• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.49 no.6
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• pp.740-751
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• 2000

Background : Moxifloxacin is a newly developed drug which is more potent and safe compared to previous fluoroquinolones. This drug effectively eradicates organisms such as beta-lactamase-producing or other resistant bacteria. Moxifloxacin is known to be effective in treating respiratory infections such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis, Chlamydia pneumoniaeme, Legionella spp. and Mycoplasma pneumoniae. Methods : In a multicenter, randomized, open, comparative study, the efficacy and safety of oral moxifloxacin taken 400 mg once a day and clarithromycin taken 500 mg twice daily for 7 days were compared for the treatment of Korean patients with acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Results : A total of 170 patients were enrolled, and they were divided into two groups: 87 in the moxifloxacin group and 83 in the clarithromycin group. Of those enrolled, 76 (35 for bacteriologic efficacy) in the moxifloxacin group and 77 (31 for bacteriologic efficacy) in the clarithromycin group were included in the efficacy analysis. All were included in the safety analysis. Clinical success was noted in 70 (92.1%) of 76 moxifloxacin-treated patients and 71 (92.2%) of 77 clarithromycin-treated patients. Bacteriologic success rate seemed to be higher in moxifloxacin group (73.5%) than in clarithromycin group (54.8%), but statistically insignificant (p=0.098). Drug susceptibility among organisms initially isolated was higher in moxifloxacin group on Streptococcus pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Klebsiella pneumoniae (p<0.001). Adverse events were reported by 12.8% of 86 patients receiving moxifloxacin and 21.7% of 83 patients receiving clarithromycin. Headache (4.7% vs 4.8%, moxifloxacin group vs clarithromycin group, respectively) and indigestion (2.3% vs 6.0%, moxifloxacin group vs clarithromycin group, respectively) were the most frequent side effects in the two groups. Conclusion : This study demonstrated that for the treatment of acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis a 7-day course of moxifloxacin 400 mg od was clinically equivalent and microbiologically superior to clarithromycin 500 mg bid.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.8 no.4
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• pp.257-268
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• 2002

Chronic infection and inflammation have recently been implicated as important etiologic agents of atherosclerosis. Several agents have been suggested as possible candidates including cytomegalovirus (CMV), herpes simplex vims type 1 (HSV-1), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), Chlamydia pneumoniae, and Helicobacter pylori. We evaluated the relationship between cytornegalovirus infection and atherosclerosis by in situ hybridization and polymerase chain reaction (PCR). We examined 23 subjects with atherosclerosis and 10 matched control subjects without atherosclerosis. CMV was detected by in situ hybridization in 60.9% (14/23) of aorta and 42.9% (9/21) of coronary arteries in subjects with atherosclerosis. It was also detected by PCR in 65.2% (15/23) of aorta and 52.4% (11/21) of coronary arteries. CMV was detected on areas showing early or advanced atheromatous changes. Cells morphologically identical to smooth muscle cells, endothelial cells, lymphocytes, fibroblasts, and Schwann cells were positively reacted with the CMV probe. However. none of the cells to which the probe hybridized contained inclusion bodies, thus strongly suggesting that the arterial wall may be a site of CMV latency. This result Indicates that CMV may potentially play a direct or indirect role in the pathogenesis of human atherosclerosis.

• Journal of Periodontal and Implant Science
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• v.47 no.3
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• pp.174-181
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• 2017

Purpose: Epitope spreading is a phenomenon in which distinct subdominant epitopes become major targets of the immune response. Heat shock protein (HSP) 60 from Porphyromonas gingivalis (PgHSP60) and peptide 19 from PgHSP60 (Pep19) are immunodominant epitopes in autoimmune disease patients, including those with periodontitis. It remains unclear whether Pep19 is a dominant epitope in subjects without periodontitis or autoimmune disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the epitope spreading pattern and verify Pep19 as an immunodominant epitope in healthy teenagers using dot immunoblot analysis. The patterns of epitope spreading in age-matched patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (type 1 DM) and healthy 20- to 29-year old subjects were compared with those of healthy teenagers. Methods: Peptide from PgHSP60, Mycobacterium tuberculosis HSP60 (MtHSP60), and Chlamydia pneumoniae HSP60 (CpHSP60) was synthesized for comparative recognition by sera from healthy subjects and patients with autoimmune disease (type 1 DM). Dot immunoblot analysis against a panel of peptides of PgHSP60 and human HSP60 (HuHSP60) was performed to identify epitope spreading, and a densitometric image analysis was conducted. Results: Of the peptide from PgHSP60, MtHSP60, and CpHSP60, PgHSP60 was the predominant epitope and was most consistently recognized by the serum samples of healthy teenagers. Most sera from healthy subjects and patients with type 1 DM reacted more strongly with PgHSP60 and Pep19 than the other peptides. The relative intensity of antibody reactivity to Pep19 was higher in the type 1 DM group than in the healthy groups. Conclusions: Pep19 is an immunodominant epitope, not only in autoimmune disease patients, but also in healthy young subjects, as evidenced by their robust immunoreactivity. This result suggests that the Pep19-specific immune response may be an initiator that triggers autoimmune diseases.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.52 no.6
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• pp.661-666
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• 2009

Purpose : To determine the prevalence and clinical features of codetected respiratory etiological agents for acute respiratory infection in hospitalized children. Methods : Nasopharyngeal aspirates were obtained from hospitalized children with acute respiratory infection at Dankook University Hospital from September 2003 through June 2005. Immunofluorescent staining and culture were used for the detection of respiratory viruses (influenza virus [IFV] types A, B; parainfluenza virus [PIV] types 1, 2, 3; respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]; adenovirus [AdV]). Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays were used for Mycoplasma pneumoniae (MP) and Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) detection, and PCR and culture were performed for enterovirus detection. Acid-fast staining and culture were performed for tuberculosis detection. The demographic and clinical characteristics were reviewed retrospectively from the patients medical records. Results : Evidence of two or more microbes was found in 28 children: RSV was detected in 14, PIV 3 in 10, AdV in 10, MP in 8, PIV 2 in 8, CT in 4, and PIV 1 in 3. Codetected agents were found as follows: RSV＋PIV 2, 6 patients; AdV＋MP, 4 patients; AdV＋PIV, 3 patients; RSV＋MP, 3 patients; PIV 1＋PIV 3, 3 patients. Distinct peaks of codetected agents were found in epidemics of MP and each respiratory virus. Conclusion : The codetected infectious agents were RSV, PIV, AdV, and MP, with distinct peaks found in epidemics of MP and each respiratory virus. Although advances in diagnostic methods have increased the prevalence of codetection, its clinical significance should be interpreted cautiously.