Bovine botulism outbreak associated with incidental consumption of presumably contaminated leftover food

( Jae Won Byun ),( Kyung Hyun Lee ),( Ha Young Kim ),( Soon Seek Yoon ),( Ji Youl Jung1 ),( Woo Seog Jeong1 ),( Jae Ku Oem ),( Jong Soo Lim ),( Myoung Heon Lee ),( You Chan Bae ) 한국예방수의학회(구 한국수의공중보건학회) 2013 예방수의학회지 Vol.37 No.1

Nine cattle among 18 in a native Korean herd died or were euthanized within 3 days. The affected cattle showed cowshed. The pigs and dogs had been fed leftover food originating from nearby restaurants, and the cattle could presumably reach the contaminated food in the pig troughs. Necropsy revealed a few chicken bones and red pepper pieces as well as large amounts of grain and rice straw hay mixed in the rumen. Botulism type D was isolated in the ruminal contents of one of the cattle. We speculated that the outbreak was associated with the cattle incidentally eating presumably contaminated leftover food from the pig trough.

흡연이 치과 외래 이용 및 치과 외래 의료비에 미치는 영향

정선락 ( Sun Rak Jeong ),김영희 ( Young Hee Kim ),장지언 ( Ji Eon Jang ),이원기 ( Won Kee Lee ) 대한예방치과·구강보건학회 2015 大韓口腔保健學會誌 Vol.39 No.4

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of smoking on utilization of and expenses in ambulatory dental care. Methods: The subjects of this study were 5,751 men aged over 20 years selected from the Korea Health Panel data collected during 2010-2012. Pack-years of smoking were calculated based on the survey data. Dental utilization was defined as dental outpatient clinic use least once in three years. The expenses in ambulatory dental care were summed to determine total dental health care spending for three years. To detect the effect of smoking, we used multiple logistic regression analysis for dental utilization and multiple linear regression for expenses in ambulatory dental care after changing log. Results: The pack-years had a significant effect on dental utilization and expenses in participants aged 40-59 years. After controlling for income level, bedtime brushing, and the presence of chronic disease, dental care utilization rates in the over 10 to less than 25 pack-year and the over 25 pack-year groups were about 1.4 (OR=1.37, (P =0.007)) and 1.6 times (OR=1.59, (P =0.001)) those in the 0 pack-year group. In comparison with the 0 pack-year group, the over 10 to less than 25 pack-year group spent 50,000 won more over dental expenses, while the corresponding number for the over 25 pack-year group was about 100,000 won. Thus, the ambulatory dental care expenses increased with the packyears of smoking. Conclusions: Smoking significantly influenced the utilization and expense in ambulatory dental care in men aged 40-59 years.

Primary signet ring cell carcinoma of ovary: A report of 3 cases and review of the literature

( Ji Young Hong ),( Hyea Park ),( Hera Jung ),( Sang Yong Song ),( Jeong-won Lee ),( Byoung-gie Kim ),( Duk-soo Bae ),( Tae-joong Kim ),( Chel Hun Choi ) 대한산부인과학회 2018 대한산부인과학회 학술대회 Vol.104 No.-

Although the presence of signet ring cell in ovarian neoplasm is commonly reported in Krukenberg tumors, primary ovarian signet ring cell carcinoma is rarely diagnosed. This rarity causes diagnostic confusion with secondary krukenberg tumor. The prognosis of primary ovarian signet ring cell carcinoma is poor. Thus, it is important to distinguish primary ovarian signet ring cell carcinomas from secondary krukenberg tumor and start proper treatment. In practice, this issue has long been researched. Typical features suggesting a primary rather than a metastatic tumor have been discovered. However, these characteristics have limited value. They cannot be applied to all cases of primary ovarian signet ring cell carcinoma. Here, we report three cases of primary ovarian signet ring cell carcinoma to demonstrate its differential diagnosis, prognosis, and limitation through meaningful studies reported in the literature.

A case of simultaneous nongestational ovarian choriocarcinoma and mucinous borderline tumor combined with undiagnosed cervix cancer

( Ji Hyun Keum ),( Jaeman Bae ),( Joong Sub Choi ),( Won Moo Lee ),( Jeong Min Eom ),( Hyo Jin Lee ),( Yun Seo Choe ) 대한산부인과학회 2018 대한산부인과학회 학술대회 Vol.104 No.-

The patient, a 50-year-old woman (gravida 2, para 2), visited the local clinic for constipation. Image studies revealed a 10 cm, heterogenous, multi-septated mass in both ovaries. Initial CA 125 was 100.7 U/ml. A pap smear was performed, and the result was negative. During surgery, the tumor was noted to arise from both ovaries. Laparoscopic bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy was performed. Microscopic evaluation of the right ovary revealed ovarian choriocarcinoma, a borderline mucinous tumor, and metastatic adenocarcinoma. Left ovary evaluation revealed an ovarian borderline mucinous tumor and metastatic adenocarcinoma. After confirming the final histological examination, laparoscopic re-staging surgery was performed. Microscopic finding of the uterus was endocervical adenocarcinoma with direct extension to the endometrium and myometrium and a pelvic lymph node on the left side revealed metastatic adenocarcinoma. After surgery, we performed concurrent chemo-radiation therapy with weekly cisplatin (50 mg/m2) for cervical cancer. Abdominal CT was performed and there was no evidence of recurrence. However, -HCG increased from 18.6 to 65.24 (mIU/ml). Chemotherapy was decided and treatment with an EMA-CO regimen was started. At this time, a lesion was observed in the right upper lobe of the chest radiograph. Three cycles of EMA-CO chemotherapy were performed. -HCG after three cycles of chemotherapy was 93.64 (mIU/ml). On chest CT, the size of the nodule in the right upper lobe was increased to 2 cm. Therefore, We changed chemotherapy regimen into Paclitaxel andcarboplatin. AfCHter the second cycle of chemotherapy, the patient was admitted due to worsening of chest metastases with fever, sore throat, and leukopenia. Chest nodule was confirmed to chroicarcinoma through fine needle aspiration biopsy and serum level of -HCG was increased after changing the regimen with EP-EMA and topotecan and bevacizumab. She died after brain metastasis.

Loss of Mel‐18 enhances breast cancer stem cell activity and tumorigenicity through activating Notch signaling mediated by the Wnt/TCF pathway

Won, Hee‐,Young,Lee, Jeong‐,Yeon,Shin, Dong‐,Hui,Park, Ji‐,Hye,Nam, Jeong‐,Seok,Kim, Hyoung‐,Chin,Kong, Gu Federation of American Society for Experimental Bi 2012 The FASEB Journal Vol.26 No.12

<P>Mel-18 has been proposed as a negative regulator of Bmi-1, a cancer stem cell (CSC) marker, but it is still unclear whether Mel-18 is involved in CSC regulation. Here, we examined the effect of Mel-18 on the stemness of human breast CSCs. In Mel-18 small hairpin RNA (shRNA)-transduced MCF-7 cells, side population (SP) cells and breast CSC surface marker (CD44(+)/CD24(-)/ESA(+))-expressing cells, which imply a CSC population, were enriched. Moreover, the self-renewal of CSCs was enhanced by Mel-18 knockdown, as measured by the ability for tumorsphere formation in vitro and tumor-initiating capacity in vivo. Similarly, Mel-18 overexpression inhibited the number and self-renewal activity of breast CSCs in SK-BR-3 cells. Furthermore, our data showed that Mel-18 blockade up-regulated the expression of the Wnt/TCF target Jagged-1, a Notch ligand, and consequently activated the Notch pathway. Pharmacologic inhibition of the Notch and Wnt pathways abrogated Mel-18 knockdown-mediated tumorsphere formation ability. Taken together, our findings suggest that Mel-18 is a novel negative regulator of breast CSCs that inhibits the stem cell population and in vitro and in vivo self-renewal through the inactivation of Wnt-mediated Notch signaling.</P>

Serum cytokines related to endometriosis in patients with multiplex immunoassay

( Jeong Sook Kim ),( Ji Hyun Park ),( Inha Lee ),( Young Bin Won ),( Jisun Yun ),( Jae Hoon Lee ),( Bo Hyon Yun ),( Joo Hyun Park ),( Seok Kyo Seo ),( Sihyun Cho ),( Young Sik Choi ),( Byung Seok Lee 대한산부인과학회 2018 대한산부인과학회 학술대회 Vol.104 No.-

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate serum cytokine profiles in patients with and without endometriosis using multiplex cytokine panel and to investigate diagnostic potentials of differently expressed cytokines in endometriosis. Methods: We analyzed the concentration of 21 different serum cytokines from the total of 141 women who underwent surgery for endometriosis (N=66) and other benign conditions (N=75) with multiplex immunoassays (Milliplex Human Cytokine/Chemokine Panel IV, Millipore). Cytokines were APRIL, IL-14, BAFF, BRAK, CXCL16, CCL28, HCC-4, HMGB1, MPIF, IFNb, MIP-4, IL-19, IL-24, IFN3, IL-32a, IL-34, IL-35, IL-36, IL-37, IL-38 and YKL40. Differences were analyzed using SPSS 16.0 (SPSS Inc.) and P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: BRAK was significantly lower (3997 ± 247.1 pg/ml vs. 5106.4 ± 314.6 pg/ml, P=0.006) whereas April was higher (799.2 ± 112.9 pg/ml vs. 468.0 ± 68.0 pg/ml, P=0.011) in patients with endometriosis. BRAK and April showed AUC of 0.634 (95% CI 0.556-0.731, P=0.002) and 0.696 (95% CI 0.549-0.726, P=0.004), respectively. The CA125 showed AUC of 0.838 (95% CI 0.734-0.937, P=0.001). In combination AUC of BRAK, April and CA 125, it showed AUC of 0.852 (95% CI 0.756-0.948, P=0.003). Among patients with endometriosis, IL-24 and IFN3 were significantly higher in moderate-severe (rAFS III-IV stage) than minimal-mild (rAFS I-II stage) endometriosis group. (IL-24; 0.1917 ± 0.0237 ng/ml (N=6) vs. 0.3847 ± 0.02664 ng/ml (N=59), P = 0.026) (IFN3; 9.14 ± 2.39 pg/ml (N=6) vs. 409.1 ± 56.2 pg/ml (N=59), P = 0.028) Conclusion: With multiplex assay, we identified several cytokines that are differentially expressed in serum of the patients with endometriosis. In addition, we also identified several cytokines that can distinguish between miminal-mild and moderate-severe endometriosis. Further research is warranted to evaluate clinical usefulness of these cytokines.

Comparative analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) between normal group and softness syndrome group in $Halocynthia$ $roretzi$

Jeong, Ji-Eun,Kang, Se-Won,Shin, Yun-Kyung,Jun, Je-Cheon,Kim, Young-Ok,Hur, Young-Baek,Kim, Jae-Hyung,Chae, Sung-Hwa,Lee, Jun-Sang,Choi, In-Ho,Han, Yeon-Soo,Seog, Dae-Hyun,Lee, Yong-Seok THE KOREAN SOCIETY OF TOXICOGENOMICS AND TOXICOPRP 2011 MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR TOXICOLOGY Vol. No.

To identify the cause of mass mortality in ascidians, we constructed cDNA libraries of both the normal and softness syndrome group in $Halocynthia$ $roretzi$. To perform comparative analysis of transcripts between the two groups, we sequenced about 1,000 random clones. All the sequences obtained from the clones were processed to remove the vector region and low quality sequences through base calling and vector trimming. We collected 906 sequences with average length of 463 bp in the normal group and 1014 sequences in the softness syndrome group with an average length of 696 bp. Clustering and assembling of EST sequences using TGICL package resulted in 906 distinct sequences composed of 517 singletons and 77 contigs in 75 clusters in normal group and 1014 distinct sequences composed of 707 singletons and 120 contigs in 120 clusters in the softness syndrome group. All sequences derived from the two groups were compared against the NCBI Non-redundant database using BLASTX algorithms. As a result, 493 sequences in the normal group and 861 sequences in the softness syndrome group had significant hits within the database. In addition, we listed genes that showed differential expression in the softness syndrome group. Transcript levels of calponin increased by 11-fold and both E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase MARCH3 and selenium dependent salivary glutathione peroxidase by 5-fold in the softness syndrome group. Also, the expression of four genes including muscle actin increased by 4-fold. In contrast, we observed down-regulation of genes encoding trypsinogen 1, cathepsin D protein, serine protease, and halocidin precursor, decreasing by more than 6-fold. Herein, we identified differential expression of genes involved in the contraction and regulation of muscle cells and immune reaction in $H.$ $roretzi$ with softness syndrome. This study is the first report on gene expression changes occurring in $H.$ $roretzi$ with softness syndrome and would be useful in further studies.

Basal cell carcinoma at the umbilicus

( Ji Sook Yoo ),( Joon Won Huh ),( Young In Jeong ),( Min Soo Kim ),( Kwang Hyun Choi ),( Mihn Sook Jue ),( Hyang Joon Park ) 대한피부과학회 2015 대한피부과학회 학술발표대회집 Vol.67 No.1

Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is a common malignant skin tumor. Risk factors for development of BCC compose of sun exposure, radiation therapy, family history of BCC, immunosuppression, genetic syndromes, and a fair complexion. Occasionally, BCC can also occur in sun-protected sites such as axilla or genitalia. However, BCC that arises at the umbilicus is rare. Few cases have been reported about the metastatic tumor on the umbilicus, which is often called Sister Mary Joseph``s node. It is mainly metastases from the stomach, large and small bowel, and the ovary as a result of primary adenocarcionoma. However, primary skin cancer on the umbilicus is rarely reported in the literature. Herein, we report a rare case of primary basal cell carcinoma on the umbilicus with no prior history of malignancy. The patient was a 60-year-old male and complained of pigmented plaque with surface ulceration on the umbilicus which first appeared six years ago. He reported that he had frequently scratched and irritated the umbilicus during baths. And the lesion aggravated a year ago with intermittent bleeding and discharge. The biopsy from the umbilicus confirmed basal cell carcinoma and the tumor was surgically removed. PET-CT showed no lymph node invasion or any signs of metastasis.

Cutaneous atypical mycobacterial infection in a body scrubber (“ddaemirri”)

( Ji Sook Yoo ),( Joon Won Huh ),( Young In Jeong ),( Min Soo Kim ),( Kwang Hyun Choi ),( Mihn Sook Jue ),( Hyang Joon Park ) 대한피부과학회 2015 대한피부과학회 학술발표대회집 Vol.67 No.1

Cutaneous atypical mycobacterial infection (AMI) can result from direct inoculation of mycobacteria other than M. tuberculosis (MOTT) into the skin of a healthy person with no previous history of Tb infection. Thus, cutaneous AMI is considered predominantly an occupational disease and is a challenging diagnosis to make. Herein, we report a case of 50-year-old female whose occupation is a body scrubber, also known as “ddaemirri”, and was diagnosed with cutaneous AMI with typical histopathology and appropriate empirical treatment. The patient complained of itching erythematous macules, nodules, and pustules on both arms showing sporotrichoid patterns. She had received antibiotics and steroid intralesional injections at local clinics for 3 years without improvement. Biopsies from arms showed suppurative granulomatous inflammation with some acid-fast bacilli. However, other laboratory examinations including tissue culture, Tb & NTM PCR and interferon gamma release assay were all negative. She then was treated with rifampicin, and minocin for 6 months and the symptoms improved dramatically. This is the first reported case of cutaneous AMI found in a body scrubber, who comes in close contact with many people. A high index of clinical suspicion is important to diagnoses and we should always take caution when visiting public places such as saunas.

Development of Hazardous Materials Management Standard for Decoction Type of Personalized Herbal Medicine

Jeong, Hye-In,Kim, Kyeong-Han,Won, Jae-Hee,Sung, Gi-Un,Kim, Ji-Won,Han, Ji-eun,Sung, Angela Dong-Min,Park, Eun-Jung,Sung, Soo-Hyun KOREAN PHARMACOPUNCTURE INSTITUTE 2020 Journal of pharmacopuncture Vol.23 No.2

Objectives: This study was conducted to development of hazardous materials management standards for the decoction type of personalized herbal medicines (PHMs). Methods: This study was conducted in two stages. We searched documents about criteria to use words such as 'Herb', 'Herbal medicine', and 'Botanical Drug' and summarized the results. We organized the committee consisted of seven experts, and held two meetings to reach an agreement on hazardous management standards of the decoction type of PHMs. Results: The seven documents were presented in the literature review and six items related to hazardous management standards of decoction were identified. The second expert meeting brought that a total of six items, including heavy metal, pesticide residues, sulfur dioxide, benzopyrene, mycotoxin, and micro-organism limits, were selected for safety management of decoction type of PHMs. Also, the criteria and test methods for each standard were suggested for monitoring the decoction type of PHMs. Conclusion: The study suggested hazardous material management standards and criteria for the decoction types of PHMs. In the future, it would be necessary to conduct a pilot test to ensure the validity and credibility of the safety management standard and criteria. Furthermore, the government level safety management system should be introduced to verify the safety of decoction medicines.