• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.80-84
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• 2011

Empyema necessitatis refers to empyema that extends into the extrapleural space through a defect in the pleural surface. Tuberculous empyema necessitatis is a rare complication of tuberculosis. We experienced a 21-month-old boy with tuberculous empyema necessitatis with osteomyelitis in the right $7^{th}$ rib. He presented with a mass on the right lateral chest wall, which was soft and nontender, enlarging for one month. He also had mild fever. The plain radiograph of his chest revealed soft tissue swelling and calcified lymph node on the left axilla, and his PPD skin test was positive. CT scan of the chest showed empyema necessitatis at the right lower chest and upper abdominal walls with osteomyelitis of the right $7^{th}$ rib. He did not have concurrent pulmonary tuberculosis. Surgery was performed for diagnosis and treatment. In histopathologic findings, chronic granulomatous inflammation with caseation necrosis was shown and was positive for acid fast bacilli stain. In addition, M. tuberculosis complex was found as etiology by polymerase chain reaction. The patient has been treated with anti-tuberculous medication without any specific complication.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.7-13
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• 1996

The conventional glutaraldehyde (GA) fixation method of tissue valves is considered to be responsible for accelerated valve degeneration. The release of toxic GA from the valve tissue is believed to limit endothelial cell (EC) ingrowth. Removal of toxic GA by reaction with L-glutamic acid and storage in a Paraben solution may offer good EC growth. To investigate the conditions for endothelialization of tissue valves, the growth properties of ECs on the conventionally and alternatively treated pericardial tissue were compared. Conventional preparation included zero-pressure fixation for 72 hours in phosphated-buffered saline (PBS) solution containing 0.5% GA at 4$^{\circ}C$ and storage into PBS containing 0.2% GA(group I). Alternatively treated pericardial tissues were divided into three postfixation treatment groups : (1) storage in PBS solution containing Paraben(group II), (2) treatment with PBS containing 8$^{\circ}C$ L-glutamic acid(PH 7.35) and storage in PBS solution containing Paraben (g oup III), (3) treatment with L-glutamic acid dissolved in distilled water (PH 3.5) (group IV). Pericardial tissue were transferred into the 24-well plate after storage for 4 weeks. ECs were harvested enzymatically from the bovine pulmonary artery and grown to confluence on culture flask surfaces. Detached ECs by trypsin were incubated into the each well of the 24-well plate including test pericardial tissues. Cells were detached by trypsin, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 days after incubation and counted on the hemacytometer. Cell viability test was performed by frypan-blue exclusion method. Acute cell death in the group I were found even after prolonged washing. The group II showed prolonged cell survival compared with the group I. Both group III and group IV showed better cell growth than group II. There was no statistically significant difference between group III and group IV method in terms of EC growth. This results suggest that treatment by L-glutamic ac id and storage in a Paraben solution be a promising approach for improvement of durability of GA-treated tissue valves.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.15 no.2
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• pp.167-173
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• 2008

Purpose : We evaluated the prevalence and clinical, microbiological features of extrapulmonary tuberculosis (EPT) in pediatric patients. Methods : We retrospectively reviewed medical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with EPT at The Catholic University of Korea, Incheon St. Mary's Hospital between 2000 and 2007. Results : Of 109 patients diagnosed with tuberculosis (TB), 12 patients (11%) were admitted with EPT. At 2006-2007, the proportion of patients with EPT among patients with TB was the highest (20%) comparing with last 6 years. The ratio of male to female patients was 1.4:1 and the mean age was 9.2 years (range, 3 months-15 years). The involved sites were pleura in 5 (41.6%), central nervous system in 3 (25%), miliary TB in 2 (16.7%), gastrointestinal tract in 1 (8.3%) and bone and joint in 1 (8.3%). The most common symptom at admission was fever (91.6%) and mean duration of fever was 15.8 days (range, 0-47 days) in spite of the proper treatment. Confirmed rate for acid fast bacillus stain, culture, and polymerase chain reaction were 33.3%, 41.6% and 41.6%. Of 5 culture proven cases, 4 (80%) were resistant to more than one antituberculosis drugs. Eleven patients recovered without complication and 1 patient died. Conclusion : Total incidence of TB decreased steadily according to the nationwide survey. However, our results suggest that the proportion of diagnosis with EPT among diagnosis with TB in children has increased. Microbiological diagnosis of EPT in children was more difficult than that of pulmonary TB. And drug resistance rate has increased.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.11-22
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• 1999

Sero-epidemiologic survey has been carried out to establish serologically the presence of hantavirus in areas of South Africa. The survey was oriented to search natural infection in both of humans and wild rodents and involvement of human disease. The normal human sera were collected from the residents in urban and rural areas of Western Cape, and rural area of Eastern Cape province. The rodent sera came from various species of rodents trapped in Northern Cape and Western Free provinces. The patient sera were selected from the patients of renal failure, pulmonary syndrome and pyrexia of unknown origin (PUQ) according to diagnostic chart among the patients hospitalized in major hospitals of Cape Town area. The sera were screened and titrated by IFA test using antigens of Hantaan (HTN), Seoul (SEO), Puumala (PUU), and Prospect Hill (PH) viruses primarily. Positive cases were subjected to differential IFA test using HTN, PUU and PH antigens and plaque reduction neutralization test for further confirmation. Anti-hantavirus antibodies were detected from 2 of 352 rural, 1 of 172 urban residents of E. Cape, and 5 of 118 rural, 5 of 368 urban residents of W. Cape. The antibody was also demonstrated from 5 of 221 wild rodents, and it was appeared that 2 different species, Aethomys namaquensis and Tatem leucogaster, are involved. Among 318 patients tested, 3 who were diagnosed as chronic renal failure, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and glomerulonephritis were proved to be positive. The reaction patterns obtained from all of these positive sera were distinct from hantaviral sero-patterns ever established. This result suggests that new viruses may exist in this area and play an possible etiologic role in human disease. The feature of serologic survey on anti-hantavirus antibody demonstrable newly from African wild rodents which are different from reservoir species in other continents elicits a conjecture that the virus may be different from known hantaviruses ever found. This fact also suggests that an expanded role in etiologic involvement with other unknown human diseases by newly emerging hantaviruses may be possible in this areas.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.49 no.4
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• pp.435-438
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• 2017

Nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) contains M. avium-intracellular complex (MAC), M. fortuitum, M. chelonae, M. abscessus, M. kansasii, etc., which causes infections in swine, poultry, and other animals. These bacteria are opportunistic pathogens that can contaminate people, and in doing so, cause various social economic problems. This study proved that NTM are also present in air conditioners of multiuse facilities in frequently visited populated areas. The results of this study are meaningful because they showed that pathogenic microbes can live in the surroundings and cause diseases to people with impaired immunity. This study used the AFB stain, L-J medium culture, and PCR method for the detection of MTB and NTM in air conditioner dust. MTB was not detected in any of the collected samples, while NTM was detected in 2 out of 40 samples (5%). Most people living in the modern environment cannot avoid being exposed to air conditioners so special attention is needed for sanitary inspections and the management of air conditioners. Moreover, it is important to study NTM through various individuals, accumulate the related data and establish the methods and standards of hygiene management system to reduce NTM infections in public areas. Moreover, it would be necessary to identify the precise species of NTM through DNA sequencing and evaluate the effects of NTM on the pulmonary tuberculosis in immunodeficiency patients.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.211-226
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• 1986

To understand the pathogenesis of anicteric leptospirosis with severe pulmonary hemorrhage occured in Korea, the microbiological and pathological features were observed in the experimentally induced leptospirosis in guinea pigs infected with a virulent strain of Leptospira interrogans isolated from the patient at Wonju, Korea, and the results are summarized as follows. 1. The main pathological features were widespread hemorrhages, especially affecting lung, skeletal muscles, retroperitoneal and perirenal adipose tissues. The hemorrhages accompanied inflammatory process especially of vasculitic pattern as well as occasional coagulation necrosis in the liver, skeletal muscle, and myocardium. The main inflammatory cells were of plasma cell even in the fairly early stage of the infection. 2. Those pathologic changes were more exaggerated in the inoculation site. 3. Within 144 hours of infection, the longer the infection time, the more antigens were observed in the tissues, and the severer the pathologic changes. 4. Leptospiral antigens were detected at first by indirect immunofluorescent and immunoperoxidase technics. As the infection time extended, the antigens were observed in all of the tissues examined except in the skeletal muscle. The shape of the antigens was spiral or thread-like within 72 hours of infection. As the infection progressed, they became fragmented and granular. 5. Leptospires were detected in the blood within 144 hours of infection by darkfield microscopic examination. Thereafter, none was observed. 6. Antibody to leptospires were detected as early as 72 hours of infection. In summary, the virulent strain of L. interrogans used in this experiment induced widespread hemorrhages with inflammatory reaction especially in lung, skeletal muscles, and retroperitoneal adipose tissue. With these findings, it is suggested that the direct toxic effect of leptospires might playa great role in the pathogenesis of this infection.

• The Journal of Internal Korean Medicine
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.453-463
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• 2007

Backgrounds : Glutathione-s-transferase (GST) is a kind of phase II metabolism enzyme and plays an important role in the detoxification of various toxic chemicals. It was reported that the genetic polymorphism of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes may be responsible for asthma development and susceptibility to allergy. Traditional oriental medicine uses a unique diagnostic technique. differentiation-syndrome. to analyze signs and symptoms of patients synthetically. Through differentiation-syndrome. asthma patients can be divided into two groups: the deficiency syndrome group (DSG) and the excess syndrome group (ESG). Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible association of GST gene polymorphism with clinical phenotype by differentiation-syndrome of bronchial asthma patients. Materials and Methods : One hundred and ten participants were evaluated by pulmonary function test. Patients with 53 DSG and 31 ESG by differentiation-syndrome were assessed for genetic analysis. GSTM1 and GSTT1 deletion polymorphism was performed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Results : GSTM1 gene deletion was detected in 43.4% of individuals in the DSG and in 38.71 % in the ESG. The distribution of GSTM1 polymorphism between DSG and ESG was not significantly different [$x^2$=0.1767, p=0.6742; OR(95% CI)=1.2139(0.4915-2.9979)]. The proportion of GSTT1 null genotypes was 41.51% in the DGS and 45.16% in the ESG. The distribution of GSTT1 polymorphism between DSG and ESG was also not significantly different [$x^2$=0.1065, p=0.7442; OR(95% CI)=0.8618(0.3525-2.1065)]. In the combined analysis of GSTM1 and GSTT1 genes, the frequency of both null type of GSTM1/GSTT1 genes was not significantly different from both positive type of GSTM1/GSTT1 genes[$x^2$=0.0768, p=0.7817; OR(95% CI)=1.2000(0.3303-4.3602)] Conclusions : These results indicate that polymorphism of the GST gene might not be associated with the symptomatic classification of DSG and ESG by differentiation-syndrome in Korean asthmatics.

• The Journal of Korean Society of Virology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.39-47
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• 1997

A large number of viruses belonging to Genus Hantavirus in Family Bunyaviridae are etiologic agents for hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), or hantavirus pulmonary syndrome (HPS). Hantaan (HTN), Seoul (SED), Belgrade (BEL), Puumala (PUU) serotype viruses are well known causative agents for HFRS in Eurasian continent. Among those viruses Hantaan and Seoul serotypes are well known to cause HFRS in Korea, but there are some sporadic incidence by other than Hantaan or Seoul viruses. Recently we have developed the combined Hantaan-Puumala virus vaccine to prevent world-wide occuring HFRS. This combined vaccine is formalin inactivated, suckling mouse and suckling hamster brain extracts for Hantaan and Puumala viruses, respectively. Protein contents of this purified candidate vaccine is $27\;{\mu}g/ml$, which contains 1,024 ELISA antigen units to each virus, but content of myelin basic protein which is causing experimental allergic encephalomyelitis is less than 0.1 ng/ml. Thirty hamsters were given twice at one month interval intra-muscularly and bled on 30 days after each vaccination from retro-orbital sinus vein. Antibody titers were tested against 5 major serotype viruses, Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses by IFA and PRNT. The mean IF antibody titers on 30 days after primary shot were 78.4, 68.8, 68.8, 37.9, and 15.6; mean neutralizing antibody titers were 65.4, 12, 6.1, 65.6 and 0.5 against Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses, respectively. The mean IF antibody titers on 30 days after booster shot were 686.9, 567.5, 550.4, 516.3, and 430.9; and neutralizing antibody titers were 710.8, 41.9, 24.3, 409.9, and 1.6 against Hantaan, Seoul, Belgrade, Puumala and Sin Nombre viruses, respectively.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.10 no.11
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• pp.3418-3426
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• 2009

The purpose of this study was to investigate the feasibility of field operation protocol for cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) in person with non-traumatic arrest. This study was performed from May 1 through June 27, 2008, and subjects were 150 students who are attending the department of Emergency Medical Service in J and K universities which located in Jeollabuk-do and Jeollanam-do areas. Practical conformance was verified using by nonequivalent control group pretest-posttest design. This study divided into two groups; experimental group that employed field operation protocol and control group that applied conventional CPR protocol, and comparative analyzed statistically the necessary time of the items of each protocol. The results indicated that each performance time of 18 items was reduced over 3 seconds except 5 items(assessment of consciousness, airway control, two times of artificial respiration, check of circulation, and five cycles of CPR). And time of 6 items(intubation, peripheral intravenous line, reassessment of consciousness, pupil reaction, carotid artery pulse, and vital sign) was minimized more than 60 seconds, and total performing time was shortened 110.85 seconds. The results suggested that total performing time in pre and post test where the protocol was applied for two groups showed a statistically significant decrease(t=-6.580, p=.000). Consequently, field operation protocol for cardiopulmonary resuscitation(CPR) in person with non-traumatic arrest will be a available manual which support prompt and accurate decision making, and improve emergency medical service.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.65 no.4
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• pp.285-291
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• 2008

Background: We conducted a case-control study to evaluate the potential association between SERPINA1 genotypes ($M1_{Val}$, $M1_{Ala}$, S, and Z) and the risk COPD. Methods: The study population consisted of 93 patients with COPD and 112 healthy controls. The polymerase chain reaction and restriction fragment length polymorphism for detecting the SERPINA1 variants. Results: The M2 allele of the SERPINA1 gene was significantly associated with the risk of COPD in Koreans. The effect of the M2 allele on the risk of COPD was more pronounced in the subgroup<64 years. Conclusion: These results suggest that SERPINA1 polymorphisms may contribute to a genetic predisposition for COPD. However, additional studies with larger sample sizes are required to confirm our findings.