The flaviviruses are small single-stranded RNA viruses that are typically transmitted by mosquitoes or tick vectors and are etiological agents of acute zoonotic infections. The viruses are found around the world and account for significant cases of human diseases. We investigated population of culicine mosquitoes in central region of Korean Peninsula, Incheon Metropolitan City and Hwaseong-si. Aedes vexans nipponii was the most frequently collected mosquitoes (56.5%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.6%), Anopheles spp. (10.9%), and Culex pipiens complex (5.9%). In rural regions of Hwaseong, Aedes vexans nipponii was the highest population (62.9%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (23.9%) and Anopheles spp. (12.0%). In another rural region of Incheon (habitat of migratory birds), Culex pipiens complex was the highest population (31.4%), followed by Ochlerotatus dorsalis (30.5%), and Aedes vexans vexans (27.5%). Culex pipiens complex was the predominant species in the urban region (84.7%). Culicine mosquitoes were identified at the species level, pooled up to 30 mosquitoes each, and tested for flaviviral RNA using the SYBR Green-based RT-PCR and confirmed by cDNA sequencing. Three of the assayed 2,683 pools (989 pools without Anopheles spp.) were positive for Culex flaviviruses, an insect-specific virus, from Culex pipiens pallens collected at the habitats for migratory birds in Incheon. The maximum likelihood estimation (the estimated number) for Culex pipiens pallens positive for Culex flavivirus was 25. Although viruses responsible for mosquito-borne diseases were not identified, we encourage intensified monitoring and long-term surveillance of both vector and viruses in the interest of global public health.

Asthma ; Bronchitis ; Cohort Studies ; Cough ; Diagnosis ; Disease Management ; Eosinophils ; Epidemiology ; Female ; Gastroesophageal Reflux ; Humans ; Korea ; Lung Diseases ; Multivariate Analysis ; Observational Study ; Pregnant Women ; Retrospective Studies ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough is defined as a cough lasting more than 8 weeks and socio-economic burden of chronic cough is enormous. The characteristics of chronic cough in Korea are not well understood. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) published guidelines on cough management in 2014. The current study evaluated the clinical characteristics of chronic cough in Korea and the efficacy of the KATRD guidelines. METHODS: This was a multi-center, retrospective observational study conducted in Korea. The participants were over 18 years of age. They had coughs lasting more than 8 weeks. Subjects with current pulmonary diseases, smokers, ex-smokers with more than 10 pack-years or who quit within the past 1 year, pregnant women, and users of cough-inducing medications were excluded. Evaluation and management of cough followed the KATRD cough-management guidelines. RESULTS: Participants with chronic cough in Korea showed age in the late forties and cough duration of more than 1 year. Upper airway cough syndrome was the most common cause of cough, followed by cough-variant asthma (CVA). Gastro-esophageal reflux diseases and eosinophilic bronchitis were less frequently observed. Following the KATRD cough-management guidelines, 91.2% of the subjects improved after 4 weeks of treatment. Responders were younger, had a longer duration of cough, and an initial impression of CVA. In univariate and multivariate analyses, an initial impression of CVA was the only factor related to better treatment response. CONCLUSION The causes of chronic cough in Korea differed from those reported in other countries. The current Korean guidelines proved efficient for treating Korean patients with chronic cough.

BACKGROUND: Chronic cough is defined as a cough lasting more than 8 weeks and socio-economic burden of chronic cough is enormous. The characteristics of chronic cough in Korea are not well understood. The Korean Academy of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases (KATRD) published guidelines on cough management in 2014. The current study evaluated the clinical characteristics of chronic cough in Korea and the efficacy of the KATRD guidelines. METHODS: This was a multi-center, retrospective observational study conducted in Korea. The participants were over 18 years of age. They had coughs lasting more than 8 weeks. Subjects with current pulmonary diseases, smokers, ex-smokers with more than 10 pack-years or who quit within the past 1 year, pregnant women, and users of cough-inducing medications were excluded. Evaluation and management of cough followed the KATRD cough-management guidelines. RESULTS: Participants with chronic cough in Korea showed age in the late forties and cough duration of more than 1 year. Upper airway cough syndrome was the most common cause of cough, followed by cough-variant asthma (CVA). Gastro-esophageal reflux diseases and eosinophilic bronchitis were less frequently observed. Following the KATRD cough-management guidelines, 91.2% of the subjects improved after 4 weeks of treatment. Responders were younger, had a longer duration of cough, and an initial impression of CVA. In univariate and multivariate analyses, an initial impression of CVA was the only factor related to better treatment response. CONCLUSION The causes of chronic cough in Korea differed from those reported in other countries. The current Korean guidelines proved efficient for treating Korean patients with chronic cough.

BACKGROUND: Folliculotropic mycosis fungoides (FMF) is a variant of mycosis fungoides (MF) that is characterized clinically by variable types of skin eruptions, including plaques, acneiform lesions, and alopecic patches. Histopathologically, FMF is characterized by folliculotropic infiltrates. OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to scrutinize the clinical and histopathologic features of FMF in Koreans and the responses to phototherapy. METHODS: Twenty Koreans diagnosed with MF who had histopathologic evidence of folliculotropism were enrolled. RESULTS: Eighteen patients had head-and-neck-region infiltration, while five had solitary lesion. In all patients, the atypical lymphocytic infiltrate had a perifollicular distribution. Twelve patients were treated with ultraviolet A (UVA)-1. Eleven of these 12 patients with early-stage FMF experienced >80% improvement (8: complete remission; 3: partial remission). Four patients, including 2 who relapsed after UVA-1, were treated with photodynamic therapy (PDT), reaching complete remission after PDT. CONCLUSION: As FMF has variable clinical presentations, skin biopsy is required to confirm the diagnosis. And both UVA-1 and methyl aminolevulinate-PDT are clinically effective in treatment of early-stage FMF.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Mycosis Fungoides* ; Photochemotherapy* ; Phototherapy ; Skin

In the originally published version of this article, complete anonymity was not achieved.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: To assess the therapeutic outcomes of endoscopic resection (ER) of early gastric cancer (EGC) with undifferentiated-type histology. METHODS: Cases of ER of EGC with undifferentiated-type histology in the Korean endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) registry database were identified and reviewed. The immediate outcomes, including en bloc resection, complete resection, and curative resection rates, and long-term outcomes, including recurrence and survival rates, were extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: From 2006 to 2015, 275 EGCs with undifferentiated-type histology from 275 patients were identified. The immediate outcomes were as follows: en bloc resection rate: 92.4%; complete resection rate: 80%; and curative resection rate: 36.4%. Compared to patients with lesions that were beyond the expanded indication, those with expanded indication lesions showed better therapeutic outcomes. There was no difference in immediate outcomes between patients with poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma (PDC) and signet ring cell carcinoma (SRC). However, compared to ER of SRC, ER of PDC had a stronger association with submucosal invasion (41.9% vs. 23.6%, p=0.003). With regard to long-term outcomes, there was no difference between lesions with curative and non-curative resections in the recurrence and mortality rates. These rates also did not differ between PDC and SRC (median follow up: 3.96 years). CONCLUSIONS: ER confined to expanded indication lesions can be considered for treatment of EGC with undifferentiated-type histology.
Adenocarcinoma ; Carcinoma, Signet Ring Cell ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Mortality ; Recurrence ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate

PURPOSE: To evaluate the diagnostic performance of three-dimensional fast spin-echo (3D FSE-Cube) without fat suppression (NFS) for detecting knee lesions, using comparison to 3D FSE-Cube with fat suppression (FS). MATERIALS AND METHODS: One hundred twenty-four patients who underwent 1.5T knee magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans and 25 subsequent arthroscopic surgeries were retrospectively reviewed. Using arthroscopic results and two-dimensional images as reference standards, diagnostic performances of 3D FSE-Cube-NFS and FS imaging about lesions of ligament, meniscus, subchondral bone marrow edema (BME), and cartilage were compared. Scan parameters of 3D FSE-Cube imaging were previously optimized by a porcine knee phantom. RESULTS: No significant differences were observed between detection rates of NFS and FS imaging for detecting lesions of meniscus and cartilage (p>0.05). However, NFS imaging had lower sensitivity for detection of medial collateral ligament (MCL) tears, and lower sensitivity and specificity for detection of BME lesions, compared to FS imaging (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: 3D FSE-Cube-NFS imaging showed similar diagnostic performance for detecting lesions of meniscus or cartilage compared to FS imaging, unlike MCL or BME lesions.
Arthroscopy ; Bone Marrow ; Cartilage ; Collateral Ligaments ; Edema ; Humans ; Imaging, Three-Dimensional ; Knee* ; Ligaments ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging* ; Retrospective Studies ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tears

BACKGROUND: During the past two decades, laser treatments have been increasingly performed by various personnel in Korea. However, as a result, adverse events related to laser treatments have also increased. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to characterize cutaneous adverse events associated with laser treatments in Korea and to consider feasible ways to minimize possible laser-associated adverse events. METHODS: Adverse event reports after laser treatments were collected from the members of the Korean Dermatological Association. A retrospective analysis of clinical data was performed regarding the pre-treatment lesion, specific laser type applied, personnel who performed the procedure, and consequences in terms of treatmentrelated complications. RESULTS: A total of 69 reported cases of adverse events associated with laser treatment were collected. The most frequently reported adverse event was postinflammatory dyspigmentation, followed by secondarily induced dermatological disease, treatment-inflicted burn, and residual scar. CONCLUSION: Both expected and unexpected adverse events occur after laser treatments. Most adverse events are not serious, but proper dermatological attention should be given to avoid complications. It should be noted that the safest and the most successful laser treatment can be provided only by qualified personnel.
Burns ; Cicatrix ; Hyperpigmentation ; Korea ; Laser Therapy ; Retrospective Studies

Here in this study, we investigated the lifespan-extending effect and underlying mechanism of methanolic extract of Moringa olelifa leaves (MML) using Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) model system. To define the longevity properties of MML we conducted lifespan assay and MML showed significant increase in lifespan under normal culture condition. In addition, MML elevated stress tolerance of C. elegans to endure against thermal, oxidative and osmotic stress conditions. Our data also revealed that increased activities of antioxidant enzymes and expressions of stress resistance proteins were attributed to MML-mediated enhanced stress resistance. We further investigated the involvement of MML on the aging-related factors such as growth, food intake, fertility, and motility. Interestingly, MML significantly reduced growth and egg-laying, suggesting these factors were closely linked with MML-mediated longevity. We also observed the movement of aged worms to estimate the effects of MML on the health span. Herein, MML efficiently elevated motility of aged worms, indicating MML may affect health span as well as lifespan. Our genetic analysis using knockout mutants showed that lifespan-extension activity of MML was interconnected with several genes such as skn-1, sir-2.1, daf-2, age-1 and daf-16. Based on these results, we could conclude that MML prolongs the lifespan of worms via activation of SKN-1 and SIR-2.1 and inhibition of insulin/IGF pathway, followed by DAF-16 activation.
Caenorhabditis elegans* ; Caenorhabditis* ; Eating ; Fertility ; Longevity ; Methanol ; Moringa oleifera* ; Moringa* ; Osmotic Pressure