• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.64 no.4
• /
• pp.309-313
• /
• 2008

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) pneumonia is a serious opportunistic infection in an immunocompromised host such as an AIDS patient or transplant recipient undergoing immunosuppressive therapy. Diffuse alveolar hemorrhage (DAH) is a relatively uncommon condition and it occurs most often in patients with systemic autoimmune disease. However, various types of infectious pneumonia with Mycoplsma hominis, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Pneumocystis jirovecii have been reported to be associated with the development of DAH. The association of CMV infection with the development of DAH has rarely been reported. We experienced a case of DAH associated CMV pneumonia and the patient was successfully treated with the use of antiviral agents and steroids.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.47 no.3
• /
• pp.228-234
• /
• 2020

Background A patient's overall condition sometimes does not allow for the complete removal of a dead eschar or injured slough in cases involving a pressure-injury skin lesion. This frequently occurs in clinical practice, particularly in bedridden and older patients receiving home care or intensive care. Even after debridement, it is also difficult to manage open exudative wounds in these patients. Nevertheless, when a mature or immature eschar is treated without proper debridement, liquefaction necrosis underneath the eschar or slough tends to reveal a large, open wound with infectious exudates. We hypothesized that if the presence of any bacteria under the eschar can be evaluated and the progression of the presumed infection of the subeschar can be halted or delayed without creating an open wound, the final wound can be small, shallow, and uninfected. Methods Using a punch instrument, we performed 34 viable subeschar tissue cultures with a secure junction between the eschar and the normal skin. Results The bacterial study had 29 positive results. Based on these results and the patient's status, appropriate antibiotics could be selected and administered. The use of suitable antibiotics led to relatively shallow and small exposed wounds. Conclusions This procedure could be used to detect potentially pathogenic bacteria hidden under black or yellow eschars. Since subeschar infections are often accompanied by multidrug-resistant bacteria, the early detection of hidden infections and the use of appropriate antibiotics are expected to be helpful to patients.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.136-139
• /
• 2014

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is one of the severe nosocomial infectious agents. The traditional diagnostic methods including biochemical test, antibiotic susceptibility test and PCR amplification are time consuming and require much work. The Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) biosensor is a rapid and powerful tool for analyzing the chemical composition within a single living cell. To identify the biochemical and genetic characterization of clinical MRSA, all isolates from patients were performed with VITEK2 gram positive (GP) bacterial identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing (AST). Virulence genes of MRSA also were identified by DNA based PCR using specific primers. All isolates, which were placed on a gold coated nanochip, were analyzed by a confocal Raman microscopy system. All isolates were identified as S. aureus by biochemical tests. MRSA, which exhibited antibiotic resistance, demonstrated to be positive gene expression of both femA and mecA. Furthermore, Raman shift of S. aureus and MRSA (n=20) was perfectly distinguished by a confocal Raman microscopy system. This novel technique explained that a SERS based confocal Raman microscopy system can selectively isolate MRSA from non-MRSA. The study recommends the SERS technique as a rapid and sensitive method to detect antibiotic resistant S. aureus in a single cell level.

• ETRI Journal
• /
• v.32 no.3
• /
• pp.440-446
• /
• 2010

Array-based gas sensors now offer the potential of a robust analytical approach to odor measurement for medical use. We are developing a fast reliable method for detection of microbial infection by monitoring the headspace from the infected wound. In this paper, we present initial results obtained from wound-state monitoring for burn patients using an electronic nose incorporating an automated solid-phase microextraction (SPME) desorption system to enable the system to be used for clinical validation. SPME preconcentration is used for sampling of the headspace air and the response of the sensor module to variable concentrations of volatiles emitted from SPME fiber is evaluated. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry studies prove that living bacteria, the typical infectious agents in clinical practice, can be distinguished from each other by means of a limited set of key volatile products. Principal component analysis results give the first indication that infected patients may be distinguished from uninfected patients. Microbial laboratory analysis using clinical samples verifies the performance of the system.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.71-76
• /
• 1993

Nasal carrige of Staphylococcus was studied in relation to its significance as a source of the Staphylococci that caused hospital-acquired infection. Due to the trend of the increasing r esistance of S. aureus to many antimicrobial agents, it is necessary to study the sensitivity to antibiotics of this infectious microorganisms. 50 persons from general hospital and 50 college students were the object of this study. The following results were obtained 3 0 Strains of S. aureus were isolated. The rate of S. aureus nasal carrying were 26% in college students and 34% in hospital personnel. S. aureus which showed resistance to penicillin were 90%, tetracyclin 43%, erythromycin 37% and oxacillin 17%. The number of penicillin resistance of S. aureus were 11 (84%) in college students and 16 (94%) in hospital personnel. The number of strains of penicillin resistant S. aureus which produced 13-1actamase were 9 (82%) in college student and 14 (88%) in hospital personnel. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) which showed resistance to erythromycin and penicillin G were 100%, tetracyline, cephalothin and clindamycin were over 40% respectively, gentamicin 20%, SAM 20% and chloramphenicol 0%.

• KSBB Journal
• /
• v.25 no.6
• /
• pp.497-506
• /
• 2010

Vaccine is a protective clinical measure capable of persuading immune system against infectious agents. Vaccine can be categorized as live attenuated and inactivated. Live attenuated vaccines activate immunity similar to natural infection by replicating living organisms whereas inactivated vaccines are either whole cell vaccines, eliciting immune response by killed organisms,or subunit vaccines, stimulating immunity by non-replicating sub cellular parts. The components of vaccine play a critical role in deciding the immune response mediated by the vaccine. The innate immune responds against the antigen component. Adjuvants represent an importantcomponent of vaccine for enhancing the immunogenicity of the antigens. Subunit vaccines with isolated fractions of killed and recombinant antigens are mostly co-administered with adjuvants. The delivery system of the vaccine is another essential component to ensurethat vaccine is delivered to the right target with right dosage form. Furthermore, vaccine delivery system ensures that the desired immune response is achieved by manipulating the optimal interaction of vaccine and adjuvantwith the immune cell. The aforementioned components along with routes of administration of vaccine are the key elements of a successful vaccination procedure. Vaccines can be administered either orally or by parenteral routes. Many groups had made remarkable efforts for the development of new vaccine and delivery system. The emergence of new vaccine delivery system may lead to pursue the immunization goals with better clinical practices.

• Journal of Life Science
• /
• v.13 no.2
• /
• pp.236-240
• /
• 2003

Human immune system acts to protect the host from infectious agents (bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites) and from other noxious insults. However, immune diseases are sometimes caused by the impairment of immune system leading to abnormal immune response. Especially, autoimmune diseases are very diverse and often bring serious damage Although many active investigations to reveal the etiological mechanisms concerning the autoimmune diseases, it still remains unclear. After proposing a HERV (human endogenous retrovirus) as a candidate autoimmune gene in type I diabetes, it is newly attracting our attention for demonstrating that an endogenous human retroviral superantigen can be transactivated by interferon-$\alpha$ (IFN- $\alpha$) or Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. These might provide us with powerful clues to carry out further studies to overcome autoimmune diseases as the presentation of a relatively clear connection between endogenous superantigens and human diseases.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.29 no.6
• /
• pp.999-1007
• /
• 2019

Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) was first identified in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and related infection cases have been reported in over 20 countries. Roughly 10,000 human cases have so far been reported in total with fatality rates at up to 40%. The majority of cases have occurred in Saudi Arabia with mostly sporadic outbreaks outside the country except for the one in South Korea in 2015. The Korean MERS-CoV strain was isolated from the second Korean patient and its genome was fully sequenced and deposited. To develop virus-specific protective and therapeutic agents against the Korean isolate and to investigate molecular determinants of virus-host interactions, it is of paramount importance to generate its full-length cDNA. Here we report that two full-length cDNAs from a Korean patient-isolated MERS-CoV strain were generated by a combination of conventional cloning techniques and efficient Gibson assembly reactions. The full-length cDNAs were validated by restriction analysis and their sequence was verified by Sanger method. The resulting cDNA was efficiently transcribed in vitro and the T7 promoter-driven expression was robust. The resulting reverse genetic system will add to the published list of MERS-CoV cDNAs and facilitate the development of Korean isolate-specific antiviral measures.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.66-70
• /
• 2019

Objectives: In the Republic of Korea (ROK), the notified incidence of tuberculosis in foreign-born individuals (NITFBI) has increased recently, as has the rate of multidrug-resistant (MDR) and rifampicin-resistant (RR) tuberculosis in foreigners staying in the ROK. As Jeju Province in ROK has a no-visa entry policy, control programs for NITFBI should be consolidated. The aim was to evaluate the status of NITFBI, with a focus on the distribution of MDR/RR tuberculosis by nationality. Methods: Data on tuberculosis incidence in individuals born in Jeju Province and in foreign-born individuals were extracted from the Korean Statistical Information Service of Statistics Korea, and the Infectious Disease Surveillance Web Statistics of the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, respectively. Results: Among all notified incident cases of tuberculosis, the proportion of NITFBI increased from 1.46% in 2011 to 6.84% in 2017. China- and Vietnam-born individuals accounted for the greatest proportion of the 95 cases of NITFBI. Seven cases of MDR/RR tuberculosis were found, all involving patients born in China. Conclusions: In Jeju Province, ROK, NITFBI might become more common in the near future. Countermeasures for controlling active tuberculosis in immigrants born in high-risk nations for tuberculosis should be prepared in Jeju Province, since it is a popular tourist destination.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
• /
• v.24 no.1
• /
• pp.32-40
• /
• 2021

Objectives: Pathogenic microbes are causal agents for various types of severe and even lethal infectious diseases. Despite of development in medication, bacterial and fungal infections still persist to be a vital problem in health care. Bacteria and several fungal species have shown resistance to antibiotics used in treatment to current medications. Therefore, it is a considerable field of interest in the design and development of novel compounds with antimicrobial activity. Methods: The compounds bearing a heterocyclic ring play an imperative role among other organic compounds with pharmacological activity used as drugs in human for control and cure of various infections. Thiadiazoles containing nitrogen-sulfur atom as part of their cyclic structure which shown wide-ranging application as structural units of biologically active molecules and are very useful intermediates in Medicinal Chemistry. Results: The effectiveness of the thiadiazole nucleus was established by the drugs currently used for the treatment of various infections. 1,3,4-Thiadiazoles and some of their derivatives are widely studied because of their broad spectrum of pharmacological activities. Conclusion: In the present work, a series of 1,3,4-Thiadiazole derivatives were synthesized by cyclization of a group of various benzaldehyde with thiosemicarbazide in the presence of various reagent like FeCl3, HCHO by losing a molecule of water. These derivatives were found to possess prominent antimicrobial activity.