BACKGROUND: Direct immunofluorescence assay (DFA) and shell vial culture (SVC) have been used to diagnose respiratory viral infections. Recently a multiplex reverse transcriptase PCR (mRT-PCR) for 12 respiratory viruses has been introduced. We evaluated the diagnostic usefulness of these methods. METHODS: Among 275 nasopharyngeal aspirates (NPAs) received from pediatric patients during the 3-month period from May through July, 2007, 122 samples were selected so as to include diverse viruses and varying numbers of DFA-positive cells for mRT-PCR. Also, the results of the 85 NPAs that had been analyzed by both DFA and SVC were reviewed retrospectively. RESULTS: Detection rates for the seven major respiratory viruses, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza virus A and B, parainfluenza virus 1, 2, and 3, and adenovirus by DFA vs mRT-PCR were 32.0% and 55.7%, and by DFA vs SVC were 32.9% and 40.0%. A number of adenovirus detected by DFA vs mRT-PCR were 12 and 22, and by DFA vs SVC were 6 and 18. A number of RSV detected were 3 and 6, and 13 and 8, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: mRT-PCR detected the respiratory viruses at the highest rate, followed by SVC and DFA in a decreasing order. However, DFA and multiplex PCR were more sensitive than SVC for RSV, while SVC was more sensitive than the other methods for adenovirus.
Adenoviridae ; Child ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Orthomyxoviridae ; Paramyxoviridae Infections ; Respiratory Syncytial Viruses ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA-Directed DNA Polymerase ; Viruses

A 23-yr-old phenotypic female was seen for primary amenorrhea. Her pubic hair was relatively well developed and external genitalia showed normal female appearance, but breast development was retarded. Transvaginal ultrasonographic examination showed a small uterus with indistinct streak gonads, but both ovaries were not detected. Cytogenetic study revealed 46,XY. In FISH and PCR, the sex-determining region of Y chromosome (SRY) was not detected. We report here a case of 46,XY pure gonadal dysgenesis with loss of the SRY.
Adult ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; Female ; *Gene Deletion ; *Genes, sry ; Gonadal Dysgenesis, 46,XY/*diagnosis/genetics ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence ; Karyotyping ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

No abstract available.
Base Sequence ; DNA/metabolism ; Emigration and Immigration ; Female ; Hemoglobin E/*genetics ; Homozygote ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Republic of Korea ; Sequence Analysis, DNA ; Thailand

No abstract available.
Aged, 80 and over ; Animals ; Ascomycota/*cytology/physiology ; Cholangitis/*diagnosis/radiography ; *Diagnostic Errors ; Elephantiasis, Filarial/diagnosis ; Hematologic Tests ; Humans ; Male ; Microfilaria/cytology/isolation & purification ; Spores, Fungal/cytology/*isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

Platelet satellitism is a rare phenomenon in which platelets adhere to the surface of neutrophils; in addition, platelet phagocytosis by neutrophils and monocytes is rare event. Although its clinical significance and pathophysiology are still unclear, platelet-neutrophil agglutination seems to be the end point of a process that is initiated by platelet satellitism and causes pseudothrombocytopenia and pseudoneutropenia. Differentiating pseudothrombocytopenia is essential to avoid unnecessary diagnostic testing and treatments. This report describes an unusual case of a 64 yr old man who presented with left flank pain and pseudothrombocytopenia, which was caused by platelet satellitism with platelet phagocytosis by neutrophils and platelet-neutrophil agglutination. Platelet satellitism occurred in the presence of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) at room temperature or 4degrees C, but not at 37degrees C; however, platelet-neutrophil agglutination and pseudoleukopenia were observed in EDTA-treated blood only after a 2-hr incubation period at room temperature. Additionally, platelet satellitism could be induced in packed blood cells from a normal individual during a mixing assay with this patient's plasma. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first reported case of platelet satellitism with platelet phagocytosis by neutrophils and platelet-neutrophil agglutination in Korea.
Agglutination ; Blood Cells ; Blood Platelets ; Diagnostic Tests, Routine ; Edetic Acid ; Flank Pain ; Korea ; Monocytes ; Neutrophils ; Phagocytosis ; Plasma

Background: Several novel molecular platforms using nucleic acid amplification tests have been developed for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and rapid detection of isoniazid and rifampin resistance. Among them, the BD MAX MDR-TB assay (BD MAX) has shown high sensitivity and specificity; however, its diagnostic accuracy performed on bronchoscopy specimens has not been reported. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with suspected PTB who underwent bronchoscopy. Patients who underwent BD MAX testing of bronchoscopy specimens were included in the final analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for PTB diagnosis were calculated using a positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the reference standard. Results: Of 114 patients, 34 had culture-confirmed PTB. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens for the diagnosis of PTB were 79.4%, 88.8%, 75.0%, and 91.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of BD MAX was superior to that of acid-fast bacillus smear (79.4% vs. 38.2%, p<0.001). Conclusion BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens showed high accuracy for diagnosing PTB. BD MAX can be performed on bronchoscopy specimens in patients with suspected PTB.

Background: Several novel molecular platforms using nucleic acid amplification tests have been developed for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and rapid detection of isoniazid and rifampin resistance. Among them, the BD MAX MDR-TB assay (BD MAX) has shown high sensitivity and specificity; however, its diagnostic accuracy performed on bronchoscopy specimens has not been reported. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with suspected PTB who underwent bronchoscopy. Patients who underwent BD MAX testing of bronchoscopy specimens were included in the final analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for PTB diagnosis were calculated using a positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the reference standard. Results: Of 114 patients, 34 had culture-confirmed PTB. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens for the diagnosis of PTB were 79.4%, 88.8%, 75.0%, and 91.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of BD MAX was superior to that of acid-fast bacillus smear (79.4% vs. 38.2%, p<0.001). Conclusion BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens showed high accuracy for diagnosing PTB. BD MAX can be performed on bronchoscopy specimens in patients with suspected PTB.

Background: Several novel molecular platforms using nucleic acid amplification tests have been developed for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and rapid detection of isoniazid and rifampin resistance. Among them, the BD MAX MDR-TB assay (BD MAX) has shown high sensitivity and specificity; however, its diagnostic accuracy performed on bronchoscopy specimens has not been reported. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with suspected PTB who underwent bronchoscopy. Patients who underwent BD MAX testing of bronchoscopy specimens were included in the final analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for PTB diagnosis were calculated using a positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the reference standard. Results: Of 114 patients, 34 had culture-confirmed PTB. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens for the diagnosis of PTB were 79.4%, 88.8%, 75.0%, and 91.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of BD MAX was superior to that of acid-fast bacillus smear (79.4% vs. 38.2%, p<0.001). Conclusion BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens showed high accuracy for diagnosing PTB. BD MAX can be performed on bronchoscopy specimens in patients with suspected PTB.

Background: Several novel molecular platforms using nucleic acid amplification tests have been developed for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and rapid detection of isoniazid and rifampin resistance. Among them, the BD MAX MDR-TB assay (BD MAX) has shown high sensitivity and specificity; however, its diagnostic accuracy performed on bronchoscopy specimens has not been reported. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with suspected PTB who underwent bronchoscopy. Patients who underwent BD MAX testing of bronchoscopy specimens were included in the final analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for PTB diagnosis were calculated using a positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the reference standard. Results: Of 114 patients, 34 had culture-confirmed PTB. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens for the diagnosis of PTB were 79.4%, 88.8%, 75.0%, and 91.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of BD MAX was superior to that of acid-fast bacillus smear (79.4% vs. 38.2%, p<0.001). Conclusion BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens showed high accuracy for diagnosing PTB. BD MAX can be performed on bronchoscopy specimens in patients with suspected PTB.

Background: Several novel molecular platforms using nucleic acid amplification tests have been developed for the diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and rapid detection of isoniazid and rifampin resistance. Among them, the BD MAX MDR-TB assay (BD MAX) has shown high sensitivity and specificity; however, its diagnostic accuracy performed on bronchoscopy specimens has not been reported. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with suspected PTB who underwent bronchoscopy. Patients who underwent BD MAX testing of bronchoscopy specimens were included in the final analysis. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for PTB diagnosis were calculated using a positive culture of Mycobacterium tuberculosis as the reference standard. Results: Of 114 patients, 34 had culture-confirmed PTB. The sensitivity, specificity, PPV, and NPV of BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens for the diagnosis of PTB were 79.4%, 88.8%, 75.0%, and 91.0%, respectively. The sensitivity of BD MAX was superior to that of acid-fast bacillus smear (79.4% vs. 38.2%, p<0.001). Conclusion BD MAX performed on bronchoscopy specimens showed high accuracy for diagnosing PTB. BD MAX can be performed on bronchoscopy specimens in patients with suspected PTB.