BACKGROUND: It has been proposed that the long arm of the human Y chromosome contains AZF (the azoospermia factor), the gene or genes that control spermatogenesis. In this study, I detected microdeletions on the long arm of the Y chromosome and analysed the relationship between the microdeletion detected and the failure of spermatogenesis in the patients investigated. METHODS: In this study, I analyzed 35 infertile patients, including 21 azoospermia and 14 oligospermia. Genomic DNAs were isolated from peripheral blood samples. Each sample was examined for the presence or absence of the total 9 Y-DNA landmarks on the Y chromosome including those deleted in the azoospermia and Y-chromosome RNA recognition motif (RBM1), using the polymerase chain reaction amplification. RESULTS: I detected microdeletions on the long arm of the Y chromosome in 4 patients with azoospermia. All 4 samples with microdeletions of the Y chromosome were identified with microdeletions of multiple loci. The microleletion incidence was 2.9% for sY143 and 11.4% for other loci (sY152, sY153 and sY255). But, the microdeletion of RBM1 was not identified. CONCLUSIONS: Even though the microdeletion analysis of the Y chromosome was not fully performed, this report suggests the presence of microdeletions within the Y chromosome in patients with azoospermia, supporting the relationship between the chromosomal region involved and the process of sper-matogenesis.
Arm ; Azoospermia* ; Chromosomes, Human, Y ; DNA ; Humans ; Incidence ; Male ; Oligospermia* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA ; Spermatogenesis ; Y Chromosome*

BACKGROUND: A peripheral blood smear has been the gold standard method for the diagnosis of malaria infection. Recently, many other methods have been introduced, although having inferior sensitivity and specificity to peripheral blood smears. We evaluated Neodin malaria PCR kit and its applicability in clinical settings. METHODS: Samples from seventy patients who visited Korea University hospital were used for evaluation. DNA from EDTA blood was tested in nested multiplex PCR and 470 bp for Plasmodium vivax or 340 bp for Plasmodium falciparum was confirmed after electrophoresis. The detection limit was determined by dilution of malaria positive blood with normal blood. RESULTS: Thirty-five cases of P. vivax and 10 cases of P. falciparum were noted. Except for a case of falciparum malaria, all positive cases were consistent with the peripheral blood smear results. Detection limit was 3.6 parasite/microL. CONCLUSIONS: Neodin malaria nested multiplex PCR has high sensitivity and the ability for species discrimination and may be available in the diagnosis of malaria infection.
Diagnosis* ; Discrimination (Psychology) ; DNA ; Edetic Acid ; Electrophoresis ; Humans ; Korea ; Limit of Detection ; Malaria* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction* ; Plasmodium falciparum ; Plasmodium vivax ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Sensitivity and Specificity

BACKGROUND: Chimerism analysis used to be one of the most valuable methods for monitoring patients after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT). The relationship between the mixed chimerism status and the risk of relapse has been controversial. We analysed the clinical significance of mixed chimerism for the prediction of relapse after SCT. METHODS: Between October 2000 and January 2002, 16 patients with haematologic malignancies treated with SCT were included in this study. The median follow-up periods were 11.5 months (range 5-32 months) after SCT. For chimerism analysis, STR (D13S317, D5S818, D7S820) and VNTR (D1S80, D17S30) loci were amplified by PCR. Patients who exhibited complete donor hematopoiesis at all times during the follow-up period were defined as CCG (complete chimerism group) and those who showed mixed chimerism at least once at any time were definded as the MCG (mixed chimerism group). Relapse was considered based on clinical, hematologic and cytogenetic findings. RESULTS: MCG was 63% (10/16). Relapse was observed in 80% (8/10) of MCG and none of CCG (P>0.05). Among 8 relapsed patients, two patients showed MC 1 month prior to relapse and 4 patients changed to MC from CC at relapse status. The remaining 1 patient continued to show CC. CONCLUSIONS: Mixed chimerism seems to be associated with a high risk of relapse. For early detection of relapse, chimerism analysis may need to be performed at shorter time intervals than once a month.
Chimerism* ; Cytogenetics ; Follow-Up Studies ; Hematopoiesis ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Recurrence ; Tissue Donors

We report a case of naturally occuring anti-Xga in a 22-year-old man suffering from multiple traumas, who had no past history of transfusion or transplantation. The positive reaction was detected at 37 degrees Cin the antibody screening test with LISS/Coombs card (DiaMed AG, Cressier, Morat, Switzerland), which disappeared at the enzyme phase with the NaCl/Enzyme card (DiaMed AG). The Xga antigen was negative on his red cell surfaces. The unexpected antibody was finally identified as anti-Xga. We found four of twelve units of packed red blood cells that were compatible with the patient's serum. Anti-Xga is a very rare unexpected antibody in Korea, so we need more study in order to determine incidence and the significance of this antibody.
Erythrocytes ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; Multiple Trauma ; Young Adult

BACKGROUND: Recently, trak - C (Total HCV core antigen test; Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, Raritan, NJ, USA) that is based on the enzyme- linked immnunosorbent assay was developed. So, we tried to compare the performance of the Hepatitis C virus (HCV) total core antigen test (HCVAg) with the qualitative in-house reverse transcription (RT) - polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay and HCV- RNA Quantitation assay (HCVQn, Amplicor HCV monitor test version 2.0; Roche Diagnostics System, Basel, Switzerland). METHODS: Dilution test was performed to evaluate the reproducibility and detection sensitivity of the methods. 87 sera of 70 Hepatitis C virus antibody (Ab) positive patients were tested to evaluate the diagnostic sensitivity and concordance of three methods, and to discover the quantity relationship of HCVAg and HCVQn. We also contained the results of 100 negative control specimens by HCV Ag to evaluate the specificity. RESULTS: In the dilution test, the coefficient variation values of HCVAg were 41%, 29%, and 21% and HCVQn were 17%, 11%, and 150% of diluted sera respectively at 50, 5(-1), and 5(-2) dilution factor for four days running. The qualitative in - house HCV RT-PCR (5(-5) dilution factor) and HCVQn (5(-5) dilution factor) were more sensitive than the HCVAg (5(-2) dilution factor). And the diagnostic sensitivity was high in order on the qualitative in - house HCV RT-PCR; 97%, HCVQn; 91%, and HCVAg; 85%. The concordance rate between the three methods was 83.9%. The quantity of HCVAg and HCVQn showed a significant correlation (R =0.8, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: HCVAg showed reliable results and a significant correlation with the quantitative RNA level. HCVQn showed a quantitative result but less sensitivity than the qualitative in-house HCV RT-PCR. Even though the HCVAg has slightly lower sensitivity than the two methods, methodologically, it is the most cost-effective, is simple, and gives high throughput. So it should be a simple economic surrogate marker for viremia detection and viral load monitoring.
Biomarkers ; Hepacivirus* ; Hepatitis C* ; Hepatitis* ; Humans ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Reverse Transcription ; RNA* ; Running ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Viral Load ; Viremia

BACKGROUND: The hepatitis B surface antibody (anti - HBs) level has been used as an indicator for protective immunity after vaccination. Various kinds of assay systems including EIA (Enzyme Immunoas-say) and MEIA (Microparticle enzyme immunoassay) have been used for the quantification of that antibody. Although most anti - HBs assay systems have been standardized based on the WHO reference preparations, and results of the assay systems are in good agreement for most of the serums that were examined, some discrepancies in the cases have been observed among the various assay systems. In this study, four kinds of anti - HBs assay systems were compared for relative qualitative and quantitative results based on mIU/mL unit. METHODS: Serum samples from five hundred visitors to the Health Care Center, Seoul Paik Hospital were assayed by Cobas Core Anti-HBs Quant EIA II (Roche), Enzygost Anti-HBs II (DADE Behring), AxSYM AUSAB (Abbott) and Elecsys Anti-HBs (Roche). RESULTS: The concordance rates among the 4 assay kits were 92.8% (464/500) and 75.6% (378/500) was positive (anti - HBs > or =10 mIU/mL) and 17.2% (86/500) were negative. Among 36 samples (7.2%) showing discrepant results, 23 samples (4.6%) were negative by AxSym or Behring or both and positive by Elecsys or Cobas Core or both. Most of the discrepant samples showed low-level reactive results in the range of 10 to 100 IU/L for the other assay kits, which showed positive results. Quantitative agreements between 2 assay systems gave linear correlation coefficients ranging from CONCLUSIONS: The quantification of anti - HBs can show various results according to the kind of assay kit used. Samples showing relatively low reactive results in the range of 10 to 100 mIU/mL when tested by Elecsys or Cobas Core should be especially interpreted cautiously because those same samples might be negative when tested by Behring or AxSYM.
Delivery of Health Care ; Hepatitis B* ; Hepatitis* ; Immunoenzyme Techniques ; Seoul ; Vaccination

BACKGROUND: Group A streptococci (GAS), the most common cause of bacterial pharyngitis, can be spread by interpersonal contact. While T typing is useful for screening, it does not completely identify organisms for epidemiological studies. The M protein is the most important virulence marker but has a drawback for epidemiological studies in that it is difficult to maintain the more than 80 necessary kinds of sera. The emm gene, which encodes the M protein, has variable sequences at the 5' N terminus, and emm genotyping using PCR and automatic sequencing has been reported lately. METHODS: Beta-hemolytic streptococci (BHS) were isolated from the throats of elementary school children in Jinju. T typing and emm genotyping was performed and compared with the T and M typing results of 1995. RESULTS: One hundred seventeen (20.1%) from 581 children yielded BHS, of which 83.8% were group A. T non-typeable strains were the most common (43.9%) and T12 was next (27.6%). The emm 12 was most frequent (33.7%), and emm 75 (10.2%), emm 18 (9.2%), emm 22 (8.2%), and emm 1 (7.1%) were relatively common. emm 2, 18, 50 and 75 were newly recognized. The isolation rate of BHS was 32.4% of which 57.1% was group A in 1995. T12 (44.7%) and T28 (13.2%) were the most common, and M12 (26.3%) and M28 (10.5%) were frequently identified in 1995. CONCLUSIONS: GAS was relatively common in school children. The distribution of the T antigen did not change significantly except for the T non-typeable since 1995. emm genotypes were diverse and emm 2, 18, 50 and 75 were newly recognized. Continuous microbiologic and epidemiological surveillance for GAS should be conducted in the community.
Antigens, Viral, Tumor ; Child* ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Genotype ; Gyeongsangnam-do ; Humans ; Mass Screening ; Pharyngitis ; Pharynx ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Virulence

BACKGROUND: Plasmid-mediated AmpC beta-lactamases (PABL) are cephalosporinases that confer resistance to a wide variety of beta-lactam drugs and that may thereby create serious therapeutic problems. The PABL-producing organisms are a major concern in nosocomial infections and should there-fore be monitored in surveillance studies. Although reported with increasing frequency in Korea, the occurrence and genotypic distributions of PABL in Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae remain unknown. METHODS: We tested a total of 911 consecutive, nonduplicate isolates of E. coli and K. pneumoniae at 12 university hospitals and a commercial laboratory in Korea. Antimicrobial susceptibilities were tested using the disk diffusion method. PABL production was determined by the modified Hodge test and multiplex PCR. The PCR differentiated the six PABL-specific families in E. coli and K. pneumoniae. RESULTS: Overall, 110 (12.1%) yielded cefoxitin non-susceptible isolates and that 28 (3.1%) demonstrated PABL producers by multiplex PCR. Based on the species, of 544 E. coli and 367 K. pneumoniae isolates tested, 8 (1.5%) and 20 (5.4%), respectively, demonstrated PABL producers. The genotypes of PCR amplification showed that the MOX, DHA, and CIT family were harbored by 4, 2, and 2 of 8 PABL-producing E. coli, and the DHA, MOX, and EBC family were harbored by 13, 6, and 1 of 20 PABL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that the occurrence of PABL-producing E. coli and K. pneumoniae is relatively high and the kinds of genotypes are variously distributed in Korea.
beta-Lactamases ; Cefoxitin ; Cross Infection ; Diffusion ; Escherichia coli* ; Escherichia* ; Genotype ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Klebsiella pneumoniae* ; Klebsiella* ; Korea* ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pneumonia ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis is the most common cause of pleural effusion in Korea. But the differential diagnosis of pleural effusion is important because malignancy and pneumonia are also other common causes of pleural effusion. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) activity is used to differentiate tuberculous pleurisy from non-tuberculous pleural effusion. However, some cases of non-tubercu-lous effusion show increased activity of ADA. Therefore, this study is for evaluating diagnostic efficacy of the ADA isoenzyme activity in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy. METHODS: The activity of total ADA and ADA2 isoenzyme activity and ratio of ADA2/ADA in 293 patients with pleural effusion were measured. Then, it was compared to conventional and PCR-hybridization methods for tuberculous pleurisy. RESULTS: Total ADA and ADA2 isoenzyme activity in tuberculous pleurisy were 81.8+/-29.5 U/L and 67.0+/-23.2, respectively, which were significantly higher than non-tuberculous effusion (20.3+/-21.3 U/L and 12.5+/-9.0 U/L1). With a cut-off level of 45 U/L in total ADA activity and the ratio of ADA2/ADA 0.6 or greater, the sensitivity and specificity for tuberculous pleurisy were 92.1% and CONCLUSIONS: Total ADA and ADA isoenzyme activities are useful to differentiate tuberculous pleurisy from non-tuberculous pleural effusion compared to conventional methods. Especially, various combinations of the total ADA, the ADA2 isoenzyme activities, and the ratio of ADA2/total ADA show high diagnostic efficacy for tuberculous pleurisy.
Adenosine Deaminase* ; Adenosine* ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Korea ; Pleural Effusion ; Pneumonia ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Tuberculosis ; Tuberculosis, Pleural*

BACKGROUND: Nineteen strains of Shigella sonnei isolated from the patients were examined regarding their biochemical characterization, serotype, and antibiotics resistance, and then analyzed for plasmid DNA profile. METHODS: Strains were tested for possession of set1A, set1B, sen, ipaH, ial, stx and invE genes using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method and were analyzed using the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) pattern against 7 outbreak isolates (10 strains). RESULTS: These strains had the typical biochemical characterization of S. sonnei with positive ornithine decarboxylase and -galactosidase activity, but were negative in mannitol fermentation. Serotype were identified as the I phase in 13 strains (68.0%) and the II phase in 6 strains (32.0%). All strains were resistant to erythromycin, vancomycin, tetracycline, and penicillin. The antibiogram type showed 4 groups from I to IV. The strains showed 8 types of plasmid profiles and were designated as P1 to P8. By the PCR, the ipaH gene and the set1B gene were detected from all of the 16 strains. The invE was detected from 9 strains (56.3%), and the sen gene was detected from 5 strains. All strains were negative for the Stx and the set1A gene. High-molecular-weight genomic DNA was prepared from 7 outbreak isolates (10 strains) and digested with the restriction endonuclease XbaI. Restriction fragment patterns of chromosomal DNA were demonstrated by PFGE. XbaI produced about 23 fragments in all strains with the their size ranged from 40 to 680 kb. Ten strains could be differentiated to 3 patterns by chromosomal DNA fingerprint. CONCLUSIONS: All of the Shigella sonnei strains that were isolated from Busan Province showed similar chromosomal DNA fragment patterns, while the Japanese differed in chromosomal DNA fingerprint pattern. PFGE is useful for the epidemiological study of Shigella sonnei associated endemic diarrhea.
Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Busan ; Diarrhea ; DNA ; DNA Fingerprinting ; DNA Restriction Enzymes ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Erythromycin ; Fermentation ; Genotype ; Humans ; Mannitol ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Ornithine Decarboxylase ; Penicillins ; Plasmids ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Shigella sonnei* ; Shigella* ; Tetracycline ; Vancomycin ; Virulence Factors* ; Virulence*