An attenuated classical swine fever virus (CSFV), Suri strain, is a va.iant derived from a vaccine virus, LOM strain. This study was performed to elucidate the molecular biologcal properties of CSFV Suri strain, and to obtain the basic data for molecular epidemiological approaches for the disease. The truncated form of gp55 gene without the C-terminal transmembrane domain, in size of 1,023bp, was amplified by RT-PCR and sequenced by dye terminator cyclic sequencing method, and inserted into BamHI site of pAcGP67B baculovirus vector, establishing a cloned pAcHEG plasmid. By the nucleotide sequences determined, 341 amino acid sequences were predicted. As compared the nucleotide and amino acid sequences of gp55 of Suri with the various CSFV, Suri strain showed the high homology over 99.1% with ALD and LOM strains, but comparably the lower homology with Alfort and Brescia. In comparison of amino acid sequence in variable domain of gp55 protein, the similar tendency of homology was observed. In hydrophobicity analysis, all of four CSFV strains revealed the analogous patterns of hydrophobicity. The numbers and locations of N-glycosylation site and cysteine residues in gp55 were analyzed, those of Suri strain being coincident with ALD and LOM strains. The results suggest that gp55 in Suri strain has the high similarity to those in ALD and LOM strains in terms of the nucleotide and amino acid sequences and the functional properties of gp55 protein..
Amino Acid Sequence ; Animals ; Baculoviridae ; Base Sequence ; Classical swine fever virus ; Classical Swine Fever* ; Clone Cells ; Cysteine ; Hydrophobic and Hydrophilic Interactions ; Plasmids ; Sequence Analysis* ; Swine

Schwartz-Jampel syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive disorder characterized by clinical myotonia, persistent spontaneous activity, and skeletal dysplasia (short stature, pigeon breast, micrognathia etc.). We experienced an eleven- year-old girl complaining of gait disturbance and motor weakness of both legs. She was operated for umblical hernia at the age of two and for congenital hip dislocation at the age of six. She displayed short stature, short neck, microstomia, micrognathia, pigeon breast, and calf muscle hypertrophy. Her muscle strength was fair to good grade in both legs. Percussion- and exercise-induced myotonia was observed. Her cognitive function was below-average intelligence. Serum creatine kinase was elevated three to four times of normal level. Routine motor and sensory conduction studies were normal and continuous electrical myotonic discharges were detected in all examined muscles. Clinically, her symptom was non-progressive for three years.
Breast ; Columbidae ; Creatine Kinase ; Female ; Gait ; Hernia ; Hip Dislocation, Congenital ; Humans ; Hypertrophy ; Intelligence ; Leg ; Microstomia ; Muscle Strength ; Muscles ; Myotonia ; Neck ; Osteochondrodysplasias*

It is well known that the brain-injured patients with tracheostomy is prone to frequent tracheopulmonary aspiration and dysphagia problems. We experienced two brain-injured patients with dysphagia, who revealed the improvement of clinical and videofluoroscopic parameters after application of Passy-Muir speaking valve (PMV 2000(R), Passy-Muir Inc., USA). Two brain-injured patients had kept on nasogastiric and tracheostomy tubes. After PMV application for 2 weeks, the frequency of aspiration decreased, sleep hygiene and emotional lability improved, and also videofluoroscopic parameters such as pharyngeal delay time, pharyngeal transit time, and epiglottic closure were improved. Eventually, they could be free from tracheostomy tubes within 1 month after PMV application.
Brain Injuries ; Deglutition Disorders* ; Humans ; Hygiene ; Tracheostomy

Despite advanced effective prophylaxes, pulmonary complications still occur in a high proportion of all hematopoietic stem cell recipients, accounting for considerable morbidity and mortality. The aim of our study was to describe the causes, incidences and mortality rates secondary to pulmonary complications and risk factors of such complications following hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). We reviewed the medical records of 287 patients who underwent either autologous or allogeneic HSCT for hematologic disorders from February 1996 to October 2003 at Samsung Medical Center (134 autografts, 153 allografts). The timing of pulmonary complications was divided into pre-engraftment, early and late period. The spectrum of pulmonary complications included infectious and non-infectious conditions. 73 of the 287 patients (25.4%) developed pulmonary complications. Among these patients, 40 (54.8%) and 29 (39.7%) had infectious and non-infectious conditions, respectively. The overall mortality rate from pulmonary complications was 28.8%. Allogeneic transplant, grade II-IV acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) and extensive chronic GVHD were the risk factors with statistical significance for pulmonary complications after HSCT. The mortality rates from pulmonary complications following HSCT were high, especially those of viral and fungal pneumonia, diffuse alveolar hemorrhage and idiopathic pneumonia syndrome.
Transplantation, Homologous ; Transplantation, Autologous ; Transplantation Conditioning ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Lung Diseases/*etiology ; Lung/microbiology ; Humans ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/*adverse effects ; Graft vs Host Disease ; Female ; Bacterial Infections/etiology ; Aged ; Adult ; Adolescent

BACKGROUND: Advanced information technology can be used when developing diagnostic and treatment strategies to provide better care for diabetic patients. However, the levels of need and demand for the use of technological advances have not been investigated in diabetic patients. We proposed and developed an individualized, ubiquitous (U)-healthcare service using advanced information technology for more effective glucose control. Prior to our service initiation, we surveyed patient needs and other pertinent information. METHODS: During August 2009, we conducted a 34-item questionnaire survey among patients with diabetes who were older than 40 years in two certain hospitals in Korea. RESULTS: The mean age of the 228 participants was 61.2+/-9 years, and males made up 49.1% of the sample. Seventy-one percent replied that they wanted individualized healthcare service, and they also wanted their health information to be delivered through mobile devices such as a cellular phone or a personal digital assistant (40.4%). Most patients had never heard of U-healthcare services (81.1%); however, after explaining the concept, 71.1% of participants responded that they would use the service if it was provided. Despite their willingness, participants were concerned about technical difficulty in using the service (26.3%) as well as the cost of the service (29.8%). CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that more than 70% of diabetic patients are interested in using U-healthcare services. To encourage widespread use, the application program or device of U-healthcare services should be simple, easy to use and affordable while also including a policy for the protection of private information.
Blood Glucose ; Cellular Phone ; Computers, Handheld ; Delivery of Health Care ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Glucose ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Surgical site infection (SSI) is prominent among the total incidence of healthcare-associated infections, and is a major contributing factor in the trend of increasing medical costs. There have been numerous efforts to analyze the conditions and causes of SSI for the purpose of prevention. In this study of SSI development after gastric surgery, we evaluated the prevalence of specific pathogens and compared the clinical characteristics observed between gram-positive (GPB) and gram-negative bacteria (GNB). MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of patients who developed SSI within 30 days after gastric surgery at 13 clinics in Korea, between January 2007 and December 2008. Only those cases of SSI which included confirmed pathogen were included in this study. RESULTS: Among the 121 patients who developed SSI, GPB were observed in 32 patients and 36 cases, and GNB were isolated in 32 patients and 36 cases. Methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was the most frequently isolated pathogen in this analysis. There were no differences observed between the GPB and GNB group in terms of baseline characteristics, patient or procedure related risk factors, or factors associated with prophylactic antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS: In the previous studies of the occurrence of SSI after gastric surgery, it was reported that the majority of observed pathogens were enteric GNB. Further studies of the incidence of SSI after gastric surgery, particularly those related to MRSA infection, are necessary.
Gram-Negative Bacteria ; Gram-Positive Bacteria ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Methicillin Resistance ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Prevalence ; Retrospective Studies ; Risk Factors ; Staphylococcus aureus

The area of endoscopic application has been continuously expanded since its introduction in the last century and the frequency of its use also increased stiffly in the last decades. Because gastrointestinal endoscopy is naturally exposed to diseased internal organs and contact with pathogenic materials, endoscopy mediated infection or disease transmission becomes a major concern in this field. Gastrointestinal endoscopy is not for single use and the proper reprocessing process is a critical factor for safe and reliable endoscopy procedures. What needed in these circumstances is a practical guideline for reprocessing the endoscope and its accessories which is feasible in the real clinical field to guarantee acceptable prevention of pathogen transmission. This guideline contains principles and instructions of the reprocessing procedure according to the step by step. And it newly includes general information and updated knowledge about endoscopy-mediated infection and disinfection. Multiple societies and working groups participated to revise; Korean Association for the Study of the Liver, the Korean Society of Infectious Diseases, Korean College of Helicobacter and Upper Gastrointestinal Research, the Korean Society of Gastroenterology, Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Cancer, Korean Association for the Study of Intestinal Diseases, Korean Pancreatobiliary Association, the Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy Nurses and Associates and Korean Society of Gastrointestinal Endoscopy. Through this cooperation, we enhanced communication and established a better concordance. We still need more researches in this field and fill up the unproven area. And our guidelines will be renewed accordingly.