No abstract available.
Intellectual Disability ; Muscle Weakness ; Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne*

BACKGROUND: To investigate epidemiology of a specific strain, and evaluate correlation between Mycobacterium tuberculosis restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) and antimicrobial susceptibility, we studied about Mycobacterium tuberculosis RFLP isolated from Taegu area. METHODS: From Oct. 1997 and Mar. 1999, we isolated 54 strains of M. tuberculosis from the patients visiting Catholic University of Taegu Hyosung, Taegu, Korea. We studied their drug susceptibility and analyzed the Pvu treated RFLP using digoxigenin labeled IS6110 probe. RESULTS: Fifty-three had more than 6 bands of RFLP and strains with 10 bands were predominant (15 strain). Cluster analysis reveals eleven distinct clusters showing 57.4% of clustered rate (31 strains from A to K) and 35 independent patterns showing 64.8% of the diversity rate at 70% similarity level. Cluster A was the largest group (7 strains) and the next was cluster B (5 strains). Most of the patients with cluster A lived in Taegu city (85.7%) and all of 2 cluster K patients lived in Euisung area. There was no correlation between RFLP pattern and antimicrobial susceptibility, but all two strains of cluster H were resistant to isoniazid. Strains of clustered were also prevalent in the people of middle class. CONCLUSIONS: Compared to the RFLP analysis in the developed countries, Korea disclosed lower rate of diversity and higher clustered patterns of M. tuberculosis. The clustered strains were also prevalent among the people of middle class.
Daegu* ; Developed Countries ; Digoxigenin ; Epidemiology ; Humans ; Isoniazid ; Korea ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis* ; Mycobacterium* ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length* ; Tuberculosis

BACKGROUND: As living and dead Mycobacteria could be amplified by polymerase chain reaction(PCR), it was considered that PCR was inappropriate for the monitoring of pulmonary tuberculosis after treatment. But we found negative conversion of PCR after successful treatment. We would like to know about the negative conversion rate of PCR and its conversion time after antituberculous treatment. METHODS: We collected 113 sputums from the 16 patients of pulmonary tuberculsosis visiting Catholic University Hospital of Taegu Hyosung. We consecutively tested AFB smear, AFB culture and PCR by 2 to 4 weeks after antituberculous therapy. The patients were classified according 13 the chest X ray findings. RESULTS: We detectsd negative conversion of PCR from all 16 patients of the pulmonary tuberculosis within 30 weeks after treatment. The average negative conversion time was 16 +/- 8 weeks. The conversion time according to the chest X-ray findings were as follows : For the 8 cases of minimum were 9 +/- 5 weeks,4 cases of modreate advanced were 20 +/- 8 weeks, and 4 cases of far advanced were 23 +/- 2 weeks. The product of PCR was gradually decreased according to the duration of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: From the results of our study, we could utilize M. tubercuosis PCR for the prediction of therapy response and monitoring of the patient with pulmonary tuberculosis after treatment.
Daegu ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Sputum ; Thorax ; Tuberculosis, Pulmonary*

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries experience of children in Laos. Methods: Oral examinations were performed on a total of 1,540 students in 513 primary school students, 537 middle school students, and 490 high school students and the results analyzed. Results: The dft index (decayed-filled primary teeth index) of 6-year-old primary school children was 6.04. The DMFT index (decayed-filled-missing permanent teeth index) was 1.59 in 12-yearold middle school children and 2.04 in 15-year-old middle school children. Conclusions Caries experience in most of the age groups was on the high side. It is considered that in Laos, a treatment project to stop the progression of caries is necessary in parallel with a prevention project to lower the caries fatality rate.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the dental caries experience of children in Laos. Methods: Oral examinations were performed on a total of 1,540 students in 513 primary school students, 537 middle school students, and 490 high school students and the results analyzed. Results: The dft index (decayed-filled primary teeth index) of 6-year-old primary school children was 6.04. The DMFT index (decayed-filled-missing permanent teeth index) was 1.59 in 12-yearold middle school children and 2.04 in 15-year-old middle school children. Conclusions Caries experience in most of the age groups was on the high side. It is considered that in Laos, a treatment project to stop the progression of caries is necessary in parallel with a prevention project to lower the caries fatality rate.

Background: After the global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), lifestyle changes to curb the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., wearing a mask, hand washing, and social distancing) have also affected the outbreak of other infectious diseases. However, few studies have been conducted on whether the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed over the past year with COVID-19. In this study, we examined how the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed since COVID-19 outbreak through open data. Methods: We summarized the data on the several viruses and bacteria that cause gastrointestinal infections from the open data of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for 3 years from March 2018 to February 2021 (from Spring 2018 to Winter 2020). Moreover, we confirmed three most common legal gastrointestinal infectious pathogens from March 2016. Results: From March 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic was in full swing and social distancing and personal hygiene management were heavily emphasized, the incidence of infection from each virus was drastically decreased. The reduction rates compared to the averages of the last 2 years were as follows: total viruses 31.9%, norovirus 40.2%, group A rotavirus 31.8%, enteric adenovirus 13.4%, astrovirus 7.0%, and sapovirus 12.2%. Among bacterial pathogens, the infection rates of Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens did not decrease but rather increased in some periods when compared to the average of the last two years. The incidence of nontyphoidal Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, or enteropathogenic Escherichia coli somewhat decreased but not significantly compared to the previous two years. Conclusion The incidence of infection from gastrointestinal viruses, which are mainly caused by the fecal-to-oral route and require direct contact among people, was significantly reduced, whereas the incidence of bacterial pathogens, which have food-mediated transmission as the main cause of infection, did not decrease significantly.

Background: After the global epidemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), lifestyle changes to curb the spread of COVID-19 (e.g., wearing a mask, hand washing, and social distancing) have also affected the outbreak of other infectious diseases. However, few studies have been conducted on whether the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed over the past year with COVID-19. In this study, we examined how the incidence of gastrointestinal infections has changed since COVID-19 outbreak through open data. Methods: We summarized the data on the several viruses and bacteria that cause gastrointestinal infections from the open data of the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency for 3 years from March 2018 to February 2021 (from Spring 2018 to Winter 2020). Moreover, we confirmed three most common legal gastrointestinal infectious pathogens from March 2016. Results: From March 2020, when the COVID-19 epidemic was in full swing and social distancing and personal hygiene management were heavily emphasized, the incidence of infection from each virus was drastically decreased. The reduction rates compared to the averages of the last 2 years were as follows: total viruses 31.9%, norovirus 40.2%, group A rotavirus 31.8%, enteric adenovirus 13.4%, astrovirus 7.0%, and sapovirus 12.2%. Among bacterial pathogens, the infection rates of Campylobacter and Clostridium perfringens did not decrease but rather increased in some periods when compared to the average of the last two years. The incidence of nontyphoidal Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, or enteropathogenic Escherichia coli somewhat decreased but not significantly compared to the previous two years. Conclusion The incidence of infection from gastrointestinal viruses, which are mainly caused by the fecal-to-oral route and require direct contact among people, was significantly reduced, whereas the incidence of bacterial pathogens, which have food-mediated transmission as the main cause of infection, did not decrease significantly.

IgA nephropathy is one of the most common forms of primary glomerulonephritis in adults, and the pathogenetic mechanisms seem to be diverse. Proinflammatory cytokines, Th1/Th2 cytokines, and chemokines would be involved in the pathogenetic pathways and would affect the functional and histologic consequences. To evaluate this hypothesis, we tried to quantify the magnitude of intrarenal gene expression of various cytokines(TNF-alpha, IL-1beta, IL- 6, IL-15, IFN-gamma, IL-2, IL-10) and chemokines(IL-8, RANTES) in 61 renal core biopsy specimens confirmed as IgA nephropathy by immunofluorescent microscopy. Semiquantitative reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reactions(RT-PCR) using the internal competitors were done for the quantification of gene transcripts. And using the immunohistochemistry (IHC), we tried to determine the degree of expression and the location of various cytokines and chemokines in renal tissues in 29 patients among the above patients. The IFN-gamma/IL-10 ratio was higher in patients with renal dysfunction than that in patients with normal renal function(p=0.0483). Gene transcript levels of proinflammatory cytokines(TNF-alpha, IL-1beta) were high in patients with significant proteinuria. In patients with severe glomerular sclerosis, the ratio of IFN-gamma/IL-10 gene transcripts was high(p=0.0363). IL-10 gene transcript level was related to the severity of tubulointerstitial damage. The levels of gene expression of TNF-alpha(p=0.0026), IL-10(p=0.0092) and IFN-gamma(p=0.0188) were related to the degree of mesangial matrix expansion, and the extent of intrarenal arteriolar lesions correlated with the expression of the IL-8 genetranscript(r=0.3828, p=0.0033). The cellular infiltration in glomeruli was related with chemokine(IL-8) gene expression, but the relation was not significant statistically. The degree of IgA deposition in glomeruli was related with the expression of IL-6 and IL-15. The expression of intrarenal gene transcripts of various cytokines and chemokines were closely interrelated. Th1 or Th2 cytokine polarization was not present in IgA nephropathy. In IHC, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and IL-2 were immunostained dominantly in mesangial region, but not in tubulointerstitial region. In contrast, positive reactions for IL-10 were observed mainly in tubules. The significant reactions for IL-8 were noted in the periarteriolar and arteriolar areas. The results of RT- PCR and IHC showed positive relationships, but those were not significant statistically. This study suggests that proinflammatory, Th1/ Th2 cytokines and chemokines are involved in the specific processes of inflammation and immunologic injury, and their predominance and the level of expression could determine the pathogenetic processes and the severity of the clinical manifestations in IgA nephropathy.
Adult ; Biopsy ; Chemokines* ; Cytokines* ; Gene Expression ; Glomerulonephritis ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA* ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin A* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Inflammation ; Interleukin-10 ; Interleukin-15 ; Interleukin-2 ; Interleukin-6 ; Interleukin-8 ; Microscopy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Proteinuria ; Sclerosis ; Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha

Echocardiographic parameters can predict cardiovascular events in several clinical settings. However, which echocardiographic parameter is most predictive of each cardiovascular or non-cardiovascular event in patients starting hemodialysis remains unresolved. Echocardiography was used in 189 patients at the time of starting hemodialysis. We established primary outcomes as follows: cardiovascular events (ischemic heart disease, cerebrovascular disease, peripheral artery disease, and acute heart failure), fatal non-cardiovascular events, all-cause mortality, and all combined events. The most predictable echocardiographic parameter was determined in the Cox hazard ratio model with a backward selection after the adjustment of multiple covariates. Among several echocardiographic parameters, the E/e' ratio and the left ventricular end-diastolic volume (LVEDV) were the strongest predictors of cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular events, respectively. After the adjustment of clinical and biochemical covariates, the predictability of E/e' remained consistent, but LVEDV did not. When clinical events were further analyzed, the significant echocardiographic parameters were as follows: s' for ischemic heart disease and peripheral artery disease, LVEDV and E/e' for acute heart failure, and E/e' for all-cause mortality and all combined events. However, no echocardiographic parameter independently predicted cerebrovascular disease or non-cardiovascular events. In conclusion, E/e', s', and LVEDV have independent predictive values for several cardiovascular and mortality events.
*Echocardiography ; Female ; Heart Failure/*diagnosis/mortality ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic/mortality/*therapy ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; *Renal Dialysis ; Risk Factors ; Ventricular Function, Left/*physiology

PURPOSE: We conducted a multi-center randomized double-blind study to determine the effects of 6-month therapy with sulodexide on urinary protein excretion in patients with idiopathic Immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of seventy-seven patients participated in the study. They were randomly allocated to one of three groups: sulodexide 75 mg or 150 mg daily or the placebo for 6 months. The primary end point was the achievement, at 6 months, of at least 50% reduction in urine protein/creatinine ratio (UPCR) from the baseline value. RESULTS: At 6 months, the primary end point was achieved by 12.5% of the patients assigned to the placebo, 4.0% of the patients assigned to sulodexide 75 mg daily and 21.4% of those assigned to 150 mg (p=0.308). Treatment with sulodexide 150 mg daily for 6 months significantly reduced log UPCR from 6.38+/-0.77 at baseline to 5.98+/-0.94 at 6 months (p=0.045), while treatment with sulodexide 75 mg daily and placebo did not. CONCLUSION: A 6-month treatment with sulodexide did not achieve 50% reduction of urinary protein excretion in IgA nephropathy patients, but showed a tendency to increase the time-dependent anti-proteinuric effect. Therefore, long-term clinical trials on a larger scale are warranted to elucidate the hypothesis that sulodexide affords renal protection in IgA nephropathy patients.
Adult ; Anticoagulants/*therapeutic use ; Double-Blind Method ; Female ; Glomerulonephritis, IGA/complications/*drug therapy ; Glycosaminoglycans/*therapeutic use ; Humans ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Proteinuria/complications/*drug therapy