Scrub typhus is a mite-borne infectious disease caused by Orientia tsutsugamushi . Although early diagnosis and appropriate antibiotic therapy improve the prognosis for the majority of patients, life-threatening complications are not uncommon. Here, we present a case of successful veno-veno-type extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for scrub typhus-induced complications, including acute respiratory distress syndrome, myocarditis and multi-organ dysfunction. To our knowledge, this is the first case report of successful extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in complicated scrub typhus in Korea.
Communicable Diseases ; Early Diagnosis ; Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myocarditis ; Orientia tsutsugamushi ; Prognosis ; Respiratory Distress Syndrome, Adult ; Scrub Typhus*

Objective: To compare the inhibitory effects of acetone extracts from the stem bark of three Acacia species (Acacia dealbata, Acacia ferruginea and Acacia leucophloea) on nitric oxide production. Methods: The lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells were used to investigate the regulatory effect of acetone extracts of three Acacia stem barks on nitric oxide production and the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α. Further, the phenolic profile of acetone extracts from the Acacia barks was determined by liquid chromatography-mass spec-trometry/mass spectrometry analysis. Results: All the three extracts significantly decreased LPS-induced NO production as well as the expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase, cyclooxygenase-2 and tumor necrosis factor-α in a concentration dependent manner (25, 50 and 75 μg/mL). In the liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry/mass spectrometry analysis, acetone extract of Acacia ferruginea bark revealed the presence of 12 different phenolic components including quercetin, catechin, ellagic acid and rosmanol. However, Acacia dealbata and Acacia leucophloea barks each contained 6 different phenolic components. Conclusions: The acetone extracts of three Acacia species effectively inhibited the NO production in LPS-stimulated RAW 264.7 cells and the presence of different phenolic components in the bark extracts might be responsible for reducing the NO level in cells.

Stem rot was found for the first time on the Asiatic dayflower plant (Commelina communis L.) in Korea. A detailed description of this Korean specimen is given, along with its rDNA internal transcribed spacer sequence. The fungus was identified as Sclerotium rolfsii Saccardo based on mycological characteristics and molecular data.
Commelina ; DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Korea ; Plants

The tulip tree (Liriodendron chinense) has been widely cultivated in Korea as a street or garden tree for its large flowers, which have a superficial resemblance to tulips. Occurrence of anthracnose disease on the leaves of tulip trees growing on the campus of Gyeongsang National University, Jinju, Korea, has been observed. Based on mycological characteristics, pathogenicity, and internal transcribed spacer sequence, the causal fungus was identified as Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. This is the first report on anthracnose disease caused by C. gloeosporioides on tulip trees in Korea.
Colletotrichum ; Flowers ; Fungi ; Korea ; Liriodendron ; Trees ; Tulipa

A 67-year-old man suffered cluster-like headache for 8 months. He underwent endoscopic sinus surgery 2 months prior to the onset of headache. The patient experienced status epilepticus 7 months after the onset of cluster-like headache, and 8 months after its onset, orbital apex syndrome developed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed subdural empyema. This case emphasizes the association between subdural empyema caused by sinusitis and the potential manifestation of various neurological symptoms, including cluster-like headache, status epilepticus, and orbital apex syndrome.

A 67-year-old man suffered cluster-like headache for 8 months. He underwent endoscopic sinus surgery 2 months prior to the onset of headache. The patient experienced status epilepticus 7 months after the onset of cluster-like headache, and 8 months after its onset, orbital apex syndrome developed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed subdural empyema. This case emphasizes the association between subdural empyema caused by sinusitis and the potential manifestation of various neurological symptoms, including cluster-like headache, status epilepticus, and orbital apex syndrome.

A 67-year-old man suffered cluster-like headache for 8 months. He underwent endoscopic sinus surgery 2 months prior to the onset of headache. The patient experienced status epilepticus 7 months after the onset of cluster-like headache, and 8 months after its onset, orbital apex syndrome developed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed subdural empyema. This case emphasizes the association between subdural empyema caused by sinusitis and the potential manifestation of various neurological symptoms, including cluster-like headache, status epilepticus, and orbital apex syndrome.

A 67-year-old man suffered cluster-like headache for 8 months. He underwent endoscopic sinus surgery 2 months prior to the onset of headache. The patient experienced status epilepticus 7 months after the onset of cluster-like headache, and 8 months after its onset, orbital apex syndrome developed. Brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed subdural empyema. This case emphasizes the association between subdural empyema caused by sinusitis and the potential manifestation of various neurological symptoms, including cluster-like headache, status epilepticus, and orbital apex syndrome.

Soft rot in apple caused by Rhizopus oryzae was found for the first time in Korea. A detailed description of the specimen is given along with its internal transcribed spacer rDNA sequence. The fungus was identified as Rhizopus oryzae based on the mycological characteristics, molecular data, and pathogenicity testing.
DNA, Ribosomal ; Fungi ; Korea ; Oryza ; Rhizopus

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the masseter muscle thickness before and after treatment using ultrasound sonography in patients with parafunctional habits. Materials and Methods: From September 2019 to March 2020, a total of 27 patients who visited the Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery at Ewha Womans University Seoul Hospital were collected. The thickness of both masseter muscles was measured using a tablet ultrasound scanner. Statistical analysis was performed by using the IBM SPSS version 26.0 statistical package (IBM Corp) with significance level at 0.05.Result: According to the statistical results, the thickness of the masseter muscle was thicker on the right side than on the left, with no correlation with sex or age. The severity and duration of pain did not have a significant correlation with the thickness of the masseter muscle. Botulinum A toxin injection in the masseter muscle was the most effective way to reduce pain and reduce the thickness of the masseter muscle. Splint treatment also showed some effects in reducing the thickness of the masseter muscle. Conclusion Based on the findings, it can be claimed that ultrasonography is simple, inexpensive and easily repeatable method to get real-time diagnosis and treatment results for masseter muscles.