Features of Epstein-Barr virus reactivation after allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation in Korean children living in an area of high seroprevalence against Epstein-Barr virus.

The present study was conducted to investigate Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) reactivation after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in Korean children living in an area of a high seroprevalence against EBV and to determine the impact of recipient age on EBV reactivation. Medical records of 248 children and adolescents who had received allogeneic HCT were retrospectively reviewed. The trends of EBV reactivation and post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders (PTLDs) were evaluated and compared between younger (≤10 years old) and older (11-20 years old) groups.

Antifungal activity and pore-forming mechanism of astacidin 1 against Candida albicans.

In a previous report, a novel antibacterial peptide astacidin 1 (FKVQNQHGQVVKIFHH) was isolated from hemocyanin of the freshwater crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus. In this study, the antifungal activity and mechanism of astacidin 1 were evaluated. Astacidin 1 exhibited antifungal activity against Candida albicans, Trichosporon beigelii, Malassezia furfur, and Trichophyton rubrum.

The efficacy of non-carbapenem antibiotics for the treatment of community-onset acute pyelonephritis due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli.

Objective: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli has become an important cause of community-onset urinary tract infections. We aimed to evaluate the efficacy of non-carbapenem antibiotics for acute pyelonephritis (APN) due to ESBL-producing E. coli.

Hematologic diseases: high risk of Clostridium difficile associated diarrhea.

Aim: To investigate the incidence and clinical outcome of Clostridium difficile (C. difficile) associated diarrhea (CDAD) in patients with hematologic disease.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients who underwent C.

Neurotropic and neuroprotective activities of the earthworm peptide Lumbricusin.

We recently isolated a polypeptide from the earthworm Lumbricus terrestris that is structurally similar to defensin, a well-known antibacterial peptide. An 11-mer antibacterial peptide (NH2-RNRRWCIDQQA), designated Lumbricusin, was synthesized based on the amino acid sequence of the isolated polypeptide. Since we previously reported that CopA3, a dung beetle peptide, enhanced neuronal cell proliferation, we here examined whether Lumbricusin exerted neurotropic and/or neuroprotective effects.

Halofuginone ameliorates autoimmune arthritis in mice by regulating the balance between Th17 and Treg cells and inhibiting osteoclastogenesis.

Objective: The small molecule halofuginone has been shown to inhibit fibrosis, angiogenesis, and tumor progression. This study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of halofuginone in preventing autoimmune arthritis in mice.

Methods: The effects of halofuginone on joint diseases were assessed by clinical scoring and histologic analysis.

Melittin triggers apoptosis in Candida albicans through the reactive oxygen species-mediated mitochondria/caspase-dependent pathway.

Melittin is one of the best-studied antimicrobial peptides, and many studies have focused on the membrane underlying its membrane-disruptive activity. We previously showed that melittin could cause some hallmarks of apoptosis in Candida albicans. Here, we first report the exact mechanism of melittin-induced fungal apoptosis.

Antimicrobial peptides in the centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.

The centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans is an environmentally beneficial and medically important arthropod species. Although this species is increasingly applied as a reliable source of new antimicrobial peptides, the transcriptome of this species is a prerequisite for more rational selection of antimicrobial peptides. In this report, we isolated total RNA from the whole body of adult centipedes, S.

Clinical Impact of Cytochrome P450 2C19 Genotype on the Treatment of Invasive Aspergillosis under Routine Therapeutic Drug Monitoring of Voriconazole in a Korean Population.

Background: Genetic polymorphisms of cytochrome P450 enzymes, especially CYP2C19 influence voriconazole pharmacokinetics. However, the impact of CYP2C19 genetic polymorphisms on the therapeutic efficacy and toxicity of voriconazole therapy are not well established.

Materials And Methods: In this prospective observational study, we analyzed all consecutive adult patients with hematologic diseases who were treated for invasive aspergillosis (IA) with voriconazole between January 2011 and June 2012.

Antifungal effect and mode of action of glochidioboside against Candida albicans membranes.

Glochidioboside was obtained from Sambucus williamsii and its biological effect has not been reported. Its antifungal activity against pathogenic fungi and the mode of action involved in its effect were examined. Glochidioboside exerted antifungal effect with almost no hemolytic effect against human erythrocytes.

Success rate and risk factors for failure of empirical antifungal therapy with itraconazole in patients with hematological malignancies: a multicenter, prospective, open-label, observational study in Korea.

We assessed the success rate of empirical antifungal therapy with itraconazole and evaluated risk factors for predicting the failure of empirical antifungal therapy. A multicenter, prospective, observational study was performed in patients with hematological malignancies who had neutropenic fever and received empirical antifungal therapy with itraconazole at 22 centers. A total of 391 patients who had abnormal findings on chest imaging tests (31.

Vaccination of hematopoietic stem cell transplantation recipients: perspective in Korea.

Antibody titers to vaccine-preventable diseases such as tetanus, polio, measles, mumps, and rubella decline within 1-10 years after allogeneic or autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) if the recipient is not vaccinated. Vaccine-preventable diseases such as pneumococcal diseases, Haemophilus influenzae type b infections, influenza, measles, and varicella can pose an increased risk for SCT recipients. Therefore, after SCT, the recipients should be routinely revaccinated.

Structure-activity relationships of the intramolecular disulfide bonds in coprisin, a defensin from the dung beetle.

Defensins, which are small cationic molecules produced by organisms as part of their innate immune response, share a common structural scaffold that is stabilized by three disulfide bridges. Coprisin is a 43-amino acid defensin-like peptide from Copris tripartitus. Here, we report the intramolecular disulfide connectivity of cysteine-rich coprisin, and show that it is the same as in other insect defensins.

Synthesis and antimicrobial activity of cysteine-free coprisin nonapeptides.

Coprisin is a 43-mer defensin-like peptide from the dung beetle, Copris tripartitus. CopA3 (LLCIALRKK-NH₂), a 9-mer peptide containing a single free cysteine residue at position 3 of its sequence, was derived from the α-helical region of coprisin and exhibits potent antibacterial and anti-inflammatory activities. The single cysteine implies a tendency for dimerization; however, it remains unknown whether this cysteine residue is indispensible for CopA3's antimicrobial activity.

Epidemiology and clinical features of bloodstream infections in hematology wards: one year experience at the catholic blood and marrow transplantation center.

Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical features and epidemiology of bloodstream infections (BSIs) in 2 distinctive hematological wards of the Catholic Blood and Marrow Transplantation (BMT) center.

Materials And Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical data of patients who developed BSIs from June 2009 to May 2010 in 2 hematologic wards at the Catholic BMT center. Ward A is a 44-bed unit mainly conducting conventional high dose chemotherapy and ward B is a 23-bed unit exclusively conducting BMT.

Impact of vancomycin resistance on mortality in neutropenic patients with enterococcal bloodstream infection: a retrospective study.

Background: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus (VRE) bloodstream infection (BSI) is generally associated with the delayed administration of adequate antibiotics. The identification of risk factors and outcomes of VRE BSI is necessary for establishing strategies for managing neutropenic fever in patients with hematological malignancies.

Methods: We retrospectively analysed consecutive cases of enterococcal BSI in patients with neutropenia after chemotherapy or stem cell transplantation between July 2009 and December 2011 at a single center.

Antimicrobial effects of coprisin on wounds infected with Staphylococcus aureus in rats.

Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are naturally produced antibiotics that play important roles in host defense mechanisms. These proteins are found in variety of animal and plant species. The antibiotic effects of AMPs are gaining attention for use in human medicine.

Antifungal effect of CopA3 monomer peptide via membrane-active mechanism and stability to proteolysis of enantiomeric D-CopA3.

In our previous study, coprisin, a 43-mer defensin-like peptide, was derived from the dung beetle, Copris tripartitus, and a 9-mer CopA3 (monomer), truncated coprisin analog peptide, was designed. However, the antifungal effects of CopA3 are not known yet. In this study, the antifungal activity and mechanism of CopA3 were investigated and to develop a more effective antimicrobial peptide under physiological conditions, the enantiomeric d-CopA3 was designed.

The influence of the N-terminal region of antimicrobial peptide pleurocidin on fungal apoptosis.

In our previous study, the 25-mer antimicrobial peptide pleurocidin (Ple) had been thought to induce apoptosis in Candida albicans. This study demonstrated that reactive oxygen species (ROS) production was a major cause of Ple-induced apoptosis. Four truncated analogs were synthesized to understand the functional roles in the N- and C-terminal regions of Ple on the apoptosis.

Posaconazole treatment in Korea: single-center experience over 5 years.

Purpose: Posaconazole is a second-generation triazole with a broad spectrum. However, there is a lack of data to support a significant role for posaconazole in the treatment of invasive fungal infection (IFI), especially in Korea. Until recently, posaconazole was available only through the Korean Orphan Drug Center.

Antifungal effect and pore-forming action of lactoferricin B like peptide derived from centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans.

The centipede Scolopendra subspinipes mutilans has been a medically important arthropod species by using it as a traditional medicine for the treatment of various diseases. In this study, we derived a novel lactoferricin B like peptide (LBLP) from the whole bodies of adult centipedes, S. s.

Antifungal property of hibicuslide C and its membrane-active mechanism in Candida albicans.

In this study, the antifungal activity and mode of action(s) of hibicuslide C derived from Abutilon theophrasti were investigated. Antifungal susceptibility testing showed that hibicuslide C possessed potent activities toward various fungal strains and less hemolytic activity than amphotericin B. To understand the antifungal mechanism(s) of hibicuslide C in Candida albicans, flow cytometric analysis with propidium iodide was done.

The relationship between the success rate of empirical antifungal therapy with intravenous itraconazole and clinical parameters, including plasma levels of itraconazole, in immunocompromised patients receiving itraconazole oral solution as prophylaxis: a multicenter, prospective, open-label, observational study in Korea.

To identify the role of therapeutic drug monitoring of itraconazole (ITZ) in the setting of empirical antifungal therapy with intravenous (IV) ITZ, we performed a multicenter, prospective study in patients with hematological malignancies who had received antifungal prophylaxis with ITZ oral solution (OS). We evaluated the plasma levels of ITZ and hydroxy (OH) ITZ both before initiation of IV ITZ and on days 5-7 of IV ITZ. A total of 181 patients showed an overall success rate of 68.

Synergistic antibacterial and antibiofilm effect between (+)-medioresinol and antibiotics in vitro.

In this study, antibacterial effects of (+)-Medioresinol isolated from stem bark of Sambucus williamsii and its synergistic activities in combination with antibiotics such as ampicillin, cefotaxime, and chloramphenicol were tested by antibacterial susceptibility testing and checkerboard assay. (+)-Medioresinol possessed antibacterial effects against antibiotics-susceptible- or antibiotics-resistant strains. Most of combinations between (+)-Medioresinol and each antibiotic showed synergistic interaction (fractional inhibitory concentration index ≤ 0.