COVID-19 ; Humans ; Inflammation/genetics* ; Lung ; Pneumonia ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Serologic Tests

Drug reaction with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) syndrome and toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) are severe cutaneous adverse reactions. Although viral reactivation is associated with DRESS syndrome, its role in TEN remains unclear. An 80-year-old woman visited our hospital because of fever and skin eruption. DRESS syndrome was diagnosed and was thought to caused by the use of the drug allopurinol. She was treated by discontinuation of the drug and administration of systemic steroids. She recovered from DRESS syndrome and was discharged from the hospital with tapering doses of steroids prescribed. One week after discharge, she visited our hospital again as the skin rash recurred and oral pain as well as oral and ocular mucosal lesions developed. In addition to the skin rash, blisters and Nikolsky's sign that were different from the skin lesions present in the previous DRESS syndrome were observed. Unlike those in DRESS syndrome, the viral serological test results were positive for anti-cytomegalovirus (CMV) IgM and CMV polymerase chain reaction. Therefore, it was thought that TEN was due to reactivation of CMV and she was treated this with ganciclovir and intravenous immunoglobulin. Here, we report a case of TEN caused by viral reactivation after DRESS syndrome developed after use of allopurinol which recovered after steroid treatment.
Aged, 80 and over ; Allopurinol ; Blister ; Cytomegalovirus Infections ; Cytomegalovirus ; Drug Hypersensitivity Syndrome ; Eosinophilia ; Exanthema ; Female ; Fever ; Ganciclovir ; Humans ; Immunoglobulin M ; Immunoglobulins ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serologic Tests ; Skin ; Steroids ; Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

tests showed strong reactivity (3+ to 4+) in all panel cells except in her autologous cells. Based on these results, we concluded that she had an alloantibody to a high-prevalence antigen. Anti-PP₁P(k) alloantibody with p phenotype was identified by additional serological tests in a foreign reference laboratory. To confirm the patient's p phenotype, polymerase chain reaction and sequencing of the A4GALT gene were performed on her blood sample. She was homozygous for c.301delG in the A4GALT gene, which finally confirmed that she had the anti-PP₁P(k) antibody with p phenotype. Fortunately, her anemia caused due to iron deficiency could be treated with iron supplementation without the need for any transfusion. However, it remains extremely difficult to find compatible red blood cells in such settings in Korea. Moreover, there has been very little research on the prevalence of the p phenotype in the Korean population. Therefore, additional research is needed on rare blood group antibodies and high-prevalence antigens, including anti-PP₁P(k) cases.]]>
Anemia ; Antibodies ; Blood Transfusion ; Erythrocytes ; Female ; Humans ; Intellectual Disability ; Iron ; Isoantibodies ; Korea ; Mass Screening ; P Blood-Group System ; Phenotype ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Prevalence ; Rehabilitation ; Serologic Tests ; Young Adult

A previously healthy 2.5-year-old male child presented with vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. During hospitalization he developed odynophagia and refusal to eat. His symptoms did not respond to acid suppressant therapy. He underwent upper endoscopy which showed severe inflammation, ulcerations and abundant necrosis. Histopathological features and serological testing were consistent with herpetic esophagitis. He had no history of recurrent infections or history of sick contacts. His immunological work up showed normal level of immunoglobulins and his White Blood Cells subpopulations were normal. His HSV serology was positive. The patient was started on acyclovir 5 mg/kg q 8 hours. He resolved his symptoms within 24 hours of treatment.
Acyclovir ; Child ; Diarrhea ; Endoscopy ; Esophagitis ; Fever ; Herpes Simplex ; Hospitalization ; Humans ; Immunoglobulins ; Inflammation ; Leukocytes ; Male ; Necrosis ; Serologic Tests ; Ulcer ; Vomiting

Cystic echinococcosis (CE) in sheep is a hazardous zoonotic parasitic disease that is caused by Echinococcus granulosus (Eg). At present, serological test is an important diagnostic method for Eg infection in domestic animals. Here, a fusion protein Eg mefAg-1 harboring 8 dominant B-cell epitopes of Eg such as antigen B, tetraspanin 1, tetraspanin 6, reticulon and Eg95 was produced in E. coli and evaluated for CE in sheep by indirect ELISA. Eg mefAg-1 showed in ELISA a high sensitivity (93.41%) and specificity (99.31%), with a coincidence rate of 97.02%. Overall, it is suggested that the Eg mefAg-1 could be a potential antigen candidate for CE serodiagnosis in sheep.
Animals, Domestic ; Echinococcosis ; Echinococcus granulosus ; Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay ; Epitopes, B-Lymphocyte ; Methods ; Parasitic Diseases ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Sheep

Cysticercosis, a parasitic disease caused by Taenia solium metacestode (TsM), has a major global public health impact in terms of disability-adjusted life years. The parasite preferentially infects subcutaneous tissue, but may invade the central nervous system, resulting in neurocysticercosis (NC). NC is an important neglected tropical disease and an emerging disease in industrialized countries due to immigration from endemic areas. The prevalence of taeniasis in Korea declined from 0.3%–12.7% during the 1970s to below 0.02% since the 2000s. A survey conducted from 1993 to 2006 revealed that the percentage of tested samples with high levels of specific anti-TsM antibody declined from 8.3% to 2.2%, suggesting the continuing occurrence of NC in Korea. Modern imaging modalities have substantially improved the diagnostic accuracy of NC, and recent advances in the molecular biochemical characterization of the TsM cyst fluid proteome also significantly strengthened NC serodiagnosis. Two glycoproteins of 150 and 120 kDa that induce strong antibody responses against sera from patients with active-stage NC have been elucidated. The 150 kDa protein showed hydrophobic-ligand binding activities and might be critically involved in the acquisition of host-derived lipid molecules. Fasciclin and endophilin B1, both of which play roles in the homeostatic functions of TsM, showed fairly high antibody responses against calcified NC cases. NC is now controllable and manageable. Further studies should focus on controlling late-onset intractable seizures and serological diagnosis of NC patients infected with few worms. This article briefly overviews diagnostic approaches and discusses current issues relating to NC serodiagnosis.
Antibody Formation ; Central Nervous System ; Cyst Fluid ; Cysticercosis ; Developed Countries ; Diagnosis ; Emigration and Immigration ; Glycoproteins ; Humans ; Immunologic Tests ; Korea ; Neurocysticercosis ; Parasites ; Parasitic Diseases ; Prevalence ; Proteome ; Public Health ; Republic of Korea ; Seizures ; Serologic Tests ; Subcutaneous Tissue ; Taenia solium ; Taenia ; Taeniasis

PURPOSE: To report a case of frosted branch angiitis (FBA) associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection in a child. CASE SUMMARY: A 7-year-old boy presented with bilateral blurred vision. On ophthalmic examination, his best-corrected visual acuity was 20/25 in the right eye and 20/32 in the left eye. The pupils were equal, round, and reactive to light without a relative afferent pupillary defect. He had normal color vision in both eyes. Slit-lamp examination revealed no abnormalities in the anterior parts of the eyes. Fundoscopic examination revealed prominent white sheathing retinal vasculitis predominantly on the veins in all quadrants, as well as macular edema and irregular foveal reflex in both eyes. Fluorescein angiography showed normal blood flow, but late diffuse staining and leakage of the affected vessels. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) showed thickening of the vessel walls, swelling due to hyperreflective material, and hyperreflective retinal depositions. Serological tests and the serum polymerase chain reaction for EBV were positive. A diagnosis of FBA associated with EBV was made. He was treated with systemic acyclovir and steroids. The response was rapid, with improvement in visual acuity to 20/20 in both eyes by day 3. After 7 weeks, all clinical signs resolved and SD-OCT examination showed normal vessel wall thickness and the absence of hyperreflective depositions. CONCLUSIONS: EBV may present with FBA even in the absence of a systemic sign of primary EBV infection. Thus, EBV should be considered as the etiology of FBA.
Acyclovir ; Child ; Color Vision ; Diagnosis ; Epstein-Barr Virus Infections ; Fluorescein Angiography ; Herpesvirus 4, Human ; Humans ; Macular Edema ; Male ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Pupil ; Pupil Disorders ; Reflex ; Retinal Vasculitis ; Retinaldehyde ; Serologic Tests ; Steroids ; Tomography, Optical Coherence ; Vasculitis ; Veins ; Visual Acuity

Infectious diseases of the upper gastrointestinal tract are rare, but certain bacteria including Treponema pallidum and Mycobacterium tuberculosis may infect the esophagus, stomach, and duodenum even in an immunocompetent individual. Gastric syphilis is difficult to diagnose because it presents with non-specific symptoms and diverse endoscopic findings. Nevertheless, gastric syphilis should be considered in the differential diagnosis when a patient presents with chronic inflammatory gastric lesions such as multiple erosive/ulcerative lesions and stricture or with other evidence of syphilis. Histological evaluation and specific serological tests should be performed if syphilis is suspected. Esophageal and gastroduodenal tuberculosis also exhibits non-specific clinical manifestations. The diagnosis is confirmed by mucosal biopsy or aspiration cytology revealing the presence of caseating granulomata and/or acid-fast bacilli. Mycobacterial culture and polymerase chain reaction should be incorporated into routine diagnostic studies to improve the diagnostic sensitivity. The diagnosis of tuberculosis is occasionally confirmed indirectly by an excellent response of the patient to anti-tubercular therapy.
Bacteria ; Biopsy ; Communicable Diseases ; Constriction, Pathologic ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Duodenum ; Esophagus ; Humans ; Mycobacterium tuberculosis ; Polymerase Chain Reaction ; Serologic Tests ; Stomach ; Syphilis ; Treponema pallidum ; Tuberculosis ; Upper Gastrointestinal Tract

RHD genotyping is a useful adjunct to serologic testing. Although the use of RHD genotyping in the detection of Asia type DEL in serological D negative Koreans is gradually increasing, it is rarely requested for patients with a known weak D phenotype. This paper reports the first Korean case of a 52-year-old female patient with serologic weak D phenotype and weak D type 33 (c.520G>A at exon 4 of RHD) identified by RHD exon 1 to 10 sequencing. In silico analysis predicted that the RHD c.520G>A (V174M) results in a serologic weak D phenotype.
Asia ; Computer Simulation ; Exons ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Middle Aged ; Phenotype ; Serologic Tests

Chagas disease is caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, and is endemic in many Latin American countries. Diagnosis is based on serologic testing and the WHO recommends two or more serological tests for confirmation. Acidic ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi showed strong reactivity against positive sera of patients, and we cloned the protein after fragmenting it to enhance its antigenicity and solubility. Twelve positive sera of Chagas disease patients were reacted with the fragmented ribosomal P protein using western blot. Detection rate and density for each fragment were determined. Fragments F1R1, F1R2, and F2R1 showed 100% rate of detection, and average density scoring of 2.00, 1.67, and 2.42 from a maximum of 3.0, respectively. Therefore, the F2R1 fragment of the ribosomal P protein of T. cruzi could be a promising antigen to use in the diagnosis of Chagas disease in endemic regions with high specificity and sensitivity.
Blotting, Western ; Chagas Disease ; Clone Cells ; Diagnosis ; Humans ; Parasites ; Sensitivity and Specificity ; Serologic Tests ; Solubility ; Trypanosoma cruzi