• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.1-5
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• 2011

The infection rate of syphilis is still increasing in the world especially in developing countries and the infection is often seen in large amounts of clinical specimens. For the diagnosis of this disease, Rapid Plasma Reagin (RPR)/Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (VDRL) has still been used as one of major primary methods to diagnose syphilis even though the test readings are somewhat subjective with high false positive rates. Recently, the automatic ARCHITECT Syphilis TP, which is based on the detection of the TP-specific antibodies, has been introduced in many laboratories. Therefore, the clinical assessment of the method is needed to provide primary diagnosis of syphilis at the moment. We evaluated 3 different manual rapid kits and ARCHITECT Syphilis TP comparing with RPR/FTA-ABS and analysed their diagnostic properties. From February 2006 to April 2008, 203 positive and 250 negative specimens, obtained from Chungbuk National University Hospital were used for the evaluation. In the evaluation between manual rapid kits, their specificities were as high as 99.2 ~ 99.6% while their sensitivities were observed with little differences; 98.0% (199/203) for Kit A, 96.6% (196/203) for Kit B, and 97.4% (197/203) for Kit S. In the case of ARCHITECT Syphilis TP test, it showed 100% specificity (250/250) and 98.5% sensitivity (249/250). Kappa values comparing with RPR/FTA-ABS were 0.978 for Kit A, 0.964 for Kit B and Kit S, and 0.987 for ARCHITECT Syphilis TP. From our evaluation, we found out that manual rapid tests and ARCHITECT Syphilis TP have very good clinical accuracies and high kappa agreements with RPR/FTA-ABS. Due to its automation and quick simultaneous diagnosis with another serological markers, we suggest that the ARCHITECT Syphilis TP is one of best suitable method for the primary diagnosis of syphilis and that it might be able to replace RPR method in the laboratories.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.54 no.12
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• pp.512-514
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• 2011

Congenital syphilis is one of the most well-known congenital infections, yet it remains a worldwide public health problem. Congenital syphilis can involve any organ system and present with various symptoms. However, early diagnosis of congenital syphilis is difficult because more than half of the affected infants are asymptomatic, and the signs in symptomatic infants may be subtle and nonspecific. Here, we report a case of congenital syphilis with only a skin rash, which led to a delay in diagnosis. This case indicates that congenital syphilis should be considered throughout early childhood.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.161-165
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• 2022

We report a case of successful treatment of congenital syphilis in an extremely preterm baby. A 1,395 g female infant was born by emergency Caesarean section due to preterm labor and breech presentation at gestational age at 29 weeks and 3 days with an Apgar score of 2 and 4 at 1 minute and 5 minutes, respectively. The mother of the newborn, an illegal immigrant who did not receive any antenatal care, was diagnosed as active syphilis infection by reactive rapid plasma regain (RPR) (titer 1:128) just before the delivery. Upon birth, the newborn presented with various clinical manifestations, including severe respiratory distress syndrome, persistent pulmonary hypertension of the newborn, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy, desquamation and scaling of the whole body, and osteolytic changes of long bone ends. Results of laboratory tests showed signs of early congenital syphilis, including positive syphilis reagin test (12.7 R.U.), reactive with RPR titer of 1:64, and positive for immunoglobulin (Ig) M and IgG fluorescent treponemal antibody absorption test. However, after completion of penicillin G treatment for two weeks, laboratory results dramatically improved, showing a negative syphilis reagin test (0.5 R.U.) and non-reactive in RPR. In conclusion, the incidence of congenital syphilis is prone to be resurgent in South Korea, neonatologists should be fully aware of the clinical features of congenital syphilis because early diagnosis and prompt treatment are essential in order to reduce the social and economic burden due to congenital syphilis.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Radiology
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• v.85 no.3
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• pp.637-642
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• 2024

Rectal syphilis is a rare form of syphilis presentation and its symptoms, endoscopic and radiologic findings are nonspecific. Rectal syphilis typically presents with features such as concentric rectal wall thickening, mucosal hyperemia, perirectal fat stranding, and lymphadenopathy. Rectal cancer exhibits asymmetric wall thickening and lymph node necrosis, aiding in the differentiation between these two diseases. However, due to the considerable overlap in their respective manifestations, distinguishing between rectal syphilis and rectal cancer is extremely challenging without considering the patient's medical history. Rectal syphilis often leads to unnecessary tests or delayed treatment, as it can be mistaken for other benign diseases such as inflammatory bowel diseases in addition to rectal cancer. In this case report, we aim to provide a detailed report on the endoscopic, imaging, and pathological findings based on our experience with a case of suspected rectal malignancy that turned out to be rectal syphilis.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.44 no.3
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• pp.124-127
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• 2012

Syphilis is an infectious and sexually transmitted chronic disease caused by Treponema pallidum. On the basis of clinical findings, the disease has been divided into a series of overlapping stages, which are used to help guide treatment and follow-up. Persons who have syphilis might seek treatment for signs or symptoms of primary infection, secondary infection and tertiary infection. Latent infections are detected by serologic testing. A presumptive diagnosis of syphilis is possible with the use of two types of serologic tests: nontreponemal tests and treponemal tests assay. The use of only one type of serologic test is insufficient for diagnosis, because each type of test has limitations, including the possibility of false-positive test results in persons without syphilis. KFDA published Koreans guideline of Sexually transmitted infections in 2011. Two hundred samples were tested by RPR card test and Mediace RPR test with simultaneously. The agreement between RPR card test and Mediace RPR test was 95%, the discrepant samples was 5%. The characteristics of 10 discrepant samples was RPR card Positive and Mediace RPR negative nine samples, RPR card negative and Mediace RPR positive one sample. The nine samples were confirmed as FTA-ABS by KFDA guideline of syphilis test algorism, all IgM test was Negative, all IgG test was reactive. So, these cases were past or latent syphilis. The one sample was false-positive reaction.

• Journal of Oral Medicine and Pain
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• v.43 no.1
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• pp.21-25
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• 2018

Syphilis, one of the most common sexually transmitted diseases, is caused by the microorganism Treponema pallidum. Syphilis consists of several clinical stages that may include signs in the oral and perioral regions. Syphilis is treated effectively with systemic antimicrobial therapy using antibiotics such as penicillin. This article describes a case where topical antibacterial therapy with doxycycline was effective in treating oral papular lesions associated with primary syphilis in a 24-year-old male. He was immediately referred to a dermatologist, and antibiotic therapy was administered in response to positive diagnostic test results for syphilis. Although oral syphilitic lesions may be resolved by dental professionals using topical treatments, syphilitic infections should be managed in consultation with medical specialists using systemic antibiotic therapy.

• Journal of Yeungnam Medical Science
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• v.24 no.2
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• pp.333-338
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• 2007

A preterm newborn affected by congenital syphilis, born to mother not treated during pregnancy is described. The clinical picture was characterized by respiratory distress, cutaneous manifestations, massive hepatosplenomegaly, severe anemia, thrombocytopenia, disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome and hypoalbuminemia. The patient was treated with daily injections of 190,500 units of crystalline penicillin G for 14 days. Premature infants with these symptoms and signs should be evaluated for congenital syphilis.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.15-23
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• 1968

For the effective control of Syphilis, many investigators have developed a more rapid, simple and economical screening serological test which is adequately sensitive and specific. To fulfill the requirements of a more rapid serologic test for syphlis, a substitute for the conventional serum specimen was needed since considerable time and labor are involved in the processing of blood to serum. Burdon suggested the use of plasma in the serologic tests for syphilis as a substitute for serum. He noticed that plasma was more sensitive than serum in the Kline and Kahn tests, and attributed this to the presence of more antibody-like substance, "reagin" in plasma than in serum. However, to make plasma sufficiently sensitive, it was necessary to inactivate plasma by heating at a temperature of $56^{\circ}C$ for about 30 minutes. Heating of plasma resulted in the precipitation of fibrinogen which made centrifugation necessary to obtain dear plasma. Since the chief disadvantage to the use of unheated plasma(or serum) was a reduction in sensitivity of results-which probably was due to a labile factor such as complement-Portnoy et al began to consider rapid chemical methods of inactivation of plasma(or serum). They experienced that choline chloirde was shown to be anticomplementary which suggested its use as an inactivating agent for unheated plasma(or serum). In 1959 Portnoy et al reported the Rapid Plasma Reagin(RPR) Test for syphilis which is a more rapid, economical and simple. But still this test has many disadvantages as a rapid performing, field and office procedure, because it requires the usual laboratory equipments such as centrifuge, rotating machine, microscope etc. To substitute these disadvantages of the RPR test, in 1962, Portnoy et al developed the Rapid Plasma Reagin(RPR) card test for syphilis, which has the following advantages: a) Simplicity and rapidity of performance, b) Requires no laboratory equipments, c) Stable antigen suspension, d) Adequate sensitivity and specificity. This RPR card test can be used as a rapidly performing and screening test in field investigation, outpatient clinics, small laboratories and hospitals doing limited syphilis serology, and predonor in blood bank. Private clinic which has limited laboratory equipment and technic for syphilis serology can also use this RPR card test as a tool in the rapid diagnosis of syphilis. It was thought that this RPR card test is a useful tool in Korea for private physician and mass survey for syphilis diagnosis. But Portnoy patented the reagents needed for the performing the RPR card test. Therefore authors developed newly the reagents and according to Portnoy's method evaluated the newly developed. RPR card test compared with the VDRL, Kolmer CF, and RPCF tests. The RPR card and VDRL tests were performed plasma and serum from the total 1,132 cases. Among these 1,131 cases, 521 were syphilis suspected laboratory specimens, and 611 were syphilis unsuspected healthy young men. After screening with these two tests, the RPR card and VDRL tests, reactive specimens to the above one or both tests were retested by the Kolmer CF and RPCF tests.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.143-146
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• 1998

Syphilis is a systemic communicable disease caused by the motile spirochete, Treponema pallidum, which is only a natural pathogen for human. The distribution and trends of syphilis are influenced by biologic factors, sexual behaviors, biomedical technology, availability of and access to health care, public health efforts, changes in population dynamics, and sociocultural factors. Although sexual contact is the main route of transmission, Treponema pallidum may also be infected through direct contact with syphilitic lesions, blood transfusion, ingestion of menstrual blood or vaginal secretions, or transplacental transmissions. In extremely unusual circumstances, infection by means of contact with a skin lesion and human bite have been reported. We experienced a case of syphilis which is thought to be infected by the abnormal imposition of hands on a child, which caused unnecessary erosive trauma with fingernails.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.710-712
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• 2009

We describe the case of a 4-month-old male infant diagnosed with early congenital syphilis during evaluation of a left distal humerus fracture. This report emphasizes the importance of screening for syphilis among pregnant women and newborns, and is a reminder of the continued existence of congenital syphilis.