Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a zoonosis that affects the nervous system of humans and other animals. The genotype of JE virus (JEV) has shifted recently from genotype 3 (G3) to genotype 1 (G1) in Asia, including Korea. Thus, a rapid differential assay is required to make an accurate diagnosis of JEV genotype. In this study, we designed common and differential primer sets for JEV G1 and G3 to detect the JEV envelope (E) gene. The specific primer sets for JEV G1 and G3 specifically amplified the target gene. The detection limits of the three primer sets were 10(1.0), 10(2.0), and 10(2.0) TCID₅₀/reaction, respectively. No cross-reactivity was detected with non-JEV reference viruses. The multiplex reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay specifically differentiated JEV G1 from G3. Thus, a one-step multiplex RT-PCR assay was established to rapidly and differentially detect JEV. This assay will be useful for confirming JEV infections in animals and checking the JEV genotype in veterinary biological products.
Animals ; Asia ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group* ; Biological Products ; Diagnosis ; Encephalitis Virus, Japanese* ; Encephalitis, Japanese* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Nervous System

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 5 (bPIV5) was isolated from cattle with downer cow syndrome in 2012, and included both respiratory and neurotropic pathogens from a variety of animals. In the current study, we conducted serosurveillance using sera obtained from seven Korean farms and optimized a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay to detect bPIV5. The overall seropositive rate for Korean cattle was 21.4% (163/760). A farm located near the city of Milyang in Gyeoungnam province had a markedly elevated seropositive rate for bPIV5 compared to that of the other six farms. The regional seropositive rates were 4.2% (8/192) for Haman, 19.5% (18/55) for Hwasung, 73.9% (65/88) for Milyang, 26.0% (50/192) for Namwon, 1.0% (1/96) for Uljin, 13.5% (13/96) for Yeongju, and 32.7% (8/41) for Yongin. The sensitivity and specificity of three RT-PCR primer sets used to amplify the conserved fusion gene of bPIV5 were also evaluated. An RT-PCR assay using the bPIVFR3 primer set was 10-fold more sensitive than the assays using the two other primer sets and did not result in non-specific amplification. These results demonstrated that the bPIFR3 primer set can be used to detect bPIV5.
Animals ; Cattle ; Gyeonggi-do ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Jeollabuk-do ; Parainfluenza Virus 5 ; Paramyxoviridae Infections* ; Sensitivity and Specificity

A total of 131 Pasteurella (P.) multocida strains were isolated from the lungs of 1,064 pigs with respiratory clinical signs nationwide during 2009-2010 and 2013-2014. The strains of P. multocida comprised 77.1% serotype A and 22.9% serotype D. Analysis of a recent P. multocida outbreak in Korean pigs showed that the isolation rate of serotype D decreased annually. The incidence of antimicrobial resistance, as measured using minimal inhibitory concentration values, has decreased recently. Overall, further studies to characterize P. multocida isolated from pigs in Korea are needed to prevent P. multocida infection in the Korean swine industry.
Incidence ; Korea* ; Lung ; Pasteurella multocida* ; Pasteurella* ; Swine*

Akabane and bovine ephemeral fever (BEF) viruses cause vector-borne diseases. In this study, inactivated Akabane virus (AKAV)+Bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV) vaccines with or without recombinant vibrio flagellin (revibFlaB) protein were expressed in a baculovirus expression system to measure their safety and immunogenicity. Blood was collected from mice, guinea pigs, sows, and cattle that had been inoculated with the vaccine twice. Inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine induced high virus neutralizing antibody (VNA) titer against AKAV and BEFV in mice and guinea pigs. VNA titers against AKAV were higher in mice and guinea pigs immunized with the inactivated AKAV+ BEFV vaccine than in animals inoculated with vaccine containing revibFlaB protein. Inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine elicited slightly higher VNA titers against AKAV and BEFV than the live AKAV and live BEFV vaccines in mice and guinea pigs. In addition, the inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine was safe, and induced high VNA titers, ranging from 1 : 64 to 1 : 512, against both AKAV and BEFV in sows and cattle. Moreover, there were no side effects observed in any treated animals. These results indicate that the inactivated AKAV+BEFV vaccine could be used in cattle with high immunogenicity and good safety.
Animals ; Antibodies, Neutralizing ; Baculoviridae ; Cattle ; Cattle* ; Ephemeral Fever* ; Flagellin ; Guinea Pigs ; Mice ; Vaccines ; Vibrio

Pheochromocytoma during pregnancy is very rare tumor, and this condition is life threatening to both mother and fetus. We describe a case of pheochromocytoma antenatally diagnosed at the midtrimester in gestation. A patient was transferred to National Medical Center during gestational week 24 with severe hypertension, generalized edema. Pheochromocytoma caused by a left adrenal mass was diagnosed. The patient was treated with titrated dose of phenoxybenzamine, propranolol, and intravenous nicardipine, but, intermittent severe hypertension was developed. At 33 weeks gestation, fetal distress was developed, and emergent c-sec was done. Two weeks after delivery, she underwent a successful left adrenalectomy. Two months after surgery, all antihypertensive medications were discontinued and her blood pressure have remained normal range.
Adrenalectomy ; Blood Pressure ; Edema ; Female ; Fetal Distress ; Fetus ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Mothers ; Nicardipine ; Phenoxybenzamine ; Pheochromocytoma* ; Pregnancy Trimester, Second ; Pregnancy* ; Propranolol ; Reference Values

Metastasizing mixed tumors (MMT) of salivary glands are inexplicably metastasize maintaining benign histology. There is no pathologic and flow cytometric analysis criteria to predict the metastasis. MMT is known to metastasize by local implantation, vascular and lymphatic embolization after multiple surgery to local recurrences of primary tumor. However, multiple metastasis including cranium and spine occurred even without surgery to the primary tumor in this case. No pathological evidence of malignancy could be found in both primary and metastatic tumor. MMT is considered as an low grade malignancy based on clinical behavior rather than histologic evidence, such as low mortality rate, long delay of metastasis after primary lesion. Cranial metastasis is also extremely rare and only two cases have been reported. We report this unusual case with a literature review.
Mortality ; Neoplasm Metastasis* ; Recurrence ; Salivary Glands* ; Skull ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: Use of dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals is growing in Korean adults, especially in pregnant and lactating women. Vitamin and mineral supplements are available in different composition and in a wide range of contents. The purposes of the study were to examine nutrient composition and content of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women and assess their appropriateness as dietary supplements. METHODS: Information on the name, manufacturer, nutrient composition, and usage of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women were obtained from the homepage of the Food Safety Information Portal managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Korean Index of Medical Specialties. A total of 264 products were identified. RESULTS: Among 264 products, 26.1% were single nutrient products, and 73.9% were multinutrient products. The most commonly included nutrient was iron (70.1%), folic acid (66.3%), vitamin B12 (45.8%), vitamin C (38.6%), and vitamin B6 (38.6%). Although more than 50% of products contained nutrients less than 150% of Recommended Nutrient Intakes or Adequate Intakes for daily use, some products contained inappropriately high amounts of nutrients. When a maximum daily dose of supplements was taken as described on the label, iron in 73 products (39.5%), folic acid in 14 products (8.0%) were likely to be consumed in amounts greater than Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. Most products were assessed as inappropriate for pregnant women due to the possibility of excessive intake of vitamins or minerals when compared with Dietary Reference Intakes. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant and lactating women need to carefully select dietary supplements containing adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists should provide guidelines regarding selection of appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Minerals ; Miners ; Nutritionists ; Pregnant Women ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

OBJECTIVES: Use of dietary supplements containing vitamins and minerals is growing in Korean adults, especially in pregnant and lactating women. Vitamin and mineral supplements are available in different composition and in a wide range of contents. The purposes of the study were to examine nutrient composition and content of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women and assess their appropriateness as dietary supplements. METHODS: Information on the name, manufacturer, nutrient composition, and usage of vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women were obtained from the homepage of the Food Safety Information Portal managed by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety, and Korean Index of Medical Specialties. A total of 264 products were identified. RESULTS: Among 264 products, 26.1% were single nutrient products, and 73.9% were multinutrient products. The most commonly included nutrient was iron (70.1%), folic acid (66.3%), vitamin B12 (45.8%), vitamin C (38.6%), and vitamin B6 (38.6%). Although more than 50% of products contained nutrients less than 150% of Recommended Nutrient Intakes or Adequate Intakes for daily use, some products contained inappropriately high amounts of nutrients. When a maximum daily dose of supplements was taken as described on the label, iron in 73 products (39.5%), folic acid in 14 products (8.0%) were likely to be consumed in amounts greater than Tolerable Upper Intake Levels. Most products were assessed as inappropriate for pregnant women due to the possibility of excessive intake of vitamins or minerals when compared with Dietary Reference Intakes. CONCLUSIONS: Pregnant and lactating women need to carefully select dietary supplements containing adequate amounts of vitamins and minerals. Nutritionists should provide guidelines regarding selection of appropriate vitamin and mineral supplements for pregnant and lactating women.
Adult ; Ascorbic Acid ; Dietary Supplements ; Female ; Folic Acid ; Food Safety ; Humans ; Iron ; Korea ; Minerals ; Miners ; Nutritionists ; Pregnant Women ; Recommended Dietary Allowances ; Vitamin B 12 ; Vitamin B 6 ; Vitamins

Cephalotocin is a bioactivity-regulating peptide expressed in octopus (Octopus vulgaris). The peptide sequence of cephalotocin is very similar to the peptide sequence of mammalian vasopressin, and cephalotocin has been proposed to mainly activate arginine vasopressin 1b receptor (Avpr1b) in the brain. However, the effects of cephalotocin on mammalian behavior have not been studied. In the current study, cephalotocin significantly reduced both the frequency and amplitude of spontaneous excitatory postsynaptic currents (sEPSCs) recorded from not only cultured neuronal cells from postnatal Sprague–Dawley (SD) rats but also hippocampal slices from 4-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. Intraperitoneal (IP) injection did not affect the open field behaviors of C57BL/6 mice. Cephalotocin was directly infused into the hippocampus because the normalized Avpr1b staining intensity divided by the DAPI staining intensity indicated that Avpr1b expression tended to be high in the hippocampus. A hippocampal infusion of 1 mg/kg cephalotocin via an implanted cannula exerted an anti-stress effect, significantly reducing the immobility time in the tail suspension test (TST). The present results provide evidence that the effects of cephalotocin on the activity of hippocampal neurons are related to ameliorating stress, suggesting that cephalotocin may be developed as an anti-stress biomodulator that functions by affecting the brain.

PURPOSE: To better understand the performance of four commercially available neurovascular stents in intracranial aneurysm embolization, the stents were compared in terms of their basic morphological and mechanical properties. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Four different types of stents that are currently being used for cerebral aneurysm embolization were prepared (two stents per type). Two were laser-cut stents (Neuroform and Enterprise) and two were braided from a single nitinol wire (LEO and LVIS stents). All were subjected to quantitative measurements of stent size, pore density, metal coverage, the force needed to load, push, and deploy the stent, radial force on deployment, surface roughness, and corrosion resistance. RESULTS: Compared to their nominal diameters, all stents had greater diameters after deployment. The length generally decreased after deployment. This was particularly marked in the braided stents. The braided stents also had higher pore densities than the laser-cut stents. Metal coverage was highest in the LEO stent (14%) and lowest in the Enterprise stent (5%). The LIVS stent had the highest microcatheter loading force (81.5 gf). The LEO stent had the highest passage force (55.0 gf) and deployment force (78.9 gf). The LVIS and LEO stents had the highest perpendicular (37.1 gf) and circumferential (178.4 gf) radial forces, respectively. The Enterprise stent had the roughest stent wire, followed by the LVIS, LEO, and Neuroform stents. CONCLUSION: The four neurovascular stent types differed in terms of morphological and physical characteristics. An understanding of this diversity may help to decide which stent is most suitable for specific clinical situations.
Corrosion ; Intracranial Aneurysm ; Stents*