OBJECTIVE: During the last two decades, Borna disease virus (BDV) has received much attention as a possible zoonotic agent, particularly as a cause of psychiatric disease. Although several studies have shown that BDV is present in Asia, BDV has not been detected in Korea. This study was designed to further investigate the presence of BDV infection in Korea. METHODS: Blood samples were taken from 39 race horses and 48 jockeys. Antibody to BDV was detected by indirect immunofluorescence antibody test and RNA of BDV by real time reverse transcriptase PCR (rRT-PCR). RESULTS: No evidence of BDV was detected in either the horses or the jockeys group. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that BDV infection may not be endemic in Korea. Further studies with novel diagnostic tools are required to clarify the prevalence of BDV infection in Korea.
Animals ; Asia ; Borna Disease ; Borna disease virus ; Continental Population Groups ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Horses ; Humans ; Korea ; Prevalence ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA

This study examines the combined effects of caloric restriction on body composition, blood lipid, and satiety in slightly overweight women by varying food density and aerobic exercise. Twenty-three women were randomly assigned to one of two groups for a four-week weight management program: the high-energy density diet plus exercise (HDE: n = 12, 22 +/- 2 yrs, 65 +/- 7 kg, 164 +/- 5 cm, 35 +/- 4 % fat) and low-energy density diet plus exercise (LDE: n = 11, 22 +/- 1 yrs, 67 +/- 7 kg, 161 +/- 2 cm, 35 +/- 4 % fat) groups. Subjects maintained a low-calorie diet (1,500 kcal/day) during the program. Isocaloric (483 +/- 26 for HDE, 487 +/- 27 kcal for LDE) but different weight (365 +/- 68 for HDE, 814 +/- 202 g for LDE) of lunch was provided. After lunch, they biked at 60% of maximum capacity for 40 minutes, five times per week. The hunger level was scaled (1: extremely hungry; 9: extremely full) at 17:30 each day. Before and after the program, the subjects' physical characteristics were measured, and fasting blood samples were drawn. The daily energy intake was 1,551 +/- 259 for HDE and 1,404 +/- 150 kcal for LDE (P > 0.05). After four weeks, the subjects' weights and % fat decreased for both LDE (-1.9 kg and -1.5%, P < 0.05) and HDE (-1.6 kg and -1.4%, respectively, P < 0.05). The hunger level was significantly higher for HDE (2.46 +/- 0.28) than for LDE (3.10 +/- 0.26) (P < 0.05). The results suggest that a low-energy density diet is more likely to be tolerated than a high-energy density diet for a weight management program combining a low-calorie diet and exercise, mainly because of a reduced hunger sensation.
Adult ; Body Composition ; Caloric Restriction ; Diet ; Energy Intake ; Exercise ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Hunger ; Lunch ; Overweight ; Sensation ; Weights and Measures

Primary rectal lymphoma is a rare disease among the gastrointestinal (GI) lymphoma. In particular, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) transformed from mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is often the primary type of GI lymphoma, mostly in stomach or duodenum, but has never been reported in rectum. Here we report an unusual case in which a 75-year-old male patient diagnosed with DLBCL transformed from MALT lymphoma in the rectum. The patient was diagnosed as rectal DLBCL transformed from MALT lymphoma as Lugano stage II2 and was treated with chemotherapy (R-CHOP) with CD-20 monoclonal antibody (rituxaimb). Complete remission of multiple lymphadenopathy and mass forming ulcer of the rectum was achieved after 6 cycles of R-CHOP. He has been free from disease for 12 months.
Aged ; B-Lymphocytes* ; Drug Therapy ; Duodenum ; Humans ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Lymphoid Tissue ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell* ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Male ; Rare Diseases ; Rectum ; Stomach ; Ulcer

OBJECTIVE: Borna disease virus (BDV) is a highly neurotropic agent causing various neuropsychiatric symptoms in animals. Over the past two decades, it has been suggested that BDV might be associated with human psychiatric diseases. We aimed to investigate whether BDV is associated with psychiatric patients in Korea. METHODS: We recruited 60 normal controls and 198 psychiatric patients (98 patients with depressive disorder, 60 with schizophrenia, and 40 with bipolar disorder). We used an indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test for the BDV antibody and a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay for p24 and p40 RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS: Neither the BDV antibody nor p24, p40 RNA was detected in controls and patients groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that BDV might not be associated with psychiatric patients in Korea.
Animals ; Borna Disease ; Borna disease virus ; Corynebacterium ; Depressive Disorder ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Korea ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Schizophrenia

OBJECTIVE: Borna disease virus (BDV) is a highly neurotropic agent causing various neuropsychiatric symptoms in animals. Over the past two decades, it has been suggested that BDV might be associated with human psychiatric diseases. We aimed to investigate whether BDV is associated with psychiatric patients in Korea. METHODS: We recruited 60 normal controls and 198 psychiatric patients (98 patients with depressive disorder, 60 with schizophrenia, and 40 with bipolar disorder). We used an indirect immunofluorescence antibody (IFA) test for the BDV antibody and a real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) assay for p24 and p40 RNA from peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). RESULTS: Neither the BDV antibody nor p24, p40 RNA was detected in controls and patients groups. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that BDV might not be associated with psychiatric patients in Korea.
Animals ; Borna Disease ; Borna disease virus ; Corynebacterium ; Depressive Disorder ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect ; Humans ; Korea ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Schizophrenia

Spontaneous dissection of the vertebrobasilar arterial system is less common than that of the carotid system. These dissections are usually found extracranially or in a combination of intracranial and extracranial location. Pure intracrainl involvement is uncommon. Particularly in oriental country. This vascular anomaly is one of the important causes of posterior circulation stroke in young and middle-aged adults. Lf manifested as brainstem, ischernia, the usual symptoms and signs are typically neck or occipital pain followed later by particular features of the lateral medullary syndrome. Etiology remains obscure in most cases of spontaneous dissection and management is still controversial. We present three cases of dissecting aneurysm of the intracranial portion of unilateral vertebral artery. The two patients manifested as lateral medullary syndrome with sudden neck pain and digital substracted angiogram revealed proximal narrowed segments and distal fusiform dilatation of the unilateral vertebral arter.,v. The other patient manifested as subarachnoid hemmorrhage and angiographically dilatation at the junction of vertebral artery and posterior inferior cerebellar artery was noted. In operative field, two cases were confirmed as dissecting aneurysm.
Adult ; Aneurysm, Dissecting* ; Arteries ; Brain Stem ; Dilatation ; Humans ; Lateral Medullary Syndrome ; Neck ; Neck Pain ; Stroke ; Vertebral Artery*

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the STANDARD F Influenza A/B FIA test (SD Biosensor Inc., Korea) for the rapid detection of influenza A virus in comparison with the Sofia Influenza A+B FIA (Quidel Corp., USA) and SD BIOLINE Influenza Ag A/B/A(H1N1) (Standard Diagnostic, Inc., Korea) tests. Methods: A total of 227 non-duplicated nasopharyngeal aspirates submitted for real-time RT-PCR analysis were included in the study. We used the three commercial tests in remnant samples from routine assays, according to the manufacturer’s instructions. We analyzed the diagnostic performance, including sensitivity and specificity, of the three tests. Results: Real-time RT-PCR analysis showed that 67 (29.5%) samples were positive and 160 (70.5%) were negative for influenza A virus, and that all the specimens were negative for influenza B. The overall sensitivity and specificity for influenza A virus detection were 50.7% and 100% for the STANDARD F, 50.7% and 100% for the Sofia, and 29.9% and 100% for the SD BIOLINE tests, respectively. The STANDARD F and SD BIOLINE tests showed negative results for influenza B virus in all specimens, whereas the Sofia test showed two false-positive results. Conclusion The STANDARD F Influenza A/B test showed a good diagnostic performance and may be useful for the rapid diagnosis of influenza A.

Fetal tachycardia (FT) is a rare disorder and is associated with significant mortality of fetus. Digoxin is one of the antiarrhythmic agents used to treat FT via transplacental therapy. In this report, we describe a therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) case of digoxin during the treatment of FT. A 40-year-old woman, gravida 2 para 1, hospitalized to control FT as the fetal heart rate (FHR) showed over 200 bpm on ultrasonography at 29 weeks of gestation. She did not have any medical or medication history and showed normal electrolytes level on clinical laboratory test results. For the treatment of FT loading and maintenance dose of intravenous digoxin (loading dose: 0.6 mg; maintenance dose: 0.3 mg every 8 hours) were administered. To monitor the efficacy and safety of the treatment, TDM was conducted with a target maternal serum trough digoxin concentration of 1.0 to 2.0 ng/mL, as well as ultrasonography and maternal electrocardiogram. The observed digoxin serum concentrations were 0.67, 0.83, and 1.05 ng/mL after 1, 2, and 5 days after the initiation of digoxin therapy, respectively. Although the serum digoxin concentrations reached the target range, the FHR did not improve. Therefore, digoxin was discontinued, and oral flecainide therapy was started. The FHR adjusted to the normal range within 2 days from changing treatment and remained stable. TDM of digoxin along with the monitoring of clinical responses can give valuable information for decision-making during the treatment FT.

Though the 2009 worldwide influenza A (H1N1) pandemic has been declared to have ended, the influenza virus is expected to continue to circulate from some years as a seasonal influenza. A rapid antigen test (RAT) can aid in rapid diagnosis and allow for early antiviral treatment. We evaluated the clinical usefulness of RAT using SD Bioline Influenza Antigen Test(R) kit to detect the influenza virus, considering various factors. From August 1, 2009 to October 10, 2009, a total of 938 patients who visited the outpatient clinic at Korea University Guro Hospital with influenza-like illnesses were enrolled in the study. Throat or nasopharyngeal swab specimens were obtained from each of the patients. Using these specimens, we evaluated the influenza detection rate by rapid antigen test based on the real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (rRT-PCR) method. In comparison with rRT-PCR, the sensitivity and specificity of the RAT were 44.0% and 99.9%, respectively. The cyclic threshold values of RAT negative specimens were higher than RAT positive specimens (30.1+/-3.1 vs. 28.3+/-3.9, p=0.031). The sensitivity of the RAT kit was higher in patients who visited clinics within two days of symptom onset (60.4% vs. 11.1%, p=0.026). The results of this study show that the RAT cannot be recommended for general use in all patients with influenza-like illness because of its low sensitivity. The RAT may be used, only in the settings with limited diagnostic resources, for patients who visit a clinic within two days of symptom onset.
Antigens, Viral/genetics ; Humans ; Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype/genetics/immunology/*isolation & purification ; Influenza, Human/*diagnosis/virology ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Time Factors

Thymoma has been associated with a variety of diseases, including myasthenia gravis, pure red cell aplasia (PRCA), hypogammaglobulinemia, and other abnormal immune and endocrine disorders. Herein we report a case of PRCA associated with invasive thymoma in a 65-year-old man. In spite of total thymectomy and irradiation to the mediastinum, no significant response was observed. The mechanisms and management of PRCA associated with invasive thymoma are reviewed.
Agammaglobulinemia ; Aged ; Humans ; Mediastinum ; Myasthenia Gravis ; Red-Cell Aplasia, Pure* ; Thymectomy ; Thymoma*