OBJECTIVETo simultaneously detect viable Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts and Giardia duodenalis cysts for the purpose of reducing time and cost spent.

METHODSA duplex reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) method was newly developed.

RESULTSUsing duplex RT-PCR method for the hsp70 gene, viable (oo)cyst concentrations of 10(1) and 10(3) (oo)cysts/100 microL could be detected for C. parvum and G duodenalis, respectively. However, after heat-shock stimulation the expression of hsp70 mRNAs was detectable at 10(0) and 10(1) (oo)cysts/100 microL concentrations of C. parvum and G duodenalis, respectively. Thus, the detection sensitivity was significantly increased when the viable (oo)cysts were exposed to heat shock.

CONCLUSIONThis study describes a new duplex RT-PCR method for hsp70 gene to detect the viable (oo)cysts of the C. parvum and G duodenalis with less time consumed and at a lower cost. This newly developed duplex RT-PCR method may be used to detect these parasites not only in aquatic environments but also in clinical samples.

Fruiting bodies similar to those of the ascomycete fungi Podostroma cornu-damae and Cordyceps militaris were collected from Mt. Seunghak in Busan, Korea on August 21, 2012. The fruiting bodies were cylindrical, with tapered ends and golden red in color. The fruiting bodies contained abundant conidiophores bearing single-celled conidia, but no perithecia or asci. Pure culture of the fungal isolates was obtained through single-spore isolation. Analyses of morphological characteristics, including conidia shape, and phylogenetic traits, using internal transcribed spacer sequences, showed that these isolates belonged to the species Simplicillium lanosoniveum. Although this fungal species is known to be mycoparasitic, the isolates obtained in this study were unable to infect fungi. However, silkworms (Bombyx mori) inoculated with the fungal isolates died during the larval or pupal stages, as has been shown for the strongly entomopathogenic fungus Beauveria bassiana. This study is the first report of the entomopathogenicity of S. lanosoniveum and indicates its potential for use in biological control of insects.
Ascomycota ; Beauveria ; Bombyx ; Busan ; Cordyceps ; Fruit ; Fungi ; Insects ; Korea ; Spores, Fungal

Objective: The pathology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with changes in brain structure and function, especially in the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and insula. Survivors of tragic accidents often experience psychological stress and develop post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), regardless of the diagnosis of PTSD. This study aimed to evaluate electroencephalographic changes according to PTSS in victims of a single traumatic event. Methods: This study enrolled 60 survivors of the Sewol ferry disaster that occurred in 2014 from Danwon High School and collected electroencephalographic data through 19 channels twice for each person in 2014 and 2015 (mean 451.88 [standard deviation 25.77] days of follow-up). PTSS was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and the participants were divided into two groups according to the differences in PCL-C scores between 2014 and 2015. Electroencephalographic data were converted to three-dimensional data to perform low-resolution electrical tomographic analysis. Results: Significant electroencephalographic changes over time were observed. The group of participants with worsened PCL-C score showed an increased change of delta slow waves in Brodmann areas 13 and 44, with the largest difference in the insula region, compared to those with improved PCL-C scores. Conclusion Our findings suggests that the electrophysiological changes in the insula are associated with PTSS changes.

Objective: The pathology of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is associated with changes in brain structure and function, especially in the amygdala, medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus, and insula. Survivors of tragic accidents often experience psychological stress and develop post-traumatic stress symptoms (PTSS), regardless of the diagnosis of PTSD. This study aimed to evaluate electroencephalographic changes according to PTSS in victims of a single traumatic event. Methods: This study enrolled 60 survivors of the Sewol ferry disaster that occurred in 2014 from Danwon High School and collected electroencephalographic data through 19 channels twice for each person in 2014 and 2015 (mean 451.88 [standard deviation 25.77] days of follow-up). PTSS was assessed using the PTSD Checklist-Civilian Version (PCL-C) and the participants were divided into two groups according to the differences in PCL-C scores between 2014 and 2015. Electroencephalographic data were converted to three-dimensional data to perform low-resolution electrical tomographic analysis. Results: Significant electroencephalographic changes over time were observed. The group of participants with worsened PCL-C score showed an increased change of delta slow waves in Brodmann areas 13 and 44, with the largest difference in the insula region, compared to those with improved PCL-C scores. Conclusion Our findings suggests that the electrophysiological changes in the insula are associated with PTSS changes.

Background: Interleukin (IL)-17 and IL-23 inhibitors have helped achieve clear skin in many patients with psoriasis. However, real-world data to compare short- and long-term efficacy of these biologics in Korean patients are lacking. Objective: To compare short- and long-term efficacy of IL-17A and IL-23 inhibitors in patients with moderateto-severe psoriasis. Methods: We retrospectively evaluated efficacy of IL-17A and IL-23 inhibitors among patients treated at Ajou University Hospital from 2017 to 2022. The specific agents studied were as follows: secukinumab, 32 patients; ixekizumab, four patients; guselkumab, 13 patients; and risankizumab, 31 patients. Patients who were followed up for less than a year or changed biologics were excluded. Results: The rates of psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) 90 achievement of secukinumab were 62.5%, 86.7%, 89.3%, 80.8%, and 70.8% at weeks 16, 40, 88, 112, and 136, respectively. For ixekizumab, the PASI90 achievement rates were 75%, 100%, 75%, and 100% at weeks 16, 40, 64, and 88, respectively. The PASI90 achievement rates of guselkumab were 53.8%, 76.9%, 72.7%, and 77.8% at weeks 20, 44, 68, and 92, respectively. For risankizumab, PASI90 achievement rates were 69.7%, 90.0%, 93.7%, and 100% at weeks 28, 52, 76, and 100, respectively. Before 52 weeks, PASI90 achievement was significantly lower with guselkumab than with secukinumab (hazardratio=0.22). After 52 weeks, PASI90 achievement was significantly higher with risankizumab than with secukinumab (hazard ratio=2.00). Conclusion PASI90 was achieved faster with IL-17A inhibitors than with IL-23 inhibitors. However, IL-23 inhibitors afforded the maintenance of a higher PASI score after 52 weeks.

The human immune system has evolved to fight against foreign pathogens. It plays a central role in the body's defense mechanism. However, the immune memory geared to fight off a previously recognized pathogen, tends to remember an original form of the pathogen when a variant form subsequently invades. This has been termed 'original antigenic sin'. This adverse immunological effect can alter vaccine effectiveness and sometimes cause enhanced pathogenicity or additional inflammatory responses, according to the type of pathogen and the circumstances of infection. Here we aim to give a simplified conceptual understanding of virus infection and original antigenic sin by comparing and contrasting the two examples of recurring infections such as influenza and dengue viruses in humans.
Dengue ; Dengue Virus ; Humans ; Immune System ; Influenza, Human ; Memory ; RNA Viruses* ; RNA* ; Virulence

The human immune system has evolved to fight against foreign pathogens. It plays a central role in the body's defense mechanism. However, the immune memory geared to fight off a previously recognized pathogen, tends to remember an original form of the pathogen when a variant form subsequently invades. This has been termed 'original antigenic sin'. This adverse immunological effect can alter vaccine effectiveness and sometimes cause enhanced pathogenicity or additional inflammatory responses, according to the type of pathogen and the circumstances of infection. Here we aim to give a simplified conceptual understanding of virus infection and original antigenic sin by comparing and contrasting the two examples of recurring infections such as influenza and dengue viruses in humans.
Dengue ; Dengue Virus ; Humans ; Immune System ; Influenza, Human ; Memory ; RNA Viruses* ; RNA* ; Virulence

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is an obscure disease that is usually diagnosed after the exclusion of other febrile diseases, including other autoimmune, infectious, and malignant diseases. Although definitive diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD are thus far lacking, the typical manifestations of AOSD have been identified and effective medications for remission and maintenance have been proposed. The pathophysiology of the AOSD is unclear, but diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD can be established by determining its core etiology and conducting clinical trials of previously tested immunosuppressants and biologics.

Adult-onset Still’s disease (AOSD) is an obscure disease that is usually diagnosed after the exclusion of other febrile diseases, including other autoimmune, infectious, and malignant diseases. Although definitive diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD are thus far lacking, the typical manifestations of AOSD have been identified and effective medications for remission and maintenance have been proposed. The pathophysiology of the AOSD is unclear, but diagnostic criteria and treatment guidelines for AOSD can be established by determining its core etiology and conducting clinical trials of previously tested immunosuppressants and biologics.

In this case report, we present a rare case of lipoma of the tendon sheath localized to the wrist which caused median entrapment neuropathy and was successfully treated with surgical excision. Dynamic examination using ultrasonography revealed the exact location of the lipoma. Electrodiagnostic study (EDX) was done before surgery to elucidate combined neuropathy, and surgery for ulnar neuropathy around elbow was also performed simultaneously. Diagnostic ultrasound can be used for dynamic examinations with real-time visualization.