• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.80 no.2
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• pp.113-135
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• 2017

Asthma is traditionally regarded as a chronic airway disease, and recent literature proves its heterogeneity, based on distinctive clusters or phenotypes of asthma. In defining such asthma clusters, the nature of comorbidity among patients with asthma is poorly understood, by assuming no causal relationship between asthma and other comorbid conditions, including both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. However, emerging evidence suggests that the status of asthma significantly affects the increased susceptibility of the patient to both communicable and noncommunicable diseases. Specifically, the impact of asthma on susceptibility to noncommunicable diseases such as chronic systemic inflammatory diseases (e.g., rheumatoid arthritis), may provide an important insight into asthma as a disease with systemic inflammatory features, a conceptual understanding between asthma and asthma-related comorbidity, and the potential implications on the therapeutic and preventive interventions for patients with asthma. This review discusses the currently under-recognized clinical and immunological phenotypes of asthma; specifically, a higher risk of developing a systemic inflammatory disease such as rheumatoid arthritis and their implications, on the conceptual understanding and management of asthma. Our discussion is divided into three parts: literature summary on the relationship between asthma and the risk of rheumatoid arthritis; potential mechanisms underlying the association; and implications on asthma management and research.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.400-406
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• 2008

To examine the relationship between plant hormones and the development of pepper anthracnose, we investigated the effects of several plant hormones on the progression of disease symptoms. Of the five plant hormones examined, abscisic acid (ABA) increased the lesion length and disease incidence on detached fruits of Capsicum annuum cv. Nokkwang. The simultaneous application of ABA with inoculation of Colletotrichum acutatum JC24 resulted in increased lesion length, depending the concentration of ABA applied. Additionally, application of ABA caused the development of pepper anthracnose in fruits of Capsicum baccatum cvs. PBC80 and PBC81, which were previously resistant to the disease. Furthermore, ABA administration rendered increased pathogenicity of other isolates of C. acutatum BAC02063, PECH10, and TCBNU3 obtained from the Chinese matrimony vine, peach, and tea tree, respectively. Our data suggest that exogenous ABA may result in the suppression of defense mechanisms of pepper fruits against anthracnose, which leads to a change in the susceptibility of pepper fruits and the development of pepper anthracnose.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.15-21
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• 2013

Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) is one of the most widely used therapeutic agents based on its pharmacological actions, including anti-inflammatory, analgesic, anti-pyretic, and anti-thrombotic effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of aspirin on seizure susceptibility and hippocampal neuropathology following pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus (SE). SE was induced by pilocarpine hydrochloride (280 mg/kg, i.p.) administration in C57BL/6 mice (aged 8 weeks). Aspirin was administered daily (15 mg/kg or 150 mg/kg, i.p.) for 10 days starting 3 days before SE, continuing until 6 days after SE. After pilocarpine injection, SE onset time and mortality were recorded. Neuronal cell death was examined using cresyl violet and Fluoro-Jade staining, and glial responses were observed 7 days post SE using immunohistochemistry. In the aspirin-treated group, the onset time of SE was significantly shortened and mortality was markedly increased compared to the control group. However, in this study, aspirin treatment did not affect SE-induced neuronal cell death or astroglial and microglial responses in the hippocampus. In conclusion, these results suggest that the safety of aspirin should be reevaluated in some patients, especially with neurological disorders such as temporal lobe epilepsy.

• The Plant Pathology Journal
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• v.34 no.5
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• pp.435-444
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• 2018

Receptor-like proteins (RLPs) are involved in plant development and disease resistance. Only some of the RLPs in tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) have been functionally characterized though 176 genes encoding RLPs, which have been identified in the tomato genome. To further understand the role of RLPs in tomato, we performed genome-guided classification and transcriptome analysis of these genes. Phylogenic comparisons revealed that the tomato RLP members could be divided into eight subgroups and that the genes evolved independently compared to similar genes in Arabidopsis. Based on location and physical clustering analyses, we conclude that tomato RLPs likely expanded primarily through tandem duplication events. According to tissue specific RNA-seq data, 71 RLPs were expressed in at least one of the following tissues: root, leaf, bud, flower, or fruit. Several genes had expression patterns that were tissue specific. In addition, tomato RLP expression profiles after infection with different pathogens showed distinguish gene regulations according to disease induction and resistance response as well as infection by bacteria and virus. Notably, Some RLPs were highly and/or unique expressed in susceptible tomato to pathogen, suggesting that the RLP could be involved in disease response, possibly as a host-susceptibility factor. Our study could provide an important clues for further investigations into the function of tomato RLPs involved in developmental and response to pathogens.

• Journal of fish pathology
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.149-159
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• 2021

Genus Megalocytivirus cause red sea bream iridoviral disease (RSIVD) and scale drop disease (SDD). Based on the phylogeny of the major capsid protein (MCP) and adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) genes, megalocytiviruses except for SDD virus (SDDV) could be three different genotypes, red sea bream iridovirus (RSIV), infectious spleen and kidney necrosis (ISKNV), and turbot reddish body iridovirus (TRBIV). In this study, primary cells derived from the caudal fin of rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) grew at 25℃ in Leibovitz's medium supplemented with 10% (v/v) fetal bovine serum and primocin (100 ㎍/mL). Rock bream fin (RBF) cells exhibited susceptibility to infections by different genotypes of megalocytiviruses (RSIV, ISKNV and TRBIV) with the appearance of cytopathic effects with an increase in the viral genome copy number. Furthermore, compared to grunt fin (GF) cells, even though 10 times lower number of RSIV genome copies were inoculated in RBF cells, viral genome copy number produced on RBF cells were 44 times higher than that of GF cells at 7 d post-inoculation. As the isolated RBF cells are sensitive to different genotypes of megalocytiviruses (RSIV, ISKNV and TRBIV), they can be used for future studies regarding in vitro viral infection and subsequent diagnosis.

• Communications for Statistical Applications and Methods
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.603-624
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• 2020

There is an emerging interest in brain functional connectivity (FC) based on functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Alzheimer's disease (AD) studies. The complex and high-dimensional structure of FC makes it challenging to explore the association between altered connectivity and AD susceptibility. We develop a pipeline to refine FC as proper covariates in a penalized logistic regression model and classify normal and AD susceptible groups. Three different quantification methods are proposed for FC refinement. One of the methods is dimension reduction based on common component analysis (CCA), which is employed to address the limitations of the other methods. We applied the proposed pipeline to the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) data and deduced pathogenic FC biomarkers associated with AD susceptibility. The refined FC biomarkers were related to brain regions for cognition, stimuli processing, and sensorimotor skills. We also demonstrated that a model using CCA performed better than others in terms of classification performance and goodness-of-fit.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.72 no.3
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• pp.275-283
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• 2012

Background: Healthy individuals who develop nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) lung disease are likely to have specific susceptibility factors which can lead to a NTM infection. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying innate immune responses, including the role of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), in Mycobacterium abscessus lung disease. Methods: Extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK1/2) and p38 MAPK expression in monocytes from peripheral blood mononuclear cells were measured by Western blot analysis after stimulation by Mycobacterium avium in five patients with M. abscessus lung disease and seven healthy controls. A M. avium-induced cytokine assay was performed after inhibition of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK pathways. Results: Mycobacterium avium induced p38 and ERK1/2 expression in monocytes from healthy controls and subsequently upregulated tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-${\alpha}$, interleukin (IL)-6, and IL-10 production. In monocytes from patients with M. abscessus lung disease, however, induction of p38 and ERK1/2 expression, and the production of TNF-${\alpha}$, IL-6, and IL-10 were significantly lower. Conclusion: Decreased activity of MAPK and cytokine secretion in monocytes from patients with M. abscessus lung disease may provide an explanation regarding host susceptibility to these uncommon infections.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.47 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 2007

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an important bacterial pathogen that causes chronic gastritisand is associated with gastroduodenal ulcer disease, adenocarcinoma of the distal stomach, and gastricH. pylori infection associated with host agehave not been well-defined in human. To evaluate the difference in host susceptibility to infection in relationto age of acquisition of H. pylori infection, we designed an experiment involving inoculation of H. pyloriATC 43504 at different ages of Mongolian gerbils. H. pylori was inoculated at 5 weeks and 18 monthsof age, as representatives of early and late infection, respectively. Animals were sacrificed 1 week and 4weeks after challenge, and the stomach was removed from each animal for bacterial culture, histologicalexamination, and polymerase chain reaction test. 5 week-old gerbils revealed infection andmaintained continuously its infection until 4 weeks. However, old gerbils did not maintained H. pyloriinfection. These data suggest the insusceptibility of H. pylori in old Mongolian gerbils and the importanceof animal ages for successful animal experimental infection. Also, the results demonstrated that earlyinfection of H. pylori increases its host susceptibility, as compared to the case with later infection, possiblybecause of differences in host gastric mucosal factors and imunologic responses.

• Journal of Veterinary Clinics
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.23-26
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• 2017

Otitis externa (OE) is an inflammatory disease of the externa auditory meatus that occurs commonly in dogs. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests should be performed in case of chronic OE for successful treatment. In this study, identification and antimicrobial susceptibility test of bacteria isolated from dogs with chronic OE was performed. From 60 dogs with chronic OE, 60 bacterial species were identified. The most frequently identified species were Staphylococcus spp. (51%), followed by Pseudomonas spp. (15%) and Enterococcus spp. (14%). A single bacterial infection and multiple bacterial infections were observed in 67.5% and 32.5%, respectively. Staphylococcus spp. was susceptible to imipenum. Pseudomonas spp. was found to be susceptible to amikacin, cefepime, imipenum and piperacillin-tazobactam. Enterococcus spp. was susceptible to ampicillin-sulbactam, imipenum and piperacillin-tazobactam. Imipenum was highly susceptible antibiotic against both Gram-positive and negative bacteria whereas aztreonam and vancomycin were highly resistant. These results could suggest the optimal choice of antimicrobial agents for canine OE treatment.

• Child Health Nursing Research
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.149-160
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• 2023

Purpose: Based on the health belief model and theory of planned behavior, this study investigated how age group (adolescence and emerging adulthood) moderated the relative effects of perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, and subjective norms on preventive behavior against coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods: This secondary data analysis utilized data from adolescents (n=272) and emerging adults (n=239). Hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed to test the moderating effect of age group on the relationships among variables. Results: Higher perceived susceptibility (β=.21, p<.001), perceived severity (β=.14, p=.002), subjective norms (friends) (β=.26, p<.001), subjective norms (parents) (β=.44, p<.001), and subjective norms (schools) (β=.28, p<.001) enhanced COVID-19 preventive behaviors. Moderated regression analysis showed that subjective norms (friends and school) impacted preventive behavior in adolescents more than in emerging adults. Conclusion: Given the need to increase perceived susceptibility and severity among adolescents and emerging adults, these findings provide baseline data for designing effective COVID-19 prevention interventions that consider the developmental characteristics of different age groups. Interventions by health centers at universities can strengthen COVID-19 preventive behavior among emerging adults. As adolescents are influenced by friends, their peer roles must be strengthened to enhance adherence to COVID-19 preventive guidelines.