• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.48 no.4
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• pp.314-318
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• 2012

Most types of collagen used for biomedical applications, such as cell therapy and tissue engineering, are derived from animal tissues. Therefore, special precautions must be taken during the production of these proteins in order to assure against the possibility of the products transmitting infectious diseases to the recipients. The ability to remove and/or inactivate known and potential viral contaminants during the manufacturing process is an ever-increasingly important parameter in assessing the safety of biomedical products. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacies of the 70% ethanol treatment and pepsin treatment at pH 2.0 for the inactivation of bovine viruses during the manufacture of collagen type I from bovine hides. A variety of experimental model viruses for bovine viruses including bovine herpes virus (BHV), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), bovine parainfluenza 3 virus (BPIV-3), and bovine parvovirus (BPV), were chosen for the evaluation of viral inactivation efficacy. BHV, BVDV, BPIV-3, and BPV were effectively inactivated to undetectable levels within 1 h of 70% ethanol treatment for 24 h, with log reduction factors of ${\geq}5.58$, ${\geq}5.32$, ${\geq}5.11$, and ${\geq}3.42$, respectively. BHV, BVDV, BPIV-3, and BPV were also effectively inactivated to undetectable levels within 5 days of pepsin treatment for 14 days, with the log reduction factors of ${\geq}7.08$, ${\geq}6.60$, ${\geq}5.60$, and ${\geq}3.59$, respectively. The cumulative virus reduction factors of BHV, BVDV, BPIV-3, and BPV were ${\geq}12.66$, ${\geq}11.92$, ${\geq}10.71$, and ${\geq}7.01$. These results indicate that the production process for collagen type I from bovine hides has a sufficient virus-reducing capacity to achieve a high margin of virus safety.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.46 no.10
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• pp.1019-1023
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• 2003

Purpose : To determine the differences in clinical characteristics, blood chemistry and coronary artery complications between patients with Kawasaki disease who received intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) within the fourth day of illness and after the fifth day of illness. Methods : A retrospective chart review was conducted of all children with Kawasaki disease who were admitted to Ewha Mokdong Hospital between January 2001 and June 2002. The early treatment group received IVIG within the fourth day of illness(n=34) and the control group received IVIG after the fifth day of illness(n=53). Clinical manifestations, fever duration, hospitalization days, CBC, blood chemistry and coronary artery complications were compared between two groups. Results : No demographic differences were noted between the two groups(P>0.05). Total duration of fever was significantly shorter in the early treatment group than the control group($4.8{\pm}2.5days$ vs $7.4{\pm}3.0days$, P<0.05), but there were no differences in fever duration after IVIG treatment and hospitalization days between two groups(P>0.05). No significant differences were noted in the level of hemoglobin, WBC, ESR, CRP, AST, ALT and albumin between two groups(P>0.05). No significant differences in the incidence of IVIG retreatment were noted between the two groups(11.8% vs 5.7%, P>0.05). No significant differences in the incidence of coronary artery complications were noted between the two groups(11.7% vs 18.9%, P>0.05). No significant differences in the recurrence rate were noted between the two groups(3% vs 2%, P>0.05). Conclusion : Early IVIG treatment in patients with Kawasaki disease reduces the total fever duration. Coronary artery complications were not increased in patients with early IVIG treatment.

• The Korean Journal of Nuclear Medicine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.9-18
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• 1997

The therapeutic efficacy of antipsychotic drugs is generally attributed to their ability to block dopamine $D_2$ receptors. Classical $D_2$ antagonists are not effective to treat negative symptoms and produce extrapyramidal side effects On the other hand, atypical antipsychotic agents ameliorate negative symptoms without producing extra-pyramidal side effects, and it is reported to be associated with blockade of serotonin $5-HT_2$ receptors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of risperidone on neuroreceptors in the rat brain by Quantitative autoradiography method. In acute treatment group, risperidone was injected into Peritoneal cavity of male Wistar rats with dose of 0, 0.1, 0.25, 0.5, 1.0 and 2.0mg/kg in each group(5/group), and they were decapitated after 2 hours. In chronic treatment group, risperidone was injected with dose of 0, 0.1, and 1mg/kg(I.P.) for 21 days and decapitated after 24 hours following last treatment. The effect of risperodone on the binding of [$^3H$]spiperone to $5-HT_2$ and $D_2$ receptors were analysed in 4 discrete regions of the striatum, nucleus accumbens, and frontal cortex by quantitative autoradiography Acute treatment with risperidone reduced cortical $5-HT_2$ specific [$^3H$]spiperone binding to 32% of vehicle-treated control. Subcortical $5-HT_2$ specific [$^3H$]spiperone binding was not affected at all dose groups whereas a significant reduction (57%) in $D_2$ specific [$^3H$]spiperone binding was observed in risperidone treated group at doses of 1-2mg/kg. Chronic treatment with risperidone produced a decrease in the maximal number of cortical $5-HT_2$ receptors to 51% and 46% of control in 0.1mg/kg & 1mg/kg treated group respectively. In conclusion, risperidone is a cortical serotonin receptor antagonist with relatively weak antagonistic action on dopamine receptors. These effects oil neuroreceptors may explain the therapeutic effect of risperidone as a atypical antipsychotic agents.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.25 no.2
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• pp.345-355
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• 2017

This study was conducted to evaluate rice seed disinfection efficacy of loess-sulfur for the suppression of Bakanae disease caused by Fusarium fujikuroi. Rice seeds were treated at different concentrations of loess-sulfur, soaking time and temperature, and combination of hot-water treatment. Rice cultivar, Shindongjin harvested from Bakanae disease-infested area in 2015, was used. Loess-sulfur was treated as follows; concentration of undiluted solution, 2%, 1% and 0.5%; soaking time of 24 and 48 hours; treatment temperature of $20^{\circ}C$ and $30^{\circ}C$; hot water treatment or not. Optimal conditions of rice seed disinfection were selected soaking time of 48 hours and the suspension of 0.5% and 1% loess-sulfur by investigating seed germination and isolation frequency of Fusarium spp. on Komada agar medium in vitro, and were established 3 disinfection conditions as hot water ($60^{\circ}C$, 10 min.) + 1% loess-sulfur ($20^{\circ}C$, 48 hours), 1% loess-sulfur only ($30^{\circ}C$, 48 hours) and 1% loess-sulfur only ($20^{\circ}C$, 48 hours) through additional test in greenhouse. Above 3 conditions were verified by rice seedling box and paddy field test in the way of investigating Bakanae diseased plants (%) and healthy plants (%). Consequently, most effective rice seed disinfection conditions on Bakanae disease were combination of hot water and 1% loess-sulfur and loess-sulfur only at $30^{\circ}C$. Furthermore, treatments with these conditions showed control value of 100% were maintained from seedling to the heading stage in the field. However, treatment of 1% loess-sulfur only at $20^{\circ}C$ showed low control value of 78.2% in paddy field. Hot water only treatment turned out to be an effective disinfection method when conducted thoroughly with $60^{\circ}C$, 10 min. However, it was thought additional soaking process with loess-sulfur after hot water treatment served more high control effect against Bakanae disease when rice seeds were disinfected on a large scale. This results expected rice seed disinfection with loess-sulfur were effectively and easily usable method if farmers had only one of either hot water-disinfector or seed-disinfector. In addition, loess-sulfur is well-known to farmers, simple to manufacture method and cheap.

• Journal of Food Hygiene and Safety
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• v.35 no.1
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• pp.68-74
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• 2020

This study investigated the inactivation and synergistic efficacy of combined low-temperature heating (LT) and atmospheric plasma (AP) against Escherichia coli in red pepper powder. A cocktail of two strains of E. coli (ATCC 11229, KCCM 11234) was inoculated onto red pepper powder and then treated with LT (60℃ for 5-20 min) and AP (atmospheric plasma for 5-20 min). The counts of E. coli in the red pepper powder were significantly (P<0.05) reduced with the increase in treatment time using LT and AP. The reduction of E. coli levels in red pepper powder when treated with LT alone for 5, 10, 15, and 20-min were 0.25, 1.45, 2.54, and 2.85 log₁₀ CFU/g, respectively. Also, the reduced levels of E. coli on red pepper powder when treated with AP alone for 5, 10, 15, and 20 min were 0.19, 0.32, 0.54, and 0.96 log₁₀ CFU/g, respectively. The synergistic effects were not dependent on the treatment time with AP, but were dependent on the LT treatment time. Synergistic reduction values for combined LT and AP treatment against E. coli in red pepper powder were -0.13 to 2.91 log₁₀ CFU/mL, respectively. Especially, the largest synergistic values (2.91-2.82 log₁₀ CFU/mL) of E. coli in red pepper powder were revealed by the combination of a 20-min treatment with LT and a 15-20-min treatment with AP. All sensory parameters (color, off-odor, taste, texture, and overall acceptability) were not significantly (P>0.05) different between non-treated and all combination-treated samples. Therefore, these results suggest that the combination of LT and AP can be potentially utilized in the food industry to effectively inactivate E. coli without incurring quality deterioration in red pepper powder.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.390-394
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• 1993

Background: Bronchiectasis is characterized by chronic sputum production and complications such as hemoptysis and repeated infections. Even though some patients are cured by surgical resection of bronchiectatic lesions, most bronchiectasis patients can not be treated surgically because of multiple site involvement, and they are treated by medical measures such as postura1 drainage and antibiotics when indicated. Recently there have been some reports that low-dose longterm erythromycin treatment is effective on bronchiectsis, and it is well known that low-dose longterm erythromycin treatment is the treatment of choice in diffuse panbronchiolitis which is characterized by chronic sputum production and dyspnea. To evaluate the efficacy of erythromycin, we tried erythromycin on twenty five stable bronchiectasis patients for more than six months. Methods: We tried erythromycin 250 mg b.i.d. for more than 6 months. We checked respiratory symptoms, chest PA, spirometry, and side effects before treatment and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results: 1) 32% of the patients showed marked improvement of symptoms and PFT. 32% showed slight improvement of symptoms with little change of PFT, and 36% showed no change of symptoms and signs. 2) Analysis of the patients showing marked improvement revealed that most of them had diffuse bronchiectasis and paranasal sinus involvement. Conclusion: These results suggest that low-dose longterm erythromycin treatment can be tried on diffuse bronchiectasis patients with sinus involvement. And further studies will be followed on the mechanism of erythromycin in bronchiectasis.

• Clinical and Experimental Reproductive Medicine
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.87-94
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• 2007

Objective: To examine determinants of successful pregnancy and evaluate COH-IVF outcomes of infertile patients after conservative surgical treatment of borderline ovarian tumor (BOT). Methods: In women of BOT (n=93), from January 1995 to December 1999, 44 of 93 women underwent conservative surgical treatment. From theses 44 women, patients characteristics, surgical and histological parameters were compared between 14 women who conceived and 30 women who failed to conceive. For 5 infertile women of 30 women who failed to conceive, 10 attempt IVF cycles were analysed; clinical pregnancy rate (CPR), implantation rate (IR) and live birth rate (LBR). Results: Women who conceived tend to be younger (25.9 vs 27.0 years) and lower serum CA-125 level (59.7 vs 72.9) compared to women who failed to conceive without significant difference. For 8 cycles out of 10 attempt IVF cycles, except for 2 cancellation cycles, the mean number of oocytes retrieved was 5.6 (range 2$\sim$16) with a mean fertilization rate of 74.4%. The CPR, IR and LBR per embryo transfer were 50.0% (4/8 cycles), 31.6% (6/19) and 50.0% (4/8 cycles) respectively. During the mean follow-up period after COH-IVF initiation, 29.6 (range 14$\sim$61) months, no recurrence was found. Conclusion: No determinant of successful pregnancy was found after conservative treatment for BOT. COH-IVF may be considered for infertile patients after conservative treatment of BOT. However, larger clinical studies with longer follow-up are necessary to evaluate the safety and efficacy of COH-IVF. All patients should be informed of the potential risks associated with ovarian hyperstimulation and close follow-up is necessary after COH-IVF.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.19-25
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• 2002

Purpose: The triple therapy with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) has been recognized as the treatment of choice in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection in adults. However, the effect of triple therapy with omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin (OAC) on eradication of H. pylori infection in children has not been established yet. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of OAC triple therapy and to compare the effect of one-week with two-week therapy on H. pylori eradication. Methods: From July 1998 to July 2000, 34 children with upper gastrointestinal symptoms, who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy at entry and 4 or more weeks after therapy, were enrolled in this study. H. pylori infection was assessed by CLO test and histologic examination (Hematoxylin-Eosin stain or Alcian yellow stain) with biopsy specimens. The regimen consisted of omeprazole (0.7 mg/kg/day), amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/day), and clarithromycin (25 mg/kg/day) for 1 week (n=21) or 2 weeks (n=13). Eradication of H. pylori was determined after the termination of treatment by the CLO test and histologic examination. Results: One-week treatment group consisted of 21 children (11 male, 10 female) with a mean age of $9.5{\pm}3.0$ years. Two-week group consisted of 13 children (4 male, 9 female) with a mean age of $9.9{\pm}4.0$ years. The endoscopic diagnoses included nodular gastritis in 19 cases, superficial gastritis in 7 cases, gastric ulcer in 4 cases, purpuric duodenitis in 2 cases, and normal in 2 cases. H. pylori was eradicated in 28 of total 34 children (82.4%). In 1-week group, H. pylori was eradicated in 17 of 21 children (81%). In 2-week group, H. pylori was eradicated in 11 of 13 children (84.6%). In remaining 6 cases in whom H. pylori had not been eradicated with OAC regimen, H. pylori infection persisted despite of the treatment with additional drugs such as colloidal bismuth subcitrate ($Denol^{(R)}$) and metronidazole. Conclusion: In this study, eradication rate of H. pylori with OAC regimen was 82.4%, and the triple therapy would be highly effective as primary treatment. However, there was no significant difference in the eradication rate between the 1-week and 2-week treatment group (P=0.785).

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.37-45
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• 2024

Purpose: This study aimed to examine the clinical features and determinants of macrolide-unresponsive Mycoplasma pneumoniae pneumonia (MUMP) and to assess the differences in the time to fever resolution between doxycycline (DXC), tosufloxacin (TFX) and corticosteroid (CST) as second-line treatment. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the medical records of patients under the age of 18 who were admitted to Nowon Eulji University Hospital between July 2018 and February 2020, diagnosed with mycoplasma pneumonia. Macrolide resistance was confirmed by detecting point mutations in the 23S rRNA gene. MUMP was clinically defined by persistent fever (≥38.0℃) lasting for 72 hours or more after the initiation of macrolide treatment. In cases of MUMP, patients were treated with an addition of CST, or the initial macrolide was replaced either DXC or TFX. Results: Out of 157 cases of mycoplasma pneumonia, 83 cases (52.9%) did not respond to macrolides. Patients with MUMP exhibited significantly higher C-reactive protein (CRP) levels (3.2±3.0 vs. 2.4±2.2 mg/dL, P=0.047), more frequent lobar/segmental infiltrations or pleural effusions (56.6% vs. 27.0%, P<0.001; 6.0% vs. 0.0%, P=0.032), and a higher prevalence of 23S rRNA gene mutations (96.4% vs. 64.6%, P<0.001) when compared to those with macrolide-susceptible M. pneumoniae pneumonia. In terms of second-line treatment, 15 patients (18.1%) responded to CST, 30 (36.1%) to DXC, and 38 (45.8%) to TFX. The time to defervescence (TTD) after initiation second-line treatment was significantly shorter in the CST group compared to the DXC (10.3±12.7 vs. 19.4±17.2 hours, P=0.003) and TFX groups (10.3±12.7 vs. 25.0±20.1 hours, P=0.043), with no significant difference observed between the DXC and TFX groups (19.4±17.2 vs. 25.0±20.1 hours, P=0.262). Conclusions: High CRP levels, the presence of positive 23S rRNA gene mutation, lobar or segmental lung infiltration, and pleural effusion observed in chest X-ray findings were significant factors associated with macrolide unresponsiveness. In this study, CST demonstrated a shorter TTD compared to DXC or TFX. Further, larger-scale prospective studies are needed to determine the optimal second-line treatment for MUMP.

• Journal of Medicine and Life Science
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.40-48
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• 2024

Understanding the effectiveness of statin treatment is essential for developing tailored stroke prevention strategies. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of statin treatment in preventing recurrent stroke among patients with various ischemic stroke subtypes. Using data from the Clinical Research Collaboration for Stroke-Korea-National Institute for Health (CRCS-K-NIH) registry, we included patients with acute ischemic stroke admitted between January 2011 and July 2020. To evaluate the differential effects of statin treatment based on the ischemic stroke subtype, we analyzed patients with large artery atherosclerosis (LAA), cardio-embolism (CE), and small vessel occlusion (SVO). The primary outcomes were recurrent ischemic stroke and recurrent stroke events. The hazard ratio for outcomes between statin users and nonusers was compared using a Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for covariates. A total of 46,630 patients who met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. Statins were prescribed to 92%, 93%, and 78% of patients with LAA, SVO, and CE subtypes, respectively. The hazards of recurrent ischemic stroke and recurrent stroke in statin users were reduced to 0.79 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.63-0.99) and 0.77 (95% CI, 0.62-0.95) in the LAA subtype and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.52-0.76) and 0.63 (95% CI, 0.53-0.75) in CE subtype compared to nonusers. However, the hazards of these outcomes did not significantly decrease in the SVO subtype. The effectiveness of statin treatment in reducing the risk of recurrent stroke in patients with LAA and CE subtypes has been suggested. Nonetheless, no significant effect was observed in the SVO subtype, suggesting a differential effect of statins on different stroke subtypes.