• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.25 no.6
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• pp.109-117
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• 2020

An edutainment system aims to help learners to recognize problems effectively, grasp and classify important information needed to solve the problems and convey the contents of what they have learned. Edutainment contents can be usefully applied to education and training in the both scientific and industrial areas. Our present work proposes an edutainment system that can be applied to a drug discovery process including virtual screening by using intuitive multi-modal interfaces. In this system, a stereoscopic monitor is used to make three-dimensional (3D) macro-molecular images, with supporting multi-modal interfaces to manipulate 3D models of molecular structures effectively. In this paper, our system can easily solve a docking simulation function, which is one of important virtual drug screening methods, by applying gaming factors. The level-up concept is implemented to realize a bio-game approach, in which the gaming factor depends on number of objects and users. The quality of the proposed system is evaluated with performance comparison in terms of a finishing time of a drug docking process to screen new inhibitors against target proteins of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in an e-drug discovery process.

• Journal of Korean Society of Disaster and Security
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.23-40
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• 2021

In the era of the global coronal 19 pandemic, there is a risk of cross-infection in hospitals at the stage where treatments and vaccines are currently being developed and marketed, so individuals should enhance their acquired immunity and generalize their living systems by the performance of copper ions in the social environment. In order to prevent the spread of infection, the need for anti-bacterial film and its efficacy were analyzed through anti-viral performance tests based on research and development cases of worldwide and immemorial time. he Korea Construction Research Institute (KCL) has received anti-bacterial performance certification and anti-viral test scores from the "National Approval Performance Certification Agency." At the time, NCCP 43326 Human Corona virus (BetaCoV/Korea/KCDC03/2020), which was approved by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, was introduced to ensure that the activity rate of infected cells was satisfied in the anti-viral performance test. Anti-proliferation measures for the Corona 19 virus require a quality clinical trial study comparing the experimental group within the glass space where the antiviral copper film is constructed with the comparator of the same condition without copper film.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.94-100
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• 2022

Chronic infection by hepatitis B virus (HBV) greatly increases the risk for liver cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The outcome of HBV infection is shaped by the complex interplay of the mode of transmission, host genetic factors, viral genotype, adaptive mutations, and environmental factors. The pregenomic RNA transcription of HBV for their replication is regulated by the core promoter activation. Core promoter mutations have been the reason for acute liver failure and are associated with HCC development. We obtained HBV genes from a patient in Myanmar who was infected with HBV and identified gene variations in the core promoter region. For measuring the relative transactivation activity of the core promoter, we prepared the core-promoter reporter construct. Among the gene variations of the core promoter, the mutations of C1731T and G1806A were associated with increase in the transactivation of the HBV core promoter. Through computer analysis for searching for a tentative transcription factor binding site, we showed that the mutations of C1713T and G1806A newly created C/EBPβ and XBP1-responsive elements of the core promoter, respectively. The ectopic expression of C/EBPβ largely increased the HBV core promoter containing the C1713T mutation and that of XBP1 activated the M95 promoter containing the G1806A mutation. Our efforts to treat and prevent HBV infections are hampered by the emergence of drug-resistant mutations and vaccine-escape mutations. Our results provide the biological properties and clinical significance of specific HBV core promoter mutations.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.2
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• pp.245-257
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• 1998

Purpose : Although hepatitis B vaccine has been available to general population in Korea since 1983, it was difficult to compare various types of hepatitis B virus(HBV) vaccines primarily due to the differences in vaccination schedule, dosage, test methods and seropositive antibody level. In this study we reviewed the results of previous studies published in Korea, which include antibody positive rates and antibody titers of various vaccines, and examined the immunogenicity of these HBV vaccines. Methods : Studies published in medical journals, university journals concerning antibody positive rates following hepatitis B vaccination were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were those studies in which seroprotective antibody rate of 10mIU/mL or the sample ratio unit of 10 RU were used as the cut-off value and in which the test methods were RIA or ELISA. Exclusion criteria were; 1) unclear or inconsistent vaccine dosage, 2) no record of antibody titers or seroconversion rate, 3) no defined antibody rate or ratio for positive rating and 4) the vaccination schedule other than 0-1-2 months or 0-1-6 months. Results : 23 out of 52 studies were subjected for the review for seroconversion rates. 1) As for the immunogenicity in each age group, the seroconversion rates of Hepaccine(Cheil Jedang) were 85.1% in infants, 83.3% in children and 62.7% in adults, indicating higher rates in infants and children compared to adults(P<0.01). The seroconversion rates of Hepavax(Korea Green Cross) were 84.7%, 81.1% and 90.8%, indicating higher rates in infants and adults compared to children(P<0.01). 2) The seroconversion rate of Hepavax was 85.6% with 0-1-6 mo. schedule, 78.5% with 0-1-2 mo. schedule with a statistically significant difference(P<0.01). 4) There was no difference of seroconversion rates between the two doses of Hepavax, $5{\mu}g$ and $10{\mu}g$ in infants and children. 5) In adults the seroconversion rates were 62.7% with Hepaccine, 90.8% with Hepavax, and 94.8% with Engerix-B(SmithKline Beecham). Conclusion : In Korea, the incidence of chronic hepatitis B is high and changing the schedule in vaccination cannot contribute to the increase of the serocoversion rate. And in order to maximize immunogenicity, more effective vaccines as well as more proper vaccination methods should be used.

• Journal of Life Science
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.365-373
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• 2010

To monitor newly emerged influenza virus variants and to investigate the prevalence pattern, our laboratory performed isolation of the viruses from surveillance sentinel hospitals. In the present study, we analysed influenza A/H1N1, A/H3N2, B viruses isolated in Busan during the 2006/07 and 2007/08 seasons by sequence analysis of the hemagglutinin (HA1 subunit) and neuraminidase (NA) genes. The isolates studied here were selected by the stratified random sample method from a total of 277 isolates, in which 15 were A/H1N1, 16 were A/H3N2 and 29 were B. Based on the phylogenetic tree, the HA1 gene showed that A/H1N1 isolates had a 96.7% to 97.7% homology with the A/Brisbane/59/2007, A/H3N2 isolates had a 98.4% to 99.7% homology with the A/Brisbane/10/2007, and B isolates had a 96.5% to 99.7% homology with the B/Florida/4/2006(Yamagata lineage), which are all the vaccine strains for the Northern Hemisphere in 2008~2009 season. In the case of the NA gene, A/H1N1 isolates had 97.8% to 98.5% homologies, A/H3N2 isolates had 98.9% to 99.4% homologies, and B isolates had 98.9% to 100% homologies with each vaccine strain in the 2008~2009 season, respectively. Characterization of the hemagglutinin gene revealed that amino acids at the receptor-binding site and N-linked glycosylation site were highly conserved. These results provide useful information for the control of influenza viruses in Busan and for a better understanding of vaccine strain selection.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.102-113
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• 2003

Purpose : Acute respiratory tract infections are the most common illnesses in children. The great majority of these infections involving lower respiratory tracts infections(LRTI) are caused by respiratory viruses such as respiratory syncytial virus(RSV), parainfluenza virus (PIV), influenza virus(INF), adenovirus(ADV), etc. Our purpose of this study was to examine the seasonal occurrence, clinical and laboratory features of each viral infections. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates(NPA) were collected from 913 hospitalized children on the first day of admission. They were all admitted to Hangang Sacred Heart hospital and diagnosed as LRTIs. The study period was from September 1998 to August 2002. Specimens were inoculated onto HEp-2 cell, LLC-MK2 cell and MDCK cell. Viruses were detected by immunofluorescent method performed at day 10 postinoculation. Respiratory viruses were detected in 251(27%) cases. Medical records of 208 cases diagnosed as acute LRTIs were all taken reviewed and analyzed. Results : The identified pathogens were RSV 122 cases(58%), PIV 30 cases(14%), INFA 20 cases(10%), INFB 21 cases(11%) and ADV 15 cases(7%) during the study period. Outbreaks of RSV infections occurred every year but mostly on December, 1998 and November, 1999. LRTIs by PIV and ADV occurred during all seasons of the year. INFA was isolated moslty on March, 1999 and January, 2000. INFB infections occurred largely on April, 2002. The clinical diagnoses were bronchiolitis 88 cases(43%), pneumonia 87 cases(42%), croup 19 cases(9%) and tracheobronchitis 14 cases(6%). Common symptoms and signs were cough, rhinorrhea, sputum and fever. WBC counts in peripheral blood showed normal findings in 123 cases(59%). Each viral infections also showed some differences in auscultatory findings and chest X-ray findings. Conclusion : We learned that viruses are one of the major and important etiologic agents of acute LRTIs of children in Korea. However, we still need to find out more about its characteristic clinical features and continue studying on their seasonal occurrence to focus on their management and also prevention.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.18 no.2
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• pp.154-162
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• 2011

Purpose : The aim of this study was to identify the clinical characteristics of lower respiratory tract infection due to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) in young children and to provide information for an effective guideline for palivizumab administration in Korea. Methods : We reviewed medical charts of 167 patients under 3 years of age who were hospitalized in Dongguk University Ilsan Hospital for lower respiratory tract infection between January 2007 and February 2011. Diagnosis of the virus was made based on the multiplex real time polymerase chain reaction. Results : There were 113 patients who were infected by respiratory syncytial virus. 90 patients were term infants and 23 patients were preterm infants. No difference was shown between term and preterm infants except the days of admission which was 9.0${\pm}$6.0 days and 12.6${\pm}$21.0 days respectively. In the preterm group their mean age at the time of admission was 5.21${\pm}$4.9 months and the mean gestational age was 33.1${\pm}$4.3 weeks, and the mean birth weight was 2,152${\pm}$950 g. Only 4 patients were born under 28 weeks gestational age and were candidates for palivizumab administration. Conclusion : Most of the patients with severe RSV lower respiratory tract infection were term or near term infants who were not candidates for palivizumab prophylaxis. A nationwide study is needed to make a new risk stratified guideline for RSV prophylaxis for our country.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.51 no.2
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• pp.135-146
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• 2001

Background : One of the important mechanisms responsible for a tumor escaping the immune response is an absence of the tumor associated antigen (TAA) on the cancer cell surface. To overcome this, combination gene therapy using a herpes simplex thymidine kinase (HSTK) gene, prototype of drug sensitizing gene, was conducted to enhance T AA release by cell destruction, as well as the cytokine genes for immune cell attraction. Methods : We investigated whether or not transduction with the adenovirus-HSTK (Ad-HSTK) enhanced the sensitivity of Lewis lung carcinoma (LLC) to ganciclovir (GCV) and induced a bystander effect. A Tumor vaccine trial was performed using LLC with ad-HSTK$\pm$ad-GM-CSF$\pm$ad-IL-2 to determine if they exhibit some antitumor effect on established lung cancer xenografts. Results : LLC with ad-HSTK revealed a much higher sensitivity to ganciclovir (GCV). LLC transduced with ad-HSTK and/or ad-IL-2, ad-GM-CSF showed a lower in vivo tumorigenicity. In the treatment experiment, vaccination with LLC transduced with ad-HSTK, ad-IL-2, or ad-GM-CSF alone modestly suppressed the growth of an established tumor. Combined transduction with HSTK and GM-CSF induced stronger growth suppression of a established lung cancer, while HSTK and IL-2 combination transduction did not have any antitumor effect on individual transduction. Vaccination with LLC-HSTK-GM-CSF increased the infiltration of dendritic cells in the spleen. Conclusion : It was concluded that a tumor vaccine transduced with HSTK and GM-CSF induces strong antitumor immunity by activating the dendritic cells.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.20 no.1 s.21
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• pp.129-136
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• 1987

To determine the hepatitis 8 virus infection rate of the medical school students and appropriate time for immunization with hepatitis B vaccine,355 students in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd grades of Medical School of Kyungpook National University who had not been vaccinated and volunteered to participate in this study were tested for HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc with radioimmunoassay method (Abbott Lab. kit). A questionnaire was administered to ask the history of transfusion, acupuncture and surgery. HBsAg positive students were retested 16 months after the initial test. Overall HBsAg positive rate was 6.8% and the age adjusted rate for male (7.2%) was higher than that for female (4.9%). Anti-HBs positive rate was 35.3% (36.1% for male, 37.9% for female) and anti-HBc positive rate was 45.5% (46.5% for male,44.7% for female). Overall hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection rate was 49.1% and the infection rate for male (50.3%) was slightly higher than that for female (46.5%). HBsAg positive rate and infection rate were increased as the grade increased but it was attributed to the age distribution of the students. HBaAg positive rate for 20 years old students was 1.7%; 21 years, 6.6%; 22 years, 6.1%; 23 years, 12.2%; and 24 years and older, 6.4%. HBV infection rate showed an increasing trend as age increased; 45.8% for 20 years,41.5% for 21 years, 49.5% for 22 years, 55.5% for 23 years and 59.6% for 24 years and older. The age differences in HBsAg positive rates and HBV infection rates did not reach the statistical significance level of 0.05. However, these findings and similar age differences in HBsAg positive rates and HBV infection rates observed in other study suggest that there is a significant age differences. Study of the same age group in other schools and different social classes is warranted to confirm the age difference. Clarification of the reason for such differences would provide a clue to identify the major route of HBV transmission in this age group. Among 26 HBsAg positive students in the initial test, only one student was active hepatitis patient. Out of 24 students who had follow-up test after 16 months 22 students were positive for HBaAg and two students became HBsAg negative and anti-HBs positive. It is obvious that nearly one-half of the medical school students were infected with HBV before 20 years of age and the HBV infection occurs in medical school. Thus, it is recommended to test all the students for HBV infection soon after the admission to the medical school and immunize all the susceptible students with hepatitis B vaccine and give booster as they start to practice at a hospital.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.6 no.2
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• pp.219-233
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• 1999

Purpose : Respiratory syncytial virus(RSV) is the major cause of lower respiratory tract infection in infants and young children. This study was performed to analyze antigenic and genetic variation of G protein of subgroup A RSV. Methods : One hundred seventy-nine strains isolated at the Seoul National University Children's Hospital over 8 years-period from 1990 through 1998 were analysed for antigenic and genetic variability. Analysis was made by reactivity with monoclonal antibodies raised against RSV, and by restriction mapping and, for selected strains, nucleotide sequencing following amplification of full sequence of G gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction. Results : Restriction fragment analysis of the amplified G protein gene revealed 23 restriction patterns, 12 of which included more than 2 isolate, and the most frequent genetic type comprised 30% of the strains. Indirect immunofluorescent staining with monoclonal antibodies revealed 6 antigenic types with one predominant pattern accounting for 91% of the total strains. The most frequent antigenic type had 21 restriction patterns, and some viruses with same restiction pattern had different monoclonal antibody reaction pattern. Nucleotide sequence homology of subgroup A was 91~93% between reference(A2, Long) and Korean isolates, 93~99% among Korean isolates. Maximum-parsimony analysis demonstrated that Korean isolates were distinct from reference strains and subgroup A strains were clustered in 4 groups. Conclusion : The restriction analysis pattern of G protein gene identified greater diversity within subgroup A than was seen with the monoclonal analysis and a variety of antigenic and genetic types of RSV are circulating in Korea which are different from reference strains or strains isolated from other countries.