• Clinics in Shoulder and Elbow
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.236-239
• /
• 2022

The objective of this article is to describe intraoperative pulmonary embolism during shoulder arthroscopy in a patient with previous severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection. Further, we describe how the pandemic has influenced the population by increasing the rate of embolisms. Awareness of such cases will help to increase knowledge regarding SARS-Cov-2 and to determine if such patients should receive routine antithrombotic prophylaxis.

• Clinical and Experimental Vaccine Research
• /
• v.12 no.2
• /
• pp.116-120
• /
• 2023

Purpose: In Japan, the data on severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) antibody titers after the booster dose of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine are insufficient. The aim of this study is to evaluate changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers before, 1, 3, and 6 months after the booster dose of the BNT162b2 COVID-19 vaccine among health care workers. Materials and Methods: A total of 268 participants who received the booster dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine were analyzed. SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers were measured before (baseline) and at 1, 3, and 6 months after the booster dose. Factors associated with changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 1, 3, and 6 months were analyzed. Cutoff values at baseline were calculated to prevent infection of the omicron variant of COVID-19. Results: The SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at baseline, and 1, 3, and 6 months were 1,018.3 AU/mL, 21,396.5 AU/mL, 13,704.6 AU/mL, and 8,155.6 AU/mL, respectively. Factors associated with changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 1 month were age and SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at baseline, whereas changes in SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 3 and 6 months were associated with the SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at 1 month. The cutoff values of the SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers at baseline were 515.4 AU/mL and 13,602.7 AU/mL at baseline and 1 month after the booster dose, respectively. Conclusion: This study showed that SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers increase rapidly at 1 month after the booster dose of the BNT162b2 vaccine and begin to decrease from 1 to 6 months. Hence, another booster may be needed as soon as possible to prevent infection.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Plant Pathology Conference
• /
• 1999.10a
• /
• pp.42.1-42
• /
• 1999

• The Plant Pathology Journal
• /
• v.37 no.6
• /
• pp.543-554
• /
• 2021

To preventively control fire blight in apple trees and determine policies regarding field monitoring, the Maryblyt ver. 7.1 model (MARYBLYT) was evaluated in the cities of Chungju, Jecheon, and Eumseong in Korea from 2015 to 2020. The number of blossom infection alerts was the highest in 2020 and the lowest in 2017 and 2018. And the common feature of MARYBLYT blossom infection risks during the flowering period was that the time of BIR-High or BIR-Infection alerts was the same regardless of location. The flowering periods of the trees required to operate the model varied according to the year and geographic location. The model predicts the risk of "Infection" during the flowering periods, and recommends the appropriate times to control blossom infection. In 2020, when flower blight was severe, the difference between the expected date of blossom blight symptoms presented by MARYBLYT and the date of actual symptom detection was only 1-3 days, implying that MARYBLYT is highly accurate. As the model was originally developed based on data obtained from the eastern region of the United States, which has a climate similar to that of Korea, this model can be used in Korea. To improve field utilization, however, the entire flowering period of multiple apple varieties needs to be considered when the model is applied. MARYBLYT is believed to be a useful tool for determining when to control and monitor apple cultivation areas that suffer from serious fire blight problems.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
• /
• v.47 no.2
• /
• pp.289-295
• /
• 2019

Acute diarrhea is a global health problem that causes high morbidity and mortality in children. Notably, enteric pathogen co-infections have been suggested to play an important role in gastroenteritis. In this study, we analyzed 1150 stool specimens of patients who visited the pediatric ward of Dongguk University Hospital in Gyeongju province from January 2011 to December 2017. The average isolation rate of potential stool pathogens over 7 years was 37.3% (429/1150), and coinfections were observed in 51 patients (51/429; 11.9%). In the 51 co-infection cases, the most frequent type of co-infection was found to be that of virus-bacteria (33/51). The most frequently detected bacterial pathogen among the co-infected cases was Clostridium spp. (22/51), out of which Clostridium perfringens was found to be the main pathogen (16/22; 72.7%). Escherichia coli spp. were the second most common bacterial pathogens found in 12 cases (12/51; 23.5%), with 10 cases of E. coli EPEC. Furthermore, the most frequently implicated viral pathogen among the co-infected cases was norovirus (16/51), followed by rotavirus (12/51).

• International Journal of Oral Biology
• /
• v.46 no.1
• /
• pp.1-6
• /
• 2021

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-2019), the infection has spread worldwide due to the highly contagious nature of severe acute syndrome coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2). To manage SARS-CoV-2, the development of diagnostic assays that can quickly and accurately identify the disease in patients is necessary. Currently, nucleic acid-based testing and serology-based testing are two widely used approaches. Of these, nucleic acid-based testing with quantitative reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR) using nasopharyngeal (NP) and/or oropharyngeal (OP) swabs is considered to be the gold standard. Recently, the use of saliva samples has been considered as an alternative method of sample collection. Compared to the NP and OP swab methods, saliva specimens have several advantages. Saliva specimens are easier to collect. Self-collection of saliva specimens can reduce the risk of infection to healthcare providers and reduce sample collection time and cost. Until recently, the sensitivity and accuracy of the data obtained using saliva specimens for SARS-CoV-2 detection was controversial. However, recent clinical research has found that sensitive and reliable data can be obtained from saliva specimens using RT-qPCR, with approximately 81% to 95% correspondence with the data obtained from NP and OP swabs. These data suggest that self-collected saliva is an alternative option for the diagnosis of COVID-19.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
• /
• v.46 no.4
• /
• pp.335-338
• /
• 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic, triggered by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), has not only impacted human health on a global scale but also raised concerns about the vulnerability of a wide array of animals that are in close contact with humans. Particularly, the potential for infection and the subsequent immune response in domestic pets such as dogs and cats remain largely unexplored under natural living conditions. In this study, we have undertaken the task of detecting and tracking the presence of antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in a small cohort of household pets-specifically, two dogs and two cats. Employing techniques such as the indirect ELISA and plaque reduction neutralization tests, we observed that the neutralizing antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in these animals were maintained for a duration of up to six months following their initial positive test result. This duration mirrors the antibody response documented in human cases of COVID-19, suggesting a comparable post-infection immune response timeline between humans and these domestic animals.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.6175-6179
• /
• 2012

Intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) are still important to the health of Thai rural residents. IPIs are the cause of many chronic diseases with, for example, opisthorchiasis resulting in progression to cholangiocarcinoma (CCA). This cross-sectional study in a prospective cohort study aimed to examine the prevalence and co-infection of intestinal parasites among Northeastern Thai rural residents, recruited into the Khon Kaen Cohort Study (KKCS), and who were residing in areas of high-risk for developing CCA. On recruitment, subjects had completed questionnaires and provided fecal samples for IPI testing using the formalin ethyl acetate concentration technique. Data on selected general characteristics and the results of the fecal tests were analysed. IPI test results were available for 18,900 of cohort subjects, and 38.50% were found to be positive for one or more types of intestinal parasite. The prevalence of Opisthorchis viverrini (O. viverrini) infection was the highest (45.7%), followed by intestinal flukes (31.9%), intestinal nematodes (17.7%), intestinal protozoa (3.02%), and intestinal cestodes (1.69%). The pattern of different infections was similar in all age groups. According to a mapping analysis, a higher CCA burden was correlated with a higher prevalence of O. viverrini and intestinal flukes and a greater intensity of O. viverrini. Both prevention and control programs against liver fluke and other intestinal parasites are needed and should be delivered simultaneously. We can anticipate that the design of future control and prevention programmes will accommodate a more community-orientated and participatory approach.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.31 no.1
• /
• pp.136-139
• /
• 2024

Rhabdomyolysis is a syndrome that causes various complications due to the release of substances from muscle cells, often associated with preceding infectious diseases. We report the case of a 7-year-old Korean boy with recent severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 infection, presenting with fever, chills, and generalized body aches, diagnosed as rhabdomyolysis. Additionally, we conducted a systematic review with the aim of delineating the disease spectrum, treatment, and outcomes. We identified seven reports that met the inclusion criteria. Among the cases, 5 had fever, with creatine kinase levels ranging from 3,717 and 274,664 IU/L. Two individuals received treatment in intensive care unit, 2 underwent renal replacement therapy, and 1 case has deceased. For children with coronavirus disease 2019 infection and muscle pain, a thorough examination of urine color and an assessment of muscle enzymes through blood tests can help diagnose and treat rhabdomyolysis, a condition that might otherwise be overlooked.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
• /
• v.25 no.5
• /
• pp.61.1-61.13
• /
• 2024

Importance: Ovine pulmonary adenomatosis (OPA) and maedi-visna disease (MVD) are chronic and progressive infectious diseases in sheep caused by Jaagsiekte sheep retrovirus (JSRV) and maedi-visna virus (MVV), respectively. Objective: To investigate the pathological changes and conduct viral gene analysis of OPA and MVD co-occurrence in Inner Mongolia, China. Methods: Using gross pathology, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, ultrastructural pathology, PCR, and sequence analysis, we investigated the concurrent infection of JSRV and MVV in 319 Dorper rams slaughtered in a private slaughterhouse in Inner Mongolia, in 2022. Results: Of the 319 rams included, 3 showed concurrent JSRV and MVV infection. Gross lung pathology showed diffuse enlargement, consolidation, and greyish-white miliary nodules on the lung surface; the trachea was filled with a white foamy fluid; hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes were significantly enlarged. Histopathology results revealed typical OPA and MVD lesions in the lung tissue. Immunohistochemical results were positive for JSRV envelope protein (Env) in the tumor cells and MVV CA in alveolar macrophages. Transmission electron microscopy showed several virions and autophagosomes in the lung tissue, severely damaged mitochondria, and the induced mitophagy. Nucleotide sequences obtained for JSRV env and MVV gag showed the highest homology with the Inner Mongolian strains of JSRV env (JQ837489) and MVV gag (MW248464). Conclusions and Relevance: Our study confirmed that OPA and MVD co-occurrence and identified the pathological changes in Inner Mongolia, China, thereby providing references for the identification of concurrent JSRV and MVV infections.