A new species of Acanthamoeba was isolated from a freshwater fish in Korea and tentatively named Acanthamoeba sp. YM-4 (Korean isolate YM-4). The trophozoites were 11.0-23.0 micrometer in length and had hyaline filamentous projections. Cysts were similar to those of A. culbertsoni and A. royreba, which were previously designated as Acanthamoeba group III. Acanthamoeba YM-4 can survive at 40 degrees C, and its generation time was 19.6 hr, which was longer than that of A. culbertsoni. In terms of the in vitro cytotoxicity of lysates, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was weaker than A. culbertsoni, but stronger than A. polyphaga. On the basis of the mortality of experimentally infected mice, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was found to be highly virulent. The isoenzymes profile of Acanthamoeba YM-4 was similar to that of A. royreba. An anti-Acanthamoeba YM-4 monoclonal antibody, McAY7, was found to react only with Acanthamoeba YM-4, and not with A. culbertsoni. Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker analysis and RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA and of 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA, placed Acanthamoeba YM-4 in a separate cluster on the basis of phylogenetic distances. Thus the Acanthamoeba Korean isolate YM-4 was identified as a new species, and assigned as Acanthamoeba sohi.
Acanthamoeba/*classification/genetics/isolation & purification/*pathogenicity ; Amebiasis/parasitology/*veterinary ; Animals ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Fish Diseases/*parasitology ; Gills/parasitology ; Goldfish/*parasitology ; Korea ; Mice ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/genetics ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique ; Virulence

Acanthamoeba and Naegleria are widely distributed in fresh water, soil and dust throughout the world, and cause meningoencephalitis or keratoconjunctivitis in humans and other mammals. Korean isolates, namely, Naegleria sp. YM-1 and Acanthamoeba sp. YM-2, YM-3, YM-4, YM-5, YM-6 and YM-7, were collected from sewage, water puddles, a storage reservoir, the gills of a fresh water fish, and by corneal washing. These isolates were categorized into three groups based on the mortalities of infected mice namely, highly virulent (YM-4), moderately virulent (YM-2, YM-5 and YM-7) and nonpathogenic (YM-3). In addition, a new species of Acanthamoeba was isolated from a freshwater fish in Korea and tentatively named Korean isolate YM-4. The morphologic characters of its cysts were similar to those of A. culbertsoni and A. royreba, which were previously designated as Acanthamoeba group III. Based on experimentally infected mouse mortality, Acanthamoeba YM-4 was highly virulent. The isoenzymes profile of Acanthamoeba YM-4 was similar to that of A. royreba. Moreover, an anti-Acanthamoeba YM-4 monoclonal antibody reacted only with Acanthamoeba YM-4, and not with A. culbertsoni. Random amplified polymorphic DNA marker analysis and RFLP analysis of mitochondrial DNA and of a 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA, placed Acanthamoeba YM-4 in a separate cluster based on phylogenic distances. Thus Acanthamoeba YM-4 was identified as a new species, and assigned Acanthamoeba sohi. Up to the year 2002 in Korea, two clinical cases were found to be infected with Acanthamoeba spp. These patients died of meningoencephalitis. In addition, one case of Acanthamoeba pneumonia with an immunodeficient status was reported and Acanthamoeba was detected in several cases of chronic relapsing corneal ulcer, chronic conjunctivitis, and keratitis.
*Acanthamoeba/classification/genetics/immunology/pathogenicity ; Amebiasis/diagnosis/epidemiology/*parasitology/therapy ; Animals ; Antigens, Protozoan/analysis/genetics/immunology ; DNA, Mitochondrial/analysis ; DNA, Protozoan/analysis ; Korea/epidemiology ; Life Cycle Stages ; *Naegleria/classification/genetics/immunology/pathogenicity ; Phylogeny ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA Technique/veterinary ; Virulence/genetics

This study was undertaken to investigate the effect of superoxide dismutase(SOD) to sunburn cell production and development of UV-induced ear swelling reaction in mouse skin after ultraviolet irradiation. In this study, a total of 60 ICR female albino haired mice were used and divided into two groups, A(UVB: 150mJ/cm) and B(UVB:300mJ/cm). Groups of mice were injected intravenouly with SQD(300mJ,/1000cm) just befare UVR and after completion of UVR. The results were as follows . 1. The number of sunburn cells was significantly decreased by injection of SOD (300ug.1000ug)(p<0.05). 2. The number of sunburn cells in a group of mice which was given SOD 1000ug was significantly decreased more than in SOD 300pg(p<0.05). 3. Ear swelling reaction was not significantly suppressed by injection of SOD(300 Pa. 100SC)(p<0 05)
Animals ; Ear ; Female ; Hair ; Humans ; Mice* ; Skin* ; Sunburn* ; Superoxide Dismutase* ; Superoxides*

Generalized lipodyst,rophy is characterized by generalized loss of body fat, and is asociated vith metabolic ahnormalities, including insulin resistance, hyperglycemia., and hypertriglyceridemia. like acanthosis nigricans, generalized lipodystrophy is a cutaneous marker of insulin re.istant diabetes. We report. herein a twenty year old female witti both classic generalized lipodystripin and acanthosis nigricans, in association with insulin resistant diabetes.
Acanthosis Nigricans ; Adipose Tissue ; Female ; Humans ; Hyperglycemia ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Insulin ; Insulin Resistance ; Lipodystrophy, Congenital Generalized*

Malignant pyoperma is a rare, chronic, progressive, destructive ulcerating skin disease of unknown cause that affects the head and neck region of young adults. The disease is progressive but responds to high doses of systemically administered steroids. We present a case of malignant pyoderma developed on the left retroauricular area in 67 year-old male. The patient died of rapidly progressive, desructive, 15cm x 20 cm sized, phagedenic ulcer on the left retroauricular and neck area despite of various extensive local and systemic treatment. Histopathologic findings of tissue from the edge of the ulcer were non-specific, showing upper dermal necrosis and mixed inflammatory cell infiltrate in the deep dermis.
Aged ; Dermis ; Head ; Humans ; Male ; Neck ; Necrosis ; Pyoderma* ; Skin Diseases ; Steroids ; Ulcer ; Young Adult

PURPOSE:Noonan syndrome(NS) is characterized by short stature, congenital heart disease, and typical facies. Recombinant human growth hormone(GH) has been reported to improve growth rate in a similar fashion to that seen in Turner syndrome. We investigated the clinical characteristics and growth reponses to GH therapy in children with NS. METHODS:The cases of sixty seven patients with NS were reviewed retrospectively. Ten of the 65 patients were assessed height, weight and pubertal stage every 3 months during GH therapy. RESULTS:Webbed neck(70%), delayed development(59.7%), low set posterior hairline(56.7%), eye abnormalities(56.7%) and mental retardation(55.2%) were the leading clinical characteristics. Short stature below the 3rd percentile was presented in 73.8 %. Growth patterns in NS children were variable and the evaluation of their growth must be individualized. The increments of height SDS were significant in children with GH therapy(height SDS:from -2.8+/-.6 to -2.3+/-.9, growth velocity:from 4.4+/-.8 cm to 9.2+/-.9 cm during first year, and 6.1+/-.1 cm during second year) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study characterized the clinical profiles in Korean children with NS, which should be further extended with more children with NS. Additionally, the significant increase in final adult height after GH therapy in children with NS should be observed.
Adult ; Child* ; Facies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Noonan Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies ; Turner Syndrome

PURPOSE:Noonan syndrome(NS) is characterized by short stature, congenital heart disease, and typical facies. Recombinant human growth hormone(GH) has been reported to improve growth rate in a similar fashion to that seen in Turner syndrome. We investigated the clinical characteristics and growth reponses to GH therapy in children with NS. METHODS:The cases of sixty seven patients with NS were reviewed retrospectively. Ten of the 65 patients were assessed height, weight and pubertal stage every 3 months during GH therapy. RESULTS:Webbed neck(70%), delayed development(59.7%), low set posterior hairline(56.7%), eye abnormalities(56.7%) and mental retardation(55.2%) were the leading clinical characteristics. Short stature below the 3rd percentile was presented in 73.8 %. Growth patterns in NS children were variable and the evaluation of their growth must be individualized. The increments of height SDS were significant in children with GH therapy(height SDS:from -2.8+/-.6 to -2.3+/-.9, growth velocity:from 4.4+/-.8 cm to 9.2+/-.9 cm during first year, and 6.1+/-.1 cm during second year) (P<0.05). CONCLUSION: This study characterized the clinical profiles in Korean children with NS, which should be further extended with more children with NS. Additionally, the significant increase in final adult height after GH therapy in children with NS should be observed.
Adult ; Child* ; Facies ; Heart Defects, Congenital ; Humans ; Noonan Syndrome* ; Retrospective Studies ; Turner Syndrome

No abstract available.
Malformations of Cortical Development* ; Seizures*

No abstract available.
Malformations of Cortical Development* ; Seizures*

Persistent light reaction, actinic reticuloid, photosensitive eczema are three chronic photodermatoses with a feature of clinical, histological, and photobiologieal characteristics in common. These conditions were given the name of chronic persistent photosensitivity. Chronic persistent photosensitivity with the feature of photosensitive eczema developed in a 68-year-old male patient who had experienced persisited dermatitis. On phototesting the patient showed extremely severe photosensitivity to the short wave UVB. A skin biopsy showed microscopic finding of eczematous dermatitis.
Actins ; Aged ; Biopsy ; Dermatitis ; Eczema ; Humans ; Male ; Radio Waves ; Skin