• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.183-192
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• 2000

Purpose : Adverse events(AE) associated with vaccination have not been systematically monitored in Korea. But since 1994, several deaths after inactivated mouse brain derived Japanese encephalitis vaccine injection arouse the safety problem of immunization in the public, and a evaluation of vaccination program including the effectiveness and safety problem had been started. We have been using MMR vaccine containing Japanese mumps vaccine strains, which are known to be associated with the high rate of adverse events including aseptic meningitis, for the last decade. Methods : We conducted a prospective study of vaccine adverse events associated with MMR vaccine through a tracking system using telephone calls. We followed up 7,594 cases of MMR vaccinees. Results : Reported adverse events included fever, couvulsion, parotitis, and aseptic meningitis. Nine cases of parotitis and seven cases of aseptic meningitis were recognized during follow up period. The incidence of both parotitis and aeptic meningitis was $85.1/10^5$, for Urabe mumps strain. For Hoshino strain, the incidence of parotitis and aseptic meningitis was $158.0/10^5$ and $94.8/10^5$, respectively. Conclusions : The incidence of adverse events was to be a higher than that of natural infection in Korea and was comparable to the results of studies done in other countries.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.19 no.2
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• pp.61-70
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• 2012

Purpose: This study was performed to compare the clinical characteristics of 2009 pandemic influenza A(H1N1) [A(H1N1) pdm09] and seasonal influenza A infection in the pediatric cancer patients. Methods: A retrospective review was performed in the pediatric cancer patients who had confirmed A(H1N1)pdm09 infection at Samsung Medical Center from August 2009 to February 2010. For the comparison, the medical records of pediatric cancer patients with seasonal influenza A from January 2000 to May 2009 were reviewed retrospectively. Results: Eighty-two A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were confirmed in the pediatric cancer patients. Ten patients (12.2%) developed complicated clinical course by lower respiratory infections or extrapulmonary infections; 4 pneumonia, 1 bronchitis, 1 pericarditis with pneumonia, 1 encephalitis with pneumonia, 2 meningitis and 1 pericarditis. Three patients received mechanical ventilator and ICU care. Three pediatric cancer patients (3.7%) died. The risk factors related to complicated A(H1N1)pdm09 infections were date of infection (44-45th week 2009) and nosocomial infection. When comparing with previous seasonal influenza A infections, more prompt and aggressive antiviral therapy was given in A(H1N1)pdm09 infections. Conclusion: The A(H1N1)pdm09 infections caused a various clinical manifestations including fatal cases in pediatric cancer patient during pandemic season. There was no significant difference in clinical course between influenza A(H1N1)pdm09 and seasonal influenza A infections except the antiviral treatment strategy.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.34 no.1
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• pp.77-83
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• 1994

Three viral strains, causing CPE in porcine alveolar macrophage cell, were isolated from aborted fetus, serum from young pig showing blue-ear sign and lung of suspected pig, respectively. The differential diagnostic results showed no characteristics of Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV), hog cholera virus (HCV), Japanese encephalitis virus(JEV), porcine parvovirus(PPV) and encephalomyocarditis virus (EMCV). However, positive reactions were demonstrated by IFA using monospecific porcine antibodies against Lelystad virus. When the paired sera of experimentally inoculated swine with one of isolate, KPRRSV-l were tested by IPMA, the result indicated that the isolate was related to United States isolate than European LV.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.11 no.4
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• pp.207-223
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• 2003

For last five years, we are developing the novel local drug delivery devices using biodegradable polymers, especially polylactide (PLA) and poly(D,L-lactide-co-glycolide) (PLGA) due to its relatively good biocompatibility, easily controlled biodegradability, good processability and only FDA approved synthetic degradable polymers. The relationship between various kinds of drug [water soluble small molecule drugs: gentamicin sulfate (GS), fentanyl citrate (FC), BCNU, azidothymidine (AZT), pamidronate (ADP), $1,25(OH)_2$ vitamin $D_3$, water insoluble small molecule drugs: fentanyl, ipriflavone (IP) and nifedipine, and water soluble large peptide molecule drug: nerve growth factor (NGF), and Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV)], different types of geometrical devices [microspheres (MSs), microcapsule, nanoparticle, wafers, pellet, beads, multiple-layered beads, implants, fiber, scaffolds, and films], and pharmacological activity are proposed and discussed for the application of pharmaceutics and tissue engineering. Also, local drug delivery devices proposed in this work are introduced in view of preparation method, drug release behavior, biocompatibility, pharmacological effect, and animal studies. In conclusion, we can control the drug release profiles varying with the preparation, formulation and geometrical parameters. Moreover, any types of drug were successfully applicable to achieve linear sustained release from short period ($1{\sim}3$ days) to long period (over 2 months). It is very important to design a suitable formulation for the wanting period of bioactive molecules loaded in biodegradable polymers for the local delivery of drug. The drug release is affected by many factors such as hydrophilicity of drug, electric charge of drug, drug loading amount, polymer molecular weight, the monomer composition, the size of implants, the applied fabrication techniques, and so on. It is well known that the commercialization of new drug needs a lot of cost of money (average: over 10 million US dollar per one drug) and time (average: above 9 years) whereas the development of DDS and high effective generic drug might be need relatively low investment with a short time period. Also, one core technology of DDS can be applicable to many drugs for the market needs. From these reasons, the DDS research on potent generic drugs might be suitable for less risk and high return.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.54 no.3
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• pp.237-243
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• 2018

The pathogenic free-living amoebas (FLAs), Acanthamoeba spp. and Naegleria fowleri, can cause fatal infections, including amoebic encephalitis. They are ubiquitously distributed in nature, including in diverse bodies of water. In order to survey Acanthamoeba spp. and N. fowleri in source water in Korea, we used culture-based real-time PCR to detect viable FLAs in 52 source water samples collected between July 2017 and December 2017. Acanthamoeba spp. and N. fowleri were detected in 42 samples (80.8%) and 6 samples (11.5%), respectively. Acanthamoeba spp. were detected at approximately the same frequency in all seasons, but N. fowleri was mainly detected in summer and autumn, with no N. fowleri detected in winter. These results demonstrate that these pathogenic FLAs, especially N. fowleri, which has caused deaths in the United States and China, are widely distributed in the Korean aquatic environment.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.4
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• pp.341-357
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• 2019

Acanthamoeba, one of free-living amoebae (FLA), remains a high risk of direct contact with this protozoan parasite which is ubiquitous in nature and man-made environment. This pathogenic FLA can cause sight-threatening amoebic keratitis (AK) and fatal granulomatous amoebic encephalitis (GAE) though these cases may not commonly be reported in our clinical settings. Acanthamoeba has been detected from different environmental sources namely; soil, water, hotspring, swimming pool, air-conditioner, or contact lens storage cases. The identification of Acanthamoeba is based on morphological appearance and molecular techniques using PCR and DNA sequencing for clinico-epidemiological purposes. Recent treatments have long been ineffective against Acanthamoeba cyst, novel anti-Acanthamoeba agents have therefore been extensively investigated. There are efforts to utilize synthetic chemicals, lead compounds from medicinal plant extracts, and animal products to combat Acanthamoeba infection. Applied nanotechnology, an advanced technology, has shown to enhance the anti-Acanthamoeba activity in the encapsulated nanoparticles leading to new therapeutic options. This review attempts to provide an overview of the available data and studies on the occurrence of pathogenic Acanthamoeba among the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members with the aim of identifying some potential contributing factors such as distribution, demographic profile of the patients, possible source of the parasite, mode of transmission and treatment. Further, this review attempts to provide future direction for prevention and control of the Acanthamoeba infection.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.77-84
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• 1972

Throughout the studies the following experimental results were obtained and summarized. 1. Treatment of MVE virus with acetone, Tween-ether and Tween-ether-protamine sulphate caused an eight to 16 fold increase in HA activity. 2. Treatment with acetone and Tween-ether resulted in a four fold increase in CF activity. Treatment with Tween-ether-protamine sulphate decreased the activity. 3. The crude virus showed a complete loss of infectivity after treatment with Tween-ether, but three log unit was, decreased with acetone treatment. 4. The HA activity of treated and crude virus was disappeared after heating at $37^{\circ}C$ for 60 minutes but CF activity was increased. 5. Tween-ether or acetone treatment equally applicable to the preparation of haemagglutinin for HI test. 6. Zonal centrifugation of crude virus in a linear ten to 60 percent sucrose gradient showed two peaks of CF activity, and one of high buoy ant density part accompanied by HA activity and infectivity and the other of lower density part. Acetone treatment brought a decrease of the high density CF activity but not affected the second peak of low density found with crude virus, and resulted in increased HA activity and decreased infectivity. The peaks of HA, CF and infectivity after acetone treatment were not clearly separated. Tween-ether treatment caused a loss of the peak of CF activity found in the area of high density with crude virus, but the peak in the area of low density was not affected. This peak of CF activity was separated from noninfectious HA activity. The HA and CF activities were considered to be contributed by different parts of the varion.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.51 no.6
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• pp.610-615
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• 2008

Purpose : Idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) is a relatively common hematological disease in children. It generally occurs after exposure to a common viral infection episode; however, it may occasionally follow immunization with measles, measles-mumps-rubella (MMR), hepatitis B (HBV), influenza, diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTP), or chickenpox vaccines. In this study, the incidence, clinical characteristics, and treatment outcome of vaccination-associated ITP were investigated and compared with non-vaccination-associated ITP. Methods : The admission records of 105 pediatric ITP patients between 0-14 years of age admitted to Department of Pediatrics, Wonkwang University Hospital from January 1994 to July 2007 were retrospecitively reviewed. Patients were grouped into a vaccination-associated group and a non-vaccination-associated group according to vaccination history within the previous 1 month, and various clinical features between the two groups were statistically analyzed. Results : Thirteen patients (12%) had a preceding vaccination. Eight had received DTP vaccination, 2 had received hepatitis B, and 1 each had received influenza, MMR, and Japanese B encephalitis vaccination. However, none of the patients had a recurrent thrombocytopenia after subsequent vaccinations. In the vaccination-associated group, the age was significantly lower, anemia was more common, and the risk period with blood platelet count $<20{\times}10^9/L$ was significantly shorter than for the in non-vaccination-associated group. Also, wet purpura was less prominent and the remission within 1month was more frequently achieved in the vaccination-associated ITP group. Conclusion : Vaccination-associated ITP patients showed mild symptoms with a more benign and shorter lasting course than non-vaccination-associated ITP patients. Moreover, platelet count assessment at the time of the next immunization may not be necessary.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.22 no.1
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• pp.102-108
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• 1984

This paper is the result of adult female mosquito and larval collection in U.S. Army Installations in Korea from 1979 to 1983. New Jersey light traps were operated for adult collection from May to October. The primary concern of this surveillance is to determine when to recommend insecticide spraying for mosquito control in the Army areas. The 5th Preventive Medicine Unit have developed an "index" level of female mosquitoes in a light trap similar to other U.S. Army Agencies in other parts of the world. When 10 female mosquitoes are reached on two consecutive trap-night, or 5 known vector females are collected, fogging is recommended in the trap areas. 1. Mosquito collections were conducted in 12 U.S. Army areas by operating 39 New Jersey light traps. Mosquitoes collected from the areas were identified to be 17 species comprising 3 genera. Anopheles sinensis (40%), Culex tritaeniorhynchus (31%), Aedes vexans nipponii (19 %) and Culex pipiens pallens (10%) appeared to be the most common species in the areas. 2. The species, population density and monthly appearance of adult mosquitoes were found to be almost the same in the all provinces involved. And Japanese Encephalitis vector mosquitoes, Culex tritaeniorhynchus, showed their seasonal fluctuation from July to September with a peak in August each year. 3. Larval habitats confirmed in the Army areas were categorized into 16 types as shown in Table 3. The mosquito larvae collected in those habitats were identified to be 15 species representing 4 genera. Most breeding sites in the Army areas were those which are activated during the wet season. 4. More mosquitoes were collected from the Kyungki Province than from the other Provinces. The reason for more collection of mosquitoes from military installations in the Kyungki Province appears to be the geographic characteristics surrounded by rice fields, marshes and other stagnant water areas.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.48 no.7
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• pp.753-759
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• 2005

Purpose : This study was performed to characterize clinical features of benign convulsions with gastroenteritis(CwG) in infants. Methods : We reviewed clinical features of 67 episodes in 64 patients with afebrile seizure accompanied gastroenteritis admitted to Dept. of Pediatrics Bundang CHA hospital from January 2001 to June 2004. Patients with meningitis, encephalitis/encephalopathy or apparent history of epilepsy were excluded. Results : There were 32 boys and 35 girls. The age of onset ranged from 1 to 42 months($18.5{\pm}6.1$ months). The number of children admitted to the hospital with acute gastroenteritis was 2,887 in the same period. The percentage of patients with CwG was 2.3. Seizure type was exclusively generalized tonic or tonic-clonic seizure. The average number of seizures during a single episode was 3.1 (range, 1-13). Two or more seizures occurred in 53(79.1%) of the 67 episodes. Antiepileptic drugs were administered for 42 episodes. Seizure did not cease after the administration of one kind of antiepileptic drug in 23 episodes(54.7%). The seizures were rather refractory to initial antiepileptic treatment. There were no abnormalities in serum biochemistry test including glucose and electrolytes. Cerebrospinal fluid was normal in all 54 episodes. Stool cultures were negative in 49 episodes. Rotavirus was positive in stools in 51(82.3%) of 62 episodes. Norovirus was positive in stools in 2 episodes and astrovirus in 1 of 18 episodes. CT and/or MRI were performed in 15 cases and demonstrated no neuroradiologic abnormalities. Of 73 Interictal EEG, initial 24 cases showed occasional spike or sharp wave discharges from the mid-line area during stage I-II sleep, which were apparently differentiated from vertex sharp transient or K-complexes. The mean follow-up period was 5.7 months(1-36 months). Three patients experienced a recurrence of CwG, but all patients exhibited normal psychomotor development at the last follow-up. Conclusion : Afebrile infantile convulsions with gastroenteritis are brief generalized seizure in cluster with normal laboratory findings and good prognosis. Therefore CwG is likely to be categorized as situation-related seizure of special syndrome. Recognition of this entity should lead to assurance of the parents and long-term anticonvulsant therapy is not usually warranted.