BACKGROUND: Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is an increasingly common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Epidemiologic investigation of MRSA outbreaks and identification of pathways of nosocomial MRSA spread require the ability to distinguish individual MRSA strains. We applied molecular tap ing of the methicillin-resistant determinant (mec) and coagulase typing in the investigation of a nosocomial MRSA infections. METHODS: We randomly selected 79 strains of mecA positive MRSA isolated from patients who visited Dong-A university Hospital from Dec. 1995 to Oct. 1996. Molecular typing of MRSA was performed by comparing the size of the mac-associated hypervariable region amplified by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Coagulase typing with type I-VIII antisera was also used for classification of MRSA based on its phenotype. Each isolates were classified by the combination of molecular analyses and coagulase type. RESULTS: The 79 MRSA isolates were grouped Into sin hypervariable legion (HVR) genotypes on the basis of the size of the PGR products. In coagulase typing, the most predominant type was II(46.8%) and type V was not found. Nine strains were not typable. The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types showed 23 different types in 79 MRSA Isolates. The strains which were repeatedly isolated from the same patients showed the same HYR genotypes and coagulate types. CONCLUSION: The combination of HVR genotypes and coagulase types is thought to be useful in epidemiolgical Investigation of nosocomial infections caused by MRSA ,because of its simplicity and reproducibility.
Classification ; Coagulase* ; Cross Infection* ; Disease Outbreaks ; Genotype ; Humans ; Immune Sera ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Molecular Typing* ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus

BACKGROUND: Recent DNA polymorphism analysis using numerous DNA markers has been used to determine the parental origin of the extra chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. In this study we used seven dinucleotide repeat polymorphisms on chromosome 21 to characterize a case of rea(21q21q) and to know whether it is consistent with an isochromosome or a true Robertsonian translocation. METHODS: Cytogenetic investigation was done by conventional G banding DNA was extracted from whole blood of a proband and her parents and was amplified by PCR using seven sets of (GT)n repeat dinucleotide markers located on the long arm of chromosome 21 After electrophoresis of the PCR product in polyacrylamide gel and silver staining the parental origin and number of DNA copy were determined by visual comparison of the band intensities within and between individuals. RESULTS: Conventional cytogenetics showed that the proband had a 46.XX.re(21q21q) chromosome pattern. Parental chromosome studies were normal, therefore, the rearrangement was a de novo event. All seven DNA markers showed one or two alleles, demonstrating rea(21q21q) to be an isochromosome. For D21S215 and D21S156 markers both parents were heterozygous and the proband inherited one copy of paternal allele and two copies of maternal allele which both parents did not share. This finding was consistent with a maternally derided isochromosome. CONCLUSION: Use of dinucleotide repeat DNA polymorphisms after PCR amplification will be very useful to detect the parental origin of additional chromosome 21 or rearrangement of chromosome 21 in Down syndrome. Besides employing siltier staining of a PCR product we will be able to avoid using of radioisotopes and apply to clinical laboratory diagnosis.
Alleles ; Arm ; Chromosomes, Human, Pair 21 ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Cytogenetics ; Dinucleotide Repeats* ; DNA ; Down Syndrome ; Electrophoresis ; Genetic Markers ; Humans ; Isochromosomes ; Parents ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Radioisotopes ; Silver Staining

The deletion 9p syndrome is a well characterized syndrome with about one hundred cases having been reported. Most patients have dysmorphic facial features, cardiac anomalies, and mental retardation. We report on a female infant with micrognathia, corneal opacity, cleft palace, cardiac anomaly, left polycystic kidney, and deletion 9p. Chromosome analysis and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) showed her to have a derived chromosome 9 inherited from a maternal t(9;16) (p22;p13.2) by adjacent I segregation There are few reports of this particular chromosome rearrangement. We review deletion Sp syndrome.
Chromosomes, Human, Pair 9 ; Corneal Opacity ; Female ; Fluorescence ; Humans ; In Situ Hybridization ; Infant ; Intellectual Disability ; Polycystic Kidney Diseases

To measure the rate of endothelial cell loss caused by anterior radial keratotomy, twenty one eyes of twelve patients were chosen. Numbers of endothelial cells per mm2 were examined through Keeler Konan wide field specular microscope at the time of preoperative, postoperative 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year. There were only a few changes in numbers of endothelial cells, and the results were statistically significant. Therefore anterior radial keratotomy rarely cause bullous keratopathy due to significant endothelial cell loss.
Endothelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Keratotomy, Radial*

To measure the rate of endothelial cell loss caused by anterior radial keratotomy, twenty one eyes of twelve patients were chosen. Numbers of endothelial cells per mm2 were examined through Keeler Konan wide field specular microscope at the time of preoperative, postoperative 3 month, 6 month, and 1 year. There were only a few changes in numbers of endothelial cells, and the results were statistically significant. Therefore anterior radial keratotomy rarely cause bullous keratopathy due to significant endothelial cell loss.
Endothelial Cells* ; Humans* ; Keratotomy, Radial*

No abstract available.
Computational Biology ; Insulin Resistance

BACKGROUND: Meicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus(MRSA) is a common cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Identification of strains by molecular typing facilitates epidemiological studies and improves disease control This study was performed to determine the usefulness of mecA-associated hypervariable region(HVR) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD) analysis in the investigation of a nosocomial MRSA infections. METHODS: Methicillin-resistance was identified by NCCLS disk diffusion method using the oxacillin disk. And PCR was done for detection of mecA gene. Antimicrobial susceptibility test, HVR-PCR and RAPD using 3 primers were performed for epidemiological analysis on isolates of MRSA. RESULTS: During the period from 1997 Dec. to 1998 May, 120 strains of S. aureus were isolated from clinical specimens. Among them, 78 strains were MRSA, and 72 strains were mecA positive. The strains of mecA positive MRSA were classified into four types by antibiogram, six genotypes by HVR-PCR, and 29 groups by RAPD using three primers. The combination of HVR genotypes and RAPD analysis showed 43 different types in 72 mecA positive MRSA isolates The five strains which were repeatedly isolated from the same patients showed the same HVR genotypes and RAPD analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Antibiogram, HVR-PCR, and RAPD could classify MRSA isolates into only 4-6 types, respectively, but combination of these methods could improve the typability. And combination of results of RAPD analysis using three primers were better than that using one primer in epidemiological studies of MRSA because of same reasons. It can be concluded that molecular typing of MRSA using HVR-PCR and RAPD assay is useful in epidemiolgical investigation of nosocomial infections caused by MRSA, because of its simplicity and reproducibility.
Cross Infection ; Diffusion ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Genotype ; Humans ; Methicillin Resistance* ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus* ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Molecular Typing ; Oxacillin ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Staphylococcus

An ABO discrepancy was encountered in a 29-year-old woman with a pregnancy of 36 weeks. The patient's red cell was typed as group O and her serum had only anti-A antibody. Absence of B antigen on patient's RBC was confirmed by adsorption-elution test, B substance was not demonstrated in the saliva and serum. B-transferase activity was not detected in the serum. Patient's serum Ig level was within normal range. The patient's father and son had normal O phenotype and no additional abnormalities were detected among the family members studied.
Adult ; Fathers ; Female ; Humans ; Phenotype ; Pregnancy ; Reference Values ; Saliva

BACKGROUND: Paroximal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) is a disorder of the pluripotent stem cells resulting in a deficient expression of membrane-bound GPI-anchored proteins in different cell types. We evaluated REDQUANT and CELLQUANT kits (Biocytex, Marseille, France) for PNH test. METHODS: Seventy patients with peripheral blood cytopenia and 16 healthy controls were studied. RBCs and granulocytes were tested for CD55 and CD59 expression using the REDQUANT and CELLQUANT kits and an Epics XL flow cytometer. According to the manufacturer's instruction, results were interpreted abnormal when more than 3% of cells were deficient in the expression of CD55 or CD59, and a test was considered positive for PNH if three of the four markers tested were abnormal. RESULTS: The percentage of CD55/CD59 deficient RBCs and granulocytes was 0.3/3.1 and 3.5/ 10.0, respectively, in the patient group, and 0.1/1.0 and 0.3/9.7, respectively, in the control group. PNH was diagnosed in three patients who had a deficiency in the expression of three or four antigens; two other patients showed a deficiency in two antigens. There were many who had CD59 deficiency only: on granulocytes in 30 patients and 11 controls, and on RBCs in 6 patients and 2 controls. One patient had CD55 deficient granulocytes. CONCLUSIONS: The REDQUANT/CELLQUANT kit is a standardized method and does not require normal samples as the control, but one should be cautious in interpreting the results showing CD59 expression on granulocytes.
Diagnosis* ; Flow Cytometry ; Granulocytes ; Hemoglobinuria ; Hemoglobinuria, Paroxysmal* ; Humans ; Pluripotent Stem Cells

Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI) with 2.0 Tesla superconductive magnet developed by Korea Advanced Institute ofScience was performed in 25 patients with various abdominal diseases and compared with x-ray CT. MRI was obtainedwith spin echo technique using a variety of pulse sequence and various slice orientation including axial, sgittaland coronal section in order to evaluate the diagnostic value, limitation and to determine the optimal pulsesequency in various abdominal diseases. MRI demonstrated the capability of detecting the lesions shown on CT inall cases and also detected one case of diffuse hepatocellular carcinoma which was not seen on CT. MRI showedcapability of differentiation of various liver mass including hepatocellular carcinoma, hemangnioma and simplecyst. MRI showed better anatomical resolution of tumor in retroperitoneum and pelvis, however CT delineatedalimentary tract disease better than MRI did.
Carcinoma, Hepatocellular ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Pelvis