The purpose of this study is to review the clinical and pathological features of pseudomembranous colitis in Korea. Ten cases of psedomembranous colitis, which were diagnosed by sigmoidoscopy and biopsy at the Seoul National University Hospital from May 1982 to occtober 1985, were analyzed in terms of the age and sex distribution, underlying diseases, presumptive causative antimicrobials, symptomatology, involved site and tratment. 1) The disease was more prevalent above sixth decade with a slight preponderance on the female. 2) The underlying diseases of the patients were the uterine cervix cancer in 3 cases and one case each of the nasal polyp, cataract, degenerative arthritis, tuberculous gradmuloma, SLE with menngitis, CVA and gingival abscess. 3) As for the presumptive causative drugs, cephalosporin were assaciated in 6 cases, aminoglycoside m 7 cases, penlcillin in 3 cases, Bactrim in 3 cases, antituberculosis drugs in 1 case and anticancer drugs in 1 case. 4) As for the anatotmical distribution of the lesion, the rectum was involved in 5 cases, the rectum and sigmoid colon in 4 cases and up to the descending colon in 1 case. 5) All the cases were cured by medical treatment. In 5 cases, discontinuation of the antimicrobial drugs and supportive care only were effective and in other 5 cases, vancamycin and/or metronidazole together vrith cholestyramine were added to the regimen.
Abscess ; Biopsy ; Cataract ; Cervix Uteri ; Cholestyramine Resin ; Colitis ; Colon, Descending ; Colon, Sigmoid ; Enterocolitis, Pseudomembranous* ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Metronidazole ; Nasal Polyps ; Osteoarthritis ; Rectum ; Seoul ; Sex Distribution ; Sigmoidoscopy ; Trimethoprim-Sulfamethoxazole Combination ; Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination

Polyphenon 60 refers to the mixture of catechins present in green tea. The aim of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial activities of polyphenon 60 against 4 strains of Streptococcus mutans and 2 strains of Streptococcus sorbrinus, which are the major causative bacteria of dental caries. The minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values of polyphenon 60 for S. mutans and S. sobrinus were determined and the effect of biofilm formation inhibition of that was evaluated. The MBC value of polyphenon 60 against the bacterial strains was 2.5 mg/ml except for one particular strain, S. mutans KCOM 1128 for which the value was 1.25 mg/ml. The results of biofilm formation inhibition assay revealed that polyphenon 60 inhibited biofilm formation more than 90% at a concentration of 2.5 mg/ml. It was apparent that polyphenon exhibited biofilm formation inhibition activity along with bactericidal effect against S. mutans and S. sobrinus. Therefore, it is proposed that polyphenon 60 as one of the components of bactericidal agents could be useful in developing oral hygiene products, toothpaste or gargling solution.
Bacteria ; Biofilms ; Catechin ; Dental Caries ; Oral Hygiene ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; Streptococcus ; Tea ; Toothpastes

The aim of this study was to identify strain KCOM 1265 isolated from subgingival plaque at the species level by comparing 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rDNA) and genome sequences. The whole genome of strain KCOM 1265 was extracted using the phenol–chloroform extraction method. 16S rDNA was amplified using polymerase chain reaction and sequenced using the dideoxy chain termination method. Pairwise genome comparison was performed using average nucleotide identity (ANI) and genome-to-genome distance (GGD) analyses. The data showed that the percent similarity of 16S rDNA sequence of strain KCOM 1265 was 99.6% as compared with those of Fusobacterium polymorphum ATCC 10953T and Fusobacterium hwasookii KCOM 1249T. The ANI values of strain KCOM 1265 with F. polymorphum ATCC 10953T and F. hwasookii KCOM 1249T were 95.8% and 93.0%, respectively. The GGD values of strain KCOM 1265 with F. polymorphum ATCC 10953T and F. hwasookii KCOM 1249T were 63.9% and 49.6%, respectively. These results indicate that strain KCOM 1265 belongs to F. polymorphum.

Increases of neutrophils and osteoclasts are pathological changes of periodontitis. RANKL is an osteoclast differentiation factor. The effect of periodontopathogen LPS on RANKL-expressing neutrophils has not been clarified yet. We evaluated numerical changes of RANKL-expressing neutrophils in air pouches of mice injected with LPSs of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Mice with air pouches were assigned into saline (C)-, E. coli LPS- (Ec LPS)-, F. nucleatum LPS (Fn LPS)-, P. gingivalis LPS (Pg LPS)-, and Fn LPS and Pg LPS (Fn + Pg LPS)-injected groups. CD11b +Ly6G + neutrophils and CD11b +Ly6G+RANKL + neutrophils in blood and air pouch exudates were determined by flow cytometry. In blood, compared to the C group, the Fn LPS group showed increases of CD11b +Ly6G + neutrophils and CD11b +Ly6G +RANKL + neutrophils whereas the Pg LPS group showed no significant differences. These increases in the Fn LPS group were not different to those in the Ec LPS group. In exudates, Fn LPS and Pg LPS groups showed increases of CD11b +Ly6G + neutrophils and CD11b +Ly6G +RANKL + neutrophils compared to the C group. Increased levels in the Fn LPS group were not different to those in the Ec LPS group, but Pg LPS group was lower than those in the Ec LPS group. In blood and exudates, the Fn+ Pg LPS group showed no difference in levels of these neutrophils compared to the Ec LPS group. LPSs of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis increased RANKL-expressing neutrophils although the degrees of increases were different. These suggest that periodontopathogen LPS can act as a stimulant to increase RANKL-expressing neutrophils.

Increases of neutrophils and osteoclasts are pathological changes of periodontitis. RANKL is an osteoclast differentiation factor. The effect of periodontopathogen LPS on RANKL-expressing neutrophils has not been clarified yet. We evaluated numerical changes of RANKL-expressing neutrophils in air pouches of mice injected with LPSs of Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis. Mice with air pouches were assigned into saline (C)-, E. coli LPS- (Ec LPS)-, F. nucleatum LPS (Fn LPS)-, P. gingivalis LPS (Pg LPS)-, and Fn LPS and Pg LPS (Fn + Pg LPS)-injected groups. CD11b +Ly6G + neutrophils and CD11b +Ly6G+RANKL + neutrophils in blood and air pouch exudates were determined by flow cytometry. In blood, compared to the C group, the Fn LPS group showed increases of CD11b +Ly6G + neutrophils and CD11b +Ly6G +RANKL + neutrophils whereas the Pg LPS group showed no significant differences. These increases in the Fn LPS group were not different to those in the Ec LPS group. In exudates, Fn LPS and Pg LPS groups showed increases of CD11b +Ly6G + neutrophils and CD11b +Ly6G +RANKL + neutrophils compared to the C group. Increased levels in the Fn LPS group were not different to those in the Ec LPS group, but Pg LPS group was lower than those in the Ec LPS group. In blood and exudates, the Fn+ Pg LPS group showed no difference in levels of these neutrophils compared to the Ec LPS group. LPSs of F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis increased RANKL-expressing neutrophils although the degrees of increases were different. These suggest that periodontopathogen LPS can act as a stimulant to increase RANKL-expressing neutrophils.

BACKGROUND: Although malaria-specific antibody or antigen test is useful for the diagnosis of malaria infection, its cost-effectiveness has to be concerned in the area where malaria prevalence is very low. We created a panel test composed of malaria non-specific parameters, namely hematology autoanalyzer-derived results with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol data, and evaluated its usefulness in comparison with malaria-specific antibody test. METHODS: For 395 patients tested for malaria smear, the hematology parameters such as platelet count, NRBC (%) and VCS (volume, conductivity, scattering) parameters of WBC, and HDL-cholesterol data were analyzed. Statistical significance of each parameter and that of panel test with or without addition of HDL-cholesterol were evaluated. RESULTS: Malaria antibody test showed sensitivity of 97.1% and specificity of 99.1%. Each parameter of platelet count, NRBC (%), D parameter and HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 86.8%, 41.2%, 81.8%, and 70.6%, and specificity of 85.9%, 96.3%, 72.3%, and 81.7%, respectively. Panel test without including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 81.6%, and that including HDL-cholesterol showed sensitivity of 91.2% and specificity of 86.2%. CONCLUSIONS: The malaria non-specific panel test composed of hematology autoanalyzer-derived parameters showed relatively good, but slightly lower sensitivity than that of malaria-specific antibody test. It might be used as a screening test for the diagnosis of malaria infection, and addition of HDL cholesterol improved little the usefulness of the panel test.
Animals ; Autoanalysis ; Biological Markers ; Cholesterol, HDL/*blood ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Hematologic Tests/economics/utilization ; Humans ; Malaria, Falciparum/blood/*diagnosis ; Plasmodium falciparum/isolation & purification ; ROC Curve ; Reagent Kits, Diagnostic ; Sensitivity and Specificity

Colonoscopy is a widely accepted method for the evaluation of the colon and terminal ileum. Its diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic safety are influenced by prerequisites, including modulation of medication and bowel cleansing. Appropriate choices of sedative medication and bowel-cleansing regimen, together with diet modification, should be made based on the patient's underlying disease, age, and medication intake. Moreover, effective methods for patient education regarding bowel preparation should be considered.
Colon ; Colonoscopy* ; Food Habits ; Ileum ; Patient Education as Topic

The purpose of the study was to investigate the antimicrobial activity of the methanol extract of Coptidis rhizome against the type strains of cariogenic bacteria, Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus, and the periodontopathogens, Porphyromonas gingivalis, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola and Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans. The antimicrobial activities of the crude extract and the methanol extract fractions of Coptidis rhizome separated by silica gel chromatography were evaluated by determining the minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) values, using the microdilution method. The cell viability test of the extracts of Coptidis rhizome on the KB cells was also studied by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. Our results showed that the 11th fraction (F11) of the methanol extract had the greatest antimicrobial activity against the tested bacteria, with no associated cytotoxicity on the KB cells, upto a concentration of 50 microg/ml. These results suggest that the silica gel chromatography fraction F11 of the methanol extract of Coptidis rhizome, could be useful in the development of oral hygiene products as an antimicrobial agent for the prevention of dental caries and periodontal diseases.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans ; Bacteria ; Cell Survival ; Chromatography ; Dental Caries ; Humans ; KB Cells ; Methanol ; Oral Hygiene ; Periodontal Diseases ; Porphyromonas gingivalis ; Prevotella intermedia ; Rhizome* ; Silica Gel ; Streptococcus mutans ; Streptococcus sobrinus ; Treponema denticola