기 때문에 호흡기검체에서 분리되는 NTM는 흔히 오염균이나 군집상태로 간주되어 더 이상의 동정을 하지 않는 경우가 대부분이다. 이로 인해 국내에서 NTM의 임상적 의의에 대한 자료는 매우 부족하다. 이 연구는 NTM에 의한 폐감염율 평가하고, NTM 균종을 동정하여 균종 별 임상적 의의를 조사하였다. 방 법 : 1999년 한해동안 서울아산병원에서 항산균 배양을 의뢰한 호흡기검체로부터 분리된 NTM 균주 중 임상의가 항결핵제 감수성검사를 의뢰한 35명을 대상으로 하였다. 고속액체크로마토그래피로 mycolic acid를 분석하여 균종을 동정하였다. 환자의 의무기록을 검토하여 미국흉부학회의 기준에 따른 NTM 폐감염 여부를 확인하고, 항결핵제 감수성과 임상경과를 비교하였다. 결 과 : 35개의 균주들은 M intracellulare 6예, M. avium 5예, M. abscessus 5예, M. gordonae 5예, M. terrae complex 4예, M. szulgai 2예, M. kansasii 2예, M. fortuitum 2예, M. peregrinum 1예, M. mucogenicum 1예, M. celatum 1예, M. chelonae 1예 등으로 동정되었다. 35명의 환자 모두 폐에 만성적인 기저질환이 있었고, AIDS 환자는 없었다. 이중 16명 (45%)이 미국흉부학회의 NTM 폐절환 기준에 적합하였고, M. intracellulare, M. abscessus가 각기 5예, 4예 등으로 가장 중요한 원인균이었다. 8명은 폐결핵의 기왕력이 있었다. 13명의 환자가 평균 21개월 동안 항균제 치료를 받았고, 9명의 환자들은 2차 항결핵제를 사용하였다. 이중 4명만이 방사선학적으로 호전되었다. 결 론 : NTM 은 만성폐질환을 가진 면역적격자에게 폐감염을 일으켰고, 오랜 기간의 치료에도 호전되는 경우가 드물었다. M. intracellulare와 M. abscessus가 가장 흔한 원인균이었다. NTM 폐감염의 적적한 치료를 위해서는 정확한 균종 동정과 균종에 효과적인 항마이코박테리아제에 대한 감수성검사가 필요하다고 사료된다.

• 미생물학회지
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• 제49권3호
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• pp.221-227
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• 2013

인간면역결핍바이러스(Human immunodeficiency virus; HIV), B형 간염 바이러스(Hepatitis B virus; HBV), 그리고 C형 간염 바이러스(Hepatitis C virus; HCV)는 만성 감염질환을 일으키는 대표적인 바이러스들이다. 인체내 감염시 임상적 진행경과에 따른 바이러스 특이 T림프구의 항바이러스 기능변화 및 바이러스의 체내 지속성과 T림프구에 발현되는 다양한 면역인자(e.g., CD28, CD25, FoxP3, PD-1, CTLA-4)들과의 구체적인 상관관계는 최근 많은 국내외 연구진들을 통해 연구되고 있다. 그 중 FoxP3 (forkhead box P3), PD-1 (programmed death-1) 그리고 CTLA-4 (cytotoxic T lymphocyte-associated antigen 4)는 T림프구에서 발현되는 면역조절인자로 만성 바이러스성 감염시 그 발현이 증가되는 것으로 관찰되었으며, 항바이러스 작용을 가지는 T림프구의 기능결핍과 밀접한 상관관계가 있는 것으로 알려져 있다. 본 총설에서는 만성적인 HIV, HBV, 그리고 HCV 감염에서 바이러스 특이 T림프구에서 발현되는 FoxP3, PD1, 그리고 CTLA-4의 발현변화와 각 질환의 임상적 진행경과와의 상관성, 그리고 이들 발현이 T림프구의 항바이러스 기능에 미치는 영향 등을 중심으로 기술하였다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제54권1호
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• pp.28-37
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• 2022

임신은 갑상선 기능 검사의 중요한 해석을 필요로 하며 임신 중 갑상선 기능 이상과 외부 바이러스성 감염 인자들의 항체의 존재는 태아 및 산모의 건강에 영향을 미치기에 임신에서 갑상선 기능의 선별적 평가가 요구된다. 본 연구에서는 임신기간 동안 정상 산모들의 선택적 산전 감염인자 검사 항목 중에서 갑상선 관련 인자와 바이러스성 감염 인자의 임신시기별 상호 연관성을 알아보고자 하는 후향적 단편 실태조사이다. 분석한 결과를 살펴보면, T3는 나이가 증가함에 따라 감소하고, 특히 HCV가 양성인 그룹에서 양의 유의성을 보였다(P<0.01). 또한 HIV가 음성이지만 임계치에 근접하거나 쌍둥이 임산부에서는 FT4가 유의한 증가를 나타냈다(P<0.05). TSH는 30대 연령에서 높게 분포하였으며, 다른 바이러스성 감염인자와는 통계적 유의성이 나타나지 않았다. 또한, TSH의 결과 값을 삼분위로 나누어 분석한 결과, FT4와 T3은 양의 상관성을 보였으나 TSH와는 음의 상관성을 보였다(P<0.05). 따라서 본 연구를 통해서 임신 중 산전검사인 갑상선 검사와 바이러스성 감염인자의 검사를 통한 임신 중 평가는 임신 경과시간, 감염인자의 노출상태 및 정량적 수치의 상태를 반영하여 이루어져야 할 것이며, 갑상선 관련 내분비 인자에 대한 산전검사의 유용성에 대한 평가의 보완이 이루어져야 할 것으로 사료된다.

• 대한임상검사과학회지
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• 제38권3호
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• pp.158-165
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• 2006

Although Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex strains remain responsible for the majority of diseases caused by mycobacterial infections worldwide, the increase in HIV infections has allowed for the emergence of other non-tuberculous mycobacteria as clinically significant pathogens. However, Mycobacterium species has a long period of incubation, and requires serious biochemical tests such as niacin, catalase, and nitrate test that are often tedious. The development of rapid and accurate diagnostics can aid in the early diagnosis of disease caused by Mycobacterium. The current DNA amplification and hybridization methods that have been developed target several genes for the detection of mycobacterial species such as hps65, 16S rDNA, rpoB, and dnaj. These methods produce rapid and accurate results. In this study, PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis(PCR-RFLP) based on the region of the rpoB gene was used to verify the identification of non-tuburculosis Mycobacterium species. A total of 8 mycobacterial reference strains and 13 clinical isolates were digested with restriction enzymes such as Msp I in this study. The results of using this process clearly demonstrated that all 13 specimens were identified by rpoB gene PRA method. The PCR-RFLP method based on the rpoB gene is a simple, rapid, and accurate test for the identification of Mycobacterium.