No abstract available.
Embryonic Structures* ; Humans*

Twenty newly admitted acute schizophrenic patients were treated with haloperidol for 6 weeks. HVA and 5-HIAA were sampled at baseline, 3days after initial neuroleptic dose, and after 1, 2, 3, 4, 6 weeks of treatment. Nine patients were classified as responders in this prospective haloperidol treatment trial. They had a score of change in the BPRS total scores of 25% or greater. Eleven patients were classified as nonresponders, based on a score of changes in the BPRS total scores of less than 25%. 1) There was no significant difference in plasma HVA/5-HIAA ratio between responder and non-responder before and after haloperidol treatment. 2) There was no significant correlations between plasma HVA/5-HIAA ratio and BPRS total scores. This study could not support the hypothesis that neuroleptic treatment would be effective by changing dopamine and serotonin function and/or by altering their interaction.
Dopamine ; Haloperidol ; Humans ; Hydroxyindoleacetic Acid ; Plasma* ; Prospective Studies ; Schizophrenia* ; Serotonin

This study aimed to investigate the existence of GABA receptor and the mechanisms of action of GABA and diazepam of the trachealis muscle isolated from dog. Horizontal muscle strips of 2mm×15mm were prepared from canine trachea, and isometric myography in isolated muscle chamber bubbled with 95/5%-O₂/CO₂ at 36℃, at the pH of 7.4 was performed. Muscle strips contracted responding to the electrical field stimulation (ESP) by 2~20 Hz, 20 msec, monophasic square wave of 60 VDC. GABA and diazepam suppressed the EFS-induced contractions to the similar extent, significantly. (p<0.05). Bicuculline, a GABA(A) receptor antagonist blocked both GABA- and diazepam-inhibitions; but DAVA, a GABA(B) receptor antagoinst did not affect either of them. These results suggest than in the canine trachealis muscle, there may be only GABA(A) receptor, and GABA and diazepam inhibit the contractility via GABA(A) receptor.
Animals ; Bicuculline ; Diazepam ; Dogs ; gamma-Aminobutyric Acid* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Myography ; Receptors, GABA ; Receptors, GABA-A ; Trachea

BACKGROUND: Multidrug-resistant (MDR) Acinetobacter spp. acquire antimicrobial agent-resistance genes via class 1 integrons. In this study, integrons were characterized to investigate the antimicrobial resistance mechanisms of MDR Acinetobacter isolates. In addition, the relationship between the integron type and integron-harboring bacterial species was analyzed by using epidemiological typing methods. METHODS: Fifty-six MDR Acinetobacter spp.-A. baumannii (N=30), A. bereziniae (N=4), A. nosocomialis (N=5), and A. pittii (N=17)-were isolated. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined on the basis of the results of the Epsilometer test (Etest). PCR and DNA sequencing was performed to characterize the gene cassette arrays of class 1 integrons. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence (REP)-PCR were performed for epidemiological typing. RESULTS: Class 1 integrons were detected in 50 (89.3%) of the 56 isolates, but no class 2 or 3 integron was found within the cohorts. The class 1 integrons were classified into 4 types: 2.3-kb type A (aacA4-catB8-aadA1), 3.0-kb type B (aacA4-blaI(MP-1)-bla(OXA-2)), 3.0-kb type C (bla(VIM-2)-aacA7-aadA1), and 1.8-kb type D (aac3-1-bla(OXA-2)-orfD). Type A was most prevalent and was detected only in A. baumannii isolates, except for one A. bereziniae isolate; however, type B was amplified in all Acinetobacter isolates except for A. baumannii isolates, regardless of clone and separation time of the bacteria. CONCLUSIONS: Although class 1 integron can be transferred horizontally between unrelated isolates belonging to different species, certain types of class 1 integrons tend to transfer horizontally and vertically among A. baumannii or non-baumannii Acinetobacter isolates.
Acinetobacter/drug effects/isolation & purification/*metabolism ; Acinetobacter Infections/epidemiology/microbiology ; Acinetobacter baumannii/drug effects/isolation & purification/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; DNA, Bacterial/chemistry/metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Humans ; Integrons/*genetics ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea

BACKGROUND: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a clinically important pathogen that causes opportunistic infections and nosocomial outbreaks. Recently, the type III secretion system (TTSS) has been shown to play an important role in the virulence of P. aeruginosa. ExoU, in particular, has the greatest impact on disease severity. We examined the relationship among the TTSS effector genotype (exoS and exoU), fluoroquinolone resistance, and target site mutations in 66 carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains. METHODS: Sixty-six carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa strains were collected from patients in a university hospital in Daejeon, Korea, from January 2008 to May 2012. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of fluoroquinolones (ciprofloxacin and levofloxacin) were determined by using the agar dilution method. We used PCR and sequencing to determine the TTSS effector genotype and quinolone resistance-determining regions (QRDRs) of the respective target genes gyrA, gyrB, parC, and parE. RESULTS: A higher proportion of exoU+ strains were fluoroquinolone-resistant than exoS+ strains (93.2%, 41/44 vs. 45.0%, 9/20; P< or =0.0001). Additionally, exoU+ strains were more likely to carry combined mutations than exoS+ strains (97.6%, 40/41 vs. 70%, 7/10; P=0.021), and MIC increased as the number of active mutations increased. CONCLUSIONS: The recent overuse of fluoroquinolone has led to both increased resistance and enhanced virulence of carbapenem-resistant P. aeruginosa. These data indicate a specific relationship among exoU genotype, fluoroquinolone resistance, and resistance-conferring mutations.
ADP Ribose Transferases/genetics ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/*pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Bacterial Toxins/genetics ; Carbapenems/pharmacology ; Drug Resistance, Bacterial/*drug effects ; Fluoroquinolones/*pharmacology ; Genotype ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Mutation ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa/*genetics/isolation & purification/pathogenicity ; Sputum/microbiology ; Virulence

BACKGROUND: Hepcidin plays a central role in the regulation of iron metabolism, and hepatic iron production is stimulated by iron load and inflammation. Recent animal studies have shown that hepcidin levels increase when hematopoiesis is blocked. We aimed to monitor pre- and post-stem cell transplantation hepcidin levels and evaluate its association with hematologic recovery. METHODS: The study group comprised 12 patients with hematologic malignancies (7 with AML, 4 with ALL, and 1 with refractory anemia with excess blasts-2) undergoing allogeneic peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). One day before and 3 days, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 8 weeks after PBSCT, reticulocyte count and levels of Hb, ferritin, and C-reactive protein were monitored; serum hepcidin-25 was measured by ELISA. RESULTS: The median serum hepcidin-25 levels (ng/mL) were significantly higher until 1 week after PBSCT (103.6, 103.3, and 96.5) than those at 2, 4, and 8 weeks after PBSCT (63.9, 53.9, and 56.6, respectively). The reticulocyte count also significantly increased from 2 weeks after PBSCT. The hepcidin level showed an inverse correlation with reticulocyte count (r=-0.56, P<0.001) and a weak positive correlation with ferritin (r=0.27, P=0.02). At 2 weeks, patients with high hepcidin levels (> or =63.9) tended to demonstrate lower Hb recovery at 8 weeks than patients with low hepcidin levels did (P=0.15), but without any differences in the incidence of complications. CONCLUSIONS: These findings indicate that hepcidin production is associated with erythropoietic activity and that hepcidin level may be used as an early marker of hematopoietic recovery in PBSCT.
Anemia, Refractory ; Animals ; Antimicrobial Cationic Peptides ; C-Reactive Protein ; Cell Transplantation ; Ferritins ; Hematologic Neoplasms ; Hematopoiesis ; Humans ; Incidence ; Inflammation ; Iron ; Organothiophosphorus Compounds ; Peripheral Blood Stem Cell Transplantation ; Reticulocyte Count ; Stem Cell Transplantation ; Transplants

Much has been learned of the pathogenesis and pathophysiology of the toxic shock syndrome (TSS) since the initial description in 1978 by Dr. James K, Todd. The clinical illness is defined by the criteria listed in the case definition formulated for epidemiologic studies. With the advent of widespread recognition of TSS, there have been numerous published reports describing the clinical and laboratory findings, primarily in menstruating females. And there have been also reported about six cases in Korea. Moreover, TSS is uncommon in the prepubertal age group and no case report in infant in Korea. We experienced two cases of TSS in infants aged 11/2 yrs and 9 months associated with respiratory infection-pneumonia, pyopneumothorax and localized skin abscess that were confused with Kawasaki disease (KD). The diagnosis was made on the basis of clinical features and laboratory findings, and the cases met the Centers of Disease Control case definition of TSS. And thus we report these cases and review related literatures.
Abscess ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; Infant* ; Korea ; Mucocutaneous Lymph Node Syndrome ; Shock, Septic* ; Skin

Acinetobacter baumannii is an important microorganism responsible for a number of nosocomial outbreaks, in particular, in intensive care units (ICUs). We investigated a nosocomial infection caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) A. baumannii in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Korea. A. baumannii isolates were characterized using Etest (AB Biodisk, Sweden), two multiplex PCR assays, and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme. PCR and PCR mapping experiments were performed for detecting and characterizing the determinants of antimicrobial resistance. Eight strains isolated from an NICU belonged to European (EU) clone II and revealed only one sequence type (ST), namely, ST357. All the isolates were susceptible to imipenem but were resistant to amikacin, gentamicin, ceftazidime, cefepime, and ciprofloxacin. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of a nosocomial infection in an NICU in Korea caused by ST357 MDR/carbapenem-susceptible A. baumannii strains. This result demonstrates that nosocomial outbreaks of MDR/carbapenem-susceptible strains as well as MDR/carbapenem-resistant isolates may occur in NICUs.
Acinetobacter Infections/diagnosis/*microbiology ; Acinetobacter baumannii/drug effects/genetics/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/genetics ; Cross Infection/*microbiology ; DNA, Bacterial/analysis ; *Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial ; Humans ; Imipenem/pharmacology ; Infant, Newborn ; *Intensive Care Units, Neonatal ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multilocus Sequence Typing ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea

BACKGROUND: The human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common etiologic factor of cervical cancer. It was reported that the incidence of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and cervical carcinoma was increased when normal women was infected with HPV. To date, for detection and classification of HPV, it were used by hybridization method using the DNA probe specific for HPV and in situ hybridization method for fixed paraffinized tissue, but reported that these methods were inadequate for detection of HPV DNA because of low sensitivity and complex procedure. Compared with these methods, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was reported as a highly sensitive molecular biologic technique which could detect the HPV DNA in the cervical epithelial cell of women. Thus we used PCR for the investigation of detection rate of HPV 16 and 18, and its relationship with Pap smear class in normal women. METHODS: In 86 normal women, we had extracted the HPV DNA from cervical swab samples and then detected the presence of HPV DNA by nested PCR. RESULTS: In the cases of 86 normal women, the detection rate for HPV DNA was about 7.0%. In the cases of 26 women with Pap smear class I, the HPV DNA was not detected. And in the cases of 60 women with Pap smear class II, the detection rate for HPV DNA was about 10.0%; HPV subtype 16 about 6.7%; HPV subtype 18 about 1.7%; and the coinfection rate of HPV subtype 16 and 18 about 1.7%. CONCLUSIONS: We think that women who was previously infected with high-risk HPV should be examined for Pap smear test in regular time interval, and if the result of Pap smear was abnormal, then should be examined for the presence of the HPV DNA.
Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia ; Classification ; Coinfection ; DNA ; Epithelial Cells ; Female ; Human papillomavirus 16 ; Humans* ; In Situ Hybridization ; Incidence ; Papillomavirus Infections* ; Paraffin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

BACKGROUND: Acinetobacter baumannii resistance islands (AbaRs) have been recently recognized as mobile genetic elements that harbor multiple resistance determinants and are associated with multidrug resistance (MDR). In the present study, we aimed to determine the AbaRs conferring multiple antimicrobial resistance and their clonal relatedness to MDR A. baumannii clinical isolates obtained from a university hospital in Daejeon, Korea. METHODS: This study included 29 MDR A. baumannii strains isolated in Daejeon, Korea. The minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) were determined by Etest. A. baumannii isolates were characterized using the 2 multiplex PCR assays and multilocus sequence typing (MLST) scheme. To detect and characterize AbaRs, PCR and PCR mapping experiments were performed. RESULTS: Twenty-seven of the 29 isolates belonged to the European (EU) clone II lineage and contained 5 sequence types (STs) (75, 92, 137, 138, and 357). In this study, ST357 was confirmed for the first time in Korea. Only 2 of the 29 isolates belonged to the EU clone I lineage, and were confirmed as ST109. These 2 isolates harbored the 22-kb AbaR7 aacC1-orfP-orfQ-aadA1 gene cassette array. In contrast, AbaR was not found in EU clone II isolates. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study that attempted to determine the AbaRs in MDR A. baumannii isolates in Korea. We found 2 EU clone I isolates (ST109) that harbored AbaR7.
Acinetobacter baumannii/drug effects/*isolation & purification/metabolism ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/pharmacology ; Bacterial Proteins/*genetics/metabolism ; Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial/drug effects ; Humans ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA