On December 3, 2014, a type O foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) outbreak began in Korea. Although vaccinations were administered, FMD cases increased steadily for five months, and reached 185 cases by April 2015. Most of the affected animals were pigs, which are vulnerable to vaccination. The FMD virus belonged to the South-East Asia (SEA) topotype that had been observed three times in Korea between April 2010 and July 2014. However, the FMD virus isolated in December 2014 had a unique feature; that is, partial deletion of the 5′ non-coding region, a deletion not seen in previous SEA topotype isolates identified in Korea. We conclude that this outbreak included the introduction of a new FMD strain to Korea, and that Korea was now affected by genetically similar FMD virus strains that are related to those from neighboring countries.
Animals ; Asia ; Foot-and-Mouth Disease ; Korea ; Swine ; Vaccination

Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is the causative agent of enzootic bovine leukosis. This study was conducted to clarify the molecular characteristics of BLVs obtained from a specific region in Korea. Proviral BLVs were detected in anti-BLV antibody-positive blood samples by PCR. Env and gag fragments were sequenced and compared to previously published reference sequences. Analysis of the env gene sequence revealed that the YI strain was highly similar to genotype 1, including United States and Japanese strains. The gag gene sequence had the highest degree of similarity with a Japanese strain.
Animals ; Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Cattle* ; Enzootic Bovine Leukosis ; Genes, env ; Genes, gag* ; Genotype ; Humans ; Korea ; Leukemia Virus, Bovine* ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; United States

Hypertensive nephrosclerosis is usually associated with chronic hypertension, which increases the risk of progressive renal disease. Among the causes of malignant hypertension, thrombotic microangiopathy is complicated and is associated with renal dysfunction at the time of diagnosis. In this case, a young man with hypertension presented with renal failure and thrombocytopenia in the emergency department. This case emphasizes the importance of early recognition of renal failure and thrombocytopenia among patients with uncontrolled hypertension.
Blood Pressure* ; Diagnosis ; Emergency Service, Hospital ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Hypertension, Malignant ; Nephrosclerosis ; Renal Insufficiency ; Thrombocytopenia ; Thrombotic Microangiopathies*

There are numerous reasons for the failure of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction. Among them, surgical technical failure and wrong femoral tunnel location are the most common. The authors focused on the results of ACL revision using two anteromedial portals. Sixteen patients were selected with two anteromedial portals that were designed to decrease the femoral tunnel slope in sagittal plane. Clinical analysis was carried out based on Lysholm score, Tegner score and International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC). For anterior stability test, Lachman test, KT-2000 arthrometer were used. pivot shift test was measured for rotatory stability test. Preoperative Lachman test and pivot shift test showed positive finding in all cases, however, postoperative Lachman with 10 cases (62.5%) and pivot shift test with 10 cases (62.5%) were negative. The difference of anterior displacement with the non-affected side using KT 2000 arthrometer showed 6.57 mm (range: 4.0-12.0 mm) preoperatively and 2.20 mm (range: 1.0-4.0 mm) postoperatively on average. Score of Tegner and Lysholm improved from 4.86 (range: 2.0-7.0), 46.14 (range: 33-52) preoperatively, to postoperative score of 8.14 (range: 7.0-9.0), 83.43 (range: 74-89) at the final follow up. IKDC result also showed improvement. ACL reconstruction method using two anteromedial tunnels that is desgined to decrease femoral tunnel slope at sagittal plane is an effective technigue for revision surgery after initial ACL reconstruction failure. This technigue allows superior femoral tunnel selection, firm fixation of grafts and also shows excellent clinical results with stability.
Anterior Cruciate Ligament ; Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction ; Displacement (Psychology) ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Knee ; Transplants

BACKGROUND: Small proportions of all the elderly stroke patients receive recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (r-tPA) therapy, although old age is not a proven contraindication to intravenous thrombolytic therapy for acute ischemic stroke. The purpose of this study was to identify reasons for exclusion from r-tPA therapy and factors associated with the decision of r-tPA use in elderly patients with acute ischemic stroke. METHODS: From the acute stroke registries of 22 domestic university hospitals taking the r-tPA therapy from January 2007 to May 2010, we extracted data of all acute ischemic stroke patients who were aged 80 or over and arrived within onset 3 hours. For all patients, we assessed the eligibility of r-tPA therapy using National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) r-tPA trial criteria. For eligible patients, we compared all clinical variables between patients who were treated with r-tPA and those who were not, and analyzed potential factors related to the decision of r-tPA use. RESULTS: A total of 494 patients were included in this study. 255 patients (51.6%) were excluded by NINDS r-tPA trial criteria and the major reasons for exclusion were minor neurological deficit (53.7%) and clinical improvement (17.3%). Among 239 patients who were eligible for r-tPA, 162 (32.8%) patients received r-tPA and 77 (15.6%) did not. Multivariable analysis showed that younger age, shorter time-delay from onset to admission, non-smoker, no history of prior stroke, good pre-stroke functional status and severe initial neurological deficit were independently associated with the decision of r-tPA use in the elderly stroke patients predictors for r-tPA treatment. CONCLUSION: In very elderly patients, mild neurological deficit on arrival and rapid clinical improvement in neurological symptoms were the main reasons for exclusion from thrombolytic therapy.
Aged ; Hospitals, University ; Humans ; National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke ; Registries ; Stroke ; Thrombolytic Therapy ; Tissue Plasminogen Activator

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of the +769 G/A mutation of inhibin-alpha gene in Korean patients with idiopathic premature ovarian failure. DESIGN: DNA analysis of the mutation. METHODS: One hundred patients with idiopathic premature ovarian failure (POF) were recruited. Patient with known causes of premature ovarian failure were excluded: cytogenetic abnormalities, prior chemotherapy, prior bilateral oophorectomy and autoimmune disease, etc. DNA was extracted from peripheral blood and the +769 G/A variant of Inhibin-alpha gene (INH-alpha) was analyzed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and restriction fragment length polymorphism using restriction enzyme BbvI. RESULTS: We didn't find any case of +769 G/A variant in Inhibin-alpha gene in 100 Korean patients with idiopathic POF. CONCLUSION: This result suggests that in contrary to the recent data reported on the Asian population, the +769 G/A variant in inhibin-alpha gene may not exist in Korean patients with idiopathic POF.
Asian Continental Ancestry Group ; Autoimmune Diseases ; Chromosome Aberrations ; DNA ; Drug Therapy ; Female ; Humans ; Incidence ; Ovariectomy ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length ; Primary Ovarian Insufficiency*

The present study was to determine the influence of micro-macro biphasic calcium phosphate(MBCP) on proliferation and differentiation of human marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells. Primary stem cells were cultured from bone marrow and 3-4 passaged cells were used. This study tested the proliferative effects by cell counting. Collagen sythensis, alkaline phosphatase activity, expression of osteocalcin and bone sialoprotein by Western blot analysis were evaluated. The cellular proliferation of ASC was not influenced by MBCP. Collagen synthesis of ASC cultured on MBCP significantly increased at 5th and 7th days(p<0.05). The ALP activity in ASC cultured on MBCP significantly increased at 5th and 7th days(p<0.05). The expression of OC and BSP incresaed in ASC cultured on MBCP. These results suggest that MBCP may stimulates the osteoblastic activity of ASC.
Adult Stem Cells* ; Adult* ; Alkaline Phosphatase ; Blotting, Western ; Bone Marrow ; Calcium* ; Cell Count ; Cell Proliferation ; Collagen ; Humans ; Integrin-Binding Sialoprotein ; Mesenchymal Stromal Cells ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteocalcin ; Stem Cells

No abstract available.
Bone Regeneration ; Calcium* ; Heterografts ; Humans* ; Osteoblasts* ; Osteogenesis*

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to investigate the characteristics of gentamicin-induced vestibulotoxicity of otolith organs and preventive effect of low power laser to vestibulotoxicity by assessing the result of earth vertical and the off vertical axis rotation tests. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Twenty guinea pigs were grouped into two groups, laser and no laser group. Vestibulotoxicity was induced by intratympanic injection of gentamicin. Prevention of the vestibulotoxicity was studied by irradiation of low power laser. Off vertical axis rotation tilted 30 degree relative to the earth vertical axis was applied to evaluate the otolithic function. Results and CONCLUSION: Gentamicin induced vestibulotoxicity was confirmed by gain decreasing in slow harmonic acceleration test and modulation decreasing in the off vertical axis rotation test. Prevention effect of low power laser to gentamicin induced vestibulotoxicity was confirmed by modulation maintaining in the off vertical axis rotation test and gain maintaining in the earth vertical axis rotation.
Acceleration ; Animals ; Axis, Cervical Vertebra ; Gentamicins ; Guinea Pigs* ; Guinea* ; Low-Level Light Therapy* ; Otolithic Membrane

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to assess the change of the articular cartilage thickness resulting from physiological aging in normal Korean people without any disease in knee joint. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Voluntary participants of 81 cases, physically normal and free from knee joint disease at present or in the past, were chosen for our research program. The subjects were divided into young, middle and old age group respectively for the male and female; and articular cartilage thickness using MRI were measured. RESULT: Each of the three groups reveals the tendency of decrease in the thickness of the knee joint cartilage in all of the age groups along with the increase of the age. The cartilage thickness according to age for both sex, except for the tibial medial condyle, decreased significantly. For the male subjects, the degree of decrease in cartilage thicknes indicates difference in each sections. However, in case of female, the change of articular cartilage thickness in overall sections showed more significantly decreased in young to middle age group than in middle to old age group. CONCLUSION: The results revealed the normal articular cartilage thickness of knee and time that the thickness of articular cartilage was decreased with age. And we could evaluate the severity of degenerative change of articular cartilage by comparison to normal articular cartilage thickness.
Aging ; Cartilage ; Cartilage, Articular* ; Female ; Humans ; Knee Joint* ; Knee* ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Middle Aged