Tick is one of the most important arthropods in the transmission of vector-borne diseases. In this study, we investigated the abundance and species of ticks associated with swine and their habitats to assess the risk of spread of tick-borne diseases in host species, such as wild boars. Ticks were collected from 24 grazing or traditionally reared domestic pig farms and 8 habitats of wild boars in 8 provinces and 1 city in the Republic of Korea, by using the dragging and flagging methods. Ticks were also collected directly from 49 wild boars by using fine forceps. A total of 9,846 hard ticks were collected, including 4,977 Haemaphysalis longicornis, 4,313 Haemaphysalis flava, 508 Ixodes nipponensis, 1 Ixodes turdus, and 47 Amblyomma testudinarium. A total of 240 hard ticks were collected from 49 wild boars, including 109 H. flava, 84 H. longicornis, and 47 A. testudinarium. A total of 578 hard ticks were collected from areas around domestic pig farms. Only 2 hard tick species, 546 H. longicornis and 32 H. flava, were collected from these areas. A total of 9,028 hard ticks were collected from wild boars of 8 habitats, including 4,347 H. longicornis, 4,172 H. flava, 508 I. nipponensis, and 1 I. turdus. A. testudinarium was collected only from wild boars, and I. nipponensis and I. turdus were collected only from the habitats of wild boars.
Agriculture ; Arthropods ; Ecosystem* ; Ixodes ; Ixodidae ; Republic of Korea* ; Surgical Instruments ; Sus scrofa* ; Swine ; Tick-Borne Diseases ; Ticks*

To investigate the neutralizing effect of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) and selenium (Se) aganist doxorubicin (DOX) toxicity in rats, NAC (140 mg/kg, p.o.) and Se (0.5 mg/kg, p.o.) were administered for 2 days before DOX injection and then 3 times a week. Cell viability and the level of lipid peroxidation were examined in cultured-rat astrocytes. Severe morphologic changes in the kidney of DOX group; thickening of Bowmans capsule, presence of multifocal tubular casts were observed, but not in the other treated groups. Vacuoles in some hepatic cells and focal aggregation of stellate macrophages were also detected in DOX group, but not in the other treated groups. However, the severe inhibition of spermatogenesis was found in all treated groups. The cell viability of DOX (10 mg/ml) treated group and NAC (5 mM) or Se (0.001 mg/ml) combinedtreated group was 52.5+/-2.0 % , 85.3+/-4.5 % and 75.5+/-1.6 %, respectively. In MDA (malondialdehyde) assay, the level of lipid peroxidation on DOX (10 mg/ml), NAC (5 mM) and Se (0.001 mg/ml) was 0.77+/-0.06, 0.35+/-0.06 and 0.54+/-0.11 nmol/mg protein, respectively. Thus, it is known that NAC and Se have protective effects in kidney and liver but not in the testes. Morphological change was not detected in brain and heart in all groups for experiment period. From this in vitro study, it is known that NAC and Se protect well the astrocytes against DOX induced-cell damage.
Acetylcysteine/*pharmacology ; Animals ; Astrocytes/*cytology/drug effects/pathology ; Cell Survival/drug effects ; Cells, Cultured ; Doxorubicin/antagonists & inhibitors/*toxicity ; Liver/cytology/*drug effects/pathology ; Male ; Rats ; Rats, Sprague-Dawley ; Spermatocytes/cytology/drug effects/pathology

BACKGROUND: VRE have become an emerging nosocomial pathogen in Korea, but there has not been nationwide study on the colonization of VRE among high risk groups of hospitalized patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of rectal colonization of VRE among patients hospitalized in the intensive care unit (ICU), to study the risk factors for nosocomial acquisition of VRE among those patients, to define the genetic diversity of VRE strains in major hospitals in Korea. METHODS: Between January the 20th and 30th of 2000, a point surveillance study was conducted in the ICU of the ten large hospitals, which were located nationwide. Surveillance rectal swab cultures for detecting VRE were obtained among 214 patients admitted to the ICU during the study period. To isolate VRE, rectal swab cultures were performed on Enterococcosel(R) agar that containing 6 microgram/mL of vancomycin. Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of vancomycin and teicoplanin were determined by agar dilution method. For the genotyping of VRE isolates, the detection of vanA, vanB, vanC1 and vanC2 gene by polymerase chain reaction was done. Pulsed-field gel electrophoreis (PFGE) was used for elucidating the genetic relatedness of VRE isolates. To identify the risk factors for rectal VRE colonization, patients harboring VRE were compared to patients who were not colonized with this organism. RESULTS: The rectal colonization rate of VRE was variable from 9.7% to 51.9% according to hospital. 64 VRE strains which were isolated from 63 patients included 37 E. feacium. 26 E. gallinarum and 1 E. casseliflavus isolates. Therefore the colonization rate of clinically significant vanA type VRE was 17.3% (37/ 214). 37 E. feacium. 26 E. gallinarum and 1 E. casseliflavus isolates were presented as vanA, vanC1 and vanC2 genotypes, respectively. Risk factors for rectal VRE colonization included the presence of chronic illness, previous use of broad spectrum antibioitcs es-pecillay vancomycin, and prolonged stay in ICU. Various PFGE patterns are noted among vanA type VRE isolates, so individual acquisition of VRE during stay in the majority of ICUs were suggested. But there is some evidence of focal VRE spread within the ICU and between hospitals. CONCLUSION: This study demonstrated the high rectal colonization rate (17.3%) of clinically significant vanA type VRE among patients admitted to the ICUs of ten large hospitals located nation-widely. This study suggested that practicing HICPAC guidelines, restricted vancomycin usage and periodic surveillance cultures in patients with high risk factors are important in preventing the emergence and spread of VRE infection among ICU patients.
Agar ; Chronic Disease ; Colon* ; Genetic Variation* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Intensive Care Units ; Korea* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors* ; Teicoplanin ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Atrial fibrillation(AF) is the most frequently encountered arrhythmia in clinical practice. Pharmacologic therapy has been advocated for both immediate restoration of sinus rhythm and prevention of recurrent AF. Because conventional antiarrhythmic therapy is often ineffective in maintaining sinus rhythm or is associated with adverse side effects in patients with AF, recent interest has focused on the use of class III antiarrhythmic agents. This study investigated the efficacy and safety of sotalol and amiodarone for conversion of chronic AF and prevention of recurrent AF. MATERIALS AND METHOD: Thirty six patients with AF were firstly received sotalol by prospective study protocol. The patients were classified as having paroxysmal AF(PAF, N=2) or chronic AF(CAF, N=4) based on AF pattern. If the patients with CAF did not convert to sinus rhythm or the patients with PAF recurred in AF, the patients were received second agents(amiodarone). Patients were followed up for one year. RESULTS: Among the 12 patients with PAF receiving sotalol, 10(83.3%) patients remained in normal sinus rhythm for average 9.4+/-3.6 months. Sotalol was replaced by amiodarone in the remaing 2 patients with arrhythmia recurrence and 1 of the 2 patients remained in sinus rhythm during the follow-up period. In the case of 24 patients with CAF, conversion to sinus rhythm was achieved in 5(20.8%) patients with sotalol. Among the patients with CAF who were not respond to sotalol, 17 patients received amiodarone subsquently and 3 patients successfully converted to sinus rhythm. There were no proarrhythmic effects related to both agents during the study period. CONCLUSION: Both sotalol and amiodarone appear to be less effective in the termination of CAF, but sequential use of these two agents seem to be very effective for the prevention of recurrence of PAF.
Amiodarone* ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atrial Fibrillation* ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Prospective Studies ; Recurrence ; Sotalol*

Aortic valve is usually involved in infective endocarditis. Aortic valve endocarditis produces destruction and perforation of leaflets and results in ring abscess, frequently. Less commonly, direct extension or infected aortic regurgitant jet can produce secondary involvement of anterior mitral leaflet (AML) and result in the formation of an aneurysm or perforation of AML. A 60-year-old woman was admitted to Kyung Hee University hospital because of a febrile illness and dyspnea. Transthoracic echocardiography (TTE) showed an aortic valve vegetation, an aneurysm of AML, and an eccentric jet of mitral regurgitation through AML. Transe-sophageal echocardiography (TEE) showed a perforation of AML. -streptococcus was isolated from blood culture. The patient was treated with Vancomycin and Sisomicin sulfate. On hospital day 21, heart failure was aggravated and emergent double valve replacement was done. The patient was recovered and discharged.
Abscess ; Aneurysm* ; Aortic Valve* ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Endocarditis* ; Female ; Heart Failure ; Humans ; Middle Aged ; Mitral Valve Insufficiency ; Sisomicin ; Vancomycin

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Oriental herbal materials known as aconitine have long been used in oriental traditional medicine for their analgesic and antiinflammatory effects. Aconitine and its related alkaloids are known cardiotoxins with no therapeutic role in modern western medicine. We have studied the cardiovascular side effects of intoxication that took place in otherwise healthy individuals after ingestion of herbal decoctions containing aconite alkaloids. MATERIALS AND METHOD: During a six-year interval from 1990 to 1996, 9 cases of accidental herb-induced aconitine intoxication were managed in Kyung Hee university medical center. Hospital records were reviewed in detail. RESULTS: All patients developed symptoms of aconitine toxicity within 4 hours of herb ingestion. The frequency of the order in cardinal symptoms of acute aconitine poisoning was nausea or vomiting, irritability, chest discomfort, dizziness, etc. Nine patients developed arrhythmias, including multifocal APC with aberrancy, multifocal VPC, ventricular tachycardia, etc. Administration of isotonic saline, dopamine, atropine and lidocaine with supportive cares brought clinical recovery and disappearance of arrhythmias in most cases within several hours. However, one case of acute aconitine poisoning had been dead of cardiac arrest due to ventricular fibrillation. CONCLUSION: Aconitine and its related alkaloids can cause toxic effects and even fatal poisoning. These cases point to the need for strict surveillance of herbal substances with low safety margins.
Academic Medical Centers ; Aconitine* ; Aconitum ; Alkaloids ; Arrhythmias, Cardiac ; Atropine ; Cardiotoxins ; Dizziness ; Dopamine ; Eating ; Heart Arrest ; Hospital Records ; Humans ; Lidocaine ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Nausea ; Poisoning* ; Tachycardia, Ventricular ; Thorax ; Ventricular Fibrillation ; Vomiting

Fibroblasts are major cellular components of gingiva and periodontal ligament. They regulate the healing process after surgery or injury. Recently, many natural medicines, whose advantages are less side effects and possibility of long-term use, have been studied for their capacity, their anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory effects and regenerative potential of periodontal tissues. Sophorae radix have been traditionally used as an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory drug in oriental medicine. The purpose of present study was to investigate the effects of Sophorae radix extract on cell cycle progression and its molecular mechanism in human gingival fibroblasts. Sophorae radix extracts(100microgram/ml) notably increased cell proliferation and cell activity in the human gingival fibroblasts as compared to non-supplemented controls. There was an increase in the S phase and a decrease in the G1 phase in 100microgram/ml of Sophorae radix extracts group as compared to non-supplemented controls. The level of cyclin E and cdk 2 protein in test group was higher than that of control groups. But that of cyclin D, cdk 4, and cdk 6 was not distinguished from controls. The level of p53 protein in test group was lower than that of controls, whereas that of p21 was not different. The level of pRB protein in test group was higher than that of controls, whereas that of p16 was lower. These results indicate that the increase of cell proliferation by Sophorae radix extracts may be due to the increased expression of cyclin E and cdk 2, and the decreased expression of p53 and p16 in human gingival fibroblasts.
Cell Cycle Proteins* ; Cell Cycle* ; Cell Proliferation ; Cyclin D ; Cyclin E ; Cyclins ; Fibroblasts* ; G1 Phase ; Gingiva ; Humans* ; Medicine, East Asian Traditional ; Periodontal Ligament ; S Phase ; Sophora*

Intoxifications caused by toxic honey were occurred recently in Korea. Honey poisoning is known to be induced by grayanotoxins, that appear in flowers of different species of Rhododendron. These toxic compounds cause depolarization of membranes that contain fast Na channel by increasing in Na permeability. After ingestion of toxic honey patients may present with neurological, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal sign and symptoms. Two cases of honey poisoning are described here. Both patients experienced syncope and severe arterial hypotension after ingestion of honey which was brought from Nepal and Brazil. Conservative treatement was fully successful in both patients within 24 hours. We report the first case of honey poisoning in Korea.
Brazil ; Eating ; Flowers ; Honey* ; Humans ; Hypotension ; Korea ; Membranes ; Nepal ; Permeability ; Poisoning* ; Rhododendron ; Sick Sinus Syndrome ; Syncope*

Recently many researches on plaque removal effect and therapeutic effect of toothpaste containing natural medicines are being studied in early periodontal diseases. The purpose of this study is to examine the clinical and microbiological effect of toothpaste containing natural medicines such as camomile, rhatany, myrrh, sage oil, glycyrrhetinic acid and vitamin E. Sixty three subjects with gingivitis were divided into an experimental group which performed normal oral hygiene procedure with toothpaste containing natural medicines and vitamine E and a control group which also performed normal oral hygiene procedure with Syrinmed? toothpaste without containing herbal extracts and vitamine E. At the baseline, 2 weeks, and 4 weeks, subjects were analyzed for clinical study and microbiological study. After 2 weeks and 4 weeks use of their respective toothpastes, statistically significant decreases of gingival index, plaque index, and bleeding index were shown in both the control and the experimental group. The degree of decrease was more significant in the experimental group than the control group. A statistically significant decrease of pocket depth, and gingival crevicular fluid were shown in both the control and the experimental group. A statistically significant increase of cocci was shown in both the control and the experimental group, the degree of increase was more significant in the experimental group than control group. A statistically significant decrease ofnon-motile rods, and motile rods were shown in both the control and the experimental group, the degree of decrease was more significant in the experimental group than the control group. Spirochetes increased weakly in both the control and the experimental group but a statistic significance was not shown. A statistically significant decrease of anaerobic bacteria, aerobic bacteria, and black pigmented Bacteroides were shown in both the control and the experimental group. These results indicate that the use of toothpaste containing natural medicines is effective in the prevention and the treatment of periodontal diseases.

Many neuromuscular disorders involve the heart and may produce dilated or hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Guillain-Barre Syndrome is an inflammatory polyradiculoneuropathy in which the autonomic nervous system is sometimes involved. ST-segment and T-wave abnormalities have been reported in which the autonomic nervous system is involved, and sudden death can be attributed to fatal arrhythmic or malignant hypertension, but cardiomypathy have been reported rare. 58-year-old woman who complained of pitting edema and exertional dyspnea was admitted. Dilated cardiomyopathy was diagnosed by transthoracic echocardiography. Guillain-Barre syndrome was diagnosed by clinical manifestation, EMG, and CSF tapping. T-wave inversion in electrocardiogram was noted, and left ventricular end-diastolic diameter and ejection fraction were 69.2mm and 37.5% respectively in transthoracic echocardiography. Coronary angiograms were normal and ergonovine test was negative. Plasmapheresis has been used as mainstay of treatment in patient with Guillain-Barre syndrome. She was treated with diuretics and digoxin. Motor paralysis improved gradually by plasmapheresis and left ventricular dysfunction improved after 8 months.
Autonomic Nervous System ; Cardiomyopathy, Dilated* ; Cardiomyopathy, Hypertrophic ; Death, Sudden ; Digoxin ; Diuretics ; Dyspnea ; Echocardiography ; Edema ; Electrocardiography ; Ergonovine ; Female ; Guillain-Barre Syndrome* ; Heart ; Humans ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Middle Aged ; Paralysis ; Plasmapheresis ; Polyradiculoneuropathy ; Ventricular Dysfunction, Left