• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제78권3호
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• pp.289-292
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• 2015

Lemierre syndrome (LS) is a septic thrombophlebitis of the internal jugular vein (IJV) following an oropharyngeal infection. LS is commonly caused by normal anaerobic flora and treated with appropriate antibiotics and anticoagulation therapy. Although the incidence of disease is very rare, 15% cases of LS are fatal even in the antibiotic era because of disseminated septic thromboemboli. We reported a case of extensive bilateral LS due to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus epidermidis in a 63-year-old female with lung adenocarcinoma. Initial examination revealed a retropharyngeal abscess; hence, intravenous ceftriaxone and steroid were initiated empirically. However, pulmonary thromboembolism developed and methicillin-resistant S. epidermidis was identified in the bacterial culture. Despite intensive antibiotic and anticoagulation therapies, extensive septic thrombophlebitis involving the bilateral IJV and superior vena cava developed. Adjunctive catheter-directed thrombolysis and superior vena cava stenting were performed and the patient received antibiotic therapy for an additional 4 weeks, resulting in complete recovery.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제71권4호
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• pp.259-265
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• 2011

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors, gefitinib and erlotinib, are effective therapies for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients whose tumors harbor somatic mutations in EGFR. The mutations are, however, only found in about 30% of Asian NSCLC patients and all patients ultimately develop resistance to these agents. Ionizing radiation has been shown to induce autophosphorylation of EGFR and activate its downstream signaling pathways. In the present study, we have tested whether the effect of gefitinib treatment can be enhanced after ionizing radiation. Methods: We compared the PC-9 and A549 cell line with its radiation-resistant derivatives after gefitinib treatment with cell proliferation and apoptosis assay. We also analyzed the effect of gefitinib after ionizing radiation in PC-9, A549, and NCI-H460 cells. Cell proliferation was determined by MTT assay and induction of apoptosis was evaluated by flow cytometry. Caspase 3 activation and PARP cleavage were evaluated by western blot analysis. Results: PC-9 cells having mutated EGFR and their radiation-resistant cells showed no significant difference in cell viability. However, radiation-resistant A549 cells were more sensitive to gefitinib than were their parental cells. This was attributable to an increased induction of apoptosis. Gefitinib-induced apoptosis increased significantly after radiation in cells with wild type EGFR including A549 and NCI-H460, but not in PC-9 cells with mutated EGFR. Caspase 3 activation and PARP cleavage accompanied these findings. Conclusion: The data suggest that gefitinib-induced apoptosis could increase after radiation in cells with wild type EGFR, but not in cells with mutated EGFR.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제74권3호
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• pp.129-133
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• 2013

The presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR ) mutation is a prognostic and predictive marker for EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy. However, inevitably, relapse occurs due to the development of acquired resistance, such as T790M mutation. We report a case of repeated responses to EGFR-TKIs in a never-smoked woman with adenocarcinoma. After six cycles of gemcitabine and cisplatin, the patient was treated by gefitinib for 4 months until progression. Following the six cycles of third-line pemetrexed, gefitinib retreatment was initiated and continued with a partial response for 6 months. After progression, she was recruited for an irreversible EGFR inhibitor trial, and the time to progression was 11 months. Although EGFR direct sequencing on the initial diagnostic specimen revealed a wild-type, we performed a rebiopsy from the progressed subcarinal node at the end of the trial. The result of peptide nucleic acid clamping showed L858R/L861Q.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• 제54권4호
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• pp.527-532
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• 2016

Head lice, Pediculus humanus capitis, infestation is an important public health problem in Egypt. Inadequate application of topical pediculicides and the increasing resistance to the commonly used pediculicides made the urgent need for the development of new agents able to induce irreversible changes in the exposed lice leading to their mortality. The aim of the present work is to evaluate pediculicidal efficacy of some natural products such as olive oil, tea tree oil, lemon juice, and ivermectin separately in comparison with tetramethrin-piperonyl butoxide (licid), as a standard pediculicide commonly used in Egypt. The effects of these products were evaluated by direct observation using dissecting and scanning electron microscopes (SEM). Results showed that after 1 hr exposure time in vitro, absolute (100%) mortalities were recorded after exposure to 1% ivermectin and fresh concentrate lemon juice. The mortalities were decreased to 96.7% after exposure to tea tree oil. Very low percentage of mortality (23.3%) was recorded after 1 hr of exposure to extra virgin olive oil. On the other hand, the reference pediculicide (licid) revealed only mortality rate of 93.3%. On the contrary, no mortalities were recorded in the control group exposed to distilled water. By SEM examination, control lice preserved outer smooth architecture, eyes, antenna, respiratory spiracles, sensory hairs, and legs with hook-like claws. In contrast, dead lice which had been exposed to pediculicidal products showed damage of outer smooth architecture, sensory hairs, respiratory spiracles and/or clinching claws according to pediculicidal products used.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제81권3호
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• pp.222-227
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• 2018

Background: Rifampicin (RFP) is one of the principal first-line drugs used in combination chemotherapies against Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and its use has greatly shortened the duration of chemotherapy for the successful treatment of drug-susceptible tuberculosis. Compensatory mutations have been identified in rpoC that restore the fitness of RFP-resistant M. tuberculosis strains with mutations in rpoB. To investigate rpoC mutation patterns, we analyzed 93 clinical M. tuberculosis isolates from patients in South Korea. Methods: Drug-resistant mycobacterial isolates were cultured to determine their susceptibility to anti-tubercular agents. Mutations in rpoC were identified by sequencing and compared with the relevant wild-type DNA sequence. Results: In total, 93 M. tuberculosis clinical isolates were successfully cultured and tested for drug susceptibilities. They included 75 drug-resistant tuberculosis species, of which 66 were RFP-resistant strains. rpoC mutations were found in 24 of the 66 RFP-resistant isolates (36.4%). Fifteen different types of mutations, including single mutations (22/24, 91.7%) and multiple mutations (2/24, 8.3%), were identified, and 12 of these mutations are reported for the first time in this study. The most frequent mutation involved a substitution at codon 452 (nt 1356) resulting in amino acid change F452L. Conclusion: Fifteen different types of mutations were identified and were predominantly single-nucleotide substitutions (91.7%). Mutations were found only in dual isoniazid- and RFP-resistant isolates of M. tuberculosis. No mutations were identified in any of the drug-susceptible strains.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• 제31권4호
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• pp.489-498
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• 2018

Objective: Foot and mouth disease (FMD) and porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) are major diseases that interrupt porcine production. Because they are viral diseases, vaccinations are of only limited effectiveness in preventing outbreaks. To establish an alternative multi-resistant strategy against FMD virus (FMDV) and PRRS virus (PRRSV), the present study introduced two genetic modification techniques to porcine cells. Methods: First, cluster of differentiation 163 (CD163), the PRRSV viral receptor, was edited with the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats-CRISPR-associated protein 9 technique. The CD163 gene sequences of edited cells and control cells differed. Second, short hairpin RNA (shRNAs) were integrated into the cells. The shRNAs, targeting the 3D gene of FMDV and the open reading frame 7 (ORF7) gene of PRRSV, were transferred into fibroblasts. We also developed an in vitro shRNA verification method with a target gene expression vector. Results: shRNA activity was confirmed in vitro with vectors that expressed the 3D and ORF7 genes in the cells. Cells containing shRNAs showed lower transcript levels than cells with only the expression vectors. The shRNAs were integrated into CD163-edited cells to combine the two techniques, and the viral genes were suppressed in these cells. Conclusion: We established a multi-resistant strategy against viral diseases and an in vitro shRNA verification method.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제64권6호
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• pp.422-426
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• 2008

연구배경: Mycobacterium abscessus는 빠른 성장성을 지닌 비결핵균중에서 높은 병원성과 약제 내성을 나타내는 종이며, clarithromycin과 azithromycin 항결핵제가 M. abscessus에 효과가 있는 유일한 경구용 항결핵제이다. 본 연구에서는 역교잡반응법과 약제감수성검사법을 이용하여 clarithromycin 약제에 대한 M. abscessus 임상 내성균주 검출을 시도하였다. 방 법: 역교잡반응법과 약제감수성검사법을 이용하여 220개의 M. abscessus 임상 균주를 대상으로 내성 균주를 분리하였다. 결 과: 약제감수성검사법으로 7개의 임상 내성 균주들을 검출하였고, 이들 중 3개의 내성 균주는 점 돌연변이 균주로서 역교잡반응법으로도 확인하였다. 결 론: M. abscess 균주에서는 점 돌연변이 및 다른 종류의 내성 특성을 나타내고 있음을 확인할 수 있었다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제48권6호
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• pp.964-972
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• 2000

저자들은 타카야수동맥염에 의한 만성 폐고혈압 환자 3예를 대상으로 혈관확장제 (NO 및 molsidomine)가 이들의 폐고혈압을 완화시킬 수도 있음을 관찰하였으며, 이와 관련하여 보다 많은 연구가 이루어져야 하리라 생각된다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제41권6호
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• pp.651-657
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• 1994

저자들은 최근 석면분진에 11년간 폭로된 직업력이 있으며 작업중단 5년후 약3개월간의 호흡곤란을 주소로 입원하여 흉부X-선, 폐기능검사, 전산화단층촬영, 기관지경검사 및 석면소체검사, Gallium scan을 통하여 석면폐증, 늑막삼출액과 폐암으로 진단된 1예를 경험하였기에 문헌조사와 함께 이를 보고하는 바이다.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• 제40권6호
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• pp.725-729
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• 1993

환자는 9개월간의 적절한 화학 요법에도 불구하고 지속적으로 균양성인 개방성 공동을 가진 26세의 남자로 좌측 상폐야에 국한된 직격 $4{\times}5cm$ 크기의 공동을 가지고 있었다. 저자들은 난치성 폐결핵으로 판단 후 화학요법과 함께 인공 기흉을 시도하였는데 pneumothorax apparatus Erka를 사용하여 1회당 약 400~500ml씩 10~14일 간격으로 주기적으로 시행하였다. 시행 4개월 후 객담 항산균 도말검사가 음전되고 11개월 후에 결핵균 배양 검사가 음전되었으며, 13개월 후에는 방사선 검사상 공동이 완전히 허탈되었다. 이 시술로 인한 합병증은 관찰되지 않았으며 현재 완치 상태로 추구 관찰 중이다. 인공 기흉법은 과거 화학 요법이 일반화 되기 이전 20세기 초반에 시행되어지던 폐결핵 치료의 고전적인 방법으로 허탈 요법의 일종이다. 이 방법은 효과면에서 화학요법을 능가하지 못하고, 부작용 또한 문제가 되어 이제는 거의 시행되어지지 않게 되었다. 그러나 강력한 화학요법에도 불구하고 개방성 공동이 잔존하는 경우가 있으며, 이럴 때 수술이 여의치 않는 경우 적응증이 된다면 인공 기흉을 화학 요법과 병행하여 치유에 도움을 줄 수 있다고 생각하고 이에 한 예를 보고하는 바이다.