• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.35 no.2
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• pp.231-239
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• 2022

In this study, imported ornamental goldfish (Oranda and black moor) with high mortality was investigated with histopathological analysis. Fishes showed clinical symptoms characterized by gill necrosis and cumulative mortality ranging from 60% to 90% within a month after import from Thailand and China in 2021. CyHV-2 was detected in gill, kidney, spleen and liver of goldfishes. Histopathological analysis revealed epithelial necrosis, intranuclear inclusion bodies associated with viral symptoms in epithelial cell, macrophage infiltration and vacuolation in secondary lamella. In addition, disseminated granuloma formation was observed in various organs such as kidney, heart and mesenchymal membranes. These lesions refer to coinfections with CyHV-2 and other pathogens that cause chronic inflammation, which leads to mortality. Therefore, early disease monitoring needs to reduce the mortality when ornamental goldfish is imported.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.283-290
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• 2023

Hypercoagulability is frequently observed in patients with severe coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). Platelets are a favorable target for effectively treating hypercoagulability in COVID-19 patients as platelet hyperactivity has also been observed. It is difficult to develop a treatment for COVID-19 that will be effective against all variants and the use of antivirals may not be fully effective against COVID-19 as activated platelets have been detected in patients with COVID-19. Therefore, patients with less severe side effects often turn toward natural remedies. Numerous phytochemicals are being investigated for their potential to treat a variety of illnesses, including cancer and bacterial and viral infections. Natural products have been used to alleviate COVID-19 symptoms. Panax ginseng has potential for managing cardiovascular diseases and could be a treatment for COVID-19 by targeting the coagulation cascade and platelet activation. Using molecular docking, we analyzed the interactions of bioactive chemicals in P. ginseng with important proteins and receptors involved in platelet activation. Furthermore, the SwissADME online tool was used to calculate the pharmacokinetics and drug-likeness properties of the lead compounds of P. ginseng. Dianthramine, deoxyharrtingtonine, and suchilactone were determined to have favorable pharmacokinetic profiles.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.344-354
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• 2023

This study emphasizes the importance of early diagnosis and response to COVID-19, leading to the development of a rapid diagnostic kit using quantum dots. The research focuses on finely tuning bioconjugation with quantum dots to enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of COVID-19 diagnosis. We have developed a COVID-19 rapid diagnostic kit that exhibits a sensitivity more than 50 times higher than existing COVID-19 diagnostic kits. Quantum dots enable the accurate detection of COVID-19 viral antigens even at low concentrations, providing a rapid response in the early stages of infection. The COVID-19 quantum dot diagnostic kit offers quick analysis time, utilizing the quantum properties of particles to swiftly measure COVID-19 infection for immediate response and isolation measures. Additionally, this diagnostic kit allows for multiple analyses with ease, as multiple quantum dots can detect various antigens and antibodies simultaneously in a single experiment. This efficiency enhances testing, reduces sample requirements, and lowers experimental costs. The application of this diagnostic technology is anticipated in the future for early diagnosis and monitoring of other infectious diseases.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.3
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• pp.188-192
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• 2023

Acute hemorrhagic edema of infancy (AHEI) is a rare, benign, vascular condition that primarily affects infants, and is possibly associated with respiratory viral infections. A case involving a 47-day-old male infant, who was admitted with a 1-day history of fever, is presented. Initially, the patient developed an erythematous macular rash and patches on the hands and feet, along with swelling. The fever subsided after the first day of hospitalization, and the patient remained in generally good condition with normal oral intake. Timely recognition of AHEI is crucial to avoid unnecessary medical investigations or therapies, and to promptly identify any rare but potentially severe complications that may arise.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.123-132
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• 2024

Viral diseases cause enormous economic losses to the olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) aquaculture industry in Korea. This study aimed to identify immune-related genes expressed in the kidney of olive flounder injected with Polyinosinic-polycytidylic acid (Poly (I:C)). Thirty fish were divided into two groups by intraperitoneal injection of 100µl of diethylpyrocarbonate-treated water or poly I:C per fish. Kidney tissues at day 3 and 30 after the injection were used for RNA-seq analysis to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Poly I:C group upregulated il8, cfh, tnfaip2b, c3b.2, ly6d and cd38 genes at 3 days post-injection. Additionally, cd22, ccl34a.3, c9, cxcl19, ccl27a, ccl7, and cfh genes were upregulated at 30 days post-injection. Differential expression gene analysis showed that poly I:C has both short and long-term immune effects in olive flounder. This study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the molecular mechanism of the short and long-term immune effects of poly I:C.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.59 no.5
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• pp.497-503
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• 2005

Backgrounds : The exacerbations of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) have been suggested to be associated with respiratory tract viral infections (RTVIs). However, the rates of virus detection in previous studies have been quite variable, with lower rates for the exacerbation of COPD. Therefore, the virus detection of patients with exacerbation of asthma and COPD were investigated. Methods : 20 and 24 patients with exacerbation of asthma and COPD, respectively, were enrolled. Nasal and sputum samples were taken, and polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for rhinovirus and coronavirus and virus culture for influenza A, B, RSV and parainfluenza virus performed. Results : The mean $FEV_1/FVC$ in the exacerbation of asthma and COPD patients were 1.9/2.9 L (65.5%) and 1.1/2.6 L (42.3%), respectively. Respiratory virus was detected in 13 (65%) patients with exacerbation of asthma and rhinovirus was detected in 9. Coronavirus, influenza A, RSV and parainfluenza virus were detected in 2, 2, 1 and 1 patients with asthma. Among patients with exacerbation of COPD, a virus was detected in 14 (58.3%) patients, with rhinovirus, coronavirus and influenza A detected in 10, 3 and 4, respectively. Conclusions : This study suggested that RTVIs may have a role in the exacerbation of COPD as well as asthma.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.179-187
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• 2007

Purpose : Acute viral respiratory tract infection is the most common illness among children. Involved organisms are respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus, adenovirus, parainfluenza virus, etc. The objective of the present study is to determine epidemiology of each viral infection in Busan, South Korea between January 2004 and December 2006. Methods : We retrospectively analyzed the results of clinical samples of throat and nasal swab collected from Busan city, South Korea between January 2004 and December 2006. We collected these samples from the children with acute respiratory illness. Viruses were detected by virus culture Results : The identified pathogens were influenza A in 131 cases (46.6 percent), RSV in 40 cases (14.2 percent), influenza B in 37 cases (13.2 percent), adenovirus in 23 cases (8.2 percent), enterovirus in 37 cases (13.2%) [coxsackie virus in 20 cases (7.1 percent), atypical enterovirus in 9 cases (3.2 percent), poliovirus in 4 cases (1.4 percent), echovirus in 4 cases (1.4 percent)], rhinovirus in 9 cases (3.2 percent), parainfluenza virus in 2 cases (0.7 percent), coronavirus and bocavirus in each 1 case (0.4 percent). Influenza A were detected every year, mostly in December through April and RSV in October through February. Adenovirus were detected through out the year. Bocavirus occurred in December, 2006. Conclusion : We analyzed epidemiologic characteristics of viruses to cause the respiratory disease that prevailed at Busan area for recent three years, and from now on, a further continuous study will be necessary.

• 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.

• Research in Plant Disease
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.145-152
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• 2018

During 2015-2017, we surveyed the incidence of viral infections of tomato and paprika growing in greenhouses in Cherwon province, Korea. In 2015 and 2016, we collected leaves and fruits from tomato and paprika plants growing in greenhouses. We detected viruses in the samples collected using specific primer sets for Broad bean wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV), Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV), Pepper mottle mosaic virus (PepMoV), and Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV). We detected PMMoV, CMV, and TSWV in the samples, and CMV and TSWV were the most prevalent. For the prevention of future viral diseases, we then surveyed the routes of infection by these viruses in tomato and paprika plants growing in greenhouses in Cherwon province in 2017. Leaf and fruit samples were collected from seedlings and crops two and four months after transplanting into greenhouses. As a result, we found that TSWV was transferred from seedlings to plants, and outbreaks of the virus occurred at the early stage of cultivation. On the other hand, we found that CMV was a virus indigenous to the soil of some towns in Cherwon province, and thus outbreaks of this virus occurred at the middle stage of cultivation.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.73-83
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• 2023

Purpose: This study aimed to investigate the viral load dynamics in children with underlying malignancies diagnosed with symptomatic coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This was a retrospective longitudinal cohort study of patients <19 years old with underlying hemato-oncologic malignancies that were diagnosed with their first symptomatic severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-confirmed COVID-19 infection during March 1 to August 30, 2022. Review of electronic medical records and telephone surveys were undertaken to assess the clinical presentations and transmission route of the patients. Thresholds of negligible likelihood of infectious virus was defined as E gene reverse transcription (RT)-PCR cycle threshold (Ct) value ≥25. Results: During the 6-month study period, a total of 43 children with 44 episodes of COVID-19 were included. Of the 44 episodes, the median age of the patients included was 8 years old (interquartile range [IQR], 4.9-10.5), and the most common underlying disease was acute lymphoid leukemia (n=30, 68.2%), followed by patients post-hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (n=8, 18.2%). Majority of the patients had mild COVID-19 (n=32, 72.7%), and three patients (7.0%) had severe/critical COVID-19. Furthermore, 2.3% (n=1) died of COVID-19 associated acute respiratory distress syndrome. The largest percentage of the patients showed E gene RT-PCR Ct value ≥25 between 15-21 days (n=13, 39.4%), followed by 22-28 days (n=10, 30.3%). In 15.2% (n=5), E gene RT-PCR Ct value remained <25 beyond 28 days after initial positive PCR. Refractory malignancy status (β, 67.0; 95% confidence interval, 7.0-17.0; P=0.030) was significantly associated with prolonged duration of E gene RT-PCR <25. A patient with prolonged duration of E gene RT-PCR Ct value <25 was suspected to have infectivity shown by the transmission of the virus to his mother at day 86 after his initial positive test. Conclusions: Children that acquire symptomatic COVID-19 during refractory malignancy state are at a high risk for prolonged shedding warranting PCR-based transmission precautions in this cohort of patients.