Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis (EKC) and acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC) are common diseases caused by human adenoviruses (HAdV) and enteroviruses, respectively, in South Korea. However, there are limited studies on the molecular epidemiology of viral conjunctivitis in South Korea. The main objective of this study was to characterize the genotypes of adenoviruses and enteroviruses causing viral conjunctivitis in the southwest region of South Korea. We collected conjunctival swabs from 492 patients with suspected cases of viral conjunctivitis from 6 ophthalmic hospitals in Gwangju Metropolitan City, in South Korea, between 2012 and 2016. Of the 492 samples tested, HAdVs and enteroviruses were detected in 249 samples (50.6%) and 19 samples (3.9%), respectively. The genotype analysis detected HAdV-8 in 183 samples (73.5%), HAdV-37 in 14 samples (5.6%), and HAdV-3, and HAdV-4 in 9 samples (3.6%) each. We detected coxsackievirus A24 (CVA24) and coxsackievirus B1 (CVB1) in 8 samples (42.0%) and 4 samples (21.0%), respectively. We also reported for the first time HAdV-56-infected cases of EKC in South Korea. Furthermore, we found three cases of coinfection with HAdV and enterovirus genotypes in our samples. HAdV-8 and CVA24, the main causes of EKC and AHC, respectively, worldwide, were also found to be the predominant genotypes in our study.
Adenoviridae ; Adenoviruses, Human ; Coinfection ; Conjunctivitis, Acute Hemorrhagic ; Conjunctivitis, Viral* ; Enterovirus ; Genotype ; Gwangju ; Humans ; Keratoconjunctivitis ; Korea* ; Molecular Epidemiology*

PURPOSE: The Korean Society of Coloproctology holds its annual colorectal awareness month every September. This study analyzed the users and the contents of Korean tweets regarding colorectal cancer and estimated the transmissibility of the awareness campaign among Twitter users. METHODS: Prospective data collection was employed to accumulate Korean tweets containing the keywords "colorectal cancer," "colorectal cancer awareness campaign," "gold ribbon," and/or "love handle," from August 1 to September 30, 2014. Twitter users and contents were analyzed, and the credibility of information-sharing tweets throughout the study period was evaluated. RESULTS: In total, 10,387 tweets shared by 1,452 unique users were analyzed. As for users, 57.8% were individuals whereas 5.8% were organizations/communities; spambots accounted for a considerable percentage (36.4%). As for content, most tweets were spam (n = 8,736, 84.1%), repetitively advertising unverified commercial folk remedies, followed by tweets that shared information (n = 1,304, 12.6%) and non-information (n = 347, 3.3%). In the credibility assessment, only 80.6% of the information-sharing tweets were medically correct. After spam tweets had been excluded, a significant increase was seen in the percentage of information-sharing tweets (77.1% to 81.1%, P = 0.045) during the awareness campaign month. CONCLUSION: Most Korean tweets regarding colorectal cancer during the study months were commercial spam tweets; informative public tweets accounted for an extremely small percentage. The transmissibility of the awareness campaign among Twitter users was questionable at best. To expand the reach of credible medical information on colorectal cancer, public health institutions and organizations must pay greater attention to social media.
Colorectal Neoplasms* ; Data Collection ; Korea* ; Medicine, Traditional ; Prospective Studies ; Public Health ; Social Media

Recently, an increasing number of bisphosphonate related osteonecrosis of the jaw(BRONJ) is being reported. A guideline has been already established in the US, but it does not seem to be fully recognized by clinicians in Korea. Therefore, a survey study was done to inform and have clinicians realize the seriousness of BRONJ. 1,341 practitioners were randomly selected out of 13,405 practitioners(by Feb of 2008, KDA) in Korea. A questionnaire was given to them between May to July in 2008. Questions were designed to investigate each respondent's experience term years in the clinic, occupation, speciality, awareness on risk of bisphosphonate, experience on treating osteonecrosis patients, awareness about the guideline on BRONJ suggested by AAOMS and whether if they ask about bisphosphonate medication history to patients before invasive treatment. 45.1% of the clinicians have reported on experiencing delayed healing on bone exposed site after extraction both in the maxilla and the mandible. However, clinicians have asked the patients whether if they are on bisphosphonate or not in only 15.1% of these cases. 56.5% of the clinicians simply knew about BRONJ but only 28.9% of the clinicians were aware that bisphosphonate can cause osteonecrosis after invasive dental treatment. Only 19.3% knew about the contents of guideline on BRONJ and 57.2% were aware of the seriousness of BRONJ. Clinicians with shorter clinical experience term were more aware of BRONJ and the guideline on BRONJ than the experienced clinicians. But awareness of the possibility of BRONJ after invasive dental treatment were about the same regardless of their clinical experience. The results show that Korean clinicians need to be more aware about BRONJ. Data on BRONJ cases in Korea should be collected and provided with additional education to let Korean clinicians know and be more aware about BRONJ
Bisphosphonate-Associated Osteonecrosis of the Jaw ; Dentists ; Humans ; Korea ; Linear Energy Transfer ; Mandible ; Maxilla ; Occupations ; Osteonecrosis ; Surveys and Questionnaires

A number of case reports on occupational asthma caused by herbal medicines have been issued, for example, on Sanyak, Chunkung, Banha, and Brazilian ginseng. Recently, cases of occupational asthma induced by Sanyak and Korean ginseng have been reported, but the pathogenic mechanisms involved are unknown. This study was carried out to evaluate the immunologic mechanism underlying Korean ginseng-induced occupational asthma. A patient engaged in Korean ginseng wholesale was referred for recurrent dyspnea, wheezing, and nasal symptoms, which were aggravated at work. Allergen bronchial provocation testing to Korean ginseng extract showed a typical immediate response, and skin prick testing to Korean ginseng extract also showed a strong positive response. Moreover, serum-specific IgE levels to Korean ginseng extract were significantly higher than in controls. Enzymelinked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) inhibition tests showed a dose-dependent inhibition by Korean ginseng, but not by Dermatophagoides farinae, wheat flour, or Chinese balloon flower. Sodium dodecylsulfate-poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) and immunoblotting revealed four specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) binding components at 26, 30, 47, and 60 kDa, which were not bound by control sera. These results strongly suggest that occupation asthma induced by Korean ginseng is induced via an IgE-mediated mechanism.
Animals ; Asthma/diagnosis/*etiology/*immunology ; Bronchi/metabolism ; Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay/methods ; Flour ; Flowers ; Humans ; Hypersensitivity/*diagnosis ; Immunoglobulin E/analysis/*chemistry ; Korea ; Occupational Diseases/diagnosis/*etiology/*immunology ; Panax/*adverse effects ; Pyroglyphidae/metabolism ; *Skin Tests

BACKGOUND: General anesthesia was known to induce hypercoagulable status during major orthopedic surgery. This study was designed to analyze effects on hemostatic reponse in patients receiving general or spinal anesthesia for total knee arthroplasty, using the thromboelastography (TEG). METHODS: Among women that were scheduled to total knee arthroplasty without both no medical or surgical history and no chronic systemic disorder, ten patients were selected at each group (general or spinal anesthesia). TEG was measured at 4 times around the each surgery (before skin incision after induction, before bone manipulation, after bone manipulation, 1 hour after operation). RESULTS: There was no difference statistically between two groups in first and second measures of TEG. But, significantly different r time, k time, alpha angle, and maximum amplitude was noted between two groups after bone manipulation and 1 hour after operation (P < 0.05). Conculusions: After the release of tourniquet following bone procedures the patients receiving general anesthesia had relatively high hemostasis compared with the spinal anesthesia group. This phenomenon was also noted in 1 hour after operation.
Anesthesia, General ; Anesthesia, Spinal* ; Arthroplasty* ; Female ; Hemostasis* ; Humans ; Knee* ; Orthopedics ; Skin ; Thrombelastography* ; Tourniquets

PURPOSE: To report an epidemiologic study of keratoplasty in which we analyze basic data of corneal transplants and corneal donations in Korea. METHODS: From June 2004 through October 2004, questionnaires were distributed to 25 hospitals. The questionnaires were about the characteristics of patients registered in eye banks for keratoplasty from May 2001 to April 2003, and about the results of keratoplasties performed from May 2002 to April 2003. RESULTS: The leading corneal diseases in patients registered for keratoplasty were infectious keratitis (22.0%), trauma (21.0%), and pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.8%), in that order. The leading indications in corneal recipients were: trauma (15.5%), pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.7%), and infectious keratitis (10.7%), in that order. In 233 cases of keratoplasties, penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 229 cases (98.3%) and lamellar keratoplasty was performed in 4 cases (1.7%). The most common combined surgery was cataract extraction. Common causes of graft failure were rejection of donor cornea and infection. Imported donor corneas were used in sixty-one cases (26.2%) among the 233 total keratoplasties. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed an epidemiologic data base of patients registered for keratoplasty, corneal donation, and the results of keratoplasties throughout Korea.
Cataract Extraction ; Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Eye Banks ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Korea* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

PURPOSE: To report an epidemiologic study of keratoplasty in which we analyze basic data of corneal transplants and corneal donations in Korea. METHODS: From June 2004 through October 2004, questionnaires were distributed to 25 hospitals. The questionnaires were about the characteristics of patients registered in eye banks for keratoplasty from May 2001 to April 2003, and about the results of keratoplasties performed from May 2002 to April 2003. RESULTS: The leading corneal diseases in patients registered for keratoplasty were infectious keratitis (22.0%), trauma (21.0%), and pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.8%), in that order. The leading indications in corneal recipients were: trauma (15.5%), pseudophakic and aphakic bullous keratopathy (13.7%), and infectious keratitis (10.7%), in that order. In 233 cases of keratoplasties, penetrating keratoplasty was performed in 229 cases (98.3%) and lamellar keratoplasty was performed in 4 cases (1.7%). The most common combined surgery was cataract extraction. Common causes of graft failure were rejection of donor cornea and infection. Imported donor corneas were used in sixty-one cases (26.2%) among the 233 total keratoplasties. CONCLUSIONS: We constructed an epidemiologic data base of patients registered for keratoplasty, corneal donation, and the results of keratoplasties throughout Korea.
Cataract Extraction ; Cornea ; Corneal Diseases ; Corneal Transplantation* ; Epidemiologic Studies* ; Eye Banks ; Humans ; Keratitis ; Keratoplasty, Penetrating ; Korea* ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Tissue Donors ; Transplants

OBJECTIVE: The transfection efficiencies of gynecologic cancer cell lines were investigated by different mediated transfection methods using recombinant LacZ plasmid (pRcCMVLacZ and pAAVCMVLacZ). METHODS: In this study, the gynecologic cancer cell lines were used CaSki, SiHa (cervical, HPV16+, wild type p53 gene), HeLa, HeLa S3 (cervical, HPV18+, wild type p53 gene), C33A, HT3 (cervical, HPV-, p53 mutant), HckE6/E7 (cervical, HPV16 immortalized keratocyte), PA-1 (ovary, wild type p53), SKOV-3, A2774 (ovary, p53del) and OVCAR-3 (ovary, p53 mutant). The pRcCMVLacZ and pAAVCMVLacZ plasmid transfection were performed by using liposome system such as Ca2+-phosphate, Fugen6(TM), Lipofection(TM), Lipogen(TM) and N-stearyl lactobionamide (N-SLBA) with X-gal staining. The LacZ gene was used the reporter gene for the transfection efficiencies evaluation. RESULTS: Each of cell lines were showed different transfection efficiencies by Ca2+-phosphate, Fugen6(TM), Lipofectin(TM), Lipogen(TM) and N-SLBA. Each of cell were revealed that HeLa S3, HT3 and A2774 were high transfection efficiency using the pRcCMVLacZ by the Lipogen(TM), SiHa, HeLa, QGU, OVCAR-3 and PA-1 were high efficiency using the pAAVCMVLacZ by Lipofectin(TM), CaSki was high efficiency using the pRcCMVLacZ by the Lipogen(TM), A2774 and Cx16.2 were high efficiency using the pRcCMVLacZ by the Lipofectin(TM), SKOV-3 and HkcE6/E7 were high efficiency using pAAVCMVLacZ by the Lipogen(TM). CONCLUSION: As a result, We proved that each of cell lines differed trasnfection efficiencies according to mediated transfection and recombinant LacZ plasmid style. Above all, Lipofectin(TM) mediated transfection was showed high efficiency at the most of cell lines.
Cell Line* ; Genes, Reporter ; Humans* ; Lac Operon* ; Liposomes ; Plasmids* ; Transfection*

BACKGROUND: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue(MALT) lymphoma has an indolent natural course. However, extra-gastric MALT lymphoma has been reported to have more frequent relapses and shorter time to progress than gastric MALT lymphoma. We performed this study to analyze clinical features of extra-gastric MALT lymphoma. METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of the patients who were diagnosed as extra-gastric MALT lymphoma at the Samsung Medical Center from March 1995 to January 1999. The survival was analyzed by Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS: During the study period, extra-gastric MALT lymphoma was diagnosed in 50 patients. The median age was 51(28-87)yaers. The male to female ratio was 22:28. Commonly involved sites were conjunctiva (25/50, 50%), lung (6/50, 12%) and intestine(6/50, 12%). Histopathologically, low to high grade ratio of extra-gastric MALT lymphoma was 47:3. Among 41 patients who were staged, 32 patients(78%) had stage I or II and 9 patients(22%)had stage IV. B symptoms were seen in only 3 patients. Bone marrow involvement was observed in 4 patients. The duration of median follow up was 22 months. The 1-year and 2-year survival rates were 95.1% and 91.4% retrospectively. CONCLUSION: Majoity of our cases with extra-gastric MALT lymphoma had low grade, early stage, good treatement reponse and good prognosis.
Bone Marrow ; Conjunctiva ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Lung ; Lymphoma ; Lymphoma, B-Cell, Marginal Zone* ; Male ; Medical Records ; Prognosis ; Recurrence ; Retrospective Studies ; Survival Rate

When blow-out fracture repair is performed, many implants including Silastic, Supramid, Porous polyethylene and others have been used to pervent reherniation of orbital tissue. Complications associated with implants include implant extrusion, orbital infection, fistula formation, implant migration, extraocular muscle entrapment, globe elevation, protosis and orbital cyst formation. The latter was known as a rare late complication of blow-out fracture repair. We report two cases of orbital cyst which developed after blow-out fracture repair with alloplastic implants. These patients developed diplopia and unliateral proptosis 7 and 10 years after repair of blow-out fracture, respectively. In these cases, orbital CT scan revealed retrobulbar cyst-like structures surrounding the orbital implant. At sufgery, a fibrous capsule surrounded the previously inserted orbital implants and was filled with dark brown mucoid material in both cases. These cysts were lined by squamous epithelium with cholesterol cleft and hemosiderin laden macrophage collection. Proptosis and diplopia were resolved after surgical removal of the cyst. These cases illustrate that it is important for us to be aware of the complication of late cyst formation around alloplastic implants after repair of blow-out fracture.
Cholesterol ; Diplopia ; Epithelium ; Exophthalmos ; Fistula ; Hemosiderin ; Humans ; Macrophages ; Nylons ; Orbit* ; Orbital Fractures* ; Orbital Implants ; Polyethylene ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed