Bloodstream Infections and Clinical Significance of Healthcare-associated Bacteremia: A Multicenter Surveillance Study in Korean Hospitals

Son, Jun Seong,Song, Jae-Hoon,Ko, Kwan Soo,Yeom, Joon Sup,Ki, Hyun Kyun,Kim, Shin-Woo,Chang, Hyun-Ha,Ryu, Seong Yeol,Kim, Yeon-Sook,Jung, Sook-In,Shin, Sang Yop,Oh, Hee Bok,Lee, Yeong Seon,Chung, Doo The Korean Academy of Medical Sciences 2010 JOURNAL OF KOREAN MEDICAL SCIENCE Vol.25 No.7

<P>Recent changes in healthcare systems have changed the epidemiologic paradigms in many infectious fields including bloodstream infection (BSI). We compared clinical characteristics of community-acquired (CA), hospital-acquired (HA), and healthcare-associated (HCA) BSI. We performed a prospective nationwide multicenter surveillance study from 9 university hospitals in Korea. Total 1,605 blood isolates were collected from 2006 to 2007, and 1,144 isolates were considered true pathogens. HA-BSI accounted for 48.8%, CA-BSI for 33.2%, and HCA-BSI for 18.0%. HA-BSI and HCA-BSI were more likely to have severe comorbidities. <I>Escherichia coli</I> was the most common isolate in CA-BSI (47.1%) and HCA-BSI (27.2%). In contrast, <I>Staphylococcus aureus</I> (15.2%), coagulase-negative <I>Staphylococcus</I> (15.1%) were the common isolates in HA-BSI. The rate of appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy was the highest in CA-BSI (89.0%) followed by HCA-BSI (76.4%), and HA-BSI (75.0%). The 30-day mortality rate was the highest in HA-BSI (23.0%) followed by HCA-BSI (18.4%), and CA-BSI (10.2%). High Pitt score and inappropriate empirical antibiotic therapy were the independent risk factors for mortality by multivariate analysis. In conclusion, the present data suggest that clinical features, outcome, and microbiologic features of causative pathogens vary by origin of BSI. Especially, HCA-BSI shows unique clinical characteristics, which should be considered a distinct category for more appropriate antibiotic treatment.</P>

몬순기후와 복잡지형의 특성을 갖는 광릉 산림유역의 물과 탄소순환에 대한 교차규모 연구로부터의 교훈

이동호 ( Dong Ho Lee ),김준 ( Joon Kim ),김수진 ( Su Jin Kim ),문상기 ( Sang Ki Moon ),이재석 ( Jae Seok Lee ),임종환 ( Jong Hwan Lim ),손요환 ( Yo Whan Son ),강신규 ( Sin Kyu Kang ),김상현 ( Sang Hyun Kim ),김경하 ( Kyong Ha Kim 한국농림기상학회 2007 한국농림기상학회지 Vol.9 No.2

광릉 슈퍼사이트에서 대기와 식생간의 에너지와 물질교환 규명은 지형과 식생의 복잡성으로 인해 많은 기술적인 어려움에 직면하고 있다. 따라서 KoFlux 연구에서는 상호보완적인 다중 분야의 연구를 통해 이러한 어려움을 극복하기 위한 시도를 해 오고 있다. 본 논문에서는 현재 진행중인 KoFlux 연구의 예비결과 중 특히 광릉사이트에서의 물/탄소수지, 물과 탄소순환의 상호관련성 그리고 몬순기후하의 생태계에서 탄소순환에 미치는 수문학적 요인의 중요성에 대해 중점적으로 논의하고자 한다. 광릉낙엽활엽수림의 순생태생산량 (NEP)은 광범위한 생태학적 연구결과에 따르면 약 ~2.6 t C/ha/y로 예상된다. 이를 미기상 플럭스 관측 결과와 함께 고려할 때 광릉 산림은 탄소의 중요한 육상흡원으로서 기능함을 예상할 수 있다. 다양한 생태수문 관측에 의해 규명된 유역단위 물수지에 의하면 연단위 전체강수량의 약 30-40%가 증발산 (ET)에 해당함을 나타내고 있다. 광릉산림의 대표적인 수종인 졸참과 서어나무의 잎에서 얻어진 탄소 안정동위 원소 조성에 근거하여 계산된 식물 성장기간의 평균 물 이용효율(WUE)은 약 ~12 μmol CO2/mmol H2O에 해당된다. 얻어진 증발산량과 물이용효율은 유역단위의 생태계 생산량을 산출하는데 이용될 수 있다. 나이테 성장량과 토양호흡량의 연단위 변화는 강수량과 강수의 패턴에 의해 크게 영향을 받음을 보이고, 이는 몬순기후에 영향을 받는 동아시아 지역 생태계에서 탄소 순환과정이 수문학적 조건과 밀접한 상관관계를 가짐을 지시한다. 연구지역의 공간적 특성을 정량화하기 위해 관측지의 구조 및 기능적 단위를 규명하기 위한 연구가 진행되고 있고 이를 통해 서로 다른 시공간 규모에서 진행되고 있는 연구의 결과물을 체계적으로 연결 통합하고 나아가 보다 광역적인 규모에서 대표적인 물/탄소 수지를 산출하기 위한 연구가 시도되고 있다. KoFlux Gwangneung Supersite comprises complex topography and diverse vegetation types (and structures), which necessitate complementary multi-disciplinary measurements to understand energy and matter exchange. Here, we report the results of this ongoing research with special focuses on carbon/water budgets in Gwangneung forest, implications of inter-dependency between water and carbon cycles, and the importance of hydrology in carbon cycling under monsoon climate. Comprehensive biometric and chamber measurements indicated the mean annual net ecosystem productivity (NEP) of this forest to be ~2.6 t C ha-1 y-1. In conjunction with the tower flux measurement, the preliminary carbon budget suggests the Gwangneung forest to be an important sink for atmospheric CO2. The catchment scale water budget indicated that 30~40% of annual precipitation was apportioned to evapotranspiration (ET). The growing season average of the water use efficiency (WUE), determined from leaf carbon isotope ratios of representative tree species, was about 12 μmol CO2/mmol H2O with noticeable seasonal variations. Such information on ET and WUE can be used to constrain the catchment scale carbon uptake. Inter-annual variations in tree ring growth and soil respiration rates correlated with the magnitude and the pattern of precipitation during the growing season, which requires further investigation of the effect of a monsoon climate on the catchment carbon cycle. Additionally, we examine whether structural and functional units exist in this catchment by characterizing the spatial heterogeneity of the study site, which will provide the linkage between different spatial and temporal scale measurements.

Differentially Expressed Gene Profiles Induced By Epidermal Growth Factor (EGF) In Monolayer Cultured Human Pancreatic Duct Cells Using cDNA Microarray

( Sung Ha Hwang ),( Sun Hee Suh ),( Hyuk Sang Kwon ),( Bong Yun Cha ),( Ho Young Son ),( Kyong Soo Park ),( Kun Ha Yoon ) 대한내과학회 2003 대한내과학회 추계학술대회 Vol.65 No.10

Interleukin-4 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in children with febrile seizures

Ha, Jongseok,Choi, Jieun,Kwon, Aram,Kim, Kyungmin,Kim, Soo-Jin,Bae, Sun Hwan,Son, Jae Sung,Kim, Soo-Nyung,Kwak, Byung Ok,Lee, Ran Elsevier 2018 SEIZURE Vol.58 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P><B>Purpose</B></P> <P>The pathophysiology of febrile seizures remains unclear. Cytokines have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures. We compared TNF-α and IL-4 levels in patients with febrile seizure (FS) with those in controls and identified the relationship between cytokines and various other factors.</P> <P><B>Method</B></P> <P>Fifty FS patients who visited Konkuk University Hospital from December 2015 to December 2016 were included. Thirty-nine patients who had fever without seizures were enrolled as the control group. Serum samples from febrile patients with a history of febrile seizures without present seizures (FPH) (N = 12) and from the afebrile seizure (AF) group (N = 13) were also analyzed. In the FS group, we compared cytokine levels among patients stratified by sex, family history, seizure recurrence, duration of seizure and serum lactate levels.</P> <P><B>Results</B></P> <P>The median serum TNF-α level in the FS group (19.54 pg/mL) was significantly higher than that in the control group (15.86 pg/mL). Higher median serum IL-4 levels were detected in the FS group (3.38 pg/mL) than in the control group (3.30 pg/mL). In the FS group, the serum IL-4 and TNF-α levels correlated with seizure recurrence and serum lactate levels, but they did not correlate with family history, duration of seizures or sex.</P> <P><B>Conclusions</B></P> <P>Our study supports the hypothesis that TNF-α production is involved in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures. IL-4 is believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of febrile seizures. The number of seizures and lactate levels were correlated with IL-4 and TNF-α levels.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> The pathophysiology of febrile seizure (FS) is not yet defined. </LI> <LI> Cytokines have been suggested to play a role in the pathogenesis of FS. </LI> <LI> TNF-α and IL-4 levels were associated with the pathogenesis of FS in the present study. </LI> </UL> </P>

Breeding of Cut Spray Chrysanthemum ‘ Yes Ruby ’ with Thermotolerance

Ha Seung Pak,Hyun Gu Choi,Dong Chan Kim,Kuk Seong Son,Tae Sung Kim,Jong Jin Choi,Ji Hee Kim,Jeong Ok Kim 한국화훼학회 2019 화훼연구 Vol.27 No.1

고온기 화색발현이 우수하고 연중생산이 가능한 수출용 스프레이국화 신품종을 육성하기 위하여 충남농업기술원 화훼 연구소에서 2010년 분홍색의 모본 ‘Borami’를 방임수분하였다. 2011년에 종자를 파종하였고, 이중 화형과 화색이 우수한 개체를 선발하여 ‘SP11-148-01’로 계통명을 부여하였다. 2011년부터 2013년까지 주년 생산성을 위해 전조, 자연, 차광재배로 특성을 각각 검정하였고, 생육 및 개화특성은 화형과 화색이 비슷한 자주색 스프레이국화인 ‘Kingfisher’를 대조품종으로 조사하였으며, 2013년 ‘Yes Ruby’로 품종등록 출원하였다. ‘Yes Ruby’는 자주색의 설상화와 연녹색의 통상화로 가을 작형 개화기는 10월 24일로, ‘Kingfisher’의 10월 29일에 비해 빨랐다. ‘Yes Ruby’의 초장과 줄기굵기는 각각 94.9cm와 7.7mm로 ‘Kingfisher’의 89.2cm와 6.4mm보다 컸다. ‘Yes Ruby’의 꽃 직경은 6.2cm로 ‘Kingfisher’의 5.0cm보다 컸으며, 꽃잎수도 ‘Yes Ruby’가 25.7개로 ‘Kingfisher’의 23.3개보다 많았다. 착화수는 두 품종 모두 비슷하였으며, 흰녹병 저항성은 ‘Yes Ruby’가 2단계, ‘Kingfisher’는 3단계의 감염 정도를 나타내어 흰녹병에 대한 저항성이 높은 것으로 나타났다. 재배상 유의사항은 ‘Yes Ruby’는 겨울철 균일한 개화가 이뤄지지 않아 겨울철 야간온도를 18℃ 이상으로 관리해줌으로써 균일개화를 유도할 수 있다. 또한 생장억제제인 Daminozide을 처리함으로써 설상화수를 늘려 볼륨감 높은 꽃봉오리를 형성할 수 있어 고온기에도 화색발현이 우수하고 연중생산이 가능하여 안정적 수출을 통한 농가소득 증대에 기여할 수 있을 것으로 기대된다. A spray chrysanthemum cultivar `Yes Ruby` was developed for its year-round production ability and control of summer discoloration by the Flower Research Institute of Chungcheongnam-do Agricultural Research and Extension Services, Korea. In 2010, the female parent ‘Borami’ with its pink flowers was open-pollinated, and the first selection was made the following year, resulting in ‘SP11-148-01’. Adaptation trials were conducted for 3 years for the candidate line on various characteristics, including the floral qualities of the light, natural, and shade cultures from 2011 to 2013, by comparing with the ‘Kingfisher’ cultivar as the control. ‘Yesan SP-44’ was created in 2013 and registered as the spray chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Yes Ruby’ same year. The ‘Yes Ruby’ ray flowers were red-purple and its disk flowers were yellow-green. The natural flowering time of ‘Yes Ruby’ on October 24, earlier than that for ‘Kingfisher’ (October 29). Its height and stem diameter of 94.9 cm and 7.7 mm, respectively, which are higher and thicker than those of ‘Kingfisher’ (89.2 cm and 6.4 mm respectively). The ‘Yes Ruby’ flower size and number of petals increased to 6.2 cm with 25.7 petals each, which is significantly larger and with more petals than ‘Kingfisher’ (5.0 cm with 23.3 petals each). Although the flower number of ‘Yes Ruby’ was similar to that of the control, it is more resistance to white rust, showing an infection degree of 2, which is lower than that of ‘Kingfisher’ (infection degree, 3). However, careful temperature controls are required (> 18℃) during winter to standardize flowering. The number of petals on the ‘Yes’ of these many attributes, including the year-round production and stable flower color in summer, the new chrysanthemum cultivar ‘Yes Ruby’ is expected to contribute to increasing crop yields as well as to strong consumer preferences for this plant.

A novel mTOR activating protein protects dopamine neurons against oxidative stress by repressing autophagy related cell death

Son, Jin H,Choi, Kyou Chan,Kim, Shin Hee,Ha, Ji Young,Kim, Sang Tae 梨花女子大學校 藥學硏究所 2011 藥學硏究論文集 Vol.- No.21

Our previous microarray analysis identified a neuroprotective protein Oxi-alpha, that was down-regulated during oxidative stress (OS)-induced cell death in dopamine neurons [Neurochem. Res. (2004) vol. 29, pp. 1223]. Here we find that the phylogenetically conserved Oxi-alpha protects against OS by a novel mechanism: activation of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) kinase and subsequent repression of autophagic vacuole accumulation and cell death. To the best of our knowledge, Oxi-alpha is the first molecule discovered in dopamine neurons, which activates mTOR kinase. Indeed, the down-regulation of Oxi-alpha by OS suppresses the activation of mTOR kinase. The pathogenic effect of down-regulated Oxi-alpha was confirmed by gene-specific knockdown experiment, which resulted in not only the repression of mTOR kinase and the subsequent phosphorylation of p70 S6 kinase and 4E-BP1, but also enhanced susceptibility to OS. In accordance with these observations, treatment with rapamycin, an mTOR inhibitor and autophagy inducer, potentiated OS-induced cell death, while similar treatment with an autophagy inhibitor, 3-methyladenine protected the dopamine cells. Our findings present evidence for the presence of a novel class of molecule involved in autophagic cell death triggered by OS in dopamine neurons.

Extradigital glomus tumor on the back mimicking keloid scar

( Ha Neul Oh ),( Sook In Ryu ),( Bo Young Kim ),( Ji Hyun Park ),( Sang Wook Son ),( Il-hwan Kim ),( Hye Rim Moon ) 대한피부과학회 2018 대한피부과학회 학술발표대회집 Vol.70 No.1

A glomus tumor is a vascular neoplasm arising from neuromyoaterial glomus cells. Because glomus body is most concentrated in the distal extremities, glomus tumors occasionally appears a blue-red papule or nodule of the distal extremities, most commonly in the subungal region. A 57-year-old male patient visited our dermatology clinic with dark-red colored painful nodule on the Right upper back. The patient mentioned the lesion had rapidly increased after laser treatment at the local clinic. The patient had no underlying diseases including hypertrophic and keloidal scar. Histopathological examination showed monomorphic cells with round to oval bluish nuclei. Immunohistochemistrically, tumor cells were strongly positive for smooth muscle actin (SMA) and negative for CD31, confirming the diagnosis of glomus tumor. After surgical excision, the patient had no tumor recurrence for 3 months. We herein reported an extradigital glomus tumor on the back, which had begun after CO₂ laser ablation. This case indicated extradigital glomus tumor could progress rapidly after laser treatment and mimic other cutaneous tumors including hypertrophic scar, keloid and traumatic neuroma.

<i>Ex vivo</i> imaging of basal cell carcinoma using synchrotron phase-contrast X-ray microscopy

Son, Sang Wook,Park, Sang Yong,Man Park, Gyu,Ha, Seung Han,Lee, Gun Woo,Lee, On Seok,Hwu, Yeukuang,Kim, Ae Ree,Je, Jung Ho,Oh, Chil Hwan Blackwell Publishing Ltd 2008 SKIN RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.14 No.1

<P>Background/aims</P><P>There is a need for development of non-invasive methods to improve early diagnosis and screening of suspected malignant lesions. Phase-contrast X-ray microscopy (PCXM) has potential to reveal the structures inside soft tissues, and fine details can be observed without any staining or contrast-enhancing cell preparation. We aimed to investigate the possibility that PCXM can be used to explore the microscopic details of basal cell carcinoma (BCC).</P><P>Methods</P><P>Paraffin blocks of specimens from patients with basal cell carcinoma were cut with 30 μm thickness for PCXM imaging. Experiments were performed at the International Consortium of Phase Contrast Imaging and Radiology (ICPCIR) (7B2) beamline of the Pohang light source in Korea. The PCXM images were achieved by using coherent hard X-rays from a synchrotron source with no monochromatization.</P><P>Results</P><P>We could obtain images with clear edge enhancement by PCXM. The images taken with this technique showed clear anatomic details of organelles in normal skin such as epidermis, dermis and skin appendages. Most of cancerous lesions were clearly differentiated from adjacent normal tissues and the images closely corresponded to those obtained with low-magnification optical microscopy.</P><P>Conclusion</P><P>In this pilot study, we successfully demonstrated that synchrotron PCXM could be used for radiological imaging of BCC with great anatomic details.</P>

Cauda Equina Syndrome Associated with Dural Ectasia in Chronic Anlylosing Spondylitis

Ha, Sang-Woo,Son, Byung-Chul The Korean Neurosurgical Society 2014 Journal of Korean neurosurgical society Vol.56 No.6

Cauda equina syndrome (CES) associated with dural ectasia is a rare neurologic complication in patients with longstanding ankylosing spondylitis (AS). We report a 68-year-old male with a 30-year history of AS who presented a typical symptom and signs of progressive CES, urinary incontinence and neuropathic pain of the lumbosacral radiculopathy. Computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings showed the unique appearances of dural ectasia, multiple dural diverticula, erosion of posterior element of the lumbar spine, tethering of the conus medullaris and adhesion of the lumbosacral nerve roots to the posterior aspect of the dural ectasia. Considering the progressive worsening of the clinical signs, detethering of the conus medullaris through resection of the filum terminale was performed through a limited laminectomy. However, the urinary incontinence did not improve and there was a partial relief of the neuropathic leg pain only. The possible pathogenetic mechanism of CES-AS and the dural ectasia in this patient with longstanding AS are discussed with a literature review.

Energy and Environmental Engineering : Effect of NaOH on the decomposition of halogenated hydrocarbon by supercritical water oxidation

( Sang Ha Son ),( Jong Hwa Kim ),( Hyeon Chul Lee ),( Chang Ha Lee ) 한국화학공학회 2006 Korean Journal of Chemical Engineering Vol.23 No.3