• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.6 no.3
• /
• pp.201-208
• /
• 2000

The vancomycin, one of the family of glycopeptide antibiotics, inhibits the synthesis of bacterial cell wall peptidoglycan and has been widely used against gram-positive bacterial infections, especially for a treatment of methicillin resistant S. aureus infection. However, clinical isolate which was intermediately resistant to vancomycin (Mu50: MIC 8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) was isolated in recent years. In this study we performed vancomycin susceptibility test with the increment method and population analysis with clinical isolates S. aureus. Also we did several kinds of tests with three selected isolates (s129: MIC 7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, s134: MIC 7 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml, s135: MIC 8 $\mu\textrm{g}$/ml) to find out possible mechanism of vancomycin resistance. As a result, the prevalence of vancomycin resistant S. aureus isolates among S. aureus strains resistant to methicillin was 23.3% (25/107). The vancomycin resistances of isolated strains of S. aureus were between those of Mu5O and Mu3 strains. By PCR analysis, none of the isolates with decreased vancomycin susceptibility contained known vancomycin resistant genes such as vanA, vanB, vanC1, vanC2, and vanH. Major bands of 81 kDa, 58 kDa, 33 kDa, 28 kDa were demonstrable in whole cell lysates by SDS-PAGE from all three isolates as well as reference strains. And especially,45 kDa protein was overproduced in Mu50 strains. Among them increased production of NAD$^{+}$-linked-$_{D}$-lactate dehydrogenase (dnLDH) were detected from one clinical strain (s135) and Mu5O strain. From these data, we suggest that the mechanism of vancomycin resistance in these isolates are distinct from that in enterococci.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
• /
• v.20 no.2
• /
• pp.81-88
• /
• 2013

Purpose : This study was performed to investigate the epidemiology of enterovirus (EV) infections in children at a secondary hospital during recent 5 years. Methods : We collected the cerebrospinal fluid, stool and throat swab samples from the pediatric patients with suspected EV infections in KEPCO Medical Center, Seoul, Korea from July 2006 to September 2010. EV detection and genotype identification were performed by RT-PCR at Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Results : A total of 386 samples were collected from 277 patients during study period. Ninety-eight patients (35.4%) were diagnosed with EV infections. The RT-PCR positive rate was the highest in throat swab samples (48.3%). The median age of patient was 4.7 years (range, 0.1-12.5 years). Aseptic meningitis (50, 51.0%) was the most common clinical manifestation; herpangina (22, 22.4%) and hand-foot-mouth disease (18, 18.4%). One hundred EVs were isolated from 98 patients and 20 genotypes of EV were identified; Echovirus 30 (28 cases, 28%), Enterovirus 71 (12 cases, 12%), Echovirus 25 (10 cases, 10%), Echovirus 9 (9 cases, 9%) and Coxsackievirus A6 (8 cases, 8%). Aseptic meningitis caused by Echovirus 30 was the most common manifestation in 2008. There was no complicated case caused by Enterovirus 71. Conclusion : This study showed the epidemiology of confirmed EV infection in children from 2006 to 2010. There is a need for continuous surveillance of EV infections and its clinical manifestations.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.13 no.1
• /
• pp.110-115
• /
• 1996

The ESR is one of the oldest laboratory test still in use. Although it lacks specificity in diagnosis, it can be effective for monitoring disease activity and following-up. The Westergren method is used for reference method, however coefficient of variation has been described 0.8% to 22.9% according to the literature. Since the ESR was invented in 1921, measurement technique has developed and automated measurement is introduced. We analyzed one hundred forty-three patient samples using $SEDIsystem^{TM}$ automated ESR measuring system and compared with modified Westergren and Wintrobe methods. Comparison between $SEDIsystem^{TM}$ and modified Westergren for ESR measurement yields the following regression equation; y = 0.863x - 1.69 (r=0.830), $SEDIsystem^{TM}$ and Wintrobe y = 1.14x - 14.7 (r=0.789), respectively. We repeated measurement to evaluate reliability, results are not significant in statistically. In conclusion, $SEDIsystem^{TM}$ automated ESR measurement correlated with modified Westergren and Wintrobe methods, reveal reliable results after 4 hours and can report rapidly for large samples. Thus, these results indicate that $SEDIsystem^{TM}$ automated ESR measurement may be useful tool for clinical practice.

• Korean Journal of Food Science and Technology
• /
• v.31 no.4
• /
• pp.931-937
• /
• 1999

Styrene dimers and trimers from polystyrene cup noodle containers were analyzed by GC and GC/MS extracted with various simulants. For the quantitation of styrene dimers and trimers, 1,3-diphenylpropane (DP) and benzyln-butyl phthalate (BBP) were chosen as the standards. The results showed that the average of the styrene dimers in the containers was 603 ppm, and that of trimers was 5731 ppm. Four styrene dimers, including 1,2-diphenyl-cyclobutane, were identified as well as seven trimers such as 2,4,6-triphenyl-l-hexene. The migration of the styrene dimers and trimers, from the cup noodle containers of polystyrene into foods, was conducted using simulants including boiling water as well as soybean oil and n-heptane. In addition to, the analysis of each migrated styrene was also performed filled with boiling water into noodle and soup after certain time (5, 10, 20, 30 min). The results showed that the migration of styrene dimers and trimers from cup noodle containers was not detected in the case of using boiled water or soybean oil as a simulant, while styrene dimers and trimers were detected 1.18 ppm and 14.21 ppm, respectively, when heptane was adopted as a simulant. In the case of filling with boiled water into noodle and soup, both styrenes were not detected at 5 min and 10 min, however, some samples standing for 20 min released styrene dimers and trimers as much as 0.009 ppm, and 0.019 ppm for 30 min.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.42 no.1
• /
• pp.35-41
• /
• 1995

Background: Tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis can be diagnosed by clinical findings, chest X-ray, Mantoux test, but confirmed only by excisional biopsy. The polymerase chain reaction(PCR) is now widely applied to test very small amount of pathogen and would be used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis in biopsied tissues and fine needle aspirates. Method: We carried out the PCR using IS-1 and IS-2 primers in 16 samples from tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis patients, and 13 samples from non-tuberculous cervical lymphadenopathy patients. Acid fast staining and culture for Mycobacterium were all negative. Results: All of 8 pathologically confirmed tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis samples showed positive PCR results, and of 5/8 clinically diagnosed samples were positive. None of 6 pathologically excluded samples were positive, and among 7 clinically undiagnosed samples 2 showed positive PCR results. Conclusion: In patients with suspected tuberculous cervical lymphadenitis, PCR could be used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis using biopsied tissues and even fine needle aspirates with good sensitivity and specificity.

• Biomedical Science Letters
• /
• v.2 no.2
• /
• pp.223-229
• /
• 1996

HLA-B27 gene, one of the HLA-class I molecule, is strongly associated with ankylosing spondylitis. It has been most frequently used as a disease-correlated HLA gene by clinicians. In most laboratories, conventional HLA-B27 typing is still performed by cell cytotoxicity tests or fluorescence serology with specific antibodies. In this study, DNA typing method for HLA-B27 was developed by using group specific Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). Four HLA-B27 cell lines (HOM-2, JESTHOM, WT24 and BTB) and fifty six B27 Korean individuals defined by serology were used. The results of control cell and B-27 positive individual samples were correlated well with the data which was performed by serological method. All of B27 positive PCR products gave positive signals on Southern blot hybridization with B27 specific probe. This study shows that the HLA-B27 DNA typing is a relatively simple, fast and practical tool for the determination of the HLA-B27 gene in routine clinical laboratory work.

• Korean Journal of Environmental Biology
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.34-41
• /
• 2007

A study on the distribution of V. parahaemolyticus among sea water, sea mud, and marine products in Hwabuk, Samyang, Daepo, Jungmun, Pyoson, Anduk, Aewol, and Gwakji on the coastal area of Jeju island was conducted from January to December in 2002. The 2,880 total specimens of 960 sea waters, 960 sea mud, 960 marine products were collected and studied for the rate of isolation of V. parahaemolyticus, and biochemical, serological and antibiotic sensitivity tests were performed. A total of 417 strains of V. parahaemolyticus were isolated and identified from 2,880 total specimens. In the test of biochemical properties, 100 of V. parahaemolyticus isolates in the presence of 0.85% NaCl were positive in the utilization of lysine, ornithine, indole, glucose, and mannitol, and negative in the utilization of ONPG, arginine, sodium citrate, urea, tryptophane, inositol, sorbitol, rhamnose, sucrose, and melibiose, $H_2S$ production and VP reaction, while positive or negative in gelatin liquefaction and utilization of amygdalin or arabinose. The isolation rates to the specimen were 161 strains (16.8%) from 960 of sea waters, 137 strains (14.3%) from 960 of sea mud, and 119 strains (12.4%) from 960 of marine products. The isolation rates of V. parahaemolyticus from 8 coastal areas were 14.4% (52/360) in Hwabuk area, 15.3% (55/360) in Samyang area, 13.6% (49/360) in Daepo area, 18.3% (66/360) Jungmun area, 13.1% (47/360) in Pyosun area, 16.4% (59/360) in Anduk area, 12.5% (45/360) in Aewol area and 12.2% (44/360) in Gwakji area, respectively. The distribution of 417 V. parahaemolyticus, isolates was high at Jungmun with 18.3% (66/360), and from sea water with 16.8% (161/960).

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
• /
• v.3 no.1
• /
• pp.41-46
• /
• 2000

Purpose: It is important to have the epidemiologic data of rotavirus serotypes for the application of polyvalent rotavirus vaccines. Epidemiological studies of rotavirus serotypes in Korea have been reported only in limited areas with small number of cases. Authors tried to investigate the distribution of rotavirus G serotypes in ChungJu area with RT-PCR. Method: Stool specimens were collected from 202 children with acute diarrheal symptoms, who admitted to or visited Kon-Kuk University Hospital in ChungJu from June 1998 to May 1999. Samples were screened for rotavirus with EIA method (TestPack Rotavirus, Abbott Laboratories) and rotavirus G Serotypes were determined by RT-PCR. Results: Rotavirus was positive in 46.6%. The incidence of G serotypes was as follows; G1 10%, G2 10%, G3 28%, G4 26%, and G9 20%. There were three cases of multiple serotypes; G1 with G9, G2 with G9, and G4 with G9. Serotype of G8 was not found. Conclusion: The proportion of G serotypes in ChungJu is much different from previous reports. Serotype of G9 was found which had not been reported in Korean children till now. Long term plans for the investigation of rotavirus serotypes must be needed in wide area.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.52 no.3
• /
• pp.221-228
• /
• 2020

Ochrobactrum anthropi is a non-fermentative oxidative gram-negative bacillus that produces oxidase. Distinguishing a mixed culture with non-fermenting bacteria having a similar appearance and oxidase-positive is difficult, and there is a limit to accurate identification with a biochemical identification system. This paper proposes that the Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption/Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry Platform (MALDI-TOF) method is useful for classifying bacteria that are difficult to identify using biochemical testing methods. As a result of analyzing five cases of O. anthropi examined using MicroScan, it took 6.5 days to the final report, which was 3.5 days more than the 3.0 days of E. coli. The pus sample in patient 5 was a mixed infection with Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and it took 11.3 days because of multiple subculture and retests. Four patients were over 60 years old with an underlying disease, and the possibility of opportunistic and nosocomial infections could not be excluded. Among them, samples collected after 92 days of hospitalization were resistant to imipenem and meropenem. Therefore, an examination using the MALDI-TOF method will be useful for the rapid and adequate treatment of patients with difficult identification, such as O. anthropi.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
• /
• v.15 no.1
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 1998

The aim of this study was to evaluate domestic enzyme immunoassay(EIA) kit 'LG RCD 3.0' (LG) for the detection of antibody to hepatitis C virus(anti-HCV) in comparision with Axsym HCV version 3.0(Axsym), Cobas Core anti-HCV EIA(Cobas). Cobas kit shows better clear distinction between positive and negative by signal/cutoff ratio(S/C), but it also reveal relatively high false positive rate. The concordance rate of test results between LG and Axsym was 96.2%, between LG and Cobas was 95.5%, and total agreement between three EIA kit was 93.9%. LG were relative poor distinction between positive and negative results, but it could be applied clinically as a screening tool for hepatitis C in general population. The SIC of one false negative result by LG was 0.91, and false positive were less than 4.0, therefore we concluded it is necessary to confirm by immunoblotting assay when SIC were between 0.8 and 4.0.