• Laboratory Medicine Online
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• v.7 no.3
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• pp.94-102
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• 2017

Malaria, tuberculosis, and hepatitis are common and notorious infectious diseases in Myanmar. Despite intensive efforts to control these diseases, their prevalence remains high. For malaria, which is a vector-borne disease, a remarkable success in the reduction of new cases has been achieved. However, the annual number of tuberculosis cases has increased over the last few decades, and the prevalence of chronic viral hepatitis infection has been high in Myanmar and other nearby countries. Early detection and prompt treatment are crucial to control these diseases. We have devoted our research efforts to understanding the status of these infectious diseases and working towards their eventual elimination for the last four years with the support of the Korea International Cooperation Agency. In the modern era, an infection that develops in one geographical area can spread globally because national borders do not effectively limit disease transmission. Our efforts to understand the status of infectious diseases in Myanmar will benefit not only Myanmar but also neighboring countries such as Korea.

• Journal of Veterinary Science
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.51.1-51.17
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• 2023

Background: To date, various genotypes of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) have co-circulated and in Korea, GI-15 and GI-19 lineages were prevailing. The spike protein, particularly S1 subunit, is responsible for receptor binding, contains hypervariable regions and is also responsible for the emerging of novel variants. Objective: This study aims to investigate the putative major amino acid substitutions for the variants in GI-19. Methods: The S1 sequence data of IBV isolated from 1986 to 2021 in Korea (n = 188) were analyzed. Sequence alignments were carried out using Multiple alignment using Fast Fourier Transform of Geneious prime. The phylogenetic tree was generated using MEGA-11 (ver. 11.0.10) and Bayesian analysis was performed by BEAST v1.10.4. Selective pressure was analyzed via online server Datamonkey. Highlights and visualization of putative critical amino acid were conducted by using PyMol software (version 2.3). Results: Most (93.5%) belonged to the GI-19 lineage in Korea, and the GI-19 lineage was further divided into seven subgroups: KM91-like (Clade A and B), K40/09-like, QX-like (I-IV). Positive selection was identified at nine and six residues in S1 for KM91-like and QX-like IBVs, respectively. In addition, several positive selection sites of S1-NTD were indicated to have mutations at common locations even when new clades were generated. They were all located on the lateral surface of the quaternary structure of the S1 subunits in close proximity to the receptor-binding motif (RBM), putative RBM motif and neutralizing antigenic sites in S1. Conclusions: Our results suggest RBM surrounding sites in the S1 subunit of IBV are highly susceptible to mutation by selective pressure during evolution.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2009

Local malaria transmission in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) came to an end in 1997. Nevertheless, UAE has been subjected to substantial importation of malaria cases from abroad, concerning both UAE nationals and immigrants from malarious countries with a total number of 2,119 cases in 2007. To evaluate a new DNA extraction technique using nested PCR, blood samples were collected from 132 individuals who presented to Infectious Diseases Department in Rashid Hospital, Dubai, and Central Department of Malaria Control with fever and persistent headache. Giemsa-stained blood films and ELISA test for malaria antibodies were carried out for detection of Plasmodium infection. Plasmodium infections were identified with the genus-specific primer set and species differentiation using nested PCR. A rapid procedure for diagnosis of malaria infections directly from dried blood spots using for the first time DNA extract from FTA Elute cards was evaluated in contrast to extraction techniques using FTA classic cards and rapid boiling technique. Our new simple technique for DNA extraction using FTA Elute cards was very sensitive giving a sensitivity of 100% compared to 94% using FTA classic cards and 62% in the rapid boiling technique. No complex preparation of blood samples was required prior to the amplification. The production cost of DNA isolation in our PCR assay was much less incomparable to that of other DNA extraction protocols. The nested PCR detected plasmodial infection and could differentiate P. falciparum from P. vivax, and also detected the mixed infection.

• IMMUNE NETWORK
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• v.19 no.1
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• pp.5.1-5.12
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• 2019

Autophagy is a homeostatic mechanism that discards not only invading pathogens but also damaged organelles and denatured proteins via lysosomal degradation. Increasing evidence suggests a role for autophagy in inflammatory diseases, including infectious diseases, Crohn's disease, cystic fibrosis, and pulmonary hypertension. These studies suggest that modulating autophagy could be a novel therapeutic option for inflammatory diseases. Eosinophils are a major type of inflammatory cell that aggravates airway inflammatory diseases, particularly corticosteroid-resistant inflammation. The eosinophil count is a useful tool for assessing which patients may benefit from inhaled corticosteroid therapy. Recent studies demonstrate that autophagy plays a role in eosinophilic airway inflammatory diseases by promoting airway remodeling and loss of function. Genetic variant in the autophagy gene ATG5 is associated with asthma pathogenesis, and autophagy regulates apoptotic pathways in epithelial cells in individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Moreover, autophagy dysfunction leads to severe inflammation, especially eosinophilic inflammation, in chronic rhinosinusitis. However, the mechanism underlying autophagy-mediated regulation of eosinophilic airway inflammation remains unclear. The aim of this review is to provide a general overview of the role of autophagy in eosinophilic airway inflammation. We also suggest that autophagy may be a new therapeutic target for airway inflammation, including that mediated by eosinophils.

• Journal of Soil and Groundwater Environment
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.1-9
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• 2022

This study was conducted to supplement new-normal strategies on management plans of rural groundwater resources in the era of Post COVID-19. Global outbreak of COVID-19 has damaged across all areas including public policy, economics, industrial services, and others without exception, which has resulted in establishing new-normal strategies in order to restore balance and functions as for these areas. The new-normal ones were represented as enhancing preventative management on infectious diseases, expanding non face-to-face services, enhancing protective trades and food securities, and preparing growth policies on public services using the 4^th industrial revolution techniques. In this study, G-WASH_AD (Groundwater supply, sanitation, and hygiene with attraction and digitization) was suggested to be new-normal strategies on rural groundwater resources. The G-WASH_AD was consisted of three detailed action plans: a preventative plan on waterborne-diseases of groundwater (PP), a groundwater-tourism plan with rural heritage (GP), and an application plan of the 4^th industrial revolution techniques to groundwater facilities and its data (P4). The PP can contribute to protect human health from waterborne-diseases and minimize hazardous effects on crop cultivation. The GP accompanied with high-quality groundwater resources is able to strengthen rural tourism, to promote marketing activities on local agricultural products, and to increase household incomes of rural communities. The P4 can reinforce fast, comfortable, and scientific management on groundwater facilities and its data, creating a virtuous cycle between innovative management on groundwater and growth of technology related to it. Results of the G-WASH_AD strategies can encourage a green growth engine in field of rural groundwater management keeping up with Post COVID-19.

• International Journal of Advanced Culture Technology
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.204-210
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• 2022

From the 1970s to the present, the number of new infectious diseases such as SARS, Ebola virus, and MERS has steadily increased. The new infectious disease, COVID-19, which began in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, has pushed the world into a pandemic era. As a result, Countries imposed restrictions on entry to foreign countries due to concerns over the spread of COVID-19, which led to a decrease in the movement of tourists. Due to the restriction of travel, keywords such as "Corona blue" have soared and depression has increased. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the stress meaning network of the COVID-19 era to derive keywords and come up with a plan for a travel-related platform of the Post-COVID 19 era. This study conducted analysis of travel and stress caused by COVID-19 using TEXTOM, a big data analysis tool, and conducted semantic network analysis using UCINET6. We also conducted a CONCOR analysis to classify keywords for clustering of words with similarities. However, since we have collected travel and stress-oriented data from the start to the present, we need to increase the number of analysis data and analyze more data in the future.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.38 no.1
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• pp.48-59
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• 2021

This study aimed to explore anxiety, risk perception, information literacy, and performance level of infection prevention practices against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among nursing students during the pandemic. A descriptive online survey was conducted, targeting a total of 224 nursing students from June 8, 2020 to 14, 2020. The collected data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, t-test, analysis of variance, and correlation analysis using SPSS 26.0. The nursing students' level of anxiety was 6.86 out of 10, which was normal. Their information literacy level and performance level of infection prevention practices were 3.50 out of 4 and 4.44 out of 5, respectively, and these scores were considered high. The higher the level of anxiety, risk perception, and information literacy, the higher the level of infection prevention practices. The level of anxiety with respect to infection and risk perception may increase when new types of infectious diseases such as COVID-19 break out. Therefore, it is necessary to promote the accurate understanding of the infectious diseases by providing sufficient information. Accurate understanding of new infectious diseases can reduce the risk of transmission as it encourages people to thoroughly perform infection prevention practices.

• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.39 no.3
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• pp.231-239
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• 2023

Public sewage treatment facilities are a necessary infrastructure for public health that treat sewage generated in cities and basin living areas and discharge it into rivers or seas. Recently, the role of public sewage treatment is receiving attention as a place of use of wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE), which analyzes human specific metabolic emissions or biomarkers present in sewage to investigate the environment to which the population is exposed in the water drain. WBE is mainly applied to investigate legal and water-law drug use or to predict and analyze the lifestyle of local residents. WBE has also been applied to predict and analyze the degree of infectious diseases that are prevalent worldwide, such as COVID-19. Since sewage flowing into public sewage treatment facilities includes living information of the population living in the drainage area, it is easy to collect basic data to predict the confirmation and spread of infectious diseases. Therefore, it is necessary to establish a new role of public sewage treatment facilities as an infrastructure necessary for WBE that can obtain information on the confirmation and spread of infectious diseases other than the traditional role of public sewage treatment. In South Korea, the sewerage supply rate is about 95.5% and the number of public sewage treatment facility is 4,209. This means that the infrastructure of sewerage is fully established. However, to successfully drive for WBE , research on monitoring and big-data analysis is needed.

• The Journal of the Convergence on Culture Technology
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.19-26
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• 2020

The purpose of this study is to understand the history of nursing and present a new direction of nursing by elucidating the role of nurses in the process of social meaning and change of infectious diseases in modern (1876-1945) Korean society. In the past history, epidemics have caused many problems in society and have tried their best to manage them. The role and presence of the nurse began to emerge during the past time. The concept of hygiene began to be recognized for the management of epidemics, and the role and presence of nurses began to emerge at the center. It was recognized that the role of nurses in modern Korean society was an auxiliary role in the early stages. However, through specialized education and training, recognition as an expert began to spread based on specialized knowledge rather than simple care. In this study, it is significant that we have historically searched for infectious diseases causing various problems while coexisting past and present. In addition, it is significant that the new role and sense of mission of the nurses were newly illuminated.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.62 no.7
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• pp.252-256
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• 2019

The Committee on Infectious Diseases of the Korean Pediatric Society recommended immunization schedule for children and adolescents aged 18 years or younger in the 9th (2018) edition of Immunization guideline. This report provides the revised recommendations made by the committee and summarizes several changes from the 2015 guideline. National immunization program (NIP) launched a human papillomavirus (HPV) immunization for girls aged 12 years in 2016. NIP has also expanded age indication for inactivated influenza vaccine (IIV) to 12 years of age in the 2018-2019 season. Quadrivalent IIVs with a full dose (0.5 mL) are approved for all children of 6 months or older. Recommendations of live attenuated influenza vaccine were removed. For inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine, first 2 doses are considered as the primary series. Recommendations for use of newly introduced vaccines (diphtheria-tetanus-acellular pertussis/inactivated poliovirus/Haemophilus influenzae type b, 9-valent HPV, new varicella vaccine, new quadrivalent IIV, and attenuated oral typhoid vaccine) were added. Lastly, monitoring system for adverse events following immunization was updated. Other changes can be found in the 9th edition of Immunization guideline in detail.