• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권3호
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• pp.375-380
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• 2016

Angiostrongyliasis is difficult to be diagnosed for the reason that no ideal method can be used. Serologic tests require specific equipment and are not always available in poverty-stricken zone and are time-consuming. A lateral flow immunoassay (LFIA) may be useful for angiostrongyliasis control. We established a LFIA for the diagnosis of angiostrongyliasis based on 2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) against antigens of Angiostrongylus cantonensis adults. The sensitivity and specificity were 91.1% and 100% in LFIA, while those of commercial ELISA kit was 97.8% and 86.3%, respectively. Youden index was 0.91 in LFIA and 0.84 in commercial ELISA kit. LFIA showed detection limit of 1 ng/ml of A. cantonensis ES antigens. This LFIA was simple, rapid, highly sensitive and specific, which opened an alternative approach for the diagnosis of human angiostrongyliasis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제51권6호
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• pp.767-769
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• 2013

Opisthorchiasis, a risk factor for cholangiocarcinoma in humans, is of public health importance in Thailand. The Annual Surveillance Reports from Nan and Lampang Provinces, Thailand, for the year 2011 showed an opisthorchiasis prevalence of over 70% by recovery of eggs in the feces. This study investigated whether most cases are actually due to minute intestinal flukes (MIF) rather than Opisthorchis viverrini, as the eggs of both can hardly be differentiated by morphology. Fifty and 100 cases from residents in Nan and Lampang, respectively, had stools positive for eggs initially assumed to be those of O. viverrini. Each patient was given praziquantel at 40 mg/kg in a single dose. After 2 hr, 30-45 ml of the purgative magnesium sulfate was given, and stools were collected up to 4 times sequentially. The stools were examined for adult worms by simple sedimentation. It was found that 39 of 50 cases (78.0%) from Nan Province had Haplorchis taichui, with intensities ranging from 5 to 1,250 with an average of 62 worms/case. Taenia saginata (7 cases) and Enterobius vermicularis (1 case) were other helminths recovered as the co-infectants. In Lampang Province, H. taichui was recovered from 69 cases (69.0%). The number of flukes recovered ranged from 1 to 4,277, with an average of 326 worms/case. Four cases had Phaneropsolus bonnei, and 10 T. saginata as the co-infectants. Adult specimens of O. viverrini were not recovered from any stool. Clearly, MIF infection, especially haplorchiasis, is more common in northern Thailand. These findings should encourage the Public Health Office to employ more specific tools than Kato's method for surveillance of opisthorchiasis in Thailand.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.33-39
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• 2018

Intestinal parasitic infections remain a major public health problem in many parts of Thailand, particularly in rural areas. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections and associated risk factors among the people living in Huai Sai sub-district, Bang Khla district, Chachoengsao Province, central Thailand. A cross-sectional survey was carried out from June 2017 to August 2017 which included a total of 224 participants. Stool samples were examined using a simple direct smear and formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Association between risk factors and intestinal parasitic infections was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analysis. The overall prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections was 16.1%. Soil-transmitted helminth infections (14.3%) were more common than protozoan infections (1.8%). The most common intestinal parasites were hookworms (6.7%) followed by Strongyloides stercoralis, (5.0%), Ascaris lumbricoides (1.3%) and Trichuris trichiura (1.3%). Entamoeba histolytica/dispar (1.0%), Giardia intestinalis (0.4%), and Blastocystis hominis (0.4%) were the protozoans identified. A high prevalence of infections was found in male participants of ${\geq}40years$ who raised dogs in the households and did not wear boots while working fields. Multivariate analysis showed a significant association of intestinal parasitic infections with gender with the adjusted odds ratio (OR) of 2.4 and 95% confidence interval (CI) of 1.1-5.2 (P=0.020). The results showed a high prevalence of soil-transmitted helminth infections among adults in rural communities which were particularly apparent regarding the skin-penetrating species of nematodes. A greater focus on intervention is required by improving sanitation and personal hygiene to prevent the spread of intestinal parasitic infections.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제56권1호
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• pp.61-70
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• 2018

We developed a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit for detecting IgG/IgM antibodies against Zika virus (ZIKV) using monoclonal antibodies to the envelope (E) and non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of ZIKV. These proteins were produced using baculovirus expression vector with Sf9 cells. Monoclonal antibodies J2G7 to NS1 and J5E1 to E protein were selected and conjugated with colloidal gold to produce the Zika IgG/IgM RDT kit (Zika RDT). Comparisons with ELISA, plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), and PCR were done to investigate the analytical sensitivity of Zika RDT, which resulted in 100% identical results. Sensitivity and specificity of Zika RDT in a field test was determined using positive and negative samples from Brazil and Korea. The diagnostic accuracy of Zika RDT was fairly high; sensitivity and specificity for IgG was 99.0 and 99.3%, respectively, while for IgM it was 96.7 and 98.7%, respectively. Cross reaction with dengue virus was evaluated using anti-Dengue Mixed Titer Performance Panel (PVD201), in which the Zika RDT showed cross-reactions with DENV in 16.7% and 5.6% in IgG and IgM, respectively. Cross reactions were not observed with West Nile, yellow fever, and hepatitis C virus infected sera. Zika RDT kit is very simple to use, rapid to assay, and very sensitive, and highly specific. Therefore, it would serve as a choice of method for point-of-care diagnosis and large scale surveys of ZIKV infection under clinical or field conditions worldwide in endemic areas.

• 한국미생물학회:학술대회논문집
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• 한국미생물학회 2005년도 International Meeting of the Microbiological Society of Korea
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• pp.159-161
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• 2005

Hypovirus infection of the chestnut blight fungus Cryphonectria parasitica is a useful model system to study the hypoviral regulation of fungal gene expression. The hypovirus is known to downregulate the fungal laccase1 (lac 1), the modulation of which is tightly governed by the inositol triphosphate ($IP_3$) and calcium second messenger system in a virus-free strain. We cloned the gene cplc1 encoding a phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC), in order to better characterize the fungal gene regulation by hypovirus. Sequence analysis of the cplc1 gene indicated that the protein product contained both the X and Y domains, which are the two conserved regions found in all known PLCs, with a 133 amino acid extension between the 2nd ${\beta}$-strand and the ${\alpha}$-helix in the X domain. In addition, the gene organization appeared to be highly similar to that of a ${\delta}$ type PLC. Disruption of the cplc1 gene resulted in slow growth and produced colonies characterized by little aerial mycelia and deep orange in color. In addition, down regulation of lac1 expression was observed. However, temperature sensitivity, osmosensitivity, virulence, and other hypovirulence-associated characteristics did not differ from the wild-type strain. Functional complementation of the cplc1-null mutant with the PLC1 gene from Saccharomyces cerevisiae restored lac1 expression, which suggests that the cloned gene encodes PLC activity. The present study indicates that the cplc1 gene is required for appropriate mycelial growth, and that it regulates the lac1 expression, which is also modulated by the hypovirus. Although several PLC genes have been identified in various simple eukaryotic organisms, the deletion analysis of the cplc1 gene in this study appears to be the first report on the functional analysis of PLC in filamentous fungi.

• Mycobiology
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• 제28권4호
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• pp.177-179
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• 2000

A soft rot of fruits caused by Rhizopus nigricans occurred on peach (Prunus persica var. vulgaris) in The Chinju City Agricultural Products Wholesale Marke during in summer season of 2000. The disease infection usually started from wounding after harvest fruits, and then moved to outside. At first, the lesions started with water soaked and rapidly softened and diseased area gradually expanded. In severely infected film house, the rate of infected fruits reached 65.2%. Numerous sporangiospores were produced on the diseased fruits. Most of the sporangiospores were appeared to be readily dispersed in the air. The mycelia grew surface of fruits and produced stolons. Colonies on potato dextrose agar at $25{\sim}30^{\circ}C$ white cottony at first becoming heavily speckled by the presence of sporangia and the browinish black at maturity, spreading rapidly by means of stolons fired at various points to the substrate by rhizoids. Sporangia were $85.3{\sim}243.5{\times}53.4{\sim}219.2\;{\mu}m$ in size and were globose or sub-globose with. somewhat flattened base. The color of sporangia was white at first and then turned black with many spores, and never over-hanging. Sporangiophores were $8.9{\sim}36.6\;{\mu}m$ in width, smooth-walled, non-septate, light brown, simple, long, arising in groups of $3{\sim}5$ from stolons opposite rhizoids. Sporangiospores was $9.7{\sim}24.8{\times}5.9{\sim}15.8\;{\mu}m$, irregular, round, oval, elongate, angular, and browinish-black streaked. Columella was $70.2{\times}149.7{\mu}m$. brownish gray, and umberella-shaped when dehisced. The causal organism was identified as. Rhizopus nigricans Lind on the basis of the morphiogical characteristics of the fungus. Rhizopus soft rot on peach (Prunus persica) caused by the fungi has not been reported in Korea. This is the first report of rhizopus soft rot on peach caused by Rhizopus nigricans in Korea.

• Archives of Reconstructive Microsurgery
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• 제15권2호
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• pp.65-69
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• 2006

Purpose: We performed vastus lateralis (VL) muslce or myocutaneous flap for close of the trochanteric skin defect usually happened in paraplegia and report our 6 cases. Materials and Methods: Between March 2004 and August 2005 we performed 4 cases of VL muscule flap with skin graft and 2 cases of VL myocutaneous flap for close of the trochanteric skin defect in 6 paraplegia patients. There were 5 men and 1 woman and mean age was 52.2 years and mean diameters of skin defect was $8.3{\times}8.3\;cm$. The mean follow up period was 18 months. The survival of flap, complications, healing time and patient's satisfaction were evaluated. Results: All flaps were survived except 1 case of margin necrosis. In 2 cases, blood-serous discharges were continued after operation which might be due to dead space and treated with $2{\sim}3$ times debridement and delayed close. Mean time to heal the skin defect was 7.6 weeks. No infection and recurrence in follow up periods. Cosmetic results judged by patients are that 3 cases are good and 3 cases are fair. Conclusion: VL muscle and myocutaneous flap is good treatment method among the numerous methods in treatment-failed cases of trochanteric skin defects of paraplegia patients. This surgical procedure is simple, constant blood supply, good pliability, cosmetic results and also appliable to other skin defect of pelvis girdle like sacrum and ischium.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• 제49권4호
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• pp.217-221
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• 2011

Objective : This paper presents data from a retrospective study of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in patients with shunt malfunction and proposes a simple and reasonable post-operative protocol that can detect ETV failure. Methods : We enrolled 19 consecutive hydrocephalus patients (11 male and 8 female) who were treated with ETV between April 2001 and July 2010 after failure of previously placed shunts. We evaluated for correlations between the success rate of ETV and the following parameters : age at the time of surgery, etiology of hydrocephalus, number of shunt revisions, interval between the initial diagnosis of hydrocephalus or the last shunt placement and ETV, and the indwelling time of external ventricular drainage. Results : At the time of ETV after shunt failure, 14 of the 19 patients were in the pediatric age group and 5 were adults, with ages ranging from 14 months to 42 years (median age, 12 years). The patients had initially been diagnosed with hydrocephalus between the ages of 1 month 24 days and 32 years (median age, 6 years 3 months). The etiology of hydrocephalus was neoplasm in 7 patients; infection in 5; malformation, such as aqueductal stenosis or megacisterna magna in 3; trauma in 1; and unknown in 3. The overall success rate during the median follow-up duration of 1.4 years (9 days to 8.7 years) after secondary ETV was 68.4%. None of the possible contributing factors for successful ETV, including age (p=0.97) and the etiology of hydrocephalus (p=0.79), were statistically correlated with outcomes in our series. Conclusion: The use of ETV in patients with shunt malfunction resulted in shunt independence in 68.4% of cases. Age, etiology of hydrocephalus, and other contributing factors were not statistically correlated with ETV success. External ventricular drainage management during the immediate post-ETV period is a good means of detecting ETV failure.

• Journal of Plant Biotechnology
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• 제32권4호
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• pp.275-279
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• 2005

Brassica campestris var. narinosa는 새싹채소로 애용되는 식물로서 간단한 용기에서 손쉽게 재배할 수 있다. 본 연구에서는 vacuum-infiltration을 통한 Agrobacterium-mediated transformation에 의해서 B. campestris var. narinosa 싹에서의 GUS일시발현을 성공적으로 확인하였다. 발아전의 종자가 발아를 이미 시작한 종자보다 그 형질전환 효율이 높게 나타났다. 한편, hydrogen peroxide를 2일 생장시킨 싹에 처리한 후 형질전환 하였을 때 GUS발현이 증가되는 것을 관찰하였다. 간염항원유전자의 형질전환과 ELISA에 의한 항원단백질의 발현량 분석 시 hydrogen peroxide 처리 싹이 비처리 형질전환 싹에서 보다 2배 이상의 발현량이 측정되었다.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제17권3호
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• pp.456-464
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• 1984

Since the advent of potent chemotherapy, the incidence and severity of bronchiectasis have been on the decrease. Up to date, however, the medical treatment of bronchiectasis has not given us much satisfaction. Our purpose here is to show our experiences with pulmonary resections of bronchiectasis to clarify its surgical results and define its surgical indications. Sixty-five patients with bronchiectasis, treated surgically from January 1973 to December, 1982 at the Department of Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery, Kyungpook National University Hospital, were given clinical assessment. Of the 65 patients involved in the series, 49 were male and 16, female. The patients ranged from 8 to 51 in ages, with 59 cases [91%] between 10 and 39 years old. The prominent clinical features were as follows: cough [88%], sputum production [78%], recurrent upper respiratory infection [51%], and frequent hemoptysis [32%]. The past history of the patients included measles 29%, whooping cough 14%, pulmonary tuberculosis 12%, and pneumonia or bronchitis 12%. The cylindrical type of the bronchiectasis was found to be most common, accounting for 43% of the cases. The operations were performed on the left lung in 52 cases and the right lung in 13 cases. The most common operative procedure was the left lower lobectomy and lingular segmentectomy, which showed 34%. The second most frequent procedure was the simple left lower lobectomy which was 22%. Incomplete resections of the multisegmental bronchiectasis were carried out in 12 cases, of which 7 cases were satisfactory Four patients underwent bilateral pulmonary resections for the severe multisegmental bilateral bronchiectases, during the first and second operations. Improvement in pulmonary symptoms was generally obtained in all four cases. The follow-up ranged from 1 week to 7 tears, with an average of 18.8 months. The overall results revealed that 87% of these and excellent or good conditions, but 13% had persistent symptoms. There was one operative death, which is a 1.5% mortality.