• 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.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.149-156
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• 2012

Purpose : We conducted a prospective comparative clinical study to determine the field efficacy of the 2010-2011 influenza vaccines [Influenza virus strains; A/California/7/2009 (H1N1), A/Perth/16/2009 (H3N2), B/Brisbane/60/2008] in healthy Korean children under 18 years of age. Methods : In this study, we enrolled subjects aged between 6 months and 18 years and divided them into 2 study groups: a group who received the influenza vaccines (407 subjects), and a control group who did not receive the influenza vaccines (230 subjects). Ours was a multicenter study that involved 7 hospitals, including the Korea Cancer Center Hospital. The study was conducted between September 2010 and February 2011. We collected nasal wash or throat swab samples from subjects who presented with acute febrile respiratory or influenza-like illnesses at the hospital. We used PCR to confirm the presence of the influenza virus in the respiratory samples and characterize the virus type. Results : In this study, we collected 22 respiratory samples from the influenza-vaccinated group and found 3 cases of influenza virus infection. Similarly, we collected 21 samples from the control group and found 12 cases of influenza virus infection among 10 subjects during the study period. We determined the field efficacy of the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccines to be 83.2% in healthy Korean children and adolescents. Conclusion : In this study, we determined the field efficacy of the 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccines in healthy Korean children and adolescents. We found that the field efficacy of 2010-2011 seasonal influenza vaccines was adequate.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.20 no.10
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• pp.1450-1456
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• 2010

Accurate and rapid diagnosis of Pandemic Influenza A/H1N1 2009 virus (H1N1 2009) infection is important for the prevention and control of influenza epidemics and the timely initiation of antiviral treatment. This study was conducted to evaluate the performance of several diagnostic tools for the detection of H1N1 2009. Flocked nasopharyngeal swabs were collected from 254 outpatients of suspected H1N1 2009 during October 2009. This study analyzed the performances of the RealTime Ready Inf A/H1N1 Detection Set (Roche), Influenza A (H1N1) Real-Time Detection Kit (Bionote), Seeplex Influenza A/B OneStep Typing Set [Seeplex Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR)], BinaxNow Influenza A & B Test Kit [Binax Rapid Antigen Test (RAT)], and SD BIOLINE Influenza Ag kit (SD RAT). Roche and Bionote real-time RT-PCR showed identical results for the H1N1 2009 hemagglutinin gene. Compared with real-time RT-PCR, the sensitivities and specificities were 83.7% and 100% for Seeplex RT-PCR, 64.5% and 94.7% for Binax RAT, and 69.5% and 100% for SD RAT. The sensitivities of Seeplex RT-PCR, Binax RAT, and SD RAT in patients aged over 21 years were 73.7%, 47.4%, and 57.9%, respectively. The sensitivities of Seeplex RT-PCR, Binax RAT, and SD RAT on the day of initial symptoms were mostly lower (68.8%, 56.3%, and 31.3%, respectively). In conclusion, multiplex RT-PCR and RAT for the detection of H1N1 2009 were significantly less sensitive than real-time RT-PCR. Moreover, a negative RAT may require more sensitive confirmatory assays, because it cannot be ruled out from influenza infection.

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.32 no.4
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• pp.1293-1297
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• 2011

To improve the biological activities of rupestonic acid, 21 new rupestonic acid fatty ester derivatives (2a-2h) and aromatic ester derivatives (2i-2u) were synthesized and preliminarily evaluated for their anti-influenza activity in vitro by the national center for drug screening of China, using the Oseltamivir and Ribavirin as reference drugs. The results showed that 2l ($IC_{50}=0.5{\mu}mol/L$) exhibited potent anti-influenza $A_3$ viral activity among the synthesized compounds and was 10-fold more potent than that of the reference drug Oseltamivir ($IC_{50}=5.1{\mu}mol/L$).

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.435-440
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• 2009

19 Aromatic ring and L-amino acid ester contained rupestonic acid amide derivatives 2a~2l, 3a~3g were synthesized and preliminarily evaluated in vitro against influenza virus $A_3$,B and herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1), 2(HSV-2) by the national center for drug screening of China. The rusults showed that 2i possessed the highest inhibition against both influenza virus $A_3\;(TC_{50}\;=\;120.6\;{\mu}mol/L,\;IC_{50}=\;19.2\;{\mu}$mol/L, SI = 6.3) and B (T$C_{50}\;=\;120.6\;{\mu}mol/L,\;IC_{50}=\;29.9\;{\mu}$mol/L, SI = 4.0); 2g was more active against influenza $A_3$ virus at very low cytotoxicity ($TC_{50}\;>\;2092.1\;{\mu}mol/L,\;IC_{50}=\;143.7\;{\mu}mol/L,$ SI > 14.6) than the parent compound; Compounds 2b, 2c, 2f showed higher activities both against HSV-1 and HSV-2 than that of the parent compound, and 2f was the most potent inhibitor of HSV-1 ($TC_{50}\;=\;200.0\;{\mu}mol/L,\;IC_{50}\;=\;11.3\;{\mu}mol$/L, SI = 17.7 ) and HSV-2 ($TC_{50}\;=\;200.0\;{\mu}mol/L,\;IC_{50}\;=\;20.7\;{\mu}mol$/L , SI = 9.7).

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.39 no.2
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• pp.89-94
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• 2003

Respiratory viruses were isolated from patients with acute respiratory infections in Busan during 2000-2001 and characterized for their antigenic properties. In 2000, 39 out of 43 isolated viruses were identified as influenza viruses and the others were adenoviruses. Among the isolated influenza viruses,23 were type A influenza viruses and 16 were type B influenza viruses. As a result of antigenic characterization, the influenza viruses were determined to A/Sydney/05/97(H3N2)-like, A/Beijing/262/95(H1N1)-like, and B/Harbin07/94-like viruses and serotypes of the isolated adenoviruses were type 1, 2, and 5. In 2001, 56 viruses were isolated and all of the viruses were identified as influenza viruses. They were A/panama/253/99(H3N2)-like and A/Newcaledonia/2007/99(H1Nl)-like viruses when determined by their antigenic properties. The sex distribution of the patients is as follows, 14 males (32.56%),23 females (67.44％) in 2000, and 23 males (41.07%), 33 females (58.93%) in 2001. Occurrence rate was found to be higher in female patients in both years. Age distribution of patients, in 2000, 48.84％ of infection occurred in 0 to 1 year old while in 2002, 33.93% occurred among 11-20 year olds. In 2000, occurrence rate was found to be high in January and again in April and various types of viruses were isolated. These results may be useful for vaccine development and establishment of reliable epidemic data.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.89-93
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• 2017

Purpose: Virus-associated rhabdomyolysis is very rare. We report 15 patients with rhabdomyolysis caused by various viruses. Methods: Fifteen patients who were diagnosed with rhabdomyolysis and a viral infection were included in this study. Clinical, laboratory, and radiologic findings were evaluated through retrospective chart reviews. Results: Chief complaints were severe bilateral lower leg pain and leg weakness. The median age was 5.7 years. The male:female ratio was 2:5. The viral infections were caused by influenza virus B, parainfluenza virus, and rhinovirus. One patient with influenza virus B had coinfection with coronavirus. Median initial laboratory values and ranges were as follows: serum creatinine, 0.4 (0.1-0.5) mg/dL; serum aspartate transaminase, 124 (48-1,098) IU/L; serum alanine transaminase, 30 (16- 1,455) IU/L; serum creatine kinase, 2,965 (672-16,594) IU; serum lactate dehydrogenase, 400 (269-7,394) IU/L; serum myoglobin, 644 (314-3,867) ng/mL; urine myoglobin, 3 (3-10,431) ng/mL. All patients recovered without complications. Conclusion: This is the first report of the simultaneous occurrence of rhabdomyolysis caused by various viruses. This is also the first report of rhinovirus-associated rhabdomyolysis.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.13-23
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• 2009

Acute otitis media (AOM) and pneumonia are among the most common infectious diseases of children. Both are mucosal infections and share many common features such as etiological agents, pathogenesis and immunity. Influenza plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AOM and pneumonia. A vaccine against influenza may have substantial impact on these diseases during the influenza season. In clinical trials, influenza vaccine has reduced the incidence of AOM and pneumonia complicating influenza in children. However, the efficacy of vaccines has been controversial in children less than 2 years of age. Similarly, vaccines against Streptococcus pneumoniae and Haemophilus influenzae type b (Hib), both common causes of AOM and pneumonia, have the potential to reduce the impact of disease. Clinical trials showed that the currently licensed 7-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV), administered during infancy, had an efficacy of 6-7% for the prevention of AOM, however, visits to the clinic for AOM were reduced by up to 20-30% after routine use in the U.S. Both Hib and PCVs have a proven effectiveness of >20% for prevention of radiologically confirmed pneumonia in children. The recently introduced pnuemococcal vaccine conjugated with protein D is expected to reduce AOM and pneumonia caused by non-typable H. influenzae, in addition to its effects on pneumococcal diseases. Considering their high incidence in children, recent achievements in the prevention of AOM and pneumonia with vaccines may have a significant economic and social impact.

• Genomics & Informatics
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• v.20 no.4
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• pp.46.1-46.7
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• 2022

Influenza A virus (IAV) is the most widespread pathogen causing human respiratory infections. Although polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based methods are currently the most commonly used tools for IAV detection, PCR is not ideal for point-of-care testing. In this study, we aimed to develop a more rapid and sensitive method than PCR-based tools to detect IAV using loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) technology. We designed reverse-transcriptional (RT)-LAMP primers targeting the hemagglutinin gene. RNAs from reference H1N1 and H3N2 showed specific RT-LAMP signals with the designed primers. We optimized the reaction conditions and developed universal reaction conditions for both LAMP assays. Under these conditions, the detection limit was 50 copies for both RT-LAMP assays. There was no non-specific signal to 19 non-IAV respiratory viruses, such as influenza B virus, coronaviruses, and respiratory syncytial viruses. Regarding the reaction time, a positive signal was detected within 25 min after starting the reaction. In conclusion, our RT-LAMP assay has high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of the H1 and H3 subtypes, making it suitable for point-of-care IAV testing.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.24 no.1
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• pp.31-36
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• 2017

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the accuracy of rapid influenza diagnostic tests (RIDT) in children with an influenza-like illness and to evaluate factors associated with greater accuracy. Methods: Pediatric patients, who visited Hallym University Sacred Heart Hospital with an influenza-like illness between June 2011 and May 2016, were enrolled in this study. We tested 798 samples using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for respiratory viruses and compared the results with rapid influenza tests. Results: In comparison with the results of the multiplex PCR, the positive agreement rates of RIDT for influenza A and B virus were 75.7% and 60.0%, respectively. The performance of RIDT varied according to days after fever onset. The positive agreement rates of RIDT for influenza A and B tests, performed within 4 days of fever onset, were 77.6% and 73.2%, but the rates for tests performed more than 5 days after fever onset were 66.7% and 21.4%, respectively. Conclusions: The RIDT is a quick and simple aid to diagnosis, but is less sensitive than the labeled sensitivity. Moreover, test performance varied according to days after fever onset. Test specimens for RIDT should be collected as soon as possible after the onset of symptoms (less than 4 days).