• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
• /
• v.19 no.7
• /
• pp.734-741
• /
• 2009

Recently, strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with reduced susceptibility to vancomycin (VCM) have been clinically isolated. The antibacterial activity of a new drug, linezolid (LZD), in such a strain was evaluated by measuring bacterial metabolic activity. A total of 73 MRSA strains having various susceptibilities to VCM were subjected to a novel and highly sensitive chemiluminescence-based assay. LZD MIC in the tested strains, measured by the microbroth dilution method, was within the range 1-4 mg/l (mostly ${\leq}2$mg/l), except for one LZD-resistant strain (NRS127; MIC=7 mg/l), and showed no correlation with VCM resistance. The chemiluminescence assay demonstrated that bacterial metabolic activity was strongly suppressed with increasing LZD concentration. The chemiluminescence intensity curve had a low baseline activity without tailing in most strains. The present results suggest that LZD has strong antibacterial activity against MRSA strains, and would be effective for treatment of infections that are poorly responsive to VCM. The chemiluminescence assay facilitated sensitive and discriminative susceptibility testing within a relatively short time.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.55 no.4
• /
• pp.344-352
• /
• 2003

Background : The prevalence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), resistant to isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RFP), was 5.3% worldwide in 1995 and its increment has raised important public health problems. Resistance to RFP, one of the key drugs in the treatment of tuberculosis, results in grim clinical outcome. Recently rapid detection of RFP-resistant mutations in rpoB gene based on PCR method has become available. This study evaluated the prevalence of RFP resistance in first diagnosed, treatment failure, and recurred patients using INNO-LiPA test, and compared the results of INNO-LiPA with those of conventional mycobacterial drug susceptibility test. Methods : Forty-six patients, who were diagnosed of pulmonary tuberculosis and had revealed positive sputum AFB smear, were enrolled in this study from 1998 to 2002. The cases were classified as one three groups; first diagnosed, treatment failure, or recurred. RFP resistance was studied using an INNO-LiPA Rif. TB kit and compared with that obtained from drug susceptibility based on M. tuberculosis culture study. Results : Twenty-one out of 46 patients were enrolled under first diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, 17 under treatment failure with first line drugs, and 8 under recurrence. The positive and negative predictive values of INNO-LiPA test in diagnosis in RFP resistant tuberculosis compared with conventional mycobacterial drug susceptibility test were 85.7% and 76.0%, respectively. INNO-LiPA result revealed rpoB gene mutation in 20 (80.0%) out of 25 patients who were diagnosed as treatment failure or recurrence, but in only 4 (19.0%) out of 21 patients who were first diagnosed as pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion : This study showed that RFP resistance could be diagnosed rapidly and accurately using INNO-LiPA test and that this test might be helpful for choosing second line anti-mycobacterial drugs. It might be of great help in clinical diagnosis and decision when used in complimentarily with drug susceptibility test based on M. tuberculosis culture.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.78 no.2
• /
• pp.56-63
• /
• 2015

A small number of viable tuberculosis bacilli can reside in an individual with latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) without obvious clinical symptoms or abnormal chest radiographs. Diagnosis and treatment for LTBI are important for tuberculosis (TB) control in public and private health, especially in high-risk populations. The updated 2014 Korean guidelines for TB recommend that tuberculin skin tests, interferon-gamma release assays, or a combination of the two can be used for LTBI diagnosis according to age and immune status of the host as well as TB contact history. The regimens for LTBI treatment include isoniazid, rifampicin, or isoniazid/rifampicin. However, results of drug susceptibility test from the index case must be considered in selecting the appropriate drug for recent contacts. Standardized LTBI diagnosis and treatment based on the new 2014 guidelines will contribute to the effective TB control in Korea as well as to the establishment of updated guidelines.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.82 no.2
• /
• pp.143-150
• /
• 2019

Background: The purpose of this study was to analyze the relationship between the gene mutation patterns by the GenoType MTBDRplus (MTBDRplus) assay and the phenotypic drug susceptibility test (pDST) results of isoniazid (INH) and prothionamide (Pto). Methods: A total of 206 patients whose MTBDRplus assay results revealed katG or inhA mutations were enrolled in the study. The pDST results were compared to mutation patterns on the MTBDRplus assay. Results: The katG and inhA mutations were identified in 68.0% and 35.0% of patients, respectively. Among the 134 isolated katG mutations, three (2.2%), 127 (94.8%) and 11 (8.2%) were phenotypically resistant to low-level INH, high-level INH, and Pto, respectively. Among the 66 isolated inhA mutations, 34 (51.5%), 18 (27.3%) and 21 (31.8%) were phenotypically resistant to low-level INH, high-level INH, and Pto, respectively. Of the 34 phenotypic Pto resistant isolates, 21 (61.8%), 11 (32.4%), and two (5.9%) had inhA, katG, and both gene mutations. Conclusion: It is noted that Pto may still be selected as one of the appropriate multidrug-resistant tuberculosis regimen, although inhA mutation is detected by the MTBDRplus assay until pDST confirms a Pto resistance. The reporting of detailed mutation patterns of the MTBDRplus assay may be important for clinical practice, rather than simply presenting resistance or susceptibility test results.

• BMB Reports
• /
• v.42 no.2
• /
• pp.81-85
• /
• 2009

Early and accurate detection of drug resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis can improve both the treatment outcome and public health control of tuberculosis. A number of molecular-based techniques have been developed including ones using probe molecules that target drug resistance-related mutations. Although these techniques are highly specific and sensitive, mixed signals can be obtained when the drug resistant isolates are mixed with drug susceptible isolates. In order to overcome this problem, we developed a new drug susceptibility test (DST) for one of the most effective anti-tuberculosis drug, isoniazid. This technique employed a microplate hybridization assay that quantified signals from each probe molecule, and was evaluated using clinical isolates. The evaluation analysis clearly showed that the microplate hybridization assay was an accurate and rapid method that overcame the limitations of DST based on conventional molecular techniques.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.13 no.12
• /
• pp.6263-6267
• /
• 2012

Background: Glutathione-S-transferase (GST) is an important phase II xenobiotic compound metabolizing enzyme family, involved in tolerance to a particular drug or susceptibility to a diseasec. This study focused the GSTM1 and T1 null allele frequency in the Gujarat population with a comparison across other Inter- and Intra-Indian ethnic groups to predict variation in the possible susceptible status. Methods: DNA was isolated by a salting out method and GSTM1 and T1 homozygous null genotypes were detected by multiplex polymerase chain reaction in 504 unrelated individuals. The genotype distribution of null alleles was compared with Indian and non Indian ethnics reported earlier in the literature using Fisher's test. Results: The frequencies of the homozygous null genotypes of GSTM1 and GSTT1 were 20% (95%CI 16.7-23.9) and 35.5% (95%CI 31.4-39.9) respectively. GSTM1 null frequency did not deviate from most other Indian ethnic groups but differed from the majority of those of non Indian ethnicity studied. The frequency of homozygous null type of GSTT1 was significantly higher and deviated from all Indian groups and a few of non Indian ethnicity. Conclusions: Gujarat ethnicity, possibly the most susceptible for GSTT1 dependent drug disposition and diseases regarding effects of pollution. Further, the results have implications for GSTT1 dependent drugs used for treatment, a serious problem which needs to be solved by physicians and clinical researchers.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
• /
• v.19 no.1
• /
• pp.28-37
• /
• 2008

Objectives : This study was conducted in order to examine the reliability and validity of the Children's Color Trails Test (CCTT). The objective of the study was also to provide the Korean normative data for the CCTT. Methods : Normative samples consisted of 766 children and adolescents living in Seoul and aged from 5 to 15 years. Eighty children who were diagnosed with ADHD, based on the DSM-IV criterion, were recruited from Seoul National University Children's Hospital. Among them, 46 ADHD children were receiving medication, while 34 children were drug-free. Results : The scores of the CCTT were significantly correlated with those of the Stroop test. Three factors were extracted through factor analysis-visual tracking and cognitive flexibility, distractibility and susceptibility to interference, and simple attention and impulsivity. The completion time of the CCTT for all children tended to decrease as age increased. There were significant differences in the CCTT scores between the ADHD group receiving medication, the ADHD-drug free group and the normal groups. The CCTT also showed sound test-retest reliability. These results confirmed the reliability and validity of the CCTT. Finally, we provided the Korean normative data for the CCTT. Conclusion : These results suggest that the CCTT is a reliable and valid test, which can be used to assess frontal function related to child psychiatric disorders in Korean children.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.137-142
• /
• 2021

This study investigated the patterns of acquiring anti-mycobacterial resistance in individuals who were susceptible to all anti-mycobacterial drugs in their initial treatment. From 2010 to 2019, anti-mycobacterial drug susceptibility tests were conducted on patients who were referred to the Green Cross Laboratories. The test results of 594 anti-mycobacterial drug sensitivity tests were collected at 111 medical institutions. The first test results had 594 cases in which all anti-mycobacterial drugs were susceptible. Isoniazid (INH), rifampin (RIF), streptomycin (SM), and quinolone (QUI) showed the highest single-resistant conversion rates. Out of 56 patients, 17 patients (30.4%) showed a high conversion rate of resistance to both INH and RIF. The tracking period was analyzed from a minimum of 98 days to 1,862 days, and an average of 435.6 days for INH, and a minimum of 108 days to 1,673 days, with an average of 457.7 days for RIF. In the case of tuberculosis patients who are susceptible to all anti-mycobacterial drugs, it is considered that the conversion to resistant and multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) must be confirmed through an anti-mycobacterial susceptibility test after 3 months. It is hoped that this study will help the national tuberculosis management project to improve public health.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.155-162
• /
• 1987

To determine the prevalence of antibiotic resistance in fecal E. coli and to investigate possible associations between antibiotic resistance and other plasmid-mediated virulence properties, antibiotic disk susceptibility tests for nine antibiotics were done on 141 strains of E. coli isolated from diarrheal children and well controls. Eighty two percent of the test strains were resistant to one or more antibiotics. Antibiotics to which the test strains were most resistant in descending order were ampicillin (85%), trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazol (60%), and cephalothin (55%). Seventy nine percent of these resistant strains were resistant to two or more antibiotics. All 141 test strains were sorted into enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enteroadherent E. coli (EAEC) and non-pathogenic E. coli and the percentages of strains resistant to multiple antibiotics were compared. Among ETEC regardless of its source, multiple drug resistance was more frequent in strains producing heatstable enterotoxin (ST) only than in strains producing only heat-labile enterotoxin (LT) or both. In EAEC, multiple resistance was more frequently associated with strains isolated from diarrheal patients than with those from well controls. The major antibiotic resistance patterns possessed by multiple resistant enteropathogenic strains were $SXT^R$ $AM^R$, $CR^R$, and $SXT^R$ $AM^R$ $CR^R$. Of 28 ST- producing $SXT^R$ ETEC, 26(96%) were also resistant to ampicillin and 17 (61%) were resistant to cephalothin. The similar pattern was observed in EAEC and EPEC as well. This study has important implications for the treatment of E. coli diarrhea with antibiotics because it is possible that dissemination of virulence could occur under the force of selective antibiotic pressure. In addition, this study suggests that the in vivo efficacy of SXT in treating diarrheal illness be reevaluated.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
• /
• v.50 no.3
• /
• pp.334-342
• /
• 2001

Background : RpoB gene mutations have been found in about 96-98% of rifampicin (RMP)-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Recent reports confirm that the in laboratory settings a rpoB gene mutation can be used as a surrogate marker for multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. However, its usefulness in clinical applications has not been evaluated. This study was performed to confirm whether mutation analysis of the rpoB gene of M. tuberculosis is useful in clinical settings. Methods : The medical records of 33 patients in whom rpoB gene analysis was conducted using an INNOLiPA Rif. TB assay (LiPA) from June, 1998, to July, 2000, at the Asan Medical Center were retrospectively reviewed in 33 patients. The clinical characteristics in addition to the drug susceptibility and LiPA results were analyzed. The drug susceptibility test was considered as a gold standard method for M. tuberculosis susceptibility and these results were compared with those of the rpoB gene study and sequencing analysis. Sequencing analysis of the rpoB gene was done in cases where there was a discrepancy between the results of the drug susceptibility an d rpoB gene study. Results : The mean age and sex ratio was $42{\pm}18$, and 24:9 (M:F), respectively. There were 19 RMP susceptible (58%) and 14 RMP-resistant cases (42%) according to the rpoB gene study. The mean time from the request to reporting the results of the rpoB gene study was $5.2{\pm}2.6$ days. The mean gap from reporting the rpoB gene study to reporting the susceptibility was $56{\pm}35$ days. Twenty-eight cases (85%) showed identical results compared with the drug susceptibility results, whereas five cases (15%) showed contradictory results. When compared with the sequencing analysis, of the five cases that showed contradictory results, two had LiP A analysis errors and the remaining three were identical to the sequencing results. The rpoB gene study was of assistance in choosing the appropriate drugs in 28 cases (85%). Conclusions : An rpoB gene study using an LiP A assay was useful in rapidly diagnosing RMP-resistant tuberculosis, which enabled a proper choice of the appropriate drugs in clinical practices. However, an LiPA assay always should be performed in conjunction with microscopy, culture, and susceptibility tests.