One hundred seven isolates of Staphylococcus aureus from bovine mastitis were investigated for colony morphology in serum-soft agar (SSA), autoagglutination in salt, and capsular serotype. Capsular polysaccharide (CP) was purified and quantified from the extracts of clinical isolates. Overall, 89 isolates (83.2%) were diffuse in the SSA, without any difference in the proportion of diffuse colony between type 5 and type 8 strains. Some strains exhibited compact colonies in the SSA and expressed CP as determined by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, indicating that compact morphology does not exclude encapsulation. The majority of the strains (11/12) showed autoagglutination in the salt aggregation test. The serotype 336 accounted for 46.7% of the isolates followed by serotype 5 (12.1%) and serotype 8 (12.1%). Particularly, twenty-six (24.3%) isolates reacted with two serotypes; 7 for type 8/336 and 19 for type 5/336. Five isolates (4.7%) were nontypeable with monoclonal antibodies specific for CP serotype 5, 8, or 336. The CP concentration in culture supernatants varied with the serotypes, and the total amount of CP produced by cells grown in a liquid medium was much less than that produced by cells grown on a solid medium. The Western blotting indicated that the CP bands of S. aureus serotype 5 and 8 were ranged in the molecular mass of 58-84 kilodalton (kDa), with additional bands in the region of approximately >or= 48 or Agglutination Tests ; Animals ; Bacterial Vaccines/administration & dosage ; Cattle ; Cattle Diseases/immunology/microbiology ; Female ; Mastitis, Bovine/*microbiology ; Polysaccharides, Bacterial/*classification/isolation & purification ; Serotyping/methods/veterinary ; Staphylococcal Infections/immunology/*veterinary ; Staphylococcus aureus/*classification/*immunology/isolation & purification

Bee sting therapy is sometimes used for the treatment of chronic recalcitrant neuralgia and arthralgia and chronic eczema in traditional Korean herbal medicine. The stings of many insects are withdrawn after stinging. However, in certain cases, retained sting materials at the treatment site may induce granulomatous inflammation. A 76-year-old man presented with an erythematous plaque containing a central ulcer and granulation tissue after he had undergone bee sting therapy for a palpable subcutaneous nodule in the right axilla area and eczema on the back. The biopsy specimen showed a granulomatous response marked by histiocytes and giant cells surrounding foreign material. Histologic examination of the subcutaneous nodule in the right axilla showed mature fat cells consistent with a lipoma. Thus, we report a rare case of a foreign body granuloma with skin necrosis occurring after bee sting therapy.
Adipocytes ; Aged ; Arthralgia ; Axilla ; Bees ; Biopsy ; Bites and Stings ; Eczema ; Foreign Bodies ; Giant Cells ; Granulation Tissue ; Granuloma, Foreign-Body ; Herbal Medicine ; Histiocytes ; Humans ; Inflammation ; Insects ; Lipoma ; Necrosis ; Neuralgia ; Skin ; Ulcer

An interdigital pilonidal sinus is considered a rare occupational disease related to individuals with short hair. We describe a case of a 44-year-old man who presented with a tender nodule with a purulent discharge in the fourth interdigital web space of the left foot. The biopsy specimen showed a sinus tract surrounded by keratin and squamous epithelium, and the track contained acute and chronic inflammatory cells. The skin lesion was improved with occlusion of the fistula by using 100% bichloracetic acid. We herein report on a rare case of a interdigital pilonidal sinus in the foot, and this occurred with no relation to the patietn's occupation.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Epithelium ; Fistula ; Foot ; Hair ; Humans ; Keratins ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupations ; Pilonidal Sinus ; Skin ; Track and Field

BACKGROUND: The clinical characteristics and significance of peritoneal fluid eosinophilia (PFE) in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) in Korea were uncertain. The present study was performed to clarify the clinical characteristics of PFE in our CAPD patients. METHODS: Between January 2000 and December 2001, we analyzed retrospectively the clinical data of 112 patients on CAPD at two renal centers. RESULTS: The mean period of the observation was 12.6+/-6.7 months, and the total number of peritoneal effluent sampling was 1, 024 (10.5/patient-year). PFE was found in 4.4% of patients. The incidence of PFE was 4.25 per 100 patients/year. Sixty percent of patients with PFE experienced within 2 weeks of initiation of dialysis. The duration of PFE episode varied from 1 to 4 days with the mean value of 2.8 days. All PFE episodes except one patient with abdominal pain treated by oral prednisolone had no symptoms and was spontaneously resolved. The only distinction between the patients with PFE and those without was concomitant peripheral blood eosinophilia (80.0% vs. 15.8%, p=0.0027). Other factors such as age, sex, primary renal disease, bacterial peritonitis, previous use of heparin or antibiotics, blood in peritoneal fluid, and allergic history were not significantly different between the two groups. CONCLUSION: The majority of PFE episode in CAPD patients developed within 2 weeks of initiation of dialysis and spontaneously resolved without treatment. Peripheral blood eosinophilia was a good predictor of PFE.
Abdominal Pain ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Ascitic Fluid* ; Dialysis ; Eosinophilia* ; Heparin ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Peritoneal Dialysis ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis ; Prednisolone ; Retrospective Studies

Acute infarcts of the anterior inferior cerebellar artery (AICA) territory are unusual. Furthermore incomplete AICA infarcts are perplexing because of its variations of vascular anatomy and inconsistent clinical features. We present a case with clinical features of AICA infarction, which consist of ipsilateral peripheral-type facial palsy, vertigo, and contralateral facial and upper limb sensory changes without motor weakness. The patient had hypertension and was a current smoker. The high signal intensity on inferior pontine tegmental area was found on MRI and the R2 interneuronal dysfunction was note on Blink reflex. The angiographic findings didn't show any focal vascular lesions, which is contrary to the pathogenesis of AICA infarction published previously. On the clinical ground, the present case reserves to attention in that patients with peripheral-type facial palsy should be properly evaluated and with thorough neurological examination and we could differentiate between the incomplete AICA infarcts such as Gasperini syndrome and Bell's palsy.
Arteries ; Bell Palsy ; Blinking ; Facial Paralysis* ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Infarction ; Interneurons ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neurologic Examination ; Upper Extremity ; Vertigo

KSLA published our first version of treatment guidelines for dyslipidemia in 1996, which was based on health examination data gathered by the National Health Insurance Corperation in 1994. A number of academic societies including the Korean Endocrine Society, the Korean Society of Cardiology, the Korean Society for Laboratory Medicine, the Korean Society for Biochemistry and the Korean Nutrition Society participated in the development of this guideline. In 2003, the second version of our guidelines was published based on the Korean National Health and Nutrition Survey (KNHANES) data which was collected in 1998. In 2006, the second version was modified and expanded with using KNHANES data collected in 2005. This article summarizes the recommendations included in the expanded second version of treatment guidelines. The full version of treatment guidelines in Korean is available at the KSLA Homepage (http://www.lipid.or.kr).
Biochemistry ; Cardiology ; Dyslipidemias ; National Health Programs ; Nutrition Surveys

In vasospastic angina, exercise typically does not lead to vasoconstriction. We present the case of a patient with an atypical presentation of vasospastic angina, characterized by regional wall motion abnormalities confirmed by exercise stress echocardiography. A 58-yearold female patient presented to the hospital reporting chest pain during both exercise. During the exercise stress echocardiogram, regional wall motion abnormality was confirmed.However, the coronary angiography did not reveal significant lesions. Subsequently, ergonovine test was positive and then exercise induced vasospastic angina was diagnosed. Following medical treatment, the patient’s symptoms showed improvement. This case underscores an uncommon presentation of vasospastic angina in an individual already diagnosed with coronary artery disease, indicating that exercise stress echocardiography could serve as a valuable screening tool for specific types of vasospastic angina.

In vasospastic angina, exercise typically does not lead to vasoconstriction. We present the case of a patient with an atypical presentation of vasospastic angina, characterized by regional wall motion abnormalities confirmed by exercise stress echocardiography. A 58-yearold female patient presented to the hospital reporting chest pain during both exercise. During the exercise stress echocardiogram, regional wall motion abnormality was confirmed.However, the coronary angiography did not reveal significant lesions. Subsequently, ergonovine test was positive and then exercise induced vasospastic angina was diagnosed. Following medical treatment, the patient’s symptoms showed improvement. This case underscores an uncommon presentation of vasospastic angina in an individual already diagnosed with coronary artery disease, indicating that exercise stress echocardiography could serve as a valuable screening tool for specific types of vasospastic angina.

In vasospastic angina, exercise typically does not lead to vasoconstriction. We present the case of a patient with an atypical presentation of vasospastic angina, characterized by regional wall motion abnormalities confirmed by exercise stress echocardiography. A 58-yearold female patient presented to the hospital reporting chest pain during both exercise. During the exercise stress echocardiogram, regional wall motion abnormality was confirmed.However, the coronary angiography did not reveal significant lesions. Subsequently, ergonovine test was positive and then exercise induced vasospastic angina was diagnosed. Following medical treatment, the patient’s symptoms showed improvement. This case underscores an uncommon presentation of vasospastic angina in an individual already diagnosed with coronary artery disease, indicating that exercise stress echocardiography could serve as a valuable screening tool for specific types of vasospastic angina.

In vasospastic angina, exercise typically does not lead to vasoconstriction. We present the case of a patient with an atypical presentation of vasospastic angina, characterized by regional wall motion abnormalities confirmed by exercise stress echocardiography. A 58-yearold female patient presented to the hospital reporting chest pain during both exercise. During the exercise stress echocardiogram, regional wall motion abnormality was confirmed.However, the coronary angiography did not reveal significant lesions. Subsequently, ergonovine test was positive and then exercise induced vasospastic angina was diagnosed. Following medical treatment, the patient’s symptoms showed improvement. This case underscores an uncommon presentation of vasospastic angina in an individual already diagnosed with coronary artery disease, indicating that exercise stress echocardiography could serve as a valuable screening tool for specific types of vasospastic angina.