PURPOSE: This study was performed to investigate the epidemiology of enterovirus (EV) infections in children at a secondary hospital during recent 5 years. METHODS: We collected the cerebrospinal fluid, stool and throat swab samples from the pediatric patients with suspected EV infections in KEPCO Medical Center, Seoul, Korea from July 2006 to September 2010. EV detection and genotype identification were performed by RT-PCR at Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. RESULTS: A total of 386 samples were collected from 277 patients during study period. Ninety-eight patients (35.4%) were diagnosed with EV infections. The RT-PCR positive rate was the highest in throat swab samples (48.3%). The median age of patient was 4.7 years (range, 0.1-12.5 years). Aseptic meningitis (50, 51.0%) was the most common clinical manifestation; herpangina (22, 22.4%) and hand-foot-mouth disease (18, 18.4%). One hundred EVs were isolated from 98 patients and 20 genotypes of EV were identified; Echovirus 30 (28 cases, 28%), Enterovirus 71 (12 cases, 12%), Echovirus 25 (10 cases, 10%), Echovirus 9 (9 cases, 9%) and Coxsackievirus A6 (8 cases, 8%). Aseptic meningitis caused by Echovirus 30 was the most common manifestation in 2008. There was no complicated case caused by Enterovirus 71. CONCLUSION: This study showed the epidemiology of confirmed EV infection in children from 2006 to 2010. There is a need for continuous surveillance of EV infections and its clinical manifestations.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Child ; Echovirus 9 ; Enterovirus ; Enterovirus B, Human ; Enterovirus Infections ; Genotype ; Herpangina ; Humans ; Korea ; Meningitis, Aseptic ; Pharynx

Hand-foot-mouth disease (HFMD), one of the more distinctive rash syndromes, is most frequently caused by coxsackievirus A16, but can also be caused by enterovirus 71 (EV71) and other coxsackieviruses. Recently, there have been large outbreaks of simple, neurologically complicated and even fatal HFMD caused by EV71 in Western Pacific Area. However, in the Republic of Korea, despite its location in EV71 endemic Western Pacific Area, published reports on HFMD with EV71 are rare and there are no published reports on fatal cases. After the first fatal case of HFMD caused by EV71 announced in May 2009, much more cases of neurologically complicated HFMD have been announced. Even now, physician's increased awareness about the seriousness of HFMD, viral surveillance and early warning system of HFMD, and early detection and proper management of potentially life threatening HFMD caused by EV71 are required in the Republic of Korea, as in the neighboring countries.
Disease Outbreaks ; Enterovirus ; Exanthema ; Republic of Korea

Neisseria animaloris is a common flora in animals, but its pathogenicity is rarely reported. In this case report, N. animaloris was isolated from a hospitalized cat with pneumonia. The cat was discharged after testing and treatment with appropriate antibiotics. This paper reports the first case of N. animaloris pneumonia in Korea.

We examined the hepatitis G virus infections among 227 Koreans who were healthy or were suspected of hepatitis and determined the phylogenetic relationship based on a part of the NS-5 region of 5 positive samples. Viral RNA was extracted from sera and cDNA was synthesized and subsequently amplified by RT-PCR (reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) or RT-nested PCR using random hexamer and NS-5 specific primers (470-20-1-77F, 470-20-1-211R, HGVNESTFO, HGVNESTRE). Five positives were found to belong to samples of patients showing symptoms of viral hepatitis. Primers used for PCR or nested PCR were derived from the NS-5 region. On the other hand, no amplification was detected using primers derived from the 5'-NCR (G-146F, G-401R). We performed TA cloning and sequencing of 5 amplified fragments, and their sequences were compared with those of foreign isolates of HGV. The phylogenetic analysis using MegAlign programme of DNAstar has shown that the Korean isolates are clustered on the phylogenetic tree. In summary, we confirmed the hepatitis G virus infection in 5 cases out of 12 patients showing the symptoms of viral hepatitis. The phylogenetic analysis of sequences of 5 amplified fragments showed that their relations to each other were closer than those to the foreign HGV isolates reported.
Clone Cells ; Cloning, Organism ; DNA, Complementary ; GB virus C* ; Hand ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Viral

BACKGROUND: Enteroviruses are known as major pathogen for aseptic meningitis. Although rapid diagnosis for enteroviruses is very essential to exclude bacterial infections in patients with meningitis, classical diagnostic method based on virus isolation is not practicable for timely treatment of patients due to its laborious and time-consuming procedure. Recently molecular methodologies as alternatives are routinely used for rapid and sensitive diagnosis for enteroviruses infections. METHODS: Reverse transcription (RT)-PCR ELISA kit for targeting 5'non-coding region (NCR) with highly conserved genetic identity among all genotypes of enteroviruses was introduced in this investigation. RT-PCR ELISA was evaluated about sensitivity and specificity through virus isolation using clinical specimens from patients suspected of enteroviral infections and enteroviral isolates comparing with conventional RT-PCR identifying them. RESULTS: The detection limit of the RT-PCR ELISA was up to 10-100 folds higher than virus isolation using cell culture and conventional RT-PCR. On comparison between above two methods, the detection rate of RT-PCR ELISA for clinical specimens from patients with aseptic meningitis was 7% higher than that of conventional RT-PCR targeting 5'NCR (P=0.016). CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that RT-PCR ELISA developed in this study could be an alternative diagnostic method for the detection of enteroviral genome with high sensitivity and specificity.
5' Untranslated Regions ; Adolescent ; Child ; Child, Preschool ; Enterovirus/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Enterovirus Infections/*diagnosis ; *Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Infant ; Meningitis, Aseptic/diagnosis ; RNA, Viral/analysis ; *Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Rotavirus/genetics ; Rotavirus Infections/diagnosis ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Central neurogenic hyperventilation (CNH) is characterized by sustained tachypnea inspite of an elevated arterial PaO2, pH and a low arterial PaCO2. CNH is common in patients with brainstem injury accompanied by a decreased level of consciousness but this also has been described in some alert patients with an invasive brainstem tumor. We report one case with CNH resulting from a unilateral pontine infarction. His consciousness was clear, and CNH spontaneously disappeared without any medication.
Brain Stem ; Brain Stem Neoplasms ; Consciousness ; Humans ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Hyperventilation* ; Infarction* ; Tachypnea

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.
Child ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gastroenteritis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mamastrovirus ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; Pathology, Molecular ; Sprains and Strains ; Vomiting

Human astrovirus (HAstV) is a major cause of acute diarrhea among children, resulting in outbreaks of diarrhea and occasionally hospitalization. Improved surveillance and application of sensitive molecular diagnostics have further defined the impact of HAstV infections in children. These studies have shown that HAstV infections are clinically milder (diarrhea, vomiting, fever) than infections with other enteric agents. Among the 8 serotypes of HAstV identified, serotype 1 is the predominant strain worldwide. In addition to serotype 1, the detection rate of HAstV types 2 to 8 has increased by using newly developed assays. HAstV is less common compared with other major gastroenteritis viruses, including norovirus and rotavirus; however, it is a potentially important viral etiological agent with a significant role in acute gastroenteritis. A better understanding of the molecular epidemiology and characteristics of HAstV strains may be valuable to develop specific prevention strategies.
Child ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Gastroenteritis ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Mamastrovirus ; Molecular Epidemiology ; Norovirus ; Pathology, Molecular ; Sprains and Strains ; Vomiting

Giant hydronephrosis is a clinical entity in which errors of diagnosis are frequent due to the silent development of this pathologic state. We present a case which has been considered worthy of detailed report for various reasons. First, it was a 22 liter hydronephrosis which is, so far as can be discovered from available Korean literature, the largest that has been removed surgically. Secondly, despite of huge hydronephrosis, the patient experienced delivery.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Hydronephrosis*

OBJECTIVES: Regional cerebral blood flow(rCBF)in schizophrenics is confounded by various factors including medication status. Previously, there have been numerous studies regarding the effects of antipsychotics on rCBF. However, these works have shown contradictory and inconsistent findings due to the different of type, dose and exposed duration of antipsychotics. The aim of this study was to observe the effect of antipsychotic medication on rCBF and exposed duration of antipsychotics under control. METHODS: Eighteen drug-naive schizophrenics and 19 schizophrenics medicated with haloperidol were included in the study. Regional cerebral blood flow was assessed with the singlephoton emission computed tomography(SPECT)under a resting state. Relative rCBF was compared between two groups. Haloperidol was selected as the antipsychotic drug as it has relatively selective action at the D2 receptor and less active metabolites. Exposed duration was limited from one to three weeks. RESULTS: Haloperidol-medicated schizophrenic patients had a significantly greater increase of relative cerebral perfusion in the right inferior temporal lobe, left inferior frontal lobe, both basal ganglia, left thalamus, both parieto-occipital lobes, and right parietal lobe than drug-naive schizophrenic patients. Haloperidol-medicated schizophrenic patients had a significant decrease of relative cerebral perfusion in left inferior temporal lobe. However, no significant differences in relative rCBF were found between drug-naive and haloperidol-medicated schizophrenic patients in right inferior frontal lobe, right thalamus, both superior temporal lobes, both superior frontal lobes, and left parietal lobe. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that antipsychotics affect regional cerebral blood flow, and antipsychotic medication status must be considered in the relative rCBF studies of schizophrenic patients.
Antipsychotic Agents ; Basal Ganglia ; Frontal Lobe ; Haloperidol* ; Humans ; Parietal Lobe ; Perfusion ; Schizophrenia ; Temporal Lobe ; Thalamus ; Tomography, Emission-Computed, Single-Photon*