BACKGROUND: Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) is linked specifically to oral and lip infections while HSV-2 is involved in genital infections. We evaluated a recently reported nested-multiplex ploymerase chain reaction (NM-PCR) for the detection and typing of HSV and compared the results with indirect immunofluorescence (IF) after cell culture. METHODS: One hundred thirty three specimens were received from patients suspected of having clinical HSV infections. HSV was cultured by the shell vial method and stained with type specific monoclonal antibodies. NM-PCR was performed using crude samples. RESULTS: HSV was detected in 45 (33.8%) and 46 (34.6%) of the 133 specimens by IF and NMPCR, respectively. All of the HSV IF positive specimens were also positive by NM-PCR. Typing by the two methods concurred in all but two of the 45 specimens; the two specimens were typed as HSV-1 and HSN-2, respectivey, by IF, and both as HSV-1 and HSV-2 by NM-PCR. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that NM-PCR is a rapid and sensitive method for the detection and typing of HSV.
Antibodies, Monoclonal ; Cell Culture Techniques ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Indirect* ; Herpesvirus 1, Human ; Herpesvirus 2, Human ; Humans ; Lip ; Simplexvirus*

No abstract available.
Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia*

No abstract available.
Prostatectomy* ; Prostatic Intraepithelial Neoplasia*

BACKGROUND: Infrequent restriction site PCR (IRS-PCR) is a recently described DNA fingerprinting technique based on selective amplification of restriction endonuclease-cleaved fragments. We applied of IRS-PCR to clinical isolates of Vibrio parahaemolyticus associated with diarrhea. METHODS: IRS-PCR assay was performed with adaptors for XbaI and HhaI restriction sites. A total of 35 strains of V. parahaemolyticus which were isolated from clinical specimens of patients with diarrhea were analyzed. The isolates were collected from different geographic areas of Seoul (n=12), Incheon (n=21) and Gwangju (n=2) during 1998-2000 in Korea. RESULTS: In IRS-PCR, amplifed DNA fragments between 50 and 400 bp were found to be the most reproducible in this study. When V. parahaemolyticus isolates were amplified with AH1 and PX-G as primers, 35 isolates could be grouped into five IRS-PCR patterns: A (n=16), B (n=4), C (n=6), D (n=5) and E (n=4). The patterns were subdivided into 15 subtypes: A1, A2, B1, B2, B3, B4, C1, C2, C3, D1, D2, D3, E1, E2 and E3. The IRS-PCR patterns of V. parahaemolyticus did not show any relationship with serotype or geographic origin, but the isolates from same outbreak produced a same pattern(A1). CONCLUSION: The results provide evidence of the discriminatory power of the IRS-PCR method as it applies to V. parahaemolyticus.
Diarrhea ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Incheon ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Seoul ; Vibrio parahaemolyticus* ; Vibrio*

BACKGROUND: Cell culture is the golden standard method for Herpes simplex virus (HSV) isolation. However, some specimens require many days to develop any cytopathic effect (CPE). We developeda rapid sensitive culture technique for HSV isolations. METHODS: This study included a total of 133 patients with suspected HSV infection. Specimens were centrifuged onto a Vero cell monolayer in a shell vial. The CPE was observed daily during the5-day incubation by inverted-phase microscope. The direct immunofluorescence (DIF) stain with aHSV specific antibody was performed 2 days after sample inoculation. The negative samples in theDIF stain were reinoculated in the new shell vials after extraction of the monolayer. Polymerase chainreaction for HSV detection was performed using the original samples. RESULTS: The CPE was observed 30 (64%), 39 (83%), 43 (92%), 44 (94%), and 46 (98%) cases at1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 days incubation, respectively. The DIF stain detected 46 cases (98%) at 2 days incubation. The CPE was observed in another 7 cases at 1-day incubation after the reinoculation of negative samples. The PCR detected 47 (100%) of 133 cases. CONCLUSIONS: The reinoculation of negative sample in a shell vial culture is a rapid sensitive methodfor HSV isolation.
Cell Culture Techniques ; Culture Techniques ; Fluorescent Antibody Technique, Direct ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Simplexvirus* ; Vero Cells

Peritonitis in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) remains a major problem. Peritonitis due to Cryptococcus neoformans is an unusual complication. A 68-year-old woman on prednisolone for Behcets disease and adrenal insufficiency was admitted with chronic renal failure and CAPD was initiated. During her stay in hospital, she was treated with multiple antibiotics for urinary tract infection and CAPD peritonitis with methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). She was deteriorated insidiously and C. neoformans was cultured in the dialysate but not in the blood, urine and stool. After three days, she died. We reviewed 385 organisms isolated from 1,325 peritoneal dialysate specimens between 1990 and 2002. Staphylococcus aureus was most frequently isolated (22.6%). Fungus comprises 10.1% of the isolated organisms.
Adrenal Insufficiency ; Aged ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Cryptococcus neoformans ; Female ; Fungi ; Humans ; Kidney Failure, Chronic ; Methicillin Resistance ; Peritoneal Dialysis, Continuous Ambulatory* ; Peritonitis* ; Prednisolone ; Staphylococcus aureus ; Urinary Tract Infections

PURPOSE: To evaluate the combined role of mescenchymal stem cells (MSCs) infected with recombinant adenoviruses expressing human BDNF (rAd/hBDNF) on the erectile dysfunction in rat with cavernous nerve injury. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Rats divided into 4 groups: control group, bilateral cavernous nerve crushing group (BCNC group), BCNC with MSCs group and BCNC with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF group. After 4-week, functional assessment was done. PKH26 and BDNF staining of major pelvic ganglion and masson's trichrome staining of corpus cavernosum were performed. Western blot analysis of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) and neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS) was done in corpus cavernosum. RESULTS: After 4 weeks, BCNC with MSCs and MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF groups showed significantly well-preserved erectile function compared with BCNC group. Moreover, the erectile function of MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF group was significantly well-preserved than BCNC with MSCs group. The smooth muscle of corpus cavernosum was significantly preserved in BCNC with MSCs and MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF groups compared with BCNC group. More preservation of smooth muscle was observed in rats with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF than with MSCs alone. Significant increase expression of eNOS and nNOS was noted in rats with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF than with MSCs alone. CONCLUSIONS: The erectile function was more preserved after injection with MSCs infected with rAd/hBDNF in rat with ED caused by cavernous nerve injury. Therefore, the use of MSC infected with rAd/hBDNF may have a better treatment effect on ED cause by cavernous nerve injury.
Adenoviridae ; Animals ; Blotting, Western ; Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor ; Caves ; Erectile Dysfunction ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Male ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Muscle, Smooth ; Nerve Crush ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III ; Organic Chemicals ; Rats ; Stem Cells

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which gastric contents regurgitate into the esophagus or beyond, resulting in either troublesome symptoms or complications. GERD is heterogeneous in terms of varied manifestations, test findings, and treatment responsiveness. GERD diagnosis can be established with symptomatology, pathology, or physiology. Recently the Lyon consensus defined the “proven GERD” with concrete evidence for reflux, including advanced grade erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles classification grades C and or D esophagitis), long-segment Barrett’s mucosa or peptic strictures on endoscopy or distal esophageal acid exposure time > 6% on 24-hour ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring. However, some Asian researchers have different opinions on whether the same standards should be applied to the Asian population. The prevalence of GERD is increasing in Asia. The present evidence-based guidelines were developed using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. In GERD with typical symptoms, a proton pump inhibitor test can be recommended as a sensitive, cost-effective, and practical test for GERD diagnosis.Based on a meta-analysis of 19 estimated acid-exposure time values in Asians, the reference range upper limit for esophageal acid exposure time was 3.2% (95% confidence interval, 2.7-3.9%) in the Asian countries. Esophageal manometry and novel impedance measurements, including mucosal impedance and a post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave, are promising in discrimination of GERD among different reflux phenotypes, thus increasing its diagnostic yield. We also propose a long-term strategy of evidence-based GERD treatment with proton pump inhibitors and other drugs.

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) is a condition in which gastric contents regurgitate into the esophagus or beyond, resulting in either troublesome symptoms or complications. GERD is heterogeneous in terms of varied manifestations, test findings, and treatment responsiveness. GERD diagnosis can be established with symptomatology, pathology, or physiology. Recently the Lyon consensus defined the “proven GERD” with concrete evidence for reflux, including advanced grade erosive esophagitis (Los Angeles classification grades C and or D esophagitis), long-segment Barrett’s mucosa or peptic strictures on endoscopy or distal esophageal acid exposure time > 6% on 24-hour ambulatory pH-impedance monitoring. However, some Asian researchers have different opinions on whether the same standards should be applied to the Asian population. The prevalence of GERD is increasing in Asia. The present evidence-based guidelines were developed using a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. In GERD with typical symptoms, a proton pump inhibitor test can be recommended as a sensitive, cost-effective, and practical test for GERD diagnosis.Based on a meta-analysis of 19 estimated acid-exposure time values in Asians, the reference range upper limit for esophageal acid exposure time was 3.2% (95% confidence interval, 2.7-3.9%) in the Asian countries. Esophageal manometry and novel impedance measurements, including mucosal impedance and a post-reflux swallow-induced peristaltic wave, are promising in discrimination of GERD among different reflux phenotypes, thus increasing its diagnostic yield. We also propose a long-term strategy of evidence-based GERD treatment with proton pump inhibitors and other drugs.

Esophageal achalasia is a primary motility disorder characterized by insufficient lower esophageal sphincter relaxation and loss of esophageal peristalsis. Achalasia is a chronic disease that causes progressive irreversible loss of esophageal motor function. The recent development of high-resolution manometry has facilitated the diagnosis of achalasia, and determining the achalasia subtypes based on high-resolution manometry can be important when deciding on treatment methods. Peroral endoscopic myotomy is less invasive than surgery with comparable efficacy. The present guidelines (the “2019 Seoul Consensus on Esophageal Achalasia Guidelines”) were developed based on evidence-based medicine; the Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association and Korean Society of Neurogastroenterology and Motility served as the operating and development committees, respectively. The development of the guidelines began in June 2018, and a draft consensus based on the Delphi process was achieved in April 2019. The guidelines consist of 18 recommendations: 2 pertaining to the definition and epidemiology of achalasia, 6 pertaining to diagnoses, and 10 pertaining to treatments. The endoscopic treatment section is based on the latest evidence from meta-analyses. Clinicians (including gastroenterologists, upper gastrointestinal tract surgeons, general physicians, nurses, and other hospital workers) and patients could use these guidelines to make an informed decision on the management of achalasia.