No Abstract Available.
Diagnosis* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay* ; Flagellin* ; Leptospirosis*

Botulism is a rare neuroparalytic disease caused by neurotoxins of Clostridium species. A ten-year-old girl and her mother were admitted to a hospital with symptoms of progressive dizziness, blurred vision, slurred speech, constipation and difficulty in swallowing. These characteristic manifestations and clinical course prompted an examination of the possibility of botulism. Mouse bioassay performed with mother's stool demonstrated type A botulinum toxin and culture of the mother's stool was positive for Clostridium botulinum type A. This is the first case of botulism in Korea.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Botulinum Toxins ; Botulism* ; Clostridium ; Clostridium botulinum ; Clostridium botulinum type A ; Constipation ; Deglutition ; Dizziness ; Female ; Humans ; Korea* ; Mice ; Mothers ; Neurotoxins

Shigella is a common cause of bacterial enteritis worldwide. Shigella sonnei accounts for 90% of Shigella infections and Shigella flexneri is rarely reported in Korea. Although the incidence of Shigella infection has decreased, the incidence of organisms with antibiotic resistance has gradually increased in Korea. An outbreak of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing S. sonnei in children was reported in Korea; however, ESBL-producing S. flexneri has not yet been reported. We report the first two cases of multidrug-resistant CTX-M-14-producing S. flexneri infections in Korean children.
beta-Lactamases ; Child* ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Enteritis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea* ; Shigella flexneri* ; Shigella sonnei ; Shigella*

PURPOSE: To assess the indication and effect of screw fixation in the transverse patellar fractures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We analysed the results of 14 transverse patellar fractures fixed with screws from January 1991 to May 2005. Mean follow-up period was 47 months (range, 12~143 months). We analysed the radiologic union, operation time, ROM and postoperative Lysholm score. RESULTS: All fractures healed uneventfully. The mean displacement was decreased from 2.2 mm preoperatively to 0.3 mm postoperatively (p=0.001, Wilcoxon signed rank test). The mean operation time was 34 minutes (range, 20 to 60 minutes). Normal range of motion was achieved in 13 knees (92.9%). Average Lysholm score was 95.9 at final follow-up. CONCLUSION: Screw fixation seemed to be useful for treatment of transverse patellar fracture even in comminuted fractures with large fragments. The advantage of this technique was the preservation of extensor mechanism, simplicity, short operation time and good cosmesis.
Follow-Up Studies ; Fractures, Comminuted ; Knee ; Patella ; Reference Values

PURPOSE: Free radicals are defined as any species capable of independent existence that contains one or more unpaired electrons and they have the effects on carcinogenesis and tumor progression by causing mutations on genetic structure or suppressing repair of mutated DNA. This study was aimed to identify changes of antioxidant capacity in carcinogenesis and tumor progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). METHODS: We studied the level of serum antioxidant capacity using ABTS technique for 34 CRC patients who were operated between July 1997 and January 1998 at department of surgery, Taegu Catholic Medical Center and compared with 38 persons who had normal value of liver function during the same period. RESULTS: CRC patients showed decreased serum antioxidant capacity level compared to that of control group (CRC male 1.23 0.15 mmol/L, CRC female 1.11 0.13 mmol/L, control male 1.40 0.15, control female 1.35 0.11 mmol/L). Changes of antioxidant capacity levels were not correlated with stages, even though the marginal difference between T-stages (T1/2 1.23 0.10 mmol/L, T3/4 1.16 0.15 mmol/L). CONCLUSIONS: Free radicals may be the causative agent of colorectal carcinogenesis and can be associated with early phase of carcinogenesis rather than tumor progression.
Carcinogenesis ; Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Daegu ; DNA ; Female ; Free Radicals ; Genetic Structures ; Humans ; Liver ; Male ; Reference Values

BACKGROUND: Although the elderly patients who need coronary revascularization are increasing, the effecti- veness and benefit of percutaneous coronary intervention(PCI) or coronary artery bypass surgery(CABG) in the elderly patients have not been evaluated by using comprehensive geriatric assessment. METHODS: From January 2007 to May 2007, 47 patients aged 65 years or older, who had stable angina with more than one coronary artery stenosis, were included in the current study. Comprehensive geriatric assess- ment, including medical, psychosocial, and functional evaluation, was performed by geriatric team. Patients were managed by medical treatment, PCI or CABG according to the decision of attending physician. One year clinical and laboratory evaluations were performed in all the study patients. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were not significantly different among the medical treatment, PCI, or CABG group, except the extent of coronary artery disease(p=0.007). In addition, comprehensive geriatric assess- ment showed no difference in the three groups. During the follow-up period, major adverse cardiac events (MACE) were observed in 9 patients including 2 cases of cardiac death. Compared with medical treatment and PCI group, CABG group showed impaired ADL status. ADL independency was significantly impaired in CABG group; medical treatment group(84.6%-->91.7%), PCI group(85.2%-->76.9%), and CABG group(71.4%-->33.3%)(p=0.025). However, there was no other difference in cognition, depression, and nutritional status among the groups. CONCLUSION: Compared with medical treatment and PCI group, patients treated by CABG appeared functional dependency in the elderly patients. Effort to identify the risk factor and vulnerable patients should be emphasized especially in the elderly patients who need CABG.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Angina, Stable ; Cognition ; Coronary Artery Bypass ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Coronary Stenosis ; Coronary Vessels ; Death ; Dependency (Psychology) ; Depression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Geriatric Assessment ; Humans ; Nutritional Status ; Risk Factors

Salmonellosis is a common food- and water-borne disease and is also a major zoonosis. Currently, the isolation of rare Salmonella serotypes is increasing every year in Korea. Among them, the Salmonella serotype Tilene was first isolated from two people who visited a hospital located in Andong-si in 2013. Clinical symptoms were weak or non-existent. There was no clear epidemiological connection between the two cases. However, it was assumed that both were independently exposed to a single infectious agent. Perhaps due to their geographical proximity, molecular epidemiological analysis showed the same result between the isolated strains. This serotype has increasingly reported an association with hedgehogs. Recently, the importation of exotic animals, including hedgehogs, as pets has been gradually increasing. Thus, it is recommended that high-risk groups avoid contact with exotic pets.
Animals ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Hedgehogs ; Korea* ; Salmonella Infections ; Salmonella*

Burkholderia pseudomallei is a gram-negative opportunistic intracellular pathogen that causes an acute and fatal septicemic melioidosis in humans. The organism is mainly found in Southeastern Asia and Northern Australia. Recently, we encountered a case of melioidosis in a Korean patient and performed the laboratory diagnosis of melioidosis. As a result, a gram negative bacterium was isolated from a melioidosis patient, and it was identified as B. pseudomallei on DNA sequencing of 16S ribosomal RNA with 99.9% homology and biochemical examination of VITEK gram-negative identification card. Also, DNA from cultured bacteria was tested in multiplex PCR, a 245 bp fragment amplified from the metalloprotease gene and a fragment of variable size ranging from 400~700 bp resulting from amplification of the 10 bp repetitive element for B. pseudomallei were confirmed after electrophoresis. The bacterium was sensitive to ceftazidime, imipenem and meropenem but resistant to ticarcillin. So far, there are no domestic cases of melioidosis in Korea, however, due to the increase in international travelers, the incidence of melioidosis is likely to increase. We report a recent case of melioidosis in a Korean patient.
Asia, Southeastern ; Australia ; Bacteria ; Burkholderia pseudomallei ; Ceftazidime ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; DNA ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Imipenem ; Incidence ; Korea ; Melioidosis ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Thienamycins ; Ticarcillin

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a metalloprotease that cleaves SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa), a specific cellular protein essential for neurotransmitter release. As well as mouse bioassay to detect BoNT/A, various assay methods based on its endopeptidase activity have been developed. In this study, we tried to develop a BoNT/A assay system using recombinant SNAP-25 with glutathione S-transferase (GST) tags at both termini as substrate. The recombinant GST-SNAP-25-GST with 70 kDa was expressed and purified in E. coli and synthesized N-terminal 50 kDa and C-terminal 25 kDa fragment after cleavage at the Gln(197)-Arg(198) bond by BoNT/A. To detect both fragments, we obtained rabbit antisera against peptides corresponding to the cleaved ends of each fragment. In the western blotting, the N-terminal fragment was detected by the antibody specifically recognizing the newly exposed C-terminus (corresponding to amino acid residue 191-197). This assay system was able to detect until 3.125 ng of BoNT/A, which corresponded to about 90 fold LD50 in mice. These results suggest that the in vitro endopeptidase assay developed in this study would replace others to detect BoNT/A.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Blotting, Western ; Glutathione Transferase ; Immune Sera ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mice ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Peptides

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is a metalloprotease that cleaves SNAP-25 (synaptosome-associated protein of 25 kDa), a specific cellular protein essential for neurotransmitter release. As well as mouse bioassay to detect BoNT/A, various assay methods based on its endopeptidase activity have been developed. In this study, we tried to develop a BoNT/A assay system using recombinant SNAP-25 with glutathione S-transferase (GST) tags at both termini as substrate. The recombinant GST-SNAP-25-GST with 70 kDa was expressed and purified in E. coli and synthesized N-terminal 50 kDa and C-terminal 25 kDa fragment after cleavage at the Gln(197)-Arg(198) bond by BoNT/A. To detect both fragments, we obtained rabbit antisera against peptides corresponding to the cleaved ends of each fragment. In the western blotting, the N-terminal fragment was detected by the antibody specifically recognizing the newly exposed C-terminus (corresponding to amino acid residue 191-197). This assay system was able to detect until 3.125 ng of BoNT/A, which corresponded to about 90 fold LD50 in mice. These results suggest that the in vitro endopeptidase assay developed in this study would replace others to detect BoNT/A.
Animals ; Biological Assay ; Blotting, Western ; Glutathione Transferase ; Immune Sera ; Lethal Dose 50 ; Mice ; Neurotransmitter Agents ; Peptides