BACKGROUND/AIMS: Previous studies from Korea have described chronic intestinal pseudo-obstruction (CIPO) patients with transition zone (TZ) in the colon. In this study, we evaluated the pathological characteristics and their association with long-term outcomes in Korean colonic pseudo-obstruction (CPO) patients with TZ. METHODS: We enrolled 39 CPO patients who were refractory to medical treatment and underwent colectomy between November 1989 and April 2016 (median age at symptoms onset: 45 [interquartile range, 29–57] years, males 46.2%). The TZ was defined as a colonic segment connecting a proximally dilated and distally non-dilated segment. Detailed pathologic analysis was performed. RESULTS: Among the 39 patients, 37 (94.9%) presented with TZ and 2 (5.1%) showed no definitive TZ. Median ganglion cell density in the TZ adjusted for the colonic circumference was significantly decreased compared to that in proximal dilated and distal non-dilated segments in TZ (+) patients (9.2 vs 254.3 and 150.5, P < 0.001). Among the TZ (+) patients, 6 showed additional pathologic findings including eosinophilic ganglionitis (n = 2), ulcers with combined cytomegalovirus infection (n = 2), diffuse ischemic changes (n = 1), and heterotropic myenteric plexus (n = 1). During follow-up (median, 61 months), 32 (82.1%) TZ (+) patients recovered without symptom recurrence after surgery. The presence of pathological features other than hypoganglionosis was an independent predictor of symptom recurrence after surgery (P = 0.046). CONCLUSIONS: Hypoganglionosis can be identified in the TZ of most Korean CPO patients. Detection of other pathological features in addition to TZ-associated hypoganglionosis was associated with poor post-operative outcomes.
Cell Count ; Colectomy ; Colon ; Colonic Pseudo-Obstruction ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Eosinophils ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Korea ; Male ; Myenteric Plexus ; Pathology ; Recurrence ; Ulcer

The capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) encoded by open reading frame 2 (ORF2) is important for neutralizing activity against PCV2 infection. This study investigated the heterogeneity of the ORF2 gene of PCV2 isolated in Korea during 2016–2017. The results revealed that PCV2d is currently the predominant genotype. Moreover, comparison of ORF2 from 17 PCV2 isolates revealed 88.3–100% homology at the nucleotide (deduced amino acid 86.3–100%) level. Interestingly, 61.5% (8/13) of the PCV2d isolates had glycine at position 210. These data provide a useful information for PCV2 epidemiology in Korea.
Capsid Proteins ; Circovirus ; Epidemiology ; Genetic Variation ; Genotype ; Glycine ; Korea ; Open Reading Frames ; Population Characteristics

The capsid protein of porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) encoded by open reading frame 2 (ORF2) is important for neutralizing activity against PCV2 infection. This study investigated the heterogeneity of the ORF2 gene of PCV2 isolated in Korea during 2016–2017. The results revealed that PCV2d is currently the predominant genotype. Moreover, comparison of ORF2 from 17 PCV2 isolates revealed 88.3–100% homology at the nucleotide (deduced amino acid 86.3–100%) level. Interestingly, 61.5% (8/13) of the PCV2d isolates had glycine at position 210. These data provide a useful information for PCV2 epidemiology in Korea.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The clinical outcomes of angiography and transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) for acute gastrointestinal bleeding (GIB) have not been completely assessed, especially according to bleeding sites. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of angiography and safety of TAE in acute GIB. METHODS: This was a retrospective study evaluating the records of 321 patients with acute GIB who underwent angiography with or without TAE. Targeted TAE was conducted in 134 patients, in whom angiography showed bleeding sources. Prophylactic TAE was performed in 29 patients when the bleeding source was not detected but a specific vessel was strongly suspected by other examinations. The rate of technical success, clinical success, and complications were analyzed. RESULTS: The detection rate of bleeding source via angiography was 50.8% (163/321), which was not different according to the bleeding sites. The detection rate was higher if the probable bleeding source had already been found by another investigation (59.7% vs. 35.8%, p<0.001). TAE sites were upper GIB in 67, mid GIB in 74, and lower GIB in 22. The technical success rate was 99.3% (133/134), and the clinical success rate was 63.0% (104/163). The prophylactic embolization group showed lower clinical success rate than the targeted embolization group (44.8% vs. 67.9%, p=0.06). The TAE-related complication rate was 12.9% (21/163). Ischemia and/or infarction was more common after TAE for mid and lower GIB than for upper GIB (15.6% vs. 3.0%, p=0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Angiography with or without TAE was an effective method for acute GIB. Targeted embolization should be performed if possible given that it has a higher clinical success rate.
Angiography* ; Embolization, Therapeutic ; Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage ; Hemorrhage* ; Humans ; Infarction ; Ischemia ; Methods ; Retrospective Studies

OBJECTIVE: To compare the therapeutic and adverse effects of globus pallidus interna (GPi) and subthalamic nucleus (STN) deep brain stimulation (DBS) for the treatment of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of patients with PD who underwent GPi (n = 14) or STN (n = 28) DBS surgery between April 2002 and May 2014. The subjects were matched for age at surgery and disease duration. The Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and levodopa equivalent dose (LED) at baseline and 12 months after surgery were used to assess the therapeutic effects of DBS. Adverse effects were also compared between the two groups. RESULTS: At 12 months, the mean changes in the UPDRS total and part I–IV scores did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the subscores for gait disturbance/postural instability and dyskinesia were significantly more improved after GPi DBS than those after STN DBS (p = 0.024 and 0.016, respectively). The LED was significantly more reduced in patients after STN DBS than that after GPi DBS (p = 0.004). Serious adverse effects did not differ between the two groups (p = 0.697). CONCLUSION: The patients with PD showed greater improvement in gait disturbance/postural instability and dyskinesia after GPi DBS compared with those after STN DBS, although the patients had a greater reduction in LED after STN DBS. These results may provide useful information for optimal target selection for DBS in PD.
Deep Brain Stimulation* ; Dyskinesias ; Gait ; Globus Pallidus ; Humans ; Levodopa ; Parkinson Disease* ; Retrospective Studies ; Subthalamic Nucleus ; Therapeutic Uses

No abstract available.
Heart Neoplasms ; Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation* ; Hematopoietic Stem Cells* ; Leukemia ; Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma* ; Recurrence* ; Stem Cell Transplantation

Porcine parvovirus, Erysipelothrix (E.) rhusiopathiae, and Leptospira (L.) interrogans are considered major etiologic agents of reproductive failure in pigs, causing economic loss in the swine industry. In this study, the safety and immunogenicity of a new octavalent inactivated vaccine were evaluated. The vaccine contained inactivated porcine parvovirus, E. rhusiopathiae, and six L. interrogans serovars (Bratislava, Canicola, Grippotyphosa, Hardjo, Icterohaemorrhagiae, and Pomona). Safety test results showed no notable side effects or clinical signs after vaccination in mice, guinea pigs, and sows. In addition, we assessed immunogenicity of the vaccine in 25 sows under field conditions. The vaccinated group (n = 20) had a significantly higher antibody level than the non-vaccinated group (n = 5). Moreover, the stillbirth rate decreased in piglets born from vaccinated sows, resulting in an increased fertility rate. The results of this study demonstrate that the new octavalent inactivated vaccine can be applied safely and effectively to improve reproductive performance in sows.
Animals ; Birth Rate ; Erysipelas* ; Erysipelothrix ; Guinea Pigs ; Leptospira* ; Leptospirosis ; Mice ; Parvovirus, Porcine* ; Serogroup ; Stillbirth ; Swine ; Vaccination

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), a porcine enteropathogenic coronavirus, causes lethal watery diarrhea in piglets, resulting in large economic losses because of high mortality. In November 2013, PEDV reemerged in Korea, and these outbreaks have since continuously occurred. In the present study, we determined the full-length nucleocapsid (N) gene sequences of three Korean PEDV field isolates collected in 2014-2015. Sequence and phylogenetic analysis of N genes revealed that recent prevalent Korean PEDV isolates were very closely related to the US PEDV isolates in 2013. Interestingly, the phylogenetic tree based on the nucleotide sequencing of the PEDV N gene was similar to the tree topology of the PEDV complete genomes. Therefore, our data provide a better understanding of the genetic diversity and contribute to the accurate diagnosis and development of vaccines against PEDV.
Coronavirus ; Diagnosis ; Diarrhea ; Disease Outbreaks ; Genetic Variation* ; Genome ; Korea* ; Mortality ; Nucleocapsid* ; Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus* ; Trees ; Vaccines

The present study was conducted to determine the antibiotic susceptibilities of local Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhp) and Mycoplasma hyorhinis (Mhr) filed isolates. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of Mhp and Mhr field isolates (twelve each) obtained from enzootic pneumonia-like lung lesions during 2009-2011 from Korea were determined using the broth microdilution method. Tylvalosin showed the highest activity against Mhp and Mhr field isolates, with MIC90 values of 0.06 µg/mL and 0.12 µg/mL, respectively. Therefore, Korean Mhp and Mhr isolates are highly susceptible to tylvalosin.
In Vitro Techniques* ; Korea* ; Lung ; Methods ; Microbial Sensitivity Tests ; Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae* ; Mycoplasma hyorhinis* ; Mycoplasma*

As mast cells have been highlighted in the pathogenesis of diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome, a new term "mastocytic enterocolitis" was suggested by Jakate and colleagues to describe an increase in mucosal mast cells in patients with chronic intractable diarrhea and favorable response to treatment with antihistamines. Although it is not an established disease entity, two cases have been reported in the English medical literature. Here, for the first time in Asia, we report another case of chronic intractable diarrhea caused by gastrointestinal mastocytosis. The patient was a 70-year-old male with chronic intractable diarrhea for 3 months; the cause of the diarrhea remained obscure even after exhaustive evaluation. However, biopsy specimens from the jejunum were found to have increased mast cell infiltration, and the patient was successfully treated with antihistamines.
Aged ; Asia ; Biopsy ; Diarrhea* ; Histamine Antagonists ; Humans ; Irritable Bowel Syndrome ; Jejunum ; Male ; Mast Cells ; Mastocytosis*