BACKGROUND: The diagnosis of diseases caused by nontuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is difficult, because NTM are prevalent in the environment such as soil and water, and because they have fastidious properties. In this study we investigated clinical isolates of NTM for their distribution pattern and accurate species identification. METHODS: We selected presumptive NTM isolates negative for probe hybridization for M. tuberculosis complex, cultured in a third referral hospital from 21 January 2003 to 20 January 2004. Ninety seven-isolates were identified to the species level by direct sequencing of fragments of 16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB genes. A total of 120 isolates were studied for the distribution analysis. RESULTS: Frequently identified NTM species were M. avium (30.8%), M. intracellulare (23.3%) and M. abscessus (18.3%). Others were M. gordonae, M. senegalense, M. fortuitum, M. peregrinum, M. kansasii, M. terrae complex, M. lentiflavum, M. chelonae, and M. szulgai. Three M. tuberculosis complex (2.5%) were also identified among the presumptive NTM isolates. The identification rate by sequencing of 16S rRNA, rpoB, and hsp65 were 65%, 82% and 87%, respectively. The hsp65 or rpoB gene was more efficient than 16S rRNA for the identification of NTM by sequencing. CONCLUSIONS: Some NTM are increasingly considered to be the causative organisms in clinical diseases. Thus, direct sequencing could be adapted to routine work of clinical laboratories for accurate identification of NTM to the species level.
Diagnosis ; DNA-Directed RNA Polymerases* ; Gordonia Bacterium ; Heat-Shock Proteins* ; Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* ; Referral and Consultation ; RNA* ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S* ; Sequence Analysis* ; Soil ; Tuberculosis

Members of the genus Hantavirus are the etiologic agents of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS), the diagnosis of which is somewhat difficult because several diseases share similar early clinical presentations such as fever and petechia. In Korea, Hantaan virus and Seoul virus are the causative organisms of HFRS, and the infection caused by Seoul virus is milder than that caused by Hantaan virus. We report a 44-year-old woman, who visited our hospital due to general weakness, fever, myalgia, facial edema and diarrhea. She was diagnosed with HFRS caused by Seoul virus. The antibody against Hantaan virus was positive by an indirect immunofluorescent test and the discrimination between Hantaan and Seoul viruses was done by RT-PCR-RFLP (reverse transcriptionpolymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) against viral S segment.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; Edema ; Female ; Fever ; Hantaan virus ; Hantavirus ; Hemorrhagic Fever with Renal Syndrome* ; Humans ; Korea ; Myalgia ; Seoul virus*

A clinico-pathological study on the true skin appendage tumors was carried on the accumulated cases during pat 11 years from 1976 to 1986 years in the Department of Pathology, Seoul National University Hospital. The results was as follows; 1) Among various benign skin appendage tumors pilomatricoma was the most common benign tumor consisting of 72 out of 244 cases (30.1%), followed by dermoid cyst 48 cases (20.0%), steatocystoma multiplex 37 cases (15.5%), syringoma 33 cases (13.8%) and trichilemmal cyst 19 cases (0.8%). Other benign skin appendage tumors were rarely noted under 3%. Sebaceous carcinoma was most common among malignant skin appendage tumors and no malignant tumor of sweat gland origin was noted. 2) The sex ratio of male to female of the pilomatricoma was 1 : 2.6 and on the face, neck, and extremeties in 1st and 2nd decades. The sex ratio of dermoid cyst was 1 : 1.2 on the face in 1st decade. The sex ratio of steatocystoma multiplex was 1 : 1.9 and on the trunk in 3rd decade. The sex ratio of syringoma was 1 : 7 and on the face in 5th decade. The sex ratio of trichilemmoma was 1 : 1.6 and on the trunk in 5th decade. Other tumors were not avaiable for analysis because of small number. The sex ratio of sebaceous carcinoma was 1 : 2 and on the eyelid in 6th decade
Female ; Male ; Humans ; Cysts

Mycobacterium lentiflavum has recently been described as an emerging human pathogen without regard to the immune status of the host. We herein report on M. lentiflavum isolated from a respiratory specimen of a patient. Although the organism described in this case seems to be a colonizer of a lung destroyed by tuberculosis, the current methods for species identification of nontuberculous mycobacteria have to be re-evaluated so as not to underestimate these organisms.
Aged ; Humans ; Male ; Mycobacterium/genetics/*isolation & purification ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary/diagnosis/*microbiology/radiography

To know the difference in graft rejection after corneal transplantation between moist chamber and Optisol(Chiron Co. Irvine, CA, U.S.A.) as cornea preservation methods, we compared two groups involving 50 patients(71 eyes) who had undergone partially penetrating keratoplasty (PPKP) for the treatment of keratoconus or corneal dystrophy from 1991 to 1995. The graft rejection had occurred in 10 of 40 eyes(25%) in moist chamber group and 9 of 31 eyes(29%) in Optisol group, and the cases of permanent corneal opacity after rejection were 5 of 40 eyes(12.5%), 3 of 31 eyes(9.7%) respectively. No difference in the two groups was statistically significant(P<0.05). We found the fact that the difference did not exist in the results from graft rejection after PPKP using moist chamber method for short preservation period, or Optisol method for the relatively long period allowing serological and immunological screen test.
Cornea ; Corneal Opacity ; Corneal Transplantation ; Graft Rejection* ; Keratoconus ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Transplants*

The radial artery is generally the preferred access route in coronary angiography and coronary intervention. However, small size, spasm, and anatomical variations concerning the radial artery are major limitations of transradial coronary intervention (TRI). We describe a successful case involving a patient with coronary artery disease who underwent TRI via a well-developed radial recurrent artery branch from the radioulnar alpha loop using a sheathless guiding catheter.

The radial artery is generally the preferred access route in coronary angiography and coronary intervention. However, small size, spasm, and anatomical variations concerning the radial artery are major limitations of transradial coronary intervention (TRI). We describe a successful case involving a patient with coronary artery disease who underwent TRI via a well-developed radial recurrent artery branch from the radioulnar alpha loop using a sheathless guiding catheter.
Arteries ; Catheters ; Coronary Angiography ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Humans ; Percutaneous Coronary Intervention ; Radial Artery ; Spasm

No abstract available.
Hematoma ; Mesenteric Artery, Superior

In the present study, we investigated if priming of autoreactive CD8+ T cells would be inhibited by competitive peptides for major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I binding. We used a mouse model of vitiligo which is induced by immunization of Kb-binding tyrosinase-related protein 2 (TRP2)-180 peptide. Competitive peptides for Kb binding inhibited IFN-gamma production and proliferation of TRP2-180-specific CD8+ T cells upon ex vivo peptide restimulation, while other MHC class I-binding peptides did not. In mice, the capability of inhibition was influenced by T-cell immunogenicity of the competitive peptides. The competitive peptide with a high T-cell immunogenicity efficiently inhibited priming of TRP2-180-specific CD8+ T cells in vivo, whereas the competitive peptide with a low T-cell immunogenicity did not. Taken together, the inhibition of priming of autoreactive CD8+ T cells depends on not only competition of peptides for MHC class I binding but also competitive peptide-specific CD8+ T cells, suggesting that clonal expansion of autoreactive T cells would be affected by expansion of competitive peptide-specific T cells. This result provides new insights into the development of competitive peptides-based therapy for the treatment of autoimmune diseases.
Animals ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Immunization ; Major Histocompatibility Complex ; Mice ; Peptides ; T-Lymphocytes ; Vitiligo

VAHS is characterized by viral-like prodromal symptoms, high fever' malaise, hepatosp lenomegaly, pancytopenia. The dignosis is based on a bone marrow biopsy specimen that demonstrates histiocytic hyperplasia with prominent hemophagocytosis of red blood cells, platelets, and nucleated hematopoietic cells Recently, the use of immunosuppressants tends to increase due to increase of autoimmune disease and organ transplantation patients. A large portion of leukemia and organ transplant patients developed VAHS as a secondary viral infection after anticancer drug and immunosuppressants therapy was administered In the field of ophthalmology, VAHS can occur by administration of immunosuppressants in corneal transplantation and autoimmune uveitis patients. Recently we experienced a case of fatal VAHS in a young uveitis patient who had been treated with immunosuppressants. We report this specfic case with literature review bec,lUse of the need for careful observation of general findings occurring during treatment of immunosuppressants such as corticosteroid.
Autoimmune Diseases ; Biopsy ; Bone Marrow ; Corneal Transplantation ; Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Hyperplasia ; Immunosuppressive Agents ; Leukemia ; Ophthalmology ; Organ Transplantation ; Pancytopenia ; Prodromal Symptoms ; Transplants ; Uveitis*