Search

Background: This study investigated the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence and severity of myasthenia gravis (MG) using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from patients with MG in the NHIS registry from 2015 to 2021. MG was defined as (1) patients aged ≥18 years with the G70.0 code, and (2) patients who visited tertiary hospitals regarldless of department in Korea (outpatient clinics at least twice or hospitalization at least once), and (3) patients who were prescribed pyridostigmine as MG medications at least once. We designated pre-COVID-19 as 2019 and post-COVID-19 as 2021 and analyzed the MG incidence and prevalence in 2019 and 2021. We compared the clinical data of patients with MG between the two years. MG exacerbation was defined as the administration of intravenous immunoglobulin or plasma exchange. Analysis of COVID-19 cases was conducted using an integrated database from the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency and NHIS. Patients with MG were divided into two groups according to COVID-19 status to compare their clinical characteristics. Results: A total of 6,888 and 7,439 MG cases were identified in 2019 and 2021, respectively. The standardized incidence was 1.56/100,000 in 2019, decreasing to 1.21/100,000 in 2021. Although the frequency of MG exacerbations was higher in 2019, there were no differences in the number and duration of hospitalizations, duration of ICU stays, hostalization expense, and mortality between 2019 and 2021. Patients with MG and COVID-19 had a higher frequency of MG exacerbations than patients without COVID-19, but there were no differences in the number and duration of hospitalizations, hospitalization expense, and mortality. Conclusion: This study was the first nationwide population-based epidemiological study of MG during COVID-19 pandemic in Korea. The incidence of MG decreased during COVID-19 pandemic, and the severity of MG was not affected by COVID-19. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Korean Peninsula’s mountainous terrain poses challenges to effective water resource management. Notably, two significant river basins, North Han River and Imjin River basins, are essentially shared rivers originating in North Korea. After the construction of various dams in North Korea, billions of tons per year of water annually decreased from the upper reaches of these rivers of North Korea to South Korea. This study conducted an impact analysis on two major river basins affected by dam operations in North Korea. Both before and after the Imnam Dam operation, significant reduction (27.7%) in the average monthly inflow was observed, and the total release of the Hwacheon Dam in South Korea decreased by 40.2%. The analysis of instream flow indicated that the operation of dams in North Korea had a substantial impact on fulfilling instream flow requirements for dams located in North Han River and Imjin River basins. To ensure instream flow, this study pro)posed two plans. The first plan involved the utilization of existing dams in the North Han River basin, while the second plan suggested connecting the dams in North Korea, taking into account the shared rivers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To investigate the clinical features, natural course, and genetic characteristics of Koreans with rhodopsin-associated retinitis pigmentosa (RHO-associated RP). Design: We conducted a retrospective, multicenter, observational cohort study. Participants: We reviewed the medical records of 42 patients with RHOassociated RP of 36 families who visited 4 hospitals in Korea. Methods: Patients with molecular confirmation of pathogenic variants of the RHO gene were included. The patients were divided into two subgroups: the generalized and sector RP groups. A central visual field of the better-seeing eye of <10° or a best-corrected visual acuity of the better-seeing eye <20/ 40 indicated the progression to late-stage RP. Results: The mean age at which symptoms first appeared was 26.3 ± 17.9 years (range: 8--78 years), and the mean follow-up period was 80.9 ± 68.7 months (range: 6--268 months). At the last follow-up visit, the generalized RP group showed a significantly higher rate of visual field impairment progression to late-stage RP than that of the sector RP group (22 of 35 [62.9%] vs. 0 of 7 [0.0%], p = 0.003). No cases in the sector RP group progressed to generalized RP. Best-corrected visual acuity deterioration to late-stage RP was observed only in the generalized RP group (13 of 35 patients; 37.1%), whereas no deterioration was observed in the sector RP group. We identified 16 known and three novel RHO mutations, including two missense mutations (p.T108P and p.G121R) and one deletion mutation (p.P347&lowbar;A348del). The pathogenic variants were most frequently detected in exon 1 (14 of 36 [38.9%]). The most common pathogenic variants were p.P347L and T17M (5 of 36 [13.9%] families). Among 42 patients of 36 families, 35 patients of 29 families (80.6%) presented with the generalized RP phenotype, and seven patients of seven families (19.4%) presented with the sector RP phenotype. Three variants (p.T17M, p.G101E, and p.E181K) presented with both the generalized and sector RP phenotypes. Conclusion: This multicenter cohort study provided information on the clinical and genetic features of RHO-associated RP in Koreans. It is clinically important to expand the genetic spectrum and understand genotype-phenotype correlations to ultimately facilitate the development of gene therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Onion (Allium cepa L.) is an economically important vegetable crop worldwide. However, various fungal diseases, including Fusarium basal rot (FBR), neck rot, and white rot, reduce onion production or bulb storage life. FBR caused by Fusarium species is among the most destructive onion diseases. In this study, we identified Fusarium species associated with FBR in Jeolla and Gyeongsang Provinces in South Korea and evaluated fungicides against the pathogens. Our morphological and molecular analyses showed that FBR in onions is associated with Fusarium commune, Fusarium oxysporum, and Fusarium proliferatum. We selected seven fungicides (fludioxonil, hexaconazole, mandestrobin, penthiopyrad, prochloraz-manganese, pydiflumetofen, and tebuconazole) and evaluated their inhibitory effects on mycelial growth of the pathogens at three different concentrations (0.01, 0.1, and 1mg/mL). We found that prochloraz-manganese was highly effective, inhibiting 100% of the mycelial growth of the pathogens at all concentrations, followed by tebuconazole. Fludioxonil showed < 50% inhibition at 1mg/mL for the tested isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The immunogenicity of a heterologous vaccination regimen consisting of ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 (a chimpanzee adenovirus-vectored vaccine) followed by mRNA-1273 (a lipid–nanoparticle-encapsulated mRNA-based vaccine) against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), specifically the omicron variant (B.1.1.529), is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to evaluate the neutralizing antibody activity and immunogenicity of heterologous ChAdOx1 nCoV-19 and mRNA-1273 prime-boost vaccination against wild-type (BetaCoV/Korea/KCDC03/2020), alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and omicron variants of SARS-CoV-2 in Korea. A 50% neutralizing dilution (ND50) titer was determined in serum samples using the plaque reduction neutralization test. Antibody titer decreased significantly at 3 months compared with that at 2 weeks after the 2nd dose. On comparing the ND50 titers for the above-mentioned variants of concerns, it was observed that the ND50 titer for the omicron variant was the lowest. This study provides insights into cross-vaccination effects and can be useful for further vaccination strategies in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The H9N2 avian influenza (AI) has become endemic in poultry in many countries since the 1990s, which has caused considerable economic losses in the poultry industry. Considering the long history of the low pathogenicity H9N2 AI in many countries, once H9N2 AI is introduced, it is more difficult to eradicate than high pathogenicity AI. Various preventive measures and strategies, including vaccination and active national surveillance, have been used to control the Y439 lineage of H9N2 AI in South Korea, but it took a long time for the H9N2 virus to disappear from the fields. By contrast, the novel Y280 lineage of H9N2 AI was introduced in June 2020 and has spread nationwide. This study reviews the history, genetic and pathogenic characteristics, and control strategies for Korean H9N2 AI. This review may provide some clues for establishing control strategies for endemic AIV and a newly introduced Y280 lineage of H9N2 AI in South Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This research proposes a numerical model for a tablet in the wireless local area network band for specific absorption rate (SAR) study. The design criteria, such as the tablet size, operating frequencies, antenna position, and target 1-g peak spatial-average SAR (psSAR) values in the flat phantom, are determined based on the SAR test reports of tablets distributed in South Korea from 2013 to 2017. An internal antenna is designed in a tablet platform to operate in dual bands of 2,450 MHz and 5,500 MHz. The numerical results illustrate that the 1-g psSAR values of the proposed numerical tablet model are within ±10% of the target values. Moreover, the return loss of the designed tablet model is larger than 10 dB, regardless of flat phantom, while its radiation efficiency is higher than 90% in free space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents the representative numerical modeling of smartphones with wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), long-term evaluation (LTE), and wireless local area network (WLAN) bands for epidemiological studies. For this purpose, based on specific absorption rate (SAR) test reports for commercial smartphones released in South Korea from 2013 to 2019, we determined the smartphone size, frequency band categorization, antenna locations, and target 1-g peak-spatial SAR (psSAR) values for a specific anthropomorphic mannequin (SAM) phantom. Numerical results showed that the designed numerical smartphone models yielded good matching and radiation performance, and more importantly, their 1-g psSAR values were within ±16% of the target 1-g psSAR values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we describe the isolation and characterization of previously unreported Y280-lineage H9N2 viruses from two live bird markets in Korea in June 2020. Genetic analysis revealed that they were distinct from previous H9N2 viruses circulating in Korea and had highest homology to A/chicken/Shandong/1844/2019(H9N2) viruses. Their genetic constellation showed they belonged to genotype S, which is the predominant genotype in China since 2010, where genotype S viruses have infected humans and acted as internal gene donors to H5 and H7 zoonotic influenza viruses. Active surveillance and control measures need to be enhanced to protect the poultry industry and public health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Korean student nurses may be exposed to stress caused by their future employment (employment stress). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a Laughter Program on psychological stress, by assessing salivary cortisol and the subjective happiness of student nurses in order to relieve employment stress. Methods: A quasi-experimental, non-equivalent, control-group, and pre-test/post-test was conducted in 4th year student nurses (n = 48) from 2 universities in Korea at a time when participants' final exams and job searches were simultaneously occurring. Physiological stress (salivary cortisol), and psychological stress measured using modified Cornell Medical Index questionnaire and the Subjective Happiness Scale were used to determine the effects of the program. Results: The results of the study showed that the Laughter Program was effective in relieving employment stress and increasing the subjective well-being of student nurses. Psychological stress (p < 0.001), salivary cortisol levels (p < 0.001), and subjective happiness (p < 0.001) were statistically significantly improved after the intervention compared with before the Laughter Program. Conclusion: This study is an effective evidence-based intervention to reduce student nurses employment stress and improve subjective happiness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lonicera japonica (LJ; honeysuckle) is used in traditional folk medicine in Korea and is a rich source of ascorbic acid and phenolic components that are reported to have antioxidant and antibiotic properties. We performed an in vitro experiment to assess the effects of LJ extracts (LJE) on ruminal fermentation. Timothy hay (0.3 g dry matter [DM]) was incubated with buffer, ruminal fluid, and 0%, 3%, 5%, 7%, and 9% LJE. Batch culture fermentation was conducted separately for 12, 24, and 48 hr to determine gas production (GP), ruminal fermentation characteristics, and microbial population characteristics. The effects on GP were generally similar to those on DM degradability, with a linear decrease observed at 9% extract at 24 hr. NH3‐N showed a linear increase with increasing extract concentrations at 12 hr, whereas a decrease was observed at 24 hr. Extract supplementation decreased methane (CH4) production at 12, 24, and 48 hr. In addition, the abundance of fibrolytic bacteria and ciliate‐associated methanogen was reduced at all concentrations of extracts. These results indicate that LJE have the potential to serve as a ruminal fermentation modifier to suppress CH4 production with minimal effects on nutrient digestion in the rumen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose : The purpose of this study was to validate the Korean version of Partners In Health scale (PIH-K) which is used to measure the self-management of patients with chronic illnesses in Korea. Methods : Translation of the 12-item PIH-K was conducted according to the World Health Organization guidelines. Data from 306 participants who took medicines over 3 months by doctor's prescription were collected from October to November 2017. Validity such as content validity, construct validity, and concurrent validity were conducted using content validity index (CVI), exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses (CFA). To evaluate concurrent validity, the correlation coefficients between the PIH-K and concurrent scales (Self-As-Carer Inventory) were calculated. The reliability of the PIH-K was examined using the internal consistency and test-retest reliability tests. Results : The CVI of the PIH-K was 0.91. According to the CFA, factor loadings for four factors ranged from .64 to .97, which explained 67.5% of the total variance. The PIH-K was significantly correlated with concurrent variables such as those on the Self-As-Carer Inventory. The Cronbach's α was .86 and the intraclass correlation coefficient for the two-week test-retest reliability was .88. Conclusion : Findings show that the PIH-K is reliable and valid in measuring self-management of patients with chronic illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2016, novel H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza virus emerged in Korea. During the outbreak, the virus caused the largest culling, especially in brown chicken lines. We determined the pathogenicity and transmissibility of the virus in 2 white chicken lines of the specific pathogen-free chickens, broilers and brown chicken line of Korean native chicken (KNC). A KNC had a longer virus shedding period and longer mean death time than others. Our study showed that this characteristic in the KNC might have contributed to a farm-tofarm transmission of the brown chicken farms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Novel H5N6 highly pathogenic avian influenza viruses (HPAIVs) were isolated from duck farms and migratory bird habitats in South Korea in November to December 2017. Genetic analysis demonstrated that at least two genotypes of H5N6 were generated through reassortment between clade 2.3.4.4 H5N8 HPAIVs and Eurasian low pathogenic avian influenza virus in migratory birds in late 2017, suggesting frequent reassortment of clade 2.3.4.4 H5 HPAIVs and highlighting the need for systematic surveillance in Eurasian breeding grounds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: False-positive fecal immunochemical test (FIT) results in the National Cancer Screening Program (NCSP) for colorectal cancer may lead to unnecessary procedures, such as colonoscopies, increasing the medical costs. We estimated reductions in the cost of National Health Insurance according to the accreditation status of screening facilities participating in the NCSP for colorectal cancer. Methods: We used data collected between 2007 and 2010 from NCSP and the Korea Central Cancer Registry to identify patients with colorectal cancer. We also ascertained the history of the accreditation of each facility by the Korean Laboratory Accreditation Program (KLAP). Budget impact was defined as a reduction in medical costs achieved when the false-positive rate of the non-accredited facilities decreased relative to that of the accredited facilities. Results: A total of 3,285 screening facilities participated in the NCSP. Of these, 196 were accredited by the KLAP. The false-positive rate of the accredited facilities was 2.47%, and that of the non-accredited facilities was 6.83%. Medical costs were estimated to be reduced by approximately 19 million US dollars (USD), and the cost of detecting one case of colorectal cancer was estimated to decrease from 9,212 USD to 7,332 USD if the falsepositive rate of non-accredited facilities were decreased to that of the accredited facilities. Clinics were estimated to have the largest associated cost reduction. Conclusions: Quality assurance in clinical laboratories could lower false-positive rates and prevent the use of unnecessary procedures, ensuring patient safety and increasing the cost-effectiveness of FIT screening in the NCSP for colorectal cancer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Identifying preferences for stool collection devices may help increase uptake rates for colorectal cancer screening via fecal immunochemical test (FIT). This study surveyed satisfaction with different devices utilized to collect stool samples for FIT: a conventional container and a sampling bottle (Eiken OC-Sensor).Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at the National Cancer Center, Korea. Participants aged 50-74 years who used either a conventional container or a sampling bottle to collect a stool sample for FIT were asked to complete a questionnaire designed to survey their satisfaction with the stool collection process and their intentions to undergo FIT in subsequent screening rounds. In total, 1657 participants (1224 conventional container, 433 sampling bottle) were included for analysis.Results: Satisfaction with the sampling bottle was higher than that with the conventional container (79.9% vs.73.0%, p = 0.005, respectively; aOR = 1.52, 95% CI: 1.16-2.00). Participants satisfied with the sampling bottle were more likely to be female, be of younger age (50-64 years old), have higher household income, and have prior experience with FIT. Intentions to undergo subsequent screening were stronger among those given the sampling bottle than those given the conventional container (aOR = 1.78, 95% CI: 1.28-2 .48).Conclusions: Satisfaction with the stool collection process was higher with the sampling bottle. However, additional studies are needed to validate whether the increased satisfaction and stronger intentions to undergo subsequent screening with the sampling bottle could actually lead to increased uptake in subsequent rounds, along with analysis of the device's cost effectiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In January 2014, an outbreak of infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) A(H5N8) virus began on a duck farm in South Korea and spread to other poultry farms nearby. During this outbreak, many sick or dead wild birds were found around habitats frequented by migratory birds. To determine the causes of death, we examined 771 wild bird carcasses and identified HPAI A(H5N8) virus in 167. Gross and histologic lesions were observed in pancreas, lung, brain, and kidney of Baikal teals, bean geese, and whooper swans but not mallard ducks. Such lesions are consistent with lethal HPAI A(H5N8) virus infection. However, some HPAI-positive birds had died of gunshot wounds, peritonitis, or agrochemical poisoning rather than virus infection. These findings suggest that susceptibility to HPAI A(H5N8) virus varies among species of migratory birds and that asymptomatic migratory birds could be carriers of this virus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: National surveillance of avian influenza virus (AIV) in South Korea has been annually conducted for the early detection of AIV and responses to the introduction of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) virus. In this study, we report on a nationwide surveillance study of AIV in domestic poultry and wild birds in South Korea between 2012 and 2014. Methods: During the surveillance programs between 2012 and 2014, 141,560 samples were collected. Of these, 102,199 were from poultry farms, 8215 were from LBMs, and 31,146 were from wild bird habitats. The virus isolation was performed by inoculation of embryonated chicken eggs and AIV isolates were detected using hemagglutination assay. For subtying of AIV, the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes were confirmed by sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the H5 subtypes was performed using 28 H5 AIV isolates. Results: Between 2012 and 2014, a total of 819 AIV were isolated from 141,560 samples. Virus isolation rates for AIV were 0.6, 0.4, 0.1, and 2.7% in wild birds (n = 202), domestic ducks (n = 387), minor poultry (n = 11), and the live bird market (LBM) (n = 219), respectively. In wild birds, various subtypes were found including H1-H7 and H9-H13. The major subtypes were H5 (n = 48, 23.9%: N3 (n = 4) and N8 (n = 44)), H4 (n = 39, 19.4%), and H1 (n = 29, 14.4%). In domestic poultry, mainly ducks, the H5N8 (n = 275, 59.3%), H3 (n = 30, 17.2%), and H6 (n = 53, 11.4%) subtypes were predominantly found. The most frequently detected subtypes in LBM, primarily Korean native chicken, were H9 (n = 169, 77.2%). H3 (n = 10, 4%) and H6 (n = 30, 13.7%) were also isolated in LBM. Overall, the prevalence of AIV was found to be higher between winter and spring and in western parts of South Korea. The unusual high prevalence of the H5 subtype of AIV was due to the large scale outbreak of H5N8 HPAI in wild birds and domestic poultry in 2014. Conclusions: Enhanced surveillance and application of effective control measures in wild birds and domestic poultry, including LBM, should be implemented to control AI and eradicate HPAI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We tested samples of pork products confiscated from travelers to South Korea for African swine fever virus (ASFV). We detected ASFV in 4 food items confiscated from travelers from Shenyang, China, in August 2018. Surveillance of pork products at country entry points is needed to mitigate the risk for ASFV introduction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: There are growing interests in using various methods including traditional and complementary medicines (T&CM) for tobacco control. The study aimed to introduce how traditional Korean medicine (TKM) applied to smoking cessation programmes in Korea and to show the detail information of each programme for designing other smoke cessation programmes. Methods: Reports of the smoke cessation programmes in Korea were searched on March 10th, 2016, from the webpages of the related agencies and the databases: the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korea Health Foundation, the Association of Korean Medicine, PubMed, Google scholar, the RISS, the KISS, the NDSL, and the OASIS. Smoking cessation programmes, projects, or services using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) were included with no language, implementation site, and year restrictions. Results: The three smoking cessation programmes using TKM in South Korea were the public health centre smoking cessation programme (PHC-SCP), the Ministry of Gender Equality & Family smoking cessation programme (MOGEF-SCP), and the National Health Insurance Service smoking cessation treatment project (NHIS-SCP). All programmes included ear acupuncture and counselling. Manual acupuncture was only used in the NHIS-SCP. The MOGEF-SCP and the NHIS-SCP used herbal medicines selectively. The PHC-SCP and MOGEF-SCP provided education programme and other tools such as non-smoking doll, self-writing handbook. They were run at no cost for participants. Treatment period were different for each programmes, 3 weeks, 4 weeks, 8 to 12 weeks, respectively. Treatment frequency was twice a week for PHC-SCP and MOGEF-SCP, and dependent on each clinic for NHIS-SCP. Conclusions: This study showed the summaries of the smoking cessation programme that used TKM. The three programmes and the detail information will be a reference for other countries that are going to apply T&CM to their smoking cessation programme. Though TKM integrated smoking cessation programmes had been contributed to stop smoking, persistent efforts are needed to develop more effective and various treatments. In addition, this study suggests that consistent support and systematic reporting system are needed to be successful in non-smoking strategy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate prenatal exposure to radiofrequency radiation (RFR) from telecommunication using a mobile phone questionnaire, operator data logs of mobile phone use and a personal exposure meter (PEM).Material and Methods: The study included 1228 mother-infants pairs from the Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) study - a multicenter prospective cohort study ongoing since 2006, in which participants were enrolled at ≤ 20 weeks of pregnancy, with a follow-up of a child birth and growth to assess the association between prenatal environmental exposure and children's health. The questionnaire included the average calling frequency per day and the average calling time per day. An EME Spy 100 PEM was used to measure RFR among 269 pregnant women from November 2007 to August 2010. The operators' log data were obtained from 21 participants. The Spearman's correlation test was performed to evaluate correlation coefficient and 95% confidence intervals between the mobile phone use information from the questionnaire, operators' log data, and data recorded by the PEM.Results: The operators' log data and information from the self-reported questionnaire showed significantly high correlations in the average calling frequency per day (ρ = 0.6, p = 0.004) and average calling time per day (ρ = 0.5, p = 0.02). The correlation between information on the mobile phone use in the self-reported questionnaire and exposure index recorded by the PEM was poor. But correlation between the information of the operators' log data and exposure index for transmission of mobile communication was significantly high: correlation coefficient (p-value) was 0.44 (0.07) for calling frequency per day, and it was 0.49 (0.04) for calling time per day.Conclusions: The questionnaire information on the mobile phone use showed moderate to high quality. Using multiple methods for exposure assessment might be better than using only one method. Int J Occup Med Environ Health 2016;29(6):959-972. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The microflora hypothesis may be the underlying explanation for the growth of inflammatory disease. In addition to many known affecting factors, knowing the gut microbiota of healthy newborns can help to understand the gut immunity and modulate it. Objectives: This study examined the microbiota of healthy newborns from urban regions. Patients and Methods: We enrolled 128 full-term newborns, born at Seoul St. Mary and St. Paul hospital from January 2009 to February 2010. All 143 samples of feces were cultivated in six culture plates to determine the amounts of total bacteria, anaerobes, gram-positive bacteria, coliforms, lactobacilli, and bifidobacteria. The samples were evaluated with a bivariate correlation between coliforms and lactobacilli. Terminal restriction fragment length polymorphism (T-RFLP) analysis with HhaI and MspI and a clustering analysis were performed for determination of diversity. Results: Bacteria were cultured in 61.5% of feces in the following order: anaerobes, gram-positive bacteria, lactobacilli, coliform, and bifidobacteria. The growth of total bacteria and lactobacilli increased in feces defecated after 24 hours of birth (P < 0.001, P = 0.008) and anaerobes decreased (P = 0.003). A negative correlation between the growth of lactobacilli and coliforms was found (r = -463, P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study confirms that bacterial colonization of healthy newborns born in cities is non-sterile, but has early diversification and inter-individuality [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza, caused by a novel reassortant influenza A (H5N8) virus, occurred among poultry and wild birds in South Korea in 2014. The aim of this study was to evaluate the pathogenesis in and mode of transmission of this virus among domestic and wild ducks. Three of the viruses had similar pathogenicity among infected domestic ducks: the H5N8 viruses were moderately pathogenic (0%-20% mortality rate); in wild mallard ducks, the H5N8 and H5N1 viruses did not cause severe illness or death; viral replication and shedding were greater in H5N8-infected mallards than in H5N1-infected mallards. Identification of H5N8 viruses in birds exposed to infected domestic ducks and mallards indicated that the viruses could spread by contact. We propose active surveillance to support prevention of the spread of this virus among wild birds and poultry, especially domestic ducks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To determine the prevalence of Salmonella serotype Enteritidis in eggs in South Korea, we conducted a microbiological survey of commercially available eggs produced in conventional or organic farms during the period from 2010 to 2012. The contents of 7,000 raw shell eggs (6,000 of conventional and 1,000 of organic origin) were examined to evaluate the extent and type of Salmonella Enteritidis contamination. A total of 26 salmonellae (7.4% of all pooled samples) were isolated from 350 homogenized pools, each containing the contents from 20 eggs. An unexpected and particularly surprising finding was that all the Salmonella isolates were serotyped as Salmonella Gallinarum. Salmonella Gallinarum was more common in eggs from organic farms: 10 of 50 egg pools (20.0%) from organic and 16 of 300 egg pools (5.3%) from conventional farms tested positive for Salmonella Gallinarum. However, organic and conventional isolates showed similar antimi- crobial susceptibilities. All the isolates and a vaccine strain, SG 9R, which has been widely used in South Korea, were further characterized using the automated repetitive sequence-based PCR (rep-PCR) system, DiversiLab, to ascertain the molecular subtypes and to identify differences from the vaccine strain. The rep-PCR identified 2 distinct clusters among the 26 Salmonella Gallinarum isolates with a greater than 96% similarity index. These were clearly differentiated from the vaccine strain, SG 9R, with which there was a less than 86% similarity index. We found there was low genetic heterogeneity among isolates within each cluster and were able to distinguish wild type strains from the live vaccine strain (SG 9R) using the DiversiLab system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses research on the body size and settlement date of the male Oriental Great Reed Warbler or Acrocephalus orientalis and their relation to reproductive success. It references a study by Yu-Seong Choi at Kyung-Hee University in Seoul, South Korea, and his colleagues, published in an issue of "Zoological Studies." The researchers investigated the different factors affecting the reproductive success of the male Oriental Great Reed Warblers, specifically the effect of settlement time on the success of reproduction. They conclude that males who settle early attracted mates earlier compared to the late-settling ones.

During the 2006-2007 winter season in South Korea, several outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) were confirmed among domestic poultry and in migratory bird habitats. Phylogenetic analysis showed that all isolates were closely related and that all belong to the A/ bar-headed goose/Qinghai/5/2005-like lineage rather than the A/chicken/Korea/ES/2003-like lineage. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Low pathogenic avian influenza subtype H9N8 was diagnosed on a Korean native chicken farm in Gyeonggi province, South Korea, in late April 2004. Clinical signs included moderate respiratory distress, depression, mild diarrhoea, loss of appetite and a slightly elevated mortality (1.4% in 5 days). Pathologically, mucopurulent tracheitis and air sacculitis were prominently found with urate renal deposition. The isolated A/chicken/Kr/164/04 (H9N8) had an Ala-Ser-Gly-Arg (A/S/G/R) motif at the cleavage site of haemagglutinin, which has been commonly found in H9N2 isolated from Korean poultry. Phylogenetic analysis of the haemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of the H9N8 avian influenza virus (AIV) isolate showed that reassortment had occurred. Its haemagglutinin gene was similar to that of Korean H9N2 AIVs, but its neuraminidase gene was closely related to that of A/WBF/Kr/KCA16/03 (H3N8) isolated from the faeces of wild birds in Korea. The pathogenicity of the isolate was tested on 6-week-old specific pathogen free chickens. The inoculated virus (H9N8) was recovered from most tested organs, including the trachea, lung, kidney, spleen, and caecal tonsil. This is the first report of an outbreak of low pathogenic avian influenza in chickens caused by AIV subtype H9N8.Un cas d'influenza aviaire faiblement pathogène (LPAI) de sous type H9N8 a été diagnostiqué dans une ferme de poulets indigènes, dans la province de Gyeonggi, en Corée du Sud, en Avril 2004. Les symptômes consistaient en une détresse respiratoire modérée, une diarrhée peu importante, une perte d'appétit et une mortalité légèrement élevée (1,4% en 5 jours). Sur le plan pathologique, une trachéite mucopurulente et une aérosacculite ont été les lésions les plus souvent observées avec un dépôt d'urate au niveau des reins. La souche isolée A/chicken/Kr/164/04 (H9N8) présentait un motif Ala-Ser-Gly-Arg (A/S/G/R) au niveau du site de clivage de l'hémagglutinine (HA) qui a souvent été observé chez les souches H9N2 isolées de volailles en Corée. L'analyse phylogénétique des gènes de HA et de la neuraminidase (NA) de la souche de virus de l'influenza aviaire (AIV) H9N8 a montré qu'il s'était produit un réassortiment. Son gène HA était similaire à celui des AIVs coréens H9N2, mais son gène NA était très proche de celui de la souche A/WBF/Kr/KCA16/03 (H3N8) isolée de fèces d'oiseaux sauvage en Corée. La pathogénicité de l'isolat a été testée chez des poulets exempts de microorganismes pathogènes spécifiés âgés de 6 semaines. Le virus inoculé (H9N8) a été réisolé de la plupart des organes testés incluant la trachée, les poumons, les reins, la rate et les amygdales cæcales. C'est le premier rapport d'un cas de LPAI chez des poulets causé par un AIV de sous type H9N8.Im späten April 2004 wurde auf einer koreanischen Farm mit einheimischen Hühnern in der Gyeonggi-Provinz ein schwach pathogenes aviäres Influenzavirus (LPAI) Subtyp H9N8 isoliert. Die klinischen Symptome umfassten geringe Atembeschwerden, Störung des Allgemeinbefindens, milde Diarrhoe, Appetitlosigkeit und eine geringfügig erhöhte Mortalität (1,4 % in 5 Tagen). Pathologisch-anatomisch wurden als herausragende Veränderungen eine mukopurulente Tracheitis und Aerosacculitis sowie renale Harnsäureablagerungen gefunden. Das Isolat A/chicken/Kr/164/04 (H9N8) besaß ein Ala-Ser-Gly-Arg (A/S/G/R)-Motiv an der Spaltstelle des Hämagglutinins (HA), das auch üblicherweise bei den aus Geflügel in Korea isolierten H9N2-Stämmen gefunden worden war. Die phylogenetische Analyse der HA- und Neuraminidase (NA)-Gene des aviären H9N8-Influenzavirus (AIV)-Isolats ließ erkennen, dass ein Reassortment statt gefunden hat. Sein HA-Gen war dem der koreanischen H9N2-AIVs ähnlich, während sein NA-Gen eng verwandt war mit dem des A/WBF/Kr/KCA16/03 (H3N8)-Stamm, der aus dem Fäzes von Wildvögeln in Korea isoliert worden war. Die Pathogenität des Isolats wurde an sechs Wochen alten spezifisch pathogen freien Hühnerküken überprüft. Das inokulierte Virus (H9N8) wurde aus fast allen untersuchten Organen einschließlich Trachea, Lunge, Niere, Milz und Zäkaltonsillen reisoliert. Dies ist die Erstbeschreibung eines durch den AIV-Subtyp H9N8 verursachten LPAI-Ausbruch in Hühnern.Se diagnosticó influenza aviar de baja patogenicidad (LPAI) del subtipo H9N8 en una granja de pollos nativos de Korea en la provincia de Gyeonggi, Korea del Sur, a finales de Abril del 2004. Los signos clínicos incluían insuficiencia respiratoria moderada, depresión, diarrea leve, pérdida de apetito e incremento leve de mortalidad (1.4% en 5 días). Microscópicamente, se observó principalmente traqueítis mucopurulenta y aerosaculitis asociados a depósito de uratos en los riñones. El aislamiento A/chicken/Kr/164/04 (H9N8) tenían un motivo Ala-Ser-Gly-Arg (A/S/G/R) en el punto de corte de la hemaglutinina (HA), el cual se había encontrado frecuentemente en los aislamientos H9N2 de las aves de Korea. El análisis filogenético de los genes de la HA y de la neuraminidasa (NA) del aislamiento del virus de influenza aviar H9N8 mostró que había ocurrido un reordenamiento genético. Su gen de HA era similar al de los AIVs H9N2 de Korea, pero su gen NA estaba relacionado estrechamente con el virus A/WBF/Kr/KCA16/03 (H3N8) aislado de heces de aves salvajes de Korea. Se testó la patogenicidad del aislamiento en pollos libres de patógenos específicos de 6 semanas de vida. El virus inoculado (H9N8) se recuperó de la mayoría de los órganos testados incluyendo tráquea, pulmón, riñón, bazo y tonsila cecal. Esta es la primera descripción de un brote de LPAI en pollos causado por un AIV del subtipo H9N8. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cloud/fog water samples were collected at Daekwanreung (840 m msl), a ridge site, in South Korea, from March 2002 to September 2003, by using a Caltech type, self fabricated active strand cloud water collector. The pH, electrical conductivity and major ion concentrations were analyzed. The cloud water pH ranged from 3.6 to 6.8 with an average of 5.2, which was close to the atmospheric neutral point. However, the pH calculated from average concentrations of H+ was 4.7, indicating the cloud/fog water was weakly acidified. SO4 2−, NO3 − and NH4 + are predominant ions of which average concentrations were 203.1, 128.1, and 211.7 μeq⋅L−1, respectively. Samples were categorized into four groups by applying 48-hour back trajectory analysis, using the HYbrid Single-Particle Largrangian Integrated Trajectory (HYSPLIT) model. Chemical compositions for the four cases significantly differed from each other. For air masses transported from the East Sea (group E), sea salt concentrations, including Na+, Cl− Mg2+, were relatively high. Principal acidifying pollutants, such as NO3 − and nss-SO4 2−, significantly increased in the case of air masses transported from the Northeast Asian continent through North Korea (group N) and air masses from the Seoul metropolitan area (group W). However, the mean pH of group N was the highest while the mean pH of group W was the lowest. This suggests that most NO3 − and nss-SO4 2− in cloud/fog water was neutralized by ammonia and calcium compounds under the influence of air masses transported from Northeast Asia. N/S ratio for the group W was significantly higher than those for the other three groups, suggesting nitrogen species transported from the Seoul metropolitan area contributed to acidification of cloud/fog water at Daekwanreung. Principle Component analysis (PCA) was applied to the cloud/fog water data for presenting characteristics in the four different categories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pseudoterranova decipiens larva is a rare cause of anisakiasis. Indeed, prior to the present study, there had been only 12 reports of larval P. decipiens infection in the Republic of Korea. In June 2011, an anisakid larva, 32.1 mm in length and 0.88 mm in width, and finally identified as the third stage larva of P. decipiens owing to the presence of an intestinal cecum but lacking ventricular appendage, was discovered in a 61-year-old woman during the course of endoscopy executed as a part of routine physical examinations. The patient had eaten raw a rockfish 13 hr prior to the endoscopy, but showed no symptoms of anisakiasis. This paper is the 13th report of P. decipiens infection in Korea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In an effort to identify the chemical constituents of fruiting bodies of Fomitopsis pinicola, a new lanostane triterpene glycoside, designated as fomitoside K, has been isolated from its methanolic extract. Its chemical structure was assigned on the basis of various spectroscopic studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Artemisia iwayomogi (AI) has been used for fever reduction, diuresis, and hepatoprotection in Korea.The present study was performed to evaluate the anti-inflammatory and antiatopic dermatitis effects ofAI using both in vitro and in vivo systems. Methods. The compositions in AI were analyzed by HPLC. To determine the anti-inflammatory effects of AI, the production of nitric oxide (NO) wasmeasured in lipopolysaccharide treated RAW264.7 cells. Histamine levels were assayed to evaluate the antiallergic effects on MC/9 cells stimulated with phorbol-12 myristate 13-acetate and A23187. Finally, AI (10mg/mouse/day) was topically applied onto the backs and ears of Dermatophagoides farinae-sensitized Nc/Nga mice for four weeks. Results. Isochlorogenic acid A (20.63 ± 0.26mg/g), chlorogenic acid (9.04 ± 0.08mg/g), and scopoletin (8.23 ± 0.01mg/g) were among the major components of AI. AI inhibited the NO and histamine productions in RAW264.7 and MC/9 cells, respectively. In the mice, the topical application of AI reduced the dermatitis scores in the dorsal skin and ears and reduced the plasma levels of IgE. Conclusions.These results suggest that AI might be explored as a potential therapeutic agent to treat AD, and that the analytic method using HPLC will facilitate the development of quality control for AI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]