PURPOSE: To investigate the effect of intravitreal melatonin on retina in rabbit. METHODS: In four pigmented rabbit, melatonin was intravitreally injected 100 mu g/0.1 ml, 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration in left eye, DMSO was injected in right eye as control. we examined gross fundus finding and electroretinogram and then light and electronic microscopic findings at 24 hours and 1 week with both eye. RESULTS: intravitreally melatonin injected eye at 100 mu g/0.1 ml, 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration and control eye at 1 day and 1 week, significant difference was not shown in gross fundus finding, electroretinogram, light and electronic microscopic finding. Additionally edema, toxic effect change was not found in retina. CONCLUSIONS: Intravitreally injected melatonin has not influenced on retina grossly, histologically, physiologically at 100 mu g/0.1 ml and 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration. Further study is required about toxic effect of melatonin over 300 mu g/0.1 ml concentration and clinical usefulness of melatonin in retina.
Dimethyl Sulfoxide ; Edema ; Intravitreal Injections ; Melatonin* ; Retina*

No abstract available.
Coxiella burnetii ; Humans ; Korea*

No abstract available.
Humans

No abstract available.
Aged ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Humans ; *Immunochromatography ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Orientia tsutsugamushi/*immunology ; Predictive Value of Tests ; Prognosis ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology ; Scrub Typhus/*diagnosis/epidemiology/immunology

There are few studies on the severity and prognosis of patients infected with the severe acute respiratory syndrome-coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) omicron variant. From January 11, 2022 to January 25, 2022, 181 patients were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant in a single hospital in Korea. The initial clinical characteristics were investigated through the COVID-19 basic investigation form. Outcomes were reviewed using medical records. The median age of the patients was 57 years (range 1–90), and 95 patients (52.5%) were male. None were re-infected with SARS-CoV-2, and 127 (70.2%) were fully vaccinated (boosted or within 6 months after second vaccination). Forty-two patients (23.2%) were asymptomatic. Among symptomatic patients, the frequency of symptoms was as follows: cough (37.0%), sore throat (33.7%), and fever (30.4%). In terms of disease severity, 168 (92.8%) patients did not require supplemental oxygen, 6 (3.3%) required low-flow oxygen, 5 (2.8%) required high-flow oxygen, and 2 (1.1%) died. Four of the five individuals who required high-flow oxygen and the two who died were not vaccinated. Most of the patients who contracted the SARS-CoV-2 omicron variant exhibited mild clinical features; however, severe clinical features including mortality were encountered among individuals who were not vaccinated.

Gemella species are opportunistic pathogens, which cause endocarditis, meningitis, musculoskeletal infections, or pulmonary infections. It is difficult to identify all strains of these species by a conventional culture system. Because 16S rRNA gene has the interspecific polymorphisms to differentiate the bacterial species, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis could be used to identify these pathogens. To determine the molecular types of two unidentified Gram-positive cocci from two patients with infective endocarditis, PCR amplification and DNA sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene were performed. These sequences of the PCR product were compared with known 16S rRNA gene sequences using GenBank BLAST search. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of two isolates showed > 99% nucleotide similarities with those of Gemella morbillorum (GenBank accession number L14327). Phylogenetic analysis also indicated the close relatedness between these isolates and G. morbillorum.
Databases, Nucleic Acid ; Endocarditis* ; Gemella* ; Genes, rRNA ; Gram-Positive Cocci ; Humans ; Meningitis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S* ; Sequence Analysis ; Sequence Analysis, DNA

The fact that different types of cardiomyopathies can be manifested by the same sarcomere protein gene mutation in a single family is well known. However, mixed features of different types of cardiomyopathies in a single patient have not been well appreciated. We identified a novel mutation in cardiac troponin I3 (Arg186Gly) in the present case, and two of the family members showed mixed morphologic features of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and left ventricular non-compaction. Moreover, both the features of cardiomyopathies were not apparent for each type of cardiomyopathy. In the patient's family, four other members had unexpected deaths before the age of 30.
Cardiomyopathies* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Cardiomyopathy, Restrictive ; Humans ; Sarcomeres ; Troponin*

We report a case of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis from Ochrobactrum anthropi. O. anthropi is recognized as an emerging pathogen in immunocompromised patients. In contrast to most previously described cases, the patient reported here had no indwelling catheter. To our knowledge, no case of O. anthropi spontaneous bacterial peritonitis has been reported in the medical literature until now.
Treatment Outcome ; Rare Diseases/diagnosis/drug therapy/microbiology ; Peritonitis/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Ochrobactrum anthropi/drug effects/*isolation & purification ; Middle Aged ; Male ; Humans ; Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections/*diagnosis/drug therapy/*microbiology ; Anti-Bacterial Agents/administration & dosage

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to investigate the efficacy and tolerability of atypical antipsychotics (AAPs) with augmentation by blonanserin in schizophrenic patients. METHODS: aA total of 100 patients with schizophrenia who were partially or completely unresponsive to treatment with an AAP were recruited in this 12-week, open-label, non-comparative, multicenter study. Blonanserin was added to their existing AAP regimen, which was maintained during the study period. Efficacy was primarily evaluated using the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS) at baseline and at weeks 2, 4, 8, and 12. Predictors for PANSS response (≥20% reduction) were investigated. RESULTS: The PANSS total score was significantly decreased at 12 weeks of blonanserin augmentation (-21.0±18.1, F=105.849, p<0.001). Moreover, 51.0% of participants experienced a response at week 12. Premature discontinuation of blonanserin occurred in 17 patients (17.0%); 4 of these patients dropped out due to adverse events. The patients who benefited the most from blonanserin were those with severe symptoms despite a treatment with a higher dose of AAP. CONCLUSION: Blonanserin augmentation could be an effective strategy for patients with schizophrenia who were partially or completely unresponsive to treatment with an AAP.
Antipsychotic Agents* ; Humans ; Prospective Studies* ; Schizophrenia

Even though perilla is one of the most commonly consumed grain in Asia including Korea, perilla allergy is rare. A 2 year-old boy had erythematous popular urticaria on his whole body, as well as vomiting and diarrhea after ingestion of boiled perilla. On the second day of admission, old blood clots in the vomitus and blood tinged stool were shown. He underwent an esophago gastro duodenoscopy which showed a large duonenal ulcer. After treatment, his general condition improved. We report a case of perilla allergy with brief review of related literature.
Asia ; Edible Grain ; Child ; Diarrhea ; Duodenoscopy ; Eating ; Food Hypersensitivity ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity ; Korea ; Perilla ; Preschool Child ; Tolnaftate ; Ulcer ; Urticaria ; Vomiting