Aconitum species have been used in western and eastern medicine for centuries. In present, chinese medicine uses the drug to treat weak constitution, poor metabolism, dysuria, cardiac weakness, gout rheumatism in the limbs, neuralgia. Poisoning may occur from intentional or accidental ingestion, and the concentration of the toxic alkaloids - aonitine, mesaconitine, and hypoconitine - varies depending on species, place of origin, time of harvest, and processing procedure. In addition to cardiac arrhythmias, and hypotension, the alkaloids cause GI upset & neurological symptoms, especially numbness of the mouth and parethesia in the extrimities. The alkaloid causes a prolonged sodium current in cardiac muscle with slowed repolarization. The aconitine acts as a agonist of Na-channel receptor. Vaughan-Williams' classification I antiarrhythmic agents which belong to might be the first choice for the therapy of aconitine induced arrhythmias. The modification of the sodium system by aconitine seems to be responsible for the prolongation of the action potential and the appearance of extrasystoles and fibrillation. We experienced a 67-year-old male patient who suffered chest discomfort and palpitation with ventricular tachycardia through to be caused by aconitine. After treatment for 3days he recovered well and discharged. We report this case with literature review.
Aconitine ; Aconitum ; Action Potentials ; Aged ; Alkaloids ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cardiac Complexes, Premature ; Classification ; Constitution and Bylaws ; Dysuria ; Eating ; Extremities ; Gout ; Humans ; Hypesthesia ; Hypotension ; Male ; Metabolism ; Mouth ; Myocardium ; Neuralgia ; Poisoning ; Rheumatic Diseases ; Sodium ; Tachycardia, Ventricular* ; Thorax

West Nile virus (WNV) is a mosquito-borne zoonotic pathogen that has spread throughout Europe and the United States. Recently, WNV spread to East and Southeast Asia, and great efforts have been made in South Korea to prevent the spread of WNV from neighboring countries. In this study, we diagnosed the first case of WNV in pigeons (Columba livia domestica) residing in cities using a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and confirmed it with nested reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis and sequencing. This is the first report to provide convincing evidence that WNV is present within South Korea.
Asia, Southeastern ; Columbidae* ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Europe ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; United States ; West Nile virus*

Rhododendron brachycarpum has been known as a panacea in Korean folk medicine, and is used to treat various diseases including hypertension. Excessive ingestion can cause intoxication by grayanotoxin. We experienced a 59 year-old man suffering of grayanotoxin intoxication following excessive ingestion of Rhododendron brachycarpum. The patient presented dizziness, weakness, and chest discomfort with cold sweats. Electrocardiography showed marked sinus bradycardia with atrio-ventricular dissociation. With intravenous saline and atropine, the patient recovered. This case calls attention to the potential cardiotoxicity of Korean folk medicine Rhododendron brachycarpum.
Atropine ; Bradycardia* ; Dizziness ; Eating* ; Electrocardiography ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Medicine, Traditional ; Middle Aged ; Rhododendron* ; Sweat ; Thorax

In order to examine the prevalence of Cryptosporidium infection in wild rodents and insectivores of South Korea and to assess their potential role as a source of human cryptosporidiosis, a total of 199 wild rodents and insectivore specimens were collected from 10 regions of South Korea and screened for Cryptosporidium infection over a period of 2 years (2012-2013). A nested-PCR amplification of Cryptosporidium oocyst wall protein (COWP) gene fragment revealed an overall prevalence of 34.2% (68/199). The sequence analysis of 18S rRNA gene locus of Cryptosporidium was performed from the fecal and cecum samples that tested positive by COWP amplification PCR. As a result, we identified 4 species/genotypes; chipmunk genotype I, cervine genotype I, C. muris, and a new genotype which is closely related to the bear genotype. The new genotype isolated from 12 Apodemus agrarius and 2 Apodemus chejuensis was not previously identified as known species or genotype, and therefore, it is supposed to be a novel genotype. In addition, the host spectrum of Cryptosporidium was extended to A. agrarius and Crosidura lasiura, which had not been reported before. In this study, we found that the Korean wild rodents and insectivores were infected with various Cryptosporidium spp. with large intra-genotypic variationa, indicating that they may function as potential reservoirs transmitting zoonotic Cryptosporidium to livestock and humans.
Animals ; Animals, Wild/*parasitology ; Cryptosporidiosis/*parasitology ; Cryptosporidium/classification/*genetics/*isolation & purification ; Feces/parasitology ; Genotype ; Insectivora/*parasitology ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Murinae ; Phylogeny ; Republic of Korea ; Rodent Diseases/*parasitology

BACKGROUND: We performed this stody to find out about antimicrobial effect of lidocaine which is commonly used local anesthetic, and thrombin and epinephrine used for hemostasis during bronchoscopic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microorganisms that were cultured from specimens obtained during bronchoscopy were Staphylococcus aureus (n=42), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=42), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=42), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=43) collected from St. Mary's Hospital, from March to Sep 2004 were used for susceptibity testing. Susceptibility to lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine were tested according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULT: MIC50 and MIC90 of lidocaine for S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa were all 20,000 microgram/mL and that for K. pneumoniae were 10,000 microgram/mL. MIC50 and MIC90 of thrombin for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was 500 IU/mL and above 500 IU/mL, respectively; that for K. pneumoniae were all above 500 IU/mL and for S. pneumoniae they were 125 IU/mL, MIC50 and MIC90 of epinephrine for K. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae were above 500 microgram/mL; that for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were 500 microgram/mL. CONCLUSION: We observed possible antimicrobial effect of lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine in vitro against pathogens such as S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, which are common respiratory microorganisms. The use of these agants could affect the result of bacterial culture.
Bronchoscopy ; Epinephrine* ; Hemostasis ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lidocaine* ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Thrombin*

BACKGROUND: We performed this stody to find out about antimicrobial effect of lidocaine which is commonly used local anesthetic, and thrombin and epinephrine used for hemostasis during bronchoscopic procedures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The microorganisms that were cultured from specimens obtained during bronchoscopy were Staphylococcus aureus (n=42), Streptococcus pneumoniae (n=42), Klebsiella pneumoniae (n=42), and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=43) collected from St. Mary's Hospital, from March to Sep 2004 were used for susceptibity testing. Susceptibility to lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine were tested according to the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. RESULT: MIC50 and MIC90 of lidocaine for S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa were all 20,000 microgram/mL and that for K. pneumoniae were 10,000 microgram/mL. MIC50 and MIC90 of thrombin for both S. aureus and P. aeruginosa was 500 IU/mL and above 500 IU/mL, respectively; that for K. pneumoniae were all above 500 IU/mL and for S. pneumoniae they were 125 IU/mL, MIC50 and MIC90 of epinephrine for K. pneumoniae and S. pneumoniae were above 500 microgram/mL; that for S. aureus and P. aeruginosa were 500 microgram/mL. CONCLUSION: We observed possible antimicrobial effect of lidocaine, thrombin, and epinephrine in vitro against pathogens such as S. aureus, S. pneumoniae, K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, which are common respiratory microorganisms. The use of these agants could affect the result of bacterial culture.
Bronchoscopy ; Epinephrine* ; Hemostasis ; Klebsiella pneumoniae ; Lidocaine* ; Pneumonia ; Pseudomonas aeruginosa ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Streptococcus pneumoniae ; Thrombin*

BACKGROUND: From May to July 2015, the Republic of Korea experienced the largest outbreak of Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) outside the Arabian Peninsula. A total of 186 patients, including 36 deaths, had been diagnosed with MERS-coronavirus (MERS-CoV) infection as of September 30th, 2015. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We obtained information of patients who were confirmed to have MERS-CoV infection. MERS-CoV infection was diagnosed using real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction assay. RESULTS: The median age of the patients was 55 years (range, 16 to 86). A total of 55.4% of the patients had one or more coexisting medical conditions. The most common symptom was fever (95.2%). At admission, leukopenia (42.6%), thrombocytopenia (46.6%), and elevation of aspartate aminotransferase (42.7%) were observed. Pneumonia was detected in 68.3% of patients at admission and developed in 80.8% during the disease course. Antiviral agents were used for 74.7% of patients. Mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, and convalescent serum were employed for 24.5%, 7.1%, and 3.8% of patients, respectively. Older age, presence of coexisting medical conditions including diabetes or chronic lung disease, presence of dyspnea, hypotension, and leukocytosis at admission, and the use of mechanical ventilation were revealed to be independent predictors of death. CONCLUSION: The clinical features of MERS-CoV infection in the Republic of Korea were similar to those of previous outbreaks in the Middle East. However, the overall mortality rate (20.4%) was lower than that in previous reports. Enhanced surveillance and active management of patients during the outbreak may have resulted in improved outcomes.
Antiviral Agents ; Aspartate Aminotransferases ; Coronavirus Infections* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Dyspnea ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation ; Fever ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Leukocytosis ; Leukopenia ; Lung Diseases ; Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus ; Middle East* ; Mortality ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea* ; Respiration, Artificial ; Thrombocytopenia