The present study investigated the prevalence rate of Cryptosporidium parvum as a cause of diarrhea. We examined 942 stools of unidentified reasons occurring in patients in whom no immunosuppression had been detected. We examined the stools for Cryptosporidium parvum via modified acid-fast staining. The clinical records of all of the positive patients were then analyzed. Nine (1%) of the stools among the 942 diarrheal patients were positive for C. parvum. The positive rate in the males was 1.1% (6/522) and the positive rate of the females was 0.7% (3/420). Age distribution revealed that the highest positive rates were in patients in their sixties, with a positive rate of 2.5% (4/158). In the clinical tests, levels of c-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rates, and neutrophil proportions were normally increased in the peripheral blood, whereas the lymphocyte proportion exhibited a tendency towards decrease. The pathological findings were compatible with an inflammatory reaction in the host.
Adult ; Aged ; Animals ; Child, Preschool ; Cryptosporidiosis/*epidemiology/immunology ; *Cryptosporidium/isolation & purification ; Cryptosporidium parvum/isolation & purification ; Diarrhea/*epidemiology/immunology/parasitology ; Feces/parasitology ; Female ; HIV Seronegativity ; Humans ; Immunocompetence ; Korea/epidemiology ; Lymphocyte Count ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Prevalence ; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't ; Staining and Labeling

To investigate the occurrence and distribution of serotype, specific virulence genes, and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) patterns in Vibrio parahaemolyticus isolates from Jeonnam, Korea, we tested 87 strains which were identified with V. parahaemolyticus from diarrheal episode patients in 2005. In this study, 16 different O:K serotype combinations of V. parahaemolyticus were determined. The distributions of O and K serotypes were O4:K68 (51.72%), O1:K70 (18.39%), O3:K6 (5.74%), O1:K68 (4.60%) and O3:K57 (4.60%) respectively. Serotype O4:K68 was the regional dominant specific serotype of V. parahaemolyticus in Sinan of Jeonnam, Korea. For the detection of thermostable direct hemolysin (tdh) and TDH-related hemolysin (trh) gene of V. parahaemolyticus, PCR was performed. The tdh gene was detected in all of the V. parahaemolyticus isolates from diarrheal patients, but trh gene was not detected. Analysis of PFGE patterns of 30 V. parahaemolyticus isolates showed 3 groups and 20 types. Among 14 O4:K68 serotypes which were isolated in Sinan, PFGE patterns of 12 strains were closely related (100%), but 2 strains were related by 58.3% and 45.4%, respectively. Also two strains of O1:K4 serotype in Gurye and two strains of O3:K6 serotype in Yeosu were closely related (100%), respectively. Although serotypes (O1:K4, O1:K70, O3:K6 and O4:K68) were different, PFGE patterns were related for more than 80.9%. Therefore, the epidemiological surveillance of V. parahaemolyticus is required by PFGE typing scheme as a further diagnostic tool.
Bacterial Toxins ; Electrophoresis ; Hemolysin Proteins ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serotyping ; Vibrio ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus

Background: Gastrointestinal (GI) drugs are often co-prescribed with other medications to prevent GI complications. This study aimed to evaluate the prescribing pattern of potentially unnecessary GI drugs in patients with acute cystitis who were prescribed oral antibiotics and investigate the influencing factors affecting this. Methods: We identified female patients ≥20 years with acute cystitis who visited the outpatient clinic and were prescribed oral antibiotics between July and December by analyzing Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service (HIRA)-National Patients Sample (NPS)-2019 data. Patients with no prior history of GI disorders within 180 days prior to acute cystitis, excluding or including the date of diagnosis of acute cystitis, were selected (Group A and B). Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to estimate the factors affecting the prescription of potentially unnecessary GI drugs. Results: A total of 1,544 in Group A and 552 patients in Group B were included for the final analysis. Potentially unnecessary GI drugs were presc ribed in 1,176 patients in Group A (76.2%) and 231 patients in Group B (41.8%). Third generation cephalosporines and sulfonamides showed the lower odds ratio for prescribing GI drugs than penicillins. Prescribers from Urology clinics showed more than twice odds ratio for the prescription of GI drugs compared to prescribers from internal medicine clinics. Conclusion The results of this study showed that potentially unnecessary GI drug prescriptions for patients with acute cystitis were high in South Korea. The positive risk factors affecting the prescription of unnecessary GIs were not patient-related factor but healthcare facility and prescriber-related factors.

Tuberculoma, once the most frequent cause of intracranial mass lesion, are now rare. Except in cases in which meningitis develops owing to extension to the subarachnoid space, the symptoms of them are those of an expanding cerebral or cerebellar mass. A 18 years old female was admitted to Chungnam National University Hospital complaining of headache and severe vomiting. Neurological examination showed severe papilledema, trunkal ataxia and mild ataxic gait. Chest P-A and skull X-rays showed non specific finding. Total removal of mass in right cerebellar hemisphere after exploration of posterior fossa was done and it was confirmed of tuberculoma histologically. Postoperative course was uneventful and discharged with good health.
Adolescent ; Ataxia ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Gait ; Headache ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Neurologic Examination ; Papilledema ; Skull ; Subarachnoid Space ; Thorax ; Tuberculoma* ; Vomiting

Tuberculoma, once the most frequent cause of intracranial mass lesion, are now rare. Except in cases in which meningitis develops owing to extension to the subarachnoid space, the symptoms of them are those of an expanding cerebral or cerebellar mass. A 18 years old female was admitted to Chungnam National University Hospital complaining of headache and severe vomiting. Neurological examination showed severe papilledema, trunkal ataxia and mild ataxic gait. Chest P-A and skull X-rays showed non specific finding. Total removal of mass in right cerebellar hemisphere after exploration of posterior fossa was done and it was confirmed of tuberculoma histologically. Postoperative course was uneventful and discharged with good health.
Adolescent ; Ataxia ; Chungcheongnam-do ; Female ; Gait ; Headache ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Neurologic Examination ; Papilledema ; Skull ; Subarachnoid Space ; Thorax ; Tuberculoma* ; Vomiting

Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) is firstly reported in China in 2011. Thereafter it is reported an infectious disease in Japan and Korea. It is caused by bunyavirus, called SFTS virus (SFTSV). The main vector of SFTS is Haemaphysalis longicornis tick. We investigated the distribution and detection of SFTSV in ticks collected from the environment using the dragging method and dry ice fogging method from May to November 2014 in Jeollanam-do, Korea. Sampling was taken from the province Suncheon, Gokseong, Boseong, Goheung where patients have occurred in 2013 and Gurye as control. Among the total 3,048 ticks collected, 3,030 ticks were H. longicornis (99.4%) and 18 were Amblyomma testudinarium. H. longicornis was collected 1,330 ticks in Gokseong, 1,188 ticks in Boseong, 240 ticks in Suncheon, 150 ticks in Goheung and 140 ticks in Gurye. Developmental stages by month of H. longicornis were revealed that nymph (92%) was collected from May to June, adult (30%) and nymph (70%) in July, and 93% of larvae from September to October. These results showed the different dominant stage of ticks according to seasons. However, no SFTSV-specific gene was detected in 3,030 ticks of H. longicornis.
Adult ; China ; Communicable Diseases ; Dry Ice ; Fever* ; Humans ; Japan ; Jeollanam-do* ; Korea* ; Larva ; Methods ; Nymph ; Orthobunyavirus ; Seasons ; Thrombocytopenia* ; Ticks* ; Weather

Primary rhabdomyosarcoma of the frontal and temporal bone is very rare. Rhabdomyosarcoma is usually a relentless, progressive which results in death of patients in a relatively short time. The authors report a case of rhabdomyosarcoma arisen right frontotemporal bone and reviewed the literatures.
Humans ; Rhabdomyosarcoma* ; Temporal Bone

Heterophyid metacercarial infections in brackish water fishes, i.e., perch, shad, mullet, redlip mullet, and goby, of Jinju-man (Bay), Kyongsangnam-do, Korea, were investigated using a digestion technique. Among 45 perch (Lateolabrax japonicus), the metacercariae of Heterophyopsis continua were found in 55.6% (18.5 metacercariae per fish), Stictodora spp. in 28.9% (3.6), and Metagonimus takahashii in 6.7% (17.0). The metacercariae of H. continua were detected in 23 (65.7%) of 35 shad (Konosirus punctatus). Among 15 mullet (Mugil cephalus), the metacercariae of Pygidiopsis summa were found in 100% (105.9 metacercariae per fish), Heterophyes nocens in 40.0% (8.5), H. continua in 13.3%, and Stictodora spp. in 6.7%. Among 12 redlip mullet (Chelon haematocheilus), the metacercariae of P. summa were detected in 91.7% (1,299 metacercariae per fish), H. nocens in 16.7%, and Stictodora spp. in 16.7%. Among 35 gobies (Acanthogobius flavimanus), the metacercariae of Stictodora spp. were found in 82.9% (44.5 metacercariae per fish), and H. continua in 25.7% (2.8). The adult flukes recovered from a cat experimentally infected with metacercariae from perches were compatible with M. takahashii. The results confirm that the estuarine fish in Jinju-man (Bay) are heavily infected with heterophyid metacercariae. Furthermore, it was found for the first time that the perch acts as a second intermediate host for M. takahashii.
Trematode Infections/epidemiology/parasitology/*veterinary ; Seawater ; Prevalence ; Life Cycle Stages ; Korea/epidemiology ; Heterophyidae/anatomy & histology/*isolation & purification ; Fishes ; Fish Diseases/*epidemiology/*parasitology ; Cats ; Animals

Hantaan virus (HTNV) is widely distributed in Korea and has been known to cause haemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS). Hantaviruses are carried by numerous rodent species throughout the world. Especially, the stripedfield mice, Apodemus agrarius, is the natural host for Hantaan virus in Korea, In this study, a total 117 wild rodents of 2 species (A. agrarius, Crocidura laciura) were trapped from six county (Damyang- gun, Hwasun-gun, Gokseong-gun, Jangheung-gun, Hampyeong-gun and Boseong-gun) in Jeonnam province from Sep. 2003 to Nov. 2004 for epidemiological survey. As determined by the indirect immunofluorescent antibody (IFA) test, IgG antibodies against HTNV were detected in 13.4% (14/103) of A. agrarius captured on above the areas. Serologic evidence for HTNV infection was not found in 14 C. laciura. 5 of A. agrarius were positive of hantaan viral RNA amplication from lung tissue of 14 seropositive A. agrarius by RT-PCR. For isolation of the hantaan virus, the lung tissue homogenate of 14 seropositive A. agrarius inoculated Vero E6 cells, but virus was not isolated.
Animals ; Antibodies ; Fever ; Hantaan virus* ; Hantavirus ; Immunoglobulin G ; Jeollanam-do* ; Korea ; Lung ; Mice ; Murinae ; RNA, Viral ; Rodentia*

Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC) have been implicated in human diarrhea in several countries. Central to EPEC-mediated disease is its ability to cause intestinal lesions, known as attaching and effacing (A/E) lesion. We investigated 92 EPEC strains isolated from patients with diarrhea in Gwangju for their genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. Sixteen (17.4%) of all strains were found to be typical EPEC because they were bfpA gene positive by PCR. The most of typical EPEC isolates (87.5%) showed a localized adhesion (LA) pattern in Hep-2 cell adherence assay, whereas, only 11 atypical EPEC isolates (14.5%) were adhered to Hep-2 cells in a localized manner. Thirteen of the EPEC strains studied belonged to classical O-serogroups of EPEC and 7 isolates were classified as nonclassical EPEC serogroup and the other isolates could not be serotyped with our antisera. The subtypes of eae, tir, espA and espB genes which are major virulence genes concerned of A/E lesion on chromosome were analyzed by multiplex PCR for finding the original resource. The results showed that the composition of these genes subtypes was homogenous and heterogenous in 12 and 26 isolates, respectively. The others were non-determined type in terms of the gene subtype because of genetic diversity of intimin-coding eae genes. Our findings indicated that EPEC isolates from patients with diarrhea were diverse genetically and phenotypically, which require further study in regard to their virulence and epidemiological significance.
Diarrhea ; Enteropathogenic Escherichia coli* ; Genetic Variation ; Gwangju* ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virulence