Analysis of the Association Among Air Pollutants, Allergenic Pollen, and Respiratory Virus Infection of Children in Guri, Korea During Recent 5 Years

Choi Young-Jin,Lee Kyung Suk,Lee Young-Seop,Kim Kyu Rang,Oh Jae-Won 대한천식알레르기학회 2022 Allergy, Asthma & Immunology Research Vol.14 No.3

Purpose: Concerns about the spread of infectious diseases have increased due to the coronavirus disease pandemic. Knowing the factors that exacerbate or increase the contagiousness of a virus could be a key to pandemic prevention. Therefore, we investigated whether the pandemic potential of infectious diseases correlates with the concentration of atmospheric substances. We also investigated whether environmental deterioration causes an increase in viral infections. Methods: Pediatric patients (0–18 years old; n = 6,223) were recruited from those hospitalized for aggravated respiratory symptoms at Hanyang University Guri Hospital between January 1, 2015 and December 31, 2019. The number of viral infections was defined as the total number of virus-infected patients hospitalized for respiratory symptoms. We analyzed the association between the number of viral infections/week and the average concentrations of atmospheric substances including particulate matter (PM)10, PM2.5, O3, NO2, CO, SO2, and allergenic pollen) for that week. The cross-correlation coefficient between the weekly measures of pollens and viral infections was checked to determine which time point had the most influence. The association of atmospheric substances in that time, with the number of viral infections/week was investigated using multiple linear regression analysis to identify factors with the greatest influence. Results: In spring the tree pollen average concentration one week earlier (t-1) had the greatest correlation with the average virus infection of a given week (t) (ρXY (h) =0.5210). The number of viral infections showed a statistically significant correlation with especially tree pollen concentration of 1 week prior (adj R2=0.2280). O3 concentration was correlated to the number of viral infections within that week (adj R2=0.2552) in spring, and weed pollen and CO concentration correlated (adj R2=0.1327) in autumn. Conclusions: Seasonal co-exposure to air pollutants and allergenic pollens may enhance respiratory viral infection susceptibility in children. Therefore, reducing the concentrations of air pollutants and pollens may help prevent future epidemics.

돌발성 난청환자에서 바이러스 IgM 항체검사의 임상적 유용성

박무균,이종대,이병돈,임현우,황순재,채성원 대한이비인후과학회 2011 대한이비인후과학회지 두경부외과학 Vol.54 No.1

Background and Objectives There are many possible causes of sudden deafness such as viral infection, vascular occlusion, immune-mediated mechanism and abnormal cellular stress response in the cochlea. Viral hypothesis is one of the potential mechanisms for explaining sudden deafness. The aims of this study were to investigate the usefulness of viral IgM antibodies to evaluate the clinical findings and prognosis in sudden sensorineural hearing loss and to identify the more useful viral IgM antibodies. Subjects and Method A retrospective study was carried out for 283 patients with sudden deafness. The results of serologic tests performed for the following were studied: Ebstein barr virus (EBV), Measles, Mumps, Toxoplasma, Rubella, Cytomegalovirus, Varicella zoster virus, Herpes simplex virus, and human immunodeficiency virus. Results of blood tests and audiologic tests taken initially and 2 months after the onset of sudden deaf were studied as well. Results Positive ratio of Viral IgM antibodies was 4.9% (13/283). Clincial findings and prognosis of viral IgM positive patients were not different from other sudden deafness patients except for the age factor. EBV Viral capsid antigen, EBV Early antigen-diffuse and restrict complex were common positive viral markers in sudden hearing loss patients. One third of the patients (4/13) had viral markers for Measles, Mumps and Toxoplasma. Conclusion In sudden deafness, the positive ratio of serologic tests for viral IgM antibodies was less than 5% and viral IgM positive patients had similar clinical findings and prognosis to viral IgM negative patients. However, viral origins of Measles, toxoplasam and Mumps as well as EBV should be considered in sudden deafness patients with the symptoms and signs of viral infection.

신장이식 이후 약물사용에 따른 Cytomegalovirus 감염의 위험요인 분석

이영종,박옥선,박윤희,김재연,송영천,곽혜선 한국병원약사회 2011 病院藥師會誌 Vol.28 No.2

Cytomegalovirus(CMV), the most common virus which causes opportunistic infection can be reactivated in patients with immunosuppressive therapy after kidney transplantation. In many studies, CMV high-risk group was identified in patients whose transplantations were conducted from seropositive donors to seronegative recipients. So, it was recommended that those patients should receive prophylactic anti-viral therapy after transplantations. Although most Koreans have antibodies against CMV, CMV infections are observed in patients with kidney transplantation. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze the main risk factors of CMV infections including CMV serotypes and other risk factors. We retrospectively analyzed medical records of patients who have received a renal allograft from January 2006 to December 2007 in Asan Medical Center and monitored them for 1.5 year after transplantations. Among 248 kidney patients with transplantation, 22 patients (8.9%) developed CMV infection. No significant differences were observed regarding the selective use of cyclosporine/tacrolimus and azathioprine/mycophenolate. Donor’s age, sex and the use of induction therapy were not significant factors of CMV infection. But acute rejection (p<0.001) and the use of prophylactic anti-viral therapy (p=0.014) were found to be significant factors between patients with and without CMV infection. With logistic regression analysis using risk factors and other relevant factors, acute rejection and prophylactic anti-viral therapy were significant factors of CMV infection. This study suggests acute rejection and anti-viral therapy are relative risk factors after kidney transplantation.

Proposed Pathway Linking Respiratory Infections with Depression

Zeinab Karimi,Maryam Chenari,Farhad Rezaie,Shima Karimi,Najmeh Parhizgari,Talat Mokhtari-Azad 대한정신약물학회 2022 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.20 No.2

Depression is one of the most important causes of disability and loss of useful life of people around the world. Acute respiratory infection caused a large number of severe illnesses and deaths of the world and most of these due to viral infections, which is estimated more than 80% of respiratory infections. Detection of viruses by immune pathogen recognition receptors activates the intracellular signaling cascade and eventually cause produces interferons. Inflammatory process begins with secretion of interferons and the expression of interferon-stimulated genes. One of the most important of these genes is indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO), which plays a major role in tryptophan catabolism. IDO is an intracellular monomeric enzyme that is also responsible for breaking down and consuming tryptophan in the Kynurenine pathway. Increased inflammation has been linked to decrease tryptophan concentrations and increase kynurenine levels. We tried to explain the role of inflammation by viral respiratory infections in causing depression.

Noninvasive Measurement of Electrical Events Associated with a Single Chlorovirus Infection of a Microalgal Cell

Lee, Seung-Woo,Lee, Eun-Hee,Thiel, Gerhard,Van Etten, James L.,Saraf, Ravi F. American Chemical Society 2016 ACS NANO Vol.10 No.5

<P>Chlorovirus Paramecium bursaria chlorella virus 1 (PBCV-1) contains a viral-encoded K+ channel imbedded in its internal membrane, which triggers host plasma membrane depolarization during virus infection. This early stage of infection was monitored at high resolution by recording the cell membrane depolarization of a single Chlorella cell during infection by a single PBCV-1 particle. The measurement was achieved by depositing the cells onto a network of one-dimensional necklaces of Au nanoparticles, which spanned two electrodes 70 mu m apart. The nanoparticle necklace array has been shown to behave as a single-electron device at room temperature. The resulting electrochemical field-effect transistor (eFET) was gated by the cell membrane potential, which allowed a quantitative measurement of the electrophysiological changes across the rigid cell wall of the microalgae due to a single viral attack at high sensitivity. The single viral infection signature was quantitatively confirmed by coupling the eFET measurement with a method in which a single viral particle was delivered for infection by a scanning probe microscope cantilever.</P>

알코올성 간경변 환자와 바이러스성 간경변 환자에서의 감염 발생 빈도의 비교

한상표 ( Sang Pyo Han ),김정욱 ( Jeong Wook Kim ),김석원 ( Suk Won Kim ),허채 ( Chae Heo ),김광진 ( Kwang Jin Kim ),김형준 ( Hyung Joon Kim ),도재혁 ( Jae Hyuk Do ),김재규 ( Jae Gyu Kim ),장세경 ( Sae Kyung Chang ),박실무 ( Sill 대한내과학회 2006 대한내과학회지 Vol.71 No.4

목적: 감염은 간경변 환자에서 자주 발생하고 중요한 합병증이다. 특히 알코올에 의한 간경변증 환자에서 감염이 다른 원인에 의한 간경변증보다 자주 발생한다는 보고가 있다. 본 연구에서는 알코올성 간경변증과 다른 원인에 의한 간경변증과의 감염 양상을 비교하기 위하여 알코올성 간경변증과 바이러스성 간경변증에서 감염의 발생빈도의 차이를 알아보았다. 방법: 4개월간 입원했던 환자 중 12개월 이상 추적관찰이 가능하였던 190명의 간경변증 환자(알코올성 83명, 바이러스성 107명)의 539예의 입원(알코올성 242예, 바이러스성 297예)를 후향적으로 조사하였다. 결과: 190명의 간경변 환자에서 추적기간동안 82명(43.2%)의 환자에서 세균감염이 동반되었으며, 알코올성 간경변 환자는 34명(41.0%)에서 바이러스성 간경변 환자는 48명(44.9%)에서 감염이 발생하였다. 539예의 간경변 환자의 입원 예에서 Child-Pugh 분류와 복수, 간성뇌증, 위장관출혈, 위식도정맥류 등의 합병증의 동반 및 생존유무, 혈액학적 검사 수치에 따른 감염빈도가 두 질환군 사이에 차이가 없었다. 원인균주는 두 질환군 모두에서 장내세균과 그람음성균이 많았으며 감염의 원인병소의 양상도 차이가 없었다. 결론: 알코올성 간경변증과 바이러스성 간경변증에서 감염의 빈도가 차이를 보이지 않으므로 간경변에서 질환의 원인과 상관없이 그람음성균 및 장내세균에 의한 감염성 합병증을 줄이기 위한 시도가 필요하다고 생각된다. Background: Some studies have reported that bacterial infection is more common in alcoholic compared to non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis such as viral liver cirrhosis. However, other studies reported no significant differences in the bacterial infection rate between alcoholic and non-alcoholic liver cirrhosis. This study was performed to compare the frequency of bacterial infection between alcoholic and viral liver cirrhosis. Methods: We analyzed 190 cirrhotic patients (alcoholic 83, viral 107) with 539 hospitalized cases (alcoholic 242, viral 297) who were followed for more than 12 months. Results: During the follow up period, 82 patients (43.2%) presented with bacterial infections that developed in 34 (41.0%) patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis and 48 (44.9%) patients with viral liver cirrhosis. There was no significant difference in the frequency of bacterial infection including community acquired and nosocomial infection between alcoholic and viral cirrhotic patients regarding the Child-Pugh class, various laboratory parameters and site of infection. Gram-negative and enteric bacterial strains were the most frequently isolated pathogens in both groups. Conclusions: There was no significant difference in the frequency of infection between patients with alcoholic and viral liver cirrhosis. Further efforts are needed to reduce bacterial infection by gram negative and enteric bacteria in patients with both alcoholic and viral cirrhosis.(Korean J Med 71:362-370, 2006)

Nutrient modulation of viral infection-implications for COVID-19

Hye-Keong Kim,Chan Yoon Park,Sung Nim Han 한국영양학회 2021 Nutrition Research and Practice Vol.15 No.S

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has put focus on the importance of a healthy immune system for recovery from infection and effective response to vaccination. Several nutrients have been under attention because their nutritional statuses showed associations with the incidence or severity of COVID-19 or because they affect several aspects of immune function. Nutritional status, immune function, and viral infection are closely interrelated. Undernutrition impairs immune function, which can lead to increased susceptibility to viral infection, while viral infection itself can result in changes in nutritional status. Here, we review the roles of vitamins A, C, D, and E, and zinc, iron, and selenium in immune function and viral infection and their relevance to COVID-19.

<i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> lipoproteins augment inflammatory responses in poly I:C-primed macrophages

Kang, Seok-Seong,Kim, A. Reum,Yun, Cheol-Heui,Han, Seung Hyun Elsevier 2018 Cytokine Vol.111 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Secondary bacterial infection contributes to severe inflammation following viral infection. Among foodborne pathogenic bacteria, <I>Staphylococcus aureus</I> is known to exacerbate severe inflammatory responses after infection with single-stranded RNA viruses such as influenza viruses. However, it has not been determined if <I>S. aureus</I> infection enhances inflammatory responses after infection with RNA enteric viruses, including rotavirus, which is a double-stranded RNA virus. We therefore investigated the molecular mechanisms by which a cell wall component of <I>S. aureus</I> enhanced inflammatory responses during enteric viral infection using poly I:C-primed macrophages, which is a well-established model for double-stranded RNA virus infection. <I>S. aureus</I> lipoproteins enhanced IL-6 as well as TNF-α production in poly I:C-primed macrophages. Pam2CSK4, a mimic of Gram-positive bacterial lipoproteins and <I>S. aureus</I> lipoproteins, also significantly enhanced IL-6 production in poly I:C-primed macrophages. While IFN-β expression was increased in poly I:C-primed macrophages treated with Pam2CSK4 or <I>S. aureus</I> lipoproteins, the level of IL-6 enhancement in poly I:C-primed macrophages was decreased in the presence of anti-IFN-α/β receptor antibody, suggesting that IFN-β plays an important role in enhanced IL-6 production. Phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase, Akt, ERK and NF-κB were also involved in the enhanced IL-6 production. Collectively, these results suggest that <I>S. aureus</I> lipoproteins induce excessive inflammatory responses in the presence of poly I:C.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> <I>S. aureus</I> lipoproteins induce inflammatory responses in macrophages. </LI> <LI> <I>S. aureus</I> lipoproteins augment IL-6 production in poly I:C-primed macrophages. </LI> <LI> IFN-β is involved in the excessive IL-6 production in poly I:C-primed macrophages. </LI> <LI> PI3K, Akt, ERK and NF-κB are associated with the enhancement of IL-6 production. </LI> </UL> </P>

Integrase C-terminal residues determine the efficiency of feline foamy viral DNA integration

Kim, Jinsun,Lee, Ga-Eun,Lochelt, Martin,Shin, Cha-Gyun 3M Company 2018 Virology Vol.514 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>Integrase (IN) is an essential enzyme in retroviral life cycle. It mediates viral cDNA integration into host cellular DNA. Feline foamy virus (FFV) is a member of the Spumavirus subfamily of Retroviridae. Recently, its life cycle has been proposed to be different from other retroviruses. Despite this important finding, FFV IN is not understood clearly. Here, we constructed point mutations in FFV IN C-terminal domain (CTD) to obtain a clear understanding of its integration mechanism. Mutation of the amino acid residues in FFV IN CTD interacting with target DNA reduced both IN enzymatic activities <I>in vitro</I> and viral productions in infected cells. Especially, the mutants, R307 and K340, made viral DNA integration less efficient and allowed accumulation of more unintegrated viral DNA, thereby suppressing viral replication. Therefore, we suggest that the CTD residues interacting with the target DNA play a significant role in viral DNA integration and replication.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Mutation in FFV IN CTD reduced three representative enzymatic activities <I>in vitro</I>. </LI> <LI> Viruses with a mutation in CTD showed a significant reduction in viral infectivity. </LI> <LI> The mutation at R307 and K340 made viral DNA integration less efficient. </LI> <LI> The mutation at R307 and K340 leaded to accumulation of unintegrated viral DNA. </LI> </UL> </P>

CCR7 Ligand의 Memory CD4+ T 세포 증가유도 및 바이러스 감염에 대한 방어효과

어성국,조정곤,Eo, Seong-Kug,Cho, Jeong-Gon 대한면역학회 2003 Immune Network Vol.3 No.1

Background: CC chemokine receptor (CCR) 7 and cognate CCR7 ligands, CCL21 (formerly secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine [SLC]) and CCL19 (formerly Epstein-Barr virus-induced molecule 1 ligand chemokine [ELC]), were known to establish microenvironment for the initiation of immune responses in secondary lymphoid tissue. As described previously, coadministration of DNA vaccine with CCR7 ligand-encoding plasmid DNA elicited enhanced humoral and cellular immunity via increasing the number of dendritic cells (DC) in secondary lymphoid tissue. The author hypothesized here that CCR7 ligand DNA could effectively expand memory CD4+ T cells to protect from viral infection likely via increasing DC number. Methods: To evaluate the effect of CCR7 ligand DNA on the expansion of memory CD4+ T cells, DO11.10.BALB/c transgenic (Tg)-mice, which have highly frequent ovalbumin $(OVA)_{323-339}$ peptide-specific CD4+ T cells, were used. Tg-mice were previously injected with CCR7 ligand DNA, then immunized with $OVA_{323-339}$ peptide plus complete Freund's adjuvant. Subsequently, memory CD4+ T cells in peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) were analyzed by FACS analysis for memory phenotype ($CD44^{high}$ and CD62 $L^{low}$) at memory stage. Memory CD4+ T cells recruited into inflammatory site induced with OVA-expressing virus were also analyzed. Finally, the protective efficacy against viral infection was evaluated. Results: CCR7 ligand DNA-treated Tg-mice showed more expanded $CD44^{high}$ memory CD4+ T cells in PBL than control vector-treated animals. The increased number of memory CD4+ T cells recruited into inflammatory site was also observed in CCR7 ligand DNA-treated Tg-mice. Such effectively expanded memory CD4+ T cell population increased the protective immunity against virulent viral infection. Conclusion: These results document that CCR7 and its cognate ligands play an important role in intracellular infection through establishing optimal memory T cell. Moreover, CCR7 ligand could be useful as modulator in DNA vaccination against viral infection as well as cancer.