Electronic microscopy is essential for virus research and detection. To detect viruses or microorganisms, the study of appearance, dimentions, microstructure, parallel structure (cell, capsid, capsome and spikes), cell outer layer, pore and hair and comparison with the previous ones is vital through electronic microscopy. The advantage of this method is samples taken easily, quick classification, multifactoral causes and fast diagnosis.
Virus Diseases ; Microscopy ; Diagnosis

No abstract available.
Diagnosis* ; In Situ Hybridization* ; Virus Diseases*

Humans ; Child ; Brain Diseases ; Influenza, Human/diagnosis* ; Influenza A virus

Child ; Clinical Laboratory Techniques ; Humans ; Microbiological Techniques ; Viral Load ; Virus Cultivation ; Virus Diseases ; diagnosis

BACKGROUND: Recently, dengue fever has increased throughout tropical regions and emerged as the most important vector borne viral disease in human. 4 serotypes of viruses are circulating concurrently in these regions and thus it may be anticipated to increase risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Even though dengue fever is still not endemic in Korea, it is necessary to test antibodies against dengue viruses because the number of Koreans who have visited these regions is continuously increasing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum specimens from persons with suspected dengue fever had been collected. Commercial kit, immunochromatographic test (ICA), and the IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) were employed for dengue fever detection in these studies. For confirmation randomized 25 specimens among total of 99 specimens were selected and compared with those results from commercial kit and IFA. RESULTS: 33 (33.3%) among 99 specimens showed positive antibody against dengue virus by commercial kit. Positive rate of traveller who have visited Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thiland was 54.5%. To compare the efficiency of test methods, 25 randomly selected specimens were tested by the MAC-ELISA and IFA simultaneously. 9 specimens showed postive results with the MAC-ELISA method whereas 13 speciments were positive with the IFA methods. CONCLUSION: Confirming the diagnosis of dengue fever with antibody against dengue virus was attempted for the first time in Korea. The results from our study indicate that establishing a national surveillance and/or laboratory diagnostic system in Korea are necessary. In addtion, antibody test strategies for national surveillance system should be carefully considered.
Antibodies ; Dengue Virus* ; Dengue* ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Indonesia ; Korea ; Malaysia ; Philippines ; Severe Dengue ; Virus Diseases

BACKGROUND: Recently, dengue fever has increased throughout tropical regions and emerged as the most important vector borne viral disease in human. 4 serotypes of viruses are circulating concurrently in these regions and thus it may be anticipated to increase risk of dengue hemorrhagic fever. Even though dengue fever is still not endemic in Korea, it is necessary to test antibodies against dengue viruses because the number of Koreans who have visited these regions is continuously increasing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Serum specimens from persons with suspected dengue fever had been collected. Commercial kit, immunochromatographic test (ICA), and the IgM capture enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (MAC-ELISA) were employed for dengue fever detection in these studies. For confirmation randomized 25 specimens among total of 99 specimens were selected and compared with those results from commercial kit and IFA. RESULTS: 33 (33.3%) among 99 specimens showed positive antibody against dengue virus by commercial kit. Positive rate of traveller who have visited Indonesia, Philippines, Malaysia, Thiland was 54.5%. To compare the efficiency of test methods, 25 randomly selected specimens were tested by the MAC-ELISA and IFA simultaneously. 9 specimens showed postive results with the MAC-ELISA method whereas 13 speciments were positive with the IFA methods. CONCLUSION: Confirming the diagnosis of dengue fever with antibody against dengue virus was attempted for the first time in Korea. The results from our study indicate that establishing a national surveillance and/or laboratory diagnostic system in Korea are necessary. In addtion, antibody test strategies for national surveillance system should be carefully considered.
Antibodies ; Dengue Virus* ; Dengue* ; Diagnosis ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Indonesia ; Korea ; Malaysia ; Philippines ; Severe Dengue ; Virus Diseases

The value of combined detection of neutrophil apolipoprotein (HNL), serum amyloid A (SAA), procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral infectious diseases. A retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical data of infected patients and healthy people in the clinical department of Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from September to December in 2022. 100 patients with confirmed infection were divided into bacterial infection group (n=50) and virus infection group (n=50), and 50 healthy people were selected as control group (n=50). Fasting venous blood was collected at the initial stage of admission or on the day of physical examination. HNL was detected by double antibody sandwich method, SAA and CRP were detected by nephelometry, and PCT was detected by chemiluminescence method. The efficacy of infection markers in the differential diagnosis of bacterial infection and viral infection in infected patients was evaluated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of HNL, SAA, PCT and CRP in bacterial and viral infectious diseases; Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of each index on the diagnostic efficiency. The results showed that the levels of HNL (126.60±33.32) ng/ml, PCT (28.02±11.37) ng/ml and CRP (36.13±14.37) mg/L in bacterial infection group were significantly higher than those of HNL (47.72±15.94) ng/ml, PCT (1.27±0.40) ng/ml, CRP (18.77±10.66) mg/L in virus group and HNL (38.21±12.53) ng/ml, PCT (0.38±0.12) ng/ml and CRP (4.13±1.07) mg/L in control group. The level of HNL increased most significantly (F=89.228, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUC) from large to small was HNL+SAA+PCT+CRP (0.976), HNL (0.907), PCT (0.885), CRP (0.856), SAA (0.790), SAA/CRP (0.733). The level of SAA/CRP in virus infection group (94.05±3.75) was significantly higher than that in bacteria group (17.70±3.69) and control group (3.89±1.50) (F=84.005, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUC) from large to small was HNL+SAA+PCT+CRP (0.986), SAA/CRP (0.956), SAA (0.878), HNL (0.768), CRP (0.742), PCT (0.730). In conclusion, HNL has the best auxiliary diagnostic efficacy in bacterial infection, followed by PCT; SAA/CRP has the best auxiliary diagnostic efficacy in viral infection, followed by SAA; the combined detection of serum HNL, SAA, PCT and CRP may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections.
Humans ; C-Reactive Protein ; Procalcitonin ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; Retrospective Studies ; Virus Diseases/diagnosis* ; Bacteria ; Communicable Diseases ; Bacterial Infections/diagnosis*

The value of combined detection of neutrophil apolipoprotein (HNL), serum amyloid A (SAA), procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in the differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral infectious diseases. A retrospective study was conducted to collect the clinical data of infected patients and healthy people in the clinical department of Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital from September to December in 2022. 100 patients with confirmed infection were divided into bacterial infection group (n=50) and virus infection group (n=50), and 50 healthy people were selected as control group (n=50). Fasting venous blood was collected at the initial stage of admission or on the day of physical examination. HNL was detected by double antibody sandwich method, SAA and CRP were detected by nephelometry, and PCT was detected by chemiluminescence method. The efficacy of infection markers in the differential diagnosis of bacterial infection and viral infection in infected patients was evaluated. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was used to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of HNL, SAA, PCT and CRP in bacterial and viral infectious diseases; Logistic regression was used to analyze the influence of each index on the diagnostic efficiency. The results showed that the levels of HNL (126.60±33.32) ng/ml, PCT (28.02±11.37) ng/ml and CRP (36.13±14.37) mg/L in bacterial infection group were significantly higher than those of HNL (47.72±15.94) ng/ml, PCT (1.27±0.40) ng/ml, CRP (18.77±10.66) mg/L in virus group and HNL (38.21±12.53) ng/ml, PCT (0.38±0.12) ng/ml and CRP (4.13±1.07) mg/L in control group. The level of HNL increased most significantly (F=89.228, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUC) from large to small was HNL+SAA+PCT+CRP (0.976), HNL (0.907), PCT (0.885), CRP (0.856), SAA (0.790), SAA/CRP (0.733). The level of SAA/CRP in virus infection group (94.05±3.75) was significantly higher than that in bacteria group (17.70±3.69) and control group (3.89±1.50) (F=84.005, P<0.05). The area under ROC curve (AUC) from large to small was HNL+SAA+PCT+CRP (0.986), SAA/CRP (0.956), SAA (0.878), HNL (0.768), CRP (0.742), PCT (0.730). In conclusion, HNL has the best auxiliary diagnostic efficacy in bacterial infection, followed by PCT; SAA/CRP has the best auxiliary diagnostic efficacy in viral infection, followed by SAA; the combined detection of serum HNL, SAA, PCT and CRP may be helpful for the differential diagnosis of bacterial and viral infections.
Humans ; C-Reactive Protein ; Procalcitonin ; Serum Amyloid A Protein ; Retrospective Studies ; Virus Diseases/diagnosis* ; Bacteria ; Communicable Diseases ; Bacterial Infections/diagnosis*

BACKGROUND: Molluscum contagiosum is a commom benign viral disease of the skin characterized by discrete, 2-5 mm, flesh colored, slightly umbilicated, dome-shaped papules with frequent grouping. But atypical presentation of site, number and size is recently not rare, it may give rise to difficulty in diagnosis. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the clinical and histopathological characteristics of various atypical molluscum contagiosa. METHODS: We reviewed medical records, clinical photographs, and histopathologic findings in biopsy specimens of 17 patients with molluscum contagiosa diagnosed at Korea Veterans Hospital from January 1990 to June 2001. The ratio of male to female patients was 3:1, and the mean age at diagnosis was 30 years(range: 3-67). RESULTS: 1. Most commonly involved sites were trunk(80%), extremities(30%), and perianal(12%). 2. The duration of the lesion is 15 days to 3 years. 3. The size of lesion is 2 mm to 50 mm. 4. The number of lesions is one to over a hundred. 5. The clinical features were multiple papules without umbilication(9 cases, 53%) and giant tumor(2 case), pyogenic granuloma-like lesion(2 cases), solitary papule with flat surface(2 cases). 6. The combined disease are atopic dermatitis(1 case), epidermal cyst(1 case), and liver cirrhosis(1 case), diabetes mellitus(1 cases). CONCLUSION: This study shows various atypical molluscum contagiosa in immunocompetent patients. Histopathological examination in atypical molluscum contagiosa is necessary for the proper diagnosis and treatment.
Biopsy ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hospitals, Veterans ; Humans ; Korea ; Liver ; Male ; Medical Records ; Molluscum Contagiosum ; Skin ; Virus Diseases

Infectious mononucleosis is most commonly caused by Epstein-Barr virus(EBV) and is a self-limited but occasionally life-threatening. Its peculiar characteristics are sore throat, cervical lymphadenopathy and hepatosplenomegaly. Recently, the age of primary EBV infection is becoming late in Korea due to socioeconomic development. So the authors retrospectively reviewed the cases of infectious mononucleosis. The results of clinical and laboratory findings suggest that infectious mononucleosis should be considered as a cause of pharyngotonsillitis and the assessment of viral capsid antigen(VCA) IgM is necessary for the diagnosis of this disease.
Capsid ; Diagnosis ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Immunoglobulin M ; Infectious Mononucleosis* ; Korea ; Lymphatic Diseases ; Pharyngitis ; Retrospective Studies