• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.29 no.4
• /
• pp.325-338
• /
• 1991

The present study was undertaken to determine the endemicity of trematode infections in Yongyang County, Kyungpook Province, Korea. One hundred and seventy-seven out of 955 residents examined were found to be infected with one or more kinds of helminthes. The prevalence rate was 18.5%. Among them, 70 were found to be infected with Clenorchis sinensis, 74 with Meta-gonimus sp. and 2:l with both flukes. The eggs of Fasciolidae were demonstrated from two specimens. The prevalence rate of clonorchiasis in males was 12.6%, while that in females was 3.6% (p<0.05). The prevalence of metagonimiasis in males was 12.0% and was also significantly higher than 6.1% in females (p<0.05). The intensity of both infections was significantly heavier in males than in females. The prevalence of both nukes was higher in residents of oyer 30 years of age than in those below that age. No correlation was found between the intensity and the age group. Among eight species of the fresh-water fish collected at the Panbyon River, Zacco temmincki was found to be the most frequently and heavily infested with metacercariae of Metagonimus sp., and Gnathopogon asromaculatus alone was found to be infested with metacercariae of Clonorchis sinensis. The present results suggest that Yongyang area still remains endemic with Clonorchis sinensis and Metagonimus sp. infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.37 no.4
• /
• pp.243-248
• /
• 1999

The present study analyzed serum IgG subclass antibody reaction to major antigenic bands of Clonorchis sinensis to investigate improvement of its serodiagnosis. Of the four subclass antibodies, IgG1 and IgG2 antibodies were produced but not specific, IgG3 antibody was least produced, and IgG4 antibody was prominent and specific. The serum IgG antibody reaction to any of 43-50, 34-37, 26-28, and 8 kDa bands was found in 65.5％ of 168 egg positive cases while IgG4 antibody reaction was found in 22.0％ of them. The positive rates of IgG and IgG4 antibodies were directly correlated with the intensity of infection. All of the sera from heavily infected cases over EPG 5,000 showed positive reaction for specific IgG and IgG4 antibodies. The specific serum IgG4 antibody disappeared within 6 months after treatment. The bands of 35 kDa and 67 kDa cross-reacted with IgG antibodies but not with IgG4 antibodies in sera of other trematode infections. The present findings suggest that serum IgG4 antibody reaction to 8 kDa band is specific but not sensitive. Any method to increase its sensitivity is required for improved serodiagnosis.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.53 no.4
• /
• pp.421-430
• /
• 2015

The parasite Plasmodium falciparum causes severe malaria and is the most dangerous to humans. However, it exhibits resistance to their drugs. Farnesyltransferase has been identified in pathogenic protozoa of the genera Plasmodium and the target of farnesyltransferase includes Ras family. Therefore, the inhibition of farnesyltransferase has been suggested as a new strategy for the treatment of malaria. However, the exact functional mechanism of this agent is still unknown. In addition, the effect of farnesyltransferase inhibitor (FTIs) on mitochondrial level of malaria parasites is not fully understood. In this study, therefore, the effect of a FTI R115777 on the function of mitochondria of P. falciparum was investigated experimentally. As a result, FTI R115777 was found to suppress the infection rate of malaria parasites under in vitro condition. It also reduces the copy number of mtDNA-encoded cytochrome c oxidase III. In addition, the mitochondrial membrane potential (${\Delta}{\Psi}m$) and the green fluorescence intensity of MitoTracker were decreased by FTI R115777. Chloroquine and atovaquone were measured by the mtDNA copy number as mitochondrial non-specific or specific inhibitor, respectively. Chloroquine did not affect the copy number of mtDNA-encoded cytochrome c oxidase III, while atovaquone induced to change the mtDNA copy number. These results suggest that FTI R115777 has strong influence on the mitochondrial function of P. falciparum. It may have therapeutic potential for malaria by targeting the mitochondria of parasites.

• Proceedings of the Korean Aquaculture Society Conference
• /
• 2004.05a
• /
• pp.513-513
• /
• 2004

Manila clam, Ruditapes philippinarum, is commercially and ecologically important marine bivalve in Korea and japan. However, clam landings in the two countries have dramatically declined since the 1980-1990's. In the present study, the protozoan parasite, Perkinsus sp., lectin (host's defense-related glycoprotein) and histopathological features were investigated in Manila clams collected from Gomso Bay in Korea and Ariake Bay in japan (one of the largest clam beds in each country) during summer and fall, 2002-2003. DNA sequences of non-transcribe spacer (NTS), internal transcribed space. (ITS) and 5.85 rRNA of Perkinsus sp. were identical to those of P. atlanticus that was reported in Europe and Korea. For diagnosis of Perkinsus, the fluid thioglycollate medium (FTM) and the 2 M NaOH lysis methods were used. Prevalence of the parasite varied from 92.5-98.7% in Gomso Bay and 35.5-37.9% in Ariake Bay. Infection intensity, in terms of the number of Perkinsuscells per gram tissue wet weight, in the clams of Gomso Bay in fall 2002 averaged 1,010,077-470,937 recording approximately100 times higher than that of Ariake Bay, and these were twice higher than those of summer samples in each location. Mean hemagglutination titer of the clams from Gomso Bay was approximately 60-folds higher than that of clams from Ariake Bay in 2002. In histological preparation of the clams from Gomso Bay in 2002, trophozoites of P. atlanticus were in groups and resulted in severe inflammatory response of host clam. Prevalence of the trematod, Cercaria tapes-like in the clams of Gomso Bay and Ariake Bay were 8.8 % and 10.5% respectively. In conclusion, the clams from Gomso Bay showed more severe pathologic symptoms and higher immune response than those of the clams from Ariake Bay.

• Journal of Biomedical Engineering Research
• /
• v.36 no.5
• /
• pp.191-197
• /
• 2015

Laser acupuncture is defined as the stimulation of traditional acupuncture points with low-intensity, nonthermal laser irradiation. Possible advantages in using laser acupuncture are the noninvasive, painless and low risks of infection treatment. The purpose of this study is to assess the effect of laser acupuncture on the quality and waveform of arterial pulses. Ten acupuncture points were stimulated repeatedly three times in 30 individuals by laser with emission in the near infrared spectral region (808 nm) using an out power and power density of 45 mW and $143W/cm^2$. The analysis of pulse quality and waveform was performed based on the measurement of arterial pressure of the left and right wrist, using a 3-dimensional blood pressure pulse analyzer. Excess-like pulse quality of subjects before laser acupuncture changed significantly to balanced pulse quality after 10, 20, and 30 minutes of laser acupuncture; coefficient of deficient or excess, $C_{DE}$, decreased significantly from 0.68 before acupuncture to 0.61, 0.55, and 0.55 after 10, 20, 30 minutes of laser acupuncture ($$p{\leq_-}0.006$$), respectively. Other pulse qualities, floating or sinking, slow or rapid, choppy or slippery did not change significantly by laser acupuncture (p > 0.05). Pulse waveform analysis showed that amplitude of main peak (systolic function or aortic compliance, $h_1$) of left and right artery pulse waves decreased significantly after 10, 20, and 30 minutes of laser acupuncture (p < 0.05). Other parameters, duration of one cardiac cycle (T), duration of rapid systolic ejection ($T_1$), duration of the systolic phase ($T_4$), and duration of the diastolic phase ($T_5$) of left and right artery pulses did not change significantly after laser acupuncture (p > 0.05).

• Korean Journal of Radiology
• /
• v.23 no.8
• /
• pp.803-810
• /
• 2022

Objective: To investigate the clinical application of differential subsampling with Cartesian ordering (DISCO) contrast-enhanced (CE) magnetic resonance angiography for anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap transplantation, using operative findings as a reference. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients (21 males and nine females; mean age ± standard deviation, 45.5 ± 15.6 years) who were scheduled to undergo reconstruction with ALT flaps between June 2020 and June 2021 were included in the prospective study. Before ALT flap transplantation, patients were scanned using CE-DISCO imaging. All acquired DISCO images of the 60 lower limbs (both sides from each patient) were analyzed using maximum intensity projection and volume rendering methods. Two experienced radiologists were employed to examine the patterns of the lateral circumflex femoral artery (LCFA), its branches, and perforators and their skin termini, which were compared with the operative findings. Results: Using CE-DISCO, the patterns of the LCFA and its branches were clearly identified in all patients. Four different origins of the LCFA were found among the 60 blood vessels: type I (44/60, 73.3%), type II (6/60, 10.0%), type III (8/60, 13.3%), and type IV (2/60, 3.3%). Owing to a lack of perforators entering the skin, two patients did not undergo ALT flap transplantation. For the remaining 28 patients, the ALT flaps in 26 patients were successfully operated without flap reselection during the operation, while the remaining two patients underwent other surgical procedures due to the thin diameter of the perforator or injury of the perforator during the operation. The success rate of flap transplantation was 92.8% (26/28). All transplanted flaps exhibited good blood supply and achieved primary healing without infection or delayed healing. Conclusion: CE-DISCO imaging can be an effective method for preoperative perforator imaging before ALT flap transplantation.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.445-449
• /
• 2017

The prevalence of Centrocestus formosanus metacercariae was investigated in ornamental fish purchased from a pet shop in Chiang Mai, Thailand, including Carassius auratus (goldfish), Cyprinus carpio (Koi), Poecilia latipinna (Sailfin Molly), Danio rerio (Zebrafish), and Puntigrus tetrazona (Tiger barb). The parasite species was identified by the morphology of worms as well as by a molecular approach using ITS2. The results showed that 50 (33.3%) of 150 fish examined were infected with the metacercariae. The highest prevalence was found in C. auratus (83.3%), and the highest intensity was noted in C. carpio (70.8 metacercariae/fish). The most important morphological character was the presence of 32-34 circumoral spines on the oral sucker. The phylogenetic studies using the rRNA ITS2 region revealed that all the specimens of C. formosanus in this study were grouped together with C. formosanus in GenBank database. This is the first report on ornamental fish, C. carpio, P. latipinna, D. rerio, and P. tetrazona, taking the role of second intermediate hosts of C. formosanus in Thailand. Prevention and control of metacercarial infection in ornamental fish is urgently needed.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.9-19
• /
• 2014

Anisakis spp. (Nematoda: Anisakidae) parasitize a wide range of marine animals, mammals serving as the definitive host and different fish species as intermediate or paratenic hosts. In this study, 18 fish species were investigated for Anisakis infection. Katsuwonus pelamis, Euthynnus affinis, Caranx sp., and Auxis thazard were infected with high prevalence of Anisakis type I, while Cephalopholis cyanostigma and Rastrelliger kanagurta revealed low prevalence. The mean intensity of Anisakis larvae in K. pelamis and A. thazard was 49.7 and 5.6, respectively. A total of 73 Anisakis type I larvae collected from K. pelamis and A. thazard were all identified as Anisakis typica by PCR-RFLP analysis. Five specimens of Anisakis from K. pelamis and 15 specimens from A. thazard were sequenced using ITS1-5.8S-ITS2 region and 6 specimens from A. thazard and 4 specimens from K. pelamis were sequenced in mtDNA cox2 region. Alignments of the samples in the ITS region showed 2 patterns of nucleotides. The first pattern (genotype) of Anisakis from A. thazard had 100% similarity with adult A. typica from dolphins from USA, whereas the second genotype from A. thazard and K. pelamis had 4 base pairs different in ITS1 region with adult A. typica from USA. In the mtDNA cox2 regions, Anisakis type I specimens from A. thazard and K. pelamis showed similarity range from 94% to 99% with A. typica AB517571/DQ116427. The difference of 4 bp nucleotides in ITS1 regions and divergence into 2 subgroups in mtDNA cox2 indicating the existence of A. typica sibling species in the Makassar Strait.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
• /
• v.43 no.1
• /
• pp.66-70
• /
• 2016

Background In this study, we characterize the morbidity at the donor-site of partial second toe pulp free flaps in terms of wound management as well as long-term outcomes. Methods A single-institutional retrospective review was performed for patients who had undergone partial second toe pulp free flap transfer to the fingertip. Patient charts were reviewed for infection, skin necrosis, wound dehiscence, and hematoma for the donor site. Additionally, a questionnaire survey was given to patients who had a follow-up of longer than 1 year to characterize long-term postoperative pain and appearance. Results The review identified a total of 246 cases. Early wound complications were significant for wound dehiscence (n=8) and hematoma (n=5) for a wound complication rate of 5.3%. The questionnaire was distributed to 109 patients, and 54 patients completed the survey. Out of these 54 patients, 15 patients continued to have donor-site pain (28%) at a mean follow-up period of 32.4 months. However, the pain intensity was relatively low in the range between 2 to 5, on a 0-10 scale. None of these patients felt this donor-site pain interfered significantly with daily activity, nor did any patient require pain medications of any type. Donor-site appearance was satisfactory to most patients. Conclusions The partial second toe pulp flap was associated with low rates of wound complications and favorable long-term outcomes. Given the functional and aesthetic gain in the recipient finger, donor-site morbidities appear acceptable in this patient population. This study can be helpful in counseling patients regarding donor-site morbidity during the informed consent process.

• Journal of the Korean Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
• /
• v.27 no.4
• /
• pp.349-352
• /
• 2001

Dental laser provides many advantages to the clinicians. Those are excellent hemostatic effect, good operating sight, minimal adjacent tissue injury, reduction of postoperative swelling & pain, reduction of postoperative infection, reduction of scar tissue & contraction, etc. The purpose of this study is to observe how these advantages work after surgical extraction of impacted third molar. From march 2000 to july 2000, we have randomly divided the patients who had been surgically extracted unilateral impacted third molar into two groups. The first group comprised $CO_2$ laser illumination with 3 watts, defocusing & continuous mode, rotating motion for about 3 minutes after finishing of surgical extraction & suture. The other group patients were not irradiated. The medications in two groups were same. We measured pain, swelling and trismus three times(pre-operation, first day after operation, and 7th day after operation). The number of the patients who had measured three times all are 64, laser irradiated groups are 36 and non-irradiated groups are 28. The age ranged from 19 to 50, with a mean of 27.9 years. The operative time ranged from 3 minutes to 50 minutes, with a mean of 12.1 minutes. In the $CO_2$ laser group, the pain intensity of the 7th day after operation was still increased significantly comparing with that of the pre-operation and the distance which were measured for the swelling was different significantly. In the other group, the mouth opening limitation was still decreased significantly.