Neutralizing Antibodies to Severe Fever With Thrombocytopenia Syndrome Virus Among Survivors, Non-Survivors and Healthy Residents in South Korea.

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS), a newly emerging tick-borne viral disease, has been detected in Asia since 2009, and person-to-person transmission is possible. SFTS is characterized by atypical signs, including mild to severe febrile illness similar to that associated with hemorrhagic fever, with 16.2 to 30% mortality.

Sustained Responses of Neutralizing Antibodies Against Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) in Recovered Patients and Their Therapeutic Applicability.

Background: Zoonotic coronaviruses have emerged as a global threat by causing fatal respiratory infections. Given the lack of specific antiviral therapies, application of human convalescent plasma retaining neutralizing activity could be a viable therapeutic option that can bridges this gap.

Methods: We traced antibody responses and memory B cells in peripheral blood collected from 70 recovered Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (MERS-CoV) patients for 3 years after the 2015 outbreak in South Korea.

Exome Chip Analysis of 14,026 Koreans Reveals Known and Newly Discovered Genetic Loci Associated with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Background: Most loci associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) discovered to date are within noncoding regions of unknown functional significance. By contrast, exonic regions have advantages for biological interpretation.

Methods: We analyzed the association of exome array data from 14,026 Koreans to identify susceptible exonic loci for T2DM.

Author Correction: Characteristics of Adolescents and Young adults with HIV in the Republic of Korea from 2010 through 2015.

An amendment to this paper has been published and can be accessed via a link at the top of the paper.

Cortactin Interacts with Hepatitis C Virus Core and NS5A Proteins: Implications for Virion Assembly.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) exploits cellular proteins to facilitate viral propagation. To identify the cellular factors involved in the HCV life cycle, we previously performed protein microarray assays using either HCV nonstructural 5A (NS5A) protein or core protein as a probe. Interestingly, cellular cortactin strongly interacted with both NS5A and core.

Non-polio enteroviruses among healthy children in the Philippines.

Background: Enteroviruses (EVs) are most commonly associated with either mild or asymptomatic infections, however, the presence of silent carriers in the community has been proven to play a crucial role in the spread of diseases such as hand, foot, and mouth disease (HFMD) that records high incidence in Asia Pacific region. In the Philippines, limited information is available on the etiology and prevalence of enterovirus outside the Acute Flaccid Paralysis (AFP) surveillance, thus, a study to determine the baseline prevalence of Non-Polio Enteroviruses (NPEVs) among healthy Filipino children was conducted.

Methods: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was performed to determine the prevalence of NPEV among healthy children under 6 years old in the Philippines.

Determining the cut-off score for the Modified Barthel Index and the Modified Rankin Scale for assessment of functional independence and residual disability after stroke.

Assessment of functional independence and residual disability is very important for measuring treatment outcome after stroke. The modified Rankin Scale (mRS) and the modified Barthel Index (MBI) are commonly used scales to measure disability or dependence in activities of daily living (ADL) of stroke survivors. Lack of consensus regarding MBI score categories has caused confusion in interpreting stroke outcomes.

[Investigation and research on ticks carrying spotted fever group rickettsia in the border area of Tumen River Basin].

To understand the situation and genotype distribution of spotted fever group rickettsia (SFGR) in the border area of Tumen River Basin in free ticks in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture (Yanbian Prefecture), Jilin Province. From April to September, 2017, ticks were collected using flagging method from Hunchun, Tumen, Helong and Longjing cities in the Tumen River basin of Yanbian Prefecture. was detected by Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), then, the species were identified by gene sequencing and analyzed systematically.

The association of plasma cytokines including VEGF with recurrent wheezing in allergic patients.

Background: Various cytokines have been studied to determine their functions in the pathogenesis of allergic diseases and their potential as therapeutic targets, but the roles and clinical applicability of many of these cytokines still remain unclear.

Objective: We aimed to measure the plasma levels of eight cytokines known to be relevant to allergic diseases, and to determine their association with the diagnostic characteristics of allergic patients.

Methods: The levels of a panel of eight cytokines (IL-5, IL-10, IL12p70, Leptin, CXCL5/ENA-78, CCL2/MCP-1, PDGFBB, and VEGF) were measured in plasma obtained from 83 allergic patients.

Detection and characterization of an emerging type of sp. similar to for the first case of human babesiosis and ticks in Korea.

Babesiosis is a tick-transmitted intraerythrocytic zoonosis. In Korea, the first mortalities were reported in 2005 due to Babesia sp. detection in sheep; herein we report epidemiological and genetic characteristics of a second case of babesiosis.

Severe vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea during the period 2000 to 2016.

Background: There has been a marked increase in the reporting of confirmed vivax malaria cases in certain geographical areas. This study investigated cases of severe vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of adult patients diagnosed with vivax malaria in the Republic of Korea during the period 2000 to 2016.

Identification of a quadruple mutation that confers tenofovir resistance in chronic hepatitis B patients.

Background & Aims: Tenofovir disoproxil fumarate (TDF) is one the most potent nucleot(s)ide analogues for treating chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection. Phenotypic resistance caused by genotypic resistance to TDF has not been reported. This study aimed to characterize HBV mutations that confer tenofovir resistance.

The first case of hand infection caused by in a symmetrical peripheral gangrene patient.

Introduction: Strains of the genus is a recently established species, recognized as relatively rare opportunistic human pathogen, and is infrequently isolated from clinical specimens, including blood cultures, abscesses, wounds, bone, eye, and skin.

Presentation Of Case: We present a 78-year old female with chronic symmetrical peripheral gangrene and hand infection. The patient underwent surgical debridement with amputation on gangrene with infection of both fingers.

The p21-activated kinase 4-Slug transcription factor axis promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and worsens prognosis in prostate cancer.

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) facilitates cancer invasion and metastasis and thus accelerates cancer progression. p21-activated kinase 4 (PAK4) is a critical regulator of prostate cancer (PC) progression. Here, we report that PAK4 activation promotes PC progression through the EMT regulator Slug.

Recombinant adenylate kinase 3 from liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis for histochemical analysis and serodiagnosis of clonorchiasis.

Due to the lack of an effective prophylactic intervention and diagnosis, human liver fluke Clonorchis sinensis continues to afflict a large human population, causing a chronic inflammatory bile duct disease. With an aim to identify target antigens for sensitive serodiagnosis, adenylate kinase 3 of C. sinensis (CsAK3) was successfully expressed in soluble form in Escherichia coli by fusion to an RNA-interacting domain derived from human Lys-tRNA synthetase and purified by Ni2+-affinity chromatography.

Occurrence of measles in a country with elimination status: Amplifying measles infection in hospitalized children due to imported virus.

The Republic of Korea declared measles elimination in 2006. However, a measles outbreak occurred in 2013. This study aimed to identify the epidemiological characteristics of the sources of infection and the pattern of measles transmission in 2013 in South Korea.

Phylogeography of the Asian lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura shantungensis, in East Asia: role of the Korean Peninsula as refugium for small mammals.

Many peninsulas in the temperate zone played an important role as refugia of various flora and fauna, and the southern Korean Peninsula also served as a refugium for many small mammals in East Asia during the Pleistocene. The Asian lesser white-toothed shrew, Crocidura shantungensis, is a widely distributed species in East Asia, and is an appropriate model organism for exploring the role of the Korean Peninsula as a refugium of small mammals. Here, we investigated phylogenetic relationships and genetic diversity based on the entire sequence of the mitochondrial cytochrome b gene (1140 bp).

Monitoring and Control of , a Vector of Zika Virus, Near Residences of Imported Zika Virus Patients during 2016 in South Korea.

Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arthropod-borne virus mainly transmitted by species. A total of nine of the 16 imported ZIKV reported cases during the mosquito season in the Republic of Korea (ROK), following the return of local nationals from foreign ZIKV endemic countries, were surveyed for . Surveillance and vector control of , a potential vector of ZIKV, and related species are critical for reducing the potential for autochthonous transmission in the ROK.

Use of supplemental anti-HBc testing of donors showing non-discriminating reactive results in multiplex nucleic acid testing.

Background And Objectives: The Korean Red Cross began nucleic acid amplification testing (NAT) for HIV and HCV in February 2005, and added HBV NAT beginning in June 2012. The current NAT system utilizes a multiplex assay for simultaneous detection of HBV DNA, HCV RNA and HIV-1 RNA. For samples that are reactive in the multiplex assay, we do specific tests for each virus.

In vitro and in vivo studies of deglycosylated chimeric porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus as a vaccine candidate and its realistic revenue impact at commercial pig production level.

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes major economic losses in the swine industry worldwide. Vaccination is the most effective method to control the disease. In a previous study, a chimeric PRRSV named as K418 which had a genome composed of ORF 1 from the FL12 strain and ORF 2-7 from the Korean representative LMY strain was created.

Validity of self-reported cancer history in the health examinees (HEXA) study: A comparison of self-report and cancer registry records.

Purpose: To assess the validity of the cohort study participants' self-reported cancer history via data linkage to a cancer registry database.

Methods: We included 143,965 participants from the Health Examinees (HEXA) study recruited between 2004 and 2013 who gave informed consent for record linkage to the Korean Central Cancer Registry (KCCR). The sensitivity and the positive predictive value of self-reported histories of cancer were calculated and 95% confidence intervals were estimated.

Serological and Molecular Detection of and in the Blood of Rescued Wild Animals in Gangwon-do (Province), Korea.

Infections of and are reported in many wild animals worldwide, but information on their incidence and molecular detection in Korean wild fields is limited. In this study, the prevalence of and infection in blood samples of 5 animal species (37 Chinese water deer, 23 raccoon dogs, 6 roe deer, 1 wild boar, and 3 Eurasian badgers) was examined during 2008-2009 in Gangwon-do (Province), the Republic of Korea (=Korea) by using serological and molecular tests. The overall seropositivity of was 8.