A 3-month-old female Maltese puppy was hospitalized with persistent diarrhea in a local veterinary clinic. Blood chemistry and hematology profile were analyzed and fecal smear was examined. Diarrheal stools were examined in a diagnostic laboratory, using multiplex real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) against 23 diarrheal pathogens. Sequence analysis was performed using nested PCR amplicon of 18S ribosomal RNA. Coccidian oocysts were identified in the fecal smear. Although multiplex real-time PCR was positive for Cyclospora cayetanensis, the final diagnosis was Cystoisospora ohioensis infection, confirmed by phylogenetic analysis of 18S rRNA. To our knowledge, this the first case report of C. ohioensis in Korea, using microscopic examination and phylogenetic analysis.
Animals ; Chemistry ; Cyclospora ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Dogs ; Female ; Hematology ; Humans ; Infant ; Korea ; Oocysts ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S ; Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to examine relationships between dietary habits and intakes of antioxidants and B vitamins and the risk of ischemic stroke, and to compare dietary factors according to the presence of cerebral artery atherosclerosis and stroke subtypes. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 147 patients and 144 control subjects were recruited consecutively in the metropolitan area of Seoul, Korea. Sixty participants each in the case and control groups were included in analyses after 1:1 frequency matching. In addition, 117 acute ischemic stroke patients were classified into subtypes according to the Trial of Org 10172 in Acute Stroke Treatment (TOAST) guidelines. Dietary intake was measured using a semi-quantitative food frequency questionnaire composed of 111 food items and plasma lipid and homocysteine levels were analyzed. RESULTS: When compared with control subjects, stroke patients had unfavorable dietary behaviors and lower intakes of fruits (73.1 ± 83.2 g vs. 230.9 ± 202.1 g, P < 0.001), vegetables (221.1 ± 209.0 g vs. 561.7 ± 306.6 g, P < 0.001), and antioxidants, including vitamins C, E, B₆, β-carotene, and folate. The intakes of fruits, vegetables, vitamin C, and folate were inversely associated with the risk of ischemic stroke after adjusting for confounding factors. Intakes of vegetables, vitamins C, B₆, B₁₂, and folate per 1,000 kcal were lower in ischemic stroke with cerebral atherosclerosis than in those without. Overall vitamin B₁₂ intake per 1,000 kcal differed according to the TOAST classification (P = 0.004), but no differences among groups existed based on the post-hoc test. CONCLUSIONS: When compared with control subjects, ischemic stroke patients, particularly those with cerebral atherosclerosis, had unfavorable dietary intake, which may have contributed to the development of ischemic stroke. These results indicate that proper dietary recommendations are important for the prevention of ischemic stroke.
Antioxidants* ; Ascorbic Acid ; Atherosclerosis ; Cerebral Arteries ; Classification ; Folic Acid ; Food Habits ; Fruit ; Homocysteine ; Humans ; Intracranial Arteriosclerosis* ; Korea ; Plasma ; Seoul ; Stroke* ; Vegetables ; Vitamin B Complex* ; Vitamins

BACKGROUND: Eyelid tumors are common neoplasms encountered in daily dermatology practices and encompass a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors, since the eyelid has many tissue types. These tumors sometimes mimic common inflammatory conditions. Nonetheless, clinical investigation of these conditions remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of eyelid skin tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and clinical photographs of 148 patients with eyelid skin tumors confirmed by skin biopsy examination between January 2009 and May 2016. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 50.0 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.11. Malignant eyelid skin tumors accounted for 17.3% of the total number, and older patients were more likely to be affected by malignant tumors than benign tumors (66.2 years vs. 46.4 years). Epidermal cysts (15.5%), seborrheic keratosis (14.9%), and melanocytic nevus (14.2%) were the most common benign eyelid skin tumors. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common malignant tumor (69.2%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (11.5%). Malignant skin tumors, especially basal cell carcinoma, predominantly involved the lower eyelid. No patient showed metastasis from the malignant skin tumors, and no case of recurrence was observed after wide excision of the tumors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that various tumors, including malignant ones, can affect the eyelid area. This study provides useful data on the incidence and characteristics of eyelid skin tumors. Further investigation with a large group of patients is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of eyelid skin tumors.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermatology ; Epidemiology ; Epidermal Cyst ; Eyelids* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin* ; Tertiary Care Centers*

BACKGROUND: Eyelid tumors are common neoplasms encountered in daily dermatology practices and encompass a wide variety of benign and malignant tumors, since the eyelid has many tissue types. These tumors sometimes mimic common inflammatory conditions. Nonetheless, clinical investigation of these conditions remains limited. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of eyelid skin tumors. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and clinical photographs of 148 patients with eyelid skin tumors confirmed by skin biopsy examination between January 2009 and May 2016. RESULTS: The mean patient age was 50.0 years, and the male-to-female ratio was 1:1.11. Malignant eyelid skin tumors accounted for 17.3% of the total number, and older patients were more likely to be affected by malignant tumors than benign tumors (66.2 years vs. 46.4 years). Epidermal cysts (15.5%), seborrheic keratosis (14.9%), and melanocytic nevus (14.2%) were the most common benign eyelid skin tumors. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common malignant tumor (69.2%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (11.5%). Malignant skin tumors, especially basal cell carcinoma, predominantly involved the lower eyelid. No patient showed metastasis from the malignant skin tumors, and no case of recurrence was observed after wide excision of the tumors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that various tumors, including malignant ones, can affect the eyelid area. This study provides useful data on the incidence and characteristics of eyelid skin tumors. Further investigation with a large group of patients is necessary to better understand the epidemiology of eyelid skin tumors.
Biopsy ; Carcinoma, Basal Cell ; Carcinoma, Squamous Cell ; Dermatology ; Epidemiology ; Epidermal Cyst ; Eyelids* ; Humans ; Incidence ; Keratosis, Seborrheic ; Korea* ; Medical Records ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Nevus, Pigmented ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Skin* ; Tertiary Care Centers*

A double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) mycovirus was detected in malformed fruiting bodies of Pleurotus ostreatus strain ASI2792, one of bottle cultivated commercial strains of the edible oyster mushroom. The partial RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RdRp) gene of the P. ostreatus ASI2792 mycovirus (PoV-ASI2792) was cloned, and a cDNA sequences alignment revealed that the sequence was identical to the RdRp gene of a known PoSV found in the P. ostreatus strain. To investigate the symptoms of PoV-ASI2792 infection by comparing the isogenic virus-free P. ostreatus strains with a virus-infected strain, isogenic virus-cured P. ostreatus strains were obtained by the mycelial fragmentation method for virus curing. The absence of virus was verified with gel electrophoresis after dsRNA-specific virus purification and Northern blot analysis using a partial RdRp cDNA of PoV-ASI2792. The growth rate and mycelial dry weight of virus-infected P. ostreatus strain with PoV-ASI2792 mycovirus were compared to those of three virus-free isogenic strains on 10 different media. The virus-cured strains showed distinctly higher mycelial growth rates and dry weights on all kinds of experimental culture media, with at least a 2.2-fold higher mycelial growth rate on mushroom complete media (MCM) and Hamada media, and a 2.7-fold higher mycelial dry weight on MCM and yeastmalt-glucose agar media than those of the virus-infected strain. These results suggest that the infection of PoV mycovirus has a deleterious effect on the vegetative growth of P. ostreatus.
Agar ; Agaricales* ; Blotting, Northern ; Clone Cells ; Culture Media ; DNA, Complementary ; Electrophoresis ; Fruit ; Fungal Viruses* ; Methods ; Pleurotus* ; RNA Replicase ; RNA, Double-Stranded ; Weights and Measures

PURPOSE: The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of xyloologosaccharide (XOS)-sugar mixture on glycemic index (GI) and blood glucose in human subjects. METHODS: Randomized double-blind cross-over studies were conducted to examine the effect of sucrose with 14% xyloologosaccharide powder (Xylo 14) and sucrose with 20% xylooligosaccharide powder (Xylo 20) on GI and postprandial glucose response at 15, 30, 45, 60, 90, and 120 min. RESULTS: GIs of Xylo 14 and Xylo 20 were 60.0 +/- 23.5 classified within medium GI range, and 54.3 +/- 17.7 within low GI range, respectively. Xylo 14 and Xylo 20 showed significantly lower area under the glucose curve (AUC) for 0-15 min (p = 0.0113), 0-30 min (p = 0.0004), 0-45 min (p < 0.0001), 0-60 min (p < 0.0001), 0-90 min (p < 0.0001), and 0-120 min (p = 0.0001). In particular, compared with glucose, the blood glucose levels of Xylo 14 and Xylo 20 were significantly lower at every time point between 15 and 120 min. CONCLUSION: The results of this study suggested that Xylo 14 and Xylo 20 had an acute suppressive effect on GI and the postprandial glucose surge.
Adult* ; Blood Glucose* ; Cross-Over Studies ; Glucose ; Glycemic Index* ; Humans ; Sucrose