• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.43 no.1 s.133
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• pp.1-5
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• 2005

The prevalence of parasitic infections was investigated in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected patients (n = 105) who visited Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul, Korea, during the period from 1995 to 2003. Fecal samples were collected from 67 patients for intestinal parasite examinations, and sputum or bronchoalveolar lavage samples from 60 patients for examination of Pneumocystis carinii. Both samples were obtained from 22 patients. Thirty-three ($31.4\%$) of the 105 were found to have parasitic infections; Cryptosporidium parvum ($10.5\%$; 7/67), Isospora belli ($7.5\%$; 5/67), Clonorchis sinensis ($3.0\%$; 2/67), Giardia lamblia ($1.5\%$; 1/67), Gymnophalloides seoi ($1.5\%$; 1/67), and Pneumocystis carinii ($28.3\%$; 17/60). The hospital records of the 11 intestinal parasite-infected patients showed that all suffered from diarrhea. This study shows that parasitic infections are important clinical complications in HIV-infected patients in the Republic of Korea.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.9 no.2
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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.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.144-150
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• 2017

Background: The presence of gross deletions in the human immunodeficiency virus nef gene ($g{\Delta}nef$) is associated with long-term nonprogression of infected patients. Here, we investigated how quickly genetic defects in the nef gene are associated with Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) intakein 10 long-term slow progressors. Methods: This study was divided into three phases over a 20-yr period; baseline, KRG intake alone, and KRG plus highly active antiretroviral therapy (ART). nef gene amplicons were obtained using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and nested PCR from 10 long-term slow progressors (n = 1,396), and nested PCR from 36 control patients (n = 198), and 28 ART patients (n = 157), and these were then sequenced. The proportion of $g{\Delta}nef$, premature stop codons, and not in-frame insertion or deletion of a nucleotide was compared between three phases, control, and ART patients. Results: The proportion of defective nef genes was significantly higher in on-KRG patients (15.6%) than in baseline (5.7%), control (5.6%), on-KRG plus ART phase (7.8%), and on-ART patients (6.6%; p < 0.01). Small in-frame deletions or insertions were significantly more frequent among patients treated with KRG alone compared with controls (p < 0.01). Significantly fewer instances of genetic defects were detected in samples taken during the KRG plus ART phase (7.8%; p < 0.01). The earliest defects detected were $g{\Delta}nef$ and small in-frame deletions after 7 mo and 67 mo of KRG intake, respectively. Conclusion: KRG treatment might induce genetic defects in the nef gene. This report provides new insight into the importance of genetic defects in the pathogenesis of AIDS.

• BMB Reports
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• v.41 no.7
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• pp.511-515
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• 2008

The nucleocapsid (NC) protein of the Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 plays a key role in viral genomic packaging by specifically recognizing the Psi($\Psi$) RNA sequence within the HIV-1 genome RNA. Recently, a novel cell-based assay was developed to probe the specific interactions in vivo between the NC and $\Psi$-RNA using E.coli cells (J. Virol. 81: 6151-55, 2007). In order to examine the extendibility of this cell-based assay to RNAs other than $\Psi$-RNA, this study tested the RNA aptamers isolated in vitro using the SELEX method, but whose specific binding ability to NC in a living cellular environment has not been established. The results demonstrate for the first time that each of those aptamer RNAs can bind specifically to NC in a NC zinc finger motif dependent manner within the cell. This confirms that the cell-based assay developed for NC-$\Psi$interaction can be further extended and applied to NC-binding RNAs other than $\Psi$-RNA.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.78 no.2
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• pp.78-84
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• 2015

Background: Reports of therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) for second-line medications to treat multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remain limited. Methods: A retrospective cohort from the Virginia state tuberculosis (TB) registry, 2009-2014, was analyzed for TDM usage in MDR-TB. Drug concentrations, measured at time of estimated peak ($C_{max}$), were compared to expected ranges. Results: Of 10 patients with MDR-TB, 8 (80%) had TDM for at least one drug (maximum 6 drugs). Second-line drugs tested were cycloserine in seven patients (mean $C_{2hr}$, $16.6{\pm}10.2{\mu}g/mL$; 4 [57%] below expected range); moxifloxacin in five (mean $C_{2hr}$, $3.2{\pm}1.5{\mu}g/mL$; 1 [20%] below); capreomycin in five (mean $C_{2hr}$, $21.5{\pm}14.0{\mu}g/mL$; 3 [60%] below); para-aminosalicylic acid in five (mean $C_{6hr}$, $65.0{\pm}29.1{\mu}g/mL$; all within or above); linezolid in three (mean $C_{2hr}$, $11.4{\pm}4.1{\mu}g/mL$, 1 [33%] below); amikacin in two (mean $C_{2hr}$, $35.3{\pm}3.7{\mu}g/mL$; 1 [50%] below); ethionamide in one ($C_{2hr}$, $1.49{\mu}g/mL$, within expected). Two patients died: a 38-year-old woman with human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immune deficiency syndrome and TB meningitis without TDM, and a 76-year-old man with fluoroquinolone-resistant (pre-extensively drug-resistant) pulmonary TB and low linezolid and capreomycin concentrations. Conclusion: Individual pharmacokinetic variability was common. A more standardized approach to TDM for MDR-TB may limit over-testing and maximize therapeutic gain.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.149-151
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• 2015

United Nations (UN) adopted 17 global sustainable development agenda to the year 2030 in the 68th general assembly on september, 2015. The global agendas and goals are important for 3 reasons: (1) to adopt the international standard for determining the health status; (2) to identify areas in need of attention; and (3) to advance international cooperation regarding health issues. In the area of infectious diseases, our goals include the eradication of human immunodeficiency virus infection and acquired immune deficiency syndrome, tuberculosis, and malaria as well as a substantial reduction of hepatitis by the year 2030. In the area of non-communicable diseases, our goal is to reduce premature mortality (${\leq}70years$) at least 30% by the year 2030. Preventive activities such as smoking cessation, alcohol abstinence, nutritional measures, and physical activities, should also be promoted intensively nationwide. It is also necessary to establish stringent policies for control hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and hypercholesterolemia. Additionally, environmental health, injury by traffic accident, mental health, and drug and alcohol abuse are important health policies. Furthermore, in the area of international health and cooperation, maternal and child health remain important areas of support for underdeveloped countries. Education and training towards the empowerment of health professionals in underdeveloped countries is also an important issue. The global agenda prioritize resources(manpower and budget) allocation of international organizations such as UN, World Health Organization, United Nations Development Programme, and World Bank. The global agenda also sets the contribution levels of Official Developmental Assistance donor countries. Health professionals such as professors and researchers will have to turn their attention to areas of vital international importance, and play an important role in implementation strategies and futhermore guiding global agenda.

• Journal of Korean Medical Science
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• v.33 no.46
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• pp.304.1-304.7
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• 2018

Background: The Republic of Korea has a very low prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, but the number of new HIV diagnoses has steadily risen, strongly indicating a large number of undetected HIV infections. Thus, it is important for Korean public health authorities to adopt and encourage cost-effective HIV detection tools, such as rapid HIV screening tests. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) and rapid tests in a public health center (PHC) setting. Methods: We developed a decision analytic model to assess the per-examinee cost and the cost-effectiveness of identifying HIV patients in a PHC setting using two HIV testing strategies: conventional HIV screening by ELISA versus rapid HIV testing. Analysis was performed in two scenarios: HIV testing in an average-risk population and in a high-risk population. Results: Compared to the ELISA, the rapid test was cost-saving and cost-effective. The per-examinee cost was USD 1.61 with rapid testing versus USD 3.38 with ELISA in an average-risk population, and USD 4.77 with rapid testing versus USD 7.62 with ELISA in a high-risk population. The cost of identifying a previously undiagnosed HIV case was USD 26,974 with rapid testing versus USD 42,237 with ELISA in an average-risk population, and USD 153 with rapid testing versus USD 183 with ELISA in a high-risk population. Conclusion: Rapid testing would be more cost-effective than using conventional ELISA testing for identifying previously undiagnosed HIV-infected cases in Korea, a country with extremely low HIV prevalence.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.9 no.11
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• pp.28-37
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• 2019

The purpose of this study was to develop an application(app) on smoking cessation for patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection and evaluate its usability. A methodological study design was applied. The program contents were developed by expert panel based on the theory of planned behavior, HIV infection, and smoking cessation and usability evaluation and then the application was developed by IT experts following usability testing composed of heuristic evaluation by 3 mobile experts and users evaluation was conducted using surveys and interviews by 10 individuals with HIV infection. Descriptive statistics and contents analysis were computed to evaluated the collected data. All participants were male and their age were ranged from 40s to 60s. The average of app usability was 4.2. The participants experienced no difficulties and responded somewhat satisfaction. The results showed that the app was feasible and useful on smoking cessation for HIV patients and could be used as an valid approach.

• Journal of the Korean neurological association
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• v.36 no.4
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• pp.337-340
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• 2018

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection can result in ischemic stroke via several mechanisms, including opportunistic infection, vasculopathy, cardioembolism, and coagulopathy. HIV-vasculopathy is related to endothelial dysfunction, stenosis and aneurysm formation, infectious vasculitis, dissection and accelerated atherosclerosis during highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART). We represent a case of HIV infection manifested as an acute ischemic stroke attack. After 4 months during HAART, our patient experienced a recurrent ischemic stroke with progression of middle cerebral artery stenosis.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.55 no.4
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• pp.342-350
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• 2022

Objectives: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention among youth seems under-prioritised compared to other key populations. HIV knowledge and stigma are important parts of HIV prevention. To inform HIV prevention among youths, this study quantitatively analysed the associations between open communication regarding sexuality and sexual health, comprehensive HIV knowledge, and non-stigmatising attitudes in Indonesia. Methods: This study used data from the Indonesian Demographic and Health Survey (IDHS) 2017. The analysis included unmarried men and women aged 15-25 years old. Comprehensive HIV knowledge and a stigmatising attitude were defined according to the IDHS 2017. Open communication about sexuality and sexual health was defined as the number of people with whom participants could openly discuss these topics in their direct network of friends, family, and service providers, with a scale ranging from 0 to a maximum of 7. Primary analysis used binomial logistic regression with weighting adjustments. Results: The final analysis included 22 864 respondents. Twenty-two percent of youth had no one in their direct network with whom to openly discuss sexual matters, only 14.1% had comprehensive HIV knowledge, and 85.9% showed stigmatising attitudes. Youth mostly discussed sex with their friends (55.2%), and were less likely to discuss it with family members, showing a predominant pattern of peer-to-peer communication. Multivariate analysis showed that having a larger network for communication about sexuality and sexual health was associated with more HIV knowledge and less stigmatising attitudes. Conclusions: Having more opportunities for open sex communication in one's direct social network is associated with more HIV knowledge and less stigmatising attitudes.