• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• v.50 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2017

A mixed infection of Mycobacterium abscessus subsp. abscessus (Mab) and Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) in the lung is an unusual clinical manifestation and has not yet been reported. A 61-year-old woman had been treated for Mab lung disease and concomitant pneumonia, and was diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). Despite both anti-PTB and anti-Mab therapy, her entire left lung was destroyed and collapsed. She underwent left pneumonectomy and received medical therapy. We were able to successfully treat her mixed infection by pneumonectomy followed by inhaled amikacin therapy. To the best of our knowledge, thus far, this is the first description of a mixed Mab and MTB lung infection.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Toxicology Conference
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• 2003.10b
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• pp.120-120
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• 2003

Synthesis and distribution of extracellular matrix (ECM) components are dynamically altered in response to the pathophysiological processes including infection, inflammation and apoptosis. In particular, the levels of hyaluronan (HA) change with concomitant increases in the levels of collagen (e.g. type I collagen) and fibronectin in chronic liver diseases.(omitted)

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.61 no.2
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• pp.43-48
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• 2018

Purpose: Human adenovirus infection mimics Kawasaki disease (KD) but can be detected in KD patients. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical differences between KD with adenovirus infection and only adenoviral infection and to identify biomarkers for prediction of adenovirus-positive KD from isolated adenoviral infection. Methods: A total of 147 patients with isolated adenovirus were identified by quantitative polymerase chain reaction. In addition, 11 patients having KD with adenovirus, who were treated with intravenous immunoglobulin therapy during the acute phase of KD were also evaluated. Results: Compared with the adenoviral infection group, the KD with adenovirus group was significantly associated with frequent lip and tongue changes, skin rash and changes in the extremities. In the laboratory parameters, higher C-reactive protein (CRP) level and presence of hypoalbuminemia and sterile pyuria were significantly associated with the KD group. In the multivariate analysis, lip and tongue changes (odds ratio [OR], 1.416; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.151-1.741; P=0.001), high CRP level (OR, 1.039; 95% CI 1.743-1.454; P= 0.021) and sterile pyuria (OR 1.052; 95% CI 0.861-1.286; P=0.041) were the significant predictive factors of KD. In addition, the cutoff CRP level related to KD with adenoviral detection was 56 mg/L, with a sensitivity of 81.8% and a specificity of 75.9%. Conclusion: Lip and tongue changes, higher serum CRP level and sterile pyuria were significantly correlated with adenovirus-positive KD.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.37 no.1
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• pp.44-47
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• 2005

Objective: The purpose of this study is to investigate the elevated blood glucose levels in the postoperative period are associated with an increased risk of deep wound infection in diabetic individuals undergoing lumbar spine surgery. Methods: Of 2896 patients who underwent lumbar spine operations by one surgeon between 1993 and 2002, 329(11.4%) were diabetics. The rate of deep wound infections in diabetic patients was 6.4%, versus 3.2% for nondiabetics. 152 patients had their operation before implementation of the protocol and 177 after implementation. Charts of the diabetic patients were reviewed. Mean blood glucose levels were calculated from documented results of finger-stick glucometer testing. Results: Twenty-one diabetic patients suffered deep wound infection. Infected diabetic patients had a higher mean blood glucose level through the first 2 postoperative days than noninfected patients($230{\pm}6.9$ versus $175{\pm}3.8mg/dL$; p<0.003) and had a long operation time($216{\pm}57.9$ versus $167.5{\pm}42.2$ minute; p<0.05). Multivariable logistic regression showed that mean blood glucose level for the first 2 postoperative days, long operation time, and use of the instrumentation(p<0.02) were all related predictiors of deep wound infection. Institution of a protocol of postoperative continuous intravenous insulin to maintain blood glucose level less than 200mg/dL was began in september 1997. This protocol resulted in a decrease in blood glucose levels for the first 2 postoperative days and a concomitant decrease in the proportion of patients with deep wound infection, from 8.3%(11/132) to 5.1%(10/195) (p<0.02). Conclusion: The incidence of deep wound infection in diabetic patients is reduced after implementation of a protocol to maintain mean blood glucose level less than 200mg/dL in the immediate postoperative period.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Pharmacy
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.332-338
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• 2011

This study aimed to investigate the prescription of antibiotics in clinics, and evaluate their usage appropriateness after the 2000 Korean separation of dispensary from medical practice. A retrospective study was performed on the antibiotic use for 4 years from August 2000 to July 2004 in three clinics (general, internal medicine and ear-nose-and-throat (ENT) clinics). Moreover, prescription of antibiotics for acute upper respiratory infection (AURI), concomitant drugs, duplicate antibiotics and patient adherence were assessed for 260 patients experienced AURI in a pharmacy. The prescription rates of antibiotics amongst the whole prescription decreased annually during the study period, but those in ENT clinic still constituted more than 90%. The usage of penicillins declined, but that of broad spectrum antibiotics such as amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and 1st/2nd generation cephalosporins increased. Moreover, the categories of antibiotics for the same indication were different among the clinics. For patients with AURI, the more antibiotics were prescribed as its missing days and days under its therapeutic dose increased. The drug interactions with concomitant drugs decreased annually, but the use of duplicate antibiotics was similar across the period. Potential inappropriate antibiotic use was common after the Korean policy, so the observation of pharmacists needs in addition to the patients and practitioners' attention.

• Journal of Korean Foot and Ankle Society
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• v.20 no.1
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• pp.50-53
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• 2016

We report on a rare case of an intraosseous epidermoid cyst in the distal phalanx of the great toe with concurrent infection in a 71-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus. The lesion was initially considered simple infectious arthritis and concomitant osteomyelitis in a patient with diabetes. However, after surgery, an intraosseous epidermoid cyst originating from the nail bed and involving the articular surface of the distal phalanx was detected. The epidermoid cyst may have contributed to the infectious arthritis in the interphalangeal joint. The lesion was treated via mass excision, arthrotomy, debridement, and intravenous antibiotics.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.191-195
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• 2019

Trypanosomiasis is caused by a pathogenic protozoan of the genus Trypanosoma, being Trypanosoma vivax the most important agent for cattle. The aim of the present study was to demonstrate the expansion of T. vivax infection in different mesoregions of Minas Gerais, Brazil, and describe the clinicopathological findings of trypanosomiasis in cattle. The diagnosis was based on visualization of the parasite in blood smears and DNA detection of T. vivax in the blood of live cows and tissues of necropsied animals by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Thirty suspected herds were tested, of which 11 were positive for T. vivax. The most frequent clinical signs were anemia, apathy, drop in milk production, weight loss, reproductive disorders, and nervous signs. Concomitant diseases, such as malignant edema, pneumonia and increased cases of mastitis were associated with T. vivax infection. Three cows were necropsied and the most significant findings were low body condition score, pale mucous and spleen with white pulp hyperplasia. The results demonstrated the expansion of T. vivax infection in Minas Gerais, that PCR-associated blood smears are promising for diagnosis, and that other diseases often occur concomitantly to T. vivax infection in regions with trypanosomiasis in cattle.

• BMB Reports
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.223-228
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• 2004

The levels of arylsulfatases A and B, $\alpha$-amylase, aspartate transcarbamylase, and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase were investigated during the infection of mice with schistosoma mansoni. This infection caused a significant (p<0.001) increase in the activity of hepatic arylsulfatase B (ASB), aspartate transcarbamylases and $\gamma$-glutamyl transpeptidase. A non-significant difference occurred for $\alpha$-amylase (p<0.3) and arylsulfatase A (p>0.5) when compared to the control. The specific activity of hepatic ASB was progressively increased with the progression of the Schistosoma-infection. Moreover, the kinetic studies of hepatic ASB in Schistosoma-infection showed that a slight decrease in the value of $K_m$ and about a 40% increase in $V_{max}$ when compared to the control. In addition, the pH optimum of hepatic ASB was altered from 6 to 7 as a result of schistosomiasis. These observations suggest that there are schistosomiasis-associated changes of the catalytic and kinetic properties of hepatic ASB.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.790-798
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• 2016

Chlamydiae, obligate intracellular bacteria, are associated with a variety of human diseases. The chlamydial life cycle undergoes a biphasic development: replicative reticulate bodies (RBs) phase and infectious elementary bodies (EBs) phase. At the end of the chlamydial intracellular life cycle, EBs have to be released to the surrounded cells. Therefore, the interactions between Chlamydiae and cell death pathways could greatly influence the outcomes of Chlamydia infection. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. Here, we investigated host cell death after Chlamydia infection in vitro, in L929 cells, and showed that Chlamydia infection induces cell necrosis, as detected by the propidium iodide (PI)-Annexin V double-staining flow-cytometric assay and Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release assay. The production of reactive oxygen species (ROS), an important factor in induction of necrosis, was increased after Chlamydia infection, and inhibition of ROS with specific pharmacological inhibitors, diphenylene iodonium (DPI) or butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA), led to significant suppression of necrosis. Interestingly, live-cell imaging revealed that Chlamydia infection induced lysosome membrane permeabilization (LMP). When an inhibitor upstream of LMP, CA-074-Me, was added to cells, the production of ROS was reduced with concomitant inhibition of necrosis. Taken together, our results indicate that Chlamydia infection elicits the production of ROS, which is dependent on LMP at least partially, followed by induction of host-cell necrosis. To our best knowledge, this is the first live-cell-imaging observation of LMP post Chlamydia infection and report on the link of LMP to ROS to necrosis during Chlamydia infection.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.38 no.4
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• pp.209-236
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• 2000

The last two decades witnessed significant advances in the efforts of immune-parasitologists to elucidate the nature and role of the host mucosal defence mechanisms against intestinal nematode parasites. Aided by recent advances in basic immunology and biotechnology with the concomitant development of well defined laboratory models of infection, immunoparasitologists have more precisely analyzed and defined the different immune effector mechanisms during the infection; resulting in great improvement in our current knowledge and understanding of protective immunity against gastrointestinal (GI) nematode parasites. Much of this current understanding comes from experimental studies in laboratory rodents, which have been used as models of livestock and human GI nematode infections. These rodent studies, which have concentrated on Heligmosomoides polygyrus, Nippostrongylus brasiliensis, Strongyloides ratti/5. venezuelensis. Trichinella spiralis and trichuris muris infections in mice and rats, have helped in defining the types of T cell responses that regulate effector mechanisms and the effector mechanisms responsible for worm expulsion. In addition, these studies bear indications that traditionally accepted mechanisms of resistance such as eosinophilia and IgE responses may not play as important roles in protection as were previously conceived. In this review, we shall, from these rodent studies, attempt an overview of the mucosal and other effector responses against intestinal nematode parasites beginning with the indices of immune protection as a model of the protective immune responses that may occur in animals and man.