Clinical characteristics of toxoplasmosis patients in Korea: A retrospective study using health insurance review and assessment service data and electronic medical records.

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.

Role for Caspase-8 in the Release of IL-1β and Active Caspase-1 from Viable Human Monocytes during Toxoplasma gondii Infection.

Monocytes are actively recruited to sites of infection and produce the potent proinflammatory cytokine IL-1β. We previously showed that IL-1β release during Toxoplasma gondii infection of primary human monocytes requires the NLRP3 inflammasome and caspase-1 but is independent of gasdermin D and pyroptosis. To investigate mechanisms of IL-1β release, we generated caspase-1, -4, -5, or -8 knockout (KO) THP-1 monocytic cells.

PTEN/AKT signaling pathway related to hTERT downregulation and telomere shortening induced in Toxoplasma GRA16-expressing colorectal cancer cells.

This study investigated whether the molecular mechanism of granule protein 16 (GRA16), a dense granule protein of Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) that induces cancer cell apoptosis, results in telomere shortening in cancer cells. The molecular mechanism of GRA16 responsible for regulating telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) activity and telomere shortening was investigated using GRA16-transferred HCT116 human colorectal cancer cells (GRA16-stable cells).

Chronic Toxoplasma gondii Infection Alleviates Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis by the Immune Regulation Inducing Reduction in IL-17A/Th17 Via Upregulation of SOCS3.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE) is a mouse model of multiple sclerosis (MS), a demyelinating autoimmune disease caused by the infiltration of a harmful autoreactive Th1 and Th17 cells. To mitigate MS, which is impossible to cure with medication only, immunomodulatory interventions that prevent Th17 cell activation are ideal. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of Toxoplasma gondii infection on the onset of EAE.

GRA16 Inhibits NF-κB Activation through PP2A-B55 Upregulation in Non-Small-Cell Lung Carcinoma Cells.

Nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) activation is a well-known mechanism by which chemoresistance to anticancer agents is reported. It is well-known that irinotecan as a chemotherapeutic drug against non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC) has limited anticancer effect due to NF-κB activation. In this study, we propose the novel role of GRA16, a dense granule protein of , as an anticancer agent to increase the effectiveness of chemotherapy via the inhibition of NF-κB activation.

Immune-triggering effect of the foodborne parasite Kudoa septempunctata through the C-type lectin Mincle in HT29 cells.

Kudoa septempunctata is a myxozoan parasite that causes food poisoning in individuals consuming olive flounder. The present study aimed to investigate the currently insufficiently elucidated early molecular mechanisms of inflammatory responses in the intestine owing to parasite ingestion. After Kudoa spores were isolated from olive flounder, HT29 cells were exposed to spores identified to be alive using SYTO-9 and propidium iodide staining or to antigens of Kudoa spores (KsAg).

Increase in the nuclear localization of PTEN by the Toxoplasma GRA16 protein and subsequent induction of p53-dependent apoptosis and anticancer effect.

This study investigated the efficacy of Toxoplasma GRA16, which binds to herpes virus-associated ubiquitin-specific protease (HAUSP), in anticancer treatment, and whether the expression of GRA16 in genetically modified hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells (GRA16-p53-wild HepG2 and GRA16-p53-null Hep3B) regulates PTEN because alterations in phosphatase and tensin homologue (PTEN) and p53 are vital in liver carcinogenesis and the abnormal p53 gene appears in HCC. For this purpose, we established the GRA16 cell lines using the pBABE retrovirus system, assessed the detailed mechanism of PTEN regulation in vitro and established the anticancer effect in xenograft mice. Our study showed that cell proliferation, antiapoptotic factors, p-AKT/AKT ratio, cell migration and invasive activity were decreased in GRA16-stable HepG2 cells.

Development of Molecular Diagnosis Using Multiplex Real-Time PCR and T4 Phage Internal Control to Simultaneously Detect Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, and Cyclospora cayetanensis from Human Stool Samples.

This study aimed to develop a new multiplex real-time PCR detection method for 3 species of waterborne protozoan parasites (Cryptosporidium parvum, Giardia lamblia, and Cyclospora cayetanensis) identified as major causes of traveler's diarrhea. Three target genes were specifically and simultaneously detected by the TaqMan probe method for multiple parasitic infection cases, including Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein for C. parvum, glutamate dehydrogenase for G.

Effects of Antioxidants in Reducing Accumulation of Fat in Hepatocyte.

The progress of the hepatic steatosis (HS), a clinicopathological status, is influenced by cellular oxidative stress, lipogenesis, fatty acid (FA) oxidation, and inflammatory responses. Because antioxidants are gaining attention as potent preventive agents for HS, we aimed to investigate anti-lipogenic effects of the antioxidants vitamin C (VC), N-acetylcysteine (NAC), and astaxanthin (ATX) using hepatocytes. For this, we established an in vitro model using 1 mM oleic acid (OA) and human liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HepG2) cells; 10 μM antioxidants were evaluated for their ability to reduce fat accumulation in hepatocytes.

Characteristics of Infection Immunity Regulated by to Maintain Chronic Infection in the Brain.

To examine the immune environment of chronic infection in the brain, the characteristics of infection-immunity (premunition) in infection with . strain ME49 were investigated for 12 weeks postinfection (PI). The results showed that neuronal cell death, microglia infiltration and activation, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokine expression, Stat1 phosphorylation, and microglia activation and inflammatory gene transcripts related to M1 polarization in the brain were increased during the acute infection (AI) stage (within 6 weeks PI), suggesting that innate and cellular inflammatory response activation and neurodegeneration contributed to excessive inflammatory responses.

Preventive Effects of Resveratrol-enriched Extract of Peanut Sprout on Bacteria- and Estradiol-induced Prostatitis in Mice.

The present study investigated the effect of peanut sprout extract (PSE) as a natural resveratrol supplement on chronic bacterial prostatitis (CBP) and estradiol- induced benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). PSE contained a high level of resveratrol (148.51 ± 3.

Multiplex-Touchdown PCR to Simultaneously Detect , , and , the Major Causes of Traveler's Diarrhea.

This study aimed to develop a multiplex-touchdown PCR method to simultaneously detect 3 species of protozoan parasites, i.e., , , and , the major causes of traveler's diarrhea and are resistant to standard antimicrobial treatments.

Development of a Multiplex PCR System for the Simultaneous Detection of the Shrimp Species , and .

Due to mixed use of shrimp in foodstuffs, it is important to distinguish Fenneropenaeus chinensis from other shrimp species, such as Litopenaeus vannamei and Penaeus monodon. For this purpose, we have developed a multiplex PCR method to detect the simultaneous presence of all three species. Universal primers specific to the 16S ribosomal RNA subunit were used to sequence and ascertain the species in the samples.

Effects of Double Active Layer and Acetic Acid Stabilizer on the Electrical Properties of a Solution-Processed Zinc Tin Oxide Thin-Film Transistor.

We investigated the effects of a double active layer (DAL) and acetic acid stabilizer on zinc tin oxide (ZTO) thin-film transistors (TFTs) fabricated using a solution process. The DAL was composed of two layers created by a ZTO solution doped with the same or different percentiles of an atomic Sn concentration (30 at.%, 60 at.

Improvement in the Electrical Performance of Ge-Doped InZnO Thin-Film Transistor.

We fabricated amorphous oxide semiconductor thin-film transistors (TFTs) using Ge-doped InZnO (Ge-IZO) thin films as active-channel layers. The Ge-IZO thin films were deposited at room temperature by radio-frequency (RF) magnetron co-sputtering system, and then annealed in air for 1 h at 300 °C. Some processing parameters such as sputtering oxygen partial pressure [O2/(Ar + O2)] and sputtering power for GeO2 target were changed to investigate what was the optimal amount of Ge in the Ge-IZO active layer.

Sequential magnetic resonance spectroscopic changes in a patient with nonketotic hyperglycinemia.

Nonketotic hyperglycinemia (NKH) is a rare inborn error of amino acid metabolism. A defect in the glycine cleavage enzyme system results in highly elevated concentrations of glycine in the plasma, urine, cerebrospinal fluid, and brain, resulting in glycine-induced encephalopathy and neuropathy. The prevalence of NKH in Korea is very low, and no reports of surviving patients are available, given the scarcity and poor prognosis of this disease.

International travel of Korean children and Dengue fever: A single institutional analysis.

Purpose: Dengue fever occurs in many popular tourist destinations and is increasingly imported by returning travelers in Korea. Since Korea is not an endemic country for dengue fever, pediatricians do not usually suspect dengue fever in febrile children even with typical presentation and exposure history. This study was performed to describe the international travel experiences and dengue fever in Korean children.

Development of enrichment semi-nested PCR for Clostridium botulinum types A, B, E, and F and its application to Korean environmental samples.

An enrichment semi-nested PCR procedure was developed for detection of Clostridium botulinum types A, B, E, and F. It was applied to sediment samples to examine the prevalence of C. botulinum in the Korean environment.

Determination of neurotoxin gene expression in Clostridium botulinum type A by quantitative RT-PCR.

Real time reverse transcription (RT)-PCR was used to quantify the expression of the botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) gene (cntA) by normalization with the expression of 16S rRNA. The method were confirmed by monitoring the mRNA levels of cntA during growth in five type A strains. In all but one of the strains the expression of cntA mRNA was maximal in the late exponential phase, and approximately 35-fold greater than in the early exponential phase.