• Applied Microscopy
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• v.51
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• pp.13.1-13.7
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• 2021

The novel coronavirus, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has arisen as a global pandemic affecting the respiratory system showing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). However, there is no targeted therapeutic agent yet and due to the growing cases of infections and the rising death tolls, discovery of the possible drug is the need of the hour. In general, the study for discovering therapeutic agent for SARS-CoV-2 is largely focused on large-scale screening with fragment-based drug discovery (FBDD). With the recent advancement in cryo-electron microscopy (Cryo-EM), it has become one of the widely used tools in structural biology. It is effective in investigating the structure of numerous proteins in high-resolution and also had an intense influence on drug discovery, determining the binding reaction and regulation of known drugs as well as leading the design and development of new drug candidates. Here, we review the application of cryo-EM in a structure-based drug design (SBDD) and in silico screening of the recently acquired FBDD in SARS-CoV-2. Such insights will help deliver better understanding in the procurement of the effective remedial solution for this pandemic.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.10
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• pp.1042-1046
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• 2008

The fluoroquinolones are an important group of antibiotics widely used in the treatment of various infectious diseases in adults, as a result of an excellent spectrum of activity, good tissue penetration and convenient ways of administration. In recent decades, there has been extensive development, clinical investigation, licensure and use of fluoroquinolone antibiotics. However, the use of fluoroquinolones in children has been limited because of their potential to induce arthropathy in juvenile animals. Despite class label warnings against use in children, prescriptions for quinolone antibiotics to treat infections in children have become increasingly prevalent. The main use of fluoroquinolones in pediatrics should be, understandably, in serious life-threatening infections for which other antibiotics therapies are not effective or available. While most of the published studies failed to detect an increased rate of articular adverse effects in children treated with fluoroquinolones, an increase in the use of these compounds, particularly in community-acquired lower respiratory infections, could accelerate the emergence of multidrug-resistant (including fluoroquinolone) pneumococcal strains. This review will discus the main issues related to the use of fluoroquinolones in children, the major problems of resistance developing among these compounds, with special emphasis on the potential side effects and skilled use of these alternative potent drugs in pediatric infection.

• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.306-314
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• 2011

Objectives: Respiratory virus infections are the most common disease among all ages in all parts of the world and occur through airborne transmission. The purpose of this study was to detect and quantitate human respiratory viruses in residential environments. Methods: Air samples were collected from the residential space of apartments in the Seoul/Gyeonggi-do area. The samples were collected from indoor and outdoor air. Among respiratory viruses, influenza A virus, influenza B virus, parainfluenza virus, metapneumovirus, respiratory syncytial virus, and adenovirus were investigated by multiplex polymerase chain reaction. Among the virus-positive samples, we performed adenovirus quantification by real-time polymerase chain reaction. Results: Virus detection rates were 44.0%, 3.8%, 3.4%, and 17.3% in spring, summer, autumn, and winter, respectively. The virus detection rate was higher in winter and spring than in summer and autumn. Adenovirus was most commonly detected, followed by influenza A virus and parainfluenza virus. Virus distribution was not significantly different between indoor and outdoor environments. Conclusions: Although virus concentrations were not high in residential environments, residents in houses with detected viruses may have an increased risk of exposure to airborne respiratory viruses, especially in winter and spring.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.67 no.5
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• pp.430-435
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• 2009

Background: Thus far, research studies on community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) have focused on its clinical severity. Recently, it has been determined that procalcitonin (PCT) level is correlated with severity of CAP. A retrospective study conducted at our hospital used risk predictability and PCT to determine whether or no PCT is useful in assessing the severity of CAP. Methods: This study covered 92 CAP cases that were admitted to the respiratory department at Changwon Fatima Hospital between July 1, 2008 and June 30, 2009. All enrolled subjects were measured for infection markers and risk predictability. Results: Based on hospital admission data, enrolled subjects had Pneumonia Severity Index (PSI) scores serving as risk predictors showed that both PCT and white blood cell (WBC) were statistically significant as infection markers (p=0.001, 0.037). Thus, this study used ROC curves in PSI for data analysis. As a result, it was determined that the area under curve (AUC) of PCT and WBC was 0.694 and 0.593 respectively, indicating that PCT has a higher test value for WBC, when PCT was higher than 0.745 ng/mL. In addition, it was found that PCT levels higher than 0.745 ng/mL had higher PSI scores than the group with PCT lower than 0.745 ng/mL (p=0.032). Conclusion: In order to predict risk of pneumonia cases admitted due to symptoms of CAP, it is important to consider PCT as well as PSI, and follow-up monitoring of PCT cases.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.36 no.3
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• pp.417-430
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• 2022

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop a respiratory infection prevention program for the rural elderly in the post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) era. Methods: The Delphi method was used to validate the contents of the program. Two rounds of Delphi surveys and one individual interview were conducted on four subjects and 16 categories with nine experts. Content validity was calculated using the content validity ratio (CVR) and coefficient of variation (CV). Results: This study verified the content validity of the existing program components, such as respiratory infection prevention characteristics, cough etiquette, correct hand washing, oral hygiene, correct tooth brushing, and exercise by walking. The study comprised 28 categories covering seven subjects, including the provision of knowledge and information about COVID-19, environmental management for respiratory infection prevention, and exercise training for immunity enhancement. Conclusion: This Delphi study examined the respiratory infection prevention program that was redesigned for the post-COVID-19 era and confirmed the validity of the educational contents. The findings of this study suggest that the program can be used practically for the prevention of respiratory infection among the rural elderly.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.309-314
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• 2016

Korean Red Ginseng (KRG) is a heat-processed ginseng developed by the repeated steaming and air-drying of fresh ginseng. Compared with fresh ginseng, KRG has been shown to possess greater pharmacological activities and stability because of changes that occur in its chemical constituents during the steaming process. In addition to anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and immune-modulatory activities, KRG and its purified components have also been shown to possess protective effects against microbial infections. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on the properties of KRG and its components on infections with human pathogenic viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, influenza virus, human immunodeficiency virus, human herpes virus, hepatitis virus, norovirus, rotavirus, enterovirus, and coxsackievirus. Additionally, the therapeutic potential of KRG as an antiviral and vaccine adjuvant is discussed.

• Allergy, Asthma & Respiratory Disease
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• v.6 no.6
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• pp.279-283
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• 2018

Asthma is considered a chronic inflammatory airway disease. Mounting evidence reports that patients with asthma are at significantly higher risk of developing communicable diseases such as invasive pneumococcal disease, Haemophilus influenza, varicella, measles, pertussis and tetanus. While impaired innate immunity may play a role in increased risk of developing these infections, suboptimal adaptive immune responses have also been reported to play a role in asthmatic subjects with regard to increased risk of infections. This review discusses the currently underrecognized immunological effect of asthma on antibody to vaccines and recommends that clinicians be aware of less optimal antibody production in response to vaccines in subjects with asthma.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the clinical characteristics of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) [A(H1N1) pdm09] and seasonal influenza A infection in the pediatric cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective review was performed in the pediatric cancer patients who had confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 infection at Samsung Medical Center from August 2009 to February 2010. For the comparison, the medical records of pediatric cancer patients with seasonal influenza A from January 2000 to May 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Eighty-two A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were confirmed in the pediatric cancer patients. Ten patients (12.2%) developed complicated clinical course by lower respiratory infections or extrapulmonary infections; 4 pneumonia, 1 bronchitis, 1 pericarditis with pneumonia, 1 encephalitis with pneumonia, 2 meningitis and 1 pericarditis. Three patients received mechanical ventilator and ICU care. Three pediatric cancer patients (3.7%) died. The risk factors related to complicated A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were date of infection (44-45th week 2009) and nosocomial infection. When comparing with previous seasonal influenza A infections, more prompt and aggressive antiviral therapy was given in A(H1N1)pdm09 infections. Conclusion: The A(H1N1)pdm09 infections caused a various clinical manifestations including fatal cases in pediatric cancer patient during pandemic season. There was no significant difference in clinical course between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza A infections except the antiviral treatment strategy.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.182-192
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• 2002

Purpose : This study was performed to characterize the epidemiologic and clinical features of acute adenoviral lower respiratory tract infections(LRTIs). Methods : Virological analysis was done from respiratory specimens obtained from patients with LRTIs hospitalized to other hospitals and referred to the Department of Pediatrics, Seoul National University Children's Hospital(SNUCH) from June 1998 to July 2000. Viral diagnosis was made by isolation of viruses employing HEp-2 cell culture and indirect immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies. Serotypes of adenoviruses were determined by neutralization test using antiserum for types 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 11. Medical records of children admitted to the SNUCH were reviewed retrospectively. Results : Adenovirus was isolated from 118(9.0%) of 1,305 children with LRTIs. Serotypes were 3(39.0%), 7(16.9%), 1(11.0%), 2(7.6%), 4(7.6%), 6(5.9%), 11(2.5%), and 5(0.8%) and 10 strains(8.5%) were not neutralized by antisera included in the study. Infections by type 3 and type 7 occurred in outbreaks. Male to female ratio was 1.0:0.9 and mean age was 1.95 years. The clinical diagnoses were pneumonia(83%), acute tracheobronchitis(12%) and bronchiolitis(5%). Associated symptoms, signs and abnormal laboratory findings included cough(100%), sputum(73.5%), fever(54.2%), rale(59.3%), wheezing(34%), anemia(35%) and leukopenia(15.8%). Mortality was in 13.5%. Residual radiologic sequelae was identified in 32.6% of the patients followed. Conclusion : These data confirms that adenovirus may cause severe lower respiratory tract diseases, and infections by type 3 and 7 may occured in outbreaks.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.73-79
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• 2009

Purpose : We undertook this study to improve our understanding of the epidemiologic and clinical features of nonpolioenterovirus (NPEV) infections, especially enterovirus 71 (EV71) infections, in Korean children. Methods : Between April and June 2000, NPEVs were detected by RT-PCR and cultures of specimens obtained from patients with aseptic meningitis, acute respiratory disease, and acute gastroenteritis which were associated with enteroviral exanthem and vesicular pharyngeal enanthem, such as herpangina, and hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD). EV71 was identified by sequencing the VP1 gene. The clinical and epidemiologic data were analyzed retrospectively after all 87 NPEV-positive patients were divided into 4 groups, according to the clinical manifestations. Sixteen patients who mainly had symptoms of acute gastroenteritis were in group A, 21 patients with symptoms and signs of lower respiratory tract infections were in group B, 42 patients with a HFMD rash only were in group C with or without fever, and 8 patients with aseptic meningitis or paralysis were in group D. For the 11 EV71-positive patients, 1 was in group A, 2 were group B, 7 were in group C, and 1 was in group D. Results : There were 87 NPEV infections, including 11 EV71 infections. The mean age of the patients was 2 years and 11 months, ranging from 1 day to 15 years. There were no fatal cases among a total of 87 NPEV infections and no significant differences in clinical severity between the EV71 and other NPEV infections. Conclusion : NPEV infections in children were common during the 3 months in the spring of 2000. Unlike in southeast Asia, where fatal EV71 infection outbreaks have occurred since 1997, the clinical features of EV71 infection in Korean children are mild.