BACKGROUND: We evaluated multiplex PCR for species identification and toxin typing to improve the sensitivity and turnaround time of toxigenic Clostridium difficile culture (TCDC). METHODS: We performed multiplex PCR using primers targeting the species-specific gene, tpi, and the toxin genes, tcdA and tcdB. From January to March 2008, 528 stool specimens were tested with direct toxin assay (DT) using C. difficile Tox A/B II (Techlab, Blacksburg, USA) and TCDC. For 288 specimens from early study period, toxin production by C. difficile isolates of TCDC was measured by enzyme immunoassay with culture supernatants using VIDAS C. difficile Toxin A&B (CDAB;bioMerieux, Marcy-l'Etoile, France) and multiplex PCR with isolated colonies. For 240 specimens from late period, only multiplex PCR was used to test toxin production by the isolates. RESULTS: During the early period, 29 C. difficile were isolated and their toxin-positive rates were 65.5% by PCR and 44.8% by CDAB (P<0.05). Among 528 stool specimens, the results of DT+/TCDC+, DT+/ TCDC-, and DT-/TCDC+ were 32 (6.1%), 33 (6.3%), and 10 (1.9%), respectively, when tested with PCR. 13.3% of total 75 positive specimens was detected only by TCDC. Of the 42 toxigenic C. difficile isolates, all were positive for tpi, 30 (71.4%) were tcdA+/tcdB+, and 12 (28.6%) were tcdA-/tcdB+. CONCLUSION: TCDC using multiplex PCR for species identification and toxin typing is sensitive and rapid to be used as a routine diagnostic test.
Boron Compounds ; Clostridium ; Clostridium difficile ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

PURPOSE: To introduce a novel adjuvant technique to locate cyclodialysis cleft using a laser pointer in a gonioscopic view. CASE SUMMARY: A 36-year-old man complaining of blurred vision in his left eye after blunt trauma 2 weeks prior was referred to our hospital. Gonioscopy showed a cyclodialysis cleft from 3 to 4 o'clock and fundus revealed hypotonic maculopathy. After the failure of medical treatment, we tried various interventions such as injection of viscoelastic agent into the anterior chamber and intravitreal gas tamponade with transconjunctival cryotherapy. Since those were not successful, we decided to treat the patient with direct cyclopexy. For the preoperative localization of the cleft, we tried a new technique that uses a laser pointer. On gonioscopic examination, an assistant shot the laser toward the limbal area where the suspicious cleft was located. We were able to precisely locate the cyclodialysis cleft if the laser pointer light was seen through the cleft in the gonioscopic view. With the aid of a laser a pointer, the cleft was successfully closed. CONCLUSIONS: Localization with a laser pointer is simple, safe, rapid, and helpful for planning surgical repair of a cyclodialysis cleft without expensive equipment.
Adult ; Anterior Chamber ; Cryotherapy ; Gonioscopy ; Humans ; Methods*

Epidemiological studies have shown that exposure to tobacco smoke causing irritation and inflammation in the airways tends to reduce serum periostin concentrations in adults. We now investigate prospective cross-sectional study on 135 Korean students aged 7 years in the first grade who were participating in the Seongnam Atopy Project for Children's Happiness 2016 (SAP2016) cohort. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to show significant inverse correlations between serum periostin concentration and exposure to xylene and formaldehyde in children. Our findings suggested the need for caution in using the serum periostin level as a marker for allergic diseases, since exposure to volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde may confound the interpretation of these results.
Adult ; Child* ; Cohort Studies ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Formaldehyde* ; Gyeonggi-do ; Happiness ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Prospective Studies ; Smoke ; Tobacco ; Volatile Organic Compounds* ; Xylenes