• Journal of Korean Society on Water Environment
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.902-910
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• 2012

The photodegradation characteristics of 30 pharmaceuticals were investigated by batch experiments using Ultraviolet (UV) reactor. The investigated pharmaceuticals include antibiotics, analgesics and antiarrhythmic agents etc. Tested water was prepared by simultaneously spiking 30 pharmaceuticals into pure water, and each experiment was conducted using 3 types of UV lamps. As a result, batch experiments showed that reactions of all the investigated pharmaceuticals followed pseudo-first order reaction regardless of the applied UV lamps. Among the pharmaceuticals, Cyclophosphamide, 2-Quinoxaline carboxylic acid and Clarithromycin proved to be the most UV-resistant compounds. Contrarily, Ceftiofur, Diclofenac and Ketoprofen were easily degraded by all the UV lamps. Dissolved organic carbon (DOC) concentration hardly changed although the concentration of the pharmaceuticals concentration gradually decreased with time, indicating that the degradation of parent pharmaceuticals may produce their intermediates during UV treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.53 no.4
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• pp.420-430
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• 2002

Background : Excessive extracellular matrix (ECM) deposition by airway inflammation is presumed to play an important role in the pathogenesis of worsening airflow obstruction (Ed- acceptable three-word noun) seen during acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. Although many proteases can cleave ECM molecules, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their inhibitors are likely to be the physiologically relevant mediators of ECM degradation. Objectives ; The purpose of this study was to demonstrate that antibiotic treatment can change airway MMPs and TIMP-1 concentrations/levels by controlling airway inflammation in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. Methods : We studied 40 patients, all of whom had an acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis. The patients were treated with two different antibiotics, moxifloxacin and clarithromycin, in a double-blind manner for 7 days. Sputum samples were induced and collected before and after antibiotic therapy. We measured the sputum concentration of MMP-1,-9, TIMP-1, IL-8 and secretory leukocyte proteinase inhibitor (SLPI) in sputum supernatants by ELISA method. Results : There was no difference after antibiotic treatment in the sputum concentrations of MMP-1,-9, TIMP-1, IL-8 and SLPI between the patients treated with moxifloxacin and those treated with clarithromycin. But the sputum concentrations of TIMP-1, and SLPI, and the TIMP-1/MMP-1 ratio were significantly reduced by the antibiotic therapy. There were significant positive correlations between sputum TIMP-1 levels and IL-8 levels (p<0.01, r=0.751), and between the sputum TIMP-1/MMP-1 ratio and IL-8 levels (p<0.01, r=0.752). The sputum SLPI levels were significantly elevated by antibiotic treatment and were negatively correlated with sputum TIMP-1 levels (p<0.01, r=-0.496) and TIMP-1/MMP-1 levels (p<0.01, r=-0.456). Conclusion : The study shows that the worsening of airway inflammation in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis is associated with an imbalance between the concentrations/levels of TIMP-1 and MMPs. Antibiotic treatment can prevent progression of airway narrowing in acute exacerbation of chronic bronchitis by modulation of the protease and anti-protease imbalance.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.23-29
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• 2000

Purpose: It has recently been recognized that Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is an important factor in the pathogenesis of recurrent abdominal pain (RAP) in children. But, the best treatment for H. pylori infection is still unsettled. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of 2 weeks dual therapy with proton pump inhibitor (PPI) and amoxicillin for children with H. pylori infection associated with RAP. Method: Our study included 24 children with RAP who were H. pylori positive assessed by CLO test and histologic examination (silver stain). We used the regimen consisted of PPI (omeprazole, 0.7 mg/kg/day) and amoxicillin (50 mg/kg/day) for 2 weeks to eradicate H. pylori. Eradication of H. pylori was determined 4 weeks after the termination of treatment using the CLO test and histologic examination. Results: The endoscopic diagnoses of patients were nodular gastritis in 11 cases, superficial gastritis in 7 cases, peptic ulcer in 4 cases and normal finding in 2 cases. H. pylori was eradicated in 12 cases by omeprazole and amoxicillin dual therapy for 2 weeks and the eradication rate was 50%. In 4 of 12 children in whom H. pylori had not been eradicated with that regimen, we successfully eradicated H. pylori with other regimens of which 2 or 3 drugs among omeprazole, amoxicillin, clarithromycin, colloidal bismuth subcitrate ($Denol^{(R)}$) and metronidazole were used. Conclusion: The dual therapy with PPI and amoxicillin for 2 weeks had no clear advantage over other regimens for the eradication of H. pylori infection in children. We concluded that the combi-nation of PPI and amoxicillin for 2 weeks is not so good for H. pylori eradication as other commonly used regimens.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.62 no.2
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• pp.98-104
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• 2007

Background: Although there is an increasing incidence of Mycobacterium abscessus pulmonary disease in Korea, the optimal therapeutic regimen has not yet been established and there are no reports of the long-term treatment outcomes. This study examined the long-term treatment outcomes of M. abscessus pulmonary disease. Methods: Twenty-nine patients diagnosed with M. abscessus pulmonary according to the American Thoracic Society criteria and treated from January 1996 to December 2003 were enrolled in ghis study. The clinical characteristics, radiological findings, treatment outcome, and follow up data were analyzed retrospectively. Results: The mean age of the 29 patients was 56.1 (${\pm}13.6$) years and there was a female (22/29) dominance. The chest radiography revealed the nodular bronchiectatic type to be dominant (69%, 20/29). Twenty-seven (93.1%) were prescribed clarithromycin-containing regimens, and injectable drugs, mainly aminoglycosides, were included in the regimen of nineteen patients. The most predominant regimen (48.3%) consisted of clarithromycin and amikacin. The treatment success, failure, and default were achieved in 19(65.5%), 9(31.0%), and 1(3.4%), respectively. The median duration to culture conversion was 42 days (range 15-362) and the median duration of treatment in the success group was 543 days (range 176-1,160). An adjunctive surgical resection was performed in five patients, which resulted in treatment success in two patients. After the completion of treatment, nineteen patients were followed up for a median duration of 931 days (range 230-2,294). Only one (5.3%) patient relapsed 45 days after completing treatment. Conclusion: Treatment with clarithromycin-containing regimens resulted in a successful treatment in approximately two thirds of patients with M. abscessus pulmonary disease. The long-term relapse rate was also quite low.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.16 no.12
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• pp.4885-4890
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• 2015

Background: Helicobacter pylori plays an important role in gastric cancer and typical eradication regimens are no longer effective in many countries, including Thailand. The aim of our study was to compare the effect of Lactobacillus delbrueckii and Streptococcus thermophillus on tailored triple therapy for Helicobacter pylori eradication. Materials and Methods: This prospective single-center study was conducted in Thailand. Helicobacter pylori associated gastritis patients were randomized to 2 groups: group 1 (n=100) was tailored triple therapy with placebo (esomeprazole 20 mg bid, clarithromycin 500 mg bid or metronidazole 400 mg tid if clarithromycin resistance and amoxicillin 1000 mg bid), and group 2 was tailored triple therapy plus pretreatment with probiotic containing yogurt. Successful eradication was defined as both negative histology and negative rapid urease test at four weeks after treatment. Results: A total of 200 infected patients were enrolled. PP analysis involved 194 patients: 96 in the tailored triple therapy with placebo group (group 1) and 98 the in tailored triple therapy plus pretreatment with probiotic containing yogurt group (group 2). Successful eradication was observed in 170 (87.6%) patients; by PP analysis, the eradication rate was significantly higher in group 2 (P = 0.04, 95%CI; 0.02-0.13) than in group 1. ITT analysis also showed that the value was significantly higher in the tailored triple threapy plus pretreatment with probiotic containing yogurt group (group 2) (89/100; 89%) than in the tailored triple therapy with placebo group (group 1) (P= 0.01, 95%CI; 0.04-0.15). In terms of adverse events, there was no significant difference between the two groups. Conclusions: Pretreatment with probiotic containing yogurt can improve Helicobacter pylori eradication rates with tailored triple therapy. Adding probiotics does not reduce adverse effects of the medication.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.17 no.7
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• pp.3309-3315
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• 2016

Helicobacter pylori as the second most common cause of gastric cancer in the world infects approximately half of the developed countries population and 80% of the population living in developing countries. Integrons as genetic reservoirs play major roles in dissemination of antimicrobial resistance genes. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to report carriage of class 1 and 2 integrons and associated gene cassettes in H. pylori isolates from Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran among 110 patients with H. pylori infection. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST) for H. pylori strains were assessed by the micro broth dilution method. Class 1 and 2 integrons were detected using PCR. In order to determine gene cassettes, amplified fragments were subjected to DNA sequencing of both amplicon strands. The prevalence of resistance to clarithromycin, metronidazole, clarithromycin, tetracycline, amoxicillin, rifampin, and levofloxacin were 68.2% (n=75), 25.5% (n=28), 24.5% (n=27), 19.1% (n=21), 18.2% (n=20) and 16.4% (n=18), respectively. Frequency of multidrug resistance among H. pylori isolates was 12.7%. Class 2 integron was detected in 50 (45.5%) and class 1 integron in 10 (9.1%) H. pylori isolates. The most predominant gene cassette arrays in class 2 integron-bearing H. pylori were included sat-era-aadA1, dfrA1-sat2-aadA1, blaoxa2 and, aadB whereas common gene cassette arrays in class 1 integron were aadB-aadA1-cmlA6, aacA4, blaoxa2, and catB3. The high frequency of class 2 integron and multidrug resistance in the present study should be considered as a warning for clinicians that continuous surveillance is necessary to prevent the further spread of resistant isolates.

• Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.17-22
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• 2015

Purpose: This study aims to investigate Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745 during Helicobacter pylori eradication in children. Methods: One hundred ninety-four H. pylori positive children were randomized in two groups. Therapy (omeprazole+ clarithromycin+amoxicillin or omeprazole+clarithromycin+metronidazole in case of penicillin allergy) was given to both groups during two weeks. In the treatment group (n: 102) S. boulardii was added to the triple therapy, while the control group (n: 92) only received triple therapy. The incidence, onset, duration and severity of diarrhea and compliance to the eradication treatment were compared. A $^{13}C$ urea breath test was done 4 weeks after the end of eradication therapy in two groups of 21 patients aged 12 years and older to test the H. pylori eradication rate. Results: In the treatment group, diarrhea occurred in 12 cases (11.76%), starting after $6.25{\pm}1.24days$, lasting $3.17{\pm}1.08days$, and compliance to eradication treatment was 100%. In the control group, diarrhea occurred in 26 cases (28.26%), starting after $4.05{\pm}1.11days$, lasting $4.02{\pm}0.87days$, and in six cases eradication treatment was stopped prematurely (p<0.05). The $^{13}C$ urea breath test showed successful H. pylori eradication in 71.4% of the patients in the treatment and in 61.9 % in the control group (not significant). Conclusion: S. boulardii has a beneficial effect on the prevention and treatment of diarrhea during H. pylori eradication in children. Although S. boulardii did only slightly increase H. pylori eradication rate, compliance to eradication treatment was improved.

• Annals of Geriatric Medicine and Research
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• v.22 no.4
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• pp.204-207
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• 2018

Mycobacterium abscessus comprises rapidly growing mycobacteria, and the clinical manifestations of M. abscessus skin infection include papule, nodule, ulcer, scar and mixed form. The cutaneous infections have been reported due to minor trauma, cosmetic therapy, acupuncture and disseminated infection. A 75-year-old man presented with pruritic diffuse various sized erythematous papuloplaques and pustules on the neck and chest for 2 months. The cutaneous lesions were spread around the wound of the shaving on the neck. The histopathologic findings were consistent with abscess showing infiltrations of neutrophils and lymphocytes in the dermis and negative findings were observed on immunohistochemical stain including acid-fast bacilli stain. One month later, mycobacterial culture result showed positive findings, and the pathogen was identified by reversetranscriptase polymerase chain reaction with hybridization. The patient was treated with combination of clarithromycin and ethambutol for 5 months and there is no evidence of recurrence after 6 months of follow-up. Herein, we report a case of M. abscessus cutaneous infection through minor trauma caused by shaving in the elderly.

• The Korean Journal of Gastroenterology
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• v.72 no.5
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• pp.237-244
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• 2018

While the prevalence of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection is decreasing in Korea, the incidence of gastric cancer remains high, emphasizing the importance of H. pylori eradication. A new treatment strategy is needed as the eradication rate with standard triple therapy, which is currently the standard first-line regimen for H. pylori infection, has decreased below the optimum level. The major cause of eradication failure is increased antibiotic resistance. Sequential, concurrent, and hybrid therapies that include clarithromycin produce higher eradication rates than conventional standard triple therapy. However, the effectiveness of these treatments is limited in regions where the resistance rate to various antibiotics is high. Bismuth quadruple therapy is another alternative therapy, but again the eradication rate is not sufficiently high. Tailored therapy based on individual characteristics, including antibiotic susceptibility, may be ideal, but there are several limitations for clinical application and further research is needed. New potassium-competitive acid blocker-based therapies could emerge as effective alternatives in the near future. A consensus is needed to establish a strategy for applying new eradication therapies in Korea.

• Archives of Plastic Surgery
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.289-292
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• 2010

Purpose: Mycobacterium abscessus belongs to the group of rapid-growing atypical mycobacterium. The organism is ubiquitous and is found in soil, dust, and water. Although it rarely causes disease in humans, Mycobacterium abscessus has been associated with soft tissue infection. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case report of facial soft tissue Mycobacterium abscessus infection in a healthy child in Korea. Methods: A 12-year-old girl presented with an erythematous skin lesion with serous discharge on her chin, which had been present for 3 weeks. On her history, she had a laceration wound on her chin at public bath and the lesion was repaired at emergency department immediately. Although conventional soft tissue infecton treatment, her lesion remains unhealed state and had serous discharge for 2 months. Moreover, we found a 1 cm sized nodular mass on her chin. Therefore we performed excision operation and referred the specimen to the laboratory for microbial and histopathologic study. Results: Pathology report confirmed the mass was enlarged lymph node with chronic necrotizing granulomatous inflammation with central microabscess. Non-Tuberculous mycobacterium identification test through tissue specimen resulted Mycobacterium abscessus. We prescribed clarithromycin for three weeks by oral administration as well as performed wound debridement and mass excision via previous wound. This way, her lesion appeared to be complete healing with minimal scarring. There were no evidence of inflammation sign or palpable mass. Conclusion: Although the prevalence is rare, Mycobacterium abscessus infections of soft tissue should be considered even in a healthy child with a lesion caused by trauma or which fails to respond to conventional treatment.