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 response of non-immunologic contact urticaria(NICU) test before and after ingestion of cyclo-oxygenase inhibitors such as naproxene, ibuprofen and mefenamic acid. Forty patients who showed positive reaction to 5% benzoic acid (BA) in petrolatum by 20 minutes closed patch test were chosen and divided into 3 groups. Group I was consisted of 13 patients who were taken naproxene 250mg bid, group II, 14 patients, taken ibuprofen 600mg bid, and group III, 13 patients, taken mefenamic acid 500mg bid. All the patients were tested with 5%, 2.5%, 1%, 0.5% and 0.1% BA in petrolatum using Finn chamber on Scanpor tape on the right arm before medication and next day on the left arm after medication of each day. Mefenamic acid did not show any significant differences before and after ingestion of drug. Naproxene reduced reaction about half of patients. Ibuprofen reduced reaction in almost all patients and blocked reaction completely in 9 of 13 patients. This results suggested that there was no correlation between blocking effect to BA induced contact urticaria and so called anti-inflammatory potencies of naproxene and ibuprofen, and that NICU by BA is partly mediated by prostaglandins(PG) or mediated by other mediators, which were potentiated by PG, except histamin.
Arm ; Benzoic Acid ; Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors ; Eating ; Humans ; Ibuprofen ; Mefenamic Acid ; Naproxen ; Patch Tests ; Petrolatum ; Urticaria*

This study was performed in order to evaluate the sero-epidemiological status of toxoplasmosis in pregnant Korean women. Among 5, 175 sera and 750 amniotic fluid samples obtained from pregnant women, 41 serum samples (0.79%) and 10 (1.33%) amniotic fluid samples tested positive for IgG antibodies by ELISA. Fifty one cases showing a score more than 0.25 on ELISA were tested for PCR reaction against the SAG1 gene. Only one case of the 51 ELISA positive cases exhibited a positive reaction on all tests. This case had a history of acute nephropyelitis during early pregnancy, but fortunately, had delivered a phenotypically healthy baby. In this study, the seroprevalence of toxoplasmosis in pregnant women was found to be comparatively low, consistent with previous reports from Korea. However our trials, performed with a variety of diagnostic tools, were considered to be useful for the precise diagnosis of congenital toxoplasmosis.
Adult ; Animals ; Antibodies, Protozoan/*blood ; Female ; Humans ; Korea/epidemiology ; Pregnancy ; Pregnancy Complications/diet therapy/*epidemiology ; Seroepidemiologic Studies ; Toxoplasma/*immunology ; Toxoplasmosis/*epidemiology

No abstract available.
Mitral Valve*

No abstract available.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the ventricular conduction abnormalities, especially RBBB, observed electrocardiographically after surgical closure of VSD. The present study population consists of 92 patients with VSD who were surgically corrected at the Hanyang University Hospital during 6 years period from Jan. 1985 to Dec. 1990. We reviewed their clinical records including surgical notes and EKG findings before and after operations. The results of the study were as follows: 1) Male to female ratio was 1.1:1 (48:44) 2) Out of a total of 92 cases of VSD, 65cases(70.7%)were perimembranous type and 27 cases (29.3%)were subarterial type. 3) The normal preoperative EKG findings were seen in 22 patients, LVH in 21 patients, BUH in 47patients, and RVH in 3 patiens. 4) A transatrial approach was performed in 55 cases, right ventriculotomy with or without resection of muscles in right ventricle in 13 cases, and pulmonary arteriotomy alone in 24 cases. 5) The right bundle branch block after operation developed in 33 patients out of the 65 patinets with perimembranous defect and 5 patients out of the 27 patients with subarterial defects. Postoperative RBBB developed more frequently in perimembranous defect than in subarterial defect. 6) Postoperative RBBB occured in 31.8% of the patients with normal preoperative EKG findings, 23.8% with preoperative LVH, 52.1% with BVH and 66.7% with RVH. Postoperative RBBB was more frequently observed in the patients group with preoperative BVH or RVH than the patients with normal or LVH. 7) Postoperative RBBB was observed in 84.6% after right wentriculotomy, in 43.6% after right atriotomy and in 12.5% with pulmonary arteriotomy alone.
Bundle-Branch Block* ; Electrocardiography ; Female ; Heart Septal Defects, Ventricular* ; Heart Ventricles ; Humans ; Male ; Muscles

No abstract available.
Epilepsy* ; Video Games*

Chemonucleolysis with chymopapain has been shown to be an effective alternative to surgery for the treatment of Sciatica secondary to lumbar disc herniation after failure of conservative treatment. 92 lumbar herniated disc patients had been treated by chemonucleolysis in Eul Ji General Hospital during 3 years from March 1988 to 1991 and were evaluated clinically. 1) Of 92 patients, 60 patients(65%) were between 20 and 30 years old age group and male was predominent. 2) The lesion was the most common in L4-5space(52 patients, 56.6%). 3) The results were better in the younger group and the more limited straight leg raising group. 4) The excellent and good results were obtained in 82.6%. 5) In noncompensation cases, 69 patients(88.0%) had marked improvement, but in compensation cases, 7 patients(50%) had marked improvement. 6) In conclusion, above finding suggest that chemonucleolysis is a safe and effective nonsurgical method for treatment of herniated lumbar disc before surgical intervention.
Adult ; Chymopapain ; Compensation and Redress ; Hospitals, General ; Humans ; Intervertebral Disc Chemolysis ; Intervertebral Disc Displacement ; Leg ; Male ; Sciatica ; Spine*

Accessory auricle is a relatively rare congenital anomaly arised from the abnormaI development of the auricular tubercles or from the tissues surrounding the second, third and fourth branchial clefts. Clinically this anomaly is a small akin-colored tag or nodule, soft and globular or cartilaginous consistency on or near the tragus along a line drawn from the tragus to the angle of the mouth or along the anterior margin of the sternomastoid muscle. The lesion is usually solitary and located in the preauricular area but may be multiple and rarely bilateral. We present a typical caae of accessory auricles in 4-day-old female infant. The patient had two skin-colored firm nodules on the left preauricular area and well pedunculated one on the Ieft buccal area near the angle of the rnouth. Histopathologic find.ings showed numerous pilosebaceous units, abundant subcutaneous fat and cartilage tissue in the center of the lesion.
Branchial Region ; Cartilage ; Female ; Humans ; Infant ; Mouth ; Subcutaneous Fat