No abstract available.

BACKGROUND: The vanA gene cluster of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) is carried as a part of Tn1546-like elements. In this study we characterized the structure of Tn1546-like elements in Enterococcus. faecium isolated from patients in Korea. The isolates were also typed by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). METHODS: During 2000, 21 clinical isolates of vanA-containing E. faecium were collected from ten university hospitals in Korea. E. faecium BM4147 was used as a control. PFGE was performed on a CHEF-DR III apparatus. For structural analysis of Tn1546, the overlapping PCR amplification of internal regions of Tn1546 was performed. The purified PCR products were directly sequenced by using ABI Prism 3100 DNA SEQUENCER. RESULTS: All isolates were divided into 3 types according to the distribution of insertion sequences (IS elements) integrated Tn1546 elements. Type I and II were characterized by an IS1542 insertion in the orf2-vanR intergenic region and an IS1216V insertion in the vanX-vanY intergenic region. Type III represented two copies of IS1216V at the orf1 and in the vanX-vanY intergenic region as well as IS1542 in the orf2-vanR intergenic region. No isolates were identical to the prototype, which was identical to the predicted pattern for the published sequence of Tn1546. The PFGE results revealed that all strains except A13, C1, A2 and A9 were genetically unrelated. CONCLUSIONS: The distribution of IS in Tn1546-like elements of the Korean isolates is similar to that of the European VREs. Considering the results of PFGF and Tn1546 typing, the horizontal transfer of vanA resistance gene may be occurring among genetically diverse strains of E. faecium in Korea.
DNA ; DNA, Intergenic ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterococcus ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; Korea ; Multigene Family ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

BACKGROUND: Nosocomial infections caused by vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) are increasing problem in Korea. Until now, no nationwide study has been performed. The aim of the present study was to monitor the antimicrobial resistance of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREF). METHODS: Two hundred and two E. faecium isolated in 10 teaching hospital were studied. To detect VRE, the brain heart infusion agar containing 6 /mL vancomycin was used as the screening agar. The MIC was determined using agar dilution test. The vancomycin resistance genes (vanA, vanB & vanD) and genes (aac(6 ') Ie-aph(2 ") Ia & ant(6 ') Ia encoding the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes were detected by multiplex PCR using specific primers. RESULTS: Thirty-nine VREF were detected from 202 isolates. All had vancomycin MICs > or =256 /mL and harboured vanA gene. No isolates revealed positive results for the vanB or vanD gene. However, the MIC range for teicoplanin was 2 to > or =256 /mL. All isolates with gentamicin MIC > or = 500 /mL gave positive results for the aac(6 ') Ie aph(2 ") Ia genes and with streptomycin > or =2000 /mL gave positive results for the ant(6 ') Ia gene. CONCLUSIONS: All VREF harboured vanA gene. According to MIC tests, 7 isolates(18%) showed intermediate or susceptible to teicoplanin. Therefore we need a study concerning the clinical meaning. The VREF in Korea contain at least one of genes encoding the aminoglycoside-modifying enzymes. This means there are only limited numbers of antibiotics to choose.
Agar ; Anti-Bacterial Agents ; Brain ; Cross Infection ; Enterococcus faecium* ; Enterococcus* ; Gentamicins ; Heart ; Hospitals, Teaching ; Korea* ; Mass Screening ; Multiplex Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Streptomycin ; Teicoplanin ; Vancomycin ; Vancomycin Resistance

BACKGROUND: Vancomycin-resistant Enterococci (VRE) infections are caused by Enterococcus faecium in about 90% of the cases but can also be caused by Enterococcus faecalis. Thus, this study investigates factors that cause a low isolation rate of vancomycin-resistant E. faecalis (VREfs). To this end, the authors study the clinical traits, resistant gene structure, genomic classification, and molecular characteristics of the virulent factor. METHODS: From January 2001 through September 2011, 17 vanA-containing E. faecalis isolates were collected from hospitalized patients at Ajou University Hospital in Korea. Identification, antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and PCR of van and esp genes were performed. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was used for strain typing. PCR and sequencing of the internal regions of Tn1546 were performed for structural analysis of the van gene. RESULTS: Of 4,235 VRE infections, 3,918 (92.5%) were caused by E. faecium, and 95 (2.2%) were caused by E. faecalis. In 67% of VREfs infections, there was a preceding occurrence of E. faecium infection. All isolates were of genotype vanA. Our isolates were divided into three types according to the distribution of IS elements integrated into Tn1546 (types I to IIb). The PFGE results showed no clonal relatedness among isolates. CONCLUSION: Our study found that VREfs infections affect patients who have experienced vancomycin-resistant E. faecium. (VREfm) infection or undergo invasive procedures. The VREfs seems to involve the horizontal transfer of Tn1546 transposon from VREfm.
Classification ; DNA Transposable Elements ; Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field ; Enterococcus faecalis* ; Enterococcus faecium ; Enterococcus* ; Epidemiology* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Polymerase Chain Reaction

Goldenhar's syndrome is a kind of congenital anomaly with epibulbar dermoid, preauricular skin tag, blind-ended fistula and vertebral anomaly. The primary cause is unknown but thought to be a structural developmental abnormalities of the 1st, and 2nd branchial arch. In this syndrome, we can observe characteristic anomalies of the face, ear, vertebrae, heart, and the nervous system. Treatment is surgical correction, removal of epibulbar dermoid, prevention of hearing loss through early hearing test. The consultations of ophthalmologist, otorhinolaryngologist, orthopedist and dentist are necessary for this syndrome. We report a case of Goldenhar's syndrome with hemifacial hypoplasia, preauricular skin tags, blind-ended fistulas, hemivertebrae and vesicoureteral reflux.
Branchial Region ; Dentists ; Dermoid Cyst ; Ear ; Fistula ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Tests ; Heart ; Humans ; Nervous System ; Referral and Consultation ; Skin ; Spine ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

Goldenhar's syndrome is a kind of congenital anomaly with epibulbar dermoid, preauricular skin tag, blind-ended fistula and vertebral anomaly. The primary cause is unknown but thought to be a structural developmental abnormalities of the 1st, and 2nd branchial arch. In this syndrome, we can observe characteristic anomalies of the face, ear, vertebrae, heart, and the nervous system. Treatment is surgical correction, removal of epibulbar dermoid, prevention of hearing loss through early hearing test. The consultations of ophthalmologist, otorhinolaryngologist, orthopedist and dentist are necessary for this syndrome. We report a case of Goldenhar's syndrome with hemifacial hypoplasia, preauricular skin tags, blind-ended fistulas, hemivertebrae and vesicoureteral reflux.
Branchial Region ; Dentists ; Dermoid Cyst ; Ear ; Fistula ; Hearing Loss ; Hearing Tests ; Heart ; Humans ; Nervous System ; Referral and Consultation ; Skin ; Spine ; Vesico-Ureteral Reflux*

BACKGROUND: Panax ginseng is known to decrease the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-induced testicular toxicity. Thus, we aimed to reveal the differences between Panax ginseng and Panax quinquefolium extract for their effects on TCDD-induced toxicity. METHODS: Forty rats were divided into four groups; the control group, the TCDD only group, the TCDD plus Panax ginseng group, and the TCDD plus Panax quinquefolium-treated groups. Ginseng extract was given orally to rats from day one to twenty-one. TCDD was intraperitoneally administered to rats at a single dose of 50 microgram/kg on the seventh day. The pathologic changes were then examined. The changes of body weight, cholesterol and GOT in the serum were also examined. RESULTS: The TCDD toxicity was prominent in the thymus, liver and testis. The thymus showed atrophy and an inverse pattern of lymphocyte density in the cortex and medulla. The liver revealed central necrosis with fatty changes. On electron microscopy, the seminiferous tubules showed destruction of the spermatogonia, clear spaces or vacuolar changes and degeneration in the Sertoli cells or germ cells. The above mentioned TCDD-induced changes were reduced in the rats that were administered with Panax ginseng, whereas Panax quinquefolium did not reduce these changes. CONCLUSION: The protective effects of Panax ginseng on the TCDD-induced toxicity were more effective than those of Panax quinquefolium.
Animals ; Atrophy ; Body Weight ; Cholesterol ; Germ Cells ; Humans ; Liver ; Lymphocytes ; Male* ; Microscopy, Electron ; Necrosis ; Panax* ; Rats* ; Seminiferous Tubules ; Sertoli Cells ; Spermatogonia ; Testis ; Tetrachlorodibenzodioxin ; Thymus Gland

No abstract available.
Perfusion* ; Stomach Neoplasms* ; Stomach*

Background: Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) is the most serious complication after total joint arthroplasty. The incidence and burden of PJI in North America have been reported.There might be potential differences according to ethnics and regional practices between western countries and East Asia. Nevertheless, its incidence in East Asia remains unknown.We aimed to evaluate the incidence and economic burden of PJI in Korea and to project the future burden. Methods: We identified numbers of total hip arthroplasties, total knee arthroplasties and PJIs in Korea from 2010 to 2018 using medical claim data of Korean Health Insurance and Review and Assessment. Annual incidence and medical cost of PJI were calculated. We projected future burden of PJI through 2030 using Quasi-poisson regression model. Results: The annual incidence of PJI ranged from 2.3% to 2.8% and the average cost per each PJI patient ranged from $4,361 to $6,016. Total annual cost of PJI increased from $8.0 million in 2010 to $18.0 million in 2018 and was projected to exceed $57.0 million by 2030. Conclusion The incidence of PJI in Korea is comparable with reported PJI incidence of 2.0%–2.7% in the United States. Our findings would be used for worldwide comparison of PJI epidemiology and establishment of healthcare policies for PJI in East Asia.

PURPOSE: To investigate the relationships between tear osmolarity and various parameters for ocular and systemic disease in primary Sjögren's syndrome. METHODS: The medical records of 53 patients with primary Sjögren's syndrome were reviewed. Tear osmolarity using a TearLab® (TearLab™ Corp., San Diego, CA, USA) osmometer as well as other dry eye parameters such as tear break-up time, ocular staining score (Sjögren's International Collaboration Clinical Alliance [SICCA] ocular staining score, SICCA score), Schirmer-I score, symptoms with Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were obtained. Systemic laboratory data and medication history were also collected. The correlations between the parameters were analyzed using the Spearman's rank correlation test. RESULTS: 53 patients with a mean age of 54.1 ± 13.2 years and female predominance (96.23%) were enrolled. The majority of patients (28.3%) were receiving systemic therapy for severe Sjögren's syndrome. The tear osmolarity in Sjögren's syndrome patients was 307 ± 13.6 (mOsm/L). Higher tear osmolarity was associated with lower tear film break-up time (BUT) scores and with higher SICCA scores. Tear osmolarity and the Schirmer test results were not significantly related. Higher tear osmolarity was paradoxically associated with lower VAS scores and lower OSDI scores. Neither current medication nor the salivary gland focus score showed significant associations with tear osmolarity. Although tear osmolarity was not associated with the SSA-Ro or SSA-LA titer, serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) level and serum erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) level showed positive correlations with tear osmolarity. CONCLUSIONS: Tear osmolarity is positively correlated with the severity of dry eye and was associated with lower symptom severity. The significant associations of tear osmolarity with IgG and ESR suggest that high tear osmolarity may be correlated with autoantibody load and the systemic inflammatory state.
Blood Sedimentation ; Cooperative Behavior ; Dry Eye Syndromes ; Female ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin G ; Medical Records ; Osmolar Concentration* ; Salivary Glands ; Tears* ; Visual Analog Scale