Background: In the last few decades, numerous efforts have been made to develop a better mouse model to overcome the current limitations of laboratory inbred mouse models such as have a weaker and simpler immune status. As part of these efforts, in Korea, the Hallym university medical genetics research team has been developing a new inbred strain of Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym. It was suggested that this strain, which is derived from wild mice, might be useful for genetic research and may become a valuable tool for overcoming some limitations seen in inbred mice that are currently used in the laboratory. Furthermore, for this study, we aimed to determine the visual phenotype of this unique strain KWM/Hym, and consider whether and if they are suitable for visual research. To analyze their visual phenotype, we performed the functional and morphological examinations in KWM/Hym mice and compared the results with laboratory mice which are the most common background strain. Results: KWM/Hym had a thin corneal phenotype, thin but well-ordered retina due to their light body weight characteristic, and normal visual function similar to control mice. Unexpectedly, the KWM/Hym mice developed cataracts only at around 25 weeks old. Conclusions We suggest Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym is useful for visual experiments and could be an animal model of eye disease in humans.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.

Background: In the last few decades, numerous efforts have been made to develop a better mouse model to overcome the current limitations of laboratory inbred mouse models such as have a weaker and simpler immune status. As part of these efforts, in Korea, the Hallym university medical genetics research team has been developing a new inbred strain of Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym. It was suggested that this strain, which is derived from wild mice, might be useful for genetic research and may become a valuable tool for overcoming some limitations seen in inbred mice that are currently used in the laboratory. Furthermore, for this study, we aimed to determine the visual phenotype of this unique strain KWM/Hym, and consider whether and if they are suitable for visual research. To analyze their visual phenotype, we performed the functional and morphological examinations in KWM/Hym mice and compared the results with laboratory mice which are the most common background strain. Results: KWM/Hym had a thin corneal phenotype, thin but well-ordered retina due to their light body weight characteristic, and normal visual function similar to control mice. Unexpectedly, the KWM/Hym mice developed cataracts only at around 25 weeks old. Conclusions We suggest Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym is useful for visual experiments and could be an animal model of eye disease in humans.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.

Background: In the last few decades, numerous efforts have been made to develop a better mouse model to overcome the current limitations of laboratory inbred mouse models such as have a weaker and simpler immune status. As part of these efforts, in Korea, the Hallym university medical genetics research team has been developing a new inbred strain of Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym. It was suggested that this strain, which is derived from wild mice, might be useful for genetic research and may become a valuable tool for overcoming some limitations seen in inbred mice that are currently used in the laboratory. Furthermore, for this study, we aimed to determine the visual phenotype of this unique strain KWM/Hym, and consider whether and if they are suitable for visual research. To analyze their visual phenotype, we performed the functional and morphological examinations in KWM/Hym mice and compared the results with laboratory mice which are the most common background strain. Results: KWM/Hym had a thin corneal phenotype, thin but well-ordered retina due to their light body weight characteristic, and normal visual function similar to control mice. Unexpectedly, the KWM/Hym mice developed cataracts only at around 25 weeks old. Conclusions We suggest Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym is useful for visual experiments and could be an animal model of eye disease in humans.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.

Background: In the last few decades, numerous efforts have been made to develop a better mouse model to overcome the current limitations of laboratory inbred mouse models such as have a weaker and simpler immune status. As part of these efforts, in Korea, the Hallym university medical genetics research team has been developing a new inbred strain of Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym. It was suggested that this strain, which is derived from wild mice, might be useful for genetic research and may become a valuable tool for overcoming some limitations seen in inbred mice that are currently used in the laboratory. Furthermore, for this study, we aimed to determine the visual phenotype of this unique strain KWM/Hym, and consider whether and if they are suitable for visual research. To analyze their visual phenotype, we performed the functional and morphological examinations in KWM/Hym mice and compared the results with laboratory mice which are the most common background strain. Results: KWM/Hym had a thin corneal phenotype, thin but well-ordered retina due to their light body weight characteristic, and normal visual function similar to control mice. Unexpectedly, the KWM/Hym mice developed cataracts only at around 25 weeks old. Conclusions We suggest Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym is useful for visual experiments and could be an animal model of eye disease in humans.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.

Background: In the last few decades, numerous efforts have been made to develop a better mouse model to overcome the current limitations of laboratory inbred mouse models such as have a weaker and simpler immune status. As part of these efforts, in Korea, the Hallym university medical genetics research team has been developing a new inbred strain of Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym. It was suggested that this strain, which is derived from wild mice, might be useful for genetic research and may become a valuable tool for overcoming some limitations seen in inbred mice that are currently used in the laboratory. Furthermore, for this study, we aimed to determine the visual phenotype of this unique strain KWM/Hym, and consider whether and if they are suitable for visual research. To analyze their visual phenotype, we performed the functional and morphological examinations in KWM/Hym mice and compared the results with laboratory mice which are the most common background strain. Results: KWM/Hym had a thin corneal phenotype, thin but well-ordered retina due to their light body weight characteristic, and normal visual function similar to control mice. Unexpectedly, the KWM/Hym mice developed cataracts only at around 25 weeks old. Conclusions We suggest Korean wild mouse KWM/Hym is useful for visual experiments and could be an animal model of eye disease in humans.

This study aimed to elucidate the clinical characteristics of patients diagnosed with toxoplasmosis in Korea. We collected and analyzed the specific research data of 5,917 patients from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment (HIRA; 2007–2020) and 533 electronic medical records (EMRs; 2003–2021) of Korean patients. The HIRA data showed that toxoplasmosis is an endemic disease that occurs constantly in Korea, with a large proportion of patients complaining of ocular symptoms. Of the 533 patients for whom EMR data were available, 54.6% were diagnosed with toxoplasmosis; ocular toxoplasmosis (35.7%), congenital toxoplasmosis (4.7%), cerebral toxoplasmosis (4.1%), pulmonary toxoplasmosis (0.4%), and toxoplasma hepatitis (0.6%), in order of frequency. In ocular cases, 54.4% of the patients had diverse ocular pathologies. Toxoplasmosis in Korea is characterized by a high frequency of ocular symptoms, most patients are adults, and 51.8% of patients with seropositivity were positive for IgG, suggesting prior infection. This study highlights that patients with ocular symptoms are included in the major diagnosis group for acquired toxoplasmosis in Korea.