• 한국동물위생학회지
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• 제40권1호
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• pp.71-74
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• 2017

The first case of liver infection caused by Sphingomonas sp. and Bacillus sp. in a wild rodent is reported. A captured wild rodent, Apodemus agrarius (A. agrarius), presented with multiple liver abscess-like nodules (diameter 0.7~2.4 mm) in which Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacilli were detected simultaneously. These were grown in aerobic and anaerobic cultures, respectively, and were identified as Sphingomonas sp. and Bacillus sp., respectively, according to 16S rRNA sequencing.

• 대한수의학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.71-74
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• 2005

Pseudomonas aerusinosa infection was diagnosed in broiler chicks, and was submitted to the National Veterinary Research and Quarantine Service in Korea. The total mortality rate was about 1,500 birds out of 22,000 broilers. Clinically, affected birds showed clinical signs including depression and anorexia with lameness and trembling of the leg. At necropsy, the dead broilers appeared to have omphalitis, yolk sac infection, fibrinous epicarditis, and fibrinous exudates in liver with swollen hock joint. Microscopically, there were multiple necrotic foci in the liver, fibrinous exudates in the heart, and infiltration of heterophils into the joint spaces of the hock joint. Pseudomonas aerusinosa was isolated from the heart, liver and hock joint, and the isolate was named P-200. In effort to estimate the virulence of P-200, 1-day-old chicks were challenged intramuscularly and intrayolksacally with the isolate. On the basis of mortality rate, the isolate P-200 was found to be highly virulent. This is the first report of an occurrence of Pseudomonas aerusinosa infection in broilers in Korea.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제17권6호
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• pp.2761-2765
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• 2016

Opisthorchiasis is a health problem in rural communities of Thailand, particularly in the northeast and north regions. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate raw fish consuming behavior related to liver fluke infection among the population at risk for opisthorchiasis and cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). A cross-sectional descriptive study was conducted in Meuang Yang district, Nakhon Ratchasima province, northeast Thailand, between June and October 2015. Participants were screened for CCA, and samples who had a high score of CCA risk were purposively selected. A predesigned questionnaire was utilized to collect the data from all participants. $X^2-test$ was used for analysis of associations between demographic data and raw fish consumption. The results revealed that participants had past histories of stool examination (33.0%), liver fluke infection (21.0%), praziquantel use (24.0%), raw fish consumption (78.0%), relatives family consuming raw fish (73.0%), and relatives family with CCA (3.0%). Participants consumed several dished related to liver fluke infection, mainly raw fermented fish (13.0%), under smoked catfish (5.00%), raw pickled fish (4.00%), and raw spicy minced fish salad (3.00%). The most common types of cyprinoid fish were Barbodes gonionotus (39%), Hampala dispar (38%), Puntius brevis (37%), Cyclocheilichthys armatus (33%), Puntioplites proctozysron (32%), and Luciosoma bleekeri (30%), respectively. Participants had a low level of knowledge (mean=3.79, SD=0.74), moderate attitude (mean=7.31, SD=7.31) and practice (mean=38.64, SD=6.95) regarding liver fluke prevention and control. Demographic variables like age (>36 years old; $X^2-test=17.794$, p-value=0.001), education (primary school; $X^2-test=18.952$, p-value=0.001), marital status (married; $X^2-test=12.399$, p-value=0.002), and income (<5,000 baht; $X^2-test=27.757$, p-value=0.015) were significantly associated with raw fish consumption. This result indicates that the population had risk consumption for liver fluke infection particularly of various cyprinoid fishes that are $2^{nd}$ intermediate hosts. Therefore, health education is required to improve their behavior.

• 대한간학회지
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• 제24권4호
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• pp.384-391
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• 2018

Backgrounds/Aims: The objective of our study was to determine the epidemiological, laboratory, and serological characteristics of patients with chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection and normal transaminases. The study also aimed to evaluate liver damage by measuring the liver fibrosis (LF) grade and to identify possible factors associated with the presence of fibrosis. Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in patients with chronic HBV infection and classified as inactive carriers or immune-tolerant. Epidemiological variables of age, sex, immigrant, alcohol consumption, and body mass index (BMI), as well as virological variables (HBV DNA) and transaminase level were collected throughout the follow-up. The LF grade was evaluated by transient elastography. The cutoff value for significant fibrosis (SF) was liver stiffness ${\geq}7.9kPa$. Results: A total of 214 patients were included in the analysis, and 62% of them had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$. During follow-up, 4% of patients showed transaminase elevation (<1.5 times normal). Most patients had a viral DNA level <2,000 IU/mL (83%). Data on LF were available in 160 patients; of these, 14% had SF, 9% F3, and 6% F4. The variables associated with the presence of SF were transaminase alteration during follow-up, as 23% of patients with SF had elevated transaminases versus 3% of patients without SF (P<0.005), and BMI, as the vast majority of patients with SF (88%) had a BMI ${\geq}25kg/m^2$ versus 56% of patients without SF (P<0.05). Conclusions: In patients with chronic HBV infection and normal transaminases, liver damage does not seem to be related to DNA levels, alcohol consumption, or immigrant status. SF seems to be associated with transaminase alteration during follow-up and elevated BMI. It is therefore recommended to measure LF grade with validated non-invasive methods in such patients.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제50권1호
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• pp.7-13
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• 2012

$Toxoplasma$ $gondii$ can modulate host cell gene expression; however, determining gene expression levels in intermediate hosts after $T.$ $gondii$ infection is not known much. We selected 5 genes ($ALDH1A2$, $BEX2$, $CCL3$, $EGR2$ and $PLAU$) and compared the mRNA expression levels in the spleen, liver, lung and small intestine of genetically different mice infected with $T.$ $gondii$. ALDH1A2 mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were markedly increased at day 1-4 postinfection (PI) and then decreased, and its expressions in the spleen and lung were significantly higher in C57BL/6 mice than those of BALB/c mice. BEX2 and CCR3 mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were significantly increased from day 7 PI and peaked at day 15-30 PI ($P$<0.05), especially high in the spleen liver or small intestine of C57BL/6 mice. EGR2 and PLAU mRNA expressions of both mouse strains were significantly increased after infection, especially high in the spleen and liver. However, their expression patterns were varied depending on the tissue and mouse strain. Taken together, $T.$ $gondii$-susceptible C57BL/6 mice expressed higher levels of these 5 genes than did $T.$ $gondii$-resistant BALB/c mice, particularly in the spleen and liver. And ALDH1A2 and PLAU expressions were increased acutely, whereas BEX2, CCL3 and EGR2 expressions were increased lately. Thus, these demonstrate that host genetic factors exert a strong impact on the expression of these 5 genes and their expression patterns were varied depending on the gene or tissue.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제46권3호
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• pp.139-143
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• 2008

Ingestion of raw animal liver has been suggested as a possible mode of infection of human toxocariasis, We evaluated the relationship between toxocariasis and the ingestion of raw meat in patients with eosinophilia of unknown etiology. The study population consisted of 120 patients presenting with peripheral blood eosinophilia (> $500\;cells/{\mu}l$ or > 10% of the white blood cell count). They were divided into 2 groups: 104 seropositive patients based on a Toxocara excretory-secretory IgG ELISA and 16 seronegative patients. While 25.0% of seronegative patients had a recent history of eating raw cow liver, 87.5% of seropositive patients had this history. Multivariate statistical analysis showed that a recent history of eating raw cow liver was related to an increased risk of toxocariasis. Collectively, it is proposed that raw cow liver is a significant infection source of toxocariasis in the patients with eosinophilia of unknown etiology.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제15권21호
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• pp.9423-9426
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• 2014

Objective: Hapatitis B visus (CHB)-induced fibrosis is a precancerous condition of liver. To explore the influence of Chongcao Preparation (Chongcao Yigan Capsule) on the function of intestinal flora and chemoprevention for patients with CHB-induced liver fibrosis. Methods: A total of 136 patients with CHB-induced liver fibrosis were randomly divided into control group treated with lamivudine (LAM) and research group added with Chongcao Yigan Capsule for totally 48 weeks. The changes of intestinal flora, secretory immunoglobin A (SIgA), serum albumin (ALB), prealbumin (PALB), IgA and IgG at different time points in both groups were observed. Results: Before treatment, there was no significant difference between two groups in each index (P>0.05). After treatment, the intestinal flora were evidently optimized in research group than treatment before (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and were apparently better than those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01); SIgA was obviously increased and ALB, PALB, IgA and IgG were markedly improved in research group than treatment before (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and were significantly better than those in control group (P<0.05 or P<0.01). Conclusions: Chongcao Yigan Capsule could regulate the intestinal flora, increase SIgA, serum ALB and PALB concentrations and significantly improve serum IgA and IgG as well as strengthen the immunological function and autologous repair capacity of patients with CHB-induced liver fibrosis.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• 제23권6호
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• pp.539-547
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• 2020

Purpose: Pediatric acute liver failure (PALF) is a serious condition; however, data on PALF in developing countries are sparse, particularly concerning molecular diagnosis and liver transplantation (LT). This study aimed to determine the causes, outcomes, and prognostic factors of PALF. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of children (age <15 years) with PALF diagnosed using the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases criteria at our center from 2011 to 2016. The collected data included laboratory results, complications, outcomes, and potential factors associated with death and LT. Results: We included a total of 27 patients, with a median age of 2 years (interquartile range, 3 months to 4 years). Viral infection was the most common etiology (n=8, 30%), predominantly dengue infection (n=4). A total of 16 patients (59%) died and 11 patients survived (3 patients with LT). The prognostic factors associated with death or LT requirement were grade IV hepatic encephalopathy (p<0.01), hypotension (p=0.02), gastrointestinal bleeding (p=0.03), increased intracranial pressure (p=0.04), and higher peak serum lactate level (p=0.01). Peak serum lactate ≥6 mmoL/L had a sensitivity of 79% and a specificity of 88% for predicting mortality or the necessity of LT. Conclusion: Viral infection was the most common cause of PALF. The mortality rate remained high, and a considerable number of patients required LT. In addition to several clinical factors, peak serum lactate could be a potential marker for predicting poor outcomes in PALF.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• 제16권5호
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• pp.1751-1758
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• 2015

There has been a strong, positive correlation between opisthorchiasis-associated cholangiocarcinoma and infection with Helicobacter. Here a rodent model of human infection with Opisthorchis viverrini was utilized to further investigate relationships of apparent co-infections with O. viverrini and H. pylori. A total of 150 hamsters were assigned to five groups: i) Control hamsters not infected with O. viverrini; ii) O. viverrini-infected hamsters; iii) non-O. viverrini infected hamsters treated with antibiotics (ABx); iv) O. viverrini-infected hamsters treated with ABx; and v) O. viverrini-infected hamsters treated both with ABx and praziquantel (PZQ). Stomach, gallbladder, liver, colonic tissue, colorectal feces and O. viverrini worms were collected and the presence of species of Helicobacter determined by PCR-based approaches. In addition, O. viverrini worms were cultured in vitro with and without ABx for four weeks, after which the presence of Helicobacter spp. was determined. In situ localization of H. pylori and Helicobacter-like species was performed using a combination of histochemistry and immunohistochemistry. The prevalence of H. pylori infection in O. viverrini-infected hamsters was significantly higher than that of O. viverrini-uninfected hamsters ($p{\leq}0.001$). Interestingly, O. viverrini-infected hamsters treated with ABx and PZQ (to remove the flukes) had a significantly lower frequency of H. pylori than either O. viverr-iniinfected hamsters treated only with ABx or O. viverrini-infected hamsters, respectively ($p{\leq}0.001$). Quantitative RT-PCR strongly confirmed the correlation between intensity H. pylori infection and the presence of liver fluke infection. In vitro, H. pylori could be detected in the O. viverrini worms cultured with ABx over four weeks. In situ localization revealed H. pylori and other Helicobacter-like bacteria in worm gut. The findings indicate that the liver fluke O. viverrini in the biliary tree of the hamsters harbors H. pylori and Helicobacter-like bacteria. Accordingly, the association between O. viverrini and H. pylori may be an obligatory mutualism.

• Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences
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• 제18권3호
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• pp.333-339
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• 2015

Red lip mullet Chelon haematocheilus (body weight = $468{\pm}91g$) which became sick during an outbreak of disease at mariculture facilities at Cheonsu Bay, Korea, during July-August 2013, were examined to identify the cause of the disease. Diseased mullets displayed green liver syndrome, and Lactococcus garvieae were isolated from their internal organs. Argulus sp., Trichodina sp., and/or Vibrio spp. were also discovered in some infected fish. Histopathological examination revealed that fatty liver syndrome with hepatocyte degeneration, reflected in heterokaryons, inflammatory lesions, and melanomacrophage centers ($MMC_S$), had caused fibrosis around the kidney, spleen, and blood vessels. After the outbreak, visceral fat and green liver syndrome in the mullets were consistently observed throughout the year in the same mariculture facilities, indicating that the cultured mullets suffered a chronic metabolic disorder. Although Vibrio spp. were also isolated from some individuals, L. garvieae, which is known to be a causative agent of red lip mullet mortality, was isolated from all diseased individuals. This is the first report of L. garvieae infection in cultured red lip mullet.