• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.3
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• pp.120-125
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• 2016

Purpose: Viral gastroenteritis among children is mainly caused by rotavirus, norovirus, astrovirus, or adenovirus strains. However, changing socioeconomic conditions and a rotavirus vaccination program may be affecting the prevalence of these viral infections. Therefore, we aimed to elucidate the season-specific trends in viral infections for facilitating prophylaxis and surveillance in our region. Methods: We evaluated 345 pediatric patients (203 males, 142 females; age, 1 month to 16 years) who visited the CHA Bundang Medical Center because of gastroenteric symptoms between June 2014 and May 2015. The specimens were simultaneously tested for norovirus, rotavirus, astrovirus, and adenovirus via multiplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Clinical characteristics of patients were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The most common virus was norovirus, followed by rotavirus, adenovirus, and astrovirus. Of all viral infections, 45.2% occurred mainly between 6 and 24 months of age; in particular, norovirus infection mostly occurred in all age groups except those below 6 months of age, when rotavirus was most prevalent. In addition, seasonal variation was observed, such as norovirus infection from December to February, rotavirus infection from February to April, and adenovirus infection from July to October. Conclusion: Our results showed that the most common cause of acute pediatric viral gastroenteritis had changed from rotavirus to norovirus in our patients, because of effective rotaviral vaccination. We recommend the management of food and personal hygiene in accordance with age or seasons as well as active vaccination for preventing viral gastroenteritis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.59 no.11
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• pp.432-439
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• 2016

Asthma is recognized as a complex disease resulting from interactions between multiple genetic and environmental factors. Accumulating evidence suggests that respiratory viral infections in early life constitute a major environmental risk factor for the development of childhood asthma. Respiratory viral infections have also been recognized as the most common cause of asthma exacerbation. The advent of molecular diagnostics to detect respiratory viruses has provided new insights into the role of human rhinovirus (HRV) infections in the pathogenesis of asthma. However, it is still unclear whether HRV infections cause asthma or if wheezing with HRV infection is simply a predictor of childhood asthma. Recent clinical and experimental studies have identified plausible pathways by which HRV infection could cause asthma, particularly in a susceptible host, and exacerbate disease. Airway epithelial cells, the primary site of infection and replication of HRV, play a key role in these processes. Details regarding the role of genetic factors, including ORMDL3, are beginning to emerge. This review discusses recent clinical and experimental evidence for the role of HRV infection in the development and exacerbation of childhood asthma and the potential underlying mechanisms that have been proposed.

• CELLMED
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• v.1 no.1
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• pp.3.1-3.4
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• 2011

Emerging infectious diseases are usually a public concern. The presence of new emerging infectious diseases is a topic to be reported on and discussed about in medicine. Several new emerging infectious diseases have occurred within the present decade. In this specific review, the author briefly reviews the important new emerging human viral infections that first appeared in Asia during the present decade, 2001 - 2010.

• CELLMED
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• v.2 no.2
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• pp.13.1-13.3
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• 2012

Blood borne infectious diseases are usually a public concern. The transmissions of many diseases are via blood borne mode. Several activities are related to this transmission such as injection, blood transfusion and transplantation. Also, the acupuncture practice can be a possible route for blood borne infectious disease transmission. In this specific review, the author briefly reviews acupuncture and blood borne viral infections.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.182-190
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• 2017

Background: Respiratory viruses play a significant role in the etiology of acute respiratory infections and exacerbation of chronic respiratory illnesses. This study was conducted to identify the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of children with acute viral lower respiratory infections. Methods: This study investigated 1,168 children diagnosed with acute viral lower respiratory tract infections (RTIs) between January 2012 and December 2014. Specimens of respiratory viruses were collected using a nasopharyngeal swab and analyzed by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and analyzed the clinical features of children hospitalized for acute lower respiratory infections. Results: Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), the main cause of infection in children aged <5 years, was the most commonly detected pathogen in children with bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and resulted in high proportions of children requiring oxygen treatment and intensive care unit admission. Rhinovirus was preceded by RSV as the second most common cause of bronchiolitis and pneumonia, and was detected most frequently in the children aged ${\geq}6$ years. In addition, asthma was predominantly caused by rhinovirus in children aged ${\geq}6$ years, whereas croup was mostly caused by parainfluenza virus in those aged <5 years. Rhinovirus infection (p<0.001) and history of asthma (p=0.049) were identified as significant risk factors for readmission within a month. Conclusion: We identified the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of respiratory viruses in children with acute lower respiratory infections during the last 3 years. Our findings may provide useful clinical insight to comprehend the acute viral lower RTIs in children.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.44 no.2
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• pp.194-204
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• 2020

The detrimental impact of air pollution as a result of frequent exposure to fine particles posed a global public health risk mainly to the pulmonary disorders in pediatric and geriatric population. Here, we reviewed the current literature regarding the role of ginseng and/or its components as antimicrobials, especially against pathogens that cause respiratory infections in animal and in vitro models. Some of the possible mechanisms for ginseng-mediated viral inhibition suggested are improvements in systemic and mucosa-specific antibody responses, serum hemagglutinin inhibition, lymphocyte proliferation, cell survival rate, and viral clearance in the lungs. In addition, ginseng reduces the expression levels of proinflammatory cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF-α, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8) and chemokines produced by airway epithelial cells and macrophages, thus preventing weight loss. In case of bacterial infections, ginseng acts by alleviating inflammatory cytokine production, increasing survival rates, and activating phagocytes and natural killer cells. In addition, ginseng inhibits biofilm formation and induces the dispersion and dissolution of mature biofilms. Most clinical trials revealed that ginseng, at various dosages, is a safe and effective method of seasonal prophylaxis, relieving the symptoms and reducing the risk and duration of colds and flu. Taken together, these findings support the efficacy of ginseng as a therapeutic and prophylactic agent for respiratory infections.

• Journal of Ginseng Research
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• v.47 no.2
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• pp.347-348
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• 2023

Vaccines help protect people from infections. However, Coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) vaccinees often still become infected with COVID-19 variants (breakthrough infections) and may go on to suffer from long COVID symptoms due to short-lasting immunity and less-effective protection provided by available vaccines. Moreover, the current COVID-19 vaccines do not prevent viral transmission and ward off only about 15% of breakthrough infections. To prepare more effective vaccines, it is essential to predict the viral strains that will be circulating based on available epidemiological data. The World Health Organization recommends in advance which influenza strains are expected to be prevalent during influenza season to guide the production of influenza vaccines by pharmaceutical companies. However, future emerging COVID-19 strain(s) have not been possible to predict since no sound epidemiological information has been established. Thus, for more effective protection, immune stimulators alone or in combination with vaccines would be preferable to protect people from COVID-19 infection. One of those remedies would be ginseng, which has been used for potentiating immunity in the past.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.231-235
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• 2009

Viral infections and root growth were examined to elucidate the relationship between viral resistance and root growth in 26 Korean hulless barley cultivars. Viral resistance was estimated in experimental filed of Honam agricultural research institute for 3 years. Length and number of seminal and adventitious roots were examined for evaluation of root growth in both field and green-house conditions 30 days after seeding. Dominant viral infection occurred in Korean hulless barley by Barley yellow mosaic virus (BaYMV) in fields; however, susceptible cultivars were infected by either BaYMV, Barley mild mosaic virus (BaMMV) or both. Only four cultivars, including Donghanchalssalbori, Kwangwhalssalbori, Namhossalbori and Naehanssalbori, presented stable resistance to viral infections. Susceptible cultivars to viral infection in fields showed shorter seminal root length and fewer adventitious root number than resistant cultivars. Resistant cultivars showed better root growth and significant difference in adventitious root length in green house conditions. Increase in the number of seminal roots in resistant cultivars was derived from decreased damage of roots by the viral infection compared to the susceptible cultivars.

• Korean Journal of Organic Agriculture
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• v.23 no.1
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• pp.123-131
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• 2015

In this study, viral disease samples were obtained between 2006 and 2010 from pepper fields in 11 major pepper-growing districts in Gangwon-do, and in 83 areas from other provinces, with the exception of Gyeongsangnam-do and Jeju island in Korea. In order to assess the type of infection, field surveys were conducted with regard to viral disease severity and virus type, based on typical symptoms on leaves. The means of single and mixed-virus infections were 46.6% and 48.0%, respectively, during those periods, suggesting that viruses are the agents that most severely decrease pepper production in field cultivation in Korea. In terms of single infection, Cucumber mosaic virus (CMV) was the most prevalent virus based on its disease severity ratings (34.8%). Next, Pepper mild mottle virus (PMMoV) and Pepper mottle virus (PepMoV) were shown to cause severe viral diseases in pepper, with disease severities of around 5-10%. On the other hand, Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) occurs in a limited area in Chungcheongnam-do and Jeollanam-do. Thus, the viral disease caused by CMV, PMMoV, and PepMoV in pepper can be severe, and these virus types should remain considered critical reasons for decreased pepper production in field cultivation in Korea. In addition to single infection, mixed infections are frequently observed in collected pepper samples from all areas. The ratios of mixed infection were therefore studied to evaluate the disease severity of mixed infections and to define individual virus types. These data showed that different types of viruses were present, and CMV was the most abundant virus for mixed infection, as in the case of single infection. Among mixed infections, the highest disease severity was seen with CMV+Broad beam wilt virus 2 (BBWV2), followed by other types of mixed infection such as CMV+PepMoV and CMV+PMMoV. However, further work is needed to reduce the severe damage caused by viruses and to assess mixed infection types involving three or more viruses.

• Childhood Kidney Diseases
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.118-124
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• 2015

Purpose: The symptoms and signs of urinary tract infection (UTI) in early infancy are non-specific. Prompt diagnosis of UTI is important, as untreated UTI results in renal damage. Especially, febrile UTI in young infants coexist with other serious bacterial infections. The purpose this study was to propose modified Rochester criteria to differentiate viral infection from urinary tract infection. Methods: We carried out a retrospective investigation of 168 infants less than three months old with a tympanic temperature $>38^{\circ}C$ who were admitted to Chung-Ang University Hospital between 2011 and 2014. We compared the symptoms, physical examination results, and laboratory data between viral infection and UTI groups. A modified Rochester criterion was composed of statistically significant factors. Results: A total of 76 and 92 infants with UTI and a viral infection, respectively, were included. Statistically significant differences in gender, previous admission history, neutrophil ratio, and urine WBC count were found between the two study groups. Using a cut off value of 3 points, the sensitivity and specificity of the modified Rochester criteria were 71.28% and 78.57%, respectively. Conclusion: The modified Rochester criteria may give an outline for identifying young infants with UTI.