1.The Development and Validation of a Personality Assessment Scale for Hospital Employees.
Min Sup SHIN ; Jung In CHOI ; Miso LEE ; Jihoo LEE ; Jihyang KIM ; Jiwon SHIN ; Jun Soo KWON
Journal of Korean Neuropsychiatric Association 2017;56(1):45-50
OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to develop a Personality Assessment Scale for Hospital Employees (PAS-HE). Most current personality scales for recruiting employees have focused on evaluating the negative aspects of mental health. The present study sought to develop a Self-Report Questionnaire that assessed not only mental health problems but also positive personality traits and character strengths, as well as capabilities for hospital work. METHODS: Initially, a preliminary item pool was constructed and administered to psychiatry outpatients (n=44), hospital employees (n=217), and normal adults matched to hospital employees (n=217). Using the data from the three groups, the final 250 items for the PAS-HE were selected. Next, using data from 637 normal adults, internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and factor structure were examined and age norms were calculated for each of four age groups (18–25, 26–35, 36–45, 46–55 years). RESULTS: The PAS-HE showed moderate to high internal consistency, good temporal stability, and good construct validity. Factor structure and t-score norms (mean=50, SD=10) for each age group were established. CONCLUSION: The results of this study indicated the reliability and validity of the developed PAS-HE, suggesting that the PAS-HE can be time- and cost-efficient when used for recruitment and human resource management in hospitals.
Adult
;
Humans
;
Mental Health
;
Outpatients
;
Personality Assessment*
;
Reproducibility of Results
;
Weights and Measures
2.Western Blot Detection of Human Anti-Chikungunya Virus Antibody with Recombinant Envelope 2 Protein.
Zhaoshou YANG ; Jihoo LEE ; Hye Jin AHN ; Chom Kyu CHONG ; Ronaldo F DIAS ; Ho Woo NAM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2016;54(2):239-241
Chikungunya virus (CHIKV), a tropical pathogen, has re-emerged and has massive outbreaks abruptly all over the world. Containing many dominant epitopes, the envelope E2 protein of CHIKV has been explored for the vaccination or diagnosis. In the present study, the antigenicity of a recombinant expressed intrinsically disorder domain (IUD) of E2 was tested for the detection of the antibody against CHIKV through western blot method. The gene of the IUD of E2 was inserted into 2 different vectors and expressed as recombinant GST-E2 and recombinant MBP-E2 fusion protein, respectively. Two kinds of fusion proteins were tested with 30 CHIKV patient sera and 30 normal sera, respectively. Both proteins were detected by 25 patients sera (83.3%) and 1 normal serum (3.3%). This test showed a relatively high sensitivity and very high specificity of the recombinant E2 proteins to be used as diagnostic antigens against CHIKV infection.
Blotting, Western*
;
Chikungunya virus
;
Diagnosis
;
Disease Outbreaks
;
Epitopes
;
Humans*
;
Sensitivity and Specificity
;
Vaccination
3.Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis Detected by RDT in Residents near the DMZ (demilitarized zone) of Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea.
Yeong Hoon KIM ; Jihoo LEE ; Young Eun KIM ; Seongkyu AHN ; Tong Soo KIM ; Sung Jong HONG ; Chom Kyu CHONG ; Hye Jin AHN ; Ho Woo NAM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2017;55(4):385-389
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the residents of Cheorwon-gun, Gangwon-do, Korea, which partly includes the demilitarized zone (DMZ), were surveyed for 4 years and evaluated by RDT using recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1A). Sera from 1336, 583, 526, and 583 adult residents were collected on a yearly basis from 2010 to 2013, respectively. The total positive seroprevalence was 19.3, 21.9, 23.4, and 26.8% from 2010 to 2013, respectively. The positive seroprevalence in men (23.6, 27.5, 29.5, 34.6%) was far higher than women (14.1, 18.3, 19.4, 21.4%), from 2010 to 2013, respectively. This high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Cheorwon-gun may have been influenced in part by its geographical locality of the area as it includes the DMZ, where civilian access is strictly limited, thus creating a relatively isolated area that is a well-preserved habitat. Further research is necessary to study the epidemiology of toxoplasmosis in this area.
Adult
;
Antigens, Surface
;
Ecosystem
;
Epidemiology
;
Female
;
Gangwon-do*
;
Humans
;
Korea*
;
Male
;
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
;
Toxoplasma
;
Toxoplasmosis*
4.High Seroprevalence of Toxoplasmosis Detected by RDT among the Residents of Seokmo-do (Island) in Ganghwa-Gun, Incheon City, Korea.
Yeong Hoon KIM ; Jihoo LEE ; Seongkyu AHN ; Tong Soo KIM ; Sung Jong HONG ; Chom Kyu CHONG ; Hye Jin AHN ; Ho Woo NAM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2017;55(1):9-13
Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection among the residents of Seokmo-do (Island) in Ganghwa-gun, Incheon, Korea was surveyed for 4 years by a rapid diagnostic test (RDT) using recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), GST-linker-SAG1A. Sera from 312, 343, 390, and 362 adult residents were collected on a yearly basis from 2010 to 2013, respectively. Total positive seroprevalence regardless of gender was 29.2, 35.3, 38.7, and 45.3% from 2010 to 2013, respectively. Positive seroprevalence in male adults was 43.9, 48.2, 45.4, and 55.3%, which was far higher than that of the corresponding female adults which was 20.7, 29.2, 33.9, and 38.9%, from 2010 to 2013, respectively. This high seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in Seokmo-do may have been caused in part by peculiar changes in the toxoplasmic environment of the island as it is a relatively isolated area preserving its natural habitat while also being connected by a bridge to the mainland. Further study is necessary to find out symptomatic patients and to confirm the risk factors.
Adult
;
Antigens, Surface
;
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
;
Ecosystem
;
Female
;
Humans
;
Incheon*
;
Korea*
;
Male
;
Risk Factors
;
Seroepidemiologic Studies*
;
Toxoplasmosis*
5.Detection of Human Anti-Trypanosoma cruzi Antibody with Recombinant Fragmented Ribosomal P Protein
Yeong Hoon KIM ; Zhaoshou YANG ; Jihoo LEE ; Hye Jin AHN ; Chom Kyu CHONG ; Wagner MARICONDI ; Ronaldo F DIAS ; Ho Woo NAM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2019;57(4):435-437
Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is endemic in many Latin American countries. Diagnosis is based on serologic testing and the WHO recommends two or more serological tests for confirmation. Acidic ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi showed strong reactivity against positive sera of patients, and we cloned the protein after fragmenting it to enhance its antigenicity and solubility. Twelve positive sera of Chagas disease patients were reacted with the fragmented ribosomal P protein using western blot. Detection rate and density for each fragment were determined. Fragments F1R1, F1R2, and F2R1 showed 100% rate of detection, and average density scoring of 2.00, 1.67, and 2.42 from a maximum of 3.0, respectively. Therefore, the F2R1 fragment of the ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi could be a promising antigen to use in the diagnosis of Chagas disease in endemic regions with high specificity and sensitivity.
Blotting, Western
;
Chagas Disease
;
Clone Cells
;
Diagnosis
;
Humans
;
Parasites
;
Sensitivity and Specificity
;
Serologic Tests
;
Solubility
;
Trypanosoma cruzi
6.Seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii assayed using Rapid Diagnostic Tests among Residents in Three Counties Adjacent to The Demilitarized Zone, Korea
Jeehi JUNG ; Jinyoung LEE ; Yoon Kyung CHANG ; Seong Kyu AHN ; Seo Hye PARK ; Sung-Jong HONG ; Jihoo LEE ; Chom-Kyu CHONG ; Hye-Jin AHN ; Ho-Woo NAM ; Tong-Soo KIM ; Dongjae KIM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2021;59(1):9-14
Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence have been rapidly increasing in some parts of Korea. We analyzed prevalence of anti-Toxoplasma gondii antibodies, using a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), in the sera of 552 residents in Ganghwa-gun, 661 ones in Cheorwon-gun, and 305 ones in Goseong-gun, Korea in 2019. IgG/IgM RDT mounted with recombinant fragment of major surface antigen (SAG1), glutathione-S-transferase-linker-SAG1A, were applied to the sera. IgG seroprevalence was 28.1% in Ganghwa-gun, 19.5% in Cheorwon-gun and 35.7% in Goseong-gun. Odds ratios comparing Cheorwon vs Ganghwa was 0.63 (P=0.001) and Goesong versus Ganghwa was 1.47 (P=0.01) adjusting age and sex. Goseong had highest seroprevalence among the 3 counties both in crude rates and logistic regression. Although Cheorwon and Goseong are adjacent to the demilitarized zone (DMZ) in Korea, seroprevalence rate was much higher in Goseong. Further investigation on other DMZ-closed areas is necessary whether they have high prevalence rates compared to the other areas. T. gondii prevalence in Korea is still persists; proper health policy should be established.
7.A Unique Mutational Spectrum of MLC1 in Korean Patients With Megalencephalic Leukoencephalopathy With Subcortical Cysts: p.Ala275Asp Founder Mutation and Maternal Uniparental Disomy of Chromosome 22.
Sun Ah CHOI ; Soo Yeon KIM ; Jihoo YOON ; Joongmoon CHOI ; Sung Sup PARK ; Moon Woo SEONG ; Hunmin KIM ; Hee HWANG ; Ji Eun CHOI ; Jong Hee CHAE ; Ki Joong KIM ; Seunghyo KIM ; Yun Jin LEE ; Sang Ook NAM ; Byung Chan LIM
Annals of Laboratory Medicine 2017;37(6):516-521
BACKGROUND: Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is a rare inherited disorder characterized by infantile-onset macrocephaly, slow neurologic deterioration, and seizures. Mutations in the causative gene, MLC1, are found in approximately 75% of patients and are inherited in an autosomal recessive manner. We analyzed MLC1 mutations in five unrelated Korean patients with MLC. METHODS: Direct Sanger sequencing was used to identify MLC1 mutations. A founder effect of the p.Ala275Asp variant was demonstrated by haplotype analysis using single-nucleotide polymorphic (SNP) markers. Multiple ligation-dependent probe amplification (MLPA) and comparative genomic hybridization plus SNP array were used to detect exonic deletions or uniparental disomy (UPD). RESULTS: The most prevalent pathogenic variant was c.824C>A (p.Ala275Asp) found in 7/10 (70%) alleles. Two pathogenic frameshift variants were found: c.135delC (p.Cys46Alafs*12) and c.337_353delinsG (p.Ile113Glyfs*4). Haplotype analysis suggested that the Korean patients with MLC harbored a founder mutation in p.Ala275Asp. The p.(Ile113Glyfs*4) was identified in a homozygous state, and a family study revealed that only the mother was heterozygous for this variant. Further analysis of MLPA and SNP arrays for this patient demonstrated loss of heterozygosity of chromosome 22 without any deletion, indicating UPD. The maternal origin of both chromosomes 22 was demonstrated by haplotype analysis. CONCLUSIONS: This study is the first to describe the mutational spectrum of Korean patients with MLC, demonstrating a founder effect of the p.Ala275Asp variant. This study also broadens our understanding of the mutational spectrum of MLC1 by demonstrating a homozygous p.(Ile113Glyfs*4) variant resulting from UPD of chromosome 22.
Alleles
;
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 22*
;
Comparative Genomic Hybridization
;
Exons
;
Founder Effect
;
Haplotypes
;
Humans
;
Leukoencephalopathies*
;
Loss of Heterozygosity
;
Megalencephaly
;
Mothers
;
Seizures
;
Uniparental Disomy*
8.Development of a Rapid Diagnostic Test Kit to Detect IgG/IgM Antibody against Zika Virus Using Monoclonal Antibodies to the Envelope and Non-structural Protein 1 of the Virus
Yeong Hoon KIM ; Jihoo LEE ; Young Eun KIM ; Chom Kyu CHONG ; Yanaihara PINCHEMEL ; Francis REISDÖRFER ; Joyce Brito COELHO ; Ronaldo Ferreira DIAS ; Pan Kee BAE ; Zuinara Pereira Maia GUSMÃO ; Hye Jin AHN ; Ho Woo NAM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2018;56(1):61-70
We developed a Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDT) kit for detecting IgG/IgM antibodies against Zika virus (ZIKV) using monoclonal antibodies to the envelope (E) and non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of ZIKV. These proteins were produced using baculovirus expression vector with Sf9 cells. Monoclonal antibodies J2G7 to NS1 and J5E1 to E protein were selected and conjugated with colloidal gold to produce the Zika IgG/IgM RDT kit (Zika RDT). Comparisons with ELISA, plaque reduction neutralization test (PRNT), and PCR were done to investigate the analytical sensitivity of Zika RDT, which resulted in 100% identical results. Sensitivity and specificity of Zika RDT in a field test was determined using positive and negative samples from Brazil and Korea. The diagnostic accuracy of Zika RDT was fairly high; sensitivity and specificity for IgG was 99.0 and 99.3%, respectively, while for IgM it was 96.7 and 98.7%, respectively. Cross reaction with dengue virus was evaluated using anti-Dengue Mixed Titer Performance Panel (PVD201), in which the Zika RDT showed cross-reactions with DENV in 16.7% and 5.6% in IgG and IgM, respectively. Cross reactions were not observed with West Nile, yellow fever, and hepatitis C virus infected sera. Zika RDT kit is very simple to use, rapid to assay, and very sensitive, and highly specific. Therefore, it would serve as a choice of method for point-of-care diagnosis and large scale surveys of ZIKV infection under clinical or field conditions worldwide in endemic areas.
Antibodies
;
Antibodies, Monoclonal
;
Baculoviridae
;
Brazil
;
Cross Reactions
;
Dengue Virus
;
Diagnosis
;
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
;
Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
;
Flavivirus
;
Gold Colloid
;
Hepacivirus
;
Immunoglobulin G
;
Immunoglobulin M
;
Korea
;
Methods
;
Neutralization Tests
;
Point-of-Care Systems
;
Polymerase Chain Reaction
;
Reagent Kits, Diagnostic
;
Sensitivity and Specificity
;
Sf9 Cells
;
Yellow Fever
;
Zika Virus
9.Development and Clinical Evaluation of a Rapid Diagnostic Test for Yellow Fever Non-Structural Protein 1
Yeong Hoon KIM ; Tae Yun KIM ; Ji Seon PARK ; Jin Suk PARK ; Jihoo LEE ; Joungdae MOON ; Chom Kyu CHONG ; Ivan Neves JUNIOR ; Fernando Raphael FERRY ; Hye Jin AHN ; Lokraj BHATT ; Ho Woo NAM
The Korean Journal of Parasitology 2019;57(3):283-290
A rapid diagnostic test (RDT) kit was developed to detect non-structural protein 1 (NS1) of yellow fever virus (YFV) using monoclonal antibody. NS1 protein was purified from the cultured YFV and used to immunize mice. Monoclonal antibody to NS1 was selected and conjugated with colloidal gold to produce the YFV NS1 RDT kit. The YFV RDTs were evaluated for sensitivity and specificity using positive and negative samples of monkeys from Brazil and negative human blood samples from Korea. Among monoclonal antibodies, clones 3A11 and 3B7 proved most sensitive, and used for YFV RDT kit. Diagnostic accuracy of YFV RDT was fairly high; Sensitivity was 0.0% and specificity was 100% against Dengue viruses type 2 and 3, Zika, Chikungunya and Mayaro viruses. This YFV RDT kit could be employed as a test of choice for point-of-care diagnosis and large scale surveys of YFV infection under clinical or field conditions in endemic areas and on the globe.
Animals
;
Antibodies, Monoclonal
;
Brazil
;
Clone Cells
;
Dengue Virus
;
Diagnosis
;
Diagnostic Tests, Routine
;
Gold Colloid
;
Haplorhini
;
Humans
;
Korea
;
Mice
;
Point-of-Care Systems
;
Sensitivity and Specificity
;
Yellow fever virus
;
Yellow Fever