Eight strains of multidrug-resistant (MDR) Salmonella typhi were isolated from Kyonggi area during January-February,1997. They were resistant to ampiciUin, amoxicillin, carbeniciillin, tetracycline, chloramphenicol, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole, trimethoprim. Eight strains had one plasmid respectively which size was approximately M.W 220 kb and showed same restriction pattern by endonuclease HindIII. The plasmid was similar to the plasmid in size that was related to multidrug resistant S. typhi isolated from southeast Asia. It were transferred by conjugation to recipient E, coli K-12 in frequency of 2.43 x10-4 - 1.73 x 10-2 and transconjugant showed same drug-resistant pattem with donor cells. All of 8 strains produced B-lactamase that was assummed to TEM-1 type by isoelectric focusing and PCR.
Amoxicillin ; Asia, Southeastern ; Chloramphenicol ; Deoxyribonuclease HindIII ; Gyeonggi-do ; Humans ; Isoelectric Focusing ; Korea* ; Plasmids* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Salmonella typhi* ; Salmonella* ; Tetracycline ; Tissue Donors ; Trimethoprim

Purpose: Asthma is a chronic disorder characterized by bronchial hyperresponsiveness and reversible airflow obstruction. Repeated exposure to allergens of the respiratory tract causes chronic inflammation, followed by structural changes in the lung called airway remodeling. House dust mites (HDM) are known as the predominant inhalant allergens, and several studies have reported that the allergenic property of HDM extracts varied with the geographic regions where they were produced. This study aimed to establish a murine experimental model by long-term intranasal exposure to HDM allergen indigenous to Korea. Methods: HDM extracts from cultured Dermatophagoides pteronissunus in Korea were used in our model. We administered the extracts intranasally to BALB/c mice 3 times a week for 8 or 10 consecutive weeks, followed by measuring airway allergic inflammation and airway remodeling. Results: The number of neutrophils in the lungs was higher in the group with long-term exposure to HDM than in the normal control group. The levels of total IgE and a wide range of cytokines, including Th1/Th2/Th17 and proinflammatory cytokines, were significantly higher in the long-term HDM-exposed group than in the normal control group. The development of airway remodeling by chronic exposure to HDM was observed by measuring diverse factors, including collagens and transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. These significant results were more clearly shown in the group exposed to HDM for 8 weeks than 10 weeks. Conclusion A murine model of chronic exposure to domestic HDM in Korea was successfully established. We suggest that our model may be helpful in the research into asthma with airway remodeling.

PURPOSE: Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on uncultured amniotic fluid cells offers the opportunity for rapid screening of aneuploidies and has become an integral part of the current practice in many clinical cytogenetics laboratories. Here, we retrospectively analyzed the results of interphase FISH in 943 amniotic fluid samples and assessed the efficiency of FISH for rapid detection of aneuploidies. METHODS: Interphase FISH for chromosome 13, 18, and 21 was performed in 943 consecutive amniotic fluid samples for rapid diagnosis of aneuploidies referred from 2004 to 2006. Karyotypes from standard cytogenetic analysis were compared to the FISH results. RESULTS: A total of 45 chromosomal rearrangements (4.8%) were found after conventional cytogenetic analysis of the 943 amniotic fluid. After exclusion of known familiar chromosomal rearrangements and inversions (2.1%, 20/943), 2.7% (25/943) were found to have chromosomal abnormalities. Of this group, 0.7% (6/943) were chromosomal abnormalities not detectable by FISH and 2.0% (19/943) were numerical abnormalities detectable by FISH. All 14 cases of Down syndrome (Classic type, 13 cases; Robertsonian type, 1 case) and 5 cases of trisomy 18 were diagnosed and detected by FISH and there were no false-positive or -negative results (specificity and sensitivity=100%). CONCLUSION: The present study demonstrates that FISH can provide a rapid and sensitive clinical method for prenatal identification of chromosome aneuploidies. However, careful genetic counseling is essential to explain the limitations of FISH, including the inability to detect all chromosomal abnormalities and the possibilities of uninformative or false-negative results in some cases.
Amniocentesis ; Amniotic Fluid ; Aneuploidy ; Chromosome Aberrations ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 13 ; Cytogenetic Analysis ; Cytogenetics ; Down Syndrome ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Genetic Counseling ; In Situ Hybridization ; Interphase ; Karyotype ; Mass Screening ; Prenatal Diagnosis ; Retrospective Studies ; Trisomy

Surveillance for Vibrio vulnificus infections was performed by Korea National Institute of Health to investigate the epidemiological characteristics of recent occurence and to provide basic information for V. vulificus infection control. In 1998, a total of 44 cases of V. vulnificus infections were confirmed bacteriologically. The age groups of the patients ranged from thirties to seventies and 13 (29.5%) patients were in their fifties. Thirty-six (81.8%) patients had chronic liver diseases. Twenty-five (56.8%) had drinking habits. Eating uncooked seafood (fish, shrimp, and small octopus) produced in tideland was the main suspected source of infections and 32 (72.8%) cases were associated with raw seafood consumption. Two cases were associated with contaminated chopping board and 5 were infected through the wound. The incubation period ranged from less than 1 day to 7 days (median 2 days). The case fatality rate was 48%. In conclusion, V. vulnificus infection, a highly fatal disease, is not rare in Korea. Therefore, attention should be given to prevent V. vulnificus infections.
Drinking ; Eating ; Humans ; Infection Control ; Korea ; Liver Diseases ; Mortality ; Seafood ; Vibrio vulnificus* ; Vibrio* ; Wounds and Injuries

BACKGROUND: Avoparcin, cross-resistance with vancomycin, was added as feed-additive since 1970s and was prohibited in 1997 in Korea. After avoparcin was banned we examined prevalence and genetic relatedness of VRE in enterococci isolated from livestock and humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using enrichment broth and 6 microgram/mL vancomycin-containing enterococcosel selective agar, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were isolated from fecal sample of 255 pigs of 8 farms, 431 chickens of 9 farms, and 328 humans (Food industry employee and Institution cafeteria employee) of 5 public health centers, and 100 raw chicken meats from April to June 2003. Antimicrobial susceptibility was examined by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and E-test. Species identification and genotyping were done by multiplex PCR method. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of vanA-type VRE isolates was performed by CHEF-Mapper system. RESULTS: 19 isolates from 255 pigs, 122 isolates from 431 chickens, 19 isolates from 100 raw chicken meat, and 7 isolates from 328 humans were resistant to vancomycin. Of the 167 VRE isolates, vanA gene was detected in 141 isolates; 1 isolate (0.4%) in pigs, 121 isolates (28.1%) in chickens, 18 isolates (18.0%) in raw chicken meat, and 1 isolate (0.3%) in humans. Resistant rates of streptomycin, tetracycline, and erythromycin were over 60% in vanA-type E. faecium isolated from poultry. PFGE analysis resulted in two major patterns, F and P types. Also PFGE pattern of 1 VRE from human was identical to that of 1 VRE from poultry. CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of vanA-type VRE in poultry farms, VRE isolation rate in human was relatively low. This result suggests that the possibility of VRE transmission from poultry to human is low but that possibility may be not ruled out. In PFGE analysis showing 51.5% identical in 2 PFGE patterns, the dissemination of VRE isolates in poultry may be transmitted vertically and horizontally.
Agar ; Chickens ; Diffusion ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterococcus faecium ; Erythromycin ; Humans* ; Korea* ; Livestock* ; Meat ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Poultry ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Streptomycin ; Swine ; Tetracycline ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND: Avoparcin, cross-resistance with vancomycin, was added as feed-additive since 1970s and was prohibited in 1997 in Korea. After avoparcin was banned we examined prevalence and genetic relatedness of VRE in enterococci isolated from livestock and humans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using enrichment broth and 6 microgram/mL vancomycin-containing enterococcosel selective agar, vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) were isolated from fecal sample of 255 pigs of 8 farms, 431 chickens of 9 farms, and 328 humans (Food industry employee and Institution cafeteria employee) of 5 public health centers, and 100 raw chicken meats from April to June 2003. Antimicrobial susceptibility was examined by disk diffusion and minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), and E-test. Species identification and genotyping were done by multiplex PCR method. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of vanA-type VRE isolates was performed by CHEF-Mapper system. RESULTS: 19 isolates from 255 pigs, 122 isolates from 431 chickens, 19 isolates from 100 raw chicken meat, and 7 isolates from 328 humans were resistant to vancomycin. Of the 167 VRE isolates, vanA gene was detected in 141 isolates; 1 isolate (0.4%) in pigs, 121 isolates (28.1%) in chickens, 18 isolates (18.0%) in raw chicken meat, and 1 isolate (0.3%) in humans. Resistant rates of streptomycin, tetracycline, and erythromycin were over 60% in vanA-type E. faecium isolated from poultry. PFGE analysis resulted in two major patterns, F and P types. Also PFGE pattern of 1 VRE from human was identical to that of 1 VRE from poultry. CONCLUSION: Despite the high prevalence of vanA-type VRE in poultry farms, VRE isolation rate in human was relatively low. This result suggests that the possibility of VRE transmission from poultry to human is low but that possibility may be not ruled out. In PFGE analysis showing 51.5% identical in 2 PFGE patterns, the dissemination of VRE isolates in poultry may be transmitted vertically and horizontally.
Agar ; Chickens ; Diffusion ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterococcus faecium ; Erythromycin ; Humans* ; Korea* ; Livestock* ; Meat ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Poultry ; Prevalence* ; Public Health ; Streptomycin ; Swine ; Tetracycline ; Vancomycin

PURPOSE: The prevalence of allergic diseases is known to be associated with both demographic and environmental factors. Herein, we aimed to determine significant factors associated with the prevalence of allergic diseases and with total immunoglobulin E (tIgE) and specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) levels in Korea. METHODS: We analyzed unweighted data collected by the 2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2,342 subjects who underwent serum tests for tIgE and sIgE to Dermatophagoides farinae, dog, and Blattella germanica, representing a sample of 16,003,645 citizens, by considering the sample weight and stratification. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of self-reported allergic diseases was 37.6%. The prevalence rates of allergic rhinitis and atopic dermatitis decreased with age, whereas the asthma prevalence was not affected by the age of the subjects. When analyzed according to the type of allergic diseases, the prevalence of self-reported allergic disease was significantly associated with various factors (e.g. age, occupation, living in urban areas, and depression). The tIgE level decreased with age, but later increased. Elevation of tIgE was significantly associated with male sex, type of occupation, obesity, and smoking status. However, the risk factors for the increased sIgE levels to each allergen were quite different. Sensitization to D. farinae was more likely in young subjects, whereas the prevalence of sensitization to B. germanica was significantly higher in subjects with male sex, residing in a house (houses), and with glucose intolerance. Finally, young age and the smoking status were significantly associated with sensitization to dog. CONCLUSIONS: Various demographic and environmental factors were significantly associated with the prevalence of self-reported allergic diseases and the levels of tIgE and sIgE to D. farinae, B. germanica, and dog in Korea.
Animals ; Asthma ; Demography ; Dermatitis, Atopic ; Dermatophagoides farinae ; Dogs ; Glucose Intolerance ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Immunoglobulin E* ; Immunoglobulins ; Korea ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Occupations ; Prevalence* ; Rhinitis, Allergic ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) with vanA gene have been reported as a significant nosocomial pathogen. The vanA gene cluster (Tn1546) located on mobile DNA elements is known to be transferable from VRE to other enterococci. The purpose of this study was to investigate the genetic relationship between the vanA VRE strains isolated from hospitalizd patients and poultry. METHODS: Total 145 isolates, including 58 E. faecium, 12 E. faecalis, 3 E. casseliflavus, and 4 E. gallinarum from humans and 68 E. faecium from poultry, were studied. Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were done by disk diffusion or agar dilution methods and molecular epidemiological analysis was performed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). The internal and structural regions of vanA gene cluster were analyzed by PCR fragment length polymorphism, restriction enzyme, and sequencing of Orf2D region and vanXY intergenic region. The point mutation at Tn1546 nucleotide position 8234 (G->T) within the vanX gene was screened with DdeI restriction enzyme. RESULTS: The antibiotic resistance patterns of human isolates were different from those of poultry. PFGE patterns revealed high heterogeneity. Three PCR fragment length patterns in the vanA gene cluster were found : (I) PCR amplicon of the same size as prototype (E. faecium BM4147) in 17% of human isolates and 100% of poultry ones; (II) PCR amplicon for vanXY intergenic region due to an insertion between vanX and vanY genes in 2.5% of human isolates; (III) the insertions in vanX-vanY intergenic and Orf2 regions in 81% of human isolates. The T type in vanX gene of human and poultry isolates was not found. CONCLUSION: Despite the diverse PFGE patterns, 81% of human and all of poultry isolates belonged to vanA gene cluster type III and I, respectively. These results indicate that the horizontal spread of vanA gene is occurring among genetically diverse strains of VRE in Korea.
Agar ; Diffusion ; DNA ; DNA, Intergenic ; Drug Resistance, Microbial ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Humans ; Korea* ; Multigene Family ; Point Mutation ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Population Characteristics ; Poultry*

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. collected from non-tertiary hospitals and to characterize the phenotype and the genotype of imipenem-non-susceptible isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. were identified using recA-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with Tsp5091. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined using disk diffusion test and agar dilution test according to the criteria of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. PCR and sequence analyses were used to detect the blaIMP-1 and blaVIM-2 genes, and to determine the content and order of the resistance genes inserted in integron. RESULTS: Of 71 Acinetobacter spp. isolates collected from non-tertiary hospitals during 2002 and 2003, 60 isolates were A. baumannii, and 2, 4, and 5 isolates were Acinetobacter genomic species 3, 13TU, and A. lwoffii, respectively. The resistance rate of Acinetobacter spp. isolates to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones was high except for imipenem and meropenem. The presence of blaVIM-2 gene was found in one isolate, Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU, for which the MIC of imipenem was 8 mg/L; the blaVIM-2 gene of this strain was located on 3 kb class 1 integron with aacA7 and aadA1 genes. CONCLUSIONS: Among the tested agents, imipenem and meropenem retained greatest activity against Acinetobacter spp. isolates collected from non-tertiary hospitals. This is the first report of VIM-2-producing Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU strains with class 1 integron containing blaVIM-2 gene.
Acinetobacter* ; Agar ; Aminoglycosides ; Anti-Infective Agents ; beta-Lactams ; Diffusion ; Fluoroquinolones ; Genotype ; Imipenem ; Integrons ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial resistance of clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. collected from non-tertiary hospitals and to characterize the phenotype and the genotype of imipenem-non-susceptible isolates. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinical isolates of Acinetobacter spp. were identified using recA-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis with Tsp5091. Susceptibility to antimicrobial agents was determined using disk diffusion test and agar dilution test according to the criteria of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards. PCR and sequence analyses were used to detect the blaIMP-1 and blaVIM-2 genes, and to determine the content and order of the resistance genes inserted in integron. RESULTS: Of 71 Acinetobacter spp. isolates collected from non-tertiary hospitals during 2002 and 2003, 60 isolates were A. baumannii, and 2, 4, and 5 isolates were Acinetobacter genomic species 3, 13TU, and A. lwoffii, respectively. The resistance rate of Acinetobacter spp. isolates to beta-lactams, aminoglycosides, and fluoroquinolones was high except for imipenem and meropenem. The presence of blaVIM-2 gene was found in one isolate, Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU, for which the MIC of imipenem was 8 mg/L; the blaVIM-2 gene of this strain was located on 3 kb class 1 integron with aacA7 and aadA1 genes. CONCLUSIONS: Among the tested agents, imipenem and meropenem retained greatest activity against Acinetobacter spp. isolates collected from non-tertiary hospitals. This is the first report of VIM-2-producing Acinetobacter genomic species 13TU strains with class 1 integron containing blaVIM-2 gene.
Acinetobacter* ; Agar ; Aminoglycosides ; Anti-Infective Agents ; beta-Lactams ; Diffusion ; Fluoroquinolones ; Genotype ; Imipenem ; Integrons ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sequence Analysis