• 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 Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.21 no.1 s.23
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• pp.89-98
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• 1988

While there have been not a few reports on the seroepidemiological characteristics of hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection in Korea, most of them, however, have had several limitations; operational definition of HBV infection, validity of detection methods of HBV serologic markers, size of the study population, and confirmation of the vaccination history against HBV, etc. In order to avoid such limitations, authors randomly selected 1,495 healthy adults among the 217,511 insured (target population) of Korean Medical Insurance Corporation, living in seoul, and tested HBV serologic markers by RIA method and conducted direct interview to them. Although HBV serologic markers (HBsAg, anti-HBs and anti-HBc) of all the subjects were tested, 392(26.2%) of interview failure cases and 361 vaccinee were excluded from the actual population. Finally, the serologic markers tested of 742 nonvaccinee (study population) only were analysed for the seroepidemiologic observation of the natural infection of HBV. The seroepidemiological characteristics of HBV infection in Korea were as follows ; 1. Point prevalence of HBs antigenemia was 11.7(9.1{\sim}14.3)% in male, which was slightly higher than that of female, 9.5($3.7{\sim}15.3$)%. This level was one of the highest among those of Asian-Pacific countries. Decreasing tendency of HBsAg prevalence alter the age of 50 was observed, which seems to be due to selective attrition of HBV chronic carriers among the healthy adults and/or to the limited-lasting duration of the HBs antigenemia, in part. 2. Point prevalence of anti-HBc(78.8% in male,50.9% in female) was higher than that of anti-HBs(65.2% in male,46.6% in female), respectively. And both of them were higher in male than in female. Increasing tendency of the prevalence of both antibodies was observed by age, which seems to be largely due to recurrent infection in adults and to some cumulative effect, in part, of their relatively longer-lasting duration. 3. The level of HBV infection defined by positive for at least one of the 3 serologic markers of HBV by RIA method was 84.7($81.8{\sim}87.6$)% in male and 61.2($51.9{\sim}70.5$)% in female, which was also one of the highest among those of Asian-Pacific countries. The proportion of susceptible population to HBV infection among healthy adults was 15.3% in male and 38.8% in female. 4. The relative frequency of current or past infection and chronic carrier among HBV infected person was estimated. The currently or past infected was estimated 75.7% in male and 71.8% in female, and chronic carrier state, 13.8% in male and 14.1% in female. The analysis of the geometric mean of the antibody titer in anti-HBs positive sera indicated also to be compatible with the above findings, suggesting that active, even though inapparent, infection of HBV occur so frequently among healthy adults in Korea.

• The Journal of the Korean Society for Microbiology
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.191-204
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• 1986

Leptospira isolated from the patients with so called epidemic pulmonary hemorrhagic fever were comparatively studied with standard strains obtained from ATCC. The specific aim of this study was to clarify the morphologic heterogeneity of the isolates, i. e., coexistence of spiral forms in both handness, right and left, rod and spherical forms in their population by comparing them with those of the ATCC strains. No differences between our strains and ATCC strains were noticed in their growth characteristics, responses to the culture media, temperature, antibiotics and antifungal agents. Furthermore, the morphologic heterogeneity had been repeatedly observed even in cultures of standard ATCC strains, which had been noticed in the cultures of bacteria isolated in this laboratory. The serologic analysis of our isolates demonstrated that the bacteria reacted with L. icterohaemorrhagiae and L. australis regardless their differences in time of isolation(1984, 1985). Thus, it was concluded that the spiral bacteria isolated in this laboratory are Leptospira of a new serovar which still remained to be determined. And the previous reports on the morphology of the Leptospira, which described that the Leprospira population has only spiral forms with right. handed coils might be reconsidered.

• Annals of Clinical Neurophysiology
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• v.8 no.1
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• pp.23-28
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• 2006

Background: central core disease is one of the non-progressive benign congenital myopathies characterized by the presence of cores in muscle fibers, which was originally described by Shy and Magee (1956). We describe clinical charcteristics of central core disease in a Korean family manifested by autosomal dominant pattern through three generations. Methods: Clinical, serologic, and electrophysiologic profiles were evaluated in eleven members among 22 family members through three generations. Results: Six family members were symptomatic and five were non-symptomatic. Instead of proximal muscle weakness, musculoskeletal manifestations including non-specific joint pain and stiff sense were the most frequent symptoms. Muscle biopsy performed in two symptomatic patients revealed that type I fiber showed central halo, which is charactreristics of central core disease. No remarkable findings were present in serologic study including CPK level and electromyographic findings suggesting myopathic pattern were only present in two patients among 11 symptomatic group. Conclusions: In evaluating non-specific musculoskeletal complaints from the familial members showing genetic trait, central core disease should be considered to one of the possible diagnosis.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.29 no.1
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• pp.37-46
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• 2006

The present study was conducted to investigate serologic characteristics, antimicrobial resistance and plasmid profile of 79 E. coli isolated from faecal sample of the wild bird in Busan province (Gangseo, Saha) during the period from November 2004 to February 2005. Many strains were positive for rafiinose (63.3%), sorbitol (96.2%), sucrose (73.4%) and few strains were positive for esculin, arginine dihydrolase, ornithine decarboxylase. Among 79 isolates, O serotypes were O55, O158, O18 and 47 strains (59.5%) were resistant to antimicrobial drugs such as tetracycline (40.5%), carbenicillin (27.8%). 15 strains showed 14 different plasmid bands composed of 1 to 6 bands. They were ranged from 1.6 to 43 kb and harbored 43 kb (11.4%), 5.3 kb (6.3%) and 11.4 kb (5.1%). Plasmid profile of 15 strains were 43 profile (2.5%), 2.4, 43 profile (2.5%) and 5.3, 11.4, 43 profile (2.5%).

• Korean journal of dermatology
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• v.56 no.9
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• pp.531-538
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• 2018

Background: Herpes zoster is a common dermatologic disorder. However, it rarely occurs in children and adolescents in Gwangju-Jeonnam province. Objective: This study aimed to analyze the epidemiological features and clinical characteristics of herpes zoster in children and adolescents. Methods: A retrospective survey was conducted on patients who visited the department of dermatology of Chosun University Hospital in Gwangju-Jeonnam province within the past 8 years. The medical records of 103 patients aged <18 years were reviewed. We analyzed for age, gender, accompanying symptoms, dermatomal distribution, underlying disease, treatment, and complications with serologic test. Results: The male-to-female ratio of the participants was 1.08:1, and their mean age was 13.0 years. Underlying diseases were observed in 3% (3/102) of the patients. The most common dermatomal distribution was thoracic dermatome (34%), followed by trigeminal (26%), cervical (20%), lumbar (15%), and non-skin (6%). The most common accompanying symptoms were headache (10%), fever (3%), and myalgia (3%). No difference was observed between patients who were varicella-zoster virus (VZV) IgM-positive and those who were VZV IgM-negative in terms of dermatome, visual analogue scale (VAS), severity, and body mass index (BMI). Conclusion: In children and adolescents with herpes zoster, the gender ratio and dermatomal distribution were similar to those previously reported, except for the low rate of underlying diseases. The incidence of herpes zoster in children was not significantly associated with immunosuppression and underlying diseases. Higher VZV IgM titer was not associated with dermatomal distribution, higher VAS score, or BMI. This study first compared the serological test results of children.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.43-48
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• 2009

Salmonella enterica serovar Gallinarum is the causative agent of fowl typhoid (FT) and Salmonella enterica serovar Pullorum is pullorum disease (PD), a severe systemic disease of chick and it has the same antigenic fomula, the close relation but distinct pathogen. The traditional bacteriologic and serologic methods routinely used but tedious, time consuming. some of biochemical differences are helpful in differentiating the two organisms, however variation in the characteristics of some strains can be observed. During 2006 to 2008, there was isolated 30 strains. The biochemical characteristics of S. Gallinarum was nonmotile, fermentation of dulcitol, maltose but positive arginine (6.6%), lysine (83.3%) and arabinose (20.0%). The antimicrobial susceptibility test showed 100% sensitive to amikacin, ampicillin, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid and florfenicol, but resistant to penicillin (100%) and erythromycin (60.0%). This PCR method can be applied in the diagnosis between S. Gallinarum and S. Pullorum.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Service
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.134-142
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• 1991

We surveyed the antibody titers in the slaughtered pigs by enzyme immunodiffusion method for the epidemiological distribution of Aujeszky's disease in Korea. And also we observed the clinical symptoms, histopathological findings and antibody titers by serologic neutralization test in experimental animals infected with Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV) isolated from Korea. The results of the experiments were summarized as follows. 1. We detected 2 pigs infected with ADV of 1000 in 1990 and 1 of 600 in 1991 by enzyme immunodiffusion method. 2. In histopathological findings of experimental animals inoculated ADV, the typical characteristics of Aujeszky's disease were not observed in pig, but edema and degeneration in the epidermis were observed in rats, vasculoendotheriosis, perivascular cuffing and cellular infiltration in the cerebrum were appeared in rabbits and perivascular cuffing and forcal infiltration of glial cells in the cerebrum were appeared in mice. 3. The increasing antibody titers(1 : 64) in the serological neutralization test were ascertained in 2 carrier pigs inoculated ADV. 4. Rabbits, mice and rats died all about 5 days after inoculation, but pigs and chickens didn't die. 5. In 1 cat and 2 rabbits inoculated with the Aujeszky's disease virus(ADV), the typical clinical findings of Aujeszky's disease were observed in rabbit, but not in cat and so we slaughtered without any signs of Aujeszky's disease.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.193-198
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• 2016

Purpose: Spontaneous colon perforations are usually encountered as necrotizing enterocolitis in the neonatal period, but occur rarely in infants and children without pathological conditions. This study was conducted to describe its clinical implication beyond the neonatal period. Methods: Cases of spontaneous colon perforation confirmed after the operation were reviewed retrospectively and the clinicopathological characteristics were analyzed. Clinical data were compared according to the presence of pneumoperitoneum as initial findings. Results: Eleven patients were included in the study period and showed a history of hospitalization before transfer due to management for fever, respiratory or gastrointestinal problems. Six patients showed a sudden onset of abdominal distention and only seven patients showed a pneumoperitoneum as initial radiologic findings, however there were no significant clinicopathological differences. Perforation was found evenly in all segments of the colon, most commonly at the sigmoid colon in four cases. There were no specific pathologic or serologic causes of perforation. Conclusion: When previously healthy infants and children manifest a sustained fever with a sudden onset of abdominal distention during management for fever associated with respiratory or gastrointestinal problems, there is a great likelihood of colon perforation with no pathological condition. Prompt surgical management as timely decision-making is necessary in order to achieve a good progress.

• Pediatric Infection and Vaccine
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• v.20 no.3
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• pp.115-122
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• 2013

Reemerging infectious diseases are infections that had decreased in incidence in the global population and were brought under control through effective health care policy such as vaccination, but more recently, began to resurge as a health problem due to many reasons. Measles, rubella, mumps and pertussis are the examples. Immunization with MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) and pertussis vaccine has contributed to marked decrease in measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis incidence worldwide. In Korea, measles and rubella almost disappeared after the introduction of 2 doses of MMR immunization schedule. Recently, these infections have been reemerging in many countries with low vaccination rates and can be introduced again in Korea. However mumps and pertussis outbreaks are reported among fully vaccinated populations. Declining vaccine effectiveness, an increased awareness and surveillance of the disease or improved laboratory diagnostic tools had been suggested as possible causes. For the clinicians, it is difficult to diagnose these reemerging infectious diseases partly because of few experience of typical cases of measles and rubella or partly because of modification of clinical symptoms and signs of infectious diseases in immunized population. In this article, the diagnosis of measles, mumps, rubella and pertussis will be reviewed in the aspects of clinical characteristics, serologic methods, virus isolation, and polymerase chain reaction.