We have studied the genetic differences among four isolates of Trichinella including a new strain of Trichinella spiralis (ISS 623) recently found from a human case who took a badger in Korea. Because they have a different host origin and came from geographically separated regions, we supposed the genetic pattern of the isolates might be different as had been previously reported. It was analysed by PCR-RFLP analysis of the rDNA repeat that can readily distinguish a species or strain from others. Isolated genomic DNA of each isolate of Trichinella larvae was amplified with ITS1 specific primers and digested with restriction endonucleases. The PCR product of ITS1 was confirmed using Southern blot analysis to be a 910 bp fragment. The restriction fragments of each isolate had variable patterns when it was digested with Rsa 1 only. According to the RFLP patterns, the estimated genetic divergence between each isolate was different. In conclusion, four isolates of Trichinella including a new strain of T. spiralis obtained from a Korean patient may have genetic differences in the ITS1 region and the Shanghai isolate was genetically more similar to the Japanese unknown isolate than others in the ITS1 region.
Animals ; *DNA, Helminth ; *DNA, Ribosomal ; Human ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Repetitive Sequences, Nucleic Acid ; Trichinella spiralis/*genetics/isolation & purification

Eczema herpeticum is a herpes simplex virus infection with disseminated skin involvement superimposed on a pre-existing dermatosis. Dariers disease has been reported to be among the dermatoses susceptible to the sudden onset of a widespread vesicular eruption accompanied by high fever known as Kaposis varicelliform eruption. We report a case of eczema herpeticum in a 46-year-old woman associated with Dariers disease.
Darier Disease* ; Eczema* ; Female ; Fever ; Humans ; Kaposi Varicelliform Eruption* ; Middle Aged ; Simplexvirus ; Skin ; Skin Diseases

No Abstract Available.
Adult* ; Female ; Granuloma* ; Humans ; Toxocariasis*

International travel has become increasingly common as travelers of various purposes. It is estimated that there are 900 million international tourist arrivals alone each year. Unfortunately, some health impairments were reported in about 50% of short term travelers to the tropics or sub-tropics, usually due to infectious agents. In this paper, the author reviewed imported parasitic diseases in Korea from 1970 to 2009 with literature and data collected by Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). The author also reviewed warning points about parasitic disease in pregnant and immune deficit travelers. Most prevalent imported parasitic disease was malaria. About 30~70 travelers infected with malaria are returned home anually from abroad, mostly South East Asia and Africa. Subtype of malaria classified from 2003~2006 surveillance data showed Plasmodium falciparum infection in about 55% of patients identified. Over 20 cases of hydatid disease and cutaneous leishmaniasis cases were reported respectively. Visceral leishmaniasis (5 cases), babesiosis (7 cases), loiasis (3 cases), cutaneous myiasis (1 case), pentastomiasis (1 case), gnathostomiasis (4 cases, 41 people), angiostrongylosis (1 case, 10 people), heterophyiasis (2 cases), schistosomiasis (13 cases), cyclosporiasis (1 case), cutaneous larva migrans (4 cases), ancylostomiasis (1 case) and syngamosis (1 case) were reported. Prevention and surveillance plan of imported parasitic diseases is organized and conducted by KCDC since 2001. According to increasing travel to developing or under developed countries, retraining of doctor and technician, systematization of consulting system for diagnosis of parasitic disease, supply of medication, supplement of the personnel, and financial supports are needed.
Africa ; Ancylostomiasis ; Animals ; Babesiosis ; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.) ; Cyclosporiasis ; Developing Countries ; Far East ; Financial Support ; Gnathostomiasis ; Humans ; Korea ; Larva Migrans ; Leishmaniasis, Cutaneous ; Leishmaniasis, Visceral ; Loiasis ; Malaria ; Myiasis ; Parasitic Diseases ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Schistosomiasis

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: When acute gastric anisakiasis is clinically suspected, endoscopic removal of larva is the only definite treatment method. However, there has been little known for endoscopic findings of gastric anisakiasis. METHODS: In 39 patients with gastric anisakiasis, the ingested species of marine products and clinical findings were investigated. The form of larvae, the mucosal changes of the insertion site, close and distant area were also analysed during endoscopic examination. RESULTS: Twelve patients (30.8%) ate raw Astroconger myriaster solely, and the most frequent mucosal insertion site of larvae was around the greater curvature of the body (59.5%). Endoscopic findings of erosion (33.3%), hemorrhagic erosion (33.3%) and redness of the mucosa (11.9%) were observed at the insertion site. The adjacent mucosal changes were edema and fold enlargement. All patients were treated medically. CONCLUSIONS: When acute gastric anisakiasis is suspected, the careful endoscopic examination of larva was necessary for confirmatory diagnosis and definite treatment of the disease.
Anisakiasis* ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Humans ; Incheon* ; Larva ; Mucous Membrane

A total of 53 patients infected with Taenia solium were treated with praziquantel in two different dose levels. Twenty-six cases were treated with praziquantel in a single oral dose of 5 mg/kg body weight. All cases except one were completely cured. The cure rate was 96.2 per cent. The other 27 cases were treated with a single dose of 10 mg/kg body weight. All cases were completely cured and revealed a cure rate of 100 per cent. Side effects were mild and transient. About half of the cases complained of a mild abdominal pain. Soft stool or diarrhea and dizziness were observed in some cases. Tests on clinical hematology, serum biochemistry and urinalysis were performed immediately before and one day after treatment in all cases. There were no significant abnormalities detected in these tests.
parasitology-helminth-cestoda ; Taenia solium ; chemotherapy-praziquantel ; abdominal pain ; hematology ; serum ; biochemistry ; urinalysis

Favre-Racouchot syndrome is a disease of senile or actinic processes and another name is nodular elastosis with cysts and comedones. Clinically, facial skin shows, especially lateral to the eyes, multiple open and cystically dilatated comedones and can be defined as cutaneous disturbances characterized by a degenerative process of the dermis associated with cysts and comedones. Sunlight is a strong causative factor and dermal degenerative processes result in this condition. We report the case of a 78-year-old man who showed multiple yellowish papules on both sides of cheeks, the periorbital and, malar areas. He had had this condition for 25-years. His job used to involve physical labor and much exposure to sunlight. An excisional biopsy specimen from the facial malar lesion showed cystically dilated comedones with basophilically degenerated dermal tissue. We performed a therapeutic excision on the two large nodular lesions on both malar areas and applied topical tretinoin. The Patients clinical appearance was much improved 2 months later.
Actins ; Aged ; Basophils ; Biopsy ; Cheek ; Dermis ; Facial Dermatoses* ; Humans ; Skin ; Sunlight ; Tretinoin*

To evaluate the usefulness of computed tomography (CT) in radiotherapy treatment planning in malignant tumors of thoracic cage, the computer generated dose distributions were compared between plans based on conventional studies and those based on CT scan. 22 cases of thoracic malignancies, 15 lung cancers and 7 esophageal cancers, diagnosed and treated in Department of Therapeutic Radiology of Seoul National University Hospital from September, 1982 to April, 1983, were analyzed. In lung cancer, dose distribution in plans using AP, PA parallel opposing ports with posterior spinal cord block and in plans using box technique both based on conventional studies were compared with dose distribution using AP, PA and two oblique ports based on CT scan. On esophageal cancers, dose distribution in plans based on conventional studies and those based on CT scans, both using 3 port technique were compared. The results are as follows: 1. Parallel opposing field technique were inadequate in all cases of lung cancers, as portion of primary tumor in 13 of 15 cases and portion of mediastinum in all were out of high dose volume. 2. Box technique was inadequate in 5 of 15 lung cancers as portion of primary tumor was not covered and in every case the irradiated normal lung volume was quite large. 3. Plans based on CT scan were superior to those based on conventional studies as tumor was demarcated better with CT and so complete coverage of tumor and preservation of more normal lung volume could be made. 4. In 1 case of lung cancer, tumor localization was nearly impossible with conventional studies, but after CT scan tumor was more clearly defined and localized.
Esophageal Neoplasms ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Mediastinum ; Radiation Oncology ; Radiotherapy* ; Seoul ; Spinal Cord ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed

This study was undertaken to evaluate the present status of hookworm infections in Korea from October 1976 through September 1978. The stool specimens of 5,632 persons(male 3,689: female 1,943) collected from primary and middle schools, foundling asylums, and the general populations of various parts in Korea were examined The methods employed were brine floatation technique for the prevalence rate of hookworm infections, Kato's cellophane thick smear technique for the other helminthic infections, and Stoll's dilution egg counting technique for the intensity of hookworm infections. Ancylostoma duodenale and Necator americanus infections were classified by polyethylene tube coproculture method and by the evacuated adult worms after administration of anthelmintics against the patients infected with hookworms. The following results were obtained in this study. The prevalence rate of hookworm infections in rural area was higher than in urban area in the ratio of 2.4:1. And in the age group of over 20, the prevalence rate in significantly higher than that in urban area in the ratio of 5.8:1. In the urban area, difference in the prevalence rate of hookworm infections between the age group of over 20 and that of under 19 was not observed. But in the rural area, the ratio of the prevalence rate between the age group of over 20 to that of under 19 was 8:1. The prevalence rate of hookworm infections in female was higher than that in male in all age group except the age group of under 9 and 20-29. The ratio of the prevalence rate between female to male was 1.5:1 in total population. The area which showed the mean E.P.G. of over 1,000 was not found and almost all of the patients who were infected with hookworms gave the mean E.P.G. between l-999. Necator americanus was newly found in Dangjin Gun, Boseong Gun, Habcheon Gun and Weonseong Gun. In these 4 newly found areas, Dangjin Gun and Boseong Gun showed the composition rate of 25.5 percent and 83.4 percent respectively.
parasitology-helminth-nematoda ; hookworm-epidemiology ; Ancylostoma duodenale ; Necator americanus

BACKGROUND: Among all gastric cancers, the most frequent malignant tumor in Korea, the proportion of early gastric cancer is increasing. This increase is bringing about controversy on the necessity of gastrectomy with extensive lymph node dissection for treatment. METHODS: Of 923 gastric cancer cases operated on at EulJi Medical Hospital from Jan. 1988 to Dec. 1996, we observed retrospectively 198 cases diagnosed as early gastric cancer on pathological biopsies. We performed this study in order to analyze the prognostic factors affecting recurrence and survival rate and to determine which characteristic of early gastric cancer influences lymph node metastasis. RESULTS: The rate of lymph node metastasis of early gastric cancer was 9.5% and it was revealed that depth of tumor invasion (p<0.0001) and tumor size (p=0.05) affected lymph node metastasis. This comprehensive study on the correlation between lymph node metastasis and such factors as gross type of tumor, depth of tumor invasion, tumor size, and histologic type of tumor indicated that the larger in size, a submucosal cancer in depth, the more depressed in gross type, the poorer in differentiation, the higher the rates of lymph node metastasis were. The 5-year recurrence rate was 4.9%, and the 10-year recurrence rate was 9.6%. Lymph node metastasis had the greatest effect on recurrence, compared with other factors influencing recurrence: depth of tumor invasion (p=0.0358), tumor size (p=0.0054) and lymph node metastasis (p=0.0003). The 5-year survival rate was 95.6% and 10-year survival rate was 91.9%. These survival rates didn't correlate with the depth of tumor invasion (p=0.099), the histologic type (p=0.963) or the gross type (p=0.1324) while the survival rates revealed significant differences (p=0.0337, 0.0032) based on tumor size (<1 100%, 1-2 100%, >2 89.6%) and lymph node metastasis (n 96.3%, n 88.9%). CONCLUSIONS: Lymph mode metastasis is the most influential factor in the survival rate and the recurrence rate of early gastric cancer. We conclude that limited surgery is a reasonable treatment for differentiated mucosal cancers less than 5 cm and selectively for submucosal cancers less than 2 cm with elevation, which have the least possibility of recurrence and lymph node metastasis. However, a gas-trectomy with extensive regional lymph node dissection is still considered to be essential for either submucosal cancer with a depression or the submucosal cancer measuring more than 2 cm in size with elevation since recurrence and lymph node metastasis were frequently seen with these variants.
Biopsy ; Depression ; Gastrectomy ; Korea ; Lymph Node Excision ; Lymph Nodes ; Lymphatic Metastasis* ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence* ; Retrospective Studies ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Survival Rate